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973.74 
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1755380 


REYNOI  OS    HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


;o 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  00824  8137 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Allen  County  Public  Library  Genealogy  Center 


http://www.archive.org/details/historyofsecondm03gord 


HISTORY 


1  ^'n<X..^ 

n\.  ^-^- -vVj  A  J  '^i 


TEIRD  PAPER. 


DF.UVERED     BV 


GEORGE    PI.    GORDON, 

MAJOR-GKNKK.'-.L   0\'    VOI.UNll  >.KS    .AND    COLOXF.I.    SECOND     MASS.    KECniFNT    OF 
l.VFA.NTKV    IX    'lliE    l.ATK    V.s.K, 


AXXUAI..   MKF.TJXG   OV  TIJi:   SECOXi)   MASS.    IXFAXTRV 
ASSOCIA'J'IOX,    OX    JfAV    ii,  1S/5. 


]]  O  S  T  O  X  : 
ALFRED    ^aiJ)GE  &  SOX,  II:!  X'lKRS,  34    SCHOOL   STREET. 

3S75.  .  ' 


I 

|:   I'  F      GORDON,  GEORGE  KEN^IY ,  IS^o^-lSSo.  f 

8349       History  of  tho  Seco:.d  f/.ass.  regiment  of  in-  j 

4119   fantry:  third  paper.   Delive-red...at  the  annuel    r 

■  meeting  of  the  Second  ?.!as3.  infE'.ntry  association,.^ 

May  11,  1S75.    Boston .Mudge ,1875.  | 

231p.  I 

FT  •     f 

I      -i  On  ccvor:   The  Second  Massachusetts  and  | 

t  :  1  "Stonevrall"   Jnckson.  f" 

I    -,  ]       Dav.'es  f 


another  copy.  } 


J  ,     23-49 


VT         "TO- 


rV.Tf!^7»y«\SgjJf(«p;^rjs  :---"«--i^».;gric»»,j-r<.-^>^,gsp<^irn7r»:5a:-PW?f=.-  xJWr^^TJt^ItiTi'lTV^?;'^*'"''''^'''" 


^ 


CONTENTS. 


C  H  A  P  1'  !■:  1^.    1 1 1 . 

President's  order  Br  advance  of  Army  of  Potomac  —  March  of  Second 
Ma?.-.acha:>etr>  tiirouga  Frederick  to  take  cars  for  Harper's  Ferry  — 
Condition  of  Harper's  Fer-y— Armed  Reconr.ai>sai;ce  to  Charles- 
tov.p.,  Va.  —  Gen.  MLCi-.T.an  at  Cliar!estov;i\ — Duty  in  and  around 
Charlc5tovvn  —  Scntimrnt<  of  tlie  i)eople  —  March  at  ni-ht  to  save  a 
hjyal  Maryland  re-inient  —  Composition  and  number  of  our  troops 
concentrated  around  Chirkstown  —  Destination  —  March  of  my 
};riuade  to  iJerrvvi'de  —  A't.ick  upon  a  threshing-n',acliine  —  Enemy 
abandons  V.'iuchcster—  False  al.u-m—  Night  inarch— StoncuaU 
Jackson's  leelin-s  upon  retinng  from  Winchester  without  a  fight  — 
Foran-imc — Our  troops  punish.ed  f.v.  it- — Rati  jus  —  Fo!  tihcati.'ns 
ab( .lit  Winchester  —  Second  F:gin','rnt  in  r.ew  brigade  —  March  of 
]'if:h  Corps  (Hanks)  !or  Centieville  —  March  arres'ed  —  1 '..tile  of 
Kernstown  — Appearance  of  batde-t'vld  —  Vcnge..nce  of  a  Vh- 
oinian- Enemy's  line  of  battle  —  Attack  upon  enemy's  line  — 
Nu!-bcrs  engaged— Gvti.  Shield^?  slrataoem  —  John-^tvMi's  instruc- 
tions to  Jack^nn  — Ja-U^,olds  r.  treat  —  Ft  rocion-^  Germ  m  —  c^tras- 
^.ll■^_^LcCi^  dan's  instru  .ti'-ns  to  Danks  —  Second  campa-gn  — 
Strasburg  to  Wood-^tock  —  Skirinl--!!  —  Fdenburg  —  ArLiiiery  tight 
—  Ashby's  exploits  —  Cart-hor-o  for  Aid  —  Picket  stacking  — My 
horse,  his  hie  and  death 


CHAP'IFR    IV. 

FifealEdcnburg  — Tim  and  Stephen  — Religious  services  — TMarcli  n'om 
Fdenburg  — Askbv  v.it!^  hi-^  v.hite  horse  -  ^^va-.t  J.iekMr.i  — The 
t^ankin-  o<'  ;mn— Denning's  ]3rigade  —  Cr  ^^^;^g  i!  e  ShLUandeah 
—  Views  at  X.  w  ^Ru•ket  — Virginia  liou-u  (entrance  to)- lh;gade 
1  i.:.;d  piarteis  —  i'rot-  ction  to  ndsircss  of  house  —  Fre-ing  s:aves  — 
Sufferings  o.  fand'ics  of  Southern  s.,hiiers  —  March  to  I J  ,r.i~onburg 
—Jackson  retreats  across  Souti'i  Fork  of  Shenandoah  — Ihiterness  ot 
Suiithern  women  — Vi.vvs  of  Adndiiistration  upoti  the  ch>se  ot  the 
war  —  Marri.3  :e  of  otrker  of  Second   Massacha;.<^tts  U>  a  Virginiai\ 


iv  CONTEXTS. 

—  Frices  of  food  in  1S62  in  Valley — Erokerage  business — Green- 
backs for  Confederate  money —  Council  of  v.-ar  —  Orders  to  return 
to  Strasburg  —  Slave  woman  Peggy  —  A'arni —  Orders  to  cross  the 
G-.;)  -A  >T-i-=sanutten  Mr..i..ntain  at  New  Market  —  Sunrise  from  the 
nvji;ntain-top  —  Xo  fight  —  New  Market  again  —  Telegraph  oper- 
ators as  a  guard — Orders  from  a  cierk  —  Return  to  Straslnirg  — 
(Occupation  there 45"^9 

C  H  A  P 1'  E  R    Y. 

Confcdeiate  Gen.  John-ton's  instructions  to  Jackson  and  Ewell  —  Ewcll 
ord-rred  to  march  at  once  for  Gordonsviile  —  Jackson  countermands 
this  and  orders  co'.n'uined  movement  against  Banks  —  Why  Jackson 
fonght  Milrov  at  McD'.-.veU  —  Jjhnstnn  p',:inned  Jackson's  move- 
•  rncnts — Jackson  as  an  executive  orncer — Action  of  the  War 
Department  in  leaving  La.iks  witli  4, ceo  to  fight  Jackson  with 
20,CG0 — Vvhere  Jacl<son  plaimed  his  cairipa^gn  —  Direction  in 
vdiich  he  moved  —  Strength  and  composition  of  forces  —  Front 
|,;oval  —  Col.  Keniv's  ti;;ht  and  destruction — First  report  that 
reached  Straskurg — Vhat  Banks  did  and  did  ni't  —  My  }'r<t  in- 
ter.ie.v  with  him  —  }dy  second  —  What  he  said  —  Appeaiance  of 
town  at  night —  My  brigade  prepared  to  march  —  What  Er-nks  did 
and  what  he  officiaily  reported  he  did  — .At  11  a.Yi.  of  the  24- h  May 
Eanks  determines  to  reniain  at  Strasb'irg  —  F.nmediately  ait^r  11 
A.  .M.  E-.:.k^  det-jrmincs  to  leave  Strask--P-g — Leiler  to  me  f-um 
Ikar.ks  — Inf:-rmat;-.n  l>y  letter  ttiat  tlie  enemy  lias  cut  us  oft — Why 
Tackson  did  not  interp^ise  his  army  betv/ceu  us  and  Winchester  — 
Description  of  line  johdi.g  Strasb'ng,  Front  Royal,  a;;d  Wi::.h.:-ter 

—  Movement  of  er.cmy  upon  Strasburg  and  V/inchester — Stiiart's 
cavairv  attack  at  Ncwt.in  —  0"r  flight  from  Stra-,burg  —  .Appear- 
arce  of  column  as  it  r'-ached  Ce;'ar  Creek  —  P.a•d^:.^■s  adm.i.-iiun  — 
Ilea-.!  o'--  column  r^jached  Middletown — Shirndsii  wicli  ercny's 
(-^vii'rv  —  DoncUv's  l^rigrde  and  a  wagon-train  enter  \V:r,^he.>ter 
caiiv  in  afternoon  of  24th — Sound  of  canno:i  heard  in  rear  — 
}.\:-  Brigade  betwe-.n  Mlddietown  and  Nev>town  —  Fugitives  and 
lh;-ir  jtjrv — linemy  cut<  ofi  reai-g  lard  —  Fornv,  ne^v  lenr-guard  — 
Geri.  Ikxnk>  apyears  —  .Another  i car-guard  —  I  ai:ume  co:n'.na-:d  — 
Wagons  wrecked — Ln-my  attacked  and  driven  from  rsewtnv.n  — 
Jackson's  strategy —  His  army  encounters  oar  cavaliy  a^  Mi^id;ett)wn 

—  -Ti>e  rcsnlt— Fancy  ^i:etchcs  by  Coke  a-d  Dabney— Gen.  1  latch 
commanding  our  c:iv,-Iry~  Turns  townids  >.rashurg  and  opers  fire 
u->on  Tack-on — Ced.ir  CrLci;  l;.-id.re  bmT.ed  Ir.- our  trumps— Gen. 
Ila-ch  e-capes  thruu_,h  the  V.V.'s.  to  the  West  — \\'here  and  when 
our  cavalry  returned  t..<  us  —  Gen.  Jackson  discovers  that  Banks's 
m.dn  colcmn  l;as  c'ud.d  hi- attack — He  purjin-  v,  Xewt'nvn  — 
Condidua  (u  cur  wagn-,^  nn  the  road  licm  Mitld'Ieto.vn  to  Xewtown 

—  Willi  my  brigade,  1  h.ok!  Newtown  til!  niglit — Gcu.  Hatch  appears 
th>;re  —  Capture  of  a  icijcl  surgeon  —  Comnii:::-a!y  wlu^kcy —  What 


CONTEXTS.  V 

the  surgeon  reveals  —  Preparation  for  v.JLbr'.rawal  from  Xev.tov.-n  — 
Order  cf  march  —  Second  Massachu.^etts  as  rear-^uard  — ^Vhy 
T.>.c':.--on  nllo-ed  u-  to  hoM  Xew'ov.Ti  for  so  many  hours  — Jackiou 
enurs  Xewt-v.-:.  '^lu.  ve;  jic:;:- —  TliJns  at  th.  burning-  %va- .no — 
Bartonvire  -  Enemy  attack  rear-guard  —  March  resumed  —  Head 
of  colninn  reaches  \Vincheitcr  —  Cnl.  Andrc^vs  arrives  at  Kerns- 
ton-n—  Rear-guard  arain  a;ta;ked  by  e:  emy  _  I  return  to  meet  the 
regiment  at  Kern^to^vn  —  Enemy  cay:vres  Dr.  Leland  and  the 
wounded  —  The  Second  arrives  at  \Vinchester  —  Gen.  Eanks  m 
AVInchester  and  my  conference  v-dth  him  — Gem  Vviiiiams  in  com- 
fortai'le  quarters  —  Aroused  l^  report  ot  eacmy  aavancm^;  -  :ymg 
visit  to  Banks  ?«  rtf?/^'^  to  battle-field  .         ..,.••     70-il; 


CH  ATT  Ell     VI. 

Pesciirlicn  of  cou;,try  ar-oun.:  V/i-chestM- —  Fuimatiou  of  my^^line  of 
battle— Length  .jf  enemy's  line  and  of  mine  c.-'mriai-e.'  — Ta<.k?on 
opens  the  battle  by  a  movement  against  my  picket,- —  I)..'-;'cy's 
piety— Second  Mass.  ELe^in.ient  moves  to  position  under  a  hoc  fire 
from  artillery- Skinni:.hers  from  Second  behind  Stonewall  drive 
enemy's  gunners  away  from  their  gim^  — Attempt  to  knockdown 
wall  with  solid  .^hot  —Jackson's  precautions  to  keep  us  from  charging 

-  his  batteries  —  CoL  D.-nelly's  fight  with  Eweii  —Jackson's  prepara- 
tions to  assault  with  his  ^^ho;e  command  —  Advance  of  Taylor's 
Lri^ade  on  m>  ri^h:  and  f ; on:  —  T  he  advance  a:;=theti.aliy  cnsid- 
ered  — Attempt  to  rc?i:,t  Taylor —  Jackson  views  the  scene  — We 
are  overwh-dmcd  — The  e.-.my  c-owd  i'.-  ba^k  to  town  — Tisc  Sec- 
ond Ma^sachusct:s  and  Ihird  \\!:-consin  st,:»p  to  de'ivcr  one  nvre 
fire—  We  enter  the  sircets  —  Co\.  Andre ^vs  retreats  at  nr-t  in  contor- 
mitv  with  i.ie  rei^alaiions.  but  finaily  saerilices  the  tactics  Tee  re- 
t.-eU  t'lr^^u^h  tls/miin street  in  V:incke>t->  de,cr:bed—  G^n.  Jackson 

^  ---tTfM 

at*i.n\n',s  to  r!;--cr Jackso;\'s  intaritry  iohow  a?  tar  as  jjup..-:tr  rliU  — 

A.hby  continues  to  Martin.burg  —  Stc  .van's  cavalry  make  no  pur- 
suit—Reason  why— Y.'e  reach   the    Potomac  — Scene    described 

H-w   ',\\J.   when  we  crossed  —  I'ank-'s  Odicial   R-.por:  ot    the 

retreat  —  Wiiat  Ranks  did  kn  .w,  and  wivit  he  reported  I'j  knew  con- 
t-n5ted— Our  lighr  and  r-trcat  reviov  cd  —  ^Vhen  j  cck^  n:  reached 
tv,,,  river  — Panks':.  O.Vicial  Rep>.rt  of  losses  —  L'-.s>es  in  Scccnd 
M.,,^._i:;:emy'sa.^connt  c.i  hi>  capr-rcs  —  Gen.  P^nks  evpresses 
h-s  indignation  r!:rough  A-^^oc^ucd  Prc^- — C'nfedevate  Ge-.  J.  E. 
pdmston's  account  of  cap-nres  on  'n;r  retreat  —  X.rt'iern  slcries 
of  ontra-e  by  So.uhvrn  aruiy  contradicted  — Confirmatin;  ..f  nam- 
bcrs  of  Jackson's  army  — G-.v.  Andrew's  nr>:clamati.,m  iiow  caused 
—  ^i^jorCope:and•s  pmckimation,  and  .vhat  came  ot  it— Excite- 
ment in  other  Slates— Paak^  assigns  a  ud!  br-gad'er  to  conm^and 
of  my  brigade  —  ilanks's  order—  KecommendatloR  signed  by  gen- 
eral oniccrs  fjr  my  pioniuti^n  —  l.'cspatch  from  Secretary  of  War 
to  Go..  Andie.;,'ih.;t  C/..  G..uE...  »\ll!  be  pA.m..ied  —  E:terview 


Vi  COXTENTS. 

with  tlie  President  of  the  Uni'ed  States  in  tall  of  iS6i  —  Reasons 

given  why  the  recomm^n<lati.<;i  of  del-gation  in  Con;::-?s  in  Maisa-  J 

cliu.^ctts  for  171V  proia'Hi;.-n  were  unheeded — Gov.  Ar.dvew's  pro-  | 

te;-t— Gov.    An 're  v's  Cm:  c;r  iLi.'diif  n  i:;ji  ii  •:.3-  p:  j!n-;t: on  —  Com-  | 

missioned  as  llriuadiei-  General  of  Volunteers  —  Ordered  to  report  i 

to  Banks  —  Uanks's  order  to  re[-.ort  to  Secretary  of  War  —  Secretary'  | 

of  War's  peremptory-  order  to  jianks  to  place  nie  in  command  of  | 

my  old  brigade  and  relieve  Gen.  Green 1 10-145  | 

3 

CHArTKR     VII.  I 

I 

Harper's  Ferry —  Ap-Tiearance  ot  our  old  camp  on  Maryland  Heights —  | 

Brigade  near  Front  Roynl—C.-n-ratnlations  by  ofn.cers  of  Second  I 

Massachusetts  r.p vn  my  promo'.:. ;a  —  Gen.  Pope  placed  in  commaiul  | 

of  new  army,  called  Arm. y  of  Virginia — Corps  of  that  army  and  5 

commanders  —  Field  of  opeiatior.s  of  this   army — McC'ellan   re-  | 

fnses    to    confer    with     Pope  —  n.ddeek    Comniander-in-Chief —  ^i 

Strength  of  Pcpe's  arrny—  Xev.-s  of  disaster  10  McClellan  —  Use  'j 

to  be  made  a.'ccr  d'-astcr  of  Ai'i'f  ^-i  \'irg!nia  —  March  of  Lanka's  | 

Corps  across  the  Plae  Ridge— Pase  of  operations—  E!^ect  uf  our  | 

appearancjnpvn  the  people  avd  thelf  property  —  Gen.    Ranks  re-  ^ 

turns  from  V>'a-!-.ington  —  lie  si-.aka  rt  his  mess-tab'e  of  alarm  in  | 

our   capital— Copeland   hears   him— Sends  in  secret  cipher    sub-  j 

stance  of  ISanks's  remarks  to  Bvst-vn  editor- l):ip^::.di  stopped  and                    '  i 

deciphered  in  Wa-hine  ;on— S  .•nvn   t^  the  Fres'  lent  —  Copdand  ; 

dismissed,  and  kr.t  apprised  of  it  in  a  ne-Asnapcr  paragraph  — ^!y  | 

interviev;  with  R.inks  .a:'.er  h::>  r  t;:rn  nom  \Va.-h::;gr''n^  d^.'cr'bed  | 

—  Camp  near  \Vancn-on  —  Rce..very  of  my  stolen  horse,  and  how  | 

it  was  done—  Enemy  arrive  at  Gcrdonsvdle  —  Camp  at  i  .ittle  Wa>h-  f 

ipo-toR Position    or'    coips    on    base  —  Scenery — 1  )estrueiion —  I 

])"ri'ls  — My  mni-arv  fmnlv -■  P^^pc's  ..rdcrs  —  P:  pc's  presence-          .  | 

r.,pv-src.--;;w--Coh.ncF.fih.-i\v.M;v-;e',e.th  Pui: --,  Capt.  Fold-  | 

Cc^nt  iPnise— rieat  and  dn::  —  Sh'kne  ,s  a:id  d^a'h  —  Diarrlio^a  I 

and  dirt— -Sieknefs  in  the  S<-on.l  M -.ssachuseUs  —  Cnpt.  Goodwin  ^ 

to  RaiNks  rnd  S'/:!  "n  the  vth  of  .Vnges:  to  march  on  Chiipepper—  ^ 

ToRickett's  Division  to  mov..  beyond  Cuipej^per- Our  marqh—  | 

Jackson's  march  to  attack  P.-pe  —  Pope's  knowVdge  of  Jackson's  | 

movements  — Sig'd  a<ks  what  ro:;d  lie  shall  take  to  Culpepper—  | 

Crawford's  R:ig:uie  at  Cxlir  Cr^  d.  ^npp  iting  the  cava'ry—  Aue'.>t  | 

oth,  Pank-,'s  Corps  s-nt  f  Tward  to  Crawiord-s  positi  .n  —  Gen.  Roll-  | 

erts.  Pope's  chivfof-^taft,  places  Pank^-'s  Corp^  i'l  position  at  Cedar  j^ 

Cj-^ek  —  (ndcrs  mv  l>r';:ule    to  the    right  on  a    Ind — i./esenption  ^ 

of  the  connt.ynro-md,  in'iinh,>g  t-:c  bauie-.Rhl  -.f  Cedar^  Mwnnt:^in  | 

lj.jscr;ption  i-f  our  p...di:i.ii   e>n  extreme  rigiit  —  Hanks'^  elective                       -  « 

force  as  reputed  tn  Pope  atid  hi->  f.ree  as  reported  n.  Connnittee  on  | 

C  wsdaet  of  ih--  War,  and  wini'  it  really  was  -n  the  9'h  of  August—              ^^  | 

l;e  n;anner  in  which  niv  liiga.ie  was  di-.po.  =  -d         .         .         .         .M6-it>S  i 


CONTEXTS.  Vll 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R     \'  I  T  T  . 


Jackson  moves  his  infar.tn,- tor-.vari!  into  ihe  right  —  ^^ovenleIlts  of  our 
cavalry  —  Enemy's  lorce  on  the  mountain — Winder's  batteries  In 
the  road — How  Jacks jn's  wIvAq  force  wxs  di^pjsed  while  the  ar- 
tillery c:.>inb,'.t  was  goiu;.',  on  —  Banks's  nr-t  forward  movement,  and 
■what  he  made  it  for —  How  he  intended  to  accomplish  his  purposes 
—  Hii  despatch  to  Pope  —  Crawford  persuades  Banks  to  make  his 
movem;-nt  with  a  brigade  —  Orders  from  Banks  at  five  o'clock  — 
T'nird  Wiic.Misin  skirm.isl'ers  ord-red  by  Crawf.^rd  to  join  his  bri^'- 
-,l^.^C'\.  I\u^er  protests  —  Banks  orders  the  movemeiif  neverthe- 
lej^ — Exact  p..sition  cf  the  enemy's  line  of  battle — Position  ar.d 
numb.-rs  of  our  lire  cor.frontinc;  it  —  F-cserves  Oi  the  two  armies  com- 
p^-^rcJ  —  Descrij-'tion  of  the  movement  of  rec,iir.ents  of  Crawford's 
l.ri-:^ado  again=c  the  enemy  and  its  effect  —  Banks  now  threv,-  forward 
the  v.ho'e  of  his  corps  except  my  Brigade  and  the  Tcnih  Maine  — 
Soiitiiern  description  of  the  charge  —  Lmss  in  the  enemy'  brigvdc.^. 
whicii  ch.eci<ed  our  pursuit — History  of  the  Tenth  Maine,  its 
position  during  the  assault,  and  v.'hat  v.-as  seen  by  its  omcers  — 
JiSanks  orders  the  Tenth  ?\Ia'ne  to  advance  alore  against  theeneniy  — 
They  advance  and  fall  back —  Gen  Banks  sends  one  of  his  stafi  to 
arrest  the  baci.ward  mivomen.t  —  Col.  Peio'ase,  the  siah-or.Kcr, 
trkcs  con.mani.';  of  r'r.e  reiiaicn:-— Is  soon.  v/Land,d  and.  retires  — 
Then  \'.  hat  happened  to  t'le  Tcntii  Ma'ne  —  Where  they  were  when 
mv  brigade  came  into  a:u"a  — Gen.  Williams's  signal  to  me  — 
Moven.enis  of  my  brigaile  i.i  cbcdieace  to  his  orders — AVhat  I 
found  vviitn  I  got  up  to  the  line  of  the  wood  bounding  trie  vvdicat- 
fi,.:j  .-  Wheie  I  f^jund  Crawford  —  My  line  of  batde  formed  --  CJ. 
Andr;;ws  sees  nothing  to  fire  at 169-1S5 


C  i  I  -V  P  f  E  Iv     IX. 

Movements  of"  enemy  at  tune  my  brigade  was  ordered  into  action  — 
What  1  found  on  r.^y  :.;nt— \Vnat  Col.  C(dgr..ve  tiioiighc  he 
sav.  — '•  We -arc  tiring  on  onr  own  vacn  " — Ilovr  1  proved  to  !l,a 
c.-ntrar,-  —  The  Tv.-enty-bj\-enth  Indiana  hreaks  to  tlie  rear  in  con- 
fusion—  Tiie  Second  Massachusetts  standi  SLoady  —  A  brigade  of 
the  enemy  gains  our  rear  —  I'iist  seen  in  coian^n  cf  conij)an:e5  behind 
our  ii.,h:  :'aii^ — hire  ugeiKd  an.!  i's  v;:;cCl  —  Ca;t.  Iv':-.-e!:  ana 
^faj  .r  Sa>a.e— Ccl.  Andrewi's  hor^e  wound:d— My  hiase  breaks 
through  t'le  tiiuber  —  Of  my  brigade  I  could  rally  only  from  tldrty 
to  fifty  men— :^^eeond  Nla-^  .chnsctts  niarched  in  good  orderl^y  Cul. 
Andi-jws  ')nl  .<f  t!ic  v,o  d-—  Return  to  the  c  ttage  —  Chai^?e  in  its 
condilioi)  —  Dead  and  w. vnnded  —  (grder  from  Gen.  Williams  to  fall 
back  — ])id  not  obey  it  — Order  fu.m  Gen.  Banks  to  fail  back — 
Pope  an''  Banks  togjth-M  in  the  road  —  Report  to  them  in  person  — 
Po-e's  arrival  on  the  field,  and  how  he  came   there -•  Incidents  of 


Yin 


COXTKXT; 


his  ride — My  interview  with  Popt,-  and  I'aiiks  —  The  former  _qives 
orders  for  ni;  l'ri;j::i'Jt;  to  tal.e  i:o>it;<jn  —  Vopc  denies  thai,  lie  ordered 
ilanls  to  fi^hL  cii.  I- ■tti- —  li.iiiko  iUct  —  Order,  received  duriiig 
the  tlg'i-.t  from  Uanks  to  charge  acro-s  the  wlieal-lield— Ka.iks  de- 
nies t;-.at  he  gave  such  crd.ib — Order  througii  Major  Perkins  to 
Col.  Andrews  to  charge  across  the  s.uue  held  '.vith  the  Second  Mas- 
sacbi'.settr?  —  Perkins  after\\ards  admr.s  tiiat  sac'i  an  ordc.- -.ias  gi\en 
by  mistake  —  Andrews  refers  to  ivrj  —  He  ;s  ordered  not  to  obey  — 
Eanks's  order  to  nie  discussed —  IJanks's  general  moven.ents  con- 
sidered—  Final  charge  of  Jackson's  anviy — My  movements  in  exe- 
cuting Pope's  orders — Policed  by  Gen.  I'ovv'er  of  Rii'kett's  Di- 
vision—  Fired  into  !.>y  enemy  in  attenndng  to  take  up  p':sition  des- 
ignated by  Pope  — Tv.elith  Ma.ssachiu^eils engaged —  Capt.  Shurtiefi 
killed  —  Pope  and  ids  staff  during  tiu?  eng.igement,  wiiat  happened 
to  t'lcm  and  v.d  .t  t'lcy  did — Accidcr.t  to  Ba:iks's  opposing  batter- 
ies—  Dar.ger  from  cur  o.vn  —  Move  to  the  rear — We  meet  Sigel 
and  his  corpi  —  S'gei  confronrs  the  Second  Mass.  Kegiir.ent  — 
P'  pe  C'r::e!S  me  'o  return  to  the  wood  from  whicli  v.e  have  been  tired 
Oh  —  I  return  as  near  as  possible  —  I'iie  enemy  enter  our  lines 
while  seeking  tlieir  regiments  —  Clark,  Eanks's  aid,  endea-.  ors  to 
find  tlie  enemy—  Pupeand  his  general  oidctis  sitting  un:h.ra  tree  — 
The  cn.emv  opens  t're — if:ft::t  r;.e;e  >f — Mv  C'i;nn;and  ordered  to 
tiie  rear — Why  Ja^.k.-vju  ilid  n  .>t  attack  oi  the  io:h. — ■  C_>ur  line 
of  b-i-tle  on  the  i^tli  —  Fhig  o-f  irnce  on  the  nth  —  i^attle-field 
ar.d  its  appearanci^ — L.;ssjs  in  n;y  b::gade  —  I.  i>es  in  the  Sec- 
ond iMasL^.  I\egi;r.":V.  —  Fijrces  c-. spared — Pro<.  f  that  Jar'Kson 
was  unwiiiing  to  n.e.c  ns  v.l;n  e:;nd  n-nnber^  —  Ja•.;v^on  accom- 
piisiied  noti:ing  by  his  vict'j."y  —  A  fe'.v  woids  upon  i)  ■ 
that  he  only  rcsisced  an  i^;;..^.k  by  tin;  tnenr/ 


-  --  i'l 


c  11  apt;: 


Was  Panks  ordered  to  figh:  the  b.u.ie  of  Ced  tr  M..unrain  ?  — Pope's 
])!a!i:^ — What  w;'v:  th  y  r — I  ^■..:   Pfc  cn;::!.u.ntcate  hi-   plans  to 
itianks  ? — lIo.v\,<.ie  :h--v  c-.-ni.au. :i-a:^d  - — Proof  t'u.r  Panks  did 
unders-::And  1 '-P-'-  '-rier-  —  0.:n    I.--'v:t;;"a    le-iimony   bek-re    the 
iMcDowell  Court  «,;  InLydrv —  V>  '.■..:•.  h-..:.k.-  i.^nst  have  answered  if 
he  had  bee:;  !::terr-'-:  :'.'■■'.  leicre  '.    ■■  ngiit  or  immediately  aUer  the 
battle— iiow  Paui  ^  ;-..:i..e:>  ;-'n:s.if  — -  IP.w   -ume  of  his  friends 
jasdr.- him — F.-'i......  —  ;'-_..■>  v.-:  :_   —  i  ne  nnu.  igen' .nt  of  the 

battle  crit!^;--.-.i — ]!-nk-  r^p--::e  I  tha:  h.  v. as  driving  the  enemy  — 
Crav.-fe-rd's  atter.nit  to  j',>.r:;'y  P.,-.;!'  —  banks  retlects  ui>.jn  my 
brigade— What  w-.nid  i.a^e  i:..,y-!U:-l  h.ui  Wiiiiams  n.ovcd  his 
wh.^ie  i'ivisio:.  >ima  :,;■  e  '.  ;-y  :.  -iie  ;.s;-  uil — Ihioks  n;nst  bc 
nnswered  —  Our  rC.w.n  t>  Oni;  c:..;,e--  and  hurried  mo\em>;nt 
t-.'wards  Wasiiin;tvn— i;.;.c:et:on:, 


Cli  APTER   I  J  I. 


I  cLOsri)  my  last  paper  with  the  President's  order  for 
a  movement  of  the  oxmy  against  the  er.einy  on  \Va>hing- 
ton's  Birthday.  It  has  been  urged  that  this  seeming  ir^ter- 
ference  with  the  plans  of  I'JcCiellan  was  due  to  the  fact 
that  that  officer  did  not  sccra  to  appreciate  the  value  of 
time  in  its  relation  to  national  finances,  and  to  a  Demo- 
ciaticform  of  Govcrntn..-nt ;  also  that  furiiier  delay  involved 
national  despondency. —  a  tax  levied  upon  the  people  for  an 
immense  debt  which  had  borne  no  fruit  in  victories  ;  distrust ; 
a  great  fall  in  national  stocks  ;  and  a  po:.slble  ii  not  probable 
foreign  intervention.  Idierefere  the  President's  Order,  No. 
T.  issued  against  :vIcCiellan's  protest,  peremptoril}"  com- 
manded an  riclvance  at  al'  points  on  the  23d  o[  February. 
^IcClellan  v/as  |daced  at  the  head  of  t'le  Arn-.y  of  the 
Potomac,  and  soon  ceased  to  be  con;Tnander-in-chiet  c>t  the 
arniies  Cif  tlie   Unitccl   l":)!:  ics. 

It  was  very  early  iu  t;  e  morning  of  the  27th  ot  T-ebruary, 
1862,  when  I  marched  our  regiment  through  the  streets 
ot  Predcrick,  in  Marvland,  to  take  the  cars  fur  Harper's 
P'erry.  As  "our  band  aroused  the  town,  ;'oung  lames,  hur- 
riedly dressed,  waved  handkerchiefs  from  windows,  and,  in 
some  cases  with  teai^  id  repressed,  utLered  a  treuuding 
gooddn'.  Tl-tough  their  hearts  were  full  ot  anticijjations, 
h.opeiul  and  fearful,  tl^eir  heroism  was  magniricent.  While 
there  v/as  s'dicin'.de  for  suffering  th;it  must  come,  iherc 
was  no  fiincb.ing.  I  saw  a  sister,  sending  a  bruther  to 
fight  against  her  husband  ;  I  saw  a  father,  armed  to  fight 
aadn.t    his    sons.       All    were   heroes,   and  all  seemed  pruud 


that  they    could  do  something;-    to  crush  the    "accursed  Re-  1 

bclhon."      A   Mar) land   rc;-iuicnt,  raised  principally  in   Fred-  | 

crick,  as  a  honie  2:uard,   choosinir  its  own  dutv.  volunteered  | 

to   g'o  v/ith   us    to    the    field.       Its   colonel    was    one    of    the  | 

most  prominent  men  in   the  city.  | 

When   ve  arrived  at  Harper's   Ferry,  v;e  found   the  place  | 

more  wreckevl  aivd  ruined  than  wlien  we  last  sav,-  it  in  July  | 

cf     iS6i.       Blackened    v.-alls    met    the    eye     at     every    turn  ;  | 

there  was   n(_i   lif*:-   in    the  town.      Now   and   then   we   saw   a  | 

prov.'ling  inhabitant  stealim;  around,  —  the  i;liost  of  a  former  | 

life.     Our  passage  in  the  cars  had  been  so  tedious,  through  | 

inierminal)le    delays,    tiiat    we    v,-cre    glad    enough    to    cross  | 

the   pontoon    bi'idgo,    laid    duv.-n    by    the    engineers    for    this  | 

invasion,    even    ii;to    that    towri    of    desolation.     A    good  old  | 

negro   v.-onaan.   friglitened  to  death    at    first,   aided   the    com-  1 

,.        „         .  ...  .       .  n 

mandmg   ofncer  oi    our  regmient   m   i-x-ttimg  siipi^er  m   one  g 

of   the   icw    houses    left.       lleie,    while   ;'    biaght   fire,    made  | 

fiom    tlie    nahn.gs    oi    an     adjoining    fence,     l>urned     in    ari  | 

open    fi re-place,    the    good   old   aunty,  keeper   of   the    house,  ^ 

turned   out  bedding   for    th.c    nii;'p.L,    ana.i    made   herself    ren-  4 

a 

erally    usciul,     as     well     as     amusing    in.     Iver     talk    of    tlie  § 

"  seceshers,"    as   slie  called  tliem,   v.-ho   were    here    only    last  .| 

5>undny,    pray'ug    that    the    river    nnght    rioC    "  to    keep    ihc  i 

"^'ankees     out."       liow     she     laug'ned     as    sive    tuldt    us    that  ^ 

she    sav,'    our    men,    whons    she    called    Indians,    lying    down  p 

on    tlieir    Ixicks    on    tiic    other    sicii.'    of     trie-     ri-cer,    to    hvid  | 

and    t'.rc    at    tl^.c    "  secesli "   here.     And    "she  is  •■lad  of   it,"'  3 

I 

she   say.s  ;    she  wants  the  \'ankees  to  wh.io   the  secesh.   and  j| 

will  laugh,    long   a:i'l   louc!    again,    "  if  \'-n\  'se   able   to   do   it."  ij 

We    lound  Gen.    "AlcClellan  here,   with   a'  large   start,    giving  jl 

.   ,  i 

persop.al    supervi-ion     to    this,    tiie    nrst    movement    ot     h:s  ^ 

a'any   on   its    momentous    m.ission.  R 

}>efore   nigliifall,   an   armed    reconnoissancc,    to   consist    of  | 

the    Second    iMassaclmsetts   amJ    tr.e  Third    Wisconsin   ]\egi-  | 

iiienLs,  two  sections  of   the  hdrsl  N'ev»-  York  ijattery,  and  four  ^ 

i 


squadrons  of  the  First  Michifrnn  Cavalry,  the  v.-hole  to  be 
cofnmandctl  hv  the  colonel  of  our  rc,<;ipaent,  was  ordered 
"  to  move  as  soon  after  daylight  as  possible"  in  the  direction 
of  Charles  town,  and  explore  the  roads  diverging  south  and 
west  from  the  town.  When  the  sergeant-major  of  the 
Second  came  around  and  notified  company  commanders  to 
be  rcadv,  it  v/as  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Witliout  a 
straggle,  officers  and  men  threw  themselves  from  hard  board 
floors  into  the  open  air,  washed  their  faces  in  a  brook, 
snatched  some  kind  of  a  breakfast,  v^hich  they  vrere  an 
hour  in  getting,  and  took  their  places  at  daylight  m  good 
slvle,  in  ad'.ance  with  rifles  loaded.  In  advance  of  tiie 
infantry  v/ont  the  cavalrv,  and  follovoing  them,  supported 
by  a  rear-guard,  canic  the  artillery,  "all  ready  to  talk  the 
right  kind  of  music,"  as  one  of  our  officers  said.  With 
skirmishers  thrown  out  on  the  flanks,  the  column  made  its 
eight  miles  to  Charlestov.m,  taking  tiiC  town  by  surprise. 

Son:e  few  negroes  guzed  at  us  fom  ti^e  by-w:-ys,  and  a  few 
poor  whiles  looked  lisrlesslv  on,  but  none  hailed  our  coming. 
]. caving  the  infantry  l-)  L(Alvy  as  we  a[tproached  the  tov.n.  I 
charged  through,  at  the  bend   of   three  squadrons   of  cavalry, 
onlv  to  drive  a  pitiful  i.wcntv  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  out.     We 
arrived  at  twelve  oVloc'.  at  noon.      W'niio  making,  with  a  com- 
pany of  cavalry,  an   c-v.^niination  of    tlie  roads,  T  came   upon  ; 
Gen.  McClellan,  and  Ids  vd^ole  staff,  native  and  foreign.      It  \ 
appeared  that  mv  advance  had  been  to  clear  the  wa}'  for  his                         ] 
nniitary  examinanruT   of   the  couatry,  and  the  disposal  of  his                        j 
forces  for  tjie  grand   oncor.iing   movenient.     Gen.  JMcClellan                         j 
having  bi-en  my  classn^are  at  West  P(;int,  we  had  a  pleasant                        | 
and  far.diiar  cona-ersatio;)  for  an  hour  or  niore.                                                 I 

After  rerarning  to  tlie  tiiwn  it  was  determined  to   occupy  j 

and  hold  Charlestown  ;  so  I  v/as  ordered  to  ^end  back  for  my  I 

kiiapsacks,  wagons,  and  the  connpany  prOj^erty.     Regardnyg  our  j 

regiment  a'V)Tvv.-:;i--l\-  as  he  passed  (>o  sonic  of  our  y'lnig  orfi-  ; 

cers  ihouglit},  Gen.  MeCiclian  rode  rapkily  to   Harper's  I-'ci'ry  I 


and  thence  b}'  special  train  to  Washin^^trin.  Frnm  some  words 
c!r=:.pped  at  thu:-  ii.ii-jn-ic\v,  while  looking  over  his  maps,  I  was 
pcr,.uacied  that  1  was  right,  and  tijaL  tnis  was  the  beginning  of 
the  movement:  of  the  Army  of  the  I'otcinac.  Hardly  had  tlie 
order  to  remain  in  town  become  known,  wiien  the  men  began 
to  forage,  somewliat.  Se\-eral  pigs  that  were  running  around 
loose,  as  it  was  termed,  were  shot,  wliile  rnanv  a  duck  and 
chicken  went  into  tiie  nieri's  haversacks  for  supi.nL.r.  Some  of 
you  will  remeniber  that  it  wa:^  nt  Charlestown,  and  at  tiiis 
time,  when  Majo?'  D wight  ordered  a  stop  put  to  foraging  in  the 
Second,  —  a.fter  he  had  seen  all  t'ne  men  of  his  regimeuit 
th.oroughly  provhled  :or.  There  w.ib  gieat  exhilaration  among 
the  }Oung  officers  of  our  reginu-nt  over  the  no\elty  of  being 
f( ''lowed  around  hiy  trust)'  men  to  knock  down  an}djodv  who 
objected  to  their  tii::i):i^  wa)'s,  and  tl'iere  was  mu.ch  enjoy- 
u'lent  and  good  feei.lin.g  \\dtli  us  for  a  time.  A  portion  of  tv.-o 
\\agondoads  of  flour,  captured  ori  our  march,  fell  tu  the  Second, 
and  was  cooked,  t>jO,  wnii  some  ot  their  own  ro!"-.>rcrs,  by  nice 
old  ladles,  Vvdio  v.ere  viulent  secessionists  when  tliey  were  not 
scared  cut  ot  thi-ir  v/its. 

Until  the  9th  of  Marcii,  while  treojes  were  being  collected 
for  an  onward  m''.>\emcnt  upon  Winchester,  we  had  man}- 
st:en[>-.des,  and  can  recjU  plearvanL  c;  niieugn  experiences. 
Cnu'  icgi::ie!it  h,.d  rejomed  Gen.  Abcrcrombie's  Brigade,  from 
vdnich,  as  I  liave  saad,  we  were  detached  for  this  movement, 
and  ^^e  again  occnpi^-d  the  ground  ihat  we  encamped  on  in 
J  id)'  uv  tlie  precednug  \ear,  v.'heii  imder  I'attersun.  In  this  place, 
always  a  hot-bed  of  sedition,  it  nmst  ha\'e  seemed  strange  to 
see  man\'  thousa'K;  inyal  soldiers  qu  triered,  and  the  Xarional 
Colors  waving  over  ihe  tv)wn.  Here  was  tiie  field  where  Jolm 
Brown's  eyes  fell  I'^r  the  last  lime  upon  tlie  "  line  country  " 
ar(aind  him;  tivc  ol.:l  fence,  and  stiunp  xsl^ere  it  was  believed 
he  was  executed..  Tlie  .--tunuj  Inid  been  free!}'  chipped  fur 
mcnicntoes.  '  ( )n  Simd.:i\-.  for  th':  f.r^^t  time  in  naniv  monti-s, 
we  had  religious  :a:r\i.es  under  a  rovjf.     Tiie  Led  on  the  old 


court-house,  which  called  the  people  to  arui?.  to  resist  John 
Brown,  now  tolie.I  ihe  call  to  cluu\:h.  Our  chaphun  preached 
a  movhig  serruon.  Quite  difft-reut  scenes  li^id  that  old  court- 
house witnessed  the  past  week,  from  those  of  two  years  ago, 
when  the  walls,  that  listened  to  John  Brown's  death-sen- 
tence, now  echoed  back,  "  Gh-ry  halleluji''h,  his  soud  is  march- 
ing on." 

Secrecy  was  to  characterise  our  movements.  An  associated 
press  reporter  would  have  laid  himself  out  on  the  occupation 
of  Charlestown,  and  the  presence  of  Gen.  McClellan,  but  that 
he  v.-as  not  allowed  to  send  a  single  word  that  had  not  been 
supervised  by  ihe  commandirig  general. 

Jdere  in  Charlestown  we  stumbled  across  a  good  Union  cit- 
i-:en,  whom  we  had  met  in  Judy  of  i86i.  It  is  amusing,  now, 
to  note  how  eagerly  th.en  vre  hung  on  such  stuii  a-s  this  :  "  lie 
predicts  that  tlie  rebels  v.iil  fall  back  from  Winchester,  and  he 
doubts  very  much  whether  they  vdli  attenipt  to  l;old  Manassas. 
He  thinks  they  will  go  South  and  make  tlicir  last  stand  there, 
if  indeed  they  'stand  anywhere';  tr:at  they  are  getting  no 
recruits,  and  can  get  none  ;  tlnit  tliev  are  pv^orly  armed,  have 
poor  amnumit'on.  Only  assure  the  country,"  said  he,  "  of  your 
ability  to  prott'ci.  tlie  }  eople  in  the  expression  of  tlieir  opinions, 
and  t::ey  vdll  immediaiel)-  decku-e  fo;-  the  I'iden."  In  this  I 
doubt  not  tiicre  was  a  grain  of  trutli,  and  ivw.^,;^;;]y  :^,  r.-i-pj^f^  [ri 
tne  lollowing:  "  Sniceyour  ci^.trance  into  Charlestown,  now  onI\- 
tnree  da;-s,  I  have  heard  great  cliange  in  the  sentin:cnts  of 
some,  that  tornnerly  made  use  of  struiig  secession  language, 
and   I   have  been  much  surprised  at  it." 

'I  his  was  so  clieerful  tiiat  I  thought  I  might  venture  to 
test  the  strength  of  Union  fcdiug  by  sending  Major  Dwight 
to  fmd  rooms  foj-  Gen.  Aberciombie,  our  brigade  commander. 
Kn(»ck'n_;  at  a  prc:misingd..oking  house,  he  was  ccreeted  bv  a 
sharp-vnsaged  wwKnan,  who  eallod  out  to  hini  from  an  upper 
V.  indow,  — 

"  d:)  a\'. av,  I  won't  have  aust'iina,-  io  do  uath  vou." 


"Won't  you  come  to  the  cl^or,  and  let  w.q  talk  with  you?" 
urged  t;;c  major,  blandly  smiling. 

The  door  N/a;^  opened  jus'.,  a  c-cick. 

"Couldn't  you  open  the  door  wider,"  inquired  the  maior 
"  and  so  avoid  a  drait  ?  " 

"■  I  'm  a  lone  woman.     I  am  a  lady,  and  I  am  a  secessionist ; 
and  I  hope  you  will  lose  the  next  battle  you  fight,  and  I  just   • 
as  lief,  tell  you  so  as  not.     I  hope  I  am  a  Christian,  but  I  hop.e 
you  will  get  whijjped." 

Through  the  crack  of  tlie  dcor  came  this  impetuous  torrent 
of  words,  until  the  flow  was  checked  in  a  downright  cry. 

Major  Dwight  was  embarrassed,  but  overcame  it  by  pro- 
ceeding to  business. 

"  I  wa'it  a  rooa,"  '■vjid  he,  "for  Gen.  Abercrombie,  and  1:C 
will  protect  you." 

Still  the  woman  lelused. 

Then   the  u'.ajur,  with  sootliing  words,  mollified   the  gooil 

woraan,  and  soon  received   the  assurance  that  she  would   take  ] 

the  general,  but  she  would  tell  hiiu  she  ■•h!)])ed  he  would  he  | 

whip])ed  in  the  next  b;'.Ltle  he  locghi/'  whicli  Sccmcd  to  afford  | 

her  so  much  relief  that  slie  at  l'.>-t  agreed  to  board  the  gener;di;  | 

and  later,  so  we  learned  from  one  lA  the  staih  began  to  deliver  \ 

...  ^ 

herself  of  sentiniLnts  ia.oiab'e  to  the  Ui.ien.  \ 

■> 
T'hus  we  cr;iv,-ued  in  upon   the  ['eOjue,  lakiiig  iheir   houses,  \ 

hoi'ses,  furnituie,  auid  live  stock.      Of  many  feath.ered  bi}!eds,  I 

i^oriliding   pigs,   and   ^^tately   .;ee.-e   tiiai;    were   seen    upon   our  | 

euurancc/ alas  !   nc't  one  sin"vi\ed.     The  eiujrts  of  the  people  I 

t',)  bear  these  v;oes  v.itli  Chri:;tian  resii;n.ation  were  sometimes  ] 

Ivalieious.     '•  I  heipe  I  m  a  CTiri^tian,  and  it  m}-  e.iemy  hungers  s 

I  '11   feed   him,"   iurnished    v,-ondcriul   co!isoiation    to    a    g«-Hjd  | 

wonum,  whio  hurled  it  at  n-e,  because  I  ga\'e  her  no  encourage-  1 

men.t  for  Jicr  losses.     W'e  f(vj!id.   ti:e  lem.aies  here   nnich  more  ] 

violent  than  the  males,  but   perhaj)S  this  wns  only  from  the  i 

female  habit  of  nut  suppa'cssing  their  feelings.    The  women  toeik  ] 

malic'ous   'deasure   in   exnressin'V   to   our  ofiicers  tlieir  senii-  1 


mcnts  of  hatred  to  "your'''  president  and  to  "jP7/r"  government, 
and  no  anvnini  of  s'voaring  induced  tlicin  to  believu  in  our 
recent  \'ictorics  at  Ilenr}',  !\iiil  Spring?,  and  iJonelson.  We 
found  some  difficulty,  too,  in.  trading  with  oiu-  treasury  noies, 
especially  with  the  luwer  clnsses  ;  but  when  th.ev  found  it  "^vas 
that  or  nothiu:;,  they  took  them  eagerly.  The  thin,  llimsy- 
h)o]-:ing  currency,  issued  by  the  Confederate  States,  as  well 
as  by  their  municipal  ccrjjf'rations,  was  exclianged  among  the 
]>eoi.);e  wit'n  confiLlcnce  in.  its  value,  alth^nigh  I  observed  that 
tliO  knowing  on.es  used  it,  to  buv  lands  of  the  foolish. 

Many  of  our  regiment  can  recall  the  gua?Tl  duty,  on  picket 
>;ir  wiih  the  batteries,  performed  during  our  occupancy  uf 
Cliarlestown ;  can  rcc^dl  \}\c  huts,  thatched  with  alternate 
la}'ers  of  corr.-sta)k.>  an.d  rails,  which  afforded  shelter  from 
storms  of  snow  and  rain  ;  the  fenceless  fields,  where  hungry 
cattle  hrmicdcss  waiiflercd,  treadin.g  do\\-!i  the  stalks  with 
corn  unplucked  and  wheni  unthreshed  ;  tlie  pigs,  Irauled 
out  from  burrows  uncif^T  v.heat-stacks.  and  tlici^  des!)atc]ied  hy 
sv/ords  in  unpractised  hand^-.  and  so  nntinir'v  cut  off  in  tlif-ir 
prime-,  to  satisiy  a  craving  lor  i:urk-ciii)!)s  ;  the  e.\citeme:it  and 
glorious  fun  o*"  the  enemy  being  nenr.  to  startle  from  the 
warmth  of  huge  f's^r^.  ar.d  give  perhc-.pjs  u  skirmish  before 
morihng.  On  all  these  lajuiurios  I  but  touch,  that  I  may 
recall  to  miud  t'aat  tlu:  c;tizc:ns  ol  Charie.-to'vn  were  Cjuite  will- 
ing if  not  anvi.-^ijs  to  nj-'pejl  to  the  oillcer-^  for  protection 
again-t  t!ie  swarms  oi  loragers  who  invaded  their  spring 
houses  apid  ti\eir  cellars  f^-r  food.  .\s  the  :u"m\-  increa.-;cd  in. 
numbers,  our  camiis  were  pitch.ed  on  tlie  uut>kirts  of  tlie  t^nvn, 
wh'jre  I  selc(  t'.;d  as  m)  h.e.i  Iquarters  thic  yard  or  park  v/'nich 
enclosed  a  geritleman's  r,',usc. 

'J'he  n::a!-i's  name  w:is  bi.enncdy,  an.d  h.e  was  supposed  to 
liavc  son.e  Union  \  roc\W\['.c>:  as  wcl!  as  a  house  fu'l  of  females 
and  slaves.  Tha;  inmates  v.  en-  so  much  surprised  to  see  a 
regiment  of  in.fan.try  file  into  tlicir  yard,  and  locate  tents  anal 
baggage  m  front  of  tr-.e  okl  lamdy  n"!an.>i')n,   tliat   there  was 


10 

an  immediate  appeal  to  Gen.  Ixinks,  who  "  thought  I  better  I 

move,"  which  I   uicl,  fir^t  however  calihi;^:  upon   the  fanilv  to  ' 
assure  them,  that  I  tluuiglit  my  protection  v/as  more  valuable, 

than  my  i^re.^ence  v.as  arP'oyin^.  \ 

The  old  lady  of  the  house  was  full  of  apologies  for  her  con-  I 

duct  in  locking  the  d'.ior,  and  tlying  to   the   tKxlroom  in  tliC  | 

upper  story,  as  I  entered  with  the  regiment.     Xotwitlistanding  j 

she  "  had  heard  "  tliat  1  had  "  the  best  regiment  in  tlie  Uniied  | 
States  service,   and  th.e  best  disciplined,"    she    v/as  alarmed, 

she   said  ;  but   she  would   be  gratihed    if  I  would  take  a  bed  ! 

in  her  house,   which    I    declined,   and    slept    in    camp  where  [ 

v/aler  froze,  arid  where  breakfast  in  the  open  air  v.-as  cool  and  I 

invigorating'.  | 

Agaui,  I  nxet  here  oue   of  my  old  frierals  of  the    Patterscin  j 

Ccimpaign,  a  Tdr.  James  L.  ]s.anson  (I  strorigly  suspect  it  v/as  j 

his  slave  th.at  I  was  <>idered  in  i86i  to  r^.ich  and  return  from  j 

Harper's  Ferry},  v/ho,  in  a  polite  note,  begged  tlie  favor  of  my  j 
protectiou.  h-r  his  fauiily.  consisting  o:  i\Irs.  Ranson  in  delicate 
health,  his  daughter  and  her  child,  and  himself  their  sole  pre^- 
tccLor.      '•Recalling"   (the  iiote   continued;  ";an-  brief   inter- 
view last  suimner,  at  Harper's  b'errv,  I  congratulate  mvself  in 

a|'peali:ig  to  one  who  so  favorably   imv're-sed.  me  upon  that  | 

occasi'.n."  j 

■Hovering  over  a  stove  in  nn  tent  on  the  night  of  the  6th  of  1 

iMarch, —  it  v.-as  bitter  cold,  —  I  wore  av.-a.y  tiie  evening  until  ! 

late,  in  a  \ain  elioit  to  lead   f-y  a  wretched   candle  stuck   in  a  j 

sjjuuter'of  wuod'ior  a  stand  ;  and  then,  \,"iLli  a  ^ensc  of  uneasi-  j 

ness,  a  jiresage  tluit  some  disagreealjle  c!uty  v/as  impeiKling,  \ 

I  invoked  slnn-ber.  tiiocgl:  in  vain,  for  hanilv  had  I  lost  m\so!f,  | 

v.hen   an   orderly,  gallvj[)i!ig  thre.ugh  my  camp,  liaited   at   my  j 

tent,  witli  "despatclies  for  (\)1.  G(n-don."  \ 

\ 

W  \\\\  matclies  reac'y,  ]  struck  a  light  and  read  as  follov/s  : —  j 

Geii.  AhercroiTibie  will  imt  !iis  hri-'adc  imir.etlintelv  uiulcr  arms,  and  will  oult^r  I 

.                            ,             '                    '                               '                                          .  i 

tlv.-  .~>i.C'jn(.l  .K.is.-acir-i-.-Us  ;'!i<l  Si.xtt'-Jhtli   Inclian.i  X'uluntcer-;  to  move  caut;oi;^'y  i 

di.Wii  the  I'orryville  :\....l  to  su*.h  a  pviint  as  n;.iv  l.c  ii'dicaud  I^y  an  aiuc-de-caiiip  | 

i 


11 


who  T\-il!  be  sent  out  from  these  he.idquarters.  Two  squidrons  of  cavalry  ami 
two  si-'ctioas  of  artilier'.-  ■.vil!  rCjjort  t>j  C'-o'..  George  H.  G'Tclin,  who  wii!  cinanand 
;he  entire  t\;rc'j,  sibject  to  further  orders  ircn  thcsj  l.eajtjuai  ters.  Lei  not  a 
moment  be  lost. 

By  coiiv.nand  of 

Maj.-Gi:n'U  Banks. 

K.  Morris  Coteland, 

A/aJ.    Vols.,   A.  A.    G. 

Col.  Gordon  will  criinply  with  the  'bove  order. 
By  command  of 

Gk.m.  At;fj'Crom;;iiu. 

Geo.  B.  Drakk, 

A.  A.  G. 


In  a  moment,  I  had  shivo-'ed  iiiivo  m.y  shoes,  ordered  my 
horse,  aroused  our  rcg:in!Ciit,  inei  the  staff-officer,  received 
tiTc  report  that  artillery  and  cavnlrv  Avere  ready;  and  off  I 
.s':^rtcd  by  the  uncertain  lig'ht  of  the  scars.  Soon  thiC  long 
column  unwound  itseU"  in  t!u:  road.,  an.d  we  proceeded  on  at  a 
ra^iid  i)ace.  Ni.)W  ii  wus.  \'^r  rliC  first  time,  tlmt  I  learned  our 
destination.  Our  friends,  the  Mar\dand  regirricnt.  Co1.  ?d"auhsby 
commanding.  h?A  bcs^n  stationed  as  a  gunrd  at  a  ferry  on  the 
Sheriandoah,  betwe-n  [ov.x  and  fiv(i  miles  from  (,"harlestown  to 
the  soiitlieast.  During  tlic  day,  Col.  IsTauisin'  had  been 
li^reateneti  b;.'  the  enemy's  cavalrv.  and  i^ad  a:-.]:cd  i\.)x  rein- 
forcements, wiiicii  were  ri^t  luriiished.  Between  twelve  arid 
one  o'clock,  .-v.  :.r.,  of  the  ^tli,  a  fright'^n^-d  tearn'^tcr  came  fiving 
ir^m  their  camp  to  l^anks's  iieavlquartcrs,  ci'ying  out  tiiat  liie 
Ic-ya!  Maryland  rci^an-ient  had  been  cut  to  p'ieeos.  'i'welve 
himdred  ca.vah'}',  he  saie..  had  attackctl  ttiem. 

My  route  for  a  short  v^s^-v^-n::  was  along  a  good  paved  road  ; 
but  soon  turning  to  th.e  leit,  \\\^<i\\  a  diit  road,  the  mud  aiid 
obstructions  reridercd  it  inapossil:>le  to  }.)rccecd  farther  by 
nigh.t.  Hailing  Iv/  the  ro  uls.de,  I  th.rew  ou.t  pickets  to  the 
iront,  and  directing  tlie  me!>  to  make  theixiselves  comfortable, 
fires  soon  bla/ed  along  our  line  irom  fuel  furnislied  h\  ad.join- 
ine'  fence-rails,       Wiiile  awa'tin:'    davliuht,    I    e.xtracte>'.  from 


12  I 

the  frig-litencd  teamster,  whom  I  hcA  broiic;h.t,alonc;  as  p;uide,  ] 

tl\e  follow  ing  stoiy  oi   the  ciis-tster  tinit    had   overlaken   C(d.  .j 

Mauisbv: —  * 

"  When  the  twelxe  hundre'l  cavalry  of  the  enemy  made  the  | 

attack   on  us,   I   li-.-ard    tlie   tirst  sliots  fiicd,  and   then  heard  | 

the  ofhcL-rs.  say,  'Turn  out,   bo\"s,  the  cneniy  is  upon  you.'"  ] 

Throudiu'   himseh'  drjwn  in  a  hollow,  this  fri£;'hLencd  teamster  | 

remained  conceah-d,  uritil  Ik-  Lhoui;'htall  the  enemy  had  passed,  | 

when  he  arose  to  nnd,  "that  all   his  mules  had  broken  away."  | 

As  fast  as  his  lci^;s  could    carry   him,  he   ra.n  through  fields,  | 

I 

trembling  witii  tear,  sj^reading  the  report  to  our  ov.ii  pickets;  i 

wi!i.>,  many  of  them,  with  the  fugitiw  teamster,  came  crowding  j 

into  Charlestown.  | 

"  Did  you  see  tlu:  enemy's  cavalr}' .'  "   I  asked.  \ 

'"I  saw  the  Maryiaiul  men    run,  and  lieard  tlie  firing;    and  | 

theri  1  tli.fught  it  tin''e  tu  take  care  of  m)'St-lf,'"  he  rerilied.  | 

"Lut  did  ju'u  see  cm)'  of  the  eneun'  ?  "   I  urged.  t 

"No;  but  I  wa.^.  Undi  lijcre  were  t\vel\'e  hundred."  I 

"  iJiu  vou  see  any  one  killed  ?  "  I 

'■'  Nc',  sir.      I  lai'l  ]'.>:\-  u.util  tliey  passed  me,  and  then  I  ran  j 

here  tl trough  the  fields."  « 

"  Can  it  he  possible  that  this  story  is  ali  of  your  own   irnag-  i 

ining  ?  "  I  incuiired.  | 

'■''  N(-',  inoecd,  sir ;  I  hn  sure  th.e  camjj  is  taken,"  h.e  answered.  » 

...  ] 

The  duty  1  was  to  perform,  was  to  capture,  if  possible,  the  | 

cajVLors,  and,  it  not.  to  bring  l)ack  rv-liable  infonv.ation.  j 

x\i  dayligiit  i  reMUued  the  march.      We  \vere  buc  four  miles  j 

from  oiu"  (.lestiujtii.m.    As  v.'e  a[)}.n"oached  the  river,  J  came  sud-  i 

derih'  u|'on  live  or  six  men  of  tiie  i\iar\'la!id  reginicn',  as  tliey  | 

Were  crawling  uul  o;   a  liole  that  b.'  !  irom  a  t)arndoli.     Tiiese  I 

men  conhrmed  tlic  ,-tor}-  of  the  teamster,  sayir.g  that  their  regi-  | 

merit    had   been    cut   to   pieces.      Su'eepiiu;'   thicm   in  witli  ir^y  ) 

encircling  lin.e  of  skirmishers,  1  moved.   ra])idly  for  the  belt  of  I 

woods  in  front  of  the  ferry,  v\:iere  h.ad   beeii  the  encam;)ment  ' 

of  tiu;  regiment.      Near    bv  v.-as   a  s'nall  xilla-e.  in    wliich   I  i 


13 

saw  the  gleaming  of  bayonets,  and  troops  apparently  falling 
back,  but  v.-itii  my  glass  I  couid  not  mal-ie  out  tlicir  colors  nor 
thc'.r  uturorms,  b.>  I  tiirew  oat  an  entire  company  of  skirmish- 
ers, and  ordered  up  the  artillery ;  but  hardly  had  I  madQ 
preparations  for  a  tight,  when  one  of  m.y  cavalry  scouts  came 
galloping  back,  saying.  "Those  are  men  of  the  Marvdmd  regi- 
ment." Passing  them,  therefore,  I  directed  my  column  for 
the  camp,  and  soon  came  upon  sentinels,  whom  recognizing 
by  their  uniformi  as  of  the  Maryland  regiment,  1  "inquired 
if  there  had  been  a  fight,  and  was  promrtlv  answered  that 
there  had  not.  Turning  to  my  frightened  teamster,  who 
stt-od  near,  I  a-ked  him  wljat  this  meant.  "Have  you  not 
had  firing.'"  he  asked  a  sentinel,  without  directly  address- 
ing himself  to  me.  "  Yes  :  we  made  a  mist.^ie  last  night, 
and  our  men  just  fired    into   our  cavalry  pickets,  but  didn't  ! 

hurt  anybody.    Onl}'  a  horse  —  perhaps  a  man  —  was  v/ouaded,"  I 

he  replied.  \ 

"Is  this  all?"  J  ask..d.  1 

"  That  is  all  I  "  replied  the  sentinel.  i 

"  I  ought  to  lie  vou  to  the  tail  oi  mv  horse,  and  drag  vou,  j 

as  a  coward,  b^.ck  to  Cliarlestowri !  "    I  said  to  the  now  pallid  i 

tenmster  bv  mv  side.  l 

I 
"  Weil,  there  was  nring  I  "  he  s^aiiniered  out.  j 

"  And  -IS  sooTi  as  you  iieard  ii,  you  ran,  like  a  great  lout,  five  I 

miles  to  Charlestown,  and  v.dth  your  false  repfi:  ts  have  caused  j 

tnree   thousand    iniaiitry,   tv^-o    seetiun.s   of   aitilierN,   arid   tv.o  I 

squadrons  of  cavalry,  to  be  trailed  oui  on.  this  useless  marcli !  "  i 

Afier  breakfasting  witii  the  oihcers,  I  returned  again  to  my  j 

camp,  wliieli  I  readied  :  c  ten  a.  m.,  b.aving  beeri  ab:-ent  about  j 

twelve  liours.  i 

Information    I;aving    been    received    that    tb.e    enemy    had  '          j 

ab'andonedl  his  Ixatteries  on  the  lower   I'otom.ae,  and  was   pre-  | 
)iaring  to  abandon  ^lanassas,  our  corps,  'pursuant  lo  directions 
received  from   Washington,"   was  ordered   to    move   at   seven 

o'clock,  A.  M.,  of  the  lOtii  of  March.  \ 


14 

While  Congress  had  been  sitLin;^;  in  judgment  upon  iMcCIcl- 

lan,  condemning  his  policy  and  his  plans,  discussing  his  move-  | 

ments  and  misr.ppr^henciing  his  motives,  as  if  it  had  become  | 

a  bod\' of  misrepresentatives  v.dth  the  single  purpose  of  decry-  I 

ing  the  commander  of  the  Armv  of  the  Potomac,  Gen.  ]\IcCicl-  ] 

Ian  had   been    carefully  and   methodically  preparing  his  vast  t 

armv  for  the  field.                                                       •      .  ] 

I  have  referred  to, the   onvv-ard  movement  ordered  by  the  i 

President  on  the  2 2d  ot  February  last,  with  Gen.  McClellaii  in  | 

command  of  the  grand  armv  of  thiC  Potomac,  or-.-anized  into  its  \ 

several  divisionary  corps,  unccM'  McDowell,  Sumner,  Pleintzle-  | 

man,  Keyes,  and  ixiuks.    Halieck  was  in  cliarge  of  a  department  | 

at  tiie  West,  c.id   Fremont  in  clrirge  of  the  mmmtain  depart-  'j 

ment.     it  is  v/itii  Baiiks's  corps  tliat  our  interest  lies.     While  \ 

the  others  were  to  move  on  their  devious  way  up  the  l^eninsula  i 

to  York.tov,-n,  Williamsburg.  t!iC  Cluckahominy,  and  the  James,  | 

we  were  to  move  up  the  vaiiev  of  the  Siienand.'>ah,  closing  this  1 

gate^rav  to  the  euen:iv.     Our  ior.re  was  as   fallows  :  We  had  1 

the  brigades  that  v.m.tered  v/itli  us   nt   Frederick,  command<.-d  1 

b\'    Generals    llanii'ir'n,    Williams,    and    Abcrcrumbie.      Tiiis  j 

i 

force  was  increased  by  tl;e  division  formerly  commanded   '.>v  | 

Gen.  Charles   P.  Stone,  at  ]'v_'''l>vi!lc,  and  consisted  of    three  | 

i)riL\ades,  con;r,ianded   by  Gcnrrrds  German,  l^irns,  and  Dauj.  | 

Oul\'  the  first  two  v,c;e  with  u^,  anci   tiicsv  v. ere  commanded  | 

by  Gen.  Sedjv.-lck,  to  v/hom,  after  St'^iue's   rcmox-al  and   incar-  3 

1 

ceration,  the  div-i-r-iors   was  assigned.      We  had  uIm"-  a  force  of  i 

some  six  thousand  nun,  eomnu! nded  by  Gen.  Sidelds,  formerlv  1 

].-ander's  force,  which  v^•as  r^rdered  to  renort  to  Ikuiks.     The'i  i 

th  jre  were  about  lomtecn   hundred  men.  conuna;ide;l   by  C<..\.  ^ 

Gearv,  not  serving  with  an\-  briga^le.     Th.is  ma-le  up  the  whole  -^ 

of  hkmks's  command.     Tlie  u.^e  t')  be  made  of  it.  was  {jrinuirily  \ 

the  capture  ot   Wi!;ehe.>ter.      It  was  reiiurted,  and  \ve  beliewd,  a 

-                .                           .  ,     -  i 

that    Gen.    (Stonewall)   Jackson,   wdth    irom    seven   to    ele\"en  } 

-        -             1  4 

thousand  n"ien.  awaited  us  belv!:vl  those  lortitied  v/alls.     Wluii-  4 

I 

e\'er  may  liave  "i.;ee;i  Jackson  s  force,  \\c  knew  lie  couUl  incre:tse  | 


15 

it  from  ^Manassas,  or  farther  south.  The  disposition  of  our 
coniniarKi  was  as  follov.'s.  While  our  brigaue  moved  on  and 
to  Char]r-.town  from  llaiper's  Ferry,  Gen.  Williams  with 
my  old  Darnstown  brigade  moved  from  Hancock  through 
IMartinsburg  to"  Bunker  Hill  (our  old  position  under  Tatter- 
son).  Gen.  Hanvih;on  passing  thiough  Charlestown  stopped  at 
Smitluield,  midway  between  Charlestown  and  ]iunkv,r  Hill. 
G.-n.  Shields  halted  at  Ivlartinslnirg  and  Gen.  Sedgwick  at 
Chaj"lestown. 

Our  route  v.-as  first  south  from  Chailestov/n  to  Berryville, 
fourteun  and  one  hali  miles,  then  due  west  tu  Winchester, 
about  ten  and  one  half  miles.  Gen.  Williams  was  only  fourteen 
miles  av\-ay,  and   flumilton  about  the  same.     On  the  morning 

of    th-    loth  of    :^I;u-cIi.   Gen. pl  7    o'clock  started  with 

his  brigade  to  rriake  a  reconnoissance  to  Berr}-vi]le  :  we  were 
to  follow,  and   were   ready.     At   12  m.  a   mounted  messenger 

from  Gen.  came  tearing  into  cam.p,  asking  for  reinforce-  1 

n.ents.      Our  brigade  was  instanth  put  in   motion.      Without  i 

adventure  we  encanv..ed  about    suna';wn  within  0!:e  ndle    of  j 

Berryville;   CtcTi. v/as  there  before  us,  and  v.-iihout  oppo-  j 

sition,  although  not  ^;iIhout  ayvg^/i;/.     While  riding  in  pdvance,  I 

the  commanding  general  saw,  as  he  thought,  prcpaiations  to  i 

op])ose  his  march.      Chi  a  distant   hhl.  surrounded  with  horse-  i 

men,  a  devili.sh  invention  met  hhs  gaze.      -  What  is  it  ?  "  he  j 

asked    in   vain.      "Are    these    three    men    on    horseback    the  | 

advance  ot  legions?  J^ring  up  iihe  hoid-batteri^s  !  "  he  cried 
aloud,      i'oin'ting,    like    Xapolcon    to    the   Britibii  squ:ires    at  j 

Waterloo,  he  shouteil,  "Our  jjathv/ay   lies   theie."     So   Gen.  | 

luirled  his  siiot  and  shell  ai  tins  obstacle  to  his  progress.  ■ 

Olf   scamjjered   the    three   horsemen  ;    dov.-n  irunj    his   perch  j 

scrambled    an.d  scad   tlie   driver   of  a   threshing-n.iachine,   for  ! 

tins    was    the    harmh'S>    innJenicnt     that    lihed    tiic    soul    of  ' 

Lien. with  direiul  j  urpose.     To  camp  tiiat  afternoon  there  j 

ca!r:c  an  old  farnver  to  inquire  v.hv  thev  hred  af   hinn     "Ac-  { 

corumg  to  the  ptwclamation,"   said   he,    "  vou   didn't   con:e  to  I 


16 

destroy  property  or  interfere  with  citizens  peaceablv  following: 

their  nvocntio-is  ;  and  certainly  there  was  nothinj.-;  rebellious  in  | 

threshini;-  wheat.*  | 

'I  here  were  no  sicms  of  Union  feelini';  on  c>i\v  route,  save  in  a  i 

single   house  in  a  mean,   poverty-stricken  little  collection  of  ] 

houses,  by  which  our  ijad  ran,  and  here  we  found  three  or  four  .| 

youny:  women  and  children  lustily  v;a\-ing  handkerchiefs,  while  1 

a  small  boy  held  up  conspicnousl\' a  Uidon  fia^-^  v.ho^^e  diminu-  I 

tive   proportions  coul  I   be  embraced  in  tv/o  inches  by  three.  | 

The  inmates  of  this  house  seem.ed  reckless  in  their  determina-  I 

tion  to  brave  all  dan^^.'cr ;  indeed,  had  they  been  Northern  men  f 

they  could  not  have  expressed  more  joy,  althoup;]-!  the  jud^-ment  3 

hereafter,  if    we  cdd    not    sustain  our>ci\-es,   nr>  doubt  caused  i 

some  repression   of  feeling.     The  Second  l^egiment,  with  tp.e  | 

vest  of  our   brigade,   bivouacked   on    Mondav  night,  the    loth  1 

of    Tviarch,    in   the  vvoods   near   Berryvillc.      Vv'itli   straw  from  i 

farmers'  stacks,  we  added  to  tiie  warmth  of  our  single  blanket;  I 

with   r.ids  from  faruiers'  fences  we  managed  to  n^ic^deratc  nn  I 

atmiOSj)here    that    was    near    the    freezing-jioint.      I'rie-ht    and  | 

earl}-  in   the   rnorniuL;   of   the   nth,  our   cava]r\-,  moving  for-  | 

ward  for  Whnchester,  encountered  the  enemv's  cavalrv,  n^ade  I 

prisoners  or  three,  and  chased  the  rest  to  v/ithin  tliree  or  ie^ur  i 

miie^^  of  the  tov.-n  ii-df.  | 

I 

Gen.    Gorman    i-a.-.v    began    t'5   make   arrangements   for   an  | 

armed  reconnoissance.  in  fi.rce.  tow:!rds  Winchester.     This,  he  | 

wished  Hie  to  cnnK^v.nd,  bu:  somehow  or  other  thf:  day  passed  ^ 

and   nothing  was    do^c.      \\'e    were    awuiting   tVc    arrival    of  | 

Gen.  }-'anks.      I   rode  nroun.d  the  tov;n,  out  on  the  V\"inche.-ter  | 

road,    and    sav.-    th.t:  ami'le  airang-numt;    f;.r  guards  and  a  I 

deter.ce  had  been  ma-_!e.    'J'here  were  no  alarms  swd  no  chani-c  I 

during  the  dav.     Tlie  Tie.xt   m.omin.g,  the    12th  of   .March.,  just  | 

alter  a  loni;  inierview  "\.ith  a  chergA'nna  of  j^ler'-vxihe,  a  Union  | 

man,   who  had.beesi   giving   me  a  p'hiu   of  the   we^rks  aruund  I 


*  'J  his  is  no  (;cti',n  :  th-.-  ii'jry  w.-ii  curr..Mon  t.'.-K,  %'.lv,:i  wc  reaohcd  K-jrrv.-ille.  | 


17 

\\'inchcster,  \%-]nch  I  had  committed  to  paper,  news  came  that 
Inst  iiij-ht  (I'ueS'lav)  the  eaemv  fled  i'rom  the  town,  and  that  our 
force  frum  Bunker  Hill  (Gen.  Wiriiams)  had  entered.  It  was 
trac.  The  Winchester  th.at  we  had  looked  at  in  July  of  iS6i, 
fi;om  this  same  Bunker  Hill,  had  now  been  entered  from  Bunker 
Mill.  The  W'iivrhcster  we  had  hoped  to  gain  by  Berryville,  in 
)  86  [,  when  Patterson  implored  his  rriliiia  to  march,  to  its  attack, 
we  wci'e  now  ab'->ut  entering':  from  l''>erry\-ille.  I  galloped  to 
the  town  with  a  staff-ofhcer  in  anticipation  of  ouf  march 
tlicre  on  the  niorrow ;  f^ound  ever)-thing  quiet  ar^d  peace- 
able ;  and  fancied  perhap:^  there  was  some  Union  feeling. 
Some  Xortiierri  men  were  there,  said  to  be  from  ?vIilford, 
Ma.-;s.,  who  told  me  of  tlie  fliglit  o"'  the  enerii\\  V\'hen  I 
returned  to  Berrvville,  it  was  dark  :  the  ride  had  been  weari- 
some. I  was  iizdulgin.g  in  thouglits  of  a.  good  supper  and 
sleep;  bui  mv  reverie  \Nas  rudely  broker;,  bv  the  siglit  of  bat- 
teries and  brigades  e?:  route  to  Winchester.  JJerryville  had 
been  plunged  iiito  conimoti'in  by  the  report  that  a  fierce  battle 
was  ragitigi!!  th^t  town.  In  vain  I  urged  that  1  had  juiSt  come 
from  there,  had  f  jand  and  leit  no  cucmy  in  sight  or  sound  ; 
that  marriage  bells  were  not  marc  rieaaeful  than  vras  A\'in- 
chester.  it  was  all  in  vain.  On  st-'eamed  the  crdumns  of 
imantiy.  0.\  rohtd  tiie  batteries  and  the  caissons,  whiie  the 
wheels  jarred  and  cracked  against  the  axles,  arid  on  lumbered 
the  baggage-v.-aC'ons  and  trie  camp-followers.  Stdl  onv.ard, 
tratf!j\  tramp,  fur  the  severe  light  at  Winchester,  tiiough  not  a 
Sinmd  ol  iigiiting  v,-e  lieurd.  In.  tlie  (ku'kncss  all  was  quiet, 
save  the  subdued  iioise  of  our  own  senseless  UKirch.  At  about 
twelve  o'clock  at  night,  rwts  or  three  miles  irom  the  peaceable 
town,  I  laid  down  in  the  v,-oods  again,  to  bivouac  in  cold 
and  in  hunger,  with  a  disgiisL,  dee}>  and  undeilnable,  to  awake, 
h)we\-er,  on  tia;  morning  of  the  13th,  with,  all  disc'jmforts 
vanished,  and  our  fatigues  forgotten. 

T\\c  feelings   that  agitated    Gen,.   Jackson,   as  cm-   columns 
a.pjr.eached  ihc  town  from  the  nortii  an.d  east,  have,  ."^ince  his 
3 


18 

death,  been  given  to  the  world.  This  noted  commander  was 
moved  v/ith  doubts  and  {.■crplexiries.  Now  he  v/as  readv  to 
haza-^d  cv^n-tiiin.;  t"-  make  i,"Ood  his  promise  to  the  peojjle  of 
Winchester  tiiat  the  "  Yankees  "  should  not  enter  their  town  ; 
and  then,  more  prudent  considerations  prevailing,  he  would 
resolve  to  retire,  C'uly  again  to  reconsider,  v/ith  renewed 
agitation.* 

On  the  nigl)-  o'  the  nth  of  March,  Jackson  entered  the 
house  of  a  Rev.  ?>Ir.  Graham,  of  Winchester,  with  wh'.ise 
family  he  v/as  iu/'imate.  Here  he  called  for  a  Bible,  read 
aloud,  and  prayed  vvdth  tiie  family.  Then  suddenly  rising, 
he  said,  "  I  will  u.c\er  leave  Winchester  without  a  fight,  never, 
never!"  He  sc>"T  looking  at  Ids  astonished  auditors  a 
niom^'nt,  and  tk/cn,  his  excitement  disai')pe:ir'ng,  his  sv.ord  was  j 

driven  back  vdth   a   ringing  clash   into  its  scabbard, t  and  in  | 

tones  of  ])rornijn(l  discouragement  he  said,  "  Xn,  I  cannot  sac-  1 

rifice  mv  njcn.     I  inren'.led  to  attack  the  enemy  on  the  i\lar-  | 

tinsburg  road,  bu:   tliey   are  approaching   on  the  flanks,  to'.,  j 

and  would  surround  me.    I   camiot  sacriRce  my  men,  I  niust  | 

fall  back;"  an;^  so  he  fell  back   to  J^f')UUL  Jack;.on,  iortv-nve  ) 

UHiCs  irom  \vnjci, ester.  •  j 

About  two  miles  from  town,  tlie  canij)  of  our  rcginient  w;is  i 

lecatetl.     'j'lien  cuiuc   da\"s    o*   C'uJ,   widi  hugv:  hres   in   iniui:  i 

of  lents;  and  d.:\"s  o:  sa'isidne  and  heat,  \ehen  the  Idue- 
birds  and  the  robins  sang,  and  da\"s  wiien  t!ie  air  was  niled  j 

I 

♦-Life  -f  Gen.  (S^-neuiiHi  Jick-on,  1-y  E^t-n  Cr..kf,  p.  too.  | 

t  Oliver   Croinv.eii  !    F.-\-r.ier   Cr'-uiwt!! !    Lord  oi    tlu-  tens'    The   plovciily,  ^ 

u::"ni;.Iy  uiti.ii;er  f.-r  J i!.:;,!iii^  Ion  1  ihe  ni  :;i  v.  ;iins^;\e  I'ori^i.c.ii!,  ;\v;ir.  -':\:\:'::^ 
c\c,  a;:J  ririn-sct  !iys  v.!:  '  l;:i  i  .i  luibic  vi  ^■:;:..;ci;!v  ^i.i--;>:a.^  ;:io  hill  ■.•:  his  ^^^.•:l.I 
wiih.  iir:r.r.e.-.=,  as  if  t'.cre  i:i  i.is  rai^.l  l.v/  tl\e  tr'K'  a;yiir.i(aU,  ov,  .it  all  c\-e;;">, 
wliic'a  \v;iuld,  all  ot'-,c:s  i.-ih'iij,  ass;aC'.!lv  pre\aii  :  (Olivci  Croii.wel!,  \vl-a:>,  ;:t 
N.i.-cly  l-'i<.,;d,   p.T.-:\td  the  v.ore:-,  "  I'c.a-.w  nnd   Ho;  e,"  al<);-::  las  line  a^  liie  tri-  ] 

uir.pLant  I'salni  pL-a'cd  ij:tli,   uiun  U:e  s-.so'.'Is  of  iI.l-  Tioa-iaCj    ilar-i'.ed  In  tl-.i  < 

si.;i:  1     Oiiver  C'roiir.veil,  wi.o    ia  piorciji^i;  t'^iv.-^,  bade  his  Irv.'r.i'dcs  charge  i'.oia.c  J 

"  in  ti^c  ;;a'ne  it'  t!;c  Mo-t  i  ii_  h  Ch  ■.!  "  I     'i'i.'  •  L'v'ow.i',  !.;■-  had  ttr..;;-;;  i^ear  <  .:,c  | 

hundred  ai;J  lillv  \caiji  no  hct.'.r  or  iruLV  p!';'u;vpe  tl:a!;  •' Stoi:e-.'air' J-icksoa.  i 


19 


with  flocks  of  unsightly  ravens  hovering  over  fields,  noisome 

viih    the  carcasses    of    dead    hordes.      Here,    too,    vere   felt 

such  cravings   for  poultry,  thai    the  featiiered   tribe   became 

almost  extinct.     The  peacock  vras  caught  by  his  magnihcent 

tail,  by  vandal  hands,  and  roasted  like  any  common  bird.     The 

officers  shut  their  eyes  whenever  a  rooster  crowed;  for  Gen. 

Abercrombie,  commanding  the  brigade,  had  given  strict  orders     , 

to  punish  all  drt.-cttd  foragers.     This  was  hard,  for  Abercrom-  j 

bie  ate  secession  chickens  ;  but  he  paid  for  them,  it  was  said.  : 

So  did   the  forager  of  a  line  officer's  mess  pay  for  a  calf,  he  , 

coveted,  or  attempted  to  pay  for  it,  but  the  farmer  would  not  i 

sell.     Federal  money  was  offered  ;   then  Confederate,  but  the  i 

o\vner  still  reiused.  I 

"The  officers  have  nothing  to  eut,"  said  the  man.  I 

"  Let  them  starve,  then,"  replied  the  farmer.  I 

"  Not  so,"  said  the  man,  a.s  he  levelled  his  musket,  and  shot  | 

the  calf.  j 

A    Generni    S:aff-OffiCLr — an    unh-^llowcd    quarter-master  | 

did   not    shut    his  eyes;  and  thus  it  was  that   the  whole  1 

force  of  the  North  vcas  cmplo)-ed  to  pum^di  the  destroyer  of  ] 

calves,    to    the    satisfaction    of    the   destroyers    of     country;  j 

for  the  forn=er  wa^  punished   by  unprisonnient,  and  the  latter  ' 

encouraged  to  denv  food  to  his  enemy.     S-.iil,  1  cioubt  not,  our  j 

men  survived  ;  for  1   v.v.y.,  upon  rc^'erring  to  that  period,  that  ; 

our  regiment  arrived  in  camp  at  Winchester  at  two  p.  ^r.,  and  j 

at   hve  »>.  M.   some  of    the    cumpanies   j:'.ad.   birdt  brick   ovens,  j 
from  vhich  there  came  forth  fresh   bread,  to  njake  more  pala-                      .  \ 

table  the  baked  beans   and  mutton-chops    wbich  graced   the  j 

line-odkers'  mess  tables.     Such  were  souict ivies  rations.  j 

Tlie  great  fortifications,  of  which  vre  had  heard,  surround-  | 

in.g  Winchester,  proved  to  be  of  no  moment.     One  could  have  j 

jumped  over  ihcrn  as  easilv  as  Remus  over  ti^e  v/alls  of  Rome.  i 

Much  dissatisfaction  was  expressed  in  our  regiment  that  Jack-  | 

son  was  permitted  to  get  away  fn-m  Winchester  without  a  hght,  1 

and  b^ut  lillle   heed   paid  to    my  assuiances  that  tins  chieftam  i 


20 

would  be  apt,  before  the  war  closed,  to  give  us   an   entertain-  j 

ment  up  to  tiie  utniust  of  our  aspirations.  'I 

It  was  about  this  time   that   the    appearance    of   our  first  | 

"  jAIonitor "  off  James    River,  so    providential    as    it    seemed  1 

moved  the  fears  of  some  of  us  that  the  end  was  about  coming,  j 

and  that,  witli  the  flight  of  Jackson,  our  last  chance  for  a  I 

fight  was  gone.     Though  the  country  might  not  be  restored  I 

in    July    of    1862,    there-  was    no    doubt    the    war    would    be  | 

over  then,  said  tho.-.e  whon.i  neitlier  reason  or  reproach  could  I 

reach,  J 

When    Gen.    ]\IcClellan's    order   of   movement  and  strong  | 

appeal  to   his  army  appeared,  we  learned  of  the  disposition  I 

to  be  made  of  our  corps.     Again  the  destiny  of  the  Second  i 

Kegiment    gave    it   a    new    brigade    commander;     one    that  | 

shared   with  it  all    the  ever.rful   scenes,    with    the  attendant  \ 

joys  and  sorrows,  that  so  iargcl\- entered  into  the  year  of  1S62.  | 

\Ve  wx-re  to  be  no  more  to  Giiw.  Abercromljie.     Gen.  liariul-  I 

ton  was,  by  order  of  Gen.  :\IcClelian,  transferred  to  anoth-^r  I 

corps  in  his  army,  and  our  rcgdment  transferred  to  the  bris^ade  | 

lately  comniandea  by  Hamilton.     As  senior  colonel,   I    tims  | 

became  the  commander  of  a  brigade  which,  then  for  the  first  | 

time  united,  remained  unbroken  during  the  remainder  of  the  | 

war,  —  a    brigade    with    a    common    history    and    a    common  J 

When  the  achievements  of  any  portion  of  that  organization  I 

are  jpoken,  deed.s  are  declared  in  wliose  x:une  all  share.     T'he  I 

Second  r\ki.^sachu--,etts,  the  Third  Wisconsin,  and  the  Tv.enty-  I 

Seventh    Indiana    Regiments,    made    u]),    substantially,    tlie  % 

brigade  that  fell   to  my  Command.  | 

l-rom  Winchester,  Gen.   Sedgwiek,  with  his   Division,  was  I 

transferred  to  another  corps  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  -I 

We  iKAV  enter  upon   our  second  m.ovement,  of  v.-hich  the  | 
advance  upun_  Winchester   vas   the  first  in  jAIcClellan's  plans. 
\Villia:ns's  Divisi.>n  of  the  I'iftji  Corps  was  ordered  to  proceed, 
-via    I^erryville.   tln-ougl'    Snicker's  Gap   to    Ceutreville,  while 


21 

Shields,  with  his  division  of  about  six  thousand  men,  was  to 
remain  at  Winchester.  Our  divi.-iori  of  three  brigades  moved 
ver)-  early  in  the  morninj:^  oi  the  22d  for  its  destination.  At 
night  my  brigade  encamped  at  Berryville,  and  the  next  night 
we  v/ere  at  Snicker's  Gap.  Ignorant  of  the  events  transpiring 
in  our  reaj-,  I  was  awakened  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  of 
?>Iarch  by  despatches  coming  thick  and  fast,  calling  me  back 
to  Winchester.  "W'e  have  heard  cannon  at  intervals,  hear 
them  now,"  v>rote  Major  Crane,  of  the  Third  Wisconsin,  at  half- 
past  si.\  of  the  day  before  ;  and  so,  as  I  read  the  orders  sent  me 
at  ten  minutes  past  six  p.  m.  from  Gen.  Williams  to  return  at 
once  to  3err}'\\ile,  I  exclaimed,  "  There  are  Major  Crane's  can- 
non." "  Push  on  to  Wincliester,"  continued  the  orders,  "  if  on 
your  arrival  at  Berryviiie  you  hear-  the  sound  of  large  guns, 
giving  an  indication  of  an  action  in  pirogress  at  the  former 
place."     Rapidly  we  retraced  our  steps.     Six  companies  of  our  j 

regiment  had  encamped  for  the  night  at  the  ferry  across  the  j 

Shcna.ndoah.     The  bridge  had  broken  d.nvn  and  drl:iycd  th.em.  j 

These  were  turned  back  to   Berryviiie  by  orders  from  Gen.  i 

Williams.     "  Leave  two  regmients,  with  one  seciion  of  artil-  \ 

lery,  at  Berryviiie,  and  miove  the  rcm.ainder  of  your  command  j 

from  three  to  five  miles   from,  there  uiiless  you  hear  firing  at  j 

Winchester,  in  v/hich  event  leave  bv^t  oae  regiment  and  one  | 

section  of  artillery,  and  push  on  for  Winchester,"  came  to  nie  1 

through  a  flying  orderly  at  eight  o'clock  ;  and  still  follo\\ing  I 

ui'ion    tVie    heels    of    tl'.c    former    came    ano'.her,    to  sav    that  1. 

Gen.    r.anks'had    returned    (from    Ilarp'cr's   Ferry),    that    my  ' 

brigade  would  proceed  immediateh-  to  Winchester.  Scarcely 
had  I   digested  this,  when   out  ot   tlic   thick  dust  loomea   up  j 

another  ordierly,  galloping  as  if  for  life,  and  I  read,  from  tlie 
headquarters  of  the  Fifih  Army  Corps  to  Col.  George  II. 
Gordon  :  "  Send  forv.  ard  your  battery  \vith  all  possible  de- 
spatch." And  still  liie  cry  was,  '•  On  th.ev  come  "  ;  as  yet  again 
t'ie  orders  came,  '■  Send  back  the  ordnance  train  with  all 
possible  despatch  "  ;  arid  ''  Send  forward  t-)  Gen.  Abercrombie 


22 

to    return   with    all    his   trains    to   Winchester":    and  "Gen. 

Wiliiains  exp^.^cts  you  to  lea^'c  cue  rc--;irnent  al  .Berrvville,  v/ith 

one  section  of  artillery;  and  Col.  Andrews  "  liopes  I  will  leave  | 

some  other  force  to  [;-uard  the,  brid,Lce  and  ordnance  train,  and  | 

send  Capt.  Abbott's  company  to  report"  to  him.  I 

From   the  multitude  of  despatches  and  orders  that  poured  | 

fast  and  furious  upon   me,  it  was  evident  that  a    battle  was  1 

imminent;  and  that  I  was  expected  to  push  on  to  be  in  tim.e  I 

to  lake  a  hand.     It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  I  reached  j 

Winchester :    I     had    done    tw  o    days'    work    in    one,  —  had  I 

marched  twent}--si.x  miles.     Banks  was  at  Middletown.     There  | 

had  been  a  tight;  Shields's    Division  had   whipped  Jackson,  | 

who  was  now  beiiig  pursued  by  ]5anks,  and  the  urgent  calls  | 

i'))o:i  me  were  to   aid   in  the  puisidt.     I  sent  a  messenger  to  ] 

Banks  (twelve  miles)  to  announce  my  arrival,  and  he,  on  the  | 

morning  of  the  25th,  ordered  me  to  report  to  him  at  Stras- 

burg.      It  was  apparent  tiie  nght  udih  Jackson  was  not  to  be 

renewed  at  once.     There  v.ns   still    a  little  daylight    left,   as, 

wdth   my  staff,  I   rode   into  \v'inchester  in  the   evening  of  the 

24th;  and  I  improved  it,  to  ride  with  my  aid  over  the  fxcld,  on  \ 

which  we  had  gained  a  decided  \ictory.     Tlic  v/ounded  of  both  | 

sides  had  been  removed  ;  but  the  dead  still  lay  wln-re  they  fell.  1 

Along  tlie  enemy's  lines  the    r:round  was  co\-ered  v.dth  tliem.  | 

The  oming  shades  of   twilight  in  the  thiclc  woods  rendered  j 

everything  obscure.     To  a  novice  the  scene  was  awful.     As  4 

tbey  v>  ere  v,-!ajn  stricken,  so  iri  deatii  the  dead  rennnned  :  the  I 

clcnciied  hand,  t!ie  uplitted  arm,  tlio  effort  to  stanch  a  bleed-  I 

ing  Imib,  the  solitude,  the  dreary  light — it  v.-as  a  picture  I  I 

cannot    forget,    and    vet    to    aid    to    its    hornu-,    anridst    this  f 

I 

deatlily  sdenxcc,  I   hi.-ard  a  voice  invoking  cuirses  on  the  dead.  -J 

Peering  into  the  darkiiess,  J  saw  a  man  on  horseback,  slowly  \ 

moving  towarcis  me,  with  head  bowed  low,  ga;dng  sternly  into  I 

Ih.e    upturned   ghastly  faces,  wiiile    angry    denunciations    fell  J 

from,  his  lips,  as  witliout  pity  in  his  heart  he  rej'.dced  in  tin's  I 

catni'/al  ot  death.  I 

1 
J 


23 

The  bitterness  of  his  cries  filled  me  \Ylth  horror.     Who  was 

iTc  that  had  no  sorrow  for  a  scene  like  that  ?    Nearer  came  the 

riJer,  near  enough  lor  recognition.      It  was  a  son  of  Virginia, 

here  upon  the  soil  of  his  native  State,  cm'sing  with  all  the  bit- 

.  .  .  1 

terness   of  his  heart  his  dead  kinsman  at   his   feet  :  a  loyal  i 

Virginian,  who  had  been  driven  from  home,  wife,  and  children;  j 

wlio  had  seen  his  aged  father  driven  out  of  his  l:ouse  to  die, — •  1 

dri\cn  out  by  those  who  had  plunged  tlie  nation   into  war, 

a  man  maddened  by  outrages  and  gloating  over  this  terrible 

retribution,  and  plunging  yet  deiiper  in  that  gloom  of  horrors  1 

as  if  his  vengeance  could  not  be  repaid.  j 

I'he  history  of  the  preceding  two  days  began  on  the  very  ] 

day  tiia!:  we  left  Winchester  for    our    march  to    Centreville,  i 

when   the  enemy,   under   command  of  *'  Stonewali  "  Jackson,  j 

showed  themselves  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  that  skirt  the  town  I 

on  the  southern  side.     From  here  shells  were  thrown  at  our  | 

pickets,  and  our  artillerv  replied,  but  Gen.  Shields  paid  but  i 

i 
little  attentMjn  to  this  demonstration,  though  he  gave  personal  I 

atiention  to  directing  his  artillery,  until  his  arm  was  fractured  by 
a  fragment  of  a  shell.  Sunday  the  23d  the  artillery  liring  was 
recommenced  about  noon ;  but  so  litile  vras  thought  of  it  that 
Gen.  i)anks,  between  one  and  two  r.  ^r.,leit  to  go  to  Harper's 
F'.-rry  oa  public  business.  At  four  p.  m.,  the  enen"i\-'s  infantry 
made  their  appearance,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  abuut  three 
'miles  from  the  town.  This  pounding  of  artillery  was  what 
Major  Crane  heard  \;l!en  he  sent  me  his  iiOte.  Now  the  scene 
changed.  The  troops  of  Shields's  Division,  under  their  re- 
spective colonels,  turned  eagerly  to  greet  Jackson,  who  had 
marched  swiftly  UJ.on  the  town.  Urigadier-General  (so  act- 
ing) Kimball  \sas  in  command. 

The  battle  of  Kernstown,  as  the  enemy  named  it,  v/as  fough.t 
near  the  eastern  declivity  of  the  little  North  i\lonntain,  not  far 
from  the  spot  where  the  Opecqiian  takes  its  rise.  The  enemy's 
line  followed  the  crt:st  of  the  hills  tluit  lie  south  of  the  town, 
and  on   the  v.est  of  the   pike  lead.ing  to   Strasburg.     On    tlie 


■jrll' 


24 

eastern  side  of  this  road,  crowning  a  wooded  knoll,  the  cncmy 
had  posted  a  battery.  Jackson's  centre  was  covered  by  a 
stone  wall  ;  his  leit  tlanic  was  covered  by  a  growth  of  thick 
small  timber,  into  vhich  it  extended;  his  right,  by  the  battery 
and  by  timber.  The  action  commenced,  as  usual,  with  inter- 
changes of  shots  from  opi)Osing  artillery.  I'hcu  our  men  | 
movL-d  to  turn  the  enemy  on  his  left  fiank.  Behi^.d  a  growth  1 
of  timber,  in  front  of  tlie  enemy's  stone  wall,  our  infantry  | 
gained  a  vantage-ground  unperceived.  From  there,  by  the  i 
right,  our  troops  were  obliged  to  march  across  an  open  field  to  .  | 
turn  the  line  hidden  in  the  undergrowth.  But  it  was  done.  | 
Bravely  did  some  Ohio  regiments  charge  up  to,  and  into,  this  | 
cover;  unmoved  by  the  rebel  fire,  unterrified  bvthc  rebel  yell.  I 
In  vam  did  Jack.son  iniploie  his  men  to  stand  ;  in  vain  address  l 
them  as  "  my  brave  bo)-s,"  and  in  vain  cry  out  "  give  them  one  | 
more  round."  Ho  sav/  his  left  flank  forced  back  iipon  his  cen-  | 
tre,  and  our  troops  sweepii'g  over  the  stone  wall,  driving  his  left  •  | 
farther  irito  the  ^^■oods,  capturing  his  cannon,  and  mxanv  prison-  | 
ers.  So  while  his  force  was  retreating  in  disorder,  Jackson  I 
turned,  tliorouglily  beaten,  towards  Strasbuig."^  \ 

Jackson  had  promised  the  people  of   Winchester   that  he  | 

would  return   to  ihem.     This   time  he  failed  to  kee'p  his  word.  4 

flis   dead,  d}ing,  and   v/ounded    were  left   to   our  care.     Tuo  I 

much   praise  cannot   be  av.-arue(i    the  men  for  their  courage,  I 

especially  the    (Jliio  troops.      It  \sas  jnuck,  more  tlian  leader-  | 

shijj,  in   tiii::,  acrion.     The  thickets  were  cut  up  into  slivers  by  < 

the  stoimbf  bullets  poured  in   by  tliem   from   the  open  field  J 

over  \.!uch  they  passed  to  the  assault.  \ 

That  Jackson   was  deceived  in   the  niunber   of  our  troops  | 


♦Jackson  blamed   Gen.  I*.   B.  Garnett,  of  whom  he  savs  in  hi-  uSlcia!  report  :  \ 

"Thou;^h  our  troops  were  tr^htiivj;  unfl-.r  c^reat  di.s.-idv.intage,  1  regret  that  Gen.  j 

Garnett  gave  orders   to  fall  hack,  as  othcrwHt-  the  enemy's  advance  would  have  j 

been  retarded,  and  other  re^^iments  brought  up.     Col.  John  Cair.pbe!!  was  rapidly  \ 

advancing  with   hi.i  regiment,  1)ut  nii^lit,  arul  an   indisposition  of  tl;e   enei^iy   to  j 

press  further,  had  teruiiu  Ued  the  batde,  '.viuch  coiiunenced  at  f  jur  o'clo.-k,  i-.  m."  \ 


!;(:■)   ;  ■'  ; 


25 

in  front  of  Winchester,  is  admitted  by  Southern  writers,* 
and  that  he  intended  to  deceive  liim,  was  always  claimed  by 
Gen.  Shields.  It  was  part  of  his  feint  to  move  forward  to 
Strasburi^-  on  the  19th  of  March,  and  retreat  rapidly  again, 
passing  through  Winchester,  after  three  brigades'  of  Banks's 
Corps  had  marched  for  Centreville.f  And  this  was  his 
movement. 

Gen.  Shields  dwelt  with  unfeigned  delight  upon  his  '' strata- 
gem  "  in  placing  his  force  in  a  secluded  position  two  m.iles  from 
Winchester  upon  the  i\lartiasburg  road,  to  give  the  inha.bitants 
an  im.pression  that  the  main  part  of  his  army  had  left,  and 
that  nothing  remained  but  a  few  regiments  to  garrison  the 
place.  He  knew  that  tl^e  pcO!)le  would  convey  false  informa- 
tion to  Jackson  at  New  Market,  as  indeed  they  did  —  Jackson 
turned  instantly  in  pursuit.  On  the  2 2d,  v.-hen  Ashby  drove 
in  Shields's  pickets,  he  discovered  only  v.-hat  he  supposed  to 
be  a  single  brigade.  On  the  23d,  when  Jackson  attacked,  he 
soon  found  he  had  cauglit  a  "tartar."  His  force  of  4,000  was 
opposed,  not  to  2,000  less  ihrcx  his  o\-.-n,  but  to  the  whole 
of  Shiekls's  Division  of  6,750  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery, 
and  no  more.4:  There  is  no  evidence  that  Jackson  conteni- 
plaied  tne  result  that  follv.ved,  although  some  wTiters  claim 
unfurcbcen  consequences,  \\dien  favorable,  as  results  of  welblaid 
plans.  Southern  v/riters.  while  speaking  openly  of  Jackson's 
not  doubtinu"  that  he  could  crush  the  four  regiments  at  Win- 


*  "I  hcarJ  that  the  eaemv's  iiit,i:itry  force  at  V.'iu^iiester  did  not  excc-ed  four 
regiments.  A  lai— e  Federal  force  w.is  k-avin^^  the  valley,  and  had  already  reac'ied 
Castleton's  Feny  or.  th-.-  Shiri'.andoah."  —  yiirxs^-zi's  (?,rA /.:/ a'./- ^/,  Bdf'ccf 
K<:r>:st^n.vn. 

t'-On  the  preceding  Friday  evening,  despatches  from  Col.  Turner  Ashliy  v.eve 
received,  stati:ig  that  the  enomy  had  evacuated  Stra.^Ijurg.''  —  jr^L^soj-.'s  AVat/. 

\  If  Sliieidb  h;id  remained  at  Stra-.barg,  the  hi-tory  of  Banks's  retreat  woidd 
never  ha  v.  hccr.  written.  Mv  i!;-i^.;ade  would  have  fjllowe^i  the  odiers  ot  the 
division,  and  all  woulJ  have  reported  to  McUo>veU  in  front  of  Fredericksburg. 
As  it  was,  only  Abercrombie  got  away,  and  him  we  saw  no  more.  In  tins 
event  Lee  v,-iuld  probably  have  for.r.rl  ciiongh  to  engngc  hi.i  atten'don,  without 
sending  Jac'.suu  on  tlie  raiiiuago  li-.rcug'i  tr.e  valley. 
•i 


Chester.*  further  affirm  that  this  battle  brou^^ht  upon  him  a 

groat  deal  of  ccr.surc  ;  for  i:  -.vas  a  fierce  and  frightful  engage-  1 

ment.  in  which  he  lo.st  nearly  twenty  per  cent  o1  his  force  In  J 
a  very  few  hours  of  coniiict.     One  of  his  officers  at  thi.  tim^^ 
said   of  him  that  he  was   "cussed  by  every  one"  ;   "and  it 

must  be  confessed,"  says  Pcllard.f   "  in  this  instance,  at  least,  | 

the  great  commander  had  been  entn.pped  by  the  encm^."t  1 
Again,  on  the  other  side,  it  is  claimed,  that  "this  was  rot  a 

bimd,  heedless  assault;  that  it  was  not  a  blunder  or  an  acci-  I 

*  Life  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  by  John  Esten  Cooke,  pa-e  loq.  f 
t   roUard's  "  Lost  Cause,"  pp.  264,  265. 

t  The  recent  narrative  of  Gen.  Johnston,  of  the  Confederate  service,  confirn.s 

th^e  vi.ws.     He  s^ys  :  -  After  it  beca-j,e  evident  that  the  valley  was   to  he  in- 

vaded  by  an  army  t.u  strong  to  be  encountered  by  Jackson's  Division,  that  ofiicer  - 

was  instructed  to  endeavor   to  employ  the  invaders  in  the  valley,  but  without  I 

exposing  himself  to  the  danger  of  defeat,  by  keeping  .0  near  the  enemv  ..  to  I 

prevent  n.m  from  making  any  considerable  detachment  to  support  McClen'-^n  but  I 

not  so  near  thar  he  n.ight  b.  c  .mpelied  w  fight.     Under  these  instructions   w!.  ^n  J 

Banks,  approaching  with  a  T'cderal  force  grcativ  superior  tc  his  own.  wasVidda  t 

fourmdes  of  W  mchester,  Jackson,  on  March  12.  fell  slowly  back  to  Strasburg,  | 

eignteen  mdes  in  two  days,  remaining  there  undisturbed  until  ihe  sixteenth,  w'-'iT  I 

finding  that  the  Federal  army  was  again  advancing,  he  feii  back  to  M„unc   fark-  I 

son.    twenty-fear  ndle.,  his   adversary  hahing   at   St:asb.rg.      I   received  "the.e  I 

reports^on  tne  nineteenth,  and  suggested  that  his  distance  was  too  great  from  the  I 

federal  .-my  for  oh,ects  in  view.     Un  the  twenty-tirst  he  acknowl--^d-ed  th!-   avl  | 

sa,d  that  he  was  aboat  to  move  his  headquarters  to  Wuod.t.-ck,  twelve  ndle.  horn  J 

the  enemy's  cam?.     At  about  half-past  six  a.  m..  on  the  twentv-third,  at  Strashm- .  | 

he  expressed  a  hope  that  he  sh.uld  U  r:ear  Winchester  tha;  af.cmoon  ;    and   T'  5 

ten  o'clock  that  night  lie  wrote  in  his  brief  manner  that  he  attacked  the   Fed-  d  ] 

aaiiy  ..:  fbnr  P.  m.,  and  was  repulsed  by  it  at  dark.      }fc  gave   Ids  force  as  tM-^e  | 

thousand  and  eighty-seven  infantry,  two  hundred  and  ninetv  cavalry,  and  t.veatv-  i 

seven  pieces  ot  artillery;  and  his  loss  at  eighty  killed,  three  hundred  ,r.d  iom^  ^ 

two  wounded,  ana   tuo   hundred   and   thirty  prisoners.-- A'/rn./,:v  of  M^/^tury 

Oicrulions  directed  d:nlng the  I.rJe  fVr.r  net-. Yen  ihe  St.:te.-.    By  Joseph  E.  J.-hnstJi,  \ 

Ge/!c!\:J  C.  S.  .-!.,  1S-4,//:  106,  loy.                                               -           -            .                  ,  I 

[Xoii-  -  [c  would  seem  thu  not  only  was  Jackson  deceived  by  Shield^  but     '  | 

that  a  gentle  reminder  from  Johnston  that  the  former  was  too  far  from  his  en-mv  | 

may  have  irr.tatcd  Jackson  to  make  liis  ill-judged  moven.er.t.     We  rind,  too   ti>at  | 

Johnston  fustruaed  Jackson  to  keep  the  Federals  in  the  vihey.  all  of  which  has  | 

l)>:en  claimed  for  Jacks.Mi.  — Author.]                                         '  ! 


27 

dent,  but  the  result  of  calculation  and  desi^ :  to  wit,  the 
rctonti'.)!!  oi  the  Feuoral  foices  in  the  valley."  ^' 

"It  was  not  until  he  was  actually  engaged  with  the 
enemy  that  he  found  their  force  numbered  ii,ooo  mcn,"f  is 
a  Southern  statement,  falsely  made,  to  excuse  a  defeat,  and 
yet  containing  an  undeniable  admission  that,  if  Jackson  had 
known  our  force  was  superior  in  numbers  to  his  own,  he 
would  not  have  attacked  us. 4: 

When  the  enemy  fled,  their  flight  was-  rapid,  and.  as 
described  by  the  fugiti\es,  fatiguing, — Jackson  forcing  his 
men  along  the  valley  pike  all  night,  pushed  on  through 
SirasbLa'g.§  and  did  not  rest  until  far  enougii  towards  Char-  } 

lottcsville  to  be  secured  against  a  rapid   ijursuit. 

As  narrated,  I   proceeded   on  the  m.orning  of  the  23th  to  •         | 

unite   my   forces    with   the    advance,  under   Banks.       Every-  i 

where,  there  were  signs  of  a  hast}'  rcLreat.    To  hinder  pursuit,  ] 

bridges  had  been  destroyed  by  the  fugitives ;  v/hcther  over 
pike  or  railroad,  the}  wc  re  doomed.  We  fuund  some  dead 
and  wounded  in  houses  along  the  road,  and  in  a  rniserable 
hut  there  laid  a  poor  fellow,  a  wounded  rebel,  hit  so  hard  by 
a  shell,  that  his  arm  liad  been  amiaitated,  his  right  leg  badly 
lacerated  in  twelve  ]:'laces,  and  his  left  badly  torn.  Before 
deserting  Irm,  a  surgeon  had  amputate  J  the  arm,  l^ait  the  leg, 
having  received  no  attention,  when  we   arrived   mortification 


*  "  1  fee!  juitifiecl  in  sayii\^  t'- ■'.^  thou;:]-,  tiie  field  if  in  possession  of  tne  eiieinv, 
the  mosi  cs-,entiai  fruits  of  the  b.ealc  arc  ours.''  —  Jiirkjon's  Onlcial  Rfp0}-1,  Battle 
0/  Kr:r)istcncn. 

t  Coo!:e's  Life  of  Jackson. 

I  'I  he  nu.-iiber  of  troo})s  present  in  the  ;1<:Ic'.,  avaihi'-'e  for  the  fight,  in  Jackson's 
army,  was  :  "Infantry,  3,087  ;  Artillery,  z"]  guns;  and  Ashby's  Cavalry," — Jjck- 
sjn's  0:'l'u-Lz'.  Retort. 

from  the  same  source  we  find  Jackson  admitted  a  loss  of  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing,  of  701 ;  of  nhich  46  were  ofucers.  In  addition  to  this,  Shields 
claims  to  have  captured  2  guns,  4  caissons,  and  i,oco  small  arms. 

Ou    loss  was  (from  Slsields's  onlcial  report),  in  kille'i  and  \\Gundcd,  504. 

§  i:;nile-fe!do  of  the  South,  vol.  i,  Aslito;>.'s  later,  p2-c  324. 


'»(. 


.    28 

had  set  in.     All  we  could  do  was  to  make  him  as  comfortable 
as  possil)le,  and  leave  him  to  die. 

Thoui^h  the  reality  of  this  retreat  was  bad  enough,  the  papers 
of  the  day  indulged  in  flights  of  fancy  that  if  possible  put  to 
shame  a  rebel  pen.  Xo  one  ever  saw  tlie  "  nine  wagon-loads  ■■ 
of  the  enemy's  dead  upon  the  road,"  nor  did  they  exist, 
although  our  papers  so  reported.  A  German  aid  to  Gen. 
Shields  performed  marvels  of  gallantry  —  so  he  said;  three 
rebel  horsemen,  if  noi  six.  being  in  tui"n  killed  by  sword  and 
pistol  by  his  single  hand.  A  bullet-hole  thrijugh  his  cap  he 
showed  me  in  proof  of  his  escape  in  this  deadly  encounter,  a 
satirical  sketch  of  which  was  made  for  "  Harper's  Weekly," 
representing  this  ferocious  German  in  tlie  act  of  transfixing 
two  rebel  cavalrymen,  while  a  third  in  rear,  with  jaws  agape 
at    such    wonders,    received    the    point    in    his    mouth.      The  % 

tables  of  our  laughter  were  turned  when  tiiis  sketch  appeared,  | 

solen'iuly  rci)resenLing  a  swordbman  transfixing  two  only.     The  | 

sword  )\::i\  been  rubbed,  out  beyond  the  secorid,  and  thus  tlic  | 

sketch  was  sent  and  published  as  a  true  delineation.*  | 

On  the  evenin-j'  of    the  26th.  oi    rslarch,  my  tired  briicade  i 

laid  down  their  knapsacks  in  the  to-.vn  of   Strasburg.      The  .| 

effect  of  our  victory  we  perceived  in  strong  professions  of  love  \ 

for  the  l.'ni'.jn,  expressed  by  men  of  intelligence,  in  the  tov.-ns  | 

along  our  route.     We  hc;;a"d  many  confessions  ot  regret  and  | 

accusations  of  deception  against  Southern  leaders  by  people  | 

here  v^  ho  alnimed    their   belief,   tliat  upon  our  coming,  their  | ' 

prop'.-rty  woiild  be  taken,  tr.eir  houses  destro\'ed,  and  them-  I 

selves  made  prisoners.     I  slept  the  first  night  of  my  arrival  in  ■  | 

Stra^l-Htrg  i'l  the  iiouse  (;f  a  hne-looking  and  cheer}-  old  gentle-  | 

mai'i,  wlio  said  to  me,  that,  wlien  he  first  saw  our  troops  coming  1 

i 
down  tlie  hill  into  town,  he  v/as  hrmly  convinced  that  he  would  | 

be  killed  or  made  prisoner,  and  that  he  could  not  express  his  -   ] 

astonishment   and   delight   at   our   treatment   of    the    people  ;  i 

*The  Gcrm.in    haJ  bo:ro\vol  it  of  tlie   artist,   raid  sent  it,  stripped    of   its  I 

luJicn.ius  e  !.-in\.ntj,  to  the  publisher.  \ 


•  29 

adding  that  such  information  as  he  could  now  impart  would 
cause  hundrLds  of  meu  to  rv^Lurn  to  their  allegiance. 

These  confessions,  coming  on  the  heels  of  our  decisive  vic- 
tory, fdled  us  with  enthusiasm,  gave  tone  to  our  feelings,  and 
made  our  hearts  bound  with  delight  at  the  thought  of  carrying 
onward  the  old  flag,  though  our  marches  might  be  in  days  and 
nights  of  travel  in  hanger,  privation,  and  death.  As  the 
superb  scenery  of  the  valley  opened  before  us  in  the  sparkling 
waters  of  the  Shenandoah,  winding  between  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  its  parallel  ranges ;  in  the  trees  of  cedar  and  pine  that 
lined  its  banks  ;  in  the  rolling  suiiaces  of  the  valley,  peacefully 
resting  by  the  mountiun-side,  and  occupied  by  rich  fields  and 
quiet  farms,  there  was  no  foreshadowing  of  the  terror,  the  des- 
olation and  deoth,  that  vrere  to  foliov/. 

On  the  day  after  our  arrival,  we  were  thrown  forward 
through  the  town  towards  Woodstock  to  a  camp  back  from 
the  road  concealed  behind  Hound  Hill,  in  front  of  which  was 
Col.  Sullivan,  of  Sh.ields's  brigade,  and,  for  some  purpose 
of  offence,  beyond  Col.  Sulli\an  v/as  Jackson.  Now  Jackson 
was  constantly  stirring  u]>  Sullivan,  and  Sullivan  vras  as  con- 
stantly stirring  up  my  brigade  at  Round  Hill.  The  enemy 
seemed  to  be  always  advancing.  Bits  of  paper  announcing 
it  in  hurried  tiiough  Inconic  style  fluated  Lhrou,i_,h  camp,  until 
How  is  Sullivan  ?  became  a  popular  inquiry.  The  en.emy 
were  constantly  in  readiness  to  move,  said  our  spies,  but  in 
which  direction  was  ti;e  conundiuui  of  ti^e  hour.  When  wc 
pursued  towards  Strasburg,  Ashby  made  a  display  ot  his 
artiller)-,  fired  a  few  shots,  and  retreated ;  and  in  this  manner 
we  hnd  chased  him  about  four  miles  beyond  th.e  to-vn.  V\  hen 
we  halted,  Jackson  halted.  Our  pickets  v/ere  abcut  a  mile 
beyond  our  camp  :  they  were  u|)  to  Turn's  Brook,  as  it  v/as 
called.  About  a  mile  beyond  the  brook  I  could  see  the 
enemy's  cavalry.  Sometimes  the  enemy  amused  himself 
by  throwing  shells  at  our  pickets,  v.-hcn  they  v.-ere  a  little 
100   V'.jnturesome ;    but    beyond  a   feeble    show    of    strength 


30 

and  ugliness,  nothing  transpired  to   disturb  the  dulness    of 
ca:rip. 

It  was  on  the  first  of  April  that  Bariks  received  from  Gen. 
McCIellan  a  newplan  of  operations.  Up  to  this  point  Jackson 
had  planned  our  campaign.     Now  we  were  to  plan  Jackson's. 

From  tli.e  steamer  "  Commodore "  as  his  headquarters,  on 

the  ist  of  April  Gen.  McClellan  addies.^ed  to  Gen.  Banks,  com-  | 

man  .ling   the    Fifth    Corps,    a    communication,   in   w^hich    he  I 

affirmed  that  the  change  in  affairs  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenan-  I 

doah  rendered  necessary  a  departure  "from  the  plan  we  some  I 

days  since  agreed  upon."     Assuming  that  Banks  had  a  force    .  1 

sufficienily  ample  to  drive  Jackson  before  him,  provided  the  f 

latter  was  not  largely  reinforced,  and  that  tlie  former  might  find  -| 

it  in'possible  to  deiach  ariylhing  tou'ards  Manassas  for  some  | 

days,  probably  not  until  the  operations  of  the  main  army  had  | 

drawn  all  the  rebels  towards  Richm(.)nd,  Banks  was   ordered,  J 

as  the  most  important  tiring  he  could  do  at  present,  to  throw  I 

Jac'csou  v/ell  back,  and  then  to  as^mne  sucti  a  position  as  to  ^ 

pievent  his  return.     When  railway  communications  were  re-  | 

established,  I\IcCi'.IIa:i  thought  it  would  be  advisable  to  mo\e  | 

on  StauiUon  ;  '-'v.-hich  would  require  a  force  of  twenty-five  or  - 
thirty  tliousand   men,  and  should  be  mainly  coincident  with 

my  own  rno\emer:t  on  Richmond,  at  all  events   not  so  long  ? 

beiorc  as  to  enable  the  rebels  to  combine  against  vou,  perhaps  ';_ 

with  smaller  force  after  the  main  battle  near  Richmond."  ? 

Ihus   began    cur  second    camjraign.       Up    and    along    the  :, 

North  b'ork  of  the  Shenandoah  we  moved  out  on  the  2d  of  i 

Apn^',  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Jackson's  army.     !\lv  brigade  with  | 

cavalrv  and  artillerv  was  ordered  to  take  the  advance.  i 

As  our  sturdy  cokimns-,  with  bayonets  glistening  in  th.e  sun-  | 

light,  moved  out  upon  the  main  road  to  form  on  that  bright  f 
April  morning  for  an  eventful  campaign,  I  was    never   more 
impressed  with  .the    march  of  a  column  of  troops,    moving 

forward  for  the  accom.plishment  of  a  determdned  pui-pose.     As  ^ 

•               •                                             •  % 

tlie  loni;  lines  confurm  in  u'lacelul  carves  to  the  undulations  4( 


31 

of  the  earth,  they  seem,  with  their  solid  tread,  like  a  symbol 
of  irresistible  force  centred  in  the  immovable  rocks  beneath. 
I  know  of  nothing  like  it  in  nature.  The  columns  pass, 
leaving'  scarce  a  trace  of  motion;  and  lo  !  what  changes  are 
wrought.  Forms  and  customs,  laws  and  religions,  property 
and  possessions,  all  give  v/ay  before  this  mysterious  pov/er. 
In  view  of  such  scenes  I  have  often  felt  the  sternness  of  this 
reality.     I ''ere  indeed  is  the  inevitable.     It  is  born  of  destiny. 

Hardly  had  we  passed  Tom's  Brook,  v.here  our  advance 
guard  had  been  stationed,  when  we  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy's 
ca.valry  pickets.  Saluting  them  with  a  shot  or  two  from  my  bat- 
tery ('' Cothran's  FarroLts"),  1  moved  rapidly  tov/ards  Wood- 
stock. As  we  were  descending  the  hill  v/hich  brought  us  into 
this  picturesque  little  town,  bang  went  a  gun,  and  a  shell  whizzed 
about  ten  feet  over  our  heads  (I  won't  be  accurate  about  the 
feet),  grazing  trie  neck  of  Cfl.  Brodhead's  horse,'''  and  striking 
the  road  a  few  feet  in  front  of  a  company  of  the  Second  I\Ias- 
sachusetts  Regiment.  Fortunately  the  shell  did  not  exjilode. 
Perhaps  a  minute  passed,  when  there  arose  a  puff  of  smoke, 
then  a  report,  and  a  shell  screamed  alorig  the  road  ;  but  this, 
like  its  predecessor,  did  not  burst  Cothran's  battery  was 
close  behind.  At  a  spanking  gallop  his  horses  came  up,  his 
guns  were  unlin^bered,  rnd  wo  gave  them  a  dozen  to  their 
four  ;  which  not  lii-ving  they  retired  with  thuir  artillery,  and 
threw  forward  some  of  their  skirmishers  (probabl}'  dismouritcd 
cavalry).  I 

To  meet  them.  I  ordered  Lieut. -Col.  Anurev/s  to  deploy  the  j 

Second  Massachusetts,  antl  move  over  them  ;  which  was  done  | 

rapidly,  with  but  fuw  ca.^uailies.     Without  a  halt  we  pushed  I 

on  for  Edenburg,  which  is  about  five  miles  from  Woodstock.  1 

At  every  hill  we  got  some  shells,  but  paid  them  back  with  | 

interest.     These  ia^^ii'ed  nieces  of  iron  wiiirring  around  on.e's  I 

cars  gave  a  new  sensation  to  our  men.     "  It  there  is  anvthing  j 


*'r.hf  coluncl  couiraa.'dtJ  tl.o  c.aalry  force  alt.\c!it  i  to  my  column. 


32 


.     hat  «n  scare  a  ^an."  .nid  one  of  the  best  of  the  officer^  of 
e  Second.  ■■:^  i,  a  she,, ;  and  ,  '.-0  seen  precious  fe.v  who 

snarled  at  „s.     Deploying  the  Second  Massachusetts  a,  sl<ir- 
m,s  ers  they  advanced  handsonte.y  towards  the  town.    Bu  lets 

'-'"""S'S'-onyCreek,  a  deep  and  rapid  stream 
nmn.nj  easterly  across  the  pike  and  nulrord.  empti  s  in  to    " 
North    .or,:  of  the  Shenandoah.     The  place  was  fa     r^b  e  ^ 
a  stand,  and  .t  looked  for  a  tinre  as  if  the  enemy  were  d  te" 
n.,ned  to  make  one  there.     Retreating,  ho.veve'r.  across  tte 

eek,    ackson  burned  both  the  pike  and  rail,  oad  brid  .-es  in  I 

h..^.  %hr.  and  then  placed  his  cavalry  and  artillerv  on  a  cor'  I 

-n  m.  ndge  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek,  eo.Vrontin     n 

tr  ec  Lrt      '?      '"      ''"^  '"'""'''  ^^"--.  P^'^^'^  =b"" 

our  p.    r     "     r  ■""' '™''"  "'■  '''''"'''  ^"■"■"-'  -^hots  with  ' 

o.  a  1   11,  OK.  go.:,d  execution  without  loss  of  men  or  hors-s 
t  nca  n  .,,.  „,„,  resting  from  their  fa.igu.n.  march  of  a  ^  ,, 
3.-xteen  mules,  were  my  infantry.      The  enen.y's  sun.  .n.;.-e, 
^or,r    r.  sent  Shells  merrily  around  our  heids^burth::-::: 

nut:;r;-;;'-:;^.::i'l'^f;--'--''--='ed  their  cold       i 

r  1,  "  ;       ^ ^'-^"-"'  ''"'-'  ''''P^  on  U'o;  a]!  but  one  poor  1 

^ovv,  a  pnvate  of  my  Twenty-XInth  ,.enn.ylvania  Re.iu 
^lo  .ou.d  ha.e  contn,ued  to  mast.ca.e  his  hard  bre^d.  but' 
alas    a  ragged  p,eee  of  .roa  severed  the  back  of  his  head  from' 
he  front,  as  cleverly  as  if  a  kn  ife  had  passed  throu-       T t 
«.w^aro™dhm,wa..  great,  the  comm.:,.i,m„o,ice^le:b 

hur^  fo    several  days  ;  so  before  sunset  the  line  of  the  crc-k     "  I 

Mvarmed  w.th  our  pickets.     Our  n.ea  t.nnbied  down  L  "^ 

designated  encampments,  unm.indmi  of  the  sharp  reo.rts  of 

hostde  muskets   or   the  deeper  base   of  answering  arj,- 

i  ".-ough  the  day  we  had  been  ughting  Asi,by,  with  his  cavalry  I 


33 

and  horse  artillery, —^  the  rear-guarci  of  Jackson's  army. 
i\sbby's   cavalry   force   n'.niiberccl  about   one  thousand,  and,  i 

as  cavalry,  were  greatly  superior  to  oars.     In  reply  to  some  { 

orders  I  had  given,  my  cavalry  commander  replied,  "I  can't 
catch  them,  sir;  they  leap  the  fences  and  walls  like  deer:  nei- 
tlier  our  men  or  horses  are  so  trained."  And  this  was  true  ; 
although,  before  the  war  was  much  older,  we  could  give  them 
odds  and  beat  them.     Ashby  v/as  as  cool  and  brave  as  he  was  , 

experienced.     I  think  ou.r  men  had  a  kind  of  admiration  for  i 

the  rnnn,  as  he  sat  unmoved  upon  his  horse,  and  let  our  men  I 

pepper  av>ay  at  him,  as  if  he  enjoyed  it.  In  Southern  histories 
the  writers  never  tired  iii  praising  Ashby.      The  more  absurd  j 

the  stories,  the  more  credible  they  were  to  Southern  admirers,  | 

who  gloated   over   such    iviuncliausenisms  as   that,  when  our  .  I 

troops   entered   Wincliester,  Asliby,   on   his  v/hire   horse,  at  \ 

some    conspicuous    point    in    the    tov/n,    alone    av\'aited    our  i 

advance.     There  he  sat,  motionless,  until  almost  appror.ched  ;  i 

when,  \vith  a  defiant  wave,  lie  galloped  rapidly  away,  killing  | 

one,  and  lifting  by  the  coat-collar  from  Ids  hurse  to  Ashby's  | 

own,  and  so  bearing  hini  oif^  the  other  of  two  of  our  cavalry- 
men sent  around  to  intercept   hi.n. 

During  the  day's  miarch  I  ha.d  my  first  experience  of  the 
part  the  bla:ks  v/cre  to  render  us  in  this  war.  Eiitering  a 
collection  of  pv^or  r.jgro  huts  during  one  of  my  halts,  I  was 
handed,  by  some  of  th.e  colored  people,  two  letters  addressed 
to  Gen..  Banks  ;  v/hic'i  proved  to  be  ironi  a  white  man  calling 
himself  a  spy,  and  givin.g  information  of  importance.  If  this 
was  a  ruse,  it  revealed  that  there  was  no  surer  wa\-  to  get 
information  adverse  to  the  enemy  into  our  hands  tlian  to 
intrust  it  to  such,  messengers.  In  another  instance,  sorrow- 
ful coinplaints  made  to  me  proved  that  the  colored  people 
would  be  called  {ov  by  the  rebel  armies  to  assist  them  to  the 
extent  of  their  capacity.  Near  our  bivouac,  there  was  a  poor 
hut;  its  occupant  a  neat-looking  free  negro  v.'oman.  She 
came  to  speak  to  me  ;  not  to  cuuiplain,  but  to  say,  in  a  v.'cary, 


•inn 


I 


34 

discouraged   way,  that   the  enemy  had  taken    her  two  sons 

av/ay  from  her,  one  of  them  a  poor  cripple,  who  with  a  wa':':on 

.and    two  poor   "bones"   (hor:,e^)   carried    the  pittance  upon 

which  she  lived.     He  was  taken  to  haul  off  sick  soldiers  of 

Jackson's  army.     "  I  shall  never  see  him  again,"  mourned  the 

poor  mother,  as  she  looked  eagorly  in  my  face  for  consr^lation, 

which  I  could  only  feel  would  be  hers  through  that  God  who 

IS  love,  though  it  was  to  come  to  this  poor  woman  in  this 

lowly  cabin  through  a  great  sorrow,  to  open  at  last  into  a 

path  of  freedom  and  of  joy. 

Our  stay  at  Edenburg  vv-as  a  continuous  season  of  artillery- 
brauling  and  picket-stalking.     W'c  had  some  severe   lessons 
before  we  learned  to  creep  up  on  our  game,  like   our  m.ore 
experienced //7£/.Y/,r  on  tae  other  side  of  the  creek.     It  was 
not    five    minutes    after   one    of  my  staff    had   'entered   and 
examined  a  piece  of  v.-oods  on   the  outskirts  of  our  camps, 
before  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters  fired  upon  and  killed  some 
of  my  men  going  through  the  same  piece  for  v/ater.     Com- 
pany H,  of  our  r;.ginient,  was  sent  to  dislodge  them.     While 
Lhey  were  cr.wling  up  towards  the  bank,  pushing  their  guns 
before  them,  and  eagerly  peering  ahead  for  a  shot,  I  could  see 
witii  my  glass  the  rebel  hunters  dodg'ug  low  along  the  walls, 
or  creeping  car-.ully  behind  the  bushes,  to  ga-n  a  sheltered 
spot  in  an  unl-vked-for  cover,  and   then,  a  muhket  cracked 
and  a  lively  rattle  follov/ed,  min.gled  with  answering  growls 
oJ  artillery.     I'iie  creek  that  separated    us    from  the  enemy 
was  nu  more  than  ten  yards   in   width.     Oa  its   banks  on 
either  side  were  houses.     Back  from  the  river  about  one  fourth 
oi  a  mile  there  was  a  thick  wood,  in  which  tho  enemy  con- 
cealed his  batierios  u-.itii    he  chose  to  stir  us  up,  when  he 
would   sneak  up  bL-Idnd  the  cover,  open  upon  us  at  an  unex- 
pected moment,  and  retreat  rapidly  when  we  replied.    The  fire 
Irom   the  artillery,  and  the  skirmishing  between  the  pickets, 
though  continuous,  v.-as  wonderfully  free  from  casualties.     0;i 
one  ol   our  alcernoons  at  this  spot,  f  nad  just  arisen   from  the 


rough  camp-table  that  served  us  for  our  meals,  when  hissing 
and  crashing  came  the  enemy's  sliells  over  towards  our  bat- 
ter)'.  Instantl}'  I  heard  the  cheerful  boom  of  ours  in  reply  ; 
and  then,  as  the  enemy's  demonstration  was  a  little  more 
spiteful  than  usual,  I  got  the  brigade  under  arms.  There  was 
no  harm  done  ;  but  it  took  at  least  a  dozen  shots  from  our 
guns  to  make  the  rebels  move  off. 

The  brigade,  after  some  little  delay,  went  into  camp  again  ; 
and  the  occasion,  though  one  of  no  moment  to  the  troo})s, 
proved  a  trial  to  my  aid,  whr>,  ha\-iiig  just  procured  a  horse  out 
of  the  government  train,  must  needs  try  his  martial  ardor.  The 
horse  was  a  good-natured,  stupid,  slow  old  beast,  and,  mated 
with  another,  was  ver,'  well  ;  Lvat,  alone,  he  turned  out  "  a  bad 
lot."  He  didn't  rairid  spurs,  ran  into  every  liian  he  met,  caus- 
ing much  j^rofanity,  an.d  was  especially  obdurate  v.dien  my  aid 
(an  otncer  of  the  Second  Massachusetts)  particulailv  desired 
to  appear  in  the  role  of  an  equestrian  warrior.  So  here,  one 
regim.ent  having  been  formed,  rud  the  SeconJ  Massachusetts 
coming  up,  before  which  of  all  others  the  officer  felt  a  p.ar- 
donahle  pride  in  appearing  in  njost  gallant  style,  his  plebeian  j 

charger   could   not  be   entreated   out   of   a  walk,      Now  any  j 

horseman  knows  that  for  a  military  chieftain,  a  gallop  is  the  j 

thing,  —  a  ii^ht,  airy,  arched-neck  gallop,  a  spirited  intimation  I 

of  leserv.-.d    force,   v/ith    champing    bit   and    nostrils   dilated,  j 

and  eye  flashing  and  ear  r,ointed,  as  reminders  of  what  you  j 

may  get  ii  you  want  it.     it  \s-as  something  like  this  tha.t  my  aid  I  ■ 

essayed,  v.-hon  lo  !  iiis  beast  struck  a  dead,  solemn,  limpid  walk.  j 

Spurs  were  dug  into  him,  by  exasperated  heels,  until  tiie 
beast  struck  a  '.rot  that  ariv  S'x-rnule  team  might  have  envied, 
jolting  the  aid  a  foot  from  his  saddle  at  every  step.  I'his 
was  the  only  response,  and  it  caused  derisive  laughter  from 
concealed  lookers-on.  The  continued  bumping,  and  the 
consciousness  of  being  a  merited  object  of  mirth,  naturally 
increased  this  officer's  ire  ;  and  it  was  vented  in  renewed  dig- 
girig  of  spurs,  unti'  the  animal,  in  sheer  desperation  at  being 


36 

held  in  tightly  ahead,  and  sharply  urged  astern,  bumped  into 

t!ie  drum  major  of  our  regiment  and  nearly  knocked  him  dov/n, 

at  which  the  smile  v/as  louder  than  allowed  by  the  regulations'. 

"  He  does  n't  mind  shells,  either,  half  as  much  as  I  do,''  said  the 

perturbed  aid,  as  he  eyed  the  sorry  beast  askance  while  he 

dNvelt  upon  hi^,  vices;  "  in  fact,"  he  added,  '<  I  should  Hke  to 

see  the  devil  himself  make  him  shy.     When  those  shells  were 

coming  over  at  Woodstock,  makmg  a  perfectly  infernal  noise, 

and  other  horses  were  on  the  rampage,  there  stood  this  beast 

as  quiet  as  if  in  a  stable.     Even  when  I  saw  a  shell  fired,  and     ' 

tried  the  protection  of  a  friendly  tree,  he  would  n't  stir  a  peg 

faster  than  usual  ;  and  the  shell  burst  long  before  I  got  him 

there.     But  he  has  one  virtue  ;  I  can  leave  him  anywhere,  and 

he  will  stanci   t:ll  doomsday."     As  I,  too,  had  just  secured  a 

new  horse,  one   belonging  to  an   officer  of  Ashby's  cavalry,  | 

captured  by  one  of  our  skirmishers  as  we  entered  Woodstock,  | 

I  was  anxious  to  try  his  mettle.     The  contrast  between  my  .  | 

ai  I's  horse  and  mine  oy.ly  served  to  make  more  conspicuous  the  I 

shortcomings  of  the  former.     i\Iy  horse  would  take  a  six-rail  | 

fence  beautifully.     Aner  bounding  over  I  often  turned  to  look  I 

back,  and  call  out,  "  Come  alorlg,  don't  stop  for  that,"  at  vdiich  I 

my  aid's  big  farm  plough-horse  would  come  up,  run  square  into  I 

t!)e  fence,  bump  his  knees,  sn(^e;:e,  lurn   around,  and   stand,  I 

firmly  courting  death  rrither  than  attempt  the  fence.     "  But  if  | 

there  are  only  four  rails,  now,"    cries  out  the  aid,  "  he  will  I 

take  that.'^— "OrJorly.  take  down  two  of  those  rails.     Now,  | 

captain,  take  a  lair  start,  let   him   out!"      Down  came   the  I 

captain  with  pace  growing  slower  and  slower,  until  lie  reached       '         | 

the  fence;  when  the  horse  halted,  gravely  counted  the  rails,  i 

quietly  raised  himself  on  end,  put  his  tore  feet  o-er,  gave  him-  | 

self  an  unearthly  hitch  with  his  hind  legs,  and  landed  on  the  I 

olher  side  with  a  pair  of  barked  shins,  then  sneezed  a-ain  as  | 

if  he  fancied  he  was  a  gay  courser.     The  effect  of  this  school  I 

of  jumping  is  hard  on   the  rider,  who  generally  perferms  un-  f 

heard  of  gynn;a:,ticb  in  tlie  air.  and  co.ac^  down  on  the  pom- 


37 

mel  of  his  saddle,  to  the  s;reat  detriment  of  his  pantaloons  ; 
though  there  is  some  fun  in  it,  and  more  excitement. 

I  have  described  the  animal  transferred  from  cart  to  cavalier 
duty,  and  hov/  the  change  became  him.  I  trust  I  shall  neither 
weary  your  patience,  nor  devote  too  many  of  these  pages  to 
horses,  if  "'.  now  briefly  dcscrib:-  the  magnificent  animal  that 
fv^U  to  mv  lot.     In  doine  this  I  must  anticipate,  mu^L  refer  to  ( 

many  scenes  that  do  not  come  within  the  province  of  these  j 

pages  to  relate,  and  must  with  his   life  speak  of  his  death,  j 

v;hich  took  place  long  after  the  v/ar  had  ended. 

It  was  after  v.^e  had  driven  off  Ashby's  guns,  and  when  the 
Soco.id  I'vlassachusetts,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  were  sweep- 
ing through  Woodstock,  that  a  skirmisher  of  the  Second  cam.e 
suddenly  upon  a  negro,  leading  a  hor^e  oat  of  a  stable  in  the 
tov.-n. 

'■'■  Halloo,"  says  the  skirmisher,  "  where  are  you  going  with 
that  horse .'' " 

"Don't  stop  m.e.'"  replied  the  n.:gro;  "dis  is  my  marster's 
best  horse,  and  I'm  taking  him  to  him." 
•■'  Where  is  your  master  t  " 

"  Why,  dare  he  is,  sir,  wid  Marse  Ashby's  cavalry  ;  d:i;c,  sir, 
on  de  hill  yonder." 

''  Well,  yr-u  can't  go  tiiere  with  the  horse,  i  "11  take  care  of 
him  ;  hand  him  over,"  replied  the  soldier. 

And  so  the  horse,  saddled  and  bridled,  was  passing  by  me 
to  the  rear,  v-dien  I  learned  the  facts  of  his  capture.  Directing 
the  soldier  to  briiig  him  to  me  after  the  fight  vv-as  over,  we 
moved  on.  and,  as  related,  sent  "  IMarse  Ashby"  and  his  cav- 
alry whirling  up  the  valley. 

Having  occasion  towards  night  to  visit  General  Banks  at 
his  headquarters,  distant  about  three  miles,  I  called  for  this 
horse,  jumped  en  his  back,  and  let  him  take  his  own  gait. 
Though  it  was  a  still  niglit,  I  found  from  the  way  in  which 
the  air  was  rushing  past  my  face  that  my  horse  must  be  going 
at  great   speed  ;    and    this   im[)ressioa   v/as    strengthened    by 


38 

hearing;  behind  me  the  rapid  gallop  of  a  horse,  attempting  in  | 

vain  to  j.uss.     Presently  1  heard  exclamations  from  the  rider,  -j 

"Jerusalem!"  then  sounds  of  urging  to  greater  speed,  until  ) 

my  pursuer  was  on  a  run.     My  horse  had  not  broken  his  gait,  | 

which  was  a  singular  mixture  of  a  trot  and  a  pace  ;  for  although  | 

he  moved  his  legs  on  one  side  o(  his  body  t'^^gethcr  (the  char-  I 

acteristic  of  a  pace),  yet  his  fore  feet  were  throv/n  out  v;ith  \ 

such  a  proud  and  lofty  shock  that  it  bore  every  semblance  to  | 
a  trot.      I   pulled  up   my  horse   to  a  slower  gait,  when  in  a 
moment  my  pursuer  was  by  my  side,  exclaiming, — 

"  jMister,  v/hat  sort  of  a  horse  do  you  call  that  ? " 

"  Why,  —  a  very  good  horse,  is  he  not?  "  *^ 

"  Good  horse  I  "  (with  emphasis)  "  I  cal!   my  horse  a  good  | 

ljorc:e,  and    I   have  been  on    the  tiglit  run  to  catch  you  and  ; 

could  n't  do  it,  and  you  onlv  trotting."  i 

The  man  belonged  to  a  New  York  cavalry  regiment,  so  he  | 

told  me,  v/as  a  private,  and  oij  duty  as  orderly,  carrying  de-  | 

soatches  eo  Gen.  ]]anks.     It  v,\.s  verv  amusing  to  see  his  look  I 

of  astonishment  and  hear  his  delicate  apologv  as  he  found  lie  § 

had  been  chasir;g  a  colonel  of  infanlry  in  the  dark — but,  "  I  | 

.        '  .  5 

do  think  that  horse  is  a  stiinner,''  he  stili  insisted.  j 

I  next  tried  the  horse  with  tliose  o(  our  cavalry,  and  found  \ 

he  beat  the:n  ail  in  leaping  ;  indeed,  G^n  Hatch,  commanding  I 

the  cavalry,  ackr:o\vlcdged  there  was  no  horse  in  his  command  | 

that  could  compete  with  him.     Plis  jump  was  not  a   flying  I 

lea]/,  it  vi-as  rcaHv  a  jump.     He  aporoachcd  the  fence  or  bar  ? 

.     ^'  ) 

slowly,  and  preferred  to  do  so  at  a  walk,  then  slowlv  rising  on  \ 

-        r  .  o  I 

his  hmd  legs   threw  over  his  lore  feet,  following  v/ith  the  rest  i 

of  Ids  body  with  a  muscular  energy  that  wotJd  unseat  a  care-  | 

less  rider.     1  found  I  could  t)ave!  across  the  couritry  without  i 

stopping  to  take  down  fences.     I  have  often  seen  our  pickets  a 

stare  with  amazement  as  I   galloped  towards  theui,  taking  all  ] 

the  fences  in  rny  path.     I  never  lowered  anything  but  the  rid-  I 

ing-rail  of  a  Virginia  fence,  ar:d  I   did  that  for  my  own  ccim-  I 

iort,  tliough  I  think  the  horse  would  have  gone  over  it  with  | 


39 

urging.  It  was  not  long  before  general  attention  was  attracted 
to  my  horse.  One  could  not  sec  without  admiring  him.  His 
weight  was  over  eleven  hundied,  and  his  lieight  in  proportion 
to  his  weight.  His  nostril  was  of  enormous  size  ;  his  ear 
was  large,  but  well-made  and  expressive  ;  his  tail  was  hand- 
sonie  and  full  ;  his  mane  soft  bnjt  not  thick,  though  slightly 
flowing  ;  his  color  v/as  a  dark  ba}',  with  a  black  streak  running 
from  hi.s  mane  along  his  bacl:  to  the  roots  of  his  tail.  In 
repose  he  was  quiet  ;  but  mount  him,  and  witness  the  change. 
Then  his  neck  arched,  his  imimense  nostril  dilated,  his  teeth 
impatiently  champed  the  heavy  cavalry  bit ;  every  nerve  was 
strung  for  instant  and  intense  actioji.  You  feit  in  every  fibre 
of  your  body  that  mass  of  m.uscle  and  of  nerve,  and  you  knew 
that  there  was  strength,  will,  and  courage  that  could  be  broken 
only  v.'ith  his  life.  It  was  a  hard  day's  work  you  would  have, 
if  }'C'U  were  restless  and  impatient  when  you  mounted  for  your 
day's  march.  So  finely- strung  was  this  horse,  that  an  ap- 
proach to  composure  vvas  only  possible  when  the  rider  v/as 
calm. 

After  our  fight  with  Jackson  at  Winer. ester,  v.'e  v/ere 
ordeied  to  cross  the  r>:ue  Ridge,  to  join  Fope  for  his  cam- 
paign. On  our  first  day's  march  we  passed  trie  house  v/here 
'■' .\3l1by '■'  (so  I  had  nanied.  the  liorse)  v/as  raised.  IMy  quar- 
termaster had  a  nice  eye  for  a  horse,  and  had  made  up  his 
rnind  that  miiie  v.-as  a  prize.  "If  you  want  to  get  rid  of  that 
horse,"  he  had  once  or  tv/ice  iusi'iuaied,  ''  I  siiould  be  willing 
to  tnke  him  ort  your  hands  ;"  but  meeting  no  encouragement, 
he  finally  admiitted  that  he  knew  more  about  the  aninial  tlian 
I  did,  and  he  v,\<uld  poi:it  out  the  horse's  old  home  when  v.'e 
came  to  it.  It  was  a  charming  little  old  house  on  tiie  summit 
o(  the  I'lue  Ridge,  with  a  view  away  off  in  the  valley  towards 
tiie  Potomac.  There  were  trees  to  ;-hade  from  the  hot  sun  ; 
there  were  green  fields  nn.d  fresh  breezes,  ever}  thing  favorable 
to  the  nitrture  of  such  a  horse. 

There  was  aji  old  negro  at  tiie  house,  and  he,  I  knew,  could 


40  ■ 

tell  me  something  of  ray  capture  ;  but  I  preferred  to  let  this 
old  servant  make  the  discovery  if  he  could.  So  I  ordered  all 
tho  horses  of  my  staff,  with  some  others,  to  be  tied  together 
m  the  woods,  and  then,  calling  to  the  negro,  I  asked  him  if 
any  one  from  that  house  had  gone  av/ay  into  Ashby's  cavalr3^ 
"  Oh,  yes,"  he  replied,  "  Alarse  John,  he  's  gone  with  Marse 
Ashby." 

"  Did  he  take  a  horse  with  him  from  here  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  he  took  a  horse  from  dis  house." 

"  Do  you  know  the  horse  ?  " 

"  Do  I  knov.-  him  ?     Oh,  yes,  I  raised  him." 

"  Is  he  a  good  horse  .'  " 

"Yes,  indeed,  Tuar^^sa,  he's  good  horse  ;  he's  son  of  de  old 
horse,  but  he  a'n't  quite  ekie  to  iiim  —  no.  No  horse  is  ekle 
to  him." 

"  Why  not .'  " 

"  Why  not !  why,  dat  ole  horse,  he  once  run  sixty  mile  in 
sixty  minutes,  and  dis  iiorse  could  n't  do  dat ;  no,  he  could  n't 
do  dat." 

'■'  Look  around  here  in  the  woods  among  these  horses,  and 
sec  if  you  see  one  that  looks  like  the  horse  Marse  John  rode 
away,"  I  said. 

Jn  f.  moment  the  darky's  e\  es  opened  as  laige  as  saucers, 
lie  had  unerringly  made  straight  ior  Ashby. 

"■  Wr.ere  you  don  get  dat  horbC  } "  he  exclaimed,  as  he 
fonuled  his  old  favorite.     "  Is  r\!arse  John  dead  ?  " 

"iiiNo,  I  replied,  "  but  wc  l;ave  captured  his  horse  —  avwiy 
in  the  valley  at  Woodstock." 

'■  Youse  hcv  {;oi  mighty  good  horse,  den  ;  dat 's  trufe." 
That  the  horse  was  of  famous  breed,  and  that  he  was  then 
old  (hov.-old  I  could  not  ascertain),  v/a's  all  the  reliable  infor- 
mation I  cnuld  get. 

Vjixt  from  the  day  of  his  capture  until  the  close  of  the  war  j 

that  horse  vas  my  inseparable  coiupanion.     Nodiing   could  \ 

tire  him  or  break  his  spirits.     lY^r  days  and  nights  in  Pope's  1 


41 

campaign  neither  bridle  nor  saddle  was  removed,  and  all  he 
ate  was  by  hasty  snatches  at  g^ass  or  musty  hay  ;  and  yet  he 
cam.e  into  Alexandria  with  a  proud  step  and  an  unbroken 
courage,  ready  for  the  Maryland  campaign. 

I  have  never  known  such  a  horse  ;  I  never  expect  to  know 
one  like  him.  Every  moment  a  manifestation  of  power  and 
gameness,  fearless  in  his  sweeping  gallop,  unmioved  by  the  din 
of  battle,  his  mettle  inspired  courage.  He  seemed  to  invite 
the  thunders  of  v/ar,  and  he  never  shrrmk  from  the  sound.  In 
winter  hardly  sheltered  from  snow  and  ice,  in  summer  exposed 
to  the  sun  and  rain,  he  bore  his  part  in  the  campaigns  of 
the  war  with  a  nerve  and  bearing  that  attracted  the  admira- 
tion of  the  army. 

lie  was  v/ith  me  for  eight  m^onths  on  a  wretched  sand-bar 
oh  Charleston  during  Gillrnore's  operations  ;  lie  was  with  me 
in  Florida  ;  I  carried  him  by  sea  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence 
up  the  ]\Iississippi  in  July,  where  on  transports  he  was  borne 
aruund,  and  bufieted  from  place  to  pi, ice  —  now  at  rvleraphis, 
then  at  Arkansas,  up  the  White  River,  at  Vicksburg,  and 
back  again  at  Nev/  Orleans,  then  Mobile  Bay,  and  on  that 
malarious  shore,  until  again  transferred  by  sea  to  tiie  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  there  to  remain  until  the  war  closed,  when  I 
brought  him  to  a  quiet  country  home  within  twenty  miles  of 
]-)Oston. 

In  a  C'^mdortab^c  s^abb  with  a  bo:-:  stall,  vrith  every  provision 
made  for  Ids  qomfort,  old  Ashby  has  passed  a  tranquil  life. 
In  his  peaceful  home,  and  with  kind  treatment,  his  disjvosition 
became  gentler,  and  his  response  to  caresses,  never  decided, 
was  not  so  haughtily  return.-d.  ]  dou;)t  if  Asliby  h.ad  ever 
been  in  harness,  until  I  clothed  his  limbs  in  such  ignoble  bonds. 
He  resisted  stoutly  and  manfully  at  first,  but  at  last,  when 
an  a[;peal  to  his  reason  w:>.s  made,  submitted,  and  behaved 
well  if  kindly  and.  quietly  treated.  In  this,  as  in  everything 
about  this  horse,  one  could  accomplish  anything  through 
reason  —  only  a-ppeal  to  his  reasoning  faculties.      He  had  a 


:\-->^ 


42 

large  brain,  and  could  understand  when  appealed  to.  He 
could  nor  be  driven  by  blows.  In  our  twelve  years'  compan- 
ionship I  never  struck  him  a  blow.  Nothing  would  have 
tempted  me  to  show  passion,  or  to  attempt  ^to  reach  him  but 
through  reason  and  love.  Therefore  I  alwa}'3  secured  his  best 
services,  for  they  v/erc  never  given  from  fear.  For  the  nine 
years  that  have  passed  since  the  war  closed,  my  pleasure  and 
my  joy  have  been  greatly  increased  whenever  I  could  con- 
tribute to  the  comfort  or  the  wants  of  my  faithful  friend. 
To  let  him  run  in  the  field  in  summer,  to  lead  him  to  the 
choicest  bits  of  grass  in  the  spring,  to  respond  to  his  begging 
neigh  when  I  came  tov/ards  him  in  my  daily  visits,  to  pick  up 
the  choicest  apples  to  be  taken  from  my  hand --oj]  these  inter- 
changes of  mutual  respect  and  affection  added  to  my  pleasure 
in  life. 

I  have  v.-ritten  these  lir.es  to  tell  of  m.y  faithful  horse, 
though  he  has  at  last  met  that  death  v.-hich,  on  the  battle-ncld 
or  theoc  :an,  in  ;.he  chill  of  winter  or  tlie  heat  of  summer,  seemed 
long  ago  inevitable.  Despite  shelter  and  tenderest  care  and 
most  natn:ious  food,  he  now  sleeps  under  the  green  sod  in  the 
orchard  where  he  has  so  many  times  playrd  without  restraint, 
in  sight  of  the  home  that  has  so  gen :Iy  cared  for  him,. of  the 
stable  that  has  so  warmly  sheltered  iiim,  and  under  the  apjjje- 
trces  whose  fjoii  he  has  so  often  eaten,  and  whose  blossoms 
whit=-i  his  grave  On  I^Ionday,  the  eighteenth  o^  ?^Iay,-io74. 
I  was  aroused  early  in  the  morning  with  the  information  that 
my  poor  old  horse  v/as  in  great  pain,  and  would  not  eat.  I  lost 
not  a  moment  in  a[iplying  remedies,  sending  in  the  meanwhile 
lor  one  more  skilled. 

Everything  Vv-as  tri.-d,  but  nothing  seemed  to  lessen  the  pain 
in  the  ston.acii.  T/wrc  v.-as  the  seat  of  pain..  Beseechinglv 
woulcl  this  inielligent  animal  look,  ilrst  at  (,ine  side,  and  then 
at  the  other,  and  then  at  us,  appealing  for  help.  In  vain  did 
he  gallop  v.-here\-er  he  incliiied,  trying  one  road  and  then 
anuiiier,  tne  {lasture  arid  the  held,  and  equally  in  vain  rolling 


43 

and  struggling,  rising  and  lying  down.  The  disease  advanced 
\vith  a  force  that  defied  us.  Early  in  the  afternoon  it  became 
evident  the  noble  animal  must  die.  He  \vas  lying  down  in 
the  soft  grass,  some  distance  from  the  house,  only  occasionally 
lifting  his  head  in  an  uneasy  manner,  as  a  sick  child  might 
toss  himself  in  bed.  All  but  myself  i  ad  gone  and  left  him. 
As  I  saw  this  splendid  frame  stretched  helplessly  on  the  earth, 
so  exhaastcd  b}'  the  agony  he  had  suffered  that  he  could  but 
feebly  lift  his  head  ;  as  I  saw  that  bright  eye  half  closed,  and 
heard  the  c|uick  breath  as  it  canae  througli  that  great  nostril ; 
as  I  saw  my  friend,  my  companion  of  so  many  years,  so  help- 
less before  me,  strength  gone,  muscles  soft  and  feeble  ;  as  the 
memr-ry  of  all  this  dear  companion  had  been  canjc  over  me,  I 
shed  sucli  tears  as  I  thought  never  to  shed  again.  Kneeling 
by  him  I  stroked  his  face,  and  then  gently  raising  his  head 
coaxed  him  to  aUempt  to  rise.  The  rain  was  beginr.ing  to 
fall,  and  I  vvished  to  shelter  him,  and  also  that  he  m.ight 
breathe  his  last  in  the  old  stable  where  he  had  .stood  so  long. 
Putting  forth  all  his  dying  force,  and  obedient  to  a  call  that  he 
knew  had  ne\"er  been  made  but  in  lov:;,  he  stv.;-gercd  to  his 
feet.  Gently  I  led  liim,  tottering  and  reeling,  to  his  stable, 
v,-here  a  soft  bed  had  been  prepared.  I  covered  hini  with 
blankets,  to  retain  a:^  '^■'■''■"^-y  ^s  |.ios:dble  the  ebbin:;  hie.  It  was 
uow  two  o'clock.  1  cioubt  if  there  vvas  much  pain  ti;ei\  ;  the 
disease,  or  riarcotics,  seemed  to  stunefv  him.  ;  now  an.d  th.en  he 
would  stiii  look  around  at  In's  side,  as  if  there  in  his  stomiaeli 
where  it  had  begun,  there  the  disease  still  remained. 

For  seven  hours  "  Ashby  "  hardly  n->oved  from  the  spot 
wdiere  I  had  plav-ed  id'n  in  his  stall  ;  tliere  wos  but  little  rest- 
lessness, though  his  breathin.;.-;  became  more  rap'id  ar.d  labored, 
and  this  incrcaseii  as  the  night  came  on.  Mv  last  effort  to 
5.a\'e  him  was  i.i  ru!..!;ing  his  legs  with  n.uistard,  and  a'pphdng 
bandages;  but  tins  gave  no  relief.  His  breath  came  shorter 
and  shorter,  his  head  droj.iped  lower  and  lower,  and  at  a 
cj[uaricr  bciore  nine  at  night  he  fell  dead  u|/!-)n  the  door.      I 


44 

heard  the  rattle  of  death  in  his  throat,  as  tenderly  I  closed 
his  eyes;  then,  turnin-  froui  him,  gentlv,  lovingly,  I  said, 
"  My  poor  old  friend,  rny  dear  old  companion,  I  have  tried  to 
be  as  faithful  to  you,  as  you  have  been  true  and  constant  to 
me." 


45 


CHAPTER     IV. 

At  Edenburg  the  weather  was  somethnr.s  like  our  own 
New  England  in  June,  v.dien  the  air  is  warm  and  hazy,  ai\d 
the  leaves  rustle  with  a  dreamy  melody,  and  birds  are  exu- 
berant with  song.  But  hardly  had  we  begun  to  feel  in  har- 
mony with  sunnv  da3-s  and  blooming  peach-trees  and  warm 
shosvers,  bet' -re  a  charige  v  ould  come,  as  bitter  as  the  hatred 
of  the  women  cf  \'irginia  ;  the  ground  covered  with  snov/,  the 
air  thick  with  hail,  and  the  distant  mountains  hidden  in  the 
chilling  and  frozen  atmospb-ete.  Our  shivering  sentinels  on 
the  outer  lines  met  at  tinies  the  gaze  of  half-frozen  horsemen 
of  the  enemy,  peering  through  the  mist  as  if  to  see  what  the 
"Yankees"  had  been  doing  within  the  last  t\venty-four  hours. 
It  v,-as  hard  to  be]ie\'e  we  were  in  th.e  suj'/ry  Sou/A,  for  there 
was  never  more  marrow-pcuetratirig  v,-eather  at  the  North. 
Life,  entered  upo-p.  at  Edenburg  under  the  excitement  of  a 
figlti,  became  mionotorious.  Tents  begr>n  to  take  in  that 
fulness  of  equipment  only  accumulated  by  time  ;  and  comforts 
began  to  shov/  themselves,  in  thick  lasers  of  pine  bough.s, 
\'  hich  served  fjr  both  b-jd  arid  carpet,  l-'or  ni^'self,  an.  ordi- 
nary camp-stooi  was  devoted  to  ufiici^l  use  as  my  table;  v/hiie 
boot-leggings,  gauntlets,  sword,  field  and  spy  glass,  candle, 
matches,  hair  and  tooth  brush,  looking-glass,  carpet-bag,  box, 
india-rui)ber  cloak,  wash.-bGsin  and  pail,  with  sundry  old 
newsp3[X-n's  in  a  pile,  la}-  in  coiu^usion  upon  the  ground.  Six 
stones  in  a  circle  enclosed  the  dead  ashes  that  sometimes  su|>  I 

plied   heat,  although  I   usually   relied  upon  a  lire  of  logs   in  j 

front  of  my   tent,  which  generally  smoked    the  inside  suffi-  j 


4G 

ciently.  If  one  inquires  whence  came  articles  of  comfort, 
I  will  answ^-r  them  accordiiv:;  to  the  reply  I  received  from  an 
ufticer  ol  my  siaff.     "  Why,  you  see,  sir,  my  boy  Jim  is  a  very 

good  servant,  and  has  a  faculty  of  Ji/u/i/^g  \vhatever  is  wanted.  I 

I   wanted  a  surcingle  for  my  horse, — Jim  found  one  in   the  \ 

woods  ;    same  with  a  driuking-cup,  two  chairs,  and  various  j 

other  little  things.      He  now  is  in  search  of  a  ham,  a  frying-  I 

pan,  and  a  tea-kettle.     I  have  n't  a  doubt  he  will  find  them  in  I 

the  woods."     Well,  there  v/as  novelty  in  the  life,  and  good  | 

cheer  at  night  around  the   carnp-fires.  while  scenes   and  inci-  | 

dents  of  the  day  were  related.     I  recall  the  brightly  gleaming  | 

face  01   our  chaplain,  v/itli  the  firelight  glancing  from  his  spec-  | 

tacles.     I  hear  his  jolly  laugh,  as  his  rotund  form  seems  to  | 

swell  with   very  comfort  before  the  blaze  ;   I  hear  again  m.y  | 

horse's  uneasy  tranip  behind  my  tent,  chided  with  the  vocif-  I 

erous  Wh.oa  !  of  my  groom  ;  again  the  bands  of  distant  regi-  | 

rnents  playing   merrily  at  tiieir  evening  hours,  the  men  chaff-  | 

ing  in  their  tenrs  ;  and   the  voice  of  our  indefatigable  S/r/^A.'n,  I 

who,  announcing  "Supper  is   ready,   sir!"   invites   us   into  a  | 

bower  of  pmes  where  he  repeats  night  after  njght  the  same  | 

bill,  —  of   tea,    strong   cuv/ugii    to    whip    a    "  i\Ionitor,"    ham,  | 

tongue,  and  brcal,  perhaps   toast.  I 

On  Su;idays  trie  ieli;;;ions  ser/ices  b}'  our  cha})lain  came  to  | 

us  Witn  a  new  meaning.      We  iiad   seen  death  enou'di  then  to  1 

call  attention  to  our  own  mortalitv  ;  and  the  men  and  officers  i 

were   more   atteritivc   on    Sundays    llian    at    Winchester,   and  | 

listened  to  beautind  selecti'Mis  read  by  the  chaplain  in  a  clear  I 

vuice,  from  an  lipiscurvd  praver-book.     The  band  nlavcd  a'-d  I 
sang,  too,  some  ol    the  obUnne   tunes  ;  and  many  perceivctl 

that  a  gap  in  their  exi-^tence,  which  tiiey  had  long  k-lt  wid^Mit  | 
knowing  what  it  was,  had  been  lilleJ,  ]a:t  our  days  at  Eden- 
burg  were  soon  to  be  of  the  past.  Jack-fui's  main  force  was 
not  Very  near  us  ;  they  were  some  eight  miles  awav,  at  Mount 
Jacks.^n,  and  ready  to  run  \vhcn  we  approached.  It  was  Jack- 
sun's  laithiul  oificer,  Asliby,  against  wliom  (uu-  fuurteen  guns 


47 

had  been  daily  pouring  forth  their  torrents  of  fire,  —  against 
his  guns  of  .-hortcr  range,  English  ammunition,  and  shells 
thai  did  not  always  burst. 

On  the  seveiiteenth  of  April,  when  the  joyful  news  came  to 
move  forward  in  pursuit  of  Jackson,  it  vyas  received  with  cheers 
of  delight.  The  objective  p'.unt  was  New  :\rarket,  fifteen 
miles  farther  southward  on  the  pike.  If  the  enemy  were  dis- 
posed to  give  battle,  there  were  some  strong  positions  on  our 
route.  The  military  problem,  therefore,  v/as  to  turn  them 
with  one  column,  while  anotlier  moved  forward.  ?\Iill  Creek, 
at  Mount  Jackson,  like  Stony  Creek,  at  Edenburg,  rises  in  the 
range  of  mountains  bounding  the  valley  on  the  west,  flows  at 
right  angles  to  the  pike,  crosses  it,  and  empties  into  the  Xorth 
Fork  of  the  Shenandoah.  On  the  south  side  of  the  creek,  a 
few  hundred  yards  from  the  bridge,  rises  the  commanding 
lull,  called  ..luunt  Jackson.  The  pike  passes  throngh  the  ilnt 
botrum-iand,  south  of  the  creek,  before  it  winds  over  the  hill. 
The  summb.  not  oriiy  commands  all  the  approaches,  bu.l, 
if  held,  makes  the  crossing  of  the  pike  and  bridge  at  the 
creek  an  cxccedaigly  diilicuit  operation,  exposing  an  attack- 
irig  force  along  the  narrow,  uncovered  roadwcy  to  a  destruc- 
tive lire.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  our  whole  command 
mi.vvjd  across  ihc  creek  at  Edenburg,  torwartt  f^r  Mount  Jack- 
son. The  leading  column,  cummanded  by  Geri.  Shields,  arid 
comprising  his  division,  u-as  formed  at  midnight,  and  crossred  the 
creek  before  da^dight,  hoping  to  talce  the  enemy  by  surprise. 
Gen.  W'ihianis  commanded  the  reserve,  which  was  made  up  ot 
his  division,  in  vv"hicli  was  my  brigade,  and,  oi  course,  our 
regiment.  Tinm  Etienbiu-g  to  the  westward,  a  dirt  road,  called 
the  middle,  rims  (at  a  vars'in.;  distance  Irom  one  mile  to  two)_ 
nearly  parallel  to  the  pike,  with  \vluch  it  Uiiites  at  Harrison- 
burg. \V;;en  Shields  advanced,  a  small  force,  as  a  Hanking 
column  (^should  the  enemy  stand  before  reacliing  Mount  Jack- 
son), moved  on  this  middle  road  to  join  the  n:ain  body  at  that 
place.     As  the  enemy  knew  as  well  as  we  what  we  were  about, 


48 

it  was  no  surprise  to  us,  that,  when  the  advance  reached  the 
place  where  the  enemy's  pickets  hvA  been  posted,  notiung  but 
expiring  camp-lires  were  found. 

The  negroes  told  our  men  that  the  rebels  had  moved  off, 
but  a  short  time  before  we  came  up.  We  followed  after  them, 
one  mile  in  rear  of  Shields,  until  the  hot  sun  beat  down 
upon  our  troops,  and  the  dust  covered  them,  and  their  knap- 
sacks became  a  burden.  When  it  became  a  certainty  that 
Jackson  would  not  meet  us  this  side  of  Mount  Jackson,  v/e 
proceeded  more  leisurely.  As  usual,  Ashby  put  his  guns  in 
position  once  or  twice  on  a  wooded  hill,  and  sent  his  shells 
howling  over  us,  but  he  did  no  harm.  Our  batteries  replied, 
and  Ashby  moved  on.  Thus  we  proceeded  uiitil  the  bridge 
across  the  creek  at  Mount  Jackson  v.-as  reached,  v/here  there 
was  some  heavy  skirmishing.     Ashb}-  v.ith   his  white  horse  j 

was  conspicuous,  in  an  attempt   to  burn  the  bridge,  and  we  | 

in    an    atiempt    to    save    it,  a;id    we   succeeded ;    our  cavalry  1 

dashed  over,  and  extinguished  the  flames.     The  enemy  now  1 

retired    behind   the  hill   at    JNTount  Jackson,   and   our  troops  f 

were   drawn    up  in   line  of  battle    on    the  north   side  of  the  j 

creek.     Some  of    the   enemy's    forces  v.-ere   distinctly  visible     '  | 

on  the  summit  of  the  hill     We  had  come  up  with  Jackson's  | 

main  command.     Would  he  fight  h.ere .'     it  v.\as  thought  he  | 

niiglit  :    so  a  flanking   column  was    again   organized,    to   pro-  i 

ceed  along  the  north   side  of  the  creek  to   the  middle  road,  j 

th.en  turning,  south  to  follow  it  to  New   ]).Iarket;  thus  turning^  ] 

?.Iount  Jackson,   Rude's    Hill,  and   ail   other  strong  positions  1 

on    tlie  road.     The  turning  column  comnrised  two   bri<^ade^.  1 

one  oi   Sliields's   Divisi-^'U,  commandc'J   bv  Col.  Dunniu'"^,  an^i  '       I 

my  brigade.     With  orders  to  attack  Jackson  in  rear  or  join  the  | 

main  co'urnn  if  he  had  iled,  I   moved  off  at  noon  accompanied  1 

by  signal  omceis,  to  keep  up  a  constant  connnunication  with  1 

the  main  column.     The  sun  was  then  pouring  down  a  blasting  | 

heat,  ti:e  men  were  tired  already  froni  their  early  start,  anal  tl;e  I 

road  v.-as  a  sixcession  of  quagtuires  and  stone  ledges.     The  j 


49 

column  kept  pretty  well  up  until  we  made  our  first  halt,  which 
was  when  \\c  struck  the  middle  road,  aljout  a  m.ile  and  a 
half  from  tiie  pike.  Here  we  found  a  house,  rather  pretentious 
for  the  country,  with  a  cupola,  affording  our  signal  officers  an 
extensive  view ;  and  across  the  road  a  store,  which  with 
the  house  was  owned  by  one  Rinker.  As  a  Virginian, 
Rinker  did  not  invite  us  to  partake  of  his  hospitality :  both 
house  and  store  v/ere  closed.  Wliile  we  rested,  some  of  our 
men,  becoming  too  inquisitive,  broke  the  fastenings  to  the 
store,  and  began  to  levy  upon  straw  hats  for  the  summer  cam- 
paign. 1  had  observed  the  unhappy  Rinker  flitting  uneasily 
around,  aiid  v/as  not  unaware  of  his  mingled  emiotions  of  rage, 
fear,  and  cupidity.  The  man  had  objected  to  the  signal  ofii- 
cers  using  his  cupola,  and  had  borne  himself  as  one  defiant 
before  his  enemy  ;  but  this  breaking  into  his  store  unmanned 
him  iri  a  m"meiit,  and  lie  begged  for  my  interposition.  I  pitied 
liim,  and  restored  some  of  his  property  ;  although  enough  was 
retained  to  punish  what  I  then  thought  was  one  of  the  most 
pestilent  reh-ets  tliat  ever  cursed  the  Yankees.  What  became 
of  Rinker  and  his  store,  during  the  campaigns  that  followed 
in  the  vali'jy,  I  leave  to  the  imagination  to  conceive.  At  about 
forty  minuies  aucr  two,  I  received  a  note  from  my  assistant 
adjutanr-gonc/ril  wl:;.«in  I  had  sen:  forward  to  communicate 
with  Col.  Dunning,  that  that  officer,  v/ith  four  regiments, 
two  batteries,  and  one  squadron,  was  about  tv/o  and  a  half  or 
three  mh-:s  in  advance  ;  tliat  he  vcas  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Nevv  rdaikct  that  riiglit,  and  would  like  to  have  me  keep 
within  oiic  mile  of  him. 

Althi.ugh  Dunning's  brigade  went  ah.ead,  it  was  largely  in 
the  rear.  His  men  began  to  drop  out  shortly  after  leaving 
Mount  Jackson  :  and  from  there  to  Nov.-  Market  they  were 
scattered  along  the  road  singly  and  in  twenties.  They  dropped 
down  anywhere, and  at  once  were  fast  asleep.  It  would  not  be 
an  exaggeration  to  say  that  there  were  one  thousand  stragglers 
on  that  m;irci    of  eieveu  or  twelve  miles  ;  there  v.as  a  complete 


50 

chain  of  them.  To  be  sure  the  road  was  of  the  worst  descrip- 
tion ;  ;.  vvai  a  sn.CLVssioii  of  clayey  sloiighs,  with  deeo  mud 
altcniatirg  with  rocky  hills.  There  were  creeks  to  be  forded, 
in  which  the  water  came  up  to  the  men's  knees  ;  so  that 
shoes,  originally  bad,  were  rendered  so  useless  by  alternate 
drying  and  soaking,  that  many  of  our  own  men  marched 
along  on  that  weary  day  in  an  oppressive  heat  in  their  stocking 
feet.  The  prospect  of  a  fight  was  e.xciting,  and  our  brigade 
listened  eagerly  for  sounds  from  the  few  left  in  Dunning's 
brigade.  Still  we  plodded  on  until  dark ;  everv  one  com- 
pletely exhausted  ;  I  had  been  in  the  saddle  from  4  a.  :^r.  | 
uiitil  9  p,  M.  V\'e  were  within  two  miles  of  Nevr  JMarket,  1 
and  well  in  rear  of  Rude's  Kill  and  all  other  threatening  posi-  1 
tions,  V.  hen  the  column  halted,  and  the  men  fell  asleep  as  soon  j 
as  they  touched  the  ground,  la  the  morning  v.-e  learned  | 
that  Shields  had,  the  night  before,  passed  th. rough  the  town,  I 
and  gone  four  miles  beyond  it  ;  that  Jackson  had  made  no  } 
stand  at  Rude's  Hill,  but  that  at  ten  o'clock,  two  hours  at  | 
least  before  we  began  our  graiid  hank  movement,  he  had  | 
passed  through  Xew  ?darket,  whicii  is  four  miles  farther  | 
south  than  the  point  to  be  turned  b-N-  ciur  flanking  march.  | 
There  was  then  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  join,  the  main  col-  ] 
umn  bv  a  divergir^g  di'-t  road,  wbi^h,  f:rst  crossing  the  Shen-  1 
an.doah  3i  a  lord,  led  u^  into  the  main  pike  at  tlK"  town.  After  I 
a  scanty  breakfast,  the  river  was  reached,  the  passage  effected,  j 
and  afcerv.ards  described  as  follows;  —  * 

" 'i'l:e  ]:''assage  oi  tlie  ShencUJtioah  v/as  a  ludicrous  si^ht. 
The  river  v.-as  very  swift,  waist-deep,  and  very  rockv  ;  the 
Massachusetts  men  generally  held  u;>  their  cea?-skirts,  and 
wer.t  in  as  they  v.ere  ;  the  Indiana  boys  v.ent  in  in  a  uniform 
of  boots,  shirt  and  coat  carefully  tucked  up  to  be  out  of  the 
water.  An  individual  is  a  funny-enough-looking  spectacle  in 
sucii  a  dicss,  or  .rather  undress,  but  a  whole  regiment,  officers 


Lieut.  TI.  U.  Scoit,  Second  .Mas-sach',i:^etuS  Kegiincnt,  A.  D.  C. 


51 

and  men  alike  the  same,  makes  a  sight  that  is  quite  overpow- 
ering. Every  one  canio  o\-er  safely,  but  a  fevv  guns  were  lost. 
The  current  was  so  sirong  that  it  took  tlie  legs  out  from  under 
several  of  the  men,  and  gave  them  a  good  washing,  an  opera- 
tion that  long  abstinence  rendered  sadly  necessary." 

Having  forded  the  Shenandoah  safely,  we  marched  through 
New  ^larket,  and  went  into  camp  just  beyond  the  town.  The 
resistance  we  had  n-;et  Vv-as  weak,  weaker  than  we  expected, 
and  was  a  disappointment,  both  to  our  ovvn  men  and  the  rebel 
inhabitants  of  the  valley,  who,  as  yet,  had  no  cause  to  praise 
Jackson  for  the  results  of  the  battle  of  Kernstown,  or  for 
retaining  our  forces  in  the  valley,  if  that  was  his  motive. 

From  Harper's  Ferry  to  New  Market  I  liave  thus  given  a 
faithful  narrative  of  the  o}ipusition  we  encountered  from  Gen- 
eral Jackson  and  his  army.  At  Charlestown,  at  Winchester, 
and  at  Strasburg  we  had  heard  extravagant  stories  of  the 
great  resistance  we  were  to  meet.  It  was  alv/ays  at  some  point 
farther  on,  .\r  New  Market  v;e  heard  that  Jackson  had  left 
the  valiev.  Waiat  this  sign.ined  we  found  out  afterwards  ;  but 
of  what  bad  transpired  one  may  well  imagine  our  feelings  in 
reading  that  "  Jackson  then  crept  along  in  tlie  days  succeed- 
ing Kernstown,  like  a  wounded  v;olf,  but  turning  every 
moment  to  siiao  at  liis  pursuers,  and  utTer  battle  if  they 
pressed   on   him."  * 

Though  the  valiev  from  Strasburg  had  at  every  step 
developed  new.lieauties,  tiie  scene  at  New  ^Market  impressed 
me  that  this  was  or.e  of  tlie  most  lovely  valleys  I  had  seen. 
Suchi  rich  slopes  and  green,  fields,  magnificent  vales  and  grand 
mountains,  ever  insight  as  we  followed  the  North  Fork  of  the 
Shenandoah  —  they  were  not  only  entirely  beyond  my  descrip- 
tive powers,  but  v.'ere  etiough  to  transport  me  with  ecstasy. 

At  New  [Market  ve  Uanul  peach-trees  that  had  been  in 
bloom  since  the  lOth  of  April;  and   fields,  too,  green  with  a 

*    Co-jkc's  Lli'r,  oi  Stoaewuil  Juckion,  p.  126. 


52 

magnificent  growth  of  wheat.  Just  south  of  the  villai^c,  on  the 
banks  of  Smith's  Creek,  at  the  foot  of  the  Massanutten  range 
of  mountains,  and  near  where  a  road  crosses  through  a  gap  to 
the  valley  through  which  runs  the  Soutli  Fork  of  the  Shenan- 
doah, I  encamped  my  brigade  in  the  middle  of  an  immense 
wheat-field,  off  our  main  road  perhaps  one  third  of  a  mile. 
On  this  road  and  in  tront  of  my  encampment  was  a  brick 
house,  somewhat  pretentious  in  size  and  finish.  It  surprised 
me  that  access  to  the  house  from  the  main  road  was  effected 
only  through  an  extensive  cattle-yard,  but  upon  further  inves- 
tigation I  found  the  front  door  at  the  back  side  of  the  house. 
The  back  was  formerly  the  front  side,  I  was  told;  but  many 
years  ago  the  road  v/as  relocared,  so  that  it  r:ai  by  the  back 
side  and  through  the  cow-yard  ;  and,  although  the  owner  had 
been  constantly  intending  to  relocate  the  cow-yard,  he  had 
never  accomplished  it. 

The  house  v/as  owned  by  a  man  v.-ho  was  then  away  in  the 
rebel  service,  v.ith  Jackson,  as  a  c[uarter-master :  but  he  had 
left  to  our  protection  his  vv-ife  and  three  or  four  cl.ildren  ; 
an  old  gentleman,  a  relative,  once  a  practising  physician,  about 
eighty  years  of  age  ;  and  a  large  f;-imi;\-  of  negroe-.  Such 
was  the  human  portion  of  the  estate.  Of  cattle  arid  horses, 
two  of- the  former  an!  o^e  of  the  latter  had  been  left  by 
the  Conf:;derate  quarter-master.  The  estate,  I  v;as  told,  com- 
prised some  fi'teen  liundred  acres,  much  of  it  t'len  covered 
with  a  riclx  growth  of  wheat,  destined,,  alas  !  never  to  be 
gathered.  The  day  after  my  arrival,  1  received  rather  a  polite 
invitation  from  the  v,-;fe  of  our  rebel  quarter-master  to  make 
her  house  my  headquarters  ;  the  request  was  pressing,  if 
not  imploring.  With  over  three  thousand  armed  men  — 
enemies  they  were  considered — swarming  around  the  prem- 
ises of  this  defenceless  Wi.man,  I  eabily  understood  this  appeal 
for  protectioru  I  fou;rl  the  poor  woman  tremt)ling  in  her 
bedroom,  surrounded  l;-y  lier  three  boys,  the  eldest  about 
fiiteen  and  the  youngest  about  hve.     It  was  in  vain  that  she 


attempted  to  repress  her  tears,  as  she  told  me  of  harsh  treat- 
ment by  our  troops  as  she  sought  in  vain  to  prevent  the  old 
family  horse  from  Doing  taken  away  by  a  trooper  of  the  cavalry 
arm.  Her  eldest  boy,  too,  was  choking;  down  his  grief,  as  if 
pride  was  battling  with  sorrow.  Proud  Virginians,  never 
before  humbled  ;  lords  and  masters  of  domain  and  slaves, 
their  v.'ord  the  law  ;  I  sympathized  with  theni  in  their  sor- 
rows, ordered  the  old  horse  to  be  returned  to  the  old  uncle, 
and  not  only  gave  assurance  that  I  would  protect  them  from 
further  insult,  but  also  that  every  wish  in  relation  to  the  house 
should  be  carried  out.  To  the  poor  woman,  I  offered  myself 
as  a  prcHCC'-or,  In  tlie  absence  of  a  husband  who  had  tied,  and 
left  her  at  our  mercy. 

To  comj/iy  \.-ith  ihc.  wj^^hes  of  the  family,  since  no  military 
requirem.cn t  would  suffer  thereby,  seemed  my  best  course  ; 
so  I  installed  myself  and  staff  in  the  house,  and  enjoyed,  dur- 
ing the  few  cheerless  days  we  remained,  the  warmtli  of  a  huge 
fire  of  logs. 

The  sk)-,  which  had  looked  so  tenderly  upon  us  on  the  day 
of  our  arrival,  was  i^ow  covered  witli  angry  clouds,  the  sun 
was  obscured,  auvl  we  remained  inactive  under  the  chili  of  a 
snow-storm.  Ifnjovment  out-of-doors  vcas  impossible;  wdiile 
cntertaiiimcnt  within  was  conhnecl  to  th'-  study  of  a  -coarse 
print  of  George  \Va^hir,gton,  in  which,  U;)0ii  scich  an  occasion, 
the  Father  of  his  Country  looked  uncommonly  placid.  An 
old  piano,  some  ancieiit  novels,  a  few  books  of  old  operas, 
prints  of  l-'rench  rci)iih;ican  hi." rocs  in_  cliildhood,  —  all  ^\'ere 
tried  in  vain  :  we  fell  back  upon  the  old  doctor.  This  old 
gentleman  of  cigfit}' insisted  anon  it  we  hud  brought  Northern 
storms  with  us  ;  all  of  which  he  lamented  as  he  saw  the  w;ii:e 
snow-flakes  nestling  so  gently  within  and  around  the  blossoms 
of  his  p^jach-trees.  Such  a  good-natiu'cd  old  gentlem.ari  as  he 
was,  it  was  impossible  to  get  angry  with  liim,  as  he  insisted 
upon  it,  with  a  good-natured  smile,  that  T\IcCleHan  v.-ould  be 
whipped  on  tlie  peninsula  ;  that  he  hoped  for  it,  and  did  not 


1'^; 


54 

for  a  moment  doubt  it.      But,  though  under  my  protection, 

I  was  sorrv  sometimes  to  see  tlie  "  grim-visnged  front  of  war" 

overspread  the  fice  of  our  otherwise  kind  iiostess  ;  for  she  was 

very  rebellious,  as   one  might  well  imagine.     I  tliink  it  quite 

possible  she  objected   to  a  little    entertainment   I   gave   the 

negroes.     It  was  this.     Never  doubting  from  the  outset  that  it 

was  the  right,  i^s  well  as  duty,  of  our  armies   to  declare  to  all 

the  Southern  slaves  we  found  around  us  that  they  were  forever 

free,  I  sent  word  to  all  the  negroes  that  had  called  my  hostess 

viisircss  to  come,  at  a  certain  hour,  into'  my  ofhce,  the  best 

parlor  cf  my  rebel  quarter-master.     I  think   a  few  outsiders 

joined  themi,  f'lr  the  line  extended  across  the  room,  and  there 

w^ere  more  than  I  rem.etr.bered  to  have  seen  around  the  place. 

What  a  sight!  what  an  hour!     Steadfastly,  though  in  apathy, 

this  motley  gang  of  dark  and  ragged  creatures  gazed  at  me  in 

wonder.  The  gray-haired  uncle,  the  wrinkled  auntie,  the  young, 

the  middle-aged,  there  they  were,  to  hear  from  my  lips  the  word 

their  too-long-enslaved  faculties  could  hardly  appreciate.     ''  I 

have  sent  for  you,"  I  said,  "  to  tell  you  that  from  to-day,  for  all 

your   lives,  you  a^e  free.      You  belong  to  no  one,  you   need 

work  for  no  one,  unless  you  v/ish."      I  paused,  and  waited  ;  but 

there  v\'as  no  movement,  not  a  word  in  reply.     ''  Wherever,''  I 

continued,  "  our  armies  go,  we  shall  set  all  the  slaves  free  ;  and, 

now  that  we  are  here,  -n'ou  are  forever  hereatter   vour  own 

masters."     Still,  not  a  vvord  was  uttered  ;  but,  instead  thereof, 

there  was   an   anxious,  earnest,  r-.^.laful   lujic   of  inquiry,  as  if  \ 

the  mind  could  not  grasp  the  subject.     "  Can  you  say  nothing,'  j 

I  asked,  "  can  you  do  nothing,  to  show  that  you  are  glad  ?    Can't  | 

you  even  turn  a  summersault  in  rc'jly  .' "    For  a  moment  there  | 

was  hesiiation  ;  and   then,  from  tlie  gray-haired  old  darky  at 

the  end  to  one  younger  and  more  agile,  ''  Go  ober,  George." 

In  the  most  solenm  arid  matter-of-tact  rendering  oi  obedience 

to  an   order,  down  wenL  "George's"  head  on   tlie  carpet,  and 

over  he  flopped  with  an  awkward  thud.     This  v.aas  all  ;  an.d 

thus,  with  senses  dull  to  all  it  meant,  tiie  line  filed  out,  each 


■!-   jrv..     -r 


55 

heart  beating  with  some  undefined  sensation,  as  if  a  great  joy 
were  coming;. 

Truly,  the  hour  of  the  negro's  trumiph  had  come  at  last. 
They  had  seen  their  master's  glance  of  scorn  at  the  threatened 
invasion  ;  they  had  trembled  before  his  imperious  will,  and,  in 
their  ignorance,  they  had  come  to  feel  that  none  could  with- 
stand him.  No  v/onder  they  could  not  take  it  in.  Here,  in 
the  very  home  of  their  toils,  they  had  seen  the  lordly  slave- 
owner fleeing  betore  the  strong  arm  of  a  Northern  force  ;  they 
had  seen  those  of  whom  they  had  heard  nought  but  scoffs 
and  jeers  moving  with  their  solid  columns  in  terrible  retribution 
over  the  blue  ridges  of  their  mountain  confines,  across  the  green 
fields  in  the  valleys  of  tlie  Shenandoah,  into  the  homes  of  their 
masters,  sitting  as  masters  at  their  firesides,  eating  as  masters 
at  their  tables,  protecting  their  wives  and  their  children.  Truly 
might  the  slave  see  the  hoar  of  his  deliverance,  and  know  that 
the  hand  of  God  was  moving  manifestly  upon  the  waters.  Since 
that  day,  ihe  light  trea'l  of  our  column  gave  place  to  a  heavier 
tramp.  Year  after  }ear,  the  iron  hoof  of  war  ploughed  up  that 
beautilul  valle\',  until  desolation  marked  it  for  its  own.  If  the 
poor  woman  who  v.  as  then  sitting  at  the  head  of  a  table  v,-hich 
was  surrounded  by  myself  and  my  staff  stdl  lives,  she  v.'ill 
remember  that,  in  ihoio  early  ^lay-  of  i86j,  I. said  to  her, 
'•  Your  peo]/le  are  n.ad  ;  they  are  raising  a  storm  that  will  not 
subside.  To-day  we  pre  taking  your  fjod  and  your  caltle  ;  but 
to-moriuw,  so  far  does  ihc  living  force  of  powerful  armies 
outrun  our  realizations,  to-morrow  it  may  be  vour  hon:es." 
Let  the  blackened  walls  of  the  houses  of  the  Sb.cnandoah 
valley  be  my  witness.  Jvit  what  had  become  of  Jackson.^ 
We  had  rumnrs  that  he  had  turned  off  from  the  valley  of 
the  North  Fork,  and  was  somewhere  in  the  ridges  of  the  Dlue 
.  ?dounlains,  to  the  eastward,  and  in  communication  wiLn  Lee 
around  Richmond.  The  wliole  of  the  valley  gave  evidence  of 
his  ruthless  flight.  Bridges  burnt  to  impede  our  pursuit,  was 
a  greater  injuiy  to  the  industry  of  the  inhabitants  than  to  us: 


5f; 

it  might  retard,  but  it  did  not  bar,  our  proj^ress.  T  was  aston- 
ished at  the  evidence  of  forced  service,  required  b}'  tlie  enemy 
from  the  citizens  of  this  valley  ;  the  mountains  were  filled 
with  Virginians  escaping  from  forced  levies.  Wandering  sadly 
along  by  the  side  of  the  creek,  near  my  encampment  at  New 
Market,  I  saw  a  poor  white  u'oman,  followed  by  her  children, 
—  five  little  girls  and  a  boy.  In  her  arms  she  carried  a  baby  ; 
and,  behind  her  children,  follou'cd  the  faithful  dog.  To  my 
question,  she  answerer!  that  she  v/as  going  to  her  sick  brother. 
Her  home  was  in  the  mountains  ;  but,  her  husband  having 
been  driven  from  hi?  home  by  some  of  Jackson's  men,  who 
were  forcing  recruits  into  his  service,  she  could  not  live  there 
without  his  help.  "As  soon  as  you  come  here  to  protect  him," 
said  the  Vv'oman,  "  he  has  promised  to  return  home.  What 
would  I  not  give  to  see  him  ! ''  [ 

On -the  25th  ol  April,  on  Fridav,  v.-e  again  moved  with  our  j 

whole  force  onward  up  the  vallev.     Aloivg  by  the  base  of  the  ! 

IMa.^sanuttcn  range  of  mountains  on  our  left,  leaving  our  old  I 

.....  ' 

friend  the  Shenandoah  to  the  west,  in  wliich  direction  it  runs  1 

to   its  sources  in  the  North  Mountains,  v.-e  followed  Smith's 

Creek  until  we  readied  Harrisonburg  ;  and  there  wc  encamped.  j 

We  v,"ere  eighteen  miles  from  New  Market,  and  about  eight}-  j 

from  Winchester.     Ai   ILirrisonburg  vcc  found   thac  Jackson  j 

hadi  chariged  his  course,     liavin.g  left  the  vallev  of  the  North  j 

.  i 

I'Yi'-l-:  he  liad  turnedi  soulheasterlv,  ticking  the  main  pike  which  j 

runs    in    that    direction  to    Gordonsvi'le,  distant  about  forty 

miles.     At   GordonsvI'de  tlicre   was  rpil  conim'.Uiication  with  ■  ! 

i 

Staunton,  Richmond,  and  AlexTaidria.  ]3ut  Jackson  had  as  j 
usual  encamped  al  :>ut  twenty  miles  from  us,  and  was  now  in  • 
the  valley  of  th.e  N':^rth  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah  to  the  east  of  | 
our  mountain  range,  and  on  the  cast  side  of  the  Shenandoah,  ; 
wherL  the  Gordoii-vi'ie  pike  crosses  thai  stream  b}' a  long  cov- 
ered bridge.  While  holdmg  Harri'ionburg  witii  our  cavalry  ■ 
and  an  adwinced  gu.ard  of  infantry,  v.'e  turned  to  follow  r.im.  j 
I'ur    a    few  da\'s  our  ODeratioPiS  were  cmfn^ed   to  the  usual 


57 

skirmish  with  Jackson's  rear-guard :  we  advanced,  they  re- 
treated ;  and  we  followed  them  through  the  classic  shades  of 
Keezle  and  IMagaughey  towns  to  the  east,  around  the  base  of 
the  peaked  mountain  where  the  two  valleys  of  the  Shenandoah 
flow  into  one,  along  the  pike  to  the  bridge  over  the  North  Fork 
of  the  Shenandoah  at  Penn's  Ferry,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles 
from  our  main  encampment  at  Harrisonburg.  At  this  point 
Jackson,  determined  to  burn  the  bridge  if  w^e  attempted  to 
cross,  had  lined  it  with  light  kindling-v/ood,  to  ignite  at  the 
touch.  As  along  the  valley,  so  here,  there  was  constant 
picket-firing.  During  my  only  visit  to  the  extreme  out- 
post, where  the  Twenty-Eighth  Regiment  under  Col.  Donelly 
was  stationed,  I  saw  one  of  his  men,  v/ho  had  been  shot  at 
his  post  by  some  expert  and  remorseless  rebel  hunter,  lying 
dead  at  the  station.  Once,  however,  the  enemy,  failing  to 
make  the  bridge  in  time,  were  overtaken  by  our  cavalry, 
and  prisoners  were  brought  into  Harrisonburg.  With 
General  Hatch  commanding  the  cavalry,  I  rode  in  ;  the 
prisoners  following  in  oar  rear.  Or.e  of  the  rebel  oiTicers, 
being  greatly  annoyed  at  the  triumphant  lonej  of  our  men, 
turned  to  rebuke  them,  at  which  the  storm  began  to  rage  with 
such  violence  that  I  v/as  compelled  to  order  the  prisoner  to 
maintain  silence. 

\\  hde  my  brig:ide  was  encamped  in  the  field,  1  made  my 
own  headquarters  within  the  house,  where  dwelt  the  owner  of 
the  domain.  She  wiis  an  elderly  matron  of  very  strong  seces- 
Siuii  proclivities,  and  given  to  lameucaLLon  over  the  destruc- 
tion which  three  thousand  soldiers  brought  to -her  fields. 
Ihere  were  no  fences  left  to  davide  tillage  from  j^asture, 
or  graiu-f'jids  from  roads.  When  her  complaints  were 
loudest,  1  informed  her  of  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  of 
which  we  had  just  heard  tliruugh  the  war  department  ;  then 
enlightened  her  as  to  the  con.dition  of  slave  property,  and  that 
no  restraint  could  be  n<,(id  if  her  slaves  chose  to  leave  her 
and  loilow  us.  Sonietinies  her  replies  were  acrimonious, 
8 


??T^ 


dS 

sometimes  pitiful.  Indeed,  who  could  help  feeling  something: 
akin  to  pity  fur  tnese  poor  people,  bending  under  the  power  of 
tiieir  conquerers.  1  lut  with  pity  came  also  exultation,  for  scarcely 
a  day  passed  that  some  stronghold  was  not  wrested  from  trai- 
tors. All  along  our  sea-coast,  all  along  our  inland  rivers,  at  New 
Orleans,  and  in  manN'  places  along  the  course  of  that  mighty 
river  the  .Mississippi,  floated  the  old  flag.  The  reduction  of 
Yorktown  we  looked  upon  as  an  assured  fact,  so  of  Corinth. 
The  army  and  the  country  gave  thanks  to  God  that  the  end 
seemed  so  near  ;  and  a  mightier  feeling  of  exultation  came  over 
us,  that  questions  which  had  troubled  the  country  beyond  endur- 
ance, questions  which  the  wisest  and  best  in  our  land  could 
not  solve,  were  now  at  rest  forever  —  slavery  dead  beyond 
rcstiLution,  and  tlie  insuiierablc  atrogance  and  conceit  of  the 
Southern  people  being  whipped  out  of  them.  Here  was  a 
strong  Northern  army  holding  forcible  possession,  of  their 
lands  and  of  their  mansions,  replying  to  their  com.plaints  that 
they  would  have  it  so,  would  Ivaxc  us  come  from  the  North  to 
free  their  slaves,  take  their  catde,  and  reply  to  their  com- 
plaints by  the  quesiion,"  Do  you  like  itV"'  and  offer  the  conso- 
lation that  the  n"iOrrow  might  bring  forth  a  greater  sorrow, 
even  a  forfeiture  of  their  lives  and  lands.  "  Oh,  anything  to  end 
this  war!"  was  ag;,!n  and  again  the  wailing  reph".  "  Will  you 
advise  the  laying  down  of  arms,  and  submission,  to  end  it  ?  "  Then 
the  flush  of  anger  came,  and  the  graceless  temper  cried,  "  No  ! 
rather  war  to  the  biltcr  end  than  tha'.."-  "Then  the  question 
becomes  not  one  of  secession,  but  subjugati.Mi,"  I  answered. 
"We  are  deterniincd  to  whip,  yes.  subjugate  you,  if  we  must ! 
and  perhaps  the  strength  we  put  forth,  tr.e  courage  vv-e  displav, 
vdll  make  the  Suuia  more  williiig  to  li\'e  with  a  })eo[)le  you 
once  affected  to  dcsjjise,  but  whom  now  you  will  find  as  brave 
as  )'ourselves.  The  end  may  not  be  yet,  may  not  be  until 
your  towns  and  cities  are  deserted  sa\e  by  wouien  and  old 
men,  not  luitil  all  your  property  is  destroyed  hv  the  passage  of 
arn-des,  not   until  your  commuriicaiiuas  arc   broken   up,  your 


59 

bridges  and  roads  obliterated,  not  until  your  country  is  flooded 
with  a  vvorthless  currency,  not  until  youi  children,  even,  are 
pressed  inlo  service,  until  every  raorher  has  an  achuig  heart, 
and    every  household    an    absent    son.     We    can    now  make 
peace  with  you  upon  such  terms  that  both  North  and  South 
can  mutually  rejoice,  and  there  will  then  come  a  celebration, 
the  like  of  which  our  country  has  never  seen  ;  but,  as  it  is,  we 
must  press  on.     Let  your  achievements  be  never  so  heroic,  ours 
shall  adorn  the  page  of  history  with  as  proud  successes,  while 
the  inspiration  of  our  mothers,  sisters,  and  homes  shall  equally 
with  yours  swell  our  hearts  and  nerve  our. arms  with  courage." 
Whilo  the  main  body  of  the  Fifth  /irmy  Corps  was  at  Harri- 
sonburg. Gen.  Banks  made  his  headquarters  at  New  Alarket 
Crossing    the   ^Masi^anutLen  range  of  mountains  at  a  gap  of 
that  name,  a  wide  road  leads  from  the  North  Fork  valley  of  the 
Shenandoa!;  eastwardly  over  the  mountain  into  the  valley  of 
the  Soath  Fork,  aftbrding  Jackson  a  splendid  opportunity,  if  we 
were   unguarded,  of  taking  us   in   rear.      This  gap-road,  just 
before  leaving  the  mountain  on  the  eastern  side,  diverges  into 
two  branclK'3,  op.e  of  v/hich  crosses  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shen- 
andoah at  Columbia  Bridge,  the  other  at  Massanutten  town  and 
thence  to  Luray.     To  guard  this  important  road,  Col.  Sullivan, 
of    ShiekU's    Divisir.n,    had    been    k;:    at    Columbia    Bridge, 
About    the    fst   of    ?.r-y.    Subivan    inibrmed     lianks    that    a 
deserlcr  at   Columbia   l^ridge  reported    that  on    the   30lh   of 
April  Jackson   nioved  with  his  whole  lorce  towards  Harrison- 
burg; and.  then,  lie  believed,  he  rerurned  and  marched  rov/ards 
Port  lve!j".blic.     The  deserter  estimated  his  whole  ibrce  to  be 
about   tiiioen    thousand   men,  composed   of  twelve  or  fifteen 
regnnents.  commanded   by   Jackson,  'laliaferro,    Winder,  and 
Ewell,  and  added  that  Jackson  expected  additional  reinforce- 
ments.    That  Col.  Sullivan  was  in  the  same  state  of  excite- 
ment as  when   at  Strasburg,  was  apparent  from  a  despatch 
received  f!c>m  him,  dated  at  Columbia  Bridge  at  2.25   p.    m., 
addres-ed  by  .ignai  to  Gen.  Banks,  annouucii^g  that  "  rebels 


,  t  >:    J.  ■    ' .     • ' 


GO 

drove  in  my  pickets  at  Burnt  Bridge  and  on  Gordonsville  road, 
started   oui   reinfurccnien'.s  and  am    n:.\v  driving    them,  vv'iil 
report  fully."      Burnt  Bridge  lies  south  of  Columbia  Bridge, 
over  which  the  road  to  Gordonsville  and  Richmond  crosses 
the   Shenandoah.      Fearing  that  we  would   not  fail  into  the 
little  trap  of  moving  to  Staunton,  against  Avhich   McClellan 
warned    Banks,    it    might    be    that    Jackson    v/as    trying    all 
approaches   to   our  rear,    believing   he  would   not    have    the 
opportunity  to  crush  us  with  reinforcenaents  in  his  own  good 
time.     With  the  pass  across  the  mountain  well  guarded,  v/ith 
our  advance  at  least  sixteen  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Har- 
risonburg, up  to   the   Shenandoah  at  Conrad's  Store,  we   were 
holding  Jackson  at  arm's-length.     What  now  vras  to  be  done  ? 
How  would   higher  powers  move  in   the  concentration   that 
would  force  the  yet  lingering  life  of  rebeldom  out  of  its  ugly 
body  ?    It  seemed  as  if  the  gloom  and  uncertainty,  that  had  so 
recently  covered  everything  as  v.dth  a  pall,  was  being  dispelled. 
L.very  day  deserters  came  to  us  in  their  gray  iiniforms  to  say 
that  not  more  than  half  of  Jackson's  army  would  fight  ;  that  they 
were  worn  out  v/ith  service,  and  had  no  idea  of  the  cause  nor 
the   object  of  the  war  ;    also  that   the  privates   of  Jackson's 
army  had  heard  of  but  a  single  victory  gaihed  by  us,  that  of 
Fort  Donelsoa  ;  anci  th's  "  one  of  their  bovs  accidentailv  saw 
in  a  newspaper."      At   this   time,  too,  the  administration  in 
divers  v/ays  gave  out  that  the  end  v^-as  nigh  ;  that  the  services 
ot  our  troops  v/oiild  be  reciuired  but  for  two  or  three  months  I 

longer.      An  Indiana  regiment,  ofiered.  and   enlisted   but  for  -  1 

one   year,    the    government    wure    unwilling    to    accept,    and  1 

wished  to   muster  it  out  at   once  ;    but   finallv  declared   that  ' 

tliey  were  willing  to  keep  it  ior  sixty  or  ninety  days  longer,  '      j 

for  that  wa>  as  long,  it  w;\5  said,  as  the  government  would  | 

v.-art  any  t-oops  ;  and  this   Jrom  Secretary  Stanton.     "When  I 

Yorktown  falls,  the  end  has  come,"  was  the  cry.  I  think  the 
feeling  that  he  had  better  strike  now,  while  he  was  here,  sug- 
gested to  one  of  the  ofllcers  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  to  i 


61 

call  upon  me  upon  "very  important  business,"  as  he  said; 
v/hich  \va-^,  tliat  he  was  en;^'a,c:;cd  to  be  married  to  a  young  lady 
in  Winchester,  and  wished  a  leave  of  absence  for  six  days 
that  he  might  g;o  back  and  be  married.  He  had  met  his  love 
for  the  first  time  at  a  house  in  that  town,  where  T  had  sent  him 
in  conmiand  of  a  guard.  He  v.-ent,  he  saw,  was  conquered  ; 
he  a  Yankee,  she  a  \'irginian  ;  he  Union,  she  a  rebel.  I 
gave  til  is  ohicer  a  leave  of  absence,  and  he  was  married. 
It  was  said  at  tiiis  time  in  the  regiment  that  I  had  prophesied 
for  the  coming  19th  of  July,  that  I  would  march  the  Second 
Reginicnt  up  State  Street  in  Boston  ;  and  in  a  letter  stating 
the  prophecy,  I  added,  "Verily,  it  looks  so." 

Whether  on  the  main,  the  middle,  or  the  back  road  of  that 
lo\'el}  Slienandioa'i  valley,  rich  with  its  L';rcen  fields  stretchirr">- 
off  for  miles  and  miles  ;  wherever  our  foragers  wandered,  we 
were  the  first,  to  cull  dainties  from  rich  farms,  then  looking  very 
unlike  the  starvation  and  misery  wliich  afterwards  befell  the 
peop'e.  Wliile  we  were  at  Harrisonburg,  purchases  v.-ere  made 
ot  two  chickens,  tvvo  ducks,  one  tu.rkey,  two  dozen  eggs,  and 
three  pounds  of  butter, -ail  fur  $1.50  in  specie,  which  v/as  then 
equal  to  ;:;5.oo  in  rebel  mone}-.  At  the  sigliL  of  silver  and  gold, 
the  eyes  of  the  farmers  opened  wide,  and  they  clutched  our  sil- 
ver quarters,  as  a  dr'jwning  man  a  straw  ;  fur  they  had  not 
seen  any  silver,  they  said,  si^ce  April  of  .jSoi.  And  yet  their 
foolish  pride  and  faith,  or  something  worse,  made  this  people 
contend  that  their  shinplasters  were  as  good  as  our  green- 
backs, and  not  only  profes.-s  it,  but  act  up  to  it,  to  the  manliest 
advantage  of  one  rather  smart  officer,  v/ho  bought  a  twenty- 
dollar  confederate  note  lor  twelve  dollars  iu  "silver,  and  then 
exchan-ed  ii  v,  ith  an  eager  seces.^ionist  in  tov/n  for  a  twenty- 
dollar  bill  in  our  currency.  The  sutlers  realised  great 
profits  from  this  trailic  ;  while  son^e  of  them  added  horse- 
stealing to  the  business,  and  so  contrived  to  keep  the  v.'olf 
from  the  de.or  for  a  while,  though  there  is  but  little  doubt 
that  Abhby  and    Moseby   finally  got  even  with    the   sutlers. 


M-    '.•-; 


62 

and  restored  more  to  Virginia  than  she  lost.  It  \v:i?  a  cause 
of  complaint  anions;  some  of  our  oliicers  tliat  I  ahvaj/s  paid 
"every  one  of  these  secesli "  for  wiiat  I  took  from  them; 
though  it  was  declared  that  I  more  tlian  compensated  for  it 
by  setting  free  every  darky  I  came  across. 

While  our  occiipation  of  Harrisonburg  was  drawing  to  a 
close,  information  was  received  from  the  secretary  of  v.-ar  that 
''  Yorktown  had  been  evacuated."  "  I^et  the  boys  yell,"  wrote 
Gen,  Williams  to  me,  in  a  note  announcing  this  news  ;  and 
this  note  was  tollowed  by  another  "that  there  are  strong 
rumors  about  Richmond." 

Sunday  came,  the  4th  of  ]May,  and  brought  Gen.  Banks 
unexpectedly  to  tlie  front.  He  came  to  call  together  the 
general  oincers  of  his  conimand,  t(^  discuss  the  practicability 
and  wisdom  of  a  movement  against  Jackson.  Hardly,  however, 
had  the  sui.\iecL  been,  brc.r'chcd,  when  a  despatch  from  the  sec- 
retary of  war  quenched  the  risin.g  flame.  W'e  (Williams's  Di- 
vision with  all  the  cavalry  and  artillery;  were  ordered  to  return 
to  Stra^burg,  while  Shields  with  his  Division  was  ordered  to 
cross  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  join  IMcDoweli  at  i^redericksburg. 
The  change  was  to  take  place  immediately;  we  were  to  move 
at  daylight  on  the  returii  to  New  Market.  The  glories  of  a 
camjjaigii  in  the  valle^;,  so  iuil  ot  promi;  e,  'xciy.  bding. 

During  the  day  and  night  of  Sunday,  preparations  for  tlie 
return  were  made.  On  Mondav  morning,  some  movement  of 
the  enemy,  probably'  follovving  up  our  rear-guard,  as  it  was 
v.dthdrawii  tr^jm  the  Oi.it|iOst  arid  picket  stations,  gave  rise  to 
a  runi'ir  that  Jacks'.'U  v/as  drawing  near  fer  a  fight.  Gen. 
Williams  wrote  me  a  lew  hurried  Vv-ords  c  inhrmipig  the  report.  "''•' 
/'Vs  absiir.,1  as  I  then  belie\'ed  the  rumor,  unless  Jackson 
had  dri.)[;ped  down  upon  us  fr'.jm  the  clouds,  I  got  mv  brigade 
in    readiriess    tor  a   movemt.-nt  ;    which    turned    out  to   be  for 


*' Coi_  GcRr^Ci.N, —  It  is   rcjHjrtJtl  tlia:  Jjcks'jii  Is  witliiu  three  intks.     Have 

your  c'.im.ni.ir.ci  re.idy  for  orders. 

A,   \Vu.!.i.\MS,  U.  G. 


G3 

marching,    and    not    fighting.      The    unusual    bustle    which 
attended   the  preparation,  ho'.vever,  afiectod  the  occupants  of 
my  headquarters    dirierently.     No   doubt    my  splenetic  land- 
lady was  overjoyed  at  the  prospect  of  our  departure  ;  though 
she  was,  and   had  been  ever  since  our  arrival,  apprehensive 
of  the  effect  upon   her   slaves.     A  more    miserable,  watery, 
unhealthy  cellar,  than  the  half-underground  basement  where 
I  had  often  seen  an  unhappy  slave  woman,  I   had  not  before 
encountered.      So    sickly  and    feeble    seemed    this    unhappy 
creature,  though   she  was    young,   scarcely  over   thirty,  that 
I   had  spoken   kindly,  and   encouraged   her   to   lea\'e   such   a 
home.     Although   she  replied    that   she  should  go    when   v/e 
left,   I   thought    no  more  of  her  until    the  confusion    of  our 
departure,   when  "  Peggy  "  cauie  to  say, — 
"  I  'm  gwine  wid  ye." 
"Very  well,"  I  replied,  "come  alone-." 
'■'  Xo,  but  I  can't  go  widout  my  chile,"  she  ansv/ered. 
"Then  bring  it  with  vou," 
"  I  can't,  I  hab  n't  g^.t  her." 
"  Where  is  slie  ?  '' 

"  Ober  dar  at  Miss  — — ,  she  hab  her." 
"  Go  and  get  her,  then,  if  you  have  time." 
S'hc  Won't  gib  her  up  to  m::." 
\vnat  sliaii  I  do.'     1  have  no  time  nov/  to  send." 
"  \  ou  jes  gib  me  a  v;ritin',  an'  1  '11  go  wid  it." 
"  fiiat  '.von't  do  you  au}'  good  ;  our  troops  are  all  leaving 
here  ;  t'.ie  peoi),e  won't  niind  our  writings." 

'■  1  ase,  it  wili,"  insisted  Peggy,  "  )-ou   jes  gib  me  v/ritin'." 
Persuaded  hx  her  ini[>ortunity,   I    scrawled   ojf  and  signed 

with   my  nan-.e  and    ofhcial   rank  an    order  to  ?diss to 

deli\-er  over  immediately  one  colored  child,  the  daughter 
of  said  Peggy:  and  this  o\\  the  pains  aiul  perils  of  dis- 
obedience. Ti;en  Peggy  passed  out  of  ni\-  mind  ;  for  new 
rumors  came  that  Jackson  was  about  attempting  to  seize 
tne  gap-road   across  the  mountains,  v/h.ich  connects  the  two 


rm 


64 

valleys  at  New  iMarket,  the  road  where  Col.  Sullivan's  pickets 
were  attacked  on  the  Gordonsville  pike.  Waile  our  columns 
were  hurryin::  aion^^  the  road,  my  eyes  tell  upon  my  Peg2:y, 
keeping  up  \v;th  the  artillery,  the  wagons,  and  the  columns' 
of  infantry,  and  bearing  on  her  shoulders  the  brightest  and 
most  sparkling  little  pickaninny  that  was  ever  born  to  woman 
of  African  descent.  I  was  surprised,  and  wln^n  I  saw  the 
mother's  happiness  delighted.  With  the  child  (given  to  her 
without  any  hesitation,  she  said),  and  a  large  bundle,  about 
the  size  of  the  one  that  the  fugitive  slave  v^-oman  v/as  for- 
merly represented  in  pictorial  advertisements  in  Southern 
papers  as  bearij^g,  when  she  "  ran  away  from  the  subscriber," 
she  was  lleeing  from  slavery,  clinging  to  our  guns  and  ^o 
the  columns  or  our  iiifantry  for  protection.  Telling  her  to 
come  to  my  camp,  v.'hen  v/e  halted  for  the  night  (she  assured 
me  she  could  keep  up;*,  I  rode  on  pondering  on  the  amazing 
changes  which  time  works  in  the  field  of  human  events;  upon 
the  fleeing  fugitive,  hiding  in  swamps  and  tracked  by  blood- 
hounds, to  trie  fugitive  fearless  in  the  presence  often  thou- 
sand bayonets,  glistening  in  the  arms  of  ten  thousand  hated 
abolitionists  :  for  this  was  what  we  praotically  had  become.  I 
did  not  see  Peggy  again  for  two  or  three  days  ;  for  hardly 
had  we  arri\ed  at  New  jMarkct,  iioping  to  make  up  for  the 
warit  01  re^t  of  Sunday  night,  and  the  exhau.sting  march  of 
tvrenty  miles  on  ?vl.-nday,  wlien,  the  fright  at  headquarters 
continuing,  w^  v.-cre  ordered  to  tear  away  from  the  prospect 
of  comfurtable  beds,  and  move  out  in  the  darkness,  ascend 
the  mountain,  and  cross  to  the  valley  of  the  North  Fork  of 
the  Shenandoah,  on  the  eastern  side  o[  tiie  range. 

When  ?vlajor  Copeland  brought  the  order  from  Gen.  Banks, 
he  iiispired  the  officers  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  Regi- 
ment to  throw  off  fitigue  by  promising  a  battle  surely  in  tiie 
morning;  arid  he  also  gave  m.e  ilie  information  in  writing  ti-at 
it  was  reported  that  Jackson  had  divided  his  f  jrce  and  had  nve 
thoijsand  nw.\  tliis  side  th.e  river  [I  suppose  h.e  referred  to  tiie 


:.ifj 


65 

Ij.iray  valley),  and  six  thousand  men  the  otht.^r,  which  "  if  so," 
adds  Copeland,  "one  party  may  be  destroved  by  a  timelv 
movement." 

I  left  Banks's  headquarters  in  New  Market  at  twelve  at  night, 
with  no  more  information  of  the  purposes  and  probabilities 
.of  this  march  than  v/hen  1  entered,  and  witli  m.y  weary  col- 
umn reached  the  top  of  the  mountain  at  sunrise  on  the  6th  of 
I\iay.  Here  I  halted  for  a  moment  to  refresh  the  troops  with 
the  marvellous  beauty  of  the  scene.  In  the  g'olden  li^ht  v;e 
sav/  far  below  us  in  the  valley  the  apple,  peach,  and  cherry 
trees  in  full  bloom  ;  the  rich  green  of  the  growing  wheat, 
the  green  grass,  and  the  lovelv  tints  of  the  new  verdure  of 
tlie  forest  trees.  My  horse  crushed  the  most  beautiful  vio- 
lets, growing  in  clusters  on  hillside,  in  footpath,  and  by 
many  mountain  streams  which  flowed  onward  to  swell  the 
Shenandoali  at  our  feet.  Witl-jout  long  delay  ^^e  pushed 
on  for  the  foot  of  the  mountain  on  the  other  (eastern)  side, 
vvheie  we  were  promised  a  sight  of  the  enemy.  We  reached 
the  end  of  our  long  and  toilsome  night  march  to  find  that  it 
was  a  lalse  alarm,  — ^.no  enemy,  no  i>rospect  of  any  fight.  So 
Wo  fell  down  to  deep  slumbers  ;  I  had  not  closed  mv  eyes  for 
two  nights.  ITcre  I  published  to  my  brigade  the  news  of  the 
evacuation  of  Vorktewn.  The  men  cheered  on  the  sides  of 
that  magniiiceat  old  mountain  with  such  vociferous  shouts, 
that  the  echo  mi'.st  have  rolled  through  the  valley,  rever- 
beraiir.g  froui  .tlie  Blue  Ridge,  and  answered  back  again  from 
the  tops  ot  the  higher  ranges  over  wdiich  we  had  climbed. 
Save  that  I  here  tied  a  sutler  to  a  tree,  and  con il seated  all  his 
stock  for  selling  liquor  to  my  men,  I  accomplished  nothing-'- 
that  tended  to  a  result. 

On  the  Sth  of  -May,  returning  from  the  mountain,  we  again 
pitched  cur  tents  in  Xew  Market  ;  and  I  do  not  recall  more 
sleepy  and  dreainy  hours  tr.an  for  a  few  da\-s  were  passed 
here,  while  awaitin.g  the  order  to  return  to  Slrasbiu'LT. 

1  iic    ofiiciid    report   of    the    evacuation    bv    the    enemy  of 


66 

Norfolk  and  Portsmouth,  Va.,  we  received  on  Sunday,  the 
nth  of  I^Ia),  the  anniveiiary  of  the  day  on  which  the  Second 
Massachusetts  Regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 

United  States  for  three  years  or  the  v/ar. 

New  Orleans,  Norfolk,  Portsmouth,  and  Yorktown  snatched 
from  the  rebel  grasp,  we  counted  as  surely  upon  Jvichmond  to 
follow;  and  so,  in  noisy  demonstrations  with  the  bauds,  we 
celebrated  our  anniversary,  saddened  only  by  the  reflection 
that  to  us  had  fallen  the  ignoble  task  of  holding  Strasburg  for 
the  protection  of  the  valley. 

On  the  13th  of  May  Williams's  Division  re-entered  Stras- 
burg. Tlie  roads,  ilic  bridges,  the  scenes,  and  the  people 
v/ere  little  changed  ;  but  the  contrast  between  the  advancing 
and  retreating  march  was  most  noticeable.  Now  there  was 
no  pursuit,  no  ubiquitous  Asliby :  it  was  a  dull,  tame,  dead 
level  of  safety.  The  important  bridge  over  the  creel:  at 
I^.Iount  Jackson,  v.-hich,  in  nght,  aiid  in  ilighc  on  our  advance, 
Ashby  had  attempted  t'..  dc.-itr.jy,  and  which  it  v;as  necessary 
to  preserve  to  carry  us  from  New  Market  to  the  rear,  was 
saved  to  us,  somewjiat,  by  two  telegrapruc  operators  arnied 
with  two  sabrcs  and  three  Tevolvers,'''"  and  somewhat  by  the 
absence  of  the  enemy.  Although  I  made  haste  to  relieve 
the  gallant  operat,)rs  \i-o:n  their  \-ol'!nk"'.iy  guard  duty,  I  do 
Jiot  remember  what  mu-f^age  I  sent  to  Gen.  j-iauks's  assistant 


*Fkom  MouM'  T.vcksox,  Miiyio,  1S62. 

To  Maj.-Gtn.  X.  r.  Banks  : 

AU  the  gvum's  h.ive  Ijocr;  wlii.dr.-nvn  from  this  p'nco,  and  the  bridge  near  here. 
As  we  would  not  like  to  see  t::c:  biiii^c  dirslroyiu,  and  e^j'c.;ial!y  at  this  time,  we 
have  :i,-sii:n',;d  conunaiid.  and  ,;:u:>t(.T-d  all  the  force  v.e  can,  consisting  in  all  of 
five  men,  and  wiil  do  tiie  i>-ot  wc  can  to  protect  it  with  this  small  squad,  who 
are  arnivd  uit!-.  two  s.-.l;rcs  and  ihror  revolvers. 

\Vc  a:c  very  re.-;-iccti'ai!y  yours, 

If  A  LI.  ^'c  Lou.NsnuKC, 


67 

adjutant-general's  clcrJ:,  by  whom  I  was  requested  to  make  a 
report.* 

In  the  middle  of  a  vast  clover-ficId  jnst  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  town,  our  regiment  with  the  others  of  my  brigade  were 
encamped.  By  orders  from  Washington,  we  were  to  fortify 
Strasburg  ;  j  therefore  we  did  the  best  we  could  to  throw  up 
an  incomplete  field-work  upon  a  hill  in  the  middle  of  the 
town,  and  a  long  line  of  sim.ple  breastworks  in  the  southerly 
part. 

From  the  13th  to  the  23d  of  IMay  this  not  too  exciting  task 
furnished,  with  speculations  upon  the  fall  of  Richmxond,  the 
v/hole  staple  of  amusement.'  Again  there  was  much  grum- 
bling and  dissatisiaction  among  the  officers  of  our  regiment  ; 
and  here  it  culminated  in  a  letter  from  them  to  the  secretary 
of  war,  asking  to  be  transferred  to  a  more  active  field  1 

Major  Scott,  of  Col,  Mu^-phy's  Twenty-Ninth  Pennsylvania 


*  Headquarters  Df.pvrtmext  Smf.n'axdoah,  j 
Nf.w  Market,  Va.,  May  10,  1S62.  \ 

I'loase  report  by  bearer  if  the  two  companies  detailed  have  been  sent  from 
your  command. 

Very'respectfuHy,  your  obedient  servant, 

R,   MoRRii  C'JPEtAvn, 

A'\.y.  Vob.  end  Act.  AdJ:.  Gen. 

fcr  ^VHnTKMORC,  clerk. 

*■  ''■•'.' Ir,  th-:;  gciverninc.it  siiould  haveteatel  Front  Koy-il  as  an  outpost  and 

Stra.e'v.irg  .is  the  main  ])iacc  to  be  defi'nde.:!,  it  is  impossible  to  explain.     Invited 

1v.-  G'.-.i.  I',  inks,  upon  his  accession   to  I'attersLm's   cominanrl,  to  come  to  him  at  '    j 

any  and  all  times  with  such  sncrjjestions  upon  military  ailairs  as   I  might  wish  to  i 

make.  1    took  the   liberty  of  advising   him  tu  move  his  main   fjrce   to    Front  I 

Ixoyal,  and  thus,  holding  a  pass  over  the  lliiie  Kid-^^e,  so  place  liimself  upon  his 

lint  of  conmiunications  that  his  small  force  could  not  be  surronnded  by  a  larger 

one  of  the  enemy.     I  I'csouglu  him  to  apply  for  a  change  of  orders  to  enable  him  I 

t'>  do  tliis,  and   Mriior  I'erkin.s.  his  ad;utant-eenerril.  joined  me  in  mv  interces-  I 

'  ) 

sions,  but  Banks  was  immovable.  j 

X  A  reply  to  this  letter,  received  after  Ja^.ksun  had  driven  oiir  regiment  out  of  '       j 

the  vallcv,  declared   that   the   e.\;;^encies  of  the  service  recjuired   the  writers  to  j 

remain  ?i:  ijtr.i?bu;g  {.■,■.■-'.';///  the  valley).  ! 


68 

Regiment,  suppressed  his  perturbed  spirits,  and  spent  much  of 
his  pay,  in  presents  as  testimonials  to  officvjrs  who  met  liis 
approbation.  Not  content  with  having  given  superb  svvords 
to  Generals  Banks  and  Hamilton,  and  to  Major  Copeland,  the 
former's  assistant  adjutant-general,  he  now  bent  his  energies 
towards  a  gift  for  the  colonel  of  the  Seeond  Massachusetts, 
his  then  brigade  commanler  ;  which,  alas  I  ne\'er  came  to  frui- 
tion, for  Jackson  soon  made  us  think  of  other  things.  But 
we  were  acting  without  foreknowledge,  and  so  gathered  such 
comforts  as  v/ere  at  hand.  Peggy,  my  faithful  negro  v/oman, 
duly  installed  as  cook,  gave  more  satisfaction  for  money  paid 
tl'.an  any  of  our  compromises.  Following  on  with  the  bright- 
eyed  little  "  Topsy,'"  she  had  come  to  me  at  New  JMarket  to 
remain   until  1   could  tran.sfcr  her  Ivostonv.ard. 

With  direct  rail  comnuniicatiDu  vvith  Washington,  Strasburg 
began  to  take  on  an  air  of  gayety.  A  travelling  theatrical  com- 
pany furnished  us  with  amusem.ent.  Sutlers  and  traders,  by 
day  and  by  night  overrun  with  custom,  furnished  us  v/ith 
supplies.  The  amount  of  public  property  at  Strasburg  was 
enormous.  Since  v,-e  ];ad  nrst  j'assed  th.ruugh.  it,  a  bountiful 
government  had  piled  up  stores  tor  clothing,  feeding,  moving, 
healing,  and  killing,  until  tive  warerooms  positively  groaned 
v.ith  the  burden,  ilere,  too,  had  been  deposiu-ci,  as  in  a  safe 
depot,  ail  the  superlluous  tran:.portarion  which  Shields  had 
abandoned. 

In  bi-igade  drills,  lai)or  vpon  the  held-woiks  and  defensive 
lines,  and  in  rebuilding  the  bridges  u[)on  tlie  railniads,  the 
days  v/ore  on  without  incident  or  excitement,  until  tPiC  time 
came  to  look  ngain  atter  our  olil  aniagonisL  |ae':s  ^n,  whom 
we  left  on  the  eastern  bank  oi  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shenan- 
doah, about  ^sixteen  and  a  half  miles  from  flarrisoriburg, 
at  t(ic  entrance  oi  a  long  covere-i  wootlen  hri'lge,  i-reoarcd  f'lr 
burning  at  a  moment's  notice.  F"i\-eryiliing  there  betokened 
flight.  I^anks  was  so  far  deceived,  th:it  he  had  in  inf-^rnnTv^- 
the  dejarfacnt  of  in-.-  advance  lu   I  Iarri.-.onburg,  announced 


60 

"that  the  rebel  Gen.  Jackson  has  abandoned  the  valley  of 
Virginia  permanently,  and  now  is  a:  route  f,>r  Gordonsville 
by  the  way  of  the  mountains."  The  bridge  where  Banks 
Ict't  Jackson  is  on  the  direct  road  from  Gordonsville  to  Har- 
risonburg. From  Gordonsville  to  Richmond  by  rail  is  about 
sixty-two  and  a  half  miles,  or  three  hours  ;  while  from  Gor- 
donsville to  the  bridge,  by  a  good  pike  road  across  the  Blue 
Ridge  Mountains,  through  the  Swift  Pvun  Gap,  is  but  about 
thirty  miles. 


rl 


H-r    *c.:': 


70 


CHAPTER    V. 

Gen.  Joseph  E.  Joiixston,  commanding  the  whole  force  of 
the  enem.y  between  P'redericksburg  and  Richmond,  was  em- 
ployed in  preventing  any  movement  by  Gen.  McDowell  to  aid 
Gen.  ?vIcCle]lan  before  Richmond.  When  Jackson  fell  back 
before  cur  column,  Gon.  Ewcll,  of  the  Confederate  Army, 
who  had  been  hovering  around  Fredericksburg  v/atching 
McDowell,  was  sent  to  Swift  Run  Gap.*'  Jackson  found  him 
there,  v/hen  he  crossed  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  as 
related 

The  instructions  given  to  both  Jackson  and  Ewell  vrere,  f 
*"  if  Gen.  Pranks  joins  McDowell  at  Fredericksburg,  march 
instantly,  by  Gordonsviile,  and  join  Anderson  4:  in  front  of 
Fredeiicksburg  ;  but,  if  Banks  remiairis  in  the  valley,  fight 
him  there  immediately."  § 

Cm  tric  5Lh  of  V.S'.y,  i.s  narrated,  one  division  of  Banks's 
corps  (Sli'.elds's)  did  start  to  join  Gen.  McDowell ;  but  whether 


*  M.ii.-G -ii.  Tv.  ell  w.-;.-;  left  -.v^.h  h;s  divis'or.,  arid  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  in 
obscrvi'.rion  o'l  tiie  -upper  K.i[>;';'.h;inMMCk.  G,n.  J.\cksi);i  wa.-^  icit  in  the  valley 
V)  oppoia  <;rcatlv  supjrior  forces,  aurho.'-i/e  !  i:>  call  F.^veH'?  Division  to  li's 
assi.stance,  if  necessary,  an  J  !v.v  ell  to  c  cmply  with  such  a  call  ;  Mai.-Cien  .Sraith 
to  have  a  irii.xec  force,  equal  to  n  lirigaie,  in  front  of  I'reclericksl):irg  — 2\arr\i- 
i'ize  of  M.'.'itary  O/eralioas  d.rcU-.f  -.iurirt- the  h-.U  Wttr  bitzvccn  the  States.  By 
josel^h  E.  Johnston,  G.>:ercl  C.  S.  A.,  i  ^r-l, /.  tic. 

EweU's  Division  is  given  as  r.um'ncririg  io,c-co  men  in  "  ]'attle-Fields  of  the 
So'.ith."  p.  3::,j. 

t  Dabnoy.  pp.  S5,  So. 

%  Jefferson  Davis  had  placed  tho  Confederate  Kr-'i-id.ic-r-Genernl  Anderson  vrith 
9,oco  men  to  observe  McDowclTs  corps.  —  ye:-h:stc/>'s  A\:rrati:-e,  />.  12$. 

§  Dabiiey,  [^p.  S5,  S6. 


71 

this  was  known  to  Johnston  or  to  Jackson  before  the  latter 
marched  to  the  place  called  MacDowell  to  attack  Milroy,  is 
uncertain  ;  but  it  is  true,  that  during  Jackson's  absence, 
orders  came  from  Joseph  E.  Johnston  to  Ewell,  to  march  at  \ 

once  for    Gordonsville.       Shields's    movement    caused    these  | 

orders.  '  ! 

In  following  Jackson,  it  v/ill  be  found  in'ipossible  to  coti-  | 

nect  the  information,  communicated  by  the  deserter  to  Col.  ; 

Sullivan  on  the  ist  of  May,*  with  the  march  made  by  him 
to  attack  Milro}'"  at  MacDowell.  It  v.-ill  be  remembered  that 
although  our  force  left  Harrisonburg  on  the  5th  of  ^lay,  to  j 

returi)  to  Strasburg,  Jackson  did  not  start  to  attack  IMilroy  | 

until  the    12th.      On  the   i^th   he  readied  ".lacDov/ell  at   9  ! 

i 

A.  M.,  having'  made  seventy  miles  in  three  davs.     At  2  p.  m.  he  j 

attacked  and  drove  Milroy  towards  Franklin,  to  which  place  • 

the  next  dav  he  pursued  him  forty  miles  farther.     Here  he  ■ 

...  I 

remauied  tv/o  davs,  or  until  the  morning  ot  the  i8th,  v^-hen  he  i 

returned  to  Mount  Cravv-fordj  eight  miles  from  Harrisonburg  ■  j 

on  the  Staunton  pike,  to  find  that  Banks  had  fallen  back  from  j 

Harrisonburg  to  Strasburg.     Jackson's  return  to  ^.lount  Craw-  j 

ford  could  not  have  been  earlier  than  the  20th  of  IMay.     We  i 

had  then  been  in  Strasburg  seven  days.     -...,  j 

IMossy  Creek  is  tv.-o  davs'  n>arch  from  New  Market.     Jack-  i 

son  notified  Ewell  of  his  desire  to  meet  him  at  a  designated  ! 

place  on  this  creek.      They  met,  and   Ewell  was   then   told  j 

by  Jackson,  that   he   v.-as   hastening  back    to   effect  a  junc-  j 

tion  witri    liim  near  Harrisonburg,  to  assail   Eanks.t      Ewell  \ 

*   ''  GcP,.  Ja::kson,  \wth  a  force  of  aiiout   15,000  nieii;  Ci;r,ino.>ed  of  t we've  or  t;t-  i 

t.-eii  rc-iiir.ent.-^  under  Jiicksjn,  T.vl;,'t',,rro,  V-.'i:vJcr,  and  K\-.e!l,  marched  towarc.s  j 
Harvijonburs,  and  then  returned  and  marched  towards  Port  Republic." 

t  Eattie-Fieids  of  the  South,  Ashtoa's  letter,  f>,  324. 

t  "Generals  Jackson  and  Esvjil,  the  former  commatiding  as  senior  ofricer,  were 

then  opposing  ii.inks  in   ti.e  xa'.ley  <•(  the   Shenandoah,  itili  under  tny  direction.  j 

Un  leaving  the  Rapidan,  I  had  requested  Generals  Jac!;s;in  ar.d   Ewell   to   send  1 

their  letters  to  me   through  t;\e  adjutant-generai's   onicc.     The^e  papers  nuist  | 

have  been  acted  upon  in  Richmond;  for  nunc  weic  ever  forwarded  to  me  until  the  | 


72 

informed  Jackson  of  his  orders  to  move  at  once  to  Gordons- 
ville,  but  added  that,  iiotvdth^tanding  this,  if  he.  Jackson,  as 
raiiking  major-general,  would  order  it,  he  would  remain.* 
Jackson  did  order  it,  and  the  junction  of  these  two  armies  took 
place  on  the  20th  of  }.Iay.  Ewell  had  marched  his  command 
fron-  Elk  Kiver  valley  to  meet  Jackson. 

We  have  seen  that  the  battle  of  Kernstown  was  fought  by 
Jackson,  because  he  was  deceived  as  to  the  strength  of 
"Shields's  Division,  and  because  of  the  intimation  sent  him  by 
Gen.  Johnston,  f  Nov.-  let  us  inquire  why  he  fought  the  battle 
of  iMacDowcll.  The  most  probable  reason  is,  that  "'  Jackson 
received  inlonaation  {xox\\  a  Col.  Johnson  of  Georgia,  com- 
manding at  MacDowel!,  that  Blenker  and  Milroy  with  a  Dutch 
divi.sion  v/cre  advanchi^;  ccL.->t\vard  to  western  Virginia,  a.nd 
that  his  small  force  of  1,500  men  was  falling  back  before 
them."  t  This  is  connrraed  by  another  writer,  §  wlio  sa}'s  : 
"■  Forced  back  to  the  Blue  Ridge  bv  the  heavv  columns  in  his 
front,  he  rov.'  saw  ap[;roaching  him  from  tlie  v.-estern  moun- 
tains another  array,  under  ]Milroy,  from  which  he  feared  the 
loss  of  Staunton."  Considering  these  matters  in  connection 
with  his  asking  instructions  of  Gen.  Johnston  as  to  his  furtb.er 
movements  in  relation  to  Banks. jl  v.-e  may  judge  whether  all 
that  Jackson  achieved  in  the  vallev  v. as  part  '^^'i  an}'  particular 
plan  of  aggressi'tii,  "  ori^.ina.ing  \vith  him  to  drive  the  Federal 
forces  from  the  valle}',"  *;  or  whetlier  it  can  be  said  of  his  opera- 


j-.nny  h.id  rtacb'jrl  tlie  n-.-iL,hb.^r;;0<H!  oT  tiie  Chickaiion-,i!iy.  Then  or.e  from  Gen. 
Jackson,  wr.'ticti  suiii  aft-:r  b'S  return  fro:ri  McI''.avcI!,  v-.as  ce',i\ertd  to  mt;.  Iti 
it  he  described  the  pn>ition  cf  the  Fci.!cral  .'inny  near  Str-i.-buig,  aii.i  asked 
iiiitructions.  Tiiese  were  gi%-en  at  oi;ce,  ar.d.  were  to  advance  .and  attack,  UTiIerS 
he  found  the  erier.iy  tuO  ^t^^;nL;!y  inireP.chcd."'  —  .\'.:rrciiii  ojMiiitury  Opiratioiis, 
by  Jju-fh  E.  Johnston,  G^:naa!  C.  S.  A.,  1074,  /.  i:y. 

*  Da!^ney,  pp.  S5,  S6. 
t  See  anU. 

%  Hattle-Fields  of  the  .S<jutii,  p.  321. 

§  Cooke's  Life  of  Jackson,  r.  129. 

II  See ii/j/'c',  Johnston's  iiis'.ructioiii  to  I.:.-kscn. 

*  Cooke's  Lii'e,  p.  Wi, 


,,  ,;:,,;:    -,.-.,, ia: 


73 

tions  "on  this  grand  theatre  in  the  spring  of  1862,  that  he 
vv-ill  be  mainly  estimated  in  that  hereafter,  which  sums  up  and 
pas:>Oi  judgment  on  all  human  events,  without  fear,  favor,  or 
the  prejudices  of  the  contemporary."  *  We  are,  too,  now  ena- 
bled to  judge  how  much  truth  there  is  in  a  criticism  by  Pollard, 
who  says  of  Jackson's  movements.  "  By  his  own  judgment, 
and  at  the  instance  of  his  own  military  instinct,  Jackson  deter- 
mined to  act  on  tlie  aggressive,  and  essay  the  extraordinary 
task  of  driving  the  Yankees  from  the  valley  ;  to  dash  at  Fre- 
m<.>nts  advance  west  of  Staunton,  and  then  turn  upon  Banks 
and  drive  him  into  Maryland."  f 

\\c  need  not  pursue  this  subject  further.  To  whomsoever 
b..;h)ngs  the  credit  of  originating  the  campaign  in  the  valley, 
i-i  looj,  whether  to  Johnston  or  to  Jackson,  no  one  will  deny 
to  the  latter  the  highest  praise  for  an  executive  ability,  rare 
among  the  most  noted  suidiers  of  this  or  any  other  age.  In 
tliis,  at  least,  Jackson  is  secure. 

Bc't  ul'W  Gen.  Jcckson  was  ordered  to  f.ght. Banks  — all  that 
was  left  of  him  ;  and,  as  less  than  one  half  of  that  officer's 
conui-iand  was  U:h,  Jackson,  a^  v.-e  have  seen,  took  upon  him- 
soir  the  responsibiiity  of  retaining  Eweli  to  fight  that  half, 
a'lhough  Johnston  had  ordered  the  latter  to  join  Anderson,  via 
C.-:^:-uo::svi:ie,  to  fighr  the  half  that  had  moved  to  strengthen 
M.-b<>wc;l 

Whc-n  Jackson  reached  New  Market,  which  v/as  on  the 
n:\  '■!  Alav,  he  was  there  joined  by  Ewell  with  his  10,000 
It  was  n-om  this  point  that  the  campaign  against  the 
cne:ny  was  commenced  ;"  t  from  this  point  that  the  orders 
0-:  C.".j!i.  Johnston  were  to  be  carried  out,  and  the  united 
Conicderate  force  of  over  20,000  were  to  be  precipitated 
up-on  less  than  .},ooo  men  in  Banks's  corps.  §     Our  force  o[ 


*"  Cooke's  I  it>,  p.  100. 

t  i'oila.rd'5  Sou:h-rn  History,  vol.  ii,  p.  35. 

I  Co.)Ke's  Life,  p.  141. 

i  liaiiks';5  Oaicial  Report. 


74 

ii.ooo,  while  at  Harrisonburg,  had  been  thus  reduced,  to  meet 
a  combined  army  o(  tiio  eneti.y,  againsl  wJiich  with  the  larger 
number  we  could  riOt  have  coped  ;  a  combined  army  from 
which  McClellan  feared  disaster,  should  we  proceed  too  far 
south  until  his  movements  before  Richmond  should  draw  off 
the  enemy  ;  an  army  only  too  anxious  to  meet  us,  *  even 
before  the  War  Department  so  suddenly  scattered  the  coun- 
cil at  Harrisonburg  on  that  Sunday,  on  the  4th  of  May.  Oh, 
happy  War  Department ! 

The  plan  of  Jackson's  campaign  ngainst  Banks's  command 
at  Strasburg  was  wise,  but  its  execution  was  feeble  ;  and  in  the 
results  thai  ought  to  have  been  achieved  it  vvas  a  failure. 

As  related,  the  campaign  began  at  New  Market,  to  which 
point  Ewell  had  sent  Gen.  Ta}lor  with  his  brigade,  as  tiie 
advance  of  the  form_er's  division.  On  the  morning  of  the  21st 
of  2d:iy,  GcVi.  Jacl-cson,  v.dth  his  own  com.mand  and  Taylor's 
brigade,  cros:-ed  the  ^Massanuitcn  gap,  and  encamped  at  Lurax', 
in  the  valley  of  the  South  Foi-k  of  t;\e  Shenandoah,  there  or 
in  that  neighborhood  uniting  his  own  f  jrce  wdth  Ev/ell's. 

Oi  th/uS  movenicPit  Jjanks  was  igriorant  ;  ior  wiien  v/e  aban- 
doned Nesv^  Market  Ash;:;y  occupied  it,  and  posted  scouts 
as  far  as  Strasburg,  so  that  the  \-anev  was  closed  and  every 
movement  eiicctualiy  screened,  f 

Although  Jackson  made  every  preparation  for  rapid  marches, 
leaving  behind  him  oven  the  knapsacks  of  his  men,  he  made 
only  tvv'chc  _  miits  the  fu'st  d:;\",  —  one  half  of  vdiich  were 
passed  iri  crossing  the  g'.ip  road  over  trie  mountain.  I'he  next 
day,  h-owever,  tiie  unite-i  force  moved  forward,  making  a  marcii 
which  carried  the  advance  under  Ewdl  to  v.-ithin  ten  miles  of 
Frorit  l\.oyaI ;  aiid  this  so  secretly  that  not  a  sin.gle  inhabitant 
suspected  Jackson's  presence,  t 


'■    Itv.-as  now  hop jd  by  ;i!!  that  I?:>nks  would  leave  the  ruad,  pu--h  on  through 
HarrisotiburL,  and  attack  us.     IJattlc-Ficlds  of  the  South,  p.  324. 
t   D..brry,  p.  vo. 
t  Cooke,  p.  141. 


J       ,       '  .  _; 


75 

On  the  23d  of  IsTay  the  whole  of  Jackson's  armv,  con- 
sisting, according;';  to  Southern  accounts,  of  about  sixteen 
thousand  effective  infantry  and  forty  field  guns,*'  with  three 
regiments  of  cavalry,  was  within  twelve  miles  of  our  principal 
outpost  at  Front  Royal.  The  whole  of  our  feeble  command 
on  this  same  Friday  morning,  at  Strasburg  and  stretched 
along  the  railroad  towards  and  at  Front  Royal,  v,-as  one  divis- 
ion of  two  brigades  f  of  infantry  at  Strasburg,  commanded  by 
]3rigadier-Geueral  A.  S.  William.s,  numbering  less  than  thirty- 
six  hundred  men  present  for  duty.  4:  l\ly  own  brigade  com- 
prised the  regiments  given  below,§  and  numbered  in  all  2,101. 
llicre  were  also  at  Strasburg  of  cavalry  Soo,  and  of  artillery 
ten  Parrott  guns  and  six  smooth-bore  field-pieces.  At  Front 
Ruyal  there -were  in  all  not  to  exceed  nine  hundred  men.  jj 

Along  the  road  nearer  Strasburg,  and  already  counted  in 


■*'  Gen.  Jackson's  own  division  coinpriied  brigaJei  of  V.'inder,  C:i:npbell,  an.d 
Talia'^jrro;  Ewed's  division  comprised  brigades  of  Taylor,  'i'dinble,  Elzev,  and 
S:ewarc;  Erigadicr-Gvaeral  Stev.-art's  biigade  comprised  Fnst  :^lar3-land  Regi- 
ment of  Ipfantry  a-idjor-jckcnborougli  s  battery;  CavaUy  regiments  of  .Ashby, 
Mumlord,  and  Flourr.oy,  with  eight  battabions  of  artillery.     (Dabney,  p.  oo.) 

t  The  iu'st  brigade  conimanded  by  Co;.  Donel'y  of  ihc-  T\renty-cig!-!th  Xeu- 
York.  T  ic  second  coinniand^.d  by  Col.  George  II.  Gordon,  of  the  Second 
M':^s>ar;n:setts. 

t  S;eGcn.  Wiliia-as's  report. 


§  Second  Masrachus^tis 

Third  Wiscon'sin 

Tv.-C!ity-Sevcr,t!i  Indiana 

T-.veiity-Xinth  i'ennsyb.'ania  (S  Cu5.)    , 

S-J  2,013       Total,  2,101 

;]  i-^;g'it  companies  First  Maryland  Regiment,  775  men  ;  two  companies  Twenty- 
Xintii  IVn;v^ylva:da,  F  ieut.-Cob  P.-r!  am  commanding;  F!:l!>  Xcw  York,  two 
c.jmpames,  Ira  Han  Is  s  c:>vaby  (100  !nen)  ;  one  section  ot  artidery,  Knapp's 
IJ.^ttery,  Lieut.  Atwell,  •3->  men  ;  Cipt.  Mapes's  Pioneer  Corps,  56  men  (cnc;aged 
'-'■■:  reconstructing  bri d.gos);  t.^tai  imder  comm.md  of  CuL  Kciiiy,  of  the  First 
.'-rar^dauJ,  scarcely  i.coo  men,  —  did  no:  exceed  03O  men.  —  lJ.:i:'.s's  Ki-purC. 


■^rors. 

En! 

isted  Men 

-7 

5S0 

-4 

SS'-- 

20 

43 1 

i? 

45^ 

■  ;    "'*."'  I    *' ' 


7G 

the  total,  there  were  three  companies  from  my  bripjadc  :  Capt. 
II.  Russell,  of  the  Second  ^Massachusetts,  at  the  bridge  just  out 
of  Strasburg  ;  one  company  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana, 
and  one  of  the  Tliird  Wisconsin,  both  about  five  miles  out 
from  the  town. 

So  far  as  the  concealment  of  Jackson's  march  v.-as  one  of 
his  main  par})oses,  it  was  most  eftective.  This  is  claimed  by 
Southern  writers  '■'■  to  have  been  one  of  his  main  reasons  (or 
planning  his  attack  between  Front  Royal  and  Strasburg  ; 
althor.gh  it  is  said  others  of  weight  v/erc,  to  avoid  our  fortifica- 
tions, and  ensure  the  issuing  of  Banks  from  them  to  save  his 
communications  v/ith  eastern  Virginia.  That  Jackson  got 
fairlv  upon  Banks's  flank  v/ithout  his  knovvled'_''c,  the  latter 
adniho.  1 

Col.  John  R.  Kcnly,  commanding  the  First  Maryland 
(Union.)  Regiment  of  iniantry,  wi:h  the  force  already  m.en- 
tioned,  had  been  sent  from  Strasburg  in  pursuance  ot  orders 
from  tliC  War  Department,  on  the  loth  of  May,  to  protect 
the  town  of  Front  Royal  and  the  railroads  and  bridges 
betv/een  that  town  and  Strasburg.  ])y  the  road  the  dis- 
tance between  tlicse  tov/n.s  is  about  fourteen  miles.  The 
picturesque  town  of  Front  Royal  nestles  at  the  foot  of  high 
hills,  Wiiici'  tovs'cr  ai?n;ntly  abo\c  it  on  almost  every  side. 
To  the  east  runs  the  Blue  Ridge,  over  whose  summits,  by 
winding  and  steep  pathways,  roads  lead  through  the  gaps 
knov,  n  as  Chester  a!id  Manassas  into  the  valleys  of  East- 
ern X'irgiida.  About  one  rniic  and  a  half  north  of  hh-ont 
Royal,  in  a  direct  line  with  V.'inclicstcr,  the  two  branches 
of  the  Slvenandoah  unite  into  the  single  stream  that  pours 
its  waters  into  the    I'otoniac  at    Harper's   Ferry.     The    pike 


*  Dab-.ey.  p.  91. 

1  On  the  2 'id  of  Mav,  it  was  discovered  that  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  was 
in  movemeiu  down  the  valley  of  the  Sheiiaiido.-ih,  between  tlie  Mas.>:anutten  range 
of  ninuntaiv.s  ar.-l  the  Blue  Ri'!L;c,  and  in  close  proxinuty  to  tli-j  town  (Front 
Ro>aI).  —  /:.:nUj  0^djt.:l  Report. 


■■/.'    '.V 


77 

road  from  Front  Royal  to    Winchester  crosses    both    Forks 
of  the  ri'/er, — the    Sovitii    Fork  at  a    distance   of  one   mile 
and  a  quarter  from'tlie  town,  the  North  Fork  about  one  mile 
farther  on.     At  the  two  F'orks  there  were  two  bridges  stand- 
ing"      Col.    Kcnly  had  pitched  his  camp  north  of  and  about  ' 
half  a  mile  from  the  to-.\n,  in  a  loveb/  valley,  in  which,  on  the  ■ 
mornirig   of   the    23d    of  May,    there   vas  no    token  'of  the                        i 
impending  storm.     Trees  of  richest  verdure  v/ere  bathed  in                        \ 
the  m">:"ning  snn,  and  f  elds  s['arkled  with  dew-drops  shining 
amidst  hi.xuriant  grasses.     Fverytliing  around  seemed  more 
in  harmony  vv'ith  life   and    peace    than  v/ith    bloodshed    and                        I 
death.     At    two  o'clock  in   the  afternoon    two  companies  of                        | 
infintry  v.-ere  on   dnty   as    advanced    guard   upon    tlic  roads                        } 
leading  south  and  v/est  from  "Front   Roval  ;  at  the  bridges,                       i 
and  along  the  railroad  for  about  five  miles  towards  Strasburg,       ,                 j 
guards  had  also  been   stationed.     Suddenly,  and  without  the                       j 
slightest  warning,  Jackson's  advance  was  upon  them. 

On  the  22d  i.'f  Ma}-,  at  night,  v/e  left  the  e:iemy's  advance, 
under  Ewell,  in  bivouac  on  the  road  that  runs  up  the  eastern 
bank  o:  the  South  Fc;i:  of  the  Slienandoidi  from  Fura}',  and 
only  ten  miles  from  Front  Royal.     To  conduct  his  march  so  . 

secrctlv  that  the  descent  of  his  coh.unns  would   give  Kenly  | 

thr-   Hrst  knowledge  of  his  approach,  Jackson,  in   the    morn-  j 

ing,    diverged    fi-om    ti...:    well-trave!led    highway    that    leads 
frr.in   I,urav  to    Front    Royal,  and    by   a    steep    and   narrow^  | 

footpath     gained    the    wooded    hills    to    the    east.       Thence  ] 

descending,  it  was  Jackson.'s  purpose  to  cut  Keidy  oh'  from  j 

fligh*    across  the   passes   o:'  the   ]>lue   Ividge  towards  W'ash-  | 

ington,   wr.de   Ashbv's   cn\'alry,  with   Flournoy,  crt  s>irig  the  f 

Suuth  Fork  of  the  Siienaiidoah,  m.oved  to  intercept  the  flight  I 

of  the  Utile  band   to   the  west   towards  Strasburg.      Ashby  | 

tlirectevi  his  mar'ch  as  far  to  t'le  Wi.-.-t  as  Buckton,  where    there  \ 

was   a   hrid.ij-e   at\d    some   fortifications,  occupied    bv  the  two  ! 

comivmies    tr«nn    nrv   l.iri_:ade,    while    h-ournovs    movements  ] 

were  between   Jjucktoii   and   i-'ront   Ivoval.  | 


78 

Before  the  pickets  at  Front  Royal  had  been  fairly  dispersed, 
Col.  Kendy  had  formed  his  command  on  tuc  crest  of  a  hill 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  town  and  in  rear  of  his  camp, 
liere  was  his  whole  disposable  force  of  about  nine  hundred 
men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery  ;  and  here  he  calmly  awaited 
the  onset  of  ihe  vastly  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  In  his  front 
the  p:rDund  was  level  ;  his  gun.s  commanded  the  approaches. 
The  enemy  advanced  cautiously,  and  were  received  with 
shells  from  Knapp's  Battery.  With  a  grim  humor  Jackson 
selected  a  rebel  Tvlaryland  Regiment  to  attack  the  lo}-,!! 
Marylanders.  Supported  by  cavalry,  v/ho  were  in  turn  sus- 
tained by  Taylor's  Brigade  of  Infantry  and  two  battalions  of 
Louisiana  Tigers  under  l^.Iajor  Wheat,  an  attempt  Vv^as  made 
to  turn  boih  of  Kenly's  ilan.ks,  while  the  Maryland  Rebel 
Regiment  advanced  to  make  the  attack  in  front.  Against 
such  odds  there  was  no  hope.  Setting  fire  to  his  camp,  Kealy 
now  retreated  to  the  first  bridge,  closel}  followed  by  the  rebel 
TvT:'r\la,id,  the  L.ouisiana  ]>attalions,  and  cavalry.  Here  a  stand 
w;is  made,  but  the  overwhelming  nu.mbers  of  the  enemy 
pushed  on,  captured  ihe  bridge  uninjured,  and  drove  our  forces 
a  mile  kirther  t.)  the  bridge  over  the  North  Fork  of  the  riven 
Again  a  stand  v/as  made  with  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  burn 
the  bridge,  but  Ken'y  was  once  n:cre  forced  buv^k  on  the  road 
tov^'urus  W'inchesLii.  About  a  mile  from  this  second  bridge 
the  road  runs  over  a  commanding  eminence,  on  tlie  right 
of  the  turnpike.  There  Kenly  dctermin.ed  to  fighv.  When 
tliC  enemy  appeared  he  opened  on  th.em  with  his  two  guns  ; 
but  the  enemy's  infantry  and  skirmishers  attacked  him 
in  front,  while  ihe  rel-el  cawalry,  crossing  to  tliC  left,  turned 
his  position,  and  he  fell  back.  It  was  from  here  that  Ken'y 
dispatched  couriers  to  Gen.  Banks,  —  some  of  whom  got 
through,  as  will  appear.  Kenly  now  m^arched  up  the  road  in 
such  excellent  order  that  his  enemies  viewed  him  with 
admiratio!!.  Rea^-hing  a  favorable  position  his  guns  were 
posted,  and  again  tlic  roar  and  rattL  of  his  artillery  fell  about 


7  9 


J:ickson's  ears,  who  is  reported  to  have  groaned  out  aloud, 
'*  Oil,  that  my  guriS  were  hcT'e !  " 

T>y  this  time  tlie  enemy's  cavah^y,  who  had  been  fighting 
and  capturing  prisoners  all  along  the  railroad  from  Front 
Ro\'al  to  Buckton,  came  upon  the  stricken  band.  This  cav- 
alry force  appeared  on  the  Winchester  road,  and  above 
Kenly,  who  liad  now  been  driven  back  as  far  as  Cedarville, 
which  is  five  miles  north  of  Front  Royal,  on  the  Win- 
chester road.  Here  Kenly  formed  a  line  of  battle  with 
his  own  regiment,  the  t\vo  companies  of  the  Twenty-Ninth 
Pennsylvania,  his  artillery,  and  a  few  cawiliy.  Xow  Jackson 
ordered  tlic  new  cavalry  force  und.-r  Fiournoy  to  charge. 
It  is  claimed  that  Kenly's  line  was  somewhat  broken  before 
j:ici;.son  gave  this  0'"der,  and  tliLii  K.-n'y,  when  he  saw  the 
necessity  of  obstructing  the  cavalry,  ordered  liis  conmiand  to 
form  over  a  fence  in  a  wheat-held  (an  orchard,  the  rebels 
call  it).  This  was  done,  and  then  tiie  enemy's  cavalry  was 
•dvyin    them.      Successive  discharges    were    poured    into    the  i 

enemy  from  Kenly's  right  and  left  wings,  but  in  vain.     Artil-  j 

leiy  an.d  caxalry  were  mingled  together,  sabres  waved  o\'er  the 
heads  of  the  doon;e-i  loyalists  from  ?\Iaryland,  and  the  word 
"Surrender I"  passed  from  every  muu.th.  It  was  tinished. 
Save  an  insignificant  nuudicr  of  men,  an<l  one  j)iece  ol  artil- 
ier)-,  which  was  carried  to  within  five  miles  of  Winchester  and 
there  abandoned,  the  whole  of  Kenly's  comman.d  v.-as  killed 
or  captured.  The  fight,  vrhich  had  begun  at  2  r.Z'.,  lasted 
until  dark.  Wiule  th^se  scenes  were  transpiring,  A^^hln',  with 
his  cavalry,  had  attacked  and  dispersed  the  two  ccmnpanies  at 
I'uckton  and  had  torn  up  the  railroad  track.  Then  night  came, 
and  all  around  the  Slienandoah,  at  Front  Ruyal,  and  on  the 
road  t.j  Cedarville,  thcic  v/ere  corpses  wf  brave  men,  recently 
strong  in  life  ;  ar;':'  ihere  were  wounded,  moaning  in  their 
agony,  unprotected  fro;n  the  rain  tiiat  fell  in  torrents  ;  while 
an  exulting  foe  of  at  least  tv/enty  thousnnd  men  turned  their 
eyes  louards  Strasburg  lor  ti;e  larger  game  of  the  morrow. 


fffe'.' 


80 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  not  one  word 

of  the  capture  of  Kenly  had  reached  us  at  Strasburg.  The 
day  was  inter\.sel\'  hc't  and  the  aii  positively  stilling  under 
canvas.  A  general  languor  was  manifested  in  the  drowsy 
way  in  w^hich  the  sentinels  dawdled  along  their  posts,  or  in  the 
aimless,  sleepy  air  in  v/hich  the  troops  p.ddressed  themselves 
to  such  amusements  as  were  suggested  by  time  and  place. 
Suddenly  a  mounted  orderly,  dashing  violently  up  to  my  tent 
and  inquiring  for  Gen.  Lanks  in  an  eager  tone,  aroused  a  spark 
of  life  in  the  lifeless  scetic.  Gen.  Hatch  of  the  cavalry  was 
sitting  by  my  side,  speculating  upon  our  probable  movements 
and  fate,  as  the  crdv~;rly  rode  rapidly  away  without  revealing 
his  message.  "  Tliis  man,  I  think,  may  have  news  that  will 
solve  our  doubtj,"  I  -^aid  to  Hatch  ;  '■'  1  believe  he  brings  news 
of  an  attack  upon  our  outposts."  * 

In  less  than  rwo  hours  Strasburg  was  aroused.  On  the  road 
tovv'ards  Front  Ivoyal,  Banks  sent  his  troops,  v;ith  the  vain 
purpose,  perhaps,  of  seem'ug  to  act,  or,  it  may  be,  that  with  a 
single  reglm.ent  o(  infantry  he  might  recover  what  he  had  lost. 
The  Third  Wisconsin  I'cgiment  I  had  liajdly  serit,  by  verbal 
orders,  to  the  assistance  of  Col.  Keui}',  when  Banks  directed 
me  to  add  to  it  a  battery. f  Then  there  came  a  lull,  and  many 
anxious  inquiries  :  ''What  is  it.'"  "Is  it  Stoncv.-all  Jackson 
or  only  'a  cava^iv  raid.'''"  was  of  ten  asked,  to  be  as  often 
asked  again.  Sojq,  however,  it  v.'as  known  tliat  Kenly  had 
been  ariac^ied  at  riout  ]\0}  al  ;  thar  ^'v•hen  tl)e  mi-ssenger  left, 
the  fight  was  in  [)r02,Tess  ;  and  hiirdlv  had  this  beer,  announced 


*  For  .some  days,  from  tiie  ht.-i';his  arO"j;ul  5:'tr:i-burj,  we  h:ul  >et.-n  tt.o  sua 
reflected  from  tents,  at  the  Switt  Kun  G.ip  of  the  iJUie  Ki'.'ge,  whoie  increasitig 
niiiiibcrri  indicated  rcir-ibrc-nients  to  the  eiiei.iv. 

t  Str.\s!;i.rg,  5.45  [.  M.,  2^^d  .May. 
Ci,a.  CoRDO.v, 

Sir, —  Vgu  \\ill  tlhect  z-.  seetiun  of  the  battery  I"iearc^t  your  command  to  move 

with  V'.i'.ir  ic^iinciit. 

X.  r.  D.'.NKS,  .]/.  G.  c. 


.1  -•/ 


81 

when  an  orderly,  rushing  with  haste  through  the  town,  cried 
out  that  tlie  second  bridge  had  been  attacked.'^' 

Da}dight  melted  into  night,  stars  twinkled  in  tlie  heavens, 
lights  glistened  from  the  windows  of  houses  in  the  town  or 
shed  a  murky  glare  through  canvas  in  the  camps  ;  and  no 
movement  was  made  by  Banks  indicating  that  he  had  received 
any  information  of  the  strength  of  the  enemy  or  the  purposes 
they  contemplated;  nothing  done  towards  sending  awa}'  to 
W'inchesicr  any  of  the  immense  quantities  of  public  stores 
Ci)necte<l  at  Strasburg  ;  no  movement  miadc  to  place  our  sick 
in  safety;  nothing  that  indicated  any  intention  by  Banks  of 
changing  his  position  by  reason  of  anything  that  had  come 
from  Liie  attack  on  Kenly  at  Front  Royal.  Indeed,  it  did  not 
seem  as  if  Banks  interpreted  this  attack  to  signify  auglit  of 
future  or  further  movem.ents  by  the  enemy ;  or  that  it  revealed 
tiiat  he  was  acting  v.-itii  any  force  larger  than  he  had  exhibited 
in  brushing  away  our  outposts  ;  or  even  tliat  it  betokened  anv 
purpose  to  cut  us  off  from  Winchester,  and  capture  our  com- 
mand and  material,  I  was  so  fully  impressed,  hovrever,  v/ith 
Jackson's  purposes,  as  they  were  afterwards  revealed,  that  as 
soun  as  night  set  in  I  sought  Banks  at  his  headquarters,  and 
labored  long  to  impress  upon  hii^a  v/hat  I  thought  a  duty,  —  to 
Wm.  Ms  imnieuiaie  retreat  under  cover  o:  the  uaikness  to- 
w:u-ds  W'inctiester,  carr\ing  his  sick  and  ail  sap>plies  th.at  he 
C'..''.'ld  transp:^rt,  a'ld  destroyinu;  the  remainder.  On  tlie  sole 
ground  that  thus  a  sup-'-rior  force  could  not  cut  the  only  line 
<■:  comm.un.ications  left  open  to  him,  did  I  urge  it.  I  en- 
d>.':i\-(.>red.  t'')  impress  ui)on  h'aaks  the  probability  of  th.e  vastly 
:^i:per;or  numi^ers  cf  the  enemy,  as  manife:i.Led  in  the  increascLi 


•^  Six  nii'cs  from  Str.isbur^j  is  lUickrc'ii  Station.  When  Jackson's  infantry 
\^.t.  .:i'.---.:  a:  Frv^nt  Kr-yJ,  .\:ihby-ri  c^vnlry,  i-ruir-  the  F.Tks  of  the  Shenan- 
C'.;';i!i,  iwet't  westward  .as  tar  as  the  po5tj  -a  here  the  two  compaiacs  of  the  .Second 
Massachu-eils  and  Tiiird  Wisconsin  v.ere  stitioned.  Here  a  brisk  fii,ht  tovjk 
'•■■•''iC;  ar/l  uur  troops  were  overpo',vrr-,:d,  though  not  withou:  a  severe  loss  to  the 
tnt  iv.v. 

11 


82 

size  of  his  camp  on  the  Elue  Rid_u-e.  Even  if  it  should  turn 
out  thp.t  1  had  overestimated  his  numbers,  we  should  be  in  a 
bettor  posiiion,  I  urged,  to  fight  at  Wirtchester  than  at  Stras- 
burg :  our  enemy  would  then  be  in  our  front  and  not  in  our 
rear.  I  failed  to  accomplish  my  purpose.  Notwithstanding 
all  my  solicitations  and  entreaties,  Banks  persistently  refused 
to  move,  ever  repeating,  '•'  I  must  develop  the  force  of  the 
eiiemy."  No  argument,  no  reply  to  my  arguments  could  sup- 
press this  monotonous  utterance.  Banks  seemed  bruoding 
over  thoughts  he  did  not  reveal ;  he  was  spiritless  and  de- 
jected. His  mood  depressed  me,  and  I  hastened  to  returii 
to  my  command.  At  about  ten  o'clock  at  night  I  received 
a  note,  containing  instruction's  serit  to  Col.  P.uger  of  the  Third 
Wisconsin, *^  from  which  I  inferred  that  possibly  Banks  had 
obtained  further  inform.ation,  and  that  nov\-  I  might  press  m.y 
views  v.'ith  better  success. 

First  I  called  upon  ]\Iajor  Perkins,  the  chief  of  Gen.  Banks's 
stafi.  Finding  that  m)'  suspicions  of  the  strength  and  pur- 
poses of  the  enemy  Vv'ere  shared  b}-  him,  I  asked  Perkins 
if  he  agreed  with  me  in  the  ad\'ice  I  had  given.  Replying 
that  he  did,  I  asked  him  if  he  had  urged  Banks  to  niove  v/ith- 
out  delav.  lie  said  he  had,  but  without  effect;  and  he 
begged  me  to  endeavor  once  more  to  riersuade  Gen.  ]->anks. 
So  i  sought  our  commander,  and  ogain,  with  some  v.-armth 
and  n^t  a  liule  indignation,  used  ever\'  argument  I  could, 
to  move- him  to  make  instant  pre}X'.ration  to  leave  Stras- 
burg  an.d  jvut  himself  in  a  true  position.  It  is  not  a  retreat.  I 
urged,  but  a  true  militar\-  movement  to  save  youj-seU"  from 
being  cut  off;  to  preve;it  stores  and  sick  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  en  em  v. 


*  Ilr.ADQUAKTEK?:,  0.45  !'.  M. 

Cor.  Go;,noK  : 

Sir,  —  1  sent  a  note  aJwut  an  hour  a,co  to  Col.  ki.iger  to  bS.i.  U  at  or  beyond 
Bucktor.  to  fall  back,  if  noces.sary,  to  a  po.sition  wlcrc  iie  would  not  rwn  any  risk. 
of  bciiig  cut  oil.     I  send  the  two  svagons  back. 

\'i.)Lir-f,  cic, 

D.  S.   PtRKINS,  Mdjrr,c!c. 


,-r  i:,:-  •■: 


83 

Moved  with  an  unusual  fire,  Gen.  Banks,  who  had  met  all 
mv  arguments  with  the  single  reply,  "  I  must  develop  the  force 
of  the  enemy,"  now  rising  excitedly  from  his  seat,  uitli  rauch 
warmth  and  in  loud  tones  exclaimed,  "  By  God,  sir,  I  will  not 
retreat!  We  have  more  to  fear,  sir,  from  the  opinions  of  our 
friends  than  the  bayonets  of  our  enemies." 

The  thought,  so  long  the  subject  of  his  meditation,  was  at 
last  out.  Gen.  Banks  was  afraid  of  being  thought  afraid.  I 
rose  to  take  my  leave,  rcj^lying,  ''  This,  sir,  is  not  a  military 
ground  for  occupying  a  false  position  ;  and,  Gen.  Banks,"  I 
added,  "  T  shall  now  return  to  my  brigade  and  prepare  it  for 
an  in;->Lantancous  movement,  for  I  am  convinced  tiiat  at  last 
\  ou  v/iU  m.ove  suddenly.  At  a  moment's  notice  you  will  find 
me  ready.  I  shall  strike  all  my  tents,  pack  my  v,-agons,  hitch 
up  my  artillery  horses,  and  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  form 
line  of  battle.  I  have  to  request  that  you  will  send  me  word 
if  anvthing  new  transpires." 

It  wa:-.  eleven  o'clock  at  night  vdicn  I  left  him.  As  I 
returned  through  the  town,  I  could  not  perceive  tliat  anybody 
was  troubled  with  antici[KiLions  for  the  morrow.  Tl^e  sutlers 
were  driving  sharp  Ixirgains  with  thn.,j  who  had  escaped  from 
or  v/ere  not  amenable  to  nnlitary  discipline;  the  strolling 
j)k!.vcrs  were  moving  crowils  to  noisy  laughter  in  their 
canvas  booth,  through  which  the  lights  gleamed,  and  the 
music  sounded  with  startling  shrillness.  I  thought,  as  I 
turned  towards,  m\'  camp.  liow  unconscious  all  are  of  the 
drama  [ackson  is  preparing  for  us,  arid  what  merrime)it  the 
morning  will  reveal ! 

As  m\-  troops  were  aroused  from  their  shunbers  a  low 
murmmr  ran  through  camp,  followed  by  tlie  louder  noise  of 
packing  camp  equipage  and  baggage,  the  harnessing  of  artil- 
lery horse >,  and  hittdriiif;  up  of  triiins.  We  were  ready  for 
action.  But  the  night  sped  on;  silence  fell  upon  the  town, 
and  slumber  was  as  deep  tliat  night  in  Strasburg  as  if  without 
there  was  no  cause  for  watchfulness.     ?>Iy  brigade,  however, 


a.; -a!.'   r 


■  V 


ST 

found  little  comfort  sitting  around  dismal  camp-fires,  reduced 
to  expiring  embers  by  the  falling  rain.  Unsheltered  and 
unprotected,  in  a  damp  clover-field,  the  morning  dav/ned  upon 
a  cheerless  group.  Some  unimj)ortant  steps  ha^.l  been  taken  for 
the  security  of  the  sick  and  i':>r  the  safety  of  public  property. 
I  had  ordered  my  brigade  and  regimental  trains  forward  t'3 
Winchester,  and  they  were  saved.  After  three  o'clock  in  the 
in.orning  Banks  had  sent  off  son:c  ambulances  v.'ith  sick  and 
disabled;  and  this  v/as  all. 

The  certainty  of  demonstration  wliich  Banks  seemed  to 
require  to  develop  the  numbers  of  Jackson's  force,  he  evi- 
dently did  not  secure  duri;ig  the  night  nor  long  after  daylight 
en  the  morning  of  the  24th  ;  nor  was  he  on  tl^iat  morning  any 
moie  convinced  of  tlie  prudence  of  my  advice  of  the  night 
before,  —  to  remove  all  the  public  propertvto  a  place  of  safety, 
and  take  a  better  position,  so  tliat  if  perciiance  the  enemy 
were  present  in  overwhelming  nranbcrs,  he  could  save  his 
command  and  material.  As  a  vcr\-  small  part  of  Jackson's 
force  took  part  in  the  affair  with  Kcnly  at  Front  Royal,  it  is 
possible  that  the  re}jort3  of  Kenly's  messengers  convinced 
Banks  that  all  they  saw  was  :ill.  tl-.ere  were.^-  Jf  this  were 
true,  to  act  during  all  that  niglit,  and  far  into  the  forcno'm 
of  liie  next  day,  as  il  Jackson  was  engaged  in  a  cavalr}-  raid, 
\'."as  an  error  01  judgment  unp.ardonable  in  a  commander. 
When  did  Banks  come  to  a  different  conclusion,  andyact  ac- 
cordingly?    Tliis  is  an  importan.t  question. 

In  ills  ofhcial  report  of  the  affair  Ba.nks  declares  that  "  before 
three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  2_j.th,"  about  four  hours 
after  I  b-lt  him  at  niglit,  he  had  inii-rmaLion  that  the  enenry, 
15,000  or  20,000  stroiig,  vv-as  advancing  upon  Winchester  ;  that 
more  v/ere  threatening;  "that  to  reniain  at  Strasburg  was 
to  be  surrounded,"  and  •'  tliat  to  aUack  the  enenay  in  su:'n 
overwhelming  fierce  coidd  onlv  rcsidr  in  certain  destruction." 


*  t'i.'!r.':A  ii'i  iii,;  oiiicial  rj[>ort  ■^iy<  tli's  li^l.tirg  v.as  ru.'Jotiy  d-V.c  by  the  tnei 
cav^'ij,  :>'.\d  th'.it  \\u-;  furc<"  is  estimattu!  at  S.oco  ir.en. 


85 

"  It  \va.s,  therefore,  determined  to  enter  the  lists  v/ith  the 
enemy  in  a  race  or  a  battle  [as  he  should  choose]  for  the 
possession  of  Winchester,  —  the  key  of  the  valley,  and  for  us 
the  position  of  safety."  *  The  report  then  continuing:;,  as 
i;iving  the  narrative  in  the  order  of  occurrence,  savs  :  "  At 
tiiree  o'clock,  A.  :.l,  on  the  24tli  instant,  the  reinforcements 
sciit  to  Kenly  were  ordered  to  return,  several  hundred  disabled 
men  left  in  our  charge  bv  Shields's  d:\"ision  were  put  upon  the 
marcli,  and  our  vragon  train  ordered  forward  to  Winchester 
under  escort  of  cavalry  and  infantry.  Gen.  Hatch,  with  nearly 
our  w-hole  force  of  cavalry  and  six  pieces  of  artillery,  was  charged 
with  the  rjrotecLion  Oi"  ihe  rear  of  our  column  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  an}'  stores  for  whiclv  transporLation  was  not  i}rovided, 
with  instructions  to  remain  in  froiU  of  the  town  as  long  as 
possible,  and  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  —  our  expectations  of 
attack  being  in  that  direction.  All  these  orders  weie  executed 
^vith  incredible  celerity,  and  soon  after  nine  o'clock  j  the  col- 
umn was  on  t::e  rnarcii,  Col.  Donelh"  in  front,  Col.  Gordon  in 
the  centre,  and  Gen.  Hatch  in  the  rear."  ± 

When  I  bcsoughit  Baciks.  at  1 1  v.  m.  of  the  23(1,  to  start  then 
for  Wiiichester,  herc}'lied  tliat  he  would  not  retreat,  repeating 
witii  an  oath  his  fear  of  public  opinion.  At  3  a.  m.  of  the  24th 
(he  >ays  in  his  ofricial  rerort)  he  w;!f,  con\-incecI  that  \\"inches- 
tcr  was  for  ''  us  the  key  oi:  the  valley,"  "  the  i^osition  of  safety." 
On  tlie  31st  of  r^Iay,  when  lianks  macle  that  report,  he  wrote 
with  a  full  knowledge  and  a  lively  experience  of  all  that 
had  transpired;  he  wrote  as  he  would  have  acted  haJ  he 
known  on  that  night  of  the  23d  what  he  knew  wjien  he 
wrote  on  the  day  of  t'c.e  3i.>t  of  "May,  1S62:  but  he  did  not 
v.Tite  the  trutii,  as  1  will  n.ow  j^roceed  to  demonstrate.  It  is 
true  tiiat  after  I  left  Ikinks  on  the  night  of  the  23d,  he  did 
(h.-ien/iiir;;    t^j    sc^id    some    of    his    sick    to    Wirichjster.    and 


*  <tii  IJanksts  Oftcia'l  Report,  Moore's  Rsb.  Record,  Vol.  IX. 

t   It  \v:u  c!c>-c-n. 

I   ."<ce  r..irik^ts  0:!".ci.-'.l  Report,  >.[oorf;'.s  11:.  !\  Re-ord,  Vol.  IX. 


86 

it  is  true  that  they  '-lid  start  some  time  after  three  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  24th  ;  but  that  is  all  that  was  clone 
to  save  oui'  supplies  or  to  meet  the  enemy.  Instead  of  our 
wagon  train  being  ordered  forward  to  Winchester  at  3  a.  m. 
of  the  24th,  it  was  not  ordered  forward  until  nearly  eleven 
o'clock  of  that  day,  eight  hours  later.  Instead  of  Gen.  Banks, 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  resolving  that  to  remain  at 
Strasburg  was  U>  be  surrounded,  at  between  ten  and  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  m':)re  than  twelve  hours  of  reflec- 
tion, he  Aad  determined  to  remain  at  Strasburg,  and  only 
changed  his  mind  v>"hen  news  came  to  him  that  his  sick  in 
ambulances  had  been  attacked  tV7  ?v!:^e  to  Winchester.  So, 
with  Gen.  Hatcli  as  rcar-guar..l,  and  ordering  forward  the 
trahis,  the  ''•  incredible  celerity"  was  between  9  and  11  a.  m., 
and  not  between  3  a.  m.  and  11.  Let  us  return,  and  mo^-e 
forward  with  events. 

After  dayligiit  of  the  24th  we  remained  inactive  until 
between  ten  and  el  even  o'clock  in  the  luorning,  at  which 
time  I  received  the  follovving  note  from  Gen.  I:>anks  :  — 

HF.ADQe.-Ma?:K.S  Dr.r.'.f.TMF.NT    GK    SHt.NA:-;DOAH,   1 

STKAsiJURG,  Va.,  May  24,  '62.  J 

Coi,  Geo.  U.  Gordon', 

C^ri  ■Uiifi./!/:^'-  B-i'^'idc : 

SI',  —  C;ui'  inforp-iatiou  this  morning  showi  that  the  enemy  returned  to  Front 
Royal  last  night,  and  M-il!  nol,  no-.v  at  least,  atieinpt  our  rear.  Cur  force  will 
remain  in  Straibiiry,  tlicvefore,  until  furti'.ei  orders. 

Our  trains  v.ilf  be  sent  to  the  rear  except  t!i-.>;;C  necessary  fi^r  supplies,  and  the 
depots  established  at  sonie  oilier  point 

You  will  make  yoiir  men  as  comfortable  as  our  circuinstances  will   permit. 
The  brigade  trains  will  Ije  sent  back  for  s'lpnlics.     Th.e  Secretary  and  Assistant 
Secretary  vi  War  bf'tii  lelegiaiih  tliat  ample  reinforcen.ents  will  be  sent.     You 
will  give  such  orders  a^  n^ay  be  necessary  for  yoar  conimarid. 
Respectfally  yours,  etc., 

X.  P.  1'anK>,  M.   G    C,  etc. 

That  even  Pianks  coiild  be  so  deceived  iilled  me  v.ith  amaze- 
ment as  unspea'Kable  as    th.e  perplexity  v/hich   overcame  me 


87 

when  T  discovered  thnt,  six  days  later,  Banks  officiallv  reported 
that  before  three  o'clock  on  the  moniing  of  the  24th,  he  made 
up  his  mind  "  that  to  remain  at  Strasburg-  was  *  to  be  sur- 
rounded ' "  ;  and  nov/,  seven  hours  later,  here  was  an  order  to 
"remain  at  Strasburg,"  and  "be  surrounded"!  Ah,  no!  for 
hardly  had  I  contemptuously  thrust  the  fore^^oing  letter  into 
my  pocket,  when  an  orderly,  galloping  furiously  to  my  side, 
delivered  a  note  in  pencil,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy 
[the  italics  are  mine]  :  — 

Colon;',  —  Orders  have  just  been  received  for  the  division  to  vic~jc  at  once 
toward--  Middletown,  taki:  g  such  steps  to  oppose  the  enemy  (reported  to  be  on 
the  road  bclzaeen  Front  Royal  and  Middietown)  as  to  Gen.  Williams  may  seem 
proper.  The  general  is  absent,  but  I  have  sent  for  him.  Would  it  not  be  well 
to  have  the  Third  Brigade  ready  to  debouch  oii  the  pike  ? 

Cothraii's  Battery  is  on  the  hill  behind  us  awaiting  vour  orders:  v.'ill  you  notify 
him?  Reports  from  Front  Ryyal  confirra  Keniy's  death,  and  the  cutting  up  of 
the  First  Maryland. 

Respectfully  yours, 

W>.'.  D.  V,"iLKiN3,  Capt.  ar.d  A.  A,  G. 

Turning  now  to  Jackson's  arm}',  it  belongs  to  this  history  to 
follow  their  movements,  and  disco\'cr  why  they  did  not  sur- 
round us  at  Strasburg  before  daylight  of  the  24ih  of  May, 
Had  Jackson  moved  all  night  of  the  23d.  as  he  intended,*  the 
n.orning  of  May  2\  v\ould  have  davrned  upon  his  army  sur- 
rounding Banks  in  Strasburg.  An  untoward  event,  a  blun- 
der, s:'.\'s  a  Southern  writer,  delayed  jackson.'s  march  ;t  it  was 
th.at  the  main  body  of  his  comniand  dixerged  to  the  right  by 
thic  steep  and  narrow  by-path  taken  b}'  the  advance  wh.en  tliey 
gained  the  Gooney  Manor  Road  (the  road  from  the  Blue  Hills) 
t'j  i.Tccipilate  ttiem^clvos  the  more  suddenly  upon  Kcniy. 
It  was  not  Jackson's  intention  to  use  his  whole  20,000  to 
crush  Kenly's  1,000  ;  so  when  he  found  that  the  latter's 
}):ckeLS  v.-cre  driveii  in,  he  told  one  of  his  orderlies,  a  cavalry- 
man, to  direct  tlie  rear  brigades  to  avoid  the  circuitous  path 

*  Cooke,  p.  144.  t   Dabncy,  p.  y4. 


88 

taken  by  the  First  ^Marvlanrl  and  Wheat's  Battalion,  and 
move  for  Front  R.;>)'al  by  tLc  cUicct  and  bhorter  route.  This 
boy  urderly,  as  iio  is  called,  started  upon  his  errand  ;  but 
ere  he  had  reached  the  cobamii,  th^e  sound  of  Kenly's  artil- 
lery broke  upon  his  ears  ;  when,  thinking  only  of  hiding 
from  the  dreadful  S'jund,  he  turned  his  horse's  head  home-' 
"svard,  and  was  seen  no  more.  And  thus  it  was  that  all  of 
Jackson's  infantry  toiled  over  the  hills  through  the  steep 
and  narrow  pathwa\',  guided  by  the  footsteps  of  tlte  attack- 
ing column  in  making  the  useless  circuit.  It  was  night 
before  these  troops  reached  the  village  of  Front  Royal,  and 
then  so  fatigued,  that  tliey  laid  down  to  rest  instead  of  pursu- 
ing the  enemy.  — 

Well  vvas  it  for  us  that  tlie  ''pastures  green"  of  a  Virgirda 
farm  were  more  seductive  to  the  boy  orderly  tiian  the  sound 
of  Keidy's  artiller}- !  Tiuis  it  v."as  that  the  ni^;iit  of  Ma}-  23 
left  us  witJiout  disturbance,  and  that  the  hours  of  the  24th 
were   not  cut  sliort  soon  after  sunrise. 

This  delay  on  The  })art  of  Jackson  ga\"e,  I  think,  confiden.ce 
to  Jkankb  t'nat  his  jULigmeut  was  sound,  ar^d  that  it  was  not 
the  intention  of  the  enemy  to  intenere  with  us. 

Strasburg,  Front  lioyal,  and  Winchester,  joined  by  irregu- 
lar lines,  form  a  triangular  figure,  (d  .iseh"  resemlding  the  letter 
A;  Winchcrrter  at  tlie  verLcx  l^rms  with  Strasburg  and 
Froiit  Roval  tlie  western  and  eastern  sides  of  the  figure. 
When  Jackson's  troops,  ignorantiy  foUovvdng  the  footsteps 
of  tile  advance,  fioutidered  into  }'T(vnt  Royal  at  night,  thev 
threw  themseb.es  c.vh.austed  oi\  the  r^round,  and  remained 
there  until  mc-rning.  At  Cedar\ihe,  four  and  a  half  miles 
farther  north,  was  tlie  cavalry  and  ind":intry  tliat  had  caj.Cured 
Kenly. 

At    the    first    dawn   on    the    24 th,    Jackson's    column  was_ 
in    motion.*     Gen.    Geo.   11.    Stevcart,   with    the   Second   and 

*  C<.ok-,  p.  1.1;. 


■,;''       r^*    ■.  d    r  '^'f..; 


89 

Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry,  moved  northward  to  Ncwtov/n.  a  dis- 
tance of  ten  miles ;  Gen.  Ewell,  with  Trimble's  Brigade,  the 
First  Maryland  Regiment,  Courtney's  and  Brockenbrough's 
Batteries,  was  ordered  to  move  to  Winchester,  on  the  main 
Front  Royal  turnpike  a  distance  of  nineteen  miles;  while 
Jackson  in  person,  in  command  of  the  main  body  of  his  army, 
proceeded  in  the  direction  of  ISliddletown,*  which  is  distant 
from  Front  Royal  twelve  miles.  Stewart's  orders  were  to 
strike  the  Winchester  road  at  the  village  of  Newtown,  and  to 
observe  the  movements  of  the  enemy  at  that  point ;  Ewell 
was  directed  to  observe  appearances  of  the  enemy's  retreat 
and  be  prepared  to  strike  him  in  flank;  while  Jackson,  re- 
serving to  himscli'  the  main  body  of  liis  army,  after  reaching 
Cedarville  moved  by  a  cross-road  towards  Middletown.  Ashby 
moved  in  Jackson's  front  with  batteries,  and  covered  his  left 
to  prevent  any  attempt  on  Banks's  part  to  retreat  to  Front 
R')yal.  All  the  detachments  of  Jackson's  army  were  in  easy 
conim-unication,  and  conld  have  been  rapidly  concentrated  at 
Strasburg  or  Wincliester  or  at  any  intermediate  point. 

Before  Jackson's  main  body  wns  fairly  in  motion,  Gen. 
Stewart  had  already  sent  news  j  of  his  arrival  at  Newtown, 
and  tliat  he  had  there  captured  a  numl:)er  of  aniLuilances,  with 
prisoners  and  medical  Scorcs,  aaJi,  foc.nd  evident  signs  of  a  gen- 
eral retreat  upon  Winchester.  This  was  the  second  attack  upon 
r>anks's  command,  and  was  so  significant  as  to  make  it  plain, 
even  to  Geh.  Banks,  tlrat  the  enemy  had  not  "returned  to 
Stras])urg,"  and  not  only  would,  but  even  now  were,  '"  attempt- 
ing our  rear."  As  soon  as  refugees  flying  from  Stewart's 
attack  brought  us  the  news  at  Strasburg,  the  order  sent  me  in 
pencil  from  Gen.  W'illiams,  adjutant-general,  was  received,  and 
"  Banks's  retreat"  became  a  reality.t 


*  Dabaty,  p.  94.     Johnst'v.i's  Xarraiive,  p.  129. 
t  Dabncy,  p.  9S. 

;    L'pon  cop.iparing  the  tirrc  of  Stewart's  attack,  the  distance  from  Newtown  to 
Strasburg,  and  the  hour  we  staned  irom  Stra.-b.irj,  t'ua  will  be  appaient.     .Start- 
le 


-'  •  ,'r> 


90 

We  may  now  proceed  with  our  own  column.  As  soon  as 
ordercc:,  our  movernenl  was  instantaneous.  It  was  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  mornin;;^.*  Tiie  two  brigades  uf  infantry  were 
in  the  order  of  march  indicated,  Col.  JJoneily  in  front,  myself 
in  rear;  and  Gen.  Hatch  \\ith  cavalry,  as  rear-guard,  instructed 
then,  but  too  late,  to  do  wliat  Ixanks  says  in  his  report  he  had 
ordered  done  at  3  a.  :,r.  Our  course  v.-as  directly  for  Win- 
chester, the  distance  eighteen  miles.  Fortunately  for  us,  the 
day  was  cool  and  misty.  We  had  cleared  the  town  and 
reached  Cedar  Creek,  about  two  miles  out,  when  signs  of 
excitement  and  panic  vvere  apparent.  Frightened  teamsters 
came  thundering  back  tuwards  Strasburg,  urging  their  mules 
at  a  gallop,  —  some  as  if  .to  gain  the  town  we  had  left  for  nev/ 
loads  of  stores,  others  as  if  in  a  frenz)'  of  fright  to  escape 
from  the  front.  Here  too  I  met,  in  woful  plight,  the  theatri- 
cal com})any,  so  gay  the  iiight  before,  but  now  hovv'  crest-fallen  ! 
There  vrcre  actors,  male  and  female,  vvith  their  car.vas  theatie, 
looking  inquiringly  ye^  despairingly  into  the  face  of  every  pass- 
ing oiticer,  as  if,  in  tliis  hopeless  maze,  there  alone  could  hope 
be  found.  In  the  midst  of  al;  this  confusion  there  came  gal- 
loping rapidly  back  a  staff-officer  from  Banks,  crying.  •''The 
enemy  is  upon  us  I "  andi  without  stop,  keeping  on  to  hurry  up 
my  b::rt(ry,  which  ^,ent  at  douMe-ouick,  while  we  followed 
three  or  four  miles  farther,  until  we  came  to  where  there  was 
a  halted  wagon-train.  Here  tv/o  or  three  v.-agon-masters  were 
striking  the  stampetied  v.-agoners  right  and  left  v/ith  their  heavy 
cowhide  wliips,  interspersing  oaths  more  forcible  than  solemn 
to  dri\-e  them  back  to  their  duty.     The  cry  was  then  that  the 


ing  at  three  o'clock,  o-ir  sick  ?.ud  teamsters  would  have  reached  Xewtown,  distant 
twelve  miles,  at  between  6  and  7  a.  M.  Stewart,  -.viiL  his  cavalry,  starting  from 
Ccdarvilic  ai  daylight,  would  ha^•e  moved  over  \.\<  ten  miles  by  six  or  seven 
o'clock,  and  the  refugeco  would  have  returned  to  .SirasbLir<r,  tw-.lve  miles,  in  about 
three  and  a  half  or  four  lu'urs,  or  by  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M. 

*  Quint.  Boston  Travc.er,  M.iy,  iSO?.    Col.  Andiews'  Report,  \'ol.  IX,  Moore's 
K^b.  ILecur.i. 


91 

rebel  cavalry  had  come  down  on  the  train,  so  there  had  been 
a  rc.2;ular  stampede.  Gen.  Banks  was  now  on  the  alert,  and 
well  he  might  be.  Before  him  was  a  confused  mob  of  terror- 
stricken  teamsters,  intermingled  with  infantry  and  artillery, 
and  behind  him,  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame  arising  from  the 
town,  announcing  tl^e  destruction  of  that  property  whicit  tbiC 
night  before  might  have  been  removed  to  a  place  of  safety. 
At  last  he  seems  to  have  been  convinced  of  his  error,  for  as 
he  was  hurrying  along  the  roadwa\',  he  turned  to  one  of  his 
staff,  with  a  "  countenance  grave  but  resolute,"  as  we  are 
informed,  and  said,  "  It  seems  we  have  made  a  mistake."* 

Tiie  head  of  the  column  now  moved  forward,  and  reached 
Middletown,  six  miles  from  Strasbui'g,  without  interruption. 
None  of  the  enemy  were  found  in  tbic  town,  although  three 
hundred  had  been  seen  there,  f  Skirmisliers  from  the  Forty- 
Sixth  Pciinsylvania  were  sent  into  the  v.-oods  on  the  right,  and 
they  discovered  five  comjianies  of  the  enemy's  cavalr}'  in  rear 
of  i-hc  woods.  Banks  directed  the  artillcrv  to  open  fire,  and 
the  enemy  retreated;  then  the  Twentv-F.ighth  New  York  was 
brought  up,  and  under  a  heavy  hi'e  of  iTifantry  anrl  artillery 
the  five  companies  of  cawalry  were  driven  back  more  than  two 
miles  from  the  pike,  at  which  point  Col.  Donelh',  command- 


*  In  :i  p;iper  publi-shcd  ip  "  Harper's  ^^o^.thly"  for  ^^arch,  iS6',  Mr.  Strnther,  of 
Vir;4inin,  has  friven  his  "  Reci  Ucctions  of  a  Canipa;\::ri  in  \'irgiiiia."  Strother,  who 
v.'as  •.t'.t.tc;!r?d  to  J'ank>'s  .str-ff  in  ll.e  vaile;,'  canipai.Ljii,  niakes  it  ap;>eai  in  this  paper 
that  ]■.:?  d'jficleci  t'.s  reriorls  of  thr  r.urn'ier  of  Jacivson's  army  with  such  tffect  that 
it  innueiued  Ixinks's  ci^ncluct.  Thus  .Strother  endeavors  to  shield  the  latter,  and 
relates  the  f'.)!lo\ving  oca;rreiice,  when  he  was  riding  awav  from  the  smoking" 
rumN  of  .Str.T-burc^  to  the  sound  of  the  cannon  of  tiie  army  of  Jackson.  "  I  was 
T;virf.:i',-u  at  ti.e  failure  i.f  mv  judgment,  and  n'.led  with  self-reproach  that  cb.-ti- 
na;e  a:'.d  ojic-  expressed  disbelief  in  the  danger  might  liave  had  si..:ne  influence 
in  delaying  a  movement  upon  which  the  safety  of  our  army  depended.  Banks's 
countenance  was  grave  an-'l  rcs'nute  ;  as  I  rode  towards  him,  he  observed,  "  It 
ieenis  we  have  nride  a  ijii~take."     I  said,  "  It  seems  so  indeed." 

When  l.'anks  made  his  ofiicia!  report,  he  forgot  that  he  had  made  this  remark  ; 
he  f  jrgot,  too,  ti;at  note,  that  v,-e  would  "  rcmaia  at  Strasburg." 

t  lianhss  Report. 


92 

inc^  the  brigade,  wa?  informed  by  a  citizen  that  4,000  men  were 
in  the  woods  beyoivl.*  Gen.  Banks  attributes  the  safety  of 
his  column  to  what  he  calls  this  episode  ;  for  had  the  enemy 
"vigorously  attackr-d  the  train,"  he  says,  "while  at  the  head  ot 
the  column,  it  would  have  been  thrown  into  sucli  dire  con- 
fusion as  to  liave  made  the  successful  continuation  of  our 
march  impossible."  Undoubtedly  I  but  v.-hy  did  not  the  enemy 
vigorously  attack  ;h-e  train  ?  Simply  because  tlie  small  force 
of  cavalry  which  Banks  met  vras  the  rebel  Gen.  Geo.  H. 
Stewart's  Second  and  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry,  which,  having 
destroyed  the  ambulance-train  at  Newtown,  had  been  down 
the  road  towards  INliddletown,  and  was  watching  the  route 
from  the  woods  on  the  right  where  Donelly's  skirmishers 
found  them. 

There  were,  no  doubt.  "  4.000  men  in  the  woods  beyond," 
but  they  were  many  miles  beyond.  It  was  Ewell's  force,  con- 
sisting, as  stated,  of  IVimble's  Brigade  and  the  First  Marylar.d 
Regiment,  with  t^/o  batteries.  If  this  column  moved  at  day- 
light, as  ordered,  it  had  made,  between  10  and  ii  a.  m.,  eleven 
ivMc:,  at  least,  and  would  liave  reached  the  toll-gate  on  the  Front 
Ro\'a]  road  to  Winchester,  opposite  Newtown  and  about  fi\"e 
miles  from  it.  Ewell  was  hurrying  forward  to  Winchester  to 
cut  off  '):.n-  retrca*.  fr'.'ni  t'.iat  plare  as  well  as  to  capture  all 
the  pul^lic  propel  Ly  there  ;  and  for  this  he  was  u.sing  the  ut- 
most expedition,  and  had  no  time  to  make  cross-cut  diversions 
v/ith  his  iniatitry  o^-er  to  the  Strasburg  pike,  to  Winchestei-, 
and  he  did  not  make  any;  nor  did  any  one  hui  Stev^"art,  with 
his  small  cavalry  force,  —  for  I  shall  show,  that  until  after  dark 
that  night,  the  road  was  open  from   Newtown  to  Wincliester. 

Alter  Doncllv's  affair  with  .Stewart's  cavaln',  the  latter 
were  heard  of  no  more  that  day.     As  Stewart  was  attached  I 

to   Eweil's  force, 'I    it  is   more  tlun   prolable    thnt   he    joiiicd 


*  Banks's  Report 

t  See  StewMifs  refus:!.]  to  obey  Jai.  k^oi^s  c;  tu-r  to  Ibllnw  our  retreat,  on  the 
ground  that  only  I'rum  Ewoll  would  he  receive  orders.  —  fi-s'. 


93 

his  column,  and  moved  on  Winchester  content  to  watch  the 
avenues  of  our  escape  to  the  east,  and  awaiting  the  m.ove- 
njents  of  Jackson,  whom  he  knew  was  hurrvinpj  with  ahaiost 
the  whole  of  his  large  army  to  crush  us  on  the  route  we  v/ere 
taking. 

It  was  not  wise  to  attribute  our  safety  to  Donelly's  attack 
upon  less  than  i.ooo  of  the  20,000  that  were  pushing  upon 
us  in  every  direction ;  yet  it  would  be  unfair  to  l-lanks  to 
dcnv  that,  when  he  wrote  his  report,  he  sincerely  believed 
that  this  little  skirmish  of  "one  killed  and  nine  woiinded " 
saved  Ids  whole  column. 

Fending  this  contest,  Eanlis*  ordered  "  Col.  Brodhead,  of  the 
First  Michigan  Cavalr}-,  to  advance  and  ?/  possible  cut  his 
v.-ay  through,  atid  occupy  Winchester"  Finding  no  enemy 
in  his  path,  the  Colonel  wcrit  v.-ithout  opposition  to  the  town. 
This  is  conclusive  that  the  attack  to  be  made  upon  liaaks's 
column  in  retreat  was  not  made  at  tne  head  of  the  column  ; 
and  thpt  this  affair  v.-as  of  no  moment  in  deciding  the  fortunes 
of  the  day. 

When  the  nrst  rumors  frcun  the  teamsters  came  to  us, 
fdled  with  apprehension  that  he  had  permitted  Jackson  to 
throw  Ids  whole  army  between  him  and  Strasburg,  and  fearing 
that  he  \v'ould  be  obiige^l  to  return,  Banks  directed  Capt. 
Abert,  of  the  topographical  engineers  on  his  staff,  to  turn 
back  with  his  bod)'-guard  f  and  foil  the  enemy's  pursuit,  by 
preparing  Cedar  Creek  Bridge  for  tlie  fiarnes.  Wlnle  they 
returned  on  their  nubsion.  +  the  column  pushed  forward.  We 
had  been  detained  a])0ut  an  hour. 

Donelly's  Brigade  and  a  wagon-irain  entered  Winchester 
early  in  the  afternoon  of  tlie  24th  of  T'day.  v/ithout  sight  or 
sound  of  an  enemv ;  but  our  fate  was  diiierent,  and  was  as 


*  l'..nks';,  Repoit. 

t  A   reii-unitormecr  company  from    rhiladclphia,  calling    themselves  Zouaves 
c''AfriqL;c. 

\  E.\n.ks"s  Report:. 


94 

follows:  Notwithstanding:  the  confusion*  we  pushed  on,  with- 
out much  hindernuce  or  delay,  with  ordcis  to  move  towards 
^owto•.vn  en  ro''te  Co  Winchester,  to  check  an  approach  of 
the  enemy  in  that  direction.  The  train  that  preceded  as  well 
as  that  which  followed  us  was  immense.  The  distance  to 
Middletown  from  Strasburg  is  six  miles.  When  the  wai^ons 
were  straightened  out,  after  Donelly's  skirmish,  the  line\vas 
continuous  for  tlr's  distance,  an.d  was  continually  lengthening, 
as  wagons  emerged  from  Straslnirg  to  fill  the  spaces  of  the 
line,  Still  extending. 

It  was  nearly  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  my  brigade 
passed  through  Middlctown.     There  was  no  enemy  thererbut 
between  Aliddk-town  and  Xewtovai  the  ominous  sound  of  can- 
non W3S  lieard  iu  our  rear.     Quickly  tliere  came  more  reports 
of  artillery,  and  then  single  troopers  from  the  cavalry,  riding 
rapidly  ttnvards  Winchester,  nnd  halting,  as  thev  came  up  v.dth 
the  head  of  my  brigade,  only  long  enough  to   cry  out  that 
Jackson  had  attacked  our  rear,  had  cut  our  train  in  two,  and  in 
short  was  having  the  thing    pretty  much    his    own  way.     I 
made  the  same  rc]>Iy  to  one  and   all   .if  these  panic-stricken 
cavalrymen.  "Go  and    tell  Gen.  Banks  what  you  have  seen." 
They  obeyed,  pn..sing   forv/ard    to  the  head   of   the  column. 
Shorilv,  however,  the  number  of  fugitives  increased,  the  roar 
of  artillery  was  continuous,  ■^si^,  repuits  from   the  rear  more 
appalling.     At   length    Newtown  was  reached,  and    here  we 
found  the  dc-ad  body  of  one  of  Shidds's  men  killed  in  Stew- 
ari's    dayhght  attack    upon   our  ambulances    and  sick.     The 
man  had  been  discliarged  from  the  hospital,  and  was  marcli- 
ing  along  with  the  au.bulances,  unarmed,  when  he  was  shot 
through  the  head. 

I  had  passed  through  the  ^•illage.  when  a  report  reached  me 
that  the  enemy  had  come  in  between  mj-  own  brigade  and 
the  rear-guard,  that  they  nad  captured  many  wagons  and  were 
now  in  pursuit.     I   instantly  formed  a  new  rear-guard  of  the 

*   Wa-ons  urdc'Lcl  to  the  rc.ir,  Sto^var.'s  aUa.k  v,;:h  cav.ilrv 


J--- 


1)5 

Twenty-Seventh  Indiana  Re.i;imcnt,  and  two  sections  of  artil- 
lery. "  Keep  the  enemy  bnck,  avid  protect  all  the  train  that 's 
left,"  were  my  instructions,  as  I  pushed  on,  until  Bartonville, 
a  liLtle  town  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  Newtown,  was 
reached.  Here  reports  came  to  me  that  the  enemy  had 
planted  a  batttry  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  and  having  cut 
off  all  communication  with  the  rear-guard  of  cavalry,  were 
firing  into  the  rear  of  my  column. 

It  was  now  between  2  and  3  p.  m.  We  were  but  five  and 
a  half  miles  from  Winchester.  At  this  point  and  time 
Gen.  Banks  made  his  appearance.  Following  him  came  the 
T-u-enty-Eighth  New  York  Regiment,  conducted  thus  far 
under  orders  to  report  to  Gen.  Match  if  practicable.  Gen. 
Banks  also  directed  me  to  order  the  Second  Massachuseits 
Regiment  to  the  rear,  and  gave  orders  himself  for  two  sec- 
tions of  artillery  attached  to  my  brigade  to  i)roceed  in  the 
same  direction.  Lieui.-Col.  Andrews  directed  the  men  of 
the  Second  10  remove  the'r  knapsacks,  for  they  were  much 
fatigued  with  the  march  over  a  dry  and  dusty  road.  This  Was 
O'^v^i^,  and  then  tlie  regiment  turned  its  face  rearward ;  so  did 
the  artillery,  —a  section  of  Best's  Battery  under  Lieut.  Gush- 
ing. While  this  force  v/as  moving  out,  the  wagons  in  advance 
or  my  brigade  got  into  a  con.dition  of  inextricnl^le  confusion, 
f:om  whicn  I  sav.  Banks  for  a  moment  attempting  personal! V 
to  disengage  tliem,  with  the  assistance  of  m.y  aid,  Lieut.  Scott 
of  the  Second,  .whom  he  requested  to  keep  the  wagons  mov- 
ing until  tiiey  got  out  of  the  snarl  These  orders  given,  Banks 
turned  away,  and  rode  forwaixl  to  the  head  of  the  cohmm. 

1  here  v.-as  thus  a  new  rear-guard  constituted, —  the  Second 
:\rassachusetts,  the  Twenty-Eighth  Xew  York,  and  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Indiana  Regiment,  then  in  rear.  Two  of  these  regi- 
r;ents  vere  fmm  _my  brigacie,  and  the  battery  was  mine. 
rh'.trc  were  also  c-vo  of  my  regiments  left  Vvdth  the  main  col- 
v.mn,  the  Thard  Wisconsin  and  the  Twent)--Ninth  Benn.syl- 
vama,  and  these  were  m-ving  rapiilly  on  towaj-ds  Winchester. 


■■"']■ 


ye 

Which  half  should  I  join  ?  No  orders  had  been  given  to  vie. 
Knowing-  that  Banks  had  ordered  the  Tweiit) -Eighth  New 
York  to  report  to  Gen.  Hatch  of  the  cavalry,  I  assumed  that 
he  intended  the  rcmanider  of  the  force  so  to  report.  I  knew 
that  Gen.  Hatch  could  not  be  found ;  that  he  was  somewhere 
near  Strasburg,  or  escaj.>ing  through  the  passes  of  the  North 
Mountain  to  rejoin  us.  So  I  determined  to  assume  command, 
and  without  a  moment's  hesitation  turned  to  attack  the  enemy, 
and  do  what  I  could  in  rescuing  the  rear-guard  atid  the  bagga-^e. 

Near  the  outskirts  of  the  straggling  little  village  of  New- 
tov/n,  I  found  some  confusion  in  the  train,  and  saw  six  or  seven 
wagons  that  had  been  overturned  and  abandoned  I  found 
unhappy  mules,  helplessly  tied  dov/n  by  tlic  pressure  of 
falLn  teams,  appeahng  so  beseechingly  for  aid  that  I  halted 
long  enough  to  free  them  all.  Around  there  were  signs  of 
panic  and  confusion.  Here  in  advance  I  found  Col.  Colgrove, 
holding  his  little  regiment  of  four  hundred  and  thirty-one  men 
(tlie  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana)  stanchly  in  line  of  battle,  v.-hile 
his  artillery  was  firing  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry  showing 
themselves  in  tiie  A\oods  on  our  left.     The  colonel  reported  j 

that  the  enemy,  witii  infantry  and  artillery,  were  in  the  town.  j 

I  determined  to  attack  and  drive  thcn>  out.     The  Second  i 

IMassachusetts  being  called  unou  ro  take  the  brunt  of  it,  the  ! 

reginicnt,  with  skirmishers  thrown  out,  moved  forward,  sup-  i 

ported  by  the  Tweiity-l-:ighth    New   York  and  a  section   of  j 

Best's  Battery.     As  Companies  A  and  C,  Cnpts.  Abbott  aiid  1 

Cogswell,  mo\-eu  forward  tlirough  the  niain  street,  followed  Iv,-  1 

supporting  compani.'S  of  the  regiment,  the  enemy,  posted  in  | 

the  streets,  0[-iei-'.ed   upon   them  witi\   their  arciik-rv  a  strong  i 

and  well-directed  fire.     Moving  forward  the  Twenty-Seventh  i 

Indiana  to  their  support,   I    sent   in  with   this   regiment  two  j 

sections  of  Cothran's  Parrotts  to  show  tlve  sanne  old  teeth  that  | 

had  so  many,  times  proved  fatal  to  their  antagonists.  As 
wc  advanced  the  ep.emy  fell  back  from  tlie  town  and  planted 
iheirgunson  the  heiglits  beyond,  where  thev  hekl   out   obsti- 


i)7 

nately.  The  advance  of  my  little  column,  with  the  Second 
Massachusetts  leading  off,  and  the  shells  bursting  square  over 
oar  reginicnt,  was  ric>t  so  much  of  an  experience  in  warfare  as 
afterwards  befell  us  ;  but  if  we  had  known  the  immense  supe- 
riority of  the  force  in  our  front,  on  our  flanks,  and  pressing  to 
our  rear,  we  should  be  obliged  to  admit  that  it  was  among  our 
boldest.  While  Best's  and  Cothran's  Batteries  v.ere  replying 
to  the  enemv's  shells  that  burst  close  enough  to  be  endured, 
while  the  Second  Massachusetts  were  firing  occasional  \  olleys, 
and  dropping  shots  v.-ere  heard  on  the  left  by  Capt.  Abbott's 
Company,  let  us  step  over  and  look  into  the  enemy's  camp. 

As  the  plan  of  Jackson's  attack,  it  will  be  remembered,  con- 
templated nothing  less  than  the  capture  of  our  whole  com- 
mand, his  dispositions  v/ere  made  accorriirigly.  I'akmg  upon 
himself  the  task  of  shutting  up  Banks  in  Strasburg,  Jackson 
expected  to  cut  the  Winchester  road  before  Vv-e  could  pass  it 
at  Middletown.  Recalling  the  condition  of  fatigue  in  which 
his  troops  entered  Front  Royal  on  the  night  oC  the  23d.  it  vill 
be  remembered  why  Jackson  was  obliged  to  deter  his  march 
until  daylight  of  the  2 -th,  when,  with  his  whole  armv,  save  the 
forces  under  Stewart  and  Ewell,  —  that  is,  with  at  least  five 
brigades  of  infantry  from  his  own  division  and  Ev.eli's,  and 
all  of  Ashley's  cavalry,  and  with  forty  hold-guns  less  the  two 
batteries  that  h.id  folluwed  Ewell, —  he  advanced  upon 
Middletown. 

I'he  distance  v/as  t\vel%e  miles.  With  no  op})OS!tion,  save 
thcti  near  the  t,own,  he  opened  with  his  artiileiy  upon  a  small 
body  of  our  cavalr\-  sent  out  by  Gen.  Hatch  to  observe  him, 
—  tii.e  little  village  came  in  view  across  the  broad  and  level 
licLJs.  It  was  then  betv\-een  one  and  two  in  the  afternoon. 
As  Ids  columns  moved  up  in  view  of  the  main  street  the}' 
sf.v  it  "canopied  with  a  \ast  ch'aid  of  gra}'  dust,  and  crowded 
beneath,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  r^-acii,  v/ith  a  column  of 
troops.* 

*  Dabney,  p.  99.  | 

13  I 


98 


The    troops    were    our   cavalry,    under    command    of    Gen  I 

Hatch,  proceeding  to  join  the  head  of  the  column,  because  I 

oi  an   order  from   lianks   when   he  thought  the  enemy  were  ! 

between    him    and    Winchester.      Leaving   at    Strasburo-    .iv  j 

companies    of    the    Fifth    New    York    Cavahw  and    six  "com-  ! 

panics    of    the    First    Vermont    Cavahy   to  ^cover   our    rear  | 

and    destr.n-    stores    that    could    not    be    carried    awav,    Gen  j 

Hatch,  at  the    liead    of   his    column,  arrived    at    Middletown 
m  time  to  witness   the  enemy  swarming  upon  his  right,  from 
the  hillsides.       In  an   instant  two  batteries   of  the'en'cmv's 
artiller>'   dashed   forward    to    a    commanding    position    at'  a 
gallop.      Ashby,   at    the   head   of  his   cavalrv,   threw  himself 
forward  on   the   right;    while   Taylor,    throwing  for^.-arc>   the 
first   regiment  of  his   brigade   mlo  hne,   advanced  at  double- 
quick  to  the  centre  of  the  village.     Then  the  artillerv  roared 
the  shells    burst,    and   the    fragments    howled  ;    Tavlor's    in- 
fantry p:;.ured    terriiic    volleys    into    the  confused    mass    that 
filled  the  streets;  and  Ashby.  swooping  dov/n.  took  advanta-e 
ot  this  confusion  to  dash  with   sword  and  pistol  among  the 
overwhelmed  troopers  ;  while  all  along  the  ridges,  the  re'st  of 
Jackson's  overpoxvering  numl.ers  were  pressing  onward. 

Gen.     Hatch's    whole    cavalry    command,  "not    numberm- 
^\''    "^^'^    ^'^''^-^    ^'^^^V^  was    lessened    by  the"  companies 
leit    as    rear-guard,    and    those    ai    the    front    with    Banks.— 
truly   an    unequal    contest,    and    one   which,    not   even    for    a 
moment,  did  our  cavalry  undertake.     That  under  such  circum- 
stances they  broke  m  disorder  and  sca^ered  over   the  a~r... 
cent  helds  is  undoubtedly  true  ;  but  that  the  wav  was  encum- 
bered   wuh   dying    horses    and    men  ;    that    at    ;ver^-    furious        " 
volley  from  the  enemy,  our  cavalry  seemed   to  melt  h^   scores 
irom  their  saddles,  while  the  frantic,  riderless  horses  ru^lied 
up    and    down,    tramp'ing    the    wounded    wretches    into    the 
dust;    or  that  cavalrymen  fell   from   their  horses  before  thev 
were  struck,  and   squatted  _behimJ   stone  fences   and    surren- 


tiered  at  first  challeng"e,  as  reported  in  Southern  histories,* 
i<  a  picture  of  Southern  fancy  as  imaginative  as  that  "  Ashby 
alone  charged  five  hundred  Yanl^'ee  cavalry,  dashed  through 
their  line,  and  tiring  his  pistol  right  and  left,  wlieeled  about 
and  summoned  them  to  surrender,  taking  thirty  in  this  way 
in  one  instance,  being  all  who  iieard  his  voice,"  —  all  of  which 
v.-as  reported  as  a  fact  by  "  a  gentleman  of  character  and 
veracity."!  It  is  3S  true  as  that  "Banks,  after  he  retreated 
to  Winchester,  took  the  cars  for  Harper's  Ferry,  shedding 
tears,  and  declaring  that  he  had  been  sacrificed  by  his  Govern- 
ment," which  is  solemnly  written  in  Southern  history.  % 

Xotwitiistanding  Gen.  Jackson  in  his  report  says  that  the 
tu-rnj)ike,  v\-hich  had  just  before  teemed  v,'ith  lite,  presented 
sucii  an  appalling  spectacle  of  carriage,  destruction,  and  demor- 
ali.-'.ation,  he  avers  that  he  captured  only '•'about  two  hundred 
prisoners,  \\\i\^  their  horses  and  equipages,  and  that  the 
groat  body  of  the  Federal  ca\"alry  made  good   their  retreat." 

While  numbers  of  our  cavar/y  made  their  way  across  the 
fields  to  the  westward  of  the  pike,  Gen.  Flatch,  \','ith  a  still 
larger  body,  turned  back  towards  Strasbur^^;  v.dth  Ins  six 
pieces  of  artillery.  Wiih  this  force,  afier  gaining  an  advan- 
tageous site,  lie  opened  a  rapid  fire  upoji  the  enemy.  Doubt- 
ful wheiher  Banbs's  main  force  Wu>  yet  in  rear  or  harl  passed 
tiirough  Middletown,  Jackson  turned  to  attack  Hatch,  im- 
pressed with  tlie  belief  that  thic  latter  was  attempting  to 
force  a  passage  through  his  lines.  Witli  laylor's  Brigade 
'fornied  in  line  south  of  tlie  village.  Jackson  brought  up  his 
guns,  supported^  them  bv  Campbeii's  Brigade,  and  replied  to 
the  fire  of  Idatch's  guns.  x\fter  a  short  skirmish,  a  column 
of  flame  and  snio!:e  was  seen  arising  from  the  bridge  over 
Cedar  Creek.     The  Zouaves  d'Afrique,  having  been  attacked 


*  Cooke's  Life  of  Jackson,  p.  146.     D.ibiiey's  Lice  of  Jackson,  p.  99. 
t  C^yke's  Life  :-f  Jn.ckso",  p.  \^^''K 
X  Co>'ke's  Life  of  Jackson,  p.  146. 


.[.„ 


»-■ 


100 

by  the  part  of  Jackson's  force  that  had  swept  southward, 
had  fired  the  bridge  and  retreated  to  Strasburg.  Then 
Hatch,  convinced  of  the  uselcssness  of  the  effort  to  cut  his 
way  through  the  enemy,  turned  to  the  left  with  his  artillery, 
and  made  his  way  by  narrow  and  obscure  roads  westward  and 
northward,  to  effect,  if  possible,  a  junction  with  the  main 
column.  Six  companies  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry  and 
six  of  the  First  Vermotit  Ca\'alry,  after  repeated  efforts  to 
joi?i  the  column,  fell  back  to  Strasburg. 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  force  we  ma\^  as  well  give 
here.  The  six  companies  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalr\^ 
under  Col.  De  Forest,  came  into  our  lines  via  Flancock,  at 
Clear  Spring,  north  of  the  Potomac,  bringing  with  them 
tidra-two  wagons  and  many  stragglers;  the  Zouaves  joined 
us  at  Wiiliamsport ;  the  Fifth  Vermont  joined  the  column  at 
Winchester,  with  six  pieces  of  artillery,  in  tim.e  for  the  light ; 
and  Gen.  Hatch  joined  us  in  a  few  hours,  as  will  appear. 
I^.Iajor  CoU.ins  of  the  cavalry,  with  three  companies,  attempted 
after  dusk  to  proceed  up  the  road  towards  Middletown,  intend- 
ing to  turn  off  where  the  main  body  under  Hatch  left  the 
pike  ;  but  mistaking  the  point,  h.e  dashed  upon  a  barricade  of 
wagons,  and  was  received  by  the  cneuiy  with  a  tem}.)estuous 
fir^-  ot  intantry  arid  artiller)',  fiom  v/hich  he  suffered  griev- 
ously. This  dispL.scs  of  the  entire  force  which  was  cut  off 
from  our  column  when  Jackson  struck  us  at   Middletown. 

If  it  was. not  apparent  at  this  time  to  Gen.  Stonewall  Jack- 
son that  Ills  ganu-  was  not  on  that  h.unt,  it  was  not  for  lack  of 
evidence  of  that  fact.  The  citizens  of  IMiddletown  "  informed 
Jackson  that  dense  columns  of  infaritry,  train.s  of  artillery,  and. 
long  lines  of  baggage-wagons  had  been  passing  tb.ruugh  there 
from  Strasburg  since  early  morning."  *  Indeed,  there  was 
better  evidence  of  this  fact;  for  upon  castir^g  his  e}'es  north- 
ward, riur  wagons  were  seen  as  he  first  entered  the  town, 
disappearing  in  the  distance  towards  Winchester,   f 

*  Ccokc,  p.  146.  t  Dabncv,  p.  99. 


101 

As  bitter  as  Jackson's  disappointment  mav  have  been  at 
this  time,  at  the  utter  failure  of  his  plans,  he  did  not  pause  fur 
a  moment  to  bewail  his  fate  in  either  prayers  or  sighs,  but 
turning  to  Ashby,  and  ordering  him  to  pursue  with  his  cavalry, 
artillery,  and  T?ylor's  brigade  of  infantry,  he  turned  his  own 
face  towards  Winchester,  and  with  the  Stonewall  Bri-'-'ade  in 
front,  advanced  with  his  whole  army  towards  Newtown.* 

For  a  description  of  the  six  miles  between  Middletown 
and  Newtov.-n,wc  m,ust  rely  upon  the  enemv.  That  their  nar- 
rative is  unhappily  too  stroiigly  founded  on  facts  of  our  own 
knowledge,  we  must  admit.  The  six  miles  of  wagons  that 
were  strung  along  the  road,  when,  between  eleven  and  twelve 
o'clock.  Banks  had  his  first  skirmish  with  Stewart's  cavalr\-, 
had  foliov.-ed  on  at  the  rear  of  my  brigade,  so  that  when  I 
reached  Xcwtown  they  vstre  mainly  scattered  from  Mid- 
dletown to  that  place.  But  the  maniiCr  of  it  is  c'iven 
as  follows :  "  The  deserted  wagon-train  of  the  enemy  was 
found  standing  in  many  cises  with  horses  attached,  and  occu- 
pying the  road  for  a  mile."t  "'The  whole  road  was  strewn 
with  broken-dov.-n  wagons,  gun^,  knapsacks,  oil-cloths,  and 
accoutrements  of  every  descriprion."  t  When  the  unarmed 
and  unescorted  teamsters  savv  our  cavrdry  scattered  to  the 
ioar  v\inds  at  a  breath  by  Jackson's  sudden  attack  at  Middle- 
town,  there  is  not  nnich  douljt  that  all  of  them,  made  off 
without  any  retarding  attachments  of  wagons  ;  and  as  little 
when  Ashby  came  up  with  the  rear  of  our  trains,  and  opened 
fire  with  his  batteries  all  along  tiie  turnpike,  that  the  first 
confusion  vv-as  like  a  saint's  rest  to  the  last.  "  A  shell  or 
round  shot  v.-ould  strike  one  of  the  wagons  and  o\-cr!.arn  it 
and  before  tliose  behind  could  stop  their  headway,  they 
would  crash  into  the  ruins  of  the  first,  then  others  would  tum- 
ble in,  so  as  to  b!  k  k  up  the  r  ad  comj^letely."  §     Tlius  did 


*  Uabney"^  I. To  cf  Jacksyn,  p.  <.(}.  f    D-.I.p.ey,  p.  99. 

[  Cooke's  life  of  T.icksnp.  p.  i.<'.  §  C';oke,  p.  i.pj. 


102  "^''- 

Ashby's  cavalry  thunder  dcjwn  on  the  defenceless  wagons 
linin;^;  tiie  ro.'id  between  I\Tidulcto\vn  and  Newtown. 

It  was  this  contest  I  had  heard.  The  fugitives  from  this 
unequal  combat  of  cavalry,  artillery,  and  Jackson's  infantry, 
v.'ith  our  cavalry  and  six  miles  of  teamsters,  were  those  who 
had  been  sent  b}'  me  to  pour  into  the  ears  of  Banks  the 
story  of  our  disaster,  the  crime  of  our  wretched  halt  at  Stras- 
barg  during  the  preceding  night.  It  was  this  General  Stone- 
wall Jackson  at  the  hrad  of  his  army  that  I  vvas  now  con- 
fronting at  Newtown. 

The  time  occupied  in  returning  to  Newtovvni  from  Barton- 
vilie,"^  and  driving  the  enemy  out  of  the  town,  brings  this 
narrative  up  to  nearly  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Four 
o'clock,  five,  six,  seven,  and  ciglit  at  night  found  us  still 
holding  the  town..  The  fight  had  settled  into  an  artillerv 
combat,  an.d  to  tliis  tlicre  was  no  cessation.  Again  an.d 
again,  a  pause  for  a  fevv  moments  gave  me  hope  that  I  had 
siL-nced  the  enein}''s  guns;  bu^  again  and  again  their  fire 
was  spiiefuily  resumed.  For  hours  I  held  no  communication 
with  Gen.  Banks,  had  not  seen  or  heard  from  him  since  we 
luft  BartonA-ilie.  I  louked  upon  m}"  p.-^'sition  as  most  perilous  : 
my  force  was  small,  could  cover  onlv  a  small  front.  How 
long  br-fore  I  >iu)uld  l^c  ::.urrounded,  rut  off  frons  Winchester, 
and    captured ! 

It  was  after  sunset,  v/hen,  in  tli-"'  grov/ing  twilight,  I  saw, 
to  my  joy,  Gen.  Hatcli  ap]>roac}iin.g.  In.  a  few  words  he 
acquaisted  me  witli  his  escape.  He  had  come  in  bv  a  cir- 
cuitous road  to  the  h^ft,  bririging  with  him  the  greater  part 
of  his  cavalry,  which  was  then  sale  ot  Winchester,  but  all 
his  baggage  had  been  captured.  Gen.  Idatch  confirmed  my 
fears  ot  the  numbers  of  the  enemy;  he  told  me  that  they 
had  set  ujion  hhn  in  strong  force;  that  thtjy  had  taken 
a    portion    of    the    rear    of    our    train,    and    such    stores    as 


*  So  cn.ii>.d  0:1  the  Covernnvjnl  rii.ip  of  '>ar  operatiuus  in  li'.e  v.iHey. 


103 

\vere  left  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  such  forces  as  had  not  haply 
escaped.  Gen.  Hatch  also  dwelt  with  much  feelin<:;  upon 
the  m::~take  made  by  Capt.  Collins  of  ihe  cavalry  in  char- 
ging upon  the  enemy's  barricade  ;  his  losses  were  mourned 
v.ith  more  than  orditiary  expressions  of  sorrow.  The  com- 
mand of  the  rear  properly  belonged  to  Gen.  Hatch,  for  two 
reasons :  it  h.ad  been  assigned  to  him  by  Gen.  Eaiiks  ;  and  he 
was  my  serior  in  rank.  I  tendered  to  him  the  command,  but 
with  much  courtesy  the  general  replied  that  he  could  not  do 
better  than  I  was  doing,  and  he  should  decline  to  take  it. 
Of  course  I  assented,  and  Gen.  Hatch,  after  leaving  with  me 
six  companies  of  the  cavalry  that  attended  him,  left  with  his 
stair  for  Winchester.  Throwing  the  cavalry  v;ell  out  on  my 
flanks,  I  continued  the  light. 

It  was  sometime  after  sunset,  near  eight  o'clock,  when 
an  unexpected  visitor  came  into  my  hnes,  and  was  brought 
beiore  me.  It  was  one  of  Jackson's  medical  officers,  a  sur- 
geon attached  to  one  of  our  enem}-'s  IMarydand  batteries. 
While  more  than  half  drunk,  probably  on  our  liquor  found  in 
the  captured  wagons,  the  non-comixitant  surgeon  stumbled 
into  one  of  my  batteries,  supposing  it  to  be  his  own.  Not  too 
mu.:h  intoxicated  to  recognize  tiie  blue  uniforni  of  the 
Vedc'-a]  troops,  and  whh  wits  qidckened  by  danger,  he 
(K-manded  with  adniimblc  co.'lness  the  surrender  of  the  first 
man  he  confronted. 

"  Surrender!  V   replied  the  burly  sergeant.    ''  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  Couiederate  ohicer,"  replied  the  maji. 

"  I  guess  you  'd  better  surrender  yourself,  then,"  was  the 
retort,  v.-itii  a  revolver  presented  at  the  surgeon's  head. 
Witiiout  mure  ado  he  was  detained  in  tlie  heavy  grasj)  of 
his  ca'ptor,  and  brought  before  me.  Our  commissary  whiskey 
h?d  ^o  cheered  hi'-  spirits  tb.at  our  captive  was  without  pru- 
deiice.  In  a  word,  he  let  cut  that  our  position  was  most 
perilous. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  .'  "  he  asked. 


104 

"  Don't  you  see,"  I  replied,  "  what  we  are  doinp;  ?  " 

"  Why,"  exclaimed  my  iuel;riated  prisoner,  "  voii  'd  better  get 
out  of  this.     We  are  all  around  you  i" 

Glimpses  of  sobriety  followed  a  p-artial  shock,  as  he  realized 
his  situation,  and  he  mingled  exclamations  of  surprise,  regret, 
and  self-condemnation  with  a  caution  to  treat  him  well;  "for," 
said  he,  "you  will  all  be  in  the  same  condition  as  myself 
before  morning." 

"  You  have  no  idea  of  our  force,"  he  added  ;  "  they  are  all 
around  you,  and  wdll  have  every  one  of  you,  and  Winchester, 
too,  if  not  to-night,  certainly  in  the  morning." 

"  What  are  the  numbers  of  your  forces  }  "  I  asked. 

"  From  20,000  to  40,000  men,  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
erals Jackson,  Ewell,  and  Johnston,  wiili  Gen.  Jackson  as 
commander-in-chief,"  was  his  reply. 

I  could  not  doubt  that  the  ep.emv  \vere  rnakino-  their  wav 
slowly  around  u.s, — v.-ere  even  so  near  that  they  could  easily 
stray  into  m\-  iires  for  their  o\v'.\.  I  had  driven  them  fronn 
Newtown,  and  held  it  for  nearly  fuu.r  hours  ;  all  our  trains 
in  advance  were  secure  and  in  Winchester  ;  Gen.  Hatch  and 
his  rear-guard,  save  those  cajjtured  or  in  tliglit  over  the 
mountains  to  the  west,  v.-ere  safe  ;  and  am.ple  time  had  been 
aiiord'j.l  Gen.  Hanks  to  remove  all  tiie  public  property  in 
Winchester  or  destroy  it.  All  that  I  could  do  was  done,  and 
I  determined  to  withdra-.v.*     r\Iy  disi)ositions  were  soon  made. 


*  I;  !•;  p'fcuant  to  f;r;d  Souchern  writers  confirming  all  I  have  here  claimed  to 
have  accomplished.  *'  They  brought  up  four  pieces  of  artilk-ry  a.nd  pLinted  them 
m  tiie  outskirts  ol  the  town,  opening  a  fuiious  fire  upon  the  Co:iiederate  bat- 
teries. .  .  .  Jaf:k>on  hastened  to  the  fro.U,  a;ii  when  he  an  iveii  a:  .Vewtow.i 
found  PoagLie  with,  two  gu;is  engaged  in  a  h',t  coml-ar  with  th.e  Fod-jral  artilierv, 
which  continued  to  checi^  his  further  advarce  until  dark.  ...  At  nightfall 
the  Federal  artillery,  whi.di  had  held  the  Confederate  advance  in  check  at  Xcw- 
tO',vn,  retired  from  the  neid,  and  Jackson  determined  to  pu.^h  on  after  IJanks  to 
"'*^' '"Chester."  —  Coo.ix's  Life  of  Jackson,  //■.  147,  14S. 

"The  rifled  guns  of  Poague  were  immediately  pla.:ed  in  pn-itidR,  c.jjon  arriving 
re..!  >:e\vt  .\v:i,  on  an  "pp„sa,g  emii:eT!ce,  and   replied  to  the  leduai  L-atterie.,  on 


105 

The  Second  IMassachu-^etts  I  ordered  to  cover  our  march ; 
tlic  Twenty-Scventii  huliana  I  directed  to  burn  the  disabled 
\/aL;on3,  (listribute  amon.p;  the  men  all  the  clothin^^  and  mate- 
rial they  could  carry,  and  haul  in  by  hand  sucli  wagons  as 
were  whole,  if  the  animals  I  had  seat  for  did  not  arrive. 
With  cavalry  and  one  section  of  artillery,  followed  by  the 
Twenty-Eighth  New  York  Regiment  and  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Indiana.  I  prepared  to  move  forward  in  the  darkness  upon 
my  march  of  about  five  and  a  half  miles  to  Winchester, 
not  knowing  at  what  moment  I  sbiould  be  intercepted 
from  the  many  roads  that  were  open  to  the  enemy.  To 
aid  Lieut. -Col.  Andrews,  in  command  of  the  rear-guard,  I 
strengthened  him  with  cavalry  and  one  section  of  artillery, 
'i'iiere  v.-^is  delay  in  v.itlidrawing,  but  we  got  off  well  and  with 
a  compact  column.  How  we  progressed  vv-ill  follow  after  v.-e 
have  seen  why  we  were  allowed  by  Jackson  to  hold  his 
imrnenseb."  .superior  nunjbers  in  chcci:  for  so  many  hours 
at  Xewtov/n. 

Ashby's  cavalry.  1  aylor's  Brigade  of  infantry,  and  a  rifled 
batter)^  of  six  guns  we  kft  at  ?iIiddletov/n,  as  advance-guard 
to  the  force,  commanded  by  Gen.  Jackson,  iri  person,  that 
was  starting  in  pursuit  o[  our  retreating  wagon- train. 

To  Xv;\v*o\vn,  as  we  ha\'e  said,  ii  Wc^^  six  mdes  ;  the  hour 
was  betvccn  t  vo  and  three.  Although  a  vagr.a-train  of  six 
miles  is  not  usually  a  formidable  opponent  to  such  a  command, 
in  this  c:ise,  according  to  Southern  wrirers,  it  proved  a  very 
d'jvil  in  ih.eir  path  ;  ityc  after  Poague's  guns  had  buv.lcd  down 
wagons  enough,  the  whole  Southern  army  became  at  once 
intent  only  on  pilhige.  In  vain  did  Ashby  attemiit  to  rally 
thcivi,  to  push  on  after  the  disordered  b:i,i;gagc-wagoriS  ;  tliey 
would  ncitlicr  hear  nor  obey,  but  scattered  in  pursuit,  not 
of  tb.e  enemy,  but  of  plunder;  and  thus  Ashb.y  was  obliged 
to   arrest   the    pursuit.     "Alas  I"  groans    the    Soutliern    his- 


the  rigi'.t  of  the  \ '.il.igc:  with   eUtvt  ;    but  it  was  SL;r.do\".u  bci'ore  llicy  wc.-e  dis- 
I'H'.geu-an.I  tho  pi.:-^u;C  ri:<i;raeJ.;'  —  ^0^''.\-v,  p.  io\ 
14 


lOG 

torian.  with  a!;;;ony  somewhat  allayed  by  the  "curious  ineffi- 
ciency of  discipline  in  the  Confederacy,"*  "the  firing  had 
not  ceased  in  the  first  onset  upon  Federal  cavalry  at  ]\Iid- 
dletown  before  some  of  Ashh.y's  men  might  have  been  seen, 
like  horse-thieves,  seizing  two  or  three  captured  horses,  and 
making  off  with  them  across  the  fields,  and  not  stopping  until 
they  had  carried  their  illegal  booty  to  their  homes,  in  some 
instances  two  or  three  days'  marches."  f 

The  artillery  of  Poaguc  had,  however,  resisting  the  allure- 
ments of  plunder,  pushed  on  ahead,  and  arrived  near  Newtown 
without  any  species  of  support,  t 

We  may  now  follow  the  course  of  our  column  to  Winches- 
ter, 'i'he  silence  of  our  guns  had  hardly  given  warning  to  the 
enemy  oi  our  Vvithdrav.al,  wiien  the  growing  darkness  v/as 
illuminated  by  our  burning  vvagons,  which,  liglitins:-  up  tlie 
surrounding  country,  shed  a  lurid  glare  even  up  to  the  streets 
or  Newtown  itself.  All  that  had  not  been  removed  were 
destroyed.  As  Jackson,  at  the  head  of  his  column,  .rode 
through  the  streets  of  Newtown,  the  people  gave  him  the 
welcome  of  a  conqueror.  "They  illuminated  their  houses; 
tliey  embraced  the  soldiers;  and  bringing  into  the  streets 
bread,  meat,  pickles,  pies,  and  ever)-Lhir)g  they  could  raise, 
ihey  forced  tliem.  upoii  their  hdi-starved  swldiers.  . 
They  were  crazy  with  joy  at  the  sight  of  the  gray  uniforms."  § 
Truly,  a  striking  contrast  this  tn  the  lifeless  desertion  that 
reigned  during  our  occupancy. 

As  the  red  h-ht  oJ:  our  burning  wagons  mingled  with  the 
cheerful   illumination  of  the   town,  we  heard    the  •resoundiir'- 


*  Dabnev's  i.iu- ui   [ack.-:-oii,  p.  ic:;.  i 

t  Coiike's  Life  of  Sti.^newall  Jaoksoii,  p.  i^p. 

t  Gen.  Jackson  was  disappointed  to  Juid  his  artlllen,-  unattended  and  wholly 
unsupported  by  his  cav.i.lry.  "Tiiis  n.isconduct  nearly  prevented  him  ivoiu 
scLuriag  the  fruits  of  a"l  his  marching  and  li-iiting."  —  Dai-ucy.  j 

"  lie  was  much  displea.sed  with  Ashbv,  with  whom  he  had  many  Lot  woi ds." 
—  C'.v/r--,/.  14?. 

§  Cooke,  p.  14S. 


107 

cheers  of  our  enemies,  -^-hr^  moved  rapidly  on  to  find  the 
coveted  stores  reduced  to  blazing  \vagi:)ns  *  and  pontoon  boats, 
blackened  heaps  of  rice,  beef,  and  bread  intermingled  with 
bands  and  bars  of  glowing  iron,  f  Jackson  made  no  halt  in 
his  mareh  ;  but  at  the  head  of  his  column,  without  a  moment's 
pause  for  food  or  sleep,  with  a  small  advance-guard  of  cavalry, 
he  puslied  on,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  our  occupancy  of  a  range 
ot  hills  to  tlie  south  and  west  of  the  town  of  Winchester, 
v.diich  would  cotnn'iand  his  approaches.  +  The  night  was 
calm,  but  dark.  Pursu.ers  and  pursued  had  passed  over  the 
half-mile  to  Bartonville,  and  reached  the  creek  which  crosses 
the  road  south  of  tlie  town,  when  the  enemy,  Vvdth  their  com- 
mander at  their  head,  was  upon  us. 

Liei:t.-Col.  iindrews  had  throvvn  out  as  his  rear-guard 
three  companies  of  the  Second,  Captains  Abbott  and  Cogs- 
\vcll,  with  a  third  company.  Captain  Will  lams,  as  flankers. 
At  a  sliort  distance  in  advance  were  the  remaining  com- 
panies of  the  regiment,  and  before  them  artillery,  infantry, 
and  cavalry,  as  described.  The  rear-giiard  was  on  the  south 
side  of  the  creek.  In  tins  posture  oi  affairs,  Jackson  with 
his  escort  came  unconsciously  almost  up  to  them.  He  was 
received  by  Major  Dwigb.t,  who  commanded  the  rear,  by 
a  v.j'lcy  delivered  at  sh(.>rr  range  vrirh  perfect  coolness  and 
gi'ent  cliect.  Major  Dwighi's  tbrmation  was  judicious  :  Capt. 
A!)bott  commanded  one  platoon,  posted  on  one  side  of  the 
road  ;  Capt.  Cpgsv^ell  anotlier,  on  the  otlier  side ;  while  in 
the  ceiiti'c  were  two  platoons  from  tliese  companies  formed 
in  square,  under    command  of    Lieut.    Grafton.      The    effect 


*  I  buriici  the  seven  or  ei^ht  vvai^'uiii  wliich  had  been  overthrov.  a,  and  cuiild 
not  bo  tr.insported  for  want  oi  ar.iinaio.  —  Gdi', n's  I\\-po7-(. 

t  Cooke  says,  p.  14S,  "  Beyond  Xewtown  the  .spectacle  along  the  roads  was  even 
more  striking  t:-:ia  thit  presented  near  Middktowa.  Hundreds  of  abandoned, 
overtuf.'.cd,  or  burning  wa^on.-^,  filled  with  .stores  of  every  description,  were  en- 
countered by  the  troops. 

See  als')  Dabney,  p.  10.:. 

t  DALn;y,  p.  104. 


108 

of  this  fire  was  such  a  surprise  to  the  enemy  that  Jackson's 
cavalry  escort,  upon  whom  it  f-'ll,  drew  rein,  wavered  for  a 
moment,  and  Icil  back  out  of  range.  Then  came  a  single 
shell  from  the  enemy's  battery,  A\hich  was  replied  to  by^ 
another  volley  from  the  rear-guard,  delivered  without  seeing 
the  enemy. 

Col.  Andrews  now  changed  the  rear-guatd,  supplying  their 
places  with  Company  1,  Capt.  Underwood,  and  Co.  D,  Capt- 
Savage,  as  flankers.  The  remainder  of  the  regiment  then 
moved  on  to  wliere  their  knapsacks  had  been  deposited,  while 
the  new  rear-guard  was  stationed  on  the  north  side  of  the 
creek.  By  this  time  Jackson  had  again  brought  up  his 
cavalry  escort,  and  commanded,  in  crisp,  sharp  tones,  over- 
heard by  our  rnr-n,  "■  Charge  ther.' !  Charge  them!"  Advan- 
cing, but  unsteadily,  for  a  little  space,  they  came  again  in  good 
range  of  ConipLiny  I,  and  v.-ere  received  by  Capt.  Underwood 
with  a  hot  fire,  delivered,  like  the  first,  with  perfect  coolness, 
upon  which  a  second  time  they  turned,  and  fled  past  Gen. 
Jackson  himself,  carrying  him  and  his  attendants  along  with 
them,*  ami  riding  down  several  cannoneers,  v.'ho  had  been 
brought  up  to  their  support,  thas  leaving  Jackson  with  his 
staft^  alone  in  the  road.f  Towering  v.dth  indignation,  Jackson 
trrned  to  the  oiilcer  n^'xt  him  eyclaiming,  "Shameful!"  then 
added,  '•  Did  you  see  any  one  struck,  sir  .^  Did  you  see  any- 
body struck  ^  Surely  they  need  not  have  run,  at  least  until 
they  were  hurt  !'' 

Jackson  then  called  up  a  Virginia  regiment,  the  Thirty- 
Third  liifantry,  Col.  Neff,  and  sent  it  in  to  attack  Co.  I. 
Advancing  abreast  of  Jackson/s  column,  the  infantry  threw 
out  skirmishers,  who  were  soon  erigaged  wiih  Capt.  Under- 
wood. The  skirmish  lasted  about  ten  minutes,  and  was  very 
severe,  but  it  v.as  sustained  anil  replied  to  by  Companv  I 
in  a  most  creditable  manner.  The  heat  of  this  engoge- 
ment   caused  Col.    Aiidrews    to   send   forward,   in  support   f)f 

*  D.ibiicy,  p.  loj.  t  Iiabncy,  i;'p.  ic^,  104. 


'I  f 


109 

this  Company  on  the  right  and  left,  platoons  from  Compa- 
nies B  and  C,  Captain-S  Cogsv/ell  and  Williams.  The  increased 
iMi  produce-d  a  marked  eftect  upon  the  enemy,  but  it  did  not 
destroy  him.  In  the  few  minutes  of  the  fight  our  loss  was 
severe.  When  the  men  had  all  taken  their  knapsacks,  the 
march  of  the  re  ir-guard  was  resumed,  and  Jackson's  col- 
umn for  a  time  saved  from  further  "  insidt,"  as  his  historian 
called  it.  So  pertinacious  was  our  stand  here  that  the  enemy 
adm.it  that  thev  brought  up  three  regiments  of  the  Stonewall 
Brigade,  the  TwiTity-Seventh,  Second,  and  Filth  Virginia 
Regiments,  and  that  the  affair  grew  to  the  dimensions  of  a 
night  combat  before  we  gave  way.* 

Necessary  delays   in   burning  the  wagons  and   abandoned 


*  D.ibr.ey,  p.  IC4.  | 

An  ofticer  of  the   Second  Massachusetts  Regiment,  Major  Francis,  places  the  '. 

fighting  part  o:  the  rear-guard  nearly  as  I  have  given  it,  but  he  says  that  Com-  1 

panics  A  and  C  formed  sr.uare  after  the  skirmishers  had  rallied, —  the  former  one.  | 
hundred  teet  from  the  road  on  tht  eastern  side,  and  the  latter  the  same  distance 
on  trie  \v;sivrn  side.     Wher^  tlie  rebel  cavalry  came  down,  he  says,  "Both  com- 
pa'::es  couM  plainly  s-:e  t'lem.  though  not  visible  themselves.     A  treacherous  gua 

fired  by  one  of  our  men  in  the  read  prevented  our  companies  from  doing  the  j 

cxeciition  thev  othenvise  would.     This  one  shot  brought  the  cava'ry  to  a  halt,  at  j 

t!ie  top  of  the  small  hill  south  of  the  bridge,  ar.d  it  was  time  for  Companies  A  j 

a'd  C  to  fire,  if  at  all,  ar:d  th.cy  each  fired  one  voiiey,  w'lich  sent  the  rebels  fiyir.g  [ 
b.i-  :•    Q-ry   ih".   hill.  a"d  aii  '.'.-as  quiet  for  the  space  of  half  ar.   h'r'ur  or  more. 
r>oih  compairles  were  no'.v  placed  in  the  road,  and  here  a  prisoner  was  captured. 
He  cam.e  down  the  road  thinking  we  were  Confederates,  but  upon  discovering 
hi-  mi.-^taf-e  tried  to  V'a.:S  hirasclf  off  as  beloi^gir.g  to  a  New  Ycrk  Regiment,  and 

thf-n  cr^r.fossed  that'  he   b^elongcd   to    a    Virgir.ia    Regiment.      lie  v,-as   th.cn  put  j 

r:rler   a  guard  of  t-.vo  men  from   Couipauy  A.     Soon  afterwards  Companies  A  { 

and  C  were  relieved  by  Company  T,  which  took  up  a  position  across  the  road  on  j 

tliC  nortiic-riy  side  of  the  creek  close  to  tlie  bridge,  and  he  diiuks  Company  D  i 

de;>'-)ye'.'.  as  skirmishers  -in  both  •■i:!es  of  tlie  road.     Wiiile  tiie  lear-guard  was  in  j 
this  positi'-.n,  anil  the  other  companies  getting  their  knapsacks,  a  second  attack 

was  made  by  the  enemy,  but  this  ti.i.e  it  was  with  infantry  skirmishers.      The  ] 

GriTig  wa^^  sharp,  but  we  maintained  our  position."     There  was  some  confusion  '  ; 

here  :   our  'wn  cavahy  rode  into  us,  arul  thu   prisoner  tO'ik  advantage  ot  it,  and  j 

tried  to  escape,  but  was  prom{)tly  shot  dead  by  private  Huntley,  of  Company  A,  j 

one  of  the  euard.     Major  Fran.ci^'s  hor^e  was  wounded  in  tliis  last  attack,  two  ! 

sii.'i.t  wounds  bv  bucKsiiot.  '  • 


■  nJ 


110 

property,  and  recovering  the  knapsacks,  had  caused  the  head 
of  my  column  to  advance  bster  than  the  rear-^-uard  ;  so  that 
when  I  heard  the  single  gun  followed  by  \^ollcys  of  infantry, 
I  sent  to  inquire  as  to  the  force  attacking,  and  received  the 
reply  from  Col.  Andrews  that  he  was  somewhat  annoyed  with 
skirmishing  cavr.lry.  I,  sent  back  tlie  two  companies  of  our 
cavalry  which  I  had  retained,  and  a  section  of  Best's  Battery, 
with  instructions  to  give  the  enemy  a  heavy  fire  of  grape  if 
they  closed  upon  the  rear.  This  pressure  did  not  allay  my 
apprehension  for  the  safety  of  my  column  ;  for  although  there 
were  many  roads  through  which,  in  the  darkness,  the  enemy 
could  pass  unf  ercelved  bet\vee:i  my  command  and  Winches- 
ter, the  most  threatening,  and  the  one  from  which  I  was  most 
fearful,  was  that  in  whijh  both  roads,  on  which  the  enemy 
were  marching,  converged  at  Winchester.  Either  there,  of 
on  a  road  which  joined  the  pike  east  of  Kernstown,  mv 
information  led  me  to  believe  the  enemy  v/ould  make  this 
attempt. 

Feeling  that  Col.  Andrews  had  been  sufficently  rein- 
forced, I  pressed  on  with  the  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana  and 
Twenty-Eightli  New  York,  an-iving  at  the  outskirts  of  Win- 
chester between  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  The 
road  was  then  cler.r.  I  had  hardly  selected  n  bivouac  for  the 
regiments  oi  n^y  brigade,  when  a  messenger  from  the  rear 
announced  that  Col.  Andrews  was  in  want  of  ambulances. 
Sending  my  aid,  Lieut.  Scott,  in  search  of  them,  I  seated 
myseh  by  a  few  embers  by  tliC  road.-.ide  and  waited  impatiently 
for  Col.  Andrews's  arrival.  Frequent  reports  from  that  officer 
had  advised  miC  since  his  skirmish  at  ikarlcjrjviile,  of  his  good 
progress;  but  th:rL  progress  was  slow.  He  was  impeded  by 
Ins  vvounded,  who  were  being  transported  on  gun-carriages, 
and  by  the  n.ecessity  of  kee])i'ig  his  skirmisliers  well  out  to 
his  rear  and  on  iiis  danks.  In  this  manner  Col.  Andrews 
reached  Kernstown,  two  and  a  half  miles  frr^m  Winchester, 
without  further   muk;5tati<ei.       Jjere  he    determined    to   con- 


Ill 

vey  his  wounded  no  further  on  gun-carriages,  but  await  the 
arrival  of  the  ambuhmce.s.  And  here  again  the  regiment 
was  overtaken  by  the  enemy. 

The  rear-guard  was.  as  it  had  been,  under  command  of 
iSIajor  Dwight,  the  remainder  ol  the  regiment  in  column  in 
the  road,  and  the  v/ounded  just  transported  into  a  brick 
house  to  be  used  as  a  hospital.  Impatient  at  the  delay,  I 
returned  to  Kernstown  with  a  single  orderly^  and  came 
up  to  our  regiment  at  about  one  o'clock  at  night.  Rather 
a  severe  skirmish  was  then  going  on  between  Captain  Under- 
wood's company,  then  rear-guard,  and  the  enemy.  The 
darkness  of  the  night  concealed  the  ioe,  wlule  our  column, 
formed  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  offered  a  good  mark. 
i\s^  the  enemy  approached  tiiey  were  greeted  with  a  warm 
fire  upon  their  right,  left,  and  front,  from  the  rifles  of  the 
Second.* 

The  halt  here  was  short,  as  dela.y  was  dangerous.  To  wait 
longer  for  ambulances  v^'ould  have  been  folly,  so  the  march  was 
resumed  ;  but  we  were  obliged  to  lea've  our  wounded  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  and  v/ith  them  Dr.  Leland,  surgeon  of 
the  Second.  The  remaining  two  and  a  half  miles  to  the 
outskirts  of  Wmchester  were  made  without  molestation.  It 
wa,-  two  o'clock  in  the  m^nming  of  the  JU'h  of  }-hiy'  v.'hen, 
witli  Ihc  oilier  regiments  of  my  co  amand,  the  Second  saids. 
down  to  rest  just  outside  the  town.  Our  loss  during  the  night 
had  been  three  killed  and  seventeen  wounded  in  the  Sectmd 
Massacliusctls  alone.  Without  fires  and  v/ithout  lood,  or  so 
little  that  it  served  to  temj>t,  not  satisfy  the  appetite,  the 
troops,  overcome  VN-Jth  fatigue,  fell  asleep  where  tliey  were 
halted,  —  all  except  Captain  Cogswell,  who  was  ordered,  with 


*  Wtr  have,  in  i'-.:;  histori' s  we  hz^ve  quored,  .-iron.^  adnussiuns  of  t'":c  p'ucky 
fii'l-.t  nir^de  here-  l.y  our  regnncp.;,  in  *hdi  we  alta^ked  J:ick.s.>n  v.ith  great  gal- 
lantry, our  nrc  appearing  dancing  along  the  top  of  the  walls  '.stone  walls), 
accornpan;ed  !)y  the  ir.arp  cAplosiun  of  the  riilf--,  and  tb.'.-  Ij'j'iets  whittling  up 
the  ruad.     (See  Da!}i,e\,  p.  icr.) 


i 
112  j 

his  company,  upo:i  outpost  duty.     It  was  with  regret  that  I  | 

was  con-ipcllcJ  to   hurry  the   re;.;:inent   off  from    Kcrustown,  | 

leaving  in   the  hands  of   the  enemy  those  of  their  wounded  j 

comrades  whom  they  had  supported  while  so  faithfully  guard-  j 

ing  the  rear  of  my  colunm.  I 

I   had   sent  my  aid  for  ambulances   as   I   have   said,  and  j 

he   had,   in  the    night,  found  three  full    of  wounded,  which 
he    had   taken  to  the  hospitals,  emptied,  sent  off,  and   then 
searched  for  more  ;  but  one  surgeon  sent  him  to  another,  who 
reierred  him  to  a  third,  with  as  much  interest  as  if  he  were  in 
search  of  forage  for  his  horse.     Finally,  he  sought  for  Gen. 
llanks,  but   could   not  find   him  ;  then   he  came  across  Gen. 
Shields's  surgeons,  but  tliey  had  no  appliances  for  any  one  but 
Gen.  SjuieUs'^  sick.     7dicn  he  searched  unknown  places,  and 
found  an  ambulance,  but  the  driver  was  afraid  to   go  back, 
so  rn\'  aid    j^rocured  a  soldier  to  dri\-e,  rnul  came  to   where 
I  had  been,  to  iiiid  that   I  had  become  anxious  at  the  non- 
appearance of  the  Second,  and  had  gone  out  to  meet  it.     Fol- 
lowing with  his  single  ambulance,  he  got  well  out  beyond  the 
pickets  ;  but  finding  that  the  regiment  was  still  farther  out 
how  mu.ch  he  could  not  imagine,  he  returned  again  to  town.  " 
We  had  thus  reached  Winchester.     From  between  two  and 
thrre  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  th.e  24th,  to  between  two  and 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  231]],  we  had  held  back  the 
enemy.     Though  we  could  not  cut  through  their  columns,  we 
had  not  only  snatched  from  them  much  valuable  property  that 
they  were  just  ready  to  giasp,  but  had  s«>  delayed  their  march 
that  ample  time   had  been   afforded   Banks   to   remove  all  the 
public  property  in   tow-n   to   a  place  of   safety,  and   take  such 
measures    for  the    futiu-e  as  sound  judgment  should  dictate. 
I    determined   to  hunt  up   Gen.   Banks,   and  give  him    such 
facts    as    the  experiences    I    have    related    revealed.      With- 


*  L:ei:t.    1-rp.ncis,   then  actin-    as    regimental    quarUTm.istcr,    ha  J    been    more 

fortunate,  and  met  the  re-i:ncat  with  half  a  dn/cn  aiuLjuiances,  but  the  wounded 
huti  bcei;  laj-tuicti. 


11?. 

out  much  difficulty  I  found  the  house  he  occupied  in  town. 
He  was  in  a  bedroMm,  but  had  not  retired  ;  before  him  was  a 
bathing-tub,  giving  evidence  thai  he  had  found  time  to  enjoy 
that  luxury.  To  confirm,  so  far  as  he  v\'ould  reveal,  my  own 
belief  in  the  force  of  the  enemy,  and  th:it  they  would  attack 
at  daylight  with  a  force  thr.t  could  overwhelm  us  at  once,  I 
brought  with  me  my  once  inebriated  surgeon,  now,  however, 
completelv  sobered.  In  a  few  words  I  told  Eanks  all  that 
had  befallen  us,  urging  that  this  afforded  confirmation 
i)f  the  belief  I  had  expressed  to  him  the  preceding  night  at 
Strasburg,  and  then  bringing  forward  my  prisoner,  I  pre- 
sented him  as  a  man  v.-ho,  if  he  v.-ould  speak  at  all,  would  tell 
liu-  truth.  I  appealed  to  hirn.  He  rei'lied  that,  filled  with 
regret  as  he  was  at  the  circumstances  of  his  capture,  we 
could  hardly  e.Kpect  him  to  reveal  the  number  of  Gen.  Jack- 
son's army  ;  still  he  v/ould  say  that  he  believed  his  force  to  be 
greatly  suj^crior  to  ours,  and  further  that  it  v/as  Gen.  Jack- 
son's intentirm  to  attack  us  at  daylight,  that  is,  he  did  not 
d'>ubt  such  was  his  intention  ;  and  then,  said  b-.-,  v.-itli  a  show 
of  humor,  "  If  you  can  v,-h'p  him,  he  won't  whip  you."  It  ni\' 
own  assertions,  backed  up  b)'  my  piisoncr,  made  any  inipres- 
sion  on  Ge.n.  Ixinks,  I  did  not  j>jrceivc  it.  I'o  rr.y  af-peal  tr.at 
now,  even  at  this  ho.:",  all  the  public  pr^pL-ity  in  the  town 
shoul-.i  be  sent  forward  to  the  other  side  Oi  the  rotomac, 
a!:d  preparations  made  to  reti^-e  in  proper  order,  before  th.e 
tremcnd.ou<  odds  against  us,  dcstroyin.g  public  |.iropert}'  that 
cou!-.l  ntst  be  transported,  Banks  preserved  tiie  same  stolid 
iront.  the  same  or  a  more  unintelligible  silence  than  had 
nu-t  me  at  Strasburg.  Ii^fci'ining  him,  if  he  asked  me,  of 
the  position  of  niy  brigade,  I  wit'idrew  witr.out  a  word  from 
Iiim  of  liis  plans. 

Gen.  W'illian^s,  cominanding  our  d:\ision,  was  caln)ly  bleep- 
ing in   the  principal    hotel   in  Winchester.     It  reciuired  loud 
calls,  ad.ded  to  th.e  sou.nd   of  ni.y  cavalry  lioots  and  spurs,  as  I 
st.dked  heavi'y  along  the  liails  in  search  ol  his  rio-n.  to  liring 
1'. 


114 

him  at  last  to  the  door  of  his  apartment,  where,  as  his  red 
face  beamed  above  his  lunp;  ilannel  ni;2;ht-shirt,  he  was  a 
spectacle    to    behold.       To    advise    him    of  the    situation,    to 

represent  how  uncomfortable  his  interview  v/ith  Gen.  (Stone-  | 

wall)  Jackson  would  be  in  such  apparel,  v/as  the  work  of  a  | 

moment.     Other  brij^adier-a:encral3,  utiattached  to  any  com-  | 

rnand,  —  Greene  and  Grawtord,  —  in  night  array,  had  listened  | 

to  my  interview  v.ith  Williams  ;  but  under  the  circumstances  ! 

these  gentlemen   v/ere    men    of   leisure.      It  was   still   dark,  ' 

though    near   daylight,   Vv'hen    I    turned    from    the   hotel,   and  | 

sought  ray  old  Winchester  quarters,  if  haply   I  might  seize  1 

a  few  moments'  rest,  the  first  in  forty-eight  hours.  • 

I  found  the  place  my  aid  had  selected  for  a  very  temporary  I 

headquarters,  and  tiirew  m\  self  upon,  a  bed  without  removing  i 

an  article  of  clothing;  buc  hardly  had   I  touched  the  blankets  ! 

when  there  came  to  my  ears   tb.e  sound  of  a  horse's  gallop,  | 
drawing  nearer  and   nearer,  until   it  ceased  at  my  door.      The    ■ 

rider  was  Major  Dwight,  an.d  hds  greeting,  '"  Coloriel,  the  pick-  j 
ets  are  falling  back!  the  enemiy  is  advancii:g!"     It  was  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Gen.    Jackson    closely   follovv-ed    up    from    Kernstown    my 
retiring  culnmii.     Not  until  he  had  advan.ced  so  far  that  the 

coveted   heights  v;ere  within   his   eaiy  g:a.-p  did   he  halt,  and  \ 

then,  allowing  tljc  n.ain  bo'ly  (S  his  army  to  lie  dov/n  upon  the  ) 

roadside  lor  an  hour's  sleep,  he  pushed  forward  his  skirmiish-  | 

ers,   who,  although   drenched   with   the    dew,   waded    through  | 

the  rank   fields    of   clover    and  v.heat,   and    stumbled    across  \ 

ditches  in  the  darkness  *  until  they  encountered  my  outlvmg  j 

line  oi  pickets,   v.dth  \shom  lor  an   hour  th.ey  kept  up  a  con-  j 

stant  fire.     Although  through  all   the  fatigue  of  the  two  days  \ 

through  which  our  regiment  had  passed,  Capt.  Cogswell  main-  \ 

tained  stoutly  thr'jugh  the  remainder  of  the  night  his  unequal  j 

combat  v.-ith   tl-e  enemy's   skirmishers,  holding  them  on    his  1 

front  at  bav.     But  not  much  to  be  envied  were  those  com-  j 


*  D  ihaey,  p.  io|. 


115 

panies  of  my  brigade  who,  during  that  brief  hour,  were  allowed 
10  rest.  The  constant  iirluo;  at  the  outposts  ;  the  wearv  march 
of  over  twenty  mile,^,  prolonged  through  fiUeen  hours,  and  the 
f.ght  of  one  of  them,  the  Second,  from  3  r.  m.  until  2  a.  m.  of 
the  nevt  day  ;  the  coldness  of  the  night,  ai'id  the  want  of 
shelter  and  blankets,  combined  to  make  sleep  almost  im.pos- 
sibie. 

'■  Yes.  I  will  be  there  instantly."  I  replied  to  ^lajor  Dwight, 
as  I  jumped  from  my  blankets  and  threw  m\-SGlf  into  the  sad- 
dle. Galloping  rapidly  to  Banks's  headquarters,  I  rushed  into 
his  bedroom,  and  exclaimed,  "  Gen.  Banks,  the  question  of 
what  is  to  be  done  has  now  settled  icself.  The  enemy,  now 
moving  in  force,  has  almost  reached  the  town.  I  shall  put  my 
brigade  instantly  in  line  of  battle  upon  the  heights  I  now 
occupy.  If  you  have  any  orders  to  give,  vou  will  find  me 
there  to  receive  them."  Banks  replied,  "  Yes,  sir."  Was  he 
thinking.  I  wondered,  of  the  opinions  of  his  friends,  or  of  trie 
bayonets  beyond  the  dark  cresis  of  the  hills  ;  where  for  more 
tiian  an  hour,  in  the  early  dawn,  v/ithout  a  cloak  to  protect 
him  troni  the  chilling  dev.-s,  standing  as  a  sentinel  at  the 
liead  of  his  column,  listening  to  every  sound  from  his  front, 
looking  at  the  figures  of  the  Federal  skirmishers  as  on  the 
lull-tops  they  stood  out  in  distitict  reliei  agaiiist  the  faint 
blush  of  the  morning  sky,  was  the  figure  of  Stonewall  Jackson. 
In  a  quiet  under-tone  the  word  "  Forward  !"  had  now  fallen  from 
ids  lips,  was  passed  ojiv.-ard  down  ins  columns,  and  his  hosts 
arjbmg  froiri  their  short  slumbers,  chili  and  stiff  with  the  cold 
night  damps,  were  advancing  to  battle  *  Ere  the  word  was 
given,  a  dispat'-h  from  Ewell  announced  that  he  too  v.'as 
ready  ;  that  early  in  the  night  he  had  readied  a  position  three 
miles  from  the  town,  on  Jackson's  right,  and  that  his  pickets 
were  yet  one  mile  in  advance,  f 

*  DabTiey,  p.  104.  t  Co:'ke,  p.  1^9. 


116 


CHAPTER    YI. 


On  the  north  and  west,,  wiihin  about  one  third  of  a  mile 

from    the    town,  a    commanding    ridge    partially    surrounds  | 

Winchester,  and  extends  southwesterly  parallel  to  the  pike-  | 

road  to  Strasburg.     South  of  the  town  the  country  is  broken  | 

up  into   hills,  which    reach  to  within   a  mile   of   Kernstown.  | 

As  you  stand  on  ihe  southern  end  of  the  ridge,  facing  south-  \ 

ward,  there  is  on  your  left  the  turnpike  gradually  surmounting  s 

a  gentle  ascent,  in  your  front  a  valley,  and  bevond,  the  crest  i 

of  a  higher  ridge,  pernaps  four  hundred   ■.ards  distant.     Turn  | 

to  your  right  and  look  up  the  valley,  and  you  will  see  that  it  i 

leads  to  the  summit  of  a  hill  to  the  west,  of  about  the  height  I 

I 

of  the  ridge   on  v.liich    vou   stand,  but  lower   than  the  one  I 

beyond  the  valley,  and,  pcri'iaps,  a  hundred  yards  from  you.  I 

When    I   arrived   at  t'je  spot  whei'c  the   regiments  of  my  I 

brigade   had   dropped  C.'iwa    to   sleep,   I  tbund  them  iorming  j 

in  line  in   the  valley  I  have  described.     Posting  ray  batter}-  ■ 

of  Parrotts  (six  guns,  under  command  of  Lieut.  Peabodyj  on  \  ^ 

the   bluff  end   of  the  ridge,  1   moved  my  brigade  up  the  val-  ] 

ley.  and  occupied  the  summit  of  the  hiii  to  the  right  and  a  I 

little  farther  to    the    froiU,   with   the   Second   Massachusetts  \ 

Regiment ;    next  came   tiie    Third    Wisconsin,   farther  down  I 

the  ravip.e  tiie  Twer.ty-Xmth   Pennsylvania,  and  on  tiie   left  I 

the  Twenty-Seveutli  Indiana.     Before  us,  just  over  the  crest  \ 

of  tlic  hill  opposite,  u-as  the  enem}-,  but  :hcy  could  not  shov,-  I 
themiselves  without    being   in  sight   and  range    of    my    com-             ■      I 

maiid.      l-"rom  one  and  a  half  to  two  miles  on  my  Itii,  on  the  | 

]""ro!it  Ri.'Val  n:Mcl,  Ivvvell  was  confronted  bv  DoncH\''s  ]:>r!gade  * 


117. 

of  three   regiments,    the    Tu'enty-Ei^hrh    New    York,    Fifth  j 

CcimecticLit,    Forty-Sixth    Pennsylvania,  and    Best's    United  j 

States  Battery  of  six  snriooth-bore  brass  pieces,  under  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Crosby.  The  country  in  front  of  Donelly 
on  the  south  and  east  is  almost  level. 

Frnni  this  description  it  v/ill  be  seen  thac,  v.-ith  "Winchester  j 

as  a  centre,  we  occupied  at  daylight  of  the  25th  a  portion  of  { 

an  arc  the  whole  of  v^-hich  was  at  least   two  and  a  half  miles  j 

in  length,  or  4.400  yards.  We  could  with  our  command 
occupy  only  1,750  yards  of  the  4,400;  for  3,500  men  in  two  i 

ranks  will  cover  no  m.ore.  In  other  words,  we  could  extend 
over  a  little  more  than  one  third  of  our  front.  With  i6,coo 
infantrv  in  tv;o  ranks  in  line  of  battle,  the  enemy- could  not 
only  encircle  our  entire  front,  but  extend   beyond   our  right  [ 

and  left  flanks  i,Soo  yards,  or  forty  more  than  a  mile.     With  i 

rn}"  Ijrigade  and  Donelly's  Vv-e  could  occupy  only  the  Ranks  of  | 

our  lirie  ;  the  centre  v/as  unprotected,  except  by  a  fire  from  j 

Best's  Battcr\-,  which  vrn^  so  posted  as  to  bear  upon  either 
flank  of  the  enem,y's  line.  I 

}>Iy   picket  line,  which   had   occupied    the   summit   of  the  j 

hill    opposite  our  position,  had  been  driven  back  ui>ori   the  j 

main  bodv  just  before  m;v  arrival.     Gen.  Jackson  had  hoped  i 

tt>  s'-i-c  those  hills,  before  daj-ligr.t  warned  us  of  his  pres- 
eiKe ; '"  but  if  the  detention  of  the  previous  day  did  not 
show  the  futihtv  of  such  a  wish,   the  strong  line  of  pickets  j 

i 

that    con.fronted  '  him     mu^t    have    been     more    convincing.  j 

Jackson,   looking   u])on   this   position   as   t'le   key-point  upon  1 

the    field,    and     determining    to     possess    it,    threw    forward,  j 

at'ter   a    careful    examination   of  a    few   moments,   a    brigade 
of  infantry,  under  Gen^  Winder, — the  Stonewall  Brigade, — 
and  strengthening   thus  on  its  right  v.dth   the  Fifth  Virginia  ' 
Regiment,  he  ihre-.-  this  f;rce,  larger  thnn    my  whole  com- 
mand, against  mv  i^ickets  on  his  front.     This  was  the  con- 

test    that  aroused   me  trom  an.  atteru'it  to  secure  a  moments  I 

___ ' i 

*  Co.^kc'a  U.k  of  Jaek-oi;,  p.  i.io.  ; 


118 

sleep.  Of  course  my  pickets  f^ave  way,  and  when  I  reached 
the  ground  the  enemy  were  in  pijssessiou  oi  their  coveted 
prize,  —  the  hili  beyond  the  ravine,  in  front  of  my  battery 
and   my   hue   of  infantry. 

"That  the  enemy  did  not  post  their  pov/erful  artillery  upon 
the  foremost  of  the^e  heights,  supported  by  their  main  force, 
was,"  ejaculates  the  pious  Uabney,""  "  due  to  the  will  of 
God."  To  v\'hich  I  reply  that  it  was  due  to  the  will  of  the 
War  Department,  which  deprived  us  of  the  requisite  numbers 
of  troops  to  hold  an)'  position  against  the  overwhelming  lorce 
in  our  front. 

To  continue:  As  soon  as  Jackson  got  possession  of  this 
hill,  he  advanced  tliere,  just  beiow  its  crest,  a  strong  detach- 
men'L  of  arliiiery,  cotiiposcLl  oi  the  batteries  of  Poague,  Car- 
penter, and  Cutshaw,  ai'.d  these  he  supported  with  tv.'o 
brigades  of  inLmtry,  the  Stoncvvall  ijiigade  and  that  oi  Gen. 
John  A.  Campbell. 

As  the  Second  Regiment  moved  up  on  the  right  of  the 
line  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  the  enemy  opened  upon  it  with 
grape  ;  b^'t  this  dil  nol  disconcert  or  cause  it  to  waver  ; 
steadil^'  it  niuved  on  and  took  up  its  position.  Co].  An- 
drews then  threw  out  to  his  right  and  front  his  right  com- 
pany, conmiandecl  by  Capt.  Sa^'auc,  as  a  covering  skirmish- 
line.  Soori,  liowever,  this  company  \\as  sent  ff^rward  to  a 
stone   wall   a   few  rods    in   advance. 

It  v.as  no;.v  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  As  my  eye  fell 
on  the  eiicmys  columns,  ur.der  Winder,  moving  up  in  support 
of  tfjcir  batteries,  I  ordered  niy  gunners  to  fire  upon  them  ; 
and  at  th.e  sar."ie  time  Capt.  .Savage,  finding  the  enemy's  artil- 
lery withhi  good  range  from  his  ^>tone  wnll.  opened  upon  their 
gunners.  Now,  Col.  Andrews  strengthened  Capt.  Savage  by 
Capt.  Criry's  Ci:in'ipany. 

While  the  fire  from  m}'  battery  was  iricessant  and  effective, 
the  two  companies  of  the  Second  behin.d  the  Vv-all  poured  an 

*  DaiMViy'-s  L.'ie  of  Jarksoa,    p.  104. 


no 

annoyin.2^  fire  into  the  enemy's  gunners,  and  the  two  right 
comj)anic?  o^  the  regiment  ailded  to  the  effect  bv  firing 
volleys  at  their  batrery.  The  effect  of  our  artillery  hre  was  to 
drive  the  enemy's  cohimns  hack  over  the  crest  of  the  hill, 
where  the}-  had  for  a  nv-ment  vaiintingly  showed  them- 
sehv-es,  and  to  cause  one  of  their  guns  to  be  abandoned  by 
their  cannoneers.  From  five  until  alm.ost  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  a  fire  of  shell,  round  shot,  and  canister  was 
poured  lorth  upon  my  command,  from  which  nothing  saved 
us  but  the  accurate  aim  of  our  men  of  the  Second,  who 
from  behind  the  stone  wall  and  the  crest  of  the  hill  drove 
the  enemy's  gunners  under  cover  so  that  their  firing  was 
wild. 

The  Southern  account  of  this  tv/o  iiours  cf  the  fight  bears 

testimony  to    the    pluck    with   which    we    responded    to    our 

enemy's    challenge.*     Gen.   Jackson,  i-t   seems,   had  been  an 

observer  cf    our   movements.      He    is    described    as    having 

riuden  forward  with  two  fiekbofticers.  Campbell  and  another, 

to  the  ver\-  crest  of  the  hill,  and  amidst  a  perfect  shower  of 

balls  ob<er\-ed  the  position.     It  is  said   that  though  both   the 

otncers  beside  him  were  speedily  wounded,  he  sat  calmly  on 

lus  iiorsc  until   h.e  had  satisfied  hirv-^elf  of  our  dispositions. 

lie  s-nv.  i;  is  said,  my  bat':ery,  as  I  was  posting  it  on  the  cdga 

ot  the  rid^e  ;  he  saw,  nearer  to  his  left  front,  Caijtains  Carv 

10  •  •  •  •  .  '' 

ann   .-Ravage  just  seizmg  a  position  behind  an  oblique  stone 

ience  ;  and  he  saw  these  gallant  fellows  pourinp;  a  galling  fire 

upon  his  gunners   that  siruck  down  many  men   and   horses. 

He    saw    his    battery,    sometimes    almost    silenced,    holding 

well    up   to  punishment,  uiitil   Winder  ordeied  it   to  change 

front  to   the  left  an.d    bring  part  of   their  guns  to  bear  wi:h 

solid    shot,  to  shatter  the  wall,  behind  which  were  the  two 

•  This  n^r:  of  ihe  contest  is  spoken  of  a>  a  '^  licrce  ca!!:u;inc!e,  inteniiinc^led 
with  a  sharp,  ruitling  lire  of  riri<.-mL-:,,"  the  smoke  ct  which  "  mc-ltcd  awav  into 
tl.f  silvery  \C'.l  of  May  clews,  cxi;.!;c.J  by  the  beiinis  of  tlie  rising  sun."  '  (Sec 
liainieys    l.iio  ui    I:iLk:5o:i,    p.   16.;.) 


1-20 

companies  of  the  Second.  With  solid  shot  crashing  into 
and  over  them,  and  with  canister  raking  them.  Gen.  Jackson 
foiiiid  that  not  one  inch  couM  he  make  Savage  or  Gary  turn 
back,  although  Gar}-  was  knocked  over  by  a  flying  stone,  hit 
by  a  shell  that  killed  a  man  by  his  side. 

As  Jackson  looked  upon  the  scene,  it  is  represented  that 
he  did  not  doubt  that  the  enemy  would  attempt  to  drive  his 
artillery  from  this  vital  position  and  occupy  it  with  their  own  ; 
and  so  turning  to  Col.  Neff,  commanding  the  Thirty-Third 
Virginia  Infantry,  then  supporting  Garpenter's  Battery,  he 
asked  him, — 

*'  Golonel,  where  is  your  regiment  posted  ?  " 

"  Here,"  he  replied. 

'•'I  expect,"  arisv.ered  Jackson,  "  the  enemy  to  bring  artillery 
to  this  hill  :  they  must  not  do  it.  If  they  attempt  to  come, 
charge  them  with  the  bayonet."  * 

Tl-en  after  this  survey,  leaving  two  more  of  his  batteries 
to  reply  to  my  single  one,  Jackson,  -glancing  again  at  the 
scene,  planned  his  attack  and  turned  to  his  command.f 


*  Dabney  relates  this  incident  as  of  such  powerful  cast,  thr.t  he  uses  the  wcrcls 

"strident  voice  "  and  "  biood  tingle"  to  convey  its  effect.     (See   Dabrev's  Life  | 

of  Jacksor.,  p.   104.)  ■ 

t  '1  here  is  .'•ciii  ano.-h.er  account  of  Uie  forward  movement  of  the  eneniv  to  the  j 

hi:i  upon  wiiich  ov.v  pickets  were  stationed,  of  their  reception  by  my  brigade,  \ 
and  of  Jackson's  observation  of  the  scene:  "  \Vhen  the  Fifth  Virginia  was  thrown 

forvv?ird  as  skirnrishrrs  in  adv:;nce  of  Winder's  lirigade,  which  was  deployed  in  j 

line   of  battle, -a   n:>h  was   made   for   the   hi!!,  and  they  [oiir  three  or  fonr  co:t!-  i 

pr.nies  on  picket  diityj   recoiled  bef.jre  the   Confederate  fire,  and  the   Southern  j 

troops,  uttering  loud  cheers,  gained  the  crest  and  were  in  possession  of  the  hilL  • 

Prompt  measures  were  then  taken  to  improve  tliis  advantage,  and  open  the  at-  i 

t3':kwithan  energy  which  ?.hould  give  the   I'cdcral  forces  no  time  to  prepare.  | 

They  had   hastily  opened  with  a  battery  directly  in  front,  and  to  dislodge  those  j 

gun:s  Carpenter's  and  Cutshaw's  Uatteries,  with  tv.-o  Parrott  guns  from  the  Rock-  j 

bridge  Artiiieiy,  were   rat  idly  placed  in   r"'-ition  and   opened   .^.re.     The   battle  ! 

speedily  comme.-.c.d  in  g:>od  earnest,     it  was  absolutely  necessary,  if  the  P'edcral  i 

forces  expected  to  hold  the  town  of  Winchester,  tliat  the  Confederates  should  be  j 

dislodged  from  tlicir  cornrnanding  position,  and  a  body  of  Federal  s'-.arpsliooters  1 

was   promptly  thrown  !brv,ard  to  feel   Jackson  s  left,  atid  drive  liini.  if  possible.  I 


121 

Turning  now  to  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town,  the  left 
of  our  line  of  battle,  we  find  Col.  Donelly  confronting  Evvell. 
]  la^'in^w-eaclied  liis  position  wiLhin  two  miles  of  Winchester 
at  ten  o'clock  the  pn'cceding  evening,  Ewell  at  dawn  had 
continued  his  n^.arch  until  he  confronted  our  outlying  pickets. 
This  command  consisted,  as  will  be  remembered,  of  a  North 
Carolina  brigade,  under  Gen.  Trimble,  the  First  Maryland 
Regiment,  and  tv/o  batteries,  Courtnt-y's  and  Brockcnbrough's, 
As  Ewell  advanced  his  brigade,  the  left  regiment,  under  com- 
mand of  Col.  Kirkiand,  encountered  Donelly's  Brigade  in  lir.e, 


from  the  hill.     [So  the  enemy  seems  to  have  interpreted  the  movements  of  Cap-  f 

ta;n?  ."-^cncre  and  Caiv.]      A:  the  sp.mc  mo;:i-:iii  another  Federal  batterj'  beg;in  to  { 

thrmder  on  the  left,  and  a  dangerous  enfilade  fire  v.as  poured  upon  the  Southern  i 

lines      Th's  r/^varce  of  irifiintry-  and  the  fire  of  the  new  battery  w.is  promptlv  j 

respo.ided  to  by  Jackson.     The  battery  in  his  fror.t  had  been  reduced  to  silence,  ! 

and   his   c;uns  were   now  turned   upon   tr^e  enemv's  shiirp-shoorers,  who   hastily  * 

retreated  behind  a  heavy  stone  fence  that  protected  them.     From  this  excellent  '■ 

po^iuc^  they  opened  a  galling  and  destructive  Uic  on  tlie  cannoneers  and  horses  I 

attachrd  to  the  Confederate  batteries,  which  were  now  engaged  hotly  on  the  left.  t 

The    c<.T.ibi::cd    fire    of    .^liarp-s hooters  and   artillery   v.-as  so  hfa\'\-    that    Capt.  1 

Poague,  who  was  most  exposed  to  the  enemy,  was  compelled  to  change  position  in  j 

th.e  jrJdst  of  a  .storni  of  balls.      He  rapidly  v.ilhdrow  his  guiis,  moved  to  the  left  | 

and  rear,  and  agai.-i  taking  position,  poured  a  determined  fire  upon  the  enfilad-  ■ 

ing  l.intteries  ot  the  enemy.     The  Federal  sharp-oliooters  continued  to  nre  from  i 

their   p'  sirion    behird    th.r   storiC  wall   with   a  p!eci.^ion   v.-hich  was  galli.ng   and  i 

tiiir^CT.  .:.•>  in  ::.c  e.xtre.'ne.     No  one  couid  n-oi:;-;t  to  the  crest  oi  the  Iiill  without  ! 

heaiin^.;  the   sudden  repovr  of  their  excelleiit   long-range  g-ans,  succeeded  by  the  j 

whisliir.g   of   balls  near  his  person.     Col.   Campbell,  commanding  the  Second  j 

Brigade  of  Jackson's  division.  »vert  u;,-  to  the  sumrn't  to  recoimoitre,  and  was  giv-  j 

ing  some  directions  to  Col.    Patton,  the  senior  ohicer  under  him,  when  a  ba.ll  ] 

pi--rccd   his  -jiTm   and   breast,  and   he  w.is  borne   from  th.e  field,  leaving  Patton  in  ; 

i 

Conr-.-nund.     lo  drive  out  tl.ese  j>ersistent  arid  accurate  marksmen,  Capt.  Poague  j 

threvv  several  solid  shot  at  the  v.ali  which  protected  them,  but  in  spite  of  tlie  mis-  ■ 

siics  and  crashing  scone-  ai  ound  them,  the  line  of  sharp-sho^iters  still  gallantly  1 

held  ti:eir  position."' — Cc'\:^s  Life  of  J -kson,  p.  \.\'^.  | 

[Nort.  —  The  battery  upon  which  Dabney  says  "  Carpenter  and  Cutshaw  also  j 

keyt  up  So  s;  irited  a  content  v. iih  th.e  batteries   in   the  direction  o:  th.e  tov.n  as  Vj  \ 

silence  their  hre,"  was   i.'cst'3  smooth-bore  baUery,  which  alone,  near  the  Stra.s-  i 

burg  pike  and  to  my  left,  formed  the  centre  of  our  Jine  of  battle.     The  battery  j 

v.iiich  Cooke  say.-)  bega'i  to  thunder  on  J.ick^on's  left  with  a  dangerous  enfilading  ! 

fire  wa;  my  battery  of   I'arroits.  — AuTHoK.]  j 

lo  ■ 


122 

covered  by  a  stone  wall.  Donelly's  fire  was  terrific.  We 
claim  that  Kirkland's  regiment  was  nearly  destroyed.  Tlie 
enemy  admit  ihat  all  the  field-officers  were  wounded,  and  that 
the  "gallant  regiment  was  obliged  to  recoil"'^  (run  away). 
Ewell  then  sent  in  the  Twenty-First  Georgia  Regiment. 
Approaching  with  caution,  its  fate  was  better  than  that  of  its 
predecessor;  but  yet  Doneliy  was  not  routed  nor  in  danger 
of  it,  either  from  tliat  mode  of  attack  or  from  any  other  that 
the  small  force  Jackson  had  given  Ewell  could  make.  Seeing 
this,  Trimble  suggested  throwing  forward  the  right  and  turn- 
ing Donelly's  tlank.  It  was  done,  and  the  enemy  claim  that 
Doneliy,  v.'ho  liad  been  dri'/en  from  his  cover  by  the  Georgia 
regiment,  now  gave  v>-ay  entirely,  f  In  his  report  Gen.  Banks 
thinks  that  Trimble's  fiarik  muvemenl  was  abandorjcd,  because 
Gen.  Williams,  our  division  commander,  seeing  the  movement, 
sent  a  detaclmient  of  cavalry  to  intt.^rcept  it.  t 

Could  Doneliy  have  held  Ewell  back.^  It  is  more  than 
]")robable,  if  there  had  been  no  ether  iorce  confronting  us. 
Did  Jackson's  movements  on  my  tlank,  by  causing  me  to  with- 
drav.-,  compel  L>( ■nelly  to  retire.'  It  is  quite  probable  :  Banks 
so  v/rites  in  his  report.    Why  then  did  I  v.-ithdraw.'  To  answer 


*^  Uabr.ey,  p.  ico. 

t  "Mer.r.wh:ic  Ewl-'J  hrA  •.,-t  beer;  idle.  .-'•?  s^on  r?  Jncb^on's  guns  were 
heard  on  tl'iC  iefr,  he  r.-ipidiy  advanced  towards  the  southeast  side  ofthetnv, n, 
and  becaaie  engaged  uith  the  enemy,  who  v.cre  ported  on  the  hills,  and  in  the 
farm-h'Jusrs  \\hich  here  d  .t  the  rulliir^-  Lii  d^._•l;)o.  The  Tv. entv-Fi:.-t  North 
Carolina  and  Twenty- Fi-st  Georgia  attacked  and  drove  back  the  advanced 
force  of  the  ener.iy,  and  Esvell  pushed  rapidly  forward.  Tut  here,  as  on  the  left, 
one  ot  these  obstinate  stone  walls  which  appear  so  often  in  the  narrative  of  bat- 
tles in  the  valley,  ot'tered  its  bristling  front  to  his  purpose.  The  Federal  sharp- 
shooters lined  it,  and  rcstirg  tlitrir  guas  on  the  tv>p  pocred  into  the  ranks  of  the 
Twenty-First  Nor;h  Carolin-.,  which  were  in  ad.vacce,  so  destructive  a  .P.re,  th.at 
they  were  forced  to  fail  back  with  heavy  loss.  'JTiis  success  wa.s,  however,  brief ; 
taking  the  place  of  tl;e  rcpu!-;ed  rcginicnt,  the  TwentyT'':ist  Georgia  made  a  de- 
teuv.incd  tharge,  the  encn.yv.ere  diivcn  :r:an  tlicir  cover,  and  the  main  botly  of 
Eweil's  forces,  which  had  been  arrested  by  this  obstacle,  swept  forward  amidst 
the  thunders  of  artillery  to  tlie  .usaulL"  —  Cvc/, /.  i:,^- 

I  L.tuks's  Report. 


123 

this,  I  resume  my  narrative.  For  two  hours  the  Stonewall 
Brigade  (Jackson's  own,  under  Gen.  Winder)  with  Carpenter's 
and  Taliaferro's  Brigades,  and  three  batteries,  had  been  held 
in  check  on  the  heights  opnu^ite  by  the  rifles  of  the  Second 
JMassachu-setts  and  by  the  battery  of  six  Parrotts  on  oar  flank. 
During' this  time  the  roar  of  artiller)  and  infantry  on  our  left 
before  Donelly  was  continuous.  And  now  Gen.  Jackson, 
thinking  the  battle  had  reached  a  critical  stage,*  determined 
to  strike  a  final  blow,  i'or  this  purpose  he  ordered  forward 
one  of  his  reserve  brigades,  the  one  com.manded  by  Gen. 
Taylor.  This,  with  Elsey's  Brigade,  was  in  reserve  behind 
the  mill-house  on  the  turnpike,  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile 
from  town.  Burning  with  eagerness,  Jackson's  impatience 
outstripped  tne  speed  of  hi.^  messenger,  and  he  rode  rapidly 
to  meet  it  ;  then  conducting  it  by  a  hollow  way  in  rear  of  the 
tvs-o  brigades  before  us,  he  gained  the  cover  of  a  wood  to  our 
right,  and  here  directing  its  rapid  formation  in  line  of  battle 
with  the  left  regiments,  thrown  forward  j  to  gain  our  rear,  he 
was  ready  for  his  assault. 

The  moment  tlie  enemy  began  to  emerge  from   the  woods, 
Col.  Andrcvvs.  through  Major  Dwight,  reported   to  m.e  that  he 
could  see  them  advancing  in  line  of  battle  directly  upon  our 
right  flank,     ivcceiving  this  message  while  opposite  the  centre 
of  i,iy  brigade  line,  I  dashed  up  to  the  head  of  our  regiment, 
jumped  from  my  horse,  atid  with  Col.  Andrews  crawled  for- 
v.-ard  to  the  cre^st  of  the  hill,  just  behind  which  our  regiment 
was  in  line.     On  any  day  in  spring  tlie  view  from  that  sunnnit 
would  have  been   most  fascinating.     There  to  the  south  and 
west  were  a  cluster  of  beautifl:!  hills,  commandiu-   tlie  town, 
and  covered  v.-ith  lu.xurious  clover  and  pnstur.-.ge,  whh  here  and 
there  a  forest  grove  crov/ning  the  eminen.ces.     Everywhere 
the  fields  were  enclnsed  with  ienccs  and  stone  walls.     The  ver- 
dm-e  of  the   forest   trees,  the   rich   green    of  the   grasses,  the 
blue  sky  overhead,  and  tiie  soft  beams   of  the  miming  sun- 
*  ].>ab:.cy.  p;).  laS,  lo-j.  f  lAilmcy,  pp.   104-IC9. 


124 

light,  lent  all   their  beauties  to  adorn  the  picture.      But   to  ! 

all   that   Nature  offered,  man  had  added  his   touch   to  stamp  j 

forever  the  scene  upon  my  mind.     There,  just  below  us,  in  I 

i 

good   rifle-range,   preceded    by  swarms   of   skirmishers,   regi-  | 

ment  after  regim.ent   of    the    enemy  v.'ere    moving  in    good  ■? 

order  steadily  but  rapidly  up  the  hill.*     Farther  south,  com-  t 

ing   from    the    direction  o^  the    Strasburg    pike,  and    gallop-  | 

ing  across  the  fields,  I  saw  a  new  battery  urged- forward  to  a  I 

new  position   to  support  this  attack  ;  vvd-iilc  nearer  my  centre,  ] 

the  crest  of  the  hill  was  wreathed  with    the    smoke  of  the  \ 

three  batteries  that  for  two  hours  had  tried,  in  vain,  to  drive  | 

u.s  from  our  position.     There  was  no  time  to  linger.     In  an  ] 

t 

instant  I  again    mounted    my   horse  ;    ordered    the    Twenty-  1 

Kinth  Pennsylvania  and  the  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana  to  move  j 

by  flank  on  the  run  and  extend  to  the  right  of  the  Second,  at  | 

the  same  time  directing  a  section  of  my  battery  to  the  front,  I 

where  the  guns  could  bear  upon  the  enemy's  columns.     But  | 

at  this  time  a  shell  kil'evl  one  man  and  three  horses,  so  that  i 

the  guns  were  pulled  up  by  hand,  and  progress  was  nccessa-  \ 

lily  slow.     Before  trie  arrival  of  these   regiments  the  Secon.d  5 

had  opened  upon  the  enemy  a  heavy  iire  of  musketry,  vvdiieh  -I 

was  taker,   up  arid  continued  by  the  new  regiments  as   they  | 

came   into   position.      Alrhough   the  encn:rv   claim   that  their  I 

•                          .                       ''  ' 

flanking  culumn  was  greeted  with  a  shower  of  shells  and  rifle-  | 


*  Thi:^  was  1  aylor';  l.'.rigadc,  numbering  4,000  niJii  (about  five  huudred  more  \ 

ihan  tb.e  whole  of  l)a;iks's  army),  p.s  apjjear.s  from  tb.e  fol'owirig  letter  to  me  from  | 

(icn.  Geo.  L.  Andrews,  my  fornn-jr  licuter..i:U-co"'j;-.el : —  J 

"\VEir  Poi.NT,  X.  v.,  Tune  r.i,  iS^v  I 

"  £>:.;>   Ge;;:rj.', —  .  .  .  After   the   surrender   at   Mi.r;':i:.n,  on   t'nc    borderi  ft  J 

Alabama  arid  .Mississippi',  \<.  here  1  went  to  receive  the  parole  of  General  Taylor's  f 

aniiv,  I  had  a  conversation  with  the  latter  about  the  Winchester  light.     In  t!:e  | 

course  of  it,  I  said  that  if  we  could  have  or.pr.scd  his  v.'ho'e  bri.Tatle  with  a  battc"",',  | 

and  re-.(;rvtd  t!ie  infantrv  nvc  l<,'!;p.er,  1  thouL'lu  vv.-  mig't  I^ave  cl';ecked  him.  | 

"  lie  re]>lied  in  substance  that  no   tloubt  v/e  should  have  hurt   them   a   good  1 

deal,  but  he  th-jui,'ht  v,e  couid  nor  have  stop^-'cd  him  ;  n'ldii  g,  '  I  had  4, ceo  men  \ 
in  tliat  briurade.'  " 


125 

balls,  it  is  true  to  history  to  state  that  when  the  Twenty- 
Ninth  Pennsylvania  and  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana  reached 
their  position,  they  were  imperfectly  formed  ;  their  fire  was 
hasty  and  less  effective  than  it  should  have  been.  At  all 
events,  the  fire  did  not  check  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
who,  somewhat  favored  by  the  ground,  formed  his  lines  with 
the  accuracy  of  a  parade. 

When  Jaok.-on  saw  Taylor  in  motion,  he  galloped  along  the 
rear  of  his  line  to  the  centre,  and  ordered  a  general  advance  ; 
then  again  nioving  to  the  liill  where  Carpenter's  Battery  was 
firing  upon  our  lines,  the  same  from  which  he  had  exposed 
hirnselt  at  the  beginning,  he  is  represented  as  mounting  it 
with  an  air  of  eager  caution,  and  peering  like  a  deer-stalker 
over  its  sur.irnit  as  soon  as  his  eyes  reached  its  level*  What 
Jackson  sav.^  ought  to  have  encouraged  him  ;  for  now,  looking 
down  upon  the  steady  movement  of  Taylor  (despite  the  fire 
we  poured  into  him),  he  saw  the  Twenty-Ninth  and  Tvv-enty- 
Seventh  of  my  brigade  break  into  disoider  and  begin  to  fall 
to  the  rear  ;  he  saw  the  Second  holding  on  for  a  moment, 
then   turn,  and  v.e  vvere  in  retreat,  t 

"I  can't  help  it,"  replied  Col.  Andrev.-s,  as  I  rode  hastily 
up  to  him  v.ith  the  question,  "Why  are  you  falling  back?" 
It  v;as  true.  With  hi-?  right  unco\'ered  it  would  hnve  lieen 
madness  tu  leniain.'  "  TJove  in  order,  then,  and  retreat 
steadily,"'   I    replied,   giving   the   same   caution    to   the   Third 


*  Dabrcy,  p.  109." 

t  Gen.  Andrews  says,  in  letter  of  June  14th  referred  to,  "  The  fire  of  the  two 
regiments  (Twenty-Seventh  Indian.!  and  Twenty-Ninth  Pennsylvania),  opened  at 
tu-t  :>.l  too  grej.t  .1  dist..nce  from  ilic  enemy,  suddenly  ceaSi.d;  the  men  broke  rar.k.s 
:ii:d  icii  to  the  rear.  I  n-iw  u  .^'e  the  e  .nun.o.id  to  the  Second  .M:t.-;iacl!:;--etts,  '  liy 
company,  r:;jiu  wheel,  n'.arcli  ! '  interidiiv^  to  dci)Ioy  to:  ward  and  support  what  was 
left  of  the  line  opj)osed  to  the  enemy  ;  but  I  soon  saw  that  there  was  nothing  left 
inline  to  o'ppose  the  enemy.  The  Twen.ty-Xinth  Penns,  Ivania  hid  partiaiiy  rallied 
i::  ,1  !-r.t  o'.'ii  ]ue  to  the  front  of  the  ScxonJ  .Mas.-:achu.-clts,  before  the  wheel  into 
column,  having  tiieir  tacks  turned  towards  iis.  The  Second  MassachuGctts  being 
now  in  colunin  cf  companies,  I  nivi-.x-d  it  to  tlie  r<-ar  tov.-ar.is  the  town  by  tl-.e 
light  of  compat-'c.-,  liie  organization  feeing  perfectly  preserved." 


1-2G 

Wisconsin,  as  it  too  turned.     The   scene  imfolderl   to  Jack-  | 

son  vas  one   in  which   two   regiments  were   retiring,   some-  | 

what   in  disorder,  down   the   hiil    towards   the 'town;  another,  | 

the  Second   iMassach.usetts,  was  breaking  to  the   rear  in  col-  j 

umns  of  companies  as    quietly  and  orderly  as   if  on   parade  ;  I 

while  the  fourth  and   last,   the  Third  Wisconsin,  with  line  of  .  | 

battle  formed  to  the  rear  by  an   about  face,  was  moving  leis-  1 

urely  in  retreat.     Seeing  this,  Jackson,  setting  spurs  to  his  | 

horse,  bounded   upon  the  crest,  and   shouted    to   tlie   officers  I 

nearest  to  him,"  Forward  ai>er  the  enemy!  "     Then   on  ri"-ht  ^ 

left,  and  centre,   they  swarmed  in   pursuit.     There  in  front  I 

were  the  Sconewall,   Carpenter's,  and  Taliaferro's  Brigades  ;  I 

to  my  right  was  Taylor's    Brigade  ;    and    hurrying    up    from  \ 

the  reserve  was  Els.  v's,  — ail  in  pursuit  of  my  four  regiments,  | 

who  were  now  in  full  retreat  for  the  town.*  \ 

On   nght,  left,  and   centre,  immensely  superior  columns  of  I 

the  enemy  v/ere  pressing  upon  my  brigade,  which  numbered  I 

at  the  beginning  of  the  fight,  all  told,  exactly  2,101   infantry  I 

and  one  battery.     Not    another   man  v/as    available.     Tliere  I 

vvas  no  support  between  us  and  tiie  Potomac,  f     Above  the  \ 

surrounding  crests  surged  the  enem}-,  wlio  opened  upon,  us  a  -| 

sharp  and  v.dthering   fire    of  musketry.     A  storm  of  bullets  | 

from  tlie  hill  wJiere  we  ha  J  so  k.ng  <:cw\\w\XcA  the  main  body  j 

oi  Jackson's  lorces  crr-;ssed  their  fire  wiiii   that  fi'om  Ta3-lor's  | 

Brigade  now  on  the  crest  in  our  rear.     Above  the  din  of  mus-  I 

kctry,  a  yell  of  triumph   rose  from  t!ic  endless  columns  ihat  \ 

seemed   to   gn-u  the    town.     My   troojxs  were   not    dismayed,  I 

though  many  had  killen.     We  had   not  yet  gained  the  cover  | 

of  the  streets,  and    soine  of  my  brigade,  notably  the   Second  \ 

*  \y j^hx\\.\ ,  p.  109.  I 

t  During  our  whole  ti-ht  tlie  Tenth  Maine  Regiment,  on  duty  as  a  provost-  \ 

guard   at  \Vinchester,  w-^  aii.^wod  to  peiforn";   ti.i-;   duty.      M   I;  inks  I.i.cw  t!icv  \ 

wercm  tcnvr,  he  did  n-U  aul  upon   thoin.     It   is  .l.iaied   that  tlicy  were   held  in  | 

rc-oerve  ;  but  it  is  manile>t  that  if,  in  that  battle  ^^i  Winchester,!"   was   proper  \ 

to  hold  .uiy  tro'jps  in  reserve,  tlicre  %va.  no  lack  of  oceuMon  to  call  upu-i  them  ;  j 

and  this  was  n.jt  dr'ue.     See  .Maine  i:i  the  V,"ar   o.  22a.  \ 


127 

IMassachiisetts  and  Third  Wisconsin,  disdained  to  do  so  until 
again  they  liad  turned  in  defiance  upon  the  foe.*  In  full 
sight  of  Jackson  and  his  army,  the  Second  kept  its  formation, 
and  delivered  its  fire,  ^vhile  three  companies  of  the  Third 
Wisconsin,  from  behind  a  stone  v/all,  emptied  tlieir  muskets 
ItUo  the  faces  of  the  advancing  lines. 

Not  until  my  acting  adjutant's!  horse  was  shot  dead  by  my 
side,  not  until  my  aid  returned  to  reply  that  he  had  given  my 
m.essage  to  Gen.  Banks  that  my  right  had  been  turned,  and  I 
was  fai'ing  back,  did  I,  with  the  last  of  my  command,  leave 
the  field  and  turn  into  the  streets  of  Winchester.  We  had 
made  our  last  stand,  and  though  driven  after  a  three  hours' 
fight,  in  such  a  retreat  there  was  nothiiig  of  shame.  There 
were  but  fifteen  rounds  of  ammanltion  left  for  roy  baitery  ; 
and  there  was  no  amrnunition-train  from  which  tn  replenish 
the  cartridge-boxes  of  the  infantrv.  Ali  this,  if  tliere  v,-ere 
no  other  reasons  for  turning  when  we  did  ;  but  there  Avas 
another,  even  this  :  a  delay  of  a  few  minutes  from  the  time 
the  Twenty-Ninth  Pennsylvania  and  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana 
broke  to  the  rear  from  the  right  woi:ld  have  caused  our  cap- 
ture or  destruction.  It  was  cff.ciapy  repc^rted  t  that  an  order 
to  these  regiments  to  fall  back  was  given.  If  so,  it  was  with- 
out au'i^ority.  I  teel  sure  none  was  ever  given  ;  bui  in  vie^v  of 
the  results,  I  cannot  condemn  the  \vant  of  discipline  that 
caused  it. 


*  It  was  aSou:  this  lime  tr.at  Lieut.  Crowninshicld  was  wounded,     .'^avs  C.ipt.  ■ 

Coriiev,  of  tl.e  Second  Maisnchiisetts  Ke^iimeni,  in  a  letter  of  April  24,  iSr;  :  ! 

,    .      '    .  ...  ;^  '  1  1.         /J  .    , 

"  The  right  of  the  coiurnu  had  ne.irly  reached  a  jtreet  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town  i 

whfo.  Oou  niiishicid  was  hit,  rr.^d  cried  our,  '  I  am  sh^.t  1    D  j  nor  ieave  nie! '    In^mc-  | 

ciately  we  left  the  ranks  and  went  10  his  as-isT.mce  ;  f:jur.d  him  trying  to  rise  from  1 

the  ground.     Together  we  strove  to  re.ioh  the  town,  — had  but  little  hopes  of  j 

doing  so,  as  the  rebels  were  closiiig  in  on  ail  sides  but  one.     ^cvgt.  McDowell  j 

came  to  our  assisLance,  and  picking  Crowninshield  cp,  we  harried  him  to  one  of  } 

the  .:;:u;i  stre.-r;    ai^d  pbci::g  him  in  an  anibdance,  h'-^  Ntartcd  f-r  a   >:.(::  '^iace.  i 
Tlij  driver  of  the  ambuLanpe  at  one  time  was  going  to  cut  the  traces  and  leave, 

but  Crowiiinshiold's  revolver  {je!'.-riiaded  him  to  starid  bv."  j 

\   I.i-iit.  Charics  P.  llotton,  of  tiie  Second  M.asbachusetts.  \ 

\   n;u;ks's  Kciwrt.  1 


128 

As  my  troops  faded  away  into  the  streets  of  Winchester,  ^ 

the  scene,  as  painted  in  colored  sketches   by  the  imaginative  5 

Dabney,  *   is   represented  as   the  most   imposing  sight   that  j 

ever  greeted  the  eyes  of  a  victorious  captain.     "  Far  to  the  j 

east,"   he  says,  "the  advancing  hnes  of  Ewell  rolled  forward,  j 

concealed  in  waves  of  white  smoke  from  their  volleys  of  mus-  ^ 

ketrv,  as  thoy  were  rapidly  passing  the  suburbs  of  the  town.  | 

On  the  west',  the  long  and  glittering  lines  of  Taylor,  after  one  | 

thundering  discharge,  were  sweeping  at  a  bayonet  chaige  up  | 

the  reverse  of  the  hills  witli  irresistible  momentum.     Nearer  | 

the  general  (Jackson)  came  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  v.dth   the  | 

gallant  Tventy-Third  Virginia,  who  sprung  from  their  lairs.f  i 

and  rushed  panting  dov.n  the  hillsides.       Between  him  (Jack-  | 

son)  and  the  town  the  enemy  v/cre  everywhere  breaking  away  | 

from  the  wahs  and  fences,  behind  which  they  had  sheltered  | 

themselves,  at  firbt  with   some  semblance  of  order,  but   then  3 

dissolving  into  a  vasi  confusion,  in  v^'hich  the  infantry,  mounted 


*  P.  109. 

t  "  Lairs  "  is  good. 

X  In  Gen.  Andrews's  letter,  of  Jur.e  14,  he  says,  "  I  supposed  the  Strug;.::!?  might 
be  rcntv.e:!  i:;  tb.e  town  irself,  as  I  s.wv  st.me  tro-.p^  a]'n.ireivly  disposed  t'^  make 
a  stand  in  one  of  the  streets  of  the  town.  It  was  in  one  »i  the  streets  that  I  halted 
the  regiment  and' rectified  the  position  of  some  of  the  cimpanies  that  had  got 
out  of  place  ir;  filing  into  the  narrow  streets.  Soon  tinding,  however,  that  evury- 
tliinj  vv.i:>  i:^  full  retreat,  I  marched  off  the  re  dnienL" 


officers,  and  artillerv  ciowded  and  surged  through  the  streets."  i 


Vast  confusion  1     Our  artillery  and  ird'antry  moved  through  1 

the  touTi  in  as  good   order  as  the  crov.'ded   conditiofi   oi  the  j 

streets  would  permit.     The  Second  Massachusetts  Regiment,  \ 

marching  in  order,  passed  through  the  lower  part  of  the  sub-  | 

u'-bs,  and  formed  in  lir.c  b\   Lieut. -C<_d.  Andrews  v.dth  perfect  | 

steadiness  and.  reguiariry,  in  ord;:r  to  change  the  position  of  ^ 

certain  companies  t  that  they  might  be,  if  the   fight  were  to  i 

be  continued,  in  the  order  provided  te>r  by  the  regulations.     To  | 

do  this,  he  threv;  out  his  guides  to  secm-e  a  good  alignment.  | 

A  hot  f  re  of  grape  and  shell  from  the  enemy's  batteries  close  1 


129 

to  the  town,  the  near  approach  of  the  cavalry,  and  the  victo- 
rious cheers  of  their  infantry  about  his  ears,  induced  Col. 
Andrews  to  follow  the  retreating  column,  even  though  he 
sacrificed  some  paragraphs  of  the  tactics.  The  Second,  the 
last  regiment  to  leave  the  town,  followed  the  line  of  the  rail- 
road, which  for  some  miles  runs  parallel  to  the  road  from  Win- 
chester to  r.Iartinsburg,  and  joined  the  main  body  of  Banks's 
column  a  few  males  out  ;  but  the  ertcray  were  so  close  upon 
them  that  Major  Dwight  fell  into  their  hands.  He  could  have 
escaped  but  for  his  sympathy  with  a  wounded  m.an,  whom  he 
aided  into  a  house.* 

ivciurn  now  to  the  main  street,  through  which,  towards 
IMartinsburg,  moved  the  main  column  of  our  troops.  An 
eager  ejiemy  was  C'ose  upon  u/.  ;  there  was  no  time  for  any 
arrangement  or  defence.  Pursuers  and  pursued  were  swal- 
lowed from  view,  and  the  rout  roared  through  ever}'  street 
with  rattling  rihe-shots  and  ringing  cheers  f  from  the  enemy. 
In  the  main  street  J  found  myself,  with  my  staft',  in  rear  of 
a  battery.  All  around  and  in  front,  there  w-as  a  confused 
mob.     At  the  whidows  and  on  the  piazzas  there  v/ere  more 


*  .Aftei   Major  Dwi^ht's  capture,  a  very  quiet  and  peaccible  affair  (given  by  i 
Qiiirii  in  "Second  MassacLu-ctts  Reaj^d ''))  *-ii"  nujcT  reir.i.ineJ  in  \^'inchester, 

and  of  cnjr?e  v.'.i3  n^jt  ir.-iCLive.     iTe  visited  the  scene  of  oi.r  fig ;it,  reviewed  our  ! 

position,  comforted  tlvj  wounded,  and  buried  our  dead.     For  some  required  con-  | 

veniences  Major  Dwij:;Iit  was  compelled  to  appeal  to  Gen.  Jacks>.>n,  of  whom  the  j 

majur  had  often  !v_'a:u  nie  .-pe.;k  as  an  old  friend  an.u  cla...jnijte,  as  ">\eil  as  as-'o-  j 

ciate  in  our   Mexican  War.     It  %■  .^s  urged  by  Major  l-wi^ht,  in  his  appeal  to  i 

Stonewall  Jackson,  that  he  was  a  major  in  tlie  Second  Massachusetts  Regiment,  | 

comniar.dcd  by  Col.    Gordon,  of  Massachusetts,  "who  is,  I  believe,"  said  the  i 

mij'.)r,   "  un   o'.d  friend  of  yoi;rs."  I 

"  i  r;ci:d  of  mir.e,  sir  .-  "  repiicd  "  old  Tack."     "  He  was,  sir,  once  a  friend."  ] 

iVc.ajor  Dv.iglit  retired,  hi>  request  unheeded.     As  I  '^rile  these  lines,  the  name  ] 

of  "  'J'.  /•  Jackson,  of  Virginia,"  confronts  mc  from  a  sheet  filled  -with  the  auto-  j 

tr:'p'.,T   '^f  my  classmates  at  the  Mili'ary  .Academy  at  \Ve;-t    Point,  reminding  | 

niG  of  tlu't  l.'Oy  companion  to  whom  the  dawn  of  life  ua,-  as  sen'oiis  as  its  close, —  -j 

that   honest,  dear   "old  Jack,"  who  as  Lieut. -Gen  (Stonewall)  Jackson  rem'.m-  | 
heied  n.e,  in  1^6.?,  no  Icr.ger  as  a  fricrd. —  Author. 

f    Da'juey,  p.  104.  i 
17 


f  .,} 


130 

men  than  I  had  ever  before  seen  in  the  town.  Women, 
too,  were  there,  well  dressed,  rushing  to  their  doors  and 
windows  with  unrepressed  expressions  of  joy  at  our  defeat. 
Besides  soldiers,  horses,  and  batteries,  there  were  men, 
women,  and  children  in  the  streets,  each  making  frantic 
efforts  to  get  out  of  the  way.  Amidst  the  crack  of  rifle-shots 
and  the  bursting  of  shells  ;  *  through  the  fire  of  musketry  and 
pistol-shots,  which  killed  many  of  our  men  in  the  street ;  and 
worse  than  all,  under  the  humiliation  of  jeers  and  taunting 
glances  of  defiance  from  young  and  old,  male  and  female,  we 
at  length  came  out  of  the  town  upon  the  north,  on  the  Mar- 
tinsburg  road,  where  a  lojig  column  of  baggage-wagons,  divis- 
ion, brigade,  and  regimental,  were  making  their  way  in  fair 
order  towards  the  Potomac,  Gen.  Jackson  was  in  possession 
of  Winchester.  Greeted  with  every  demonstration  of  affec- 
tion by  the  inhabitants,  Jackson  is  rej>resentcd  as,  for  the  first 
and  only  time  in  his  life,  tearing  a  greasy,  faded  old  forage^ 
cup  from  his  head,  svv-inging  it  in  tlic  a'r,  and  attempting  to 
cheer  ;  then,  with  his  "  face  inflamed  v.ith  towering  passion 
and  triumph,  galloping  amidst  the  foremost  of  his  pursuers 
and  urgi!ig  them  upon   the  enemy." 

With  all  tb.e  baggage  that  we  had  saved  from  Strasburg, 
and  wit.h  all  that  we  had  added  ac  Wmchester,  leaving  behind 
us  the  sick,  the  djdng,  ihe  dead,  and  many  prisoners,  v\'e 
moved  rapidly  northv^-ard  for  Williamsport  to  cross  the  Poto- 
mac. As  we  gained  the  hill  north  of  the  town,  I  turned 
to  look  back  upon  the  ridge  of  v.hich  I  have  spoken  as 
almost  surrounding  Winchester.  The  entire  crest  for  three 
parts  of  tins  vast  circumference  was  covered  with  the  encnr.-. 
Now,  for  the  first  time,  I  saw  Gen.  ]>anks  making  a  feeble 
efiort  to  arrest  the  troops,  and  utterirjg  some  words  about 
pronnsed  r='inibrcemeuts.  Turning  his  eyc^  backwa-xl  I 
think  there  .was  no  doubt  in  his  own  mind  that  the  enemy 
had  developed  his  force  to  him,  —  tluis  reversing  the  necessity 

*  Uue  cr  uliich  bv.rst  cloic  to  us,  neurly  c'en-.LiIishir.g  a  hoiise. 


131 

with  which  Gen.  Banks  had  met  my  most  urgent  appeals  on 
the  night  of  the  23d  of  May,  —  "I  must  develop  the  force  of 
the  enemy."  Gen.  Banks  had  made  no  provision  for  a  retreat, 
evidently  believing  that,  with  his  inferior  force,  he  should  com- 
ply v.-ith  his  telegram  to  the  War  Department,  sent  the  day 
before,  and  return  to  Strasburg.  *  "Why,  encumbered  as  v/e 
were  with  baggage  and  wagons  and  all  the  material  that 
hours  before  should  have  been  sent  awa}-,  v/e  v/ere  not  de- 
stroyed, must  be  answered  by  those  who  claim  that,  on  this 
occasion,  Jackson  exhibited  the  highest  order  of  military 
talent. 

The  pursuit  was  feeble  iii  the  extreme.  Jackson  with  his 
whole  force  followed  us  to  Bunker  Hill,  thineen  miles,  but 
finding  that  he  could  not  llanl:  or  cut  us  off,  he  halted  his  in- 
fantry and  gave  up  the  pursuit  to  Ashby,  the  untiring,  who 
continued  it  with  his  battery  aiid  cavalry,  sending  shells,  round 
shot,  and  grape  into  our  rear,  with  destruction  to  some  bat- 
tery-horses and  a  U:\v  men  ;  but  even  this  v/as  stopped  at 
Martinsburg.  After  twenty-four  miles  of  mounted  pursuit  of 
foot-men,  eveu  Ashby  was  tired.  Where  v-.-as  Stev.-art  with 
his  three  cavalry  regiments,  Ashby's,  Alumford's,  and  Fiour- 
noy's,  to  oppose  Gen.  Hatch  v;ith  less  than  one  (he  had,  as  it 
will  be  remenibered,  less  than  nine  hundred  men  al  Strasburg). 
Urjdoubtedly  a  leeble  pursuit  by  cavalry  was  made  on  the 
Beryville  road  and  on  tlie  railroad,  wliere  broken  parts  of  our 
command  were -seeking  to  make  their  way  to  Harpers  Ferry; 
many  stragglers,  and  men  wearied  from  long  marching,  fastiuig, 
and  fighting,  also  the  wounded  "  who  had  sunk  on  the  ground 
over[)o\vered.,"  —  many  sucti  were  picked  uto  b}-  the  enemy's 
cavah-y  ;  b;it  what  else  .^  What,  that  any  commander  of  even 
ordmary  ability  would  have  done,  under  similar  circumstances  ? 

*  Such  a  t-legrari  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Couiraittco  on  the  Conduct  of  the 
\V:ir,  and  aa  expkiuaiion  asked  of  a  \vi:ness  who  was  attemjiling  to  show  that 
l^aiiks  kiic'.v  before  ho  Itit  Strasbiir,;,  the  number  of  Jackson's  forces.  When 
l-aiiks  in  hio  onicial  report  s.iii  fcj  did  kno^v  tho  nuuiber,  he  iuT'^oi  this  tclcstam. 


132 

Feeling  the  necesF-ity  of  dcfendinc;   him,  Dabney  or  Cooke,  I 

or  both  of  them,  aver  that  Gen.  Jackson  ordered  Gen.  Stewart  a 

to  follow  with  his  cavalry,  and  capture  lis,  even  as  Flournoy  I 

had   ridden  down   and   captured    Kenly   on    the    23d   in    his  I 

attempt  at  escape  ;  and  Ste\."art  would  not  obey,  because  he  | 

was  under  the  immediate  command   of  Ewell,   from  whom  he  | 

had  received  no  orders.     What  man  of  military  fame  would  I 

not  blush  at  such  an  excuse  !     It  is  v.dth  amiazement  that  I,  | 

e\en  now,  recall  that  retreat  from  Winchester.     Encunibered  | 

'i 
with  baggage,  a  wearied,  defeated,  overworked,  and  despond-  | 

ing  force  plods  on  its  foot-march  for  fifty-four  miles  to   the  i 

Potomac,  receiving  a  constant  fire  of  artillery  in  its   rear  for  | 

tv/cnty-fou:-  mdies,  and  is  jicrmitted  to  cross,  its  material  and  | 

its  troops  occupying  m  so  domg  until  ten  o'clock  of  the  r^ext  |. 

day;  and  this  without  an  attempt  to  waylay,  to  flank,  or  to     -  i 

surprise  it  wiih  a  cavair}-  force  in  numbers  quite  equal  to  if  | 

not  exceeding  one  half  of  all  Banks's  command.  | 

It  was  eleven  o'clock  at  niglit  v/hen  the  last  of  our  column  I 

reached  the  banks   of   the   Potomac,   opposite  Williarasport.  = 

Our  m.en  tumbled  dov/n  upon  the  grass  and  slejjt  until  2  a.  m.  I 

of  the  26:h,  v,-hen  we  v/ore  aroused  to  begin   the  passage  of  I 

the  river.     The  scene  before  crossing  scorns  to  have  struck  1 

.  .  .  k 

Gen.  PauKS''^  as  "  ut  the  mosi  animating  and  exciting  descnp-  | 

tion."     "  A  thousand  camp-fires,"  he  says,  "  were  burning  on  | 

the  hillsides,  a  thousand  carriages  of  every  description  v/ere  | 

crov.-ded  on  the  banks  ;  and  the  l:>road  river  rolled  between  the  f 

exhausted  troops  and  their  coveted  rest."     The  appliances  tor  | 

crossing  v.-ere  miost  inadequate.    It  was  a  mercy  that  Jackson's  | 

iinv/illing  cavalry  and  too  tired  infantry  did  not  follovv'  us  up;  | 

it  was  a  crime  not  to  be  forgiven  that  our  passage  ot  that  | 

river  depended  upon   such   contingencies.     For  the  passage  | 

of  the  "thousand  wagon.s"  (if  there  were   a  thousan.d)  by  the  \ 

''thousand  ca;iip-fu'es  "  f  there  was  a  single  ferry,  and   o"/er  | 

.  this   the  ammunition-wagons   had  preceden.ce.     In    the  lord,  | 

*  J'.inkis's  Rt;  urL  j  Omo  w.igjn  to  coxa  fire. 


133 

too  deep  for  safety,  many  hapless  mules  were  drowned  and 
many  wngons  lost.  Only  a  few  strong;  animals  got  through. 
Sonie  of  the  pontoon-boats,  saved  fromi  the  burning,  luckily 
were  found  in  our  wagons,  and  with  these,  the  ferry,  and  the 
ford,  some  in  one  v/ay  and  some  in  another,  all  got  safely  to 
land.  At  midday  of  tiie  i6th  the  last  of  our  command  had 
crossed,  and  thercvvere  "never  m.ore  grateful  hearts  in  the 
sam.e  number  of  men,"  sa}-s  Banks,  *  "  than  when  we  stood  on 
the  opposite  shore."  I  certainl}'  can  speak  for  one  grateful 
heart,  that  of  my  colored  woman  Pt-ggy,  who  with  her  child  I 
passed  among  the  first  across  the  swollen  river  to  a  land  of 
freedom. 

Acrr>5;s  the  Potomac!     Yes,  we  were  again  whei'e,  in  July  of 
the  preceding  year,  we  had  made  our  march  so  gayly  into  \ 

Virginia.  One  more  ca.m.paign  was  ended.  There  was  nov/ 
left  from  Banks's  command  on  Virrdnia  soil  a  feeble  rear-guard  j 

of  four  companies  from  the  Second  Massachusett.-  and  Third  ! 

Wisconsin  of  my  brigade.  I 

The  purposes  and  plan",  that  animated  Gen.  Banks  during  j 

this  retreat  wore  revealed  to  the  world  on  the  thirty-first  day  i 

of  r^Iay,    iSGz  (six  days  after  the  events  here  narrated  had  i 

occurred},  in  his   Official   Pvcport.      In  this  pajjor  I    not  only  i 

learned  for  ti;e  nrst  time  what  hi^  plans  were  (if  he  liud  any)  j 

at  our  conference  in  Winchester,  but  I  further  found  out  that  | 

bcf jre  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  preceding  day,  the  j 

.^-ithi,  v.-hile  at  Strasburg,  he  knew  all  about  '-'the  extraordinary  j 

force  of  the  enemy,"  and  fnlly  appreciated  that  ''  to  attack  him,  .  i 

he  being  in  sucli  overwhelming  force,  could  only  result  in  cer-  j 

tain  destruction,"  and  that  "it  was  arjparent  that   the  enemy's  i 

i 
troop",  embraomg  at  least  25,000  to  30,000  men,  were  close 

upon  us."     Now,  with  all  this  information  and  belief,  Banks 

had   arrive  1  at  Winc'ncvt-.T,  hnd  heard  .';il  ray   statements   in  i 

i 

confirmation  of  his. own  opinions,  liad  questioned  my  [prisoner,  j 

had  heard  iroai  all  classes,  —  secessionists.  Union  men,  refu-  j 

-  i;;ir.l:t>'s  Report.  | 


■1 


, i-..i  rd.io  J 


134 

gees,  fugitives,  and  prisoners,  until  os  he  says  his  "  suspense 

was  relieved,  for  all  agreed  that  the  enemy's  foree  at  or  near  | 

Winchester  was  overwhelming,  ranging  from  25,000  to  30,000  \ 

men."     With  all  this  information,  and  conclusions  based  upon  1 

such  incontrovertible  testimony,  Banks  states  in  his  Official  | 

Report  that  then  and  there  at  W'inchester,  he  "determined  j 

to  test  the  substance  and  strength   of  the  enemy  by   actual  j 

collision."  | 

Everything  was  confirmed  at  Winchester  that  was  known  | 

at  Strasburg  of  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  \ 

yet  Banks  "  determined  to  test  by  actual  collision  the  sub-  \ 

stance  and  strength    of  the  enemy"  ;    to    attack    an'  enemy  | 

known    to  be  "in  such  overwhelming  force  that  our  attack  3 

could    only   result    in    certain    destruction" — to    ourselves.  j 

And  therefore  upon  his   arrival   at  Winchester,  Banks    sent  j 

off  his  telegram  to  the  War  Department  that  he  would  return  I 

to  Strasburg  the  next  day.*  | 

In  conclusion,  I  may  say  that  it  v.as  not  until  the  scenes  of  I 

that  march  from  Strasburc"  had  been  carefullv  reviewed,  not  i 

uniil    the   terrible   tatiuae,   the  heat  and    dust,  the    rack   and  I 

roar  of  battle,  the  feared  attacks  of  cavalry  hovering  around  i 

the  long  miles  betore  us,  the   v/ide  and   dangerous   river  in  I 


*  Alat  for  hi-:ory  \vhi.-u  made  up  fiuiu  0.';ici:-L!  KciioUs  ! 


our  path,  and  the  paaic-strickon  crowd  of  fugitives  ;  -not  until  I 

these  Vv'ere  over  could  we   fairly  estimate  our  achievements.  \ 

From    the  24th   of   May,  at  eleven  o'clock,  a.  m.,  until    near  ] 

midnight  of.  the  25th,  my  brigade  had  marched   from   Stras-  | 

burg  to  Williamsport,  a  distance  of  fifty-four  miles.     To  this,  | 

two  miles  more  should  be  added  to  the  march  of  the  Second  | 

Massachusetts,  on   its   return   from   Bartonville   to   Nen-town.  i 

where  we  turned  upon  Jackson.    Without  sleep  on  the  night  of  I 

the  23d,  the  brigade  marched  the  ne.xt  day  eighteen  miles  to  j 

Winchester.     On  this  same  day  the  Second  Massachusetts  not  \ 

only  marched  farther  than  any  other  regiment  of  the  brigade,  J 

but  from  three  o'clock,  p.  m.,  until  two  o'clock  of  the  next  dav,  I 


135 

it  was  en^faged  in  an  almost  continuous  skirmish  with  the 
enemy,  holding  back  alone,  in  the  most  plucky  manner,  as 
narrated,  the  head  of  Jackson's  army,  materially  defeating  his 
plans,  and  giving  ample  opportunity,  which  might  have  been 
availed  of,  to  remove  much  government  property,  that  was 
destroyed  or  captured.  And  on  the  :!5th,  after  two  hours' 
rest,  my  brigade  maintained  its  unequil  contest  for  three 
hours  against  alm-rist  the  vvhole  of  Jackson's  army.  In  this 
the  principal  share  of  the  lighting  in  the  infantry  fell  to 
the  Second  oNlassachusetts.  It  was  entirel}'  due  to  this  regi- 
ment that  Jackson  was  unable  to,  or  at  any  rate  did  not,  seize 
the  crests  of  the  hill  from  v/hich  he  had  driven  our  pickets,* 
and  render  untenable  the  heights  from  which  we  at  last  fell 
back  into  the- town.  After  their  three  hours'  fight,  my 
brigade  marched  thirty-six  miles  in  about  twelve  hours. 

On  the  evening  of  tlie  same  d:iy  in  which  we  crossed  the 
Potomac,  Jackson's  arm.y,  prostrated  with  fatigue  and  helpless 
as  chii'.lrcn,  reached  the  vicinity  of  Williamsport.  They  had 
been  overv.'orked  by  their  great  commander,  and  to  this  we 
owed  our  safety. 

Theie  remains  to  consider  our  losses  in  this  retreat, — 
first  of  rren,  second  of  material. 

Barilcs,  in  his  Official  Re[>ort  of  Losses  on  the  24th  and 
25 th,  gives  as  totpd  killed,  3S  ;  wounded,  155;  missing,  711; 
total,  oo-i- ;  he  thinks  the  number  of  killed  and  v.'ounded  may 
be  larger  than  this,  while  many  missing  may  return,  but  that 
the  aggregate  wdl  i5ot  be  changed. t 

Ideut.-Col.  Andrews  reports  the  loss  in  the  Second  Tdassa- 
chusetts  Regime!! t  on  llie  25th,  as  7  killed  and  2S  wounded  ; 
amiong  the  latter  are  included  two  commissioned  officers,  Capt. 

*  Major  Dwight,  uhile  on  parole  at  home,  saw  a  Confederate  captain  at  Fort 
'War'i.-n.  taken  at  Cro^s  Kcyes.  Ti\;s  captni;-;  s:iid  to  Dv.iij;ht,  "I  have  been  in 
every  battle  in  ^'irc:inia  since  Buil  Run,  and  I  never  was  under  sucii  a  fare  as  that 
of  ti!c  S-cond  Massachusetts  at  Winchester." 

t  To  our  own  force,  as  t-nunierated,  should  be  added  r.ve  companies  of  Mary- 
land cavalry  that  were  stationed  at  Winchester. 


:• ;-    i 


13G 

Mudge  and  Second  Lieut.  Crowninshicld,  He  also  reports 
131  missing,  "  though  many  are  coming  in  daily,  having  been 
compelled  to  halt  from  exhaustion,  and  after  recovery  finding 
their  v,ay  in  by  different  routes."  On  the  24th,  Lieut. -Col. 
Andrews  reports  his  total  loss  to  have  been  3  killed  and  17 
wounded.  Banks  also  reports  that  there  were  1S9  men  of 
Williams's  Division  sicl;  in  hospital  at  Strasburg,  and  that  125 
of  them  were  left  in  the  hospital  at  Winchester  and  64  not 
removed  frc.m  Straaburg,  —  left  there  with  two  surgeons  and 
attendants.  At  Winchester,  Dr.  Stone  of  the  Second  was 
left  in  charge.  Ln  addition  to  these  surgeons,  there  were  8 
others  who  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands.  Gen.  Shields,  when 
he  marched  for  Fredericksburg,  left  !,ooo  sick  and  disabled 
men  at  Strasburg.  Banks  says,  "  Surgeon  King,  division 
surgeon,  exhibits  tlie  disposition  of  them,"  but  does  not  say 
what  it  was. 

Of  material,  Banks  states,  "  All  our  guns  were  saved.  Our 
wagon -train  consisted  of  nearly  five  hundred  v;agons,  of  which 
number  fifty-five  were  lost.  They  were  r^ot,  with  few  excep- 
tions, abandoned  to  the  enemy,  but  ^vcre  burned  *  upon  the 
road.  Nearl}'  all  of  our  supplies  were  thus  saved."  ]3ut  the 
stores  at  Front  Roval,  of  which  he  "had  no  knowledge  until" 
his  visit  to  that  post  CiV,.  the  I'ist  irst.,  "  and  those  at  Win- 
chesier,  of  v/iiicli  a  considerable  portion  was  destroyed  by 
our  troops,"  are  not  erabraccd  in  this  statement.  Quint  f  says, 
"  A.  v.-agi)n-train  eight  miles  long  lost  only  fifiy  UTigor.s,  and  we 
brought  off 'all  our  artillery,  losing  ori!)-  one  caissori." 

Tile  enemy's  account  of  his  captures  is  put  with  force: 
"  The  complete  success  of  our  etTorts  can  never  be  known. 
We  liave  captured  thousands  of  prisoners,  killed  and  wounded 


*  I  never  hcirJ  of  any  \^agrn.^  burned  iip'-ir.  the  road  but  \\\c  nine  I  destroyed 
\.\?x  Xc\v[o.'.  n.  I  r.e\cr  heard  of  our  rec.ijj'turc  ot  tiie  six  miles  of  wagons,  taken 
by  the  eneniy  bct\\fen  Strasburg  and  Middktown.  — AuTiior- 

t  C!;aplaia  i^tcct.d  Ma.-^aci.Listtts,  in  '•  Record  of  b'eCv^nd  M.issachu.-ietts 
Jiifantrv." 


137 

hundreds  more,  seized  miles  of  ba:;ga_ge-\vAg;ons,  immense 
stores  of  every  imr-^inabie  description,  together  with  many 
cannon,  thousands  of  small  arms,  ammunition  by  hundreds  of 
tons,  medicines,  and  public  documents  of  value,  thousands 
of  shoes,  and  have  burned  millions  of  property  for  want  of 
transporLation."*  Says  another  Southern  v/riter,  "  Banks  had 
abandoned  at  Winchester  all  his  commissary^  and  ordnance 
stores;  he  h?d  left  in  our  hands  4,000  prisoners,  and  stores 
amounting  to   millions  of  dollars."  f 

Our  o'va  papers  reported  our  losses  as  very  heavy. 
This  excited  Banks,  who  sent  on  the  31st  of  May,  through 
the  Associated  Press,  froni  V/illiamsport,  a  despatch  that 
"  Great  regret  and  some  indignation  is  felt  here,  that 
exaggerated  and  unauthorized  and  luifounded  statements 
of  losses  of  public  property  sustained  by  our  retreat  from 
Stra.sburg  and  Winchester  have  found  publicity  through 
papers  at  a  distance.  At  present  the  figures  cannot  be 
accurately  ascertained  ;  but  the  Jicavirst  losses  are  knnmn 
to  be  very  light  compared  v/ith  the  amounts  exposed  to  cap- 
ture or  abandonment  by  such  a  rapid  retreat  as  it  was  nec- 
essary to  perform." 

Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  in  his  order  of  May  29,  1862, 
announcing  another  brilliant  victory  b}'  the  combined  divisions 
of  Major-Generals  Jackson  and  P2\vell,  constituting  a  portion 
of  thisa^my,  over  Gen.  Tianks  at  Front  Royal,  iMiddletown,  and 
Winchester,  declares  "that  several  thousands  of  prisoners! 
were  captured,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  ammunition  and 
stores  of  every  description."  §  Among  other  captures  the 
cnem.y  claimed,  to  have  taken  a  large  amount  of  baggage  at 
Cedar  Creek,  with  all  the  knapsacks  of  the  Zouaves. 

*  Ashton's  Letter  from  Batllc-Fieldi  of  the  South,  p.  324. 

t  Polbrd's  Lo>:  Caaie. 

X  In  Johnsnn'.s  Narrative  he  p'its  the  prisoners  at  2, coo  [probably  nearly  cor- 
rect—  .4u(':,>\.  Sec  Xarr.itivc  of  Military  Operation?,  by  Joseph  E.  Jehnstoii, 
C-,n.  C.  S.  A.,  1S-4,  V.  i^r). 

§  rtichn;./:'d  M.xaminer  of  Ti'.ne  ;,  rS'?. 
I,s 


138 

The  oris^inal  reports  of  this  retreat,  my  own  among'  the  1 

number,  attributed  many  cold-blooded  atrocities  to  the  enemy.  I 

In  the  excitement  of  snch  a  retreat,  and  thus  early  in  the  war,  i 

] 

it  was  not  strange  that  we  put  faith  in  improbable  stories.     I  | 

have  before  me  the  account  of  one  of  the  theatrical  company,  | 

whom  I  met  in  flight  at  Strasburg.     He  got  tlirough  to  Win-  j 

Chester,  slept  through  the  fight  there,  and  was  captured.    Taken  ] 

for  a  Southerner,  which  he  was  by  birth,  he  volunteered  to  drive  { 

Ashb}-  to  Martinsburg  in  an  ambulance  :  Ashby,  it  appears,  s 

was  wounded  at  Front  Royal  in  the  shoulder,  and  could  not  | 

mount  a  horse.     Following  in  the  rear  of  our  retreating  armv  i 

amid  cannonading  and  dust,  he  saw  nothing  of  the  reported  ? 

cruelties,  but  upon  one  occasion  v^-as  directed  by  Ashby  to  see  ] 

11  one  of  our  men  lying  by  the  road-side  was  alive.     He  was  | 

of  the  Tenth  Maine,  —  was  dead.     "  Carry  him  over  into  the  | 
adjoining  field  to  prevent  mutilation  by  animals,"  v/as  Ashby's 


orders.                                                                                                      .  \ 

It  does  not  come  within  the  scope  of  this  narrative  to  fol-  | 

low  the  fortunes  of  the  enemy  under  Stonewall  Jackson  fur-  | 

ther  than  to  say  general!}',  that  for  one   week  he  held  high  j 

carnival  all  along  the  Potomac.     He  concentrated  his  troops  1 

m  and  around  Charlestown  ;  he  attempted  v/ith  his  infantry  to  j 

ford  the  Potomac  two  miles  above  the  railroi'd  brio'^e  at  Har-  1 

per's  Ferry,  and  was  diiven  back  by  our  shells,  fired  from  bat-  j 

teries  established  where  v.-c  first  pitched   our  encampment  in  j 

July    of   loGi  ;  he    ascended    Loudon    Heights    between    the  j 

Shenandoah  and  the  Potomac,  but  v.-as  driven  off  by  our  cuns  \ 

r                        ,        .                                                               '           '•  s 

from  across  the  nver.     Information  of  the  numbers  of  Stone-  \ 

wall  Jackson's  forces  given  by  observers  during  his  occupation  * 

of  towns  between  Winchester  and  Martinsburg,  shows  that  we  | 

had  not  exaggerated  his  strength.     EwelFs  Division,  consist-  1 

ing  of  Taylor's  Brigade,  5,00:>,  Johnson's,  4,000,  and  Trimble's,  ! 

4,000,  vvas  e.'.timated    at    13,000.     Jackson's    own    ir.imediate  I 

column   was  given  as  n.ooo  or   10,000.     The  lowest  estimate  | 

placed   the  combined   sticn-tii  of  the  cr.-r.iw  at   ?0,0OO.     In  { 

i 
\ 


,'.    ■  I 


139 

the  pursuit  of  Shields  and  Fremont,  the  battles  of  Cross 
Keyes  and  Port  Republic,  the  march  of  Jackson  to  unite  with 
the  Army  of  Virginia,  we  did  not  participate  ;  therefore  I 
leave  them  with  no  other  allusion.  On  the  3rst  of  May,  the 
enemy  at  Bunker  Hill,  Martinsbiirg,  and  Charlestown  were 
apprised  that  Fremont  from  the  west  and  McDowell  from  the 
east  were  closing  in  upon  his  rear.  In  one  week  after  our 
fight  at  Winchester,  Jackson,  with  his  whole  army,  turned 
southward  in  flight. 

The  effect  of  our  retreat  upon  the  country  was  startling. 
Here  in  Massachusetts  the  people  were  aroused  by  a  proc- 
lamation. Plardly  had  "the  thousand  camp-fires"  begun 
to  glow  around  "  the  thousand  wagons  upon  the  banks  of  the 
rotoniac,"  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night  of  the  25th  of  May,  when 
Gov.  Andrew  at  Boston  penned  the  last  words  of  a  proclamxa- 
tion,  calling  upon  Massachusetts  to  rise  once  more  for  the 
rescue  and  defence  of  the  capital.  I'he  wliole  active  mdlitia 
of  Massachusetts  were  summoned  to  report  on  ]3oston  Com- 
mon "  to-morrovv-,"  from  thence  to  "oppose  with  fiery  zeal  and 
courageous  patriotism  the  march  of  the  foe."  *  The  next  day 
the  public  \x?.s  again  CKcited  by  an  appeal  from  Major  R. 
Morris  Copeland,  Banks's  adjutant-general,  who  happened  to 
be  in  Boston  during  the  fight.  Copeland  blamed  the  War 
Department  for  leaving  Banks  defcncc'ess.f 

*  This  wa>  d.ite.l  the  2;ih  of  May,  Sunday  evening,  at  eleven  o'clock. 

1'  This  appe:.!  came  out  in  the  '•  Hoston  Daily  Advertiser,"  of  v.  hicli  C.  F.  Dun- 
bar was  thv^  editor,  en  the  2C±.  of  May,  1S62.  As  soon  as  it  cuno  to  his  notice, 
Banks,  in  a  lel^jrar.-i  to  Dunbar,  offered  up  Cope'aitd  as  a  prjpiliatorv  sacrince, 
as  f^jllov.'S  :  — 

"  Vv'iLLUMSL-JKG,  Mi>.,   Tui;e  2,   1S62. 

"ToMr.  C.  F.  Dl-.n-ear, 

"Major  Copeland  should  secure  some  position  in  the  Massachusetts  Regiments 
of  equn!  rank  to  th.i':  h-  now  lioids.  Il  is  not  con-is'-Ciit  that  lie  shou'd  return  to 
his  post  here  ai^jr  his  jirocjauiacioa  in  Ijoston.  Please  convey  to  him  tiiis  infjr- 
mation. 

"  X.  r.  Banks,  J/.  G.  C." 

See  otatcnicr.t  of  it.  M.  Copeian'.',  p.  17. 


140 

"The  hands  that  hold  the  pen,  the  rr.ler,  an (i  the  hammer 
■^■erc  made  in  the;-fc  days,"  says  Copeland,  **  for  better  things."  : 
"  Seize  the  musket  and  the  sabre !  "  he  continues.  But 
alas  for  Copeland  !  that  he  should  have  told  the  country 
to  blame  the  Secretary  of  War  fur  our  retreat  ;  for  this  was 
given  by  the  President  as  one  of  tlie  reasons  *  v;hy  Cope- 
land's  hands,  during  the  remainder  of  the  war,  held  nothing  | 
more  belligerent  than  '•'  the  pen,  the  ruler,  and  the  haminier."t  | 

In  other  States  the  excitement  v/as  scarcely  less  intense  than  I 

in  j\Iassachu.-.etLS.     Nev,-  York  sent  her  Eleventh  Regiment  of  | 

I 

State  INIilitia.     They  arrived  at  Harper's  Ferry  on  the  30th  of  I 

May,  ar.d  refused  to  be  sv/orn  into  the  service  of  the  United  | 

States    unless    they  could    dictate    terms,  which   v/ere,    that  | 

they  s'lould  go  to  Washiuglon  a:id  ])c  placed  in  a  camp  of  ■i 

instruction.     This  being  refused  by  officers   of  the    United  | 

States  army,  the  vdiole    regiment    marched    over    to    Sandy  | 

Hook,  where  they  sle[)t  upon   it,  with  the  result  that  eight  ^ 

companies  took  the  oath,  one  asked  for  further  time,  and  one  | 

started  for  home.  » 

On  the  2Slh  of  ?.Iav,  Gen.  Banks  thought  it  his  dutv  to  I 

.  I 

assign  a  tall   brigadier-general  to  the   command  oi    mv  bri-  « 

gade,  and    m3.ke  the  War    Department   responsible   for   the  |- 

change.     I-'or  this  lie  selected  Gen.  Greene,  one  of  the  two  | 

*  After   Copc'aiid'i  c:^;:n-.s;;  vl   froru   the  army,  iu   Augu^t,  1S63,  he  sought  an  | 

interview  with  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  Presidt-.t   of  the  United   States,  nt  which  | 

the  follc\vi!-ic:  occurred  : —  1' 

I 

••'  The  PrcsKknt  replied,  '  Well,  sir,  I  kn.jw  son-iethir.g  nbcut  your  case,  r.r.d  I  11  'j 

tell  you  v.-hat  I  know.     You  '/c  tlie  maji  who  v.-ent  to  Boston  about  the  V.v.\c  Jack-  | 

SOP.  broke  through  at  Frunc  Kuyal,  a:id  wrote  letters  and  editorials  abusing  t!;e  | 

administraticn,  and  made  sr-ecches,  and  did  all  that  you  could  to  make  a  tu53.'  "  —  ■! 

SictUT'urtofJ^.  M.  Cc-d:itid,p.  30.  I 

"  .\nd  I'.'.n  li-.e    Prv.sidcn:  renlied,  '  We!;,  I  did  r.r^t  know  you  were  dismissed.  1 

I  never  saw  the  order,  that  I  know  of,  until  to-day,  tliough  of  course  it  has  been  | 

laid  befjre  me  and  recc'  .ed  \:\\  oldcial  sanction.'  "  —  SiuLmc:U  r/'A'.  M.  Ccfcuma,  j 

t  See  a  letter  vindicatijig  Secretary  Stai'.ton,  vrritten  1^7  Iforatio  ^Vood■!un,  | 

Esq..   in   "lio-toa   Dai'y   Tra:,3:r;pt"  of   Ju-.-.o    n,   166::,  supriOj'ed  to  have  bjcn  | 

inspire'.!  by  Gcjv.  Audrtw.  i 


141 

supernumerary  brigadiers  who  had  accompanied  us  from 
Strasburg.  In  his  order  Ge:i.  Banks  tn.kes  especial  care  to 
speak  in  praise  *-orthe  part  taken  by  my  brigade  during  the 
retreat.  Witiiout  the  services  rendered  by  my  own  Second 
Regiment,  I  co;iId  not  have  been  commended. 


*  Hi:.A.DQUART£r,s  Department  of  the  Shenando.-vh,  , 
Wu.LiAMSPOKT,  Md.,  May  2S,  1S62.  ( 

Gf.-Verai.  Order,  No.  26. 

I.  Ilriji-.-Gen.  Geo.  ."-;.  Greene,  (J.  S.  A.,  having  reported  for  duty  at  these 
headquarters  in  acccrdaucc  with  the  orders  01  the  War  Dep.annierit,  is  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Gen.  A.  S.  Williams's  Division,  and  will 
relieve  Col.  (_ieo.  II.  Gor^lon,  Second  Massacliusetts  Volunteers,  who  on  being 
relieved  vriii  assume  command  o£  his  regiment. 

I I.  In  annnanoirg  this  change  in  the  orgari/atiov:  of  the  Third  jir'gade,  under 
the  general  diieciioii  oi  tb.e  Depaument  or  War,  the  commanding  general  desires 
to  express  his  anqvialined  approval  of  the  manner  in  v.hich  Col.  Geo.  H.  Gordon 
has   discharged   tlic   duties  of  brigade-commandcir.     In    organization,   discipline, 

instruction,  and  e^uipn-.ent  he  has  maintained  and  elevated  the  standard  of  his  com-  '• 

niand.     In  rhe  execution  of  his  orders,  often,  from  the  e.xtreme  necessities  of  our  ! 

position  and  t:.c  great   redaction  of  our  forces,  sudden  and  difncuU,  he  has  been  i 

prompt  and  sncccs-fal,  e.\hib;ting  on   all  occasions  the  quahtics  of  a  prompt  and  ; 

patri'/tic  otrice..  [ 

The  conup.ancling  general  has  also   the  pleasure  of  expressing  his  approval  of  j 

the  manner  in   '.vhich  the  Third  Lrigade  and  its  commander  discharged  most  | 

importa.at  duties  on  the  march,  fr  ^m  Strasbnrg,  on  the  2.;th  in-;t.,  in  tliC  affair  v.-ith  1 

the  cncn'.y,  as  the  rear-guard  of  the   cor.mi.,  on  the  cvc.ang  of  the  sa'.ne  day,  ' 

\,"idch  contiibut^..:'  so  :::uch  to  the  sni^tv  of  the  co.mmar.d,  and  in  tiie  engagement  ! 

of  the  twenty-llicii  at  W  mchester,   Virgini.-i.      He  has  the  strongest  confidence  | 

t!rit  its  distinguished  character  and  reptitadon  vi!!  be  m.ainlained  hereafter. 
T!ie  comnianding  general  commends  to  the  just  consideration  of  the  brigade  its 
new  c  jnunandcr,  Gen.  Geo.  S.  Grecr:e,  as  an  otficer  of  large  experience  and  dis- 
tinguished character. 

I'y  C'jinmar.d  of 

Majok-Gl.nera:.  X.  P.  Banks.  i 

D.  D.  Perkins,  ALi/o?-  and  A.  A.  A.  G  n.  \ 

By  coranrand  of  I 

G::.n-.  a.  S.  Wn.Lr;..MS. 

\\  M.  D.  WiLKiNs,  Ccjt.  A.  A.  G.  \ 

Official, 

S.  K.  PiTiMAN,  1^'.  Lieut,  and  A.  D.  C. 


{\\ 


A.  S.  Williams,  ^;-?^-Cc'«.  N.  P.  Banks, 

Comd'g  \it  Dliision.  J/.  G.  C. 

JuKN  P.  H.vicu,  G"o.  S,  Gkeenk, 

Lri^-Cai.  C'-:^y.  £rig-C.>i.  U.  S.  V. 

S.  W.  Ck.wvfoki), 

Bri<-Gcn.  I.  0-.  ;: 


142 

I 

On  the  31st  of  May  a  paper  was  handed  me  by  Gen.  Hatch*  I 

sie^iied  bv  all  the  officers  of  rank  who  were  cocrnizant  of  or  had  ^ 

parricip.it^.d  in  the  cveiit-s  of  the  :'4Lh  and  25th  of  rvlay.     This  \ 

paper,  containing  most  flattering  references  to  our  brigade,  | 

was   the  more  acceptable,  as  without  any  knowledge  what-  | 

ever  of  it  or  its  contents,  it  was  presented  to  me  with  all  the  '^ 

names  it  now  bears,  save  that  of  Brig-Gen.  Crawford,  which  | 

was  placed  there  afterwards.     My  own  regiment  shares  v.-ith  % 

me  in  the  not  t'alsume    but    discriminating  praise  bestowed,  1 

and  again  my  heart  speaks  its  thankfulness  to  the  Second.  I 

The  feeling  among  the  troops  themselves,  as  indicating  their  I 

opinion  of  the  part  taken  by  our  regiment,  is  here  recorded  | 

as  of  more  worth  than  any  praise  bestowed  upon  us  by  others.  | 

The  31st  of  May  found  Mr.  Dwight,  of  Bosto^i,  the  brother  | 

of  our  captured  major,  at  our  camp  cii  Toatc  through  Martins-  \ 

burg  to  Winchester,  to  learn  his  brother's  fate.     Col.  DeFor-  ] 

est,  then  in  command  at  Martins!)urg,  was  ordered  by  Gcrn.  : 

Hatch  to  send  with  Tslr.  Dwightan  escort  often  men.  —  "n;en  \ 

who  can    remember   what    they  see  of  the   enem}'  and    his  ; 


*    WlLLLA,M^POS.T,  Md.,  May  3I,   1S62.  1 

To  TiiK  Hon.  Edv.-in  Stanto.v,  % 

Secretary  of  IVar.  | 

The  uiK;er*ignc':1  ofricers  cf  the  aiipy,  scivir,.'::^  in  the  Dep?.r;ment  of  the  Shcn-  | 

ariUo.ih,  tr.kc  grc^t  plij.-iurc  ia  recomiiienJing  lor  the  nppointnicnt  of  brigadier-  I 

f en-.r:ii,  CoL  Gtoii^e  l\.  Crordo!!,  co:nraaRdii":g  Second  Maisachuseits  RepimeiU.  I 

Cot.   Gordon  h.is  for  the  I.-.st  three  months  t'^IIed  the  position  asked  for  hir.i,  ^ 

having  been  in  commaiid  of  the  Third  Brigade  of  Williams's  Division.     T!ie  higlr  | 

state  of  discipline  attained  by  his  brigade,  together  with  its  admirable  drill,  h:ivc  | 

proved  his  competency  for  the  position.  2 

The  apjiointment  is  more  particularly  asked   as  a  reward  for  tl-.e  niilitar,-  ikill  | 

and  good  cc-nd.uct  shov.-n  by  him  at  ihc  battle  of  V\'iii:",p^ter  ou  .Sunday  last,  and  | 

thrcugliont  the  retreat  from  StrasburL'"  to  tl.is  piace.  I 


143  ! 

j 

strength."     "  Let  them  move,"  said  the  order,  "  with  a  white 

flag  twenty  }anls  in  advance  of  the  ma'n   body,  and  waving  ; 

th-:^  flag,  wait  to  be  recognized  by  the  enemy's  pickets."*  - 

A  tclegiam  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  tliat  my  promotion  1 
from  colonel  to  brigadier-general  "  could  no  longer  be  de- 
ferred," was  sen;  immediately  after  our  arrived  at  Williams-  j 
port  to  Gov.  Andrew  of  Massachusetts.  Tins  tlnal  act  con-  | 
nected  with  the  days  of  the  24th  and  25th  of  iMay  requires  I 
explanation.  ' 

In  July  of  1S61  it  came  to  my  knowledge  tliat  the  congres- 
sional delegation  from  Massachusetts  had  recommended  my  i 
promotion.  The  President  of  the  United  States  in  a  personal  .  | 
interview  informed  me  that  the  reason  why  he  did  not  heed  j 
tins  re.jommendatioa  v/a^  because  "the  go'v'crnor  of  yoLir  ! 
State  protests  against  it."  I\Ir.  Lincoln,  at  the  time  of  j- 
n)aking  this  repl}',  held  in  his  han.d  a  pnper,  from  which  he  | 
assumed  to  read  the  protest.  ! 

On  the  4th  of  June,  tS:'"2,  Gov.  Andrev;,  in  acknowledging  I 

my  application  for  tv.'o  surgeons,  and  informing  me  that  he  has  j 

sent  Doctors   Keadi  and  Davis,  adds,  "  Ferinit  me  in  closing  ' 

to  congratula'e  vou,  Colonel,  upon  vour  nomination  for  promo-  I 

tion  U)  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  also  upon  the  bril-  i 

liant  ^;uccess  achieved  bv  the  withdrawal  o;  our  forces,  wiih  so          '  i 

little  loss,  froni  the  heart  of  tlie  enemy's  country  and  against  a  j 

lorce  so  completelv  overwhelming."  j 

On  the  10th  '.if  June-  Gen.  Ikmks's  corps  recrossed  the  river  {• 

at  Willianisporl,  moved  through  iMartinsburg  and  Winches-  i 
ter,  over  historic   ground,  and  went   into  camp  at  Eartonville, 

where  the  Second  liad  so   al.ily  arrested  Jackson's   march  in  | 

the  night  of  the  24th  of  ?day.  1 

On  the   1 2th  of  June,  at  W'^ashington,  my  commission    as 


*  Hov,"  cur  major  e>c.ipeJ  from  c:\ptivity  without  aid  fioin  his  brother,  has  beea 
told  too  many  times  to  repeat.  Oa  the  2i6t  of  June  a  despatch  came  to  me, 
"ijwij^'it  is  saiCj  pr'^oner  at  WincKesler. " 

(Sij^ued)  F,  d'UAUlEVlLLE. 


brigadier- p:eneral  of  volunteers  was  handed  me,  accompanied 
with  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  \v^ar  to  "  report  imme- 
diately for  duty  to  Gen.  Banks,  wherever  he  might  be  found," 
and  this  proved  to  be  at  Winchester,  where  I  arrived  the 
next  night  to  learn  from  him  that  he  could  not  remove  the 

brigadier-general  commanding  m.y  brigade  v.dthout  a    special  | 

order   from   the    Secretary  of  War.*     The  nc.\-t    day,  there  I 

fore,   I   returned    to  Washington,   carrying   with    me   on   her  1 

vv'ay  to  her  new  home,  my  negro  woman  Peggy  and  her  child.  \ 

Before  I  could  purchase  tickets  for  the  woman  I  v.'as  compelled  | 

to  give  a  bond  to  save  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Balti-  | 

more  Railroad  harmless  from  any  lawful  claims  that  might  be  | 

hereafter    brought    against    it  by    the    owner  of  this    colored  j 

property.     I  rvradiJy  gave  niy  bond,  secured  tlie  tickets,  placed  ^ 

the  bewildered  v.-ornan  and  child  in  charge  of  a  faithful  express-  \ 

man,  and  soon  heard  of  their  safe  a';rival  at  tlie  North,  where,  | 

i 

since  tlien,  they  have  in  prosperity  continued.  | 

On  the   i8ih    of   June    tlie    Secretary  of  War  specifically  1 

assigned    mc    to    the  command  of    my    old    brigade  ;  f.    and  \ 

on  the  ?.2d,  after  a   fi-uitlcis  eftort  on  the  preceding  day  bv  | 

rail  z'/a  Manassas,  to  reach  Front  Royal,  to  v/hich  place   my  | 

com.mand   Isad   moved   from   I'urtonvilR',  I  slior-.k   the   dust  of  i 

Washington   frori  nvv'  feet,  vot  to  return  to  it  again   for  two  ] 

months,   v.-iien,   as  part  of  a  v/recked   and  broken  armv,    we  \ 


*  V/iNCHEST!iR,  Va.,  Junc  I ^.     lVi..;.-r,-^r..   Gi:.rd>:ui  v.\\\   proceed  at  once   to  .j 

Wa^hii-iorton,  and  remrt  to  t!;e  Secretars-  ot  \Vaf  fur  faitl.er  orders.  1 

^                     '                                  -  I 

V>y  corainarid  of  | 

N.  P.  BvNvs,  .V.  G..C.  \ 

\ 

t  War  DE."AiVrMfc..Nr,  AujT-Gen.'s  OFFrci-,  ;  | 

Vv'vsiUNGTON,  juae  iS,  1S62.               )  | 

SPFcrvL  Okper',  Xo.  133.  ? 

r,th.      Bri-.-Gcn.  Geo.    11.   Gordon,  U.   S.  Vols.,  is   assij;ntd  to  duty  in   the  1 

Dei'-artnient  of  tlie  Sliciiandoah,  tn   take   comn\and   of  tiie   brigade    now  LinJer  | 

Bri^u;  -Gen.  Greene,  ar.d  will  retiort  in  persoii  to  Major-Gen.  I'-anks.  | 

Jjy  o.-der  of  the  .Secret.uy  uf  War.  ? 

I..  Tu.jMAS,  AdiL-Gfu^raL  \ 


145 

made  our  way  across  the  Potomac  to  fight  under  McClellan 
at  Antielarn  for  the  safj.y  of  Maryland  aad  the  North.  Be- 
fore leaving"  Washington,  I  enlightened  the  Committee  on  the 
Conduct  of  the  War  upon  the  subject  of  Union  guards  over 
enemv's  property,  upon  which  political  soldiers  vs"ere  much 
exercised. 


19 


146 


CHAPTER.   VII.  I 

Bearing    peremptory   order?    to    Gen.  Banli'?,  I  took  the  p 

route  by  Harper's  Ferry,  delaying  there  for  an  hour  to  stray  | 

up  to  our  old  encampment  on  ^Maryland  Heights.     The  camp-  I 

groivnJ    liad    been   converted   into   a  flourishing  v/heat-field,  \ 

m  vrhich  the  green  bushes  that  once  formed  our  slielter  now  | 

lay  iri  withered  ard  luisightly  heaps,  testifying  to  the  not  too  | 

energetic  efforts  of  the  phlegmatic  proprietor,  the   good  old  I 

Dutchman,  Unseld,    from,  v/hcm    I  received  a    cheerful  and  -1 

hcariy   welcome.      Without   pausing    to    moralize    upon    the  | 

events  wdiich  our  former  bivouac  recalled,  and  too  hurried  to  | 

hear  any  of  the  long  stories  v/hich  our  eld  host  delighted   in  '| 

telling  in  slow  ana  measured   tones,  1  recrossed  to  Harper's  | 

Ferry,  ^^here,  taking  cars  lor  Winchester,  I  readied  my  com-  | 

mand  oi;  the  25th  of  June.  | 

My  camp  was  located  on  the  I'^-ont  Royal  aiul  Winchester  | 

road,  some  seven,  or  eight  miles  nortii  of   the  former  town,  | 

Vv'here  v/e  could  warch  the  cro:5sings  of  the  Shenandoah.     The  | 

officers  of  our  regiment  took  the  occasion  of  my  a,rrival  to  i 

offer   their   congratulati(.)ns    upo7i    ray    promotion.       In    f.ill  I 

uniform,  but  v/ithout  other  display,  they  came  forward  to  my  | 

tent,  led  b}"  Ca:jt.  Carv,  v.-'no,  in.  behalf  of  all,  in,  quiet  but  | 

feeling  words,  expressed  for  him:;'jlf  a'^^d  others  gratitude  at  1 

my  return.     I  replied  very  briefly,  —  there  vras  no  occasion  for  | 

much   speaking :   every  one  knew   how  glad   I  was  to  come  | 

back,    o.c.d  how    I  had   labored  to  o\'ercome  plans    (if   there  I 

were  any)  for  my  removal  to  another  arri'jy.      Tiicie  '^vas  ii'*L  | 

an  officer  or  j)riv.i.Lc  of  tlie  Secorid   Regiment  v."ho  did  not  I 


147 

know,  without  assumnce  of  mine,  that  my  nearest,  dearest, 

and  st!-op,-';est  tie  was  just  themselves  ;  they  knew  it  then, 
they  know  it  now,  and  if  they  do  no:  die  in  that  conviction 
it  will  be  because  they  will  never  die  at  all  Alas  !  how 
soon  the  kind  voices,  the  sparkling  eyes,  the  generous  and 
manly  hearts  that  expressed  so  much  sympathy  in  my  pros- 
perity, v>ere  to  be  hushed  and  lifeless  on  the  fatal  field  of 
Cedir  Alountain,  towards  which,  over  the  Blue  Ridge,  we  were 
soon  to  move,  unconscious  of  the  impending  doom  ! 

It  was  while  Gen.  Banks's  headquarters  v/ere  at  .Middle- 
to\\,n,  and  we  were  in  camn  near  Front  Royal,  that  we 
heard  of  the  President's  order  of  the  26th  of  June,  1862, 
gathering  up  all  the  stray  and  loose  armies  v.dthin  the  theatre 
of  our  op.:rations,  and  placing  in  conunand  John  lope,  of  the 
United  States  Engineers,  v/ith  the  rank  of  major-general. 
1  well  remember  tlie  day  wlien  this  order  cani'e  to  my  head- 
quarters. An  intense  heat  was  fallowed  by  a  terrinc  storm, 
in  v.dn.ch  heavy  clouds,  obscuring  th.e  sun,  spread  over  the 
landscape  an  unnatural  gloom.  The  lightning  flashed,  and 
the  thuiider  roared  in  incessant  peals, — a  fitting  prelude  to 
almost  any  foirowing  tragedy.  Il  was  for  us,  at  the  begirining 
of  our  new  campaign,  a  storm  of  ill  omen,  foreboding  and 
portending  dire  ills.  Wnnicvt-r  the  future  might  be,  we  now, 
however,  addressed  ourselves  to  instant  preparation  lor  an 
active   and  important  duty. 

1  n,e  three  corps  of  tlie  new  army  v/ere  to  be  conimanded 
by  ficnerals  IMcDowell,  Banks,  and  Fremont.  Our  coips, 
no  longer  the  Fifth  of  the  Army  of  th.e  Botomac,  was  to  be 
known  as  the  Second  of  tlie  Anny  of  A^'irginia,  and  was  to 
be  commanded  by  Gen.  l>anks.  Bopc,  at  the  date  of  this  pro- 
motion, was  Fremont's  junior  in  rank,  —  a  fact  which  the  latter 
considered  so  okens"ve  to  his  dignity  that  he  refused  to  take 
the  command  assigned  him  ;  therefore,  Sigel  was  substituted, 
and  Fremon.t  retired,  carrying  with  him  all  but  our  regrets. 
Gou.  iV^pe's  dopuitment  covered  th.e   region  which    holds, 


148 

east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  the  great  battle-fields  of  the  war. 
The  troops  were  organized  an.d  posted  to  cover  the  city  of 
Washington  f.om  any  attack  in  the  direction  of  Richmond  ; 
to    assure  -the    safety   of  the    Shenandoah    Valley ;    and    to 

operate    upon  the  enemy's   lines    of   communication    in    the  | 

direction  of  Gordonsville,  thus  hoping  to  draw  a  considerable  5 

force  of  the  enc/ny  from  Richmond  to  tlie  relief  of  the  Army  i 

of  the  Potomac*  | 

It  is  affirmed  by  Pope,  and  established  by  many  facts  that  | 

form    the    groundwork   of   the    history    of   that   period,   that  j 

McClellan's  refusal  to  correspond  with  Pope,  or  to  unite  with  | 

him.  in  the  execution  of  his  plans,  caused  his  removal  from  ,| 

the    chief  command  of  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  \ 


1 


3 


and   the  substitution  of  Gen.  Ilallcck  as  coniinauder-in-chicf. 

The  strength  of  the  three  corps  commanded  by  Pope,  v/as 
as  foUovrs :  Sigel's  Corps  was  reported  as  11,500  strong; 
Eanks's  Corps  as  14,500,  although  in  reality  it  numbered  only 
about   S,oo-D ;    and   McDov/cH's   Corps  v;as   given   as    18,400, 

—  a  grand   total  of    38,000,  to  which  add  for  cavalry  about  | 

5,ooo.t  j 

July  came,  to  find  us  quiet  in   our  camp,  with   Banks   in  | 

Washington  ;  from  whence,  on  the  2d,  he  telegraphed  to  his  | 

assistant  adjutant-Tcneral  to  be  in  readiness  to  march.     On  i 

th.e    5th,  ds.Sjiite   holding   back  and   suppression   by  the  War  ? 

Department,  we  knew   that   the  Army  of  the   Potomac  was  | 

driven  back  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and  that  its  struggles  tor  | 

Richmond  had,  for  a  time,  ended.     This  adversity  caused  such  • 

a  departure  from  the  plan  Pope  had  formed,  that  it  was  nov.-,  | 

not  how  to  aid   the  Army  of  tlie   Potomac  in   the   capiure  | 

of  Richmond,  but  how  to  unite  the   two  armies  to  save  the  I 

national    capital    and    provide   for   a   further   prosecution    of  > 

the  attack  upon  Richmond.     After  consideration,  it  was  de-  j 

termined  to  use  the  Army  of  \"irgirna   maii-sly,  while  covering  i 

the   front    at    Washington    and    securing  the  valley   of    tlie  j 

*   I'ope'i  Oii!.Lial  Ktpoit.                        t  Pope's  Oiricial  Report.  j 


149 

Shenandoah,  in   forcing   such  heavy  detachments  from    the  i 

main   force  of  the   enemy  as    to    enable    the   Army  of   the  j 

Potomac  to  'A-ithdraw  from  its  position  at  Harrison's   Land-  ! 

ing,  and  take  shipping  for  Aquia  Creek  or  Alexandria,*  and  i 

so  to  embarrass  the  enemy,  should  he  move  northward,  as  1 

to  give  all   time  possible  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  j 

arrive  behind  the  Rappahannock.t  ,  I 

On  the  6th  of  July,  with  our  part  in  the  coming  tragedy  not 
yet  revealed,  we  took  up  our  line  of  march,  halting  the  first 
night  one  mile  south  of  the  town  of  Front  Royal ;  and  the  next  : 
day  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge  at   Chester  Gap,  to   begin   our  i 
campaign  within  the  reg'on  bounded  by  those  mountains  and        .  j 
the  sea.     We  rested  at  night  in  a  pleasant  woods,  just  before 
reaching  the  liltle.  town  of  Plint  flill,  v;berc  I  had  an  ami- 
cable discussion  with  a  Virginian  upon    secession  a  Consti- 
tutional ric'^ht.     On  the  Sth  we   encamped   near  Amissville,  i 
from  whence,  after  a  short  day's  march,  I  pitched  my  tent  in  \ 
the  front  door-yard  of  an  unwilling  host  on  the  Warrenton  road.  | 
Our  camps  generally  v/ere  established  in  the  neighborhood                      .     j 
of  q.iiet  farms,   which   v,^3   occupied    and    ove'Tan,   until   we  ; 
became  a  great,  unnatural  plague  to  the  people.     We  filled  ' 
their  Vv'oods  v,-ith  our  tents,  we  killed  their  sheep  and  calves,  | 
and   substituted,    for   the   "drowsy    tinkling  of   their    lowing  | 
lierds,"   the  beating  drum,  the  ear-piercing  fife,   and  all  the  ! 
loud  alarum  of  v,-ar.     My  sympathies  were  often  touched  as  j 
our  cold-eyed  cemmissaiT  seized  the  cattle,  as  they  were  mov-  j 
ing  from  their  quiet  lolds  in  the  early  morning  to  their  well-  j 
known  pastures,  and  doomed  them  to  the  shambles  for  our  | 
troops.     We  were  beginning  to  live  upon  the  country.                                '  | 


*  The  p;e!ieral-in-clr.ef,  accon:panicd  bv  (.ret'.  Bnni^iJe;  who  had  come  from 
Korth  Caiolina  to  Fortress  Monroe  with  his  army,  visited  Gen.  rvIcClellan  at 
IT.ivrist'u's  n-T.  The  qisesiion  of  the  U'ilhura:v:il  of  thr.t  armv  w^s  Mjl^mitted  to 
a  cuuacil  of  oiiicers,  and,  agiinst  the  wishes  and  protests  of  McCkllan,  was  de- 
termined upon.  It  was  to  he  removed  at  once  to  Fredericksburg.  See  Report 
of  Congressional  Committee,  Opcratioi\s  of  Army  of  the  Totuniac,  p.  13. 

J   i'opes  Oi:k;ial  Rcpoit. 


'.I 


150 

When  Gen.  Banks,  on  the  5th  of  July,  returned  from  Wash-  | 

ington  he  v.'ns  despondent.     At  his  mess-table  the  next  morn-"  | 

ing,  ill  the  presence  of  some  eighi  olTicers  and  their  servants,  | 

v/iih  an  indiscretion  unusual  to  him,  he  spoke  of  rumors  oiloat  I 

in  Washington  of  disaster  to  McClellan,  and  fears  of  the  cap-  | 

ture  of  his  whole  command.      He  said  that  the  President  was  | 

believed  to  be  much  alarmed  and  uncertain  what  to  do,  and  I 

that  some  one  commander  should  be  placed  in  charge  of  the  1 

War  Department  and  the  armv  in  the  nekl*     The  relation  I 

of  such  matters  v/as  too  much,  for  one  of  Banks's  listeners,  the  | 

unlucky  ^lajor  Copeland,  who,  despite  the  telegram  for  his  f 

removal  af  er  the  unfortunate  proclamation,  v/as  here    again  1 

with  Banks,  temporarily  abiding  until  service  could  be  secured  | 

with  Gen.  Blunter  in  the  S'.^utliern  Department.-j-     Copeland,  j 

listening  to  the  promptings  of  the  evil  one,  believed  that  now  | 

was  the  time  for  him  to  make  the  United  States  Government  | 

abandon  conservatism,  as  he  called  it  ;  t  so  he  determined  to  | 

take  the  first  step,  and  send  a  dispatch  in  secret  cipher  to  Iris  | 

friend   Dunbar   of  the   '"  Boston   Daily  Advertiser,"  §    v/hich  | 

should    riot   only  accomplish    that  >re5ulL,  but   perhaps  eliect  5 

chariges   in  \\'ashington   that   might   restore  his   status   wiLli  i 

officials  in  the  War  Department.  1 

The  despatch!;  v/as  sent,  ?nd  Copeland"s  doom  v.-as  sealed.  i 

Within  a  lew  days,  while  preparing  to  sail  Irora  New  York  tor  | 


*  r:in.-,.li'.ct  .\-tr.Unient  of  I',.  Murris  Coi'c'and,  forireily  assistant  adjutar.t-gvn-  I 

cral  to  Banks,  p..2i.  j 

']   Un  tl'.e  2d  (.;"  ju'.\  K.ir.ks  telcgf.-.plicd  Copeland  iVoin  Washington,  "  There  is  | 

nothing  to  ccinnuinicate  up.in  aiYairs  Soiuli.     Have  rCLcived  your   desparciics.  | 

The  secretary  \viU  assign  \  -■u  *o   Cen.  IIu;ucr.     Pi't  o.ii  ;;rce  ir.to  condition  to  j 

niove  as  soon  as  pos^i'lie,     Yv'ili  send  you  wc  rd  v,-l.._;i  I  iHiturn,  think  to-m'iirow.  ^ 

•'  X.  r.  ]ja\ks,  .:/.  G.  c,"  I 

J  Coi^ch.r.rl's  Pamphlet  Statcr.'.cnt,  p.  22.  | 

§  Coyeianc'-s^tat.rncn^.  p.  -.  | 

;,  *'Gcii.  Pauko  ref.ur.^d.     McC.clinn,  defeated  and  !in:  It  to  be  captnrcd,  the  | 

President,  akirmed  and  iir.cer'ai;' what  to  do,  urge  that  'a  >trong  man  be  p'.iccd  | 

at '.hc-h.e.id  of  afia;!-,  U!'.d  ticops  be  sent  ra[ii'iiy  fo!  ward  frfUi  west.' ''  —  C\'-'-  i 


151 

the  Southern  Department,  he  read  in  a  New  York  paper  that 
he  was  dismissed  from  the  United  States  Service.  Tiie  only 
reasons  for  this  e\'er  given  him  by  the  President  were  founded 
upon  the  proclamation  and  despatch.* 

My  ov.n  experience  with  Banks,  in  an  inter\'-iew  after  his 
return  from  Washington,  in  whicli  I  labored  hard  to  get  some 
hope  out  of  our  heavy  despair  from  disastrous  reports,  was  so 
intensely  satisfactory  that  I  cannot  forbear  giving  it  in  this 
history. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  July,  the  day  Bardcs 
arrived  at  the  headquarters  of  his  corps,  that  I  rode  to  his 
tent,  dismounted,  and  engaged  with  our  austere  chieftain  in 
the  follovving  aniniated  conversation  :  — 

"' Vv'hal  irif(;rmatiG;i  have  3'ou  brought  back  to  us,  General.-" 

"  None,  sir." 
■    "  Nothing  of  this  sad  o^Tair  of  Gen.  McClellan's,  —  this  rumor 
of  his  defeat  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  sir." 

"Nothing  of  the  purposes  of  the  AdministraLion  in  such  an 
event .'  "  "    ' 

"  Nothing,  sir." 

"  Nothing,  sir  }  Nothing  '  Nothing  I  Can  you,  under  these 
circumstancos  t.<f  our  excessive  anxiet^•  an:i  desire  to  know 
so:uet'uno,  can  you  not  rep^cat  something.-*  Surely  the  Ad- 
ministration must  have  some  plans." 


"'  "Con'i!p;e:l  the  Pr(^:dent,  'I  don't  known-hat  t'-e  char^^?;  are,  but  I  du 
know  tli.it  sua  sent  a  nii'St  ir.ip;o|>er  and  malicious  telegram  iji  cipher  to  a 
iJo.ston  edit.jr,  wh.ich  no  orricer  had  a  right  to  do,  saying  I  was  scared,  .\rcClelIan 
was  to  i-.e  capuired,  and  we  were  all  going  to  ruin.  Yt-m  ihougiit  yui  were 
very  sha.i\  and  put  it  into  ,s<Mne  kii>d  of  a  cipher  you  ir.a;le  up;  b'lt  we've  got 
some  very  cute  fe'.liws  in  th.;  tch.-graph  or":;.:'.,  and  '■ne  •>■.  thcui  f  >und  it  out  and 
sent  it  to  rae  to  read,  a'.\d  I  could  see  p'aiiiiv  enough  t.hat  you  i)e!onged  to  that 
chtss  '-A  \r,.'T\  \:l:r>  arc  tryiug  !•>  ni -.ho  all  the  iri-ch;  f  -or  chc  Go-,  orni-icnt  th:it 
tl-.ey  can.  Fact  is,  I  L-^lieve  yoa  want  to  help  run  thi;  Go.'e.r;nr;-.;i!,  :-^nd  because 
you  don't  get  as  inach  notice  a.%  you  thinlc  you  deser.e,  you  arc  trying  to  iliake 
troul.ile.''" — S:.::.;/ui:;  rf  A',  .'/i  Cf—^s./J,/:.  32. 

[XoiK.  —  As  Copciaiid  w.is  t:jr:n.r.y  quaiteruiaster  of  the  Second  Regiment, 
this  cxcr.vci  is  [lait  of  the  hiiibry  I  am  ibiiowiag.  —  Avrir'i^] 


,-r 


152 

With  a  great  oath  Banks  broke  his,  silence :  "  By  God,  sir, 
v/ithout  houest  men  this  country  will  be  ruined,  sir  !  "  *  Gen. 
Banks  delivered  tliis  irrefutable  sentiment  to  the  intense  sat- 
isfaction of — himself. 

At  the  camp  near  Warrenton  (we  moved  there  on  the  Sth) 
we  sent  to  Alexander  such  superfluities  as  baggage  and  tents, 
for  we  were  not  only  to  live  on  the  country,  but  were  to  sleep 
on  it  unsheltered,  and  cloti'ie  ourselves  as  might  be.  But  the 
men  v;ere  in  good  spirits,  and  soon  threw  off  all  depression, 
even  if  they  had  felt  any,  because  of  the  defeat  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac. 

One  of  the  memorable  incidents  that  occurred  at  this 
camp  was  the  recovery  of  a  horse  that  had  been  stolen  from 
me  b}'  some  of  lac  New  York  cavalrymeii,  on  the  morning 
we  crossed  tlie  river  at  Wiiliamsport  on  our  retreat  before 
Jackson's  army.  I'he  animal,  noticeable  for  his  flowing 
mane  and  tali  and  for  his  rich  color,  a  mahogany  bay,  dis- 
appeared a  fev,- minutes  after  my  servant  had  tied  him  to  a 
fence  on  the  TJaryland  side  of  the  Potomac  at  Wiiliamsport. 
There  was -a  house  near  tlie  fence  occupied  by  a  sergeant  or 
two  of  the  Xcw  York  cavalry,  but  they  had  seen  nothing  of 
such  a  horse,  they  told  my  man,  repeating  their  denial  to  me 
with  an  iioncst.  toucli  of  incipient  indignation  at  my  cros.s- 
cxaminc'.tion.     It  was  certain  the  horse  had  not  strayed  off, 


"  IvIar-kll!;  j.     11' v.-  i--  "t,  lay  ruble  lord  ? 

"  Horatio.     Vv'hat  news,  my  lord 

"  Hamlet.     Oh,  wonderful  ! 

"  lloR.     Good  my  lord,  teli  it. 

'•  Ham.     No  ;  you  will  reveal  it. 

"  Ho:;.     Not  I,  n\.-  lord,  by  heaven  ! 

"Mar.     Nor  I,  my  lord. 

"  Ham.     How  say  you  then  :  would  heart  ot  man  once  think  it  ? 

—  But  you  'II  be  secret  ? 
''■  Hor:.    Mar.     Ay,  by  heaven,  my  lord  ! 
"  Ha.\!.     There  'i  ne'er  a  villain  dwelling  in  all  Denmark 

JJat  he's  an  arrant  knave. 

—  Iluinht,  Princi  of  lJu~ir!.:rA:,  A:t  I,  Scfit:-  5, 


153 

nor  had  he  committed  suicide  in  the  river,  nor  v-ould  any  citi- 
zen of  Williamsport,  under  the  circumstances,  have  dared  to 
steal  him. 

All  search  proving  vain,  I  sought  Gen.  Hatch,  who  invited 
rne  to  attend  with  him,  in  the  afternoon,  a  review  of  his 
cavalrv,  "  where,"  he  sugs^ested,  "in  riding  between  the  ooen 
ranks,  you  will  see  your  horse  if  he  is  there  ;  and  if  he  is 
not,  he  v.-ill  be  fou;id,  if  taken  by  any  of  my  cavalry  men, 
among"  the  horses  left  in  camp,  and  there  your  groom  can  look 
during  the  review."  —  "  Good  !  "  I  replied,  "  that  is  the  thing. 
I  '11  find  him." 

After  the  review  T  rode  along  the  ranks,  seemingly  criti- 
cising the  troops,  but  really  looking  for  the  horse-thief. 
Returned  to  the  reviewing  ofiiccr's  position,  when  the  order 
"Rest!"  was  given,  the  cavalry  command  gave  me  three 
rousing  cheers. 

"Th.at's  for  your  accusing  them  of  stealing  your  horse," 
said  Hatch,  laughing. 

How  the  fellow  that  did  steal  that  horse  must  have  smiled ! 
for  the  horse  was  there,  but  I  could  not  recognize  him.  After 
a  few  davs  t  gave  h.im  up. 

On  a  buy  afternoon  of  the  13th  of  July,  on  Sunday,  at 
thi;::  cau^ip  rear  Wanenton,  n^}^  g^o-^m,  Fuller,  carrio  to  nie, 
excitedly  saying,- — 

"  General,  I  have  found  your  horse." 

"  Wiien,  where,  .and  Ikjw  }  "  I  asked. 

"  Ridden  by  a  private  in  the  New  "v'urk  cavalry." 

In  a  few  minutes,  in  charge  of  my  guard,  the  private  ap- 
peared riding  a  hor.<e  with  ragged  mane  and  tail,  —  a  gaunt, 
dejected  animal,  upon  whose  flank  was  stam.ped  or  branded 
the  letter  "A,"  thus  denoting  a  public  animial  belonging  to 
"  A"  Compan}-  of  a  cavah'v  regin"i::nt. 

"Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  is  my  horse.?"  I  said  to 
Fuller,  as  he  and  the  private  a.nd  the  guard  awaited  in  silence 
my  decision. 


;  .l',,'f 


lo-i 

"  I  think  so,  sir,"  replied  Fuller. 

"Think  so?  ])y  what  token.''  Wherein  do  you  see  any- 
thln^i:;  like  my  bright-colored  horse,  his  thick  mane  and  wav- 
ing tail,  his  spirit —  anything  1    Tell  me,  where  do  you  see  it  ?  " 

Looking  down  doggedly,  as  if  indignant  at  a  suspicion  t?iat 
he  could,  through  a  mistake,  have  originated  this  scene,  Ful- 
ler lii'ted  the  animal's  fore-leg,  looked  interitly  at  the  shoe, 
dropped  the  foot,  struck  a  defiant  attitude,  and  exclaimed, — 

"  It 's  your  hoss,  sir  ! "' 

"Well,  by  Jo\'e !  so  it  is,  or  the  remains  of  him,"  I  ex- 
claimicd,  after  a  critical  examination. 

Then  followed  a  scene. 

The  pri\'atc  and  the  sergeant,  the  one  who  denied  at  tlie 
house  in  Wilhamsport  any  knowledge  oi  the  horse  (and  I 
have  every  reason  to  be.liexe  the  captain  of  the  company  to 
which  these  worthies  were  attached),  were  accomplices  in 
the  theft ;  tl-ey  were  memibcrs  of  a  gang  of  horse-ihieves. 
When  this  hne-iooking  animal  was  espied  tied  to  the  fence 
in  Williamsport,  wi)iie  Fuller  was  trying  to  get  some  break- 
fast after  his  long  fast,  it  was  the  work  of  a  moment  to 
lead  him  to  a  secluded  spot,  and  there  to  crop  and  notch 
his  mane  as  if  mules  had  fed  on  it  ;  to  dock  and  thin  his 
ta"!  until  there  was  uo  waviiig  curl  about  it  ;  and  then  with 
s':arp-pointed  scissors  to  haisii  the  work  by  cutting  the 
letter  A  in  the  hair  on  his  flank.  One  without  experience 
cannot  conceive  the  transformation  thus  effected.  Add 
to  this  the  rough  riding  of  a  cavalry-trooper  from  the  .''bth 
of  May  to  the  13th  of  July,  and  gauntness,  lack  of  tire, 
and  dulness   o'~  coat  complete  the  disguise. 

Alter  seeing  the  letter  A  of  appropriate  dimensions  cut 
out  of  the  shock  of  hair  on  the  head  of  the  private,  I  sent 
him  away  under  guard,  with  the  good  intentions  I  enter- 
lainetl  concerning  the  captain  and  sergeant,  dissipated  in  the 
crowding  events  that  thickened  and  darkeiied  until  Pope's 
campaign  v/as  at  an  end. 


i:)5 

In  carrv'ing  out  the  plans  already  referred  to,  Pope  had 
ordered  Gen.  Kin';-  <-  f  McDowell's  Corns,  at  Fredericksburg-, 
to  send  forward  detachments  of  his  cavalry  to  break  up  and 
destroy  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad,  and  at  the  same  time, 
with  a  view  of  destroying  the  eneniN-'s  coninumications  by 
rail  in  the  direction  of  Gorclonsville,  Banks  v/as,  on  the  14th 
of  July,  ordered  to  send  an  infantry  bi'igade  with  all  his 
cavalry  to  Culpepper  Court  liouse,  froni  whence  the  cavalry 
were  to  take  possession  of  Gordonsville  and  destro}'  the  rail- 
road fur  ten  or  fifteen  miles  east,  while  another  detachment 
was  to  move  on  Charlottesville,  destroy  a  railroad  bridge  there, 
and  break  up  communications.  But  on  the  17th  of  July, 
Banks  reported  that  Gen.  Hatch,  commanding  the  cavalry, 
had  .started  on  his  niarch  with  infantry,  artillery,  and  train- 
wagons,  and  had  at  that  date  succeeded  in  getting  no  farther 
than  !\Iadison  Court  House.  The  arrival  of  the  enemy  at 
Gordop.sviile  on  the  i6tli  of  julv  rendered  the  contemplated 
ni ovem en t  i mpossi b! e. 

On  the  19th  of  July  we  had  moved  our  camp  to  Little  Wash- 
ington, a  small  town  east  of  the  B'-ue  Ridge,  on  a  line  from 
Lura}-  to' Warrenton.  The  following  are  trie  points  our  army 
occupied  on  this  line,  v/hich  v/as  iii  length  thirty  and  on.e  third 


miles.  'J'he  two  di^  isions  of  the  Second  Corps  were  at  \\  a 
ington.  Gen.  Sigel  with  the  First  Corps  v/as  at  Lu.ray,  and 
Gen.  }JcDov.ell  with  tiie  Third  Corps  at  Warrenton.  We  were 
concentrating  on  this  base.  There,  in  that  summer  seasoii, 
scenes  01  rural  lovelii'jess  bccanve  desolate  and  unsightly  bv 
the  occupation  and  destruction  that  ever  marks  the  devasta- 
tinti  ^A  armies.  From  mv  tent  I  could  see  on  the  v/est,  the 
wondrous  beauty,  faniou,-  in  \^irginia  .^ccnery,  of  the  l>!ue 
Ridge  ;  an.d  towards  the  south  a  rolling  country  from  which, 
on  n  I'ly  'lelds,  tlie  g;ai.n,  carefully  shocked  up  i;pon  our 
arrival,  had  all  been  appropriated  by  our  soldiers  as  straw 
for  bedding.  Tents  wh!ter:ed  the  hills,  and  thousands  of  men 
were  wandering  aroiuid,  knov/ing  no  man  as  owner  of  t'leld, 


i?    ,:0 


,  1..V.  PI* 


156 

fora^'-c,  or  domain.  From  the  hill  we  could  look  for  thirty 
miles  towards  Richmond,  the  bourn  of  all  cur. hopes  and 
many  of  our  bodies. 

The  remaining  days  of  July  were  passed  in  drills,  brigade 
and  regimental  ;  and  when  the  latter.  Col.  Andrews  (^who  had 
received  full  promotiori  to  the  command  of  our  regiment) 
practised  his  men  in  aiming,  to  enable  them  to  do  better  than 
at  Winchester,  when  not  one  of  the  enemy  could  show  him- 
self with  impunity  at  a  thor.sand  yards.  My  military  fam.ily 
consisted  of  officers  taken  from  the  Second  IVlassachusetts 
Regimenr,  This  was  due  to  the  kindness  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  who  promoted  at  my  request,  to  the  rank  of  cap- 
tains, Lieut,  il.  B.  Scott  as  assistant  adjutant-general,  Lieut. 
Wheaton  as  conm^issary  of  subsistence,  and  Lieut.  IM.  ?^I. 
Hawes  as  quartermaster;  Lieut.  Robert  G.  Shaw,  who  subse- 
quently, as  colonel  of  the  First  -Massachusetts  Colored  Rcgi- 
nient,  was  killed  at  Fort  Wagner,  served  as  an  aid  on  my  stair. 

Ab.hough  Gen.  Pope  was  at  Washington,  in  the  District  of 
Columbia,  we  began  to  receive  at  Little  Washington,  through 
the  newspapers,  furious  orders,  inteu'L-d  to  inflame  his  army 
with  zeal:  "No  lines  of  retreat,"  "  Xo  bases  of -supply,'' 
"Live  upon  to-  country,"  "We  have  always  seen  the  backs 
of  our  enemy,"  "  Discard  yr.ur  lalse  notions,"  etc.  etc.* 
We  kncv/  well  enough  that  this  was  a  fling  at  the  com- 
mander of  the  Arm.y  of  the  Lotomac,  and  was  intended  to 
please  the  Ghatidlcrs  and  such-like  war-horses  of  the  Admin- 


*  On  the  T4th  of  T'^lv,  1S62,  Gti:.  Pope  issued  the  fullowing  order  to  the  om- 
ctrs  and  .sok'.i'.-rs  oi  the  Ariiiy  of  Virginia  :  — 

.  .  .  "  I  have  spent  t-.vo -.veeks  in  Ic.irniii^';  your 'Ahcreab'urs.  I  have  cor.^e 
from  the  west,  where  we  have  always  seen  the  backs  of  our  enenries.  Dismiss 
from  your  minds  certain  phrases  I  hear  constantly, —  of  taking  strong  positions  and 
holding  t'itm,  of  lin.eb  of  retie  il,  and  bases  of  suvphes.  Let  us  di<(;ard  s-jch  ideas. 
Tt-.e  str'■■n■:;c^t  petition  a  soldier  should  de^iie  to  occupy  is  one  from  uhich  he 
c.un  niost  e.isily  advance  upon  the  enemy.  Let  us  ;^tudy  possible  lines  of  retrc.it 
of  onr  opponents,  and  Ijav-  lyv  u>\n  to  ta'K.v:  caio  of  tlicmsclves.  Let  us  look 
lofore  and  not  behind.     Succes-  and  i;\o:y  :i;e  in  the  advance." 


157 

istration,   who    were    then    comparing    IMcClellan    to    an  old 
woman  with  a  broom. 

Although   the  newspapers  laughed  at  Pope,  and  criticised 
his  Falstaflian  pretences,  aiKl  dubbed  him  five-cent  Pope  ;*  and 
although  every  man  in  his  army  wondered  if  he  were  not  a 
weak  and  silly  man  ;  there  were  none  who  fell  away  in  fervor 
or  determination,  to  do  all  that  mortals   could  Uj  retrieve  the 
losses  sustained  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  be  it  under  Pope 
or  the  Devil  him=elf.    On  the  29th  of  July,  v.-e  were  favored  with 
the  actual  presence  of  the  comm.ander-in-chief  of  the' Army  of 
Virginia.     He  had  come  to  take-  up  his  abode  v/ith  us.     As 
recorded  at  that  time  by  an  observing  officer  ot  my  staff,  the 
following   description   of  Gen.  Pope  may  serve   to  recall    hini 
to  your  minds:    "  Pope  is  a  tiiick-set  m:an,  of  an    unpleasant 
expression,  of  about  fifty  years  of  age,  average  height,  thick, 
bushy  black  whiskers,   and  v/ears   spectacles."      The   savage 
orders  that  had  preceded  our  commander  created   an   intense 
curiosit}-  to  actually  look  upon  him,  and  we  were  gratified  on 
the  3d  of  August,  for  he  came  to  inspect  tb.e  troops  of  our 
corps  in  a  review.     Upon  this  momentous  ocCc.:,ion,  v.hich  had 
been  preceded  by  many  drills,  in  some  of  v.'i.rch   Gen.  Banks 
attempted   and   performed  creditably  division  movements,  v/e 
were  anxious   to  excel,   as   v,e  knew  we  ou^ht,   and   so  were 
ready  long  before  tlie  arrival   of  //.>:•  Pope,  and  long  after  the 
time  assigned  in  orders.     "  Xapoleon  did   not  fail  to  keep  his 
appointments    to   review   his  troops,''    said    a   critical    oiliccr, 
somewhat  nielted  by  the  heat.    '■  Nor  did  Wellington,"  was  the 


*  Ukad'ju.^kteks  A:^.mv  of  ViRr.i.Ni.\,  1 
\V.\sHlN(;i"oN,  July  26,  1S62.  S 

Capt.  Samue!  L.  lliirrison,  of  the  Niii-;y-Fiith  Kcgin.eiit  cjf  New  York  Vi.lun- 
teers,  i.s  reported  l)y  his  commanding  general  as  h.iving  deserted  his  company  on 
t!-e  2iit  of  ti-.c  .;i-.tjaih,  and  go:ie  to  New  York.  A  reward  of  tivc  cei.ts  is  o!f-.red 
for  his  apprchcn:;ior.. 

Ey  order  of 

M.\J-GkN.    I'Oi'E. 

Gfo.  I).   RrcciK:;,    Chi-f  of  Staij. 


i      r'il! 


I-  'I 


158 


amiable  reply  of  another.     Further  comparison  was  checked  | 

by  a  rising-  cloud  of  dust,  within  which  Pope  and  a  numerous  I 

staft  drew  rein,  wiiile  tlie  cannon  roared,  the  drums  sounded,  | 

and  the  horses  pranced  or  cavorted  so  vigorously  that  it  took  I 

'"  ""  I 

about   ten  minutes  to  quiet  their  demonstrations  of  adtnira-  \ 

5 
tion  for  Pope.     Tiien  the  review  began  in  column  of  brigades,  | 

of  which  mine  v/as  the  last.  | 

As  the  General  rode  in   turn   in  front  of  each  brigade,  he  1 

was  to  be  received  b\'  each  regiment  in   the  orthodox  style  I 

of  the  regulation, —  tliree  rufRes   Irorn  the  drum,  the  march,  | 

the  colors    drooped,    and  a  present  arms.     Now  when   Pope  I 

was  receiving  these    regulation   tokens  of   respect  from   the  \ 

left  reginieiit  ot  the  brigade  in  my  front,  what  did  that  incor-  | 

rigible  T wcutv-Sev'ciith   Indiana,  on  the  Icit  of  my  line,  do,  \ 

but  put  the  whole  pntragraph  of  rulYles,  marches,  and  droops  % 

in,    aiid    all    in   the    v\Tong   place  ;    trie   colonel    comniandirig  1 

looking  on    meanwhile   as    blandly  as  did  Pickwick  v;hcn   h.e  \ 

av/oke  in   the   pound  as  a  trespasser   upon  tliC  lands   of  the  \ 

fierce    Capt.    Boldwig.     My   feelings    were    iridescribah.le.      I  | 

fancied   Pope  looked  iike  Capt.   IJoldwig,  when    that  wortiiy  \ 

discovered    tl":e     ha]icl)arrov."    and    lieard     the    words     "cold  ^ 

punch  "   muttered    as    l:is    baptismal    name    by   the  imhappv  | 

Pickwick;     at  ail  e\er:'s,    we  knew  tliat    wo    had    lost    what  \ 

otliorwliv'  would  have   been  an   easy  victoiy.  ■ 

There  was  no  reserve  about  Gen.  Pope;    he  "let  out"   in  • 

cen>ure  with  x>uch  '-."igia",  that  it  words  had  been  missiles  our 
arm)'  would  never  ha\'e  failedi  fur  want  of  .anmiunition.  In 
a  long  udk  witii  n.^ic  at  Ids  headquarters  on  the  5th  of 
August,  he  attributed  o-ar  want  of  success  at  Richmond  to 
mismanagement  by  McClelian,  ior  whom  fie  seemed  to  enter- 
tain a  bitter  hatred,  which  might  have  pleased  the  Adminis- 
tration., but  fi'iund  little  lavor  with  us. 

I  thinic  Gen.  ^Pope's  freedum  of  speech  infected  his  com- 
mand witii  a  general  mania  for  discussing  nven  and  measures. 
it   wa:i  not    aa    unccnimon    event  for  i^enerals    and    colonels 


l\\ 


159 

to  meet  at  my  tent,  and  express  their  views  in  words  stronger 
than  those  generally  used  in  v.:ir  council^,  —  "  cuss  words  "  of 
such  vigor,  v/hen  they  fell  i'rum  the  lips  oi  our  division  com- 
mander, that  all  were  appalled  into  silence,  save  Col.  Knipe 
of  the  Forty-Sixth  Pennsylvania,  and  when  he  began,  'Wil- 
liams was  silent.  Ordinary  v.-ords  being  totally  inadequate  to 
express  one's  feelings,  swearing  became  an  epidemic. 

While  here  in  our  camp  at  Little  Washington,  we  heard  of 
the  promotion  of  Capt.  Underv/ood,  of  Company  I,  to  the  rank 
of  major  in  a  new  [Massachusetts  regiment.  Perhaps,  had  this 
officer  encountered  Stonewall  Jackson,  he  might  have  ad- 
dressed with  l;carty  thanks  the  one  v/ho,  when  he  drove  us 
out  the  vallcv,  did  not  make  Underwood  unhappy,  since  it 
seemed  thei'e  were  more  compensations  for  Jackson's  acts 
in  jMassachusetts  than  he  ever  dreamed  of. 

On  the  6th  of  August  the  Army  of  Virginia  began  its 
march  for  Culpepper  Court  House.  Gen.  Pope's  main  purpose 
in  thus  mo\'ing  forward  was  not  to  fight.  His  instructions 
required  him  to  be  very  careful  not  to  allow  tn.e  enemy  to 
interpose  l>etwcen  him  and  Fredericksburg,  to  which  point 
the  forces  from  the  Penin.-^ula  were  to  be  brought;  nnd  it  was 
to  cover  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  that  we  were  now  in  motion, 
fuilowing  uj)  with  our  corps  a  brigade  of  Wiiliams's  Division 
that  had  moved  from  Culpepper  on  tlie  4tli  to  support  the 
cavalry.  The  day  was  hot,  the  roads  were  dusty;  and  when 
tlic  men  ot  n^v  brigade  came  into  bivouac  at  Wuodville,  some 
ten  miles  from  wb.ere  we  started  in  the  morning,  they  were 
so  tired  that  they  vilted  nwav  in  a  merciless  manner,  until 
the  sun  had  turned  his  hot  face  towards  aiiotiier  quarter  of 
the  world,  vvhen  a  cooler  and  more  refreshing  atmosphere 
replaced  tlie  fierce  heat  of  the  day.  Then  the  crickets 
began  "to  sing,  and  all  tlie  soothing  sou'td<  of  night  hushed 
our  senses  to  such  sweet  repose  tliat  our  men  entered  upon 
the  next  d.iv's   mare'n  with  reireshed  spirits.  - 

Our  march  on   ti^e   7th  was  sliort,  but  2  very  tiresome  one. 


■•.i,f: 


.   i 


•'ii! 


160 

Gen.  AuG^ur's  Division  of  our  corps  encamped  in  advance  of 
us  the  nip;ijt  before,  and  thus  claimed  the  right  of  precedence. 
It  was  my  wish  to  move  at  t'nree  o'clock,  a.  m.,  and  thus  com- 
plete our  work  before  the  heat  began;  but  Augur  did  iiot  get 
off  until  eight  o'cLjck,  as  this  was  the  time  designated  in  one  of 
Pope's  long  orders.  When  we  were  off,  and  had  proceeded 
about  ten  rods  to  a  corner,  we  found  the  rear  of  Augur's  bag- 
gage-trains at  a  halt.  After  waiting  fifteen  minutes,  v.'c  pushed 
the  train  one  side  and  wt:;nt  on  a  quarter  of  a  raile  farther,  until 
we  came  to  another  train  standing  still  in  the  road.  The  sun 
by  this  time  was  pouring  down  so  hot  and  fierce  upon  us  that  I 
put  all  ni}'  men  in  the  woods,  unhitched  all  my  horses,  and 
gave  a  gerieral  rest  until  twelve  at  noon,  when,  tlie  roati  being 
clear,  I  pushed  on.  It  vras  then  the  hottest  part  of  the  day- 
Clouds  of  dust  hung  over  us,  there  was  not  a  breath  of  air, 
and  the  road  was  I'ke  a  furnace.  We  did  get  over  the  six 
miles  that  made  that  day's  miarch,  but  nianv  of  our  men  fell 
out  from  v\-eakness.  Diarrhcea  was  more  jjrewalent  than  usual. 
The  atmosphere  of  our  camp  while  we  were  at  Little  Wash- 
irigion  was  like  that  of  a  pest-h.ouse,  from  the  number  of  dead 
animals  l}ing  about.  In  Augur's  Di/ision  of  our  corps,  tuo 
entire  regiments  had  been  sent  to  the  hosjntak  In  the  Sixtieth 
i\ev,-  A'ork,  men  died  eigiit  anil  ten  a  day.  In  a  single  day 
from  that  regiment  two  commissioned  officers  were  buried. 
The  drum  and  fife,  constant!}'  sounding  the  dead  march.,  made 
the  evcihrig^s  seem  sad  and  solemn.  If  \\e  were  not  conform- 
ing to  pMjje's  order  to  liA"C  on  the  countr}-,  we  were  doing 
the  next  thing  to  it,  —  we  were  dying  on  it.  Gen.  Augur's 
Division  vas  made  up  of  iruoj*i  v/hose  oiTicers  h.ad  little  or 
no  experierice  in  discipline  or  h)'giene.  The  men' ate  every 
miserable,  crabbed  green  apple  they  came  across,  and,  in 
short,  so  \';olated  evcrv  sanitary  regnlatini^  that  it  was  no 
wonder  typ'e.oid  fever  marked  them  for  its  own.  We  suffered 
in  the  .Second  Regiment,  but  in  a  less  degree.  Poor  Capt. 
Goodwin,  having  'oeen  sick  lor  nearly  two  momhs,  applied  at 


■  -.1' 


at  Little  Washington  for  a  leave  of  absence  ;  but  was  answered, 
it  Is  said,  tliat  if  he  was  as  sick  as  he  rej-iresented,  he  had 
better  resign. 

On  the  /th,  Pope's  army,  a  force  numbering  about  28,000 
men,  had  assembled  along  the  turnpike  from  Sperryville  to 
Culpc{)per.  King's  Division  of  IMcDowcH's  Corps  was  still  at 
Fredericksburg,  on  the  Lower  Rappahannock,  but  Rickett's 
Division  arrived  at  Culpepper  on  the  "th  from  Waterloo 
Bridge.  Pope's  cavalry  was  distributed  as  follows  :  Gen. 
Buford,  Vv-iio  had  relieved  Hatch.  \^'as,  with  five  regiments, 
posted  at  Madison  Court  House,  with  his  pickets  along  the 
line  of  tliC  Rapidan  from  Barnett's  Ford  as  far  west  as  the 
Blue  Ridge.  These  vv-ere  supported  by  a  brigade  of  infantry 
and  a  battery  of  arlillery  from  Sigel's  Corps,  stationed 
v/here  the  road  from  IVIadison  Coiirt  Idoiise  to  Sperry- 
ville crosses  Robertson's  River..  Gen.  Ba)'ard,  with  four  regi- 
ments of  cax'alry,  was  near  Rapidan  Station,  the  })ulnt  where 
the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad  crosses  Rapidari  River, 
with  his  pickets  extended  east  to  Raccoon  Ford  ond  crmnect- 
ing  with  Buford  at  Barnett's  Ford.  Tlie  Rapidan  was  hned 
with  cavalry  pickets  from  Raccoon  Ford  to  the  forks  of  the 
Rappahannock  above  P'almouth,  and  in  addition  thereto,  on  the 
top  of  Thorougiifare  Abjuntain,  about  lialf-way  beiwecn  Bayard 
and  Buiord,  there  \\:i.i  a  signal  station,  which  overlooked  the 
whole  country  as  far  south  as  Orange  Court  HouoC.*' 

On  the  moriiing  of  the  8th,  Pope,  v.dio  had  in  person  cirrived 
at  Culpepper  Court  !  Imise,  sent  word  to  Banks  to  move  his 
corps  to  that  town,  and  at  the  same  time  notified  Sigel  at 
Sperrvviilo,  to  which  uh.cc  he  had  marched  Irom  J^urav,  to 
move  to  the  same  point.  The  other  important  orders  given 
by  Pope  this  day  were  to  Crawford  to  n:iove  forward  and  sup- 
p«n"t  Gen.  P>ayard,f  in   iioldiug  the  enen\y   in   clieck,  and  an 


*  Pope'.--  Report. 

t  I  rec-.-ivc(.l  ici)ort.s    froni  ''Icu.   Tayarf!,  tl.;'.t  th;   enemy  wa.s  advancing  upon 
him,  a;:cl  hi--  cavalry  f.>ri:eil  to  rctirf.     (Set^  Po[jcj'j  ',\ep  Tt.) 
1^1 


:•    1 JR 

:■■::  »i 


'i.'r. 


]»  '. 


;  ■  ■  1 


M// 


162 

order  to  Gen.  Ricketts,  of  l^-IcDowell's  Corps,  to  move  his 
division  of  three  brigades  two  and  a  half  or  three  miles  south 
of  Culpepper  Court  House.  All  these  movements,  save 
Sigel's,  were  executed  as  ordered. 

It  was  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Sth  when  our 
corps  received  its  orders.  Tents,  all  we  had,  were  struck,  and 
we  were  ready  ;  but  Geary's  Brigade  was  before  us,  and 
making  such  slow  progress  that  v/c  were  delayed  in  a  burning 
sun  three  hoars  beibre  v.-e  got  off,  and  then  it  was  not  much 
better,  —  a  few  steps  forward,  then  a  halt;  then  on,  again  to 
stop,  motion  alternating  with  rest  and  rest  witli  motion.  Our 
tired  troops  were  more  fatigued  than  if  they  had  made  a 
march  of  twice  the  distance.  It  was  eleven  o'clock  at  night 
when  our  division  arrived  at  Culpepper,  having  made  eight 
miles  in  eight  hours. 

Why  Gen.  Pope  was  hurrving  his  forces  into  and  a.round 
Culpepper  Court  Mouse  will  appear  from  a  review  of  the 
movements  of  the  enemy.  On  the  19th  of  July,  Jackson, 
with  two  divisions  of  troops,  commanded  by  Winder  and 
Ewell,  arri\ed  near  Gordonsville.  Gen.  Lee  thought  that 
important  railroad  place  was  in  danger;  and  from  what  we 
have  seen  of  the  instructions  given  by  Tope  to  Banks  at 
Wa^rrenton,  well  might  he  have  thought  so.  Jackson,  finding 
Pope  strong  in  Ui umbers,  asked  for  reinforcements,  and  the 
whole  of  A.  P.  Hill's  Division  was  added  to  his  army. 

On  the  7th  oi  August,  Jackson  moved  his  three  divisions 
of  troops  from  tlicir  respective  encampments  near  Gordons- 
villo,  in  the  direction  of  Culpepper.  His  motive,  as  he  says, 
was  not  to  attack  Pore's  whole  army,  but  only  that  part  of 
it  which  he  had  been  informed  was  at  Culpepper,*  and  this 
part,  "through  the  blessing  of  Providence,"  he  hoped  to 
defeat.  I'his  force,  as  we  have  shown,  was  Ricketr's  Divis- 
iori,  Crawford's  Brigade  of  Banks's  CorjDS,  and  Gen..  Bayard, 
who   had   been  statior:ed  on  the  Rapidan,  at  Barneti's  Ford, 

*  J.\ck?on"s  OtV.rial  Re;:'ori, 


1G3 

about  fifteen  miles  from   Culpepper,  with  four  regiments  of 
cavalry. 

Am.ple  information  was  conveyed  to  Pope  on  the  7th, 
that  Jackson  was  movin:;  to  attack  him,  and  not  only  to 
attack,  but  the  strength  of  his  cavalry,  infantr3%  and  artil- 
lery was  known  or  ought  to  have  been.  What  did  Pope 
know?  On  the  7th,  while  he  was  at  Sperry\-ille"  inspecting 
Sigel's  Corps,  he  was  informed  that  the  enemy  was  crossing 
the  Rapidan  at  several  points  between  the  railroad-crossing 
of  that  river  and  Liberty  Mills.  Rightly  divining  the  enemy's 
purposes,  so  it  seems,  Pope  left  Sperryville  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  and  proceeded  in  person  to  Culpepper  Court 
House,  arriving  there  (a  distance  of  twenty  miles)  on  the  8th, 
as  we  have  said. 

In  the  mean  time,  Jackson,  with  his  columms,  v/as  pushing 
our  ca\-alry  back,  and  Buford  and  Ba}'ard  were  constantly 
sending  Pope  word  to  that  effect,  —  the  latter  that  he  was 
failing  back  in  the  direction  of  Culpepper  Court  House,  and 
the  former  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  in  heavy  force 
upon  ]vIadison  Court  House.  A  glance  at  the  map  will  show 
that  these  two  forces  could  have  had  but  one  objective  point, 
znd  that  was  Culpepper.  If  all  the  enemy  were  at  Madison 
Cown  House,  it  might  be  doub<:cd  ;  but  with  Bayard's  report 
tliat  h.e  v.-as  f-iliuig  back  on  Cidncpper,  and  the  enemy  fol- 
lowing him,  it  v;as  no  lon.gcr  doubtful.  But  during  all  day 
of  tiic  8rh  Pope,  says  he  did  corisider  it  doubtful  whether  the 
enemy's  movemients  were  in  the  direction  of  IMadison  Court 
House  and  Culpepper,  so  he  determined  to  keep  himself 
bctv/ecn  the  cricmv  and  the  lower  fords  of  the  Rappahan- 
nocl:  ;  in  c-thcr  words,  he  determined  to  hold  on  to  Culpepper ; 
and  this  was  v.-ise.  Therefore  oi\  the  Sth  he  sent  Crawford 
.with  his  briga'.le  to  support  Ba}-ard,  and  to  assist  him  in  deter- 
mining the  movcm.ents  and  101  ces  of  tlic  enemy.  Sigvl  did 
not  obey  his  orders  to  march   at  once  from   Sperryville    to 

*   I  quote  tro!u  P..pe's  Ot'ticiAl  Reiscrt. 


:  I  ' '..  k 


^-..1 


1G4 

Culpepper,  but  to  Pope's  surprise  returned  in  reply  a  note, 
which,  dated  at  the  former  place  at  6.30  p.  m.,  and  received 
after  nij;ht,  asked  b}'  what  njad  he  should  march  to  Cul- 
pepper Court  House.  "There  v.as  but  one,  and  that  a  broad 
stone  turnpike,  between  these  points,"  says  Pope  ;  "  how  could 
he  entertain  any  doubt  as  to  the  road  ?  "  And  then  Pope  adds 
that  this  doubt  delayed  the  arrivpJ  of  his  corps  se\"eral  hours, 
and  rendered  it  impracticable  for  it  to  be  pushed  to  the  front, 
as  he  had  designed,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day. 

The  morning-  of  the  9th  of  August  found  Jackson,  with  his 
whole  force,  pursuing  his  way  northerly  on  Bayard's  line  of 
retreat  towards  Culpep})er.  Cra\^ford's  Brigade  tlien  occupied 
a  strong  position  nortli  of  Cedar  Creek,  with  Bayard's  cavalr\- 
in  his  front. 

It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  on  that  morning,  when,  under  the 
heat  of  an  overpowering  sun,  our  corps  moved  at  a  quick  pace 
and  v, ith  few  halts  (under  orders  which  will  be  referred  to 
hereafter)  from  Culpepper  Court  House  over  a  shadeless, 
waterless  road.  We  soon  came  to  where  Rickett's  Division, 
of  three  brigades  oi  McDowell's  Corjjs,  was  watching  the  road 
v.'hich  turns  off  from  tl'ic  Orange  Court  House  and  Culpepper 
road  to  Madison  Court  Blouse.  These  troops  were  stripped 
01  harness,  and  taking  iticir  ease  under  siicltcr  tents.  We 
pa-^sed  tliem  and.  p-_;shed  onward  until,  iri  our  regiment,  one 
recruit  fell  dead  from  exhaustion,  an.d  many  veterans  of  a  year 
v.ere  disabled;  onward  for  about  live  miles,  until  before  us, 
high  in  air,  ro^e  Slaughter  IMountain,"  bearmg  southwest  from 
Crawlord's  Brigade,  v.hicli  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle. 

\Vlien  I  arri\'ed  a:  Ceu.ir  Creek,  ihough  all  was  quiet,  I  felt 
in  tlie  air  the  consciousness  of  an  impending  battle.  The 
cavalry  were  still  in  our  front,  but  not  far;  Crawtord's  skir- 
mishers were  dcplci\'ed  tlu'ougBi  the  woods;  and  tkicre  was 
Gen.  Roberts,  a  staff-olllcer  sent  by  Pope  to  designate  the 
groiiud  Banks  was   to  hold,  and  to  give  him  instructions.     It 

*    Vr  e  CJ.1I  it  Ce-vl.Tr  Mount;\ir.. 


165 

was  about  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  when  I  approached  Roberts, 
as  he  WHS  pointing:;  out  positions  for  the  troops.  Off  to  the 
right  of  the  road  upon  which  we  had  been  marching,  I  saw 
a  strong  position  on  ihe  crest  of  a  hill,  in  front  of  which 
the  land  was  clear,  and  fell  off  by  a  gentle  descent  to  Cedar 
Creek  "  That  should  be  held  by  our  right,"  I  said  to  Gen. 
Roberts;  "shall  I  take  it?"  —  "Yes."  he  replied,  "do  so." 
I  moved  my  brigade  tliere  immediatelv.  The  distance  from 
v.'here  Roberts  then  stood  in  the  road  to  this  position  was 
about  three  fourths  of  a  mile.  When  Banks  came  up,  he  said 
to  Gen.  Roberts,  "  Gen.  Pope  said  you  would  indicate  the  line 
I  am  to  occupy." — "  I  have  been  o\'er  this  ground  thoroughly," 
replied  Roberts,  ''  and  I  believe  this  line,"  meaning  the  one 
which  Crav.-ford's  Brigade  then  held,  "  is  the  best  that  can  be 
taken." — "  In  this  opinion  I  concurred  with  him,"  says  Banks,* 
and   {ilaced  my  command  there." 

As  you  approach  Cedar  Creek,  going  south  from  Culpepper 
to  Orange  Court  House,  a  gentle  descent  for  half  a  mile  leads 
to  the  low  ground,  through  which  the  creek  winds  in  a  north- 
westerly and  southeasterly  course.  As  the  road  approaches 
the  ridge  from  which  the  descent  begins,  a  thick  wood  skirts 
it  on  either  side  for  some  four  hundred  yards.  Turn  to  the 
north,  and,  leaving  tlv  road,  foUo'vV  tl.;;:  ridge  for  abvjut:  tv.cdve 
hundred  yards,  and  }-ou  come  to  a  house,  wiih  thick  forest  trees 
on  the  north  and  west.  Here  my  brigade  was  stationed  ;  it 
was  tiie  extrenie  rigiit  of  our  line  of  battle,  and  was  the  exact 
positiuti  designated  by  Gen.  Roberts. 

Reiurn  to  the  road,  cross  the  creek,  go  on  for  nine  hundred 
yards  trom  it,  and  \'0u  will  have  passe<i  a  I'ise  and  crossed  a 
plateau  v.'hich  is  four  hundred  yards  in  depth.  Just  beyond 
the  plateau,  there  was,  on  your  left,  on  the  9th  of  August, 
1862,  a  corn-field,  and.  on  your  riglit,  a  growtli  of  timber, 
which,  touching  the  road  at  a  }<oint,  \\idened  out  as  it  ex- 
tended  back,  until  in  front  of  mv  station  it  was  from  four  to 


Te.stir.ionv  before  referiiil  Xn,  by  ILinks. 


16G 

six  hundred  yards  deep.  In  front  of  this  timber  there  was  a 
stur-ble-fielci,  bounded  on  the  opposite  side  by  thick  woods. 
I'his  stubble  or  wheat  field,  cut  out  as  it  were  from  the  forest, 
was  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram,  of  which  the 
two  sides,  at  rig;ht  angles  to  the  road,  were  about  eight 
hundred  yards  in  lenglh.  One  of  the  short  sides  of  the  lield 
rested  on  the  road,  and  was  about  six  hundred  yards  long; 
v.dule  the  other,  skirted  by  brushwood  the  height  of  a  man's 
head,  was  only  about  four  hundred  yards.  Clearing  the  corn- 
field, which  was  of  the  same  width  on  the  road  as  the  wheat- 
field,  there  was  on  your  left  a  ridgy  })lain  or  pasture,  which 
continued  for  a  third  of  a  mile,  and  then  the  timber  began. 
On  your  right  t'^e  timber  lined  the  road  as  soon  as  you  cleared 
the  wheat-field,  and  continued  for  nearly  a  mile.  The  corn- 
field and  the  plain  extend  away  towards  the  base  of  Cedar 
Mountain.  From  where  the  road  divides  the  corn  and  wheat 
field  to  the  base  of  the  mountain  it  is  about  a  mile,  and  it  is 
tlie  same  distance  to  the  base  from  whei  e  the  wood  again 
skirts  both  sides  of  the  road.  Going  towards  the  Rapidan. 
from  the  cro.ssin.g  of  the  creek  to  the  limit  of  t'fic  road  I  have 
described,  the  distance  is  not  o\'er  two  miles.  From  the 
j)Osition  occupied  by  my  brigade  to  tlie  sanie  crossing  of  the 
creek  is,  as  slated,  about  twelv'e  hundred  \ards.  and  to  Cedar 
Mountain  about  two  miles.  I  have  endeavored  to  depict 
without  tedious  details  the  face  of  the  countrv,  thnt  the 
movements  q\  the  troops  may  be  intelligible,  arid  that  v.e  may 
form  an  accurate  judgment  of  the  progress  of  the  battle. 

Gen.  Roberts  crossed  Cedar  Creek  v,-ith  Augur's  Division  of 
Ijanks's  Corps,  and  formed  it  in  line  on  and  t'lwards  the  rear 
of  the  plateau  ;  Gear3-'s  Brigade,  forming  t'~ie  right  of  this 
division,  rested  on  the  road;  then  in  line  came  I'rince's 
,  bh'iga  ie,  an.d  on  the  exLrLn"'e  leTt,  ilirown  liack,  v»-as  Greeri's 
I'-Srigade,  wliich,  reduced  by  derachments,  numbered  only  four 
hundired  and  fift\'-se\eu  men.  It  nais  stationed  iiere  to  su})- 
P'.n"t  a  battery.     On  tlu:  riglit  of  the  road  anci  covered  by  the 


1G7 

wood  that  skirted  the  wheat-field  was  Crawford's  Brigade, 
moved  tliere  by  Roberts  in  the  morning  from  the  wood  on 
the  ridge  on  the  Culpepper  side  of  the  creek.  In  front  of  our 
troops,  with  an  unobstructed  fire  over  tlie  corn-field  and  plain, 
and  themselves  commanded  by  the  mountain,  were  our  bat- 
teries. 

On  the  crest  of  the  hill,  where  the  Second  Ta'assachusetts 
with,  the  other  re-giments  of  m}' brigade  were  statioiied,  I  have 
spoken  of  a  little  cottage.  A  pretty  picture  it  was,  with  its 
green  turf  enclosed  by  a  fence,  and  behind,  almost  touching 
it,  an  inviting  grove  of  forest  trees.  This  cottage,  occupied 
by  women  and  children,  was  the  central  figure,  about  which 
clustered  the  infan.try  and  a;  tillery  of  my  briga.de.  As 
out  Oi  that  impendiiig  war-clou'i  we  swarmed  around  this 
peaceful  home,  the  women  and  children  were  startled  at  the 
strange  and  unusual  sigh.t.  Nervously  they  asked  me  what 
they  should  do,  and  without  waiting  for  a  reply,  again  and 
again  they  inouin  d  ;  and  when  tuld  to  move  away  at  once, 
they  paid  no  lieed  to  my  'words.  ^My  position  was  a  very 
strong  one.  I  do  not  think  Banks  knew  its  capabilities  for  a 
defence  ;  at  all  events,  he  did  not  think  the  right  of  his  line  of 
suiTicient  importance  to  visit  it,  either  before  or  during  the 
battle.     I  am  sure  lie  did  not  know  v.here  we  were.* 

Allhougli  the  consolidated  reiv^irtf  of  Banks's  Corps,  sent 
into  Pope  some  days  previous  to  the  9th  of  August,  exhibited 
an  effective  force  of  something  over   14,000  men,  made  up  of  | 

*  I'his  :>  fully  confinaed  by  the'chapr.'.'n  of  the  Second  Massachusetts,  who,  j 

ill  an  interview  with  E.-iiiks  at  Culpepper    Court    Hoa^e,  after  the  battle,   wheii  { 

Banks  a^.ru>ed   my  brigade   of  trirdlncsci   in  g^iu^   into    the  fi;-d;t,  replied  that  I  j 

•'ran    in."     "  Then  wiiy  did  he    not  get  in  with.    Crawford,  or  to  su|'port  Craw-  j 

ford.""'  a-:hed  Ba.Tks.     "  \\'hy,  he  was    nowhere    near  Crawr'ord,"  replied  the  { 

chaplain.     "  Wheie  was  he,  tlien  ?  "  asked  the  commander  of  the  corps.     "  Upfn  ) 

the  hill,  near  the  c-.'ttage,"  replied  :ho  chrpkiin.     "  Who  ;;iit  Idm  there?"   a.sked  ' 

the  commander.  "  Gen.  Roberts,  Pope's  chief-of-stati,"  was  the  nnswer.  "  I  did 
not  know  it,"  said  Banks.  "  I  thought  he  was  just  behind  th;  woods,  on  Craw- 
ford's riciht.'" 

t  Pope's  Orncia!  kenorc 


i(;8 

infantry,  13,343,  artillery,   1.224,   cavalry,  4,104,  total,  18,671, 

less  iafanlrv  and  artiliervleic  a.t  P'^ront  Roval  and  Winchester,  | 

3,500;  in  his  Official    Report   Pope   distinctly   states    that   it  | 

appeared  after  the  battle,  that  when    Hanks  led   his   forces   to  | 

the  front  he  had  in  all  nut  more  than   S.ooo  men,"^  and  that  i 

this    discrepancy   has    never    been    explained,    althou^yh    "I  i 

have    Irequently   called    his    attention    to    it  ;    and   I    do    not  | 

yet  understand,"  writes  Pope,   "  how  Gen.  Banks    could   have  | 

been  so  greatly  mistaken  as  to  the  forces  under  his  immediate  | 

command."     Gen.  Banks,  in    1S64,  testified   under   oath    that  | 

he  had  but  about  6,ooo  men  on  the  9th  of  August,  1862,  and  .} 

before  he  concluded  his   testimonv,  he  ]n\t  his  force  at  ^.ooo  -I 

and   that   of  the   enemv'  at    2;,ooo.t      '.Iv  own   briy'ade    corn-  ;•] 

p.-ised  less  than   1,500  infantry.     I'he  Second  Massachusetts,  % 

all   told,   commissioned  and  non-commissioned,  numbered,  as  ^ 

near  as  ever  will  be  knov/n,  497.  S 

It  was  about  twelve  at  noon   when   I  made  the  follou-ing  | 

disposition  of  my  infantry  and  batteries.     On  my  right,  skir--  I 

mishers    from    the  Twenty-Seventh    Indiana   penetrated    the  i 

woods  ;  in  my  front,  over  Cedar  Creek,  in  the  timber  upon  the  \ 

edge  of  the  stubble-neld,  six  companies  of  the  Third  Wiscon-  | 

sin  Regiment  were  deployed  ;  while   in  the  v\-ood  directlv  be-  ^ 

hind  tlie  cottage,  to  the  north,  my  o\,  n  Second  Regiment  v/as  .1 

ready  to  lespond  to  nv,  call.      IMy  tv.'o   batteries   coverd  the  ] 

hill,  the  valley,  and  the  hillside  fringed  v>-ith   its  dark  lining  of  i 
thick  foiest  trees.     lieyond  was   the  'oluody  wheatdield,  over 

which,  though  v>e  did  not  know  it  then,  th.e  old  reaper,  Death,  ' 
was  hovering  to  gather  up  a   more  precious   harvest   than  was 
[promised  in  the  sheaves  ot  g.^ain  that  dotted  the  ground. 

*  Banks's  force  in  ihe  field  was  officially  stated  as  6,2S9  i;-.fantrv  and   arlillerv,  .  ( 

with   30  guns,  and  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  approxii:\-itclv  stated  as  i.oco  or  i,20C',  ■ 

ri'.akint;   an   .Ty;;^regate   force   of  neaiiy  7,500   tiicv:   of    .:11    arms.      Pope's  Ofticial  , 

Report  d'.cl;ires  tr.at  it  did  not  e.\ct.cd  o.cco.  ; 

t  Testimony   of  Banks   before  Coininittee  on  Conduct  of  the    War,   Decc'.n- 
!;cr  14,  1 561,  p.  4;,  vol.  3. 


■Md- 


i.iim 


1  ,  (  „  ;  r 


1     ,.,'■-') 


;l-:  oi 


J  <^n  -r 


r  t 


1G9 


CHAPTER     VIII. 

W'HiLE  our  troops  were  forming,  Gen.  Jackson  v/as  silently 
aclvancin,':^.  His  leading  division  of  three  brigades  %vas  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Ewell,  our  old  antagonist  at  Winchester. 
Gen.  Early  commanded  the  foremost  brigade  of  this  division, 
and  v/^F,  therefore  the  first  of  all  the  enemiv's  infantiy  to 
encounter  our  cavalrv  under  Bavard.  In  the  morning  the 
enemy's  artillery  o[)ened  on  our  cp.valry,  before  Roberts  had 
crossed  Cedar  Creek  witli  infantry ;  but  Knapp's  Battery 
replied,  and  the  enemy  withdrew.  After  the  main  body  of 
our  infantry  had  crossed  the  creek  and  taken  up  the  line 
designated,  Bavard  formed  his  line  on  a  ridge  in  the  plain 
that  held  the  corn-fiel:],  and  about  tv;o  thirds  of  a  mile  in 
advance  of  the  infantry.  In  this  position  he  recei\'ed  for  a 
time  the  enemy's  fire  from  his  field-guns,  a^id  then  fell  back, 
but  in  a  few  minutes  advanced  again  to  the  ridge. 

As  Early  came  up  with  his  skirmishers,  he  scoured  the  woods 
on  our  l.-ft,  of  the  road  beyond  the  plain,  but  found  no  enemy 
until  he  came -in  sight  of  the  ridge,  where,  formed  in  daring 
array,  he  saw  the  fearless  Bayard.  Early  then  passed  a  short 
distance  to  his  right  of  the  road,  and  Bayard  fell  back  before 
him  to  the  crest  of  a  second  hill,  which  was  in  frorit  of  the 
rise  or  plateau  con L:\ining  our  batteries  and  the  infantry  of 
Augur's  Division.  Although  a  large  number  of  our  cavalry 
remained  in  the  v.duat  and  cornfield,  many  retired  even  to  the 
creek,  across  which  they  came  hi  a  half-disordered  state,  as  if 
some  resistless  pov/erwere  brushing  t'lom  back.  At  this  tinie 
our  batt(.Ties  openedi,  and   E:irlv  withrircw  to   a  sUL-i''t  depres- 


170 

sion  behind  the  crest  of  the  foreir.ost  ridge  between  the  wood 
and  the  corn- held.  Here  he  brought  u])  four  guns  and 
engaged  our  latteries.  As  yet  none  of  our  infantry  were 
visible  in  his  front. 

Hardly  had  Early  taken  up  his  jiosition.  when  suddenly 
the  two  remaining  brigades  of  Ewell's  Division  appeared 
on  the  northwest  face  of  the  mountain,  at  an  elevation  sev- 
eral hundred  feet  alwve  the  plain,  where  the  whole  scene  of 
action  was  unfolded  beneath  them.  Here,  two  batteries, 
placed  in  position  by  Ewell,  hurled  shells  upon  our  guns 
without  molestation,  as  the  enemy  claim. 

■Winder   now  advanced   his   division   along   the   Culpepper  i 

road  as  far  as  Early's  left.     His  batteries  were  j-laced  in  eche-  | 

Ion   along  the   road,   and   his    infantry  stationed   as   follows  :  | 

Campbell's*  Jirigade  v/as  in  the  woods  fronting  the  wdieat-field  j 

and  opposite  Crawford's,  which  was  concealed   by  the  woods  | 

on  our  side  of  the  same  field  ;  Taliaferro's  J^rigade  was  drawn  1 

up  parallel  to  and  facing  the  road,  in  rear  of  the  batteries  ;  j 

while  Winder's    or    the    Stonewall   Brigade  was    in  reserve  ;  j 

Hill's  Division  of  six  brigades  was  still  fartiier  to  the  rear,  but  | 

within  supporting  distance.  1 

The  fire  from  opposing  batteries  had  been  gradually  grovs-- 
ing  warmer  until  about  3  r.  m.,  when  it   perceptibly  increased.  I 

x\lthough  the  enemy's  guns  seemed  to  have  the  advantage 
of  the  highest  ground,  our  artillery  practice  was  admirable. 
Indeed  it  was  so  on  both  sides.     hVon:»  where  my  brigade  v.as  j 

stationed  we  could  see  our  shells  bursting  in   every  direction  { 

over  the  enemy.     From  the    plateau  near  the  corn-field  we  ! 

answered  the  enemy  from  his  lofty  station  on  Cedar  .Mountain,  I 

from   Early's  right,  and  from   Winder's   JSrigade  in   the   Cul-  j 

pepper  road,  just  beyond  the  wheat-field.  Oi^  our  right  my 
guns  covered  the  wood  in  our  front,  and   though  silent,  were  [ 

ready  to  take  part  in  the  tragedy  unfolding  before  us. 

Between  three  and  four  o'clock,  with  a  view  of  attacking,  ! 

*  Comniani-led  by  G;ir:iett.  j 

i 


171 

Banks  _^  moved  forwird  his  whole  line  (excepting  my  brigade) 

about   four  hundred  yards,   sn.yi'ig    to  Gen.  Roberts,   Pope's 

chief-of-staff,  that  he  thought  he  "should  attack  their  batteries 

before  night,"  that  he  did  not  "  believe  the  enemy  was  in  con 

siderable  force  yet,"  that  "his   men  v/ere  in  the  best  fighting 

condition,"  and  that  he  "  believed  ho  could  carry  the  field." 

So  far,  there  had  been  no  opposition  to  our  advance,  and  this, 

perhaps,  caused  Banks    to    believe    that  he  was  frightening 

Jackson.     A  battalion  from  the  Eighth  and  Twelfth  Regulars, 

^ander  Capt.  Pitcher,  from  Prince's  I'rigade,  had  advanced  on 

our    left  through    the    corn    to    within    thirty    yards    of  the 

enemy's   line,  where,  despite  grape,  canister,  and  musketry, 

they    maintained    their  position   until    their   commander  and 

nearly  ah  the  company-officers  were  killed  or  disabled,  until, 

indeed,  the   general    advance    of  their  brigade.     Before  five 

o'clock   Banks   had  determined  on   a   new  aggressive  mo\'e- 

rnent.     It  was  to  attack  the  enemy  with  two  reginients,  one 

*  .  .      . 

from  the  left  and  ano.her  from  the  right  of  his  line  of  battle. 

It  was  a  rem.arkable  movement,  ^^x  have  the  cftlcial  cor- 
resp',vudeiice  from  Baiiks  to  Pope,  anriouncing  what  had  been 
done  and  v/hat  was  to  folknv,* 

"  i  have  ordered  a  re-iment  from  the  right "  (said  Banks  in 
his  dispatch)  "to  adva;.ce."  Crawford,  peering  across  the 
v.heat-feld  into  th.c  dark  forest  beyond,  over  vchich  the  sm.oke 
of  Winder's  batteries  hv.ngin  thick  clo^'ds.  aided  Banks  in  giv- 
ing form  to  the. shapeless  plans  which  had  flitted  through  the 
lalter's  brain.     Banks  would,  have  attempted  with  one  regim.ent 


*  AuGVsr  9,  ii.62,  4.50  p.  M, 
To  Col.  Rcggles, 

Chiif-oJ'-S'.-.iJjf:  — 

About  four  o'clock  shots  were  exchanged  with  the  sldrmishers.  Artillery  opened 
f.re  on  both  s-icies  in  a  few  mo:n  r.tb.  Or..'  rcjrir.i'- r.t  cf  rebel  infantry  advancing, 
nosv  deployed  3.5  skit  niislicrs.  I  have  oidered  a  regin-.erit  from  the  ri..;ht.  (Wil- 
liams's Diviiionj  and  one  from  the  left  (Augur's)   tj  advance  on  the  left  and  in 

front. 

5  r.  M.  — They  arc  now  approaching  each  other. 


'P!,    1 


172 

the  capture  of  the  enemy's  batteries  in  the  Culpepper  road, 
had  not  Crawford  persuaded  him  to  increase  his  force  to  a 
brigade."  Al  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Crawford  was 
ordered  to  advance  through  the  woods,  preparatory  to  an 
attack  upon  the  enemy's  left  flank. 

Col.  JvUger,  commanding  the  six  companies  of  the  Third 
Wisconsin  Regiment  of  my  Brigade,  had  swept  with  his  skir- 
mishers throug'n  the  v.'oods  between  my  position  and  the  wheat- 
field,  without  finding  the  enemy,  when  Gen.  Williams  received 
orders  from  Banks  to  send  these  companies  to  report  to  Craw- 
ford. J3efore  Williams  received  this  order,  Crawford  himself, 
in  violation  of  military  law  or  etiquette,  had  ordered  the 
Wisconsin  companies  to  join  liis  troops  then  filing  into  the 
woods  for  the  gerieral  charge  v.hich  Banks  contemplated  mak- 
ing all  al(>ng  his  line.  To  Crawford's  unlawful  order  Ruger 
replied  that  he  was,  momentarily  expecting  orders  from  Gen. 
Gordon,  his  brigade-commander,  and  suggested  that  before 
taking  his  regiment  from  the  brigade  it  would  be  better  to 
have  superior  authority  ;t  at  tlie  same  time  he  advanced  his 
command  towards  Crawford's  rigl^.t.  Crawford's  appeal  to 
lianks  was  answered  through  an  order  to  Williams,  commu- 
nicated to  me  ;  and  thus  six  companies  of  the  Third  Wis- 
consin Regiment  were  dv^ta^^hed  from  my  brigade  and  jdaced 
on  the  right  of  Cravv-ford's  line. 

As  Crawiord's  Brigade,  comprising  the  Fifth  Connecticut, 
Twenty-Ligliih  2\ew  Vor!:,  Forty-Sixth  rennsylvania,  and 
Tentli  IMaiiie,  Vvdll  now  claim  our  closest  attention,  we  vrill 
cross  over  to  the  ot'ner  side  and  look  again  upon  our  enemy's 
line  ol  bnttle. 

In  front  of  the  two  brig:ides  of  Prince  and  Geary  of  Augur's 
Division  v/as  Early,  reinforced   by  Thomas's  ]3ngade  of  A.  P. 


*  ■' '  The  enemy's  line  begins  to  appear  here,'  savs  Crawford  to  Banks;  '  I  must 
have  more  force.'  I  sent  him  a  brigade."  —  Banks  before  ComviUuc  oit  Conduct 
of  thi  War. 

\  Wisconsin  \\\  the  War,  p.  2tj. 

Ik 


173 

Hill's  Division,  with  their  right  resting  on  a  clump  of  cedars 
and  supported  there  by  four  batteries.  Tiiis  portion  of  the 
enemy's  line  extended  lo  witliin  half  a  mile  of  the  mountain, 
upon  the  face  of  v.diich  and  bearing  upon  the  field  were  tlie 
two  remaining  brigades  of  Ewell  with  more  batteries.  •  Here, 
therefore,  were  four  brigades  opposed  to  two  on  the  left  of 
our  line,  witli  the  further  advantage  that  two  of  the  four  were 
in  an  almost  unassailable  position,  and  were  supported  by  bat- 
teries having  a  plunging  fire  upon  us.  In  the  road  and  opposite 
our  right  \vas  stationed  Winder's  Division  of  three  brigades, 
one  of  which,  the  Second  (Campbell's),  commanded  by  Col. 
GnrnetL,  was  in  line  in  the  woods  on  the  edge  of  'the  wheat- 
field  and  im.rnediately  opposite  Crawfoi'd.  Then  came  'i'al- 
iaferro's  Brigade,  v.-hich  closed  the  gap  between  Early's  left 
and  Garnett's  right.  The  remaining  brigade  of  Winder's  Di- 
vision, the  Stonewall,  was  in  reserve,  as  also  were  five  of  the 
six  brigades  of  Hill's  Division,  which  were  successively  formed 
on  the  enemy's  left  of  the  roi  d.  Winder's  reserve  brigade 
was  formed  a  little  to  the  left  of  Branch,  who  was  followed  by 
Archer,  Pender,  Stafford,  and  Field.* 

On  our  left  we  had  two  brigades  preparing  to  charge 
through  the  corn-field  upon  three  brigades!  'i^'<J  ^our  batteries 
in  tiieir  front,  vhile  L\ro  brigades  :md  n:;n'.^.  batteries  of  the 
eneiny  v.-ere  reaciy  to  spring  froui  the  mountain-side  upon  their 
fiank.  On  our  right  a  single  brigade  confronted  the  enemy's 
left  ;  but  liere  the  enemy  had  only  a  single  brigade  in  line  of 
battle.  Our  tliree  brigades  confronted  six  of  the  enemy's  with 
the  advantage  to  tiie  latter  of  receiving  our  attack  in  posi- 
tions strengthened  by  numerous  batteries.  These  v.-ere  the 
lines. 

Now  let  us   look  at   the   reserves.      On    our  side,  on  the 
extreme   riglit.  there    vet  remained   mv  brigade  of    t\\o   regi- 
ments and   the  four  com]xinles  of    tlie  Third  Wisconsin  that 
had    not    then  been  engaged ;    besides   which  there  was   the 
*  A.  P.  Ilili's  Kopurt.  t  Thomis,  liariy,  'lalmterro. 


;  -A 


174 

Tenth  IMaine  (our  old  Winchester  associate),  which  for  some 
uiiacconntabic  reason  had  been  dropped  out  of  Crawford's 
line  wlicri  the  regin^ents  of  his  brigade  moved  forward,  and 
was  now  destined,  as  we  shall  see,  to  wrestle  alone  with  the 
enemy  in  a  \'a!n  effort  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  day. 
On  tlic  left  of  our  line  there  was  absoluleh'  no  reserve :  so 
that  against  the  six  entire  brigades  of  the  eiiemy  held  in 
reser\'e  we  could  throw  barely  four  small  regiments;*  in 
numbers  we  could  oppose  the  enemy's  8,000  by  not  over 
2,500  micn. 

This  was  the  military  disposition  made  by  Banks  for  an 
assault  along  his  whole  line,  over  the  corn  and  wheat  field;  — 
•these  the  numbers  v/hich  he  burled  against  six  entire  and 
fresh  brigades  of  the  enemy,  comprising  at  least  twenty-four 
regiments,  with  six  brigades  in  reserve. 

We  left  tiie  regiments  of  Crawford's  Brigade  filing  into  the 
woods.  At  about  haif-past  five,  th  ;se  troops,  in  long  line, 
with  tilt*  six  compardes  of  my  Third  Wiscon.sin  upon  the  right 
fiank,  burst  v/ith  loud  cries  from  the  woods,  swept  like  a  tor- 
rent acr'.'ss  the  wheat-rieul,  were  arrested  for  a  moment  by  a 
liigh  rail-ttTice  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  and  then  disappeared 
in  the  thick  forest,  bearing  before  thera  the  enemy's  Second 
Brigade  of  Winder's  j^ivisii-n,  —  broken,  thrown  back  in 
masses  from  front  to  rv_ar,  and  intermingled  with  their  assail- 
ants. The  storm  burst  suddenly  upoii  the  enetny.  It  came 
while  they  were  deciding  that  there  was  no  hostile  infantry 
in  their  front,  and  gave  them  barely  time  to  open  tire.  The 
enemy's  line  extending  farther  to  our  right  than  our  own, 
the  companies  ot  ihc  Wisconsin  regiment  received  a  deadly 
fire,  which  soon  reached  their  rear  but  did  not  stop  them. 
Unshrinkingly  they  dashed  on,  alihough  the  farther  they 
pdvaneed,  the  more  wirhiCrir.g  tliC  fire  became  At  last,  with  a 
loss  of  eiirhtv  kiiled  and  wounded  out  of  tlie  two  hundred  and 


*  'the  S^'corJ  M'as^.acl.ii' '.-tis,  Twenty-Seventh    Insiiaiij,  and  four    companies 
Third  Wis'j.nsir.,  of  ni}-  biijatie,  and  the  Tenth  Maine. 


ax 

,,  .-* 
;  nt 
■>  "y 


.  .1 1 


175 

sixty-seven  that  char-ed  across  the  field,  thev  fell  back  into 
the  wo'xis,  to  be  re-forn-ied  and  ac^ain  to  advance,  as  will 
appear  hereafter, 

While  this  atiack  was  in  progress,  Banks  threw  forward  his 
two  brigades  on  the  left  of  the  Culpepper  road.*  Prince  on 
the  extreme  left  moved  his  infantry  against  the  right  and 
front  of  Early's  line,  but  v/ithout  effect.  Early  stood  "like  a 
rarnpart,"  says  the  Southern  historian,  and  "  hurled  back  all 
efforts  made  against  him."  Geary's  advance  through  the 
corn-field,  with  his  right  along  the  Culpepper  road,  uniting 
with  the  regiments  assaulting  across  the  wheat-field,  forced 
back  the  enemy's  line  in  their  front  and  threw  them  in  such 
confusion  that  if  there  Juid  b^'Oi  no  reserve  to  the  enemy,  and  no 
brigades  on  Cedar  Mountain  to  rush  in  and  take  Prinee  in  fan  k 
and  rear,  and  if  I  had  been  ordered  to  move  fcr-.vard  siviulta- 
neo:nly  ivith  viy  brigade  as  a  support,  the  chances  are  that  we 
would  have  whipped  Jackson. 

But  notwithstanding  the  defiance  with  which  our  fellows 
braved  death  in  that  heroic  charge,  the  destiny  of  overpower- 
ing numbers  was  against  us.  Campbell'sf  i^rigade  had  been 
thrown,  helpless  and  confused,  into  a  disordered  mass,  over 
'A-hich,  with  cries  of  exultation,  our  troops  poured,  while  field 
and  woods  were  hiied  with  cbmor  and  horrid  rout,  — poured  like 
an  ail-destroying  torrent,  until  the  leR  of  Jackson's  line  was 
turned  and  its  rear  gained.  Then,  while  the  left  of  Taliaferro's 
i^rigade  gave  way,  Geary's  blows  upon  its  right  and  upon  the 
left  of  Early  began  to  tell.t  As  Cami-bell  had  been  over- 
thrown, so  next  was  Taliaferro,  and  then  came  the  left  of 
J^arh-'s  Brigade,  which,  first  wavering,  then  fell  back,  until, 
on   both   sides   of  the  road,  a  vast   irruption  had  been  made 


"hiiiu;:tancoi;i:3-  -.ith  C  r^^vtord'^^  advai.cc,  Geary  in  cuntre  and  I'lince  on 
left  moved  against  the  enemy  witii  \\^iy  —  i,t,o:hcr,  in  Jicrt^ir's  Mcmhr'  far 
Au^mt,  1S71. 

t  C'>n;:i:a!KlLJ  by  G.lr!:et^ 

X  Ainijst  tl:e  lan-ua-c  u^cd  by  I.»abiiey  arcl  Cc.  ke  iu  their  histuries. 


,J- 


.?)■;.  "    / 


17G 

which  involved  the  v/hole  of  the    enemy's  line  even  as  far 
towards  the  right  as  one  half  of  the -latter  brigade.* 

That  this  success  was  achieved  without  a  desperate  resist- 
ance, Southern  writers  will  not  admit.     It  is  claimed  that  the 
Twency-First  Virginia,  v.'hich  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
left  brigade,  "  fought  like  lions,  until  the  invading  lines  had 
penetrated  within  twenty  yards  of  their  rear,"  and  that,  owing 
to  the  "terrific  din  of  the  musketry,  the  smoke,  and  the  dense 
foliage,"  this  short  distance  only  intervened  when  the  (oq  was 
for  the  first  time  seen.     Then,  says  the  Southern  historian,! 
"the  orders  of  the  ofRcers  were  unheeded  amid  the  vast  uproar 
and  shouts  of  the  assailants.     Col.  Campbell  was  slain,  but  the 
survivors  of  the  Second   Brigade  fought  o'.i  without  rank  or 
method,  with  bayor.et-thrust  and   musket  clubbed,  until  borne 
back,  like  angry  foam  on  mighty  v.^aves,  towards  the  high  road." 
Though  the  right  of  Early's  Brigade  still  stood  unmoved,  we 
were  gaining  the  rear  of  the  enemy's   line  in   the   open   field, 
when  Jrckson  called    upon  his   rcsorv-s.      He   threw  forward 
the  old  Stonewall  Brigade  of  Winder's  Division,  with  Branch's 
of  .Hill's  Division,  and  these,  with   the  newly-formed  lines  of 
those  that  had  been    broken,  arrested  our  progress,  and  com- 
pelled our  hitherto  victorious  troops  to  fly  ])ack  through   the 
bloody  tiuibcr  over  the  fatal  wheat  aiul  corn  fields.     Jackson 
says  t  the  two  brigades  of  his    reserves   "drove  our' troops 
back  with  terrible  slaughter,"  while  Hill  t  says,  "  The  pursuit 
vv-as  cliccked  and  the  enemy  driven  back." 

But  to  Dabney  must  we  turn  for  Jackson's  achievements  in 
heroic  measure.  As  c-.ntrasting  the  laconic  despatch  of  Jack- 
son himself,  from  the  actual  field  of  his  prowess,  with  the 
gorgeous  word-painting  of  his  Boswdlian  ]?abne},  the  quota- 
tion is  pertinent :  — 

■'■  That  th-;  enemy's  lii.e-  were  tl-.u.-  forccJ  lack  by  chc  regiments  of  Ciawford's 
Biig.-icle  alone,  as  ciainied  by  Major  Gauld,  in  i::e  History  of  the  Tciiih  Maine, 
i:>  ut'erly  ^vitho•Jt  loundatioa. — .A.un!uTU 

i    J  )ahne-.. 

t  0:"ikia!  Keports,  Gens.  J,..;k:=oa  and  iiid.     M.  ..re  s  l-Ubciaoa  Record. 


177 

"  It  wns  at  this  fearful  moment  that  the  genius  of  the  storm 
reared    his   head   amid-.t   the   tumultuous    billows,   and   in   an 
instant  the  threatening-  tide  was  turned.     Jackson  ajjpeared  in 
the  mad  torrent  of   the  highv/ay,  his  figure  instinci  with  maj- 
esty, and  his  face  flaming  with  the  inspiration  of  battle.     He 
ordered  Winder's  batteries  to  be  instantly  withdrawn,  to  pro- 
tect them  from  capture,  issued  his  summons  for  his  reserves, 
drew  his  own  sabre  for  the  nrst  time  in  the  war,  and  shouted  to 
his  broken  troops,  with  a  voice  v/hich  pealed  higher  than  the 
roar  of  battle,  '  Rally,  brave  men,  and  press  forward  !     Your 
general  will  lead  you.     Jackson  will  lead  you.     Follow  me!' 
Fugitives,  with  a  general  shame,  gathered  around  their  adored 
general,  who.  rushing  with  a  few  score  of  them  to  the  front, 
placed  rlicm  behind  the  icriCe  which  bordci-ed  the  roadside,  and 
received  the  pursuers  with  a  deadly  volley.     They  recoiled  in 
surprise,  while  ofhcers  of  every  grade,  catching  the  general 
fervor  of  their  commander,  liew  among  their  men,  and  in  a 
moment  restored  ilie  failing  battle.     Fragments  of  Early  and 
Taliaferro  returned  to  their  places,  forming  around  that  heroic 
nucleus,  the  Thirteenth  X'irginia,  and  swept  the  t'ield  clear  of 
tiiO  eriemw     The  Stonewa.ll  Brigade  had  alread}-  come  up  and 
clianged  the  tide  of  batth'  in  the  bloody  vvoodlands ;  for  some 
of  the  re!a:!meats,  swecjvng  far  around  to  the  left  through  the 
held  of  brushwood,  had  taken  the  Federalists  in  turn  upon  their 
tiank,  and  were  driving  them  back  with  a  fearful   slaughter 
into  the  stubble-ikld.     Searccdy  Vv-as  this  Titanic  blov/  delivered 
v.-'.-ien  tlie  iii\e  brigade  of  Ihanch,  from  the  division  ut  A.  P, 
Hill,  hardlv  allowing  itself  time  to  form,  rushed  forward   to 
.second   them   and  complete   the   repulse.     The   Federal  com- 
mander now  bruught  forward  a  magnincent  column  oi  cavalry, 
and  liurled  it  along  the  hig!iwa\'  full  against  tiie  Confederate 
centre.      No  cannon  was  there  to  ravage  their  ranks;  but  as 
thev  pressed  back  the  Yuic  for  a  little  space,  the  infantry  of 
Branch  closed  in  upon   their  right,  Taliaferro  and   Farly  upon 
their  left,  a:vd  opened  fire,  v.dien  it  he  1   to  the  rear,  scattered 


178 

and  dissipated.     So  Jackson  delivered  blow  after  blow  upon 
his  insulted  left  wing-." 

It  was  between  half- past  ii\e  and  six  o'clock  when  our 
assault  was  made.  Althoug-h  at  least  one  half  of  Banks's 
command  must  have  succeeded  in  gaining  the  enemy's  rear, 
in  the  Stonewall  Brigade,  which,  with  Branch's,  has  received 
the  praise  of  checking  our  pursuit,  tlie  loss  \vas  light,  being 
only  ten  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 

It  now  becomes  necessar\-  to  take  up  the  history  of  the 
Tentli  Maine,  which,  for  some  unaccountable  reason  as  I 
have  said,  v/as  dropped  out  of  Crawford's  Brigade  when  the 
charge  was  made.  After  a  little  delay  it  was  m.oved  into 
the  woods  in  its  front  by  one  of  I-'ai.ks's  staff-otticers  ;  or- 
dered to  halt  and  li:  down,  with  it'-  left  resting  near  the 
road,  where  a  United  States  batter}',  under  Capt.  Best,  was 
recei\'ing  two  for  every  one  of  its  solid  corni)liments  sent 
the  eneiny.  In  the  roavl  and  near  tlie  regiment  was  Banks 
and  stfiif. 

From  v.'here  the  Tenth  ^Mainc  were  stationed,  a  movement 
of  troops  on  t'ne  enera\  's  slue  was  perceived  ;  and  Ikuiks's 
reply,  v.d"ien  this  v\'as  pointed  out  to  Inni, — "  Thank  you,  sir  ; 
this  io  provided  for,"  was  heard,  although  it  was  soon  found 
that  Banks  was  simjjy  indi^^ging  in  tragic  ineLapnor,  and  iiad 
not  provided  for  tliat  ev  au\Lhiiig  else.  And  frem  this  point 
shells  and  shot  could  be  seen  coming  faster  and  faster  from 
Iiwell's  batteries  on  Cedar  r^Iountaii;  ;  from  Earl\''s  right, 
near  tlie  clump*  ot  cedars;  fioni  Winder  in  the  road,  and  from 
every  point  in  ihe  more  than  a  mile  oi  circumterence  occu- 
pied by  tliC  enemv.  W'lvilt;  the  Tenili  Maine  were  lying  in 
these  woods,  the  battle  began  \sith  the  crash.,  wliicli  came  to 
our  ears  as  we  rested  on  the  right,  axsaiting  orders  from  Gen. 
Williams  ;  began  in  \ol!evs  so  terrible  t'nat  the  sound  of  artdler}' 
v.'as  unnoticed  or  a  reliei.  l-'rom  wiiere  the  Tenth  iMaine  were, 
the  enemy  could'  be  seen  planting  new  batteries,  nearer  and 
nearer  to  ours,  over   tli-ae  on  the  plaleaj.i  truni  wlience  our 


Ml 

'■'■J 


J  I 


170 

c^uns  had  not  been  moved  during  the  day.  Then  Geary's 
skirmishers  came  into  view,  foliov/ing  up  those  of  the  enemy 
^vho  uere  retiring  through  the  corn-field;  while  riderless  horses 
were  running  around  between  opposing  fires.  The  roar  that 
met  the  assault  of  our  troops  as  the  new  brigades  of  the 
enemy  turned  upon  them,  was  borne  to  the  ears  of  the  Tenth 
j\Iaine,  as  they  laid  there  idle  in  the  northern  edge  of  the 
woods,  their  hearts  beating  with  an  excitement  and  an  appre- 
hension which  one  must  feel,  to  depict.  One  of  the  officers* 
of  this  regiment  went  forward  through  the  woods  and  saw  part 
of  Geary's  Brigade  of  Ohio  troops  in  the  road  advancing  by 
flank.  Before  this  officer  was  the  wheat-field,  the  shocks,  and 
the  opposite  belt,  as  described.  The  firing  was  then  still 
iarltier  to  the  front,   but  out  of  sight. 

When  the  assault  we  have  described  had  been  checked,  and 
our  troops  were  being  drivcd  back  in  confus'on,  iMajor  Per- 
kins, of  Banks's  staff,  ordered  Col.  Beal,  commanding  the 
Ter,th  Maine,  to  advance  through  the  woods,!  telling  him 
it  was  Banks's  order.  Accordingly  his  regiment  moved  out 
into  tl'.e  wheat-tleld,  iirst  passing  down  a  slight  hill,  then  over 
a  ridge  at  right  air^les  to  the  road,  then  down  again.  Col. 
})eal  knew  only  that  his  brigade  was  far  ahead,  not  in  sight, 
a'.-d  he  was  told  that  an  Ohio  regimcn.t  on  tlie  left  of  the  road 
was  also  ad^"ancing.  The  prospect  that  confronted  the  regi- 
ment as  they  entered  upon  this  murderous  pathway  was 
thi.s:  The  distance  from  tlie  wo  ids  to  those  opposite  was  less 
tiian  six  hundred  yards  ;  in  the  cdg:c  of  the  woods  the  enemy's 
musketry  v/as  both  heard  and  seen ;  the  Ohio  troops 
(Geary's  Brigade)  v/ere  retreating  along  the  road  slowly,  turn- 
ing often  to  fire  upon  the  increasing  numbers  oi^  the  enemy. 
Yet  the  Tenth  Maine  pressed  on  until  they  came  to  the  ridge 
which  h.as  been  described.  Then  they  saw  {he  remnant  of 
then-  brigade  coming  back  to  their  rii^ht,  leaving  a  clear  way 


-  M.ii';r  Go^^.!.     See  H-^-ory  of  Tenth  Maine  in  the  W 
t  Co!.  Be-il,  ia  the  Hi.^torv  of  Tciuh  Maine  in  ■!;€  War. 


180 

for  them  to  fire.  The  enemy  now  rapidly  filled  the  vroods 
in  their  front  and  opened  on  the  Maine  regiment-,  who 
pressed  on,  though  the  fire  v/as  most  murderous,  until  they 
found  themselves  the  only  regiment  visible  on  the  field. 
Tiie  \v>)ijds  opposite  was  still  filling  up  with  the  enemy  ; 
the  fugitive  officers  aiid  mien  of  their  brigade  were  rciurn- 
ing  singly  and  in  squads,  calling  out  to  the  co  or.el  as  they 
passed,  that  there  v/ere  too  many  of  them  for  him  to  handle. 

Alone,  of  all  that  had  preceded,  v.ith  brigade  after  brigade 
of  the  enemy  pouring  into  the  thick  forest  in  their  front,  sur- 
rounded with  the  broken  and  defeated  fragments  that  dis- 
heartened them  by  their  cries,  this  plucky  regiment  "gave 
three  cheers,  in  thai  narrow  valley  of  death,  between  those 
belts  of  timber."*  No  wonder  that  Col.  Beal,  who  had  re- 
ceived no  other  order  than  to  advance  through  the  woods, 
was  "strongly  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  Banks 
could  not  expect  hi:  single  regiment  to  advance  unsupported 
upon  the  whole  of  Jackson's  army."  T>v.t  he  was  mistaken  ; 
for  no  sooner  had  Col.  Beal,  with  a  view  of  regaining;  the 
woods  to  continue  ti:c  fight  under  such  cover  as  the  enemy 
had,  and  such  as  it  was  proper  for  him  to  seek,  faced  his 
regiment  about  and  rn(.ved  a  few  steps,  than  P5anks,  who  saw 
that  Col.  Beal  v,-as  njt  advancing,  :;~kcu  Major  Pelouse,  his 
adjutant-general,  "v.hy  that  regiment  did  not  advance,"  and 
ordered  him  to  "  direct  it  to  do  so."  f  ^Major  Pelouse  gal- 
loped forward  arid  delivered  the  order,  saying  that  Ikanks 
"  forbade  this  backv.-ard  movement."  Col.  Beal  persisted,  and 
the  regiment  kept  on.  A  ferious  altercation,  v.dth  angry 
gesticulations,  arose,  during  wdiich  Major  Pelouse  proceeded 
to  the  rear  of  the  regimental  colors  and  ordered  the  regiment 
to  advance,  crying  out  in  loud  tones  that  "  Sigel  was  in  the 
rear,"  or  "  v.as  cuui'ng,"  and  alh--'  in.iurnung  Col.  Beal  tliat 
Banks    "wished    him    to   know   that   there  was  oidy   a  small 


*  .M.ii'ir  Gou!'.l,  Tuaih  Mu^iie. 

t  'Shr.vv  I'clouic  to  M.uor  GouUl  (Itttfjr),  In  History  of  the  Tcu'.h  Maine. 


!         [V 


181 

force  of  the  enemy  in  front  of  him."  ]Major  Felouse  was 
with  the  regiment  five  minutes,  when  he  was  disobled,  and 
then  Col.  Ecal  placed  his  command  behind  the  ridge  to 
secure  so  much,  of  protection. 

It  was  while  fighting  behind  this  ridge,  "and  when  they  had 
not  been  firing  long,"  that  skirmishers  from  the  Second 
Massachusetts  Regiment  were  seen  to  the  right,  on  a 
run,*  iollowed  by  the  regiment  and  the  remainder  of  the 
brigade.  The  time  then,  says  Major  Gould,  was  about  sunset, 
and  the  enemy's  fire  so  severe  that  soon  the  line  of  the  Tenth 
Maine  began  to  melt  away.  The  enemy's  skirmis'ners  could 
be  seer.,  darting  around  in  the  woods  on  the  right  of  this  regi- 
ment;  also  the  fror;t  of  the  enemy's  line,  at  least  three  times 
longer  than  that  cf  the  Tenth  I\Iaii-;c  was  visible,!  and  there 
was  a  flank  fire  from  the  Culpepper  road  on  their  lett,  where 
the  Ohio  troops  under  Geary  had  been  driven  back,  and  this 
fire  crossed  at  right  angles  that  from  the  woods  opposite  —  the 
oriK  into  v, hich  m.y  brigade  had  just  come  and  formed  in  line  of 
battle.  For  a  description  of  the  "  huge  gaps  "  and  dreadful  car- 
nage ;  of  the  reeling  aiul  plunging  of  the  woLmded,  the  shock 
of  the  tailing  of  the  dead  ;  the  excitement  of  the  men,  the  con- 
ceivable and  inconceivable  positions  they  took  in  loading,  their 
swearing  and  jibing  ot  tiie  enemy,  intermingled  wiUi  tlie  din  i 

oi  ml;;-ketr^•.  while  the  bright  siu'isct  SLrLam<.d  in   their  eves  \ 

over  the  dark  and  smoky  woods  which  covered  the  superior  | 

n.un-ibers   of  the  toe    and  greatly  gave  them  the  advantage  ;  '. 

-md  ftr  an   account   of  the  charge  of  Federal  ca\'alry  4."  v.ith  j 

v.hieh  Banks  sought  to  retrieve  his  fortunes,  and  which   ll:c  \ 

grandiloquent  Dabney  speaks   of  as    "a  magnificent  column  j 

*  Mnior  Gould,  in  Ter.th  Maine.  j 

t  Hiaton-of  Maine  in  the  War.                                              •  | 

I  "SiJiiiC  ■>ne  sent  a  very  siiiall  force  of  cav.nlry  into  the  flell  we  h.\<\  just  left  :  j 

V  e  wv  I'l  (.'iU-ii',  I:.     They  charj;eJ  down  tlie  Orange  Court    Hou>e    road,  and  i 

wiihout  st.'i'i;iiig  tc  sriv  or  do  n-.uci":,  they  turned  around  and  came  back,  leaving  i 

a  iiuiViber  of  dw.id  h.oi.ses -jn  th.e  field.     Tb.e  cneiny  said  it  v\.;b  a  j)!;iv.ky  act." —  ^ 

M-.ijor  Lcii'.,i,  :ii  T.ui/i  j.\I :!i:j  :n  i.':i  I'/ar.  ! 


;I.i./ 


i;  ■ 


182 

of  cavalry,"  reference    is   made  to   the  full  details  in  Major 
Gould's  history. 

The  events  tl;at  tianspired  here  ser\'e  to  fix  for  us  the  fact, 
that  when  I  came  up  with  mv  brigade  the  Tenth  Maine  was 
contending  alone  with  the  whole  reinforcements  (at  least 
three  brigades)  that  Jackson  had  thrown  in  to  sustain  his  left ; 
they  show,  too,  not  only  the  severity  of  the  hre  of  the  enemy 
fron:  the  protection  of  the  woods,  but  that  their  advance  along 
the  Culpepper  ruad  enabled  them  to  deliver  a  flank  fire  dov;n 
the  whole  lenglh  of  the  wheat-ficld.  As  my  brigade  appeared, 
the  Tenth  ]\Iaine  fell  back  into  the  woods,  passed  through 
them,  and  retired  from,  the  action.  The  time  they  were  under 
fire  behind  the  ridge  is  variously  estimiated  from  thirty  min- 
ut'.s  to  five;^'  their  loss  was  one  hundred  and  seventy  killed 
and  wounded.  Our  position,  as  given  by  Major  Gould,  was  a 
little  to  the  rear  of  that  regiment  and  about  three  hundred 
yards  to  its  right. 

Now  we  are  prepared  to  exaniino  the  details  of  our  own 
movements.  We  have  seen  the  condition  of  Ixanks's  line  when 
skir.'T-iisliers  froin.  the  Second  .Massachusetts  of  my  brigade 
were  seen  coming  into  action,  and  we  can,  from  the  official 
reports  of  Jackson  and  Branch,  Archer  and  Pender,  know 
exactly  the  force  of  the  enern_v  th.at  confronted  us. 

Ji  \vas  al^out  h.ili-'.xist  five  o'clock  in  tlie  afternoon,  when 
Gen.  Williams,  our  division  commander,  sent  me  an  order  to 
oljscrve  him,  audi  when  lie  made  a  sigrial  by  waving  his  hand- 
kerchief to  thrt>\s'  f'jrv.-ard  my  v/liole  command  to  support 
Crawford.  Gen.  Williams  with  Ids  statt"  was  on  the  hillside, 
ill  rear  of  the  ^voi';ds  through  which  Crawiord's  Brigade  had 
passed  ;  he  was  plainly  in  siglit  fron\  v^diere  I  stood.  That 
there  might  be  no  delay,  I  withdrew  mv  command  from  the 
wood  to  the  rear  aivl  flank  of  my  position.  ;  form.ed  my 
l;rigadcdine ;  th.vn  fixed  my  field-glass  upon  Gen.  Williams 
and  awaited  his  simimons.     Moments  passed  ;  the  fire  of  the 


«  \ 


lajor  Gould  tliinki  the  ijtter  most  probable. 


:<■■     '■! 


183 

artillery,  now  falling  off  for  a  moment  and  again  resumed, 
mingled  with  the  pitiless  crash  of  mii^^ketry  that  lose  from 
the  assaulting  cola-.nn  I  was  to  support,  —  and  yet  no  signal  ; 
but  instead  thereof  a  messenger  dashing  up  from  Gen.  Banks, 
the  first  from  him  that  day :  "Gen.  Banks  directs  that  you 
send  the  Second  Massachusetts  Regiment  down  the  pike  to 
him."  Before  I  could  do  more  than  give  the  order,  before  the 
regiment  could  take  a  step  on  its  course,  a  horseman,  spur- 
ring in  furious  haste,  dashed  to  mv  side.  It  was  Capt.  Pitt- 
rnan,  aid  to  Gen.  Wdliams  :  "  Gen.  Williams  directs  vou  to 
move  your  whole  command  to  the  support  of  Gen.  Craw- 
f.;rd." 

If  Gen.  Williams  had  waved  Ids  handkerchief  (engaged  in 
moving  the  Second  Regiment  in  compliance  with  Banks's 
order),  I  did  not  see  him  ;  but  the  delay  was  onlv  m.omentary. 
The  Second  sprang  forward  ;  so  did  the  remaining  companies 
of  the  Tiurd  Wisconsin;  so  did  the  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana. 
It  ^va'^  now  a  little  bef.jre  six  o'clock.  The  rattle  and  roar  of 
musketry  had  given  place  to  a  dreadful,  an  ominous  silence. 
A  thick  smoke  curling  through  tlie  tree-tops,  as  it  arose  in 
clouds  from  corn  and  v.iieat  fields,  marked  the  place  to 
which  we  were  ordered,  the  place  where  the  narrow  valley 
was  strewn  with  dead.  "  Double-quick  I  "  I  ga\-e  the  order, 
and  my  brigade  responded.  Down  the  slope  from  Brown's 
house  at  a  run,  through  the  marshy  land  at  its  base,  over 
Cedar  Creek  to  the  steep  hill  and  up  its  sides  into  the 
wo.'j-as,  I  pressed  my  troops  witli  speed  rmabated,  dest^ite 
remonstrances  from  some  of  the  officers  that  the  men  could 
not  h'jld  out  at  this  pace.  At  tiie  edge  oi  the  wooti>  1  rallied 
and  gathered  up  the  six  com})aines  of  the  Third  Wiscorisin, 
part  ot  the  broken  fragments  of  Crawford's  Brigade,  a  second 
time  to  be  baptized  in  the  fiery  flood  of  Cedar  Aloimtain.  So 
We  went  Uinil  wc^  had  penetrated  the  v>oods,  and  stood  in  line 
of  battle  on  the  very  ea-j;e  of  the  wheat-field.  We  had  come 
at  topmost  speed  to  suj^purt  Crawford.,  but  his  whole  line  had 


^"m 


184 

melted  away.  We  iiad  come  to  sustain,  but  we  remained  alone 
to  bear  the  brunt  oi  the  fight,  ourselves  unsupported.  The 
whole  distance  we  had  passed  over,  in  an  incredibly  short 
period  of  time,  was  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  yards,  of 
which  nearly  tour  hundred*  was  through  the  woods. 

When  I  gained  the  timber  I  looked  for  Crav.-ford's  regiments, 
but  so  broken  had  they  been  by  their  repulse  that  I  could 
find,  of  all,  only  v.diat  remained  of  the  six  Wisconsin  com 
panies.  Of  the  Twenty-Eighth  New  York,  the  Fiith  Connec- 
ticut, or  the  Forty-Sixth  Pennsylvania,  not  a  vestige  met  my 
eyes.  There  was,  however,  one  relic  of  Crawford's  Brigade, 
and  thai:  -^vas  CrawlV.rd  him.sclf.  I  saw  him  back  in  the  woods 
sitting  quietly  on  his  horse,  with  a  musket  across  his  saddle, 
although  at  aboiu  this  time  the  only  regiment  of  his  brigade 
then  in  action,  tlic  Tenth  Maine,  was  out  in  the  wheat-field 
where  an  officer  from  liardvs's  staff  was  then  or  had  been 
ur-'ing  it  forward.  x\s  soon  as  the  firing  upon  my  line 
b^igan,  Crawf.)rd  disappeared,  and  this  was  about  the  time 
the  Tenth  Maine  fell  back,  thus  making  the  last  appearance 
of  Crawford  and  Ins  brigade  simultaneous  v/ith  our  tirst 
movement  upon   the  scene. 

Mv  line  of  battle  Vs'as  quickly  formed,  —  the  Second  on  the 
left.  :ken  the  Twentv-Seveuth  Indiana,  and  on  the  right  the 
Third  Wisconsin.  From  tl^e  edge  of  the  wood  we  looked 
across  the  wheat-field,  not  over  four  hundred  yards,  at  the 
long  lin.es  of  the  enemy,  who,  having  now  advanced  irito 
cleared  ground,  ojjencd  upon  u.-.  a  heavy  fire,  which  was 
immediately  responded  to  b)'  ti^e  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana 
and  Third  Wisconsin  Regiments. 

As  I  rode  up  to  the  Second  ^^lassacliusetts,  I  was  amazed 
that  no  firing  was  going  on.  There  sat  Col.  Andrews,  rather 
complacentlv.  on  the  left  fiank  of  his  regiment,  and  in  line 
with  it.  '•  Whv  dunt  vou  order  yoitr  men  to  fire.'  "  I  shouied. 
"  D<m"t  see  anytlung  to  fire  at.'^  was  the  cool  response.    "^^^ 

*  Col.  Coi^rovL-,  ofii-.e   r-.vciity-ScvtMlh  Indiana,  pins  it  at  two  hundred. 


185 


by  the  right  flank  and  join  on  with  the  Twenty-Seventh,  and 
voLi  v.ilt  soon  find  enough  to  fire  at,"  1  replied.  The  regiment 
waii  moved  where  the  field  was  a  little  more  exposed  to  Col. 
Andrews's  vision,  and  I  heard  no  further  complaint  that  he 
could  find  ••■  nothing  to  fire  at." 


24 


isn 


CHAPTER    IX. 

From  the  mo.st  authentic  sources  *  v>"e  now  know  the  move- 
ments of  the  enem}'at  the  time  I  was  ordered  into  action.  In 
addition  to  the  reserve  brigade  of  Winder's  Division,  and 
Branch's  Brigade  of  A.  V.  Hill's  Division,  both  of  which  had 
united  with  tlic  restored  fragments  of  the  two  that  had  been 
driven  back  by  Banks's  assault  as  described,  Gen.  Jackson 
threw  tv,'0  fresh  brigades,  those  of  Archer  and  Pender  of  Hill"s 
Division,  into  the  v."Oods  opposite  the  wheat-field,  not  only 
extendhng  them  far  to  tlie  left,  but  ordering  them  also  to  throw 
their  left  contin.ually  forvv-ard  and  attack  tlie  en.eniy  in  the 
opposite  woods.  JBcfore  the  tv.o  brigades  of  Archer  and 
Pender  VvX-re  added  to  tiiis  force,  the  Tlhrd  or  Stonewall 
Brigade  of  Winder's  Division,  on  the  left  of  Branch,  was  pro- 
longed so  far  into  the  Liinhcr  that  its  fire  took  the  repulsed 
regiments  m  flank  as  they  \vere  retreating  across  the  wheat- 
fxcld,  after  whicli,  in  connection  Vvith  Branch's,  the  two  brig- 
ades poured  a  united  hre  into  the  Tent'n  IMaine,  un.til.  as 
related,  it  was  dri\  en  back  into  the  woods. 

In  the  v/oods  upon  which  Jackson  now  directed  his  attack, 
nothing  but  my  tliree  small  regiuicnts  was  left  to  confront  not 
less  than  fvej  entire  brigades  of  the  ejiem\',  of  whicli  four 


*  Ofticln!  R-por:,  T  ut'-  ot  C<:d.ir  Mount.iin.  \.y  Limc-Gcn.  Jiokso.;,  Generals 
Ilill,  Archer,  Perider,  aiici  otlieis.     (.See  also  Dabney's  lii-story.) 

t  Brigadis  of  Branch,  Aicher,  and  Pender  of  HIU's  Division,  the  Stoiiewall 
Brigade  and  Tcdiafu-rri)";.,  -.vicii  wh.-.t  was  left  of  ( '.a:;;i.:t's,  of  Jackion"»  own 
division. 


.187 

were  in  line  when  we  came  upon  the  held,  and  one  reaching 
far  around  to  envelop  our  right.  Of  the  ten  brigades 
wnich  Jackson  threw  (out  of  the  twelve  in  his  army)  *  into 
the  fight  at  Cedar  Mountain,  one  half  oi  them  awaited  our 
attack  on  the  right  of  the  road  across  that  deadly  wheat-field. 
My  force  was  less  th.an  1,500  men  ;  the  enemy's  could  not  have 
fallen  short  of  S,ooo  out  of  his  whole  force,  of  from  20,000  to 
25,000  men.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  woods  opposite  must 
have  been  literaily  packed  with  the  enemy,  and  that  thev  must 
have  extended  far  beyond  our  right  to  have  enabled  even  one 
third  of  them  to  have  got  to  the  front. 

lliis  was  the  situation,  as  we  alone,  of  all  Banks's  Corps, 
when  the  liglit  was  growing  dim  on  that  fatal  August  night, 
opened  fire  from  the  right  of  the  road  on  the  long  lines  of 
Archer's  Brigade,  as  they,  disdaining  cover,  stood  boldly  out 
amid  the  v,-heat-stacks  in  front  of  the  timber.  As  may  be  im- 
agined, our  position  was  an  exposed  one.  It  is  almost  in  vain 
to  attempt  to  convey  an  im^jressiun  of  the  fierceness  of  that 
nre  ;  there  was  no  interinission  ;  the  crackling  of  musketry 
was  incessant.  To  Col.  Colgrove,  commanding  the  I'wcnty- 
Seventh  Indiana,  on  the  right  of  the  Second  .Massachusetts, 
the  enemy  seemed  to  be  all  around  him,  in  his  front,  on  his 
right,  in  a  dense  growth  of  underbrush,  and  on  his  left,  in  line 
extcnaing  nearly  across  the  wh.eat-field.  B'rom  iron t  and.  ilank, 
direct  and  cross,  cam.e  this  terrible  fire  upon  the  Twenty- 
Sevenih  Indiana.  Then  signs  of  panic  began  to  show  them- 
selves in  th-.s  regiment.  '-  We  are  firing  upon  our  own  men  !" 
cried  those  udio  sav/,  in  the  wooded  thicket  at  the  end  of  the 
wheat-field,  large  bod'es  of  troons  endeavoring  to  approach, 
undercover,  nearer  to  our  fiank.  "We  are  firing  upon  our 
own  men!'  shouted  Col.  Colgrove  to  laicas  he  pointed  to 
what  seemed  to  him  to  be  the  blue  unifurms  of  our  tioops  in 
tne  dense  brushwood  on  our  right.  "We  have  no  men  there/' 
I  replied,  '^  the  enemy  is   tliere.      Order  year  men  to  (■■pen  fire 

♦   Si.'iioid's  aad  I-iekU's,  of  tliili  Divisoii,  utre  not  cn-agcd  at  aij. 


■r?:[: 


'i^i^i" 


188 

9 

upon  them."  *  The  colonel  still  hesitating,  to  convince  him  of 
his  error  I  rode  forward  to  the  right  of  his  regiment,  up  to 
the  fence  t'pat  skirted  the  t^rushwood,  and  was  received  v/ith 
a  fire  that  settled  the  matter  at  once.f  Then  the  firing  of 
the  enemy  became  heavier  along  our  whole  line,  and  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Indiana,  after  giving  many  symptoms  of 
disorder,  broke,  and  fled  through  the  v  oods  to  the  open 
ground,  a  distance  which  Col.  Colgrove  gives  as  two  hundred 
yards. 

The  fortunes  of  the  Third  Wisconsin  were  involved  with 
those  of  tlie  Twenty-Seventh.  This  regiment,  on  the 
extreme  right  of  my  line,  stood,  with  six  of  its  companies, 
bearing,  for  a  second  tirae  v/ithiu  an  hour,  t'lis  baptism  of 
blood.  When  the  l\vefily-Seventh  fell  back  I  could  not  cen- 
sure because  the  Third  Wisconsin  did  not  stand.  I  know 
of  no  otlicr  regiment  in  Banks's  entire  corps  that  twice 
on  tnat  day,  in  different  brigades  and  iri  difterent  parts  Oi 
the  field,  stood  so  unflinchingly  before  numbers  and  fire  so 
overwhelming. 

And  how  was  it  witli  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Seconxl 
IMassachusctts  .'  Before  them,  too,  appeared  the  enemy,  with 
his  long  lines  far  outflankiiig  the  right  ot  our  brigade,  and 
j)0uririg  u|)0!i  tliem  a  bail-storm  ol  muskvtry  from  lines  open 
and  Concealed.  Steadv!  the}"  replied  to  t;ie  enen-iy's  fire,  in 
the  face  of  the  continual  flashing  of  muskets,  —  an  undimin- 
ished flame,  —  from  which  bullt'.s  hissed  witli  sound  n^iore 
terrible  tiian  ever  heard  by  ihen.i  before.  They  also  saw, 
unmoved,  the  enemy  advancing  in  line,  tlmowing  forward  his 
Iv'it  as  orderr'd,  and  thus  npproachin.p;  oblicjuely  their  ri^i'.ht 
liank  ;  and   t'nev  received  him  wiih  a  fire  sn  severe  that  his 


*  The  Indian.!  Ke-imeni  had  aliuost  ceased  firi'.ijj,  the  colonel  giving  this  as 
an  e.\>:i:se. 

t  "  I  saw  you  on  the  right  nf  my  reg:nient  liJe  forward  to  thv.-  fence,  and  injr.ic- 
diatcly  a  very  heavy  fire  was  oi>ened  upnu  that  part  o[  the  line  by  the  enemy, 
upnn  you.  I  cainiot  conceive  !io\v  yo>i  [)o^sibIy  tscapeii  it  wiihout  fujury."  —  Co'. 
Co'^rxtcs  Ojji  id!  Kepcrt,  Har'.'d  <>/  CeJj.r  MouKtatn. 


189 

shattered  line  could  easily  have  been  driven  back,*  had  this 
been  all.  The  Second  stood  tliere  for  some  time,  oi:  all  my 
brigade  alone,  for  the  right  re.i:^iments  had  fallen  back.  Of 
course,  when  thev,  too,  v/ould  be  compelled  to  retire  was  only 
a  question  of  moments ;  but  the  moment  had  not  yet  come, 
and  it  v/as  not  anticipated. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana,  which  had  retreated  through 
the  wood^,  wa-";  rallied,  re-formed, f  and  m.oved  to  the  right 
of  the  Second  Massachusetts,  where  again  it  opened  fire 
upon  the  encmv.  By  this  time,  Pender  with  his  brigade, 
\vho  until  now  had  kept  carefully  out  of  sight,  had  gained 
our  rear.  In  the  confusion,  the  roar  and  smoke,  this  force 
was  nrit  seen  until  after  thev  had  reached  our  side  of  the 
fence,  and  wjre  within  tv/entv  paces  of  the  rigl'it  of  Col.  Col- 
grove's  regiment  t  and  a  little  in  rear  of  our  line.  As  they 
Avere  marching  dehberately  towards  us  in  coluu'ins  of  compa- 
nies, tlvj  commander  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana  saw  them, 
andi  shouted  instant] v  to  his  men  to  face  and  fde  to  tlie  right, 
but  he  was  c/oeved  by  his  riglit  company  only.  The  enemy 
lialred,  wheeled  into  line,  opened  fire  with  tliat  portion  of  his 
front  that  cuidd  reach,  us,  and  tiirew  forward  the  remainder  ol 
his  brigade  full  upon  our  flank  and  rear.§  But  the  Twent\'- 
Sc\"enth  Indiana  had  again  fled,  leaving  exposed  to  this  nev>- 
attack  the  nank  and  rear  of  tlie  Second  Massachusetts.  Oii 
t!ie  extreme  riglit  of  the  Second  v,as  brave  Capt.  Goodv/in, 
figiiting  Co.   K  most  valiantlv  and    fearlesslv  ;    and  in  front 


*  It  \va-;  here  that  Archer's.  Eri.;,acle  rcL.-iivfcd  stich  a  severe  punishment  I'roiu  ihe 
Second  M.issachu-ett:.  Mis  looses  were  reinirted  ns  very  hc-i\y.  See  Jacki;oa".s, 
}iiil's,  a:\d  Archers  Oidcial  Rcport.s.     Voh  IX,  Moore's  "  Kcbsl  Records." 

t  "  In  ra!';yi;;g  a-d  re-forming  the  regiment  at  this  point,  and  indeed  daring  the 
whole  ac'i>':5,  f  \\as  r.'ded  by  yoLn>eif  ar.d  y.jur  smiT,  and  particularly  by  Capt, 
Scoit,  your  assist.int  adjutant-general,  whose  energy  and  bravery  it  is  impossible 
to  conunc-'-d  t-i'>  highly."' —  CJ.  L'o/p-jz/ s  0_^lcla!.  K.port,  Batil:  of  Cc-iJr  Mc:i>'.- 
lain,  ':>  G.-ri.  Cro.  II.  Gaj\tt':i. 

J  Col.  Coigrove's  Report. 

§  Whcii  I'lrr.dcr's  rr;,;L.!e  made  :t--  tinal  charge,  it  was  so  rvM-ih  in  our  rear  that 
its  Ios>  fn^iu  ou.'  iire  nas  oi;!y  na-.-cn  iti  ail.     (.See  Jaci^-oirs  Onlci.d  Report.) 


190 

was  Capt.  Abbott  with  his  company,  in  the  open  field,  where, 
upon  our  arrival,  lie  had  deployed  his  skirmishers,  who  were 
lyii'g  do^vn  and  firing  upon  the  enemy. 

Now,  in  front  and  on  flank,  full  and  fierce  the  storm 
tore  through  and  around  us.  The  crash  was  terrific ;  it 
was  indescribable.  Capt.  Good-.vin  fell  dead,  and  with  himi 
over  twenty  of  hks  n-.en  ;  fifteen  more  were  missing.  iMajor 
Savage,  opposite  the  right  anrl  rear,  in  the  verv  face  of  this 
deadly  blast,  fell  grievously  wounded,  while  his  horse  was  shot 
dead  upon  the  spot.  I  will  not  here  name  the  dead,  as  I 
shall  refer  to  iliem  wliere,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  we  were 
piermitted  to  rrco\'er  their  bodies.  But  as  I  am  speaking  of 
that  terrible,  that  dreadful  and  remorseless  fire,  that  came 
like  a  v.hirlvvii-u,  and  licked  up  with  its  fiery  blast  more  Tr.-es 
than  were  lost  to  our  regiment  and  mv  brigade  in  any  bat- 
tle ot  the  war,  I  may  upon  this  occasion  be  })ermitted  to 
recall  the  name  of  one  of  our  number,  who,  in  tlie  midst  of  all 
this  carnage,  in  the  verv  face  and  front  of  th(^  enemv's  fire,  and 
almost  v/ithin  reacli  of  their  guns,  himself  unwounded,  placed 
his  own  body  an>l  las  own  frail  life  between  his  friend  and  the 
enemy,  ^vlajor  Savage  and  Capt.  Henry  S.  F'.usstll  were  cap- 
tured together;  the  former,  lingering  for  a  fev/  weeks,  died  at 
Cliarlottc^viile,  Ijut  the  latter  v;e  greet  rejoicingly  as  annmg 
the  survi'v-ors  or  the  officers  of  ou.r  ix-giment.* 

Flesh  and  bluod  coiJd  stand  no  longer ;  th.e  last  attack 
had  been  made ;  arid  now  we,  too,  v/ere  driven  the  last  from 

*  Nowhere  can  I  fi;id  :v.^re:  tittiiig  word-  to  ripplv  to  this  knightly  act  than  thoie 
used  hy  the  aged  iath-jr  of  Major  Sava.C;e,  in-,dcr  date  of  August  20,  lS''i2,  in  re[)ly 
t')  ir:y  letter  of  syini  athy.  "  .^I;:c!l  satiafjcti-Mi,"'  ise  sr.yi,  "  is  cicrived  Liy  a  p.ueiu 
from  t::e  proof  of  s;.  nipathy  with  tiie  niiafo!  tunes  of  a  child,  expressed  !)y  his 
nearest  companions,  and  it  v.ili  seldor-;  ha;ipen  that  more  affectionate  regard  is 
shown  by  his  fe! low-officers  to  anv  one  than  my  only  son  gained  Ironi  those  of 
your  ori^iral  rec^in.ent.  .Swch  evidence  wei-jls  more  than  is  aHvays  furnished 
a'.T.r.d.uuiv  for  sTicrc  C'l-.ragi.,  because  biavery  ijchings  to  most  of  uur  race,  and 
the  want  of  it  i.s  a  disgrace  ;  but  the  overslow  of  genial  bcntinicnt  i.s  not  an  i:\d-i- 
T'.ci'.;-ab:e  requisite  of  the  tiu-st  va'.ucd  a:;d  h.onorable  serv.ir.t  of  the  pubic,  and  in 
p.oportion  to  its  rarity  s;ii>uld  be  admirei.l  as  a  heavenly  grace." 


191 

the  field.  While  Col.  Andrev\-s  was  endeavoring  to  rally  his 
rogim'^nt,  his  horse  received  two  balls,  one  in  tlie  she-ulder 
and  one  in  the  neck,  the  effect  of  which,  the  colonel  says,  was 
"  to  send  him  p]ung:inp:  among  the  branches  and  nndergrowth 
and  to  bewilder  his  rider."  My  own  horse,  when  that  lire 
came,  shook  for  a  momeut  with  terror,  then  bore  nie  despite 
rnv  will'through  the  underbrusli  and  Avoods  to  the  left  of  the 
line  of  my  brigade.  * 

It  was  about  hall-[>ast  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  when,  in 
the  company  of  from  thirty  to  fifty  men  (principally  of  the 
Wisconsin  and  Indiana  regiments)  whom  I  had  rallied,  I 
found  m}'self  out  of  tlie  timber  on  its  edge,  ^t  the  foot  of 
the  iiill  up  wliich  we  liad^ scrambled,  and  nor  three  hundreds 
\'ards  from  the  fatal  field.  The  horror  with  which  ai  first  I 
contemplated  the  possi]>ility  that  these  vere  all  that  remained 
was  soon  relieved  by  tiie  siglit  of  the  Second  Massachusetts, 
led  bv  Col.  Andrews,  emerging  irom  tlie  woods,  farther  towards 
the  centre  of  our  lit-e  than  he  wen.l"  in,  and  moving,  all  that 
were  not  dead,  ^^■ounded,  or  captured,  in  perfect  order  to  the 
rear.  1  directed  my  shmttered  and  broken  comman.d  towards 
the  ptjint  from  whence,  scarce  an  hour  Ivjfore,  we  had  started. 
We  arri\'ed  after  dark,  to  sink  down  exhausted  upon  the 
^; round.  J^ut  what  a  change  since  our  de|,)arttrre  I  The  cot- 
lage,  the  yard,  the  giuimds  around  were  filh.'d  with  oiu"  dead 
■dv.'.l  d\"ing.  All  v.dio  coidd  be  recovered  from  Crawford's 
Ihigade,  as  well  as  all  from  mine,  were  here.  ^ly  Ijat- 
terics  were  in  pos'tion,  as  when  I  liad  lert  them,  but  there 
was  nothing  else  to  resist  the  inonientaril)-  expected  forward 
rncjvenH.-nt  ot  the  eiicm}-.  In  tlie  nnd>i  of  nnich  coniusion, 
a  stait-ofiicer  from  Gen.  Williams  brought  me  an  order  to  fall 
back.  Tut  little  did  Gen.  Williams  know  what  I  shcadd  have 
to  abandon.  I  sent  on.e  of  m\'  stntf  to  ir.form  him.  It  was 
quite  dark,  and  my  pickets  were  extended  to  th.e  iront.  Sor>ii 
a  message  v/as  received  from  Gen.  Tanks  orderin.g  me  to  fall 
back.       On    nsy    way    t<.)    cniiguteu    liini    ^!ie    was    near    the 


192 

centre  of  our  line  on  the  pike)  upon  the  condition  of  things 
around  my  station,  I  encountered  one  Clark,  an  aid  of  the 
general,  who  repeated  to  rne  an  order  from  Banks  to  leave  my 
present  position  wl^.en  I  should  be  relieved  by  troops  from 
McDowell's  Corps,  and  take  up  a  position  in  the  centre  of 
our  line.  Replying  that  I  v/ould  see  Banks  in  person,  I 
groped  my  way  forward,  and  soon  came  upon  IMajor-Generals 
Bope  and  Banks,  standing  "together  in  the  road  nearly  two 
miles  in  rear  of  the  wheat-field,  and  about  one  mile  on  the 
Culpepper  side,  from  Cedar  Creek. 

Gen.  Bope  had  at  last  arrived  on  the  field,  and  the  following 
will  explain  haw  he  happened  there:  — 

The  boom  of  artillery  that  echoed  back  to  Culpepper  Court 
Blouse  in  the  miorning,  and  continued  at  intervals  until  it 
broke  out  into  the  heavy  cannonade  svhich  I  have  described, 
made  it  at  last  no  longer  doubtful  to  Bope,  and  some  ofiicers 
of  his  staff,  that  a  battle  between  our  corps  and  Jackson's 
army  wa-  impending  or  in  progress.  Until  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  Bope  sat  quietly  reading  and  smoking,  at  his  tent- 
door  in  Culi)epj:>er.  At  this  hour,  as  peal  after  peal  from  oar 
artillery  fell  upon  his  ears,  he  ^^prang  into  his  saddle,  and 
calling  upon  his  staff  to  follr.w,  galloped  rapidly  thro'agh 
the  v;lla:::e  in  the  di^cciio^i  of  Cedar  Moiintain,  udlowed  b}- 
glariCfS  of  tenor  from  the  citizens,  who,  during  the  day,  had 
listened  with  anxiety  to  the  combat.  Gen.  McDowell,  who 
accompaviird  B'jpe,  gave  to  Kickett's  L)i\-ision  of  his  corps,  as 
he  came  up  to  it,  orders  to  form  and  n"!o\-e  forward  inmiedi- 
ately.  As  Bope  neared  the  battle-field,  the  cannonade  beconi- 
ing  more  and  uiore  lurious,  the  i:roo})s  of  McDov.'cil  v/ere 
pushed  on  through,  road  and  fields  in  separate  cokunns  and 
with  increased  rapidity.  Soon  a  column  of  wounded  wdth 
assistan.ts  was  met,  s^ane  on  foot,  some  on  horseback  or  in 
ambulances,  whom  Bope's  staff,  mistaking  for  stragglers,  val- 
iantly set  upon,  and  thuis  endeavored  for  a  time  to  force  l>ack 
men,  v»"iiose   blood v    r>an.da'\;s  and   biout    countenances    and 


J  -.  :   >'> 


19;] 

arms,  to  which  they  still  ckni-  denoted,  upon  a  closer  inspec- 
tion, that  there  vver.^  no  coward.^  -mon-  them.  And  now  the 
soand  of  cannon  ceased,  and  that  pireous  roll  of  muskctry 
which  I  ha\-e  described,  was  borne  to  Pope's  ears,  "  while  the 
long  procession  of  bandaged  and  bloody  soldiers  and  dripping 
ambulances  continued."  *  Theji  came  silence,  for  Banks  had 
been  overpowered. 

Alone,  or  atrended  by  a  single  aid,  in  the  twilight  after  our 
defeat,  IJaiiks  encountered  Pope.  They  met  only  a  few  min- 
utes before  I  came  upr,n  them  as  I  have  narrated.  Gen.  Pope 
Lnefly  inquired  of  me  as  to  the  condition  of  my  command. 
'■  I  do  not  think  I  have  now,"  I  said.  "'  more  than  three  or  four 
liun-.lred  troops  together;  \rc  have  been  very  much  cut  up." 
-General  Gordon,"  Gen.  Pop-  replied,  "  you  will  move  as  soon 
as  relieved  to  the  right  of  the  pike  and  form  the  centre  of  a 
nevv'  lip.e  ot  battle.  I  don't  expect  much  of  vour  troops  to- 
m.crrow,  but  you  will  make  a  show  and  can  support  a  battery. 
You  will  not  have  mu.h  to  do.  /  ./^a//  have  tivcnty  tkousand 
Jrcsli  troops  to-viorroiv  vioyniiio-y 

Ihis  was  the  first  appearance  of  the  major-general  com- 
manding the  Army  of  Virginia  upon  the  disastrous  battle- 
field of  Cedar  Mountain.  He  had  come,  when  disaster  could 
not  be  averted,  to  talk  of  his  tv/enty  thousand  iVesh  troops,  all 
of  whom  had  been  available  to  gi\e  us  the  victory,  — at  least, 
save  us  from,  defeat;  he  had  come  to  propose  supporting 
a  bailer)-  v.-:tti  my  brigade  on  the  morrow,  and  I  was  angry 
^vltha!.  In  an  Instant  I  rejoined,  -  General  Pope,  this  bat- 
tle should  not  have  been  fought,  sir!"  To  v/hich  Pope  as 
j)ri.ri;!^tiy  replied,  "I  never  urdercd  it  tougnt,  sir."  And  to 
tnis  licn.  iianks  made  no  reply,  no  retort  oi  remonstrance, 
thoi!-h  he  was  standing  by  Pope's  side. 

'idien  turiiin-  t.)  Ikmks,  iwW  of  indignation  at  the  crime,  the 
blunder,  01  the  batrle,  1  exclaimed.  "  General  Banks,  I  diso- 
beyed your  order,  received  durincr  the  fight  " 

*  Strucher,  in  ffurpcr's  .\[jiitlily. 


'^&!\^''ri.'',/.       >''','•, 


"What  was  it,  sir?"  replied  Banks. 

"  An  order  brought  by  an  ofiiccr,  purporting  to  come  from 
you,  to  charge  across  the  field,  where  my  troops  were  then 
fighting." 

"  I  never  sent  you  such  an  order,"  retorted  Banks. 

"  I  am  glad  to  know  it,"  I  replied ;  ''  it  would  have  resulted 
in  our  total  destruction." 

So  important  an  order,  and  so  direct  a  deidal  demand  that 
the  circumstances  attending  its  reception  sliould  be  given  in 
full. 

When  ]Maior  Pelouse  was  attempting  to  move  the  Tenth 
Maine  forward  ir.  the  wheat-ficld,  it  v/ill  be  remembered  that 
an  omcer  passed  him,  saying  he  had  orders  for  Gordon's 
Erigade,*  th.en  on  the  right. 

In  the  midst  of  the  struggle  of  my  brigade  with  the  enemy, 
an  ofncer,  representing  hmistlf  as  sent  by  Banks,  condng 
through  the  woods,  rode  up  to  me,  saying,  "  General  Banks 
wishes  you  to  charge  a-ro.-^s  th.'i  field.''  Wiih  what  had 
transjjired  already  in  my  front,  the  astonishment  this  order 
caused  may  we!!  be  concei\-ed. 

"  \\  hat  field  ?  "  I  asked  in  amazement. 

"I  don't  know,"'  was  the  reply.     "  I  suppose  this  field." 

'■  Well,  s:r,"  I  reto:-i:ed,  "  'su^ipc  -e  '  w^n'i  do  at  such  a  rime 
as  this.  Go  b.tck  to  General  Banks  and  get  explicit  instruc- 
tions as  to  what  field  he  wishes  me  to  charge  over." 

I'he  ofucer  (I  had  never  seen  him  before)  disaiipeared,  an.d 
before  he  could  have  reported  to  Banks,  the  enemv  solved  all 
doubrs  as  to  wh.ere  oiu-  conmiander  V;-ished  n-ic  to  charge,  by 
doing  all  the  charging  himself,  and  gaining  tlie  fiaiik  and  rear 
of  my  three  regiments,  with  his  five  brigades.  Into  the  open 
arms  of  the  enemy,  had  I  obeyed  the  order,  I  should  most  cer- 
tainly have  entered. 

But  other  orders,  unauthorized  and  fatal,  uselessly  fatal  if 
obeyed,  given  to  regin-ients  of  my   l-rigade  during  that  half 

*  Col    I'doiiic,  ki'.or  to  -Major  Gouii!,  iii  Tuith  .■t'ai-.ic  in  liie  War. 


105 

hour  of  battle,  swell  into  most  unseemly  proportions  the  huge 
blunders  committed  at  Cedar  ?vIountain. 

While  tlie  enemy's  nre  was  at  its  hottest,  Tvlajor  Perkins, 
of  Banks's  staff,  coming  from  the  wooded  cover,  rode  up  to 
Col.  Andrews  with  an  order  to  charge,  with  the  Second  Alas- 
sachusctts,  across  the  held.  "In  utter  astonishment  at  such 
an  order,"  writes  Col.  Andrews  to  me  in  a  recent  letter,  "I 
exclaimed,  '  Why.  it  will  be  the  destruction  of  the  regiment  and 
will  do  no  good ! '  Major  Perkins  (who  was  an  educated 
soldier)  made  no  reply,  but  shrugged  his  shoulders  in  a  sig- 
nificant manner.  Determined  not  to  subject  the  regiment 
to  such  wanton  destruction  if  I  could  avoid  it,  I  reported 
to  you,  and  you  told  me  I  need  not  obey  the  order.  I  met 
Major  Perkins  a  day  or  tv/o  after,  and  he  said  to  me  he  sup- 
posed I  blamed  him  very  much  for  bringing  me  such  an  order, 
but  it  was  sent  by  signal,  and,  he  had  since  found,  under  a 
misapprehension,*  it  having  been  forgotten  that  the  regiment 
hr.d  been  sent  to  the  rigiit  instead  of  the  centre,  as  first 
ordered." 

It  is  somev.-hat  of  an  explanation  that  Major  Perkins,  v,-hile 
on  the  extreme  right  of  our  line  of  battle,  in  giving  an  o.-der 
to  one  of  my  regiments  that  he  did  not  communicate  through 
me,  imparted  in  an  au'vu-atic  way  what  was  received  by 
signal  ;  out  as  an  cxplan-^Lion,  it  is  wholly  inadequate  to  clear 
up  why  Major  Perkins  did  not  himself  discover  the  error,  and 
not  pat  upon  me  ti:e  responsibiliiy.  Perkins  knev.-,  not  only 
tnat  Col.  Andrcv.-s  could  not  iiave  made  tliat  n-.ovemerxt  witii- 
out  n-iy  orders,  but  that  such  a  movement  would  have  resulted 
in  a  mo^Vi  direlul  disaster  ;  he  knew,  ni'ireover,  that  Banks  did 
not  know  where  we  were. 

Most  important  is  it  tiere  to  consider  whether  Banks  sent 
rnc  the  order  im[)ULcd  to  him.  I  do  not  think  it  admits  of 
doubt.  Who  would  have  taken  sucli  responsibility .''  Not  the 
officer  who  brought  me  the  order:  I  charged  him  v,-ith  it  in 

*  Col.  Aiiviiewii  ^J..llt:;ic.1t.     Letier  of  ju:;c  14,  1075. 


the  presence  and  hearing  of  Banks  a  few  days  after,  and  he 
strongly  and  indignantly  reiter;Ued  that  he  received  the  order 
from  Gen.  J^anks  !    And  Banks  made  no  reply. 

If  we  seek  for  a  sohition  in  some  of  the  v/ell-proven  facts 
of  that  battle,  we  shall  find  a  managem.ent  so  inexplicable 
that  the  directions  given  me,  and  received  bv  Col.  Andrev/s, 
can  be  taken  only  as  fitting  parts  of  this  abortive-eftort.  Did 
not  Banks,  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  sending  his  last 
despatch  from,  the  field,  speak  of  the  skirmishers  approach- 
ing each  other,  without  indicating  that  he  expected   a  >-en- 

■^  to 

era]  engagement,  and  v/ithout  asking  for  any  assistance;*' 
althongh  at  four  o'clock  the  cannonade  which  reached  Pope's 
ears  in  Culpepper  was  so  heavy  and  continuous  that  he 
feared  a  geneial  engagement  was  going  on,  and  so  hurried 
forward  .=  JInd  not  Banks,  \vith  an  estimate  of  6,000  troops 
as  his  own  strength,  undertaken  to  whip  Jackson's  25,000 
under  an  impression  that  he  could  carry  the  field  .^  .  Had 
he  not,  in  eiitire  ignorance  of  the  numbers  in  his  front, 
precipitated  Geary's  and  Crawford's  Brigades,  and  six  com- 
panies of  my  Third  Wisconsin  Regiment,  against  two  whole 
brigades  in  position,  and  five  of  Hill's  Division  in  reserve? 
Then  had  he  not,  v.dien  everything  com.bincd  to  inform  him 
o.  the  m:iny  tnousands  more  than  his  ou  n  that  were  before 
him,  attempJod  to  whip  them  v/ith  the  Tenth  I\iaine,  single- 
handed,  on  his  right  ?  And  when  the  enemy  had  poured  into 
the  woods  in  my  front  a  brigade  for  each  one  cf  my  small 
regiments,  and  two  to  spare,  why  should  Jkauks,  so  long  as 
he  "  feared  the  opinions  of  his  friends"  (as  he  conceived  them) 
more  than  '■  tlie  bayoiicts  of  his  enemie^,"  have  hesitated  to  ' 
send  me  the  order  I  receivedi  ? 

There  remains  to  tell,  that  when  Jacksr.n  su-ung  his  forces 
around  my  brigade,  he  at  the  sanu'  time  ordered  Taliaierro's 
brigade  to  cjiarge  bearing  towards  their  right  (the  position 
of  the  field   of  Indian  corn),  against  our  left  and   in  front  of 

*  Toi-'e  un.Jer  nat'h  bef^.rc  t!ic  .McDowci;  Couic  of  Ip.ouirv. 


St 


v-^ 


]il7 

Early's  Brigade.  At  this  time  Gen.  Prince,  in  i<:;norance  of 
what  had  transpired,  was  riding  to  wher^-  Geary  had  been,  to 
find  out  what  had  become  of  i^anks's  coros.  In  this  iuudable 
pursuit  his  bridle  was  suddenly  seized,  and  hintsclf  summoned 
to  surrender.  He  was  captured  when  surrounded  by  the 
enemy,  who  were  silently  moving  o\'er  the  gi'ound  lately 
occupied  by  Geary,  an,d  enveloping  his  own  troops,  whom  he 
could  not  warn  of  tl.eir  danger,  though  his  officers  soon  dis- 
covered it,  and  fell  back,  but  not  until  four  hundred  of  thcra 
were  captured.* 

Tr.ere  are  yet  two  brigades  of  the  enemv  to  account  for  : 
those  of  ILvv-ell's  Division,  which  lemaincd  inactive  upori  the 
face  of  tliC  mountain  through  the  scenes  we  have  described. 
Keut  back  from  advancing  bv  tiic  incessant  fire  of  their  own 
batteries,  wddch  swept  the  valley  through  which  they  must 
p^ass.t  tliey  now  advanced  upon  the  right,  to  turn,  the  leit 
flank  of  our  line,  but  fouPid  we  were  m  full  retreat. 

The  battle  was  over.  On  our  lett,  Gen.  Prince  v.^as  a  pris- 
oner, Generals  Gearv  and  Augur  wounded  ;  not  a  general  offi- 
cer left  01  those  who  forPx^ed  that  pari  of  our  liric  of  battle.  In 
the  centre,  out  of  a  brigade  numd^ering  about  1,467  nien, 
nearly  every  field-ofncer  on  tlie  ground,  and  about  half  the 
conipany-oulcers  and  u'lcn,  were  kiiied  or  wounded. t 

Upon  recei\'ing  Pcpe's  orders,  I  returned  to  niy  brigade, 
and  directed  commanders  to  move  out  their  regiments,  while 
I  proceeded  to  point  out  to  Gen.  Tower,  of  Rickett's  Division, 
wlu")  had  now  come  up  to  relieve  m.e,  the  exact  position  J  had 
held  for  so  manv  hours.  Althougli  it  was  then  atter  daylight, 
a  bright  jp.oon  made  objects  sufiiciently  promineiit  to  eniible 
me  to  discover  that  the  enemy's  })ickets  had  greatly  advanced 
towards  tile  v/cods  nortii  of  the  creek  on  tlie  Culpepper  road, 
and  th.at  our  ow;\  were  fdiing  back.  I  could  also  see  that  the 
enemy  had  moved  liis  batteries  to  the  positions  oceup-ied  dur- 
ing the  fight  by  our  own.     My  description  of  positions  to  Gen. 

*   Dahn^.}-.  ■*■  JacksDiiVf;  Kcp;;rt.  t  Siro'Jier. 


198 

Tower  concluded,  ambudiinces  sent  v/ith  my  command  and 
scouts  taken  from,  niy  own  escort  recalled,  I  was  leady  to  leave  ; 
but  to  ray  surprise  ray  command  did  not  join  me  wliere  I  had 
ordered  :  they  had  taken  a  shorter  way  to  the  pike,  where  they 
expected  to  meet  me.  Upon  approaching  the  road,  in  mov- 
in,^  with  m.v  staff  to  select  our  position,  I  perceived  that  our 
cavalry,  which  previously  had  been  in  line  between  the  woods 
I  was  ordered  to  occupy  and  Cedar  Creek,  had  now  passed 
through  the  woods  and  were  in  line  behind  it  on  the  Culpepper 
side,  ha\ing  fallen  back  before  the  ajioroach  of  tlie  enemy. 
As  my  orders  from  Pope  vv^ere  imperative,  I  headed  my 
somewhat  numerous  retinue  of  staiT-officers  and  orderlies 
(accompanied  by  Gen.  Williams,  wh')  with  his  staff  had  joined 
me)  for  the  woods,  which  I  was  about  entering",  when  a  hot  hre, 
from  V.  hat  sounded  like  a  regiment,  was  poured  into  our  mddst. 
In  the  darkness,  aim  was  so  uncertain  that  no  greater  damage 
followed  than  the  killing  of  one  of  my  orderlies,  while  Gen. 
Williams,  myself,  aiul  our  respective  stafrs  were  warned  in 
time  to  escape  inevitable  capture.  Moving  quickly  to  the 
rear  of  the  cavalrv.  I  there  found  the  Tweirth  Massachusetts 
regiment  drawn  up  in  line  I  halted  for  a  miOment  to  speak 
to  its  commander,  vvhen  again  the  enemy  opened  fire,  with 
more  fatal  efiect;  Capt.  Shurtleff  of  the  Twelfth  falling  dead 
with  a  build  through  his  heart.  This  regiment  returned  the 
enemy's  fire  with  vigor. 

We  wih  turn  again  to  Tope.  Beliccing  that  he  could  form 
his  new  line 'of  battle  in  the  woods  I  had  just  tried  in  vain  to 
enter,  Gen.  Pope,  with  ?dcDowell  and  Banks,  their  staffs  and 
escorts,  had,  before  mv  arri\a],  dismounted  and  seated  them- 
selves behind  the  shelter  uf  a  rocky  ledge  which  rose  to  a  gentle 
eminence.  In  the  woods  or  through  them,  or  somewliere 
towards  CeJar  i^.Iountain,  there  had  been  heard  at  iritervals  a 
dropping  tire  of  musketry,  with  occasional  volleys  and  now  and 
then  a  single  shell..  Sometimes  a  flight  of  shelh,  in  coursing 
over  the  hi-U'ls  of  Pope  and  his  o.'Tuers,  had   rendered  night 


191) 

hideous  with  their  screams.  The  situation  was  picturesque, 
almost  romantic  —  "As  romantic  as  hell,''*  one  of  the  staff 
Ventured  to  remark,  as  attentioa  was  called  to  a  full  moon 
which  disclosed  the  dark  shadows  of  the  woods  and  threw  a 
dreamy  light  over  the  landscape.  Three  quarters  of  an  hour 
passed  ;  the  moon  had  become  obscured  ;  strasf^^lcrs  and  even 
ori;"anized  companies  seen  in  the  moonlight  moving  from 
the  woods  and  through  the  fields,  to  the  rear  along  the  Cul- 
pepper road,  had  dwindled  into  a  dribbling  stream.  The  fire 
from  the  batteries  had  ceased,  v.-hen  the  cavalry  (I  found  in 
my  rear)  emerged  from  the  woods,  and  halted  not  over  forty 
yards  from  where  Pope  and  his  general  officer's  were  reclining. 
^^'hen  the  fire  broke  out  upi::n  myscif,  Gen.  Williams,  and  our 
staft's,  and  was  coatinued  upon  the  cavalry  and  the  Twelrth 
IMassachusetts,  the  bullets  hissed  through  the  bu;-hcs,  sparkled 
in  the  darkness  as  thev  struck  trie  flinty  road,  or  singing 
through  the  tree-tops,-  covered  Pope  and  his  oilicers  with 
leaves  and  twigs.  'The  effect  upon  tlie  conclave  of  ron;antic 
officers  was  as  follows  :  Pope's  party  of  officers,  staft",  and  es- 
corts, nunibering  in  all  one  hundred,  rose  suddenly  to  their 
feet,  while  the  cavalr}'  v.ath  pistols  returned  the  enem.y's  fire 
in.  a  continuous  fusilade.  i^.Ioun.ting  with  imdue  gravity,  the 
Cvmm-ander  of  the  Arinv  ui"  Viigi'iia  and  his  olficers  moved  to 
the  rear  at  a  iro;;.  winch  soon  bojkc  intu  a  ga-lop,  while  the 
Twelfth  ^Massachusetts,  which  was  lying  as  I  have  said  in 
rear  of  tlie  cavalry,  on  a  slight  elevation,  r^jse  and  opened 
fire  as  I  have"de.^jribed.| 

Jt  was  sufficiently  apparent  that  the  enemy  were  in  pos- 
session of  the  wood  I  had  been  ordered  to  hold.  It  was  a 
chan.ge  of  Pope's  programme  made  by  the  enemy  since  I  had 
received  Pope's  orders.  The  only  accident  that  had  hapjiened 
to  th.e  party  of  ecneral  officers  or  their  stafis  v.-as  a  severe 
copitusion  suffered  by  Banks,  whc  was   struck  by  the  loreioot 


■*  Srroih.cr  i.-i  ixs'/ciisu/.e  lor  ti-.c  siory,  not  the  coiiiparison. 

t  Siioriier  give^  clicic  f.icC3  i'roai  iiis  esporlciioe  as  one  of  Pope's  saitf  O'ficers. 


200 

of  an  orderly's  horse  as  the  animal  reared  from  fright.     The 
rider  of  the  horse,  it  was  said,  was  killed. 

In  the  daikness  and  coniusion,  I  had  not  been  able  to  hnd 
my  command.  The  two  regiments  that  were  to  join  me  at 
the  pike  were  not  to  be  seen.  I  pushed  to  the  rear  in 
search,  and  s.;on  came  up  with  the  Second  Massachusetts 
and  Twenty-Seventh  Indiana,  but  the  Third  Wisconsin  was 
not  in  sight.  While  groping  around  to  find  it,  the  enemy 
advanced  his  batteries  to  the  position  we  had  just  vacated, 
and  serit  a  shower  of  shot  and  shell  at  short  ranf^e,  that 
shook  our  ears  and  the  earth  itself  with  the  noise.  To  add  to 
this  confusion,  a  battery  of  ours,  some  half  mile  to  the  rear, 
opened  upon  the  enemy's  guns  with  such  malevolent  satisfac- 
tio?.  that  its  shells  f  .r  a  i^x  moments  threatened  to  destroy 
what  little  life  the  enemy's  guns  nnght  leave  in'  our  bodies. 

Plump  in  our  midst  came  the  friendly  shells  ;  one  e.xploding 
so  nearly  un.der  my  horse  that  I  have  never  been  able  to  tell 
whether  it  v/as  to  the  right  or  left  of  a  plumb-line  throuadi 
his  belly.  '•  Stop  him  !  Stop  that  d— d  ass  !"  with  expletives 
stronger  than  rcrfined,  greeted  this  ambivious  artillerist,  who 
seemed  bent,  like  the  Irishman  at  Donnvbrook  Fair,  to  hit 
the  first  head  he  saw  :  and  he  was  stopped  by  one  of  Pope's 
staff-nhicers  bjf.re  he  had  destroyed  the  commanding  gen- 
eral of  the   Avn.y  of  Viiginia. 

Hardly  had  the  enemy  opened  v.dth  his  battery  when  two 
Maine  P-.^tterics  *  of  Ivickett's  Division  sent  their  compli- 
ments in  such  furious  earnest  and  with  such  accurate  aim, 
that  the  enemy  retreated  with  a  loss  of  nearly  all  his  horses 
and  many  of  his  men.  Vfe  found  them  where  tliey  fell  when 
J:ickson  retreated. 

While  batteries  were  still  passing  farther  to  the  rear,  accom- 
panied by  straggling  regiments  of  infmlry  and  cavnlry,  I  dis- 
covered Gen  Williams,  commanding  our  division,  by  my  side. 
I  asked  him  whether,  in  view  of  the  probal>le  form.ation  of  a 

*  The  Scco:;-!  and  FUdi  M.une. 


-201 

new  line  of  battle,  I  better  m<:.ve  a  h'ttle  farther  to  the  rear. 
T(.)  this  he  assented. 

With  the  Second  Massachusetts  Regiment  leading,  followed 
by  all  that  I  could  gather  of  my  brigade,  I  had  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance  when,  out  of  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
I  heard  a  voice  scolding  at  the  retreating  troops  which  pre- 
ceded me.  "Where  are  you  going.?  Halt,  I  will  report 
you!  Flalt,  I  say!"  etc.  etc.,  was  uttered  with  an  accent 
not  English,  and  with  a  volubility  quite  foreign.  In  the  midst 
of  his  vehement  exclamations,  whom  should  the  speaker 
next  encounter  but  Col.  Andrev/s,  at  the  head  of  the  Second 
rJassachusetts  Re^giment.  Him,  tlierefore,  th.e  voice  ad- 
dressed with  the  same  energy  and  almost  in  the' same  words 
used  to  others,  ending  with  the  threat  of  a  report.  Evidently 
the  speaker  fancied  the  whole  army  vv-as  going  to  the  rear, 
and  his  duty  it  was  to  save  it  front  disgrace.  I  doubt  if  Col. 
Andrews  ever  received  such  a  blessir.g  in  a  few  moments  in 
his  li'e.  It  seemed  to  stagger  him..  I  heard  it,  and  rode  for- 
"waid.  to  find  Andi-ews's  m.arch  impeded  by  a  little  man,  sur- 
rounded with  a  large  staff.  -It  v.ms  near  midnight,  and  too 
dark  to  di.-.tinguis'i  the  person  or  rank  of  the  speaker. 

"Who  are  }':;u,''   I  angialy  exclainaed.  "  wlio  uses  su.ch  lan- 
guage to  liiis  regiment,  or  anv  olncer  belonging  to  it?" 
"Who  am  I  ?"  slowly  and  oniphatic.:dly  uttered  the  voice. 
"■  Yes  !     Who  arc  }-ou  ?      ^Vhat  is  your  name  .-"  " 
"  yiy  name .'"  .again  sp:)kc  tlie  voice,  in  measured  tones, 
"  ^''es  ;  }-our  name,  —  if  you  have  a  name  !     Who  are  you  }  " 
"  I  am   General  Sigel!"  was  the  rejily,  witl?  an  emphasis  as 
cri'..<hing  as  could  be  extract;.'d  from  these  words. 

"  You  are  General  Sigel,  are  }  ou  ?  Well.  General  Sigel,  you 
caniiot  address  youirself  to  troops  that  I  command,  in  this 
manner.  Tiiis  rc-i^iment  is  ':tie  Second  rvFa-^saolTusetts,  a  regi- 
ment th.at  never  retreats  imtil  ordered.  It  is  just  out  of  the 
fi:^;'.t,  has  su'tcred  a  terrib'e  hiss  in  oiTicers  and  men,  a!Kl  is  now 
mnving  under  orders  to  tlie  rear  to  t  d:^  up  a  new  position." 


202 

In  an  instant  Si.c^cl,  with  softened  tones,  made  the  aviauie 
honorable.  He  h.i(.l  seen,  he  said,  so  man}-  goin^-  to  the  rear, 
that  he  thon-hr  all  were  moving-  without  orders.  With  many 
apologies  he  moved  forward  with  his  corps  of  fresh  troops, 
v.'hose  presence  a  few  hours  earlier  would  have  saved  our 
corps,  perhaps  given  us  the  victory. 

And  here  v/e  may  pause  in  our  narrativ-e  to  ask,  —  Whv, 
when  Jackson  threw  l>om  20,000  to  25,000  troops  upon  our 
corps,  Sigel  was  not  there  to  help  us? 

Impressed  by  the  furious  cannonade  v.dth  the  belief  that 
Banks  might  be  about  to  fight  alone  the  battle  he  intended  to 
fight  with  the  three  corps  of  his  army,  we  have  narrated  that 
Gen.  Pope  hurried,  with  McDowell's  force,  to  the  front.  About 
tlic  time  Pope^-  left  Cu.li^cpper,  Gen.  Sigcl,  v/ith  his  staff, 
entered  it  to  report  to  him.  The  troops  of  this  command, 
said  to  be  mucli  jaded  by  the  heat  and  fatigue,  were  not  yet 
in  town. 

It  will  be  lemembered  that  on  the  Sth  Sigel  received  orders 
from  Pope  to  march  immediately  frum  Sperryville  to  Culpep- 
per, a  distance  of  about  twent}'  miles.  Instead  of  obeying 
these  orders,  he  sent  a  note  (which  the  latter  received 
after  night  (,n  the  8th),  dated  at  Sperryville  at  6.30  p.  m., 
asking  \y<  what  road  i^e  should  march  to  Cu;[^epper  Court 
House.  This  delay  ol  Sigel':,  detained  him  until  too  late 
for  the  action,  — "delayed  him,"  as  Pope  says,  f  "by  the 
singular  uncertainty  of  what  road  he  ought  to  i)ur-ue." 
Nor  was  this  aii.  At  this  \-ita!  hour,  at  four  o'ch>ck  ir.  the 
aiternoon  o{  the  9th  of  August,  Sigel's  Corp.?  had  nr,i  3-et 
arrived  at  Culpepper,  and  worse  than  that,  when  it  did 
arrive,  the  men  were  liungry  as  v/el!  as  j.aded,  for  they  were 
without  rations.  "I  had  given  notice,"  says  Pope,  "that  the 
whole  Armv  of  \"rgin!a  should  always  be  readv  to  move  at 
the  shortest  notice,  and  sh.-uld  habitually  keep  tv.-o  days' 
ratiuns   in   their  haversack";  and  this   Pupe   seems  tu  have 

*  Tope's  Kcport.  t  Tepr's  OtVl-Ja!  kei--rt. 


r  .    .1 


203 

thought  sufTicient  to  assure,  beyond  peraclventure,  the  arri- 
val of  Si;;;el  at  Culpei)per  wirh  food  at  all  events  on  the  dav 
of  the  battle  of  Cedar  IMountain.  But  not  so  Sigel.  His 
corps  had  not  a  cracker  nor  a  ration  of  pork  ;  and  his  men 
could  not  march  without  them.  So  provisions  v;ere  procured 
from  McDowell's  command  and  cooked  at  Culpepper  Court 
House.  While  Sigel's  Corps,  between  four  and  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  were  getting  their  dinners  to  be  in  readi- 
ness to  move  forward  between  five  and  seven  miles  to  aid  in 
fighting  the  battle  Pope  intended  to  fight  with  his  whole 
army,  the  principal  events  which  I  have  recorded  were  trans- 
piring. "  It  was  intended,"  testifies  McDowell,  in  the  Court 
of  Inquiry,  where  Sigel  broaglit  charges  against  him  for  not 
supporting  Banks,  —  *•  it  vras  intended  that  Sigel  should  follow 
and  support  ]-5anks,  and  Sigel  did  not  do  so  because  of  unnec- 
essary delay  in  marching  to  Culpepper."  ]^ut  at  last  Sigel 
had  found  his  road,  and  we  had  foun.d  Sigel.  Had  he  moved 
wlien  ordered,  there  would  ha\'e  been  a  very  different  history 
of  the  fight  of  Cedar  Mountain.  It  is  not  probable  that 
lUnks  would  have  ass;iuU"ed  Jackson's  army  at  all,  at  least  not 
single-handed  and  alone. 

We  left  Pope,  ^.IcDovv-ell,  and  l>anks,  their  stafis  and  escorts, 
n'.aking  rapid  time  to  the  re^r,  while,  Irom  the  woods  v.'here  I 
v;a5  ordered  to  take  up  a  position,  the  enemy  poured  into  us 
a  heavy  fire  of  mu-4:etry.  After  my  interview  with  Sigel,  I 
halted  my  command  about  where  I  supposed  a  new  line  of 
battle  v.'ould  be  formed  by  fresh,  troops  and  the  remnant  of 
Banks's  Corps,  v.'hen   Pope  suddenly  came   upon  us. 

"General,  you  hrive  mistaken  your  position,"  he  said. 

"  I  ha\-e  not  taken  the  one  vou  designated,  because  the 
enemy  in  large  force  occupy  it,"  I  replied. 

"  You  are  nri-.^akeu.,"  said  Pope  ;  "  those  ai'c  our  own  troops." 

"  No,  sir,"  I  urged,  "  1  was  there  but  just  now,  and  we 
were  fired  at,  In"  irjfiintry,  frum  the  wood.s  wh.ere  you  ordered 
me." 


''^mmrw^  ■■■> 


■)     ..  ,     1' 


204 

Again  insisted  Pope,  "  It  is  not  so." 

"  or  course,  then,"  I  replied,  "  I  will  move  there  now,  oi  as 
near  tlicre  as  I  can,  if  you  wish  it." 

"  Do  so,"  was  tlic  order. 

Facing  about,  I  moved  my  diminutive  column,  that  some 
how  or  other  had  dwindled  to  less  than  two  hundred  men, 
over  the  groimd  from  whence  the  whole  of  llanks's  Corps  had 
retreated.  On  my  right,  our  troops,  under  Gen.  7'ower,  still 
held  their  strong  point  at  Brown's  cottage,  and  held  it  through 
the  night,  as  I  had  m.aintained  it  through,  the  day,  unmolested  ; 
but  on  m}^  left  and  frunt  1  was  alone.  When  within  a  reason- 
able distance  of  the  woods  I  halted.  Pope,  with  Banks,  Mc- 
Dowell, and  Sigel,  had  followed  me,  and  novv  dismounted, 
were  sitting  under  a  tree  by  the  road-side.  It  was  after  twelve 
at  night. 

An  examination  at  the  front  convinced  me  of  the  truth  of 
more  than  I  had  asserted  to  Pope,  and  I  went  to  him  to  report 
that,  save  my  small  guar^i,  tliere  was  notliing  between  him  and 
the  whole  of  Jackson's  army. 

"Not  so,"  replied  Pope.  ''Generals  Green  and  Prince  are 
there  with  tlieir  com.mands.''" 

I  denied  it,  affirmirig  that  they  had  fallen  far  back  to  the 
rear  long  before. 

But  Pope  \\-as  persiste-it,  and  would  not  believe  that  I,  alone 
of  all  Banks's  Corps,  v,"as  in  his  front.  .Soon,  however,  many 
members  of  the  Se^'entli  \"irginia  Cav:dr)",  gn.'inng  about  in 
the  dark,  hicg'an  to  make  infjuiries  at  my  princi})ai  picket  .sta- 
tion whether  we  could  inform  them  where  their  regiment  was. 
Some  dozen  or  so  of  thera  were  thus  silentl}'  taken  into  our 
arms,  and  immediately  sent  back  to  Pupe. 

Then  again  I  sought  the  geireral  commanding,  and  urged  as 
conf;''ming  prr-.of  of  my  statement  th.at  we  were  alone,  the  fact 
that  the  enem\',  unmolested,  were  v.  andering  around  in  oiir  front. 

"But  Col.  Clark  [Banks's  detective  aidT  says  Green  and 
r'rince  are  there  on  oar  lelt,"  urged  Po}--.:. 


205 

"  Won't  you  send  him  out  to  find  them  ? "  I  replied.  ■ 
"Yes;'*  replied  Pope.  "Givj  him  an  escort  and  let  him  go." 
Cb.rk,  who^e  informrition  was  generally  in  the  inverse  ratio 
of  his  assumption,  went  doubtingly  forth  with  a  large  escort; 
but  he  had  not  proceeded  fifty  yards  across  the  pike  towards 
my  left,  when  he  was  met  by  a  sharp  musketr}-  fire  from  the 
enemy's  skirmish  line.  Tumultuously  Clark  returned,  iollowed 
by  the  troops.  The  bullets  pattered  witli  such  eOect  against 
the  trees  and  fence-rails  beneath  which  Pope  and  his  generals 
were  reposing,  that  a  second  time  the  whole  body  ot  othcers 
and  followers  moved  in  an  incredibly  short  time  to  the  rear. 
It  was  rather  a  Ijng  chase  bi^f^-e  T  could  catch  Pope,  but 
v.-hen  I  did,  I  asked  him  if  he  was  now  satisfied  of  the  truth 
of  n"'V  assertions. 

"  Rem.ove  your-  men  to  the  rear,"  replied  Pope,  v;ho  then 
with  McDowell  addressed  himself  to  the  vvork  oi  forming  a 
nev,'  line  of  battle  (which  about  daylight  v.-af.  effected  with  fresh 
trcops)  for  a  resumpt'on  of  our  fight,  v.'hich  did  not  take  place. 
P>om  where  Gen.  Jackson  rested  after  his  movement  for- 
ward upon  Banks's  line,  to  v;here  he  halted  agairi  in  doubt,  the 
distance  was  one  mile  and  a  half  It  was  the  intention  of 
the  enemy  "  to  reach  Culpepper  tl~=at  night"  ;  but  the  vigorous 
at;.j.ck  upon  his  battery,"  the  report  of  his  '•  most  reliable 
sco.;t  ibat  the  enerv,'  was  but  a  few  hundred  yards  in  advance," 
and  the  additional  fact  that  Col.  "Jones,  of  the  Seventh  Vir- 
girda  Cav.ilry,  roported.  tlnat  li e  had  learned  from  some  prisoners 
he  had  taken,  thai  P^ederal  rcinforcem.ents  had  arrived," 
induced  Jackson  to  think  it  "prudent  to  halt."! 

Il  was  not  inuil  moridng  that  Jackson  added  to  this  prudetit 
resolve  yet  amother,  v.-iiich  was,  not  to  figlit  Pope  again  on 
that  crround.     lie  cives  as  ids  reason  "  that  he  was  con.vinced 


•*  The  triiciiiy  a.Jin>.  iu  Orri..ial  Kepuiis  &.2'.  tu:-  b.-;ttery  v.hicli  opcii-cd  u-ioa  as 
.Tc  ;aidni_:;ht  w.i.s  s'.lenLLcl,  cau:-ii-j  Cap;,  i'e^raiv:  severe  loij  and  co'.r.pellin^  him 
to  wit'.Kiuav. 

t  Jackson's  Report. 


206 

that  Pope  would  have  60,000  men  before  he  could  resume."  * 
When  we  consider  that  the  whole  force  Pope  could  have  had 
on  ihe  moriiing  of  the  lOlii  v/a.5  all  on  the  ground  before  twelve 
at  midnight  of  the  9th  ;  that  this  was  sufficient  to  make  Jack- 
son doubt  and  waver  ;  and  that  with  the  addition  of  only  King's 
Division  of  McDowell's  Corps,  ii  was  sutTicient  to  make 
Jackson  retreat  across  the  Rapidan  on  the  night  of  the  nth, 
who  can  repress  their  indignation  that  this  force  was  not 
united  against  Jackson  on  the  9th  ?  There  is  not  a  shadov/  of 
a  doubt  that  it  might  have  been.  Why  was  Banks's  Corps  of 
6,000  or  7,coo  men  allowed  to  stand  mangled  and  bleeding 
in  a  useless  assault  against  Jackson's  entire  army  of  at  least 
20,0C0  able-bodied  and  fresh  troops  ? 

Pope  answers,  "Banks  was  not  ordered  to  fight  that  battle, 
was  not  expected  to  fight  it,  until  I  could  bring  up  the  force 
which  Jackson  admits  would  have  been  too  strong  for  him  to 
have  encountered."  Banks  answers  with  a  denial  of  Pope's, 
statements.  I  will  endeavor  to  show,  before  I  close,  wliich  of 
these  conflicting  stalenients  is  tlie  true  one. 

When  the  sun  rose  on  the  morning  of  the  icth  of  August, 
our  arm}-  held  a  new  line  of  battle  almost  tv.-o  miles  in  rear  of 
tlie  woods  into  which  the  enemy  had  passed  during  the  night. 
Sigel,  hi :  corps  strorgly  posted  in.  liie  woods,  wiih  a  wide 
space  of  open  ground  in  its  front,  was  on  the  let't,  -^vhile  Rick- 
etts,  withdrawn  from  our  old  position  to  a  corner  of  timber, 
and  behind  ridges,  held  th.e  right  of  the  lino.  The  vdiole  effec- 
tive force  thus  in  line  is  officially  stated  at  20,000  artillcrv  and 
infantr}-,  and  about  2,oco  cavalry. j  This  is  exclusive  of 
Banks's  Corps  which  ha.;l  been  sent  b)-  Pope  aljout  two 
miles  farther  to  the  rear,  with  orders  to  Gen.  Williams, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the  command;  to  put  it  rapidly  in 
condition  for  service.  The  day  was  intense!}'  hot  ;  hour  after 
hour  passed,  aud  the  silence  continued  unbruken,  while,  in 
compact    lines,"  our    troops   remained    in    constant  readiness. 

*  Daon^^v.  t  Pope's  Oiiici-i!  Report. 


?07 

Early  in  the  day  or  during;  the  nig!;ht  of  the  9th  Jackson 
had  withdra'A'n  his  h'nes  back  towards  Cedar  Mountain.  The 
icth  passed;  our  dead  were  unburied,  and  our  wounded  were 
lying  where  they  fell,  all  through  the  wheat  and  the  corn  field 
and  in  the  surrounding  forest. 

Jackson  did  not  attack  Pope,  and  we  have  h'S  reason  :  he 
was  afraid  of  his  numbers.  Pope  did  not  attack  Jackson,  and 
we  have  his  reason:  his  "troops  Vv-ere  too  much  fatigued  to 
ren.ew  the  action  "*  But  Pope's  true  reason  for  delay  was  that 
King  might  come  up  with  the  other  division  of  McDowell's 
Corps.  King  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  iith,  and  Pope 
"  made  up  his  mind,  though  his  force  barely  equalled  Jack- 
son's, to  fall  upon  the  enemv  on  the  ]2th."t  Tviany  such 
resolutions  have  been  frustrated  by  the  enemy  not  waiting 
to  be  fallen  upon.  So  Jackson.  He  fled  on  the  evening  of 
the  iith,  leaving  many  of  his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field 
and  along  the  road  from  Cedar  i^.Iountain  to  Orange  Court 
House. t 

On  the  morning  of  that  day,  Pope  sent,  by  flag  of  truce, 
for  permission  to  recover  the  wounded  and  bury  the  dead. 
This  was  gra-.ued  ;  and  t'lus  we  were  permitted,  by  those  over 
whom,  according  to  Halleck's  despatch ij  to  Pope,  we  had  won 
a  hard-earned  and  ].)rii:iarit  .-success,  to  succor  our  v/ounded, 
to  recosx^r  our  dead.  All  day  of  the  iith,  the  rnnk  aiid  fde 
of  tlie  two  armies  met  and  talked,  between  hostile  lines, 
without  passion  or  resentment.  On  our  left  the  corn-field 
was  only  sprinkled  with  dead,  but  on  the  wheat-field,  and  in 
the  v;oods  into  which  our  recriments  chars-ed  and  bv  the  fence 


*  Pope's  0:!iv:ial  Report. 

t  Pope's  Omciai  Rtporr. 

I  '•  \VI>en  J.ickson  went  tiimbiing  across  the  K.ipiil.in,  under  cover  of  niglit, 
a'L'asu'.jiiir:^  nvriny  woiritied  aii-d  stragglers  ;•.■.  :lie  -a .•.•.■,  ?.v.d  h:v.\:]\-  .saving  his  bag- 
gage ;  calling  iVr  re;nu  rccments,  and  thanking  the  Lord  for  the  victory  in  the 
same  breath  ;  we  are  at  a  loss  to  iniagine  the  grounds  for  his  piou.s  gratitude."  — 

,  Il.ilieck's  ord.r  to  V  r^-i,  \\:\.r  I)ep..rtii.cu;:.  ,\uga>t  14,  iSr,:.. 


208 

where  my  br;G;ane  foup;ht  in  line  of  battle,  there  v.-ere  c;hastlv 
piles  of  dead,  with  here  and  there  a  livino-  siitferer,  wlio  had 
drawn  his  painful  breath  through  more  than  thirty-six  hours 
of  exposure.  The  severest  loss  feli  to  the  Second.  The 
mortality  among  the  officers  was  unu^■.ua^ly  heavy.  One 
writer  attributes  this  to  their  conspicuous  dress,  making  them 
a  mark  for  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters  ;  but  it  can  be  better 
and  more  satisfactorily  accounted  for  by  the  habit  which  our 
regiment  had  acquired  fif  standing  .-tcadily  where  and  when  it 
was  ordered,  despite  all  attacks  made  upon  it,  even  though, 
as  at  Cedar  Mountain,  it  was  overwhelmed  on  its  front,  flank, 
and  rear. 


Our  total  loss  in  killed,  woutided,  and  prisoners  in  th 


c  ::> 


c;^.' 


end  Regiment  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-four, —  thirty-five 
per  cent  of  all  engaged.  Out  of  the  v/hole  loss,  but  fifteen 
v/ere  prisoners  unwoup.ded.  Tv;elve  officers  and  one  hun- 
dred and  lort}'-seven  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates 
were  killed  and  wounded  out  of  the  Second  alone,  and  of  this 
number,  six  of  the  officers  and  fift}'-two  of  the  non-commis- 
sioned OiTicers  and  privates  were  instantly  killed  or  morrally 
wounded. ■•'■■  Sn.-Tounded  by  manv  of  tlieir  men  killed  in  t!ie 
action,  I  sav,-  desd  upoii  the  field,  Cajjtains  Carv,  Goodwin, 
Abbott,  Williams,  and  Lieut.  Ferkin.;.  iMajor  Savage  had 
been  removed,  to  die  at  Charlottesville. 

Never  in  the  e-.i'ire  history  of  tlie  Second  ^Massachusetts 
Regiment,  /nas  its  percentage  of  loss  been  so  great.  Not  at 
Winchester,  Antietam,  Chaneellorsviile,  not  at  Gettysburg, 
Rosacea,  the  .\tlanta  campaign,  or  in.  the  march  to  the  sea, 
was   tlie  sacrifice  so   larg'\      In    my  wh ole  b';ig:ide,  number- 


*  I  can  add  noihii'.g  to  Col.  Andiew.s's  letter,  written  after  the  battle,  in  which 
lie  said,  "Tell  the  friends  of  tlie  rci:i::ient  that  it  h.is  fully  sustained  its  reptita- 
t).:)n,  l^.;\in^  foi^ht  Lr:ively  and  \vi:h  great  ■■.  ;.!n^<r,  u-uii  forced  hack  \)y  t;;e 
(A-eruiielndn.g  tiunibera  of  ti:e  enemy,  I'.^sir.g  uf  all  it  carried  in.to  action  two 
thirds  of  it-;  ohicers  and  myri:  than  one  third  o>:  {'.<  uon-comnaissioned  of'lccrs 
and  ;'ri\-i;'.-s."  Vor  a  e-ii<i;K-;te  ii.;t  i>(  a!!  the  v^oun;.!ed  and  urisoners,  see  Quint's 
Uccordof  Second  Ma^>.icl.;:>eit>  Regiment. 


201' 

ing-  less  than  1.500  men,  the  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners  was  four  hundred  and  sixty-six,  —  over  thirty  in 
every   hundred  of  my  conmiand. 

Jackson  had  won  a  complete  victory.  How,  indeed,  could 
it  be  otherwise  ?  Place  the  figures  of  the  force  I  have  given 
for  Banks's  Corps  against  the  twelve  brigades  of  Jackson's 
three  divisions,  against  the  25,000  men  of  all  arms  which  met 
the  charge  of  our  7,500  men,"-  and  can  there  be  a  doubt  how 
su.ch  a  contest  v.'ould  terminate?  Even  Dabney,  Jackson's 
Boswell,  admits  in  his  history  of  tl)is  action  that  Jackson  had 
20,000  men  engaged,  but  he  puts  our  force  at  32,000  "engaged 
in  the  battle."!  Claims  for  Jackson's  prowess,  based  upon  such 
figures,  are  groundeJ  on  air.  Jackson  admits  a  lo^s  in  killed 
and  wounded  of  1,314,  and  claims  to  have  caused  us  a  loss  of 
twice  that  number. t 

"  Jackson  thought,"  says  Dabney,  "  that  Cedar  ?vIountain  was 
his  most  successful  battle,"  ^  Had  Jackson  known  that 
he  was  figiitin?'  none  oth<-r  than  ]3ank3's  Corps,  would  he 
have  thought  this  battle  so  successful .-'  Who  shall  say  ? 
Jackson  v.'as  fallible,  and  oitertimes  too  stubborn  to  know 
or  admit  the  truth.  In_  his  Official  Report,  he  feels  obliged  to 
defend  himself  for  not  attacking,  on  the  loth,  the  army  he 
thought  he  had  whijioeJ  0:1  the  otl:,  by  assumiiig  that  Pope 
Ijad    received    lein.iurcernL-nts,   which,   DalMtey  says,   Jackson 


*  Tl'.e  foT'ce  r.ader  J  ickiOM,  accorJ.ng  to  our  r:i';--jt  aut'ici'iic  i'.ifonnation,  was 
2~,cco  nieii  of  aH  ruT.is  and  sb:'v  p;!i:s,  (if  which  about  25.000  luen  were  present 
in  t.he  action.  IJar.k^V  tore;  i^  o!''icia!ly  staled  at  6,28-)  nie.-;,  with  thirty  gun.-  and 
a  brigade  of  cava'ry.  total,  7,500  men  of  all  amis.  See  Strother's  Recollections 
of  \'irg:nia  Cain;.n)iun. 

I  Dabiiey's  Life  oi  Jackson. 

I  "  \Vf  c-ptured  four  hii'.dred  jiri-^oncrs,  5,302  sm.dl  arni.s.  one  twelve -pounder 
X.ipo'eon  and  its  caisson,  with  two  other  caissons  and  a  limber."  —  yackson's 

.  ^^?<  '■<■ 

§  "This  nd.d  was  rcniarkabie  for  tlie  narrownes-  of  its  front :  a  niiie  in  width 
embracing  the  whole  t^round  Uixm  which  centre  and  left  wing  had  w.'cstlcd  for 

li-j.'i  a  u.iv  .i;.;.ii;;>t  3.',"Co  ui-,ii,  a  ninuber  wldch  W'-vld  n\  .ke  ;'.  line  uf  battle  six 
miles  loner."'  —  D i<iuv. 


L>10 

placed  as  high  as  60,000.  Jackson  himself  savs  that  he  fled 
on  the  I  ith  '■  to  avoid  being  attacked  by  vastly  superior  forces 
in  front." 

The  evidence  we  have  £,iven  is  conclusive  that  althou^^^h 
Jackson  shrank  from  an  encounter  with  Pope  vs-hen  the  two 
armies  were  evenly  matched,  his  historians,  clamorous  in  their 
falsehoods  of  the  numl>ers  overpowered,  demanded  that  Cedar 
Mountain  should  be  emblazoned  on  Jackson's  shield.  But 
the  mills  of  Time  at  last  grind  out  the  truth,  and  before  Dab- 
ney  had  exhausted  even  his  endless  vocabulary  in  coining 
loud-sounding  vv'ords  of  praise,  he  felt  obliged  to  defend  Jack- 
son, not  only  for  retreating,  but  even  for  fighting  where  he. 
did. 

The  reinforcements  which  caused  Jackson  to  retreat  were 
not  present  v.dth  Pope's  army  on  the  loth,  when  the  former 
refused  t')  renev.-_the  nght ;  and  when  thev  came  up,  on  the  i  ith, 
they  gave  us,  as  we  ha\'e  shown  (King's  Division  onb;),  a  force 
no  larger  than  Jacksoii's.  Yet  this  made  him  retreat.  Of  the 
fight  at  Cedar  Mountain,  Dabney  says,  "Jackson  meant  to 
have  fougiu  at  Culpe|:=per  Conn  House  on  the  Sth.  Had  he 
done  so.  his  victory  would  have  been  so  much  more  complete 
as  to  silence  every  charge  of  fruitlessness  ;  for  we  have  seen 
tlrat  the  sui'O'crts  vdiicii  saved  Pope  from  destruction  onl}^ 
arrived  at  rdgliciall  on  the  Qth." 

To  si'ence  such  criticism,  to  shov;  what  would  have  happened 
had  something  not  inii.-rposed  of  v/hich  v.e  are  not  informed, 
it  is  suiTiclent  to  reicr  to  what  we  have  said  of  Pope's  dis- 
positions on  the  Sth.  Had  Jackson  marched  to  Culj^epper 
Court  House  oa  that  day,  he  would  not  onlv  have  sa\cd  I'ope 
much  time  in  concentration,  but  he  would  have  met,  in  addi- 
tion to  hbnks's  Corps,  the  whole  of  Rickett's  Division,  antl  we 
may  b^lie\'e  Sigel  wuuld  have  found  a  road  upoii  wliich  he 
could  have  arri\'ed  in   time. 

Jackson's  battle  of  Cedar  Mi-uiitain  cannot  be  defended. 
It  accompUsh.cd  lio  purj-.j^e,  it  establi.^iicd   no  dcsira'ble  end. 


ml 

In  three  days  from  the  time  the  last  gun  was  fired  our  cavalry 
pickets  were  re-established  upon  the  Rapidan. 

In  concluding';  this  chapter,  it  seems  proper  to  offer  the  fol- 
lowing criticism  upon  the  plan  of  this  battle,  and  the  causes 
which  led  to  the  peculiar  efforts  put  forth  In  Banks's  testi- 
mony before  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War,  he 
attempts  to  exculpate  himself  for  attacking  the  enemy,  by  try- 
incr  to  make  it  appear  that  the  enemy  were  coming  down  to 
attack  him.  He  had  seen  the  movement  of  Ewell's  remaining 
regiments  to  the  mountani-sidc,  and  the  brigade  of  Thomas,  of 
Hill's  Division,  reinforcing  Early ;  and,  in  his  own  language, 
he  "had  gone  dovv-n  to  the  front  with  some  officers,  and  been 
in-ipressed  v.ith  the  idea  th.at  Vvhile  they  v.-ere  moving  on  the 
other  side  (the  left),  they  were  coming  down  on  the  righ.t," 
that  is,  across  the  v.-heat-field  and  through  the  woods,  behind 
which  all  of  Williams's  Division  were  concealed.  If  Jackson 
ever  thought  of  turning  our  right,  it  was  not  while  Crawford 
and  Banks  were  peering  through  tne  woods  and  trying  to  _^/u'ss 
what  was  behind  them. 

I'he  enemy  could  not  have  crossed  that  wheat-field  and 
attacked  Crawford  without  exposing  their  flank  and  rear  to  an 
attack  from  my  whcle  brigade  of  infantry  and  batteries,  nor 
could  they  have  attemptc.)  it,  without  full  warning  to  viv^  from 
my  ski'.mishcrs,  who  filled  t.;c  v.'oods  in  iVoJit  of  Crawford's 
right. 

"Turning  our  right!"  It  would  not  have  been  attemipted 
at  that  stage  of  the  battle;  or  if  it  had,  to  swing  his  whole  line 
b:ickward  on  mv  position,  as  on  a  pivot,  and  cover  his  left  by 
tlic  woods  on  tlie  ridge,  on  tlie  northern  side  ol  Cedar  Creek, 
wlsere  Crawford  was  the  evening  before,  when  we  were  sent 
out  to  establish  ourselves  at  Crawford's  position,  would  have 
leen  Banks's  true  movement  to  repel  such  an  attack.  As  proof 
of  this.  I  may  refer  to  the  fact  that  the  renmantof  Banks's 
Corj)5  fell  back  behir.d  a  lino  of  Ijatllc  thus  p.osted,  vhea  i\^['e 
came  up,  and  with  new  troojis  established  a  new  fine,  tueiigat 


-,T 


212 

of  which  was  at  the  position  I  had  occupied  until  I  was 
ordered  forward  to  the  stubble-field.* 

Our  rigiit  never  was  atiacked,  it  was  too  strong-;  but  alas  ! 
it  was  too  evident  that  Banks  did  not  know  where  the  right  of 
his  line  was.  With  all  these  facts  (which  cannot  be  disputed) 
before  us,  I  read,  with  tfic  same  amazement  that  iVtls  me  when- 
ever I  investigate  any  of  Banks's  military  efforts,  that  "the 
enemy  had  massed  his  forces  on  our  right,  and  v.-as  moving 
forward  and  begun  an  attack  upon  us.  I\Iy  force  encountered 
him  about  five  o'clock,  which  is  the  usual  tim.e  for  them  to 
make  an  attack.  They  u'lade  a  desperate  attack  on  our  right : 
of  course  we  had  to  strengthen  that  with  all  our  force/'f  Now 
every  one  but  Banks  and  Crawford  knows  that  the  cneniy 
made,  at  this  time  (nve  o'clock),  no  attack  at  all  on  our  right, 
the  right  of  our  line.  If  I5anks  had  not  sen.t  four  regiments 
over  the  wheat-field  to  attack  Jackson,  and  tlicn  sent  me  from 
the  right  over  half  a  mile  to  tiie  front,  after  the  enemy  had  used 
•lip  these  regimeiits,  then  this  whole  force  would  have  been 
saved  to  meet  Jackson',-  attack,  if  he  had  made  one  ;  and  had 
it  been  upon  the  rigrit,  v/e  could  have  held  the  enemy  at  bay 
until  night  or  McDowell  aiid  Sigel  had  come.  There  is  no 
room  for  contrcvers}'  here  :  tlic  weak  and  unhappy  confer- 
ence with  CraWiV)rd  is  marled  with  blunders,  -.vhi:!!  would  be 
comedies  it'  they  were  not  crimes. 

Bearing  in  mind  that  Ban.ks  moved  his  lirie  forward  at 
least  four  hundred  yards  from  v\-here  Roljcrts  staticTicd  him, 
before  he  "  sent  Crawtord  a  brig:;.ue  "  ;  that  Crawiord's  regi- 
ments advanced  six  hundred  \'arils  in  crossing  the  stubble- 
field  before  they  entered  the  woods,  and  then  that  they  totalh^ 

surprised   the   enemv,  driving    him    back   some    hundreds   of 
«       ^  ^  

*  This  waa  the  position  I  surrtiidered  after  dark  to  Gen.  Tower,  of  Rickett's 
Division. 

t  Banks. "s  testimony,  Report  of  Coininitice  on  Coiid'ict  '.tl  il;e  War,  p.  44, 
Vol.  III. 

NoTK.  —  The  whoie  of  ilank^'s  tcstinicnv,  "s  to  a  proL.i.!  ie  attack  r.pon  him 
v.hen  he  resolved  ti:>  att.i;k  tiie  cticriiV;  is  an  a;':erth;ni jlic.  — .■\ur!{.jR. 


213 

yards  farther,  and  almost  capturing  Winder's  Battery,  —  the 
very  thing  wirch  i'lan.ks  told  Roberts  he  thought  he  could  do 
and  should  do,  —  \\c  are  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  Banks, 
instead  of  fearing  an  attack,  was  determined  to  make  one, 
because  he  thought  he  "  could  carry  the  f^cld,"  and  did  not 
believe  the  enemy  vrere  there  in  force  ;  and  that  f;^r  this  pur- 
pose he  advanced  his  troops  until  the  regiments  of  Craw- 
ford's Brigade,  when  repulsed,  were  at  least  one  mile  from 
the  position  assigned  him  (Banks).  Whether  Jackson  v/ould 
or  would  not  liave  attacked  us  is  not  the  question.  For 
Banks  to  give  in  sworn  testimony,  as  he  has,  that  the  eneniy 
"  made  a  desperate  attack  upon  our  right,"  and  that  Crawford 
was  thrown  forward  to  repei  it,  is  to  pervert  history  ;  it  is 
10  substitute,  vvitii  iormal  solemnity,  fiction  for  fact. 


214 


CPI  AFTER    X. 

"General  Banks  war.  neither  ordered  nor  expected  to 
attack  the  enemy,"  says  Gen.  Pope.  "  I  was  both  ordered  and 
expected  to  attack  the  enemy,"  rephe?  Gen.  T!anks, 

Let  us  briefly  examine  the  testimrmy.  What  were  Gen. 
Pope's  purposes  and  plans  when  he  sent  j^anks's  Co^'ps  for- 
ward on  the  morning-  ol'  the  Qth  }  Tlicre  can  be  no  doubt  that 
he  did  not  authorize  or  expect  it  to  attack,  single-handed,  the 
xvhole  of  Jackson's  army.  Says  Pope  in  his  Official  Report  of 
tliat  action,  "  My  chui-i'-of-staff.  Gen.  F^oberts,  whom  J  sent 
forward  early  on  the  oth  to  re])ort  to  Banks  and  to  advise 
freely  with  him  as  to  operations  of  his  corps,  as  well  as 
Ikmks  himsel::,  Vv"ere  both  fully  a:' vised  of  niy  wishes  ;  tliat 
I  desired  Banks  merely  to  keep  the  enem}'  in  check  l)y 
occup\'ing  a  strong;  position  in  his  front  until  the  v/hole  dis- 
posable force  of  my  ccr;im.and  should  l>e  concentrated  in  the 
neighborhood." 

Gen.  Pcpe  ad'hessed,  Jan.  (2,  1865,  a  letter  to  the  Chair- 
man of  the- Comnnttee  on  l^wit  Conduct  of  the  War.  replying 
to  testimony  which  Bar.ks,  in  the  absen.ce  of  Pope  and  all 
others  who  had  any  intcres  in  denying  the  statements  there 
made,  had  vulunteered  before  that  committee.  These  ex  parte 
statements  v.'ere  made  at  Washington,  Dec.  14,  1S64. 

In  Gen.  Pope's  letter,  which  may  be  found  in  the  second 
volume  of  the  conmii'tee's  report,  he  says,  "  To  n;ake  sure 
there  could  be  jio  mistakes  of  my  orders  and  inleritions,  at 
Q  30  A.  .\i.  I  sent  C'.':^.  Roberts  with  full  and  precise  ordei"s 
that  he  (ri:inksj  should  take  up-  a  stro'ig  positiori  near  where 


215 

Crawp^rd's  Brigade  of  his  corps  was  posted,  and  if  the  enemy 
advanced  upon  hini.  tliat  he  (Banks)  should  push  his  skir- 
mishers well  to  th.e  front,  and  attack  the  enemy  with  them  ; 
exj)'ainin2,'  fully  that  the  object  was  to  keep  back  the  enemy 
until  Sigcl's  Corps  and  Rickett's  Division  could  be  concen- 
trated and  brought  forward  to  his  support.  Roberts  was 
directed  to  rem.ain  with  Banks  until  further  orders,  and  he 
accordinglv  did  remain  with  him  until  I  reached  the  held  in 
person  just  before  dark.*  The  objects  I  had  in  view  were  so 
plain  that  no  military  man  could  tail  to  see  it.  Roberts  was 
authorized  to  communicate  them  to  Ranks  and  everyone  else. 
I  conferred  freely  with  McDowell  about  it,  and  refer  to  his 
Official  Report  in  corroboration." 

And  again,  in  the  same  letter:  "Tl'ie  object  in  sending 
Banks's  Corps  to  the  front  to  take  and  hold  a  strong  position 
against  the  advaricii^.g  enemy  until  Sigcl's  Corps  and  Rick- 
ett's Division  could  be  united  in  his  r^ar,  was  so  plain  and  so 
cleariy  understo-jd  b\-  evei'V  man  of  ordinary  intelligence,  that 
I  find  it  impossible  to  'oehieve  15anks  did  not  unJ.erstand  it. 
It  is  clear  to  me  that  lie  did  understand  it." 

And  yet  again,  before  the  IMcDoweli  Court  of  Inquiry,  Pope 
swears,  "On  the  mornin.g  of  August  Qih,  in  a  personal  inter- 
view at  nn'  hea:i(ii;::rLers  at  Culpepp-.n,  I  gave  Ban!:-  instruc- 
tions. I  told  hiiu  if  the  eneruj.  a'i^anccd  to  attack  hiai,  he 
should  push  his  skirmisliers  well  to  the  front,  and  notif\-  me 
immi^liately,  it  being  my  wish  to  gain  ail  the  time  possible  to 
con.centrate  our  forces  at  Culpe|)r>er  C(;urt  House." 

R  would  seem  as  if  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  Pope's  in- 
ti!U:..;!s:  let  us  see  if  there  is  any  doubt  tiiat  lie  connnuni- 
cated  them  to  Banks. 

First,  we  have  the  above  verbal  communication  from  Pope 
to  Banks,  whiei;,  if  correctly  given,  and  it  is  swi^rn  to,  seems 
to  nutkc  it  clear  that  P-anks  was  noi.  ordered  to  attack  Jackson, 
save  v>nth  his  skirniishers. 


216 

Second,  the  order  communicated  at  9.43  in  the  morning; 
of  the  9th  of  Au:;ust  bv  Col.  Lewis  rvlarslial,  Pope's  adjutant- 
general,  and  reduced  to  writing  by  Major  L.  H.  Pelouse, 
Banks's  adjutant-general.  This  verbal  order,  as  given  by 
Banks  before  the  committee,  agrees  in  substance  v\ith  ?vIajor 
Pelouse's  \'crsion  communicated  to  me  under  date  of  April  7, 
1875,  i'''  '^^^P'O'  ^'~*  ™y  iCiier,  asking  for  the  exact  words.  His 
answer  is  as  follows  :  — 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  7,  1S75. 
Cf.n.  Gr:o.  H.  Gordon, 

xVc.  7  Conri,  Square^  Bos'ok. 

My  D.ir  Genera'.,  —  In  reply  to  yours  of  the  zd.  inst,  I  will  state  that  I  have 
exaniir.ed  niy  retamed  papers,  nnd  fnund  a  true  co;jy  of  the  verbal  orderi  de- 
livered by  Col  L.  Vi.  Mar<:>^-i  to  Gen.  Banks  on  the  morning  of  the  day  of  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  2--  follows  :  — 

"CULPKPPEK,  9.45  A.  M.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

"From  C'jL,  Lnv/ii  Marshal. 

"  Gen   Banks  to  move  to  th.-  front  ininediately,  assume  conarnand  of  all  forces 
i"'  the  front,  d  :pl-.y  l.is   skinrdriiers   if  the   eneinv  advances  and   attack   him  im- 
mediately as  he  approaches,  and  be  reinfi;'rced  froru  iiere." 
^  1  am,  Gciisral,  truly  you;;:, 

L.  11.  Peloi'se. 

Though  Pope  denies  that  he  sent  Banks  iJiis  order,  I  do  not 
tliink  the  diiYerent  version  which  Col.  Marshal  gave  of  it 
Irum  mcmorj,',  Dec.  26,  1864,  embodied  in  Pope's  letter  to  the 
committee,  should  be  allowed  to  weigh  against  Major  Pelouse's 
statement,  based  as  it  is  upon  words  taken  as  they  fell  from 
Col.  idarshal's  lips  when  he  communicated  it.  1  thereiore 
believe  that  Banks  received  this  order  from  Pope. 

Third,  tliO  orders  communicated  to  Bariks  through  Roberts, 
Pope's  chief-of-stalf,  now  availa'ole  to  us  in  the  form  (yi  sworn 
testimony  before  the  iNIcDowell  Court  of  Inquiry  :  — 

Gen.  R(/oerts  tcstifi  :s,  "  Early  in  tlie  morning  of  the  9th  of 
Ai'gust  I  was  sent  to  the  front  of  the  army  with  directions, 
when  Banks  should  reach  a  p.osition  v/iiere  the  nigiit  bci^ore  I 
had  posted  Crawfurd"s  Brigade,  that   \  should  show  to  35anks 


217 

positions  for  him  to  take  to  liok^  the  enemy  in  check  if  he 
attempted  to  advance  towards  Culpepper.  I  had  been  to  the 
front  on  the  7th  and  Sth,  and  had  reported  to  Pope  my  impres- 
sions that  a  large  force  of  Gen.  Jackson's  would  be  at  Cedar 
Mountain,  or  near  there,  on  the  9th.  .  .  .  Gen.  Pope  au- 
thorized nie,  before  2;oing  to  the  front,  to  give  any  orders  in 
his  name  in  relation  to  holding  the  enemy  there  until  his  (Pope's) 
forces  could  corne  up,  to  any  of  the  ofticcrs  that  might  be  in 
the  field  senior  to  me.  I  understcod  h,is  object  was  to  hold 
the  enemy  in  check  there  that  day,  and  not  to  attack  until  the 
other  troops  of  his  command  should  arrive  and  join  General 
Banks."  '^' 

And  again  ;  "When  I  first  came  on  the  field,  I  met  and 
went  to  the  fiont  with  him  (Banks),  showing  him  positions 
where  the  enemy  had  batteries  already  posted,  and  shov.-ed 
him  positions  \^i■!ich  iiis  corps  should  take,  to  their  advantage, 
and  hold  these  position.s,  as  I  thought,  if  attacked.  /  t/ien  fold 
/urn  I  hat  Goicral  F'ope  ivaujai  hiv:  to  hold  tJic  eiie}ny  in  check 
iJure  tiiitil  SigeF s  forces  could  he  brougJit  up,  -ivhich  were 
cxfccted  that  day,  and  all  his  other  forces  united  to  fght  sack- 
so /is  forcesl'  t 

In  the  ligb.t  of  the  subsequent  orders  from  Pope,  com.muni- 
cated  through  Gqw.  Roberts  to  Banks  while  on  the  field,  can 
the  latter  defend  his  interpretation  of  the  written  order, 
received  through  Col.  Marshall  in  Culpepper  at  945  in  the 
morning,  —  his  interpretation  given  to  the  committee,  "  that 
he  was  ordt^red  to  attack  Jackson's  army  v/ith  his  corps"  .'*  If 
tliat  v;ritten  order  and  Pope's  verbal  instructions  to  Banks, 
ai;d  the  information  which  a  corj-is  comtnarider  ought  to  have 
of  the  intentions  of  the  commanding  general,  and  which  the 
latter  says  Banks  did  have,  —  if  these  were  not  enough  to 
instruct  him  as  to  his  duty,  could   he   not  comprehend  Gen. 


*  Testimony,   Geii.   l:.  S.    RoIjcit~,   McDowell   Court  cf     Iniuiry,   B-itt;^  uf 
Ceiiar  Motintain,  p.  51. 

1   'J'he  i'alic-  ar.-  :r\;nc.  —  ACTiroR. 


■218 

Roberts's  orders  ?  I  say  nothing  now  of  the  exercise  of  thit 
prudence  v/hich  the  most  inoxperiejiced  oi  men,  intrusted 
v/iih  the  Hves  ot  his  feliow-crcatures,  is  bound  to  empluv  ; 
I  ask  only,  Did  Ibnks  know  what  he  was  ordered  to  do  ? 
Of  this  there  is  no  doubt.  The  answer  is  plain,  the  proof 
irrefutable.  It  is  found  in  the  conferences,  while  on  the 
field,  between  Banks  and  Roberts,  and  in  the  subsequent 
action  of  Banks,  and  the  reasons  he  gave  for  such  action  ;  it 
is  found  in  the  words  that  fell  from  Banks's  lips  in  his  sworn 
testim.ony  belore  the  committee,  wlien  he  says  that  "  within 
an  hour  from  0-45  A.  M.  (the  date  of  the  order  from  Col.  Alar- 
shall),  as  his  troops  were  on  tlie  march,  he  left  the  head  of  his 
column,  went  to  Pope's  headquarters,  and  asked  him  if  he  had 
any  otlier  orders,  to  which  he  said,  '  I  have  sent  an  ofhcer 
acquainted  with  the  country,  who  will  designate  the  ground 
you  are  to  hold,  and  v;ill  gi\-e  you  any  instnictions  he  may 
deem  necessary  ' "  ;  and  if  this  is  not  enough  to  show  that 
Roberts  was  aulhorii-ed  to  act  for  Pope,  and  that  Jjanks  was  to 
Ao/c/  a  position,  and  that  Roberts  w^iuld  show  him  the  one  he 
v.as  to  hold,  we  have  the  additional  evidence,  given  by  Banks 
hiniseif  before  the  committee,  orice  before  quoted,  that 
upon  his  arrival  at  the  field  he  '"  (I)  saw  Gen.  Roberts,  told 
him  General  Por-e  saii.1  lie  v;  )uld  indicate  the  line  I  was  to 
occuj-y.  Said  he,  "T  have  beeu  over  this  gcourid  thoroughly, 
and  I  believe  this  line  [meaning  the  one  v.'hich  Crawford's 
Brigade  then  held]  is  the  best  tliat  can  be  taken.'  I  con- 
curred with  him,  and  placed  my  command  oi  about  6,000  men 
there." 

Can  any  one  doubt  wliat  would  have  beeii  Ibmks's  rcplv  at 
that  time  to  the  Cjucition,  "Are  )"ou  ordered,  sir,  to  advance 
your  whole  line  from  this  position  and  attack  tb.e  enem\'.'" 
WouM  it  not  hn.\'e  been,  "  Is\),  sir  ;  ni}'  orders,  reduced  to  writ- 
ing from  Gen.  Pope  thruugh  Col.  i\kirshall,  are  to  attack  the 
enemy  with  my  sklrmislicrs,  it  he  advances,  aiv::  send  for 
reinforceriiciits.     Tficse  orders   were   repeated  to  me  by  Gen. 


219 

Pope  an  hour  later  in  a  personal  interview  at  his  headquarters, 
in  v/aic'i,  after  telling  me  of  his  desire  to  concentrate  his  forces 
before  fr^^ating,  he  said  he  had  sent  an  officer  to  designate  the 
ground  I  :.m  to  liold,  and  also  to  give  me  instructions  ;  and 
this  line  where  I  am  now  stationed  has  been  designated  by 
Gen.  Pope's  chicf-of-staiT  as  the  one  I  am  to  hold"? 

If.  then,  after  his  attack  and  defeat,  rt  the  time  I  addressed 
Pope  in  B.mks's  presence  v.ith  "  This  battle  should  not  have 
been  fought,  sir,"  Banks  had  attempted  to  defend  himself, 
what  would  he  have  uttered  ?  Could  he  have  replied,  "  I  was 
to  obey  General  Roberts,  your  chief-of-staff,  General  Pope! 
and  he  ordered  me  to  leave  my  strong  position  and  attack  the 
enemy  "  ? 

Turning  to  the  sworn  testimony  of  Gen.  Roberts,  given 
before  the  McDou'cll  Court  of  Inquiry,  we  find  the  following 
as  his  answer  to  this  question  from  the  court:  — 

*'  Oucsfion.  Was  the  battle  of  Cedar  IMomitain  brought  on 
by  P  inks  or  the  enen.iy  ? 

"  Ans-Lcer.  In  tlie  early  part  of  the  day  the  artillerv  battle 
was  brought  on  by  the  enemy's  batteries  opening  from  new 
positions  o\-^  Crawford's  ardllery,  1  liad  been  directed  by 
Gen.  Pope  to  send  information  to  him  hourly  of  what  was 
goiiig  on.  anti  I  Ind  exprc>3ed  my  opinion  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  to  Bau;:s  that  Jackson  had  arrived.  The 
forces  were  very  large.  Gen.  Banks  expressed  a  different 
opinion,  saying  that  he  thought  he  should  attack  the  batteries 
betorc  night.  I  stated  to  Banks  then  my  reasons  for  believing 
that  an  attack  w.iuld  be  dangerous,  that  I  was  convinced  that 
the  bal'.eries  on  Cedar  or  Slaughter  Mountains  v.'cre  sunnorted 
by  heavy  forces  of  infatury  massed  in  the  v/oods.  He  expressed 
a  difterent  opinion  ;  he  told  me  he  believed  he  could  carry  the 
field  ;  ids  men  were  in  the  best  f.ghtiug  condition  and  that  he 
should  u'.idcrtake  it. 

"  Qifs!io!i.  Why  did  Banks  advance  to  make  a  division 
movement  upon  the  enemy,  witiiout  aid  of  r\lcDoweH"s  troops  .^ 


220 

"Afiszi'er.  After_  Banks  was  in  position  I  went  to  the 
e.xtieme  rip:ht  (position  of  Gordon's  Bi-i.-jacle),  and  was  gone 
an  hour  or  more.  On  retiu-ning  I  Aound  j,anks  had  advanced 
his  hnes  in  order  of  battle  considerably  towards  the  enemy, 
so  that  very  sharp  musketry  firing  had  already  commenced. 
It  was  about  3.30  p.  m.  1  expressed  my  opinion  that  the 
enemy  was  in  very  large  force,  and  massed  in  the  woods  on 
his  right.  J!anks  replied  that  he  did  not  believe  the  enemy 
was  in  any  considerable  force  yet,  and  said  he  had  resolved 
to  attack  their  batteries  or  to  attack  their  main  force.  It  was 
either  one  or  the  other.  I  immediately  sent  a  dispatch  to 
Gen.  Pope  il  think  my  dispatch  v.-as  dated  4.30  f.  m.),  telling 
him  that  a  general  battle  would  be  fought  before  night,  and 
tljat  It  v.-as  of  the  utmost  importance,  in  my  opinion,  that  Gen. 
IvIcDowell's  Corps  should  be  at  once  sent  to  the  field." 

With  such  testimony  of  tlie  instructions  given  by  Roberts 
to  Banks  on  the  field,  surely  Pope  would  have  replied, 
"  General  Roberts  gave  you  no  order  to  attack,  but  on  the 
contrary  endeavored  to  dissuade  you  irom  so  doing." 

"Well,  sir,"  Banks  might  have  retorted,  in  the  language 
used  by  him  before  the  committee.  "  General  Roberts,  when 
he  indicated  the  position,  said  to  me,  in  a  tone  that  was 
hnrdly  proper  fbr  one  officer  to  use  to  another,  'There  must 
.be  no  backir.g  out  this  da;--.'  Me  said  tins  to  me  from,  six 
to  twelve  times,  I  made  no  reply  to  him  at  all,  but  I  felt 
it  keenly,  because  I  kriev.  that  my  connnand  did  not  want  to 
back  out.  We  had  backed  out  enough.  He  repeated  this 
declaration  a  great  manv  times.  —  'There  must  he  no  back- 
ing out  this  day."     At  the  crisis  of  the  battle  he  left." 

Had  Gen.  Pope  then  asked,  "  Did  you  think  this  justified 
you  in  disobeying  my  orders  ? " 

"  I  was  a  little  desperate,  because  I  supposerl  that  General 
Pope  thought  we  did  not  want  to  fight,"  Banks  swore  before 
the  committee,  and  might,  therefore,  have  returned  it  for  an 
answer. 


>.",! 


221 

And  had.  Pope  continued,  "  Did  you  think  your  desperation 
jiistified  you  in  precipitatin;:^  a  force,  which  you  number  as 
6, coo,  upon  an  enemy  \vhosc  stren2;th  you  now  afurm  to  have 
been  23,000.  when,  by  waitinc:  a  fev/  hours,.  I  could  have 
brought  up  a  fresh  corps  and  a  division  to  your  aid  ?" 

•'  I  did  n't  know  the  enemy  was  in  force,  and  I  sent  to  you 
(Pope)  every  hour  information  of  what  was  transpiring,"  Banks 
swore  before  the  committee,  and  might,  therefore,  have  repUed. 

Gen.  Pope's  retort,  in  this  attempt  to  put  the  responsibility 
of  I'anks's  conduct  upon  him,  may  be  found  in  his  Official 
Report,  as  follows  :  — 

"  Ho  (Banks)  was  in  easy  communication  -svith  me  all  day, 
and  all  dav  I  received  regular  reports  from  him,  and  he  on 
every  orca^ion  expressed  the  belief  that  the  enemy  did  not 
intend  to  attack  him,  and  he  at  no  time  intimated  to  me  that 
he  intended  to  attack  the  enemy.  At  no  time  did  he  ask  for 
reinforcem.ents,  nor  intimate  that  he  needed  them.  His  last 
report,  at  4.50  p.  m.,  announced  the  aitillery  f'ring,  that  shots 
were  exchanged  bv  skirmishers,  and  that,  at  5  p.  m.,  opposing 
skirmishers  weie  nov.-  approaching  each  other. "^  This  was  the 
last  despatch  from  Banks,  and  before. I  received  it  I  was  half- 
way to  the  field  v.dth  Rickett's  Division,  believing,  from  rapid 
artillery  firing,  that  an  engagement  was  going  on  or  might  be 
brought  on." 

What  excuse,  then,  is  left  for  Banks  }  This  is  wliat  he  offers, 
—  all  tliere  is  to  offer  ,  and  it  only  adds  to  our  heavy  grief 
(without  justifying  him),  tliat  either  to  add  the  v,'arrior's  to  the 
politician's  fame,  or  to  retrieve  at  Cedar  IMountain  w^hat,  in 
in's  ignorance,  P'anks  fancied  he  had  lost  at  Winchester,  such 
sacrifices  sliould  have  been  m.ade. 

A  writer,  once  on  ]>anks's  staff.f  echoes  him  in  these 
woT'l^:  "  There  V.MS  ano'her  moti\'e  underlying  and  probably 
controlling  pjanks's  judgment:  neither  he  nor  the  troops  under 


*  :>ce  ante. 

t  .Strother,  ia  llar;jer's  Mont'i'.y  fur  Augusr,  1S67. 


/. 


222 

his  command  were  at  all  satisfied  with  the  verdict  of  an  exact- 
ing; and  ungenerous  public  upon  the  actions  in  the  valley  of  tiie 
Shenandoah  ;  they  felt  the  injustice  of  that  judgment,  which, 
wilhout  regard  to  circumstances  or  contingencies,  accepted 
success  as  the  only  test  of  merit,  and  were  burning  for  an 
opportunity  to  wipe  away  unmerited  opprobrium.  They  were, 
consequently,  in  no  mood  to  discuss  discretionary  forms  or 
prudential  suggestions,  and  upon  the  first  explicit  order  to 
attack  tiiey  burst  upon  the  foe  with  a  valor  so  splendid  and 
devoted  that  cavilling  criticism  is  silenced  in  admiration,  and 
History  will  mark  the  day  of  Cedar  IMountain  as  one  of  the 
proudest  upon  her  illustrious  record."  In  l^anks's  words  to 
the  committee,  "  Our  troops  never  fought  better  ;  they  had 
been  retreating  up  to  that  time  and  panted  for  a  fight.  Alex- 
ander's troops  never  fought  better." 

In  these  lines,  all  but  ])raise  for  the  fighting  is  balderdash 
and  nonsense.  But  one  of  the  five  brigades,  constituting 
Banks's  Corps  at  Cedar  Mountain,  and  a  part  of  another, 
composed  the  force  that  fought  against  the  overwhelming 
numbers  of  the  enemy  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 
Our  conduct  in  that  fight  everywhere  met,  as  it  merited,  pub- 
lic approbation.  The  troops,  therefore,  tliat  were  with  Banks 
did  not  "  bur;i  to  wipe  away  unmerited  opprobrium."  But  did 
Bani;s  burn  for  fnme>  and  tlid  he  seek,  by  throwing  his  troops 
against  the  bayonets  of  Jackson's  armv  at  Cedar  Mountain, 
to  wipe  out  an  opprobrium  which  he  imagined  liis  friends 
might  feel  for  him  because  he  did  not  acliieve  impussibiiities 
at  Winchester  ?  This  is  much  more  probable.  All  of  this 
rubbish,  as  well  as  Bariks's  defence  for  fightin.g  this  battle,  was 
an  afterthought.  Banks  was  ignorant  of  the  numbers  of  the 
enemy  in  his  front  ;  he  hoped  to  win,  but  he  lost  ;  then  he  set 
about  finding  excuses,  and  they  are  such  that  it  had  been 
be.ter  for  him  to  have  been  impaled  on.  the  "  bayonets  of  his 
enemies,"  than  to  have  submitted  them  to  the  world. 

Says   l'i/{-e,  "  I   regret  tr^at  Ikaaks  though:  it   expedient  to 


223 


depart  from  my  instructions.  He  left  the  strong  position 
which  he  had  takcTi  up,  ana  advaaccd  two  ndlcs  to  assauU-  the- 
enemy,  bchevinp:  they  vs-ere  not  in  considerable  force,  and 
that  he  would  be  able  to  crush  their  advance  before  their 
main  body  could  come  up.  He  accordingly  threw  forward  his 
whole  corps  into  action  against  superior  forces  of  the  enemy, 
strongly  posted  and  sheltered  by  woods  and  ridges.  His 
advance  led  him  over  the  open  ground,  which  was  every- 
wdiere  swept  by  the  nre  of  the  enemy  concealed  in  woods  and 
ravines  beyond."  * 

On  the  13th  of  August,  only  four  days'after  the  action,  Gen. 
Pope  telegraphed  to  Halicck  precisely  what  is  stated  in  this 
quotation  from  the  former's  Oftlcial  Report,  and  this,  Pope  says, 
"  Banks  must  have  seen,  kr  it  v/as  published  in  all  the  news- 
papers;  and  now,"  adds  Pope,  "at  the  end  of  tv/o  years,  while 
he  is  on  leave  of  absence,  Gen.  Banks  procures  himself  and 
one  or  two  of  his  staff-oihcers,  to  be  taken  before  your  com- 
mittee in  relation  to  verbal  orders  which  he  says  he  received 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  cith  of  August,  1S62,  before  his 
corps  had  ever  gone  to  the  front.  Fie  seems  to  have  inter- 
preted this  alleged  order  in  the  light  of  at'terthought,  with- 
out alluding  (o  other  orders  received.  ...  I  leave  your 
conimittee  to  charaotcri/vj:  such  trai  =  sacti(.n  as  it  merits."  f 
And  again  says  Pope  in  the  same  letter,  "  Panks's  interpreta- 
tion of  my  orders  is  an  afterthought,  ingenious,  but  not  cred- 
itable to  his  judgment,  is  absurd,  and  on  its  face  is  a  contra- 
ciction,  and  requires  strong  personal  motives  to  understand  it 
as  Banks  says  he  did."  TJiis  is  in  reply  to  Banks's  testimony, 
in  which  he  savs,  "This  battle  was  Ibught  under  orders.  I 
am  sorry  Gt:n.  Pone  says  it  was  nut." 

1  here  can  be  no  other  conclusion  in  disinterested  minds, 
than  tliat  Banks,  knov/ing  he  was  not  ordered  to  attack,  I'an 
the  risk,  hoping  f(;r  a  victory,  vdiich  he  believed  would  silence 

*  Pope's  Oltkial  liejjort. 

t   rope's  Idler  10  Chairm.nn  of  Co:iiiii:it'j'.:,  Jill,  u,  1865. 


224 

criticism.     As  he  failed,  he  has  endeavored  to  impute  to  others 
the  f:iult  which,  belong.--  to  him. 

One  Word  more  ma\-  be  added  to  the  manner  in  which 
Banks  fought  that  battle,  —  "his  remarkable  arrangement," 
as  Pope  calls  it.  To  enlighten  the  committee  upon  this 
point,  Gen.  Pope  wished  a  number  of  officers  to  he  called, 
whose  names  he  gives,  my  own  among  the  number.  'My 
testimony  is  found  in  these  pages.  Others  have  spoken. 
Says  Strother  in  his  "  Recollections  of  a  Virginia  Campaign," 
before  referred  to:  "A  Confederate  officer  said  to  me,  'Your 
attack  under  the  circumstances  was  rash  and  meaningless.'" 
And  again.,  "  W'ith  his  feeble  colunm,''  ''■'  says  the  same 
v/riter,  "  Banks  advanced  upon  an  enemy  25,000  strong,  judi- 
ciously jioiied,  and  assailed  him  with  a  fur)-  which,  for  a 
brief  moment,  seemed  about  to  triumph  over  all  odds  and 
advantages,  but  v.diich,  without  support  or  reserves,  presently 
expended  itself  and  fell  back  from  the  unequal  contest  ex- 
hausted and   impotent." 

Says  an  officer  f  of  the  Tenth  Maine,  in  his  history  of  that 
regiment  at  Cedar  ^Mountain,  "  The  fact  still  remains,  that  it 
was  a  shockingly  mismanaged  battle,  and  every  man  of  us 
knows  now,  what  Gen.  Gordon  and  Col.  Beals  believed  then, 
th'.^t  the  \v-o  jds  was  our  be.~.t  posici''-!.  T'ae  enemy  poured 
regiment  att^-r  reginient  upon  our  lines.  Gen.  Banks  evi- 
dently had  no  idea  of  the  immense  number  of  rebels  in  his 
front.  They  had  a  contiiuious  line  from  the  road  up  to  Gor- 
don's right,  \viiicli  they  overlapped  so  far  that  it  woidd  seem 
as  if  Pender's  (rebel j  Brigade  was  out  of  musket-range." 

As  further  e\idence  of  Bariks's  iguiirm-ice  of  the  field,  the 
forces,  and  tiie  management  of  his  troops,  we  find  in  Gen. 
Pope's  letter  to  the  committee,  that  when  he  was  hastening  to 
the  field,  "supposing  of  course  that  the  enemy  had   attacked 


*  Omcially  stated  at  7,5C>o  men  of  all  arms,  of  wiiich  infantry  and  artillery  num- 
bered only  6,2S9. 
t  M.iior  Gouid. 


225 

Banks,  and  that  he  was  still  holdin-  liis  position,  I  received, 
whea  u^jv  the  held,  word  fr.^ni  hira  that  Ai-  zvas  driving  tke 
c:;eii:r,  w.iich  infurmation  I  at  once  conirnuaicated  to  Rick- 
ett's  Division."  Instead  of  a  victorious  Banks,  Pope  found  a 
thoroughly  whipped  and  beaten  corps,  —  not  demoralized,  it  is 
true  :  no  route,  no  panic.  "  Sullen  and  defiant  they  retired." 
says  Strothe--,  "  leaving  nothing  on  the  field  but  their  dead,  the 
graver  cases  of  wounded,  a  couple  of  empty  caissons,  of  which 
the  horses  had  been  killed,  and  a  disabled  gun  spiked  and 
overthrovvn." 

Of  the  engagement.  Pope  says  in  his  Official  Report,  ••'Not- 
withstanding these  disadvantages  [all  the  mistakes  enumer- 
ated in  this  paper,  that  means]  his  (Banks's;  corps  gallantly 
responded  to  his  orders,  and  assailed  the  enemy  with  great 
fury  and  determination.  The  action  lasted  about  an  hour 
and  a  hair,  and  during  that  time  our  h.rces  suriered  heavy 
loss,"  an:i  were  gradually  driven  back  to  their  ibrmer  position, 
ai  which  point  Ricketts  came  up."  And  again,  '•  Tne  Massachu- 
setts t  regiments  behaved  with  espe:ial  gallantry,  and  although 
I  regret  that  Banks  thought  it  expedient  to  depart  from  my 
instructions,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  his 
gallant  and  intrepid  conduct."  And  again,  "  Williams,  Geary, 
Augur,  Caroll,  G'jrdon,  Crawford,  and  Green  behaved  with 
distinguished  gallann  v'." 

It  may  be  asked  wny,  after  the  severe  language  we  have 
ciuoted  from  Pope,  upon  J5anks's  disobedience  of  his  orders, 
there  should  have  been  so  much  mildness  about  it  in  Pope's 
first  despatches  to  Halieck  and  in  the  former's  Ofhcial  Report 
upon  this  subject.  Pope  has  answered  t];e  question,  in  his 
letter  to  the  committee,  saying,  "  I  endeavored  in  my  Ofricial 
Report  to  avoid  the  censure  justly  chargeable  upon  Banks  for 
h^s  management  of  that  battle,  though  I  was  warned  at  the 


*  Orlic-ally  given  as  i\(/n   kiiled  and  wounded,  and  732  missi.a-,  —  Cutai.  2,39 \ 
Enemy,  1,30c  kiiled  and  v.-ounded.  ^         .      •    'J  > 

T  'i'iiCi'j  \sai  but  ur.e,  iLc  Second. 


22(1 

time,  by  officers  of  high  rank,  that  it  was  misplaced  gener- 
osity, and  that  my  forbearance  would  assuredly  be  used 
against  me  ihcrefor.  I  did  not  believe  it  possible,  and  felt 
disposed  to  deal  with  Banks  with  the  utmost  tenderness"; 
.  .  .  but  from  the  course  he  has  pursued,  it  is  now  due 
that  the  w^hole  subject  should  be  fully  and  fairly  presented 
to  the  count! y,  and  the  measure  of  praise  or  censure  be  cor- 
rectly fixed  upon  the  parties  concerned." 

To  give  Banks  all  the  measure  of  praise  we  can,  I  am  vdlling 
to  admit  to  this  paper  the  following  frnm  Crawford,*  in  his 
attempt  to  defend  Banks  against  Pope:  "  My  positive  orders 
vrere,  when  ordered  out  of  Culpepper  on  the  Sth,'to  resist 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  at  all  hazards,  and  tins  with  one 
brigade  of  infantry,  V'.o  batteries,  and  Bayard's  cavalry."  It 
is  apparent  that  this  order  does  not  justify  Banks  directly 
nor  infcrentially :  for  on  the  Sth,  Jackson's  army  was  not  at 
Cedar  i\Iountam ;  on  the  Sth,  Banks  had  n.ot  gone  to  the  front 
with  orders  to  hold  a  position  and  be  reinforced  if  attacked, 
nor  had  Roberts,  as  Pope's  chief-of-staff,  imparted  to  Banks 
the  instructions  given  to  him  on  the  9th.  That  Crawford, 
who  says  he  v.-as  to  resist  the  approach  of  the  er.emy  on.  the 
8th,  should  think  and  urge  that  Banks  was  therefore  justified 
on  the  oth  in  assumhiLf  th^;  offensive,  and  attackint^  an  enen:iv 
whom  he  believed  not  to  be  in  full  t"orce,  contrarv  to  the 
expectations  of  the  commander-in-chief,  who  had  ordered  him 
to  act  on  the  defensive  and  hold  the  enemy  in  ehccM  until  the 
army  could  be  concentrated,  v/ill  not  occasion  conmient  or  cre- 
ate surprise  among  the  survivors  of  the  Army  of  the  ]\:)tomac. 

The  battle  of  Cedar  ^dountain  v,-as  quickly  k-.iown  to  the 
public  through  correspondents  from  the  field,  through  private 
letters  and  Pope's  despatches.  P^veryu-hcre  there  was  praise 
for  the  fightin.g,  and  it  was  deserved.  As  was  to  be  expected, 
a  few  newspaper-generals  puffed  themselves  at  tiie  expense  ot 
others.     l-Sanks,  as  usual,  sought  salvation  through  condemna- 


*  Letter  fnnn  CrawiorJ  to  Majur  Cnild,  '.n  Tcntii  Maiiie  in  t.he  War. 


227 

■  tion.  Conceive  my  astonishment  at  the  announcement  in  our 
first  pa-er  fi-om  the  Xor:h,  that  "  Gen.  Banks  attril.uted  his 
Icsb  ot  the  battle  of  Cedai-  Ivlountain  to  Gen.  Gordon's  failure 
to  obey  his  orders."  The  moment  I  saw  this  article  I  carried 
it  to  J'anks's  headquarters. 

"  General  Banks,  I  do  not  know  that  you  are  responsible 
for  th.is  :  newspaper  correspondents  publish  much  that  is  not 
authentic.     Did  you  authorize  it }  "  handing;  him  the  paper. 

Band:s  looked  at  the  paper,  and  returned  it,  remarking, 
" 'T  is  true,' sir,  I  did  say  I  thought  you  were  late  in  getting 
into  action  at  Cedar  Mountain." 

"  Ah  !  did  you  ?  I  am  very  glad,  then,  that  this  has  beccrme 
known  to  me  now,  while  the  eviden.ce  is  at  hand  to  show  the 
ab.^'nute  talseuess  of  such  a  charge.  Will  you  remain  in  your 
room,  si?-,  for  fifteen  minutes  ?" 

"  I  will,"  replied  Banks. 

Galloping  rapidly  to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Williams,  I 
greeted  hir/i  v.  iih  a  bricl  extract  from  my  conversation  with 
Ban.ks,  the  purport  of  which  v\-as  that  the  latter  accused  me  of 
not  moving  into  the  fight  when  ordered. 

"  Did  he  say  that  '■  "  asked  V/illian-s. 

"  He  did." 

"Win- ,  *  you    ran    inio    the    fight    the    nionient   you 

received  the  oider,"  uttered  Williams  in  a  breath. 

"  I  know  it,"  I  responded. 

"I  waved  my  handkercliietV  continued  Wiiiiams,  "  and  at 
tn.e  same  time  told  Idtiman  to  gailup  to  you  with  the  order  to 
move  forward  and  support  Crawford." 

•'  1  know  it,  and  I  v.as  ready,  and  moved  instantly  at  the 
double-quick  ;  and  that  is  what  I  want  you  to  go  and  tell 
Banks,"  1  replied. 

"  1  '11  ser.d  Pitt.man,"  ai-mvered  Williams. 

"  I  prefer  you  sliould  go,"  I  urged.  "  It  was  your  order  I 
obe\'ed." 


*  This  dash  will  be  andci-tood  bv  tho-e  who  know  Willian.s. 


22S 

But  Williams  for  some  reason  or  other  did  not  seem  to  wish 
to  meet  Banks  upon  this  subject,  and  ended  the  matter  by 
calHiig  Piuman,  and  diiecting  him  to  return  with  me  and  tell 
l^anks  what  he  saw. 

With  Pittman,  I  again  sought  Bank?,  whom  I  addressed  as 
follows  :  — 

"  General  lianks,  I  have  seen  General  Williams,  who,  as 
division  commander,  gave  me  the  order  to  m.ove  my  brigade 
to  Crawford's  support.  General  Williams  knov/s  and  acknowl- 
edges that  I  obeyed  the  instant  I  received  the  order  ;  he  saw 
me  run  my  trov^ps  into  the  fight  ;  and  he  prefers,  instead  of 
coming  himself  to  teli  you  this,  to  send  Ca]jtain  Pittman,  his 
aid,  who  lias  all  the  infcrmation   that   rie  has." 

"  i'e.s  ! "  said  the  Captain;  "General  Banks,  1  carried 
General  Gordon  the  order  to  move  forward  his  brigade  into 
action.  He  miovcd  instantly  on  the  double-cpaick  ;  when  I 
returned  to  Gen.  Williams  I  said.  See  how  quick  General 
Gordon  has  got  into  the  fight."* 

"1  am  very  glad  to  hear  it,"  was  Banks's  reoly. 

"Then,  sir,"  I  said,  ■' I  presume  you  will  correct  the  false 
impression  you   have  given." 

Banks  muttered  that  he  would ;  at  least  such  was  ray 
understanding  as  1  lett  him. 

})iit  nut  only  did  ]xtrd-:s  iail  to  correct  then  what  he  knew 
to  be  false,  but  he  has  repeated  the  uritruth,  until  impressed 
uijun  some  ot  his  toilo\\'ers,  tiiey  too  l";ave  spread  the  report, 
liven  Crawford  has  re}>eated  it,  in  a  letter  in  Gould's  "  His- 
tory ot  the  Tenth  -Manie,"  but  with  added  blunders  and  mis- 
statements. 

li  I  repeat  here  what  will  be  found  in  another  part  of 
this  paper,  namely,  that  my  command  moved  to  support 
Crawtord  the  instant  the  order  wis  given,  it  being  then  in 
perfect    readiness  ;    that    human   eftort  could  not  have  trans- 


*  I  j>re>u:nc-  liv  the  limc  I'i'tii::.n  had  rc'urr.e.i  lo  W:lli;iin<,  I  mu-t  hp.ve  disaj)- 
[•e:i.re<!  in  the  woods  .-ki.-tin,'  tliu  \\hejt-ritjhl.     .My  m'.-n  ar:i',  cd  there  quite  Ijlown. 


229 


fen  ?d  it  with  mnre  celerity  to  the  edge  of  the  field,  across 
which  arid  on  our  flank  there  was  a  lart^er  force  than  was 
assailed  by  the  re,i::;iments  of  Crawford's  Brigade  ;  that  some 
hundreds  of  yards  before  I  got  to  this  field,  the  assault  I  was 
to  support  had  failed,  and  the  assaulting  troops  were  retiring 
far  to  my  left  ;  that  I  picked  up  the  broken  companies  of  my 
Third  Wisconsin  Regiment,  who  had  beeii  in  the  assault,  and 
carried  them  again  into  the  fight  ;  and  finally  that  Crawford 
(who  complaiiis  that  I  did  not  support  him)  was  found  and 
marked  by  nie  as  being  alone  in  the  v.'oods  quite  a  distance 
from  the  front,  to  which  we  were  hastening,  while  the  single 
regim.ent  of  his  own  brigade,  that  Banks  had  sent  against 
Jackson's  reserves,  aft-er  manfally  fighting  in  the  open  field, 
was  about  retiring  into  the  woods  :  if  I  repeat  this  again  here 
and  in  this  connection,  it  is  that  I  may  challenge  proof  to  the 
contrary. 

There  is  a  m\"stery,  v/hlch  perhaps  Gen.  Willianns  can 
explain.  I  was  to  support  Crawford  when  Williams  gave  me 
the  signal,  and  Williams  did  not  give  me  the  sigr:al  until  the 
assauh  had  been  made  and  repulsed  ;  but  liacl  it  been  other- 
v/ise,  we  now  see  that  the  two  small  regiments  and  four  com- 
panies I  should  have  added  to  the  assaulting  colum.n  would 
have  been  nothing  to  the  :^ix  brigaJes  of  the  encnn'  in  rcserv'e 
—  coi;:d  not  h,n.vc  gi\'en  us  the  victory;  and  that  Banks  knows 
now  :  possibly  Crawford  understands  it. 

The  fight  we  madeagamst  the  overpov.-ering  numbers  of  the 
enemy  v.-as  far  more  useful  to  Pope's  army  in  the  events  that 
followed  the  night  than  had  we  been  ordered  up  in  time,  to 
dasli  ourseb'es.  v/itii  CrauU.rij's  Brigade,  uselessly  against 
those  of  Winder's  and  Hill's  Di\ision.  This  is  th.e  fii-st  lime 
1  have  publicly  noticed  this  accusation  by  Banks  ;  and  should 
r.i>t  no-.v'  (believing  it  urnvorthy  of  notice)  but  for  the  part  it 
bears  in  our  history.  In  dismissing  it,  I  should  add  that  Banks 
affu'ins  that  he  jt^v//  me  "  lialf  a  tluzcti  limes"  an  order  lo  mo\'e 
to  support  Cr;uviord.      In  his  beiuiif  I  thin.k  it  shouk!  be  stated 


tn   f\  .' 


230 

thnt  Gen.  Banks  honestly  thinks  that  if  he  scJitme  such  orders, 
I  am  entirelv  rt- sponsible  whether  I  received  them  or  not.  Did 
lie  send  them  .^  I  challenge  him  to  name  a  person  other  than 
Gen.  V/illiaras's  aid,  who  brought  me  an  order  to  move  to 
Crawford's  support  on  the  9th  of  August,  1S62.  It  cannot  be 
donr,  it  never  has  been  ;  and  the  accusation  of  Jiot  moving 
when  ordered,  fmallv  substituted  for  not  moving  quickly  as 
first  reported,  must  be  regarded  as  an  unworthy  effort  to 
escape  merited  censure.  And  in  Crav/ford's  behalf,  there 
should  be  urged  in  extenuation  his  inexperience  in  the  duties 
of  a  general  ofncer.^ 

In  conclusion,  there  can  be  amor.g  intelligent  men,  among 
fair-minded  mevi,  but  one  opinion  of  the  disaster,  of  the  crime 
of  Cedar  }.Iou.ntain.  Censure  and  condemnation  must  fall 
U[)on  the  commander  vdio.  in  the  presence  of  all  that  trans- 
pired in  his  front  froni  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  August 
until  liis  final  fatal  assault  upon  tlie  enemy,  made  that  assault, 
with  the  krov.^ledge  that  in  hi,-,  rear,  a  distance  of  less  than 
three  mjiles,  there  was  a  wdiole  division  of  troops,  resting 
leisurely  by  tiie  road-side,  that  he  could  .have  for  the  ask- 
ing ;  and  if  that  was  not  enougli,  a  co-ps,  that  had  probably 
fr.uad  the  road  to  Culpepper,  could  be  added.  When  Banks, 
v,ivl:  this  kn'jwledge,  plunged  into  that  abyss  of  horrors  with- 
out c.illing  for  these  reinforcements,  he  conmiitled  a  blvtnder 
that  even  a  politician  might  shudder  at,  —  a  crime  that  he 
cannot  transfer  to   I'^pe. 

On  tlie  nth  of  August  we  returned  to  the  same  spot,  near 
Culpeivper,  from  wlrence.  on  tlie  9th.  v/e  went  out  to  fight  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Mwur  tain.  After  a  lew  days  {on  the  14th), 
n-iv  brigade,  with  reduced  numbers,  moved   out  oi  Culpepper, 

*  Crawford,  who  a  short  lime  before  the  w.ir  was  a  physician  from  Pennsylvania, 
hap;-L!i..cI  t'.Lc  a:ta..:;c.i  to  ihe  garrison  rl.ai  occupied  Fort  Sun;ttr  durin-  the 
boir.baidniciit.  'I'ho'Jgh  a  non-combatant,  Dr.  Cr.iwiord  became  somewhat 
notori  us,  at  a  period  wl-,eii  an  excited  public  placed  a  faNe  value  upon  every 
cxpusmc,  howc--cr  invo'uiUary,  in  defence  of  the  ila-.  This  accident,  liowcvcr, 
^ave  ^itccci.,-  to  Crawford  .'=  efforts  for  a  brigadiergencrars  appointment. 


2-M 

hurrying  to  cor.front  the  march  of  Lee's  victorious  army. 
Fnjm  the  Pca::.:^ula  ciiid  fron-i  North  Ciirolina  new  divisions 
and  corps  were  marching-  to  our  aid.  The  music  of  the 
band  of  the  Second  echoed  as  ga\'ly  tiirough  the  streets, 
as  we  turned  our  backs  on  the  town,  as  if  no  lives  had 
bt,^en  extinguished  in  our  regiment,  and  no  grief  pressed 
heavily  on  our  hearts.  We  marched  onward  to  Alexandria, 
to  the  grave  of  the  Army  of  Virginia. 

1  have  endea\'ored  to  portray  to  you,  from  my  own  notes 
written  on  the  held,  from  my  own  memory  of  what  I  saw  and 
did,  from  contemporaneous  papers  and  from  official  reports 
the  facts  tl^at  make  up  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain.  In 
carefully  and  candidly  dealing  with  all  these  facts,  I  have  so 
endeavored  to  enlighten  yo'u,  as  I  would  the  world,  upon  the 
matters  herein  set  forth,  that  truth,  which  is  said  to  be 
mighty,  shall  at  last  prevail. 


r  Ki¥f .  ¥1/1 


■'!>■ 


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