CHAPTER XXVI

 

 

LEE'S ATTEMPT TO FLANK • BACK TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK • TO BRANDY STATION • BATTLE OF BRISTOE • TO CENTERVILLE AND FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE • VICTORIES AT RAPPAHANNOCK STATION AND KELLEY'S FORD • REBEL CABINS • CROSSING THE RAPIDAN • BATTLE OF MINE RUN • WINTER QUARTERS AT BRISTOE • FLAG PRESENTATION • REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY

 

NOTHING of importance occurred while we lay here until early in October, at which time the contending forces occupied opposite banks of the Rapidan River, our line extending from near Falmouth on the left to Robertson's and Hazel Rivers, beyond Thoroughfare Mountain on the right, the centre being in front of Culpeper Court House. On the 9th, it was discovered that the enemy had commenced advancing northward, evidently with the intention of interrupting our line of communication with Washington. A corresponding movement was necessary on our part, and orders were issued that night to the army to be prepared to move at short notice. At two o'clock the next morning, our division moved towards Culpeper, and then turn­ing to the left marched around Poney Mountain and bivouacked at Raccoon Ford, where we remained until two the next morning, when we marched back to our old camp. Early in the morning we were again in motion, acting as the rear guard of the army and passing through Culpeper moved in the direction of Rappahannock Station, where, upon our arrival, we were drawn up in line of battle, in which position we remained until night, when we crossed the river and bivouacked in our old camp of August and September last. The enemy followed up closely through the day, and at Brandy Station a smart fight took place between our and their cavalry, in which the latter was handsomely repulsed.

On the 12th, General Meade, for the purpose of ascertaining the true extent of the enemy's demonstration, sent several corps back

 

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across the river. Early in the morning we crossed the river at Beverly's Ford, and formed in line of battle and lay there until near sundown, when we advanced to Brandy Station. Our cavalry commenced skirmishing about ten A.M., and by night drove the enemy back to Culpeper. At midnight we marched for the river again, but in the darkness getting separated from our corps, we did not arrive at our old camp until three o'clock on the morning of the 13th.

In this movement General Meade was successful, and on the same night Lee crossed the river farther up. At seven o'clock on the morning of the 13th we moved towards Warrenton some distance, and then inclining to the right, marched for Catlett's Station, near where we bivouacked.

The two armies were now pushing forward on parallel lines, the intention of General Lee being to seize the heights of Centerville with a portion of his army, and with the remainder to fall upon our flank and rear, hoping by a sudden and determined attack to rout our army.

THE BATTLE OF BRISTOE STATION, October 14th, 1863 - At four o'clock on the morning of the 14th we took up our march, moving nearly abreast of the Second Corps, and halting for rest af­ter crossing Broad Run. On the Second Corps reaching Bristoe Station, they found Hill's corps drawn up in line of battle. The troops which had advanced on the left of the railroad were double quicked to the right, and the cut and embankment, which Hill had neglected to occupy, were taken possession of. General Warren hastily formed his troops under cover of the cut and embankment, and the enemy making an impetuous charge upon his left flank, the men rose from their cover, and at close range, poured volley after volley into them. During the short but severe engagement that followed, the enemy were repulsed, they flying from the field, leaving their dead and wounded, several hundred prisoners and seven guns, two of which they subsequently recovered.

Our division had hardly crossed Broad Run before the enemy opened upon us with a battery, when we were double quicked out of range, and formed behind a wood, while a battery was got into posi­tion, which soon silenced theirs. The division was then ordered for­ward to support the Second Corps, and re-wading Broad Run, advanced, but by the time we arrived upon the field it was dark, and the fighting had mostly ceased. We then continued our march, fording Bull Run about three o'clock the next morning, and lay down for a few hours rest.*

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* See Appendix A.

 

BATTLE OF BRISTOE STATION     237

 

And at nine the same morning we were again on the move, passing through Centerville to Fairfax Court House, where we biv­ouacked in a woods, near the town, and remained until the morning of the 17th, when we advanced to Centerville and remained there all night, the next morning returning to Fairfax Court House.

On the 19th, at four A.M., we again moved, retracing our steps towards Centerville, fording Bull Run, and that night sleeping on the battlefield. Here we found our dead mostly as they had fallen, and we laid down and slept among the bones of our comrades.

The next morning, the 20th, reveille was sounded at one o'clock, but we did not move until six, we passing Gainesville and halting near New Baltimore, where we remained until the 26th, when we marched as wagon guard to New Auburn. While we lay here, Major McDonough was mustered in as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain R. Ellis as Major. The first mentioned appointment gave satisfaction to all.

On the 30th at six A.M., we marched to Warrenton Junction, and remained there until the 7th of November. 

THE VICTORIES OF RAPPAHANNOCK STATION AND KELLEY'S FORD, November 7th - The enemy had in the meantime entrenched themselves on the north and south banks of the Rappahannock, near Rappahannock Station, and deeming themselves secure from interference, had commenced the construction of huts on the south side, with the expectation of remaining there during the winter. To their surprise, however, early in the afternoon of the 7th, General Sedgwick with the Fifth and Sixth Corps, arrived before their works, and driving their skirmishers before him, occupied a crest less than a mile distant, and posted his guns. Our corps was held in reserve, under cover of favorable ground, near our old camp. An artillery duel commenced, and during its progress a storming party, consisting of four regiments, of Russell's brigade, and two of Colonel Upton's, was organized, and with a cheer made a desperate assault upon the forts and rifle pits. To reach the works half a mile of open plain had to be traversed, but regardless of the heavy fire that was opened upon them, they moved steadily forward at double quick without firing a single shot until they reached the works. Here a desperate hand-to-hand struggle commenced and continued for about twenty minutes, resulting in a complete victory to our troops, and the surrender of the enemy. Four guns and two thou­sand stand of arms were captured, and about one thousand six hundred officers and men taken prisoners.

In the meantime General French had been sent with the First, Second, and Third Corps to Kelley's Ford, where, after a brief but

 

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warm engagement, he succeeded in capturing the rifle pits and a large number of prisoners and their arms.

Late in the afternoon, our regiment was advanced towards the river, and a detail of seventy men under Captain Byrnes sent out as pickets to hold Fordmand's Ford, on the south side of which the enemy were in considerable force, and had along line of rifle pits erected. During the night the enemy withdrew.

The next morning, the 8th, we reached Kelley's Ford, and about one P.M. crossed the Rappahannock, and massed in column of division, halted awhile, and then advanced about two miles and took possession of the fine winter quarters built by A. P. Hill's corps, which we found much more comfortable than our own shelter tents. They were composed of log cabins with shingled roofs, ample chimney places, and furnished with bunks, tables, and stools. Here were captured three thousand pair of drawers, a large lot of harness, muskets, horseshoes, blacksmith's coal, etc.

On the 10th, we marched to Mountain Run, where we also found comfortable quarters, which the enemy had erected in expectation of enjoying a pleasant winter's rest. We remained here until the 24th, during which time we were paid off by Major Smith, had several inspections, and drilled continually.

On the 24th, we broke camp, and marched in the direction of the Rapidan, but on account of the violence of a rain storm that set in, we countermarched and returned to our quarters where we remained until the 26th.

On the 26th, we again marched from our quarters towards the Rapidan, which we crossed at Culpeper Mine Ford, and advanced on the Culpeper Plank Road, and halted near its junction with the Orange Plank Road, and bivouacked for the night within three miles of Chancellorsville.

On the 27th was fought the battle of Locust Grove, which resulted in the success of our arms and the retreat of the enemy, with heavy loss. That morning we marched to New Hope Church, where we found Gregg's cavalry division, which we relieved, and then throwing out skirmishers, formed in line of battle, and lay down all day under a heavy shelling without pulling a trigger.*

On the 28th, the enemy were pursued towards their defences on the west bank of Mine Run, a small tributary of the Rapidan. Their position was a very strong one, the line being formed on a series of ridges with enfilading positions for batteries, while in front stretched an extensive marsh. That morning we moved to the right and halted at Robinson's tavern.

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* See Appendix A.

 

239 (Drawing not included)

 

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On the 29th, we advanced to Mine Run, and formed a line of battle, and bivouacked there for the night. On the 30th, we were advanced to the right and deployed as skirmishers, and then moved into a woods where we lay until the 2d of December. The shelling on both sides was for a time very heavy, but little damage, however, was done.* The men suffered severely from the cold, some being frozen to death, and others carried to the rear, totally benumbed. General Warren reported that the enemy's right could be carried, but after a careful examination of the position, General Meade concluded it could not be done without a fearful sacrifice of life. Accordingly a retrograde movement was decided upon, and on the 2d it was commenced, a large portion of the army returning to their old quarters at Brandy Station, while a portion was stretched along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad for its protection.

On the evening of the 2d, we commenced falling back, and crossed the Rapidan at five o'clock the next morning, when we took a couple of hours rest, marching again at eight o'clock for Brandy Station, where we bivouacked for the night. On the 4th, we moved across the Rappahannock, and arrived at Bristoe Station on the 5th.

During this movement, the army suffered much from cold, many times being in positions that forbade the building of fires. Yet they stood the fatigues and hardships with great fortitude, and were as rugged and hearty as ever.

Our encampment lay on the south side of Broad Run, on a hill overlooking the surrounding country. We had the good fortune to occupy the log cabins built by the One Hundred and Forty-Ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, which we found quite comfortable, and regularly laid out in company streets. Surrounding all was a rifle pit.

About two miles to the southeast lay the almost deserted vil­lage of Brentsville, the county town of Prince William. This village, like most others in Virginia, being deprived of all the active portion of its population and trade, was soon deserted by those that remained, who had no other alternative but starvation. Daily the soldiers entered the deserted village and carried off doors, windows, weather boards, bricks, etc., to their camps, and soon but little was left of the village, except a few occupied houses, the chimneys and innumerable cats and dogs. Many of the latter were brought to camp, each mess having its pet, which, though very agreeable companions by day, sometimes made night hideous with their noise.

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* See Appendix A.

 

FLAG PRESENTATION        241

 

During the winter, the guerrillas became exceedingly bold and annoying, sometimes approaching quite near our picket lines, and several skirmishes took place with them. On the 28th of January, 1864, John Hoover, Company F, was ambuscaded by them, and wounded in the arm, which it was necessary to amputate.

About this time Lieutenant James C. Manton, of Company B, while being conveyed home, died at Alexandria. He was a brave young officer of much promise, and had been in command of his company for a long while. He was buried in Philadelphia.

On the 17th of February, First Lieutenant Robert R. Smith, Company D, joined us, he having recovered from his wound received at Antietam.

Nothing of interest occurred until the 14th of March, when a Committee of the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, consisting of Messrs. Joseph Megary, Philip Fitzpatrick, E. S. Cooper, William Cooper, Jr., Samuel W. Nichols, Charles McDonough, Will­iam Dougherty and Joseph T. Packer, visited camp, charged with the presentation of a beautiful silk flag and markers to the regiment. The day was a beautiful one, and the presentation ceremony took place in the presence of the brigade, which was formed on three sides of a square, with the Second as the base.

About two o'clock, the Committee, accompanied by Colonel McCandless, commanding the division, and Colonel Talley, commanding the brigade, their respective staffs, and a number of ladies, rode to the centre of the square and dismounted, when Mr. Megary stepped to the front with the flag, which he presented in a neat and patriotic speech, which was responded to on behalf of the regiment by Colonel McCandless. The color guard then advanced, and the Color-Sergeant, Joseph F. Sweeton received it, amid the loud cheers of the boys and patriotic strains of the band. The Colonel and the committee then took position and the brigade passed in review, after which they repaired to the camp of the Second, where a handsome collation had been prepared in a large tent, beautifully decorated with evergreens. After the removal of the cloth, toasts were drunk, and patriotic speeches, abounding in wit and humor, were made, and at taps all retired to their quarters.

About this time the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac was commenced, some of the army corps, divisions, and brigades, being broken up and consolidated with others. The three brigades of the First Division of the Fifth Corps were consolidated into two brigades, and the Second Division was consolidated into one brigade, all designated as the First Division, Fifth Corps, commanded by Brigadier-General Charles Griffin.

 

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The Second Brigade of the Third Division, First Corps, was transferred to the Second Division, First Corps, and this division was designated the Second Division, Fifth Corps, commanded by Brigadier-General J. C. Robinson.

The old Third Division (Pennsylvania Reserves) Fifth Corps, was retained as the Third Division, Fifth Corps, commanded by Brigadier-General S. W. Crawford.

The First Brigade of the Third Division, First Corps, was transferred to the First Division, First Corps, and this division was designated as the Fourth Division, Fifth Corps, commanded by Brigadier-General J. S. Wadsworth.

The command of the Fifth Corps was assigned to General Warren, General Sykes being relieved.

            From this time everything passed off comparatively quiet until the 29th of April, when we were relieved by Burnside's corps. At ten A.M., on that day we broke camp, and marched one mile beyond Warrenton Junction, where we bivouacked. Then next morning we marched at five o'clock, crossed the Rappahannock and encamped about a mile to the east of the Culpeper Court House, where we remained until the 4th of May.