USA > West Virginia > History of the Twelfth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
(333) On this day we passed through the historic and memorable old town of Winchester and camped about two miles beyond the town. The next day we had brigade drill under the supervision of Gen. Sigel. We remained here about a week during which time the organization of the army was completed. Our stay here afforded the boys of the Twelfth an opportunity to walk over the old battle ground of the Winchester battle fought on
104
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
our side under Gen. Milroy. The boys examined the scene of the battle with considerable eager curious interest.
(334) While we were at this point, there were extra precautions taken against a surprise. Strong picket forces were kept out, five companies being sent out on some of the roads, at least, and orders were given to keep one- third of the men up at night all the time, showing that Gen. Sigel was a vigilant careful commander. This alertness and these precautions indicated that we were drawing near the enemy, and gave a hint of coming clash of arms, which indeed was not far in the future.
(335) The command on the 9th, moved up the Valley, our brigade in advance under Col. Thoburn. We marched 13 miles on this day and camped in the evening at Cedar Creek. The bridge across this creek had been destroyed, and it had to be rebuilt before the command could proceed farther. The bridge being rebuilt, we resumed our march on the 11th, passing through Strats- burg, and camped one mile short of reaching Woodstock, the distance marched being 14 miles.
(-336) It perhaps should have been noted that when the command reached Fisher's Hill after leaving Cedar Creek, it was halted and the men were ordered to load. Those who had been under fire before, felt the gravity of th outlook, and it was noticeable that more than one brave man looked very serious as he tore the paper from his cartridge.
(337) We remained at our camp near Woodstock one day with nothing unusual occurring, when on the next clay our regiment with two pieces of artillery was ordered up the Valley about seven miles, one mile south of Edin- burgh, as an advance picket. Some Rebel cavalry were seen here at a distance. Company S, was deployed across the road leading south with orders to allow no one to pass. Soon two young ladies, in passing from home to town discovered the pickets, a member of the company
105
ยท
-
HISTORY OF THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
relates, and turned to run. They were captured after an exciting chase and sent to town, and ordered to remain there till the next morning. There was a pouring rain that night and the soldiers got a taste of the beauties of soldier life, getting thoroughly soaked with rain. Some tried to sleep; others preferred to stand or sit around roaring fires. In some cases those who tried to sleep . found the water collecting in pools around their bodies.
(338) It was at this place and time or near it, it is believed, that an incident occurred which shows, as far as it goes, that a soldier would better obey orders. The writer of this was for the night, assigned to Company C, to go with it on picket, there being only one com- missioned officer of the company present at the time. All was quiet at the picket post in the night and in the morning John W. Crow and another soldier asked Capt. Bartlett of the company, if they might go to a house several hundred yards distant to get some bread. He said that they might go, but told them to not go any farther. It was a spider-and-the-fly-case-they did not come back again. At all events we did not see them for several months afterward, when they came back as exchanged prisoners. They then told that when they went to the house mentioned, the mistress said that she had no bread, but she thought they could get it at a house a little farther off, probably knowing what would happen if they went there. They went and were captured. No doubt they often deeply regretted their disobedience of orders.
(339) The Twelfth was relieved from picket in the morning by the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio and the Eighteenth Connecticut, and we returned to our camp near Edinburgh, the rain still falling. On our way we met the First Virginia and the Thirty fourth Massa- chusetts going up the pike. It began to look as though things were approaching a crisis. In the morning at 2 o'clock May 15th, Companys A, B, F, and I, were ordered
106
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
back to Edinburg to take the place of the regiments that had relieved us the morning before, in order that they might go to reinfroce the First Virginia and the Thirty- fourth Massachusetts which had met some of the enemy, and had had considerable fighting with them the evening and night of the 14th.
(340) About 8 o'clock A. M. the rest of the force came up and we rejoining our rgeiment, all pushed on to Mount Jackson about 14 miles from our camp at Wood- stock.
(341) At Mount Jackson we went into camp, but were ordered to move out in less than thirty minutes. The four regiments in advance having engaged the Rebels at New Market six miles farther up, we marched in the direction of the fighting.
(342) The morning had been clear, but soon after crossing the Shenandoah at Mount Jackson it began raining. Cannonading could be distinctly heard in our front, telling of serious work going on there and pre- saging a share of it for us, the regiments moving to the assistance of our comrades. We crossed the North Branch of the Shenandoah about one mile from Mount Jackson. The marching after leaving this place had been rapid and laborious through rain and mud, but soon we were ordered to double quick which we kept up for a few miles, till at about 2 o'clock P. M. we reached the field of battle, and were hastily formed in line of battle under the fire of the enemy, their balls at this time, how- ever, passing harmlessly over us.
(343) Our entire brigade under Col. Thoburn was formed on the right of the pike, the two regiments which had been with Col. Moore at the front having returned to their own brigade, Thoburn's. Col. Moor with two regi- ments of his brigade, the Eighteenth Connecticut, the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio infantry with a small body of cavalry was left something in advance. The
107
HISTORY OF THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
two other regiments of his brigade were a considerable distance in the rear with the wagon train.
(344) The Twelfth as best can be gathered from a M. S. by Col. Curtis, was first formed in line at some con- siderable distance in rear of the three other regiments of our brigade; but this was scarcely more than done "when we were withdrawn" as Col. Curtis says, and formed close in the rear, say within 60 yards of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, and the First Virginia, except two companies. A and B, which were sent to the right to support Carlan's battery.
(345) The eight companies had scarcely thus formed in line when we heard in our front for the first time the much mentioned Rebel yell. Gen. Breckinridge in com- mand of the Rebel force had moved to the attack with about 5,000 men, and overlapping Moor had soon driven him to the rear. With scarcely a halt he moved on to the attack of Thoburn's brigade, the main line, but was repulsed by a gallant charge made here.
(346) Just where the Rebels raised the yell in making their charge, Gen. Sigel rode up to the eight companies of the Twelfth and ordered it into column by division to resist the charge; but when the charge was repulsed, we were put into line again, and ordered to lie down. The Twelfth had a bad position. We were placed where we could do no good and yet where we suffered seriously. a more trying position on a soldier than where he has a chance to return the fire. There are no data at hand showing the loss of the regiment, but the compiler's own company lost in killed and wounded seven men in this engagement.
(347) The battle was short, sharp, the losses heavy on each side and for a while the result doubtful. It was quite generally said by our men after the battle that at one time just before our line gave way, the Rebel line was breaking. The Rebel account goes to sustain this statement. Col. J. Stoddard Johnston of Breckinridge's
108
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
staff says, according to Pond's"The Shenandoah in 1864, that" when his ( Breckenridge's) line had reached within two hundred yards of the enemy, the position was very critical, and for a time it seemed doubtful as to which would be the first to give way." It is thus seen how near we were to gaining a victory. Had Moor's two regi- ments been drawn back and formed in line with the rest of the infantry and not left where they could do little or no good; and if Sigel had formed his infantry in our line as the enemy were, according to the authority men- tioned, it is no violent presumption to say that the vic- tory would probably have been with our troops.
(348) The doubtfbul struggle was finally decided by our line giving way in some confusion and Sigel ordered a retreat. We fell back slowly. Imboden's official report confirms this, saying : "Sigel's entire line retired slowly." The enemy did not press us much ; for if we had suffered severely they had also. The Lexington cadet battalion of 250 lost more than one-fourth their number in killed and wounded. That one fight seemed to do them : they were not present at the battle of Piedmont, three weeks later, though it was nearer home. In fact, they were never heard of in battle again. It is remembered that a Har- risburg newspaper obtained as we went up the Valley, two weeks after the battle of New Market, under Hunter, I amented the heavy loss of the Cadets in that battle; and urged that they should not be put into another engage- ment, saying that the young men or boys should be saved for the next war.
(349) Then we had retreated as far as Rude's Hill, a mile or two, we met the two regiments, the One Hundred and Sixteenth, and the Twenty-eighth Ohio infantry that had been in the rear and were not in the engagement ; and they covered the retreat from this point to Mount Jackson, where we crossed the river, halted and formed in line of battle. The Rebels came close enough to throw a few shells but not close enough to be within musket shot.
109
HISTORY OF THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
After dark we resumed the retreat and continued it, with stops for rests and meals, until we arrived at Cedar Creek the next day, the 16th, when our retreat came to an end.
(350) There is nothing so successful as success ; but it seems that there is no excuse taken for failure in war, neither by those in or out of authority. Col. Curtis records that the boys of the Twelfth in going up the Valley were constantly singing "We Fights Mit Sigel" but on the retreat their song was changed to "We Fights no more mit Sigel." One of the things that the officers and men of the Twelfth were displeased with and which they criticised severely was the fact that we were so placed in that battle that we could not fire on the enemy without firing into our own men, and yet so close to the front line that we suffered severely from the enemies fire.
(351) It will be seen, however, from the following letter from Gen. Sigel which tells why the battle was fought just when and where it was, and other details which the survivors of the Twelfth will read no doubt with eager interest, that he disclaims responsibility for the regiment's final bad position on the field of battle. And it is inferred from Col. Curtis M. S. before mentioned wherein he speaks of our being "withdrawn" from our first position and placed in our final one, that he sup- posed this was done by competent authority. It appears that no one knows who was responsible for the blunder. Sigel's letter is given nearly in full :
352)
New York, August 19th, 1891. Lieut. Wm. Hewitt, Linton, Ohio.
Dear Sir :
The advance of my forces up the Shenandoah Valley was made for the purpose of assisting Gen. Crook's move- ment from the Kanawha Valley, by inducing Breckin- ridge, who commanded in southwest Virginia, to detach a part of his forces against me. To attain this object we advanced as far as Woodstock. From this place Col. Moor was sent forward on a reconnoitering expedition in
110
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
the direction of Mount Jackson to ascertain the move- ments of the enemy, as from the telegraphic dispatches captured at Woodstock, we found that Breckinridge was moving down the Shenandoah Valley against us.
(353) In the evening and during the night of the 14th of May, it was acertained that Col. Moor had passed Mount Jackson and had met a part of Breckinridge's forces ; I, therefore, moved forward to Mount Jackson, to be nearer him (Moor) and for the reason that I intended to await Breckinridge's attack at that place. We arrived at Mount Jackson on the morning of the 15th, and found that Moor had gone as far as New Market, seven miles from Mount Jackson ; that Breckenridge was near him, and had made an attack on him during the night of the 14th, which was repulsed.
(354) Made aware of the exposed position of the little force of Moor, I immediately sent orders for him to return to Mount Jackson, and to Gen. Stahl to move for- ward with the main force of our cavalry to cover the retreat of Moor, and retard the movement of the enemy. But this movement was executed so slowly and the dis- tance from Mount Jackson to New Market was com- paratively so great, that I resolved to move forward with my whole force, after having waited over an hour for an answer to my orders sent to Moor and Sullivan.
(355) While the troops were in motion I rode forward myself, accompanied by an aid, as far as Rude's Hill ; and on my way was met by Capt. Alexander, who had been sent by Col. Moor and he reported that his ( (Moor's) troops were in an excellent position and that I should come to their assistance. Under these circumstances, I sent back to our troops to hasten their march towards New Market; while I went forward to meet those of Moor and Stahl. I arrived near New Market about noon, and before the enemy began his attack.
(356) It now became clear to me that all the troops could not reach the position close to New Market; I
111
HISTORY OF THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
therefore ordered Col. Moor to evacuate his position slowly, covered by cavalry, and to fall back into a new position, which was selected about three-quarters of a mile north of New Market right and left of the turn pike leading to Mount Jackson. During this time I sent two officers, Captains McEstee and T. G. Putnam back to Gen. Sullivan who was in command of the infantry division, with orders to bring forward all his troops without delay, and at the moment when Col. Moor was approaching the new line from his position in advance, it was reported to me by Capt. R. G. Pendergast, com- mander of my escort, whom I also had sent back to hurry the troops up that all the infantry and artillery of Gen. Sullivan had arrived (the head of the column being in sight) and that they were waiting for orders.
(357) Supposing this report to be correct, I formed the line of battle, Col. Thoburn's brigade and two bat- teries on the right, while Col. Moor was ordered to form on the left of Thoburn. The Twelfth West Virginia, and Dupont's battery took position behind the right of Thoburn's brigade as a reserve, and two companies of the Twelfth West Virginia were posted behind the batteries on the right for their support, Von Kleiser's battery was in the center of the line, Ewing's on the left, and the cavalry behind the extreme left and some behind the center. My own position during the battle was in the line between the batteries on the right, and the Thirty- fourth Massachusetts (Col. Wells) as on the right the principal attack of the enemy was directed. With me was an orderly, a young man of 17 years who held bravely out during the whole fight. My staff officers were some distance behind the line, near Dr. Rice's house.
(358) The battle which now followed has been de- scribed in "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," and therefore, I need not go into details. I simply desired to show that I was neither surprised, nor did I accept the engagement without good reason and full deliberation.
112
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
But in accepting it on the place and ground it was fought. I was misled by the report of Capt. Pendegrast in whom I trusted, as he was an efficient and brave officer. He reported two regiments the One Hundred and Sixteenth and the Twenty-eighth Ohio present and awaiting orders, while we found them, after the battle, at Rnde's Hill, one and a half miles back from our line. I am ignorant up to this day of what was the unfortunate cause which kept them back, as I was relieved soon after the battle, and had no opportunity of investigating the matter.
(359) There were some other disadvantages against us in this battle, but after all, our troops fought bravely and so did those of the enemy. We lost 93 in killed and 552 in wounded, the enemy 42 and 522 respectively.
(360) After the battle we retreated to Rude's Hill, formed line and remained about half an hour, whence we withdrew to Mount Jackson, which was done slowly and in perfect order. We remained there for two hours, during which time as Lietu. Col. Lincoln says in his "Life with the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment," the men ate their supper, the injured were looked up, their wounds examined and dressed and the slightly wounded placed in ambulances for transportation. Those more severely wounded were disposed of in the hospital build- ings of Mount Jackson, and left under charge of Asst. Surgeon Allen of the Thirty-fourth. These arrange- ments completed at about 9 P. M., the column was again put in motion, the Thirty-fourth bringing up the rear.
(361) It will be seen from these statements that we did not "flee in disorder" from our position at Rude's Hill to Mount Jackson and Cedar Creek, nor lose or burn any wagons, nor "forsake" our sick and wounded, as was publicly proclaimed at the time, nor did the enemy capture any muskets except those of our killed and severely wounded, left on the field.
(362) We were beaten but not disheartened. We
113
HISTORY OF THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
went back to Cedar Creek, because all our ambulances were filled with the wounded whom we could not trans- port without a strong force of protection, and for the purpose of disengaging ourselves of a train of 200 wagons destined for Gen. Crook. We reached Edinburg at 7 o'clock in the morning and Strasburg at 5 in the evening of the 16th.
(363) On the 17th an ambulance was sent to Mount Jackson by flag of truce loaded with supplies for our wounded. On the 18th, a detachment of infantry, cavalry and artillery, under Col. Wells of the Thirty-fourth Mas- sachusetts, was sent to Strasburg and the cavalry ad- vanced to Fisher's Hill, the pickets of the enemy retiring before them. On the same day reinforcement were approaching from Harpers Ferry, and I sent a telegram to Gen. Crook on the Kanawha to prepare for an ad- vance. On the 20th, Gen. Hunter arrived and on the 21st, I was relieved from the command of the department and by the request of Gen. Hunter took command of Reserve Division, with headquarters at Harpers Ferry.
(364) As to the Twelfth West Virginia, it consisted of good and brave officers and men. It was very well drilled in the manual of arms; but as was natural, con- sidering the little time they had practiced it, deficient in battalion drill; so that it was difficult for me at the commencement of the battle to bring them from line into colum and vice versa. This created considerable trouble at the beginning of the fight when they left their position in reserve, came forward and fired over the heads of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts. I do not believe that Col. Curtis gave them the order to do so. But such things happen sometimes with inexperienced troops, and I am very glad to know that the regiment, under its same brave commander, fully redeemed its honor by its gallant conduct in the battle of Piedmont and on other occasions.
(365) Our whole campaign and especially the battle of
114
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
New Market, were a wholesome lesson for them and prepared them to become what they afterward were.
(366) I think I have now given you the most import- ant facts and features of the case: and assure you that I shall always remember with kindness and gratitude the services of the Twlefth West Virginia.
Very Truly Yours, F. SIGEL,
Late Maj. Gen. of Vols.
(367) According to Pond before cited, General W. S. Lincoln, of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts infantry shows that the aggregate of Breckinridge's infantry the day after the battle aws 4,047. We therefore must havehad about 4,500 infantry in the battle as according to Rebel authority (See Pond) they had no reserves. It would appear therefore that we were out numbered, we having only five regiments of infantry so disposed and handled as to be effective: while the enemy had three brigades and the Cadet battalion of infantry. Our infantry and artillery had to stand the brunt of the battle and it is no disparagement to them under the circumstances that they were worsted in the engagement.
(368) Whatever may be said of Sigel's generalship regarding the battle of New Market, it must be said that he acted bravely : was right in the thick of the fight all the time and after the battle began did the best he could to save the day. And in view of the heavy losses sus- tained on each side in the battle, and our slow and orderly retreat to Cedar Creek, the following message sent to Grant by Hallick : "Sigel is in full retreat on Strasburg. He will do nothing but run; never did anything else," is markedly untrue and undeserved, and so far as it seems to imply that Sigel was cowardly, is grossly unjust, as his entire command at New Market would testify.
(369) A day or two after Sigel's command had fallen back to Cedar Creek. He called on the Twelfth to fur- nish a squad of volunteer scouts to go up the Valley and
115
HISTORY OF THE TWELFTH REGIMENT
learn what the strength of the enemy in our front was. Corporal De Bee, of the regiment and six or eight men vounteered to go. They went to Sigel's headquarters for instructions. He told them to go into a house and put on citizens cloths and go right into the enemy's camp and learn their strength. The boys answer "Yes," as if to say that the understood and would do so; but at the same time there was an unexpressed conclusion that they were not anxious to wear citizens cloths on that trip and they would forego that pleasure.
(370) The scouts started out on that expedition traveling nearly all of that day, along on North Moun- tain, it is believed. After they had traveled a while, three or four of the squad concluded that they would turn back, which they did, but the rest of the boys being more pluck" kept on, and in the evening they came in sight of the Rebel camp. In the morning the boys found such a posi- tion as from which they could view the entire camp of the enemy, and they carefully counted the number of tents they had. and then started on the return to Cedar Creek, arriving there sometime during the day. When they reached our pickets they (the latter) not being of the Twelfth and not knowing the scouts, sent them into camp under guard. The scouts reported to Sigel that they had found the Rebel camp, giving its locality and said that they counted the number of tents in it, telling the nmber, Sigel complimented Corporal De Bee and his comrades for what they had done saying that they had given him more information than he had got from all the cavalry that had been out scouting.
(371) Here is a humorous incident of the battle of New Market that was current among the boys afterward. As well as can be recalled it was told thus: Col. Wells of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts was a strict disciplinear- ian, but in defiance of this fact the boys of his regiment would sometimes fire off their guns in camp. In such cases he was want to say "Orderly, orderly go and
116
WEST VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
ascertain who fired that gun and report him to me immediately."
(372) This order of the Colonel's having been repeated in the same stereotyped language at different times impressed itself upon the minds of the boys of the Thirty-fourth and became a matter of remark and jest among them. Well at the battle of New Market when the battle was opening and the first gun or so was fired, some fellow that regiment with character- istic American humor, who was bound to have his joke if it was to be his last on earth yelled out, "Orderly. orderly, go and ascertain who fired that gun and report him to ine immediately."
(373) Comrade Jas. N. Miller, of Company A, taken prisoner at the battle of New Market tells of an incident of the battle, and his prison experience as follows :
(374) The first man killed in Company A, if I remem- ber rightly, was John A. Christman. He was a recruit, who came to us at Harpers Ferry, in the winter of 1863-64. He was a light hearted fellow, somewhat reckless, who carried a fiddle often playing and singing. At the battle of New Market as we were going into the fight, Christman and I were in file together. The bat- tle had begun and the cannons were booming. He said to me in his jovial way, "Hickory"-that was the nick- name the boys gave me because I was "tough" physically -"I hope I will be killed to day.' I said to him as calmly as I could for my heart was up in my throat like a great lump. "Christman, you oughtn't to talk that way." "Well." he replied, "I don't care."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.