USA > Virginia > Virginia and Virginians; eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia, Vol. I > Part 39
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VIRGINIA TROOPS IN THE SERVICE.
Virginia has ever been ready with her treasure and the lives of her sons in the cause of liberty, and her patriotism and sacrificing spirit was nobly indicated in the stern demands of our late civil war. In the au- tumn of 1863 it was reported to the General Assembly of the State that she had already furnished 102,915 soldiers to the Confederate service ;
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that, in addition, thirty thousand conscripts had just passed through the camp of instruction, and that up to that time she had furnished 103,840 muskets, 399 pieces of cannon, and other arms in proportion. The rolls on file in the Adjutant and Inspector-General's office showed that there were then in active service,-
Sixty-four regiments of infantry 52,496
Twenty regiments of cavalry. 14,175
Two regiments of artillery. 1,779
Twenty-eight battalions of cavalry, infantry and artillery. . 11,717
Nine battalions of artillery, Army Northern Virginia. 4,500
Two hundred and fourteen unattached companies, artillery,
infantry, and cavalry. 18,248
Total number of men. 102,915
ENGAGEMENT AT CHARLESTOWN.
After General Lee crossed the Potomac, he proceeded leisurely up the valley and through the gaps of the Blue Ridge until he reached the Rapidan. General Meade, marching from Gettysburg, passed the Poto- mac on the 18th, and soon the two armies were again confronting each other in Virginia.
General Imboden was sent with a cavalry force to guard the mountain gaps on Lee's left, and in October advanced upon Charlestown, where a Federal force from Harpers Ferry had taken position. Upon his arri- val he found them occupying the court-house, jail, and other contiguous buildings, all of which were loop-holed for musketry, and the court- house yard defended by a strong wall of oak timber. He at once demanded the surrender, but Colonel Simpson, the Federal commander, asked an hour's time for consideration. Imboden offered five minutes, to which was replied, "Take me if you can." The artillery was at once opened at a distance of two hundred yards, and in a few minutes the Federals were driven into the streets, flying towards Harpers Ferry. They had, however, proceeded but a short distance before they were met by the 18th Virginia cavalry and Gilmore's battalions, and forced to surrender. The regiment thus made prisoners was the 9th Maryland infantry. The colonel and a half dozen others, being mounted, made their escape to Harpers Ferry. General Imboden now returned up the Valley and sent his prisoners on to Richmond. This. with the exception of the engagements at Rappahannock Bridge and Germania Ford, ended the operations in Virginia for the third year. Late in the fall the "On to Richmond" ery had been renewed through- out the North, but active operations were deferred until the spring of 1864.
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THE GREATEST CAMPAIGN IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
On the morning of the 9th of March, 1864, General Grant was com- missioned Commander-in-Chief of the Federal army, which on the 1st of May numbered 662,345 men. This chieftain could boast a phenomenal career. An ex-officer of the United States who had been cashiered for drunkenness, at the opening of the war he was an obscure and improvi- dent tanner at Galena, Illinois. Appointed to the command of a regi- ment from that State, his promotion had been rapid, and through the unstinted praise of the Northern press he had been elevated in the fitful minds of that people into a hero of the first magnitude. It was, conse- quently, their sanguine expectation that the recent disasters to the Federal arms under Mcclellan, Burnside and Hooker, would be speedily re- trieved, and that the victorious Stars and Stripes would soon float above the doomed dome of the Confederate Capitol. They had forgotten that the ragged Army of Northern Virginia still lay between them and the last proud consummation.
Before entering upon the history of this, the most momentous cam- paign recorded in the annals of the American continent, let us consider for a moment the two armies which were to play the prominent parts in the grand drama.
During the winter of 1863-4 they lay confronting each other on the banks of the Rapidan- the Federals on the North and the Confederates on the South. In April the new commander of the Army of the Poto- mac re-formed that body into three corps, and re-distributed the troops before composing the 1st and 3d corps. Hancock was placed in com- mand of the 2d; Warren of the 5th and Sedgwick of the 6th. The entire force numbered 140,000 men. To oppose this mighty army was that of the Army of Northern Virginia, which now had been reduced to 60,000 men. It, too, consisted of three corps, under the command of Ewell, Hill, and Longstreet, respectively ; and at the time of the Federal advance, that of the first named lay upon the banks of the Rapidan, the second at Orange Court House, and the third at Gordonsville.
The early days of May witnessed the beginning of the memorable cam- paign. On the 4th, orders were given for an advance, and the same day the Federal army moved southward from Culpeper Court House, and on the 5th passed the Rapidan at Ely's and Germania fords, with Burnside's division in the lead, and the
BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS
At once began. An attempt was made to turn the right flank of Lee's army. The divisions of Heth and Wilcox withstood the assault during
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the entire day, and successfully too, as even the Northern accounts ad- mit. No shouts of victory echoed through the Wilderness that night.
Late in the evening Hancock's corps moved forward and took a posi- tion on the left of the Federal army. At 5 o'clock the next morning (the 6th) the second day's fighting was begun by Hill's and Longstreet's corps attacking both flanks of Hancock's position, which in a short time were turned and forced back. The fighting now became general and continued throughout the day, which closed with a charge by one of Lee's columns and the capture of General Seymour and a large portion of his brigade. Grant's loss was more than 20,000, of which 5,000 were prisoners. Lee had lost 10,000. This is an appalling aggregate, con- sidering that it was a mere incidental engagement, in which the employ- ment of artillery was precluded and strategic maneuver impracticable. The Federal General Wadsworth had been killed and General Long- street was severely wounded. Such were the first two battles of the Wilderness, the results of which the facts prove to have been in favor of the Confederates. At the North, however, it was claimed that the advantage was with the Federal army.
BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.
On the 7th, Grant moved slowly toward Spottsylvania Court House, where his army arrived late that evening, and on the next day, the 8th, was fought the first in this locally designated series of batties. The first engagement took place between Longstreet's corps, commanded by Anderson, and the Federal 5th corps, under Warren, who was sup- ported by cavalry. The Federals were repulsed with heavy loss.
On the 9th heavy skirmishing was kept up throughout the day, but there was no general engagement. What may be regarded as the great battle took place on Thursday, the 12th, and for long weary hours it continued. It was a furious and dead-lock conflict. The ceaseless roar of artillery and rattle of musketry continued from early dawn until the darkness of night put an end to the contest. An intelligent writer, who was upon the field and an eye-witness of the terribly sublime scene, says : " It would not be impossible to match the results of any one day's bat- tle with stories from the wars of the old world; but never, we should think, in the history of man, were five such battles as these compressed into six days." The loss on either side was 10,000, and neither gained any advantage.
On the 14th, Grant moved his lines by his left flank, taking a position nearer the Richmond & Fredericksburg railroad; and here he once more assaulted Ewell's line, but was easily repulsed. It was claimed by the Federals that it was but an effort to turn Lee's left flank and not intended as an attack. On the 19th and the 20th, the two armies moved
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parallel to each other, and on the 21st, Grant's forces took a position at Milford Station and Bowling Green, with the Army of Northern Vir- ginia in his front toward Richmond. During the 23d and the 25th, he made several futile assaults upon Lee's lines. He had now but one alter- native, and that was to move his army around from the North Anna, and beyond the Pamunkey. This he did, and on the 27th his advance, under Sheridan, occupied Hanovertown on the Pamunkey, 15 miles north-east of Richmond, but here again the movement was intercepted by Lee. Grant, now despairing of reaching Richmond from that point, turned away to his right, and on the 1st day of June took up his posi- tion near Cold Harbor. This was the nearest point to the Capital City yet reached.
BATTLE OF THE CHICKAHOMINY, OR COLD HARBOR.
Grant once more determined to try the strength of Lee's lines. On the morning of the 3d of June, which dawned with a drizzling rain, as soon as it was light enough to see, the word was given, and the commands of Barlow and Gibbon, of Hancock's corps, advanced against the outer Confederate line, which was held by the division of General Breckinridge. It was at once forced back, but the reverse was only momentary, for Milligan's brigade and the Maryland battalion immedi- ately dashed forward and retrieved the lost position, driving the Federals back with frightful loss. Wright and Smith both charged the lines, but met with no better fortune than Barlow and Gibbon. Many of the best officers of these commands were killed. The Federals were re- pulsed at every point, and Grant's object-a knowledge of the strength of Lee's lines-was attained. The battle lasted but forty minutes, but in that time the Federal loss was 7,000, while that of the Confederate was only 3,000.
GRANT MOVES TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE JAMES.
Cold Harbor was the last pitched battle of the campaign north of the James. Grant deciding that the "On to Richmond" route was not from the direction of the Potomac, but from the opposite point, accord- ingly put his army in motion, and after a march of fifty-five miles over the sandy roads of the Chickahominy, on the 15th reached the bank of the James at City Point, sixty miles below Richmond, and three days later his rear guards passed beyond that river. Lee made no resistance to this movement, but leisurely fell back to Richmond.
The Federal army had been from the 5th of May to the 15th of June- forty-five days-in its marching from the Rapidan to the James; and during that time had fought the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylva-
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nia Court House, North Anna, and Cold Harbor. At the time that Grant reached the James his official reports show that he had lost 54,551 men, of whom 7,289 were killed, 37,406 wounded, and 9,856 missing. Lee had lost 32,000 men, of whom 8,500 were prisoners. He entered Richmond with 58,000 troops, while Grant crossed the James with 150,000, including those of Butler's command. Here is presented by the Virginia Army one among the most remarkable achievements in the history of wars. For a period of forty-five days that little army stood face to face with one nearly three times as great as itself, then necessitating it to a cautious and circuitous progress, as in the arc of a circle, radiating fifty miles from Richmond, and finally compelling it to cross the James sixty miles below its objective point.
HUNTER CAPTURES STAUNTON.
We must now turn away from the theater of war around Richmond and notice for a moment the operations in the Shenandoah Valley. A part of Grant's plan was a joint movement up the Shenandoah under Siegel, and up the Kanawha under Crook, their objective points being Staunton and Lynchburg.
Accordingly, on the 1st of May, Siegel moved up the valley with a force of 10,000 men, but was met on the 15th, at New Market, by the Confederate General Breckinridge and signally routed with the loss of 700 men, 6 pieces of artillery and 1,000 small arms.
Crook was moving easterly from Charleston, on the Great Kanawha. and on the waters of New river he divided his force, sending Averill with 2,000 cavalry to destroy the coal mines at Wytheville, while he advanced further to the north. Averill was met on the 10th by a cav- alry force under Morgan and defeated. Crook with a force of 6,000 men moved on toward Dublin Depot, and there repelled an attack, but with the loss of 700 killed and wounded.
Siegel was now relieved of the command, and was succeeded by Hun- ter, who at once took the offensive, Breckinridge having in the mean- time joined Lee. Hunter met the Confederate force at Piedmont on the 5th of June and completely routed it, taking 1,500 prisoners, three guns and 3,000 small arms. He then advanced on Staunton, where he was joined by Crook and Averill, augmenting his force to 20,000. He then moved by way of Lexington toward Lynchburg. Lce foreseeing the inevitable disasters to result upon a capture of that place, sent a strong force to its relief, forcing the retreat of Hunter on the 18th of June. Hotly pursued, Hunter followed the railroad westward to Salem, and thence through Newcastle toward Meadow Bluff. Thus failed the plans of Grant from the west as they had done from the east.
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THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.
Petersburg is twenty-two miles south of Richmond and nine miles south-west of City Point, and was during the war one of the greatest railroad centers of the South: the Richmond & Petersburg railroad entered it from the north, and the Weldon or Roanoke road from the south, while the Lynchburg or Southside Road came in from the west. Over these lines came the supplies for Richmond, and Grant, without losing a single moment after crossing the river, attempted the capture of the place; but, being disappointed in that, his operations necessarily assumed the features of a siege, knowing, as he did, that upon the capt- ure of Petersburg, depended the reduction of Richmond. The Con- federate authorities were fully cognizant of the momentous issue, and to the raw troops and militia now put under arms for the defense of the "Cockade City," General Wise addressed a memorable and thrilling order: "Petersburg," said he, "is to be and shall be defended on her outer walls, on her inner lines, at her corporation bounds, in every street, and around every temple of God, and altar of man."
But the gallant little eity was now to be put to a much more severe test than any which it had hitherto experienced. It was now to bear the brunt of the bulk of the mighty besieging army which bore upon it like an avalanche. Butler was ordered by Grant to send Smith's division forward, and at the same time informed that the entire Army of the Potomae would be moved forward as rapidly as possible. Smith, on the morning of the 14th, landed at Bermuda Hundred, but did not get ready to make the attack until near sunset; then, with a portion only of his eommand, he made the attack, and at 7 P. M. succeeded in carrying the outer line of works on the north-east of the eity, capturing fifteen guns and 300 prisoners. Night eame on and the moon was shining brightly, when at 9 o'clock Hancock, with two divisions of the 2d corps, reached Smith, and, waiving his precedence in rank, tendered to him the service of liis troops. Smith declined the offer, but requested Hancock to hold the captured works.
Another terrible assault was now made on the batteries from nine to twelve inclusive, which were defended by the division of General Hoke, whose heroic troops, after having repulsed three successive assaults, charged over their works and compelled a large portion of one of Smith's brigades to take shelter in a ravine, where they surrendered to the 64th Georgia regiment.
The engagement continued throughout Friday, the 17th, without de- cisive results. On the 18th an attack was made along the entire line, and during the day three desperate assaults were made-one at four in the morning, another at noon, and a third at four in the afternoon. Each was repulsed, and the attack finally abandoned. Grant's loss in the four days before Petersburg was 9,000 killed and wounded. He,
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concluding that it was impossible to carry the works by direct assault, determined to resort to " mining," a plan which had worked so admi- rably at Balaklava and Inkerman Valley during the war of the Crimea.
THE MINE.
The mine, though not devised by Meade, was approved of by him and a majority of the corps commanders. The work was performed by one of Burnside's regiments, who had been Pennsylvania miners. It con- sisted of a main shaft five feet across and five hundred and twenty feet long, with lateral continuations extending forty feet in either direc- tion. The work began on the 25th of June, and was completed on the 23d of July. The charge placed in it consisted of 8,000 pounds of giant powder.
The explosion was to take place at half-past 3 o'clock A. M. of the 30th of July, and at the same instant Burr side's division was to rush through the breach thus created and seize the works on Cemetery Hill; General Warren was to support him on the right and Ord on the left -- the charging columns to consist of 50,000 men.
At the appointed time the fuse was lighted. but the explosion did not take place. Then Lieutenant Douty and Sergeant Rees entered the mine and found the fuse separated within fifty feet of the magazine; the damage was repaired, and they had barely time to escape when the awful explosion took place. The charging columns rushed forward, and behind them opened ninety-five pieces of heavy artillery. But the Con- federates were not dismayed, and in a few minutes their own batteries were replying. On came the rushing columns, furiously assaulting the second line of works, but behind them were men who had never flinched from death, which they had faced on many a gory field, and who were not now to be dismayed by the explosion of mines and the thunder of artillery. The Federal advance was led by a brigade of negro troops under the command of General White, who, appalled by the deadly fire, rushed panic-stricken back through the lines of the white troops to the rear. Terrible carnage ensued, and it is doubtful whether all the cir- cumstantial horrors of war were ever before displayed in such awful intensity on any field. At last came the orders to the Federals to fall back and re-occupy their former position. That order was obeyed with alacrity, and thus failed the monstrous device by which it had been hoped access would have been opened to the now famous "outpost" of Richmond. The Federal loss was 4,000, of whom 1,900 were prisoners. That of the Confederates was given in detail thus: Mahone's division, 450; Elliott's South Carolina brigade, which was blown up by the mine, 300; and Ransom's, Clingman's and Wise's commands, 300.
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OPERATIONS IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
We must now leave Grant engaged in the investment of Petersburg, and notice briefly the operations in the Shenandoah Valley. During the summer of 1864, several offensive movements were planned, and chief among them was Early's invasion of Maryland. After the retreat of Hunter from Lynchburg, the way was left open, and Early accord- ingly moved with his entire force - about 20,000-up the Valley, and driving Siegel from Martinsburg, occupied that town. A few days later, Early crossed the Potomac, entered Maryland, and halted at Frederick City. At Monocacy Bridge, four miles thence, he defeated and put to rout a considerable Federal force. Instead of pursuing them, he pro- ceeded by rapid marches toward Washington and Baltimore, collecting the horses and cattle along his line of march. The Federal Capital was now in imminent peril, and it is claimed had Early improved the oppor- tunity, he might have occupied the city. But instead of riding into Washington, he dispersed his army in detachments, which were sent about the country to destroy telegraph lines and intercept trains. Thus, perhaps, passed the great opportunity of 1864. Re-uniting his forces at Hagerstown, he re-crossed into Virginia, bringing with hin 5,000 horses and 2,000 beef cattle. Martinsburg was re-occupied, and from thence he sent General John McCausland with a cavalry force into Pennsyl- vania. It penetrated as far as Chambersburg in that State. The town was fired and a considerable portion of it burned.
DESOLATION OF THE VALLEY.
On the 7th of August, Hunter resigned, and the command of the Federal force in the Valley was given to General Sheridan. He at once prepared for an aggressive campaign, but before any move was made he was visited by Grant (September 15th), and between the two the destruction of the section known as the "Garden of Virginia " was plan- ned. The Commander-in-Chief then returned to his position at Petersburg.
THE BATTLE OF OPEQUAN CREEK.
On the 19th the two armies met at Opequan creek, and after a hard fought battle, lasting several hours, the Confederates were forced to re- treat. The Federal loss was 4,990, of whom 653 were killed. 3,719 wounded, and 618 missing. That of the Confederates was 5,000. Early fell back twelve miles to Fishers Hill, where he was again attacked by superior mmbers and compelled to retreat toward Staunton, and Sheri- dan proceeded to carry out Grant's orders respecting the devastation of the Valley. His cavalry spread over its entire extent, and in its wake destruction reigned supreme. Nowhere in the New World had such
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vandalism been witnessed. At the end of three weeks, Sheridan sent the following report to Washington :
"The whole country, from the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, has been rendered untenable for a rebel army. I have destroyed over 2,000 barns filled with wheat and hay and farming implements, over 70 mills filled with flour and wheat. I have driven to the front of the army over 4,000 head of stock, have killed and issued to the troops not less than 3,000 sheep. A large number of horses have also been obtained."
BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK.
After the battle of Fishers Hill it became evident that General Early had not a sufficient force with which to cope with Sheridan, and accord- ingly General Lee sent Kershaw's division to reinforce him. Sheridan, after having laid waste the Valley, rested his army on the south bank of Cedar Creek, a small stream which forms the boundary line between Shenandoah and Frederick counties, and repaired to Washington to con- sult with the Secretary of War with reference to the transfer of the 6th corps to that city.
On the night of the 18th of October, General Early determined to at- tack the Federal position during the absence of Sheridan, and under cover of the darkness, he marched his army out from Fishers Hill ( 10 which place he had returned and taken position after being joined by Kershaw), and in order to flank the Federal lines, it was necessary to move the larger column through a narrow gap in the mountains, so nar- row, in fact, that two men could not walk abreast. The marching, for more than seven miles over a broken country, along mountain sides and down hills so abrupt that horses could scarcely travel, occupied almost the entire night, and it was near daybreak before a position in front of the Federal lines was attained.
But all was upon time; everything had been conducted with the utmost secrecy, and not even a picket alarm had been given. Orders to attack were given, and with Payne's division in the lead, a charge across the creek was made, Sheridan's head-quarters being the objective point. The infantry followed rapidly on, Gordon's division following Payne. with that of Pegram in reserve. A terrible fire was opened from all points. It was a fearful surprise to the sleeping army, the 8th and 19th corps of which were entirely routed, and retreating left many hundreds slain in the camps; and 1,500 prisoners, 18 pieces of artillery, 2,000 stand of small arms, and several hundred wagons fell into the hands of the Confederates. Fully two thirds of Sheridan's army was in rapid ro- treat, but the 6th corps and the cavalry commanded by Generals Torbert. Merritt and Dwight had not yet been engaged. At 9 o'clock A. M. the field had been won, and had the victorious troops now pressed on and
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struck the 6th corps, Sheridan's army would have been involved in utter ruin. But instead, Early's force, for some unknown cause, halted on the field and allowed the Federals to form a new line near Middletown. At 10 o'clock A. M. Sheridan had completed his famous "Ride from Win- chester," and at 3 o'clock r. M. assumed the offensive, and moving for- ward, vigorously and successfully assaulted Early. Gordon's division was the first to break, then followed Kershaw's, and later Ramseur's. Soon after, Wharton's and Pegram's lines gave way, and the field was soon covered with flying men. It was a shameful rout. Never before had the Confederate soldiery so behaved. Their loss was 3,500 killed and wounded, and 2,500 prisoners, while that of the Federals was 4,990, of whom 653 were killed, 3,719 wounded, and 618 missing.
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