CHAPTER XVI

 

 

MIDNIGHT SHELLING • A SPY • PROMOTIONS • RETURN OF GENERALS MCCALL AND REYNOLDS • WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PENINSULA • VOYAGE ON THE JAMES AND POTOMAC • GENERAL POPE'S MOVEMENTS • HUNTING OUR DIVISION • RUNNING THE GAUNTLET

 

A LITTLE after midnight, on the 1st of August, the enemy brought some light batteries to Coggin's Point and the Coles House, on the right bank of the James River, directly opposite Harrison's Landing, and opened a heavy fire upon our shipping and encampments. The shot and shell flew around our camp in the most lively manner, which occasioned a grand stampede among the "darks," who took to the swamps and hid themselves. The majority of the boys taking a philosophical view of the matter considered themselves about as safe in one place as another, and did not disturb themselves from their blankets, while others of a more excitable nature, after admiring the pyrotechnical display for a time, lit their candles and went to playing cards. In about thirty minutes our guns silenced their fire, and the next morning, three of their dead, a disabled caisson and flag were found. Our loss was ten killed and fifteen wounded. No harm of the slightest consequence was done to the shipping, al­though several of the vessels were struck. One of the dead had no wound or mark upon him whatever, which was probably occasioned by a ball rolling over his chest and pressing the breath out of him. The popular opinion that a cannon ball passing near one's mouth may take away the breath and produce death is erroneous.

The next morning, the Coles House, which had been a rendez­vous for the enemy, was destroyed, and four hundred men of our brigade were sent over the river under command of Colonel McNeill, of the "Bucktails," to fell the timber, and a picket guard of four hundred of the First Michigan were thrown out to protect them. They

 

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returned at night with an abundance of fruit, vegetables and berries. These details were continued daily, entrenchments were thrown up by contrabands, and some heavy guns put in position, giving us a safe debouche and securing us from further midnight cannonading.

One day our detail brought in a man who attempted to run through our pickets. He was an intelligent young Virginian, who crossed the river with them in the morning, representing himself as being connected with the commissary department, and appearing perfectly at home with the men. When taken he was on horseback, and tried hard to escape. He showed considerable bitterness against the "Yankees," appeared indifferent as to what they might do with him, and although annoyed at his capture, an expression of concealed fun was, in unguarded moments, caught lurking in his bright eyes. He was turned over to the Provost-Marshal. The next day he crossed again with a squad of cavalry, from whom he managed to slip, and despite their efforts could not be recaptured. We afterwards learned that he was a spy in the employment of General McClellan.

On the 3d, Colonel Averill, with three hundred men of the Third Pennsylvania and Fifth Regular Cavalry, marched to Sycamore Church, some five miles from Coles House, where they found and attacked a cavalry force of the enemy five hundred and fifty strong, whom they routed, and burned their entire camp and commissary and quartermaster's stores.

On the 4th, the following promotions were read out on dress pa­rade: Major G. A. Woodward to be Lieutenant-Colonel, vice McCandless, promoted; Captain Horace Neide, Company A, to be Major, vice Woodward, promoted; First Lieutenant Daniel H. Connor, Company A, to be Captain, vice Neide, promoted; Second Lieutenant John J. Ross, Company A, to be First Lieutenant, vice Connor, promoted; First Lieutenant John M. Clark, Company F, to be Captain, vice John E. Barnacle, resigned. The same day Dr. A. G. Coleman, of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, reported for duty as assistant-surgeon; each regiment being now allowed two assistant-surgeons. About this time Captain P McDonough and Lieutenant John Curley, Sergeants John Cullin, Company B; Andrew Casey, Company C; Edward Cherry, Company D; George H. Morrow, Company E; H. C. Hostetter, Company G; William McGlenn, Company H; Peter Gillis, Company K, and private William Aiken, Company A, were detailed to proceed to Philadelphia on recruiting service. About this time James Harbison, Company D, died, and was buried in the Fifth Corps' ground, in a pretty woods near the banks of Herring Landing. His death was hastened by the recent loss of almost all his relatives. While here we were paid off by Major Pomeroy up to the 1st of July.

 

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Deserters having reported the enemy were moving south of James River, and that the force in Richmond was small, General Hooker with his division, and Pleasanton's cavalry was sent to feel in that direction, on the 2d, and having been joined by General Sedgwick's division, he succeeded in turning Malvern Hill on the morning of the 5th, and driving the enemy back toward Richmond. The enemy's force consisted of a very considerable body of infantry and artillery, and over one hundred prisoners were captured and a number killed and wounded, with a loss on our side of three killed and eleven wounded. Colonel Averill pushed a reconnaissance in the direction of Savage Station and near White Oak Bridge he encountered the Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, whom he drove, capturing twenty-eight men and horses, and killing and wounding several. Hooker encamped that night on Malvern Hill, and on the morning of the 7th returned to camp. While this movement was being made orders were issued to hold our division in readiness to move with two days' cooked rations. General McClellan at one time intended to have supported him with the whole army, but the receipt of advice from Washington induced him not to do so.

On the 10th all the regimental bands were mustered out of service, brigade bands only being provided for by the late act of Congress. The same day, orders were received to pack our knapsacks, and label each with the owner's name, and send them down to the landing to be shipped in charge of the Quartermaster-Sergeant. Orders were also received to have three days' cooked rations in haversacks and five in bulk. At dark we were got into line and marched to the upper landing and then to the lower one, and after waiting there until eleven o'clock, we returned to our camp.

On the 13th, Generals McCall and Reynolds arrived from Richmond, and the Reserves paraded to receive them. The reception was most enthusiastic, the boys cheering and throwing their hats in the air. General McCall having not yet recovered from the effect of his sickness and imprisonment, did not assume command but went north. This separation was final between the General and the division, every officer and man of which respected, honored and loved him. It was he who organized, disciplined, and brought to that high state of efficiency the division, which rendered them so efficient in the field and won for them a proud and glorious name.

General Reynolds succeeded to the command of the division. The same night the Sergeants of the old First Brigade met and resolved to raise a subscription among the men to present to General Reynolds a magnificent sword, belt and sash. The same day General Meade arrived from Philadelphia and took command of his brigade,

 

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which was now the First, and General Seymour assumed the command of our brigade which was now the Second.

On the 30th of July Major-General Halleck, commanding United States Army, issued orders for the shipment of all the sick from Harrison's Landing to the north, which at that time amounted to about twelve thousand five hundred, which was immediately commenced.

It having been determined to withdraw the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula to Aquia Creek, orders for the same were issued on the 3d of August. The reasons that led to this determination were, that at that time General McClellan's army numbered but ninety thousand effective men, and the army of General Pope, charged with the covering of Washington, numbered but thirty-eight thousand. The former was twenty-five miles from Richmond and the latter about eighty or ninety miles from Washington, while between them were the enemy, numbering over two hundred thousand men. This would enable the enemy to fall with his superior numbers upon one or the other as he might elect, without either being able to reinforce the other in case of attack. It was in the enemy's power at any time to exchange Richmond for Washington, and while the loss of their capital would be but trifling to them, the loss of Washington to us would be conclusive, or nearly so, in its results upon the war. General McClellan most earnestly protested against the withdrawal of his army, he contending that the true defence of Washington was on the banks of the James River; that the heart of the rebellion lay directly in front of his army, and that a decided victory there would crush the military strength of the rebellion. He asked for reinforcements to the extent of thirty-five thousand men, and as the Government had no disposable troops to send him, he pointed to Burnside and Pope's forces from which they could be drawn. Without attempting to criticize the military opinions of either General McClellan or Halleck, we think that subsequent events showed the absolute necessity of withdrawing the army from the Peninsula.

It having been ascertained that "Stonewall" Jackson was moving north, General McClellan, in compliance with orders from Washington, embarked five batteries for Aquia Creek, where General Burnside had landed with infantry only.

On the 13th, the enemy anticipating an advance on Richmond, burnt the wharves at City Point.

On the 14th,* General Heintzelman's corps marched for Yorktown via Jones' Bridge, and General Porter's via Barrett's Ferry, near the mouth of the Chickahominy, where a pontoon-bridge, about

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* General Lee was at Gordonsville at this time.

 

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two thousand feet long, had been laid. On the morning of the 16th, when the last man and last wagon had left, General McClellan bid farewell to the scenes of his glory and disappointment, and followed in the track of the grand Army of the Potomac down the Peninsula. On the morning of the 18th the rear guard crossed the river; and on the 20th the greater portion of the army was ready to embark at Yorktown, Fortress Monroe and Newport News. Thus terminated the ever memorable campaign of the Peninsula, in which ten se­verely contested and sanguinary battles had been fought, besides numerous smaller engagements, in all of which the troops exhibited the most determined enthusiasm and bravery. They submitted to exposure, sickness, and even death, without a murmur, and never was a Government more cheerfully or devotedly served than our own was by the Army of the Potomac.

But to return to the movements of our regiment. At dark on the 14th we formed and marched to the ordnance wharf and bivouacked for the night on the banks of the river, where we lay until sunset the next afternoon, when we embarked aboard a steamer and schooner and bidding farewell to the scenes of our glory and sadness, we steamed down the river. During the night the steamer ran aground, and the next morning at high tide the little Schuylkill steamer Reindeer, came along side and lightened her by taking the men on board until a tug could haul her off.

On the voyage down we passed many gunboats and transports, and at eight o'clock at night we came to anchor about ten miles above Newport News. Early in the night one of the staff horses got loose and running aft among the sleeping men created great excitement, during which Samuel McGarvey, of Company E, fell overboard and was drowned. Hamilton, of the same company, who also got over­board, was rescued with considerable difficulty. The next day we weighed anchor, and got under way at eleven in the morning, pass­ing the sunken frigates Congress and Cumberland, and running down to Hampton Roads, where we came to anchor.

While here Captain Reitzel, of Company G, which had been detailed as wagonguard, came aboard for the mail, and reported having a pleasant and quiet march down the Peninsula. Bread, cakes, watermelons, oranges, coconuts, etc., were brought aboard for sale. The boys also enjoyed good fishing and luxurious bathing. We were detained here by head winds until early on the morning of the 20th, when we got under way, passing through a forest of masts and entering the Chesapeake Bay, when, heading northward, we continued on, entering the Potomac and passing up to Aquia Creek, where we came to anchor about four o'clock on the afternoon of the 21st,

 

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after a passage of six days, the distance being two hundred and fifteen miles. The vessels were hauled into the landing, and about

eleven o'clock at night we embarked aboard the cars, and proceeded to near Falmouth, where we slept under a commissary shed on piles of oats and corn, protected from the rain which was then falling.

For an intelligent understanding of subsequent events it is necessary to take a summary review of General Pope's movements. On the 26th of June, the day of the battle of Mechanicsville, General Pope was assigned to the command of the Army of Virginia, consist­ing of Major-Generals McDowell's, Banks' and Fremont's army corps, numbering thirty-eight thousand men. The duties assigned to him was the covering of Washington, the safety of the valley of the Shenandoah, and the operating upon the enemy's lines in the direction of Gordonsville and Charlottesville to draw off, if possible, a portion of the enemy from Richmond. As early as the 16th of July, Jackson's advance force under Ewell reached Gordonsville, and on the 7th of August all the infantry and artillery forces of Pope's army, amounting to twenty-eight thousand and five hundred men, were assembled along the turnpike from Sperryville to Culpeper, excepting King's division, which was opposite Fredericksburg. The cavalry pickets extending on the right from the Blue Ridge on the Rapidan, down the same until they joined King's, at its junction with the Rappahannock.

On the 9th, General Banks was ordered to move forward to Cedar or Slaughter Mountains, and to take up a strong position oc­cupied by Crawford's brigade, and hold the enemy in check. General Banks, however, left his strong position late in the day, and advanced at least a mile, throwing his whole corps into action against a supe­rior force of the enemy strongly posted and sheltered by woods and ridges. This advance led him over open ground, which was every­where swept by the fire of the enemy concealed in the woods and ravines beyond. The battle lasted about an hour and a half, during which time our forces were driven back to their former position with heavy loss. At this point Rickett's division came up and joined in the engagement, and General Pope, at the same time arriving, drew in General Bank's too much extended line, and the enemy were driven back. An artillery fight was kept up until midnight. Both sides suffered severely during the action, and the estimated loss of our army was one thousand eight hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.

General Pope, in his official report, states: "The consolidated report of General Bank's corps, received some days previously (to the battle), exhibited an effective force of something over fourteen thousand men. It appeared subsequently, however, that General Bank's force at that time did not exceed eight thousand men!" Un-

 

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der such a display of military genius, as shown upon this occasion, we would prefer not to serve under General Banks.

Before daylight the next morning Jackson withdrew his forces two miles and during the night of the 11th, he fell back across the Rapidan, in the direction of Gordonsville leaving many of his dead and wounded on the field. General Pope being subsequently rein­forced by General King's and Reno's division advanced again to the Rapidan. Having captured a letter from General Lee to General Stuart, dated Gordonsville, August 15th, General Pope was apprised of the position of the enemy and their intention to overwhelm him, before the arrival of reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac. He therefore on the 18th, retired behind the Rappahannock and oc­cupied that line from three miles above Rappahannock Station to Kelly's Ford. On the 20th, the enemy drove in his pickets in front of Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford and during the next three days made strong efforts to cross at various points, but was repulsed.

On the 22d, the Pennsylvania Reserves under General Reynolds, with the exception of the Second Regiment, joined the Army of Virginia, at Kelly's Ford, and was attached to the Third Corps, General McDowell, they being among the very last to leave Harrison's Landing and the first to join General Pope.

Early on the morning of the 22d, our regiment moved into a field nearby and had three days' rations served out, and, although, we had had no meat for six days, we were forced to leave this behind as we had no kettles to boil it in and salt beef roasted creates too great thirst for them to march with during hot weather. That day, at noon, we commenced our march through Falmouth, and moved up the river on the Bealton Road. The weather was oppressively hot, and the men suffered much. During the march, for the first time this season, we met with fruit, and although it was green and the men were suffering much from the diarrhoea, they could not restrain their appetites from enjoying the delicacies, and, contrary to all expectations, it proved a most effectual remedy for the disease; their systems being disposed to the scurvy, the acids of the apples acting as an antidote. At dark we bivouacked in a wood by a roadside.

Early the next morning we marched to the tune of the booming gun that came rolling down the river, passing by Hartwood and halting at the Grove churches during the heat of the day. About a mile beyond there we turned to the left passing Crittenden's Mills where Morell's division was encamped. Pushing on towards Rappahannock Station, which lay eight miles beyond, and where we knew the Reserves were engaged with the enemy, we marched four miles, when about dark we met two cavalrymen, who informed us our division

 

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had abandoned the station, at two o'clock that afternoon, and fallen back towards Warrenton. Under these circumstances, Colonel McCandless fell back to the mills, where we reported to, and bivouacked with, General Morell. A heavy rain had fallen through the afternoon and continued through the night. That day we marched seventeen miles, though we made but nine.

The next morning some of the boys discovering a number of sheep running around loose in the woods, shot several of them and brought them into camp, which General Morell hearing of, was shocked beyond measure at the impropriety of the act, and ordered them to be buried near his tent, that he could see it done with his own eyes. But while the culprits were digging the grave, another part were tunneling from the side of the bank, and drew the sheep out, which soon became part and parcel of the Second Reserves.

That afternoon, General Morell marched with his whole force to the northeast where we took up a strong position at the gold mines near Morrisville and lay during the night. Here we remained until the next afternoon, when our Colonel, anxious to join the division, solicited and obtained permission to attempt the hazardous task of running the gauntlet outside our picket line, and General Morell taking compassion on our craven stomachs, gave us a fine ox and his blessing, with which we departed on our way rejoicing. In a few miles we were outside the picket lines, pushing direct for our forces, through a section of country continually scoured by the enemy's cavalry. About dark we passed Bealton Station, which is four miles from Rappahannock Station, and moving one mile beyond bivouacked in a wood, and killing our ox, we enjoyed a hearty meal to which we had been strangers for some time past. That night we posted strong guards and pickets under Captain Connor and sleeping soundly were up before daybreak the next morning and off.

Being in entire ignorance of the country excepting the general directions, and the unreliable information we gathered from the few inhabitants we met, and having no knowledge of the location of our forces except that they were falling back, and that the rear guard of cavalry and artillery were engaged with the enemy in the direction of Warrenton, Sulphur Springs and Waterloo Bridge, the booming of whose guns we could plainly hear, we felt exceedingly anxious to find our division. A regiment lost from its division, is like a soldier lost from his regiment, or a child from his home. Though it was excessively hot, and we had added to the length of our wearied march by a long detour in the early part of the day, the boys steadily pressed on over the hilly roads, with but few and short halts for rest or wa­ter. About four o'clock the spires of Warrenton were seen, and soon

 

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afterwards we passed through the town and moved about two miles down the Waterloo Road, where we at length found our division, and bivouacked in a woods near the road, having marched twenty miles.

The next morning, the 27th, our wagons arrived, and rations were again served out to us, but the heads of the beef barrels had hardly been stove in before we received orders to march. This was rather hard for the boys, as they had had but one ration of meat since the morning of the 16th. But there was no remedy, so the meat was packed in the wagons again, and we took up the line of march through Warrenton, past New Baltimore, and bivouacked at Buckland Mills, where Broad Run crosses the Alexandria and Warrenton turnpike.

            The enemy, during the preceding night having passed through Thoroughfare Gap, and cut the railroad in the neighborhood of Kettle Run, about six miles east of Warrenton Junction, were attacked on the afternoon of the 27th, by Hooker's division, about four miles west of Bristoe Station, and driven back along the railroad to Broad Run, where, at dark, he still confronted Hooker. The loss on each side was about three hundred killed and wounded, the enemy leaving his wounded, and much of his baggage on the battlefield. During the night Ewell retired to Manassas Junction.

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