WITH GRANT TOWARDS RICHMOND.

 

I I.

 

 

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.[1]

 

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eneral Grant, in drawing his line of advance through the Wilderness, contemplated not only the turning of Lee's right flank, but also a continuance of his march towards Rich­mond via Spottsylvania. Spottsylvania is from ten to fifteen miles below the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern being between the two. With the cessation of the battle, and the growing cer­tainty that Lee was withdrawing, Grant decided to move for­ward to Spottsylvania, and to Warren's Fifth corps was given the advance, it being ordered not to march till to P. m., when it was hoped that darkness would screen the movement. But Lee's army was directed to the same goal, and by accident arrived first.[2]

The Union cavalry first came into contact with the Con­federates on the morning of the 8th, at Todd's Tavern, driving

 

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them back. Robinson's and Griffin's divisions, of Warren's Fifth corps, were sent forward, one after the other, when in­fantry was encountered in force. These two divisions also pushed their opponents back, till the latter reached their in­trenchments some three miles north of Spottsylvania Court House. Then the fighting became severe and Crawford's division of the Reserves, with Cutler's division, moved up to the assistance of the two divisions of their corps that were already engaged.

The Confederates were posted upon a ridge and were protected by woods, thus rendering an attack a difficult and dangerous matter. Their position was also made stronger by a small creek. As the Bucktails came ' into fire they moved into the protection of a piece of woods upon the left flank of Griffin's division. Hardly had they done so when Major Harts­horne perceived that the Confederates had moved forward a column to attack Griffin's flank. As in so doing their own flank was presented to the Bucktails, without an instant's hesi­tation the Major ordered Captain Mack to deploy with the first platoon of his company as skirmishers. The order was executed as promptly as it was given. Placing himself at the head of the little squad, Captain Mack charged the enemy. The suddenness and vehemence of the assault had the desired effect. The attempted flank movement was abandoned, but the price paid by the assailants was heavy. Every man in the party was killed or wounded, Captain Mack himself sustaining two wounds.

The remainder of the regiment participated in a charge on the general Confederate position, wading knee deep through mud and water, and being raked by shrapnel. The enemy was driven back to his second line of entrenchments; but Colonel McCandless, who led the charge with conspicuous gallantry, fell

 

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wounded. Deprived of their leader, and more or less disor­ganized through the distance they had advanced, the Reserves shortly after fell back.[3]

Before nightfall the Sixth corps under General Sedgwick arrived and another attack was decided upon. The Reserves were formed in two lines, the First brigade, now commanded by Colonel Talley, in front, followed by the Third brigade, now commanded by Colonel Baily, while a third line under com­mand of Colonel Herring was ordered to support them. Three times the line was led forward to the charge only to be each time repulsed. Then darkness put an end to the conflict, and during the night the Reserves fell back to the line of the army. During the day's fighting Daniel Orcutt, Second-Lieutenant of Company A, was killed; Daniel Blett, Second-Lieutenant of Company F, was severely wounded, and Captain Samuel A. Mack, of Company E, twice wounded.[4]The greater part of the 9th of May was occupied by both /~ sides in placing troops in position. The Union line, which was formed from right to left by Hancock's, Warren's, Sedgwick's and Burnside's corps, was parallel with the Confederate line; but both lines might be described as semicircles,[5] the Confed-

 

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erate line being enclosed by the Union one. Near the center of the Confederate line was a salient destined to be the point of fiercest combat. The entire position of the Confederates was one of great strength, and for the most part was established on a ridge. Earthworks and abatis were constructed, and the attack awaited with equanimity.

Early in the morning the Reserves were ordered to relieve some troops in the Sixth corps, and took position in the en­trenchments; but the First brigade was soon directed to make a reconnaissance toward the Po River. The Bucktails under Major Hartshorne, accompanied by Colonel McCoy, were sent forward as skirmishers, supported by the First regiment. The skirmishers advanced to the river and a battery, which accom­panied them, shelled the enemy's trains which were passing on the other side. Some good rifle practice was shown. A squad of Berdan sharpshooters armed with heavy rifles with globe sights were sent to attempt to pick off some sharpshooters on the other side of the river. The time they required to load and fire amused the Bucktails, the more especially as subsequently to each discharge the opposing sharpshooters apparently remained unharmed. Permission was obtained by one of the Bucktails' officers to let his men try their skill. Measuring the distance with his eye, he called to his first platoon, "Elevate your sights "for i,ooo yards and fire high." The men fired almost instantly, dropping two men and sending the others scurrying to cover. Returning to their position the Bucktails with the division par­ticipated in a charge about 6 P. M. It had been decided by Gen­eral Grant to assault heavily on the following morning, and cer­tain changes in position were considered desirable-in fact the entire line was to draw nearer to their opponents. At the proper moment Warren's Fifth corps moved forward on the center, driving the enemy back half a mile. The Reserves

 

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repulsed on their first charge, carried the enemy's first de­fenses on the second effort. Unable to capture the second line, they then entrenched for the night on the ground they had won.

The next morning, the loth, the artillery played freely upon the enemy's position, and skirmishing proceeded without intermission, preparatory to putting in execution the Union Commander's design to carry the works in front of him by assault. Practically, Grant's plan was to have an assault made upon the salient by a portion of the Sixth corps, while the other oolumns were to take advantage of the efforts made by the enemy to repulse the attack, and advance themselves. When towards evening the attack was made, Colonel Upton command­ing the Second brigade, First division, Sixth corps, penetrated the second line of intrenchments, captured over a thousand prisoners and several stands of colors, until being himself unsupported while the enemy was reinforced, he was com­pelled to fall back. The Pennsylvania Reserves charged, with a column led by General Warren in person.[6] The point of their attack was a densely wooded crest, crowned by earth­works, and additionally protected by a dense thicket of low cedars. The first charge was repulsed. Moving once again to the task, the men fought forward and upward desperately. Before being driven back it is claimed that men from both Gibbon's division and Crawford's division of the Pennsylvania Reserves reached the breastworks.[7] At various points charge after charge was made without any better result, till darkness put an end to battle. The loss on the Union side was terrible and the Confederates, though suffering less, by no means es-

 

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caped punishment. Though attacks had been made from end to end of the line without apparent advantage Grant was satis­fied. He knew now the weakest spot in his opponent's defense, and had, by the vigor of his attack, so cowed him that he never again undertook an offensive movement.[8] Grant therefore on the following day sent his famous despatch to the Government: "I . . . propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."[9]At the same time, he resolved to attack the salient with a powerful force. The whole of the i ith was occupied in moving various troops; Hancock's corps, the Second, having been selected to make the assault. The Bucktails spent the day in the rifle pits.

Realizing the advantage to be gained by surprise, General Hancock charged forward in a fog at 4.30 A. ns. Before his movement was noticed he was half way to the goal. Then his men burst into a cheer and with a rush leaped inside the salient. So sudden was the attack that Major-General Edward John­son and his entire division of 4,000 men were captured, as was also Brigadier-General George Stuart. Lee recognized the danger of permitting such a position to menace his center and strove to retake it. Across the base of the salient he had established other works, and now he poured men into the salient itself. If his men on the loth had labored under the disadvantage of defending a salient, which of necessity is always subjected to flanking fires, their case was worse now when they must assault a reentrant angle. Five times, during the course of the day, distinct charges were made, each of which was repulsed. The flags of both armies waved at the

 

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same moment over the same breastworks, while beneath them Federal and Confederate endeavored to drive home the bayonet through the interstices of the logs. The fire was so intense, that in one instance an oak tree, nearly two feet in diameter, was cut through by bullets, and falling injured several men of a South Carolina regiment.[10] The combat ceased at midnight. In the early part of the day Warren's Fifth corps had charged without breaking through, then the Second and Sixth corps requiring assistance, two divisions were detached, leaving Crawford's Pennsylvania Reserves, Colonel Kitching and a Maryland brigade to hold Warren's entire line.[11]

With some lesser attacks made by Lee before ¢ A. M. Of the 13th, the real fighting at Spottsylvania Court House ceased. For a week following, the troops were marched and counter­marched, while an attempt was made to place them in a posi­tion to make a successful assault. But Lee, watching hawk­eyed, continued to move his troops so as to circumvent his antagonist and to protect the threatened point, while his engi­neers, with remarkable rapidity, threw up works whose strength plainly rendered frontal attacks futile. Gradually the positions of the armies altered. At the beginning, Grant's line had been northwest of Spottsylvania Court House, but the perpetual reaching-outs to envelop the Confederate right flank resulted by the 18th of May in the line being due east of that point.

Each day during this period skirmishes took place, and attacks were made, but none were important in a military sense. General Warren's corps was ordered on the 13th to move to the left of Burnside's corps. The previous night had been rainy and the men had had but little sleep. The greater part of the

 

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day itself was spent in constructing a shorter defense line, and at 9.30 P. m. the march was started. Marching all night through rain and mud, over roads that none of them had trav­elled before, and fording the Ny River, many of the men from weariness and exhaustion gave out[12] The position assigned to Warren was a slight eminence. Some skirmishing took place during the day, but by the night of the i4th it appears the position was safely occupied.[13]

The eminence now occupied by the Reserves was on the road that runs between Spottsylvania Court House and Fred­ericksburg. From the crest of the hill the Court House itself was in plain view. On the 18th an assault by the line was ordered by General Grant. The Second and Sixth corps were to charge forward while at the same time Warren's Fifth corps was to open with artillery. The Second and Sixth charged as directed, carrying both the first and second lines of defense. Then they were recalled, as it was not General Grant's intention to sacrifice life needlessly; and his plans for his next movement were practically completed. General Warren had ordered his artillery into action according to his orders. Cap­tain Wolfe with Company F, and Lieutenant Bard with Com­pany K, of the Bucktails were ordered to advance beyond the skirmish line, both companies being under the command of Cap­tain Wolfe. The two companies, F ,being upon the right of K, took cover behind a slight crest. From their position, a battery close to the Court House was plainly visible, and their instruc­tions were to silence it. Between the Bucktails and the battery was a line of rifle pits occupied by Confederates. As the battery was not in play when the regiments took cover some of the men

 

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 anxious to obtain a better view, foolishly rose to their feet and peered over the crest. "Git down thar, Yanks," was the com­ment of their opponents in the rifle pits, as they poured in a volley that caused every man to drop flat on his face. Fortu­nately no one was hit, but a rapid fire was kept up for some time. After that, if any one exposed himself, the sharp com­mand, "Git down thar, Yank," which was repeated, was promptly obeyed. General Crawford's object in thus advanc­ing the Bucktails had been to prevent the battery they now dominated being brought into play; hence an Aide from Colonel Hardin, who despite the fact that he had not fully recovered from the effects of an amputation necessitated by a wound received at Catlett's Station, had returned and succeeded to the command of the First brigade, soon notified them not to fire unless the enemy either opened upon them or advanced against their position. The lull which resulted was deceptive. The day was fine and the view beautiful. Within speaking distance of each other, both sides were apparently under orders not to bring on an engagement; yet when some officers of the Union army, anxious to obtain view of the Court House, approached from the rear, Captain Wolfe cautioned them to be exceedingly careful. Thinking him joking they walked boldly forward in a group. No word of warning preceded the volley this time, but by good fortune the officers escaped uninjured. As the day wore on Pusey Chambers, of Company H, came up, and having obtained permission from Lieutenant Bard, advanced between the lines and swapped coffee for tobacco with a rebel. On an exchange of newspapers he was victimized. The one he received had everything of note clipped out

The lull was not to last long. In the afternoon an officer of Cooper's battery came forward to take bearings. Notifying the Bucktails to count the hits, he returned to his

 

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battery in the rear and fired seven times, five shells hitting the Court House itself. Towards evening the Confederates sent out a party on the left of Company K to fell timber and dig rifle pits. Instantly the Bucktails opened, driving off the en­trenchers. Colonel Hardin hearing the firing sent forward to inquire as to its cause, and upon being advised ordered the two companies to hold their positions as long as possible. Some of the men dug pits with their bayonets, and every other prepara­tion possible was made to withstand the now plainly intended assault. The attack was made about 9 P. M.,[14] and the Buck­tails were forced back. The Eighty-Third New York had re­lieved the picket in the rear, and word had been previously sent back notifying their Colonel of the location of the Bucktails. When the enemy attacked, the Bucktails advanced a little dis­tance and then fell back rapidly, taking cover in the trees. The night was very dark and the movement deceived the rebels, who, upon reaching the position where the line had been formed, fired. Guided by the flash of the muskets, the Bucktails were able then to fire so as to inflict considerable loss. Falling back, it was then found that part of the Eighty-Third New York had also retreated. The two Bucktail companies became separated in the darkness, but in the morning rejoined the regiment. The enemy having gained the crest held and fortified it, while the Union picket line was reinforced and re-established.[15]General Grant had decided to make no further assaults on the Confederate position. His left flank now extended as far south as did the Confederates' right, and if he moved straight towards Richmond his opponent must also move or have his flank turned. Grant did not doubt which course Lee would adopt. On the x9th preparations were made, but Lee, hoping

 

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to retard the movement, ordered Ewell to attack the Union right. Immediately the Second and Fifth corps were moved to the threatened point. The Reserves were ordered to oppose the right flank of Ewell, but before they could reach position, General Ferrero with his colored troops had repulsed the attack at that point.[16] The First brigade of the Reserves, however, advanced to the river; the Bucktails being thrown forward as skirmishers, but with orders to advance without firing. Moving quietly along the bank they surprised and captured a Con­federate captain and several of his men.

The next day, May 2oth, it being evident that the attack would not be resumed, the Reserves returned to the line of the Fifth corps, and on May 21st, shortly after 10 a. m., they again resumed the march towards Richmond.

The casualties sustained by the Union army during the engagements around Spottsylvania Court House, May 8-21, are given in the official reports as 18,399.[17] Thus, as the casualties sustained in the Wilderness were reported as 17,666, the total loss May 5th to 21st was 36,065.[18]

The Bucktail loss during the Spottsylvania operations was

 

 

	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Total
Officers	1	5		6
Men	14	59	2	75
Total	15	64	2	81[19]

 

Robert Maxwell, Second-Lieutenant of Company H, was wounded on May 8th, dying the same evening in the hospital.

 

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As he had been the only remaining commissioned officer in his company, Major Hartshorne ordered Lieutenant John E. Kratzer, of Company K, to take command of it.

The division of Reserves was made still smaller on the 17th, when the Eighth regiment, whose time had expired, left for home. The nine regiment[20]' remaining fought together till and including the 3oth of May. The time of some of them expired before then, but some agreement seems to have been made whereby they remained together and were discharged as a unit.

Moving forward on the afternoon of the 21st, they there­fore entered upon the last ten days of their term of service.