WITH GRANT TOWARDS RICHMOND.

 

III.

 

NORTH ANNA AND BETHESDA CHURCH.

 

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A flank march in the presence of an enemy is always difficult, but, under the generalship of Grant, the Army of the Potomac performed the feat successfully. The Sixth corps moved on the 2oth and the Reserves, holding the advance of the Fifth corps, about noon on the 21st. The army was headed for Richmond, thus compelling Lee to abandon the works at Spottsylvania and once more hasten to seize a position in which he could oppose the Union advance. Twenty miles away the North Anna River afforded an opportunity for defense, and as soon as he was certain that General Grant was actually moving Lee put his own forces into motion.

The Army of the Potomac, owing to its exposed flank, being compelled to take a slightly longer route than its opponents, found upon its arrival at the north bank of the - river that the vanguard of the Confederates faced it from the south bank

The Bucktails reached Guiney's Station on the evening of the 21st. The last part of the day's march was covered at the double-quick, and owing to the continued heavy service that had been exacted of the men, proved exceedingly exhausting. The regiment had become terribly reduced by the casualties it had suffered, and now many of the survivors, who had never before dropped out of the ranks, weakened by the sever

 

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ity of the campaign, fell by the wayside. When they reached the Station, the Bucktails had in line but six officers and fifteen men. A regiment which had been deployed by General Meade on the high ground in front of the station, and which had exchanged a few shots with some Confederate cavalry in the woods, greeted the little band with, "Go in Bucktails, and "give 'em fits." They must have numbered about Soo themselves.

The Bucktails soon took the place assigned to them behind a fence, fronting an orchard. Beyond the orchard were some open woods in which cavalry was visible. One by one the men, obtaining permission from their officers, slipped into the orchard and from behind the protection of the trees commenced to pick off the enemy. Some attempt was made by the Confederate officer in charge to bring his men to a charge, but the effort resulted in nothing. The skirmish became brisk, but with every minute the Bucktails became stronger, those who had fallen behind on the march arriving one by one, and immediately advancing to the support of their companions. Colonel Hardin, as soon as the skirmish was opened, had ridden to General Crawford, requesting that one or two regiments be ordered forward to support "the Bucktails who are in the woods "driving in cavalry and chickens." The regiments detailed for support, however, did not arrive till dark, when the skirmish was almost ended. Then, with the Sixth regiment, the Bucktails drove the enemy down the road towards the Gatewood house before going into camp.

            The Bucktails suffered no loss. As to the chickens re­ferred to by Colonel Hardin, they were given to the regiment, or at least some of them. One of the officers had a colored servant -a contraband-who informed him that the house, near which the regiment was lying, belonged to his old mis­-

 

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tress. Though he feared he would be killed, he was sent to ask for milk, eggs and chickens; nor was his demand, backed up by the presence of Union troops, refused. It is also probable that some chickens, not secured in this pacific manner, found their way into Bucktail pots. At all events, the savory smell emanating from the camp attracted Colonel Hardin's attention and he came to investigate. He was promptly invited to participate, and as promptly accepted the invitation.

The men turned in, thinking that at length they would, obtain a good night's rest; but at 2 A. M., on the morning of the 22nd, in conjunction with a detachment of the Tenth regiment, they made a reconnaissance further towards the Gatewood house. Surprising the enemy, they drove him to his entrenchments a half mile beyond the house, taking possession of the house itself, and holding it till daylight.

By 11 A. M. the march was resumed, the Fifth corps, with the Reserves in the advance, reaching Bowling Green before night.

On the morning of the 23rd the corps continued its march, r reaching the north bank of the North Anna River by 1 P. M. The North Anna, which intervened between the Union army and Richmond, flows at the point where Grant intended to cross it, in a general direction of from west to east. Its course is not straight, however; it makes a bend to the south and then flows back north, so that if the river be taken to represent military works, the southern point of this bend, looking from the south, would be described as the apex of an opposing salient. Lee's center was opposite this point. General Warren with his corps struck the river some distance above the apex of the bend, at Jericho's Ford. Lee, not expecting a crossing at this point, had left it unprotected, so that the head of Warren's column wading breast high in the misnamed ford reached

 

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the southern bank with but little opposition. A pontoon bridge was constructed, and shortly after the entire corps crossed.

General Grant's plan involved the crossing of the river by the Fifth corps on the right, the Ninth corps in the center and the Second and Sixth corps on the left. General Hancock with the Second corps struck the river about the same time that the Fifth was crossing, but striking it below the apex of the bend, he met with much opposition, and only succeeded in getting two brigades across before dark. General Burnside did not arrive with the Ninth corps till evening.

When Warren had crossed his force, he formed line of battle with the Reserves on the left, Griffin's division in the center and Cutler's division on the right. Then the corps advanced to a line of woods where they were ordered to intrench. The Confederates, now aware of the crossing, attacked suddenly and impetuously on the center and right of the line. The Reserves became engaged but chiefly with artillery. Ultimately the attack was beaten back and the line established.

During the attack the Bucktail line was moved to the Fountain House. In front was a deep ravine running obliquely to the line, and on the far side of the ravine two or three batteries. A farm house, also on the far side of the ravine, was occupied by sharpshooters. As the fire from both these sources proved destructive, two or three attempts were made to take the positions but without avail. Then Colonel Hardin suggested to Major Hartshorne that he advance a force under cover of a strip of woods, which would afford protection for half the distance.

Major Hartshorne ordered four companies to charge on the right of the woods under Captain McDonald, four on the left of the woods under Captain Wolfe, and two through the center, directly at the battery, under Lieutenant Bard; two of

 

 

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the four companies under Captain Wolfe were to attack the farm-house.[1] The charge, though made with extreme gallantry, was unsuccessful, while the two companies under Lieutenant Bard became separated and remained in the ravine the entire night. Sergeant James Ross, of Company K, was ordered by Lieutenant Bard to go back and report to Major Hartshorne the plight of the two companies. Any attempt to return was dangerous, but pulling his hat over his eyes, the Sergeant made a run for it. As soon as he mounted the hill he became visible to the rebels; they opened fire, but by playing 'possum he was enabled to rejoin the Union lines. Major Hartshorne upon receiving the report of Sergeant Ross, failed to see how the imperiled companies could be extricated, for the rebel pickets were within 30 yards of them, but they, taking advantage of the darkness, crept back one man at a time till they reached the extremity of the woods. Just before daylight, the last man reached cover, and thus when their regiment advanced the two companies, falling back, were enabled to resume their places in the line.

Shortly after it became light, General Hancock found that he could cross the river a little below where he had encountered resistance the day before. He therefore crossed with the Second corps, while the Sixth corps crossed to the right of Warren. Thus the Second corps was across below the apex of the bend, and the Fifth and Sixth corps across above, the Ninth corps still remaining on the northern bank. Yet General Lee, while he had permitted both his flanks to fall back from the river, had hung on to the apex of the bend with his center, and the Confederate army presented the lines of a triangle with a blunt apex, that apex being the bank of the river. By

 

 

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this formation the Union army was divided into three parts the Second corps was on the south bank facing the eastern side of the triangle; the Fifth and Sixth corps were on the south bank facing the western side of the triangle, and the Ninth corps was on the north bank facing the blunt end of the triangle, to carry which it must also force the passage of the river. If it was desired to reinforce the corps on the western face of the triangle with that on the eastern face, or vice versa, the troops must cross the river twice to reach their positions. Some attempts were made to extend Warren's extreme left till it joined the right of Hancock's; but Lee had protected the sides and apex of his triangle with strong entrenchments and could not be ousted.

Rarely has such a check-mate been given. After two or three days spent in minor actions and surveying the situation, General Grant becoming convinced that the position was impregnable to assault, decided to accomplish his end by outflanking the enemy. This he did by withdrawing his forces to the north bank, moving them to the left and marching once again towards Richmond.

The Bucktails were not idle during the time preceding the order. On Tuesday, the 24th, while the Reserves were making a diversion in favor of Hancock's corps, Colonel McCoy with the Bucktails and the Twelfth Massachusetts made an excursion to the right of General Warren's corps. On this excursion a number of stragglers were picked up.[2] On the 25th the regi

 

 

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ment laid in line of battle, and on the 26th, in the evening, crossed back to the north bank of the North Anna and took its place in the line of march.

The North Anna and the South Anna unite six or seven miles below where the unsuccessful attempt to cross had been made, the stream then being known as the Pamunkey River, which in its turn flows into the York River, thirty or forty miles farther on. General Grant when deciding upon a flank movement made arrangements to put his army in motion secretly at night; to move down the north bank of the North Anna; and continuing along the north bank of the Pamunkey to cross that river near Hanover, almost due north of Richmond, which is but fifteen or twenty miles south of that point. He succeeded in getting his army in motion without being molested; but Lee necessarily became shortly after aware of his adversary's designs, and abandoning his defenses once again hurried south to interpose between the Union army and the Confederate capital. Having the shorter route he reached the Pamunkey before the Union cavalry advance under General Sheridan. A successful engagement on the part of the latter secured the passes of the river to the Federals, and the army moved up.

The Bucktails had bivouacked at Mrs. Orman's plantation on the night of the 27th after a march of some miles; on the 28th they crossed the Pamunkey, and advanced two miles on the road towards Mechanicsville. Before night the entire army had fallen into position, and facing west, stretched from the Pamunkey on the north almost to Cold Harbor on the south.

 

 

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The exact position at which Lee had elected to make his stand was unknown; hence the entire army was ordered to make reconnoissances in force on the following day. Wright, with his Sixth corps, was to move around the left of the Confederate line towards Hanover Court House; Hancock, with the Second corps, was ordered to the same point; the Ninth corps was to. be held in reserve; and Warren's Fifth corps was ordered on the right towards Shady Grove Church.

In accordance with these instructions Griffin's division of the Fifth corps crossed the Totopotomy, a small creek that flows into the Pamunkey, and advanced down the road that runs from Hanover Court House to Richmond. The Reserves moved down the Mechanicsville road, which was held by a strong force of rebel cavalry, supported by twell's corps, but General Crawford had decided to seize it and the First brigade of the Reserves, under Colonel Hardin, with the Bucktails deployed as skirmishers, was ordered forward. Considerable skirmishing was indulged in as the enemy retreated. Towards night the advance was stopped, the Bucktails bivouacking on the top of a hill. The regiment's term of service expired with the 29th; but it was apparent that the next day it must hold its position and do battle, despite the fact it was entitled to leave for home. Though it was impossible that the men should not think of their homes, and wish ardently to start for them, yet there was no disposition to shirk the extra duty laid upon them.

With the morning of the 36th, the advance was continued, Crawford's division crossing the Totopotomy, while Colonel Hardin again ordered the Bucktails to deploy as skirmishers. After proceeding a short distance the enemy's skirmishers were met, and sharp firing resulted. Protected by some woods the Bucktails held their opponents in check for

 

 

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some forty-five minutes, repulsing several charges. The Confederates then prepared to advance in line of battle and Major Hartshorne, sending back word to Colonel Hardin that he was being surrounded, fell back slowly to some half-finished rifle pits. Colonel Hardin at once ordered up the First brigade, but, discovering that he was to be attacked by an entire division, sent word to General Crawford. Before any dispositions to support the brigade could be made, the enemy attacked it so vigorously that it fell back till it obtained support from Kitching's brigade of independent artillery.[3] The two brigades then advanced, driving back the Confederates' right wing and center. The right flank of the First brigade still being in danger of being enveloped, Colonel Fisher moved up with the Third brigade.

With this movement the formation of the battle line of Bethesda Church, the last battle in which the Pennsylvania Reserves took part, was completed. The First brigade was upon an open piece of ground, and the Third brigade upon its right across a ravine, while the left was held by Kitching's brigade. Two pieces of artillery were placed on a ridge on the left of the First brigade and two on its right. The infantry threw up, with rapidity acquired by long practice, defenses constructed of logs and rails, over which they threw earth.

By six o'clock the battle commenced along the line of the entire corps. Cutler's and Griffin's divisions were both to the left of the Reserves, but upon the latter fell the greatest force of Ewell's attack.

The Reserves, conscious that the battle was the last in which they would participate, were anxious to make it a memorable one. The Confederates advanced, pouring in volley

 

 

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after volley, only to be raked by the artillery. Then a mass charged forward. Waiting till it had approached to within a hundred and fifty yards, the Reserves fired with fearful effect.

In all the Confederates made three charges, and three times was their flag shot down, after which no attempt was made to again raise it.

As one of their columns came forward, moving like soldiers on parade, the Union artillery ceased. The Bucktails, under orders, reserved their fire until the Confederates had advanced so close that their faces could be distinguished. Then they discharged their rifles, while at the same moment the artillery reopened. The slaughter was so sickening that Major Hartshorne leaped to his feet and called upon his assailants to surrender. Some hundreds did so. Rebels or no rebels, their behavior and bearing during the charge had won the admiration of their captors, who did not hesitate to express it.

The line of the Fifth corps held firm from end to end; and repulsed and defeated, Ewell's corps fell back, carrying amongst its dead one brigade and two regimental commanders. Thus the Reserves completed their record, that extended from Dranesville to Bethesda Church; but as the Bucktails had fought with the Fifth a campaign before Dranesville, so now on the morning succeeding the battle of Bethesda Church their offer to do extra work in the form of skirmish duty was accepted. For the last time bringing into play the skill that had come with long service, they cleared some woods from Confederate sharpshooters, accomplishing the self-imposed task in an hour or two.

Then they, with the other regiments, were ordered to the rear and their active service closed.

 

 

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Their loss during the North Anna operations and at Bethesda Church was

	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
Officers
Men	1	2	2	5
Total	1	2	2	5[4]