THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.

 

v.

 

 

MALVERN HILL, HARRISON'S LANDING AND THE RICHMOND PRISONS.

 

 

Some time during the evening of June 30th, General Sey­mour regained touch with the division of Pennsylvania Re­serves and assumed command. The retreat was resumed towards the James River, the guns between the two lines being abandoned. It was impossible either to carry off the wounded or to bury the dead.

General McClellan had selected Malvern Hill as the point at which he would resist any hostile attack that might be made. The spot was admirably adapted for the task. On the hill he concentrated his powerful artillery, supported by masses of infantry, partially protected by earthworks. The ground in the immediate front was open, varying in width from a quarter to half a mile, and, sloping gradually from the crest, was com­pletely swept by the fire of his artillery and infantry.[1] At xo A. M., on the xst of July, the last of the Federal troops reached their positions.[2]

Lee, who had by this time succeeded in uniting the two wings of his army, attacked this naturally strong and arti­ficially strengthened position again and again between the

 

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hours of 3 and 9 o'clock, only to be bloodily repulsed[3] His losses were terrible, but until the closing of night he continued to order his troops forward to destruction. The Bucktails were under fire for a portion of the morning, but retired according to the orders of General Seymour, to a position under a bluff.[4]

The location of Malvern Hill precluded the entertainment of a proposition to permanently occupy it. McClellan therefore ordered the retreat continued to Harrison's Landing, on the James. The order, coming as it did, after the first real success of the campaign, was a bitter blow to many of the officers, Sypher stating that General Phil Kearney protested in words so vehement that they bordered upon insubordination.[5]

Yet all military critics seem to agree that the move was necessary. During the night, therefore, the march was re­sumed.

The official casualty report shows that McClellan's loss during the Seven Days' retreat was 15,849 men.[6] The Confed­erate loss was about 19,700 men[7]

The Reserve Corps, which General McCall stated was about 7,000 strong when it went into action at Mechanicsville, lost 3,045 men, killed, wounded and missing[8] McClellan must have used during the campaign over 100,000 men; hence while

 

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the Reserves constituted but a fifteenth part of the army, they suffered one-fifth of the total loss.

The Bucktails' loss during the campaign was

Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total.

Officers  ... ... ..            1          3                     9          13

Men                             6          48                    180      234

Total                             7         51                    189      247[9]

 

The march from Malvern Hill was commenced at night. The Bucktails can hardly be said to have had any sleep since the 26th of June. On that night, at Mechanicsville, they had obtained slight rest in the rifle pits; on the 27th they had been up throughout the night, crossing the Chickahominy at 2 A. M.; on the 28th they spent the night marching in protection of.the reserve artillery; some little rest may have been snatched on the night of the 29th, despite the order issued forbidding sleep; but that of the 3oth, following the close of the battle of New Market Cross Roads, was spent in retreating to Malvern Hill. This march to Harrison's Landing, therefore, commencing at midnight, proved doubly exhausting. Though the night was dark, fires along the roads prevented commands mistaking the way. A halt was made at daybreak to enable the men to obtain a slight rest. Then they moved forward again, and the entire division was shortly after ordered to encamp in some woods. A heavy rain, and the tramping of the men, had converted the entire vicinity into a sea of mud. In the woods, the regiments, by dint of boughs and branches, endeavored to protect themselves from the downpour.

 

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As the Bucktails moved to their assigned position, Colonel McNeil met them. Recovering from his fever, he had strained every nerve to rejoin his regiment, at the earliest possible moment. When stricken at Fredericksburg, and carried to the hospital, his regiment had numbered between 900 and 1000 men; now, haggard and wearied, but 64 men filed past. Man though he was, tears rolled down his cheeks. "My God," he cried, "where are my Bucktails? Would that I had died with "them."

The entire army went into camp at Harrison's Landing, on a plain some two miles wide by three miles long. The front was protected by a hill, and the rear by the river James, in which lay the Federal gunboats. McClellan, believing his foe had double his own strength numerically, was not anxious immediately to give battle. Before he decided upon a new offensive campaign, the Confederates, by threatening Wash­ington, compelled the withdrawal of his troops from the Penin­sula to assist those under General Pope, and thus relieved Richmond.

While at Harrison's Landing the time went rapidly. Each day developed some incident of interest. On July 6th, Lieu­tenant Kinsey returned. The next day, the Bucktails were put to work building a bridge over Herring Creek. This creek flows into the James, and at the point to be bridged, is in some places io feet deep. The distance to be spanned was some 500 feet. Generals Porter and Seymour were extremely anx­ious to have a bridge constructed with the greatest of expedi­tion, but the Engineer Corps estimated that it would take several days. In the mean time the Generals feared that through want of communications the army might be sacrificed in detail. Finally the matter was placed in the hands of Major Stone, and the Bucktail lumbermen, with no material but the

 

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trees that grew upon the banks and in the swamps, compelled to work while wading and swimming in the stream, wielded their axes so effectively, and brought into play their accurate knowledge of woodmanship so resourcefully, that, starting work at 5 p. m., by sunrise on the following morning the bridge was completed.

On the 8th, President Lincoln visited the camp and re-

viewed the division; and a few days later, "Little Mac," riding through the camp, gazed at the small remnant of the regiment. "I am sorry that there are so few Bucktails left," he said, and what he said he meant.

Soon after the going into camp at Harrison's Landing,

Major Stone and Captain Wister, of Company B, left the regi­ment. It was originally intended that they should return to Pennsylvania to obtain recruits to repair the losses sustained by the Bucktails during the recent campaign. But Colonel McNeil's views embraced a larger horizon than the mere re­habilitation of his own regiment. He therefore wrote to Governor Curtin

 

"Headquarters, 1st Rifles, P. R. V. C.

"Harrison's Landing, Va., July 8, 1862.

"Hon. A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania.

" Sir: Major Stone returns to Pennsylvania on the Recruiting Service. During the severe engagements of the past "few days, my regiment was in the hottest of the fight, under "command of Major Stone. The Generals of the Reserve "Corps speak in the highest terms of its efficiency, and of the "distinguished gallantry of that accomplished officer. Where "the Bucktails fought there was no giving way of our lines, "and where the Major would bring up his Spartan Band, there "brigades would re-form and hold their position. General Sey­"mour says he cannot spare a battalion of such veterans from

 

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"the service, and is desirous that its strength be at once re-

established. The name of 'Bucktail' has become a terror to "the enemy and an inspiration to our own men. I can speak "impartially of the brave fellows, as it was not my privilege to "lead them, and as to the Major,-to him is immediately due "the credit of their heroic conduct on the Peninsula. A more "extended organization would be greatly advantageous to the "service.

" A Bucktail Brigade of light infantry would reflect addi-

tional honor on the old Commonwealth and the Executive "that has given the Pennsylvania army to the country. I hope "that you may authorize Major Stone to recruit a brigade to "be attached to the Reserve Corps. He has won his title to "such a command by brilliant achievement on the field,. that has "elicited the commendation of his General Officers, and has a "reputation even with McClellan.

"I am, Governor,

"Your most obedient servant,

"HUGH W. MCNeil, Colonel "Commanding Rifles."[10]

The Governor, delighted at the idea of a Bucktail brigade, gave his support to the project. Thus Major Stone and Cap­tain Wister set about recruiting new regiments, using the magic of the word Bucktail as an inducement. Originally intending to recruit four regiments, time and the urgent demand for troops caused them to cease their labors after organizing two­the One-Hundred-and-Forty-Ninth and One-Hundred-and-Fif­tieth Pennsylvania-regiments that achieved for themselves later, when called into battle, a more than enviable reputation. Major Stone was elected Colonel of the One-Hundred-and-

 

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Forty-Ninth and Captain Wister Colonel of the One-Hundred­and-Fiftieth.

Unfortunately jealousy was manifested in the matter, various officers on both sides charging others with command­ing undue influence. The men of the Bucktail regiment re­sented, at first dimly, and later with more energy, the wearing of bucktails by regiments other than their own. The insignia had been the inspiration of their organizer, now General Kane, and at a terrible price they had made it known and feared by the enemy. The One-Hundred-and-Forty-Ninth at Chancel­lorsville was for the first time actively engaged, while the One­Hundred-and-Fiftieth did not really participate in the full fury of a battle till Gettysburg. As before Chancellorsville, the Bucktails had fought at New Bridge, Dranesville, Mechanics­ville, Gaines' Mill, New Market Cross Roads, Groveton, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Har­risonburg, Cross Keys and Chantilly, had participated in nu­merous skirmishes, and had been ordered on difficult scouting expeditions, their chagrin can be understood, if not defended. The new regiments were organized as Bucktail regiments with the approval of Colonel McNeil, and so recognized by Gover­nor Curtin and the Secretary of War; so that their right, as a right, to wear bucktails, and call themselves "Bucktails" cannot be contravened. Strong in this right, and loving the emblem they wore in their caps, the members of the regiments referred to themselves frequently simply as Bucktails. Had more dis­crimination been exercised, or had the younger "Bucktails" referred to themselves as "New Bucktails," or the "Second" and "Third Bucktails," the most unfortunate feeling which arose later would not have developed. Mutually brave men, fighting under the same emblem, rarely disagree, excepting through misunderstandings.[11]

 

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On August 2nd, a portion of the regiment was ordered to ,the south side of the James to cut timber. This became neces­sary, because Lee had opened fire on the shipping, on the 31st of July, from that bank. McClellan crossed a force on August 1st, and seized the position. He then fortified it, and was troubled no more.

On August 6th, most of the men who had been held pris­oners in Richmond returned and general jubilation prevailed. Yet those who thus returned, looking around upon the thinned ranks, were afraid to ask questions. In prison they had known nothing; now in many cases they were to seek, furtively and in vain, for those from whom they most desired a welcome. The majority of the officers returned on the 13th.;

The organization of the division was chaotic. General McCall, who returned with General Reynolds on the 8th, was / enthusiastically received. But the rigor of the campaign had broken down his health. Sixty years of age, the effects of the hardships he had endured with his men were not to be thrown off easily. He obtained leave to visit his home in Chester County, where he was presented with a sword by his admirers. Doctors failing to repair the injuries inflicted upon his health, he was shortly afterwards compelled to resign. Before Generals McCall and Reynolds had returned, Gen­eral Seymour had commanded the division; now General Rey­nolds succeeded to the command, and the Bucktails lost their brigade commander. Colonel Roberts, of the First regiment

 

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commanded the First brigade;[12] General Seymour the Second; and Colonel Jackson, of the Ninth regiment, the Third.

The pernicious results of permitting the men to elect their own officers had been proven earlier, hence orders were issued from Headquarters suspending the practice. As by the terms of the act under which the Reserve Corps came into existence Governor Curtin was prevented from commissioning officers unless elected by the various regiments, this order, while pre­venting incompetents, through their personal popularity or in­fluence, attaining commissions, at the same time necessitated the retention of vacancies.[13]

The promotions of Neri B. Kinsey from Second-Lieutenant to First-Lieutenant, in Company A; and of R. Fenton Ward from Hospital-Steward to Second-Lieutenant, Company I, were, however, made before the embargo went into effect.

On August 9th, the Bucktails marched to the Landing to turn in the Springfield and Enfield rifles that they had been using. An abbreviated form of the trouble formerly experi­enced at Harrisburg occurred. The regiment stood around in the broiling sun for four hours, and were then offered inferior weapons. Colonel McNeil declined, wheeled his men about and marched back to camp. The next day they obtained Sharps breechloaders.[14] They had round barrels, were of good carrying

 

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power and of extreme accuracy, were furnished with extra hair-triggers and could be fired with either caps or fulminating tapes.

While at camp some of the men received new clothing. Food varied in price, watermelons being quoted at $1.25, while tomatoes could be purchased for 3 cents apiece.

The men who returned from the Richmond prisons had much to tell. Doubtless the prisoners captured by the Con­federates fared much worse than those taken by the Federals. Yet it is to be hoped, that in the majority of cases, the comment that a Bucktail[15] entered in his diary, on July 3rd, while a captive, reveals the true cause: "Did not have but one meal "to-day. Confederates hard up." The crimes committed in many instances, however, admit of no extenuation. Hundreds of men, through insufficient nourishment and lack of medical and surgical attendance, became physical wrecks.[16]

The Bucktails were for the most part at first confined in a tobacco storehouse in Richmond, later being removed to Belle Island. The food varied from "crackers and fresh beef" to "nothing till noon-then bread and that sour." On June 3oth

"rations twice; and loaf of bread each time-fresh beef at noon "and soup at night." July 3rd: "rations twice; Y4 loaf bread "and pint of soup each time." July 28th: "drew rations twice "-bread without salt." While at Richmond: "Coffee 75 cents "a pound; tea 30 cents."

While at Belle Island, a plot was formed to escape. The

 

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instigator and head of the movement was Roger Sherman, then Sergeant-Major. The attempt was to be made at midnight, but upon the morning before the time set the camp was awak­ened by the roar of artillery, batteries having been placed on two sides of the camp and the guard doubled. Treachery was apparent and the crime fixed upon a soldier of the Second Massachusetts, who as it was discovered was a Southerner by birth. For his dirty work he obtained privileges, but never entered the camp again excepting on one occasion. Then the camp fell upon him so fiercely that before he could be res­cued dozens of blows were rained upon him. Escorted by the

guard he was taken away, nor did he appear again.

While McClellan was holding his army inactive, Lee was energetically preparing to make him withdraw. Jackson was sent north to menace Washington and engage General Pope, who commanded the forces retained for its defense. The plan was simple. Sufficient troops were to move against Pope to cause the latter to call for reinforcements. Naturally, rein­forcements could best be supplied from the troops at Harri­son's Landing, and if the force was reduced to any considerable extent it must be withdrawn in toto. Further, the ground occu­pied by General McClellan touched marshes and swamps and the air was pestilential. On August 3rd, General McClellan was ordered to withdraw his entire army from the Peninsula to Acquia Creek.

In the vicinity of Washington, General Pope was clamor­ing lustily for reinforcements. The first troops to embark from the Peninsula would be the first to reach him; and the first to resume doing battle with the enemy. Once again the Pennsylvania Reserves were placed in the advance. Their mettle had been tested; nor were those above them afraid to assign to them work that must be performed.