V^i ""TT ^'*"'"''' ' ■'*'•'• r •-^ ^"•j-'-i-ji''-- jJ-c^Tj-j^--- j^- j---j»jyj j/ fjif.!- jf rr" ' X X' z' , ( ' ' /' <> ^-^"^ c^:^< ; It, CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The Gift of NEWTON C. FARR Class of 1909 Cornell University Library E484 .B51 War talks of Confederate veterans. olin 3 1924 032 776 324 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032776324 ^^ X //.c-^^^^-^ WAR TALKS ■OP- Confederate veterans. V, COMPILED AND EDITED BY GEO. S :^ERNARD, PETERSBUEG, VA. Addresses delivered before A. P. Sill Camp of Confederate Veterans, of Petersburg, Va., wtth Addenda giving Statements of Participants, Mye-Witnesses and others, in respect to Campaigns, Battles, Prison Life and other War Experiences. PBTEBSBUBG, VIBQINIA. FENN & OWEN, PUBLISHERS. 1892, ' t ( r < ' COPYRIGHT, 1892, BY GEO. S. BERNARD. Pl\^EFACE This Book, embracing a series of addresses delivered before A. P. Hill Camp of Confederate Veterans, of Petersburg, Va., has the approval of that organization of ex -Confederate soldiers in the following resolution of the camp adopted at its meeting on the evening of May 5th, 1892: Whereas, The camp has been informed that Comrade Geo. 8. Bernard proposes to publish in book form the several addresses which have been delivered before the camp and furnished him in writing, with such notes and other addenda as he may deem necessary and proper, the book to be entitled "Wab Talks op Confedbkate Vetebans," and has offered to share equally with the camp all profits that may come to him from the proposed publication, provided the camp will apply the money to the purchase and collection of books and other literature relating to the late war, for the use of the camp ; therefore, Resolved, 1st, That the camp, having confidence in Comrade Bernard's fitness to edit the proposed volume, cordially approves his plan to do so. Resolved, Snd, That the camp, thanking Comrade Bernard for his offer to share equally with it his profits to accrue from the publication of the book, upon the condition that the camp will apply the money as indica- ted in the foregoing preamble, accepts said offer and will apply what- ever it may receive to the purpose aforesaid. The whole matter of this book — the casualties in Pegram's bat- tery, Mahone's and Wise's Virginia, Clingman's and Ransom's North Carolina, and Saunders' Alabama brigades, at the battle of the Crater, which are reproduced from the Petersburg (Va.) Ex- press of August 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ith and 5th, 18^64, a few foot-notes, and some few words in the text excepted — was published in weekly instalments in the Bural Messenger, a weekly paper published in Petersburg, Va., the first instalment appearing in its issue of May 28th, 1892, and the last instalment in its issue of November 5th, 1892. An invitation was given in each issue of this journal to all who iv PREFACE. might see it to aid in eliminating errors and perfecting the work, this invitation being as follows: In the publication of ttiis work every eflTort has been, and, until itflnally goes to press, will be made, to secure accuracy of statement, and accord- ingly all who may read the weekly instalments ot matter which will appear in the Rural Messenger are earnestly requested, should any error of any kind whatsoever be noticed, to write to the undersigned and call his attention thereto, in order that it may be corrected. These errors may be of names, dates, statements of facts, or of other character. Very thankfully will he receive all help which any kind reader may so render towards the end had in view. Particularly will statements of facts or incidents which may be within the personal knowledge of a reader be received and given place in the form of notes or addenda, when they may serve to elucidate the subject matter of any address. Eesponding to this invitation, and to personal applications, many gentlemen, including several who served in the Federal army, and some ladies, kindly furnished a considerable quantity of most interesting and valuable matter in the way of personal recollections — much of it weU and graphically narrated — for in- corporation into the work among the addenda, thereby not only placing the undersigned under personal obligations to each and all of them, which he hereby acknowledges with many thanks, but also placing under obligations to them all who feel an inter- est in preserving from oblivion just that class of facts and inci- dents which the pages of this book show to have been thus fur- nished and which always have a charm not possessed by history of the graver character. All of the statements so collected have been carefully corrected and are believed to be in the main correct. By corres;^ondence and personal interviews with those who made them, great care has been taken to eliminate all that was doubtful and to have the several statements correct before they were printed in this volume, and each statement has the authority of a reputable and responsible sponsor, as has each opinion therein expressed or sentiment therein uttered. To Mr. Wm. L. Sheppard, of Eichmond, Va., for his illustra- tion of the incident of Orampton's Gap, described on page 28, and to Mr. C. E. Eees, of Petersburg, Va., for his photographic views of the Crater, the undersigned is indebted. G. S. B. Petersburg, Va., December 1, X89S. p ONTENTS Early Days op the War.— ^y Bev. Dr. J. M. Pilcher 1 Worsham, John H. 'a, Description of a Confederate soldier's outfit 6 Maryland Campaign of 1862.— 5y Oeorge S. Bernard 9 Cobb, Gen. Howell, Extract from report of 26 Franklin, Gen. W. B., Extract from report of 25 Jones, Maj. Rich'd W., Statement of 42 Laughton, John E., Jr., Statement of 19, 26 Lea, Col. Jno. W., Extract from report of Gen. A. Iverson as to 36 Manson, Capt. J. Rich'd, Statement of 29 Marks, Capt. L. L., Statement of 16, 18 Meade, Maj. Rich'd Kidder, Gen. R. E. Lee's letter as to ... . 36 Osborne, Capt. N. M., Statement of 24 Parham, Jno. T., Statement of 42 Parham, Col. Wm. Allen, Order issued by 42 Patterson, Capt. John R., Statement of 43 Pollard, E. A., Extractfrom"The8outhern History of theWar"by 22 RufHn, Theodorick Bland, Statement of . . • • 15, 41 Seaver, Lt.-Col., Extract from report of 28 Shepard, Maj. Wm. A., Statement of 43 Shepherd, Jno. M., Statement of 44 Slocum, Gen. Henry W., Extract from letter of 30 Smith, Hugh R., Statement of 44 Spotswood, Jos. Edwin, Statement of 23 Tarver, Otis S., Statement of 34 Tayleure, W. W., Statement of 16 Turner, Jno. R., Statement of 14, 17 Chancbllorsville. — By Ex-Oov. William JE. Cameron 45 Anderson, Gen. R. H., Extract from report of 53 Bernard, Geo. S., Statement of 59, 71, 76 Bernard, Geo. S., Extracts from diary of .... 64, 66, 68, 70, 71, 76 Davis, President Jefferson, Statement of 47 Davis, Rich'd B., Statement of 69, 71 Feild, Col. Everard M., Statement of 65 Grandy, Capt. Chas. R., Extract from report of 52 Halleck, Gen. H. W., Extract from report of 48 Ivey, Geo. W., Statement of 75 CONTENTS. Keiley, Judge Anthony M., Statement of 60 Lee, Gen. R. B., Extract from report of 50, 55, 56, 57 Mahone, Gen. Wm., Extract from report of 52, 53 Smith, Hugh R., Statement of 74 Warren, Gen. G. K., Extract from report of 48 An Escape from Point Lookout.— 5^/ Simon Seward, Esq. . . 77 Jones, Freeman W., Statement of 83 The Battle op the Wilderness.— -By John B. Turner, Esq. . . 87 Bernard, Judge D. M., Statement of 105 Bernard, Geo. 8., Statement of 91 Bernard, Geo. S., Extract from diary of 92 Dunn, Maj. Andrew, Statement of 106 Edwards, Leroy S., Statement of 93 Peild, Col. Everard M., Statement of 98 Groner, Gen. V. D., Statement of 104 Kershaw, Gen. Joseph B., Extract from report of 101 Longstreet, Gen. James, Extract from report of 101 Mahone, Gen. Wm., Extract from report of 102 Minetree, Col. Joseph P., Statement of 104 Patterson, Capt. Jno. R., Statement of 104 Rockwell, Joseph E., Statement of 97 Smith, Hugh R., Statement of 94 Smith, Wm. C, Statement of 96 Sorrel, Gen. G. M., Statement of 89 Stith, Putnam, Statement of 95 Swinton's "Campaigns of Army of the Potomac," Extract from 103 Tayleure, W. W., Statement of 94, 106 Venable, Col. Chas. S., Extract from address of 89 The Defense of Pbtersbueg. — By Col. Fletcher H. Archer . . 107 Butler, Gen. B. F., Extract from letter of, to Gen. Q. A. Gillmore 145 Callender, Mrs. David, Statement of 142 Cameron, William, Statement of 135 Collier, Hon. Charles F., Statement of 137 Colston, Gen. R. E., Report of 123 Cummings, Lt. J. Frank, Extract from report of 147 Davidson, Miss Virginia, Statement of 134 Gillmore, Gen. Q. A., Order of 148 Hill, Miss Lossie, Statement of 134 Hinton, Capt. Wm. E., Jr., Statement of 130 Hinton, Capt. E. O., Statement of 134 Kautz, Gen. August V., Extract from report of 125 Keiley, Judge Anthony M., Extract from "In Vinculis, or The Prisoner of War," by 128 Martin, Robert A., Statement of 138 Morrison, Mrs. Wm. E., Memorial Ode composediby 144 CONTENTS. vli Noltenius, Mrs. H., Statement of 148 Spear, Col. Samuel P., Extract from report of 126,147 Trusheim, Capt. John, Statement of 132 Waddell, Mrs. Fanny, Extract from diary of 143 Wise, Gen. Henry A., Order of 122 Young, J. William, Statement of 133 The Battle of the Ceateb.— 5^ George S. Bernard 149 Aston, Howard, Statement of 160, 167, 181 Bates, Gen. Delevan, Statement of 182 Bernard, Judge D. M., Statement of 189 Bird, H.L. v.. Statement of 221 Blakemore, Jas. H., Statement of 219 Bowley, Capt. Freeman S., Statement of 155,157,162,182 Brown, Capt. Augustus C, Statement of 112 Burnside, Gen. Ambrose E., Extract from Report of 177 Carr, Gen. J. C, Statement of 174 Case, Capt. Ervin T., Extract from address of 161 Coit, Maj. Jas. C, Statement of .■ . 174, 194 Coldwell, W. W., Statement of 221 Cross, Thomas H., Statement of . 153, 221 Crowder, Wm. J., Statement of 200 Davis, Richard B., Statement of 186 Duane, Col. James C, Statement of 213 Early, Gen. Jubal A., Extract from report of 227 Btheredge, Maj. Wm. H., Statement of 192, 220 Evans, Capt. A. L., Statement of 200 Flanner, Capt. Henry G., Statement of 211 Flournoy, Rich'd W., Statement of 206 Goodwin, Capt. Chas. Ridgely, Statement of 218 Griffin, Gen. S. G., Statement of 161, 171 Griffith, Timothy R., Statement of 224 Hines, T. H., Statement of 222 Hinton, Judge Drury A., Statement of 223 Hoy, Patrick C, Statement of 195 Hunt, Gen. H. J., Statement of 204, 212 Ivey, George W., Statement of 151 Jones, Col. Hilary P., Statement of 205 Jones, Maj. Rich'd W., Statement of 154, 200, 220 Kilmer, George L., Statement of 168 Lamotte, Thos. S., Statement of 197, 198 Laugh ton, John E., Jr., Statement of 185, 221 Loring, Lt.-Col. Chas. G., Statement of 170 Mahone, Gen. Wm., Statement of 213 McCabe, Capt. W. Gordon, Statement of 167, 177 McMaster, CoL F. W., Statement of 153, 193 Meade, Gen. Geo. G., Statement of 176 ■viil CONTENTS. Myers, E., Statement of 209 Ord, Gen. E. O. C, Statement of 171, 173 Pegram, Capt. Rich'd G., Statement of 207 Pleasants, Lt.-Col. Henry, Extract from report of ... . . 167 Phillips, Capt. Jas. E., Statement of 186 Pollard, Capt. Thos. P., Statement of 221 Powell, tt.-Col. Wm. H., Statement of 167, 180, 201 Richardson, Thos. Emmet, Statement of 221 Roman, Col. Alfred, Extract from "The Military Operations of Gen. Beauregard," by . . 175 Rogers, Capt. Geo. J., Statement of 179 Rogers, Col. Geo. T., Statement of 219 Russell, Lt.-CoI. Chas. S., Statement of .' 172 Smith, William C, Statement of 184, 200 Stith, Putnam, Statement of 188, 221 Stewart, Col. Wm. H., Statement of 192, 218 Tayleure, W. W., Statement of 158 Taylor, Capt. W. A. S., Statement of 153, 218 Thomas, Col. Henry G., Statement of 170, 171 Toland, Dr. Hugh, Statement of 166 Turner, Gen. Jno. W., Statement of 174 Venable, Col. Chas. S., Statement of ... . .... 151, 175 Walker, Maj. David N., Statement of 203 Weisiger, Gen. David A., Statement of : . . . . 217, 222 Whitehorne, J. Edward, Statement of 180, 230 A DAEiNGt Expedition.— ^3/ Freeman W. Jones, Esq 231 Bead, Capt. Chas. W., Biographical Sketch of, taken from New Orleans Picayune .... 224 Last Days of Lee and His Paladins.— ^2/ Dr. John Herbert Claiborne 237 Bernard, Geo. 8., Statement and extracts from diary of ... . 277 Last Days of Johnston's Abmy.—B^ Son. James M. Mullen . . 285 Baker, Gen. L. S. , Orders of 295 296 Webb, Capt. L. H., Extracts from diary of 290, 293, 296 Appendix. Maryland Campaign of 1862. — Cameron, Ex-Gov. Wm. E., Statement of 299 Crow, John B., Statement of 303 Patterson, Capt. John R., Statement of 302 Smith, Col. Thos. W., Statement of 302 Spotswood, Jos. Edwin, Statement of 304 Chanobllobsville.- Smith, William C, Statement of 307 CONTENTS. Ix The Battle of the Wildeeness. — Jones, Maj. Eich'd W., Statement of 311 Smith, Ool. Thos. W., Statement of 311 The Defense of Pbtebsbdkg. — Rogers, Capt. Jos. A., Extract from letter of 312 The Battle of the Ceateb. — Burbank, Judge Horace H., Statement of 314 Crow, John B., Statement of 314 List of casualties, as published in the Petersburg (Va.) Express, within the week next after the battle 324 Casualties in 6th Va. reg't, Mahone's brigade 331 Casualties in 12th Va. reg't, Mahone's brigade 324 Casualties in 16th Va. reg't, Mahone's brigade 824 Casualties in 41st Va. re'gt, Mahone's brigade 326 Casualties in 61st Va. reg't, Mahone's brigade 325 Casualties in 46th Va. reg't, Wise's brigade 328 Casualties in 59th Va. reg't, Wise's brigade 332 Casualties in Pegram's battery 326 Casualties in 61st N. C. T., Clingmau's brigade 328 Casualties in 24th N. C. reg't, Ransom's brigade, 327 Casualties in 25th N. C. reg't. Ransom's brigade 827 Casualties in 35th N. C. T., Ransom's brigade 327 Casualties in 49th N. C. reg't. Ransom's brigade 327 Casualties in 56th N. C. reg't. Ransom's brigade 328 Casualties in 25th N. C. T., Ransom's brigade 320 Casualties in 8th Ala. reg't, Saunders' brigade 330 Casualties in 9th Ala. reg't, Saunders' brigade 380 Casualties in 10th Ala. reg't, Saunders' brigade 330 Casualties in 11th Ala. reg't, Saunders' brigade 331 Casualties in 14th Ala. reg't, Saunders' brigade . 331 Editorial account of battle in Petersburg (Va.) Express of Aug- ust 1, 1864 317 Editorial account of battle in Petersburg (Va.) Express of Aug- ust 2, 1864 318 HaU, Li>Col. M. R., comd'g Wright's brigade. Letter of . . 320 Illustrations, Descriptioa of 333 Laugh ton, John E. Jr., Statement of 320 Smith, A. Whit., Statement of 313 White, Capt. E. R., comd'g 28rd reg't S. C. V., Letter of . . . 320 A Daeing Expedition.— Extract from Porter's "History of Norfolk county, Va., 1861-'65" 321 Last Days of Lee and His Paladins. — Magee, Allen W., Statement of 822 ? lOGRAPHICAL SkETCHES. The seveeal addresses published in this book having been printed in the columns of the Mural Messenger, a weekly news- paper published in the city of Petersburg, Va., that journal, con- temporaneously with the appearance of each address, published a brief biographical sketch of the gentleman who delivered it. The sketches so published were as follows: JNO. M. PILCHEE. The subject of this sketch, John M. Pilcher, born in the city of Eichmond, Va., July 16, 1841, was educated in that city, mainly at the classical school of Mr. L. S. Squire, and at Eich- mond College, from which he graduated as a Master of Arts in April, 1861. A sufferer at that time from weak eyes, his pro- posed enlistment as a volunteer in the Confederate army, by ad- vice of his physician, was deferred, and accordingly he taught school till July, 1862, when he became a clerk in one of the mil- itary hospitals in the city of Eichmond. In September, 1862, he was transferred to the office of the medical director. Dr. E. S. Gaillard, in that city, where he remained till the following May, when he enlisted in an artillery company which was a part of the Tredegar battalion. In July, 1863, he was appointed ser- geant-major of the battalion — the several companies of which, with other companies, were foi;med into the 2nd regiment of lo- cal defense troops, with which command Mr. Pilcher served as occasion required until the close of the war. Whilst in camp young Pilcher frequently preached to his com- rades, as he did to other congregations, and, when the war closed, looking to his entry into the ministry, whilst conducting a suc- cessful business in the city of Eichmond, he preached as a licen- tiate. In March, 1868, he organized the Sidney (now Grove BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xi Avenue) Baptist church, near Eichmond; in February, 1870, was ordained to the full work of the ministry; in 1871 took charge of a large and difficult pastorate in Alleghany and Bath counties; in 1880 was elected general superintendent of the Sunday School and Bible Board of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and came to the city of Petersburg, where he now resides. This position he still holds. In December, 1887, A. P. Hill Camp Confederate Veterans, of Petersburg, elected him its first chaplain, and in January, 1890, Eichmond College conferred on him the honorary degree of doc- tor of divinity. — Rural Messenger, May 21, 1892. GEO. S. BEENAED. Geo. S. Bernard, born in Culpeper county, Va., August 27, 1837, was educated in the city of Petersburg, Va., and at the University of Virginia, at which institution he was a student the sessions of 1855-'6 and 1856-'7. From October, 1857, to June, 1858, he taught school, and was admitted to the bar in the city of Petersburg in June, 1859. In April, 1861, being a member of the Petersburg Eiflemen, he went with his command to Norfolk, Va., on the expedition made on the evening of April 20, 1861, by the Petersburg bat- talion of volunteer companies under Maj. D. A. Weisiger, with orders to capture the navy yard at Gosport, and served with the Petersburg troops until his discharge from the army in the fall of 1861, having had a severe spell of fever, contracted whilst in camp at Iforfolk. In March, 1862, having recovered his health, Mr. Bernard re- enlisted, this time as a sergeant in the Meherrin Greys, a volun- teer company organized in Greensville county, Va., where he had taught school for a few weeks, between the middle of January and the date of enlistment. "With this company he returned to Iforfolk in April, 1862, and, the company becoming a part of the 12th Virginia regiment, of Gen. Wm. Mahone's brigade, he served with it in the campaign around Eichmond, and in the Maryland campaign, until wounded and captured in the battle of Crampton's Gap, Maryland, September 14, 1862. Eetuming to his command in April, 1863, now as a member xii BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. of the Petersburg Eiflemen, into which he had been transferred, he served with this command the remainder of the war, with the exception of some six weeks in the summer of 1863, when, be- ing a sufferer from his wound received the preceding September, he was in the commissary department under Maj. P. B. Scott, at Orange Court-House, participating in all of the principal engage- ments in which Mahone's brigade took part, and receiving a slight wound in the battle of Hatcher's Eun, February 6, 1865. At the close of the war, in the fall of 1865, Mr. Bernard was employed as local editor of the Petersburg Express, but resumed the practice of his profession in December of that year. In 1870, or 1871, and for several years subsequently, he was a member of the school board of the city of Petersburg. In 1877 he was elected one of the delegates from this city to the General Assem- bly, and served three sessions during his term of two years. In 1881, on the organization of the Norfolk and Western Eailroad Company, he was appointed its attorney for this city, and for six of the counties through which the road funs, which position he still holds. In 1882 he was elected prosecuting attorney for the city of Petersburg, and re-elected to the same office in 1884 and 1886. Mr. Bernard has written much for the press on subjects of pub- lic interest. In 1885 he published a work on civil service reform, entitled "CivU Service Eeform vs. The Spoils System." — Rural Messenger, May 28, 1892. WM. E. CAMEEOIf. The subject of this sketch was born in Petersburg, Va., on November 19, 1842, attended the schools of Charles Campbell and Thomas S. Davidson in that city, and subsequently was two sessions at the North Carolina Military Academy at Hills- boro. In 1859, when but a lad, he went west, located in Mis- souri, and obtained employment as a clerk on one or more of the steamers of the St. Louis and Memphis Packet Company, and was so engaged at the commencement of the civil war in the spring of 1861. Being present at Camp Jackson with the Mis- souri Minute Men when they were captured by Gen. Lyon, he escaped in the confusion and left on the last boat that went south. BIOQRAPBICAL SKETCHES. xiii In a few days young Cameron was in Virginia, and reported for duty at Norfolk as a member of Oapt. John P. May's com- pany, the City Guard, of Petersburg, Va., which, upon the or- ganization of the 12th Virginia regiment, became Company A of that regiment. He had been in camp but a few days when he was elected second lieutenant of Co. D. In May, 1862, he was appointed adjutant of the regiment, and was with the com- mand until he received in the battle of Second Manassas a wound which disabled him until the following December, when he re- ported for duty during the battle of Fredericksburg. A few days after returning to his commaM, Lieut. Cameron was detailed as brigade -inspector of Mahone's brigade, and as such served until June 1, 1863, when he again returned to his command and served with it in the Gettysburg campaign and subsequently until December, 1863, when he was commissioned as captain in the inspector -general's department, and, being assigned to duty with Davis' brigade, of Heth's division, served in this capacity until the summer of 1864, participating in the battles from the Wilderness to the Weldon railroad. In October, 1864, Capt. Cameron was commissioned as assist- ant adjutant-genneral, and in this capacity returned to his old brigade (Mahone's), now under the command of Gen. David A. Weisiger, and remained with it until it surrendered at Appomat- tox Court-House. The war ended, Capt. Cameron, located in his native city, read law under the direction of Judge Wm. T. Joynes, at. the same time being engaged as local editor of the Petersburg Index, then in the first year of its existence. In the spring of 1866 he re- moved to K"orfolk and became the editor of the Norfolk Virginian; but within a few months he was again in Petersburg, now as the editor of the Index. In 1870 he edited the Eichmond Whig, and later the Eichmond Enquirer. But during these eventful years Capt. Cameron was a conspicuous figure. Instrumental in aid- ing to bring about the order of things by which the state was rid of threatened carpet-bag rule, he was a leader of considera- ble influence. A supporter of Governor Gilbert C. Walker, he was a member of his staff with the rank of colonel. In 1876 Col. Cameron was elected mayor of his native city, and by successive elections held the ofiBce until December 31, 1881, xiv BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. when lie resigned to become the governor of Virginia, having been elected to the office in November, 1881, over Major John W. Daniel. It was said that when Daniel and he canvassed the state two such brilliant young men had rarely before met on the stump as candidates for any office within the gift of the people. On the first of January, 1886, Gov. Cameron retired from office and opened a law office in Petersburg, where he quietly pursued his profession until the early part of the present year (1892), when he removed to Florida. — Bural Messenger, June 9, 1892. SIMON SBWAED. Simon Seward was born in 1844, in Surry county, Va., near James river, and in 1854 came with his parents to Petersburg to reside. In his native county and in Petersburg he attended school, but early in the war he enlisted in the Confederate army as a member of Capt. E. A. Goodwyn's company, 12th Virginia Cavalry, and participated with his command in several en- gagements, among them those at Brandy Station, Middleburg and Ashby's Gap. In the summer of 1863, when the regiment was in Maryland on its way to Gettysburg, young Seward was captured near Bock- ville, Md., and, after being confined six weeks in the Old Capi- tal prison, in the city of Washington, was sent to Point Lookout, at which. place he was a prisoner until the night of December 1, 1863, when he made his escape. Eeturning to Petersburg soon after the surrender, Mr. Seward began business as a retail grocer, but, soon extending his busi- ness, became one of the wholesale grocers of this city. Leaving the business of merchandizing, he took hold of that of milling, and conducted this business successfully 'for several years. More recently, however, he has been conducting the business of a man- ufacturer of trunks and traveling bags, his establishment being one of the largest in the South. For many years Mr. Seward was a member of the common council of Petersburg, officiating as chairman of its street com- mittee. At this time he is a member of the city school board, of which he is the vice-president. — Bural Messenger, July 2, 1892. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xv JOHN E. TUENEE. John E. Turner was born in Warren county, N. C, September 6, 1837, and attended school in that county until he was about eighteen years of age, when he entered as a clerk the mercantile establishment of Cheatham & Moore, of Eidgway, N. C, prom- inent merchants of that place. Here he remained until the fall of 1859, when he came to Petersburg, Va., and secured a like situation with the old dry-goods house of Davis, Abrahams & Lyon, of this city, with which firm he remained until January, 1861, and then became a clerk with Messrs. Peebles, Plummer & Co., wholesale grocers and commission merchants of Peters- burg, with whom he was living at the beginning of the war. In May, 1861, young Turner enlisted in the Confederate army at Norfolk as a member of Company C (Capt. Thos. H. Bond), 12th Virginia regiment, and in the spring of 1862 was transfer- red to the Petersburg Eiflemen (Company E ) of the same regiment, with which he remained until the close of the war. At the bat- tle of Second Manassas he receiyed three wounds, which disabled him for service until July, 1863, when he rejoined his command at Hagerstown, Md., and served with it continously thereafter until wounded at the battle of Burgess' Mill, October 27, 1864. Prom this wound he sufficiently recovered to be able to report for duty in March, 1865, when he returned to his company, and with it served until it reached Appomattox Court-House, and there surrendered his .musket — one of the eighteen surrendered by the company — he being among those who were in the last line of battle formed by the historic Army of Northern Virginia. The war ended, Mr. Turner, after spending a few months in his native state, returned to Petersburg and again entered into mercantile life. After serving as a clerk for several years with leading dry -goods houses of the city, in 1875 he entered into bu- siness with his old Comrade of the Petersburg Eiflemen, "W. H. Scott, and these two gentlemen for several years conducted busi- ness as dry-goods merchants under the firm name of Turner & Scott. This firm, however, was dissolved in 1883, and Mr. Tur- ner has since carried on a large dry-goods business on his own account. He is a member of the M. E. church, and for nearly twenty years has held the position of a steward of his church. — Bitral Messenger, July 9, 1892. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. FLETCHEE H. AECHEE. In to-day's Messenger we publish the address of Col. Fletcher H. Archer, ientitled "The Defense of Petersburg on the 9th of June, 1864," in which this gentlemen tells in strong and clear English, and with becoming modesty, the story of one of the most striking engagements of the war — an engagement in which civilians, old men and boys, went out and in defense of their homes engaged the trained soldiers of the Federal army. In this engagement Col. Archer was a conspicuous figure, and as the gallant commandant of this little band that met the force of Gen. Kautz at the Eives farm his name has been enrolled on the re- cords of imperishable history. Among the several addresses to appear in "War Talks of Con- federate Veterans, " none will be read with more, as none wiU tell a story of so much, interest. Fletcher H. Archer was born and reared in the town of Peters- burg, state of Virginia. His parents, Allin Archer and Pru- dence (Whitworth) Archer were of Anglo-Saxon origin, their ancestors having come from England to Virginia at an early pe- riod of her history. His educational advantages were good, having had access to some of the best schools of the town for more than a decade of years. Laying aside other pursuits, and determining to enter the legal profession, he engaged in a course of study to that end, and going to the University of Virginia, took the degree of B. L. on the 3rd day of Jidy, 1841'. Eeturning from college he commenced practice in his native town. In 1844 he was elected an honorary member of the Franklin Literary Society of Ean- dolph Macon College. In December, 1846, he was chosen cap- tain of the Petersburg Mexican Volunteers, a company raised for service in the war with Mexico, went to that distant land and served on Gen. Taylor's line until the close of the war. Upon his return home on the first day of August, 1848, he found that during his absence he had been elected by the officers of the 39th Virginia militia lieutenant -colonel of that regiment. Accepting the commission in token of his appreciation of the compliment tendered him, he retained it but a short time and then resigned. At the beginning of the war between the states, within two BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xvii days after Virginia had seceded from the Union, although prior to that event he had entertained conservative views, he raised a company of one hundred men for service and was elected its cap- tain. About two weeks thereafter, on the 5th of May, 1861, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the active force of Virginia volunteers, and on reporting at Norfolk, to which place he was ordered, was assigned to the 3rd Virginia regiment of infantry, ■which was then stationed at the Naval Hospital. Upon 'the removal of this regiment to Burwell's Bay by order of General Huger, department commander. Col. Archer was re- tained in command of the Naval Hospital, where he remained until the 27th of June, when at his own request he was Relieved and proceeded to rejoin his regiment. Alternately performing duty with his regiment and on detached service until the 8th of September, he then, in obedience to orders received from Gen. Pemberton the day previous, repaired to Hardy's Bluff, on James Eiver, near the head of the bay, and took command of a battal- ion stationed there as a covering force and garrision to Port Hu- ger, and of a gun in battery at Stone House Landing. Eetaining a nominal connection with the 3rd regiment until the 19th of October, he was then detached and permanently assigned to the command of the battalion aforesaid, with Major John P. Wilson as second in command. Continuing at this point until the 5th of April, 1862, Col. Ar- cher was, in consequence of the changes incident to the advance of McClellan up the Peninsula, then called to Smithfield to take command of the 1st brigade, department of Norfolk. Bemaining at Smithfield, he continued in command of the brigade until after Norfolk was evacuated, participating in the stirring events con- nected with that movement and the passage of the enemy's gun- boats up the river. Upon the reorganization of the army in May, 1862, having de- clined being a candidate for office in the battalion he had com- manded, though invited so to do, he became entitled to retire to civil life, and as soon as his services coidd be spared he was hon- orably relieved by the department commander and returned home. Bemaining in the quietude of civil pursuits for a time, he watched the course of events, and when it became evident that his services would be again needed, he was prompt to accord xvili BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. them; commanding first a company and then a battalion of local state troops, and when a battalion of Confederate reserves was organized he was appointed to the command of that, with the rank first of major, and then of lieutenant-colonel. In this po- sition he continued until the close of the war, having command of most of the local force doing duty upon the lines around the city of Petersburg, and surrendering with a portion of them at Appomattox Court-House, where he and they were paroled. In the various engagements through which he passed, he w*as twice wounded, first in the arm at Battery 16, Avery's farm. Prince George county, on the 16th of June, 1864, and secondly in the battle o¥ Sailor's Creek, on the retreat, April 6th, 1865, slightly in the face. In the last mentioned engagement his horse was shot under him, and subsequently died. Eeturning home after the surrender. Col. Archer resumed the practice of his profession. On the 2nd day of January, 1882, he was elected by the common council of the city of JPetersburg mayor of the city to fin a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Col. Wm. E. Cameron, who on the day before had qualified as governor of the state of Virginia. This of&ce he filled to the end of the year, and for a brief period in the year 1883, when he gave place to his republican opponent, Hon. T. J. Jarratt, who, after litigation, had successfully asserted his claim to the posi- tion. Since then he has held no public offtce. — Burcd Messenger, July 16, 1892. FREEMAN W. JONES. The subject of this sketch. Freeman W. Jones, was born in Brunswick county, Va., August 7, 1846, and when the war be- gan was a mere boy, not fourteen years of age. In April, 1864, still a lad, he enlisted as a private in the Ebenezer Grays, a com- pany organized at the beginning of the war in Brunswick county and which at the time of his enlistment was Company E, of the 56th Virginia regiment, Hunton's brigade, Pickett's division. Young Jones participated with his command in the battle of Cold Harbor in June, 1864, and other engagements, receiving a wound oh the 24th of July, 1864, whilst a skirmish line of his BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xlx brigade was engaged in a charge upon the enemy's picket line on the Bermuda front, in Chesterfield county, Va. Having recovered from his wound, he rejoined his command in January," 1865, went as a volunteer on the expedition of Capt. Charles W. Eead, of the Confederate States navy, and being pres- ent with his command near Five Forks, was captured on Friday evening, March 31, 1865, and taken to Point Lookout, where he remained until about the middle of June, 1865, when he was pa- roled and returned home. For a short while after the war Mr. Jones was engaged in farming, but in the spring of 1867, wishing to try his fortune in a distant state, he went to Texas, intending to go thence to Cali- fornia. The company with which he was to go to California, after hav- ing gotten everything in readiness to make the journey, deemed it best to abandon the trip, in view of the fact that at that time the country through which they expected to pass was infested with Indians who were making many hostile demonstrations. Young Jones then turned his attention to cattle grazing, and be- came a Texas cow-boy in San Patricio, one of the southwestern counties of the state. This life, however, was not suited to his tastes, and after an experience of a few months he determined to return to Virginia. Accordingly, in company with a single friend, he made his way on horseback, several hundred miles, from San Patricio to Vicksburg, Miss., the two taking with them a drove of thirty-odd horses, a journey at that time accompanied with no little danger, and against which they were warned by many, but which, after many adventures, they accomplished in safety. Beaching Mississippi, after a short sojourn there, Mr. Jones returned to his native state and county, and again resumed the business of farming, which he pursued until 1870, when he was elected sheriff of his county, an ofBice which he filled for nine years, being repeatedly re-elected. In January, 1880, having resigned the office of sheriff of Bruns- wick county to accept the oflEice of sampler of tobacco at Centre warehouse in the city of Petersburg, Va., he removed to this city and held the latter office until the same was abolished. In 1888 Mr. Jones was elected sergeant of the city of Peters- XX BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. burg, and held the oflace one term. At this time he is engaged with Messrs. C. A. Pope & Co., the lessees of Centre warehouse, for the sale of tobacco. — Burcd Messenger, September 17, 1892. JOHN HBEBEET CLAIBOENE. John Herbert Claiborne was born in the county of Brunswick, Va., and at the early age of nine years was sent to a large board- ing school at Leesburg, IS. G. At the expiration of two years he was matriculated at the Ebenezer Academy, in his native coun- ty, one of the oldest educational institutions in the state, where he remained until sufficiently advanced to enter college. In 1844 young Claiborne entered the Freshman class of Ean- dolph Macon CoUege, and, after the four years", curriculum usual at that time, was graduated with the degree of A. B. Subse- quently the degree of master of arts was conferred upon him by the same college. Having now received his diploma the subject of this sketch turned his attention to the profession of which he has been for many years a distinguished member, and having attended a course of lectures in the medical school of the University of Vir- ginia during the session of 1848- '49, in the summer of 1849 grad- uated from that institution with the degree of doctor of medi- cine, and subsequently with the same degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia., and the Pennsylvania Hospital. On the 1st day of January, 1851, Dr. Claiborne began the prac- tice of medicine in the city of Petersburg. In 1855 he was elected by the people of his adopted city to re- present them in the lower house of the General Asseinbly, and two years later he was elected state senator from this district, in which body he served until the war began. When the 4th bat- talion of Virginia volunteers, composed of the military compa- nies of the city of Petersburg, left the city on the afternoon of Saturday, April 20, 1861, for Norfolk, Dr. Claiborne, with the rank of captain, went with them. In May, 1861, he was made full surgeon, with the rank of major, and assigned to duty with the 12th Virginia regiment. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xxi Whilst in the field with his command, Dr. Claiborne was, in May, 1861, re-elected to the senate, but remained with his regi- ment until December 1, 1861, when he was ordered by the secre- tary of war of the Confederate States to take his seat in the sen- ate. This order he obeyed, took his seat, and immediately sent his resignation to the president of the senate, and asked for fur- ther orders. His place as surgeon of the 12th Virginia regiment having been filled, he was assigned to the duty of organizing and equip- ing general hospitals, a duty which kept him principally in Pe- tersburg. In June, 1864, when General Lee's army occupied Peters- burg, Dr. Caiborne was the senior surgeon of the post, and was assigned to duty as executive officer and chief surgeon of all of the general military hospitals in Petersburg and its vicinity. He has given some account of his service in this capacity in his address, "Last Days of Lee and his Paladins." Besides haAdng the titles of A. B., A. M., and M. D., Dr. Claiborne is also an honorary fellow and ex-president of the Medical Society of Virginia, is a fellow of the Southern Surgical and Gyneocological Association of the American Medical Associ- ation, of the American Health Association, and of the Boston Gyneocological Association, and is fellow-elect of Victoria Insti- tute of Great Britain. For twenty years past he has contributed largely to scientific and medical journals, and is the author of ''Eeports from Private Practice," &c., a work said by Prof. Da- vis, of the University of Virginia, to be one of the most thought- ful digests with which he has met. Since the war Dr. Claiborne has confined himself to the prac- tice of his profession in the city of Petersburg, refusing all offers of preferment except the position of health officer of the city for the brief period of one year, and member of the board of state examiners for three years. When he was health officer of Pe- tersburg his administration was marked with great ability, but he was years in advance of the city council who appointed him, and accordingly his powers were soon revoked. — Rural Messen- ger, Sq>tember 24, 1892. xxii BtOORAPHtGAL SKETCHES. JAMBS M. MULLEN. In the Messenger of this week began the publication of the ad- dress of Hon. James M. Mullen, entitled "Last Days of John- ston's Army," delivered before A. P. Hill Camp of Confederate Veterans of Petersburg, Va., on the evening of N^ovember 25th, 1890, which will constitute the last chapter of Mr. Bernard's forthcoming book, "War Talks of Confederate Veterans," save one which will be in the form of an appendix, and will contain sundry matters which could not be otherwise incorporated into the book. James M. Mullen, a native of Pasquotank, North Carolina, was born on the 10th of September, 1845. He was educated in the county of Perquimans of that state at the Hertford Male Acad- emy. When the war began young Mullen was but a boy, not sixteen years of age. He had, however, passed this age only a few months, when, in February, 1862, he left his studies, and like num- bers of the youths of the country, both North and South, went to the front to take part in the great struggle* He enlisted in the Virginia battery of Capt. S. Taylor Martin, of Major Francis S. Boggs' battalion of light artillery . In October, 1863, he was trans- ferred to Capt. L.H.Webb's (N. C.) battery of the same battal- ion, in which he served until the close of the war. The lines of the ardent young soldier, however, "were cast in pleasant places," as he informs us in his address. "The running away, " he says, "was not of our own choosing, for the boys of our bat- tery would have had it otherwise, and we did njjt relish the pa- ternal regard of the powers that were in our behalf. It did seem, however, that the authorities studiously avoided exposing us to danger and kept the battery continuously on the move, so as to shield it from the enemy's bullets." In 1866 Mr. Mullen was appointed register of deeds for Per- quimans county, and held the office for a little over two years. Whilst holding this position he devoted his leisure hours to the study of law under the direction of Hon. Thomas G. Skinner, of Hertford, and came to the bar in January, 1869, and located for the practice of his profession in Halifax county, N. C, where he remained until July, 1886, when he changed his residence to the city of Petersburg, Va. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Before leaving his native state Mr. Mullen represented Halifax county, in the state senate for the term beginning January, 1885. Soon after coming to Petersburg he was elected attorney for the commonwealth for the city of Petersburg for the term com- mencing July 1, 1888, and stiU holds this ofBlce, having been elected in May, 1890, and again in May, 1892. Mr. Mullen, since he has held this office, his discharge of the duties of which has been marked with fairness and ability, has been engaged in some literary work in the line of his profession, having nearly completed a digest of the criminal laws of the commonwealth. BuraL Messenger, October 15, 1892. J. M. PILCHER, D. D. THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFEDER- ATE VETERANS, OP PETERSBURG, VA., BY REV. J. M. PILCHER, D. D., CHAPLAIN OP THE CAMP, ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 4th, 1889. GOMKADES : was wrangling over the speakership. I appreciate the compli- The country was looking on in trep- ment conveyed in my ap- idation. I said: "For humanity's pointment to deliver the first address sake, I pray that disunion may not of this series. I am led to think that con&e, but if it must come, let us be a camp talk of a few minutes is ex- prepared for it, and thus avert much pected, personal recollections rather of the evil which will inevitably re- than a set address. suit from the liberation of the pas- I had been a resident of the city sions now burning in the breasts of of Bichmond, Va., all my life, and both northerners and southerners, when the war actually began was in In such an event both have much to the graduating class of Eichmond fear. Bloodshed and suffering will College, a youth of nineteen years, abound. Vice and fraud will run I was, therefore, in a position to ob- riot." So in our calm moments we serve many of the stirring events of all thought. The Anthony Burns secession, which escaped the vision case in Boston, involving the return of the comrades now before me. of a fugitive slave, had been the The dissolution of the Union had occasion of disgraceful scenes. A long been under discussion. As distinguished son of the Bay State early as January 6th, 1860, 1 was on declared that Massachusetts was the affirmative side of a debate in a then completely in the hands of a literary society of the college, on the drunken crew. The John Brown question : "Would the dissolution of raid upon Harper's Perry had spread the Union be more injurious to the alarm throughout the South. The North than to the South ?" Congress deification of John Brown had taken WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. away all hope that the North would coin occurred early in November, deal kindly and fairly with us. In The cotton states determined to se- the latter part of 1859, Mr. Hickman, cede. Secession was popular. Even of Pennsylvania, declared in con- the New York Tribune declared : gress that the northern states, with "Whenever any considerable section their 18,000,000 inhabitants, could of our Union shall deliberately re- whip our 8,000,000 into the Union determine to go out, we shall resist all again, if we should leave it. Two coercive measures to keep them in." hundred and fifty medical students My older brother was married in had left the schools of Philadelphia November and I was in the bridal and, stopping in Richmond, had party that visited "Washington. Of been addressed by Gov. Wise. All course we called on President Buch- others in northern colleges were ex- anan. We were under the guidance horted to leave. Mr. Vallandigham, of my friend, Eawley W. Ferrell, of a fearless representative from Ohio, Halifax county, Va,, then a resident was declaring in congress that in of South Carolina and a student at the event of a separation of the North Columbian College. Mr. Buchanan and the South, the western states seemed to be greatly amused by Mr. would form a confederacy and the Ferrell's outspoken secession senti- North would be left to struggle alone, ments and joked us about our want deprived of the countenance and of respect for Uncle Sam and the support of the West, and should war certainty of our being chastised, arise, would be compelled to combat South Carolina led o£f in secession single-handed against two assailants, and soon the other cotton states fol- The winter of 1859-'60 was the lowed. In February, 1861, delegates brooding time of the civil war. The from these states formed a govern- summer of 1860 was full of excite- ment called the "Confederate States ment. Four candidates for the presi- of America," with Jefferson Davis dency were before the people of the and Alexander H. Stephens, presi- United States. Virginians regarded dent and vice-president. Thirty Lincoln as the impersonation of the years of discussion of states' rights, aggression of black republicanism ; tariff oppression and slavery had Douglas, of squatter sovereignty, borne this fruit, but all the cotton equally as hostile to southern inter- states were still in the Union, ests ; Breckenridge, of the true idea There are events in the history of that the right existed, under the Con- the world that are the expression of stitution, to extend slavery into all the genius of one great mind. Other the territories; Bell, of the hope events are the result of a great pop- that, by not insisting on this right, ular wave or ground swell of impulse we might preserve the Union. Ac- and conviction. Virginia believed cordingly, Virginia voted for BeU all democratic doctrines that led to and Everett. The election of Lin- secession, but she hoped and inter- THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR. ceded and delayed, and prayed- that "Yankee Doodle broke his neck secession might not be necessary. ^^^ ^^eiy limb about him, mi cr J 1 7- -J 71^ And then the tree of liberty The Southern Lxterary Messenger, Did very well without him." the great exponent of thought in ,,.. . . , ,, i ^ i -IT. T . .... i! T Virginia scarcely thought she Virginia, m its issue ot January, , ° , oi i n i- -Ti • ^i ,o ° . L ■!, i J i.- 1 J- would secede, ohe had laith m the 1861, in a contributed article, dis- _, ,., ,. , i i. t ^ «TT7i. 1. 1.1- J J! Constitution and believed her ap- cusses: What are the dangers oi , , ,, o ,1 t^t Ii ., J i. 1. i.1 IT- peals to the reason oi the JSorth our united government to the south- ^ ,, ., , , • , .i.^ . i. 1. 0" T i.1.- L- ^ Lu would avail to bring tranquility to em states!* in this article the ,, . -r^ rT ^7 t> ., . the country. Dr. George W. Bag- by, the editor of the Messenger, in "The northern states of the Union ^j^ editorial letter written from have avowed their purpose to take _. , . , ^ ■ -, -xr- ■ ■ e control of the government. They' Washington, upbraids Virginia for have the power to do so. In the refusing to enter into a general electoral college they number 183 southern conference, urges the state votes— the south 120. In congress to act promptly and secede. The they have (we believe) 147 votes, ^^^^^^ ^ ^^ ^^^ ^- ^^^ but he while the south has only 90. in the . , , », . i • » i • senate .the north has 36, while the is led away after this fashion : south has 30 * * *. The north- "As to the invasion, it makes not ern states are only doing what, un- the slightest difference whether fifty der the circumstances, the common- thousand or fifty milUons of north- est principles of fallen human ern soldiers come into Virginia, nature dictate. Vituperation, then. They will perish miserably, the whole is out of place. It is utterly useless of them. They may drive us to the too. * * * Upon abstract prin- mountains ; but out of the moun- ciples, we are obliged to say, that a tains few, precious few, of them will free government cannot be long ad- return to tell the tale of slaughter, ministered by a sectional party. * * * * The border slave states * * So that, in the opinion of the must take sides. Whosoever now is writer, the time has come when the not for the South, is against the strongest dictates of prudence— nay, South. The Etchmond Enquirerlnas, the very sense and duty of self-pre- taken the true ground. Virginia and servation, demand that the South Maryland must be out of the Union should set up for herself and leave before the 4th of March, 1861. Lin- the northern states to work out their coin must never take his seat m solution as best they can." Washington, even if Gov. Wise and ,,,.,. ,, 1 . his minute men have to take the About this time there appeared in pig^gg w storm." the Messenger this squib : gome ^^re led on by thoughtless "Yankee Doodle undertook passion. They were like the Irish- With patriot devotion ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^ -^^^ To trim the tree of liberty . , , . , , ° . „. According to his notion. Alexandria on a cold morning. His hands became very cold, holding the "Yankee Doodle on a limb, ii i. j i. lu u s lx. _ ., ,, ,, rope attached to the horns oi the Like any other noodle, , i, t j i. i. u- i. j • Cut between the tree and him buU. In order to put his hands in- And down came Yankee Doodle. to his pockets, he tied the rope to WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. one wrist and was going on very well and resist the threatened trespass, till a passing train of cars frighten- They declared they would return ed the bull. Away went the bull, that night in force and puU down pulling Pat by the wrist. Pat could the flag and remove the flag pole, not release himself. Away they went. I told them I had intended to take A man meeting them cried out, down the flag to protect it from the "Hello, Pat, where are you going dew, but now it should float aU with that bull?" "I don't know," night. On second thought I told said Pat, "ask the buU." them there was no principle involved The Virginia convention was com- i° °^^ controversy excepting our posed of conservative leaders. The "S^* *° manage our own affairs, and populace of Richmond was impa- ^ "^°^^^ *^^® '^^^^ o* ^^^ ^^S for the tient. The Confederate government ^^^^^ ^^ hauling it down, but they had been formed February 4th, 1861, "^°^lv shnrf wa=i Pxpppdinp- ^^^ "^ eleven o clock, a party of four, comparatively short, was exceeding ^^^gigting of Dick Davis,22 Sydney ly tiresome. When night came on jo.nes,23 Billy Pucci24 and myself, the men began to get weary, and all of the same reg'iment, deter- hoped that we would halt for the mined to halt for the night, and over- night. But we were doomed to dis- t ake our command the next morning . appointment. The experiences of 22. Richard B. Davis, of Petersburg, Va. ,,..,, » ' T .23. Sydney 0. Jones of Petersburg, Va. this night, a tew years ago, i wrote 24. Wm. r. Pucci, of Petersburg, Va. 22 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Having thus settled for ourselves others of our regiment killed in the the length of that day's march, we action. found our way to a straw-rick some rjij^g ^e^^t morning, bright and fifty yards to the left of the roadside, ^^ ^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ and taking off our baggage and ac- ,•'',,. ^ . e a coutrements were soon reclining in and getting ready to move forward comfort. In a few minutes, however, to overtake the brigade, which was looking ahead of us, we saw what easy work to all except myself. To were unmistakable signs of the com- ^^ -^ ^^^ almost practically impos- mand halting for the night. Hun- ^ ^ ^j^^ previous dreds of small fires were being "i"^"- V , , . ,. , , , lighted and were illumining the sky day had completely disabled me, in that direction. One of our num- and I at once saw that it was useless ber, pointing to these fires, said: to attempt to reach my command 'Look yonder, boys ! The command ^^t-^ ^^ j^j^ite^ fo^ the day. So, with i^upinkloirtTem^'ToThilh boots dangling alternately from remark another of our party, Syd- blanket-roll and rifie, I made the best ney Jones, I think, promptly replied : time I could with bare feet, taking 'No, no ; I would not move from this the public roads along which our comfortable place as tked as I am, brigade was moving, and scoring there'' afThol^W ^I '^ropo'^se about nine miles before I reached 'camping' here to-night.' So the the command in bivouac just north proposition to go ahead was voted of Monocacy Junction and near down, and we were all soon asleep." Frederick city. It is but justice to make mention I was not the only bare-footed man of my three comrades, who with me on this tramp by many hundred, and spent our first night in Maryland as in this connection a strong para- above described. Dick Davis and graph from a vigorous Southern Sydney Jones each served honorably writer descriptive of the trials and through the war, with splendid re- tribulations of many of our army on cords as soldiers. Sydney Jones died the marches of this campaign ipay last fall, beloved and respected by properly be here reproduced. Mr. all who knew him, and carried to E. A. Pollard, the editor of the Ex- his grave the scar of a wound re- aminef, that historic fiery war-time ceived at the battle of Crampton's Eichmond journal, in his work, "The- Gap. Dick Davis lives an honored Southern History of the War," writ- member of the Virginia bar. He ten during the war, referring to these was twice wounded, first at Seven marches, says : Pines, and again at the battle of the "The route of the extraordinary Crater. Poor Billy Pucci was killed marches of our troops presented, for at the battle of the Wilderness. I lo.°f ^"^^ T'S^'^J P'^^^' ^^^ touching , , 1 . 1 J ,. , .jv. . J , , pictures 01 the trials of war. Uroken last saw him cold and stiff in death ^^^^ ^omexs (not all 'stragglers') on that field, when a detail of men lined the road. At night time they were preparing to bury him and might be found asleep in every con- THE MARYLAND CAMPAIO^ OF 1862. 23 ceivable attitude of discomfort — on fence rails and in fence corners — some half bent, others almost erect, in ditches and on steep hill-sides, some without blanket or overcoat. Daybreak found thetn drenched with dew, but strong- in purpose; with half rations of bread and meat, rag- ged and bare-footed, they go cheer- fully forward. No nobler spectacle was ever presented in history. These beardless youths and gray-haired men, who thus spent their nights like the beasts of the field, were the best men of the land — of all classes, trades and professions. The spectacle was such as to inspire the prayer that ascended from the sanctuaries of the South — that God might reward the devotion of these men to principle and justice by crowning their labors and sacrifices with that blessing which always bringeth peace. "t There was one thing, however, that cheered us all up, now that we were on the soil of Maryland — the sympathy of the people. "Find people along the road almost unani- mously in favor of the South," is the entry made in my diary relative to the march on Sunday, September 7th. My personal experiences on this day, embracing much suffering and great joy incident to relief therefrom. fDesoribing the condition of Mahone's brigade when it reached Sharpsburg, Com- rade Jos. Edwin Spotswood, a member of Co. E, 12th Virginia regiment, who was wounded in the action of Sharpsburg, says: "Our brigade, under the command of Co]. Parham, went into battle at Sharpsburg with only seventy men rank and file, of whom twenty-three belonged to the 12th Va. regiment and three — Privates U. Bruce Gwyn, Jas. E, Nash and myself— to Co. E (the Petersburg Riflemen). This was the result of the hard marching and fighting through which the brigade had been, and of much straggling due to so many being bare -footed." with a history of those hoots, which now for a week I had so faithfully clung to in the manner described, are given in the note book in the fol- lowing paragraphs : "Thus impeded in my locomotion I was forced to straggfle no litttle, and the day after I slept in the straw- stack of the Maryland farmer, I was unable to overtake the brigade until it had gone into camp, at the point at which my last entry left it, three miles from Frederick city, where I found it bivouacked in a wheat- field — two or three hundred yards from the road — to make my way over the sharp stubble of which was ago- ny to my suffering feet. But I had gotten among the boys only a few moments, when my friend Jim Nash desired to know if I would like to ha,\e a pair of shoes. My reply and the joy at the delightful prospect of being once more shod may be im- agined. Being assured that nothing would be more acceptable than a pair of shoes, Jim seized me in his arms and bore me across the stubble several yards to a tent. Presuming his intentions good, I did not object to the forcible abduction, and found myself at the tent of Capt. Sam Stevens,25 our quarter-master, who delivered to me a handsome pair of shoes which fit exactly, and were nice enough (I thought) for a gen- tlemen to wear to a ball — the last pair of a lot he had that day pur- chased in Frederick city. No one who had not suffered as I had for several days past can appreciaBe my pleasure at the receipt of these shoes. "But to the hoots. I was no sooner supplied with the shoes, than sun- dry applications were made for my 'boots,' which I gavei to my late fel- low-straggler, Billy Pucci, who first spoke for them and from whom I 25. Capt. Sam'l Stevens, of Petersburg, Va. 24 WAR TALI^ OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. exacted the promise to take care of and return them to Nat Osborne. To follow their history, in a day or two Billy Pucci informed me that he had turned them over to Sydney Jones with instructions to take care of them and return them to Nat Os- borne, a day or two after which I was again advised that they had changed hands, Sydney Jones having also found they were too rough for him ; after which I heard no more from them until several weeks afterwards, when Sydney and myself met at my father's in Orange county, where we were both on furlough, recovering from wounds received at Crampton's Gap, when Sydney informed me that he had received a letter from Rich- mond from young Thom26 of the . Richmond Greys, who was wounded at the same fight, and who either had on the boots at the time or got possession of them afterwards, ask- ing him what he (Thom) should do with his (Sydney's) boots, to which the latter replied, asking him 'for God's sake never to let him hear of those boots again — that they be- longed to the regiment, and he (Thom) had about as much right to them as any one else.' "t On Wednesday, the 10th, we are again in motion. Our movements on this and the next two days are given in the journal as follows: "Wednesday, Sept. 10th. Did not move at all yesterday or day before. This is the longest stop- page since leaving camp at Palling Creek. Left to-day about 2 p. m. Marched three miles to the town of Frederick, which is quite a large place, containing probably 10,000 inhabitants. Sentiment of the peo- ple strongly Southern, to judge from the demonstrations made to us. Marched thence north-westerly in direction of Hagerstown, passing through the small village of Fair View and the town of Middletown, at which last place the people told us the last district vote was sixty Union to forty State Bights. The people here did not hesitate to declare them- selves Union. Camped about one mile west of the place. Distance marched about twelve miles. Whole distance marched to date two hun- dred and ten miles." "Thursday, Sept. 11th. Marched about four miles in direction of Har- per's Ferry, marching behind wagon train and hence very slowly. En- camped about sundown, just east of the little village of Burkettsville. People about here largely Union. Harper's Ferry still in possession of the enemy. It is said we have them surrounded." 26. R. H. A. Thom, of Richmond, Va. f A letter received from Capt. Osborne since tliis lias been in type informs me that these boots were loaned to him by a friend on the battle-field of Second Manassas, who "had no further use for them." "They w^re," says Capt. 0., "what are or were known as 'Bluoher' boots, but, as I had no socks and as the boots were very stiff in their soles, I could not wear them." Capt. Osborne's, qualified ownership of the property accounts for his request for its return to him. Like myself, Capt. O. was a sufferer after we left Manassas. Having provided him- self with another pair of boots, which the condition of his feet prevented his wearing, he says: "I think I remember that owing to sore feet I carried the boots in my hand, and I was a straggler at Leesburg on ac- count of the condition of my feet. At this place, as I made my way down the street along a line of Confederates standing at parade rest, one of them asked me what command I belonged to. With some pride I replied, 'Co. E, 12th Va. regiment, Ma- hone's brigade,' but was floored by the im- pudent fellow's response, 'Yes, d — n you, and you have got your boots in your hand ready to run now.' " This sally of wit was a specimen brick thrown at our gallant friend, Capt. Osborne, and our command. No one, Gen. Lee and a few others excepted, escaped guying at the hands of the Confederate soldier when- ever opportunity presented. THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862. "Friday,, Sept. 12th. Marched through the village of Burkettsville, crossed the Blue Eidge just beyond, and encamped half a mile south of the village of Brownsville — distance marched about five miles." In the journal no other entries ap- pear until the following : "Monday, Oct. 6th, 1862. Fred- erick county, Md. I take up my pencil to write a brief summary of events since Friday, Sept. 12th, the date of my last entry. Brigade re- mained at camping ground near Brownsville all Saturday morning. Left about three in the afternoon for a pass in South Mountain, about a mile distant. Men went without knapsacks or blankets. Being quite sick, I did not go, and afterwards congratulated myself that I did not go, as I was very unwell after the regiment left. The 12th and 6th regiments returned to camp next morning about ten o'clock. The 41st was left at the pass, and the 16th went to guard another upon the Blue Eidge Mountains about half a mile north of that at which we crossed on Friday, coming over from Burketts- ville. About three in the afternoon (Sunday, the 14th), the 12th and 6th were ordered to the pass at which the 16tb was. We soon reached our destination (I now felt something better than I did in the morning, and accordingly left with my company). Reaching the pass, we were ordered down to the foot of the mou-ntain on the Burkettsville side, the enemy be- ing then about the village. Our ar- tillery, stationed high up on the mountain-side, soon opened upon them. They advanced and the first three or four shots of the skirmish- ers had hardly been fired before the infantry action became general. "After an hour's hard fighting, suffice it to say, we were outnumber- ed, outflanked, and driven pell-mell up the mountain. I was so unlucky as to receive a severe wound in my right leg, which prevented me from 'skedaddling,' and thus fell into the hands of the enemy. The loss on our side was considerable — 700 pris- oners, and, it is said, 300 or 400 kill- ed. The seven hundred prisoners included those wounded men who fell into the hands of the enemy, which I judge was the fate of most of the wounded.* I feel very anx- ious to know the casualties of the 12th regiment. Thus far I only know of the following: Chas. Noble,27 Co. B, and P. T. Walton,28 Co. I, killed, Lieut.-Col. Taylor,29 Lieut. John Patterson,30 Co. E, Lieut. De- Shiel,31 Co. H, and Cadet Richard Christian,32 -^j-ounded, and Eight General Guide Wm. Smith,33 Co. B, Phil. Brown,34 Co. C, Wm. T. Mor- gan,35 Co. E, Sod Book6r,36 Co. A, Lifsay, Co. B, Chas. Prichard,37 Co. C, S. P. Bran8comb,38 J. J. Pearson39 and myself, Co. I, wound- ed and prisoners — making in all *Ma.i. Gen. W. B. Franklin, U. S. Army, commanding 6th army corps, whose divis- ion, commanded by Maj. Gren. H. "W. Slo- cum, did the principal fighting In this en- gagement, in his official report of it, dated Sept. 30, 1862, says : "Our total loss in killed and wounded is 530. Of these, 16 are officers, 5 of whom were killed. The total loss, killed, was 1 10; wounded, 420. The losses of the enemy are not accurately known. We buried 1.50 of their 'dead, and took charge of more than 300 of their wounded, who were left upon the field." Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb, C. S. Army, whose command was brought into action after the Virginia troops commanded by Gol. Wm. Allen Parham began their retreat up the mountain, in his official report, dated September 22, 1862, says: "The whole number of troops engaged on our side did not exceed 2200, whilst the force of the enemy was variously estimated from 10,000 to 20,000 men. It could not have been less than 10,000, and probably reached 15,000.; "It is Impossible for me to report the cas- ualties, as the fate of only a few of the 26 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. two killed and thirteen wounded. My brother, KichardF. Bernard 40 of the 13th Va. regiment, who went into the fight with our regiment, was also wounded. The casualties must have been greater.! Falling into the hands of the enemy as a prisoner, I met with the kindest treatment from them, and on the Wednesday follow- ing (Sept. 17th,) was so fortunate as to be invited to a private house (that of Mr. James Giddings), where I now am, having received every at- tention from him and his whole fam- ily. I hope to be able one week from to-day to start for Frederick to report for exchange. "The citizens of this neighborhood being almost exclusively Southern in their sentiments, almost all of the wounded Southerners who were car- ried to hospitals at Burkettsville were invited to private houses. Not only this, but we have been kindly furnished everything we needed in the way of clothing." The 6th, 16th and 41st regiments, whose movements are mentioned in this entry in the journal, are the 6th, 16th and 41st Virginia, regiments of our brigade. In the note book is a detailed account of my own experi- ences in the battle referred to, to- gether with a diagram. All of the events of that memorable Sunday evening, when I lay helpless within two feet of a hotly engaged Federal line of battle, and every instant ex- pected a Confederate bullet to send me into the other world, are imbed- ed in my memory, never to be for- gotten, but it is best that I reproduce the account in the note book des- criptive of what happened, which is as follows : [Here follows a diagram whicti is omitted.] "The diagram above gives some idea of the positions of the com- batants at the stubborn little fight of Crampton's Gap. "The commanding oflBcer who had the disposition of our forces on this occasion saw fit to place the 12th and 6th regiments in the positions indicated at the very foot of the mountain. A line of battle being formed behind a rail fence, we had scarcely taken our positions behind large number missinp; is certainly known. Of the number that went into battle there are now missing and unaccounted for over 800. The larger portion of this number is believed to be prisoners, as we were flank- ed on both the right and the left by the enemy.and, thus surrounded, our men were compelled to surrender." 27. Chas. G. Noble, of Petersburg, Va. 28. P. T. Walton, of Greensville county, Va. 29. Lieut.-Col. Fielding L. Taylor of Gloucester county Va. 30. Capt. John E. Patterson, of Petersburg, Va. 31. Chas. H. Dashields, of Norlolk, Va. 32. Eiohard H., Cbristian, of Richmond, Va. 33. Wm. C. Smith, of Nashville, Tenn. 34. Philip r. Brown, of Blue Ridge Springs, Va. 35. Wm. T. Morgan, of Baltimore, Md. 36. H. F. Booker, of Petersburg, Va. 37. Charles Prichard, of Pecersbvirg, Va. 38. S. P. Branscomb, of Greensville county, Va, 36. J. J. Pearson, of Greensville county, va. 40. Richard F. Bernard, of Orange county, Va. 1 he casualties in the Biohmond Greys in the battle of Crampton's Gap were as fol- lows: Killed, Privates Jno. E. Collier, Wm. C. Everett, Wm. 0. Mills; wounded, Geo. H. James, E.Leslie Spence, E. H. A. Thorn, John A. Turner and Jno. W. Williams.^ Statement of Mr. Jno. E. Laughton, Jr. II Besides those already enumerated the casualties in the Maryland campaign in Co.'s E and I of the 12th regiment were the following: In Co. E, at Crampton's Gap, Pri- vate Ben Hatcher was killed, and Lieut. Jno. K. Patterson, Corp'l C. Edward Aiken and Privates Leroy S. Edwards, Wm. Hen- ry Ellington and Frank R. Russell were wounded. Privates Wm. C. Johnson, Lit- tleberry E. Stainback and Geo, W. Waite were captured. All were from Petersburg, Va. In Co. I, J. J. Taylor, of Greensville county, Va., was, wounded in the battle of Second Manassas. [See Appendix for casualties in other companies and regiments of Mahone's bri- THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OV 1863. 27 the fence, lying flat on our faces, be- fore the guns of Grimes' battery, stationed near the point where the road passes through the Gap, begin to fire their shot and shell two or three hundred feet over our heads. Yery soon our skirmishers are seen retiring across the ploughed ground in front of us, and they had no soon- er reached the line of our fence, than pop — pop — pop — we hear the guns of three or four skirmishers, when, raising my head (the rail fence at the point where the right of our reg- iment was lying rested upon a layer of large stonest eight or ten inches in thickness, and thus sufficiently high to shelter a man lying flat on the ground, as we then were), I looked through the lower rails of the fence to the front, and to my surprise discovered that the enemy were behind the stone fence just across the ploughed ground, about 250 yards distant — a fact disclosed by the flashes of* light and puflfs of white smoke darting out from the muzzles of one, two, three, and then it seemed a hundred rifles, the blaze of the guns in a second's time run- ning down the whole length of the enemy's line posted behind the wall. It is almost needless to mention that in an instant their bullets were whis- tling through the rails of our fence, falling in the ploughed ground short of us, and striking the trees, stumps, logs and rocks on the hill-side be- hind us. Our men at once vigor- ously returned the fire, which is kept up for nearly an hour by the com- batants, posted as above mentioned. "A few moments before the crisis of the battle arrived, whilst lying at my position near the right of our line, carelessly loading my rifle, I experienced a sudden pain in my right leg, just above the knee, as if some heavy substance had struck it with great force. At first it did not occur to me that it was a bullet that had created the unusual sensation, but glancing at the place injured, and discovering an ugly orifice from which the blood was streaming, I at once realized that I was wounded,, and immedially proceeded to bind up the leg with my pocket-handker- chief, thinking thus to stop the flow of blood. Soon I remembered that I had a leather strap on my blanket- roll, lying near me, which would serve the purpose better. So J[ re- quested the man next on my left, (Branscomb, of Co. I), to stop firing and strap up my leg, which he did. I then lay as flat as was possible, and wondered how long the fight would last, thinking I would give the wealth of the Indies, if I had it, to be on the other side of the moun- tain, the constant whizzing of the bullets through and against the fence- rails, and against the timber and rocks on the side of the mountain reminding me unpleasantly that the enemy had not yet ceased to fire. Just at this point I heard a noise to my left where Branscomb was lying, and looking around to discov- tGen. Franklin, Gen. Slooum, and sever- al of their brigade and regimental com- manders, in their official reports, state that the Confederates were posted behind a "stone wall," but make no mention of the stone wall behind which the Federal line of battle was posted. There was a stone wall somewhere along the line of battle occu- pied by the 12th and 6th Virginia regiments, which two regiments alone (I am satisfied) constituted the whole force at the foot of the mountain, but certainly along the front of the right companies of the 12th Virginia regiment there was nothing behind which they fought that could properly be called a "stone wall." Along the road in which these companies lay, on the east side of it, was an old Virginia zig-zag worm fence, resting on a layer, or low foundation, of stones, so low that at the place where I was a man had to lie flat on the ground to get any protection. There were piles of stone in some of the fence corners. ' 2« WAIi TALKS OP CONFEDBHATK VKTHRAt^S. er the cause, to my horror, saw that the fence and dry leaves were on fire, just about where Branscomb, who lay about two feet from me, fired his gun through the rails, and Branscomb and the man next on his left were trying to extinguish it. I knew now that the crisis, for us at least, was at hand. The enemy would dirtect their shots at this point particularly. A severe wound re- ceived by poor Branscomb while trying to extinguish the fire served to confirm my apprehension. I at once began to drag myself — my then .only means of locomotion — towards Coleman* of Co. D, the man lying next on my right, who, seeing me wounded and thus approaching him, begged me for 'God's sake not to come towards him,' urging as a rea- son that I 'would certainly be killed,' that^ 'the bullets were all coming there' — which advice I took, and dragged myself in the other direc- tion, going to the left of Branscomb where the stones upon which the rails lay were somewhat higher, and behind which I felt comparatively secure. The firing now on both sides had slackened. The lifeless body of young Walton of our com- pany, shot in the forehead, and ly- ing immediately to the left of the new position I now occupied, however, reminded me that it was not entirely safe. "The firing now seemed to have entirely ceased, -when one of our men exclaimed,'Look yonder, boys ! They are coming across the field!' Im- mediately upon which the command ran down our line, 'Fix bayonets. men ! Fix bayonets ! !' followed in a few seconds by another, 'Fall back, men ! Fall back ! !' when there was a general grabbing up of guns, blank- ets, knapsacks, canteens. Sec, and a backward movement. My own con- dition just now can be better imag- ined than described. I could not get away, and just. as our men were leav- ing, I heard some one say, 'See yonder, boys ! Cavalry ! !' I would be trampled to death by cavalry, or the enemy, coming up, would bayonet me ! Such thoughts flashed through my mind as I lay in breathless sus- pense with Lieut. Manson, who stay- ed with me, awaiting the issue. In less than a minute, looking up I dis- covered the enemy's line — the veri- table Yankees— the men all excite- ment, just over the fence, yelling and firing at our men, who were retreat- ing up the hill. I now thought of danger from a new source. Our men up the hill would return the enemy's fire, and it would tie a miracle if we escaped. The enemy now began to put their guns through the lower rails of the fence, the muzzles of which were only a foot or two from our heads. None, who never expe- rienced such an ordeal, can appreci- ate the desperation of our condition. If the enemy did not kill me, I thought our own men would, whose bullets I expected every minute to pierce me, one of which I am satis- fied did graze my hip, as, whilst I lay between the two fires,t I felt a burning sensation in that part of the body, as if a spark of fire had touch- ed the skin, and a day or two after the fight, upon examination, I dis- f Whilst lying as here described, I was on my side, with arms and legs drawn about as close to, my body as was possible, well knowing that, the smaller the surface pre- sented, the greater were the chances of es- cape, and that I could not afford to occupy one inch of superfluous space. Lieut. -Ooi. Joel J. Seaver, of the 16th N. Y. Inf'y, in his official report of the engagement, dated September 22, 1862, says: "The enemy opened with great fury upon us with can- non and musltetry as we gained the base of the mounfeiin. I found myself directly opposite to the enemy, wholwere pouring upon us a deadly fire from the cover of the woods." It was from this fire that I thought every second I would receive a fatal shot. *.Ios. H. (^ilemau, of Baltimore, Md. fHE MARYLAND CAMPAtGN OP mti. 29 covered thab my clothes liad been at that point cut as by a bullet and my flesh had been scratched. "Whilst this firing was going on, Lieut. Mansou, who lay next to me, repeatedly called oiit to the Federals over the fence to 'be cautious and not shoot us,' that we were 'wound- ed men,' and that we had 'surrend- ered, ' of which they took no notice, until, placing the white pocket -hand - kercl^ief I took from my leg upon the end of a ramrod, he held it up almost in, their faces, at the same time saying to them, 'We surrender!' 'We are wounded men!' whereupon one or two of them said, 'Get over the fence, then — get over the fence'; at which Lieut. Manson, who was a strong, athletic man, seizing me in his arms, lifted me up to the top of the fence and with the assistance of one of the Federals tumbled me over to the other side, and then bore me in his arms across the ploughed field to the Federal rear. When we got in the next field behind the stone wall, two Federal soldiers came up and kindly assisted Lieut. Manson in bearing me at least a mile back to a house at which the Federal sur- geons had improvised a hospital. But, to return to the battle: The enemy's line at the fence mounted it, and charged up the hill just after we left them, and what happened afterwards I do not now propose to write, further than to say that, from all accounts, our men were terribly routed and scattered, driven, as they were, by a largely superior force pell-mell up and over the mountain . ' ' Lieut. Manson, to whom I recently sent a copy of the foregoing account of what transpired whilst we were together at the fence, writes the fol- lowing: "Just before the enemy came up you were lying near me, having come from the place at which you were wounded. You asked if I could give you a 'swallow of water.' I raised you up in my effort to give you some of the precious liquid without taking my canteen off (it was suspended from my person) and was so engaged, when some one cried out, 'Our colors are gone!' Looking down our line, I saw no colors. Looking immedi- ately to the front just over the fence to the east of us, about sixty feet from where we then were, I saw the Federal line of battle advancing. Soon the men in blue are right at the fence, dropping on their knee^ and firing at our men retreating up the mountains, the muzzles of their guns close to our heads. I frequent- ly called to them, 'Take care!' 'Take care!!' 'Wounded men!' 'Wounded men!!' 't)on't shoot!' 'Don't shoot!!' Of this they took no notice until I placed upon a ramrod the white hand- kerchief you had tied around your leg and told them that we surrender- ed. They told us then to get over the fence. I lifted you up and over the fence, and bore you across the field. As I did so, a mounted officer rode up. He asked me if it would be 'safe to charge that hill' (our ar- tillery at that time were pouring grape or canister down the hill-side) . I told him I was a Confederate officer and it would not be proper for me to answer that question . I then appeal - ed to him to let two men help me . take you to a field-hospital. This he very readily ordered to be done and rode rapidly away. I regret that in the deepening twilight I could not plainly see his features. I asked his name. One of the detail said this officer was Gen. Slocum, the other Gen. Franklin. Others said he was Gen. Sumner. Who- ever he was, he did a generous, no- ^0 War talks oP coif federate Veterans. ble act to a wounded enemy when he that no distinction would be made ordered two men out of line in actual between the wounded men, whether battle to assist in bearing you to the j^g^e^al or Confederate, asked me rear. I visited the battle-neld the , -r j, -,. ^1,^1, ujj; day after the battle and found the ^''^ ^ ^^It, and what he could do for fence in ashes, with only piles of me. At the same time he said that stones to mark the corners. I send he was the chaplain of a Maine reg- you herewith a rough drawing, rep- iment. I told him that I felt very resenting the battle-field as it im- ^eak, and that I thought a drink of pressed itself upon my memory."! 4- i ^ 1^1,1 t*. ^ ^ „ ,, fl , , TT , some stimulant would help me. It )7t • + One of the Federal soldiers who helped to bear me to the field-hospital told me his name was Ellsworth, that he was a relative of Ool. Ellsworth, of the Zouaves, who was killed by.^ ,^ ^, . ^ tj.ij ^ , . , ' , . ^ . ,^ . of tea, but nothing stronger. I told Jackson m the historic Mansion ^ . ^ ' , , , ° ^^ ^ j. ■, j, ^v did not then occur to,me that I was making this request of a minister of the Gospel from the land of prohibi- tion. He said he could get me a cup House tragedy at Alexandria in him I would be very thankful for the ,„„, , ^, ^ , ^ , , tea. He disappeared from my side, May, 1861, and that he took great , . ,.,,, , ., . 1 -J . ' ■ ^-. J. ^ ^^ in ■ J. -1 1. J and ma little while returned with pride m the fact that his family had , . , . , ■ , t ^ , , ., , J. ., some tea in a tin cup, which I drank sent many of its members to the .^, ^ _ , %' r, T 1 ^ ii TT • TT- J. i with great relish and benefit, field for the Union cause. His treat- " ment of me was kind and consider- ^y friend, Lieut. Manson, to whose ate, and he was manifestly a manly kind offices in bringing me from the fellow ^®^*^ ^ have always felt that I proba- About dark we reached the back- bly owed my life, had now been or- yard of the farmer's house which ^ered to leave mp and Avas placed had been pressed into service as a T^iii to make the best of the situa- among their own people. Between ^ ^' these men and ourselves there was a ^^® campaign into Maryland was strong feeHng of sympathy, and many ^ «*^^^^^ ^^* unlucky episode of the kindly words were exchanged. "Is ^^^^ ^^''' ^""^ ^^ «« ^o down in his- there any cofee on the boat you came ^'^''y' ^^* *« *^^ individual Confed- onr' several asked, and great was «^^*^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^'^ ^^^ &«« *^®^^ s^o"l*l be added an ac- some comfortable hospital in Eich- count of the battle of Crampton's mond and would on the next day be Gap, written for the Norfolk (Va.) THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862. 41 Ledger about 1876, by Mr. T. B. Euffin, an extract from whose account of the battle of Second Manassas has already been given in a note. Des- cribing the action of Crampton's Gap, Mr. Ruffin says: "Upon the tattered battle-flags of three of the regiments of Mahone's old brigade, the Sixth, Twelfth and Sixteenth, there was inscribed a name to which their ragged followers were wont to point with pride, as repre- senting one of its most glorious achievements. Although overwhelm- ed by numbers at Crampton's Gap, on the 14th day of September, 1862, and compelled to retreat, the partic- ipants in that action were character- ized as 'a band of heroes, ' who had accomplished all and more than was expected of them. Their defence of the pass contributed in great degree to the capture of Harper's Perry, a prize which richly repaid all it had cost. On that day Col. Munford,42 with about two hundred cavalry, who was picketing the Gap and the vil- lage of Birkettsville,t beyond, gave notice of the approach of the enemy. Under the impression that the ad- .vancing force was merely a body of cavalry, Mahone's old brigade, cora- manded by Col. Allen Parham, of the Forty -First, then bivouacked near Braunsville,t in Pleasant Val- ley, was dispatched to the Gap to hold them in check. With his ac- customed daring, as soon as he arriv- ed on the spot. Col. Parham deployed his men, numbering 520 all told, be- hind an old Worm fence at the foot of the mountain, with a narrow field in front of them. The attenuated line was supported by two sections of Grimes' battery, of Portsmouth, posted on the mountain in the rear, which during the battle did most ef- fective execution. The line had scarcely been formed when the ene- my advanced, and instead of a small force of cavalry, it was found that an entire corps (Slocum's)|| of the Federal army was present. Frank- lin's§ division was pushed forward and made several fruitless attempts to cross the narrow plateau, which was swept by a destructive fir e . For two hours and forty minutes did the little band sustain the shock, but their ammunition becoming exhaust- ed their fire slackened, and a final ad- vance, made by the whole cprps of the enemy, was successful in driving the Confederates from their indefen- sible position, and gaining possession of the entrance to the Gap, Cobb's Legion, of Georgia, which had been ■sent forward as a reinforcement, made its appearance at this time, fired one volley and scattered to the four winds, losing its battle-flag and a large num- ber of prisoners. "The heroic defenders of the Gap had not escaped scratchless. A large number had been killed, among them the noble Lieut. -Col. Taylor, of the Twelfth, who, too unwell to assume command, had accompanied his boys into the fight and received his death wound . Among the wound- ed was Capt. J. E. LeweUen,* in com- 42. Col. Tlios. T. Munford, of Eichmond, Va., col- onel of the Second Virginia Cavalry. fBurkittaville. JBrownsvlUe. (Fraukliu's. gSlocum's. *The gallant bearing of Capt. Lewellen at the time when our regiment formed its line of battle on the slope of the mountain and began to descend to the road and fence at its foot was conspicuous. Drawing his sword, and I think waving it over his head, he placed himself a few paces to the front and right of the regiment, and in this posi- tion went forward with it. This battle- scene, the 12th moving down the slope in line of battle, with steady and vigorous step, its commanding officer looking every inch a soldier as he led it forward to the serious work about to begin, is one of the lasting memories of Crampton's Gap. Dur- 42 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. mandof theTwelftli, and Lieut. Oliae. H. DasMelds, of the same regiment. Among tlie prisoners taken that day was the loved old Maj . Holladay, in command of the Sixteenth, who, with his comrades, was marched oif to taste the miseries of Fort Delaware. "But the delay had been suflficient to bar the road to Harper's Ferry with a living wall, which Slocum did not venture to attack." To the foregoing account of the bat- tle of Orampton's Grap given by Mr. Euffin, there should be added the following official order issued by Col. Parham a few days after the action : "Headquarters Mahone's Brigade, Anderson's Division, September 26th, 1862. "The general commanding, being permitted to retire for a short time for the purpose of recruiting his health, desires, before leaving, to ex- press his high appreciation of the courage and good conduct of the offi- cers and men in the engagements of Crampton's Gap and Sharpsburg. More especially would he refer to the former as a gallant yet unfortu- nate affair. He was ordered to hold the Gap at aU costs, and never was a desperate task entrusted to truer hands and hearts than the troops of this command. Their conduct on that occasion has frequently been the subject of encomium, and an officer who has won some distinction and witnessed the affair, has eulogized them as a band of heroes. Verily the participants in that action will be honored among the true and the brave. "By command of Col. Parham. "E. Taylor, A. A. G." There should be added the follow- ing graphic account of the appear- ance of the Federal column in the neighborhood of BurkittsvUle given by Comrade Jno. T. Parham, of Pe- tersburg, Va., who, from an eleva- ted position, witnessed these troops as they were being advanced for the assault upon the Confederates de- fending Crampton's Ga,p: Peteesburg, Va., June 6, 1892. Geo. S. Bernard, Esq. Dear Sir : At your request I will give you my recollections of the battle of Crampton's Gap. At that time I was a member of Co. C, 32nd Va. Infantry, Semmes' brigade, Mc- Laws' division, and was one of the regimental color-guard. Our brig- ade held the pass over South Moun- tain, south of Crampton's Gap and immediately west of Burkittsville. A battery of artillery, with four guns, was just to the left of my reg- iment, and early in the afternoon opened fire on the Federals as they came through and to the south of the town (Bm-kittsville) . This batt«ry ing the lifetime of this genial gentleman it was my pleasure more than once to tell him of the impression his conduct left upon me. In this connection I should mention that since the foregoing has been in type a let- ter received by me from Maj. Richard W. Jones, now a professor in the University of Mississippi, and who gallantly led the Twelfth at the Crater and in several other engagements, recalls the fact that, on the morning after the battle of Second Manas- sas, he took command of it, and was in com- mand until about the 14th of September, 1862, when Capt. Lewellen, who had been slightly wounded in that battle, reported for duty in time to participate in the action of Crampton's Gap. The brave Lieut.-Col. Taylor, although a sick man, went along with the regiment, not having reported for duty, and, as stated by Mr. Rufdn, received his wound when with his men at the post of danger. Lieut. Manson's command of the regiment as mentioned in my note book was but temporary — perhaps not an hour in du- ration. THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN OF 1862. 43 had a fine position and I had a clear view of the enemy's advancing col- umn, and as I looked down npon them it appeared to me that the men came out of the ground — there was such a multitude of them. I never saw so many blue-coats in my life — I never have since. They looked to me more like forty thousand than ten or fifteen thousand in number. They were marching in lines of battle four or five deep, ofl&cers riding and cheering the men on. It was a grand sight and I will never forget it. The battery near m« played terrible hav- oc among them. The shells would burst and tear large gaps in the Fed- eral lines, but they would close up and forward on. As they reached the foot of the pass that our brigade held they seemed to oblique to the right and to push on to Orampton's 'Gap where your brigade was located, looking as if their whole attention was directed to that point. Just be- fore night a courier dashed up to Gen. Semmes and brought him orders to move down the mountain towards Orampton's Gap. We started down at a double-quick, and when we had gone some distance came to a sudden halt and soon found out that we were in a trap, as your command had fal- len back. So we about-faced and went back about as fast as we came. We then went down the mountain on the west side to Brownsville, and just to the north of that town formed a line of battle across Pleasant Val- ley, and in this position lay on our arms all night — the worst night I ever spent . The next morning about light we fell back about two or three hundred yards to a better position, formed a line of battle and waited for the enemy, who did not come. I then saw several of the Petersburg boys. That evening we crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and got a plenty of maple sugar and crackers. We were all nearly starved. The next day we crossed the river atShep- herdstown and on the 17th fought the battle of Sharpsburg, the hard- est fought of the war to me. Your comrade, Jno. T. Paeham. A letter received from Prof. W. A. Shep- ard, of Randolph Macon College, Va., since this address has been in type, informs me that in addition to Privates Spotswood, G-wynn and Nash, Privates Julian E. Pee- bles and himself, of Co. E, were present at the battle of Sharpsburg, giving the Rifle- men five, instead of only three, of the twen- ty-three men of the 12th regiment present in that engagement. In this letter Prof. Shepard says : "In the battle of Crampton's Gap, on our retreat up this mountain. Berry Stalnbaok and myself sought shelter behind the same tree. The proximity of the enemy caused us to leave this shelter, and, his avoirdupois not allow- ing him to exercise the agility that the occa- sion demanded, he was captured and I es- caped. At our next meeting he was a dis- charged prisoner from Fort Delaware and both of us had been lifted out of the trench- es and given the rank of major." Lt. J. R. Patterson says that Berry Stain- back voluntarily left a bomb-proof detail given him a few days previously to take part in this fight. He further says that the boys declared that Buck Johnson and him- self had only one blanket between them and that Buck got captured when he found that Berry had been, in order to continue to share the blanket, which was in Berry's posses- sion — a story which a man of Buck's ap- proved courage could well afford to have told about him. Referring to these gallant fellows, I re- call a humorous account my friend Sydney Jones, on my return from capture, gave me of the retreat up the mountain. As the men were making the best time practicable, with ,the enemy close on their heels, Sydney, al- ways full of fun, seeing a few yards distant Buck Johnson or Berry Stainbaok (I forget of which he told the story), like himself and all of the others whose meaijs of locomo- tion had not then been injured by Federal bullets, moving at the most rapid pace, hal- looed to his fleeing friend, "Hello, Buck (or Berry)! What's your hurry ? Trying to oatch a train ?" To the list of the members of Co. E who 44 WAR TALItS OF CONFEDERATE VETERATHS. were wounded at Crarapton's Gap the name of Orderly Sergeant W. W. Tayleure, one of the most gallant soldiers in the 12th Vir- ginia regiment, should be added. Comrade Hugh B. Smith, of Petersburg, Va., states that, at the battle of Crampton's Gap, when we were lying in line at the foot of the mountain, he as acting orderly ser- geant of his company (Co. C of the 12th Virginia regiment) was immediately be- tween Robert E. Eldridge, of his company, next on his left, and Mills, of the Richmond Grays, next on his right, both of whom were killed whilst the three lay together in this position. A letter received June 13th, 1892, since the note on page 27 was printed, from Mr. John M. Shepherd, of Suffolk, Va., who was present at the battle of Orampton's Gap as a member of the 16th Virginia regiment. Informs me that this regiment was on the right of the 12th at the foot of the moun- tain and was posted behind a stone wall. Not knowing the position of this regiment, I had supposed it was somewhere on the slope of the mountain to the north and left ' of the 12th and 6th regiments, the latter being the left regiment. GOV. WM. E. CAMERON. CHANCELLORSVILLE. A SKETCH OF THE BATTLE AND OF THE PART TAKEN BY MA- HONE'S BRIGADE, WITH INCIDENTS AND PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY EX-GOV. WM. E. CAMERON BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, OF PETERS- BURG, VA., ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 3bd, 1890. GOMEADES: for adding that these were the only At Second Manassas, on engagements in which Lee's army the evening of the 30th of took part from which I had the for- August, 1862, 1 was struck by a frag- tune — ^good or bad — to be absent, ment of shell from an enfilading Fed- Eeturning to duty on the 12th day of eral gun just as our charging columns December, I found the army in posi- reached the top of a hill and passed tion at Fredericksburg, Mahone's through a battery of brass pieces brigade in line near the Stansbury abandoned by the enemy. According- house, supporting the batteries on ly, during the ensuing months of the extreme Confederate left. Three September, October and ITovember, months had done fearful work, and while the command was dearly win- the camp-fires of the Twelfth cast a ning glory at Crampton's Gap and at mournful light upon the places, ever- Sharpsburg, iTwas enjoying the hon- more to be vacant, of many a gaUant ors and pleastires of what the boys soul. And far into the night I lis- used to call (with more of expression tened to the stories of the Maryland than of grammar) "a, wounded fur- Campaign, and heard how Mayl and lough," And I may be pardoned i. Maj. Jno. p. May, WUed at and Manassas. 46 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Taylor2 and McholasS and Noble* and lives . They were clad in cotton stulf, scores of otlier noble comrades had and a more forlorn set of poor devils fallen with their feet to the foe. The than they were in that, to them, Arc- senior captain of last summer, E. M. tic experience it would be hard to Feild, was now in command as lieu- imagine. At first, to hover shiver- tenant -colonel by promotion, and all ingly around immense out-of-Soor the companies save three were led by fires was their only resource, but at lieutenants. Ah well, it was but last some bright fellow drew inspira- the opening chapter of an experi- tion from his thoughts of home, and ence which was to grow sadly famil- in a few days the hill-side was full iar as the years went on, and the of exaggerated gopher-holes in which morning brought a scene, terrible and they biirrowed and huddled with splendid enough to banish thought comparative comfort. Thereafter of past and futxire while it lasted, this experience in digging served Ere twelve hours had past Burnside's them in good turn, army had reeled back in hopeless About this time I was detached disarray from Marye's hill, and the from the 12th Virginia regiment as curtain was scarcely lowered upon acting inspector-general of the bri- one until preparations were making gade, which fact will account for for another field of bloody carnage, gome of the experiences related fur- * * * * * * * ^j^g^ ^^ j^ early spring Mahone's The winter of 1862-3 recurs to me ^^^ ~p^^^^,^ brigades were moved to as the most comfortless of the war. ^j^^ old mine near United States Ford, The weather was severe, our camps, picketing the latter and forming the from Windy Hill to Guest's Farm, extreme left of Lee's infantry, whose badly situated, and for the first time ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ Jackson, guarded the the supply of food was irregular and Rappahannock river as far down as insufftcient. The men were not pro- p^^.^ ^^^^^^ Fredericksbm-g being perlyprovidedwithshelterandsnow- thecentre. The army had meantime storms were of frequent occurrence. ^^^^ weakened by the transfer of I remember that Perry's Florida bri- ^ongstreet's corps (except McLaws' gade was assigned to Anderson's di- ^^^^^^^^^ ^r a demonstration against Mr. Lincoln's confidence in Gene- vision about the 1st of February, g,,«vjii5- 1863, when the mercury was near zero and the ground six inches deep , ^ .,,._, m. J • J. I'al Burnside did not long survive the m snow. The command was just , „ ., -n, , ^ p J.-U c a J.-U -i:^ j^j.^ costly failure at Fredericksbui-g. On from the far South. Few of the men ,,„„,,„, , , , , • • XI, ■ the 26th of January that commander had ever seen snow or ice m their ,. , •' ^ , ^ . . . was reueved and General Joseph deda"c»;^plo?fGS' ''■''''=''"'■■ '"°'^'''''""""- Hookcr appointed in his stead, with n^sas"'"""'"''' ''"'■ '''"'"''''' '^'"^'1'^*=^°'^ *^^- urgent instructions to assume the of- ^4 Private Cha^. G. Noble, killed at Crampton's ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ moment. It CHANCELLORSVILLE. 47 must be confessed that the first steps structions were repeated with urgent of the new leader were full of energy insistence, yet his movements were and well-directed. The army of the so delayed that, though the battle Potomac was in fearful condition, of Chancellor svlUe did not occur un- without spirit, its corps commanders til many days after he was expected at loggerheads, its tone and discip- to join, his force was absent when line relaxed, and the morning reports it occurred." showed ninety thousand men to be On the 20th of April Hooker an- absent without leave. General Hook- nounced to the authorities his read- er at once addressed himself to the iness to advance. His plan of cam- task of remedying these evils. The paign was simple and well conceiv- unwieldy grand divisions were abol- ed, and if executed with energy ished and the unruly major-generals ought to have succeeded at least in were ordered to report elsewhere; throwing Lee back upon the North rigorous steps were taken to recall Anna line and a junction with Long- absentees, the cavalry and artillery street. But the Federal general lack- forces were re-organized under Stone- ed the tactical ability to reap the man and Hunt as chiefs, and the in- fruit of his strategic success. Lee fantry was divided into eight corps penetrated his plan, and foiled it by of three divisions each, under Eey- the unexpected boldness of his an- nolds, Couch, Sickles, Meade, Sedg- swering move. The result was as wick. Smith, Sigel and Slocum. much due to Lee's knowledge of By the 15th of April Hooker was Hooker's characteristics as to his ready to move, "weather permit- science in war. The operations oc- ting," with one himdred and twenty cupied six days and included three thousand men, infantry and artillery several battles, but the whole story and twelve thousand cavalry at his from a military point of view may be disposal. To meet this force Gen. very briefly told. Lee could muster only fifty-seven Hooker threw four corps, sixty thousand of all arms.* 'President thousand men,* by way of the up- Davis, at page 365 , of volume II per Eappahannock and Eapidan of his "Else and Fall of the Confed- fords upon Lee's left-rear, and erate Government," says: "When crossed Sedgwick with thirty-six the advance of Hooker was threaten- thousand men at Fredericksburg to ed, instructions were sent to Gen. demonstrate or assault as circum- Longstreet to hasten Ms return to stances might dictate. At the same the army with the large force in- time he threatened Banks' Ford, and trusted to him. * * * These in- thus Lee's line of march to Chan- *See Swinton's "Campaigns of the Army of the Potomay" and Taylor's "Four Years cellorsville. All the preliminary with Lee ," for Federal and Confederate fig- *Afterwards reinforced by another, bring- ures respectively. ing the force up to eighty thousand. 48 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. movements were carried out as laid down. On the night of the 30th Hooker was at Chancellorsville in easy reach of a country favorable for maneuvering, and in a position to strike at the communications of his opponent. But he hesitated, and was lost. Lee neither retreated southward nor tried to hold his lines defensively ; but when apprised of the presence of Hooker on his left seized upon Jackson's masses, hurl- ed them in reverse to the enemy's right, wheeled his own left wing by the rear into a line at right angles to the river, left Early with nine thousand men at Fredericksburg ; and first crossing the Federals in the dense forest around Chancellorsville, became the assailant and the victor. Then he turned upon Sedgwick at Salem church, enabling Early to regain the heights at Fredericks- burg, and forced him back over Banks' Ford, and returning was ready to gi^e Hooker's main body tine coup de grace when an advance disclosed that officer's withdrawal, and the Rappahannock again divided the contestants. [«] This is the outline of the picture as histor.N' will present it, with the ghastly addition of losses; but there is absent all the coloring and detail, the first alarm, the hurried march, the swift attack, the deadly grap- ple, the myriad voices of battle, the cheer of triumph, the curse of defiance, the moan of suffering — ^and the changing panorama, the tongues of flame leaping from the cannon, the smoke hanging in wreathes above the tender foliage, the long gray lines of grim -faced soldiery charging through the twilight, the gleam of bayonets and waving col- ors above the low parapets, and there, at last, the dark masses of men in blue, the burst of fire, the storm of shot, the wild confusion, the moment of suspense, the waver- ing foe, arid then the madness of pursuit. "It is well," said one of Britain's great cavalrymen, as he wiped his sword upon his horse's mane, after a famous charge — "it is [a] General Hooker never made any offi- cial report of this campaign. General Hal- leck says in his general resume of military affairs for 1863, "I received no official in- formation either of his plans or their exe- cution." He, however, afterwards testi- fied with great minuteness before the Com- mittee on the Conduct of the War, and one of the pleas offered in explanation of his defeat was that Lee's.army contained "the finest body of infantry of modern times." General Warren , whom we afterwards en- countered so often as commander of the 5th army corps under Meade and Grant, and who was so harshly treatijd by Sheridan at Five Forks, was then chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac, and gives the most complete and professional history of Chan- cellorsville to be found in the Federal ar- chives. He says : "The flank movenaent in our very presence which General Lee had decided upon, and the execution of which he intrusted to General Jackson, was one of great risk under almost any circum- stances. On the present occasion it offer- ed more advantages than it generally does. * * * Its conception was well adapted to the situation, and its execution by Jack- son was excellent, though the lateness of the day when his blow was struck deprived him of the full advantage of the maneuver." The opinion is well grounded, and is shar- ed by many Federal officers with whom I have conversed since the war, that, but for the wounding of General Jackson at a crit- ical moment, the results would have been much more decisive, perhaps to the extent of cutting Hooker off from United States Ford and destroying that wing of his army. CHANCELLORSVILLE. I!) well that war is so terrible ; we on the Fredericksburg 'pike, where should grow too fond of it." we were to be joined by the rest of * ^ * * * * the division, and there oppose the In was late in the afternoon of enemy until General Lee could bring Wednesday, April 29th, that two iip the rest of the army. At mid- cavalry videttes galloped up to Gen- night General Anderson, after read- eral Mahone's headquarters and re- ing a chapter from the big family ported the enemy to be advancing Bible on a centre-table in the cham- in force on the road from Ely's Ford, ber, puUed off his boots (I remem- At the same time demonstrations ber he had on woolen socks,) and were made at United States Ford, slept soundly until 4 o'clock, when, which showed plainly his intention after issuing final orders for the to throw a force ovef at that point, withdrawal, he returned to the se- and a little later information came lected line. During the night a of another column marching east by sharp rain fell. The staff was in the plank road from Germanna Ford, the saddle betimes, and just at the In a few moments couriers were crack of dawn, Thursday, April dashing back and forth, and within 30th, there was a popping of caps the hour the winter-quarters wei-e and occasional discharge of pieces abandoned, wagons and impedimenta in the direction of the picket line, of all sorts on the w^y to the rear, followed by utter silence. General and the two brigades were in posi- Mahone was puzzled to understand tion to meet the advancing foe— Ma- this, and I rode into the woods some hone to the north of Chancellor's distance beyond the ridge on which house and Posey's facing westward, the pickets had been posted the with two guns of Grandy's (Norfolk evening before, without finding a Blues) battery covering each road, sign of them. ISTeither did ttie ene- Pickets were thrown out, but the my at that time betray their pres- enemy halted before collision was ence. Upon my gaUoping back and had, and the men went into bivouac reporting to General Mahone, he in line of battle. made some impatient exclamation. At 9 o'clock General Anderson ar- and Col. Allen Parham [6], who rived at Chancellors^dlle, where Ma- ^as near by and mounted, dashed hone had occupied a room, and, after off at speed, and hardly reached the consulting with that general and ground I had just left when he was Posey, determined to fall back in greeted by a voUey from the Federal the morning to Tabernacle Church cavalry at only a few paces distance. [6) Col. Wm. Allen Parham, of the 41st life. After many hair-breadth escapes he Virginia Infantry, deserved, among a band was at last a victim to wounds received in of fearless patriots, to be known as "the the forefront of battle, and is remembered bravest of the brave." He was as reckless by all of the old brigade as their beau ideal in battle as generous in all the relations of of a dashing soldier. 50 M'AR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERAXS. Fortunately he was not struck, but, reached a field about one mile east his horse shying, his cap was thrown of Chancellorsville made a bold at- offby a swinging limb, and the colonel tack. The 12th was commanded by returned, shaking his head ■^'igoroiis- Lieiit.-Col. E. M. FeildT [c], who ly, and cursing "the Yankees" who conducted the maneuvers with with a freedom and rim all his own. rare precision, retiring each line al- CaptainThos.F.Owens,5onelieuten- ternately, and when pressed uniting ant (Woodhouse,6 I think,) and the two for resistance. He soon pun- twenty-three men of the Xorfolk Ju- ished the enemy so severely that niors, had been gobbled up with not they desisted from further demon- as much noise as a clever darkey stration, contenting themselves with would make in robbing a hen-roost, observation, at a respectful distance. We heard, months afterwards, that Of this movement General Lee the rain had so moistened the leaves says : "The enemy skirmished with which covered the ground like a mat Anderson's rear-guard as he left that the approach of the enemy was Chancellor's, biit being vigorously unheard until they rushed in among repulsed by Mahone's brigade, of- the men, and that then the rifles had fered no fui-ther opposition." Gen. been rendered useless by the rain, Anderson says : "T?hey subsequent- so that no resistance could be made. !> attacked the rear -guard of Ma- It is lucky that the enemy did not hone, but were so effectively repuls- move forward at once, or the brigade ed that we were no further annoyed would have been caught napping and by them." General Mahone says: the artillery was entirely exposed; but "He subsequently came upon our now their opportunity had passed . rear -guard — the 12th Virginia Infan- The troops were at once set in mo- fantr.^-, Lieutenant - Colonel FeUd tion on the Fredericksburg road, commanding, — was repulsed, and so while the 12th regiment was deploy- effectually as to leave us free from ed in a double line of skirmishers to any further annoyance dirring the cover the rear. The Federal cavah-y change of position to which I have promptly followed, and when we had already referred, and then in process 5. Capt. Thos. F 0\yens, of Norfolk, Va., Cap- service until the autumn of 1863. On the tam Junior Blues, Co. H, 12th \ a. regiment. mnmntinn nf Pr.! "W tn o K..;r.«/iin.. „„-„ 6. Henry C. Woodhouse, of Norfolk, Va., Lieut. Piomotion of Col. W. to a bngadier-gene- Co. H, 12th Va. regiment. ralship, Feild was given full command of 7. Col. Everard M. FeUd, ot Petersburg, Va. the regiment which he led on so many oc- casions with so much cool intrepidity and [c] Lieut.-Col. Melding L. Taylor, a skill during the absence of his superior, and brave and accomplished officer, and who served as such with distinction to the close had given promise of great distinction, died of the war. from the effects of wounds received during Just here It should be stated that at the Maryland campaign ; Major John P. Crampton's Gap Capt. J. Eich'd Lewellen, May had fallen dead, shot through the afterwards lieut. -colonel, commanded the brain, at Second Manassas; and Col. D. A. regiment, and that Capt. Eioh'd W. Jones, Weisiger had suffered on the same field a afterwards major, commanded it at Sharps- dangerous and well-nigh fatal wound, the burg and in many of the engagements du- eftects of which disabled him from further ring the last year of the war. CHANCELLORSriLLE: 51 of execution." I do not remem- Looking at the descent through my ber that we sustained any loss du- field-glasses I could almost hear the ring this skilful and gallant maneu- thud. The next morning when we ver, nor do the records particular- advanced an old woman living in the ize any. Neither am I able to give cabin near by reported that the man the loss of the Federals, as their cav- was dead when picked up. During airy was engaged at several points the evening I was sent back with dis- ,that day, and the returns of killed patches and met the head of Jack- and wounded are only given in ag- son's corps hastening forward, and gregate for the whole series of colli- all night long his columns filled the sions. roads. The night passed without About 10 o ' clock Tabernadle incident. At sunrise (Friday, May Churchf was reached and a line of 1st,) Gen. McLaws arrived with his battle was formed, the order being division, except Barksdale's brigade, Mahone, Posey, Wright, our brig- which remained with Early at Fred- ade on the turnpike, Wright's on the ericksburg, and extended our line plank road, and light intrenchments to the right, occupying the trenches were erected with a redoubt for artil- along Mott's run. The men were still lery on each road. The day was engaged strengthening the breast- spent quietly, save for occasional works when, at 8 A. m., General Jack- sharpshooting. The Federals moved son arrived and assumed command, up within sight, but made no demon- at once issuibg an order that work stration. About noon one enterpris- on the intrenchments should be dis- ing rifleman climbed a tree in a farm- continued. I find a note to that ef- yard some hundred yards in our ^^ct in my memorandum book, with front, and wounded two of the men ^^^ comment in pencil, "That means who were throwing up cover for the ^^ ^^^ ^^o* to wait for Hooker." guns. It was some time before his . the advance. eyrie was discovered, but finally one o 1,1.1-1 L^ i ■i ^ , ,,...'. , /. , Sure enough at 11 A. m. the col- of Posey's Mississippians obtained •, , . j -\r x. •' ^^ umn was ordered lorward, Mahone permission to -hunt" for him, and ^^j^.^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^.^j^ fifteen minutes later spied him out, McLaws' division following, the and with a long shot brought the r^^^i^^^^ ^j^^er Col. Feild, being de- troublesome marksman down from p^^y^^ j^ j^ont to develop the ene- his lofty perch, the body falling like ^y ^^^ ^o gain time for formation that of a wounded squirrel from limb of Yoiq of battle when he fehould be to limb until it struck the ground, encountered in force. The column was preceded by a detachment of the Third Virginia Cavalry, under Capt. Hill Carter, and accompanied by one Church"" '" ' "* " ""'"^ " ~ "' piece of Capt. Charles B. Grandy's fThis church being of wood is frequent- „,i • t tt- • • /^ i ■. ly called the "Wooden Cliuroh," to distin- Third Virginia Cavalry, under Capt. guish it from Salem Church which was of jjiji Carter, and accompanied by one briel£ and is frequently called the "End? ' ^ ^ .52 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. and one of Capt. Tyler C. Jordan's The engagement now waxed hot, light batteries. About a mile and a and the supports were thrown in. half from the church Carter came As McLaws moved forward the Fed- upon the cavalry outpost and drove oral artillery opened on the head of it' in. His horse was shot and he his column. By some blunder his stopped in the road and with delib- ambulance wagons and ordnance eration, under heavy fire, unbuckled train had followed immediately in and brought off the saddle and ac- the rear of Mahone's troops, and coutrements, fortunately escaping were now not only in the way but without a scratch. The Twelfth now were exposed to the full fire of the met the advance of Sykes' regulars enemy. A stampede followed, each and pressed them back upon their teamster whipping furiously into the supports, the fire becoming general, woods with sublime disregard of get- and the regiment holding a brush ting out again. Wheels were locked fence for some time against the ene- against trunks of trees, teamsters my's line of battle. The artillery swore, mules kicked, and the shells came into action within point-blank flew fast and furious. Presently a range, engaging Weed's Battery "I," six-pound shell struck an ambulance Fifth U; S. Artillery, and held its 'midships, tore off all the rear parts own, though without cover in the of the vehicle and left the driver open 'pike, under the rapid service perched on two wheels, himself and of four guns, until the enemy yield- animals unhurt. Finally I found a ed the position, [d] road leading off to the right by which It was now that Capt. E. E. Banks, 8 the train could be brought, by a cir- of the Petersburg Eiflemen, received cuit, back to the turnpike and suflS- the hurt from which he eventually oiently to the rear, and so overcame died. General Mahone says in his the panic. But while looking for report : "Among the gallant spirits this road I rode into a picket post who were seriously wounded Capt. on the Mine road, and was captured Banks, Co. E, Twelfth Virginia In- for the first and only time. Fortu- fantry, must be mentioned. He nately the detention was of short fell among the foremost in the skir- duration ; for being carried back to mish fight of his regiment on the the cavalry reserve I recognized turnpike. May 1st, and was at the Dr. Jas. S. Gilliam, an old Peters- time commanding the advance, burger and friend, and found I was His conduct was beautifully heroic." a prisoner to Eooney Lee. [d] The Norfolk Blues battery lost here, About 3 o'clock Jackson's musket- of the crew of their single gun, one killed ry was heard in brisk rattle on the and SIX wounded; and Oapt. Grandy says : , , , -trr • i i "During the sharpest of the engagement I PianJi road. Wright was sent to had only two men and Lieutenant Peet to make a detour towards Svkes' riffht- work the gun. , •' => rear, and a general advance was made 8. Capt. Ro. E. Banks, of Petersburg Va., who ■■ » i ■ i ,i 11 died September 4, 1871. Deiore whicli the enemy slowly re- G HAN CULL ORSttLLS. 53 tired. The Twelfth had lost, though not heavily in nunabers, some of its best men, and had performed its duty so as to win praises from the officers directing operations. Gen. Mahone writes, in his report to Gen. Anderson, "The conduct of officers and men * * * deserves high commendation and at least this ac- knowledgment at my hands : the Twelfth Virginia, Lieut.-Col. E. M. Feild commanding, for its rigid and efficient resistance to the superior force of the enemy while covering the formation of our line of battle on the turnpike on Friday." There- after the progress of the brigade was steadily onward, "fighting its way," says Gen. Anderson, "along the old turnpike to a point (near the Magee house) about one mile from Chancellorsville." Wright's move- ment had meantime been success- ful and Gen. Jackson had establish- ed his line in sight of Chancellors- ville on the plank-road. Darkness put an end to operations. In this engagement Gen. Sykes deployed three brigades on the turn- pike and claims that with this force, "after sharp fighting," he drove our skirmishers in. His losses cannot be exactly ascertained from any doc- uments now in my possession ; but his division was not actively engaged except on this occasion, during the operations around Chancellorsville, and it may be therefore assumed that most of the casualties reported were sustained on May 1st, and they summed up, killed 28, wounded 167, missing 91. [e] The sounds of conflict now ceased, and were replaced by the ringing of axes as the Federals strengthened their already formidable works. But the night was big with events which were to burst on the morrow. A short distance from the line on which our men found such rest as turf and sky afforded, the last council of war was being held, the participants be- ing only Gen. Lee and the great lieutenant who was "his right arm." I saw them twice as they gravely conversed. What passed we only know from the events which ensued, and from the brief sentences in which Gen. Lee announces the conclusion reached. "It was evident," says he, "that a direct attack upon the ene- my would be attended with great difficulty and loss, in view of the strength of his position, and his superiority of numbers. It was, therefore, resolved to endeavor to turn his right flank and gain his rear, leaving a force in front to hold him in check and conceal the movement. The execution of this plan was en- trusted to Gen. Jackson ■ with his three divisions. The commands of Gens. McLaws and Anderson, with the exception of Wilcox's brigade [e] From reports of the regimental com- manders who were engaged under Sykes, obtained since the above was written, I find that the figures given in the text are sub- stantially correct. I received more than double the number of prisoners reported by Sykes as inissing during the evening of the 1st. but some of them may have come from Meade's column, advancing further to our right. Sykes' men were in the trenches east of Chancellorsville and were not put Into action on the 2nd or 3rd. 54 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the latter, which.- during the night silent and rapid, and his column had had been ordered back to Banks' gained the dense thickets to the Ford, remained in front of the ene- south-west of Chancellorsville with- my." [/] out any interruption from the foe. In consequence of the contem- As the rear of his train was passing plated movement some changes in Catharine Furnace a large force of the position of the troops had to be Federals, under Gen. Sickles, ad- made. When Gen. Jackson moved vanced from the plank road and at- off early on the morning of the 2nd, tempted its capture. The small force Wright took the place of his troops left there by Jackson was unable to who had held the left of the plank resist the enemy with success, and road, and later when Posey and the greater portion of the 23rd Wright were sent to the Furnace to Georgia regiment was taken prison- protect Jackson's rear threatened by ers ; but Posey and Wright were sent Sickles, Mahone's brigade was trans- to reinforce the threatened point, ferred from the turnpike to Wright's and after a severe fight Sickles was former position on the plank road, repulsed and the train saved, [g] Jackson's last victory. While the flanking column was Affairs were now in shape to make pushing its way silently and swiftly, answer to HooTier's announcement the lines ofwhich our brigade formed to his army that "the enemy must part were handled so as to make a either ingloriously fly or come out show of great force and to impress and give us battle on our own ground, the enemy with the belief that as- where certain destruction awaits sault was imminent. The skirmish- him." ers were active all day, and by feign- Jackson moved oflf early Saturday ed attacks made in rapid succession morning by the Brock and Furnace kept their opponents constantly on roads, his movements covered by the alert! When the guns of Jack- Fitz Lee's cavalry commanded by son were heard, giving notice that Stuart in person. His march was Jackson had struck the enemy, the [/] MoLaws was also short by Barks- ville and so telegraphed to Washington— a dale's brigade, which had been left with misinterpretation which caused him not on- Early, so that the force confronting Hooker ly to refuse to Sickles the authority asked whileJaokson's movement was in progress, for, but to neglect measures which were consisted of only Wofford's, Semmes' and recommended to him for strengthening the Kershaw's brigades of MoLaws, and exposed flank. It is hard to understand Wright's, Mahone's, Posey's and Perry's, too why, such being his belief, he did not of Anderson; in all, seven brigades number- make some demonstration against Anderson ing eleven thousand muskets. and McLaws, or did not seek to embarrass [g] Gen. Sickles seems at this time to the supposed change of base Sickles' at have been among the Federal officers in tack, if made with insistanoe, would have suspecting the real meaning of the Confed- proved a serious interruption to Gen Lee's erate movement. He reported it and asked plan of battle; and even as it was his pres- for authority to press with his whole corps; ence in advance of the rest of the Union but Hooker when informed of the troops line enabled him to interpose the onlv seri and wagons marching across his right con- ous obstable that evening to the victorious eluded that Lee was retreating on Gordons- onset of our lines. CHANCELL 0R8 VILLE. troops in front of Ohancellorsville were ordered to press him strongly on the left to prevent the sending of reinforcements to the other wing. Gen. Lee's orders were not to make actual assault of the works unless some unexpectedly favorable oppor- tunity shbuld offer, and a general oblique to the left was directed so as to gradually close the interval be- tween the wings of the army as Jack- son closed in. Our brigade took part in this operation with trifling loss, the lines advancing upon hos- tile intrenchments and the artillery playing vigorously, until the increas- ing darkness put an end to hostilities. [See addendum 1 to note i.'] Jackson had reached the turnpike at 4 p. M., and formed his three lines at right angles to and across the road, Rhodes in front, then Colston, and A. P. Hill last. At 6 o'clock the advance was ordered, and the enemy first encountered (Schurz's division of Sigel's corps) were taken utterly by surprise and fled with slight resistance. "Gen. Rhodes' men," says Gen. Lee, "pressed for- ward with great spirit and enthusi- asm, followed closely by the sup- porting lines. Position after posi- tion was carried, the guns captured and every effort of the enemy to rally defeated by the impetuous rush of our troops. In the ardor of pur- suit through the thick and tangled woods, the first and second lines at last mingled and moved on together as one." The resistless onslaught had swept all before it for two miles, when some Federal troops were with great effort collected by Gens. Sick- les and Pleasanton, and a stand was made at the house of Metzie Chan- cellor, where a line of rifle-pits crossed the road. [A] Here some detention occurred, but Rhodes' and Colston's men gath- ered for another effort, dashed over the intrenchments, and pushed on, "and the flight and pursuit were con- tinued until our advance was arrest- ed by the abatis in front of the works immediately covering the main position at Chancellorsville." It was now dark. Gen. Hill was ordered to move to the front and relieve the front lines which had so far borne the brunt of the action, and whose ranks had become so blended and disordered that it was necessary to reform them. General Jackson was very urgent that no time should be lost in pressing the advantage, and pushed to the front, leaving orders for Hill to follow. The men of the latter, coming up in hot haste, met their beloved lead- er returning from the direction of [ft] It was at this juncture that occurred an instance of heroism on the part of the Federal cavalry which deserves to be re- corded. Pleasanton finding Howard's line broken and fleeing was seeking to gain time for a new formation and to post a large number of guns to sweep the field over which the Confederates were advancing. The latter were upon him before these ar- rangements were completed, and as a last resort he ordered the Eighth Pennsylvania to charge in the face of Khodes' masses, Led by Maj. Heenan this small body of horsemen dashed straight into the wither- ing fire, and though their heroic leader and eighty of his men were mowed down as if . by a scythe, the object was accomplished so far as to make possible the only real re- sistaince offered during that bloody evening. 5(i WAR TALKS OF CONffSDFAATE VElfSlRANS. the enemy, and mistaking, in the obscurity of the night, the cavalcade of horsemen for Federal cavalry, fired a too unerring volley. General Jackson fell from his horse wound- ed in two places. Capt. Boswell, chief engineer of the corps, was killed, and several others of the es- cort were injured, some fatally. The enemy, aroused by the fusillade, opened a heavy fire of musketry and artillery down the road, with such effect that twice the men bearing the general from the field were struck down. General Hill assum- ed command, and at the same mo- ment the enemy advanced to the at- tack under cover of a furious can- nonade. They mistook the confu- sion incident upon Hill's troops re- lieving Ehodes and Colston for a retreat. The Fifty-fifth Virginia met the assailants and repulsed them, losing their gallant colonel, Francis B. Mallory, in their counter charge. General Hill was about this time disabled, and General Stuart was sent for to take charge, and just at this time the right of Hill's line was assailed by the division of Sickles, which had been pushed forward to the Furnace as before stated. There the fighting was obstinate, but Lane's North Carolina brigade drove the column back, and the line of battle was established in the trenches formerly occupied by the enemy. It was now 10 o'clock, and the men were ordered to rest on their arms. Stuart spent the succeeding hours in forming connection with Lee's left, and posting batteries to enfi- lade the fortifications at Chancel- lor's house, (i) SUNDAY, MAY 3KD. Morning broke dark and lower- ing. At daylight Perry's brigade of our division was moved towards the Furnace, and on his arrival Posey's skirmishers were pushed forward when it was found that the enemy had retired from that position. Stu- art now resumed the attack with Jackson's corps on the right-centre of the enemy, and their first line was carried by assault. General Lee says, "under a terrific fire of mus- ketry and artillery." The barricade was then taken, and the troops were brought face to face with the main intrenchments of Hooker, behind which his cannon were posted. Three times these works were car- ried, and each time the "brave as- sailants were compelled to abandon them;" but a fourth attempt, aided \f\ In my remarks on Chanoellorsville as originally prepared, I made some criticism unfavorable to Gen. Stuart for not pressing his left toward U. S. Ford, but more care- ful Investigation has brought the conviction that this would have been attended with too much risk. In fact. Gen. Lee was anx- ious lest the army should be cut In twain at the Furnace as evidenced by his orders to Anderson and McLaws already quoted. Gen. Lee, in his final report of this cam- paign bestows unqualified commendation upon Gen. Stuart's conduct of affairs. He says: " The latter officer (S.) ably discharged the difficult and responsible duties he was thus unexpectedly called on to perform. Assuming the command late in the night, at the close of a fierce engagement, and in the immediate presence of the enemy, necessarily ignorant in a great measure of the disposition of the troops and of the plans of those who had preceded him, Gen. Stuart exhibited great energy, promptness and intelligence." CMANC^LL ORS VtLLM. by an enfilading fire from thirty pieces of artillery under Cols. Thos. H. Carter and Hilary P. Jones, proved irresistible, and the enemy gave way in confusion. At the same moment (here I quote Gen. Lee's report) "Anderson pressed gallantly forward directly upon Chancellors- ville. * * * As the troops, ad- vancing upon the enemy's front and right, converged upon his central position, Anderson effected a junc- tion with Jackson's corps, and the whole line pressed irresistibly on. The enemy abandoned all his forti- fied positions at Chancellor's, and retreated towards the Eappahan- nock." Mahone's brigade moved with its right on the plank road. In the final charge the scene was in- spiring to the highest degree. The Confederate lines visible along the whole curve-formation, the men rush- ing forward with triumphant yells. the batteries working in full view while on the other side the blue masses were fleeing through the burning woods, cannon, wagons, horsemen, while the smoke was lurid with bursting shell and the ground was strewn with the debris of battle and the guns and baggage of the defeated foe. Wright's brigade, from the lay of the ground, was first on the Chancellorsville works, but a few moments after the whole line was abreast, and when Gen. Wright came tearing down the road with his yel- low hair streaming in the wind to announce his success, he found our flag already planted on a Federal redoubt. "By 10 a. m.," says Gen. Lee, "we were in full possession of the field." But not long were we left to real- ize the fruits of triumph ; for hardly had the retreat of the enemy been verified by the advance of skirmish- (i) During the demonstrations made by Anderson's division in aid o£ Jackson's movement, Capt. W. Carter Williams of the 6th Infantry, Mahone's brigade, command- ing the skirmishers of that regiment, char- ged on and through the enemy's abatis on the plank road, fired upon his main line in the rifle pits "captured there prisoners from four different regiments, and the colors and color-bearer of the 107th Ohio, returning to his position with his handful of men with only the loss of one prisoner." It is mourn- ful to add that this gallant officer was mor- tally wounded the next morning while lead- ing his company over the very ground of this bold and successful sortie. {2) Up to dark of the 2nd of May about two hundred prisoners had been turned over to the rear-guard, of which, as inspector, I had direction, which consisted of Serg't Seay and ten men. They were stationed in rear of the brigade's position on the plank road, about one mile from Chancel- lorsville, and were charged with the duty of arresting stragglers and guarding the captured. About 8 o'clock the prisoners grew very restless and defiant, evidently expecting Sedgwick's advance upon our rear. Receiving notice from the sergeant, I rode back and saw enough to convince me that there was danger of an escape. One Federal lieutenant was particularly bold in urging his men to make a break for freedom . I had fires built in a circle enclosing the field, and borrowed a six-pomnder from an unattached battery in park near by, which was trained upon the prisoners. The state of affairs was reported to headquarters, and later on orders were received to march the prisoners by the left to a point near the Furnace and turn them over to the provost there stationed. Marching in the gloom of the night and following no road, we man- aged to get between the picket lines. The Federals opened fire and our people replied, so that for some minutes the poor captives were exposed to a sharp fusillade from friend and foe. They obeyed with great alacrity orders to lie down, and were ex- tricated from their dangerous position with no casualties but a flesh wound to the mu- tinous lieutenant. From the officer to whom the delivery of the prisoners was made, we first heard of the great success Of Jackson, 58 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATB VETERANS. ers, before Gen. Lee rode up in per- son and Mahone received orders to face to the right and take the road towards Fredericksburg, aiding Mc- Laws to repulse the enemy advanc- ing from that direction. So hurried- ly back we trudged over the ground so hardly won by three day's fight- ing, learning meantime what had been going on at the right that morning. The enemy had been quiet in Gen. Early's front up to Saturday after- noon. During that day Gen. Early was instructed, in the event Sedg- wick should withdraw from his front and move up the river, to join Lee's main body with the bulk of his force. But the staff-officer bearing the mes- sage misunderstood its purport, and directed Gen. Early, unconditionally to move. Leaving Hays' brigade and one regiment of Barksdale's bri- gade at Fredericksburg, Early start- ed with the rest of his command to ChanceHorsville. The enemy at once made threatening demonstrations at the fords, and the mistake in orders having been corrected, during the night the troops were restored to their original positions. Before dawn on the 3rd, the enemy took possession of Fredericksburg and advanced against Marye's Heights. Several assaults were repulsed but the Confederates were outnumbered, outflanked and forced to retire. Gen. Early took up position on the telegraph road and Gen. Wilcox re- treated on the plank road until he reached Salem Church, where he formed line on a wooded ridge and prepared to resist the enemy. Here we came up with him and went into position on the extreme left. A very short time elapsed before the enemy and were welcomed as the bearers of glad tidings on returning to our own command. (3) Towards morning I was sent with some message to the quarter-master, and riding back was hailed by Geo. L. Simpsons from a group of tents standing in a cedar grove near the road. It was the camp of the medical director of the army. The sur- geons had been hard at work all night with saw, knife and bandage, and were about taking a very early breakfast, preparatory to a move to some less exposed position. I received an invitation to partake of their meal, very acceptable to one who had eaten nothing for twenty -four hours, and was just fairly seated to hot biscuit, butter, ham and real coffee, when a young enthusiast of a sawbones came in and laid on the table at my side an arm just amputated from some poor fellow, remarking on the extraordinary symmetry of the limb. I have never quite solved the doubt whether his action was prompted by honest motives of admiration for the subject of his handiwork, or by a desire to lessen the number and appetites of the partakers of the meal; but the effect 9. Geo. L. Simpson, of Petersburg, Va. was to deprive one of them of all further interest in the proceedings. I left, fortified only by the reinforced coffee which George had given me while the cook was making ready. Every one to his trade ! The ghast- ly sights of battle had not hardened me to look upon mutilated humanity as a work of art. Kegaiuing the lines, I tied my weary horse to a swinging limb and soon fell to sleep. After awhile I was wakened by the touch of something deathly cold and start- led with the idea that my hand had come in contact with a snake, but, opening my eyes, found that in turning over I had thrown my arm over the nude body of a Federal soldier killed on the 1st of May. This coming Im- mediately upon the intensely practical joke of the young surgeon overcame all sense of fatigue, and I found neithi^r "slumber nor sleep" thereafter. (This expression was used by Maj. E. L. Brockett to the troops at Charlestown during the John Brown trial, and was much ridiculed; but in the old Kirk version of the 131st Psalm the closing line of the noble stanza, beginning "I to the hills will lift mine eyes," the last line is ren- dered, "He slumbers not, nor sleeps.)" CHANCELLORSVILLE. 59 attacked, the weight of his presence being, however, to the right of us. Wilcox and Posey had a spirited en- gagement, and drove back three lines of battle. In our front the brunt of the action fell upon the 61st Virginia regiment, under its accomplished colonel, V. D. Groner,lO which com- mand was deployed as skirmishers to cover our formation, and which held the enemy back with great firm- ness, maintaining its line after the last cartridge had been expended for some time and under heavy fire. Our casualties here were small, and the engagement of this afternoon was the last in which we were actu- ally engaged during the campaign. The next day troops were concen- trated on Sedgwick's front and rear, and Gen. Lee hoped to crush him ; but the movement was delayed too long, and during the night of the 4th the enemy escaped across bridg- es which he had laid at Banks' Ford. On the 5th we returned to Chancel- lorsville and Early occupied his for- mer positions around Fredericks- burg. On the 6th our division (An- derson's) moved forward to the junc- tion of Ely's Ford and Mine roads, where, on the 30th of April, we had opened the campaign, to attack Hooker in his new fortifications; but the works were found to be aban- doned. Our army went into camp, many commands returning to the camps occupied during the winter. Mahone's brigade occupied a new camp near Salem Church and there remained a few days before starting on the Gettysburg campaign. The loss in Mahone's brigade dur- ing the series of engagements foot- ed up 255 killed, wounded and miss, ing. The casualties in the Twelfth regiment were 86, of whom only 5 were killed, [k] [m] ADDENDA. As a member of the Petersburg Eiflemen, Co. E, Twelfth Virginia Infantry, into which company, dur- ing the previous winter, I had been transferred from Co. I of the same 10. Gen. V.-D. Grouer, of Norfolk, Va. [ft] The 12th regiment's colors were borne by a succession of heroes to whose memory we owe eternal honor. They were borne untarnished by shame, but tattered and be- grimed with the balls and smoke of many hard fought fields, to the last scene of all at Appomattox. The story of their course from Seven Pines to Farmville, and of the brave men who bore them, should form a chapter of itself. Williamson, the first, Dawson shot through the heart while wav- ing them in the very mouths of the guns at Malvern Hill, Nicholas killed at Manassas, Parker desperately wounded at Crampton's Gap, May struck down at Spotsylvania, the ever soldierly Wm. C. Smith, Allen Magee. George W. Cogbill, and others, who formed the st«adfast guard and reinforced it when thinned by death. Some comrade should prepare and perpetuate the record! [Even as I write this note, the Index-Appeal, May 13th, 1892, announces the death of Joe Fowlkes,iithe peer in gallantry and devotion of any of the noble band. No more gallant heart ever beat beneath the Confederate gray.] [m] The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was ten thousand. The Federals lost seventeen thousand killed, wounded and prisoners, sixteen pieces of artillery, seven standards and a vast amount of ord- nance and other stores. Gen. Mahone, always careful of the comfort of his troops, sent me out after the battle to the scene of Sigel's rout with men and wagons to secure the spoils abandoned by the "flying Dutch- man." We got overcoats and blankets enough to supply a division. 11. Joseph 0. Fowlkes, of Cre^*e, Va. 60 WAR TALUS OP OOlfFElDSlRATE VETERANS. regiment, I took part in the Chan- cellorsville campaign whose history is so well told in the foregoing ad- dress by Gov. Cameron, and made entries in my diary of what was at the time deemed noteworthy, and also in the winter of 1865-6, began to write in my note book an account of the campaign which was never completed. Prom these sources, and from memory, in which much that does not appear either in note book or diary is firmly fixed and still fresh, I will make some additions to what Gov. Cameron has said, and will also give accounts from other participants. First, let me reproduce what I find in the note book descriptive of the camp of Mahone's brigade and the rollicking, happy, fellows I there found on my return to my company after an absence of something over seven months whilst recovering from a wound received at Crampton's Gap, the sketch made of this camp and its occupants, portraying them as still vividly remembered, being as follows : "On the 19th of April, 1863, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, I find my- self seated in my father's ambulance, driving through a large body of woods, thickly studded with ill-con- structed and odd-looking huts and swarming with men who, from all directions, are gathering towards our vehicle as we slowly pick our way along the swampy roads, and who eagerly ask, 'What have you for sale?' I do not at first understand the pur- port of the question and suspect the men mean to quiz me. Such, how- ever, is not the case. They take me for a sutler and fancy my wagon con- tains innumerable supplies. The camp is that of Mahone's brigade, about three miles from United States Ford on the Rappahannock. "The appearance of things, to eyes unaccustomed to such, was odd and even ludicrous. First, I am struck with the strange looking houses, half logs, half canvas, with huge chimneys suggestive of the impor- tance attached to fires by their build- ers. They were scattered about with little refere^ice to order of position, and no two of them resembled each other in architecture, except perhaps in the single particular of the chim- ney, which in almost every instance was a monstrous appendage, out of all proportion to the hut. "In these httle tenements, how- ever, I found as lively a set of fellows as I ever before met. They were all in the highest spirits, full of life and seemingly free from care — ready for a laugh at almost anything. But in the matter of dress it seemed that they were not precisely in that con- dition in which they would have liked to make their appearance at home. There was scarcely one of them but was ornamented by a large patch upon his pants, the odd shapes and divers colors of which, to say nothing of their material — some of them be- ing made of leather or oil cloth — would often provoke a laugh des- pite your sympathy for the poor fel- lows who wore them." In the Petersburg (Va.) Express of May 12th, 1863, there was pub- lished a private letter signed "A. M. K.," written by Lieutenant Anthony M. Keiley,12of the Petersburg Rifle- men, to Capt. Daniel Dodson,13 the first captain of this company, giving 12. Judge A. M. Keiley of Richmond, Va., one of the judges of the international court at Cairo, Egypt. 13. Capt. Daniel Dodson, of Petersburg, Va. CHANCELLORSVILLE. 61 an account of the battles and marches of the Chancellorsville campaign, which, coming from a gentleman of his intelligence who had participa- ted in them, is valuable as a contem- poraneous contribution to the his- tory of this memorable campaign. This letter will here be reproduced, and next after this a very interesting letter from Col. Feild, giving his re- collections of the campaign and a very clear account of the part taken by Mahone's brigade and especially by the Twelfth regiment. At appro- priate places in these two letters I shall append notes with extracts from my diary and other narratives. Lieut. Keiley's letter is as follows: "Came Twelfth Virginia, 1 "May 7th, 1863. y "Dear Captain: I was loiteidng in front of my tent on the even- ing of Wednesday, April 29th, in a rather nioody frame of mind, as news had just been received in camp of the attack and capture of a large detail of men, several of whom were of the 12th, who for some weeks be- fore had been engaged at German- na, on the Eapidan, constructing a bridge under 'Jeb Stuart's' direc- tion, when a courier came galloping by with information that the Yan- kees had crossed the Eappahan- nock in large force, both before Fredericksburg and at Kelly's Ford, and were advancing to the occupancy and investment of the much trou- bled 'burg.' Confident that a rough night's work, and perhaps many of them were before us, I strapped up my blanket, paid that attention to my commissariat, which in Dalget- ty's case, always impressed me with a favbrable opinion of his sense and soldierliness, and before the order came to 'fall in' I was ready. "There was a great deal to make the prospect gloomy. In the ar- rangement of the defence of Frede- ricksburg, which has existed since the memorable action of the 13th of December, the line east of the railroad has been assigned to Jackson — that west to Longstreet. When the expedition to Suffolk was planned, Longstreet was sent thith- er, leaving but two divisions, Ander- son's and McLaws', to perform the service hitherto assigned to the whole corps. Still, we fell in with a will, and soon filed out to our po- sition in the brigade, which moved with a quick step past Chancellors- ville and down towards the United States Ford. Here we took up our position and lay on our arms, await- ing an attack. The Riflemen, Co. E, were sent to the front about three-fourths of a mile, and there remained until 3:80 A. M., when they were relieved by the Norfolk 'Juniors,' Capt. Owens. "About dawn two or three of the Juniors came into camp with the disagreeable intelligence that Capt. Owens, Lieut. Beale,14 and about fif- teen of the men had been captured. Shortly afterwards the enemy's cav- alry appeared on our front, and sup- posing (as subsequently turned out to be the case) that these were but the advance of a heavy body of the enemy, it became necessary to man- euver back to some effective sup- porting position. To the 12th was assigned the task of covering this movement, and it is but doing sim- ple justice to one of the most com- petent officers and gallant men in the service to say that Col. Feild conducted the movement with the greatest dexterity and success. Di- viding his regiment into three bat- talions, he ordered a successive re- treat by which there were always 14. Lieut. Charles Beale, of Norfolk, Va. 62 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. two lines facing the enemy, the third marching to the rear. The move- ment had scarcely begun when the cavalry attacked the first line on its left, where an open field and two or three roads gave them peculiar ad- vantages. This attack was prompt- ly met and gallantly repulsed, and the retreat safely prosecuted. "We moved down the turnpike which leads from Orange Court- House to Fredericksburg, until we arrived at what is known as the Wooden Church, about three miles from ChanceUorsville, where a crest of hiUs commands the road. Here we were put in line of battle, and commenced an intrenchment, which was completed before daybreak at most points. Every hour brought its couriers with information of the steady approach of large bodies of the enemy, and it soon became evi- dent that an attack on our left in heavy force would come off on Fri- day. To meet this our numbers were ridiculously inadequate, and yet it was so vital a point that there could be no difference of opinion as to the necessity of accumulating sufficient troops there to make the onset decisive. Orders were issued to General Jackson to start imme- diately for our left, with a large por- tion of his corps, and to enable him to get time to throw his men into position, our little army was order- ed to open the attack in front. Our brigade headed the column, and the 12th as the right regiment led the advance. About ten we moved to the front by the road we had come down the preceding day. We had not left our intrenchments a half- mile before the enemy's cavalry pickets appeared in'sight, and some fifteen of our own cavalry trotted forward to reconnoitre. General Mahone ordered the 12th forward as skirmishers to feel the enemy, drive in his skirmishers and ascertain the position of his line of battle. He told us to press the enemy as fast and as far as we could, and not to stop until we had driven them back upon the main body. The Peters- burg Riflemen were again detailed to lead the advance, and in a few minutes the ring .of the 'Enfield' and the sharp 'hiss' of the rifle- ball told that the skirmishers had met. The regiment was now thrown out on either side of the road. Com- pany C, Lieut. Graswitt;15 Company A, Capt. Waddell,16 first on the right; then Company D, Lieut. Leath;17 and Company K, Capt. Clements,18 on the left. Subsequently the line on each side was extended by adding Com- pany B, Capt. Bowden,19 and Com- pany F. Lieut. Scott,20 to the right; and Company G, Capt. Branch, 21 and Company I, Capt. Jones,22tothe left. "We soon came in view of the ene- my's skirmish line, and with a rally- ing cry the boys charged. The country, which is composed of a succession of hills, gave the enemy considerable advantage, as they could choose the most defensive po- sitions, but the enthusiasm of our men exceeded anything I have wit- nessed since I have been in the ser- vice. They had an open field and a specific duty — all they ever want. Over hill and dale they chased the flying Yankees, driving them from crest to crest for a sweeping mile, when, as they hurried over a ridge a trifle higher than the rest, they came upon the line of battle of the foe, drawn up in splendid array, covering our front (which was com- posed, as you are aware a skirmish front always is, of men scattered five 16. Lieut. Benj. W. Graswltt, of Petersburg, Va. 16. Capt. Chas. E. WaddeU, of Petersburg, Va. 17. Lieut. Wm. Leath, of Petersburg, Va. 18. Capt. John T. Clements, of Peteraburg. Va. 19. Capt. Ro. E. Bowden, of West Point, Va. 20. Capt. E. P. Scott, of Greensville county, Va. 21. Capt. Edward W Branch, of Rlohmona, Va, 22. Capt. Eich'd W. Jones, then of Greensville county, Va, CHANCEL LORS VILLE. G3 or ten yards apart,) with a solid col- umn in double ranks, and sweep- ing around to our right with a heavy flanking party, that now poured down upon us. "We turned to find our supporting line, but to our surprise it was not in sight. How to get back to our line was now the question. We were warned, on starting, that we might all be taken prisoners, but assured that we would be recaptur- ed, a rather doubtful consolation, especially to officers, since the pro- clamation, of President Davis has put a stop to paroling. There was little time for discussion, so a 'fall back' rang out over the line, and our little line came back in order, turning at every fence to deliver a fire on the advancing line. Before the distance to our line was half ac- complished, the enemy charged our right from a body of woods that skirted the field in which we were, and cut off some prisoners, but the main body recovered their position, in order, having successfully and gallantly accomplished the purpose for which they were detailed. "In this engagement Capt. Banks received the severe wound from which he now suffers, and the com- mand of our company devolved on Macon Martin,23 as I was acting ad- jutant of the regiment. At this point Capt. Bowden went to the rear sick, and Lieut. Pollard24 took command of Company B. "Another night on our arm and un- der shelling. "Saturday morning about ten we were moved to the left to support a battery which was playing upon the enemy from the left of the turn- pike. Here Lieut. Martin was wounded, and I applied for permis- sion to take command of his com- pany, now without an officer, which 23. Lieut. Nat'l Macon Martin, of Petersburg, Va. 34, Capt. Thos, P. PoUard, of RicbTOoncl, Va. was granted. By this time the ubi- quitous Jackson, with Ewell's, A. P. Hill's and Rhodes' divisions had got well around to our left, and was in position to attack the main body of the enemy on the road leading to Ely's Ford to Chancellorsville. Gen. Lee established his headquarters immediately on the plank road, a mile below Chancellorsville, and our division was drawn up in front of him, and at right angles to the road. "During Saturday afternoon the left of our division was heavily en- gaged, and the centre and right slightly. About midnight the most tremendous cannonade along our front announced that Stonewall had opened on Chancellorsville. By dawn the batteries on our right and rear opened, and we soon had a full opportunity of enjoying that most ticklish of sensations, 'standing a shelling.' You can make no resis- tance, of course, and the villainous projectiles howl about your ears like so many mad demons shrieking out death-knell and doom. "Gradually the lines were contract- ed and our division advanced a cou- ple of hundred yards nearer and un- der full play of the batteries at Chan- cellorsville. Hooker had despatched to the army before Fredericksburg to cross over, as he had whipped us above, and a cannonading in that quarter notified us that the battle was joined above and below. It be- came necessary now to redouble ef- forts on the left, and the shot and shell hailed upon the earthworks at Chancellorsville. Cheer after cheer broke forth as the line advanced, and finally those of us who were in a position to see the Yankee works, soon observed the lines wavering. About 10 a white flag'rose over the enemy's works, and Chancellorsville was ours. For two hours a heavy cannonading on our extreme right told us that the the second column 64 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the enemy had crossed at Fred- ericksburg. Here they made a vig- orous dash, captured seven pieces of the Washington Artillery,^ two regi- ments of Barksdale's brigade, and were pressing our lines, when Gen. Lee, now relieved of the enemy in his front, pushed us down towards Fredericksburg. We occupied the left of the line of battle, and the en- gagement began again on the after- noon of Sunday, the battle raging in a semi-circle from the plank road near Salem Church to Marye's hill, already historic in the defence of Fredericksburg. "We had now a fresh army in our front, though smaller by a third than that we had whipped in the morn- ing; and although the night was closing in we renewed the attack. In two hours the enemy fell back, and on the river road leading from Fredericksburg along the river bank to United States Ford. Parallel with this line the army was now placed, and preparations were made to pre- vent an advance. Every hill was crowned with a battery, and the in- trenchments that our men had been digging with much toil for the last two months, came into useful play. In them we spent Monday and Mon- day night.* From that time until the present we have been marching up and down these infamous roads, up to our knees in the tenacious mud of this forsaken country, expecting every moment to meet one or the other of the two armies that have been balancing across the river each day of the past week. "At every turn of every road we came upon long squads of prisoners and wagon trains of guns and ac- coutrements, while so precipitate was the retreat that at every step we found the most valuable articles thrown away in the flight. Nearly every man in the regiment supplied himself with a rubber cloth, and a Yankee 'shelter tent,' and the camp is supplied with an Unlimited assort- ment of Yankee stationery. "Such, in a few paragraphs is a 'notion' of the way in which we have moved during the week that closed yesterday. Of the general battle, the papers and the official bulletins will tell you all. I antici- pate the most gratifying results from this battle. The execution of, the *To what Judge Keiley wrote in respect to the action near Salem on Sunday afternoon, and as to what was done the next day, I may properly add the following, written in my diary Monday, May 4, 1863: "Arriving at a point near Salem Church, our brigade was filed off to the left (north) of the plank road and moved to the extreme left of the line on this side. Very soon the skirmishers got to work and action began in earnest. Our regiment faced to the rear, being on extreme left, did not partici- pate, but was exposed to both minie balls and shells, losing three or four men slight- ly wounded. The 41st, 6th, 16th and 61st, I believe, were all at times engaged. The struggle for a long time seemed to be of very doubtful issue. At times I thought it would go against us, but after an hour or so the firing ceased and cheers from our boys announced the result. The enemy were beaten back and retired some half mile. What our loss or theirs was I have never heard estimated — only that they left the field strewn with their dead and wound- ed. I have heard we captured 500 prisoners, many of whom threw down their arms and ran into our lines. At night our line of battle seemed to remain unchanged. Early this morning our brigade shifted position further to the left. The skirmishers com- mence work again, the bullets whizzing past us. We expect every moment to get into action. The firing somewhat ceases and we move further around to the left, un- til finally we get to our present position in an excellent rifle trench commanding the fields in front of us. We see the enemy's batteries in position across the river. Once or twice one battery of ours to our left has exchanged shots with them . We learn that Early's division now occupies Marye's Hill at Fredericksburg, and that the enemy are being driven up this way — also that we have them hemmed in above us. I hear we captured yesterday and the day before over 3500 prisoners." COL. EVERARD M. FlILD. " To the 12th was ussigiied the task of covering this movement, and it is but doing simple justice to one of the most competent officers and gallant men in the service to say that Col. Feild conducted the movement with the greatest dexterity and success." P. fil. CHAN CELL OBS VILLE. (if) Conscription Act, difficult at all times, will probably be impossible under the depressing circumstances of such a defeat, and the re-enlistment of the nine months and two years men, so confidently counted on by the Abo- litionists, is now put beyond hope. "All the prisoners I have conversed with, and I have spoken to several, seemed absolutely to enjoy their con- dition, and to consider the tramp to Richmond a pleasure excursion. "'Captain Banks acted with the most conspicuous gallantry and coolness throughout, and when he received the severe wound which disabled him, he was at the head of the men cheering them on. Cary Batte's behaviour was equally creditable, and we all feel that we have lost an excellent soldier, and a most amia- ble and exemplary man. "Excuse this very stupid letter, but really I am so tired and generally used up that I can scarcely write in- telligibly. "When I reflect on the vastly su- perior numbers of the enemy, on their perfect organization and equip- ment, and then recall, as I now do, the magnificent earthworks they threw up — far the most perfect I have ever seen — with which they fortified their lines — three deep — I am amaz- ed that we were able to carry their first line. "All that we have endured, and much more, will be nothing, if it as- sists towards the early restoration of an honorable peace, and this infer- nal tithing of our blood may come to an end, and we may once more shake hands under a flag established, and with a name recognized as it merits to be, the bravest of the youngest of the nations. "Yours very truly, "A. M. K." The following is the letter of Col. Feild: "Petersbukg, Va., I "June 11th, 1892. j "Geo. S. Beenaed, Esq. "Dear Sir : Complying with your request to give my recollections of the battle of Chancel! orsville, and particularly of the part taken by the 12th Virginia regiment, of Mahone's brigade, with such incidents as came within my personal knowledge, I will now give an account of this cam- paign, with its incidents, as I now recall them : "Early in the spring of J863, Ma- hone's (Virginia) brigade and Po- sey's (Mississippi) brigade were moved from the vicinity, of Freder- icksburg, Va., some ten or twelve miles west, and were placed in posi- tion to watch the Federals then com- manded by Gen. Hooker, and to dis- pute their passage of the Rappa- hannock should they attempt to cross at United States Ford, or of the Rapidan, should they attempt to cross at Ely's or Germanna Ford. A detail was immediately sent from the two brigades to bridge the river at Germanna. Capt. J. Edward Ty- ler,2o of Co. D of the 12th Virginia regiment, of which I was then in command as its lieutenant-colonel (its colonel, Col. D. A. Weisiger, not yet having recovered from a severe wound received in the battle of Second Manassas), was placed in charge. "For several days nothing interest- ing or exciting occurred in our new camp, except the almost nightly cry of 'pole-cat!' 'pole-cat!!' from some sentinel, repeated by every man awake in camp, which always crea- ted considerable excitement until the men were satisfied that the strong- smelling little animal had been fright- ened off. "I think it was about one o'clock of the 29th day of April that two cav- 25. Capt. J. Edward Tyler, of Richmond, Va. 66 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. alrymen reported to Gen. Mahone that the enemy were crossing at all three of the fords, and had captured all of the detail at Germanna. We were immediately put under arms (the wagons, &c., being sent to the rear) and moved, with two pieces of artillery, westward to a point near the ChanceUorsville house. Here we were placed into position with Mahone's brigade on the Ely's Ford road to the right, and Posey's on the plank road to the left, about a quarter of a mile dis- tant. Being ordered by Gen. Ma- hone to throw forward one of my companies, I directed Capt. Banks, of Co. E, to advance along the road and take position a half mile in our front. Almost continuously during this night there was a fall of rain, which was exceedingly disagreea- ble, but there was no disturbance by the enemy. Before daylight next morning (April 30th), I directed Capt. Thos. P. Owens, with his com- pany (Co.H),to relieve Capt. Banks' company and to instruct him (Banks) to report to the regiment. Soon af- ter day a member of Co. H, return- ing to camp, brought information that his company had been charged by a number of Federal cavalry, and that, their guns being wet and failing to fire, the men could offer but little resistance, and he thought that the entire company, himself excepted. had been captured — a serious loss to the regiment.* "About seven o'clock (I think) Gen. Mahone rode up to me and said: 'Col. Feild, Gen. Anderson has deter- mined to do now what I advised him to do last night, that is, to fall back to the Wooden Church, about two miles on the road to Fredericksburg. Had this been done last night under cover of darkness, it could have been done without loss ; but now we will have to retreat in the face of a large force of cavalry, and I have deter- mined to leave you here, with your regiment, to cover my retreat.' "He then informed me that Gen. Posey would leave one of his regi- ments on the plank road to cover his retreat, and at the same time to keep me from being flanked from that direction, and that the com- mandant of neither regiment should retire without first informing the other. He then instructed me to retire outside of the field and place my men in position across the road from Ely's Ford, along which he would retreat, and there to remain exactly thirty minutes after the last of his brigade had passed, and then to fall back to the Wooden Church as rapidly as possible. "About ten minutes after the last of our troops had retired, a Federal general, with a staff and body guard about one hundred strong, came out *Iii my diary is the following entry: "Thtjksdat. APBiii 30th. ) "On the Boad to Fredericksburg, f "Since last wrote, status of things very much changed. Enemy got across yester- day or day before at Kelley's or Ely's Ford , and yesterday afternoon their advance was within a mile and a half of ChanceUorsville on Ely's Ford road. Our company sent for- ward deployed as skirmishers yesterday af- ternoon — encountered their advance about one and a half miles beyond (N. W. of) ChanceUorsville. We were immediately de- ployed on both sides of the road, but neith- er party flred. At 24 this morning we were relieved by the Norfolk Juniors (Co. H)." It was late in the evening, near sunset, when the men at the head of our company, marching by the flank down the road to- wards the advancing enemy, saw a hundred or two yards ahead of them a few of the enemy meeting us, when some said, "There they are!" and we were at once deployed as skirmishers in the dense woods, there to re- main in the damp undergrowth in silence until relieved by the Norfolk Juniors, not knowing at what minute there would be a dash upon us. To state that it was a gloomy, disagreeable, night to all of us is unnecessary. CHANCELL OliS VILLE. 6l of the woods on the opposite side of the field, about half a mile dis- tant from us, and riding down to the farm house about three hundred yards in our front, turned into the yard, from which place, with his field-glasses, he made a survey of things generally and of the 12th regiment in particular, and then re- tired slowly by the same route by which he came. My men were very anxious indeed to fire at them, but I would not allow them, knowing weU that their fire would bring large reinforcements to the aid of the general.t "After twenty minutes of the thirty minutes allowed me had expired, I sent a message to the officer com- manding the Mississippi regiment on the plank road on the left that I should fall back promptly in ten minutes. The officer bearing the message returned hurriedly and in- formed me that the Mississippi regiment had already retired. Knowing that we were liable at any moment to be flanked in that direc- tion, I ordered Capt. R. W. Jones, of Co. I, my next in command, to take charge of the left wing of the regiment, about 250 strong, and fall back to the turnpike and there form hue of battle and await my arrival with the right wing. He had gotten but a short distance when the ene- my, seeing the movement (I sup- pose), came forward from the woods on the opposite side of the field with a heavy force of cavalry, and moved down on us at quite a rapid pace. "Remembering well the positive and emphatic instructions given by Gen. Mahone to hold my position thirty minutes, which time had not expired, and knowing full well my inability to cope with so large a force with only 250 muskets, I sent an order to Capt. Jones to halt his column, form a line of battle across the road and await instructions. "When the enemy got within about 400 yards of us, they slackened their pace and pushed forward a line of skirmishers. When these skirmish- ers had gotten within about 250 yards of us I gave the command to fire, and of the 250 muskets not a single one fired. The strain of that moment was the most severe that I had during the war. My first thought was that the men would be completely demoralized, and that we were at the mercy of the enemy now rapidly advancing, without power to resist. I have often thought since how great a mistake I made on that occasion, and how little at that time I knew of the fine material of which the 12th regiment was made, for not a man left the line, but the men went to picking the tubes of their guns with pins and re-capping them. The bringing down of the guns to the aim caused the enemy's skirmishers to halt and dismount, and my men, re-capping their wet guns, soon open- ed a scattering fire, which kept them in check until I was ready to retire, which I did by falling back through the woods immediately in my rear until on a line with the left wing of the regiment. The enemy's skir- mishers, when they dismounted, got behind their horses and fired over their backs at us. I now took charge of the left wing and ordered Capt. Jones to take charge of the fThe sight of this body of Federal cav- alrymen riding into the yard of the resi- dence immediately in our front and survey- ing us seemingly with such cool assurance as we lay behind a fence not two hundred yards distant was indeed exciting. The men had their guns cocked and it was with great difficulty that they obuld be restrained from giving the blue coats a shot. In my diary is the following entry: "We see the enemy's advance ride up to within two hun- hundred yards of us. How impudent they look as they file into line and sit on theiir horses, surveying us!" 08 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. right wins' ^^^ form another line of battle across the road, 200 yards in rear. We retreated in this way until the enemy ceased to follow. We had skirmishing for some distance, but the enemy did not press us and could not flank us, being unable to reach us except by the road, on ac- count of the thickness of the woods. When we reached the turnpike road. Gen. Mahone and staff were awaiting us. The general appeared very glad to see me, for, riding up, he offered his hand and said : 'I am glad to see you, sir. I thought that you and your whole regiment were captured. I heard the firing and thought it was in your rear.' We moved on to the Wooden Church, and there took po- sition on the right of the line and dug rifle pits until the evening. :|: "The strain on our nerves was con- siderable the whole day. We knew that Hooker's whole army was in our front and that we had only 4,000 men to oppose him, and the balance of Lee's army from ten to twenty- . five miles distant, "Just before night I was ordered to extend the line by deploying a por- tion of my regiment as skirmishers, and later to extend the line still fur- ther to prevent our being flanked. Consequently, I had nearly the whole regiment deployed as skirmishers. I shall never forget the groans and oaths of Lieut. E. P. Scott,26of Co. F, who had joined us about ten o'clock that night. He had been home on leave, and was not due in camp until the 1st of May. Gen. Mahone was always very severe on both officers and men for over-stay- ing their time, and Scott knowing this and not knowing exactly where to find his command, said he thought that it was best to start a day before. The consequence was that he was groaning, and cursing his luck for having to go into the fight the next day with a furlough in his pocket, about which all soldiers become su- perstitious. Just before day on the morning of May 1st a brigade came up and I had orders to assemble the skirmish- ers on the left of the regiment, and the brigade that had just arrived was ordered to fill the place vacated by the skirmishers. I remember that the arrival of this brigade made me feel much more comfortable, for it meant that other troops would soon follow. Gen. Mahone had his headquarters at a small house on the turnpike road, about 100 yards to the rear of our lines. About sun- rise I walked up to see him and found him washing his face at the well in front of the house. Seeing a general officer and staff, some 200 yards off, examining our breast- works, I asked Gen. Mahone what officer that was. His reply was : 'Don't you know, sir ? Why, that is Gen. Jackson.' Never in my life did I hear anything that exhiliarated me more than his reply, for, from Jin my diary appears the following entry made on the morning of the 1st of May, describing the retreat: "Our company brought up the rear some quarter of a mile behind the balance of the brigade. When we reached the point in the road opposite here we filed off to the left (east;, and after resting an hour or two soon change position and get into line of battle. A few shots on our left tell that the enemy have come up. Towards evening we learn that by morning we are to be re-in- forced. The divisions of Early, A. P. Hill and MoLaws to oome up. Last night Gen. Semmes' brigade took position immediately on our right. Wilcox's was already on our extre me right . Soon after night we begin to throw up breastworks — at least our regi- ment. I learn we have a line now from this point to the road. The work seems now (about 8 A. M.) to be ended. We expected an attack from the enemy the first thing this morning. We are ready for them now." 26. Capt. Edward P. Scott, formerly of Greensville county, Va., who died in Louisiana a few years after the close of the war, a gallant soldier. CHANCEL L ORS VILLE. 69 having been very much depressed about our army during the entire previous evening and night, the knowledge of Jackson's presence made me confident that everything would be all right, and that we had another victory before us to add to the large number already gained over the Army of the Potomac. "Looking now down the road to- wards Fredericksburg, as far as the eye could reach, I could see a solid mass of men moving towards us. I went back immediately to the bri- gade and quickly communicated the news to the different regiments and found that the effect of the news was as inspiriting on the men as on myself. "A short time after this we were all eating our breakfast, when Capt. Robertson Taylor, assistant adjutant- general on Mahone's staff, rode up and directed me to get my regiment under arms and report at Mahone's headquarters immediately. "I moved out quickly with my men in column of fours, and, receiving a sign from Gen. Mahone to advance, rode on to the turnpike ahead of the regiment. Before reaching it I saw two pieces of artillery in the road, with their horses' heads towards the enemy. I thought this strange, but judge my surprise when riding up to Gen. Mahone, he said: 'Col. Feild, I wish you to take your regi- ment with these pieces of artillery down this road. You will find a strong picket in the house ahead of you, and on the hill beyond a strong skirmish line. Detach one of your companies to drive in the pickets. Deploy a sufficient number of your companies as skirmishers — if neces- sary, the whole regiment — and drive in the Yankee skirmishers. I wish you to drive them. Drive them quickly, and until you find the ene- my's line of battle. I expect that you and your whole regiment will be captured, but we have a trap set for them, and we will re-capture you.' "I directed Capt. Banks, with his coVnpany, to advance ahead of the artillery and drive the pickets from the house.* "He soon reported that they were too strong for him, and asked for reinforcements. "Eemembering Mahone's orders about haste in driving in the Yan- kee skirmishers, I determined to de- ploy the entire regiment forward on centre, and at once. I gave the order to that effect, at a double- quick. The Federal pickets, seeing that they were about to be flanked on both sides, quickly fell back on their skirmish line on the hill. The regiment now advanced rapidly with a yell, and, striking the enemy's skirmishers on the hill, routed them and followed them for a long dis- *Mr. Elohard B. Davis, of Petersburg, Va., a member of the Petersburg Eiflemen, tells the following incident, of which I re- member hearing at the time of the battle from the men who were on the north side of the turnpike where it occurred: "As we were passing up the road in the direction of Chancellorsville and had near- ly reached that point at which Capt. Hill Carter's horse was afterwards killed, we came to a small hut on the north side of the road having a broad rock chimney extend- ing nearly across the end of the house next to us. Behind this chimney there stood an old colored woman, who, appearing to know that there was a large foree of the enemy a short distance up the road, and seeing our thin line of skirmishers advancing (we had only thirty-two men in line) , and frighten- ed about out of her wits at the prospect of the impending collision, with wild gesticu- lations, pointing in the direction of the en- emy, and in tones of most earnest entreaty, exclaimed to us, 'Oh, for God's sake, don't go up there! Don't go up there!! ^ There are thousands of them up there and they will kill every one of you all !' This she repeat- ed several times, most earnestly. Some of us said to her as we approached and passed by her, 'Never mind, old lady, we've got a plenty of men just behind us to take care of those Yankees. Don't be alarmed.' " 70 WAR TALKS OS' COytFeOERAfE VETERANS. tance before finding their line of battle, which was composed of regu- lars and before whom we in turn had to retreat rapidly. We were very close to their concealed line of bat- tle before I discovered it. The fire was so great that we lost very heav- ily in this engagement, among those lost being some of our best officers and men. I saw Capt. Banks, of Company E, shot down about thirty yards to my left on its retreat, and several of its best men were cap- tured while taking him behind a house for safety. Capt. Banks was a very gallant officer, a man who always obeyed orders, and required his own to be obeyed. His loss was very severely felt, not only by his company, but by hi^ regiment and brigade. His wound received on this occasion disabled him perma- nently. "After this the regiment was allowed to rest some hours, for the men were exhausted from their great exercise. Towards evening we were ordered to rejoin the brigade, which moved to the west and took position in front of the Chancellorsville house.§ "Nothing of importance occurred until the next afternoon. We were passing in the rear of some artillery, the brigade moving by the left flank, my regiment being in the rear, when Gen. McLaws rode up and asking me my name and regiment, and gin my diary, on the 2nd of May, I wrote out the following account of the fight of the day before: "About 11 o'clock yesterday morning left our entrenchments, our brigade leading. Upon reaching point where entrenchment crosses the road, our company was sent for- ward as skirmishers, and when getting one and a half miles down the road, in front of our breastworks, we were deployed — first platoon on the right of the road , second on the left — and having advanced thus about a quarter of a mile, came up with a few of our cavalry skirmishers, and also with the en- emy's skirmishers, who were cavalry and infantry, or cavalry mounted and dismount- ed, and were in fuU view about three hun- dred yards across an open field. We imme- diately commenced firing, the enemy re- turning our fire very briskly, their mounted men acting very gallantly. But we contin- ued to go forward until we reached their position and had advanced about two hun- dred yards beyond it, after which we fell back to near the position held by the ene- my when first seen by us. Here the rest of our regiment, deployed as skirmishers and advancing beautifully, joined us, and there the whole line halted for about ten minutes, during which time one or two pieces of our artillery opened on the enemy, firing over our heads. Now the order to advance was given, and the whole line of skirmishers, jumping over a wicker fence behind which we had been lying, rush through a little patch of chinquapin growth, and upon get- ting within fifty yards of the fence enclos- ing the thicket, we see the blue coats scat- tered about, some in the open field not fifty yards from the fence. We immediately open fire upon them , which th ey return , and we then advance quite up to the fence, fir- ing as rapidly as possible, the enemy retir- ing and our boys in fine spirits. Immedi- ately on our right we see their mounted men galloping for life from out of the woods and several of them are dropped. But ahead of us, in the open field, we see a line of bat- tle, a regiment or two, perhaps more, about 150 yards distant, which, facing to their left, commenceto march at a double quick to their left, as if for the purpose of getting on our right flank. Some of us fire at them, when many of this line of the enemy are seen to fall, or stop as if to avoid our balls, and some of them to return our fire. Immedi- ately now they commence to advance upon us and we are ordered to fall back, the ene- my firing as they advance. It was a tight time. Heated and fatigued, we could scarcely get along, and many gave up from sheer exhaustion and were captured. But backward we moved until, scattered and broken, we reached the point where our company first fired upon the skirmishers. Here we found the rest of our brigade drawn up in a line of battle and also some artille- ry. The enemy advance still and a volley is exchanged with our troops, their artillery having now opened. Our regiment soon rallies somewhat to the rear, and muster only 75 or 100, although it entered the ac- tion with about 400." The above note is long, but I must add an incident or two not therein recorded: When we first began to fire upon the ene- CHAN CELL ORS VILLE. 71 being told, ordered me to halt my regiment and support the artillery, then about fifty yards in our front. I immediately halted and sent for- ward to Gen. Mahone to notify him. Eeceiving my message, he came back at once, and learning that I had been instructed by Gen. Mc- Laws to support this artillery, he ordered me to make room with my regiment to the right so that he could get the whole brigade in po- sition, saying, with considerable em- phasis, that no one regiment of his brigade should support twenty pieces of artillery. While we were in that position there was an artil- lery duel between some pieces of this artillery and some of the Fede- ral guns at Chancellorsville, but did not last long, and I only remember that Lieut. N. Macon Martin was wounded,!! "Later in the afternoon we moved to the left and took position to the left and immediately on the plank- road, and it was at this point that I saw more of Gen. Lee than during any battle of the war. "Four regiments of the brigade were now on the skirmish line under the command of Col. Rogers, of the 6th, with only the 12th regiment in reserve, and for four miles in Hooker's immediate front we had only a skirmish line to oppose him, while Jackson was passing to the rear. Gen. Lee sat on his horse a my's skirmishers, I noticed particularly across the field a cavalryman who fired a carbine. I thought I would take a shot at him, and accordingly did so, but, although I took good aim, my fire was ineffective. The fellow rode along as if no bullet had been sent after him . When we reached the extreme point of our advance, where we saw the enemy's line of battle in the open field about 150 yards in our front, the situation was excit- ing in the extreme. Tack Cowles (Judge Jas. K. Cowles, of Goldthwaite, Texas, of the Eiflemen), standing at my side loading and firing as fast as he could, was the most excited man I ever saw. "By G — d," he exclaimed, "I will be d— d if I wouldn't give ahundred dollars for a loaded gun." "Tack, don't curse so," said I. His reply was, "D— d if I wouldn't." [In my diary early Sunday morning, May 3, 1863, 1 made the following entry: "Yesterday afternoon about 3 J o'clock brigade moved about a quarter of a mile to left side of turnpike and took position be- hind a battery (2nd Kichmond Howitzers) . posted about fifty yards from our regiment on the brow of a hill. This battery imme- diately opened on the enemy, who replied with great spirit. It did one good, in spite of the great danger we were in, to see how beautifully the men at the pieces worked. After about fifteen minutes' time a cheer from the boys at the guns announced the ne- sult. The enemy's battery was completely silenced. There were some casualties in our regiment— 5 men wounded by pieces of shell — among them Lieut. Macon Martin, commanding our company." Our fifteen minutes' experience lying on the slope of a hill, upon the brow of which stood the guns of the Eichmond battery in hot action with those of the enemy, whose shot and shell every few seconds were skim- ming the crest where the Confederate guns were posted, was one never to be forgotten. I remember watching the men at the guns work, with the intensest anxiety, and lying where I was in line immediately in rear of one of the guns, just about fifty yards up the hill, the men and guns were strongly outlined against the sky, and actually seethed to grow in size as the action pro- gressed. The artillerists handled the pieces with a rapidity and precision of movement that seemed marvelous, and their work at the guns was almost fascinating. But that cheer which announced the silencing of the Federal battery was one of the most wel- come ever heard. *Mr. Eichard B. Davis gives the follow- ing graphic account of this artillery duel: "Finding that the battery was composed of a section of one of the companies of the Eichmond Howitzers, I went up to the guns, along with one or more members of our company, to see if any of our friends in the Howitzers were there. Finding at least one of these present, we staid there some little time in conversation with the artillery- men and were told by them that they had been stationed at the place they occupied to prevent the enemy from putting, a battery upon a hill they pointed out some distance beyond them in the direction of Chancel- 72 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. great deal of the time immediately in the rear of our regiment, and you could see a shade of anxiety not only on his face, but also on that of Gen. Mahone. Whilst here I saw a shell explode immediately over Gen. Lee's head. I was lying on the ground at the time, behind a little breast-work, and watching him closely, but did not see a muscle of his face move, nor did his horse flinch. Soon after this there was a lull in the firing in our front. I heard Gen. Lee tell Gen. Mahone to order the officer commanding his skirmish line to feel the enemy, to feel them 'pretty heavily, pretty heavily.' These were his words. Gen. Mahone turned to his ad- jutant-general, Gapt. Robertson Tay- lor, who, a moment later, dashed forward, and in a short time Rogers was certainly obeying orders, for the firing in our front was terrific. "During this heavy fire in our front, brought about by Gen. Lee's order, I saw a large body of men coming down the line from our right almost at a double quick. The ene- my at the time were shelling us fu- riously, but this did not seem to have had any effect on the spirits of the men, for some of our men, rec- ognizing the men of the Florida brigade, greeted them with 'Hello, turkey! Hello, turkey!' and in a moment the whole of the entire two regiments was hallooing out, the lorsvlUe and on the north side of the road. They told us that they had measured the distance to this hill and had their ammuni- tion prepared accordingly, and that, if the enemy should attempt to put a battery there, they (the enemy) would have a very warm time of it. While we were talking a batte- ry of Federal artillery came dashing down the road from the direction of Chancellors- ville, and wheeling into the field at the point on the hill they were expected to oc- cupy, went into battery and commenced firing, all of which was done in a time hard- ly longer than it has taken me to tell of it. As they came up, however, our artillery friends, true to their promise, commenced firing very rapidly, and with such accuracy as to kill one or two teams of the enemy's horses, blow up one or more of their caissons and disable some of their guns. Every shell from the Confederate guns seemed to burst right at the mouths of the enemy's cannon, and, although I was very much soared and anxious to get back to my place in the line of battle, I could not resist the temptation to stay a little while and watch the effect of the shots from our artillery. I did not, how- ever, stay long at this place, but ran back to my place in line , where I found that Lieijt. Macon Martin had been struck on the foot by a piece of one of the enemy's shells. In a very few minutes thereafter I heard the shout of our artillerymen as the enemy retired from the position they had attempt- ed to occupy. I do not think there was as much as fifteen minutes of time from the first appearance of the enemy's battei'y un- til we heard the shouting of our men as they witnessed the utter discomforture and re- tirement of the hostile battery. "We passed over this ground the next day on our way back to Fredericksburg to op- pose the advance of the enemy from that direction, and I saw the remains of the ex- ploded caissons and the dead body of a man lying directly under one of them. "The impetuous advance of the battery, in full gallop as I now remember it, and the unerring and destructive fire of our men, pouring ,a veritable shower of iron upon the devoted men and beasts belonging to the battery, are now as vividly before my mind's eye as they appeared upon that memorable day. and often have I told my boys of this well-remembered incident." Mr. Jos. V. L. McCreery, of Eichmond.Va., who, as a sergeant in the First Howitzer Company of Virginia Artillery, took part in this artillery duel, states that the artillery engaged was not the Second (Richmond) Howitzers, but his company, the First I Richmond) Howitzers' (as the company was commonly known), commanded by Capt. Edward S. McCarthy, who, with Lieuts. R. M. Anderson and J. M. Kimmo, and Serg'ts W. H. Blackador, J. V. L. Mc- Creery, T>. S. McCarthy, Sclater and Mon- cure directed the firing of the two guns of the battery engaged, which two guns, with a like number of guns of Capt. Manly's (North Carolina) battery, participated in the ac- tion with the enemy's battery at this point, the loss in which was Private Nat'l W. Sel- den, killed, and Private George P. Richard- son, wounded, both Howitzers. CHANCELL ORSVIhLE. men of one, 'Hello, turkey!' and those of the other, 'Hello, Mahone !' We called our Florida friends 'tur- keys' because they had killed Gen. Mahone's flock of turkeys, that had strayed into their camp. The Flor- idians were going' to the support of Gen. Wright, and ten minutes later suffered very heavy loss. "Late that evening we heard guns to our front and a little to our left, which we knew to be Jackson's, for when the report of the first was heard, Gen. Mahone exclaimed : 'Thank God ! There are Jackson's guns!' The fire of both artillery and musketry in -that direction was now very heavy, until after dark. "Th^at night we slept on our arms in line of battle. The next moi-ning early the fighting was resumed . Our skirmish line was advanced nearer to the enemy's breast-works, and my regiment advanced in the woods some quarter of a mile from the po- sition of the evening before. Here we were under a heavy shelling, but from this position I could see much that was going on about Chancellors- ville. We captured Chancellors - ville and about 1,500 prisoners that morning, and had scarcely halted there before we moved down the turn- pike road towards Fredericksburg, the whole of Anderson's division with another division (McLaws', I think). After moving down the road a little, Gen. Lee made his ap- pearance near the head of the col- umn. The yell that went up from the 10,000 men must have startled the enemy, who had fallen back but a short distance in the woods between us and the river. I heard no cheer during the war to compare with this. When we were commanded to move down the turnpike in columns of divisions, I thought it was to form two lines of battle and to attack the enemy, but after marching three oi' four miles I was at a total loss as to where we were going and what we were going to do, but did not remai u in this condition very long. JI\- regiment was the right of Mahone's brigade, and Mahone's brigade the right of Anderson's division. This placed the 12th regiment iu front of the column. Gen. Mahone's po- sition was a short distance in front of the division, and mine in the rear of him. During this march the men were more noisy and cheerful than I had almost ever seen them. You could scarcely hear anything that was going on. Every man was giving his experience during the fight to his neighbor, and evidently thinking that the battle was over and the vic- tory won. They would probably have forced me to the same conclu- sion, had I not noticed that Gen. Mahone's spirits did not correspond with those of the men under his command. In fact, his face express- ed dissatisfaction. At this time we had heard nothing of Jackson's wound, or of the crossing of the ene- my at Fredericksburg. "Eiding in front of my regiment, I saw a horseman coming down the road from the direction of Freder- icksburg at a fast gait, and thinking it probable that he had some orders I spurred up my horse, so as to be able to catch any message that was to be delivered to Gen. Mahone, and heard him say, 'General, Gen. Ear- ly says, "Come forward as rapidly as you can. The enemy are advanc- ing." ' ' 'Gen . Mahone turned in his saddle and seeing me, told me to make my men 'step out.' I reined up my horse until the head of the regiment overtook me, and in a loud forced voice I gave the order to 'step out, ' and it was wonderful what a quiet- ^yAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS . ing effect this order had on the men, for it made them^ so quiet you might almost have heard a pin drop. Well did they know that this meant another fight and that very quickly. "We now moved forward rapidly until we reached Salem Church, about four miles from Fredericks- burg, where we ran into line of bat- tle hurriedly to the left of the turn- pike road, and in less than five min- utes our skirmishers were engaged. We had hardly gotten in position, behind a ditch bank, when Gen. Ma- hone ordered the brigade to move to the left and make room for Gen. Semmes' brigade, which, although it looked very differently at the time, was, as things turned out, a very for- tunate move for our brigade, as the attack on our portion was very light, and that on Gen. Semmes' front very heavy. "We whipped Sedgwick, and forc- ed him to retire across the river the next night under considerable shell- ing. After Sedgwick recrossed the river, we were moved back to attack that portion of the enemy left near Chancellorsville. About two hoiirs before starting on this march, we had one of the heaviest rains I have ever seen fall, and as we advanced along the plank road, we saw quite a number of dead Federal soldiers who had been buried in the ditch by the road and had been washed up by the rain, and were being floated down the ditches by the running water. "We reached our stopping point about dark and I was immediately ordered by Gen. Mahone to take my regiment down the road in rear of the army, to guard against an attack of Stoneman's cavalry, which was said to be in our rear. Against this I had to protest. I told Gen. Ma- hone that I had done all that human nature could stand — that I had been on the outpost for three nights and was compelled to sleep, and would not be responsible if he sent me on the duty. He told me to move down this road and put my regiment in position to resist an attack, to de- tach a company and send it two hundred yards farther down the road, and then to go to sleep, all of which I did. I slept soundly almost in water (the ground being very wet), uaitil I was aroused the next morning to get ready to, make an attack on the enemy. The Une of battle being formed, we moved on the enemy's works and were very much sui'prised, and more pleased, to find that the enemy had left them during the night and retired across the river. We found most formid- able breastworks which would have cost us many of ou.r lives had we charged them. We also found large quantities of fixed ammunition and other stores that had been left by the enemy in their hasty retreat. "Thus ended the battle of Chan- cellorsville, one of the greatest vic- tories won by the Ai-my of Xorthem Virginia; for, with an army fifty- seven thousand strong, Gen. Lee had overcome Gen. Hooker, whose army was one hundred and thirty-two thousand strong. "Tom- Comrade, "E. M. Feild." To the foregoing letter of Col. Feild I wiU add the following re- ceived to-day (June 27, 1892) from Mr. Hugh E. Smith, of Petersburg, Va., who was sergeant-major of the 12th regiment and subsequently its adjutant: "Peteksburg, Va., i June 27, 1892. i "Geo. S. Bernard, Esqi "Dear Sir: At your request I fur- CMAN(!EhLORSVtLlji<:. nish you the following list of the casualties in the 12th Va. regiment in the battles about Chancellorsville, which I take from a memorandum kept by me at the time, I being then the sergeant-major of the regiment: "Co. A — wounded, Corporal H. G-. Evans, Privates Charles Green and David May, Jr.; missinig, Lieut. T. Wiley Branch, Privates George W. Ivey,* Bradley Paine, J. Thompson B. Bragg, George W. May, Thelly Ifugent, George W. Oliver, Charles Jordan and W. H. E. Taylor. "Co. B— killed, Private Henry T. ColdweU; wounded, Private Charles J. Pearman; missing. Private Robert Wells, Nelson Guess, Thomas W. Bass, James Birdsong, Charles W. Benezet. "Co . C — ivounded. Corporal William T. Harrison and Private Edward B. Peebles; missing. Privates William B. Eckles and L. H. Powell. "Co. D — Jcilled, Private Alexander Chandler; wounded. Sergeant James Blankenship, Privates James W. Bryant, W. H. Smith and George P. Smith. "Co. P — ivounded, Privates S. P. Bass, J.A.Collier, E.T.Gordon and E. H. Seward; missing. Corporals A. S. Allen and E. H. King; Privates John M. Barnes, Cornelius Peeley, J. L. Ivey, E. D. Mitchell, John Myrick, W. A. Sadler, D. L. Stain- back and H. W. Smith. "Co. G — wounded. Corporal M.M. Bowers, Privates Thomas Grame, J. P. Hawkins, John Kayton and James P. Figg.f "Co. H — icounded. Private William Edmonds; missing, Capt. Thomas P. Owens, Lieuts. Charles Beale and H. C. Woodhouse, Corporals Moreland, White and Moore, Privates Ward, Williams, Whitehurst, Moreland, Bracy, Eandolph, Griffin, Bryant and Murray. "Co. K — wounded. Privates George *Mr. George W. Ivey, of Bichmond, Va., one of the members of Co. A captured in the engagement of May 1st, says: "As I turned to make for a log house in my rear, I saw Capt. Banks of the Biflemen fall. I tried to get him up, but could not do so. He said to me: 'Save yourself. I'm badly hurt.' So 1 made for the log hut and found about twenty of our boys around and behind the chimney firing. Expecting ev- ery moment to see our support come to our relief, after firing two rounds, I was in the act of firing a third, when a great big Fed- eral soldier stepped in my front and said, 'Surrender, you d — d rebel!' He was a soldier of the regular Federal army and I thought was the biggest man and had the biggest gun I have ever seen before or since. He had his bayonet at my breast and his finger on the trigger. My eyes at that time, I imagine, were as large as sau- cers. I said to him, 'Do you intend to shoot a man after he surrenders?' 'You have not surrendered!' was his reply. I still had my gun in my hands, being in the act of shoot- ing when he so suddenly appeared. Just then a Federal officer stepped up and pulled my gun from me, and there being about twenty of us captured about and near the place, he told the man who had captured me to go to the front and he would send these prisoners to the rear by some one who knew how to treat prisoners. This officer was a gentleman, whoever he was. He al- so told us to hurry to the rear or we would be shot by our men as they were (he said) advancing at that time, which advance we prisoners were then expecting. So to the rear we started and had gone but a few hun- dred yards when we saw a column of Fed- eral troops marching along the road with a fine band in front. In a few moments a shell from one of our batteries struck the head of this line of men and passed to about its centre and then exploded. I never saw such destruction caused by one shell in all the four years of the war. The band ceased its music, and its members scatter- ed, leaving the bass drum on the side of the road with two or three horns to keep it company. Many were killed by this shell, and after the line was reformed the music- ians went for their dead comrades like so many birds of prey, rifling knapsacks and pockets, showing clearly by this act ihat thpy had not the instincts of soldiers. None of the musicians, however, were struck." fLieut. P. H. Kelly was also among the wounded. WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. W. Schooles, Dennis Heffron, P. H. Petti way. and E. X. Hite; missing, Thomas E. Kersey, Miles Botts, James Hardy, James Scott, James E. Hawks and William Goode Talley . •'I find no list of the casualties in either Company E or Company I, in each of which I know there were several. I do not now know why I did not enroU them in this memoran- dum book. "Youi- Comi-ade, "Hugh E. Smith." The casualties in Company I will be given in the Appendix. Those in Company E appear in the follow- ing extract from the entry made in my diary on the morning of May 2d: •'In our company Capt. Banks was severely wounded and Sergeant Cary D. Batte, it is thought, mortal- ly wounded. Ned N"ewsom27 and John E. Scott28 were also wounded, probably not severely. Our missing fin Co. E) are Austin Maclin,29 Put- nam Stith,30 Jim ]Srash,31 James Medley,32 3Iarcellus Harrison33 and Heni'y Eobinson .34 In the regiment there are known to have been killed 2 and wounded 18 men. The ene- my's loss was considerable heavier than ours in killed and wounded. We captured scarcely any. Prom all I can learn, we engaged regulars. Their cavalry were certainly splen- did — no doubt the same that charged upon and bagged most of the ISot- folk Juniors last Thursday morning. ' ' With the exception of Lieut. X. Macon Martin receiving a wound in his foot, which occurred on the 2d of. May after the foregoing entry was made, we had no further casualties in the Petersburg Eiflemen. The wounds of Cary Batte and Ned New- som were mortal, and Capt. Banks died of his after suffering from it nearly eight years . Most of the miss- ing men were captured.* G. S. B. 27. Edward S. Newsom, of Petersburg, Va. 28. John E. Scott, of Baltimore, Md. 29. Austin J. Maclin. of New York. 30. Putnam Stith, of Petersburg, Va. 31. James E. Nash, of Newberne, N. C. 32. William Medley, of Halifax county, Va. 33. Marcellus W. Harrison, of Brunswick Co. 34. Henry B. Robinson, Jr., of Va. *The following extract from the entry made in my diary Monday, May 4, 1863, des- criptivo of what occurred about the Chan- oellorsville house on the morning of the preceding day (Sunday, May 3), intended to be inserted at a more appropriate place on a preceding page, must be given here: "About 10 A. M. firing suddenly ceased. White flag flying from Chancellorsville, and it is reported the enemy have surrendered there. We soon advance to the breast- works — meet numbers of prisoners being carried to the rear — expect to find a whole army of them — it turns out that the white flag was only a surrender of a few of them, the balance taking, the opportunity to make their way to U. S. Ford, but we were all now in the highest spirits. Halted on the plank road, we were talking and trafQcking with the Yankee prisoners passing us, when, to our amazement, a piece of artillery was fired by the enemy and the shell came near sweeping our whole line, but fortunately ^hit no one. Immediately somH five or six pieces of ours opened on them and they were soon quieted." I well remember the indignation we all felt at what was regarded as an act of treach- ery, the firing of that piece ot artillery, whose fiercely hissing shell whizzed down the plank road on which we stood — a long column of men, among whom there would have been great loss of life had the course of the missile been but a few feet lower— and I also well remember the feeling of sat- isfaction with which we saw In the open field just in front of the ChancellorsviUe house, and scarcely a hundred yards from us, the five or six pieces of our artillery which opened on the enemy, hurling in the most rapid and vigorous manner shot and shell into the woods immediately north of the house from which came that treacher- ous shot. SmON SEWAED. AN ESCAPE FROM POINT LOOKOUT. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY MR. SIMON SEWARD BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, OF PETERSBURG, VA., ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 5th, 1889. GOMEADES: built. Then stealing and short ra- I was captured June 28th, tions commenced. 1863, in Maryland, near A friend, McPherson, of Atlanta, Rockville, the same day we captured Ga., and myself, not liking the board that wagon train of 350 wagons, and and various other things, decided a few days before the battle of Get- we would quit the place and go home, tysburg. I w^s carried to Washing- The prison was square, containing ton and put in the old Capitol prison; about a space of ten or more acres, was kept there six weeks. I formed and at that time had no fence around the acquaintance there of several no- it. The guards continually marched ted men, among them one of Mosby's up and down on their beats. We de- captains, of whom I will tell you la- cided to wait for a dark night, then ter. From there I was carried to crawl as near the guards as possible Point Lookout prison. This place was and wait until they met and turned situated in the fork of the Potomac their backs, then run through in the river and Chesapeake bay. On reach- darkness. During this time I caught ing there I found about 1,000 pris- a severe cold and had a wretched oners. We received the rations of cough, so could not go with my friend, a regular soldier and had a good time, whom I loved better than a brother. Just imagine a Confederate soldier I told him the way to go, gave him eating fresh loaf bread, good coffee my father's address (which he cut with sugar in it, and beef and pork on his finger-nail) and told him to in abundance. We feasted but a leave word on the road that I -n^ould short time when the cook-house was soon follow. He did this and also WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. wrote to my father giving all the news looked like a grave. It was piled and telling him I was still living, ^p during the day by some of the Up to this time my people believed prisoners. The soldiers went at once me dead, as it had been so reported by to it and commenced to stick their persons who said they saw me killed, bayonets through it. It was owing Well, our rations continued to grow to this that I escaped detection. I smaller, and my friend was gone; so remained close behind the post until I was more determined than ever to 9 o'clock, when all was quiet except leave. A tall fence had now been the tread of the guard overhead and built around the place, making it the murmur of their voices as they very difficult to escape. I tried many conversed with each other. My next ways and failed. Once after I had move was to go from post to post un- gotten out, I was caught and put in til I reached the corner.^ To leave the dungeon (a tent) and fed on bread there was to do one of two things— and water. This made me all the either swim the Chesapeake bay or more anxious to leave. It was cus- go through the Fifth Xew Hampshire ternary to close the gates at sunset, regiment in camp on the only ground These gates let us out to the sinks there was. I decided on the latter, during the day. The first day of When inside the camp I saw some December, 1863, was dark and rainy, horses tied and tried to untie one. I thought this was my time, so just thinking to ride him through the before time to shut the gates I crept camp and out, but this was "no go." out. Xot a soul was to be seen. The The horse commenced to move; the fence was very strongly built with men saw it and me and said, "^Yho very large posts and a parapet on top is there V ' I said nothing and they where the guards were on duty. came to see. .Then commenced a race After passing out of the gates I for the bay about one hundred yards went to the right for several panels . off, the soldiers and guards after me, Seeing a squad of soldiers, I hid be- raising Jesse. The darkness saved hind a post until they passed. They me from being riddled with bullets, were within thirty yards of me, going I went at once into deep water and up in their search on the water's edge, commenced to swim for my life up and I knew when they returned they the bay towards Baltimore — the sol- must pass within five feet of me. Sol diers being camped on the shore for got on the other side of the post when a mile or more. I Jiad a fair wind I saw them coming back. I expect- and tide and made good time. When ed to be found and pinned to the wall I found I could go no further I gave with a bayonet, but it so happened up to drown, bidding farewell to this that when they came within twenty world, when I found myself in wa- feet of me their attention was called ter only three feet deep. I thought to a pile of sand on the beach that at first I had struck a whale, but AN ESCAPE FROM POINT LOOKOUT. 79 found afterwards it was a sand-bar. dogs came across me and made so After a good rest I commenced again much fuss that I forgot my lameness and continued in the water a distance and ran through the woods in an op- of six miles, passing outside of what posite direction from which I was was called the Block House, where going. This saved me from capture, they had wires connected with bells as a company of cavalry Avas right in a house on shore. after me. The dogs followed me Thinking myselfsafe I went ashore, through the woods until I came to A chill came over me from a sharp a deep break covered with ivy. I wind then bloMng. My teeth com- frightened something, either a man menced to chatter so loud I thought or deer, I can't say which, but it I would be heard. So I put my fin- scared me nearly out of my wits, ger between them. My feet then re- The dogs left me and ran after it. I fused to move. I was chilled through, then 'crossed a little stream up the but hard work and a determination till and found myself in a field near to move on brought a circulation, and a small negro hut. I went to it and I moved, first slowly, then faster, spoke to a very bright colored man, until I struck a path through the and asked him the way to a certain woods. I ran up that path with con- place. He replied, "Go away from siderable speed until I found myself liere. If they find you here I am in front of a large white house, ruined, for I am just out of the pen- "^S"- What to do I cordd not tell. I rang itentiary yesterday." I moved on the bell and a lady came to the door through the woods and fields until 1 in her night dress, it being about 12 came to a road and started to cross o'clock. She said, "I know who you it, when I met a man who said, "If are; don't speak or pur servants will you go up this road, you are caught, hear you ; I will send my husband . ' ' for the sheriff is coming . " I looked He came, invited me in the parlor, and there he was, riding a horse, with and said, "I will help you aU I can, a double barrel shot-gim on his shoul- but don't speak of it if caught." der and a prisoner walking by his He gave me a hunk of beef, a bottle side. I walked right by him, and, as of whiskey, a coat and several dol- soon as I could, took to the woods, lars. He said he was an officer in the running a mile or more, until I found Federal navy, but loved the South a thicket, where I hid imtil nearly and owned negroes. I walked all night. night and at the break of day took Being much refreshed, but a little a little rest to wait for more dark- hungry, I started off again and reach - ness. I soon fell asleep, but it was ed a small house. Seeing a bucket a short nap. I found that too much of water in the porch and wishing for walking, beef and whiskey had made information, I asked for a drink of me so stiff I could not walk. Some water. The lady said, "You are the 80 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. iimu they are looking for. The sol- velopments. Soon I heard a whistle, diers on horses have just left here." but gave no answer. Then I heard I moved on again faster than ever a voice say: "They are gone! Where until I heard them coming back. I are you?" I recognized the voice I jumped over the fence and waited of my host and came down. He had until they passed by. As they pass- a bucket full of meat and bread and ed I heard them talking, I suppose led the way to the woods some dis- about me. It was dark and I com- tance off and told me to stay there menced again crossing fields and until he came for me. I remained woods until I gave out. Walking there about two days. On hearing and running twenty-five or thirty a considerable noise, I looked out from miles, with nothing to eat, was tell- my hiding place under a holly tree, ing on me. I decided to go to the where a litter of ^igs had been re- first house and ask for food. This I cently raised, and where fleas were did, but the lady said, "I can give plentiful, to see my pursuers going you nothing; my husband is absent." by on theii- way back, as I thought. I asked if I might stay until he re- That night I had a good supper tui-ned. She replied, "Yes. We know brought to me and the pleasure of of you. Youmay stay in the yard." sleeping in a top -stack near the When her husband came, he said I house, where I stayed for a day or could eat and sleep in his house, if I more waiting orders. Finally they wished. He also owned slaves. After came; saying a man living on the a good supper came bed-time. He river had been hired for two barrels said: "To show you that I will help of corn to carry me across. I left at and protect you, I will make you a once, accompanied by his son, but bed in this room and put my son in found the man's boats had just been bed with you." About two o'clock destroyed by the soldiers. This was he tapped me on the head and said: sad news to me. He asked me if I "The soldiers are here, asking for had money. I told him I had, and you, and I have told them from the gave him fifty cents. He sent off window that you are not here, but and got a quart of whiskey, and they are going to search . So run ! ' ' while his wife was gone for the dram "Come this way," he said, taking we went down to the oyster-bed, got me to the back door. I jumped asackfull, and such eating and drink- through a gate into the garden, which ing we had that night — I mean they was terraced, and I thought eyery did the drinking and I did the eat- time I struck the ground I had gone ing. While at the oyster-bed I saw into a pit. There was a big fuss at a little log canoe, about eight feet the house, but I was gone. By a longand very narrow. It was so old spring near the garden was a hollow that one end had rotted off, and a tree. I went up that and waited de- plank had been nailed on it. I asked AN ESCAPE FROM POINT LOOKOUT. s) if I could cross in it. He said it it was a close race. 1 struck a I'ock would sink. The river was about aboiit a hundred yards off shore. On six miles wide and very rorrgh . reaching shore I rolled over a ditch Early the next morning, before bank and was safe. I soon saw the light, I got the boat out of the creek old boat steam back up the river and and put it in the river opposite the pass out of sight. I was iu Virginia house and told him I was going to once more, but in the enemy's coun- try and make the trip in her, al- ti'Y- I took my time through the though he insisted that it could not woods and fields until I came to a be done. I stood for a few moments house at. ^\ilich I asked for a lunch, with a small, rough, paddle in my b^it was denied by a man i thought hand, looking, first at the river, then ought to be in the arm>-. He oom- at the Virginia shore on the opposite meuced to lell nie hoM- dangeroris it side. I was so anxious to get there, '^as to l)e prowling around through I decided to run the risk, although the country, and said, "Look! Yon- it was very great. The boat was so der comes some one after you now." very small I had to put in\- feet out- It was a lone horseman coming at a side. He again begged me not to I'apid gait. I could not run, as he try, but looking down the shore some- liad seen me; so decided to wait and thing showed itself, convincing jne take my chances. He came up to it was time to leave. I started and me at once, saying, ".Vre you the never looked back; in fact never man I saw crossing the river just had time. Several times T thought now?" 1 replied, "Yes." ''Then the boat would fill. When about what have you for sale?" said he. a half mile out a big wave struck He had taken me for a blockade- us, and came so near sinking me runner, that being their place for that I commenced to do what my crossing and he a trader in that line . mother taught me at her knee, which That accounted for the gnn-boat be- had of late been much neglected — ing there. I left at once, with no- I prayed for deliverance. The water thing to eat, and walked all that day seemed to jump out of the boat. The through the woods and fields. That winds calmed and the waves ceased night I stayed at the house of a true to roll. I rested a little. I now no- Virginian, had a good supper, warm ticed blood dripping from my hands, bed, early breakfast and was soon on The rough paddle had rubbed the my journey again. I met a man in skin and flesh from them, leaving the road who said, "H you go down them perfectly raw, but they did not this road, you will be shot. They hurt. Looking up the river I saw a have just killed the sheriff and gun-boat under a full head of steam wounded some of his deputies." I coming down on me. Owing to the moved again for the willow green, ^hallow water I "got there" first, but and so travelled until I reached the 82 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Eappahannock river. I found a boat He told me and I described him. He preparing to cross witb some cattle, then sent for his wife, and such a They were hard to manage and we good time we had. A good supper had a narrow escape. I secured the was soon ready and I was made wel- tail of a big ox, told him to go over- 'come to it. Early next morning a board and I would follow. Others team came up and took me to Eich- did the same and we arrived safe mond. Beaching there about night, with all the cattle. I had money and I looked around for a place to stay; stayed at a hotel in Tappahannock found a boarding house near the Old that night. The clerk told me he had Market, kept by a widow. She said but one room, and the privilege of that she kept first-class boarders, not like was given to a man of questionable me, but said I could stay and eat if character, and, if he came, I would there was anything. The second and have to give it up to him. I said, third table were going in when an "All right," thinking, if he came, officer sitting near me asked me who I could beat him otit of it; but when I was and where I was from. I told I saw him I changed my mind. He him and he said, "Is this Simon, the had a harsh face, with only one eye son of Joe Seward, of Petersburg?" and lots of pistols and knives about I said it was. "Then give him some his person. I slept on the floor, supper and I will pay for, it," said About three o'clock in the morning he to the landlady. This officer lives a noise was heard, and some one said now, I am told, in Dinwiddle covmty, the house was surrounded by cavalry. Va. The next morning I made an I thought I was gone then. I hid early start for home, but found I the best I could, but soon found it could not leave the city without a was a raiding party of oip" own men, pass. I went to Gen. Winder, then and, thinking they came for my friend in charge at Richmond, stated my with the one eye, I did not wait to case and asked for a pass to go home, see, but left early, traveling all day. He had me put under arrest and or- That night I stopped at a house near dered to my command. He did not the road. It was a nice one and I believe my story. While iu his office thought a good place to stay. The a man passed by, whom I thought servant said I could not stop. I then I knew. He asked me who I was. asked to see the gentleman of the My story was told him. He said, house, but he said he had nothing to "Turn him loose; I knew him in the eat; the soldiers had taken everthing old Capitol prison." He was one of he had, he said. He asked where I Mosby's captains, and the man I said was from and where I was going. I I would tell you of later. I got a told him and he said, "I have a son a pass for ten days and came home at Point Lookout. Do you know that night. My father then lived at him'?" "Whatishisnameflasked. the corner of Bank and Short Mar- AN ESCAPE PROM POtNT LOOKOU'l*: H'i ket streets, in the house now a drug store. I found him behind the coun- ter. He looked at me quite a time and said, "Simon!" and ran to my mother and sisters. ADDENDUM. The following letter from Mr. Freeman W. Jones, of Petersburg, Va., gives an interesting account of a Confederate soldier's experience at Point Lookout about the close of the war, and makes an appropriate addendum to Mr. Seward's address describing his escape from the pris- on at that place : "Petersbueg, Va., ) July 4, 1892. J "Mr. Geo. S. Bernard. "Dear Sir : At your request I will give you a brief account of my pris- on life at Point Lookout in 1865. "I was a member of Company E, 56th Virginia infantry, Hunton's brigade, Pickett's division, and was captured near Five Forks, Friday, March 31, 1865. We arrived at Point Lookout Sunday morning, April 2, 1865, and I can never forget my feelings on that day, when those large prison gates were thrown open and we were marched in. Oh ! how my heart did ache, when those heavy portals, with a loud crash, closed behind us ! Then I thought of the loved ones at home, that quiet sabbath morning, wending their way to the old country church in Bruns- wick county; where from childhood we had been accustomed to worship in peace and quiet. I now realized for the first time that I was indeed a prisoner of war, and all the hor- rors of a prison life rose up before me. But a soldier must be brave. So, therefore, boy though I was, I tried to j)ut aside such feelings, and did what I could to cheer and com- fort others. "I think there were some twelve thousand or more prisoners at Point Lookout when we arrived. This number was largely increased from day to day, until the prison was about as full as it could well be, having within its enclosures some 23,000 or more men, I was told. Six of us were placed in a small tent in rear of the large tents, all of which were now filled, and which occupied the fronts on the different 'streets,' as were termed the avenues on which stood rows of tents. The camp was parcelled off into divi- sions, like wards in a city. I be- longed to what was called the 7th division. We, had but little to in- terest us, or to look forward to with much pleasure. We were required to attend roll-call early each morn- ing, and were then marched to a cook-house to get our breakfast, which consisted simply either of a small piece of pickled pork or salt beef, first of one and then of the , other. Sometimes a piece of raw codfish was given us in lieu of the pork or beef, and without bread or coffee. We would take our meat back to our tents, and about 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning the bread wagons would come in, and then half of a loaf of baker's bread was given to each man. A thin slice of this and our pork or beef then made up our breakfast. "About 12 or 1 o'clock we were marched in the same manner to the cook-house for our dinner, which always consisted of what was called 'bean soup.' It was rare indeed to find any beans, but you seldom fail- ed to find one or more well cooked flies in your so-called 'soup.' Sup- per we had none, unless one man- aged to save a small slice of his bread for this meal. "While I cannot say that any one 84 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. actually suffered from hunger, yet I do say that seldom was one's appe- tite satisfied. Our treatment was kind, and be it said to the credit of Major Brady, who was then in com- mand of the prison, I believe he did all he could for our comfort, and I for one would be glad to meet him once more. Whenever the. major would visit the prisoners he gene- rally had his pockets filled with small pieces of tobacco, say.one inch square. These he would throw out to the crowd of prisoners that thronged his path until it would seem they would, in their mad rush for this tobacco, crush both the ma- jor and his horse. Then he would whip up his horse until clear of the crowd, when, if he had any tobacco left, he would throw it out again. The same mad rush and scramble would occur as before. The men seemed to be wild about tobacco. "The major would always say, when man after man would ask him, when he was 'going to turn us out,' 'Ah, next week.' Then the next week the major would say, 'Well, it will be next week before you are releas- ed,' and so on. One day an old soldier said, 'Major, I am surprised at you.' 'What about ?' was the quick response. 'Well,' said the prisoner, 'I have heard you tell these poor fellows now for several weeks that you would parole them the next, and yet you have not pa- roled the first man.' 'Ah,' said the major, 'I am bound to tell you poor fellows a few lies to keep you alive. If I did not do that, one-half of you would sicken and die.' There was much truth in what this kind- hearted officer said, and I am sure he only acted in this way for our good. "The worst treatment we thought we received was often from our own men, especially the cooks. Most of us believed that these fellows stole our rations, and yet they tried to appear very honest, and accused us of stealing from each other. There was some truth in' this counter- charge of the cooks, I am sure ; and just here I must tell about the most trying fix I was ever placed in, and for once at least I was accused of stealing. "The first men entering the cook- house would sometimes, and per- haps often, drink down their cup of soup and then slip back into the passing line and go around to an- other point, and in the language of the prison 'flank' another cup of soup. Of course they did not call this stealing — that would have sounded too bad indeed. Well, one day I was moving along in my ac- customed place to get my cup of soup for dinner, and I do now sol- emnly declare I had not touched, handled, nor tasted a drop of bean soup that memorable day, when all at once one of the cooks across the room cried out in a loud voice, 'Watch the fellow with a white hat on ! Watch the fellow with a white hat on !' So innocent was I, that I actually forgot I had on a white hat until I soon discovered all eyes turned upon me. To say I was somewhat embarrassed hardly states the case fairly. I can assure you I was terrified, and my discomfort was increased when I saw this cook, who had made the charge, fast ap- proaching me, being fully aware that, if I allowed the fellow to take me out from the cook-house, it sim- ply meant that I would be disgrac- ed by having to wear about the camp for ten days or longer, tied across my back, a board, with the word 'thief stamped upon it. This was the condition of things, and there I stood a feeble boy just eighteen years of age, the eyes of three hundred men or more turned upon me — innocent. Yes, thank AN ESCAPE EROM POINT LOOKOUT. fS;') God, innocent of stealing a cup of Point Lookout 'bean soup !' Not a sound could be heard. The still- ness was even distressing. My ac- cuser approached within a few feet, and pointing his finger at me said, 'Come out here !' 'For what ?' said I, looking him squarely in the eye. 'You need not have anything to say; only come along," was his reply. "I will not budge one inch, sir. You accuse me of stealing your bean soup. It is not true!' I said. Just at this moment an old North Caro- lina soldier, a Mr. King, whose ac- quaintance I had made, and who, perhaps, had some children of his own, seemed touched to the quick. Leaning forward towards me, in his rough but determined manner, said he to me, 'Stand your hand, Jones; I am here. I will back you. Throw the cup of soup in his d — d face !' And then turn- ing upon the cook he said : 'You have got hold of the wrong man, my friend. You had better let him alone.' This was too much for the cook, who began to take water. Of course I then grew bolder, and in a moment more there arose an old fashioned 'rebel yell,' with cries of 'Turn him loose ! Turn him loose !' with demonstrations of scorn for my accuser on all sides. The poor cook returned to his stand looking much disappointed, while I left the house a happy man, and was congratulat- ed by. many at my narrow escape. "The worse suffering we endured was for water. There were some four or five wells in the camp. But in only two cases really was the wa- ter fit to drink. Of course every one wanted water from these two wells, and the consequence was they were soon in such a condition that you could not get much water from them. The water from the other wells was simply horrid. They had a sweet taste, being impregnated with cop- peras, and after standing a while there was always a deposit upon its surface upon which you could al- most write your name. I beUeve this water produced more sickness and suffering than any other one cause in the prison. 'Bread-crust' coffee was a favorite drink, made simply from parched or burnt bread. It was a healthful drink to say the least of it — the best substitute we could get for coffee. "The greatest excitement we had in prison was perhaps when we had colored soldiers placed as patrols in our camp. We did not object to having them stand guard over us on the regular posts, but when they were sent to patrol the camp at night, for one or two nights the scene was painful. No man, how- ever urgent his business, was allow- ed to show his head out of his tent, unless halted and often held under guard, and the suspense was just terrible. We complained to Major Brady, who at once removed the ne- groes, and we had no further trou- ble. "The days were usually spent in sea-bathing, which was very good, while all kinds of games were being carried on all the time. Frequently some fellow would be caught stealing what poor rations his next neighbor might chance to have. Nearly every day there would be religious ser- vices of some kind carried on here and there over the prison, generally by our own men. "It was amusing to some, while distressing to others, to hear and watch the effect of what were called the 'grape vine' dispatches that were constantly coming in. Some fellow would say, 'The dispatch is that 2,000 prisoners will be taken out and shot to-morrow.' Of course there were among the prisoners low- spirited, silly fellows, ready to be- lieve anything, and such a dispatch 8(1 War fALltS OF CONFBlDEItAfJE! VETERAN fi. was anything but pleasant to these poor fellows. Another would say, 'The very latest dispatch is that we will commence to be paroled to- rn orow at 9 o'clock.' Many indeed were the false reports thus spread among the men to excite fears or to build up false hopes. "At Point Lookout we were never without rumors, either good or "bad, true or false. They were the inci- dents of prison life. Finally, when Major Brady commenced paroling the poor fellows the wildest excite- ment prevailed. The men were to be paroled in alphabetical order, it was said, but for some cause the paroling officers skipped several letters. This caused great com- plaint. About this time Major Bra- dy rode through the camp and said that all boys under eighteen years of age must come down to the gate, and they should be sent home. I was then just eighteen, and a little over. Of course I forced my way to the front as best I could. Just as I was almost persuaded to pass over the line and try my luck, a fel- low with perhaps not much more beard than I had walked over the line. A cry at once arose, 'Bring him back !' Bring him back !' This poor fellow was taken by his beard and led back. Seeing this I imme- diately returned to my tent and got a friend to shave me as close as pos- sible. Then I returned, and to my delight I met Major Brady. I said to him, 'I am only eighteen years of age and would be glad' to go on with the boys.' He replied, 'Go ahead.' This was enough. Over the line I went. I was rather tall ; so when I took my position in line I would not stand erect, lest I might attract attention. That night we took the boat from Washington to City Point. I bade adieu to Point Lookout, and only hope I may never have to look out again from that point. Your Comrade, Freeman W. Jones. JOHN E. TURNER. THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. THE PART TAKEN BY MAHONE'S BRIGADE. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY COMRADE JOHN R. TURNER BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, OF PETERS- BURG, VA., ON THE EVENING OP MARCH 3bd, 1892. GOMEADES: letter was so interesting tliat I deter - Having for years felt a mined at once to read it to the camp, desire to verify some of my but after reflection it occurred to me impressions of the battle of the Wil- that I might get together the recol- derness, in which, on the 6th of May, lections of other participants in the 1864, I participated as a member of action and read them all as interest - the Petersburg Eiflemen, Co . E, 12th ing details of that part of this celebra- Virginia regiment, Mahone's brig- ted action in which our particular ade, and particularly wishing to veri- command figured so conspicuously, fy my recollection as to the striking With t];iis purpose, I tiu-ned o^ei- incident of Dr. Benj. H. May, the my correspondence with Gen. Sorrel gallant color -bearer of our regiment, to several members of our camp who refusing to give up his colors to Col. were present in this action, as mem- G. M. Sorrel, of Longstreet's staff, a bers of the 12th Virginia regiment, few weeks ago I wrote to Col . (now and requested each of them, after General) Sorrel to make some inqui- reading it, to furnish me with his ries of him as to his recollection of recollection of the incident referred this incident, and promptly received to, and also any other details or in- from him a reply confirming my own cidents of the engagement that they impressions in many particulars. His could recall. The several responses 88 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the geutleBien of whom this re- quest was made, together with the statements of other participants, will be furnished in the order in which they were given, and I feel satisfied that my correspondence with Gen. Sorrel, supplemented by these state- ments, will interest you as they have interested me. My letter to Gen. Sorrel I mailed to Savannah, Ga. , and was as follows : ' 'Peteesbueg, Va . , ") ''January 13th, 1892. \ "Gen. G. M. Sorrel, "Savannah, Ga. "Dear General: Being anxious to to know if your recollection and mine accord as to certain mo\'ements made at the battle of the Wiklei-ness May 6th, 1S64, in which A\-e both par- ticipated, I take the libert,\' of ad- dressing you this communication , and hope (if not trespassing too iuu.ch on your time) you will do me the kindness to favor me with a reply. "You will remember, Mahoue's brigade of Anderson's division was quartered near Madison Run Station . We broke camp on the morning, I think, of the 4th, and bivouacked near Eapidan Station that night. In the early morning of the 6th we made a forced march to the battle-field, which we reached about ten o'clock. "Mahone's brigade was orderetl very soon afterwards to the right in the Wilderness. After going some distance through the thicket, we en- countered the enemy apparently biv- ouacking, and little expecting any at- tack from that direction . They fled pell-mell before us, leaving their light camp equipage scattered in t^vevy di- rection, making scarcely any lesis- tance until they reached the Orange plank road, when, having a natui'al fortification, strengthened hurriedly by them, they stoutly resisted us. Just at this point you dashed up to the front of my regiment, the 12th Virginia, and approaching our color- bearer, Benj. H. May (as gallant a soldier as exev carried a flag or shoul- dered a nausket, and who was killed at Spots.\ivania Court- House the 12tli of Ma\ j, asked him for his colors to lead the charge. He refused to give up his colors, but said: 'We will fol- low you.' With great enthusiasm we followed you in the direction of the plank road. The enemy broke and fled before us . I remember seeing \'ou then dash with great speed up the road in the direction, I suppose, of Gen. Longstreet, to inform him that the way was clear. Oiu' color- bearer, in tiie excitement of the mo- ment, failetl to observe that the other regiments of the brigade had halted at the plank road. We became de- tached and passed o^'er the road forty or fifty yards before halting. Our colonel, Col. D. A. Weisiger, observ- ing that we Mere in advance of the brigade, ordered us to fall back on a line with the brigade. In doing so the other regiments, mistaking us for the enemy, fired into us, killing and wounding several of our men, and I always thought the same vol- ley killed Gen. Jenkins and wounded Gen. Longstreet, this apparently put- ting an end to all operations for the day, as there seemed to be very little done afterwards during the day. "I had the pleasure of a short conversation with Gen. Longstreet, returning from Gettysburg three years ago, and he told nxe that, while he knew he was wounded by his own men, he never knew exactly how it occurred. He said everything was working beautifully up to this point, and what seemed to be an opportu- nitv for a brilliant \ictorv was lost THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. m by this iinlbrtuuate circumstance. "I have*so often thought of your bravery and gallant bearing as you led us through the woods up to the plank road, I feel that I would like to know with certainty whether or not my recollections are correct as to the part you took in that charge. "Wishing you a long life, much happiness and great prosperity, I am very truly, your comrade, "John R. Tukis'ek." To this letter Gen. Sorrel replied as follows: "New York, Jan. 19th, 1892. "Lee's Birthday. "John E. Tukner, Esq., "A. P. Hill Camp, C. V., "Petersburg, Va. "Dear Sir: Your letter of January 14:th was forwarded to me from Sa- vannah, and I am very glad to hear from you. The events you describe are so long ago, that one's memory may be pardoned if slightly treach- erous as to details, but I may say at once that your recital of the incident and the movement ol Mah one's brig- ade at the battle of the Wilderness conforms accurately to my recollec- tion of it, excepting, of course, the too partial and flattering view you take of my own personal service there. But I will give you briefly my owu version of it, which really is nearly your owu . "Longstreet's corps had to jiioAe at the earliest hour in the morning of the 6th of May, and arriving at - the battle-field was just in time to be thrown across the plank road and check the enemy whose attack had begun on A. P. Hill's corps. This of itself was a inagnitioent perform- ance of tlie corps — to form line in the dense thicket after a hasty march, in the midst of troops suddenly at- tacked and retiring from the front in disorder. Being done during the enemy's attack, it displayed the steadiness characteristic of Long- street's famous corps. This checked that attack, and for a short time there was some quiet. It was then, too, you will recollect, that Gen. Lee was about to lead the Texas brigade into action, so threatening was the situation. He was almost forcibly stopped by his officers and the en- treaties of his soldiers.* It was soon *The famous incident of Gen. Lee's charge with,the Texas brigade, referred to by Col. Sorrel in his letter to Mr. Turner, is given as follows by Col. Chas. S. Venable, aid-de- camp of Gen. Lee, in his address delivered before the Virginia division of the Army of Northern Virginia, at its annual meeting in Kichmond, October 30, 1873: , "It was here that the incident of Lee's charge with Gregg's Texas brigade occur- red. The Texans cheered lustily as their line of battle, coming up in splendid style, passed by Wilcox's disordered columns, and swept across our artillery pit and its adja- cent breastwork. Much moved by the greeting of these brave men and their mag- nificent behavior. Gen. Lee spurred his horse through an opening in the trenches and followed close on their line as it moved rapidly forward. The men did not perceive that he was going with them until they had advanced some distance in the charge; when they did, there came from the entire line, as it rushed on, the cry, 'Go back. General Lee! Go back!' Some historians like to put this in less homely words; but the brave Texans did not pick their phrases. 'We won't go unless you go back!' A sergeant seized his bridle rein. The gallant Gen. Gregg (who laid down his life on the 9th of October, almost in Gen. Lee's presence, in a desperate charge of his brigade on the enemy's lines in the rear of Eort Harrison), turning his horse towards Gen. Lee, remon- strated with him. Just then I called his at- tention to Gen. Longstreet, whom he had been seeking, and who sat on his horse on a knoll to the right of the Texans, directing the attack of his divisions. He yielded with evident reluctance to the entreaties of his men, and rode up to Longstreet's posi- tion. With the first opportunity I informed Gen. Longstreet of what had just happened and he, with affectionate bluntness, urged Gen. Lee to go further back. I need iiol; say the Texans went forward in their charge 90 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. after this that Gen. Longstreet said to me that, if I were to collect some troops over on the right, get them in good line and in touch with each other, and make a strong movement forward, swinging by the right, he felt sure a splendid success would follow. I proceeded to follow out these directions, with full authority to control the movement . There were three brigades in addition, perhaps, to other troops, that I succeeded in getting into good form and ready to move. These were Mahone's, Wof- ford's, and I believe the other was Anderson.'s. The movement soon began, at a given signal, our right swinging swiftly around, driving everything before it. The lines in front of us made some sharp resis- tance, but they were quickly over- come and our troops — Mahone's brig- ade, notably distinguished in the af- fair — rushed forward through the dense undergrowth, carrying every- thing before them. It was then that the incident occurred of which you speak, about poor Ben May. He was doing all that man could do with his colors, but seemed to be somewhat embarrassed by the bushes, and I thought perhaps I might help him to get them forward, mounted as I was. As you say, he positively refused to let them leave his own hands, and I was filled with admiration of his splendid courage. I think it was on the 12th that poor May was shot, and I received from a member of the 12th Virginia an affectionate message that he sent me. I have always re- membered him as one of the bravest of Confederate soldiers. The 12th Vir- ginia did splendid service that day, and the regiment and myself became great friends. Till the end of the war, whenever in marches or else- where I met it, I was always honor- ed with its friendly greetings. As our troops reached the plank road, you will recollect that a volley was given to the enemy who were trying to rally on the opposite side. By this . volley Gen. Wadsworth and his horse (while trying to rally his men) were both killed, and his soldiers could make no stand against us . Our rapid movement through the woods had disordered our line, as you correctly describe it. Leaving them for a mo- ment, while recovering good order, I hastened to Gen. Longstreet with a view to bringi^g up supports to fol- low up our splendid success. I met the general near by, Jenkins' brigade immediately behind him. He had heard the sound of our rifles, and, with the quick instinct of the gene- ral that he was, was following us up with a strong and powerful support to pursue his victory. I had scarcely taken more than a few steps with him when a sudden and unexpected fire, at first scattering, then heavier, broke out from our men. The gene- ral was shot down by my side, and at the same time Gen. Jenkins, one or two staff- officers and several cour- iers. I have never known accurately who started this fire; there is yet some confusion about it; but it was fatal, and had the effect, by disabling the general, of putting a stop to the heavy blow he was about inflicting on the disordered enemy. Later in the day, you will remember, we made another attack rather more direct, with a strong force, on the enemy, who had gotten behind some in- trenchments, but we there sustained and did -well their duty. They were eight The battle was soon restored and the ene- hundred strong and lost half their number my driven baok to their position of the night killed and wounded on that bloody day. before," THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 91 a repulse, and that about closed the principal features of the battle of the Wilderness oil the 6th of May. "The impoi'tance of our flank at- tack, which I have described here so briefly, was not iinderestimated by the enemy in his siibsequent reports. The otficial report of the battle by Gen. Grant, or his immediate subor- dinate, describes the tremendous at- tack of these three brigades, which turned his own left flank and nearly brought about a wide-spread disaster to the Federal army. I cannot but think it would have so ended, had not Gen. Longstreet, in the flush of his success, and with ardent, fresh troops in hand, been struck down in the very act of delivering this blow. "I am sketching this off to you liastily and entirely from memory, and while there may be some omis- sions, ,or inaccuracies as to detail, I think the account is not far wrong. With best wishes, I am, yours very truly and sincerely, "G. M. SoKliEL." In a subsequent letter, under date of January 24th, 1892, asseuting to my reading our correspondence, Gen. Sorrel says: "Please give my hearty regards, remembrances and all good wishes to the brave veterans you are associa- ted with. They were my comrades too, and I shall never forget them or the tremendous days that brought us together." To Comrade Geo. S. Bernard, a member of my company, I first turned over this correspondence with Gen. Sorrel, and requested his recollec- tions of the battle . Here is his reply : "I have read with much pleasure your correspondence with Gen. Sor- rel, and am glad you propose to read it to the camp. It furnishes an in- teresting page of the unwritten his- tory of the war . It connects our reg- iment and brigade with a most im- portant move in the battle of the Wilderness, and shows how, when this move seemed about to prove a great success, it was arrested by an unfortunate accident. "I did not witness the incident of the flag. Ben May's refusal to let the colors go from his hands was highly characteristic of the man. A splendid fellow he was, as brave as a lion and as gentle as a woman, re- sembling in this particular his dis- tinguished uncle, Capt. Eobert B. Pegram, of naval fame. "The general appearance of the woods, with its scrubby oaks and other trees, in which we encountered the enemy, the marshy flat and gen- tle slope on either side at the point we first struck them, the enemy at the top of the slope on the north side, an occasional blue coat and a Federal flag indistinctly visible for a moment through the foliage of the thick un- dergrowth, say, less than a hundred and fifty yards ahead of us, our men in line of battle, just at the foot of the slope on the north side moving rapidly forward, some mounted offi- cers riding along with the line en- couraging the troops, one of these officers conspicuously leading, the men loading and firing as they moved forward, all yelling and cheering as they saw the enemy hastily retiring, the woods echoing with the rapid discharge of musketry and the 'rebel yell' sounding from more than a thou- sand Confederate throats, the men in the finest spirits as they pressed on — all of this always comes vividly back to me at the mention of the Wilderness. "I have always thought that the mounted ofiicer I saw and particu- 92 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE! VETERANS. larly noticed, his gallant bearing at- tracting my attention, was Col. Sor- rel, and still so believe. I noticed this officer just as the line was as- cending the slope north of the marshy flat. He was, I think, less than fifty yards to the left of our company. "The move through the woods in pursuit of the retreating Federals was highly exciting, the men seem- ing to have lost all sense of danger, although hostile bullets were doing some deadly work . The rapid charge soon brought our regiment to the southern edge of the Orange plank road, arrived at which we were so close upon the enemy that two — I think three — of us fired simultane- ously at one retreating Federal on the north side of the plank road and not forty yards distant . As we fired, the Federal soldier fell. Leroy Ed- wards,! who was at my side, and one of those who fired, exclaimed, 'I hit him !' I am not sure that I also did not so exclaim — I know I thought I hit him and that it was under my fire he fell. In a few seconds we were at his side and to our surprise he did not appear to be badly hurt. Leroy Edwards,! as tender-hearted as he was courageous, first spoke to him, and offering to help, or helping him, to ge\ to his feet, said in the most sympathetic way, 'I hope you are not hurt !' This striking incident, illus- trating the feeling of a true and chiv- alrous soldier towards his fallen ene- my, impressed me very much. "Just after this our line — I mean the part of it composed of the 12th regiment — ^being in a flat about fifty yards north of the plank road, and depressed about five or six feet below the level of the roadway, was 're- formed, and facing southward moved back towards the plank road, ascend- ing a gentle slope as we neared it, 1. Leroy 9. Edwards, of Richmond, Va. when suddenly we were startled by a sharp volley of musketry coming from a line of troops about forty or fifty yards south of the plank road, the bullets from which volley fiercely whizzed over our heads. I well re- member my own thoughts — The ene- my are in our rear, and we are in a bad box. This flashed through my mind. Immediately the men fell upon their faces and would doubtless have at once begun to return this fire, but several cried out, 'You are firing into your friends!' 'Show, your colors!' Show your colors ! !' It immediately became apparent to us and to the men on the north side of the plank road that a mistake had been made and the firing ceased. ' ' 'A part of our brigade, during the. short space of hardly more than ten minutes that we were down the slope of the hill on the north side of the plank road, had moved to their right, so as to occupy exactly the ground over which we had passed a short time before, and not knowing that we were across the road, and seeing us coming in line of battle from the direction of the enemy, naturally took us to be Federals and greeted us with a shower of Confederate lead, j most of which, fortunately, passed over our heads. "When these men saw their mis- take and knew that their fire had taken effect on some of our men, they were greatly distressed. 'Boys, we are so sorry! We are so sorry.'P many of them earnestly said. 'We did not know you were our friends!' No such protestations were of course ne- cessary, but the manly fellows who had made the mistake seemed to think it necessary thus to assure us. "In my diary on the morning of the 7th of May I wrote an account of this action, from which I take the following extracts: THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNES,^. 03 " 'About ten o'clock our brigade went into action on tlie enemy's left flank, and Lieut. Patterson2 was told by Dr. PryorS this morning that Gen. Longstreet told him that the brigade behaved very well, and the 12th reg- iment most gallantly. "We drove the enemy beautifully for a half mile or more through the woods, killing and wounding many of them. The cas- ualties were five killed — Wm. P. Pucci, Co. A; D. McCracken, Co. B; John Mingea, Co. B; W. A. Jelks, Co. B; and E. B. Barnes, Co. P; and forty-seven wounded, two of whom, it is thought, are mortally wounded —Ben White, Co. C, and Wm. Del- bridge, Co. I. Among the wounded are Capt. Stephen White, Co. C, Ser- geant George Morrison,4 Co. A, and Private John Lee* of Co. E. There were, unfortunately three cases of ac- cidental wounding in .the regiment. What were the casualties in the other regiments of the brigade I have not heard . Among those in the brigade, however, I hear of Capt. E. Taylor, of Gen. Mahone's staff, and of one of the general's couriers, Bernard, 5 being wounded, and also Lieut. -Col. Minetree, of the 41st. " 'A most unfortunate affair oc- curred just as the 12th was returning from the advanced position to which they had charged the enemy. They were fired into by the 41st, and I hear also a part of the 61st regiment, who took us to be the enemy. This fire wounded, and perhaps killed, some of our best men, but what is most unfortunate, it wounded Gen. eral Longstreet and killed General Jenkins, who were riding along the plank road just at the time. Our division and Heth's are now in line of battle in reserve. Prom what I can gather we gained not much by the fight of Thursday, except four pieces of artillery, and I hear 3,000 prisoners . We lost heavily in wound - ed, judging from the large number we met on the road yesterday morn- ing. In the fight of yesterday we had greatly the advantage, driving the enemy a half mile and killing large numbers of them. ' ' 'Among the incidents of the fight I must mention the conspicuous gal- lantry of a member of our company, Jim Parley,6 now of the sharpshoot- ers, who received two wounds, one in the shoulder and the other in the face, but continued to charge on with the regiment to the most advanced position. The gallantry of Lieut. Col. Sorrel, of Longstreet's staff, was also very conspicuous. He led us into action on horseback, waving his hat and crying out, 'Come on Vir- ginians!' " 'Gen. Wadsworth, of the Yankee army, was found wounded — it is be- lieved mortally — in that portion of the field over which the left of our brigade pharged, and is therefore supposed to have been wounded by our brigade.' " "About twelve months ago I made a copy of the account of this action given in my diary and sent it to Le- roy Edwards. Prom his reply ac- knowledging its receipt, I make the following extract : " 'The fight that day, the burning woods, our marchings and counter- marchings before and after the en- gagement, are well in my memory and are accurately recorded in youj diary. Our company was not one hundred yards from the spot where Longstreet was wounded and Gen, Jenkins was killed; indeed the same volley that disabled these generals 2. Capt. John E. Patterson, of Petersburg, Va. 3. Rev. Dr. Theoderick Pryor. 4. Geo. J. Morrison, of Peters)>urg, Va *John H. Lee, of Petersburg, Va. 5. Thos. S. Bernard, of Nansemond county, Va, C. James A. Farley, of Petersburg, Va. 04 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. likewise struck down two (2) of the color -guard of the 12th regiment. I cannot forget the gallantry of Maj'f (our ensign) at that critical moment, when our men (16th Virginia?) were striking us down, nor do I forget gal- lant May's bearing when Sorrel (of Longstreet's staff) asked May to let him (Sorrel) carry the colors of the 12th, and May's indignant reply. This Incident occurred before we reached the plank road. May was knee-deep in a swamp and Sorrel's horse was floundering in the mud. At this moment young Lee, of Co. E, was wounded . We soon reached the plank road and hastily dislodged the enemy . [Here follows a diagram, which is omitted.] ' ' 'This rough drawing presents my recoUectious of the swamp or marsh in which the May and Sorrel incident occurred (I. A.) and about the loca- tion of Lee when he was wounded. Our advance was then to the plank road, where we found some hastily constructed earthworks, breast-high, and where we met very little resis-. tance. The organization of 'the reg- ment, and indeed the brigade, was then very imperfect . Soon after pass - ing over the breastworks (k. k. k.) we were recalled to the plank road. I remember John Patterson's^ voice in the call. As soon as we reached the plank road on the advance. Sor- rel galloped down the road to our left, and soon after our return to the road at k.k.k. May was waving the 12th flag and warning our friends (16th Virginia?) who were advancing to the plank road. It was immediately after two of our color-guard were shot down at M, that I heard of Gen. Longstreet's wound. I did not see him or Gen. Jenkins, but locate the point at O, probably a hundred yards fromM.'" I turned over to Comrade Hugh E. Smith, 8 who was the adjutant of our regiment, all of the foregoing corres- pondence, and received from him the following letter in reply: "Lieut. -Comm'dr Jno. E. Tuenee. "Dear Comrade: Your correspon- dence with Gen. Sorrel, as well as the recollections of the battle of the Wil- derness given by Comrades Bernard and Edwards, I find very interesting reading. The accounts given of the battle abo^^t coincide with my own recollection about it. "My remembrance of the affair is that OUT brigade was advancing in line of battle, and the woods being on fire caused our regiment (the 12th Virginia) to swerve to the right, thereby becoming somewhat separa- ted from the rest of the brigade, and we seemed to come in contact with the left flank of the enemy, who were holding the plank road, and I thought at the time that we were sent there especially to dislodge them. "I distinctly remember the Sorrel- May incident and also recall the fact that, as we crossed the plank road in pursuit of the Federals, I looked down the road — towards Orange C- H. I mean — and saw the fresh troops coming up with Gen. Longstreet at their head. Sorrel having gone to them to let them know that the road was clear. "We advanced beyond the plank road to a ravine and then fell back to the road, and about this time the fir- fMr. W. W. Tayleure, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who was first sergeant of the Patersburg Riflemen, says: "Ben May stood upon a stump, with his lithe, graceful, form, a smile upon his face, waving our battle-flag until it was recognized. It was a beautiful and grand sight— one for an artist." Capt. John R. Patterson, of Petersburg. Va. Hugh R. aiiillh, of Pctcrnliiirg, \'ii. THE BATTLE OF THE WWDEBNlitiB. :j,j ing by our troops from whom we had become separated began, and look- ing in that direction I recognized Maj . Etheridge, of the 41st Virginia regi- ment, that regiment having been on onr immediate left in the beginning of the movement, and I immediately hastened over to him and informed him that they were firing into their friends and the order to cease firing was immediately passed down the line, but not until Longstreet was wounded and Jenkins kiUed, as set forth in the other accounts. "Gen. Anderson at once assumed the command of Longstreet 's forces, but the wounding of the latter gen- eral piit a stop to the forward move- ment that was being so successfully prosecuted. Your friend, Hugh E. Smith." In reply to a letter written to Com- rade Putnam Stith, now in Florida, I received from him a communication sent me from Port Meade, Fla., un- der date of February 9th, 1892, in which he says: "I was present at the Wilderness fight and remember that orders to 'charge' were brought by Gen. (then Lieut. -Col.) Sorrel of Longstreet's staff. I remember that our part of the line was ordered to move forward by Sorrel in person. I think he at- tempted to take our colors out of the hands of Ben May to carry them him- self, but he did not know the stuff that Ben was made of — one who could carry colors where any other man could. Of course Ben refused to give up his colors and carried them as gal- lantly as we were led by Sorrel. The bearing of Sorrel was such as to at- tract my attention, and I think the attention of every man in the brig- ade. More conspicuous gallantry on the field I never saw. "I claim that we made a brigadier of him that day. His conduct on that field certainly entitled him to the distinction soon afterwards con- ferred on him by Gen. Lee. "In making that charg'e we got far in advance of the balance of our command. A halt was ordered. Soon afterwards we were fired into by our own men, who, coming up, mistook us for the enemy. I think that was the time when Longstreet was shot. Hugh Smith saved us serious damage by waving his hand- kerchief on the point of his sword. I have always thought that, had it not been that Longstreet was shot then by his own men, we would have put the Federals across the river that night and changed the whole of Grant's flank movement which terminated in the seige of Peters- burg. "I don't remember that we saw Sorrel after that day until the even- ing we marched into Petersburg from across James river. On the march to Petersburg we met people going out of town. Some of them knew that the Federals were at the water-works. Others knew that they were even in town and by that time bad full possession. By these ac- counts we were worked up to a high pitch of excitement. We finally crossed Pocahontas bridge and marched through town, greeting our friends on every side. I, and I reckon most of the command, fully expected to charge the Federals on the heights. In going up Sycamore street, when we reach Marshall, we saw Sorrel riding up Marshall and close to us. He was recognized at once. I believe every man took off his hat simultaneously and cheered, calling out, 'Lead us, Sorrel ! Lead us as you did in the Wilderness !' He removed his hat and bowed very low, remarking that nothing would please him better than to lead those 9(i WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. men in another charge, but that no fighting was to be done that even- ing, as we were only going out a short distance to form a line and rest. "I have met the general since the war and talked with him about this incident, which he remembered per- fectly, and if I am not very much mistaken, he remarked that it was a proud day for him. "Now, John, I am not a good hand at either writing or talking, but if I have succeeded in giving you any pleasure by this simple nar- rative, I am amply repaid for the time and labor it has cost me." A. letter to Mr. Wm. C. Smith, of Nashville, Tenn., of Company B, 12th Virginia regiment, requesting his recollections of the engagement, brought me a reply under date of February 26th, 1892, from which I take the following extracts : "I cannot recall much of the route along which we passed, except that we moved in a northeasterly direc- tion, somewhat; nor can I recall the place at which we bivouacked on the night of the 4th. On the night of the 5th, however, we bivouacked near a place called Vidiersville. In the meantime reports reached us that fighting was going on in that part ojf Orange county known as the Wil- derness, and from the early start taken on the morning of the 6th and the rapidity of the march, it became evident that the Wilderness was our destination. "After reaching the plank road, which was about 9 o'clock A. M., we were hurried along to the scene of action. By ten o'clock, or a lit- tle after, on the 6th, we were on the ground, but we had no sooner ar- rived than we filed to the right from the plailk road, moving quite rapid- ly in a direction apparently at right angles to it, and after going some distance, about a third of a mile I suppose, we formed line of battle very quickly, and at once commenc- ed a forward movement on the ene- my. We had not proceeded very far, however, in line of battle, when Col. Sorrel (afterwards brigadier- general,) General Longstreet's as- sistant adjutant-general, appeared on the scene, and placing himself in front of the right wing of the 12th Virginia regiment, with his hat in one hand and grasping the reins of his horse with the other, he exclaim- ed, 'Follow me, Virginians ! Let me lead you !' "The gallantry of this officer on that occasion is as vivid to me now as if it had been but yesterday. I do not remember to have seen dur- ing the whole period of the war a finer exhibition of prowess than I witnessed that day in Col. Sorrel in the battle of the Wilderness. Dur- ing the charge of Mahone's brigade on the 6th, and just a few minutes before it reached the plank road, the writer received a slight but very painful wound, on the ankle of his right foot, which disabled him for two or three days, and hence can- not speak from personal observa- tion as to what occurred during the remainder of the fight. Soon after reaching the field infirmary, how- ever, which I found about three- fourths of a mile to the rear from where I was wounded, I was inform- ed by a member of my company who had been brought from the front wounded, that the left of the 12th Virginia regiment had become detached from the regiment of the brigade on its left (I think it was the 41st Virginia) during the charge, and that the 12th Virginia was far in advance of the brigade when it was discovered, and that in return- ing to resume its proper position, the 41st Virginia, supposing it to be GEN. G. M. SORKEL. "The gallantry of Lieut. -Col. Sorrel, of Longstreet's staff, was also very conspicuous. He led us into action on horseback, waving his hat and crying out, ' Come on, Virginians.' " ENSIGN BBNJ'N H. MAY. " Ben May's refusal to let the colors go from his hands was highly characteristic of the man. A splendid fellow he was, as brave as a lion and as gentle as a woman, resembling in this particular his distinguished uncle, Capt. Robert B. Pegram, of naval fame." P. 91. THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 97 a part of the enemy had fired into the 12th Virg'inia, kiUing and wound- ing quite a number of its members. "I can recall the name of but one only who was killed by this unfor- tunate mistake, and that was John Mingea, who was a member of my company. A more gallant and faith- ful soldier, or a more perfect gen- tleman, was not known in the ranks of the 12th Virginia regiment. He was a resident of this city (Nash- ville, Tenn.,) at the commencement of the war, and in company with the writer left this city April 29th, 1861, for the purpose of enlisting in a company in his native state. To- gether we returned to Petersburg in 1861, and together we went to Nor- folk and enlisted May 10th, 1861. He was my personal friend, and in camp one of my constant compan- ions. It is not strange, therefore, that his death, and the circum- stances attending it, should be so readily recalled while writing my recollections of the battle of the Wilderness. My recollection is there was very little fighting, if any, after 2 o'clock P. M. of the 6th on that part of the line in which. Mahone's brigade had been engaged before 12 o'clock. I was at the infirmary, not over three-quarters of a mile distant from where I was wounded, and where the brigade had its hottest fire, lying in a tent bathing my foot, which had become very much swol- len, and I remember distinctly there was very little firing during the af- ternoon after 2 o'clock on the right of the plank road. "Early the next morning, the 7th, I was informed by Dr. Claiborne 9 that he had orders to move, and that some time during the day we would leave, as the army was moving. Be- ing unable to walk, and being un- willing to be left behind, I sent 9. Dr. Jas. W. Claiborne, of Petersburg, Va, word to Hugh, my brother, the ad- jutant of the 12th Virginia, to send me his horse, that I wanted to keep up with the army. He complied with my request, and I went along with the brigade to Spottsylvania Court-House, where I rejoined my company, though my wound was still very painful, and took a part in that engagement. "There was one feature of the battle of the Wilderness that im- pressed me very much, and that was the meagre use of artillery. The nature of the country thereabouts and the thick undergrowth through- out that section may account for this, no doubt, although the loss of men, especially on the Federal side, was very great. Quite a number of Federals were brought to our in- firmary, among them Gen. Wads- worth, who was mortally wounded." Comrade Joseph E. Rockwell, ser- geant Company A, of the 12th Vir- ginia regiment, having had the fore- going correspondence submitted to him, sent me a reply in which he says: "Our movements forward were made with all possible haste, but owing to entangled undergrowth in some places, and the marshy nature of others, our line of battle was not well preserved, as in our impetuos- ity to get forward many of our ex- treme right became separated from our main forces in the charge. "The enemy were in retreat, and we had the pleasure of seeing their backs for a considerable distance, except at intervals, when the smoke from the burning woods would con- ceal them from view, as the woods by accident or design had been fired by the|enemy, and many of their dead and wounded comrades were lying about the fired woods; but were had no time to help them then. 98 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. "Pressing on for a few yards fur- ther, for some reason we came to a halt, that is, our part of the com- mand, which I am under the im- pression was in advance of our col- ors. Here the retreating enemy came upon their reserves, and we had it quite hot until many of our comrades were shot down. I was fortunate enough to catch a friendly ball myself, and as no surgeon would take the responsibility of cutting for it, I have carried it from that time to the present with special affection, and as a cherished memento of that sanguinary battle. My thoughts then very naturally reverted to our brigade surgeon, Dr. Jas. W. Clai- borne, whom I found at his infirm- ary, about a mile to the rear, and principally occupied in attending the enemy, of which he had a large number, many of them desperately wounded, and among them was Gen. Wadsworth, of New York, who was brought to our infirmary with a minnie wound in the forehead, and was placed alone in an officer's tent which had been put in position for his especial benefit. He died, however, in a few minutes after be- ing placed on his back in this tent. "Permit me in closing to mention the name of Private Dillon, of Com- pany A, 12th Virginia regiment, 'a low private in the rear rank,' when out of action. His conspicuous modesty gave place to conspicuous gallantry while in the field, and his peculiarity being that of crying in earnest and fighting hard when I left the field." To Comrade E. M. Feild, lieu- tenant-colonel of the 12th Virginia regiment at the battle of the Wil- derness and subsequently its colo- nel, I next submitted the foregoing correspondence, and here is his reply : "I was present at the battle of the Wilderness in command of about 170 of the picked men of Mahone's brigade, who had but a short time before been organized by Gen. Ma- hone into a battalion of sharpshoot- ers, composed of five companies. Soon after the brigade reached the Wilderness, on the morning of the 6th of May, we moved out to the right and south of the plank road, and so extended our line of battle that was then formed in the woods facing east. I then advanced the battalion of sharpshooters as skir- mishers about 150 yards in front of the brigade. "I do not know exactly how long we had been there when General Mahone, riding up, informed- me that an attack was about to be made on the flank and front of the ene- my's line on the south side of the plank road; that General Longstreet had sent two brigades through an old railroad cut to attack the enemy on his (the enemy's) left flank, and that with his (Mahone's) brigade he would attack in front. He directed me to move forward slowly and gently with my sharpshooters until I heard the cheers of the flanking "brigade, when I was to advance quickly to the front and attack. "Ordering the men forward, we moved very slowly to the front for some distance, when hearing a tre- mendous 'rebel yell' on our right, we pushed forward as rapidly as the thick undergrowth would allow, but did not go very far, when coming to a slight opening about forty yards wide and seventy long, which looked as if it were the site of an old pond, I saw the enemy's line of bat- tle on the opposite or eastern side of this opening moving to their right in column of fours at a double quick. Seeing this, I gave the or- ders to the sharpshooters to com- mence firing, which order was re- THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 09 peated in a loud tone by all of the commissioned and non-commission- ed officers of the battalion, which I saw attracted the attention of the enemy. I saw four men just at this time step out of line and prepare to fire, and thinking it the part of a good skirmisher to seek protection when possible, and seeing a dead tree about the size of my body about three feet from me, I stepped quick- ly behind it, but not in time to es- cape a bullet which passed through my clothes, grazing my spine slight- ly, giving me great pain at the time and causing paralysis of my lower limbs that evening, so that I could scarcely use them. I came near leaving the field, thinking that I had been shot through, but was obliged to smile after finding the extent of my injury, and thought how I, who had been selected to command the picked men of Mahone's brigade, would have been laughed at had I left the field for so slight an injury. A sergeant of the 61st regiment, just as I was struck, fell at my feet, shot through the brain. "The eiiemy's line at this place was somewhat broken by our fire, but a much larger number than com- posed my force of sharpshooters halted and returned our fire. While this was going on I could hear our brigade behind us advancing, and judging from the sound made by the canteens of the men striking against the bushes that the brigade was in easy supporting distance of us, I gave the orders to the sharpshooters to charge, which order being repeat- ed by all the officers of my com- mand, was, I thought, mistaken by the brigade for an order for them to charge, as they immediately came forward very rapidly. "I had gotten nearly across the opening above referred to when our brigade reached it, and, as the men in our rear opened fire on the ene- my before us without regard to the sharpshooters being in their front, I quickly withdrew to the rear with my men , and in that position went forward with the brigade until we reached the plank road. Before we moved forward and whilst we were about this opening I was par- ticularly struck by the coolness and gallantry of Gen. Mahone. Our brigade had about reached the point at which we first saw the enemy as above described, and a considerable number of the enemy being gather- ed in knots at short range (about seventy-five yards distant) on our left flank and firing into it, this caus- ed the left of the 6th Virginia regi- ment to double back until it had gotten to be twenty-five or thirty ranks deep. At this time Gen. Ma- hone dashed up on his horse and in a clear, shrill, voice, which could be heard above the rattle of- the mus- kets, asked, "What regiment is this in this confusion ?' Being answered that it was the 6th Virginia, he ex- claimed, 'The 6th Virginia regiment of my hrigade — that splendidly drilled regiment — in this conditionr It is needless to tell that the men were in their places as quickly as possible, and promptly moved for- ward. "The brigade having swung around to the left, we soon had the entire force of the enemy on the south of the plank road routed, leav- ing in our hands a large number of dead and wounded, among the lat- ter Gen. Wadsworth, whom I re- member seeing lying on the ground as we passed along. I reached the plank road with the 6th regiment, where we halted and commenced to reform on the > south side of the road. I saw coming down the plank road from the west Gen. Longstreet and staff, followed at some little dis- tance by a column of men, which extended as far as I could see and loo WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. was moving at a double-quick. Gen. Longstreet, when about one hun- dred yards to our left, left the plank road with his staff and others, mov- ing diagonally into the woods on the north of the road in our front. He had with him a large and beau- tiful headquarter flag, which was something new in the army. I was now on the extreme left of the brig- ade, ordering the sharpshooters to assemble on the left, when I heard some one say, 'Look out, boys, they are coming back ! There they come !- There they come!' Gen. Mahone was at this time to my right, saying to the men, all of whom as well as Gen. Mahone, thought those in the immediate front were the enemy ad- vancing, 'Steady men, steady ! Get in your places ! Getin your places!' Sud.denly one or two of the regi- ments to my right opened fire. This firing soon ceased, as the men found out they were firing upon their friends, but not until they had kill- • ed Gen. Jenkins, mortally wounded Ben ■White,10 of the 12th Virginia, and wounded Gen. Longstreet and others severely. "So much time elapsed after the wounding of Longstreet and before Gen. Anderson assumed command, the enemy had time to reform their ranks, and we being largely outnum- bered, it became necessary for us to faU back to about the position oc- cupied by our line before making the attack. When I was sitting on a log that evening,. Gen. Mahone came up, and taking a seat by me, said, 'Col. Field, it was very unfor- tunate for our cause that Longstreet was wounded. Had this not occur- red, we would have driven Grant across the river before night in spite of all he could have done. We had two miles of his left thoroughly routed, and this part of the line lu. lieu Ji. White, of Petersburg, Va. driven back on the other troops would have demoralized his whole army.' "I had almost forgotten to say I was surprised when I learned that the 12th Virginia had crossed the plank road, and that it was on this regiment that a portion of the brig- ade fired. When the firing was go- ing on I thought that the 12th was in its position on the right of the brigade. "We had no further fighting that evening. I .was left in charge of the sharpshooters in front of the brigade during the night, which I consider one of the most unpleasant of my life. The woods were on fire and the cries of the wounded made the night hideous. Gen. Anderson being assigned to the command of Longstreet's corps. Gen. Mahone was placed in command of his di- vision, and Col. D. A. Weisiger, of the 12th regiment, assumed com- mand of Mahone's brigade. This left my regiment, the 12th, of which I was lieutenant-colonel, without a field officer. I, thinking it but right that I should return to it, so stated to Gen. Mahone, who agreed with me, and I accordingly took com- mand of the regiment the next morning. I must state, however, that it was with great reluctance that I, gave up the command of the sharpshooters, the finest body of men that I had ever seen, the pick- ed men of Mahone's brigade." In order that there may be a bet- ter understanding of the plan of that part of the great battle in which our brigade and regiment took part, as narrated in the foregoing letters and statements, I have deemed it best to conclude this address by making some extracts from the offi- cial records to be found in volume 36, part 1, series 1, of 'The War of THJi; BATTLE OF TUli WlLDEliNKSS. 101 the Eebellion," and from Swinton's "Campaigns of the Army of the Po- tomac." Gen. Longstreet, in his report, Eebellion Record, volume 36, part 1, page 1054, says : "About 10 o'clock Major General M. L. Smith and the others sent out to examine the enemy's position, reported that the left of the enemy's line extended but a short distance beyond the plank road. Special di- rections were given to Lieutenant- Colonel Sorrel to conduct the brig- ades of Gen. Mahone, G. T. Ander- son, and Wofford beyond the ene- my's- left, and to attack him on his left and re^r — I have since heard that the brigade of Gen. Davis form- ed a part of this flanking force — the flank movement to be followed by a general advance, Anderson's brig- ade on the right and WofFord's on the left, Mahone being in the cen- tre. They moved by the flank until the unfinished railroad from Gor- donsville to Fredericksburg was -reached. Forming on this railroad facing to the north, they advanced in the direction of the plank road till they encountered the enemy in flank and rear, who was then engag- ing the brigades of Gregg, Beuning and Law in front. The movement was a complete surprise and a per- fect success. It was executed with rare zeal and intelligence. The en- emy made but a short stand, and fell Ipack in utter route, with heavy loss, to a position about three-quar- ters of a mile from my front attack. "I immediately made arrange- ments to follow up the success gain- ed, and ordered an advance of all my troops for that purpose. While riding at the head of my column, moving by the flank down the plank road, I became opposite the brig- ades which had made the flank movement, and which were drawn up parallel to the plank road, and about sixty yards therefrom, when a portion of them fired a volley, which resulted in the death of Gen. Jen- kins, and the wounding of myself. I immediately notified the com- manding general of my being oblig- ed to quit the field, ^ and the com- mand devolved on Major-General Feild. "To the members of my staff I am under great obligations for their valuable services. They conducted themselves with their usual distin- guished gallantry. Much of the success of the movement on the en- emy's flank is due to the very skill- ful manner in which the move was conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Sorrel." Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw, in his report, Rebellion Record, volume 36, part 1, page 1061, says : "The lines being rectified, and Feild's division and Wofford's brig- ade, of my own, having arrived, up- on the suggestion of Brigadier-Gen. Wofford a movement was organiz- ed, under the orders of the lieuten- ant-general commanding, to attack the enemy in flank from the line of the Orange railroad, on our right, with the brigades of Gen. Anderson, of Feild's division, and Brigadier- General Wofford's i of my own, sup- ported by Mahone's brigade, while we continued to hold the enemy in front, who was at intervals bearing down upon our lines, but always without any success. This move- ment, concealed from view by the dense woods, was eminently suc- cessful, and the enemy was routed and driven pell-mell as far as the Brock road, and pursued by Gen. Wofford to some distance across the plank road, where he halted within a few hundred yards of the German- na road. Returning with General 102 ^YAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Wofford up the plank road, and learning the condition of things in front, we met the lieutenant-gene- ral commanding coming to the front almost within musket range of the Brock road. Exchanging hasty con- gratulations upon the success of the morning, the lieutenant - general rapidly planned and directed an at- tack to be made by Brigadier-Gen- eral Jenkins and myself upon the position of the enemy upon the Brock road before he could recover from his disaster. The order to me was to break their line and push all to the right of the road toward Fredericksburg. Jenkins' brigade was put in motion by a flank in the plsiuk road, my division in the woods to the right. I rode with Gen. Jen- kins at the head of his command, arranging with him the details of our combined attack. We had not advanced as far as the position still held by Wofford's brigade, when two or three shots were fired on the left of the road, and some stragglers came running in from that diirection, and immediately a volley was pour- ed into the head of our column from the woods on our right, occupied by Mahone's brigade. By this volley Gen. Longstreet was prostrated by a fearful wound ; Brigadier-General Jenkins, Capt. Alfred E. Doby, my aid-de-camp, and Orderly Marcus Baum, were instantly killed. "As an instance of the prompt- ness and ready presence of mind of our troops I will mention that the leading files of Jenkins' brigade on this occasion instantly faced the firing, and were about to return it; but when I dashed my horse into their ranks, crying, 'They are friends,' they as instantaneously realized the position of things and fell on their faces where they stood. This fa- tal casualty arrested the projected movement. The commanding gen- eral soon came in person fo the front, and ordered me to take posi- tion with my right resting on the Orange railroad. Though an ad- vance was made later in the day, my troops became no more engaged, except Gen. Woflford, who moved against the enemy in the afternoon on the left pf the plank road, and met with some success in that quar- ter and suffered some loss." Gen. Wm. Mahone, in his report, Eebellion Record, part 1, page 1090, says: "The next day (May 6th) we were with our troops on the plank road, and where the fight was already earnestly progressing at an early hour. We were at once assigned a position in support of a. part of the line of Lieut.-General Longstreefe's front, but very soon after we were ordered to join and co-operate with Anderson's and Wofford's brigades, of that corps, in an attack upon the enemy's left flank. As the senior brigadier, I was, by Lieut.-General Longstreet, charged with the imme- diate direction of this movement. Wofford and Anderson were already- in motion, and in a few minutes the line of attack had been formed, and the three brigades, in imposing order and with step that meant to conquer, were now rapidly descending upon the enemy's left. The movement was a success— complete as it was brilliant. The enemy were swept from our front on the plank road, where his advantages of position had al- ready been felt by our line, and from which the necessity for his dislodg- ment had become a matter of much interest. Besides this valuable result the plank road had been gained and the enemy's line bent back in much disorder; the way was open for great- er fruits. His long lines of dead and wounded which lay in the wake of our swoop, furnished evidence that he was not allowed time to change THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 103 front, as well as of the execution of our fire. Among liis wounded Briga- dier-General Wadsworth, command- ing a division, fell into our hands. "Lieutenant-Colonel G. M. Sorrel, of Gen. Longstreet's staff, who was with me in conducting this move- ment, and Capt. Robertson Taylor,ll assistant adjutant -general of Ma- hone's brigade, who was wounded in the fight, specially deserve my ear- nest commendation for efficiency and conspicuous gallantry on this occa- sion. "The casualties of the brigade were as follows : Officers, 1 killed and 3 wounded; men, 19 killed, 123 wound- ed, 7 missing; total, 20 killed, 126 wounded, 7 missing." The historian Swinton, in his work above mentioned, at page 433, says: "The contest that signalized Long- street's arrival on Hancock's front, and restored the integrity of the shat- tered Confederate right, now died away; and for some hours, up to nearly noon, there was a lull. Du- ring this time Longstreet's troops continued to arrive, and when at last his line had acquired breadth and weight for the incoming force, it was advanced, and Hancock's troops, which had first halted, now began to feel a heavy pressure. The attack first fell on the left of the advanced line, held by the brigade of Frank. This force Longstreet's troops fairly overran; and brushing it away, they struck the left of Mott's division, which was in turn swept back in con- fusion; and though Hancock endeav- ored, by swinging back his left and forming line along the plank road, to secure the advanced position still held by his right, it was found im- possible to do so, and he had to con- tent himself with rallying and re- forming the troops on the original line, along the Brock road, from 11. Capt. Robertson Taylor, of Bftltimore,M(J, which they had advanced in the morning. Wadsworth, on the right of Hancock, opposed the most he- roic efforts to the onset of the ene- my; but after several ineffectual charges, his troops broke into the retreat; and while striving to rally them, that patriotic and high-souled gentleman and brave soldier received a bullet in his head, and died within the enemy's lines the following day. "But in the very fury and tempest of the Confederate onset the advance was of a sudden stayed by a cause at the moment unknown. This af- terwards proved to have been the fall of the head of this attack. "Longstreet had made his dispo- sitions for a decisive blow; for while advancing one force in front, he sent another to move around Hancock's left and lay hold of the Brock road. At the time the Union troops were giving ground, and the Confederates were pushing on, that officer, with his staff, rode forward in front of his column, when suddenly confronting a portion of his own flanking force, the cavalcade was mistaken for a party of Union horsemen, and re- ceived a volley under which Long- street fell, severely wounded." In a foot note to the last paragraph Mr. Swinton says : "General Longstreet stated to the writer that he saw they were his own men, but in vain shouted to them to cease firing. He also expressed, with great emphasis, his opinion of the decisive blow he would have inflicted had he not been wounded. 'I thought,' said he, 'that we had an- other Bull Run on you, for I had made my dispositions to seize the Brock road.' But on my pointing out that Hancock's left had not ad- vanced, but remained on the origi- nal line, covering that road, he ad- mitted that that altered the complex- ion of affairs." 104 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDKRATE VETERANS. Before concluding this address it is due to Gen. Mahone, and to the officers and men of his brigade, by whose fire Gen. Longstreet was struck down at the critical moment of the battle of the Wilderness, as has been narrated in the foregoing accounts of the engagement, to say that no blame attaches to him or to them for the unfortunate accident, which no ordinary forethought, it seems, could well have avoided, but which must rather be considered one of those mysterious interposi- tions of the Almighty in the affairs of men deemed necessary to shape for his own purposes the course of human events. The brigade, men and officers, won laurels in this ac- tion, and it has afforded me much pleasure to contribute what has been read this evening towards the history of its famous career, and in so doing to record specially the splendid con- duct of the gallant Sorrel and no less gallant May, the ensign of the 12th Virginia. ADDENDA. Since the foregoing address was delivered, several letters and state- ments from participants have been received. From these it has been deemed proper to make some ex- tracts under the belief that they will throw light upon and add interest to what has been already said. Colonel (now General) V. D. Gro- ner, of Norfolk, Va., who, as colonel of the 61st Virginia regiment, com- manded that regiment in the battle of the Wilderness, in his letter dated March 5th, 1892, says : "The 12th was on the right, the 41st next; then came in order the 61st, 16th and 6th regiments. We moved in this direction at right an- gles with the road some little dis- tance, and then wheeled to the left, the 12th being on the extreme right, 41st next, in eschelon, and then the 61st, 16th and 6th. Mahone, I think, had been given another brigade, but what it was I do not remember. In front of the 6th and 16th we met Gen. Wadsworth's command. There was considerable fighting on the left of the 61st, but Wadsworth being mortally wounded and a large num- ber of his command captured or killed, our entire front was soon cleared of the enemy. "I discovered on the report of Lieut.-Col. Minetree,l2 in command of the 41st, that the 12th had been lost. I halted the brigade, reported to Mahone and went forward myself to see if I could find where the 12th was.* We had halted only about sixty or seventy yards from the road, but there was a dense woods in front of us and a great deal of fire and smoke. In fact, I do not think I have ever seen a battle-field where there was more destruction and more horrors than that of the Wilderness." Capt. John E. Patterson, who, as first lieutenant of Co. E, 12th Virginia regiment, commanded that company in the action, in a statement furnish- ed by him, says : "I distinctly remember seeing Col. Sorrel attempt to take the flag from 11. Col. Jos. P. Minetree, of Petersburg, Va. *Coloiiel Minetree states that there were two companies of the 12th regiment (those on its extreme left) that remained in the line with the 41st regiment, on its right, and did not go across the plank road with the main body of the 12th regiment. THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 105 the gallant Ben May. This occur- red when we were near the plank road. Before we reached the plank road I recollect looking down the line to my left and seeing Sergeant George J. Morrison, of Company A, one of the best soldiers in the regi- ment, throw down his gun and start to the rear. Although we were then driving the enemy, the thought flash- ed through my mind that, if such a man as George Morrison was going to the rear, the bottom of the fight must be out on that part of the line; but as we advanced, swinging around to the left, I learned that he had been shot through the body. "Just before I saw George Morri- son, as above narrated, I remember hearing Gen. Mahone, who at the time was riding immediately in the rear of our part of the line, about ten feet from where I was, whilst we were pressing forward under heavy fire, say in his accustomed calm and imperturbable toiie, 'Steady in the 12th!' "Our regiment crossed the plank road, and I remember seeing num- bers of the enemy in utter confusion and route running through the woods. In a little opening about twenty yards in our front a single man appeared, when one of our boys next to me raised his gun to shoot him, when I said, 'Don't shoot! We will catch him!' Just then the Fed- eral soldier dodged behind a tree, and, as we approached, jumped out and started to run again. I then said to the man whom I had just be- fore prevented from firing, 'Let him have it !' At the crack of the gun the retreating Federal fell dead. This was on the north side of the plank road. "The regiment was now halted, ' *Sergeant Tayleure says that Ben May, and we were ordered to return to the ^^^^^Ti^ne^^Uts^^l^'^nl^t balance ot the brigade. As we came did this act of magnificent courage. See back over the ground over which the page 94. enemy had just been driven, the oth- er regiments of the brigade naturally supposed we were the enemy and fired into us. As soon as this fire opened, knowing what it was, I fell flat on the ground in the plank road. Some one exclaimed, 'Show your colors !' I shall never forget what I consider one of the bravest acts I ever witnessed: The color-bearer stepped out on the plank road and calmly waved his colors over his head, although a line of our o'vvn men, not more than fifty yards — in- deed, not that far — in his front, were at the time pouring a deadly fire into us, which resulted in killing and wounding some of the best men in our regiment."* Judge D. M. Bernard, of Peters- burg, Va., of Co. E, 12th Virginia regiment, furnishes the following statement : "I have read with pleasure the cor- respondence and statements relating to the battle of the Wilderness you have handed me for perusal. "I was a member of the corps of sharpshooters of Mahone's brigade, commanded by Col. Feild at the bat- tle of the Wilderness, and remember well that we passed through marsh, swamp and burning woods. I was struck with the coolness and soldier- ly bearing of Col. Feild, and with the dash and gallantry of a mounted staff-officer, who, I believe, was Col. Sorrel. Whilst we were advancing through the woods, I picked up a fine pair of officer's gloves, which I immediately handed to this staff- officer, who was at the time riding near me. Eeceiving the gloves with a smile he thanked me for them, say- 106 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. ing, 'They are the very things I need.' "I was not an eye-witness of the May-Sorrel flag incident, but remem- ber hearing of it about the time of its occurrence. So gallant an act was to be expected of Ben May, as all who knew him can testify. I well re- member, too, and can never forget, how, not many days after this battle, when he had received his mortal wound at SpottsylvaniaCourt-House my heart was melted while shaking, in our last good-bye, the poor fel- low's hand, hot with the fever that I knew must, and which did, in a few hours burn out his noble life." To the foregoing address of Mr. Turner and its addenda, the follow- ing letter from Major Andrew Dunn, of Petersburg, Va., may properly be appended: "Petebsbueg, Va., ) "July 1, 1892. r "Mr. Geo. S. Beknabd. "Dear Sir : You have requested me to give you my recollection of the wounding of Gen. Longstreet in the battle of the Wilderness. As a member of his staff — I was one of his aids-de-camp— I was within a few feet of him at the time he was wounded. We were on our horses on the plank road. A few minutes previously I had suggested to him that he was exposing himself very much, I thought. 'That is our bus- iness,' was his reply — which silenced me. When the volley, a shot from which wounded him, was fired, he feU from his horse heavily to the ground, and I thought he had been kOled. I went immediately to him and found him breathing. Drs. J. S. Dorsey Cullen and Randolph Barks- dale, of his medical staff, were im- mediately sent for and took him to the rear. "Your Comrade, "Andbew Dunn." The message sent by Ben May to Col. Sorrel, referred to in Col. S.'s letter to Mr. Turner, was, "Tell Col. Sorrel I could not part with the colors, but we followed him."* G. S. B. *Sergeant W.W. Tayleure , in a letter dated July 2, 1892, tells the following pathetic in- cident about young Wm. F. Pucci : "Just a few days before the spring cam- paign opened with this battle, there was quite a religious revival going on in the camps and many were induced to join the church. Young Pucci had written home to his mother asking her advice upon the sub- ject. A letter was received by me for him, and one to me also, asking me to advise him to do so. On the morning of the 6th of May, when we were ordered to pack up and march, I tried to find young Pucci, and in calling for him over the camp I at last found him, all ready for the march, but with others he was kneeling on all fours, with his face in his hands, praying. I did not dis- turb him, and soon we were on the march. Shortly afterwards we were engaged with the enemy, and through fire and smoke we pushed our way, while the enemy fled, leav- ing their dying and dead to the ravages of the flames. Almost the first news I re- ceived was the death of young Pucci, shot through the head while pursuing the re- treating Federals." COL. FLETCHER H. ARCHER. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG ON THE 9th of JUNE, 1864. AN ADDRESS BY COL. FLETCHER H. ARCHER, WHO COMMANDED THE RESERVES AND MILITIA IN THAT ENGAGEMENT, DE- LIVERED BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, OF PETERSBURG, VA., ON THE EVENING OF THE 6th OF JUNE, 1889. GOMEADES : formed, a party was dispatched to There is scarcely a city in this place to make a permanent set- Virginia, and but few within tlement. It is needless to consume the broad limits of our Union, around time in attempting to portray the which cluster more historic memo- mutations through which this set- ries than around our own fair city of tlement passed, until, after the lapse Petersburg. The falls of the Appo- of rather more than a century, it mattox, the chief tributary to the had attained a magnitude suificient noble stream upon which the first to warrant an application to the permanent English settlement was house of burgesses for corporate made, were relatively of too much privileges. importance not to elicit the early Suffice it to say that the toils, the attention of those who, looking be- dangers, the privations and hard- yond the palisades of Jamestown, ships, which the settlers were ne- sought other localities where they eessarily compelled to encounter, might establish themselves to profit enstamped upon their characters an and advantage. Consequently, as individuality and force which, hav- early as the year 1645, only thirty- ing been transmitted to their de- eight years after the arrival of the scendants, have contributed to ren- whites in Virginia, as we are in- der them conspicuous in every time 108 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of emergency or need. In one of inhospitable wilderness to the post the early Indian wars, when Vir- of danger, and by their gallantry in ginia was a colony, and Washington, action, their submission to disci- then a colonel in the colonial ser- pline, and their noble bearing, won vice, with a handful of citizen sol- for themselves the high approba- diers, was upon our frontier con- tion of their commanding general, tending with the diificulties that and for their town at the hands of environed him, and striving to sup- President Madison the appellation press the ravages of a cruel and of "The Little Cockade." bloodthirsty foe, the good old Ma- During the revolution in far off sons of Blandford Lodge, No. 3, as- Texas, when the whole Southern sembled in their lodge room and mind was fired with indignation at adopted a resolution offering a Ub- the cruel butcheries of her assail- eral bounty to those who would en- ants, and their utter ^disregard of list in the service. In the war of the amenities of civilized warfare, the revolution, when the tide of in- a body of adventurous spirits, with vasion rolled through Virginia, and Peebles at their head, set sail from our town was attacked by a force of our wharves, to cast in their lot twenty-three hundred British sol- with the struggling infant repubhc. diers under the command of Gene- When as a consequence of that rev- ral Phillips, and the traitor Arnold, olution and the admission of Texas Baron Steuben, with a compara- iiito our Union, a war sprung up tive handful of militia, met them between the governments of the upon the threshold, and though he United States and Mexico, and a could not drive them back, gave call was made upon the Southern them a foretaste of what they, along states for volunteers, our little city, with the whole of Cornwallis' army, true to her instincts, responded to were to encounter only a few months the call by sending out two compa- thereafter, upon the memorable J^i^s numbering more than one hun- plains of Yorktown — excepting of ^red and sevehty young men, who course the traitor Arnold, who had repaired to the front, performed more than sufficient reason to avoid their duties as true soldiers, and re- the risk of capture, and left the mained in the service to the close of state before the final catastrophe. ^^^ war. In the war of 1812, while our forces ^^^^ finally, in the tremendous upon the Canadian frontier were drama that opened upon us all but undergoing alternations of defeat little more than a quarter of a cen- and victory, a band of ardent young tury ago, the after -pieces of which patriots, numbering more than one have scarcely yet ceased to present hundred, under the lead of Captain themselves in kaleidoscopic view, be- McEae, tendered their services to fore Virginia herself had fairly the government, marched through an wheeled into line, nearly the whole THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBTfRG. 109 of our then available volunteer force, be content in passing on to say that in obedience to the call made upon from every battlefield on which they them, laid aside their civic employ- ^o^^g^*! ^^0"^ Wilmington to Gettys- ments, donned their uniforms, shoul- burg, from Norfolk to Appomattox dered their rifles and marched away Court-House, our boys oftheold 12th, to the beginning of a conflict which ^^^ ^^^t, the 9th, the 3rd-the ar- was to culminate in a sacrifice of hu- ^il^^^y ^^^ "a^^l'^y' ^^"^ wherever man life, a destruction of property, «!«« ^^^^ were-bore off a record and a wide-spread devastation and ^^^""^ ^^""^^^^ illustrate the pages of ruin, never conceived of by the wild- ^^^"^ city's history, down to the latest est imagination of an American citi- Period of its corporate existence, zen, and but rarely surpassed in the ^""^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ *« *^^ pertinent recorded annals of the world's histo- ^^l^^^^' ^^ t^« ««^« '^''^^ *^"« ry. And foUowing these pioneers, manfully deport themselves and he- company after company was raised "^"^^^^^ ^^""^ ^^P *« *^«i^ ^^*y with unexampled rapidity, until through the long lapse of days and within a short space of time, out of a ^«^*^«^^<^«^^^y^^i'«' ^^^^ *^^ white population of less than 10,000 ^^^^^ "^ S^^O"^ ^""^ darkness came, of all ages and of both sexes, seven- ^^^ ^^^P* ^^*<^^ ^""^ ^^^"^ °^^^ *^« teen companies of good men and mothers, the sisters, and the children true, comprising every arm of the ^^ *1^««« ^1^«^^* «^«« ^ What of the service-artillery, cavalry and in- aged sires and the unfledged yotmger fantry-had gone forth from our Mothers? Well, there is a story noble old city to do battle to the end connected with this, which, if fairly in behalf of Southern rights and ^^^' "^^^ «^^^^« ^^^ *« *^^«^ *^® Southern civilization, to follow ««"^«« ^^^^^^^ t^^ ™«**1« «^°^^ *^^* i.1, T. J J 4. J ii, T, made those boys in grey the heroes these brave and devoted men through ^"^"^ -i * •',. , ^ the vicissitudes of our four years' t^^* *^«y ^^^^' ^^"^ *° ™^^^^^ *^^ ^^^ struggle; to portray in fitting terms that the stock from which they sprung their patient endurance of hardship, stiUnourished scions lithe and strong their unflinching adherence to duty, P^^P^^^^^ ^^' ^"^^^ ^^\ \^''^ *^f . have no cause to feel the blush of shame — I mean their ready adaptation to every ne- cessity, and above all their deeds of noble daring in the face of danger The story of the Defense of Petersburg and of death, would require a pen On the memorable 9th of June, 1864. as facile as that which recorded the I would that some one else had deeds of heroes at the siege of an- undertaken the task of telling it, cient Troy — and time far more ex- especially as it fell to my lot to be tended than could be possibly em- one of the actors in the scenes con- braced within the limits of the nected therewith; but as the duty present occasion. I must therefore seems by common consent to devolve 110 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. upon me, I must crave your indul- the month of July, 1863, which was gence while I attempt as briefly and followed by events, whether growing simply as I can to give you at least «^t ^^ i* ^^ ^o*' ^ *^°i i^^^^le to say, an outline of what occurred on that *lia*P^«^e^*o be of no little im- occasion. In order that I may do so Portance. One calm Sunday after- intelligently, permit me to refer to ^oo^^ during that month, thesabatic the previous condition of our city in stillness of the day was suddenly a military point of view, and to the ^^«^e^ ^"^ "P^^' ^^ *he rumor that a organization of our local force for gun-boat was coming up the river, home defense. The most of you are ^his caused a general rush to arms doubtless aware that from the be- ^n the part of those who had them, ginning of the war to the year of its ^^^ ^^^ ^"^"^ ^^ ^^^^^ militia compa- final termination Petersburg remain- ^^^ t^^^n in existence were drawn up ed in a state of comparative repose. "^^ ^^^^ at their different places of No hostile footsteps had ever re- rendezvous; but the rumor proving, sounded upon its streets, and no of course, groundless, they were in- hostile gun had ever been fired with- ^ short time dismissed; and the ' in its limits. It is true that the low members returned to their homes, muttering of distant artillery as it This or something else seemed to came up the James and Appomattox awaken our authorities to the neces- fromthe field of Big Bethel had «% of vitalizing the meagre material caught the ears of some of its citi- ^^^^ remained on hand, and prepar- zens, and they had listened with ^^S it in some degree for any emer- heightened interest to its louder gency that might arise; consequently, booming as it came across the conn- ^o* ^^ng thereafter, all who were try telling of the day of Seven Pines subject to militia duty in Petersburg and the seven days around Eich- ^^^^ required to go regularly into mond. But as the baffled and de- ^^"^P- feated army of McCldLlan retired in An encampment was established the direction of Washington, and at the head of Washington street. General Lee with his victorious forces The companies already organized re- , moved away beyond the Potomac, paired thither. One or two new scarcely a vestige of apprehension companies were raised — and the remained even in the bosoms of the whole were formed into a battalion — most timid, and all save the few who and a commander was elected. This took a broad and comprehensive view battalion was not composed of militia of the situation apparently settled of the line, who were subject to regu- down to the conviction that, whatever lar duty, but under the act of as- might befall other places, Petersburg sembly of the 7th of March, 1862, at ]east was safe from invasion, consisted of men between the ages of There came a very slight ripple in forty-five and fifty-fiAe years, and THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. lU youths between the ages of sixteen and the retention of the second-class mi- eighteen, and was intended for home litia of certain cities and towns of the defense. They were called "second- state, issued an order directing the class militia" — many of them were enrollment of all white males between among our best citizens. They were the ages of sixteen and Mty-five taken under the control of the Con- years of the towns and cities specified federate government for the time in said order, not in active service of being. Instructors were ' furnished the Confederate States, and whether by General Jenkins, the Confederate aliens, citizens, detailed men or commander then in the city,. and they otherwise. This order was issued on were drilled as if for regular service, the 5th of April, 1864, and a printed After the lapse of about a fortnight copy thereof sent to Petersburg, they were permitted to go to their The commandant of the battalion, homes, but, being still held subject in pursuance of the order, proceeded to Confederate authority, were re- to make the enrollment and obtained quired to undergo daily drilling for the names of nine hundred and a fortnight or more longer. They ninety-seven persons of the classes were then discharged and called out indicated. Having reported his no more until the following spring, proceedings to i^djutant- General of which I wiU speak as I proceed. Eichardson, while awaiting further Gen. Jenkins, having been reliev- orders, he learned in a personal in- ed shortly thereafter, left the city terview with the governor and ad- with his command. I do not pro- jutant-general, that after a confer- pose to follow in regular order the ence with the secretary of war they train of events that occurred between found it impracticable to make the that time and the month of May, arrangement contemplated except in 1864, but will say just here that in the single instance of the city of the interim the Confederate con- Eichmond. They recommended, gress, seeing the necessity of utiliz- however, that he should see the see- ing the whole available material of retary of war, and furnished , him the Confederacy, passed an act re- with letters to that officer. He call- quiring the organization of a reserve ed on the secretary and presented corps, in which were to be embodied the letters. After reading them, the all men between the ages of forty- secretary of war made an endorsa- flve aW fifty, and youths between tion upon the one from General the ages of seventeen and eighteen Eichardson — virtually assenting to years. They were to be .taken regu- the enrollment and organization of larly into the Confederate service the force, but requiring it to be and subject to army regulations, but transferred to the Confederate ser- reservedmainly for home duty. The vice. Although this was not in goyeroor of Virginia, contemplating keeping with the governor's plan, 112 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. it was determined nevertheless to South Carolina. He did so forth- proceed with organizing the regi- with, and had an interview in per- ment. Before any definite progress son at Weldon, North Carolina, in had been made therein, however, which he laid before him the critical events occurred, of which I shaU stateof affairs, the inadequacy of his presently make mention. To return force to repel an attack, and the a little, notwithstanding the quietude pressing necessity of preparing for pervading the city, and its apparent it. General Beauregard assented to exemption from danger during the all this without hesitancy, and prom - fall and winter of 1863, there was a ised to reinforce him with all the storm brewing, of which our citizens troops he could spare, but owing to had not the slightest conception, circumstances beyond the control of We axe told that as early as Ifovem- Gen. Beauregard, the reinforcements ber, 1863, General Pickett, who was were not sent, and General Pickett in command of the department of was thus left in Petersburg with a North Carolina, in which this p^,rt mere handful of men. About the of Virginia was included, with his 1st of May, 1864, General Beaure- headquarters at Petersburg, received gard was assigned to the department information from his scouts that the of North Carolina, and General enemy intended to make an expedi- Pickett was consequently relieved tion up James river and against Pe- and ordered to the Army of North- tersburg.* This he immediately ern Virginia. On account of sick- communicated to the war department ness. General Beauregard did not by letter, and begged for a sufficiency come on immediately, but sent on of troops to meet such an attack, his chief engineer. Col. D. B. Har- He subsequently went to Eichmond ris, and his inspector-general, Maj . and had a personal interview with Giles B. Cooke, General Pickett be- the secretaries of war and navy, in ing still in Petersburg. On the 5th which he represented the unprotect- of May the attack, of which he had ed condition of his lines. Having so often warned the department, was received promises which were not made. complied with, he then wrote to General Butler, with a force of Gen. Lee, who was with the Army of about thirty thousand men, corn- Northern Virginia, on the Eapidan menced his movement against Pe- river, and sent his letter by a special tersburg and Eichmond by way of courier. General Lee at once re- the peninsula between the James and sponded and directed him to com- Appomattox rivers, being intended municate with General Beauregard, „ " . . 4. -ii, then in command about Charleston ^ ^ co-operative movement with General Grant's army moving from *See "Pickett's Men," by Walter Harri- the Eapidan directly upon Eichmond son, A. A. and Insp'r Gen'l of Pickett's Di- ,. ,, ,, ^ . . vision, chap, xx, page 121. li'om the north. Bringing up his THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 113 main force in transports under the twelve pieces in all — was placed in protection of a large fleet of gvm- the works. The force on Blackwater boats, he effected without opposition was ordered back immediately, and a landing and debarkation at City Captain -Harrison has been pleased Point and Bermuda Hundreds, while to remark: "The citizens and militia a division of his cavalry moved from were trotted out in the direction of Suffolk directly towards Petersburg the enemy at least." Permit me to and the lines on Blackwater. Thus, say here, parenthetically, that the as had long been anticipated by little band that stood in the Ther- General Pickett, our city was caught mopylae, at Eives' farm, on the 9th in a condition at once critical and of June, 1864, can afford to smile almost defenseless, and might, ac- at this estimate of their worth cording to all human calculation, on the part of the gallant cap- have been speedily captured, had the tain. Thus, with a regular force of Federal commander been possessed about six hundred men, and a local of sufficient energy and foresight, force of five or six hundred more. This you will readily see when I teU General Pickett occupied our lines, you of the force Gen. Pickett had in confronting Butler's thousands, hand, according to the statement of Providentially, they made no at- Captain Harrison, his adjutant and tack upon us on that day. On the next inspector-general. He had, all told, day, the 6th, a portion of Haygood's at Petersburg, one regiment of in- South Carolina brigade arrived and fantry of Clingman'slSrorth Carolina wer e sent across the river to Port Wal- brigade and a few pieces of artillery, thall Jimction where they met But- On the Blackwater line there was a ler's advance column, and after a portion of Clingman's brigade, the sharp skirmish prevented their 29th regiment of Virginia infantry, breaking the railroad connection be- one battery of artillery and a few tween Petersburg and Eichmond. cavalry, and that was all. Not- The cavalry division referred to, withstanding General Pickett had which was under the command of been relieved and might, strictly General August V. Kautz, moved speaking, have considered himself around in the rear of and to the south not in command, yet under the cir- of Peterslburg, attempting to inter- cumstances he could not think of cept Beauregard's troops on the Pe- leaving until the arrival of General tersburg and Eoanoke railroad as Beauregard, and consequently pro- they came in from Weldon, but ceeded at once to make as available a though causing some delay, the ef- disposiliion of the little force as prac- fort proved abortive. On the fol- ticable. The infantry regiment was lowing day, the 7th, a portion of moved out on the City Point road to Wise's Virginia brigade arrived and the front. The artillery — about was sent out on the lines in the direc- 114 )YAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. tioii of City Point, and thereafter, as where it remained for the time being additional troops moved in, matters stationary. Meanwhile Gen. Kem- began to assume a decidedly more per, who was at the head of the re- favorable aspect in regard to a sue- serve forces in the state, dispatched cessful defense. It is not within the Col. Robert Johnson from Richmond purview of my present undertaking to organize companies of reserves out to speak farther of the arrival of of such of the militia as were subject Beauregard's troops and the disposi- to that diity, and there, without tion made of them, but must ask moving from the lines, four compa- your attention mainly to the move- nies were culled out, organized into ments of oiir local force. As I men- reserve companies and retained for tioned, on the 5th of May, we put service. This left only two compa- into the trenches five or six hundred nies of second-class militia, one of men. In a day or two companies of which. Company A, Captain O. H. reserves from the adjoining counties Hobson, had been previously sta- came in, so that in a short time we tioned at Butterworth's bridge and had about one thousand men on duty there continued; the other. Company in the lines — Prince George, Dinwid- B, Captain James B. Wolff, remain- die, Chesterfield, Amelia and Not- ed with the reserves at Eives' farm. to way, all sent in their quotas and For upwards of thirty days this local they were properly assigned. As force had continuously remained General Butler in his initiative upon the lines, employed in driUlng, movements, however, confined him- guard duty, and such other duties self almost entirely to the north side as are incident to camp life. Once of Appomattox river, it was not very during the time they had been visit- long before it was deemed unnecessa- ed by old General Wise, to whom ry to hold so large a body of local had been assigned the command of troops together, and consequently all Petersburg and the lines around it, except the battalion of second class and had been given a specimen of militia, the Prince George company his characteristic brusqueness. It and one or two companies of detailed was on this wise : Biding up to the men, were gradually relieved and camp, he enquired for the command - sent away. The point at which our ing officer, who happened to be in local force first occupied the trenches the city at the time on legitimate was at Jordan's farm, near the City business. He was told by Adjutant Point road. After its reduction it Guy G. Johnson that the command- was moved several miles to the right ant had gone to Petersburg. "Yes," to Dunn's farm; then still further on responded he, "and if the enemy to Rives' farm, at the Jerusalem were to come, you would all be there plank road, then back to Dunn's in less time than it would take a farm, thence again to Rives' farm, cannon ball to reach there." Of THK DEFENSE OF PETERSBURU. 115 course, the gentlemen to wliom and was over, the gray-haired soldier and of whom he was speaking, who were the slender, but manly, stripling re- his peers in every sense of the word paired to their telits, and, stretching save the stars upon his collar, made themselves upon their pallets or im- no reply; but in a very short time provised beds, slept as soundly as thereafter, as you will find in the though under the protecting roofs of sequel, they triumphantly vindicated their own loved domieils. The sen - themselves, and gave occasion to the try on his lonely beat plodded his old man to virtually take back every weary way with listless tread, or vituperative word he had uttered. musingly watched the waning stars But to resume: As I said, they as they slowly descended toward the had remained upon the lines for kindling portals of the coming morn, more than thirty days, until in fact nor gave a passing thought into the the situation had assumed the mo- possibilities of what the morrow held notonous, and to some the wearisome in store for him. And when the appearance of undisturbed camp life, morning came (the morning of the It is true they heard the oft-repeated 9th of June) it opened with a presage roar of the conflict on the other side as bright and fair as the days which of the river, and had rejoiced in the had preceded it. From reveille to successes which had generally at- breakfast call, from breakfast call to tended the Confederate cause, but . guard mounting, from guard mount- they had seen no sign of an advance ing on to near the hour for drill, the upon our own immediate lines nor ordinary routine remained intact; heard it authentically intimated that nor had the slightest incident occur - there was likely to be such at any red to indicate that it would be given period. Indeed, so calmly had otherwise for many days to come, the hours of relaxation from duty But just then a courier emerged from sped on from day to day that appre- the woods beyond the camp and hension had relapsed into repose; open field in front. He was mount - and even the most cautious had well ed upon a black horse, fit color for nigh surrendered the thought that the mission he was itpon. "Winding there was the slightest possibility of the path that led up from below, he an early attack. Thus it was on the shaped his course at once for head- evening of the 8th of June, -1864. quarters. The commandant, seeing The sun sent forth his parting rays him approach, stood out in front of and sank back to rest a^ quietly as a his tent. Eiding up and dropping gentle babe relaxingly yields to the the bridle upon the neck of his impress of its mother's loving bosom horse, he drew from his breast a pa- and soothing lullaby. As the deep- paper and presented it; then, turning ening shades of night moved on, and and retracing his steps, he soon dis- the tattoo was beat and the roll call appeared from view. llfi WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. The paper proved to be a commu- And what a line it was! In number nication from Colonel Harrison, in scar eel j' more than sufficient to con- command of a regiment several miles stitute a single company — ^whatwith below, or nearer the river (my im- details on account of special service, pression is that it was the Forty -sixth and for guard duty in the city, there regiment of Virginia volunteers), was but a handful of them left. In informing the commandant of the dress nothing to distinguish them in approach of the enemy and warning appearance from citizens pursuing him to prepare for an attack. Al- the ordinary avocations of life. In ready General Gilmore, who had age many of them with heads silver- crossed the Appomattox river the ed o'er with the frosts of advancing night previous, with a well equipped years, while others could scarcely force of five or • six thovisand men, boast of the down upon the cheek — had made a demonstration upon the indicative of the earliest approach to lower portion of our lines, either with manhood. Inarms and accoutre- a view to their capture, or of with- ments such as an impoverished gov- drawing attention from the real point ernment could afford them, but by of attack at the Jerusalem plank- no means adequate to the exigencies road. Toward this point General of the service in which they were Kautz, with his mounted brigade, engaged. But there was that in the estimated at from eighteen hundred* situation and circiunstances, which to two thousand men, with two lifted them above the ordinary rides pieces of artillery, was making his of military criticism. They stood way. Ofcoui'se, upon receipt of not there as mercenaries, who, hav- Colonel Harrison's note, the com- ing enlisted on account of the profit mandant proceeded at once to pre- it would afford them, required the pare for the emergency. He direct- rules of art to guide and the strong ed Adjutant Johnson to order the hand of discipline to impel them to long roll, and to cause the companies dutj' — ^nor as devotees of ambition, to be formed as soon as practicable, ^th no higher incentive to action This was done without confusion or than to gain the admiration of the delay. The men, as soon as they giddy throng, or to have their names heard the signal, hastened to their enrolled upon the delusive page of quarters, put on their accoutrements history. But they stood as a band and fell into their accustomed of patriots, whose rights had been places. assailed, whose homes were invaded. The companies were then marched """liose property was imperilled, and, out and formed into Hue, where they above all, whose loved ones were in were surveyed by their commander, danger of falling into the hands of an untried foe. *General Kautz, In his ofiacial report, says about 1,300. What boots it, then, that they THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 117 were few in numbers ? What mat- purpose, but with a due sense of the ters it thiat they were not attired in gravity of the situation they marched gaudy uniforms, that their ages were away to their positions in the not according to the standard, and trenches with the firm and steady their arms and accoutrements bore tread of men wlio understood their not the impress of the newest pat- duty and determined to perform it tern? Did any of these make them to the utmost. quail? Was there a timorous ap- In order that you may understand prehension for their own lives and the position occupied by these men persons ? Did they seek to avoid the you will permit me briefly to describe issue so rapidly and inevitably ap- it. The most of you are doubtless preaching? No, no, emphatically aware that the defenses around Pe- 710. I have seen men quail under tersburg, before the arrival of Gen. the apprehension of danger. I have Lee, consisted of a low line of breast- heard them whimper and known works, extending in a semi-circular them to tremble when called out by form from a point on the Appomat- the roll of the drum to meet an un- tox below the city to a point above, seen foe, but it was not so with that Along this line at due intervals were sturdy little band on that bright batteries for the reception of artille- June morning. As they stood there ry. Here and there in the rear was and by casting their eyes over to- a lunette. The batteries were all ward the city could almost catch the numbered from No. 1 on the east, shimmering sunbeams ascending consecutively on. The line was then from the roofs of their own dwell- intersected at right angles by the ings, and could, in imagination, hear different roads running into the city, the voices of the gentle inmates who. On the Jerusalem plank road, in the assembled in family groups, spoke of county of Prince George, at the dis- their hopes and fears for the dear tance of about one and a half or two ones whose lives were held in jeop- miles, was the farm of the Hon. ardy for them, there' was no room Timothy Eives. It was at this farm for cowardly misgivings and no time that the plank road intersected the for considerations of personal safety, line of breast-works. At this inter- On the other hand, when they were section was Battery No. 29. Imme- addressed by their commander in a diately in front of the Eives house few words of encouragement and ad- was a lunette, while on the right of monition, urging themnever to yield, the road, two or three hundred yards but to stand up to the end in defense farther on, was Battery JTo. 30. of their homes and firesides, there Diagonally in advance of the latter was no unreliable demonstration of battery was an earth-work, known enthusiasm, nor was there any loud subsequently as Port Mahone. Com- and boastful asseveration of their mencing at Battery No. 29 to "the 11.'^ WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. left of the road, which was occupied no available assistance within several \)\ Captain James E.Wolff's second- miles on the left, they could see no class militia, the remaining compa- other alternative than to bear the uies, all reserves, were placed in line brunt alone of what was to follow, about as follows: Captain E. F. Meanwhile, General Kautz had Jarvis' company (Junior Eeserves) arrived and taken up his position in immediately on the right of the road; our front, but his forces being con- Captain Peter D. Hare's company cealed by a body of woods, we could (Prince George Eeserves), that day form no conception of his plan of at- under the command of Lieutenant tack. It was but a short time, how - Berthier Bott, next on the right of ever, before it was developed. Sud- E.F. Jarvis' company; Capta,inPey- denly there came thundering down ton Alfriend's company next on the road at a tremendous pace a body right of Captain Peter D. Hare; of cavalry, making directly for the then Captain Joseph A. Sogers' opening in the line which had been company, and flually, on the ex- barricaded. The first impulse was treme right, Captain WiUiam H. to fire upon them as soon as they got Jarvis' company. Imayuotberigid- within range of our musketry, but ly exact as to the position of some of this was immediately checked, and these companies, but that is as near the men were directed to hold on as I can now recall them, and near until they got still nearer. It was enough for all practical purposes, the work of a moment. Close up These companies, if they had been they came, and then a voUey was full, would have numbered four or five poured in upon them, which checked hundred men, but, as they were, they them at once and caused them to numbered, aU told, about one hun- reel. Down came the foremost one, dred and twenty -five. After the horse and rider, into the diist within companies had taken their positions a few yards of the opening. Off gal- the opening at the road was effectu- loped another at a tangent parallel ally barricaded by means of a wagon ^-ith our lines 'and was captured, and some fence rails. Down came one or two others wound- A detail was made and a line of ed, while the balance turned and fled skirmishers was sent to the front, as rapidly as they could get away, and then all we had to do was to This episode created an immense de- wait — to wait and depend upon a gree of excitement among officers and kind Providence for support and men, and rendered them still more protection. Occupying, as the com- determined to hold their position at maud did, an isolated position, with whatever hazard. A brief cessation but one company on the left between in the attack then ensued, during it and the river. Captain Hobson's which General Colston arrived, and company of second-class militia, and shortly thereafter a detachment from THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. IV.) Sturdivant's battery, numbering five himself in watcliing the progress of or six men, in charge of a sergeant, the fight. Having stood this for bringing with them one piece of ar- some time, he finally determined to tillery. This was all the assistance dislodge thera, if possible. Going to received during the engagement, the sergeant in charge of the piece The piece of artillery was placed in of artillery, he directed him to shell the battery on the left, and Captain that house. The sergeant replied, "Wm. H. Jarvis' company moved "I have no shells, sir." "What farther down the line to its support, have you, then ?" inquired the com- whilethelunetteinfront of the Rives mander. "I have nothing but round house was manned by a detachment shot," was the sergeant's reply, from Captain "Wolff's company under This was quite unfortunate, as with the command of Lieutenant George a good supply of shells and grape V.Scott. With this slight addition shot the fire of the artillery might and alteration, the command again have been rendered much more effec- awaited the attack. This was begun tive. In speaking of this, however, by the artillery, Kautz opening with I do not mean to decry the services his two pieces*, which were replied of the artillery on this occasion, to by our one. They were, indeed, most valuable. General Kautz, finding, no doubt, and the sergeant and his little squad that he had met with an opposition performed their duty with a heroism more formidable than he had antici- I have never seen surpassed. Two pated, dismounted a portion of his of them were shot down by the side men and sent them forward as a line of their gun, and none of them left of skirmishers, while another por- it until compelled by inevitable ne- tion, still mounted, made their ap- cessity to do so. pearance on our right. The advanc- Seeing the impossibility of holding ing line of skirmishers was warmly the lines without reinforcements, it received by our men, who kept up a ^as determined, upon a consultation continuous fire upon them, and the between General Colston and the mounted column was fired upon by commandant, to despatch a message our artillery. As the contest in- to General Wise, stating the absolute creased in warmth, a party of sharp- neceesity of assistance, and request- shooters from the enemy took pos- ing it to be sent at once. Lieutenant session of a dwelling in our front Wales Hurt, a gallant young ofBcer owned and occupied by Mr. Wm. A. of Captain Richard P. Jarvis' Junior Gregory, and, gaining an elevated Eeserves, was selected to bear the position, opened a sharp and dan- message. Mounting General Col- gerous fire upon the commandant of gton's mare, which was very readily our lines, as he necessarily exposed furnished by the general, he started * Subsequently reported as four pieces- off upon his perilous expedition. It 121) WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. was the last that they ever saw of in close proximity to Scott's detaeh- him alive. The time and manner of ment in the lunette, they opened a his death have been stated, but I deadly fire upon his rear, while have never yet met with any member facing the original line of attack, of the command who could give me Soon the work of slaughter com- an authentic account of it. The menced, and the men began to fall, general recovered his mare uninjur- without any hope of relief. An ef- ed. I may not be able, after the fort was made to withdraw Captain lapse of a quarter of a century, to Alfriend's company and place them give all the incidents seriatim as they in a position to meet the flanking occurred, but will mention them as party, but it was found impossible they arise in my memory. As one to do so in regular order. General of the pieces of Kautz' artillery held Colston, seeing the desperate condi- a position near our line and was con- tion of affairs, then suggested to the tinually playing upon it, an inchoate commandant that he had better take thought presented itself to the mind care of his men, and left the lines, of the commandant, that with a de- The commandant, giving direction termined force it might be easily to the remaining companies to retire, captured. Going up to Captain which was done by the left flank, Wolff, whose company he had occa- proceeded to the battery occupied by sion to visit, in order to direct an Sturdivant's gun. This he attempt- increase of Lieutenant Scott's force ed to have removed, but while the in the lunette at the Eives house, he men at the gun were endeavoring to inquired of the captain how he would limber up, the enemy within our like to charge that battery. The lines were firing upon them at far captain's reply was, "We have no less than point blank range. One bayonets," to which the comman- of them was shot and fell in the pit dant responded, "I do not intend to while handling the gun carriage, order the charge, but my order is This was the last effort, and the gun that you increase Lieutenant Scott's was left. Striking through the force at the lunette," which was woods and passing in rear of the done. Meanwhile the Federal com- Eagland house, a portion of the mander, keeping our men fully em- command scatteringly collected on ployed by his attack on our front, the Heights within the city limits, dispatched a competent force to turn Meanwhile General Kautz, finding our left flank, which force, crossing the obstructions in his immediate our works at a point where, from front removed, moved his command paucity of numbers, it was impossi- forward in two divisions, the main ble to ha^e a single man stationed, portion taking a direction to the city obtained easy access to our rear, by way of New Eoad, which leads Taking possession of the Eives house by the water-works — the other turn- THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 121 ing to the right and passing on to- own. But it was not done without ward Blandford. The first division an extraordinary sacrifice of life and reached the creek that forms the blood. Mne of our little force were dividing line between the city and killed outright, four were mortally Prince George county, when sudden- wounded, and eighteen wounded, ly Captain Edward Graham, who.had Permit me to name them: Killed — hastened toward the scene of the Lieutenant Wales Hurt, aged 18 conflict with his battery, unlimbered years; Prof. Godfrey Staubley, pro- on the Heights and opened upon the fessor of French at the Petersburg Pe- advancing column a fire with shells, male College, formerly of Eandolph This brought them to a halt. Short- Macon College; John E. Friend, Wm. ly thereafter Bearing, with his cav- C. Banister, George B. Jones, John airy, arrived. Dismounting his Crowder,George E.Conway of Prince men, he caused them to advance on George, William Daniel of Prince foot. As they descended the hill in George, and E. P. Brown, of Sturdi- the direction of the enemy, the lat- vant's battery. Mortally wounded — ter, seeing their approach and re- Adjutant Guy G. Johnson, Henry ceiving a fire from their carbines, A. Blanks, Dr. William Bellingham, turned and retreated forthwith. The dentist, and W.H.Hardee. Wound- other column moving in the direction ed — William P. Johnson of Albe- ofBlandford was met by Sturdi vant's marie, Sturdi vant's battery, in the battery, and perhaps other troops, head, supposed mortally; Lieutenant and driven back. So precipitate was George V. Scott, severely in the face Kautz' retreat that he left behind and leg; William E. Harwood, the one piece of his artillery, which was present Dr. Harwood, then a youth, captured. In the meantime, the lost his arm; William Meanly, se- remnant of our little command was verely shot in three places; Lieuten- reformed by the commandant, and ant A. C. Harrison, Eobert A. Mar- pursuant to an order from an officer tin, William T. McCandlish, in the who had arrived with a body of hand and taken prisoner; Eichard mounted men, whose name is not A. Harrison, Samuel Hall, severely now positively recollected, was in the thigh; forborne T. Page, marched back to the lines, but find- Joseph D. Cooper, wounded and ing the enemy had retreated, it re- taken prisoner; Eichard M. Cary, turned to the Heights and there biv- severely in two places; C. L. Bart- ouacked for the night. Thus was lett, severely in three places; A. S. our city Providentially preserved Shaffer, ITathan B. Pritchard, Wm. from falling into the hands of a man Griffith, of Prince George, severely who, from his treatment to our fair in both thighs; Eichard Bagby, and country women at New Orleans, gave James Cain, of Prince George, just cause for apprehension to our Besides the killed and wounded, 122 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. twenty -eight or thirty were taken prisoners, including Captains Wolff and Alfriend, reducing the force about one-half.* The command having returned to its original position on the lines, was in a few days thereafter visited by General Beauregard, who enquired of the commandant as to the manner of the defense. This was told him, when he replied: "You have done well, sir; we cannot always be suc- cessful, but you have done well." General Wise issued an order which I prefer to give entire, and which is as follows: "REPULSE OF THE ENEMY AT PETEESBUEG. "congeatulatoey oedees. "Hdqes. IstMilitaeyDisteict, ) "Dept. No. C. and So. Va., [ "June 12th, 1864. j "VII. To the troops of my com- mand for the defense of Petersburg, on the south^side of the Appomattox, on the 9th instant, I have, with the approval and under the instructions of the commanding general, to offer my grateful acknowledgments for their gallant condiict and my con- gratulations upon their successful re- pulse of the enemy. ' 'Approaching with nine regiments of infantry and cavalry, and at least four pieces of artillery, they searched our lines from Battery No. 1 to Bat- *The following is a complete list of the captured : Captain James E. Wolff, Captain Peyton Alfriend, Lieutenant Berthier Bott, Lieu- tenant Thomas Chalkley, James Boisseau, Prof. Thomas D. Davidson, John Davidson, John B. Stevens, Robert McCandlish, T. J.' McCaleb, George Cameron, B. T. Archer, Alexander Vaughan, Joseph L. Peebles, Jos- eph D. Cooper, James R. McCann, John L. tery 29, a distance of nearly six miles. Hood 's and Batte's battalions, the 46th regiment Virginia Volun- teers, and one company. Captain Wood's, Company P, of the 23rd South Carolina, with Sturdivaut's battery and a few guns in position, and Talliaferro's cavalry, kept them at baj' and punished them severely until they reached the Jerusalem plank road in front of Battery 29, defended by Major Archer's corps of reserves and second-class militia, and by one piece of Sturdivaut's bat- tery, a howitzer, under the tempora- ry command of Brigadier -General Colston. Thus, with overwhelming numbers, they were twice repulsed, and succeeded only at last in pene- trating a gap in the lines and in flanking a mere handful of citizen soldiers, who stood firmly and fought bravely as veterans, until ordered to fall back. Alas, some of the noblest of them feU with their backs to the ground and their front to the foe, consecrating with their blood the soil of the homes they defended. Their immediate commanders have report- ed the heroism of them all, the liv- ing and the dead, and now with pride and gratitude I announce that Beau- regard himself has thanked Archer and his comrades on the very spot of their devotion. If they lost, killed, wounded and missing, sixty-five out of less than one huudred and fifty men, they spent their blood dearly to the enemy. If Sturdivaut's battery lost one gun, a better was captured and another disabled — and if they Emory, Prank Mattox, William Lecture, William Mann, Rev. William A. Hall,'(Wash- ington Artillery— escaped). Rev. John A. Jefferson, Hon. A. M. Keiley, William Crow- der (died in prison), R. H. Daniel (died in Baltimore), J. L. Evans, T. W. Clements, Joseph R. Johnson, Wm. C. Lumsden, Jas. Smith, Samuel H. Jones, E. A. Broadnax, Peyton Fuqua, Warren Russell, J. N. Roper, John E. Smith. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 123 lost half a mile of ground, they gain- ed a half hour of time, and saved their beloved city by holding on long enough for Sturdivant's and Gra- ham's and Young's batteries, Bear- ing's cavalry and the 46th Virginia infantry, with Wood's South Caro- lina company, a company of conva- lescents, and a company of penitents, to drive back the insolent foe from approaches which their footsteps for the first time polluted. With the help of God, it will be the last time. With such troops as all have proven themselves, commanders may well give assurance with confidence to the people of Petersbvirg . A people who can thus fight for their altars must be aided, supported, guarded by every arm which can be outstretched for their defense. Comrades, their wives and daughters are daily and hourly nursing our sick and wound- ed; they wipe the hot brow, cool the fevered lips, and tenderly nourish and comfort the suffering soldiers in their hospitals. The angel nurses and the stricken patients of the pa- triotic place shall not fall into the hands of ruffian invaders. Its very militia has set an example which in- spires the confidence that Petersburg is indomitable, and which consoles and compensates for every drop of blood which has been spilt at Notto- way, at Walthall Junction, and at Drewry's Bluff and Hewlett's Neck for the defense of the old Cockade City. "Let the reserves and second-class militia of the surrounding counties now come in promptly, one and all, and emulate this bright and success- ful example; let it hotly hiss to blood - red shame the laggards and skulkers from the streets and alleys of the city to the lines, and let it proclaim aloud that Petersburg is to be and shall be defended — on her outei' walls, on her inner lines, at her corporation boimds, on every street and around every temple of God and altar of man, in every heart, until the blood of that heart is spilt. , Eoused by this spirit to this pitch of resolution, we will fight the enemy at every step, and Petersburg is safe. [Signed] "Heney A. Wise, "Brig. Gen. "Official: "J. H. Pearce, A. A. Gen." ADDENDA. The foregoing exhaustive and au- thoritative account of the memora- ble action of the 9th of June, 1864, given by that staunch old soldier. Col. Fletcher H. Archer, of Peters- burg, Va., who, as major, command- ed the old and young citizen sol- diers of Petersburg and Prince George in their famous encounter with the Federal cavalry, on the Je- rusalem plank road, near the Hives and Gregory houses, might be left without an addendum, so complete is it, but for the interest which is felt in all the details of that excep- tional affair. It has been accord- ingly deemed proper to make some additions to Col. Archer's interest- ing narrative. First in order should come the following official report of the ac- tion made by Brigadier-General lialeigh E. Colston the day after the battle to General Wise : "Peteksburg, \ June 10, 1869. J "I have the honor to submit the following report of the affair of yes- terday : "1 reported for orders to General 124 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Wise about 9:30 A. M., and he or- dered me to take position at Lu- nette No. 16, and hold that position. I repaired to that point and remain- ed there until 11 o'clock A. M. At that time a courier reported to me that the enemy were advancing upon the Jerusalem road, and threatening^ Major Archer's position. I started immediately to that point, leaving orders to my aide-de-camp, Tosh,* to remain at Lunette No. 16 and receive any orders that might come. Before I reached Major . Archer's position at Lunettes Nos. 27 and 28, 1 heard the firing of musketry at Archer's position. I immediately ordered a 12-pounder howitzer to repair to Lunettes 27 and 28, at the intersection of the Jerusalem road and the intrenchments. When I reached that point I found that Ma- jor Archer's front had repelled a charge of cavalry of the enemy on the Jerusalem road. Shortly after- ward the enemy advanced again, and formed a line of dismounted cavalry in front of Lunette 27, keep- ing also a line of mounted men back of Gregory's house. They advanc- ed toward our intrenchments and began deploying to the right. About that time the 1 2-pounder howitzer came up and I placed it in position, but, to my extreme mortification, found that we had not a single round of canister. Just when the enemy were within easy canister range I ordered the gunner to open fire up- on them with shell, which was done with some execution. The enemy soon began replying with four pieces of artillery. The militia under Ma- jor Archer stood their go:ound with great steadiness. The enemy then began to spread out on our right and left. I directed Major Archer to spread his men out toward the right or front if possible, and check *Capt. Jas. T. Tosh, of Petersburg, Va. the enemy, but at the same time the enemy began deploying and extending on our left. Their total force in view was at least 1,000 men. Our entire force, composed alto- gether of militia, was only about 170 men — less than 150 in line. On our left was a gap of 1 mile be- tween us and the next support. On our right were no supports at all for a distance of 4 miles to the river. The militia and the howitzer re- mained at their post-with great gal- lantry in spite of the galling fire of the enemy, who were completely protected by Mr. Gregory's dwell- ing-house and out-buildings and fence, and the exceedingly defective location and construction of our breast-works, which permitted the enemy to come up within fifty yards, completely sheltered and unseen. "For two hours the militia under Major Archer maintained their po- sition against overwhelming odds until being flanked on the right and left, and the enemy occupying Lu- nette No. 26 in their rear, it became impossible to hold the position any longer, and the order to retreat was given. The militia then retreated to the city, and took position on the heights, at the head of Sycamore street and by the water-works. "I wish to bear full and explicit testimony to the steadiness and gal- lantry of the citizen soldiers who composed Major Archer's command. They stood to the breast-works like veterans, and did not fall back until ordered to do so, when they were surrounded on three sides, and al- most entirely cut off. Knowing how important it was to hold the posi- tion to the last minute, and expect- ing re-inforcements every moment, I delayed giving the order to retreat until it was evident that a minute or two longer would have rendered in- evitable the capture or death of every man in the breast-works. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 125 "The salvation of the city of Pe- tersburg is undoubtedly due in the first place to the brave militia of the city ; for, had they retreated five or ten minutes sooner, the artillery, which was the first to check the enemy's advance, instead of meet- ing them at the heights, on the south side of the city, would have been intercepted before they could have crossed the bridge, and the city would probably have remained in the enemy's hands. Major Ar- cher's personal conduct was worthy of all praise, as was that of his com- mand, whose seviBre losses will bear full testimony to their gallantry. "I would respectfully suggest that Mr. Gregory's house and out-build- ings be burned forthwith. They afford complete shelter to the ene- my, who placed their sharpshooters in them, and in case of another at- tack they will cause the loss of many more lives. "I am, sir, very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "R. E. Colston, "Brigadier-General. "Capt. Fearce, A. A. Gen'l." Col. Archer states that he made a report of the engagement, but it does not appear among the reports published in the Rebellion Record from which the foregoing report of General Colston is taken. Gen. Kautz, in his report made on the 11th of June, 1864, says : "In obedience to instructions pre- viously received, the command, con- sisting of portions of the Eleventh and Fifth Pennsylvania, and First District of Columbia Cavalry, and a section of the Eighth New York Battery, about 1,300 men in all, com- menced moving from camp between 11 and 12 o'clock the night previous. The infantry of General Gilmore's command, which, should have pre- ceded the cavalry, was delayed, and a portion of the cavalry also, in con- sequence, did not get across the Ap- pomattox river until daylight. The cavalry then took the advance, marching south to the City Point road, where we captured 3 of the enemy's pickets, about ten miles out from their intrenchments. The march was continued on roads near- ly parallel to the enemy's works to the Jordan's Point, Prince George, and Norfolk and Petersburg roads. Near the Prince George road we were delayed in driving Colonel Taliaferro's (Sixty-second Georgia Cavalry) [Seventh Confederate Cav- alry] regiment out of their camp near their intrenchments, as skir- mishers of his command were annoy- ing the column. This regiment was reported by several prisoners that we captured to be between 800 and 400 strong. The march was contin- ued to the Jerusalem plank road, which we struck at a point about four mUes from the intrenchments. The circuit proved greater than I expect- ed, and we did not reach the enemy's lines until midday, marching con- tinuously, as we were meeting the enemy's pickets on every road, and they all retreated to a common cen- tre, except four or five that we cap- tured. The enemy had the advan- tage of knowing our movements. On reaching the enemy's lines it was evident they were not strongly de- fended. The force seemed about 200 strong, with one piece of artil- lery. The First District of Columbia Cavalry were dismounted and de- ployed as skirmishers, with a por- tion of the Eleventh ]?ennsylvania Cavalry on the right of the road. The Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry (mounted) moved forward in line on the works on the left to the intrench- ments, where they dismounted and fired from the parapet. In about an 126 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. liour we had carried the works and killed, wounded, or captured almost the entire force, with the piece of artillery and caison. "As soon as a squadron or two could be mounted we moved on to- ward town. A deep ravine inter- vening just before reaching the city, and no enemy being visible, the ad- vance was ordered to proceed into the city. On reaching the bottom of the ravine four pieces of artillery and several hundred muskets sud- denly opened from the opposite crest, from such an elevation, how- ever, that they over-shot lis. No one, apparently, was injured. Be- fore the second volley opened the advance had fallen back under' cov- er. The prospect of entering the city was here suddenly defeated, for while I thought it possible that the enemy was at that moment not very strong, it was strong enough to de- lay me an hour or two in the com- manding position they held. By that time they could be reinforced. I could hear nothing of Gen. Gil- more's command ; no firing could be heard in the direction of City Point, and I felt certain that his force had retired. I therefore or- dered the command to fall back, and as we retired the enemy opened from our right at long range with one piece of artillery and some mus- ketry. Before leaving the intreneh- ments the enemy's camp of forty or fifty tents and some huts were burn- ed, and also a large house with some stores and ammunition. We moved off and returned by the route we came, and were not pursued or mo- lested after getting on the road. We captured altogether 42 prison- ers. Some of the officers who had better opportunity of knowing, report the number of the enemy killed quite large. Quite a nvimber of their wounded were left behind for want of transportation. The force that held the intrenchments were mostly residents of Petersburg and Prince George county, belong- ing to the second-class reserves. The loss of one gun and two car- riages was not reported to me until we had retired, and I know nothing of the circumstances except what is contained in Lieutenant Morton's report. Had I known it in time I am satisfied that the gun at least would have been saved." Col. Samuel P. Spear, of the Elev- enth Pennsylvania Cavalry, com- manding the Second brigade, in his report made June 11, 1864, says : "Pursuant to instructions from division headquarters, my brigade, consisting of the Eleventh Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, 640 men, two moun- tain howitzers, commanded by Lieu- tenant-Colonel George Stetzel; and the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 450 men, and two howitzers, commanded by Major Kleinz, left camp at 11:30 P. M. on the 8th instant, crossed the pontoon bridge over the Appomat- tox, and marched forward about 2 miles. There halted until 4:30 A. M. on the 9th, when I took the line of march toward the Jordan's Point road, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry in advance. The advance guard soon came upon and charged the enemy's pickets, capturing 4 of them, 2 being wounded. I then marched to the above named road, and out in the direction of the Pe- tersburg plank road. When with- in 7 miles of the plank road the advance was again fired upon by the enemy. I ordered the carbi- neers of the Eleventh to dismount and skirmish the woods to the front,- and two squadrons of the Fifth to the right and left. The enemy opened upon the Fifth with howit- zers. One squadron from that regi- ment charged them, driving them from their camp into the intrench- THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 127 ments. In the flight they left arms, horse equipments, and clothing in considerable quantity, and which we destroyed. "The front being cleared by the Eleventh, the command was mount- ed and proceeded on the route. On approaching the Norfolk and Peters- burg railroad, the advance guard again came upon the enemy's pick- ets, charged them and wounded one mortally. The remainder made their escape to the woods. On reaching the plank road at 10:30 A. M. five miles from Petersburg, I received instructions from the general com- manding to march in the direction of Petersburg. "I did so, driving in and capturing some of the enemy's pickets on the road. Within 1 mile of the city I came in sight of the earth-works, consisting of four redoubts and a line of intrenchments about half a mile in length. I ordered one squadron of the Eleventh Pennsyl- vania Cavalry to charge the works with drawn sabres, which they did in gallant style ; but owing to the superior force and position of the enemy they were compelled to fall back, forming line again in advance of the main column. After due con- sultation with the general com- manding, I made a careful recon- noisance of the enemy's position, and ordered the following disposi- tion of my command : On the right, carbineers of the Eleventh to dis- mount and advance as skirmishers ; one squadron, mounted, of the Eleventh was ordered to the extreme right, and one to the extreme left, with orders to charge in concert with dismounted line of skirmishers ; the remainder of the Eleventh were posted on the centre and right-centre, with orders to charge mounted on the appearance of wavering or con- fusion among the enemy. The Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry was ordered and took position on the left of the road, with orders to storm the two re- doubts in their front and penetrate the line of intrenchments. The line moved forward simultaneously, un- der cover of two 6-pounder rifled guns, commanded by Lieutenant Morton, Eighth New York Battery, and two 12-pounder mountain howit- zers of the Fifth, the right being assisted by a detachment from the First District. The enemy re- ceived us with a determined and vig- orous musketry fire along the whole line ; also on the left with grape and canister from one piece of artillery. The position occupied by the ene- my was well chosen, and defended with obstinacy.* Our assaulting party continued to press forward in the face of the fire, captured the re- doubts, and occupied them, then prepared to charge the line of in- trenchments, which was done, with a loss to the enemy of 30 killed, many wounded, among whom were several officers left on the field, and about forty prisoners, besides one piece of artillery and a large quantity of small arms. The latter were destroyed by our men. "The squadron on the right charged around the works to within one-half of a mile of Petersburg, and there halted for the main column. Ow- ing to obstructions the squadron on the extreme left could not move for- ward, whereby the principal portion of the enemy made their escape in- to the woods close by. These works were said to be defended by two regiments of militia and one of regulars, under the supervision of General Beauregard. t On the ap- proach of the main column the ad- *This is a handsome tribute to the small force of citizea soldiers who were occupy- ing this position. t Another tribute to the courage of Col. Archer's command and to the skill with which they were managed. 128 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. vance squadron moved forward. It was ascertained that during the en- gagement mentioned the enemy had received large reinforcements, and when the advance reached within 150 yards of Petersburg the enemy opened with musketry, grape and canister from four pieces of artillery posted on a bluff immediately in front of the town. The fire was so severe that I ordered the advance to wheel to the left-about and retir- ed about fifty yards to the cover of a bluff along the road. There I halted about ten minutes until it was ascertained that the column had left and the enemy approaching in force. I retired slowly, soon met the gen- eral commanding, stated the condi- tion of the enemy's force, and was ordered to fall back slowly, which was done, after a delay of one hour and a half in order to prosecute a search for the wounded and missing. My rear guard was followed by in- fantry, cavalry and artillery for a distance of 2 mUes from Peters- burg. A detachment of the First District then formed in the rear of my column, and I returned to camp with my command, reaching here at 10:30 P. M.":|; Judge Anthony M. Keiley, who had been a lieutenant in the Peters- burg Riflemen (Company E, 12th Virginia infantry,) but, having been elected a member of the Virginia legislature, was, on the 9th of June, 1864, in the city of Petersburg, and, taking part in the engagement, was captured. Upon his return from prison he wrote and published, in January, 1865, a very interesting little volume entitled "Prisoner of War, or Five months Among the Yankees. By A Eifleman, Gent."! From this book the following, as a nearly contemporary account of the action, is taken : "The sun was clambering up the sky — a figure which astronomy has vainly tilted against since the great Italian's day— and the town clock had struck ten many minutes be- fore, when a pair of frantic videttes — one of them without his hat —tore into camp on foaming steeds, with the news that the enemy, not more than half a mile away, were rapidly approaching in a body, consisting of several regiments of cavalry, and at least four pieces of artillery. Our position was an open earthwork, the front face of which was cut at right angles by the Jerusalem plank road, a thoroughfare which, some outside barbarians may not know, opens up to deserving Petersburgers the beatific vision of Sussex hams and Southampton brandy. This work, intended to accommodate two pieces of artillery, but then all innocent of ordnance, was accompanied by a line of low breast-works, running out on either flank, to afford shelter to such infantry as might be destined to support the guns, while beyond, on each side, lay a level and acces- sible country, inviting easy approach to man or beast. There was noth- ing in the character of the position to give the assailed men advantage, other than that which the breast- works offered in case of a direct at- tack, the ground being almost a dead level in every direction; and when Major Archer, our comman- dant, disposed his little force of about 125 men along the extended JThis extract from Col. Spear's report, as was Gen. Colson's report, has been sub- divided into additional paragraphs for the greater convenience of perusal. 11 In 1866 this book was republished under the title, "In Vinoulis, or The Prisoner of War." THE DEFENSE OP PETERSBURG. 129 line — 600 yards, I presume it was perfectly evident that 20,000 caval- ry, or any respectable minority of the same, would make short work of us. In conformity to universal civ- ilized precedent, the major address- ed us a word of cheer and counsel before he assigned us our position ; but there was eloquence incompar- ably superior to all the witchery of words in the hundred homes which stood but a scant cannot-shot be- hind us and in the reflection that, according as we did our devoir, to them and to hundreds more, there might be then and thenceforth grief or rejoicing. Small marvel then that as I looked down our little band, sparsely stretched over our extend- ed and exposed front, and noticed how well the best and noblest of our townsmen were represented in its ranks, I felt that they would give an account of themselves ; that no wife or mother, sweetheart or sister, would blush to hear or remember, though every Cossack that ever swam the Don, should charge our line that day. "We had not long to wait. A cloud of dust in our front told of the hurried advance of cavalry, and the next moment the glitter of spur and scabbard revealed to us a long Kne of horsemen, rapidly deploying under cover of a wood that ran par- allel to our line, and about half a mile in front of us. Then we miss- ed our cannon. Our venerable mus- kets were not worth a tinker's im- precation at longer range than one hundred yards, and we were com- pelled perforce to watch the pre- parations for our capture or slaugh- ter, much after the fashion that a; rational turtle may be presumed to contemplate the preliminaries of a civic dinner in London. A little of that military coquetry called recon- noisance, determined our enemy to feel us first with a small portion of his command, and on came at a sweeping gallop a gallant company of troopers, with as confident an air as though all that was necessary was that they should 'come' and 'see,' in order to 'conquer.' Every one saw this was a party we could easily manage, and we possessed, there- fore, our souls in great patience till we could see the chevron on the arm of the non-commissioned officer who led them — a brave fellow — and then there broke forth (from such amiable muskets as could be induced to go off) a discharge that scattered the cavaliers like chaff— three rider- less horses being all of the expedition that entered our lines. T/iis trifling event saved the city of Petersburg — what else it saved let the reader ask himself; for the Yankees now became convinced that no cavalry charge would frighten these ununiformed and half-armed militiamen from their posts, and that a regular infantry at- tack must be made. For this purpose two regiments of their cavalry were dismounted and deployed on either side of the road, in a line double the length of our own, and it was evident that they had determined to flank us on both sides. The welcome rattle of artillery horses brought now a cheer to every lip as we observed two field pieces falling into position on our right, and the sharp shriek of a shell curvetting over the Yankee line, was an agree- able variation of the monotonous silence in which, to the right and left, their skirmish line was stretch- ing away to encompass us. This occasioned another check, and pro- voked an artillery response, which continued for twenty minutes, with about the effect currently attributed to sacred melodies chanted in the hearing of a certain useful hybrid, deceased. But these were all gold- en moments for Petersburg — c,an- non and horses were pouring into 130 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. town. Graham's and Sturdivant's batteries were wheeling into posi- tion, and Dearing was hastening to the scene with his gallant cavalry. "And now came the serious at- tack : The enemy advanced, out- numbering us five to one, and arm- ed with the sixteen shooting rifle, thus increasing over fifty fold their actual superiority — and there we fought them ; fought them till we were so surrounded that the two men nearest to me were shot in the hack while facing the line of origi- nal approach ; till both our guns were captured ; till our camp, in rear of the works, was full of the foe; till the noblest blood of our city stained the clay of the breast-works as they gave out their lives, gun in Jiand and face forward, on the spot where their oflicers placed them. Their faces now rise before me on this summery morning in Novem- ber ; the calm, grave countenance of Banister and Staubley ; the gen- erous, joyous frankness of Friend and Hardy ; the manly, conscien- tious fire of patriotism in all — Bel- lingham and Blanks, Jones, John- son, and the rest — all gallant gen- tlemen and true, any one of whose lives was well worth all the Yankees from Indus to the pole ; and I could but ask myself then as now the pro- phetic question, whose answer has in all ages sustained the martyrs of freedom as of faith : can such hlood fall in vain ? "One by one they fell around me — Bellingham the last — and as I turned and stooped to change his position to one of greater comfort at his request, the enemy trooped over the earthwork behind me, the foremost, presenting his loaded car- bine, demanded my surrender with an unrepeatable violence of lan- guage that suggested blood-shed, and all avenue of escape being cut off, I yielded with what grace I could to my fate, captive to the bow and spear of a hatchet-faced mem- ber of the First District Cavalry, greatly enamored of this honorable opportunity of going to the rear." The following letter from Captain Wm. E. Hinton, Jr., of Petersburg, Va., who, on the 9th of June, 1864, was acting assistant adjutant-general of Brigadier -General Jas. Dearing, gives a very clear account of the part taken by the cavalry and artillery under General Dearing on that day in repelling the assault of th,e Fed- eral cavalry after the little force of citizen soldiers under Archer had been overpowered : ''Petersburg, Va., ") ''July 8th, 1892. j "Geo. S. Bernard, Esq. ' 'Dear Sir : Having been requested by you to furnish my recollections of the part taken by the forces (cavalry 'and artillery) under General Dearing on the 9th of June, 1864, in repelling the assault made upon the city of Pe- tersburg by the Federal cavalry un- der General Kautz, 1 will state that, in the early part of June, 1875, I prepared and published in the Pe- tersburg Index- Appeal a brief article which gives the information you have requested, except in the overestimate of the force of the enemy. This ar- ticle; addressed to the editors of that journal, and signed 'An Eye Wit- ]iess,' was first submitted to Capt. Edward Graham and approved by him, and was as follows: " 'Petersburg, Va., ] " 'June 9, 1875. j " 'To Ihr Editor of the Index -Appeal: " 'This day eleven years ago wit- nessed the killing of many of Peters- burg's bravest spirits, who fell bat- tling in the defense of this gallant THE DEFENSE OP PETERSBURG. 131 city, and knew no surieader until they were overcome by a force nearly one hundred times their own number, under Kautz, thus leaving the town at the mercy of the enemy by the rout of the South . Th e writer was direct - ed on arri^'al at Petersburg to report to General Wise 'that General Bear- ing, in command of the Fourth North Carolina and Taliaferro's Georgia cavalry regiments and Graham's ar- tillery, was awaiting orders on the march from Chesterfield into the city.' General "Wise was reported out on the lines^ where the fighting- was in progress. Captain Pearce, of General "Wise's staff, directed Gen- eral Bearing to the "Willcox farm. As the command proceeded up Syc- amore street, opposite Mrs. Page Dunn's, we were met by Mr. E. H. Osborne, who informed General Dear- iug that the enemy were coming in by the route known as the Jerusalem plank road; whereupon the writer, being familiar with the surround- ings, informed General Bearing that, if he proceeded to the Willcox farm (where our militia right rested prior to capture), the enemy would be left behind him. A few moments suf- ficed to familiarize his bright mind with the localities. Immediately he ordered Taliaferro to the Blandford Church, on the Jerusalem plank road, with a little piece of mountain horse artUlery, and the 4th North Carolina regiment of cavalry and Graham's battery, to the reservoir. Reaching the spot under a run, it was discov- ered that the enemy were but a short distance south of Lieutenant Eun, at . the base of the water works . He di - rected a part of the 4th N. C. Cavalry, under Lieut. -Col. Cantwell, directly under the eye of himself (Gen. D.), to charge, and a part of the battery under Capt. Graham to open fire. The balance of the regiment and the remainder of the batteiy, Lieut. Ed- ward Pollard commanding, were di- rected, under the command of the writer, to proceed to the head of Syc- amore street and engage the enemy, then almosi in the corporation limits. The result of both attacks was a com- plete victory for the Confederates, and thus Petersburg v,as saved, in my j iidgment, solely by the great dar- ing and skill of Gen. Jas. Bearing. The writei' does not, of course, de- sire to take a single laurel from the gallant militia on that occasion, nor from the troops who so bravely fought on the line from the river to Bland- ford Church, but simply to do justice to the gallant dead hero who directed the fighting of the brave Virginia and North Carolina troops, who saved the good city after the militia had been captured and slain. ' ' 'The only persons (citizens or mil- itary) capable of bearing arms whom the writer remembers to have seen were E. H. Osborne, General Colston, C. L. Petticolas, B. X. Branch and Eoger A. Pryor. The enemy were driven back and followed as far as the Gregory house, on the Jerusa- lem plank road, where our command halted, the Federals going directly to City Point. ' ' 'Under direction of General Bear - ing, the following telegram, in sub- stance, was sent General Beauregard: "The enemy are repulsed and the city is safe. But should they attack it again more troops will be necessary for its de- fense. "(Signed) Jas. Deabing, "Brig.-Genei-al." " 'This dispatch was sent off, [ think, by Gen. Koger A. Pryor. Further than this no aid was given Gen. Bearing by any one, save the commands before mentioned. Gen. Bearing was largely instrumental on 132 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. three occasions in saving the city from capture. " 'An Bye Witness.' " "To the foregoing I will add that there were four guns of Graham's battery, all engaged, two of them stationed in the vicinity of the up- per reservoir and the other two on the crest of the hill, about the pres- ent gate to the premises of Mr. Wm. Cameron, Lieut. Pollard being in command of these two guns, with Lieut. Wm. C. Butler, his junior, as his assistant. "The enemy charged across the bridge over Lieutenant Eun and up the New Eoad a little distance, but were met by a counter -charge, made by a portion of the 4th North Caro- lina Cavalry under Lieut. -Col. Cant- well, who routed them at once and captured several. The remainder of the (4th K". C.) regiment, being dis- mounted, were deployed as skirmish- ers around the 'slope of the hill from New Boad" on their left to about the head of Sycamore Street on their right, the ground upon which this line was deployed being covered with a crop of wheat or oats nearly ma- tured, which furnished an admirable protection for sharpshooters, the res- idence and other buildings of Mr. Cameron on this hill being within the line of these skirmishers. ' 'Graham 's battery and the cavalry of Gen. Dearing on the morning of the 9th of June, 1864, were withdrawn from the breast-works about Dunn's or Euffin's farm in Chesterfield, near Port Walthall Junction and fronting Bermuda Hundreds, which works they left before daylight of that day. "Your Comrade, "Wm. B. Hinton, Jr." Capt. John Trusheim, of Peters- burg, Va., who was a sergeant in Graham's battery, in a letter dated July 7th, 1892, says: "I had the honor of being a mem- ber of the old Petersburg Artillery, the gallant Capt. Bdward Graham commanding. We were attached to the cavalry command of Gen. James Dearingj than whom no braver officer ever unsheathed a sabre and who was as brave as a lion and as gentle as a lamb. The gallant William E. Hinton, Jr., was acting as his adju- tant-general, who likewise was a man without fear and ever ready to per- form his duty as a soldier. "On the 9th of June, 1864, our command was stationed in Chester- field county on the Euf&n farm, about seven miles from Petersburg, and early in the morning received orders to report to Petersburg. Arrived at Petersburg and crossing the river at Pocahontas bridge, we came up Sec- ond street to Lombard and went down Lombard to Main street, Blandford, arrived at which latter street, Capt. Graham- was informed that the ene- my were coming across to town about the water-works, and that he must take his battery there as soon as possible. We then turned down Main street to BoUingbrook and came up BoUingbrook to Sycamore and up Sycamore, moving through these streets in a sweeping gallop never to be forgotten by the members of the battery, the ladies and children who crowded the sidewalks cheering us as we moved along, and crying out, 'Here come our own men! Men who will defend us and drive the enemy back!' By words, look and gestures we told them 'to be calm' and that we would defend them at all hazards. "Arriving at the Heights, two of our guns, under Lieuts. Edward Pol- lard and William C. Butler, took position at the head of Sycamore THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 133 street, near the residences of Mes- srs. William Cameron and James 0. Kemp, and engaged tlie enemy then coming over and down the hill on the east of Lieutenant Eun. The other two gnns, under the command of Oapt. Graham, took position near the reservoir and engaged the enemy coming across the field in line of battle down to the run, and also coming in column down Ifew Eoad. "As sergeant, I was in. charge of one of the two last mentioned guns, and Gen. Dearing, being near by, ordered me to fire a shell close to a house he pointed out, but not to strike it. In this house he said the Federal offtcers were. I sent the shell as directed, but the officers in the house did not come out. The general then directed me to put a shell through the house, which I did, when those inside came rolling out in short order and retreated hastily across the field to the plank road. Gen. Dearing then said to me, 'They are putting a gun in position. Go to work on that gun before they go to work on you.' I could not see the gun, standing as I was on the ground. So I mounted my gun and could then see the Federal gun plainly. I then sent one shot and disabled this gun by cutting one of its wheels. Gen. Dearing remarked, 'A good shot! But there is another gun; they are putting it in position. Go to work on her before they go to work on you.' I again fired and this shot from my gun disabled this second gun of the enemy . Seeing this , Gen . Dearing exclaimed, 'Glory enough for one day! You have done well! They are now retreating! I will fol- low and drive them. Continue your fire until I get up on yonder hill, (pointing to the hill on which the Federal forces were), and then hold your fire. If they drive me, let me and my men come down the hill and then fire as fast as you can.' I did as ordered. Dearing charged and drove the enemy away, and thus our beautiful city was saved. The Fed- eral guns that were disabled were brought in and did good service in Graham's battery afterwards." Mr. J. William Young, of Peters- burg, Va., another member of Gra- ham's battery, who participated in the action and was with one of the two guns stationed near the reser- voir (the gun of which Sergt. George W. Vaughan was in charge), says: "The two guns stationed on the hill near the reservoir were near each other and about fifty yards south- west of the south-west corner of the reservoir. Gen. Dearing himself located these two pieces of artillery, with instructions to the men to fire as quickly and as rapidly as possible. The advancing column of Federal cavalry was then upon 'S&w Eoad, a part of it on the west side of the bridge, with the head of the column near the Eushmore lot on the top of the reservoir hiU. Being with the gun nearest the road I re- member seeing the men at the head of the column on the road to our right not a hundred yards from our gun. "Obeying the order to fire, we opened upon the column upon the road on the east side of the bridge and our first shot struck the column at a point about a hundred yards east of the bridge. Our guns were fired as rapidly as possible, causing the cavalry to break and make for the rear. They attempted to rally on the hill south of liTew Eoad, but a few well directed shots caused them to fall back to a point near Petersen's house at the intersection 1S4 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of ]^ew Road with the Jerusalem plank road, at which point they placed a battery in position, but their guns were soon disabled by shots from our battery. We captured a mountain howitzer belonging to them, left just at the spot at which our first shot struck the advancing column. That howitzer was used by Graham the remainder of the war, doing handsome work in the cattle raid into Prince George and Sussex counties, holding the enemy in check at Belches' Mill and giving our cav- alry an opportunity to bring the cap- tured cattle safely over IsTottoway river. The two guns of our battery located on the Heights near Movint Erin (Mr. William Cameroii's resi- dence) gave the enemy a parting re- membrance as they retired. "As our battery galloped up Syc- amore street the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and the boys in the battery responded with cheers. The Southern Female College building was filled with ladles, who waved handkerchiefs whilst we cheered. And just here a pigeon, in its wild flight in the air, darted down towards the moving battery, seeing which several of the old veterans gently dvicked their heads, thinking the bird a ball from one of the enemy's guns, as we could hear the firing in the distance over the hills." Miss Lossie Hill, of Petersburg, Va., referring to the rapidity with which Graham's battery moved up BoUingbrook and Sycamore streets in its haste to reach the Heights, says : "I was crossing BoUingbrook street on my way to Mrs. Merten's when the artillery came tearing along and I thought I would be run over. Capt. Ned Graham seeing me, and possibly others in the way, impa- tiently said to his men, 'D — n the women! Run over them, if they don't get out of the way!' Know- ing him well, the next time I saw him, I playfully told him he had in- sulted me by this order to his men, and I had intended to call him to account, but that he had behaved so gallantly when he got on the Heights I concluded to forgive him."* Miss Virginia E. Davidson, of Pe- tersburg, Va., referring to the bat- tery's impetuous rush through the streets to the scene of action, says: "The men leaped from the guns and caissons and with whip and cheers urged on the flying horses as they ran beside them . Sick soldiers, at the hospital on the lawn who saw the battery as it moved up Sycamore, and two of its guns were wheeled into Pilmore street near the present residence of Mr. Robert W. Collier, whilst the other two continued up Sycamore, said it was God's mercy the caissons did not explode, and that they had never seen a battery go into action with more rapidity." "Soon after one of the guns, ' ' says Capt. E. O. Hinton, of Petersburg, Va., who as a druggist was then do- ing business at the old drug store at the south - east corner of Sycamore and Lombard streets, "passed my store, and had gone not a hundred yards further up Sycamore, its front and rear wheels became detached, and I thought this was the most unfortu- nate of accidents. The mishap, how- ever, was immediately rectified. The coupling -pin which had dropped out was quickly replaced, and on went the gun seemingly as rapidly as be- fore." And just here a little incident of the day, told by Capt. Hinton, too *Oapt. Graham, the son of a distinguish- ed officer in the British army, was by in- heritance a soldier. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 135 good to be lost, must be given a place. Says Capt. H.: "Being a druggist I was exempt from military service, but for several days previously I liad been, on duty out on the lines about Bell's farm in Prince George and elsewhere. On the morning of the 9th of June, however, I happened to be at home, and was attending to my ordinary duties in my store. "My store was at that time a fa- vorite place of resort for gentlemen to assemble and discuss the news and other subjects of general interest, and on this day there was the usual collection of them, talking about the topics of the day, the subject be- ing the presence of a Federal force in Prince George county and the prospect of a move upon the city. Among those present were Judge Wm; T. Joynes, Mr. Leroy Eoper, Z. W. Pickrell and Mr; Thomas H. Campbell, the last mentioned gentle- man being the president of the South - side Eailroad company and also a civil oflEicer under the Confederate government, a fine conversationalist and a man of superior sense. "Contending that the Federals could not be in Prince George county in such numbers as to give occasion tor any alarm, Mr. Campbell, having given his several reasons for this opinion, and ridiculing the report about their presence in such numbers, with considerable emphasis, said, 'Gentlemen, give me a brigade of twenty -five hundred men, and I will obligate myself to drive every Yan- kee this side of City Point into James Eiver before sunset this evening.' With some humor, one or more of the gentlemen present at once re- marked, 'If Mr. Campbell will do this, he must have the brigade. Can't we get him the 2500 men ? He must have them. It will not do to lose the opportunity to drive those Yan- kees into James Eiver.' "Just at this juncture Mr. Otway P. Hare came into the store with some excitement in his manner and said, 'Gentlemen, h — 1 is to pay! The Yankees in considerable force have advanced to the toll-gate on the Jerusalem plank road, have broken our lines, killed Geo. B. Jones, Wm. C. Banister and Jno. Friend (he men- tioned these and others that were among the killed), and will soon be here. ' The 'toll-gate' was at or about the Eives house, and this was indeed startling news. The little party of gentlemen at once ceased their discus- sion and Tom Campbell vanished like a sora. In a few minutes Graham's battery came at full speed up Boiling- brook, around Spptswood's corner and tip Sycamore, one of the pieces meeting with the little mishap of which I have just told you. Then came some of Bearing's cavalry, also moving rapidly, and in a few minutes the welcome booming of the artillery about the water-works showed that Graham had reached the Heights and was at work with his guns." The following letter from Mr. Wil- liam Cameron, of Petersburg, Va., who witnessed from his residence on the Heights the approach of the Federal cavalry and their repulse, describes what came within his ob- servation: "Petebsbueg, Va., ) "July 25th, 1892. J "Geo. S. Bbenaed, Esq. "Dear Sir: I can add but little to the very faithful and vivid accounts of the heroic rescue of our city from capture on the memorable 9th of June, 1864, you have been collecting for insertion in your "War Talks of Con- federate Veterans." 136 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. "About 9 o'clock, or perhaps later, that morning, my brother George came to my house — I resided then as now at the head of Adams street in this city — with his musket, on his way to our lines . I had just returned late the night before from my post of duty at Wilmington, IST. C, and hav- ing, in consequence of a temporary interruption of the travel on the Pe- tersburg and Weldon railroad, to ride from Belfleld to Dinwiddle C. H. and to walk from Dinwiddle C. H. to Pe- tersburg, I was so fatigued by the trip I felt unable to go along with him, and besides hoped that the re- port about the advance of the enemy might prove another ^false alarm.' "Soon after 11 o'clock I heard, first, musketry, repeated volleys, then ar- tillery, so near as to satisfy me that some fighting was going on about the Elves salient. This firing continued at intervals for more than an hour, and I was led to hope that re-inforce- ments had been brought up from our lines on the left. But soon after 12 o'clock this hope was banished, when, looking over the high ground across Lieutenant Bun south of New Eoad and south-east of my house, I saw, first, a few of our men retreating rapidly to the shelter of the ravine about this run, and then enough more of them in like retreat to satisfy me that our forces had been overwhelmed by greatly superior numbers. "A few minutes later I realized the true condition of things, when I saw a large force of the enemy com- ing down New Boad to the bridge across Lieutenant Bun. As you are aware, a person standing at or about the gate to the rear and east of my house, as I then was standing, could see the advancing column from this place, its head on the road about the foot of the hill and the body of the column on the summit of the hill west of and in the neighborhood of the plank road. Having sent the ladies and the servants of my family to Mrs. Keiley's on New street for greater safety, I braced up my nerves to accept 'the inevitable' and deter- mined to meet the enemy at my gates and save all I could from_ destruction. Accordingly I stood at or about my gate east of my house above refer- red to, when lo! great joy! Turn- ing my eyes towards the north, I des- cried two pieces of artillery coming up the hill towards the reservoir at a full gallop, followed by two others. The first two immediately uulim- bered about the crest of the hill near the reservoir and opened on the enemy, whose column was then ap- proaching along the New Boad, and the- first and second shots from these guns had the effect of bringing the column to an immediate halt. "By this time Dearing's cavalry began to arrive and deploy in sup- port of the artillery, when suddenly the enemy turned around and began to retreat^ — all of which happened in much less time than I haVe taken to narrate it, the artillery and cavalry being to our helpless city a relief that seemed almost as timely as the memorable 'relief of Lucknow.' "I should mention that the two pieces of artillery that followed the two which took position on the hiU near the reservoir were stationed west of my house, one of them near my then front gate about the inter- section of Adams and Cupid streets, the other somewhere near my present front gate on Sycamore street . These guns — certainly the one about the intersection of Adams and Cupid streets — commanded the high ground or plateau in the neighborhood of the plank road and that part of New Boad on the plateau. "It has been over twenty-eight THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 137 years since the occurrences of that memorable day, but its events were deeply impressed upon me. I can now see those intrepid artillerymen whipping up their horses as they has- tened to their position on Eeservoir Hill and opened almost instantly, and I can see the other two pieces going to their position west of my house, and the equally intrepid cavalry of Bear- ing — ^it seems to me not over a hun- dred in number — coming up to the support of the artillery and then the sudden retreat of the Federal cav- alry; all a vivid mind-picture. "I remember, too, that when see- ing the rapid firing from the two guns on the reservoir hill, and the firing from the other two guns, and the bursting of their shells, I thought it looked as if almost the whole heav- ens were filled with the fire of blaz- ing g'uns and exploding shells. "The work of defeating Kautz' 1,300 cavalry and saving our city from the assault was indeed a noble one, and there was great rejoicing that night in Petersburg. Believe me, my dear sir, "Yours faithfully, "Wm. Cameeon." Hon. Charles F. Collier, of Peters* burg, Va., describing the action at Eives' farm, in a letter dated June 30, 1892, says: "I was a volunteer private in the ranks, a member of the company of Capt. James E. Wolff. Our compa- ny, with the others of the command, lay entrenched behind the breast- works, but the eagerness of all to engage in the combat rendered it ex- ceedingly difficult for the command- ants of companies to keep the men covered by the earth -works . Finally the enemy, after reconnoitering a while, resolved to make a charge. In the distance the rising clouds of dust show that the raiders are com- ing with drawn swords and occasional firing of breach -loaders, and when within range of our men they are met with volley after volley from our old- fashioned muskets, sufficient to repel advancing foe, except some two or three who entered along the public road into our lines. These men promptly surrendered, and their horses, fine and fat, were soon taken into possession by us. It was quite amusing, nobody on our side then being hurt, to hear the jokes and jibes hurled at the foe by our then victorious soldiers, who thought that the retiring enemy would no more return to fight. But this delusion was of short duration. ' 'The enemy, largely outnumbering our forces, were not baffled by their first signal failure to capture our po- sition . A flank movement was made and we were attacked from front and rear — the rear attack soon dislodging us from our position and causing the death of several of the command. Some of our men were killed in their positions behind the earth -works. Orders were promptly given to re- tire, and then a runrdng fight was kept up, forcing us finally back to the city. "Many of our men, however, were taken prisoners. The dead and pris- oners captured on that occasion are so well known that I need not write their names in this paper; the names of the dead and the prisoners cap- tured are written on the scroll of an undying fame and cherished in the memory of a grateful people ever- more. Where all acted well, it is invidious to mention names, but I cannot forbear to refer to Adjutant Guy Johnson, who was wounded on the field and died shortly thereafter from the effects of his wound. He Vis WAR TALUS OP CONffEDERAfE VETERANS. did his part bravely, and fell fight- ing nobly for Ms city and state on that never to be forgotten day. I trust I shall be pardoned for this re- ference to Adjutant Johnson, as there- by the way is opened to make allu- sion to an incident which, though egotistic, as it relates to myself, and not before mentioned, I believe, I I will take the liberty of stating: "When Adj utant Johnson was car- ried from the field wounded, bleed- ing, dying, our commander, a gallant hero of two wars. Col. F. H. Archer, approached me as we were falling back under the terrific fiajik firing of the enemy, saying, 'I appoint you adjutant of the batallion for gallantry in the face of the foe.' The compli- ment I acknowledged with a bow and thanks, and, accepting the office, served in that capacity with the bat- talion in the battle of the 16th June at Avery ' s f ar m . In that battle Col . Archer was wounded, and, only after the most persistent persuasion on my part, he reluctantly consented to be taken to the rear. Col. Archer has now a list of the killed and wounded in this battle made by me as adjutant.* "The command then devolved on Maj. W. H. Jarvis, a good man, a brave soldier, a true Confederate. After the battle of the 16th June our 'boys, ' with one accord, being of the mind that their services demanded a little respite from the perils of battle, suggested that I wait on Gen. Beau- regard, whose headquarters were near where we were in line of battle on the extreme right, and request him to send the command to Petersburg and place it on guard duty. This I undertook. I was most gracefully received by the general, made known my errand, and my request was grant- ed, with the most complimentary reference to Col. Archer and his men, not only for their gallant conduct on that day, but also on the 9th of June at Eives' farm. When I returned to the command and made known that I had been successful in the re- quest that we be ordered into the city, I received an ovation like unto that bestowed on a Roman general on entering his city in triumphal pro- cession. ' 'Much that any one writes in these war reminiscences must necessarily be personal, as our field of observa- tion was limited to those immediate- ly about us and ourselves; and this is my apology for so much that is personal in this letter." Mr. Eobert A. Martin, of Peters- burg, Va., in a letter dated July 7, •1892, giving his recollections of the fight, says: "Every one who loves the 'lost *The following is the list here referred to: Field and staff — Major F. H. Archer, wounded severely in left arm. 1st Co., Lieut. Thos. Smyth command'g— Priv. Jas. Brooks wounded in neck by shell. 2d Co., Capt. Peter D. Hare commanding — Private E. A. Spiers wounded mortally; Private Ed. Simmons wounded severely in arm; Private H. J. Saunders wounded slightly by shell. 3d Co., Capt. Wm. H. Jarvis command- ing — no casualties. 4th Co., 1st Sergt. G. Baker Eanes com- manding — no casualties. 5th Co., Capt. Richd. F. Jarvis command- ing— no casualties. 6th Co. , Capt. J. A. Eogers commanding — Private F. T. Scott killed; Corp'l T. J. Jar- ratt slightly wounded; Private C. K. Elliott slightly wounded. 7th Co., 1st Sergt. James E. Watson com- manding — Corp. N. Hoag killed; Private Kobt. L. Watson wounded; Private William C. Malloy slightly wounded; Private G. W. Eastwood slightly wounded; Sergt. Samuel Smith slightly wounded; Private Andrew J. Clements slightly wounded; Private Mich- ael Quinn severely wouiraed; Private M. T. Sweeny slightly wounded. 8th Co., 1st Sergt. Wm. Webb command- ing—Private James A. Barker slightly wounded. ROBERT A. MiliTlN. " The last gun fired in the fight was fired by a deaf man, who had advanced, not hearing the order to retreat, after he had been shot down. That man is also living now, but he is satis- fied that, had the Yankees captured him, he never would have lived to see the year I860."* P. 141. * " Mr. Martin does not so state, but I am satisfied that he himself was the game old Con- federate that fired that last gun. — G. S. B." Note on p. 141, referring to the above. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBXlRa. 139 cause, ' and every one who knows the part played by the citizens of Peters- burg, and especially the spirit and action shown on the 9th June, 1864, by about 140 'old men, boys, home guards,' &c., has cause to thank you for your earnest and zealous efforts to let coming generations know of what sort of stuff the men of the South of 1864 were made. That they battled long and bravely, andajgainst great odds, will, when history comes to be fairly written, stand forth as a settled fact. "In no part of the South was there a more heroic and patriotic spirit displayed than was shown in Petersburg. This was to a very marked degree the case with the la- dies (God bless them), and that their action nerved many a gallant soldier's heart and arm in the day of battle, there can be no question. "Knowing, as you do, that I was in the fight of the 9th June, 1864, you have done me the honor of re- questing me to give you my recollec- tions of the affair. Being then, and am still, deaf, I have told you that I cannot give you much of interest that I heard on the battle-field, and so I will have to confine myself mainly to what I saw. "My recollection is, that a great many who took part in the action of June 9th, 1864, were exempt from all military duty, and some even doubly exempt. Notably was this the case with that brave, patriotic, modest gentleman, Mr. Wm. C. Banister,* who lost his life in the battle . It will be remembered that time after time during the war, and when our city was not protected by regular Confed- erate troops, the cry went forth that a Federal army was marching from City Point to capture the city. So *This gentleman was a bank officer, forty- five years of age and very deaf, yet felt it his duty to go to the front on this day. G. S. B. repeatedly had this report proved to be untrue, on the 9th June, 1864, when messengers were sent to the city proclaiming that 'the Yankees' were 'certainly marching on the city by way of the Jerusalem plank road, ' doubtless some questioned the truth of the report. This, however, none would have done, had they met the messenger that was met by the Hon. C. F. Collier, the late Mr. Jas. Bois- seau and myself, when on our way out to camp that morning. All three of us were then members of the city council, and had been in the city to attend a meeting of that body. The messenger's manner, and the expres- sion of his face, clearly indicated that the Yankees were si(,rely coming this time, and we were fully convinced of the fact. Well do I remember Mr. Collier's saying that he 'would rather like to have a scrimmage with the enemy.' One of us replied, 'I think like Gen. Lee — I would be glad if those people would go back to their homes and let us alone.' Of course Mr. Collier then had no con- ception of the force that our little band would be called on to meet. "After reaching our little breast- works (and they extended but a short way to our left) it was not very long before the enemy (consisting of some 1300 cavalry under Gen. Kautz) made his appearance. The location of Mr. Gregory's residence, out- houses and stables, was such as with their shelter enabled the hostile troops to form a line of battle with- out being exposed to our musketry fire. At that time we had no cannon on the field. As soon as the enemy got ready he charged as cavalry, but was met by such a fire as to cause him to fall back. It may be, hoiw- ever, that the charge was made with a view of causing us 'to show our strength.' "Just here, permit me to remark that, for the numbers engaged on both 140 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. sides, the result of the fight was, I think, a more disgraceful affair to the Federal oflcer in command than was the result of the Crater fight. The latter was, it seems to me, a most bunglingly managed aifair on the part of the Federal officer in command. As for the 9th of June affair, why the Federal officer in command was not court-martialed and cashiered for not capturing our little band and entering the city, I have never been able to understand. He had ample time to have done both before Gra- ham's battery and Gen. Dearing's men reached the city, and fully force enough to have captured three times as many men as we had. The delay in making the second attack on us resulted in Graham's battery and Gen. Dearing's cavalry getting to the Heights Justin time to save the city. Now for a few things I saw. First, after the charge (made as cavalry) was repulsed, the venerable Mr. Francis Major came into the breast- works to lift his arm in the defense of a cause and city that he loved so well. Had his arm been as stout as was his heart, doubtless he would have done more execution than he did . It will also be remembered that his son-in-law, Mr. Geo. B. Jones, (who was a druggist, and was there- fore exempt from duty) was killed in the fight. I have heard that on Mr. Jones being informed by a messenger that he was 'needed to help defend the city, ' he stepped back in his store to tell Mr. Major that he was going out for that purpose, and began to teU what he wanted done in case he was killed. He, however, was cut short by Mr. Major telling him 'that he had better tell some one else, as he (Major) would be at the scene of action as quick as he (Jones).' "Which reached the breast-works first I have never learned. When men like Mr. Major, James Kerr, Mr. Banister, John Stevenson, Eobert E. Hill, Eichard S. Taliaferro, and oth- ers that could be named (aU exempt from duty and some of them phyd- eally unfit), shouldered their muskets to do battle for the Southern cause, this fact is strong evidence to my mind that such cause was right, not- withstanding it was afterwards over- thrown by overwhelming numbers and resoui'ces. "During the fight, Col. Archer showed, as I thought, great regard for the safety of his men, warning them 'not heedlessly to expose' themselves, while he was perfectly reckless in exposing himself. That he was not killed convinced me, be- yond question, that 'Providence overruleth all things.' "To show how reckless men can be in a fight, I know of one man who on the 9th of June, 1864, after the cavab-y had been repulsed, jumped up on the breast-works, waved his blanket and called on the Federals to 'try it again' (meaning to try to take our position). That man is living yet. After Col. Archer's warning, 'the boys' were more careful. Still, one gentlemen (and he is now our res- pected mayorf) every time he fired would jump up and look to see if his man had fallen, and every time he so jumped up he exposed the best . part of his body to the enemy's bul- lets. Some of Capt. Wolff's com- pany, and perhaps others also, will remember that the late Mr. Edmund H. Osborne had charge of our ord- nance supplies, &c., and that Mr. Eobert E. Hill was under him. Af- ter the fight opened, and during a few moments of quiet, there happen- ed to be on the ground an old colored t Hon. Clmrles P. Collier. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 141 man (Tom Jordan) who had been for a long time the servant of a Con- federate cavalry officer and who had seen a good deal of 'de wah.' Be- ing in Petersburg on furlough, he often came out to the camp to see a relative of his owner, and, having known Mr. Osborne nearly all his life, he stepped up to him and said, 'Marse Edmund, if you want to save your things you had better load them up and move off, for them Yankees just made that charge to find out your force, and, having found that out, it will not be long before they will be here.' Mr. Osborne, being a clear-headed man himself, imme- diately took in the situation, and so did 'save his things.' His depar- ture in a measure threw Mr. Robert R. Hill 'out of a job,' and the re- sult was, Mr. Hill picked up a mus- ket and 'rushed to the front.' "Mr. Richard S. Taliaferro (now about 85 years old) showed great grit — even after the battle was over. The enemy being about to surround our left wing (if a few men could be called 'a wing'), of course efforts were made to escape, and some of 'the boys' ran down to a branch and hid in the bushes. The Yankees were soon after them, hallooing out, 'I see you, you d -d rebel!' 'Get up from there, or I will blow your brains out!' Some, and perhaps all but Mr. Taliaferro, really believed that the Yankees saw them, and so got up and surrendered. Not so, however, with 'Cousin Dick,' as we used to call him. He jumped into a thick brier -patch, and lay as close to mother earth as was possible. Repeatedly he was ordered 'to get up or a bullet would be put in him.' 'Cousin Dick' was deaf to these or- ders and remained so to the end. After the enemy had been driven off by Gen. Dearing, and everything became quiet, 'Cousin Dick' got up and walked home, proud of the fact that lying low had raised. Mm high up in the estimation of his comrades. '^I know one man in the fight re- ferred to that, because of a lack of teeth, had to use a knife to cut his cartridges. "I know of two boys, Johnny Kerr (now dead) and Jos. 'D. Cooper, who went into the fight, along with others, the former, Johnny Kerr, 'on his own hook,' the latter, Jos. D. Cooper, as a member of a home guard company. Strange to say, the father of one es- caped capture (Mr. Jos. H. Cooper, who with Prof. Staubley did, I think, more shooting than any other two men in the fight), while his son was captured. The other son escaped unhurt, while his father (Mr. James Kerr) was right badly wounded, and was captured. The last gun fired in the fight was fired by a deaf man, who had advanced, not hearing the order to. retreat, after he had been shot down. That man is also living now, but he is satisfied that, had the Yankees captured him, he never would have lived to see the year 1865.* "I have now, in my plain, uncul- tured way, tried to give you such evidence as to show you that the people of the little Cockade City did all they could to aid her gallant sons in the Confederate service — to win that liberty for which they so glo- riously fought. WeU, the flag we so loved has been forever furled, but the everlasting principles we fought for will never die. I took the oath of allegiance to the United States gov- ernment in June, 1865, and I have been true to it, and will remain so; *Mr. Martin does not so state, but I am satisfied that he himself was the game old Confederate that fired that last gun. G. S. B. 142 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. but the time will never come when I will cease to lore the cause we so stoutly contended for, and that no- ble army led by the peerless Lee." Mrs. David Callender, of Peters- burg, Va., in a statement furnished July 18, 1892, from the stand-point of an intelligent lady who was an eye witness of Graham's battery and Bearing's cavalry going into action at the crisis of the day, gives the following graphic account of what she saw and heard: "About 7 o'clock the morning of June, 1864, I heard, while at mar- ket, that the enemy were advancing in large numbers on our town. The reserves had been on duty since the 5th of May, and few men were left in our town. These reports were so often circulated and so often proved false, I did not give this much thought. Mr. Wm. Weddell, our neighbor, and Mr. Callender, had been guarding prisoners during the night at the Eock House on Old street, and had come home early in the morning. After breakfast Mr. James Kerr stopped in, and re- ferring to Mr. Callender, asked, 'Where is David f I said, 'In bed asleep . ' 'You had better wake him ; from what I hear every man is need- ed to-day on the lines,' Mr. Kerr then said. While we were talking Mr. Callender came out of his room, heard this, and he and Mr. Weddell followed Mr. Kerr to the lines. "The last person I saw going out to the lines was Mr. Geo. B. Jones. I called out to him as he passed along by onr house — we were then living at our present place of residence, on the east side of .Jefferson street, south of Marshall and within a few hundred yards of the water works — that I was sorry to see him go. He replied, 'Every man is needed out to- day,' and cheerfully went on. Soon I heard musketry firing on the Je- rusalem plank road. I went in our garden where a servant was at work. He said, 'Missus, the Yankees are very near here. Don't you hear them cheering ? I see them coming back of the reservoir.' At first I did not believe this, but going up stairs over our kitchen, from which place a commanding view of the Heights and plateau east of the re- servoir could be had, I saw that it was true that the enemy was near the city . I could see them on the high ground beyond the water works, east of Lieutenant Run. I knew the men I saw were Federal soldiers by the caps they wore, our men wearing slouch hats. "Just at this time I saw many servants from Mr. Ragiand's farm come running by with bedding, clothes, and whatsoever they could gather in haste in their arms. As they ran by our gate they told me the Yankees had killed or captured all our soldiers, and were coming straight on to town. This of course alarmed me. I went to see Mrs. Weddell to consult what we had best do. Without knocking I walked into her dining room and found the Eev. Wm. A. Hall, chaplain of the Washington Artillery, writing on her dining table, with his coat off, the weather being very warm. Hear- ing what I told Mrs. Weddell, he said, 'Ladies, I will go over to where the reserves are camped, and if there is any danger I will come back and let joii know.' He went, and was captured just beyond the water- works, and was carried to some Northern prison. I never saw him again. "The news of the enemy's ap- proach soon spread over town. Wo- THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 143 mea and children went in large num- bers over to the hill south-west of the pump-house of the city water-works, where the base ball grounds now are, trying to find out something about those they loved who were with the reserves. There was heard the rumbling of wheels, and a sec- tion of Graham's battery came gal- loping across from Sycamore street to the embankment of the reservoir. Soon some of Bearing's cavalry came to their support. I was standing at my chamber window up -stairs with my mother and sister, and when I saw the cavalry, who had just rid- den to the brow of the hill, ride back as if to leave, I said, 'They are ' not going to make a stand, but are going to leave us in the Yankees' hands.' -My mother then said, 'My child, God will be with us just as much then as now.' In a moment I saw the first shell fall, which caus- ed the women and children on the hill to scatter. Indeed our soldiers urged them to go away. 'Go back, ladies ! Go back !' they said. "I think there was then a lull in the firing. I hailed a passing cou-, rier to hear the news. He said, 'The enemy have been repulsed and we have captured a gun and some prisoners.' Finding the enemy did not return, our soldiers left the re- servoir hill. I saw half a dozen for- eigners, dusty and bleeding, but not severely wounded, pass our gate as prisoners. I felt then a sickening- sense of how much we lost in giving our noble men for such specimens of humanity. By 1 o'clock Mr. Wed- dell, Mr. Jamison, (of Alexandria,) and Mr. Callender returned. They had fallen to the right after putting obstructions in the road as they were ordered. They were protected from the fire of the advancing enemy by the woods and the ravine running back of Mr . Eagland' s house . Gen . Colston, I was informed, halted as many as came up, and these made a stand near Mr. William Cameron's house, thinking the enemy might come over that way. All being quiet they were soon allowed to come home. "In a short time after Mr. Callen- der came home, one of Mr. George B. Jones' family came to ask him if he had heard what had become of him, Mr. Jones. The answer was that Mr. Jones, getting to the breast- works after the reserves were in line, was placed over to the left, near the Rives house, and that the Yankees came around back of this house in a ravine, and were behind our men, burning their camp before they knew they were near. Those across the road to the right could not tell what had happened on the left of the road. Then came Capt. Cocke to inquire about Mr. Wm. Banister, and while at our house a messenger came to tell him they were bringing back the bodies of those who had been killed, those of Mr. Banister and Mr. Jones among the number." Just here it is appropriate to re- produce from the diary of Mrs. Fan- ny Waddell, the widow of the late Capt. Chas. B. Waddell, of Co. A, 12th Virginia Infahtry, the following- pathetic description of some of the incidents of this famous day: "How brightly dawned that lovely summer morning upon oiu- devoted city, whose light was so soon to be bedimmed with blood and tears! An unusual quiet at first prevailed, but at an early hour a sound broke upon our ears which sent a tremor through our hearts. It was the sullen roar of cannon and musketry along our lines! And now we hear the tolling 144 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the town -bell, the signal which summoned grandsires and boys to the defense of their homes: our young men had all gone to meet the foe elsewhere. Truly might the enemy say of us that day, that 'we robbed the cradle and the grave for our de- fenders!' ' 'And nobly did they do their duty . No shrinking because the feet of some were tottering with age, and the hands almost too delicate and girlish to handle muskets. As a little band of these boys passed a group of sor- rowing mothers and sisters who were trying to smile and cheer them on in spite of their tears, one noble lad exclaimed, 'Do not weep, ladies; do not fear; we will fight for jow as long as we have a cartridge left.' Ah! how many of these poor striplings were in a few hours mutilated and maimed for life, or sent to languish in a Yankee prison, and to how many more the bright sun above us went down at mid-day!" And to the foregoing there should be added the following beautiful me- morial ode, composed by Mrs. Wm. B. Morrison, of Petersburg, Va., and sung by the Ladies' Memorial Asso- ciation of Petersburg, Va., at Bland- ford cemetery, on the 9th of June, 1870, as a part of the memorial ser- vices on that dayr MEMORIAL ODE, Sung in Blandford June 9th, 1870. AIR — "napoleon's grave." [Bringing in the refrain of that song at end of stanzas]. ^'Memoria in mterna!" June cometh in glory! Again o'er all Southland her sunshine is spread, Becalling once more the glorious story Of the daring and deeds of "Confed- erate dead." 'Though years have roU'd by, yet how plain doth war's rattle Arise on our memories, thrilling with pain — That they sleep their sleep and have fought their last battle, No sound can arouse them to glory again . Oh! shades of our heroes! we cannot for- get thee! All hearts that are true will beat on to the end With devotion and love — nor ever we'll let thee Be forgot by the land that ye died to defend — Each memorial day as it riseth in beauty, And sheds its bright lustre o'er what is still ours, We will ever fulfill what is woman's sad duty. And strew every soldier's low grave with bright flowers. So we come with gay garlands our heroes to cover. Whose blood was shed freely, but ah! all in vain! And we pray unto Heaven that angels may hover O'er these lowly graves of Confederate slain. These men died for us — each private, and ranger — When war's clarion sounded all brave- ly did go; Stood firm and undaunted in the front rank of danger, And nobly each fell — with his "face to the foe." Ah! well we remember that bright sum- mer morning. As we gaze down the vista of long van- ished years. And think how in darkness the glow of its dawning Was quenched ere its sun set in blood- shed and in tears. THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. 14;", Ninth of June! how arises the din of the north of the Appomattox and was to *'**'*^®' move upon the city with his infantry' But for them was the glory — for iw is ,, . , , ,, • the paiu— ^^ "^^ vigM, near the river, whilst For thfey sleep their last sleep, they have Kailtz was to attadlc, as he did, with fought their last battle, his cavalry on the left (Confederate No sound can awake them to glory right), again. From this letter (which fills eight ^'"^'^wamiT-'^^'^''"''^^ *'''"' *^*'''"^ ^"^^^^ °^ *^** Eebellion Record) the "Thly Irrbringing the burden of dy- following extracts are taken, which, ing and dead;" whilst giving some idea of its char- And the still air was filled with our heart- acter, at the same time disclose some sti-icken mourning, interesting and important historical As they left with each household its facts* "hope" or its "head." 'Tis over! never more will their musketry "You did not move until 5:30 a. rattle! M., an hour after sunrise. You did We can only remember they suffered not reach the enemy's outer pickets in vain — until after 8 o'clock, and you made That they sleep their last sleep, they have no such demonstration as caused any fought their last battle, alarm in Petersburg until 9 o'clock, No sound can awake them to glory as is evidenced by the fact that Gen. again. Kautz's command captured a school- master, whom I have examined, who Then, daughters of Petersburg! bring ye was in his school in Petersburg after bright flowers— 9 o'clock, when the first alarm was But bring not the emblems of death civeu. and the grave. " uyou further say in vour report Baise your anthems of praise to Heaven's +j,„f high powers, ., .,, ^ . , ^. , They shall yet stand together-these ,i, 1?^ "^M ''?^T ''^f 't^ L^^s^ntial shunbering brave. t^*^* .t^® ^tt^<^l^ ^^Oi'^l'i "^^ a quick. Not to cannon's loud booming, nor mus- ^^""^f^'f P^^^' *« Prevent re-inforce- ketrv's rattle ments to the enemy from their forces But the trump of' the angel o'er moun- «" O^^' ^™»* '^'''^}\ ^^ ^^^ Appomat- tafti and plain- ^^'l ""fj ^^^^^^ *^o ^"^^"'S' ^^rch Though "they sleep their last sleep" and •^1®*'*''^*- "/swe fought their last battle," "They had 7 miles to march to Shall "awake them" to life and to glory Peteraburg, and 3 to the intrench- agaijj ments, while you had but 4 to march . If they used the 'same rate of pro- Two days after the action, Gen. gress that you did, it would be a Butler, greatly chagrined at the fail- matter of easy calculation at what ure of the move made on Petersburg time tlie enemy's reinforcements , , „ . , ^ T ,, AT would arrive. But you forget to on the 9th of June, addressed a long ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^.^/^ ^^^^ l^ ^^^^. and very severe letter to Gen. Gill- part that my artillery should open more, who commanded the troops all along my line in an active de- 146 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. monstration upon their forces, to keep them before us while you made your movement, and that that open- ing by me was to' be upon the first gun being heard from you, and I waited' at the signal station with my glass on where your column should have been until nearly 9 o'clock, and then opened immediately as was agreed upon on hearing your first gun, and with such effect that no forces left the front and passed to Petersburg until after you returned within your own intrenchments. This was made certain by the obser- vations of the signal officers, who commanded both the turnpike and the railroad, being the only commu- nication between the enemy in our front and Petersburg . You have en - deavored to state in your report what my orders to Gens. Kautz and Hinks were. That was no part of your report required by my order. I know what my orders to them were without any information from that source. "You further say in your report, 'Hawley drove in the enemy's pick- ets on the City Point road shortly after 6 a.m., and about 7 was be- fore the enemy ' s works . ' There must certainly be a very grave mistake here. You say in your dispatch to me that you moved at 5:30 A. m. You were then 4 miles from the ene- my's works, and unless they advanc- ed their pickets much farther than usual, and your rate of progress was much faster than when in your own lines, you could not have reached his pickets at 6 o'clock, nor covdd you have been before his works at 7, nor were you there at that time, because when before his works, when within cannon range, he opened fire upon you, and that first gun was much nearer 9 than 7. And Colonel Haw- ley will tell you, if you will ask him. as he has told me, that he never did drive in the enemy's pickets at any time during the day, much less at 6 o'clock in the morning. "You say further, in your report, that General Kautz was expected to reach the enemy's works at 9 o'clock. As it was understood that his march was at least 15 miles to your 4, and as he expressly said that he should only march upon a walk, how could you suppose that he could accom- plish the 15 miles in nearly the same time that it took jou to accomplish the 41 You nowhere in youi; report say, nor is it true, that you or yoiir brigade commander of the force un-. der your immediate command, with which you were to make the real at- tack, saw any 20 rebel soldiers in any one body during this day. You saw no line of battle, nor did your soldiers approach near enough the enemy's works to ascertain whether or not there was an abatis in front of them, and the strength of them was only demonstrated upon another part of the line, where they were ridden over by General Kautz with his cavalry. "Certain it is, made so irom the examination of prisoners captmed since, as well as before, that 4,500 of my best troops under your com- mand were kept at bay without an attempt at attack, so far as j*u were concerned, by some 1,500 men, 600 only of which were Confederate troops, and the rest old men and boys, the grave and the cradle being robbed of about equal proportions to compose the force opposed to you. Without, at this moment, giving words of characterization of the dis- obedience of orders and your conduct on the field, I submit this statement of facts in review of your report, as you have requested me to do, most THE DEFENSE OF PETERSBURG. m of them known to myself, my chief engineer, my signal officers, and an officer of General Grant's staff, who was here present, hearing the instruc- tions and knowing what was done from your verbal report made in his presence upon your return, to your careful consideration; and in connec- tion I will call your attention to the fact that after your return to my head- quarters, at 6 o'clock in the evening, and upon being informed of what had happened to General Kautz, you were very anxious to go out and find him with an escort of 50 cavalry, and that you sent your body-guard to my headquarters at 8:30 in the even- ing for that purpose, when I inform- ed you that General Kautz had re- turned, having been inside the in- trenchments of Petersburg. It would seem that if when you were within five miles of him with 3,500 men you were not able to open communication with him, it was hardly worth while to try with a body-guard of 50, be- cause such an operation would have added weakness to him and not strength. "To have been obliged to review your report, point out some of its errors and inconsistencies, and to bring out the disobedience of orders, as weU in point of time as in action, to be obliged to dwell upon the de- tails of this humiliating failure, to probe anew the acute wonnds of hopes blasted when so much was expected, to be obliged to comment even with deserved severity upon the actions of an officer whose personal relations have been as pleasant as mine with you, has been a most painful task, to which nothing but a conviction of the stern necessity of a duty to the country to be done could have com- pelled me." In concluding the official story of the ninth of Jvme, it must be remem- bered that, Col. Spear and other offi- cers who came with the Federal cav- alry to the ravine about the water- works supposed the reservoir to be a work of defense. They at least thought that there were military works of some tinA— stockades — on the hill from which came the Con- federate fire. In his supplemental report of June 18, 1864, Col. Spear says: "The defenses in the immediate front of the town consisted of a stock- ade with earth -work in front, very strong, and on my approach about 150 yards a most murderous flre of artillery and infantry was opened on me. Had the enemy reserved this fire for a few minutes longer the most fearful results to my command would have ensued, and I was compelled to fall back under cover immediately." Lieut. J. Prank Oummings, of the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and act- ing assistant adjutant -general of the brigade commanded by Col. Spear, in his report of June 18, 1864, says: "The next line of defenses consist- ed of stockades on very high bluffs. The battery that opened on the Sec- ond Cavalry brigade was behind the stockades. The stockades were de- fended by both infantry and artil- lery." To complete the history of this day and to show what was accomplished by the successful repulse of the as- sault made, there must be taken from the pages of the Eebellion Eecord the following important passages from the official report of Gen. GiUmore, dated June 10, 1864, in which, giving to G«n. Butler, his superior officer, an account of his preparations for the ]4l^ WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. assault upon Petersburg jsn the 9th, he says: ' 'The following orders were given to Gen. Hinks at this time: " 'BEICiADIEB-GEXEKAL HlNKt^: " 'In the attack about to take place on the defenses of Petersburg you are to take the Jordan's Point road, following General Kautz until you strike that road. Unless the attack is made promptly and vigorously there will be danger of failure, as the enemy will reinforce Petersburg from their lines in front of General Terry. Should you penetrate the town before General Kautz, who is to attack on the Jerusalem road, the public buildings, public stores, bridges across the Appomattox, de- pots and cars, are all to be destroyed. Commiinicate with me on the City Point road. " 'Q. A. GlLLMORE, " 'Major-General." "This," says Gen. Gillmore, "was the only written order to Gen. Hinks. Gen. Kautz had received his orders from yourself in personal terms. They were that while the infantrv engaged the troops on the right he should enforce the intrenchments on the left, enter the town, accomplish the desired destruction of property, and return. I was ordered to bring back the infantry from the intrench- ments the same evening." "The public buiMinffs, public stwes, bridges across the Appomattox, depots and, cars" were "all to be destroyed.'^ The toi-eh, presumably, being the most convenient, was intended to be the instrument of destruction, and the whole city in that event would of course have been in danger of con- flagration. From all this the old men and boys, less than a hundred and fifty in number, fighting like he- roes under the gallant Archer, saved the city, when they fought until over- powered at Eives' farm, and delayed the Fedeial cavalry until Bearing and Graham came to the rescue. Can too much l)e said in commenda- tion of their splendid conduct on that historic day ? G. S. B. Note. — The age ot Mr. Wm. C. Banister was not forty-five, as stated in the note at the foot of page 139, hut flfly-flve years. Mrs. H. Noltenius, of Petersburg, Va., a daughter of this gallant gentleman, says: "My father had been on duty out on the lines on previous occasions, always against the entreaty of the members of his family. We thought bis infirmity, deafness, ought to excuse him. Besides this, he wasabank officer and over military age. When the court-house bell, on the morning of the 9th of June, sounded the alarm, he was at his place of business, in the old Exchange Bank, and we hoped he would not hear it. He got information, however, of the condition ot things, and came at once home and inform- ed us ot his purpose to go out to the lines. My mother and myself besought him not to go, urging that he could not hear the or- ders. 'If I cannot hear, I can fight — I can fire a gun,' he said. 'Tliis is no time for any one to stand back. Every one that can shoulder a musket must fight. The enemy are now right upon us.' Bidding us good- bye, he left the house. On the street near our gate was a man just from the lines. Addressing him, my father (pointing to the lines) said, 'My friend, you are needed in this direction.' The man said, 'I am in on leave.' 'No leave,' replied my father, 'should keep you in on such an occasion as this. Every man should fight now.' I have been informed that as he came on up from the bank, he urged in the same way to go to the front all that he met that he thought capable of bearing arms. G. S. B. S . <" o h u ■^ " t: g t« « ■5 a -c " ^ ^ o 5-1 a »> o ° S g .s ^ ~ ? VTHE BATTLE OF THE CRATER, JULY 30, 1864. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFED- ERATE VETERANS, OF PETERSBURG, VA., ON THE 24th OP JUNE,' 1890, BY MR. GEORGE S. BERNARD. GOMRADES : up, or burying under the debris of It was my fortune, as a earth and timber, between two hun- member of the Petersburg dred and fifty and three hundred Kiflemen, CompanyE, 12th Virginia officers and men occupying the works Infantry, Gen. Wm. Mahone's brig- at this point, making therein a huge ade, to take part in the memorable chasm, described in the report of the engagement known as "The Battle Committee on the Conduct of the War of the Crater," and it is now pro- as "from 150 to 200 feet in length, posed to give some account of the about 60 feet in width, and from action — to tell a war story from the 25 to 30 feet in depth," and aptly stand-point of a high private in the called "a crater," froni its resem- rear rank, supplementing informa- blance to the mouth of a volcano, tion within my personal knowledge Mahone's brigade was occupying the with some material drawn from other breast-works on the Willcox farm sources believed to be reliable, this immediately south of our city, say, being necessary to a proper under- about a point which would be reach- standing of what will be told. ed by a prolongation of Adams street. On Saturday morning, the 30th of The site of the "Crater," as is well July, 1864, when the mine under known to probably all now present, the angle in the Confederate works is east of the Jerusalem plank road around Petersburg known as "Blli- and about a half mile south-east from ott's salient," was exploded, blowing Blandford cemetery, being located 150 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. a short distance beyond our city lim- a staff-officer rides rapidly past us ; its in the county of Prince George, Gen. Mahone's headquarters, which on the farm of Mr. T. E. Griffith. were at the Branch house, just west Some time during the night pre- of the Willcox farm, is the point of ceding the explosion, our brigade destination of this staff-officer, who received orders to be "ready to move is Col. Charles S. Venable,! aid-de- at a moment's warning," which, of camp to Gen. Lee. Col. Venable is course, indicated that something was bearing a message to Gen. Mahone, expected requiring a movement of who was then, as he had been since the command. the wounding of Gen. Longstreet'at It was well understood that the the battle of the Wilderness, in com- enemy were mining somewhere on mand of Anderson's division, which our line, but exactly at what point was composed of the brigades of was not known. A counter-mine Gen. William Mahone (Virginians), was made by the Confederates sev- Gen. A.E.Wright (Georgians), Gen. eral hundred yards to the right of J. C.C.Saunders (Alabamians), Gen. the Crater, near the point at which N. H. Harris (Mississippians), and the Confederate breast-works cross Gen. Joseph Finegan (Floridians). the Jerusalem plank road, as may be The message borne to Gen. Ma- seen at this time. -At the Elliott sa- hone is to send at once two of his lient a counter-mine was begun, but brigadestothesupportof Gen. Bush- was abandoned for want of proper rod E. Johnson, who commanded tools. that part of the Confederate lines The explosion took place between embracing the works now in the en- day-break and sunrise (4:44 A. m. was emy's hands. the exact time), and the impression "Very soon, under orders received, made upon those hearing it may be the men of Mahone's brigade of likened to that of the nearly simul- Virginians and Wright's brigade of taneous discharge of several pieces Georgians began to drop back from of artillery. The concussion of the their places in the breast-works, one atmosphere was unusual. We were by one, into the corn-field immedi- all soon in the breast-works. Some- ately in their rear, and when they thing extraordinary we knew had were well out of sight of the enemy, happened. Soon a report came down the line was formed and the two the line from the direction of the brigades marched to the Eagland scene of action that a mine had been house,* were there halted and the exploded and a part of our works men were directed to divest them- blown up and was occupied by the T7rof. Chas. S. Venable, of the'^nversity of Va". . ~^.' ,, », . Ill 1 *The Eagland house stood on the west A little alter six O clock, when side of the plank road and on the south side the Crater had been in the enemy's °^ ^''^ ^f^d some three or four hundred . . ,, , •' yards in front of the present residence of possession for more than an hour, Mr. John J. Cocke. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 151 selves of knapsacks, blanket-rolls and other baggage, an order which to the veteran plainly bespoke seri- ous work, and that in the near fu- ture.! In a written statement made by Col. Venable in 1872, referring to the carrying of the message from Gen. Lee to Gen. Mahone, he says: "He sent me directly to Gen. Ma- hone (saying that to save time the order need not be sent through Gen. A. P. Hill), with the request that he would send, at once, two of the bri- gades of his division to the assist- ance of Gen. Johnson. I rode rap- idly to Gen. Mahone's line, and de- livered my message. He immedi- ately gave orders to the commanders of the Virginia and Georgia brig- ades to move to the salient and re- port to Gen. Johnson. The troops moved promptly, the Virginia brig- ade (Gen. D. A. Weisiger) in front. We rode on together at the head of the column. Gen. Mahone giving in- structions to his officers and inquir- ing as to the condition of things at the salient. When we reached the peach orchard, in rear of the Rag- land house, noticing that the men were encumbered with their knap- sacks, he halted the column and caused both brigades to .put them- selves in battle trim. While the men were throwing aside their knapsacks, he turned to me and said, 'I can't send my brigades to Gen. Johnson — I will go with them myself.' He then moved the column towards the opening of the covered way, which led to the Crater salient. I left him at this point, to report to Gen. Lee, who meantime, had come to the front. I found him sitting with Gen. Hill, among the men in the lines, at a traverse near the River salient. When I told him of the delivery of the message, and that Gen. Mahone had concluded to lead the two brig- ades himself, he expressed gratifica- tion." Leaving the Ragland house, we marched along the edge of the hills skirting Lieutenant Run to New road, or Hickory street, and entered this road a hundred or two more yards east of the bridge over this run, then marched westwardly to within a few yards of the bridge, and then filed northwardly down the ravine on the east side of the run to Han- non's (now Jackson's) old ice pond, here entered a military foot-path leading along the pond eastward to the head of the pond, thence filed eastwardly up a ravine along the same military foot-path to the Jeru- salem plank road. We are now at a point a few feet from the south-west- ern corner of the Jewish cemetery of to-day, and the position of the foot-path in this ravine along which we came is yet plainly marked. At the plank road we are halted and counter-march by regiments, thereby placing each regiment with its left in front. Here we see on the fMr. Geo. W. Ivey, of Richmond, Va., a member of Co. A, 12th Va. regiment, in a statement furnished in December, 1890, describing the march from the breast- works to the Crater, and referring to this part of it, says: "We unloaded (knapsacks) un- der a terrific fire and I was near a sergeant of tlie 41st regiment, a young Scotchman, a gallant fellow, who was struck with a shell, which tore a leg from the poor fellow. I look back and can see him in his agony reel and fall, exclaiming, 'Oh! my poor mo- ther! What will she do ?' But duty called us and we obeyed, leaving our comrade to die as easy as was possible under the treat- ment of our surgeon." 152 WAIi TALKS OB' CONFEDERATE VETERANS. roadside Gen. Mahone, with other uation is an extremely grave one. officers, dismounted, their horses His own little force of two brigades standing near by. Mahone had then then approaching in the covered reported to Gen. Beauregard at the way, if assailed in this position would headquarters ofGen. Johnson, which be inevitably cut to pieces and des- were at the old house which until a troyed. So Mahone orders Courier few years ago stood on the crest of the J. H. Blakemore2 to go at once back hill a short distance north-west from and bring up the Alabama brigade the north-west corner of Blandford (Saunders') to come by the same cemetery and near the road leading route which the Virginia and Geor- southwardly up the hill to the ceme- gia brigades had taken, tery. It was now about half past Whilst Gen. Mahone is at the knoll eight o'clock,* and the enemy were surveying the enemy and arranging just as they had been for nearly four for the attack, we are cautiously ap- hours, in quiet occupation of the, proaching the ravine along the cov- Crater, with about one hundred and ered way. At the angles, where the fifty yards of our breast-works to the enemy could see a moving column south and some two hundred yards with ease, the men are ordered to of these works to the north of the run quickly by, one man at a time, Crater, reaching down to fhe foot of which was done for the double pur- the hill on the north side. To these pose of concealing the approach of limits on either side the Confeder- a body of troops and of lessening ates occupying the lines north and the danger of passing rifle balls at south of the Crater confined them, these exposed points. Gen. Mahone, having had the reg- I should have mentioned that there iments counter-march at the Jerusa- was constant shelling as we moved lem plank road, goes ahead along along our route from the breast- the covered way leading directly works at Willcox's farm, but we were across the road, south-eastwardly to well protected by the shelter of in- the ravine in rear ^nd west of the tervening -hills. As we passed the Confederate works now occupied by Hannon pond, I remember seeing a the enemy. Ascending the little solid shot, or shell, fired from one of knolliat the point where the ravine the enemy's guns descend into the is entered by another smaller ravine water but a few feet from our mov- or gulley, into which the zig-zag cov- ing line. ered way led and terminated, he sees Arriving at the ravine, we found the Confederate works filled to over- Gen. Mahone standing near the flowing with Federal troops, and mouth of .the gully into which the counting eleven regimental flags, es- covered way led and along which timates the Federal force in posses- we were filing into the ravine, now sion as at least 3,000 men. The sit- and then exchanging a word of en- *ProbabIy between 8i and 8i a. m. 2. .1. ri. Hlakemore, of Xew York. GEN. WM. MAHONE. " Mahone, cool, courageous, and able, was by nature fitted for generalship as few men are, and none knew this better than the men of his command. Wherever he led or placed them, they always felt a moral certainty that they were being properly led or placed, either to in- flict the most damage on the enemy or to have the enemy inflict the least damage on them." Page 178. THE BATTLK OF THE CRATKR. i.ir, eouragement with some passing offi. cer or man in the ranks.*t In this ravine are some artillery- men with one or more mortars in po- sition, and I tiave a strong impres- sion that I saw skirting the slope of the hill a slight line of breast-works which looked as if it had been made that morning for temporary shelter by men working with their bayonets. ;j: Soon the line of battle is formed, the 12th Virginia on the left of the brigade, the 6th Virginia on the right, the brigade sharp-shooters on right of the 6th. The middle regi- ments were the IGth, the 41st and 61st, the 61st being the centre regi- ment. On the field to-day may be seen a tree that marks the position of the right of this line of battle. The line formed, we advanced some twenty yards up the slope of the hill and lie fiat on our faces. In this position we are concealed from the view of the enemy, now two hun- dred yards in our front. Our brigade is under the command of Col. D. A. Weisiger,^ colonel of the 12th, whilst the 12th is commanded by Capt. Richard W. Jones,'! the 6th by Col. Geo. T. Rogers,o the 16th by Capt. L. R. Kilby,6 the 41st by Major Wm. H. Etheridge,' and the 61stbyLieut.-Col. Wm. H.Stewart. « The sharp-shooters are commanded by Capt. AYallace Broadbent.'' A few minutes after we take the recum- bent position, Capt. Drury A. Hin- ton,10 acting aid-de-camp of Col. Weisiger, walks along the line and directs the regimental officers to in- struct the men to reserve their fire until the enemy are reached. As soon as Capt. Hiuton passed down the line Capt. Jones stepped out in *"Piling down the re-inl'orcing ditch that ran perpendicular to the works," says Lieut. W. A. S. Taylor, ot Norfollc, Va., adjutant of the 61st Virginia regiment, in a statement made July Kith, 1880, "I saw Gen. Mahono at the angle formed by this ditch and the one that ran parallel to the works. As we filed to the right he made some encourag- ing remarks, adding, 'Give theru the bayo- net.' " fMi-. Thos. H. Cross, of Norfolk, Va., a member^of Co. A, 16th Virginia regiment, in an article published in the Philadelphia Times in or about September, 1881, says: "The order was passed in that subdued tone which denotes a stern purpose to 'fix bayo- nets,' and by those to whom the thought had occurred an extra turn was taken on the little screw which holds the bayonet- shank on the gan. The thought of having his bayonet 'unshipped' flashed across the writer's mind, and his right hand instinc- tively sought his cartridge-box and the pos- sibility was provided against." tCol. F. W. McMaster, of Columbia, S. C. colonel of the 17th S. C. regiment, who commanded Elliott's brigade after he (Elli- ott) was wounded, says that he sent Col. Smith, of the 2tith S. C, with his (Col. Smith's) regiment and three companies of his (Col. McMaster's) regiment under Capt. Crawford, to this place soon after the fight commenced, early in the morning, and that these works were thrown up by these men. Col. McMaster says: ■'I ordered Col. Smith to take his regi- ment, with three companies of the Seven- teenth under Capt. Crawford (which then were larger than the Twenty-Sixth regi- ment) to form in the ravine in rear of the Cra- ter, and cover up the gap, there to lie down and rise up and fire when necessary, so as to prevent the enemy from rushing down the hill and getting in the rear of our lines. This order was promptly executed, and gave the remainder of Seventeenth in the main trench more room to use their guns." i. Gen. n. A. Weisiger, of Eiohraoncl, Va. 4. MaJ. Richard W. Jones, Professor at Unlvureity of Mississippi. f>. Col. Geo. T. Eogei's, of Princess Anue Co. , Va . 6. Capt. L. R. Kilby, of Nansemond Co., Va. 7. Maj. Wm. H. Btheridge, of Norfolk, Va. 8. Col. Wm. H. Stewart, of Portsmouth, Va. y. Capt. Wm. Wallace Broadbent, of Sussex i'.n.. Va. 10. .riulge Drury X. Hinton, of Petersliiirg, \n. 154 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. front of us, as we lay on the ground, and, with great coolness of manner, said: "Men, you are called upon to charge and recapture our works, now in the hands of the enemy. They are only one hundred yards distant. The enemy can fire but one volley before the works are reached. At the command 'forward' every man is expected to rise and move forward at a double-quick and with a yell. Every man is expected to do his duty." This short address, delivered un- der the gravest of circumstances, was impressive in the extreme, and well calculated to nerve up the men to do their best work. The words and manner of the speaker sank deep in my memory. How Capt. Jones came to deliver this address is explained in a letter written by him to Gen. Mahone from Oxford, Miss., under date of Janu- ary 3rd, 1877 : "On getting my, regiment in posi- tion in the ravine, your courier de- livered me a message to report to you at the right of the brigade. I went immediately, walking in front of the brigade, and found all of the other regimental commanders before you when I arrived. At that mo: ment you gave the order to have the Georgia brigade moved up rapidly to its position on the right of the Virginia brigade, and then turning *For twenty-three years my impression and belief was that the worJis were about one hundred yards distant. In June of 1 888 I visited the ground and carefully noted it. To my amazement I discovered that the dis- tance was double what I would have sworn it was. So surprised was I at this discovery I asked several of my comrades who were in the charge what was their recollection as to the distance, and found that several of to the officers you delivered a stir- ring address to this effect : 'The en- emy have our works. The line of men which we have here is the only barrier to the enemy's occupying the city of Petersburg. There is no- thing to resist his advance. Upon us devolves the duty of driving him from his strong position in our front and re-establishing the Confederate lines. We must carry his position immediately by assaulting it. If we don't carry it by the first attack we will renew the attack as long as there is a man of us left or until the works are ours. Much depends upon prompt, vigorous, simultaneous movements.' I do not profess to give your words, but your address and orders were given with such pe- culiar emphasis and under such im- pressive circumstances that the sen- timents were indelibly inscribed on my mind. I at once placed myself in front of my command and had bayonets fixed. I explained to them the character of our work and per- ilous position of our army." "The works are only one hundred yards distant," said Capt. Jones — a fortunate mistake. They were, in point of fact, two hundred yards dis- tant* "The enemy can fire but one vol- ley before the works are reached." A timely reminder was this, as, whilst advising the men of the gravity of the situation, it warned them of the great importance of a quick move- ment towards the foe.t them, like myself, thought the distance only one hundred yards. fCapt. J.ones, afterwards major of the 12th, having received a copy of this portion of this address, writes as follows; "I think you give tiie substance of my orders, ex- cept that I charged them (my command) specially to fix bayonets and not to stop to fire a gun until wo were at the works." THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. In.i Let me here mention an incident : and closing with the enemy in the Lying next to my right was a young quickest possible time, every man friend, Emmet Butts,ll a member of feeling that to halt or falter for a the bar of our city. His proper po- moment on the way was fatal, sition was on my left. Having a su- The charge was probably as splen- perstitious belief that the safest place did as any of which history has for a man in battle is generally his made record. Just as we were well proper place, I said to my friend, over the brow of the hill, I cast my "Emmet, suppose we change places? eyes to the right, and I will ever I am in yours and you in mine." carry a vivid impression of the rapid, "Certainly," was his reply, with a but steady and beautiful, movement pleasant smile, and we then changed of the advancing line of some 800 places. I never saw the poor fellow men— the greater part of whom, be- alive afterwards. Soon after reach- ing to my right, were within the ing the works he fell, his forehead range of my vision— as our five Vir- pierced with a minie ball. ginia regiments, their five battle- Immediately after Capt. Jones de- flags, borne by as many gallant livered his address the expected color-bearers, floating in the bright command "forward" was given— by sun-light of that July morning, and whom I could not of my personal the battalion of sharp-shooters knowledge say. Each man sprang double-quicked across the field they to his feet, and moved forward, as ^ere unconsciously making famous, commanded, at a double-quick, and a Federal soldier thus describes with a yell. the charge : The Une was about two hundred ..^he Second brigade had hardly yards in length when it started for- raised their heads when the cry ward, but with the men moving at broke out from our men : 'The rebels slightly different paces and length- are charging! Here they come!' ening out a little on the right as the '^9S>\}'^S to the front I saw a splen- • 1 . . ■ J 1 1. i. did line oi gray coming up the ra- right regiments and sharp-shooters ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ /^^ ^if^j^. ^j^^^ ^^^ obliqued to the right towards the nearly up to the bomb-proofs and Crater, before we were half across their line extended off into the smoke the field, the line had probably as far as we could see. They were lengthened a hundred or two feet, S?,"''"^ ' ^""^ .1°"?'?^ ^^^^ ^ ™.«^^- j.jj,, ... We all saw that they were going and widened to twenty feet or more, straight for the Second brigade." and the men thus moving forward [See address of Lieut. Freeman S. with open ranks, no spectacle of war Bowley,12 delivered November 6, could well have been more inspirit- 1889, before the California command- ing than the impetuous charge of ^^^.f .^"^^l ^^^^^^^ o* ^^^ United this column of veterans, every man ^ of whom appreciated the vital im- Getting within ten paces of the portance of getting to the works 11. R. Emmet Butts, of Petersburg, Va. Cal 12. Capt. Freeman S. Bowley, of 9an Francisco, lo(i WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. ends of the little ditches or traver- their own breast-works. Many, ses, which led out perpendicularly however, were taking shelter behind, from the main trench of our breast- that is, on the east side, or outside, works some ten or fifteen paces, to of our breast-works, as I could see my surprise I saw a negro soldier from the tops of their caps, just over getting up from a recumbent posi- the parapet. Into a squad of those tion on the ground near my feet. I saw retreating to their own works He was the first colored soldier I I fired my rifle, and not stopping to ever saw, and this was my first note the damage done by my shot, knowledge of the fact that negro or to enquire who was thereby hurt, troops were before us. I had not I jumped into one of the little then fired my rifle, and I might ditches leading out fi-om the main easily have killed this man, but, re- trench. This ditch was about as garding him as a prisoner, I had no deep as I was high and about eigh- disposition to hurt him. Looking teen inches wide. Proceeding down then directly ahead of me, within it towards the trench, or main ditch, thirty feet of where I stood, I saw I was suddenly confronted by a ne- in the trench of the breast-works gro soldier at the other end of it, crowds of men, white and black, standing with his gun pointed to- with arms in their hands, as closely wards me at "a ready," and looking jammed and packed together as we me in the face with a grin on his. sometimes see pedestrians on the As may be imagined, I was now crowded sidewalk of a city, and in quite a predicament. What seemingly in great confusion and should I do ? Shoot the fellow I alarm. I distinctly noticed the ooun- could not — my gun, having been tenances and rolling eyes of the ter- just fired, was empty. Bayonet him ror-stricken negroes. I particularly I could not, as I had no bayonet on noticed in the hands of one of the my gun. I had lost my bayonet at frightened creatures the new silk of a the battle of the Wilderness, and, large and beautiful stand of colors, glad of having done so, as I was the staff swaying to and fro as the thus lawfully relieved of that much color-bearer, his eyes fixed in terri- weight on a march, I had never fied gaze at his armed adversaries, bothered myself about getting was being pushed and jostled by his another, never having expected to comrades. With my gun still load- get close enough to an armed enemy ed I might have fired into this mass to need it. Nor could I club this of men, but I regarded these also man — the narrowness of the ditch as practically our prisoners. Cast- prevented. Nor could I turn my ing my eyes upon the ground over back upon him with safety. But and beyond the breast-works— east there was a protecting hand to save of them I mean — I there saw large me. Just in front of me, and to my numbers of the enemy retreating to right, was a large recess in the earth, THJi SATI'LE OF THE CRATER. l.'s: perpendicular to the little ditch in thought he was dying. Manifestly, which I stood, and parallel to the tli© old negro's idea was that this main ditch or trench, large enough attention to the helpless Confede- for a horse to stand in, say, eight rate would serve to protect him feet in length, four in width and of against other in-coming Confede- the same depth with the little ditch, rates. Into this recess, by a rapid stride to In ^^^ absence of evidence as to my front and right, I made my way ^^^ identity, it cannot be positively and there loaded my rifle in the affirmed that this old fellow was not quickest posible time— no muzzle- the ex-preacher referred toby Lieut, loader was ever loaded in less time. Bowley in his address before the I was now less tfcan five feet from a California commandery of the Loyal trench full of Federal soldiers with Legion of the United States in the arms in their hands, and was in a following paragraph : position critical and perilous in the "Among the sergeants of my extreme. company was one, John H. Offer by T „!. T J. ■ 1 iu • 1 T J • name, who had been a preacher on Just as I got into this place I dis- ^j^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ Maryland. He covered near me, at my feet, a ne- exerted great influence over the gro soldier, who immediately began men, and he deemed the occasion a to most earnestly beg me not to kill fitting one to offer some remarks, him. "Master, don't kill me ! Mas- f'^^ assuming his 'Sunday voice' he ter, don't kill me ! I'll be your slave B.-^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^ as. long as I hve. Don't kill me !" a gret fight, de gretest we seen yit; he most piteously cried, whilst I gret things is 'pending on dis fight; was rapidly loading my gun, and he if we takes Petersburg, mos' likely doubtless supposed that its next we'll take Richmond and 'stroy Lee's , , . , 1 1 J. 1 ■ ij; ,f fVii'o /Iqtt fVio J. Maclin, then of Petersburg, Va., now of "V.^ ^'^^ aiternoon ol this day, the Chesterfield county, Va., was the friend Others on the days of their respec- whose act saved me from that horrible work, tive dates : THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 165 "Sunday, July 31, '64. Yesterday witnessed a bloody drama around Petersburg, perhaps as bloody as any affair of the war, Fort Pillow not excepted. At this point, about half a mile southeast of Old Bland- ford church, the enemy exploded a mine under a fort in our works, blow- ing up 4 pieces of Pegram's battery, with two lieutenants — Lieutenants Hamlinl7 and Chandler,18 and twen- ty-two men, together with five com- panies of the 18th S. C. regiment, Elliott's brigade, whereupon they immediately rushed upt)n and cap- tured that portion of our works and about two hundred yards of the works to the left of the exploded por- tion. This occurred soon after sun- rise, soon after which our brigade and Wright's, which occupied the ex- treme right of our line, were put in motion for this point, approaching it cautiously by the military roads recently constructed. We were not long in learning that our brigade would be assigned the task of cap- turing the works, supported by Wright's. Arriving at the works, for- tunately just at the moment we were about to charge, the enemy were also about to charge, when, seizing our advantage and rising with a yell, we rushed forward and got into the works, about one hundred yards dis- tant, receiving but little fire from the enemy, who turned out to be negroes ! The scene now baffles description. But little quarter was shown them. My heart sickened at deeds I saw done. ur brigade not driving the en- emy from the inner portion of the ex- ploded mine, Saunders' and Wright's brigades finished the work. I have never seen such slaughter on any battle-field. Our regiment lost 27, killed and wounded, the majority of whom were killed, and among them Emmet Butts, of our company. Put. 17. Wm. B. Hamlin, of Petersburg, Va. 18. Christopher S. Chandler, of Petersburg, Va. Smith,19 of our company, was wound- ed. Col. Weisiger, commanding the brigade, was wounded. From what I have seen, the 'enemy's loss could not have been less than from 500 to 700 killed, to say nothing of those wounded and between five hundred and one thousand prisoners. Ours probably did not exceed 400 killed, wounded and missing. Negotia- tions under a flag of truce are now pending. Probably Grant wants to bury the dead between the. lines. Permission was granted to water his wounded. I observed several citi- zens from the enemy's line take part in this act of humanity. They were probably members of the sanitary committee. I saw also a woman standing in the Yankee breastworks. We indulge a hope that our brigade will be relieved to-night and return to its quiet position on the right." "Tuesday, August 2, 1864. Back at Wilcox farm. Our brigade and Saunders' relieved last night. Truce for four hours yesterday morning for burying the dead between the lines. Express of this morning states that 12 of our men were found be- tween the lines and about 700 of the enemy. There could not have been as many as 700. We made the ne- gro prisoners carry their dead com- rades to the Yankee line, where the Yankees made their negroes bury them. Loss in our regiment 18 kd. and 24 wd. The 6th regiment lost 70 kd. and wd. out of 80 carried in fight. The remainder of the regi- ment was on picket. Co. C, of sharp- shooters, a detachment from the 12th, Ipst out of fifteen 5 kd. and 8 wd. The enemy admit a loss of over 4,000. Col. Thomas, commanding one of the negro brigades, told Capt. Jones (of our regiment) yesterday during the truce that he carried in 2,200 men and brought out only 800. 19. Putnam Stith, of Petersburg, Va, 166 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. "It is said we captured 20 flags obtained I am able to correct some from the enemy and that the prison- of the statements therein made : ers captured represented two corps, j^ Comrade W. Gordon Mc- 9th (Burnsides) and 6th* (Han- ^ ,,„„,., , n ,.,, , cock's). Cabe s^o admirable address entitled "Thursday, August 5. Yankee ac- "The Defense of Petersburg," the counts of the affair put their loss in accuracy and fullness of the infor- kd.,wd.and prisoners at 5,000. They mation contained in which are only say the plan was to spring a mine at equalled by the clear and beautiful 3 o clock Saturday morning, but that ,^ .,.,... " the fuse failed to ignite the powder language m which it is conveyed, twice — that they had six tons of pow- the statement is made that the loss der in the mine. The 9th and 18th of life caused by the explosion of corps made the charge and the 5th the mine was 256 officers and men was in reserve. Our losses loot up ■; , , io,i ' j no j a i.u /^ t 1,200, of which 300 are no doubt of the 18th and 22nd South Carolina prisoners, the enemy claiming to regiments and two officers and twen- have taken that number." ty men of Pegram's Petersburg bat- "Saturday, August 6th. The loss tery. This battery was commanded of our brigade in the fight of Satur- by Capt. Bichard G. Pegram,21 who day was 270 kd. wd. and missing, of ^^s absent on duty, and thus es- whom 88 were killed on the field, , i.j.ui!iii- i. t ^ just one-half of the whole number "^P®'^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^« *^o li«ii*«°- (176) that had been killed from the ants, Hamlm and Chandler, battle of the Wilderness to the pres- In a letter published in September, ent time." j878, Dr. Hugh Toland, surgeon of "Monday, August 8th 1864. Gen. ^i^^ jgth South Carolina, locates this Mahone, in a congratulatory order . , ,i i ,., ,, , to Mahone's, Saunders' and Wright's regiment as on the left, or north, of brigades for their conduct in the af- Pegram's battery, and the 22nd South fair of Saturday, July 30, says that Carolina as on the right, or south of with an effective force of less than this battery, at the time of the ex- 3,000 men and with a casualty list of „i„„i„„ 598, they killed 700 of the enemy's P^°^^°^- people, wounded, by his own ac- "My brigade," says Dr. Toland, count, over 3,000, a,nd captured 1,101 "had suffered severely — the 22nd Kr?t rtT/uertrin'i South C„o,i„i^,„3t il. ^.nt 1,916 stand of smaU arms, deeds Col. J^lemmg, and many a brave sol- which entitle their banners to the in- dier. My regiment had lost 163 scription, 'The Crater, Petersburg, men. Two whole companies, A and July 30, 1864.' He says the enemy q Eighteenth South CaroHna, had had massed against us three oi his , t m ■, i / ^ corps and 2 divisions of another." °°* ^ '^^'^ ^^^^' ^^° ^^s on duty, to The foregoing brief entries are aU ^^^^ *^® *^1«- ^^^ hundred and one that I find in my diary relating to °* "^7, °^«^' including Capts. Mc- the battle. Comich and Birdgis were dead— From information subsequently buried in the Crater or scattered ,„ , I, • 4. , J 20. Capt. W. Gordon McOabe, of Petersburg, Va. *2nd was here intended. i;i. Capt. Eicli'd G. Pegram, of Kiolmiond, Va. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 16T along the works — and 62 missing." works and witnessed the effect of the Giving the Federal loss in this en- explosion on the enemy. It so com- gagement, Oapt. McCabe in his ad- f^^^\ paralized them that the *% ^ . ^ breach was practically lour or five dress says : hundred yards in breadth. The reb- "In this grand assault on Lee's els in the forts, both on the right lines, for which Meade had massed and left of the explosion, left their 65,000 troops, the enemy suffered a works, and for over an hour not a loss of 5,000 men, including 1,101 shot was fired by their artillery, prisoners, among whom were tWo There was no fire from infantry from brigade commanders, whilst vast the front for at least half an hour ; quantities of small arms and twenty- none from the left for twenty min- one standards fell into the hands of utes, and but few shots from the the victors." right." The quantity of powder used in ^[ajor W. H. Powell, acting aid- exploding the mine was not six tons, de-camp of Gen. Ledlie, the com- but 8,000 pounds. "The charge," mandant of the First division of the says Lieut-Ool. Henry Pleasants, of Mnth corps, at the time of the ex- the 48th Pennsylvania Veteran Vol- plosion, in his article entitled "The unteers, the originator of the mine, Tragedy of the Crater," published in his report of the explosion, "con- in the September number, 1887, of sisted of three hundred and twenty the Century, says : kegs of powder, each containing "I returned immediately, and just about twenty-five pounds. It was ^ I arrived in rear of the First divi- placed in eight magazines, connect- ^^^^ the mine was sprung. It was , .,, , ,, , , 1 1 1. a magnificent spectacle, and as the ed with each other by troughs half ^^^ss of earth went up into the air, filled with powder. These troughs carrying with it men, guns, carri- from the lateral galleries met at the ages and timbers, and spread out inner end of the main one, and from like an immense cloud as it reached this point I had three lines of fuses ^^^ altitude, so close were the Union I j-i. j!r.Di!i. xrii lines that the mass appeared as if it for a distance oi 98 feet. JNot hav- i ^ ^ , ■ ^ • ^ i ^r, . would descend immediately upon the mg fuses as long as required, two troops waiting to make the charge, pieces had to be spliced together to This caused them to break and scat- make the required length of each of ter to the rear, and about ten min- the lines." ^^^ were consumed in reforming for T i.1. 1 J- 1, j: the attack. N"ot much was lost by In the concluding paragraphs of ^^^^ ^^^^^^ however, as it took near- this report Col. Pleasants says : jy ^^at time for the cloud of dust to "I stood on top of our breast- pass off. * * * "-j- t"Mr. Howard Aston, in his article pub- its higliest point, curled over like a plume lished in the Zanesville (Ohio) Courier, al- and then came down with a dull thud to the ready referred to, says: earth. While in air I could see in the col- " Just about sunrise, a trembling of the umn of fire and smoke the bodies of men, earth was felt and a dull roar was heard. I arms and legs, pieces of timber and a gun looked to the front and saw a huge column carriage. I felt very weak and pale, and of dirt, dust, smoke and flame of fire ap- the faces of comrades never looked blanch- parently 200 feet high, which, on reaching er, while the troops in front of us broke 168 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. '^Little did those men anticipate what they would see upon arriving there ; an enormous hole in the ground about 30 feet deep, 60 feet wide and 170 feet long, filled with dust,great blocks of clay, guns, broken carriages, projecting tim- bers, and men buried in various ways — some up to their necks, oth- ers to their waists, and some with only their feet and legs protruding from the earth. * * * ?; "The whole scene of the explo- sion, ' ' continues Maj . Powell, ' 'struck every one dumb with astonishment as we arrived at the crest of the de- bris. It was impossible for the troops of the Second brigade to move forward in line, as they had advanc- ed ; and owing to the broken state they were in, every man crowding up to look into the hole, and being pressed by the First brigade, which was immediately in rear, it was equally impossible to move by the flank, by any command, around the Crater. Before the brigade-comman- ders could realize the situation, the brigade became inextricably mixed, in the desire to look into the hole." From the next paragraph of Maj . Powell's article it appears that Col. Pleasants was in error as to the ex- tent of the demoralization of the the trenches near the Crater were quick to recover their equanimity and to make the incoming Federals feel their presence. In this para- graph this Federal ofaeer says : "However, Col. Marshall yelled to the Second brigade to move for- ward, and the men did so, jumping, sliding and tumbling into the hole, over the debris of material, and dead and dying men, and huge blocks of solid clay. They were followed by Gen. Bartlett's brigade. Up on the other side of the Crater they climb- ed, and while a detachment stopped to place two of the dismounted guns of the battery in position on the ene- my's side of the crest of the Crater; a portion of the leading brigade ■passed over the crest and attempted to reform. It was at this period that they found they were being killed by musket-shots froin the rear, fired by the Confederates who were stiU occupying the traverses and intrench- ments to the right and left of the Crater. These men had been awak- ed by the noise and shock of the ex- plosion, and during the interval be- fore the attack, had recovered their equanimity, and when .the Union troops attempted to reform on the enemy's side of the Crater, they had faced about and delivered a fire into the backs of our men. This coming so unexpectedly caused the forming line to fall back into the Crater." Confederates incident upon the ex- Mr. Geo. L. Kilmer, of the Four- plosion, as the South Carolinians in teenth New York Heavy Artillery, in back and became intermingled. They were soon rallied, but it seemed to me that it was fully ten minutes before I saw the advance go over our earth -works towards the enemy. In the mean time our forts all along the line opened out, with every gun, apparently from the sound, and they were almost im- mediately answered by the Confederates. The solid shot and shell howled and shriek- ed over our heads, and balls could be seen rioochetting along the front line of works from an enfilade fire on our right front. Men were dropping here and there, the wounded began to come back. Soon the order came for us to go forward. I think it must have been one-half hour after the ex- plosion before we got over our works. The musketry was crashing in the front and the air seemed to be full of tlylng missiles." TBE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 169 Ms article entitled ''The Dash Into forces engaged in the several unsuc- the Crater," published in the same cessful charges made by Wright's number (September number, 1887,) brigade, and the final successful of the Century, makes some striking charge made about one o'clock in the statements. He says : afternoon by Saunders' brigade, and "Some few declared that they probably the co-operating artillery would never follow 'niggers' or be and other infantry, so the statement caught in their company, and start- j^^de by Gen. Mahone in this order ed back to our own lines, but were ,,,,,,, ^ , , . , promptly driven forward. Then the *^^* *^« ^^^^y ^^ "^^^^^^ ^g^i^«* colored troops broke and scattered, us three of his corps and two divi- and pandemonium began. Thebrav- sions of another," and Capt. Mc- QSt lost heart, and men who dis- Cabe's statement that "Meade had trusted the negroes vented their massed" for the assault "65,000 feeUngs freely. Some colored men , ,, , , j ^ ^ came into the Crater, and there they ^^^^P^" ^^«* ^^ understood as em- found a worse fate than death on the bracing not only those who were ac- charge. It was believed among the tually in possession of our works, whites that the enemy would give but those immediately in or massed no quarter to negroes, or to whites ^ short distance behind the Federal taken with them, and so to be shut , v, i, ^ i • •4.T- 1,1 1 - j-v n i„ ^„„ works near by, who were taking up with blacks in the Crater was •" ^ equal to a doom of death. * * * part or ready to take part m the It has been positively asserted that affair. white men bayoneted blacks who ^^^ we are not without data by feU back into the Crater. This was ,■ i, , „ , • .. . i,i , , ., „i,-4.„„ f which to ascertain the probable m order to preserve the whites from ^ Confederate vengeance. Men boast- number of men that occupied the ed in my presence that blacks had Confederate works when the Vir- been thus disposed of, particularly ginia brigade, numbering about 800 when the Confederates came up." ^^^^ dashed forward in the manner It wiU be asked what was the that has been described, to engage in number of Federal soldiers who were what every man knew would be a actually in possession of our works death-struggle for their possession, at the time of the charge made by Gen. Mahone's congratulatory order Mahone's brigade. places the flags captured at seven- As the expression "an effective teen. Capt. McCabe gives twenty- force of not less than 3,000 men" one as the number of standards cap - used in Gen. Mahone's congratula- tured. We will take Gen. Mahone's tory order to the three brigades, figures and estimate each of the sev- Mahone's, Wright's and Saunders', enteen regiments represented by the embraced not only the force of about seventeen flags as containing two 800 men of Mahone's brigade who hundred and fifty men, a fair aver- made the charge a little before nine age for a veteran regiment in the o'clock in the morning, but also the Federal army at that time. This 170 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. done, and we have a force of 4,250 from the following paragraph in the men. testimony of Lieut-Ool. Charles G. But this average is manifestly too Loring, of G-en. Burnside's staff, be- small, when we consider the state- fore the Committee on the Conduct ment of Col. Henry Q. Thomas, who of the War : commanded the Second brigade of ''General Ledlie's division was to the Fourth division (Ferrero's) of go in first; the whole of that divi- the Mnth corps, made in his article sion went into the Crater, or lines in the September number, 1887, of immediately adjoining. General Pot- ,, „ , , .^, , ,,^, r^ T -, ter's division was to go m next, but the Century, entitled "The Colored ^ g^ ^^ ^^ ^he right of the other. Troops at Petersburg, " in which he i did not see them and I do not says : "There was but one division know how many of them went into of colored troops in the Army of the ^^^ Crater. I simply saw the head Potomac-the Fourth division of «5 ^^^ri''^'' ^°^V^ '""V ^ T^^' ,, -^. ^, . , ^ , stood that they all went into the the Ninth corps— organized as fol- enemy's Unes, but I cannot say pos- lows: * =f= * * >!= itively about that. General Wil- * * . This made a division cox's division also went in at the of only nine regiments, divided into same place where General LedUe's two brigades, yet it was numerically ^^^^^^°^ ^f* ^- ^ *?^^^ ^°?^,5 -, . . . ^, . his regiments — I am not sure of the a large division. The regiments ^^mber— failed to get in.' In start- were entirely full, and a colored de- ing from our line they bore off too serter was a thing unknown. On much to the left and came back to the day of the action the divi- ^'^^ own line, and did not go in. I sion numbered 4,300, of which 2,000 *^^^^ ^^f^l^'^ ,*^^* ?^«eption the , ^ „.'.', . , ' , whole of Wilcox's division went m- belonged to Sigfried's brigade and to the enemy's lines. The regiments 2,300 to mine." of his division went in at different To assume that the number of times, not as a division, but dis- flags captured represented the total jointedly. And at half-past seven, number of regiments at the place of ^^°^* *^« ^Tl^*^ I half after the , , ° ^ mme exploded, the whole of the col- capture leads to a very erroneous re- ored division went in at the same suit. So far from there being only point." seventeen regiments in our works, if the three white divisions num- there were probably more than dou- ^ered each nine regiments (thenum- ble this number. I^ej. ^^ ^j^^ regiments in the colored- There went into our works three division) they aggregated 27 regi- white divisions, the First (Ledlie's,) ments. Deduct the 4 regiments of the Second (Potter's,) and the Third Wilcox's division referred to by Col. (Wilcox's,) of the Mnth (Burnside) Loring, allow 250 men to each of the corps, about four regiments except- 24 remaining regiments, and we ed, and after these the colored divi- have 6,000 men. To these add the sion of Gen. Ferrero. This appears 4,300 colored troops, and there was THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 171 an aggregate of 10,300 men ! And work of traverses and bomb-proofs, this without counting a brigade of which greatly impeded the Federals Gen. Turner's division of the 18th in resisting an assault from the west, corps, which, according to his testi- or Confederate side of our works, mony before the Committee on the could weU have met a determined Conduct of the War, took possession assault made from this direction, of about 100 yards of our works to "These pits," says Col. Thomas in the north of the Crater. his Century article, referring to the Gen. Ord, in his testimony before trenches at this place, "were differ- the committee, by implication puts ent from any in our lines — a laby- the number of men who went into rinth of bomb-proofs and magazines, the Confederate works at 10,000 or with passages between." 12,000 when he says: How far towards Cemetery Eidge, "The ground to the left and front that is to say, west of the Confede- of the mine was marshy and covered rate works, did the Federal forces by bushes and trees. No prepara- advance at any time during their tions had been made for our troops ^ , , ^. , i, to pass out to our right or left. They ^^ur hours' occupation of these works could only get out by a single long is a question which naturally arises, trench or covered way; so that in and was asked several of the wit- the slow process of getting 10,000 or nesses in the official investigation 12,000 men up through this narrow ^^^ ^ ^^^ -p^^^j.^^ government, space and through a single opening „ ^ ^ „ j,^^ j. ^■ the enemy had an opportunity to Extracts from some of the testimony make preparations to meet them, before the court of inquiry held at All this produced delay." the headquarters of Gen. Hancock With facts and figures like these on the 1st of September, 1864, will to sustain the assertion, we are war- give us some light upon this point : ranted in stating that the force Brig. -Gen. S. G. Griffin, who com- against which our little band of manded a brigade of Potter's divi- about eight hundred Virginians was ^^*l^' ®^ *^® ^^^'■ , , , , , i, . -1 . "Quest. — Did your command go hurled outnumbered their assailants ]j)gyQnd the Orater ? more than ten to one ! "Ans. It did. But whilst the highest credit be- "Quest. — About how far ? longs to the Virginia brigade for its "Ans.— I should judge about two achievements on this occasion, it ti^dred yards. It might be more J ii- J. 1- J or it might be less. It could not must be remembered that bad man- ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ however: that agement in the disposition of the is as near as I can judge." Federal forces greatly assisted in Col. H. G. Thomas, commanding producing the result. ITo troops, the Second brigade of Ferrero's (col- crowded as were the Federals in the ored) division, on the stand : Orater and in the trenches on either "Quest. — Did you get beyond the side, the latter having a perfect net- line of the Crater with your troops? It2 WAR TALSS OF COJ^FBlDHRATB VEfBRANS. "Ans. — I did, sir. manding the Twenty-EigMli U. S. "Quest.— How far ? colored troops, of Col. Thomas' ''Ans -I should say about be- ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ question, tween three and four hundred yards , ° . . °, t, • to the right of the Crater and in front ^ow far m advance did you get of it. I was ordered to support the towards Cemetery Hill?" he replies: First brigade when it made its "S"ot exceeding fifty yards. We charge . ' ' were driven back . ' ' Col. Thomas' last answer giving "By what?" is the next question no definite information as to the po- asked this witness. He replies: "I sition of his troops in advance of should judge by about two or four the Confederate works, and the hundred men — infantry, which rose court manifestly having a doubt as up from a little ravine and charged to his troops having gone to the us. Being all mixed up and in con- west of these works at all, he is ask- fusion, and new troops, we had to ed the pointed question: "Did you comeback." get beyond the enemy's line ?" He The witness is in ei-ror as to the replies: "I did, sir; I led a charge number of the Confederates who which was not successful. The mo- Upogg ^p fpo^ ^he little ra^dne," as ment I reached the First brigade I they were the men of the Virginia started out the 31st colored regi- brigade whose, number was approxi- ment, which was in front, but it lost mated by Gen. Griffin, when he said, its three ranking officers in getting i'-piy^ or six hundred men were all in position, and did not go out ^e could see. I did not see either well." The witness' answer, while the right or left of the line. I saw responsive to the question, like his the centre of the line as it appeared answer to the preceding question, tome. It was a good line of battle, "f gives no light as to the point west of the condition of things in the of the Confederate works reached Crater and in the trenches when the by his command. three white divisions had entered the The next witness, however, testi- Confederate works and the colored fies very clearly, and probably gives division was about to go in, about 7 the most accurate information as to o'clock in the morning, Gen. Turner, the position reached by the troops who commanded a division of the that moved forward west of the Con- 18th (Ord's) corps, gives a graphic federate works. The witness is description in his testimony before Lieut. -Col. Chas. S. Bussell, com- the committee. He says: f From information received since this ad- the 26th S. C. regiment and three companies dress was delivered I am satisfied, first, that of the 17th S. C. regiment under Col. Smith Col. Kussell was not in error as to the num- of the 26th S. C. (See Col. MoMaster's let- berof the Confederate troops here referred ter to Gen. Beauregard, dated February 14, to; secoradZj/, that they were not the men of 1872, in the Appendix to Col. Soman's Mahone's brigade, but were, as stated by "Military Operations of Gen. Beauregard," Col. F. "W. McMaster, of Columbia, S. C, vol. II, p. 587). THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 173 ""When the head of my column reached the point at which our as- saiilting column had passed through our lines, it was, as near as I recol- lect, about 7 o'clock. I jumped up on a parapet to observe what was going on. Immediately in front of me lay the Crater, about seventy-five yards distant. The men were in it and around it in great confusion; they were lying down, seeking shel- ter from the fire of the enemy, which at that time had become exceedingly warm. The enemy had succeeded in getting a cross-fire of artillery and musketry over the ground lying between our line and the Cra- ter. My idea was that the 9th corps would penetrate the enemy's Une and double them up to the right and to the left, and then I was to pass out and cover the right flank of the assaulting column; but the enemy still held possession of their Unes up to within one hundred yards of the Crater when I arrived, which surprised me. It left me no alterna- tive of going out anywhere but di- rectly opposite the Crater, where the 9th corps went out. I could see no movement taking place beyond the Crater towards Cemetery HiU. * * * The troops lay very thick in and around the Crater, evidently more than could find cover from the ene- my's fire. * >i= =1= >i= The Crater was full of men: they' were lying all around, and every point that could give cover to a man was occupied. There was no movement towards Cem- etery Hill; the troops were aU in con- fusion and lying down. I asked one or two officers there if an attempt had been made to move to Cemetery Hill. They say the attempt had been made, but it had failed. I then said, 'You ought to intrench your position here, and you have too many troops here already to intrench. There are so many troops here that they are in each other's way; they are only ex- posed to this terrific fire of the ene- my', which was then growing warmer and warmer, and was a very severe fire. While I was talking to an offi- cer — we had sought shelter in the Crater — the head of the colored di- vision appeared at the crest of the Crater, and the division commenced piling over into the Crater and pass- ing across it on the other side as well as they could. I exclaimed, 'What are these men sent in here for ? It is only adding confusion to the confu- sion which already exists.' The men literally came falling over into this Crater on their hands and knees; they were so thick in there that a man could not walk. Seeing that I was going to be covered up, and be entirely useless, I thought I would go out. As I had no control over these troops, and supposing there were officers in command, I said, 'If you can get the troops beyond this line, so that I can get out, I will move my division right out and cov- er your right flanJs;' and I went back for the purpose of doing so. I met Gen. Ord on our line at the head of my division. I said, 'General, un- less a move is made out of the Cra- ter towards Cemetery Hill, it is mur- der to send more men in there. That colored division should never have been sent m there; but there is a furor in there, and perhaps they may move off sufficiently for me to pass my division out.' " Gen. Ord, in his testimony, using vigorous language, says: "The men had to go through a long narrow trench, about one-third of a mile in length, before they got into our extreme outwork, and then they went into this Crater, and were piled into that hole, where they were 174 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. perfectly useless . They were of about as much use there as so many men at the bottom of a well." The stampede which took place when Mahone's brigade made its charge is thus described by General Turner in his testimony: "I had got, probably, half way between our line and the enemy's lines — ^which were perhaps only a hundred yards apart at that point, and it was a very broken country, thick underbrush and morass — when, looking to the left, I saw the troops in vast numbers coming rushing back , and immediately my whole first brig- ade came back, and then my second brigade on my right, and everything was swept back in and around the Crater, and probably all but oue- third of the original number stam- peded back right into our lines. Af- ter some exertion I rallied my men of the first and second brigades after they got into our line, while my third brigade held the line." Gen. Carr, who commanded a di- vision of the 18th corps, in his tes- timony thus describes the stampede: "I saw a vacancy, a gap that I thought about four regiments would fill, and assist that line of battle that was going over our breast-works to take those rifle-pits. I immediately took command of part of Turner's division, and ordered them over the line to join the Une of troops then advancing, and told them to charge the rifle-pits in their front, which they did. That was about two hun- dred yards on the right of the Cra- ter. After putting those troops in, I stepped back from the intrench - ment some ten or fifteen yards to- wards the covered way, and I had scarcely got back to the lower end of the covered way when the stampede began, and I suppose two thousand troops came back, and I was lifted from my feet by the rushing mass, and carried along with it ten or fif- teen yards in the covered way. What staff I had with me assisted me in stopping the crowd in the covered way, and in putting some of them in position in the second line; some were in the first. I left Gen. Potter in the covered way."* I would like to give more extracts from the sworn and other statements of our adversaries as to what was done and omitted to be done on this memorable day, which marked an event altogether exceptional in the history of the war; but I fear that I hare already drawn from these *Maj. Jas. C. Coit, of Cheraw, S. C, in whose battalion were Pegram's and Wright's batteries, and who witnessed the stampede from his position about Wright's battery, in his letter to Col. McMaster, published in the March number, 1882, of the Southern Historical Papers (volume X, p. 123), says: "The troops under Mahone were formed in the ravine in the rear of Elliott's head- quarters, extending from the covered way in a direction between the Crater and the planJi road. New hope was inspired by the arrival of re-lnforcements, arid not without good cause, for no sooner did Mahone's men emerge from that ravine at a double-quick than did the immense mass in rear of the Crater break, and without standing upon the order of their going, sought shelter in the cover of their main line. The fire of the artillery was Increased, and, as Ma- hone's men neared the Crater, Wright's guns were turned upon the flying masses in front of the salient. The slaughter was terrific, and probably more men were killed in the retreat than in the advance. The victory was virtually won, but those of the enemy within the Crater continued for some time the desperate contest. In my opinion they remained in the Crater more from fear of running the gauntlet to their own lines than from any hope of holding their posi- tion. At 1 o'clock p. M. the white flag was raised and the final surrender of the Crater made." THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 175 sources of information to the point that part of the trench on the left of of prolixity. ^^^ Crater occupied by the Federals. Many of the latter, white and black, Although all matters of contro- abandoned the breach and fled to versy would in this address gladly their lines, under a scourging flank have been avoided, I cannot pass un- fire from Wise's brigade." noticed a remarkable paragraph in The statement here made that the Col. Alfred Eoman's work, "The charge was made by Mahone's brig- Military Operations of Gen. Beau- ade, with the 61st, 25th and 49th regard . ' ' N^orth Carolina and the 26th and part At page 267, vol. II, after men- ofthe 17th South Carolina regiments, tioning Gen. Meade's order to Gen. ^^ ^^ clearly incorrect as is the state- Burnside to withdraw his troops, ment that Mahone arrived about ten given at 9:45 A. m., and the orders o'^^^^^^' ^^^^^ ^^n. Meade issued his given to Gen Hancock at 9:25 and to ^^^^^rs above referred to. Gen. Warren at 9:45 "to suspend aU ^g^^^^t this statement as to time offensive operations," Col. Eoman, wemay safely place that of Col. Yen - basing his statement upon statements ^^le, of Gen. Lee's staff, made in made by Gen. Bushrod Johnson and 1^72, in which he says, "I know that Col. F. W. McMaster,* says: ^^ i« "^i^^^* *« ^® accurate as to time "Such wasthesituation-theFed- ""^ ^^^ battle-field, unless noted and erals unable to advance, and fearing written down at the moment. But to retreat — when, at ten o'clock. Gen. I am confident this charge ofthe Mahone arrived with a part of his Virginians was made before 9 o'clock men, yho lay down in the shaUow ra- ^_ ^_ j ^^^^ ^^^^ recoUection vme, to the rear of Elliott's salient, „ ^, ^ . ■, •, i held by the force under Col. Smith, «^ t^« ^^tes received and answered there to await the remainder of the by Gen. Lee, that after the charge division. But a movement having the formation of the Georgia brigade, occurred among the Federals which under Col. Hall, was completed, and seemed to menace an advance. Gen. ^^^^^ ^^me delay was moved around Mahone threw forward his brigade, -, ^, , j_ i, ■ , , with the 61st North CaroUna, of ^^^'^^r the slope, more to the right, Hoke's division, which had now also and made a charge at 10 o'clock to come up. The 25th and 49th North recover that portion of the line on Carolina, and the 26th and part of the right of the Crater." the 17th South Carolina, all under ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ without a contem- Smith, which were formed on Ma- , ^ , , ,, hone's left, likewise formed in the poraneous record to prove beyond all counter movement, and three-fourths controversy that the charge of Ma - of the gorge-line was carried with hone's brigade was made prior to 9 o'clock A. M., and therefore refer to *Col. McMaster of the 17th S. C. regi- ,, i j ■ j t. i-i ment, took command of Gen. Elliott's t^ie several orders issued by Gen. brigade when Gen. Elliott received his Meade to suspend operations and wound early in the morning, soon after the . 4.1, j. Federals took possession of our works. witnaraw tne troops. 176 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Gen. Meade, in his testimony be- The Committee on the Conduct of fore the Committee on the Conduct the War, in their report made after of the War, says: all of the testimony bearing on the "At 9 A.M. I received the following dis- subject, oral and documentary, had patch from Gen. Burnside: ^^^^^ hesard and considered, fully ap- {Bt/ telegraph from headquarters 9th predating the importance of stating army corps.] -,-,,• , '"9 a m July 30 1864 correctly the order of sequence and " 'Gen. Meade: accordingly the exact time of the " 'Many of the ninth (9th) and eigh- occurrence of the several military Sy.^'l%3owYsttt!.^fr pu? movements which were the subject in the fifth (5th) corps promptly. of the committee's investigation, say: " 'A. E. BUENSIDE, "TOffician "'s"fTi;^Tow^^- "The fourth (colored) division was ^"^ '' 'isistant A^utentS^l.' ^Iso ordered to advance, and did so ,™. . XV, « J. ■ , *• T u J under a heavy fire. They succeeded "That was the first information I had . _ . ., „ „T,;i-„ t :„o, „i«„„/i„ received that there was any collision with ^ passmg the white troops, alr^y the enemy, or that there was any enemy in, but in a disorgamzed condition, present. At 9:30 a. m. the following dis- They reformed to some extent and patch was sent to General Burnside: attempted to charge the hiU in front, 'Headquarters Army of the Potomac, \ but without success, and broke in (t ( 'July 30, 1864—9:30 a. m., / disorder to the rear. This was about Major-General Burnside, commanding 8:45 A.M., four hours after the explo- 9th Corps: sion of the mine. * * * " 'The major-general commanding has heard that the result of your attack has "At 9:45 A.M. Gen. Burnside re- been a repulse, and directs that if, in your ceived a peremptory order from Gen. judgment, nothing further can be effect- -^T^„^^ to withdraw his troons * * ed, that you withdraw to your own line, ^«^eaae to Wltnoraw nis troops, taking every precaution to get the men ******* back safely. "The troops were withdrawn be- " 'Major-General and Chief of St^ff. t^^en one and two o'clock in consid- " '[OflQcial.] S. F. Babstow, erable confusion, caused by an as- " 'Assistant Adjutant-General.' sault of the enemy, and returned to " 'Gen. Ord will do the same. the lines they had occupied in the " 'A. A. HuMPHBEYS, morning." ' ' ' Major-General and Chief of Staff. " '[Official ] S. F Babstow, rj^^^ qj.j.qj. of Col. Eoman in plac- " 'Assistant Adjutant General.' "Then I received the following dispatch^ ^^S the orders of Gen. Meade to his from Captain Sanders: corps commanders to suspend opera- [By telegraph from headquarters 9th y^^g ^^^ withdraw their troops an- army corps.] "'9 a. m. July 30 1864. i^^'^or to the charge made by the vii-- " 'To Major-General Meade: ginia brigade, shows exceptional want " 'The attack made on right of mine of care in the preparation of matter has been repulsed. A great many men t,t r. j ^ iv, i j x, • j.„ „ are coming in the rear. published to the world as history. " 'W. W. Sandebs, EspeciaUy is this true as Col. Eo- " 'Captain and CM. "ij^jyi o r\ t>„, jM • n o 171 n man was a staff-ofacer of Gen. Beau- " '[Official.] S. F. Babstow, " 'Assistant Adjutant-General,' " regard, and ought to have been bet- COL. F. W. McMASTER. "That the gallant South Carolinians of Elliott's hrigade up to the date of the fall of their brave leader, Gen. Stephen Elliott, and subsequently under the leadership of Col. P. \V. Jic- Master, did their whole duty, as did other infantry by their Are from the flanks, none wiU deny." P. 177. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 177 ter informed as to the subject whereof he wrote.* As to the statement that other troops besides the Virginia brigade made the charge, and that these troops were four regiments and part of a fifth, it may be safely affirmed that this is not according to the re- collection of any of the men of Ma- hone's brigade who participated in the charge .f There may possibly have been, and I have no doubt but that there were, a few individual members of these Carolina regiments who charged along with Mahone's brigade, but, if any organized body, or bodies, of troops made the charge along with the Virginians, this important fact has hitherto wholly escaped the at- tention of the men of this brigade. That there was gross mismanage- ment on the part of the Federals in not so arranging and handling their troops as to place them in possession of Cemetery Eidge within a few minutes after the explosion of the mine none can dispute. That the gallant South Carolinians of Elliott's brigade up to the date of the fall of their brave leader. Gen. Stephen Elliott, and subsequently under the leadership of Col. F. W. McMaster did their whole duty, as did other infantry by their fire from the flanks, none will deny. That the artillery occupying the forts to the right and left and station- ed in rear of the Crater rendered most effective service is beyond ques- tion. That the Alabama brigade made *In a pleasant correspondence I have had with Col. McMaster during the year 1892, he has stoutly contended, as stated in his letter to Gen. Beauregard, that Ma- hone's command did not arrive until ten o'clock or later, and his views are embodied in his interesting letter which appears among the addenda to this address. Sev- eral officers and men of Col. MoMaster's command agree with him as to the matter in controversy, and Maj. Coit, in his letter written August 2, 1879, from which an ex- tract has been taken, expresses the opin- ion that the arrival of Mahone's troops was "near 11 o'clock." Col. McMaster, Maj. Coit, and all who hold the opinion that the charge of Mahone's brigade was made at any time later than be- tween 8| and 9 o'clock are clearly in error, and this, it is believed, is conclusively shown by documentary and other evidence, some of which will be found among the addenda. There is a statement in Gen. Burnside's official report of the action, made Aug. 13, 1864, which ought to remove all controversy in the premises. In this report Gen. Burn- side, referring to the 4th (colored) division, says: "The division, disorganized by passing the pit, crowded with men of other divis- ions, then reformed as well as was possible beyond the Crater, and attempted to take the hill; was met at the outset by a counter- charge of the enemy, broke in disaster to the rear, passed through the Crater and lines on the right, throwing into confusion and drawing off with them many of the white troops, and ran to our lines. The enemy regained a portion of his line on the right. This was about 8:43 A. M." (Italics mine.— G. S. B.) Who were the Confederate troops here referred to as "the enemy" that regained a portion of the Confederate line on Gen. Burnside's right about 8:45 A. M.? Did the gallant South Carolinians, or any other Con- federate troops, make a counter-charge and regain any part of our captured lines north of the Crater, i. e., on Biirnside's right, be- fore Mahone's brigade did this very thing ? No; nor does any one so claim. Then "the enemy" referred to must necessarily have been Mahone's Virginia brigade, and, if this be true, the time of its charge is fixed by Gen. Burnside at 8:45 a. m. f Capt. W. Gordon McCabe, who was the adjutant of Col. William J. Pegram's bat- talion of artillery, was an eye-witness of the charge, in an account of what he saw, sent me to-day, he says: 178 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. the final successful charge has never been disputed. But that the charge of the Virginia brigade, commanded by Gen. D. A. Weisiger and directed by Gen. Wm. Mahone, made a little before nine o'clock in the morning, did the sub- stantial work that led to the re-cap- ture of the Crater and the adjacent earth -works is a fact that will always stand out boldly on the pages of his- tory, and the fame of the brigade for its part in this brilliant action, increasing as time rolls on, will shine out in the imperishable records of the late war long after its actors shall have passed away. Weisiger was an impetuous, dash- ing man, among the bravest of the brave; Mahone, cool, courageous, and able, was by nature fitted for generalship as few men are, and none knew this better than the men of his command. Wherever he led or placed them, they always felt a moral certainty that they were being properly led or placed, either to in- flict the most damage on the enemy or to have the enemy inflict the least damage on them. Accordingly, on the morning of the charge at the Crater, there was not a man in the brigade, knowing that Gen. Mahone was present personally superintend- ing and directing the movement, that did not feel that we were to be prop- erly and skilfully handled, and would be put in just when and where the most effective service could be rendered. This impression of these two commanders of the old brigade, whose names have passed into his- tory along with that of the com- " At a little before 1 a. m. Col. Pegram re- ported with two batteries (Brander's and 'the Purceir) at Bushrod Johnson's head- quarters, which were east of the road and immediately north of the present first en- trance to Blandford Cemetery. "Gen. Johnson Icnew nothing of the ex- tent of the disaster. He had not even been to the front. Gen. Lee came up while I was there, Col. Pegram having gone to the front to see where to put his guns. "Col. Pegram returned in a few minutes, and, as on account of the severe fire sweep- ing the plank road we could not move the guns up that road, we went back toward town until we reached the ravine. We pulled our guns along the ravine until we reached the reservoir. We went up the ra- vine along the course of Lieutenant Kun to a point near the bridge on New Boad, which road being commanded by the enemy's guns, we had to ascend the hill to the north of this road. The hill is very steep there, or was. We left our caissons in the ravine at the foot of the reservoir, 'doubled teams' on the guns and pulled them square up this almost pei-pendicular hill. It was the steepest pull I ever saw during the war. We then moved forward and came into battery about fifty yards in the rear of the right of the Gee house, a commanding position on the west side of the plank road about five hundred yards in rear of the Crater. "Our orders were not to fire at all, unless the enemj' attempted to re-inforee the troops in the Crater, or the troops there at- tempted to advance to Cemetery Hill. We ran up piles of canister in front of each gun, and then had to stand idle and take a heavy fire. Col. Pegram and I went for- ward to the Gee house to see what was go- ing on. We went up stairs and peeped through the bullet-holes (for the whole place was riddled with bullets and were being further riddled while we were there). From this position I saw Mahone's men lying down in the ravine. I saw no troops to their right or left. Suddenly they jumped up, and with a wild yell charged and carried the position occupied by the enemy north of the Crater. I never saw a thing done so quickly. Pegram and I yelled and clapped our hands and ran back and told our men. It was the first good news we had to tell that day. ' Tantum vidi,' as the Roman says. We pulled out of our position at sunset." THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 179 mand, I have felt that justice re- incomplete. Many brave and gallant quires that I should here record. deeds done by men on both sides have I feel, too, that I should not pass not been mentioned. To Capt. Mc- in silence the gallant Southerner, Cabe's splendid narrative, already Oapt. V. J. Girardey,* who was mentioned, to the ClsMftw^/ article and serving on Gen. Mahone's staff at other documents from which I have the time of the action, and won by so freely drawn, and to the many his conduct the commission of brig- old soldiers who participated in the adier -general, dating from the 30th action yet alive, I must refer for of July, 1864, and whose splendid much that I have necessarily omit- conduct on this and previous occa- ted ; as, for instance, such deeds of sions had commanded the admira- valor as those of Capt.- Wm. Wallace tion of all of the men of our brigade. Broadbent, on the Confederate side, Nor should I pass in silence the who fell pierced by eleven bayonet daring deeds of Privates Dean23 and wounds,t and of Lieut. -Col. John A. Valentine,24 of the 12th. As the Bross,t on the Federal side, who, line was forming for the charge, each attired in full uniform, fell riddled picked out and pointed to a stand of with bullets as he was conspicuous - Federal colors and said he meant to ly rallying his men for a forward have it. On the charge, before move. What has been narrated to- reaching the works, Valentine re- night must be received only as a ceived a wound from which he never private soldier's individual impres- recovered, and Dean was killed, sions of the action, formed partly Both men were members of the Pe- from personal knowledge and partly tersburg Old Grays. from information obtained from oth- I have now. Comrades, finished ers and believed to be authentic, my story of the Crater, not, how- If the story told has interested or ever, without a painful sense that as contributed to a clearer understand- arecordofthishistoricbattleitisvery ing of how the battle was fought *Capt. Girardey was soon afterwards Southern ranks. He was from New Jersey, made brigadier-general, but Ms brilliant but had lived in Sussex county, Va., for career was brought to an early close. He several years before the war. i^e was cap- was liilled in action within a few weeks af- tain of the 'Sussex Rifles,' Co. E, 16th Va. ter receiving his comuiission, which dated Infantry, from the Crater. ^iCol. John A. Bross, of the 29th U. S. col- ored troops. Col. Thomas, in his Century 23. Leonldaa D. Dean, of Petersburg, Va., Co. B, a^iole, says: "As I gave the order (to ''^^. tSS vfSne, of Richmond, Va., Co. B, charge) Lieut. -Col. John A. Bross, brother 12th Virginia regiment. of Lieutenant-Governor Bross of Ohio, tak- Ing the flag in his own hands, was the first f'lnstead of receiving eleven bayonet man to leap from the works into the valley wounds," says Capt. Geo. J. Rogers, late A. of death below. He had attired himself in Q. M., A.N. "V., in a letter dated September full uniform, evidently with the intent of 27th, 1890, "he received fifteen. * * * * inspiring his men. He had hardly reached I remember this distinctly, as I buried his the ground outside the works before he fell body. * * * * Although a Northern to rise no more. He was conspicuous and man there was no more gallant spirit in the magnificent in his gallantry." 180 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. and won, it will have served its pur- pose. ADDENDA. The following extracts from let- ters written and statements made by participants in the battle of the Crater throw additional light upon this action, and may be properly here given: Mr. J. Edward Whitehorne, of Pe- tersburg, Va., who was first sergeant of Co. P, 12th Va. regiment, in a statement made in July, 1890, says: "At the battle of the Crater the company of which I was a member, (Co. P, 12th Va. regiment,) com- manded by Capt. E. P. Scott, was on the extreme left of the line of battle when formed on the slope of the hill preparatory to the charge, and I as first sergeant of the compa- ny, counter -marched and faced as we had been, was on the extreme left of our company. From this position, looking up the line as we lay on the ground, I noticed that our line was not straight, but slightly curved, both flanks seeming to be a little more advanced than the centre. Some one directed us, when we ad- vanced, not to move directly to the front, but to oblique sharply to the right, and to reserve our fire until we reached the brink of the ditch occupied by the enemy, and after delivering one volley to use the bayonet. "Looking to the front I counted fourteen flags flying from our works, and the thought passed through my mind that, if each flag represented a regiment, and our five depleted reg- iments had to oppose that force, we had indeed serious work. "We on the left of the line were now under a brisk fire of musketry, the balls cutting up the ground aU around us and wounding some of our men. These shots seemed to come from the direction of the Cra- ter, which was to our right. Every minute or two there was a call for the ambulance corps to take off a wounded man, and the situation was becoming critical. It was apparent that the time had now arrived for something to be done. The men must either advance or fall back, as they were rapidly becoming demor- alized. I speak only of the extreme left of the line. "Whilst this was going on I was astonished at the splendid handling of a piece of artillery to our left and rear. It was throwing grape and cannister, and every shot seemed to strike the works occupied by the enemy. Eising from the ground to see the effect of these shots, I could plainly see the Federals in great numbers jumping from their to oui- side of the earth-works as if prepar- ing to charge. "We lay in the position above de- scribed for a few minutes, when a tremendous cheer from the right greeted our ears. Looking up the line I saw that the right of the col- umn had begun the charge. In- stantly we on the left sprang to our feet and moved forward at a double quick. Here my knowledge of the action ends, as I received a gun-shot wound which disabled me from fur- ther participation in it, and before we had advanced twenty paces." Lieut. -Col. Wm. H. Powell, of the 11th Infantry U. S. Army, from whose ^^aluable article in the Century several extracts have been taken, writing under date of July 20, 1890, from Fort Abraham Lincoln, N. D., THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 181 of which post he was then comman- dant, says : "I thank you very much for the printed copy of your address on the subject of the battle of the 'Crater.' Your account of the Confederate side of the affair, as far as I could observe from the Union line, seems to accord so well with my views as to what took place, that I cannot but think you must be accurate in your full description. I saw jour (Ma- hone's) line when it prepared for the first charge. I left the Crater under a heavy fire of canister, which one of your batteries was delivering, and reported that a charge was about to be made and returned in time to see it, and with orders to the brigade commanders to push their troops forward, but you might as well have tried to get bees out of a hive and form them into line. As I said be- fore, I am glad to have had the pleasure of reading your version of the affair. As a regular officer at that time I was so thoroughly dis- gusted with the management of the whole business, from the beginning, that it was with difficulty I could restrain myself when writing about it." Mr. Howard Aston, of Zanesville, Ohio, from whose recent article in the Zanesville Courier, several ex- tracts have been taken, in a letter to Messrs. Cabaniss & Co., of Peters- burg, Va., under date of August 20, 1890, says: ' 'Gentlemen : Your enclosure of pamphlet on 'Crater' battle duly re- ceived. I have delayed acknowledg- ing receipt until I had perused same. Now I wish to thank you for the fa- vor, for it is highly appreciated. Mr. Bernard's article is well writ- ten, and describes Mahone's first charge between 8 and 9 A. m., as I recall it. I also remember the charge of the Georgia brigade, which we also repulsed, (about 10 o'clock,) and again about 11 A. M. My po- sition during each of said charges was close up to the rim of the Cra- ter, to the left of the centre looking west, and during each of said charges I fired to the right oblique, and in the intervals my firing was directed at the troops in the traverses to the right (Confederate left), where there were a half-dozen or so battle-flags flying, some stuck in the earth -works and others being in the hands of color -bearers. Part of said troops were exposed to an enfilading fire :rom my stand-point, and said fire was poured in constantly by a few of us. "There was a charge made by a small body of troops (probably 400) between 7 and 8 a. m. They came from the direction of where Mr. Griffith's house now stands. Some of them reached the outer rim of the Crater and were taken in by us. 1 think I saved the life of one of them; he was a tall, lank, chap and had rushed up to a depression in the earth and was down on hand and knees. Several rifles were leveled upon him when I cried, 'Don't shoot! Don't shoot! He'll surrender.' I called for him to come in. He drew back as if he was going to dodge to some shelter of earth to his right, when I brought up my gun and yell- ed, 'Come here, you d — d fool, or I will shoot.' Johnnie crawled in and huddled down with others to- wards the bottom of the Crater and I paid no attention to him after this. He may have been killed afterwards, for the shells from a small mortar battery to onr right front dropped every few minutes in our midst, sometimes bursting just as they 182 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERAIfS. would strike the earth, at others just above us, the pieces killing or wounding those nearest. I can tes- tify that the boys who worked those mortars got the range admirably (for them — but not for us). I fired over 80 rounds from the Crater and near by and when the last charge was made dodged back to our line, and I did not see another man get back after I reached it. "Again thanking you, and with kindest regards to each member of the firm, "I am, very truly, "Howard Aston." Capt. Freeman S. Bowley, of San Francisco, Cal., first lieutenant of Company H, Thirtieth U. S. Colored Troops, from whose address before the California commandery of the Loyal Legion much interesting mat- ter has already been drawn, writing from San Francisco, under date of November 9th, 1890, says: ' 'Your letter with article on Peters- burg Crater received . I read it with great interest. It is by far the most exhaustive and complete account that has ever been published. The only criticism that I would like to make is this: You over-estimate the number of men in the white regi- ments. Excepting the 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and the 2d Pa. Heavy Artillery, the white regi- ments probably did not average 125 men each. They had suffered so in the "Wilderness campaign that bri- gades would not make a fair sized regiment. Your 'old negro' was not my 'Sergeant Offer.' He (Offer) got out all right. "Do you remember seeing the breast -work of dead men piled across the traverse at the right (Fed- eral) side of the Crater"? I had charge of the party that built that pile, and, when I have told the story since, I have seen the incredulous looks, and it would be pleasant for me to have it corroborated, especial- ly by one of Mahone's brigade. "I have always claimed that the battle was one of the most desperate, bloody and fearful, for those who were engaged, of any of the war. "My old colonel, Gren. Delevan Bates, of Aurora, Nebraska, led our regiment and we led the Fourth division." Gen. Bates, in response to a letter asking his recollections of the bat- tle, in a statement furnished in Jan- uary, 1891, says: "On the 22d of July, 1864, as com- manding officer of the 30th U. S. Col- ored Troops, I was informed by the brigade commander that a part of the Confederate line was being under- mined and when this mine was ex- ploded an assault would be made by the Union forces and that the color- ed division of the 9th corps had been selected to take the advance. "The location of the fort was pointed out and the. part that the 30th U. S. Colored Troops was to perform was given me in detail, as was also the work of the other regi- ments of the brigade. "The 30th regiment was to ad- vance immediately after the explo- sion, as rapidly as possible to the Crater, and then turn to the left and sweep down the line of breast-works as far as possible and hold the far- thest point gained. It was expected the confusion would be so great that forty rods at least and perhaps a much farther distance would be se- cured. "Another regiment was selected to do the same work on the right of the Crater, going just as far as possible. GEN. DELEVAN BATES. " My old colonel, Gen. Deleyan Bates, of Aurora, Nebraska, led our regiment and we led the Pourtli division." P. 182. " In a few moments a staff-ofilcer, hastily approaching, asked for the brigade commander. Not readily ilnding this ofaoer he turned to me and said, 'Col. Bates, a charge must be made on Cemetery Hill at once.' * * * An ounce of lead struck me just in ftont of 'the right ear, passed above the roof of the mouth, and came out close behind the left ear." P. 183. •THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 183 This would make a fair opening for the troops following to make a bee- line for the battery on the elevated ground near the cemetery, which we understood was the key to this part of the line. "For several days our brigade was drilled in just the movements that we were expected to go through when the explosion should come. Time after time did my regiment go through the imaginary advance, the turn to the left and the advance along the line of the breast-works. Every officer and every private knew his place and what he was expected to do. Without a single command the part assigned to each could have been carried out, and I sincerely be- lieve that the assault would have been a successful one, for the scheme was admirably planned. "But the night before the assault was made the plan was changed by eome one and the white troops were sent in, apparently without an idea of what they were to do. From the action of the division that went in immediately after the explosion one would think they neither knew what to do or how to do. No advantage appears to have been taken of the demoralized condition of the enemy, but all stopped at the Crater until aU the surprise was over, when of course it was too late to expect suc- cess. "Why the colored division was ordered in after a full two hours had elapsed and all the re-inforcements had arrived in our front that were deemed necessary to hold the uncap - tured portion of the line, I never knew. Nor did I have a definite idea of what we were expected to do. "The order to me was to go in by division front, which order was promptly obeyed, although by the time the Crater was reached our di- vision front had vanished and we were rapidly moving by companies. My regiment entered the Confeder- ate lines at the right of the Crater as we faced from the Union lines. A number of prisoners were taken and a fire was opened at the Confederates still farther to the right. "In a few moments a staff-officer, hastily approaching, asked for the brigade commander. Not readily finding this officer he turned to me and said, 'Col. Bates, a charge must be made on Cemetery Hill at once.' "The surroundings were such that a line of battle could not be formed and all that I could do was to order an advance to the front, which order was promptly obeyed by my regiment and such portions of the other regi- ments of our brigade as were near us. We reached the open plain be- yond the line of breast-works in which we were partially protected before the move to the front. "How far we went I do not know, for a volley from our front and right disabled about one -half of our offi- officers and one -third of the privates. "I have been told that Eansom's North Carolina brigade occupied the breast works from which the volley came. "An ounce of lead struck me just in front of the right ear, passed above the roof of the mouth, and came out close behind the left ear. "The fighting of Mahone's brig- ade, so well described by you, did not occur until some time after I was shot. No doubt they did well, for I have faced the Virginia troops too many times to cast any reflections upon their valor. I saw Pickett's division at Gettysburg make /, charge as ill-advised, as was ours at the Crater. They were as badly cut to pieces and met as disastrous a de- feat as did we; but they did all that 184 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. men could do, and so did the color- ed division. Perhaps it may be in- teresting to some to know how I felt when the bullet passed through my head, and what the first thoughts were after being wounded. I did not think of home, nor heaven, nor death, nor my farm-life. I was slightly dazed, but realized that I was seriously injured, and felt that I must get to the rear as soon as possible. I did not fall, nor did I feel any pain whatsoever. To reach the breast -works where shelter could be obtained was the first impulse. I presume that I staggered, for sev- eral of the men came to my assist- ance. A feeling of fainting then came over me, and water was asked for. A canteen-fuU was poured upon my head and I revived. I was carried at once to our lines, and when' about half the distance was passed an experience was undergone which will never be forgotten. A charge of canister was fired at us from the battery at the right of the Crater. The men who were carry- ing me saw the discharge of the gun and dropped to the ground. Such a shrill, deathly, sound as was made by that charge passing about two feet above us, God knows I never want to, hear again. Once within our lines my wound was simply dressed with cold water. The sec- ond day saw me on board a vessel for New York, and soon a mother's hand was kindly nursing the wound- ed soldier. I was but twenty-fonr years of age and in perfect health. The wound rapidly healed without pain or inconvenience, except a stif- fened jaw and partial deafness, l^ght weeks saw me in front of Pe- tersburg once more, and the expe- rience of the battle of the Crater gave me the star of a brevet-briga- dier-general and the command of a brigade through the rest of the war . ' ' Mr. Wm. 0. Smith, of NashviUe, Tenn., and acting ensign of the 12th Virginia regiment, writing from that place under date of September 8th, 1890, says: "Among those who reached the works, however, and who did effec- tive work, was Emmet Eichardson, a tall, strong, athletic fellow, who, after discharging his gun, did terri- ble work with the bayonet and with the butt of his gun . No less than five of the enemy fell beneath the terri- ble strokes of this powerful man. He was a member of Co. K, of the 12th, Capt. Dick Lewellen's old com- pany. Joe Maclin will remember, no doubt, the man, and also the in- cident, as he was very near by at the time himself. I have lost sight of Eichardson entirely since the war. I don't know whether he is living or not, though I hope he is, and it would* be very gratifying to know that he has made as good a citizen as he made a good and faithful soldier.* "The battle-flag of the Twelfth regiment on that occasion, which was comparatively new and which had been little used (the old battle-flag having been so badly torn and put away for safe-keeping), had never been touched by a bullet of the ene- my up to the morning of July 30th, 1864, though it had been carried in several engagements previous to the battle of the Crater. On the morn- ing in question, however, it had been riddled by bullets. The staff also was badly shattered. Immediately after getting possession of the works, the acting ensign examined the flag, *Thos. E. Eichardson, orderly sergeant of his company, formerly ot Petersburg and now of Biohraond, Va. He has made as good a citizen as he made a good and faith- ful soldier. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 185 as ■well as the staff, and found that in the charge five shots had passed through the bunting, and three shots had struck the staff. It was then planted on the works, but ere the lapse of a minute it was knocked down by a shot from the enemy. It was replaced in the works, but was soon knocked down again by another shot. Again it was planted in the works, and the third time was knocked down by a shot from the en- emy, and this time the staff was so badly shattered as to render it neces- sary to re-inforce it by splicing with a ram -rod, in order to hold the pieces of the staff together, which being ac- complished, it was again planted in the works. "At the close of the fight on the 30th an examination was made of the flag and the staff, and, by actual count, it was found that seventy-five shots had passed through the flag, and nine shots had struck the staff. On the return of the brigade to its former position near Willcox's farm, the acting ensign of the 12th was sent for and ordered to report to Gen. Mahone at his headquarters. On reaching Mahone's headquarters the general presented him with one of the staffs of the U. S. flags captured by the brigade at the Crater. This staff was reduced in size somewhat and the battle-flag of the 12th regi- ment transferred to it. This was the staff surrendered at Appomattox Court-House. The remnant of the flag-staff carried in the battle of the Crater, with the original fractures and several bullet-marks still visible upon it, is in the possession of the acting ensign of the 12th Virginia regiment on that occasion, by whom it is held as a precious relic of one of the most brilliant achievements of the war. "I recall another incident which was related to me on the day follow- ing the battle, by David McConichie, a Scotchman, and a member of that splendid company, the Richmond Grays. He said he was an eye wit- ness to a fierce hand to hand contest between Thomas S. "Walsh, of the Eichmond Grays, and a Federal, officer. Walsh, with his gun and bayonet, and the Federal officer, with his sword, parried vigorously with each other, each struggling for the mastery, when all at once, "Walsh, who was very expert in the bayonet exercise, made a successful lunge, driving his bayonet through the body of the officer, and the latter, notwithstanding, made a cut at Walsh afterwards with his sabre. Walsh was subsequently killed himself in the battle on the 19th of August, while standing by the side of Gen. Weisiger and the writer. Walsh was small in stature, but strong and active, and a more gallant and faith- ful soldier was not known in the bri- gade. David McConichie will be re- membered, no doubt, by many of the surviving members of the 12th regi- ment, who reside in Petersburg. He was a faithful soldier, and a gentle- man of unquestionable veracity." Mr. John E. Laughton, Jr., of Eichmond, Va., first lieutenant of Co. D, 12th Va. regiment, in a state- ment made in September, 1890, says: "I commanded Co. C, of the brig- ade sharp-shooters, which company was on the extreme right of the bat- talion of sharp-shooters. A portion of the works to be attacked by the Virginia brigade was taken and held, and the portion Vhich the Georgia brigade was expected to take was not re-captured by them, even after a second attack. "1 was desperately wounded in three places when within thirty feet 186 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the breast-works, and at the first volley from a concentrated fire of several lines massed for a forward movement. The fire was not only from the direct front, but was also an enfilading fire, which came from those of the enemy in the Crater, this being to our right. The pro- portion of wounded and killed in the sharp-shooters was exceedingly large. The battalion went into the fight with 104 men and officers, and of these 94 men and officers were kiUed and wounded. Of the nine officers present eight were shot through the breast. Lieut. Frith, of Chester- field county, Ya., although one of the most gallant of my associates, es- caped unhurt. "The presence of the shg,rp-shoot- ers in this action was accidental. Their usual duty was day service on the front line, where they did picket, skirmish and vidette duty, from which they were relieved every night by some portion of the regular troops. On the night before the battle of the Crater the right wing of the 6th Va. relieved them, and the call for the brigade to get under arms on the morning of the 30th was before it was time to send out the sharp-shooters to take their then usual position on the picket line in front of the intrenchments on the Willcox farm. So the battalion went along with the balance of the brig- age in the place of the fight wing of the 6th Va., and accordingly occu- pied the extreme right of the brig- ade line of battle." Capt. James B. Phillips, of Rich- mond, Va., first lieutenant of Co. G, 12th Va. regiment, in a statement furnished in September, 1890, says: "Gen. Mahone ordered the men to fix bayonets and lie down and in the charge not to fire a shot until the works were taken. As I passed one of the angles in the ditch by which we approached the ravine from which the charge was made I saw the works north of the Crater filled with thousands of the enemy — they at least so appeared to me. I counted 21 flags flying from the Crater and these works. This sight gave me no hope of ever getting away alive. "We were now rea^y for the charge, but Wright's brigade which was to support us was not yet in po- sition. It was at the time passing along in the ravine immediately be- hind us to take its position on our right. Many of the enemy I saw tumbling over to our side of the breast-works. The men On the right of our line began to fire, although this was against orders. This made it necessary for the left of the line to advance at once — for it was life or death with us — which we did with a Confederate yell that carried every- thing before it. The sight was the grandest I ever witnessed. Those on the left of the line reached the works soonest, as we had the short- est distance to go." Mr. Richard B. Davis, of Peters- burg, Va., who was a member of the Petersburg Riflemen, Co. E, 12th Va. regiment, in a statement made in January, 1891, says: "At the battle of the Crater I was serving as a member of the corps of sharp-shooters of Mahone's brigade, having been detailed along with Pri- vate James A. Parley and Sergeant Marcellus W. Harrison, of our com- pany, for that service, some time be- fore the date of the battle. "We got into position, the 6th Va. regiment being farthest to the right, our sharp-shooters taking the THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 187 place of one wing of the 6th regi- ment, and then the balance of the brigade in order. As we lay there for a moment or two awaiting orders, we had a full view of the Federal troops occupying our works to the left of the Crater formed by the ex- plosion. Our right did not extend as far as a point opposite to the Crater itself . Th^e battle-flags seem- ed almost as thick as cornstalks in a row, and the whole face of the earth, including the ditch which our men formerly occupied, fairly teem- ed with the enemy. While we were thus lying, Farley poin,ted out to me a United States flag which seemed to have been planted in the ditch nearest us and said, 'Dick, when we start go for that flag.' "Suddenly we heard to our front and left a shout as if the Federals were about to charge, and, looking in that direction we saw, or thought we saw, Ihe enemy charging down on our lines. The men sprang to their feet and cried, 'Charge boys!' and away we went over the field with fixed bayonets, but not firing. I shall never forget the magnificent appearance of that long line of tat- tered uniforms as it swept in splen- did form across the field in the face of a tremendous fire that with every step was thinning our ranks. Among the first, Lieut. John E. Laughton fell, shot through the breast. The next man struck, as well as I now remember, was B. F. Eckles, of Co. A, who fell shot through the ankle. After him, when we had gotten right up to the ditch, Marcellus Harrison was shot in the face (the muzzle of the gun not being three feet from him) and instantly killed. Farley I never saw afterwards. He was killed, I suppose. His body was never recovered, "With better fortune I kept on until we got within five feet of the ditch where the Federals lay. It was literally filled with them, crouch- ing in every conceivable attitude, with their palms raised, crying for quarter. As we got near I noticed a Federal ofl&cer especially, with drawn pistol, walking along as best he could, and swearing he would shoot the first man that surrender- ed. Others of our inen noticed the same thing, as some one cried out, 'Shoot the officers!' and immediate- ly all of us fired — that is, all except me; my gun snapped. I struck the butt of the gun on the ground to shake the powder into the tube pre- paratory to another trial, when I was shot through the right arm, just above the elbow. "I had, however, reached the flag that Farley had pointed out, and, stripping it from the staff, I jumped with it into the ditch. Just then Capt. Broadbent, who was in com- mand of our sharp-shooters, cried out, 'Come on, boys, they have cap- tured Rogers (meaning Col. Rogers, of the 6th) 1' and we passed along with him to the right, where there seemed to be a hand-to-hand strug- gle going on. Broadbent fired his pis- tol several times into the crowd and Rogers was re-captured, I learned. About this time there was a rush of men from the other side of the em- bankment into the trench where we were and Broadbent was killed. All this occurred in less than half the time it takes to narrate it. Looking up the trench to the right, I saw the Federals about the rim of the Crater getting a Napoleon gun into posi- tion in the trench to fire down it. To my left, probably twenty steps, there was an immense traverse cut- ting off all view of the line in that direction. Looking around I saw very few, or none of our men, and, seeing the piece of artiUery being 188 WAR TALKS OP CONFBDERAfE VETERANS. gotten iato position to rake the trench, I determined to risk the run over the traverse into the trench be- yond, where I was sure our men were. Starting out with that pur- pose, I had gone but a few steps, when I heard some one say, 'Bayo- net that man !' and filled with horror I sprang out of the works and ran back towards the ravine from which we commenced the charge, and, reaching it, fell prone on the earth, face downwards, perfectly exhaust- ed. When I got to the rear I re- member looking under my jacket for the flag I tore off as above narrated and had stuffed there for safe keep- ing. The flag, however, was gone, but in the jacket about the place where the flag had been were two bullet-holes, besides three other bul- let-holes, one about the left shoulder, the other two in the right sleeve, the latter made by the bullet which had pierced my arm. I think I must have dropped the flag in the works." Mr. Putnam Stith, of Petersburg, Va., in a statement furnishe|3 in November, 1891, says: "I was at the Crater as a member of Co. E (Petersburg Eiflemen), 12th Va. regiment, Mahone's brigade. As we filed out from the covered way into the ravine in rear of our works from which the charge was made, I saw Gen. Mahone standing at the angle of the covered way, or ditch, personally directing the move- ment of the men. We formed the line of battle in the ravine, and in a few minutes some of the enemy then in our works started to charge upon us, and some of our men, with- out any order that I remember, gave them a scattering fire, which result- ed in their retiring into the works. "Immediately after this fire we made the charge. The enemy in the trench did not leave the works. I cannot say as to anything that oc- curred on the east, or outside, of our breast-works — my remark having reference only to the Federals with- in my vision in the trench on the west side of our breast-works. We engaged them hand-to-hand in the traverses and ditch behind the breast-works. I remember firing my gun when we gave the scattering fire that I have already mentioned as given before the charge was made, and I had no time to load again. Consequently all the fighting that I did after arriving at the works was with the bayonet and butt of my gun. I remember seeing a negro who had the most fiendish counten- ance that I have ever seen, with the muzzle of his gun in close proximity of Meade Bernard's head. There was a malicious grin on his face. I expected him to fire before I could strike him, but I struck him over the head with the butt of my gun and knocked him down before he could accomplish his manifest pur- pose. I will state her^ that several times in my dreams in the twenty odd years that have elapsed since the battle of the Crater I have seen this same negro with the same hor- rible countenance I have described and which impressed itself on my memory so deeply. I do not remember anything else particularly except that a member of our company (I think it was John Crow)25 and myself were exchanging congratulations on getting through another fight safely when I was shot through the shoulder. This was a few minutes after we reached the works, and we regarded the fight- ing as practically over. I went back to the rear, going along the same route by which we had reached the ravine from which the charge was made, and when near Hannon's ice-pond I seated myself behind a 25. John E. Crow, of Wilmington, N. 0. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 189 tree to rest, very weak and faint from loss of blood. Hearing a groan from behind a tree near me, and, looking to see from whom it came, I discovered to my satisfac- tion and, pleasure that it came from my friend Dick Davis, who was wounded in the arm. We made our way together up the ravine near the Hannon pond to the ambulances. Doctor Vance probed our wounds and gave each of us a drink of whiskey, put us in an ambulance and sent us to Mcllwaine's Grove, where Dr. James W. Claiborne, our brigade-surgeon, was. When we got into Sycamore street, near the home of Prof. W. T. Davis (Dick's father), Dick told a boy to tell his father he was slightly wounded (in point of fact he was severely wound- ed) and was on his way to Mcll- waine's Grove. In less than a half hour after we got there Prof. Davis arrived with a bottle of home-made wine in each hand ; and that wine, in addition to the whiskey that Dr. Claiborne and Dr. Vance had al- ready given us, saved two lives." Judge D. M. Bernard, of Peters- b^irg, Va., mentioned in the fore- going statement as "Meade Ber- nard," a member of the Petersburg Eiflemen, in a letter dated June 28, 1892, says : "The account, given in your ad- dress before A. P. Hill Camp, of the battle of the Crater, agrees so en- tirely with my recollection of it, and is so full, that it leaves me but little to say on the subject. "I have a very strong impression that we slept upon our arms the night preceding this battle and that it was this fact, amongst others, that led us to believe that our commanding gen- eral had anticipated what occurred on that memorable day. "When the order came for our command to move I was at the spring filling the canteens for our mess, and when I returned to the trenches I found the brigade about to move. I distributed the canteens, got my rifle and filed into ranks. We all believed that the move meant fight, but when and where I, at least, did not know until we had gone some distance, when Capt. Norborne Starke, of Gen. Hill's staff, rode up and called me to him. He dismounted and we walked along together, he leading his horse. He then told me that a mine had been sprung at the Elliott salient, that the enemy in large force had occupied a portion of our lines and that our mission was to charge and dislodge them and re-establish the broken lines. "Capt. Starke and myself had the same sweetheart. At least I know that I was very much in love with her and I thought he was. I had, during the war, worn in the watch- pocket of my pants a little locket with a most excellent daguerreotype of this lady, and whenever I met Capt. Starke — and I met him fre- quently — he would invariably ask me to let him look at this picture and never failed to beg me for it. Of course I did not comply with this request. On the occasion in ques- tion, after speaking of the hot and perilous work we were about to en- gage in, and of the probabilities that both he and I would be killed, he said, 'Meade, if you should be kill- ed in this tight and I survive, will you agree that I may take that locket from your pocket and keep it as my own, if I rescue your body and see that it has a decent burial in your square in Blandford?' I agreed and the bargain for my burial was struck. I marched on, trying to be cheerful, but my heart was heavy. "About this time we had reached the point where we were ordered to doff our knapsacks, &c., and get 190 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATIS VETERANS. ready for action . I do not remember that I did, but I have no doubt I did, hope that by some means it might fall to my lot to act as guard for their luggage while the other boys were fighting, but such was not my lot. In a few moments we were moving towards the field of battle. I think we marched left in front, so that when we emerged from the covered way into the ravine from which we charged our line of battle was form- ed under the order, 'on the left by file into line.' "I remember very distinctly, just as I left the covered way to turn up the ravine, there seeing Gen. Mahone superintending the formation of his line and speaking words of encour- agement to the men. I also, just at this point, remember seeing a mem- ber of Gen. EUiott's command who said to us, 'Show them no quarter, boys, they raised the black flag on us and showed us none.' I have also an indistinct recollection that this same soldier informed us that a large portion of the enemy we had to meet were negroes. "After I got my .position in line I raised my head and looked towards the enemy, when it became evident to me, judging from the number of battle-flags I saw floating from the works in front of us, that we were about to fight against enormous odds. My recollection is that I hur- riedly counted twenty-one of these flags. I got back into my position in line feeling that my earthly career was approaching its close, and I of- fered to Almighty God a short, but perhaps the most earnest and fer- vent prayer I had ever uttered, to spare my life, or, if not, to save my soul. I felt that this prayer would be answered, I did not know how, nor, if I remember correctly, did I care very much. I felt more thor- oughly than I had ever done before that I was in God's hands and that he would do what was best for me. "Soon after Capt. Jones had given us the little address you so accurate- ly describe — I do not remember ex- actly how long — I happened to raise my head and saw the enemy crowd- ing over the breast-works as if about to make a charge upon us. Just at this moment Capt. Girardey, who was behind and a little to my right, wav- ing his sword, sprang over our line, saying, 'Charge! Follow me!' The manner in which this command was obeyed I shall not attempt to des- cribe. It is a matter of history, read by the world. "Most of the men obeyed the order given by Capt. Jones not to flre our guns until we reached the works in which the enemy was intrenched. Arrived at these, I fired my gun into a mass of human beings, with what effect I do not know, nor do I care to know. As soon as I fired I sprang into one of the numerous traverses that ran through and about the lines of the breast-works and ditches that constituted the fortifications at this point. This traverse, by a somewhat winding route, led directly into the main ditch at this point. I followed it, meeting several unarmed, terrified negroes, some wounded and some not, all begging for mercy and try- ing to get to our rear, until it brought me to this main ditch. It seems that there was one Confederate soldier — a mere youth — ahead of me in this traverse and on his way to the main ditch, but, in consequence, I sup- pose, of its winding nature, I did not see him, or, if I did, I did not notice him until I entered the main ditch. This youth was one of El- liott's brigade, who, with several others of his comrades, as I have al- ways understood, charged along with us. As soon as I entered the main ditch, which was filled with the enemy, white and black, in perfect confusion, some running and some THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 191 fighting, I saw this youth to my left leaning with his back against the breast-work, with a large negro sol- dier standing, over him, with musket in hand, attempting to send his bay- onet into his body, the youth having hold of the bayonet and resisting with all his might the efforts of the negro to stick it into him. I imme- diately made for them, lunged my bayonet at his side, but, either from bad aim on my part or quick motion on his, the bayonet, instead of en- tering his body and putting an end to him, struck plumb upon his hip bone. He immediately turned loose his gun and seized mine before I could recover myself for another lunge at him, and endeavored to dis- arm me, and would perhaps have done so, but for the fact that I was possessed of considerable physical strength. While this negro and I were scuffling over my gun a Fed- eral lieutenant, a white man, with pistol drawn and pointed to my face, ordered me to surrender, which perhaps I would have done but for the fact that at that moment our boys who had not been so fortunate, or unfortunate (I don't know which) as to have struck a traverse leading into the main ditch, but had to climb as best they could over the ditches and breast-works, were pouring over the embankments into the ditch where I was, and I saw it was safer to fight on than to surrender. So I declined to surrender, or rather, went on with my efforts to get control of my gun. This lieutenant then pulled trigger, but his pistol snapped. As quick as thought he again cocked it, and, putting it to my face, pulled trigger and it fired, but it was so close to me, that, as it fired, it was knocked out of position by my arm and its charge missed me. Before he could get ready for another fire a member of the Eichmond Grays, —Jake Old, I believe it was — had pierced him with his bayonet and he fell to the ground. Just at this junc- ture — it all happened in less than one-tenth of the time I have taken to tell about it — the youth whom I had rescued had picked up a large army pistol and with its butt end knocked my negro antagonist a blow on the forehead which felled him to the ground, a dead man (I think), and left me master of my gun and unhurt. "I then stepped back into the tra- verse for the purpose of loading my gun, and came very near doing a very sad piece of work with its load. Just as I, with loaded gun, returned into the main ditch, an officer with uniform almost exactly like that worn by the Federal officers ran by me from left to right, going in the direction of the Crater, where the enemy were hud- dled together, pressing with all their might to get cover in the hole, some of them crying out, 'We surrender!' some waving white handkerchiefs, and some — a great many, it seemed to 7ne — shooting back at us. I raised my gun to shoot this officer as he ran from me, but, just as I was about to pull trigger, he hallooed to those of the enemy whose shots were worry- ing us, 'Stop shooting, if you wish to surrender!' and as I did not feel like doing an injury to one who seemed so anxious to do good to me, I uncovered him and let fly at the pestiferous shooters whom he was trying to quiet. As I fired this offi- cer turned towards me and I saw it was one of Gen. Beauregard's staff- officers who was dressed in his fa- tigue uniform. I remarked to him that I came very near shooting him and he replied that I would not have been at fault, as it was a very impru- dent thing in him to go into an ac- tion dressed as he was. "It was not far from this spot, but some minutes afterwards, that poor Emmet Butts fell right by my side, so close that I heard and shall never 192 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. forget the sound of the ball which pierced his forehead and killed him instantly. He had just fired his gun at one of the enemj; who was run- ning at full speed from the Crater over to the enemy's lines and who fell so nearly at the crack of Emmet's gu.n that he, believing that he had killed him, exclaimed, 'I got him!' which words had hardly fallen from his lips when'he fell a corpse. "There is one other little incident of this battle that I will tell before closing this letter. I saw that af- ternoon the happiest man I had ever before or have ever since seen. His clothes were saturated with red mud, made of red dirt and sweat. He was bare-headed, and his hair was matted with this same red mud, and his face was covered with it, except that here and there, running up and down his face, were streaks washed clean by streams of perspi- ration. But his eyes showed happi- ness to their very bottom. He told me that he was one of Elliott's com- mand ; that he had been buried close by the side of the Crater under the earth thrown over him by the spring- ing of the mine ; that he must have been stunned by the concussion ; that when he came to himself he found that he had been buried, but when and how he knew not; that he was not fastened so tightly that he could not move a little ; that he moved and scratched until he saw near him a crack through which the daylight came ; and that he had worked his way out with his hands and nails from where he was caught to this opening. When I saw him in the afternoon he had just emerged from what, for several hours, he had feared would be his grave, and he was happy." Col. Wm. H. Stewart, of the 61st Virginia regiment, in an article pub- lished in the Norfolk (Va.) Land- mark in 1876, or about that date, says: "Maj. W. H. Etheredge, of the Forty-first regiment, displayed great gallantry, as was always his custom on the field. As he jumped in the ditch, a brave Federal soldier in the front line fired through the traverse and killed a soldier at his side. He immediately dropped his empty mus- ket and snatched another from a cowering comrade to kill Maj. Eth- eredge. At this juncture the major, with remarkable self-possession, caught up two Federals who were crouching in the ditch and held their heads together between his deter- mined opponent and himself, swing- ing them to and fro to cover the sight of the musket, the Federal doing his best to uncover it so as to unharm his friend by his bullet. Peter Gibbs, of Co. E (of Petersburg), Forty-first Virginia regiment, rushed to the as- sistance of the major and killed his foe. Gibbs was a gallant soldier, and fought with great desperation. It was said at the time that he slew fourteen men that day. Maj. Etheredge, in a private letter to his friend, Capt. Geo. J. Eogers, of Richmond, Va., written March 23rd. 1892, gives the following account of this battle-scene : "And now, as you have requested me to do so, I will give you a short history of the part I took in the fight at the Crater. When we made the charge and reached the breast- works, I was among the first to jump into the ditch, where the Yanks were as thick as they could stand. The first ser- geant of Co. D jumped in about the same time I did, and was killed instantly. Where I was there was a small bomb-proof, and two Yanks squatting down near its mouth to keep out of danger (they were white men with muskets in their hands THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 193 with fixed bayonets). My feet had not more than touched the ground when they rose up and stood before me. Just then the man that killed the sergeant stooped down and pick- ed up a musket evidently with the intention of killing me. I took in the situation at once, took hold of the two men in front of me and kept them so close together it was impos- sible for him — I mean the man that picked up the musket — to kill me without endangering the lives of his own men. Just at that moment our men were jumping into the ditch like frogs. One of them jumped in just behind me, and I sang out to him at the top of my voice to kill the man in front of me. The man that I spoke to, Peter Gibbs by name, of Co. E, Petersburg, Va., stepped one pace to the right of me and killed the ^Federal soldier as quick as you could wink your eye. The fellow was so intent on killing me he died with his musket in his hands trying to shoot me. I then made the other two men throw dowp their arms and started them to the rear." Col. P. W. McMaster, of Colum- bia, S. C, colonel of the 17th South Carolina regiment, writing from that place under date of August 3, 1892, says: "Columbia, S. C, > "August 3, 1892. J "Mr. Geo. S. Beenaed, "Petersburg, Va. "My Dear Sir: During the last three months we have had some cor- respondence touching my recollect- ions, of the battle of the Crater, and especially the point in issue between us — the hour at which Mahone's brigade made its charge. With a view to its publication in your book, 'War Talks of Confederate Veterans,' now being printed, you have request- ed me to write you a letter embody- ing what I have heretofore written you, and this I take pleasure in do- ing. First, I refer you to my letter to Gen. Beauregard, written in 1872 and reproduced by Col. Roman in the Appendix of his work, 'The Military Operations of Gen. Beauregard.' "Secondly, I refer you to a letter that I wrote to the secretary of the Southern Historical Society, Febru- ary 25th, 1882, reproduced in the March number, 1882, of the South- ern Historical Papers (vol. X, p. 119), and especially to Maj. Jas. C. Colt's letter to me, dated August 2nd, 1879, reproduced in this magazine along with my last mentioned letter. Maj. Coit commanded the battalion of artillery in which were the batteries of Capts. Pegram and Wright, and is a gentleman of superior ability and extremely careful in his statements. His account of the part taken by the artillery on the day of the battle is by all odds the most interesting I have ever read, and would be an at- tractive article for your work. "On the morning of July 30, 1864, the brigade of Gen. Stephen Elliott, composed of the 26th, 17th, 18th, 22nd and 23rd South Carolina reg- iments of infantry, occupied the lines about the Elliott salient, these regiments being located from left to right in the order here given, the 26th having next on its left Ransom's (N. C.) brigade, and the 23rd hav- ing next on its right Wise's (Va.) brigade. "The explosion overwhelmed Pe- gram's battery, the whole of the 18th regiment, three companies of the 22nd, and part of Co. A, of the 17th. "For some moments there was the utmost consternation among our men. Some scampered out of the lines; some, paralyzed with fear, vaguely scratched at the counter- scarp as if trying to escape. Smoke and dust filled the air. But all this 194 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. was practically momentary. Jump- ing on the banquette, I discovered the enemy pouring into the Crater, and very Httle firing on their line. In less than five minutes' time our men recovered from their panic, the men of the 18th falling in indis- criminately with mine (those of the 17th). "About this time a battery on the left of the ravine, a short distance in rear of Ransom's brigade, did great execution. This battery was Wright's, of Halifax county, Va., and was well handled. I observed it specially. The other batteries in the rear and to the south of the Cra- ter also did good execution. "I may here quote from Major Coit's letter above referred to : " 'The night before the explosion I remained in Pegram's battery until 12 o'clock, at which time all was quiet on the lines, the men being in remarkably good spirits, singing songs, &c., all unconscious of the fate that awaited them with the dawn. " 'At 12 o'clock I returned to my headquarters at the spring, and slept soundly until awakened at day- light by the duU, heavy sound of the explosion, and by a sensation as of being rocked in a cradle. In a moment I suspected what had oc- curred and ran up the line in the direction of Pegram's battery. When within a few yards of the Crater I was met by the few men of the battery that survived the explo- sion, and the fate- of the remainder was fully revealed. At this time the enemy were pouring over our works into the Crater. Immediately after the explosion the enemy opened upon our lines with aU the artillery concentrated in our front. The roar of the enemy's guns, the bursting of shells and the rattle of musketry was deafening ; yet with aU I found the men of Elliott's brigade bravely manning the works up to the bor- ders of the Crater, leaving no front for the entrance of the enemy, ex- cept such as has been made vacant by the upheaval of the earth. I im- mediately made my way down the lines to the left, to Wright's battery. The battery was not in the main line, but a few yards in the rear ; it bore directly upon the salient at very close range, and was erected for the purpose of defending the front of our works. It was upon the hiU to the left of and very near the ravine or covered way, in the rear of Eansom's right. The position was a very elevated one (more ele- vated than the salient) and, as there was a gradual ascent from the ra- vine to Pegram's battery, Wright's guns were enabled to sweep the front of our works over the heads of our men in the line occupied by Elliott's brigade. "'From the moment of the explo- sion until my arrival in Wright's battery could not have exceeded twenty or twenty-five minutes. Up to this time no artillery from our lines had opened that I know of. I immediately ordered the battery to open with shrapnel and canister, first sweeping the ground in front of Elliott's line and the salient. At this time the enemy were still press- ing their columns from their lines over the intervening space to the Crater. This fire, together vnth the musketry from Elliott's brigade and other troops along the line within reach, soon checked the advance of the enemy from their own lines. The Crater itself could not contain the masses that had already been hurried into the breach, so that thousands were crowded over its interior rim, and stood in its rear without apparent organization in one immense crowd. " 'Having checked the advance of the enemy from their lines, Wright's THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 195 guns were turned directly upon the Crater and the masses assembled in its rear. The fire from this battery was unremitting from the time it opened until the close of the en- gagement by the surrender of the Crater, having thrown during the time from five to six hundred shell and canister. Anticipating a large expenditure of ammunition, addi- tional supplies were ordered from the rear and brought in wagons from Cemetery HiH as near our Unes as it was safe to do so, in rear of Grade's right, from which point it was borne by details of men ap- pointed for that purpose. From my position in this battery I had a complete view of all the move- ments in front and rear of the Cra- ter and ground within our lines, from the ravine to the plank road. Feeling that our safety depended upon our success in preventing the formation of the enemy, I watched their movements closely, and re- doubled the fire when I saw any in- dication of formation or attempt to advance in the direction of the plank road. " 'During the engagement, Brad- ford's battery opened a heavy fire with his 20-pound Parrotts,* enfilad- ing the enemy's lines as far as the Hare house and beyond. I cannot speak in too high praise of the con- duct of Capt. Wright,+ his officers and men, during this engagement. The day was excessively hot, and the labor of serving the guns so rapidly and bearing ammunition from the rear was very exhausting. So busy were we that, though con- scious of the continual bursting of shells over us, I was not aware un- til the firing ceased to what a can- nonade we had been subjected. Our works were literally battered, and the ground around us and in our rear was so honey-combed by the explosion of mortar shells that you could have walked all over it by stepping from hole to hole. Not- withstanding this heavy fire, the cas- ualties were not great, owing to the fact that the enemy could only ob- tain an oblique fire upon the front of the battery, and the gunners were protected by heavy traverses between each gun. I may here state that owing to the nearness of the enemy's lines to the salient, the gun detachment of Pegram's battery were required to be awake and ready for an assault at all hours of the night and day. This necessitated the relief of the officers and men each day; two officers and sufficient men to man the guns being on duty, the remainder being in the rear. On the morning of the explosion Lieutenants Hamlin and Chandler being on duty, were both, .with twenty men, killed; three or four only of those on duty escaped.' "Let us now return to my narra- tive of what transpired in the trenches. In ten or fifteen minutes *Thi8 battery, of three guns, a company from Mississippi, commanded by Capt. Wm. D. Bradford, was stationed on the north side of the Appomattox, on Eoslyn Farm, and just north of Fort McGilvery (which was on the south side of the river). Mr. Patrick C. Hoy, of Petersburg, Va., who was first lieutenant of this battery and present with it oh the 30th of July. 1864. in a statement made September 1, 1892, says: "A sentinel whose duty it was to watch the Federal lines on the south side of the Appomattox, hearing the explosion and the connonading in the vicinity of the Elliott salient, reported it to Capt. Bradford, who, after observing the heavy firing in the di- rection of the salient, and that there was unusual commotion among the Federals on the lines on that side of the river, opened fire and enfiladed these lines as far as Fort Steadman. The Federal batteries at Fort McGilvery and Battery One (which was im- mediately on the south bank of the river), returned our fire, but not briskly. It was several hours before we positively knew that there had been an explosion of a mine at the Elliott salient." t Capt. Sam'l T. Wright, of Halifax county, Va. 196 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. after the explosion Gen. Elliott came along with Col. Smith, of the 26th South Carolina regiment, and or- dered me to take my regiment and foUow him and form a line on the brow of the hill and charge the en- emy out of the Crater. Smith had a few of his men. crammed in the ditch following him. I waited a few minutes until Smith and some of his men were out of the way and ex- tended the order along my line. I saw Elliott, Sihifh, and about a half dozen men get out of the ditch on the brow of the hill. Elliott was shot immediately after he got up. "As soon as the general was shot he was borne past me, and told me to take charge of the brigade. His aids reported to me immediately and ren- dered good service during the day. As soon as I took command I coun- termanded the order given by Gen. Elliott. It struck me as rashness to endeavor to make the men get out of the ditches and attempt to form a line under fire at the top of the hiU at fifty or seventy-five yards from the Crater, exposed from head to heel to the fire from the Crater and the enemy's line, which was about one hundred yards east of the Crater. To do this seemed an impossibility. I observed at this time that the Crater was full of men and counted either fourteen or six- teen regimental flags, and I was then a rock's throw from them. "My apprehension was that the men in the Crater would rush down the hill westwardly and get in rear of my line in the ravine, in which Gen. Mahone subsequently formed his line. I ordered Col. Smith, of the 26th, to take all of his men he could gather and immediately go down the ditch to Gen. Elliott's headquarters, to go up this ravine and lie down, and if the enemy en- deavored to rush down upon him to resist them. Smith's regiment be- ing stnall, I detached three of my largest companies, under Capt. Crawford, to co-operate with him, and my anxiety was very great un- til Smith's command got in position. Believing that the fate of Peters- burg depended on filling up this gap in the rear of the Crater, .1 spread the remainder of the 17th regiment, and the very small part of the 18th that remained, along the line of the trenches, until it struck Ransom's brigade on the left, and fought the enemy from be- hind the traverses as well as I could. At various places we threw up bar- ricades across the trench. Many of the enemy jumped over the back part of the Crater, got into the rear ditch which communicated with the trench leading into Pegram's salient and pressed me on my right flank. Nearly all of my two right compa- nies were killed, wounded and cap- tured in the successive hand-to-hand fights we had here. Once, when my men retreated to the bend in the works next on their left, I was left between the enemy and my com^ mand. "Being anxious about Smith, with his men in the ravine to the west and rear of the Crater, I took a po- sition back of a little mound close to a sink, from which position I made a reconnoisance of the ravine. On my return up the little ditch to the main trench I observed the trench for twenty yards free of men. As soon as I got back to my men we made a new barricade. I had before this time sent couriers to Gen. Bushrod Johnson, and one to the right wing of the brigade, which was on the south side of the Crater, informing them that I was in com- mand, and directing them to resist the enemy as best they could until the re-inforcements which Gen. John- son was sending up, should arrive. "What I have now told you is what THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 197 I wrote Gen. Beauregard in my let- ter above referred to, with some lit- tle amplification of language. "I may introduce just here, as descriptive of what occurred in the trenches before Mahone's brigade reached them, some interesting mar- gtual notes, made in a copy of the De- cember number, 1876, of the South- ern Historical Papers, containing Capt. McCabe's address, 'TheDefense of Petersburg, ' by Mr. Thomas S. La- motte, of Columbia, S. C, who is an intelligent gentleman and was a ser- geant in Co. C, of my regiment, and, at the battle of the Crater, after its captain was wounded, commanded the company. Here are his notes: " 'From 15 minutes after the ex- plosion until the final re-capture of the works, the infantry fire from the trenches north of the Crater was un- ceasing and- did great execution on the advancing and retreating Feder- als. " 'The confusion resulting from the explosion was but momentary, and affected the regiment (17th S. C.) only to the extent that those who es- caped from the explosion rushed headlong into the adjacent parts of the trench and crowded upon the po- sition to the north of the Crater. In less than 15 minutes perfect order was restored and the men never left their proper places for a moment, and immediately opened fire on the enemy advancing. " 'Elliott was shot at the moment when he stepped upon the embank- ment to the rear of the trench, expos- ing himself to the Federals who occu- pied the gorge line only about 30 yards distant. This was about 6 o'clock. " 'The 17th S. C. regiment remain- ed in the trenches, in their position to the left of the salient and in im- mediate proximity to it, from the moment of the explosion until they were driven out by the assault of the Federal (negro) troops at about 8 o'clock, during all which time the 17th S. C. alone barred the passage along the trenches towards the cov- ered way in the direction of Ceme- tery Hill.' "Beferring to the paragraph in Capt. McCabe's address, in which he (McCabe) says that Potter's 'leading regiments, deflected by the hostile fire, bore to the left and mingling with Ledlie's men, swarming along the sides of the great pit, added to the confusion,' Mr. Lamotte has the following note: " 'This was the fire from Elliott's brigade, immediately north of the Crater, directly in the face of the advancing line, and at short range, say, from 100 to 150 yards, which swept the entire front of the exploded salient between the Federal and Con- federate lines. This being the small space upon which the Federal col- umns were obliged to debouch, as they passed over their own works.' "Mr. Lamotte made a plat of the Crater at the time he made these foot notes, and this I mark as 'P' and send you herewith. In a conversa- tion which I recently had with him, he stated that the Federals at first tried to possess themselves of the lines on the south side of the Crater, and then occupied the rear line and a short part of the front line of the salient which was not blown up. The company commanded by him (Co. O), occupied the second traverse from the Crater, on the north side, he says. And Company D was on his right and got into the first traverse, that is, the one next to the Crater on the north of it. He further says that he got his men to build a barricade with sand bags close up to the Fed- erals, and that the fight lasted two 198 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. or three hours before the enemy made any headway, their first decided headway being made after the negro troops came over to the Crater. He further says that after this he saw the point of a sword projecting over the earth-work nearly opposite him, and just there a negro rose up and was immediately killed by a Confed- erate, and that then a white Federal officer rose up at the same point, and he also was killed. Shortly after this a charge was made by the Fed- erals, a number of them coming over the works and there being just now a pretty sharp fight. At this time he saw the men of Company D sur- render, and then he took his little squad, Company C, and ran down the traverse towards the rear where the covered way lead out.* I have now given you what Mr. Lamotte wrote in his notes and said to me in our recent conversation, as the statements of an intelligent partici- pant, which may be relied upon. "As I said in the speech I made before my regiment at its reunion at Chester C. H., S. C, August 13th, 1879, an extract from which was pub- lished in the March number, 1882, of the Southern Historical Papers, and, as I have said to you in my cor- respondence, I still think that the charge of Mahone's Virginia brigade was made after 10 o'clock a.m. "I note the statement of Col. Ven- able referred to in your address, and also the statements of Messrs. Bow- ley and Aston in their letters to you since your address. I think they are all mistaken. A number of my men and officers agree with me in this. You will note that Maj . Coit fixes the hour at 'about 11 o'clock.' "I was ordered out of the trenches to consult with Gen. Johnson, and Mahone came up at the time — about 10 o'clock, according to my recollec- tion. I may mention a little inci- dent which tends to show that the hour of Mahone's charge was later than between 8 J and 9 a. m.: Wil- liam Dye, a member of Company B of my regiment, was its color-bearer, and, suffering from a severe head- ache from the heat of the sun, du- ring an interval in the fighting went into an officer's 'den' — ^these were holes scooped out of the earth at con- venient places along the line of the trenches— to rest a few minutes in its shade. After being there for a short time he looked out, and, see- ing the main trench filled with ne- groes, dodged back into the 'den.' In a few minutes after this the men of your brigade were in the works, and he was freed from his prison. That evening the regiment, having been on duty in the trenches for 40 days, was allowed to go back to the wagon-yard to recuperate. My ad- jutant happened to hear Dye telling some of his comrades of his experi- ences of the morning. 'I was almost scared to death,' said Dye, 'and prayed until the big drops of sweat ran down my cheeks.' The adjutant, being from the same section of the state (S. C.) with Dye, and knowing him well, and that his education was defective, said to him, 'Bill, what did you say in yoiu- prayers ?' 'I said, *In a note referring to the assault made by the negro troops, Mr. Lamotte says: "By this assault about 100 yards of the trenches were taken. The men of the 17th S. C. , those occupying the traverses near the Crater, retiring towards the rear of the line and following the course of the line reach- ed the covered way at its junction with the trenches, those in the trenches falling back down the trench before the advance of the Federal troops for about 100 yards, where they remained until the movement of Ma- hone, and recovered the lost ground as far back as the Crater. This at about 11 or Hi A. M." F. "W. M. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 199 Lord have n^ercy on me and keep these damned niggers from killing me . ' Dye was a strong countryman , and it is hardly likely that he would have been overcome by the heat of the sun at as early hour in the morn- ing as between 8 J and 9. "You have described in your ad- dress the route by which your brigade moved from its position on the Will- cox farm to the ravine from which it charged, and I should think that from the time they started, their dropping out of line one at a time, and their pursuing a circuitous route to reabh the ravine in rear of the Crater, it must have been later than 9 o'clock when they reached it, and that it must have been as late as 10 o'clock. "I remember well pointing out to Mahone the place where my men were lying behind the Crater — I re- fer to Smith's men in the ravine — and suggesting to him to form on my left as the only practicable place from which to make a charge, and he immediately adopted my suggestion. I distinctly remem- ber Mahone's quietly listening and stroking his long beard. "Soon after this his men began to file in, and it must have taken an horn- before the charge was made. I remember my adjutant reciting to me after the battle the jocose re- marks of the Alabamians and Geor- gians, as they boasted what flags they were going to take of the four- teen in the Crater. It thus appears that the remaining seven companies of my regiment were on the right of Mahone's men.f "I submit another point, which to my mind is evidence that Mahone could not have charged before 10 o'clock. It must have been near 6 o'clock A. M., before Smith got his men in rear of the Crdter. The main trench was so packed with men, caused by the 18th regiment crowding on the 17th, that it was tedious to move in it. It was a long time before the enemy tried to get out of the Crater, this being caused by the uncertain footing on the loose dirt and sloping sides of the mine. They first began by jumping over the north bank and getting in the rear line around Pegram's battery. My recollection is that a part of this line was not destroyed by the up- heaval. The firing between the combatants was now very slow. Sometimes there were intervals of some minutes before guns were shot by men on the right. Prom oppo- site sides of the traverses made by the ditches, which ran perpendicu- larly from the main trench, the com- batants would guy each other, and 'would throw over bayonets, etc. It seemed to me about this time the laziest fight I ever saw. We longed for hand-grenades. I smoked near- ly the whole time. Once, in going from the rear point of a perpendic- ular ditch, where I went occasion- ally to watch how Smith was keep- ing guard over the rear of the Cra- ter, as I came back to go into the main trench I saw a rush down the fWhen the Virginia brigade formed in line preparatory to its charge, and, the Georgia brigade was filing along behind it to take position on its right, the occasion was too serious for a boast or a jocose re- mark from any Virginian or Georgian, and there were then no Alabamians present to indulge In either. Later on , however, when the Alabama brigade came up and had to wait for the arrival of the hour of one o'clock, at which time it had been arranged that they should charge, and the Virginia brigade was in possession of the works north of the Crater, the boasting and jocose remarks heard by Col. McMaster's adjutant, here referred to, were less out of order. But this incident suggests the probability that Col. McMaster has here confounded the charge of the Virginians with that made by the Alabama brigade. G. S. B, 200 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. hill. As I stepped into the trench the bowl of my pipe was knocked off from my long 'tie-tie' stem. Im- mediately a stalwart soldier stop- ped the crowd and said : 'Hold on, men! The colonel can't flight with- out his pipe, ' and then picked up the pipe and gave it to me. I mention this incident to show how inanimate the fight was in the trenches. "The 'slight line of breastworks,' mentioned in your address as being along the slope of the hiU about the point from which your brigade made its charge, was thrown up, as you surmise, by Smith and his men, I believe, and you are correct in your surmise that some of my men charg- ed along with the Virginia brigade. J "The 22nd and 23rd S. 0. regi- ments being cut off by the Crater du- ring the engagement, I could not see them. My only communication with them was by courier, who saw Capt. Shedd, the ranking officer of the 22nd and came back to me with the report that he had recovered the line which the enemy took immediately after the explosion and that his men were holding their own. Gol. Fleming and Adjutant Quattlebaum, of the 22nd, were buried in my^ld.quarters on the rear line just behind Pegram's guns, and Capt. Shedd was the rank- ing officer. Maj. Lesesne command- ed the 23rd. ' 'I have been very much interested, as you have been, in our correspon- dence, and regret that there is any discrepancy between us as to the hour at which Mahone's charge was made. We are both, however, seeking to get at the truth in the matter. It is surprising to find how men's ideas differ as to time, of which I , have had many illustrations in my con- versations with participants in this particular fight. I am, "With great respect, "Your Comrade, "F. W. McMaster."=i= Prof. Richard W. Jones, of the University of Mississippi, captain of Co. 1, 12fch Virginia reg't, and subse- quently major of the regiment, who commanded it at the Crater, writing under date of June 22, 1892, says: "Your letter received in due time. I have read with interest your ad- dress on the battle of the Crater. "1. You enquire as to the time of ifMr. Wm. 0. Smith, in his letter of Sep- tember 8, 1890, from which an extract has been talceh, says: "Here we find a few men of Gen. Bushrod Johnson's command, some of whom, if not all, joined Mahone's old brigade in the charge." , ■"Since the foregoing was written Col. Mc- Master has sent me a copy of a letter writ- ten to him by Mr. W. J. Crowder, of Feast- erville, S. C, a member of his regiment, under date of August 10, 1892, in which, responding to an enquiry as to when the first charge of Mahone's men was made, he states that he had been to see several mem- bers of company B, and that "the most ex- act information" he could get was "from ThoB. P. Crowder, who heard Adjutant- General A. L. Evans tell Lieut. Fant that it was 8:30 A. M., and that it was about half an hour before the first charge was made," that is, at nine o'clock in the morning, and that all the parties he had seen "think that was about the time the first charge was made." ' "It was Joe Free who made the nice little prayer, and not Dye, as you mentioned," says the writer in this letter to Col. McMaster. Kesponding to the enquiry, "How many members of the 17th were in the charge ?" he says, "All think there were about 20 or 30 members of company B in the charge." In a letter to Col. McMaster under date of April 24, 1892, Capt. Evans, referring to the charge of the Virginia brigade, says: "I saw Gen. Mahone's brigade mounting the gentle ascent that led from his position to the Crater, and perfectly remember the admiration -with which I viewed the charge —perfect alignment— the soldiers at trail arms— the ranks closing up as they were thinned with the destructive fire, and their unfaltering course until they reached the parapet of the Crater." T^E BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 201 the attack iqade by the Virginia brig- ade under Col. Weisiger, directed by- Gen. Mahonp, on the enemy who oc- cupied our (Confederate) former line north of the Crater. I had no watch at the time, but it was made before nine o'clock, I feel quite confident. My reasons are these : The mine was exploded about day-light. I passed the night preceding the explosion in the city. I was awakened by the noise and shock. I hurried as quickly as possible out to our posi- tion on the Willcox farm. When I reached my command (12th Virginia Infantry), orders had been received to move to the Crater. We com- menced the march in a short time, went by the route which you des- cribe and were in the ravine in front of the enemy only a few minutes, according to my recollection, before we made the charge. "2. As to the troops engaged. When we attacked no troops were engaged except our own (the Vir- ginia) brigade. I do not know who had attacked beforehand, but cer- tainly no North Carolina regiments nor South Carolina regiments were engaged with us in the assault on the enemy made for the re-establish- ment of the Confederate lines. "3. The Federals were not with- drawing troops when we took posi- tion in their front — there was no in- dication that they had any idea of withdrawing. They seemed to be putting other troops into the trench- es which they then held and which had been occupied by the Confeder- ates before the explosion. The im- pression made on my mind at the time was that the enemy was mass- ing for an -advance, and, according to my recollection, they did move forward a line a few feet west of the trenches, while we were in the ra- vine getting ready for our attack upon them. "4. In your address you give an extract from a letter wtitten by me to Gen. Mahone, January 3rd, 1877, in which I located him 'at the right of the brigade.' "Gen. M. was with the brigade in the covered way when it . was coun- ter-marched by regiments, and he stood at the entrance of the ravine as the brigade filed into it. "The impression on my mind is very strong that, as commanding officer of the 12th Virginia regiment, I was notified by one of the staff- officers to report to the right for in- structions, that I went that way, and that returning I stood in front of the 12th, ordered bayonets fixed and de- livered an address which was de- signed to encourage them and pre- pare them to make the most rapid and determined attack possible. I think I was the first of the regimental commanders to give the command 'forward !' and I am proud to repeat what I said before, that no regiment ever obeyed that command more he- roically. I remember seeing Col. Weisiger and Capts. Hinton and Gi- rardey. They moved along the brig- ade line and were in different places at different times. They acted with conspicuous bravery." Lieut.-Col. Powell, whose atten- tion had been directed to my corres- pondence with Col. McMaster as to the hour at which Mahone's brig- ade made its charge, writing from New York city under date of July 25, 1892, says : "Geo. S. Beenaed, Esq., "Petersburg, Ya. "Dear Sir : In reply to your que- ries about the first charge made by the Confederates upon the troops in the Crater, July 30th, 1864, 1 have the honor to state that I was in the Crater and saw the first movement 202 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. made by the Confederates for a charge. I sbw them form in the ra- vine which you have described, to the west and north of the Crater. Being a prominent division staff-offi- cer at that time, and seeing that the mass of men inside the Crater were not in proper condition to re- ceive an attack in force, I went back to the line of Union works, where the commander of the 1st division of the 9th corps was located, and informed him of the circumstance. While I was there the expected charge took place. The negro di- vision was at that time in the Cra- ter. A number of officers and men came running back to the lines. Among them was an officer whom I advised to go back and join his com- mand, and he did join it by going forward to the Crater with me. I subsequently left the Crater to re- port to my chief that something should be done to get the men out of the Crater, but that orders could not be given to fall back, as they would do it with such a rush to es- cape the severe shrapnel fire that was being delivered by the enemy, that it might create a consternation among the troops in rear; but that tools should be sent to dig a trench perpendicular to the line of works through the crest of the Crater; oth- erwise there would be eventual trou- ble, as I was satisfied from obser- vation that another charge would be made in force, 'and the Union troops were in such an inextricable mass that no concerted action could be had. "It was at this time that I was in- formed that Gen. Grant had given the order to suspend operations and withdraw the troops, and it was then about 9 o'clock A. M. "Now, I do not know whose com- mand it was that made the charge I refer to. It may have been Ma- hone's or others; but the charge was made before 9 o'clock A. M., and some of those who made the charge occupied some ipf the rifle- pits and traverses to the north of the Crater, or in other words oppo- site the right of the Union line. I do not think, at any time, our troops held complete possession of 200 yards of your works to the north of the Crater. There were so many angles and traverses there that in one there were Union troops while in the next there were Confederates. I saw myself the muskets of both sides almost crossed at the angles, while the men were obscured from each other, my attention having been called to it by Col. Marshall, one of the brigade commanders in the Cra- ter. "Trusting that the above may serve your purpose, I remain, "Very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "Wm. H. Powell, "Lieut.-Col. 11th Inf'y U. S. Army." In Maj . Coit's letter to Col. Mc- Master, extracts from which have been already given, the work of Wright's battery, which was posted on a hill something over four hun- dred yards north of the Crater, has been told, and it is now in order to f Ornish a statement from Maj . David N. Walker, of Eichmond, Va., who, after the wounding of Maj . Gibbs, of the 13th Virginia battalion of artil- lery, commanded the battalion dur- ing the battle of the Crater, and who was present at and personally direc- ted the firing of the famous "two- gun battery," so designated by the Federal officers and others, located at the Baxter Eoad, a little over 300 yards south of the Crater. Maj . THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 203 Walker's statement narrates what was done by the artillery on this (the south) side of the Crater, and is giv- en in the following letter: "ElCHMOND, Va., ) ''August 2nd, 1892. J "Geo. S. Beenaed, Esq. ' 'Dear Sir : You have requested me to give my recollections of the bat- tle of the Crater. I can best do this by making extracts and otherwise drawing from a statement I furnish- ed Mr. W. P. Hopkins, of Lawrence, Mass., in July, 1889, for use in the preparation of a history of Fort Sedg- wick (Port 'Hell') and vicinity, which is nearing completion, and, from what I learn, will contain very much of in- terest touching the siege of Peters- burg. "The 13th Virginia battalion of artillery of the Army of N^orthern Virginia, on the 30th of July, 1864, composed of Capt. - — - Davidson's battery, of Lynchburg, commanded by Lieut. Jas. Otey, the Otey battery, of Eichmond, commanded by Capt. D.'E. Walker and the Binggold bat- tery, of Pittsylvania, commanded by Capt. Crispin Dickinson, occupied positions in the lines to the immedi- ate right of the Crater in the order I have mentioned these batteries, Davidson's Battery being nearest the Crater and immediately to the south of the point at which the Confeder- ate breast-works crossed the Baxter Eoad, the Otey battery coming next iu order on the right, and the Dick- inson battery on the right of the Otey battery. "In the rear of the Otey battery, between it and the Jerusalem plank road, was a mortar battery manned by some of its men under the com- mand of Lie^lt. Jno. B. Langhorne. ' 'The battalion was under the com- mand of Maj . Wade Hampton Gibbs, of South Carolina, as gallant a man as ever lived, and its aKijutant was Capt. W. Page McCarthy, of Eich- mond, Va., another gallant fellow. "The horse camp was perhaps a mile in the rear. "Awakened at dawn by the explo- sion at the Elliott salient at which was the battery of Capt. Eichard G. Pegram, I soon learned that the en- emy was in possession of our works at that point. "I will now quote from my state- ment to Mr. Hopkins: '"Quite early in the action Maj. Gibbs asked me to furnish him with an officer and men to man David- son's battery. * *• :k * I sent at once ordering Lieut. Ifor- vell and the men at the horse camp to report on the lines. Soon after this (I do not remember the time) I heard of the serious wounding of Maj . Gibbs, and saw him carried from the field. As I was the senior cap- tain in the absence of Davidson, this put me in command of the battalion, and I at once went to the point of most importance and took Maj . Gibbs' place at Davidson ' s battery . I found the guns idle and deserted, except by two or three men. Corporal Hill, a gallant fellow, was killed. " 'The embrasure of the most im- portant gun was filled up, and we could not fire over it. Under the di- rection of Maj. Gibbs, and I think Col. Huger also, an incessant and destructive fire had been kept up by one gun of this battery from soon after the explosion until I took com- mand. With the aid of the men I found at the battery and some infant- ry the embrasure was cleared and this gun, which bore on the enemy, contin- ued its deadly work. Capt. Preston, of Wise's brigade, was shot whilst assisting about this time, and I think another of the same command was 204 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. wounded. Soon after this Lieut. IsTorvell and. the men from the Otey battery arrived, and this gun kept up an incessant fire until the end, and the only other gun of the bat- tery of any use in the fight was also worked by them.' "I will here state that this battery had four guns, but they were so lo- cated that only one bore upon the Crater and the field in front of the Crater — between it and the Federal , front line — and this was the only gun that could be eflfectually used. The other three guns bore, the one di- rectly to the front — eastwardly — the other two southeastwardly.* "Let me now continue to draw from the statement sent Mr . Hopkins : " 'A month or more after the Cra- ter fight, the Davidson battery was put under command of that most gal- lant oificer, Capt. J. Hampden Cham- ber layne, not because he was at the Crater, but because he was thought to be a proper officer to command it. "When the enemy after the explosion entered our works, they should have pushed on; but they faltered, why I know not, allowing our men who had retreated on either side of the Crater to rally to the adjacent sali- ent, and to recover from the confu- sion. Then, when they attempted to push on to Blandford, the sharp- shooting of a few determined men, and the fire of artillery on both flanks, and a battery in the rear, commanded I think by Capt. Flan- nery of HaskeU's battalion (to whom the due credit has never been given), caused them to take refuge in the Crater. Li the meantime the mor- tar batteries, certainly the one man- aged by the Otey battery men under Lieut. Langhorne (Private George Savage of the Otey battery was shot through the right foot while carry- ing ah order from Major Gibbs to Lieut. Langhorne, but succeeded in reaching him, and Capt. Page Mc- Carthy was wounded near the mor- tar battery endeavoring to reach the lines), and I think also the others to our left, all so skillfully arranged by the engineer in anticipation of this fight, commenced their , work, and the fate of the day was almost deci- ded before the infantry called from our right reached the field. " 'Who the engineer was who con- structed these works, I do not know *This battery was the battery referred to in Gen. Warren's dispatch to Gen. Meade, sent at 7:50 a. m., in which he says, "In my opinion, the battery of one or two guns to the left of Gen. Burnside should be taken before attempting to seize the crest. It seems to me it can be done, as we shall take the infantry fire quite obliquely . This done , the advance upon the main hill will not be difflcult." In the subsequent! dispatches which pass- ed during the morning between ^Generals Meade and Warren, this battery is referred to as "the two-gun battery." It was the battery referred to by Gen. H. J. Hunt, chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac, in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, on the 20th of December, 1864, when he says: "The battery next to the one undermined, on the left, as we looked at it, was silenced, with the exception of one or two guns in a hollow near the left flank of the battery next to the mine. From this gun, or per- haps two guns, a fire was kept up at inter- vals on the position of the Crater of the mine. That battery was one, as I under- stood it, that was to have been in our pos- session within fifteen minutes after the ex- plosion of the mine — that is, as soon ks our troops could pass from the Crater and sweep to the left and get possession of it. The position of the guns, which, if any, would ^ have commanded that position , was immediately behind the mine, and between that position and the enemy's battery there was a fringe of woods which were to have been out away by Gen. Burnside's troops, but which had not been cut away down to the 29th, when I sent down to see if all preparations had been made. Gen. Bum- side declined cutting away that wood, as so doing would alarm the enemy." THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 205 (but I have since learned that it was Col. Harris of Beauregard's staff), but I considered him the winner of the battle, and his name should be known. I do not wish to detract from the dash and courage of what is known as Mahone's first charge, seldom equalled, never surpassed. But it gained no foothold on the line between the Crater and our position, and that is all I could see or know anything about. " 'The earth thrown up by the ex- plosion formed a line between the enemy and the Crater perhaps twelve feet high. The enemy had to pass over this to get into the Crater from their line and vice versa, and the open field between these two points was swept by this one gun of Davidson's battery and by Wright's battery of four guns belonging to the command of Col. Hilary P. Jones, another man deserving more credit than he will ever receive .* The enemy being huddled together by thousands in and around the Crater, the mortars and sharp-shooters and Napoleons on either side were hurling destruction every minute, if not -every second, and sweeping the open field like a tornado, and there was no place to retreat, no place for shelter. There was a gradual accumulation of dead and wounded, until, from our posi- tion, it looked like an inclined plane of dead men, stretched from the top of our works for perhaps 100 feet, and the balance of the field was thickly covered with the dead and wounded. When the fire of the en- emy's artillery was weakening per- ceptibly, and that from the Crater had almost ceased, the last charge of Mahone was made, and most gal- lantly. Some 200 or 300 of the en- emy attempted to get back to the lines, and we gave them two rounds of canister, and I expect Col. Jones gave them more. The infantry had charged the dead and dying, which the artillery had been pummeling for six or eight hours, the firing ceased, the fight was over and the victory ours. I entered the Crater. War is horrible and here was one of its most horrible pictures. Men mangled in every conceivable way, with great, ugly wounds, torn to pieces, dismem- bered, showing that shells, not min- nies, had caused this dreadful des- truction. ' ' 'The credit of this victory, I have thought, and still think, was due, in *In a letter dated May 11, 1891, written from Hanover Academy, Va., Col. Jones said: "Along with Col. D. B. Harris, the chief of engineers, I was ordered, as chief of ar- tillery, to select a line immediately in rear of the line of battle to which the troops should fall back at night-fall, if they could hold their then position so long. With Col. Harris — and to him I do now and have al- ways given the credit for the selection of the whole line — I went over all of the line from the Baxter Eoad to' the Appomattox River. The line was thus selected, and at night-fall was staked out and the intrench- ments dug during the night by the troops when they returned to this position. "This line was so successfully and skill- fully selected by Col. Harris, under fire all the time, that though the enemy did three times make a breach in it at different places. they could never effect any permanent lodg- ment; The most serious of all of these was the Crater explosion, but so skillfully had Col. H. and Gen. Gilmer covered the front of the salient by guns that the enemy effect- ed nothing." In a conversation I had in August, 1892, with Col. Jones (who was Gen. Beauregard's chief of artillery), he stated that Wright's battery was posted with special reference to the contemplated breach of the Confeder- ate lines at the Elliott salient and that its presence was a complete surprise to the en- emy. Having a large traverse erected be- tween it and its front, to protect it from the enemy's fire, this battery, he said, was not intended for use except in the contemplated contingency of the presence of the enemy upon the ground occupied by the Elliott ga- . lient, in which event it was expected to do just the work that was done. G. S. B. 206 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. the first place, to the engineer who arranged our lines, leaving us who were on the lines to be blown up somewhere; and, if not blown up, to terribly avenge the death of our com- rades on the very spot of their des- truction, and to thus save Petersburg and Richmond. In the second place it was due to the artillery . The guns of Davidson's battery on the right, and those of Col. Jones on the left, swept the front of the Crater, render- ing an advance from the enemy's line or retreat from the Crater practically impossible to any large body of troops, while the guns commanding the rear of our line kept back an advance from the Crater towards Petersburg. The mortars did the balance, though I do not know the effect produced by the Otey battery and Dickinson's guns, which were fired down the hol- low in front of the Crater by order of Gen. Lee direct, I presume to de- moralize the troops massed there.' "When I reached the Davidson battery there were no troops of any kind in the Confederate breast- works. I could see the heads of Federal soldiers who were in the Cra- ter and behind the large boulders of earth about the Crater, but the breast-works south of the Crater down as far as the Baxter Eoad, along which road and on the slope immedi- ately south of which road were the earth-works in which stood the Da- vidson battery, were bare of men, and so continued until occupied by the men who made the final charge about 1 o'clock in the day, resulting in the capture of the Crater itself, and of several hundred prisoners, whom I saw as they came out of the Crater on their way to the rear. "In my statement furnished Mr. Hopkins I said that the battle of the Crater was an 'artillery fight.' This has always been, and still is, my opinion. I think the enemy were practically whipped before Mahone's command took part in the action. "Yours truly, "D. ]S". Walkee." Mr. Eich'd W. Flournoy, of Eich- mond, Va., a member of the Otey battery, in a statement made under date of August 2, 1892, says : "About a month before the battle of the Crater ten or twelve members of the Otey battery, with three or four of the Ringgold (or Dickinson), were detailed to take charge of a mortar train consisting of three mor- tars placed by the side of bomb- proofs about 100 or 150 yards in rear of our main lines. Lieut. Jack Lang- home was in command, and the names of the Otey battery boys, as far as I can recall them, were A. Whit. Smith, Henry Eeid, Andrew Cheatham, Henry Crockett, William Thompson, Wm. Guerrant, Col. Wm. Munford, ■ ■ Wilbur, and myself. "Several weeks before the explo- sion of the mine we discovered that the Federals had commenced run- ning a gallery .from that part of their line opposite the salient in which Pegram's battery was located. They were removing excavated earth in cracker boxes, and we carefully trained our mortars on the mouth of this subterranean gallery just in the Federal line. "When the mine exploded, about 4:f A. M. July 30th, we were in igno- rance of the real state of affairs, though all were aware that some momentous event had occurred. All the mortars were instantly put to work throwing shells on the point on which they had been so carefully trained. About ten or fifteen min- utes— perhgps longer — after the ex- plosion, when we were firing with great rapidity, a messenger from Davidson's battery informed us that THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 207 Pegram's battery had been blown up and a crater formed, in whioh he had counted thirteen Federal battle- flags. We then immediately sighted our mortars on the Crater and con- tinued to throw in shells until the arrival of Mahone's command. "During the charges by Mahone in the morning, as well as the final combat in the afternoon, we kept up the firing, and by the close of the battle had used up a wagon load of shells. I forget the exact distance from our little fort to the Crater, though I had carefully measured it. I think it was over 400 yards. "Responding to your request for information as to the number of mem- bers of the Otey battery who became ministers of the gospel after the close of the war, I will state that there were ten who entered the ministry : Bev- erly D. Tucker, Col. Wm. Munford and Wm. T. Shephard became Epis- copal ministers ; Parke P. Flournoy, Geo. H. Denny, G. Whit. Painter, J. C. Painter, E. Clifford Gordon and Thornton M. Niven became Presbyterian ministers; and S. C. Clopton became a Baptist minister." Capt. Eich'd G. Pegram, who com- manded the battery blown up at the Elliott salient, writing from Rich- mond, Va., under date of August 26, 1892, says : "In accordance with your reqiiest to furnish y"ou with a statement of my recollection as to the selection of the position occupied by my bat- tery of artillery at the time of the Crater explosion, and incidentally any facts within my knowledge as to the defense of this position, I proceed to give you the following statement : "In the afternoon of the 17th of June, 1864, my battery having been withdrawn on the 16th instant from our lines near the Hewlett house. in Chesterfield, and ordered to Pe- tersburg, I was directed to place it in position at the spot subsequently known as the 'Crater.' My orders were to act as a support to our troops in the event that they should be driven from the lines near the Avery house which were then oc- cupied by them and which were constantly assailed by the enemy. On the morning of the 18th, before day-light — it may have been earlier in the night — the Avery house line was evacuated by our troops and they fell back to the new line, which had been selected by Col. D. B. Harris, and of which the position I occupied constituted a part, although my guns were a little in advance of this line, because, when I loaded them, I knew nothing about the se- lected line. They were, of course, soon followed by the enemy, whose artillery opened upon us, I think, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and kept up a constant and vigor- ous fire during the day. Several of their shot passed through the trav- erses of the slight earth-works which I had been able to construct for the protection of my men and guns, but their cannon shot did no damage to us. "When the enemy's infantry ad- vanced they proceeded to throw small parties at a time i^jto the rail- road cut of the Norfolk and Peters- burg railroad, between the Baxter Road and the point at which the railroad crosses Taylor's Creek, where they would be protected from our fire, and where they could in this way gradually accumulate a con- siderable force. The distance from the railroad to the low ground or meadow west of the railroad to the point where they would be protect- ed by the slope of the hill occupied by us, and at some little distance from the brow of which our line had been located, was inconsiderable, 208 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. and after the enemy had massed a sufficient force in this cut, an ope- ration which the fire from my guns and other artillery on our lines de- layed, somewhere about one or two o'clock in the afternoon (I think), they advanced across the meadow west of the railroad cut, and estab- lished their line. "Having crossed the meadow and reached the crest of the hill in my front, being now under the shelter of this hill, the enemy began to throw up the line which they held until the close of the siege. Per- ceiving that my fire could do them no damage, I ordered the guns to be loaded with double charges of can- nister and awaited further develop- ments. After dark, when objects in my front had become indistinct, I thought the enemy were preparing to charge upon my battery and I opened fire upon them with my four guns, and after this no further at- tempt at a charge was made by the enemy in my front. I do not remem- ber that any charge was made du- ring the day-time of Saturday, the 18th, on the infantry in the vicinity of my battery. "When I located my guns on the evening of the 17th, as I have al- ready stated, I knew nothing about the establishment of our new line. About elevep o'clock that night Col. Harris approached me and informed me that I was a short distance in advance of our new line and then pointed out the new line to me. I saw there a battery staked out for my guns with traverses of such thick- ness as would require a large force to complete it in a day, and, as I was informed that I need look for no as- sistance from our infantry who, when they fell back, would have to con- struct works for their own protection, and, as my own men were worn out with the labor of constructing the pits I had had prepared, and, if they had been perfectly fresh, would have been unable then to make much progress in the construction of the work intended for my guns before the enemy's probable ad- vance, I was compelled to hold on to the position I had already taken, in the pits I then occupied with my guns. "The pits occupied by my guns were not connected by rifle-pits with each other, or with our infantry Hne on either flank, as we had neither the time nor the labor necessary for their construction, and consequent- ly this was a weak spot in our line. "After night-fall, on the 18th, Gen. Bushrod Johnson sent a regiment or battalion of infantry for my im- mediate support, and these troops with some loss succeeded in con- structing the necessary rifle-pits, af- ter which I felt that my position could be successfully held against any effort the enemy might make for its capture by direct assault. "From the time of the establish- ment of their line in front of the line occupied b^ my guns and the infantry to my right and left, the enemy kept up an almost constant and often furious musketry fire up- on our lines until the morning of the Crater explosion. Many of my men were wounded, and, if I re- member aright, some few were kill- ed, when I replaced with new ones the shattered obstructions occupy- ing our embrasures, which were galaions filled with rods of wood, and removed the dirt with which the embrasures would become choked up by the balls striking the sides of the embrasures. The mortar bat- tery located near Taylor's Creek, combined with the musketry fire above alluded to, rendered our lines at this point decidedly uncomforta- ble. Several of my men were se- verely wounded on the 18th of June. "On the evening preceding the BATTLE-FIELD OF THE CRATER— VIEW No. 1. The Crater, the Baxter Road, and field between the Confederate breast- works and the Federal breast-works. [From a photograph taken August 17, 1892, bv C. R. Rees, Photographer, Petersburg, Va., from the site of the Davidson battery— called " the two-gim battery " by the Federals— im- mediately south of the Baxter Road. See map of T. P. Rives, page 320, and description of this illustration in Appendix, page 333.] BATTLE-FIELD OF THE CRATER— VIEW No. 2. The Crater, with field to its north and northwest. The wire fence shows the general course of the Confederate breastworks north of the Crater, the sloping field to the right of the picture being that over which Mahone's brigade made its charge. [From a photograph taken August 17. 1892, by C. E. Rees, Photographer, Petersburg, Va., from the site of Wright's batter jr about 550 yards north of the Crater. See map of T. F. Rives, page 320, and description of this illustration in Appendix, page 334.J THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 209 Crater explosion, and when I had begun to think that our counter- mine had probably secured us from all danger from any mine of the en- emy, Lieut. Martin and I, who had been on duty in the trenches for two days and nights, were relieved by Lieuts. Hamlin and Chandler of my command, and I proceeded to my headquarters, near the residence of Mr. Wm. Cameron, at the head of Adams street, in the city of Peters- burg, Va., where my presence was required in the supervision of the preparation of my muster-roll. "Upon being awakened by the ex- plosion I went down to our lines, and upon finding Major Coit, the commander of the battalion to which my command was attached, at Wright's battery, he ordered me to return to my headquarters and to ascertain, as far as I could from such of my men as had escaped, the ex- tent of my loss, and to get the third section of my battery, which had not been placed in the trenches, in readiness to move as soon as order- ed. These orders detained me at my headquarters, and, as my third section was not called for, I witness- ed none of the fighting which re- sulted in the recapture of our hues. My loss by the mine explosion was seventeen men and two officers kill- ed, and three men captured. The latter were caught by the falling earth in an ammunition bomb proof where they were sleeping, and before they could scratch their way out the enemy occupied our line at this point and made them prisoners. "My entire loss in killed and wounded during the seige of Peters- burg and the retreat to Appomattox Court-House amounted to about •fifty men, if my memory serves me right. The loss of my company re- cords on the retreat from Peters- burg compels me to rely upon my memory alone. "After the mine explosion my bat- tery was placed on our second line, near the plank road, immediately in rear of the Crater, and extending a little beyond the Baxter Eoad, and remained in this position until Pe- tersburg was evacuated, when it was withdrawn, and after the arrival of our troops at Amelia Court-House, we participated in the engagement with the enemy which occurred prior to the surrender." Mr. B.Myers, of Petersburg, Va., who was a lieutenant in the battery of Capt. J. A. Ramsey, of Col. Jno. C. Haskell's battalion of artillery, in a statement made August 26th, 1892, says: "Giving my recollection of the part taken by the artillery in the battle of the Crater, July 30th, 1864, I will say that I was not personally engag- ed in the battle that day, but was in Petersburg. Two batteries of my battalion (Haskell's, of Longstreet's corps), however, did some service, Capt. Henry G. Planner's (N. C.) and Capt. J. N. Lamkin's (Va.) batte- ries. "When the Army of ITorthern Virginia under Gen. Lee entered Pe- tersburg from the north side of the James on that memorable Saturday, June 18, 1864, our battalion went into park in the ravine at the head of Sycamore street. During this time, both night and day, the firing along the lines was heavy ,and al- most without intermission. On the night of Sunday, June 19th, about 9 o'clock, aportion of my battery (Eam- sey's, of I^orth Carolina), vrtth four rifle guns under my command, was or- dered into position on the front . Col . Haskell went with us, and pointed out the spot which had been selected for our guns, which was just or nearly in rear of the Elliott salient, and aboixt 210 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. fifty yards east of the Jerusalem plank road. Immediately we went to work constructing earth -works, and they were thrown up in the quickest possible time, as there was a continiious whizzing of minnie bullets from the enemy's lines, kept up night and day, making it neces- sary for the men to have the shelter of a fortification. "I remember that as Col. HaskeU and I rode along to this point the minnie balls were constantly whiz- zing near us, causing us to dodge our heads, and bringing from Col. Haskell the remark that it would be an inglorious thing for a man, after passing safely through many hard- fought battles, to lose his life going, as we were, at night, to take position on the line. "Lamkin's battery, which had been on detached duty in South Car- olina, and had returned to Virginia just before the Wilderness campaign of 1864, having left its pieces in South Carolina was provided with muskets and fought to Petersburg as infantry. On reaching Peters- burg this battery was furnished with small mortars, which were among the first that had been used in the Army of IsTorthern Virginia, and was placed in position on the east side of the plank road, about seventy - five yards east of Blandford Ceme- tery. In a short time the men of this battery became very proficient in serving these pieces. "After my command had occupied the position near the plank road above referred to for about ten days, we were ordered with the rest of our battery into fortifications on the north side of the Appomattox in Eoslyn bottom, from which point we could enfilade the enemy's line on the south side with our long range pieces. The works we left about the Jerusalem plank road were, upon our leaving them, occupied by Man- ner's (N C.) battery, this battery being armed with short range Ifapo- leon guns. "These two batteries, Lamkin's and Flanner's, were active partici- pants in the Crater fight, and cov- ered themselves with glory on that occasion. "On the evening before the fight I was ordered to report on the next morning at sunrise, for special duty, to Gen. Pendleton, Gen. Lee's chief of artillery, whose headquarters were in Ettrick, on the north side of the Appomattox, near the old brick kiln. Just as I reached the place a courier rode up and reported to Gen. Pendleton the explosion of the mine, at which the general expressed much surprise, saying we had been run- ning a counter-mine, and he thought the Federals ought to have been heard at their work. Gen. Pendle- ton then turned to me and ordered me to report to Col. Frank Huger, who was then in command of the ar- tillery on the south aide of the Appo- mattox, Gen. E. P. Alexander, chief of artillery of Longstreet's corps, hav- ing been wounded a short time before. "Eeceiving this order from Gen. Pendleton, I started for Col. Hu- ger's quarters, which I was inform- ed were in Petersburg, in Chieves' garden, on Jefferson street, adjacent to Poplar Lawn. I crossed at Camp- bell's bridge. Shells of all kiuds, principally mortar shells, of the largest size, were then flying in and falling all over that portion of the city. Besides this, I could hear heavy and continued musketry firing at the front in the dii-ection of tha Crater. "I rode down Old street to Syca- more, up Sycamore to BoUingbrook, and down BolUngbrook on my way THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 211 to Col. Huger's quarters. As I went along BoUingbrook street one or more houses on the south side of that street, east from and nearly opposite to the BoUingbrook Hotel, were on fire, the fire being caused, I presumed, by an exploding shell, and no effort was being made by any one to ex- tinguish the flames. I rode up Jef- ferson street to Ool. Huger's quar- ters, and found that he had gone to the front. N'ot conceiving that my orders required me to go there to look for him, I went to the hill near the reservoir and saw a part of Ma- hone's command near or upon the ]S"ew Eoad on its way to the Crater. At the point of observation I occu- pied there were fi.fteen or twenty other Confederates. While we could see nothing of the fight, we knew by the artillery and musketry filing we heard in the direction of the Crater that a fierce conflict was there rag- ing, and strange to say, not one of us seemed to be doubtful of the result — the restoration of our line — which fact was soon learned by the crowd of prisoners being brought in, all negroes, so far as I saw. "About 11 o'clock I again went to Col. Huger's quarters. Finding him in, I received my orders and start- ed back, crossed the river by Poca- hontas bridge, and was struck with the fact that I saw not a solitary person on any street from "Washing- ton street to the river. Everything along the streets seemed more quiet than on a Sabbath." In giving an account of what was done by the artillery at the battle of the Crater there cannot be omitted "the following letter, which appears in the May number, 1878, of the South- ern Historical Papers (vol. Y, page 247,) written by Capt. Henry G. Planner, captain of Planner's bat- tery: "After reading Capt. W. Gordon McCabe's article in the Southern Historical Society Papers on the de- fence of Petersburg, I think I have the right to find fault, not with what is written, but with what was omit- ted in the article referred to. "I claim that the battery com- manded by me, and composed en- tirely of N"orth Carolinians, is enti- tled to the credit of preventing the Federal army from entering Peters- burg on the morning of the spring- ing of the mine . The facts are these : The mine was sprung about daylight of the 29th of July,* and was imme- diately followed by the capture and occupation of our line of breast- works by the enemy. They remain- ed in the works until 8 o'clock before making preparations for the advance. About that time they re- formed line of battle and began ad- vancing towards the city . Planner 's battery was posted in the main road near the Gee house, about two hun- dred yardsf in the rear of the Con- federate breast-works, immediately in rear of the mine, forming what might be considered a second line, but entirely without infantry sup- port. Immediately upon the ad- vance of the enemy we opened upon them with shell and canister, and they soon sought shelter in their trenches. In a few minutes they again formed and commenced ad- vancing. Again we opened on them with our six guns. The enemy press- ed steadily forward, when our guns were double charged with canister, and a deadly fire poured into their ranks. Their lines were then bro- ken, and they fled to the works and there remained until our infantry, *July 30th is, of course, here intended. fThe distance is over 500 yards. 212 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. composed of the brigades of Mahone, Girardeyll and Saunders, all under the command of Mahone, arrived and were placed in position prepar- atory to making the final charge, "which resulted in the recapture of the works about two o'clock in the day.§ "The fire of the enemy, from near- ly one hundred guns, was concen- trated upon my company for nearly two hours ;^ but amid this terrible rain of deadly missiles these brave JiTorth Carolinians stood to their guns and repulsed every advance made by the enemy, holding them in check alone, and without infan- try support, until the arrival of Gen. Beauregard with the troops com- manded by Mahone before men- tioned. "We claim the honor of saving the day, and preventing what might have been a very serious disaster and probable loss of Petersburg. "No one save those who went through the fiery ordeal can form the slightest conception of the fury of this attack, l^ot less than fifty shell a minute were hurled at the company, and but for the protection afforded them by the sides of the road, they would have been swept off the face of the earth. There are those now living who can confirm my statement; and if this should meet the eye of the gentlemen cogni- zant of these details, they will doubt- less do us this justice. The history of a battle cannot be truthfully writ- ten from the same stand-point of any man, although present in the en- gagement. It is due, therefore, to the brave men who composed my command that they should be prop- erly placed upon the record. "We do not wish to lessen the claims to which the valorous troops of other commands are entitled, but let us make such contributions as the future historian can work into a continuous narrative and do justice to all." Brevet-ColonelJas. C. Duane, maj- or of engineers and acting chief en- gineer of the Army of the Potomac, in his testimony before the Commit- tee on the Conduct of the War, given on the 20th of December, 1864, said: "Orders were given to concentrate our fire in order to silence the ene- my's fire while Gen. Bumside's ope- rations were going on after the ex- plosion of the mine. The position I had on the morning of the 30th was on Gen. Warren's line; I assisted Gen. Abbott in directing his fire. The 18th corps was massed in the rear and a little to the right of the 9th corps. A portion of the 5th corps was massed along the line of the Norfolk railroad, in the cut, ready to support the attack of the 9th corps. As soon as the explosion took place, all of the guns on the line of the 5th corps opened fire, and com- pletely silenced the enemy's fire. I remained on the line of the 5th corps until nearly 8 o'clock, during which time we kept up a constant fire." IGirardey commanded no brigade at the Crater, but was acting as a staff-officer of Mahone. §The recapture by Saunders was about 1 P.M. TTGen. Hunt, chief of artillery of the Ar- my of the Potomac, in his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, already referred to, says: "On the morning of the 30th the mine was sprung a little over an hour after the time appointed. The artillery opened as directed and succeeded remarkably in lieep- ing down the enemy's fire, as he was evi- dently surprised. There was one battery on the crest behind the mine, which opened at intervals, but which was always silenced after firing not more than two or three rounds." THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 213 Capt. Augustine C. Brown, of S'ew York, who commanded Co. H of the 4th IS.Y. Heavy Artillery and whose battery was in Fort Sedgwick on the day of the battle, in a statement which appears in Capt. Hyland C. Kirk's book, "Heavy Guns and Light," says: "We knocked down and practical- ly leveled many yards of the enemy's works in our front, and demolished or silenced every gun bearing upon our part of the line except one whose extremely heavy traverse defied all our efforts." A table furnished General Hunt, chief of artillery, by Col. Henry L. Abbott, who commanded the artille- ry siege train of the Army of the Po- tomac, which appears in Capt. Kirk's volume above mentioned, shows that 81 Federal guns fired in this action 3,833 rounds of shot and shell, the missiles aggregating over 75 tons of metal. Gen. Mahone, in a letter under date of August 20th, 1892, says : "Complying with your request to furnish information as to certain par- ticulars in the history of the battle of the Crater, I will state that on the morning of the 30th of July, 1864, my division rested with its left at the Rives salient and extended west- wardly about one mile in the direc- tion of the Weldon railroad. Hav- ing received an order to send two of my brigades to the support of Gen. Johnson, as narrated in your address, when the head of the col- umn of the two brigades reached the entrance of the covered way leading from the Hannon Pond to and across the Jerusalem plank road, I rode over to Gen. Johnson's headquarters, then on the north side of Blandford Heights, a mile, or nearly a mile, away from the scene of the disaster which had occurred on his front. The primary object of my visit to his headquarters was to see Gen. A. P. Hill, my corps-command- er, who, I was informed, was there. I did not of course expect to find Gen. Johnson anywhere else than on the ground where his front had been pierced. Gen. Hill was not at Gen. Johnson's headquarters, but Gen. Beauregard was. Saluting the latter, I said, 'General, I have, by di- rection of Gen. Lee, two brigades of my division on the way, near at hand, for the re-inforcement of Gen. Johnson.' General Beauregard, calling up General Johnson, whom I did not personally know, and who appeared to be about ready to take his break- fast, said, 'General, you had better turn over any outlying troops you may have to Gen. Mahone, and let him make the attack.' To this Gen. Johnson readily assented. I then asked Gen. Johnson what front- age on his line the enemy occupied. His reply was, 'The retrenched cav- alier.' I then rejoined, 'In feet, I want to know. Gen. Johnson, that, as you may imagine, I may deter- mine the face of my attacking force.' He then said, 'About 100 yards.' I then asked Gen. Johnson to show me the way to the Crater, whereupon, calling up a young lieutenant of his staff, he said to him, 'Show Gen. Mahone the way to the Elliott sa- lient or Pegram's battery.' I then left Gen. Johnson and his headquar- ters, and with the young lieutenant — Lieut. Harris, I think he was— I proceeded hurriedly along the Jeru- salem plank road till I reached the point at which it crossed the cover- ed way, up -B^hich my two brigades were then moving, the head of the Virginia brigade, which was leading, having just reached that point. 214 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Here I dismounted, entered the cov- ered way with the lieutenant and hurried on in the direction of the scene of the disaster. The covered way, as you know, debouched into a ravine or gulch, which itself led into a depression or swale along a little branchy the general course of which depression was about parallel to the hundred or two yards of Gen. Johnson's line next on the left or north of the Crater, and the bottom of this ravine was a little over two hundred yards in the rear or west of this line. Arrived at the mouth or terminus of the first mentioned ravine or gulch, the lieutenant, point- ing across to the slope of the hUl on the east side of this branch, a few yards away, said to me, 'If you will go up that slope there, you can see the Yankees.' Moving quickly to this slope, I found myself in full view of the portion of the salient which had been blown up, and of that part of the works to the north of the salient, and saw that they were crammed with Federal soldiers and thickly studded with Federal flags. "For the moment I could scarcely take in the reality, and the very dan- ger to which I was at the time ex- posed came to my relief and bade me stand still, as the surest course of personal safety — I did not think they would be so likely to fire upon a single man — and so I stood where I could keep one eye on the adver- sary whilst I directed my own com- mand, which every moment was in fearful peril if the enemy should ad- vance whilst the two brigades were moving, and the larger part of them were still in the covered way. "A moment's survey of the situa^ tion impressed me with the belief, so crowded were the enemy and his flags — eleven flags in less than one hundred yards — that he was greatly disordered but present in large force. At once I sent back to my line in the trenches, full two miles away, for the Alabama brigade to be brought me quickly by the route by which the two brigades had come, then indicat- ing to Capt. Girardey the ground on which I desired the Virginia brigade formed facing the retrenched cava- lier of the salient. "Occupying the position hereto- fore described, and from which, as heretofore stated, I was able to com- mand a full view of that portion of the works occupied by the enemy, and at the same time to intimately direct the movement of my own com- mand, I spoke words of encourage- ment and duty to the men as they filed by on their way to the position which had been indicated to Capt. Girardey for them to take for the attack. "The Virginia brigade being now in position, and the head of the Georgia brigade having now left the mouth of the covered way and filing up the depression to take its place on the right of the Virginia brigade, the left of the Virginia brigade being not more than eighty feetfrom where I stood and Girardey about midway, Girardey sang out, 'General, they are coming!' whereupon, turning my head to the left — at the moment I was instructing the Georgia brigade as it was filing along up the depres- sion — I saw the Federals jumping out of the Confederate breast-works a|nd coining forward in a desultory line, as if to charge us, and in a tone of voice so raised that the whole of the Virginia brigade might hear me, I said to Girardy, 'Tell Weisiger to forward.' Capt. Girardey, like the brilliant officer he was — never fail- ing to do precisely the right thing at the right time — rushed with up- lifted sword to the front of the brig- ade himself, repeated the command 'Forward' and led the brigade which, as if on dress parade, and with the steadiness and resolution of regulars THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 215 — and regulars they were in every sense that makes the soldier effective — moved forward to meet the advanc- ing enemy. "Now, as you know, on their arriv- al at the works there was a hand-to- hand fight, and the work of death by the bayonet and butt of the mus- ket went on till aU of Gen. Johnson's Une was retaken to the left of the traverse which flanked his 'retrench- ed cavalier' on the south, and to the right of which the enemy occupied some fifty feet of his line, leaving it and the pit in the possession of the enemy. "I took no note of the time and could not 'now from memory give it, but, according to the records, this charge must have been made hefore nine o'clock. Gen. Burnside, in his report of the action, fixes the time of the charge and re-capture of our works at about 8:45 a. m. At 8:45 A. M. Gen. Meade telegraphed to Gen. Warren directing an assault upon the Confederate battery on the south of the Crater. As early as 9:15 A. m.. Gen. Warren, replying to this dis- patch, tells Gen. Meade that just be- fore receiving the dispatch to assault the battery on the left of the Crater occupied by Gen. Burnside, the ene- my drove his troops out of the place and he thought then held it. 'I can find Ao one,' he says, 'who knows for certainty, or seems wilhng to admit, but I think I saw a rebel battle-fiagin it just now and shots coming from it this way. I am, therefore, if this be true, no more able to take the bat- tery now than I was this time yes- terday. All our advantages are lost. I await further instructions and am trying to get at the condition of af- fairs for certainty.' "At 9:25 A. M. Gen. Meade tele- graphs to Gen. Warren : 'The attack ordered on the two-gun battery is suspended.' And at 9:45 A. M., Gen. Warren telegraphed to Gen. Meade : 'I find that the flag I saw was the enemy's, and that they have re-occu- pied all the line we drove them from, except a little around the Crater, which a small force of ours still hold.' "The small force referred to in the last mentioned telegram was that oc- cupying the fifty feet of our main line to the south of the traverse above mentioned. The Virginia brigade having made its charge, I put the Georgia brigade in position to meet any possible reverse to which the Virginia brigade might be sub- jected, and then hurried across the field to the works the Virginia brig- ade then occupied, and, after making a thorough examination of the situ- ation, so disposed the same as to in- crease the ability of the brigade to hold the works retaken, at the same time causing sharp-shooters to be so posted as to make death the penalty to those of the enemy who were at- tempting to escape and get back to their lines. It was whilst here that I remember young Butts, of your company, being killed in my imme- diate presence. He had just cau- tioned me, whilst I was looking through an opening in the works, not to expose myself. I told him I would look after that, and almost immediately afterwards he received a buUet in his head, which killed him instantly, and he fell on the floor of the trench at my feet. "I hurried back to the Georgia brigade and explained to the men and officers the situation of affairs, and how they must make the move to retake that part of our main line stiU occupied by the enemy to the left of the traverse. They moved for- ward for the charge, but, unfortu- nately, obliqued too far to the left and came in behind the Virginia brigade. The terrific fire of the en- emy to which this brigade was sub- jected while passing over the inter- vening ground caused it to slide in 216 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. this way to the north and fail of the object its charge was designed to ac- complish. "Notwithstanding this mishap, I realized that we were masters of the situation, but was eager to remove any lingering danger to it which might come from a re-inforced effort by the enemy to regain the breach in our lines which he had so success- fully effected. "At this juncture, now a little after 10 o'clock, Gen. Johnson came upon the ground in the depression in which my brigade had formed for the charge, and sent for me to come to him from the breast-works. I met him there and it was agreed be- tween us that he would have his men in the main line to the south of the Crater push down upon the enemy occupying the fifty feet there, and that I should renew the assault with the Alabama brigade, now arriving. He fixed 1 o'clock p. m. as the time at which he would be ready to co- operate with his forces. "In the meantime Col. HaskeU, a brilliant officer of our artillery, al- ways hunting a place where he could strike a blow at our adversa- ry, presented himself for any service I could advise. There were two Coehorn mortars in the depression already referred to, and I suggested to him that, if he could serve them, I would have them taken up to the outside of the Crater, at which place he could employ himself until one o'clock, as perhaps no such oppor- tunity had ever occurred, or would be likely to occur, for such effective employment of these little imple- ments of war. Col. Haskell adopt- ing the suggestion, and the mortars being removed to a ditch within a few feet of the Crater, they were quickly at work emptying their con- tents upon the crowded mass of men in this horrible pit. "While this deadly work of the Coehorns was going on, sharp-shoot- ers sent back to the pit, dead or wounded, every man who attempt- ed to scale its sides and get away, and bayoneted muskets of the dead were, like javelins, hurled into the pit by those who could do nothing more to hasten the completion of the work all were anxious to close out. "Meanwhile the Alabama brigade being formed on the line from which the Georgia brigade had made its unsuccessful attempt, and the hour of one o'clock having arrived, this brigade, commanded by Gen. Saun- ders, imitating the steady and res- olute step of the Virginia brigade and its magnificent alignment all the way, completed the restoration of Gen. Johnson's line to the con- trol of Gen. Lee's army, leaving the enemy now occupying only the Cra- ter or pit and because he could not safely retreat. "At this moment the Alabama brigade went into the portion of the works to the south or right of the traverse above mentioned, with its left resting on this traverse, being now immediately to the right of this traverse. To this point I went as soon as the Alabama brigade made its charge, and upon reaching the works I called for 100 volunteers from this brigade to go into the pit, not content that any of the enemy should remain so near, subordinated though I felt that he was to our control. Upon this call for volunteers being made, so many offered themselves for the service that the trouble would have been to determine who should not engage in this desperate under- taking. "Meanwhile a white handkerchief was raised in the pit, and upon the response to come in a large number of prisoners came pouring over the crest, which, including the few which had been previously captured dur- ing the day, footed up 1,101. BATTLE-FIELD OF THE CRATER -VIEW No. 3. The Crater, with field to its west and northwest, and ravine, depression or swale from which Mahone's brigade made its charge. The two willow trees Tisible on the right of the centre of the picture stand along the little branch in the ravine. About 60 yards south from the tree nearest the centre of the pic- ture was the right of the brigade when it formed its line of battle for the charge, while the left of the line of battle stood about 33 or 35 yards northeast from the tree nearest the right of the picture. [From a photograph taken August 17, 1892, by C. R. Rees, Photographer, Petersburg, Va,, With the instrument north of the point at which Mahone's brigade filed out of the covered way into the low ground In which it formed for its charge. See map of T. F. Rives, page 320, and description of illustration in Appendix, page 334.] BATTLE-FIELD OF THE CRATER-VlEW No. 4. The ridge or crest of the hill along which stood the Confederate breast-works north of the Crater appears on the left of the picture as seen by a spectator standing on the Norfolk & Western railroad at the point where it crosses Taylor's Creek and looking southwest, the Crater being in the cluster of trees immediately to the left of the single tree on this ridge. The meadow aloni^ Taylor's Creek in the upper portion of which (cut off from view by the trees seen in the picture) General Burnside massed a portion of his troops preparatory to the assault on the morning of July_ SO, 1864, appears in the picture, as also does the hill from which Wright's battery delivered its telling fire upon the Federals when they occupied the Crater and adjacent earth-works, this hill being to the right of the picture, and Wriglit's battery being about 100 yards in rear of the hedge-row of trees visible on this hill. [From a photograph taken August 17, 1892, by C. R. Rees, Photographer, Petersburg, Va., with the instrument on the track of the Norfolk & Western railroad, looking southwest. See map of T. F. Rives, page 320, and description of this illustration in Appendix, page 335.] THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 217 "These men, in passing to our rear over the dreadful slope, had many of their number killed and wounded by the mistaken fire from the guns of the Federal batteries that had previously so fearfully blis- tered all the ground in rear of the works retaken. "Taking the average estimate given by several authorities on the Federal side, the troops congregat- ed for this assault u^on Gen. Lee's line may be safely estimated at not less than 45,000, whilst that of my brigades did not exceed 1800. "It is not improper to add to this statement that no body of troops took part in the three several charges made by the brigades of my division, or otherwise engaged in the work done by them, result- ing as heretofore described in the full and complete restoration to the control of Gen. Lee's army of that portion of the works which the enemy had taken on Gen. Johnson's front." In 1872, in a letter to Gen. Ma- hone, dated April 25, 1872, Gen. "Weisiger made the following state- ment in respect to the part he took in the battle of the Crater; "As I was about leaving the cov- ered way I received the following or- der from you: 'Form your brigade for the attack and inform me when you are ready.' This order was promptly obeyed, the line formed and men ordered to lie down until ordered to charge. I then directed my aid, Capt. Drury A. Hinton, to inform you I was prepared to move forward. This message was deliver- ed, and your reply jeturned was, 'Wait for orders from me (yourself) or Capt. Girardey,' which reply had been scarcely delivered to me when Capt. Girardey, who was then acting on your staff, came up to the right of my line, where Capt. Hinton and myself were standing. At this time I discovered that the enemy were preparing to charge me, as an officer with stand of colors in hand sprung from the works and commenced the formation of a line of battle in my immediate front. I repeated my or- ders to Capt. Girardey, pointed out the movement of the enemy, and sug- gested the propriety of charging at once, if not all would be lost. He replied that he was directed to pro- long my line to the right with the Georgia brigade and send us in to- gether . Perceiving the rapidity with which the enemy was forming, and the imminent danger of being over- run before the Georgians could ar- rive on the field, -Capt. Girardey as- sented to my views. I therefore re- quested him to state my reasons to you for so doing, and immediately charged with my brigade, which, in gallant style, carried the works as far as my line would cover, captur- ing several hundred prisoners and eleven stand of colors, with a loss to my command in killed and wounded of 283 officers and men. Soon after, the Georgians were sent in, and later in the day, after I had been compell- ed to leave the field, the Alabama brigade under General Saunders, was sent in and the remaining part of our works held by the enemy captured." In the month of June, 1880, the Eichmond (Va.) Gommonwealth, in an editorial entitled "General Mahone and the Crater," pub- lished the letter from which the foregoing extract is taken, and also a letter written in 1876 by Gen. Weisiger to Capt. W. Gordon Mc- Cabe, dated ISTov. 17, 1876, giving substantially the same account of Gen. W.'s command of the brigade from the time of its formation on the 218 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. slope of the hill from which the per that I should make the following charge was made. The accoimts giv- extracts: en by Gen. Mahone and Gen. Weis- ^apt. Charles Eidgeley Goodwin, iger, respectively, differing as to the of Gen. J. F. Gilmor's staff, in a state- giving of the order to charge, it was ^^^^ ^^^^ Baltimore, January 4, sought by this editorial to show that ^g^g^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ volunteer aid on Gen. Mahone was not entitled to the ^.^^^ Mahone's staff iii the battle of credit of the success at the Crater, ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ j^^^.^^ mentioned the and also that he (Gen. Mahone) was ^^^^^^ ^^ Courier Henry26to hurry in the covered way at a time when ^^^ sounders' brigade, says: he ought to have been elsewhere. ,,^. .,-.-, , , "live minutes had not elapsed _-r , , J. J.T, ■ J • when the enemy charged to the crest Upon the appearance of this edi- ^^^^^ ^^^ delivered a volley. Then tonal, a committee of old soldiers, it was that Girardey, not Weisiger or members of Mahone's brigade — Jas. anybody else but Girardey, sprang E. Tyler, captain of Co. D, 12th Va. up in front of the men, and, waving regiment, Jas. E. PhiUips, first Ueu- ^^^J^,"f,'^' ^^^^ *^^ command to 'for- of Co. G, 12th Va. regiment, Leroy S. Edwards, sergeant of Co. B, 12th Capt. W. A. S. Taylor, who was Va. regiment, and Jas. A. Gentry, adjutant of the 61st Va. regiment, private of Co. I, of the 6th Va. regi- ^^ ^^ statement dated July 16, 1880, ment, feeling that injustice wg,s be- s^-ys: ing done to Gen. Mahone, undertook ""WhUst waiting for and expect- to collect statements from partici- ii^S ^'^^ command 'Guides Post, 'I pants in the action, and in the month «^^ Girardey of Mahone's staff % . j^ ,„o^ i, , T ^. ^ ^aye his hand above his head and of August, 1880, the publication of g^^Q^t 'Charge!' I presume the or- the Commonwealth having been in the der came from Gen. Mahone, and, meantime suspended, the committee with the command, started in a run published in the Eichmond (Va.) for the works. We went forward at Whiff a number of statements and ex- f; *^,f ™ ^^."^ ^ ^ splendid line of " „ ^ ^ ^ ^ , battle. Arriving at the works, the tracts from statements made by par- command delivered its fire and An- ticipants, officers and soldiers, giving ished the work assigned it with the their recollections as to the matter bayonet. In a very few minutes in controversy. Along with these thereafter Gen. Mahone was at that statements was a vigorous and cans- Pf *^^i! «^ ^¥ works occupied by the ^. , ^^ . „ tX. , , , . , 61st Virginia, and I heard him re- tic letter from Gen. Mahone, to which ^^rk that 'the work is not over and there was a rejoinder of like charac- that we must retake the balance of ter from Gen. Weisiger, published in the line.' " the Eichmond (Va.) State of Septem- Col. Wm. H. Stewart, Lieut.-Col. ber, 1880. of the 61st Va. regiment, who com- Prom these statements it is pro- 2G. Robert E. Henry, of TazeweU couuty, Va. THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 219 manded it in the action, in a state- ment dated July 21, 1880, says: "As soon as lie column halted on the ground from which the charge was to be made, you came from the head of the column, directed me to have every man in line, and caution- ed me to see that no man was left skulking in the covered way. You also gave me minute directions as to the manner of advancing. You then returned to the right of the line, and just about this tim©the alignment of my regiment had been completed, the enemy made a demonstration and the order to charge was given from the right. I was under the impres- tion that it came from you. As my attention was to the front and you were on the right, I did not see you until we had gained the outer breast- works. I then met you and begged you not to unnecessarily expose your- self." Ool. Geo. T. Eogers, colonel of the 6th Va. regiment, who commanded the brigade in the action, after Gen. Weisiger was wounded, in a state- ment dated July 22, 1880, says : "The regiment I commanded was in front and on the right of the brigade (6th Va.), and before de- bouching from the covered way re- ferred to into the natural ravine parallel with the entrenched line, and from which we charged. Gen. Mahone stopped me and informed me of the character of the work to be done, described the position we were about to move upon, and or- dered that with 'fixed bayonets and without a shot until within the trenches,' the charge should be made. He then also informed me that the Georgia brigade of his divi- sion would form on my right as soon as practicable and join the charge. I do not doubt that like orders and instructions were given to each com- mandant of a regiment. "Before the Georgia brigade could be brought into position the enemy showed a purpose to anticipate our charge, as I afterwards learned, for, by our position in the ravine, I be- ing on the extreme right, we were entirely hidden from any view of the line or the movements of those hold- ing it, when Gen. Mahone, I assume, seeiug their design, ordered our brigade forward at once and alone. We captured the line equal to our front, but could not cover the Cra- ter; and upon the instant almost of reaching the entrenchment Col. Wei- siger called to me that he was, he thought, mortally wounded, and turning over to me the command of the brigade, retired, with assistance, from the field. The brigade for the moment was in great confusion; our loss in the charge had been very heavy; the work of death was yet rife in the trenches, and our men were suffering terribly from an en- filade fire, poured from the Crater proper, that projected far to the rear of our line, as well as from the fire of the main line of battle of the enemy. "Then I met Gen. Mahone in the trenches and received from him timely instructions for the disposi- tion of the men and orders to hold the position, at any hazard and un- der any loss, until he could bring another brigade to our relief." Mr. Jas. H. Blakemore, who was one of Gen. Mahone's couriers, in a statement made July 28, 1880, says: "Satisfied with the progress of •the troops, Gen. Mahone rode rapid- idly to Gen. Bushrod Johnson's headquarters, whence, after a hur- ried c6nsultation, he proceeded in advance of his command to the open- 220 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. ing of the covered way. Dismount- ing here he walked forward to the front, stood on the rising ground of the ravine which made out from the right of the covered way in a direc- tion nearly parallel to the works cap- tured by the enemy, and thence took a careful survey of the field and the position occupied by the enemy. The enemy were in full view and not more than two hundred yards dis- tant from where Gen. Mahone stood. Seeming to have resolved upon his plan of attack, Gen. Mahone at once dispatched an order to the trenches for the Alabama brigade to join us by the same route along which we had come.* At this time the Vir- ginia brigade arrived, and under the directions of Gen. Mahone was formed by Oapt. Girardey along the line indicated by the general, and was kept at its post with bayonets fixed and ready to charge. At this moment I could not have been more than two feet from Gen. Mahone, who was standing a short distance from and a little in advance of the left of the line of our formation, and who was then awaiting the move- ments of the Georgia brigade, emerg- ing from the covered way. Just then Girardey, looking in the direc- tion of the enemy, suddenly ex- claimed, 'Here they come!' or 'Gene- ral, they are coming ! ' meaning the en- emy. This emphatic announcement called Gen. Mahone 's attention from the men immediately by him and brought from him the quick, sharp order, 'Tell Weisiger to go forward.' This order Girardey instantly gave in his own gallant way. Impatient for the fight and knowing his men, Girardey did not wait to reach Weis-. *From this statement it appears that it was not Courier Blakemore, as stated in my address (p. 152), who was sent for the Alabama brigade, but some other courier. iger, but at once springing in front of the left of the brigade, and wav- ing his sword over his head, he gave the word to charge and led the men to the assault. Our position was re- taken at the point of the bayonet. Gen. Mahone then rejoined the brig- ade at a point near the 'pit,' and in my hearing thereafter gave such or- ders as brought in the Georgia and Alabama brigades, and led to the restoration of the integrity of our lines." Professor B. W. Jones, who com- manded the 12th Va. regiment, in his statement made January 3, 1877, to which reference has been already made, referriag to his address men- tioned in the statement, says: "Before I had quite finished my address some of the men called my attention to the fact that the enemy was moving one of his lines out of the works towards us and forming for an attack upon us. In a loud voice I announced the fact, and sev- eral voices repeated it. The next in- stant Oapt. Girardey commanded 'Forward, ' which I instantly repeat- ed, and the whole of my regiment promptly leaped forward. N'ot a man hesitated. I remember seeing one member of his staff during the formation of his line of battle, but do not now recall his position when the forward movement by us began, and do not remember to have heard his command. The word 'Forward' came, I think, from the brave Capt. V. J. B. Girardey." Maj. "Wm. H. Btheredge, who com- manded the 41st Va. regiment in the action, in his statement dated July 16th, 1880, says: "We were ordered to charge the enemy — the order coming, to the best THE BATTLE OP THE CRATER. 221 of my recollection, from General Ma- hone, through Major Girardey, who was present at the time . Gen . Weis - iger was present and I think on the right of the line, but when the order was given to charge I did not think it came from him, but from Gen. Ma- * hone, through Maj. Girardey. I thought so then; I think so stiU." Mr. Putnam Stith, of Co. B, 12th Va. infantry, in his statement dated December 3, 1876, says: "We charged. I heard no orders given to do so. My firm conviction is that none were given. I think I was near enough to Gen. Weisiger to have heard his command if he had given any." Mr. H. V. L. Bird, of Petersburg, Va., a member of the color-guard of the 12th Va. regiment, in a statement made in 1880, says: "We did not know who gave the order to charge, but at the time it was supposed to have come from Gen. Mahone. We no more thought it necessary to question that than to ask who had whipped in the fight, nor do I doubt either now." Mr. John E. Laughton, Jr., first lieutenant of Co. D, 12th Va. regi- ment, in his statement dated Decem- 11, 1876, says: "The command 'forward' was giv- en to the right of the line * * * by Capt. Girardey, of Gen. Mahone's staff, which command was repeated by myself and other subordinate commanders. Having seen Gen. Ma- hone superintending this portion of the line, my impression was that the order of Capt. Girardey to forward came direct from Gen. Mahone." Capt. Thos. P. Pollard, captain of Co. B, 12th Va. regiment, in his statement made June 30, 1880, says: "The order came, I think, from the right to forward. * * * * Said orders, I always thought, ema- nated from Gen. Mahone, as he was in such close proximity to our line, as was also Capt. Girardey of his staff. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ :{; "Just here I would say that, in my judgment, our success on that occa- sion was very much due to the man- ner in which Gen. Mahone had dis- ciplined the old brigade, as also to the confidence they had in him." Mr. Thos. H. Cross, of Co. A, 16th Va. reg't, in a statement made to the committee in the summer of 1880, says: "I saw Gen. Mahone just before we started in the charge and saw him again at the breast-works. "The order to forward was given by Capt. Girardey, then acting on Gen. Mahone's staff." Mr. Thos. E. Eichardson, orderly sergeantof Co. K, 12th Va. regiment, in his statement made in December, 1876, says: ' 'When the enemy came out of the works I was in twenty feet of Gen. Mahone. He and Maj. Girardey were talking. When the move on the part of the enemy commenced Maj. Girardey left Gen. Mahone and ran to the front, giving the command, 'Forward, men'.' Maj . Jones, of the 12th Virginia, gave the command at the same instant and we moved under his orders. I heard no command from Gen. Weisiger. The move com- menced from the left of the brigade, immediately where Gen. Mahone was standing." Mr. W. W. Coldwell, of Co. C, 12th Va. regiment, (a member of the battalion of sharp-shooters), in his statement dated June 30, 1880, says: 222 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. "I had not lost sight of him (Ma- hone) five minutes when the enemy began forming outside the captured portion in our front. ***** At that moment one of the men in the 12th jumped up and iired his rifle and yelled, 'Forward.' That was the first sound I heard and we all jumped up and moved right at them. Then Weisiger called out to us, 'Don't fire. ' * * * y^Q were ad- vancing when he said this, and I am positive Weisiger did not give the command 'Forward.' "In the movement from where we laid down to the trenches which we captured, I did not see Gen. Mahone, but in less than five minutes after we were in the works he was in our midst, encouraging the men, in the thickest of the fire. He joined us from the direction of the left." Mr. T. H. Hines, of Co. B, 16th Va. regiment, in a statement dated Suffolk, Va., July 21, 1880, says: "Seeing a communication in print from Gen. Weisiger, claiming the honor of having led Mahone 's old brigade at the battle of the Crater, and also stating or intimating that Gen. Mahone was not present until after the fight was over, I beg leave to state that, as a member of Co. B, 16th Virginia Infantry, I was in that charge and in t he fight . My brother, J. C. Hines, was near me and was wounded, having his right arm shat- tered by a bullet while in the works about half an hour after we reached the breast-works. Gen. Mahone was near us in the works immediately in the fight; and when my brother was wounded spoke to him and asked if he was much hurt; then directed him the way to get. out and where he could find a surgeon ; at the same time directed me to go with him and take care of him. My brother and I both are willing to make oath to this state- ment." Gen. Weisiger, in his rejoinder to Gen. Mahone 's letter, published in the Eichmond (Va.) State in Septem- ber, 1880, as has been stated, said: "I have never claimed to be the hero of that occasion, but do claim that I gave the order to 'forward!' at the opportune moment, when it was observed that the enemy were pre - paring for a charge . There was only one of two things to be done — either to lie idle and be over-run, or charge with the bayonet. "The certificates published vary as to who gave the command to for- ward and from which flank of the brigade it came. Some heard one, some another; all may be honest in their opinions and belief. "It is not expected that an officer can be heard along the entire line of a regiment or brigade, especially when the artillery was in full play. It is the duty of all subordinate ofii- cers to repeat all commands given by their superior officers. I repeat that Gen. Mahone was not in the line of battle from its formation to the time the charge was made; nor was he in the Captured works until after I had been wounded and retired. He has not to my knowledge claimed it for himself; it has only been done by his friends." In his letter to Capt. McOabe, da- ted November 17, 1876, Gen. Weisi- ger says: "A short time after leaving the works I was wounded and left the field with Capt. Hinton, my aid. In coming out I found Mahone at ihe very point at which I had left him THE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 223 in tlie 'covered way.'* I reported to him that I had been wounded, and had turned the command over to Colonel Eogers, ' of the 6th Virginia regiment." Judge Drury A. Hihton, who was aid-de-camp to Gen. Weisiger, in a statement made September 5, 1892, says: "On the night preceding the bat- tle of the Crater, the headquarters of Mahone's brigade were in the Willcox house. About midnight a courier reached our headquarters with an order from Gen. Lee which Maj . Benj . H. Nash, 27 who was acting as assistant adjutant -general of the brigade, read aloud. The purport of this order was that Gen. Lee was anticipating an attack somewhere on the lines the next morning and di- rected that the brigade should be un- der arms by 3 o'clock A. m. Find- ing that I could be of no assistance, with the request that I should be awakened when the first gun should be fired, I fell asleep. About day- break I was awakened by the falling of a shell within twenty feet of the Willcox house. Hastening to the works, which were two or three hun- dred yards distant, I found the men awake, in the trenches, with arms stacked and camp-fires burning. By this time the firing had become quite rapid, particularly about the point at which our works crosses the Jeru- salem plank road. In a few minutes an exploding shot from about this quarter passed down our breast-works and took off the legs of three men who were standing together and whom I knew personally and had enlisted in 1861. They were Sturdivant and McDonald, of Co. G, 41st Virginia regiment, and another member of the same company whose name has escaped me. "Shortly after this a terrific ex- plosion occurred, which shook the ground perceptibly. Most of the officers who were aware that a de- tachment of men under the command of Oapt. Jno. E. Ludlow, of the 6th Virginia regiment, had been counter- mining about the Eives farm, proba- bly guessed what had happened, namely, that the enemy's mine had been sprung. "Within the space of an hour or more, but not later than 7 A. M., I feel sure, an officer came to our line and inquired if that was Mahone's division. He was informed that it was, and having announced that he *Acoording to Judge Hinton's statement, Gen. Mahone was at this time standing not "in the 'covered way,' " but "at a little ar- bor about thirty steps' from the left of our line," which arbor, with its mortar, or mor- tars, I distinctly remember, and as passing after we left the "covered way," the words "covered way" here used being understood and intended, as elsewhere, to include the ravine or gulch Into which the artificial "covered way" that began at the plank road "debouched," as mentioned in Gen. Ma- hone's statement, which ravine or gulch, be- ing itself a naterar' covered way," in which there was little, if any, artificial work ne- cessary, runs into the "ravine," "depres- sion" or "swale" along which the brigade formed for the charge. If Judge Hinton is correct in his state- ment that Gen. Weisiger "remained in com- mand of the brigade until two unsuccess- ful charges had been made by Wright's brigade," when Gen, W., after beingwound- ed, met and reported to Gen. M. that "he (W.) had been wounded and had turned over the command to Col. Rogers of the 6th Va. regiment," then Gen. M. had been to the works and had returned to the point at which Gen. W. here saw him. If, however, Judge H. is mistaken in his statement, and Col. Eogers is correct in his when he says, "Upon the instant, almost, of reaching the intrenchment. Col. Weisiger called to me that he was, he thought, mortally wounded, and turning over to me the command, re- tired, with assistance, from the field," then Gen. Mahone had probaJDly not been to the breast-works when Gen. W. saw him, as mentioned in the latter's statement. 27. Benj. H. Nash, of Eiohmond, Va. 224 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. desired to see Gen. Mahone a cou- rier was sent with him to Mahone's headquarters at the Branch house, less than a quarter of a mile distant. Within less than a half-hour Gen. Mahone reached our brigade and directed Col. Weisiger to have his men fall out of the works, man by man, with arms trailed, and form in the same way in the rear, and then to move off as quietly as possible, left in front, towards the ravine, east of the city water-works. "The brigade, being now out of the works, was marched left in front along the route indicated in your address, and finally reached a ra- vine running north and south, and about parallel to the line of our breast-works, then in the possession of the enemy. At the end of the covered way along which we passed to this ravine, and at the point at which it intersects with the ravine, was Gen. Mahone, standing by a tra- verse, to which a horse was tied. Here he directed Col. Weisiger, who was leading the brigade, to move up the ravine and prepare to charge. Col. Weisiger promptly did as di- rected, and placed his brigade along the slope of the hiU with its left rest- ing some distance from the traverse referred to. "Col. Weisiger, being now on the right of the line of battle, directed me to order the men to fix bayonets and lie down, and then to inform Gen. Mahone that he was ready to charge. I did as directed, going along down the line and repeating the order to the regimental com- manders, and adding that the men had better reserve their fire until they could see the whites of the ene- my's eyes. When I reached Gen. Mahone he had moved southwardly from the traverse, and was standing by a mortar under a little arbor about thirty steps from, the left of our line. Gen. Mahone, receiving Col. Weisi- ger's message, said, 'Tell Col. Weis- iger to wait for an order from me or Capt. Girardey' — which I under- stood to mean an order from himself in person or delivered through Gi- rardey. "Soon after I reached the right of the line and delivered Gen. Ma- hone's response, Capt. Girardey came to where Col. Weisiger and myself were standing. Just at this moment a magnificent looking Fed- eral officer stepped out from our works, and, as we could perceive by his gesticulations, was calling upon his men to form line preparatory to a charge. The call was indifferent- ly obeyed. Here and there a man would jump out from the works, but the great mass of the men in the trenches failed to respond. At this juncture Col. Weisiger said to Gi- rardey, 'Captain, had I not better go in now?' 'Ifo,' said Girardey, 'Gen. Mahone desires to annex Wright's brigade on to you and send you in together.' A few moments later, however, Capt. Girardey au- thorized him to charge. Colonel Weisiger then gave the word 'For- ward!' which was immediately com- municated along down the line, and with one impulse, as it seemed to me, the whole brigade sprang for- ward and rushed up the hill, mak- ing the most brilliant and orderly charge I ever had the opportunity to witness.* *Mr. Timothy E. GrifBth, the present owner of the Crater farm , and who has lived on the place constantly since the year 1865, in a statement made Sept. 13, 1892, says: "On the day of the Crater fight I was a boy 12 years of age. On the 17th day of June, 1864, the day on which Pegram's battery took position as described by Capt. Pegram MAJ. RICHARD W. JONES. "As soon as Capt. Hinton passed down the line, Capt. Jones stepped out in front of us, as we lay on the ground, and, mth great coolness of manner, said : ' Men, you are called upon to charge and recapture our works, now in the hands of the enemy. They are only about one hundred yards distant. The enemy can fire but one volley before the wotks are reached. At the command • forward ' every man is expected to rise and move forward at a double- quick and with a yell. Every man is expected to do his duty.' " P. 153. CAPT. DRURY A. HINTON. "A few minutes after we take the recumbent position, Capt. Drury A. Hinton, acting aid-- de-camp of Col. Weisiger, walks along the line and directs the regimental officers to instruct the men to reserve their fire until the enemy are reached." P. 153. " I remember seeing Col. Weisiger and Capts. Hinton and Girardey. They moved along the brigade line and were in different places at different times. They acted with conspic- uous bravery." P. 201. THJE BATTLE OF THE CRATER. 225 "Arrived at the works, Gen.Wei- siger remained in command of the brigade until two unsuccessfnl charges had been made by Wright's brigade, when he was wounded. I assisted him from the field between 11 and 12 o'clock, and on reaching the before -mentioned arbor, where was the mortar referred to, we met Gen. Mahone, who, I am satisfied from the several statements of par- ticipants in the action, had previous- ly been in the breast-works with the men. "Col. Weisiger here informed Gen. Mahone that he had been wounded and had turned over the command of the brigade to Col. Eogers. "On our way out, going by the route by which we came in, we pass- ed Gen. Beauregard and Col. Sam'l B. Paul, of his staff, at the plank road, and a short distance beyond we met Gen. Saunders j with his Ala- bama brigade, going to take his part in the action. Col. Paul, as we came up, remarked to Col. Weisiger, 'Colonel, you all have covered your- selves with glory.' Gen. Beaure- gard made a profound bow. "I desire to add to what I have said, that, in this fight, in my judg- ment. Col. Weisiger did aU that the most gallant and experienced brigade commander could possibly have done and that Gen. Mahone demonstrated, not only his ability to handle a di- vision, but also his capacity to win a brilliant victory under the most ad- verse circumstances and in the face of tremendous odds." That there arose the controversy disclosed by the foregoing state- ments has been a matter of sincere regret to the surviving members of Mahone's old brigade, and they who never questioned the courage of either' of their old brigade comman- ders, both of whom they have seen on many a battle-field, feel that gross injustice is done by any imputation, however slight, that Gen. Mahone at the battle of the Crater was, at any time during the progress of the action, for the purpose of avoiding personal danger, at any place, on or off the field, where his duty as a di- vision commander did not call him. When the Virginia brigade made its charge, Gen. Mahone, of course, remained in his position in the ra- vine along which the Georgia brig- gade was then filing to take its po- sition to the right of the Virginia in his statement, my father's house stood in the angle between the Baxter Eo&d and the Jerusalem plank road. I saw Pegram's bat- tery take its position on the evening of the 17th, and earlier, in the afternoon of the same day, I saw the officers who selected the line whilst they were engaged in this work. About Monday, or Tuesday, after Saturday, the 18th, my father's house was burned. From the night of the 15th of June to the night of the 17th this house and yard were occupied by Gen. Beauregard and staff as headquarters. "On the morning of July 30th, I was in Petersburg when the explosion occurred — my father's family had refugeed there — but before seven o'clock I was out on the lines and went to the mortars that were stationed on the plapk road, behind the em. bankment to the north of the site of my outer gate. "When the charge of Mahone's brigade was made, I was standing in the road just in front of the Gee house, there being a mortar just at this place, and from this point I witnessed the charge. I could not see the left of the brigade, but saw its right as it ascended the slope and made for the works. I heard the shouts of the men and the clashing of the guns when the troops reached the works. "Gen. Beauregard, at the time the charge was made, was at the Gee house — this he told me when making a visit to the Crater a few years after the war. I have often heard it stated that there were other prom- inent officers at the game place at the time of tJiP Qbarge." 226 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. brigade. To have charged along be that Capt. Girardey gave the or- with the Virginia brigade, as was der. If he gave it, after saying to the duty of its brigade commander, Gen. Mahone, "General, they are and as did Gen. Weisiger, would coming !" (as narrated by him. Gen. have been evidence that Gen. Ma- Mahone), then the order came di- hone had lost his head, and, with rectly from Gen. Mahone through the Georgia brigade of his division Girardey. If he (Girardey) gave then moving along under his eye, the order before he said to Mahone, and needing his presence to put it in "General, they are coming !" and the position it was filing along to Judge Hinton is correct in his state- occupy, would, under the circum- ment when he says that Girardey stances, have been criminal indis- "authorized him (Weisiger) to cretion. charge," then the presumption is that The Virginia brigade having made Girardey acted in so doing within the its charge. Gen. Mahone, having scope of the authority given him by seen the Georgia brigade file to the Gen. Mahone, his chief, position from which il* was intended If both Gen. Mahone and Judge that it should charge, hurried across Hinton are mistaken in their respec- the slope over which the Virginia tive statements, and Gen. Weisiger brigade had just charged to the is correct in every particular of his, breast-works, and was in the works the discovering of the opportune mo- with the troops within a few minutes ment to charge was probably only after the Virginians got into them, what was done by every one of the encouraging the men, posting sharp- trained veterans under him, men and shooters and arranging for the in- officers, who cast their eyes to the tended charge of the Georgia brig- front and saw what was transpiring ^d®- there, and the giving of the order to With facts like these, which cannot charge at this particular time, with be disputed, supported as they are by the implied, if not the express as- so much evidence, the aUegation that g^^^^ ^f ^j^e division commander's Mahone, on this occasion, failed to gtaff-officer there present and per- do all in the way of personal pres- g^^^^^y ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^g ^^^^ ence at the scene of conflict and post ^^.^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^.^^^^ ^^ of dangerthat should, or would,have ^^^gi ^ special credit, been done by the bravest oi divi- sion commanders, under like cir- ^^^^ Weisiger's reputation as a cumstances, is utterly untenable, ^^S^^^ ^^^^ regimental commander, and should be abandoned as frivo- ^^^^d and sustained on many his- 1 toric fields, does not require that he As to who gave the order to should be right in this controversy, charge at" the opportune moment, On the bloody field of Malvern the weight of testimony seems to Hill, one of the severest battles of THE BATTLE OP THE CRATER. ill the war, the Virginia brigade under Virginia, the exertions and gallantry Mahone won many laurels, and the of whose colonel (D. A.Weisiger) in 12th reg't, with Weisiger at its head, conducting the operations of his reg- was in the forefront. In this action iment merit high commendation."* he was a conspicuous figure as he Prom the day that Gen. Mahone led his regiment about sunset to the took command of Anderson's divis- advanced position held during the ion in the "Wilderness down to the night by Mahone's and Wright's battle of the Crater, a period of near- brigades; the position to which Gen. ly three months, in a campaign in Magruder in his report refers when which the Virginia brigade was in he says, "Darkness had now set in several hard fought battles and was and I thought of withdrawing the almost constantly under fire, and was troops, but, as we had gained many adding to its reputation as one of the advantages, I concluded to let the best in the Confederate army. Gen. battle subside, and to occupy the Weisiger was at its head, always at field, which was done within one the post of duty and of danger, hundred yards of the enemy's guns. With a re«ord of this kind, this Pickets were accordingly established gaUaht officer can well afford to have by Brigadier-Generals Mahone and the verdict of impartial history de- Wright, whose brigades slept on the clare that he was probably in error field in the advanced position they in this matter of controversy; and had won;" and the position in which with equal truth can it be said that the brigade remained until after day- Gen. Mahone, with his brilliant re- light the next morning, constituting cord as a commanding ofiicer, a record the small body of troops to which illustrated by a series of successes up Gen. Mahone in his report refers, to the last days of the Confederacy, when , he says, "The small body of can well afford to concede to the gal- troops now remaining upon the field lant man who succeeded him in the and under my command were of my command of his old brigade all that own brigade exclusively, and with the latter claims as to the giving of but few exceptions of the Twelfth the command to charge. f *Gen. Early, in his report of the battle of proved to be a small body under Brigadier- Malvem Hill, says: Generals Mahone and Wright." "As soon as it was light enough next morn- fThe following entry made in my diary, ing an appalling spectacle was presented to containing information published in the our view in front. The field for some dis- newspapers of the day, may properly be in- tance from the enemy's position was liter- sertcd here as showing the work done by ally strewn with the dead and wounded, the division of which Gen. Mahone had and arms were lying in every direction. It command during the campaign of 1864, the was apparent that the enemy's main body, Virginia brigade of which during the great- with his artillery, had retired, but a body erpart of the time was under the command of cavalry, supported by infantry, was soon of Gen. Weisiger, the brigade being present discovered on the field. To the right, near in almost every engagement in which the the top of the hill leading up towards the division came in contact with the enemy: enemy's position, we saw abody of ourown "Tuesday, Mar. 21, '65. troops, some distance off, lying dpwn, which "Operations of Mahone's division during 228 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. And now, in concluding tlie adden- iites each, as may be inferred from da relating to the battle of the Cra- the statements of Maj. Coit and Col. ter, it is proper to submit a few ob- McMaster, and of several of McMas- servations about the artillery: ter's command, as to the time of the Maj . Walker thinks the battle was charge of Mahone's brigade — ^who "an artillery fight" and that "the can say that all of the guns and all enemy were practically whipped be- of the mortars of Jones, Haskell, fore Mahone's command took part in Coit, Walker, Planner, Lampkin the action," whilst Capt. Planner and Langhorne would not have been claims "that the battery commanded in the hands of the enemy long be- by" himself, "and composed entirely fore Mahone could have come up of North Carolinians, is entitled to the with any part of his command? credit of preventing the Pederal army Por nearly four hours — from the from entering Petersburg on the morn- time of the explosion about 4:45 a.m. ning of the springing of the mine." to the time when the Virginia brigade Is it clear that, if the brave South made its charge, about 8:45 A. m. — Carolinians under the* gallant Mc- the South Carolinians, a part of them Master had not fought in the deter- in the trenches north of the Crater mined way they did for nearly four disputing the progress of the Feder- hours — from almost immediately af- als, almost foot by foot, a part of them ter the explosion until Mahone's in the ravine from which the Virgin- brigade appeared on the scene — ia brigade charged, under Col. Smith Wright's battery under Coit and and Capt. Crawford, stood as a bar- Jones on the north, Davidson's bat- rier to the advance of the enemy, tery under Gibbs and Walker on the About 8:45 the enemy in great force south, and Planner's battery and began to form for their charge. Sup- Lamkin's mortars on the west of the pose that Mahone's brigade had not Crater, with Langhorne's mortars on then been in the very spot where it its southwest, would have had the was, or, being there, had not charged opportunity of making the reputation j ust at the time it did . Is it clear that they did for those in charge of them ? the enemy would not have reached Had this infantry failed to do the Cemetery HiU and at this time made splendid work they did during all short work of the artillery ? those trying hours — hours that seem- In the record of what was done on ed to the actors more than sixty min- this day the artillery have much of oampalgn of 1864, as shown by official re- commands which at different times have ports: fought Mahone's division, foot up 11,000, "The command has captured — Prisoners, from which it appears that the division du- 6,704; Pieces of artillery, 15; Stands of col- ring the campaign inflicted a loss of 17,704 ors, 42; Small arms, 4,367; Horses, 235; men upon the enemy. Wagons and ambulances, 49; Slaves, 537. "The loss of the division during the cam- "According to enemy's own statements, paign foots up 5,248 killed, wounded and the losses in killed and wounded in those miesing." THU BAtTLE OF fHE CRATER. 229 wMcli to be proud, but to this arm of tlie service in the main the glory does not belong. Maj. "Walker is as much in error when he claims that the battle of the Crater was ' 'an ar- tillery fight" with the enemy "practi- cally whipped before Mahone's brig- ade took part in the action," as is Oapt. Manner when he claims that his battery "is entitled to the credit of preventing the Eederal army from entering Petersburg" on the morn- ing of that action. The fight was one in which both infantry and artil- lery took part and in which neither could have accomplished much with- out the efficient aid of the other, and it is believed that this is a conclusion which will be reached by any impar- tial student who will read the details of this memorable engagement. located in the an'gle between this road and the Baxter Eoad, about the site of the house of Wm. H. Griffith, deceased, the father of Mr. T. R. Griffith, the present owner of the Crater farm. From the position of Wright's battery, 555 yards. From the nearest point of the raih'oad cut of the Norfolk & Petersburg (now Nor- folk & Western) railroad, 405 yards. This is the cut to which Capt. Rich'd G. Pe- gram refers in his statement on page 207. It is north of the Baxter Road, and in it, between the road-crossing and Taylor's Creek, on the north side of the railroad track, stands mile post 79. The cut refer- red to by Col. Duane in his statement on page 212 as that in which a portion of the 5th (Wa/ren's) corps was massed does not appear on the map, being the next cut south of the Baxter Road, and the western end of what is known as "Summit Cut." Since the greater part of the foregoing addenda has been in print, Mr. Thos. F. Rives, of Dinwiddle county, Va., an in- telligent and competent civil engineer, the county surveyor of that county, has made a survey and map of the battle-fleld of the Crater, showing the Crater and principal land-marks of the battle-fleld, the map to appear in this volume. Prom the measurements made by Mr. Rives, as shown on his map, the follow- ing facts appear: The centre of the Crater is distant from sundry points, as follows — From the centre of the Baxter Road at the point nearest to the position of Da- vidson's battery, 373 yards. The embra- sure of its most important gun, mention- ed by Maj. D. N. Walker in his statement on page 203, was 100 feet south of the centre of the road. From the willow tree mentioned on page one hundred and fifty-three, 323 yards. Mr. Rives locates the right of Ma- hone's brigade when about to charge about 60 yards south or southeast of this tree, which, I feel satisfied, is correct, or nearly correct. This tree is seen in the photo- graph taken in August, 1892, for this book. The smaller willow tree near the right of the picture, beyond the corn-field, stands, like the other willow tree, several yards in the rear of the position of the line of battle. The post indicated on the map and visible in the picture (to the left of the smaller tree) marks about the left of the line of battle, being about 18 yards northwest from the point at which its left probably rested when the brigade was about to charge. From the Jerusalem plank road, 533 yards. Planner's battery was probably The high ground north of the Crater along which were the Confederate breast- Tj^^orks occupied by the Federal forces is now (1892) visible from the windows of the trains of the Norfolk & Western rail- 230 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. road as they pass in the vicinity of the Crater at a point northeast therefrom. The posts of the wire fence, plainly visi- ble on the brow of the hill to the left, mark the general course of these works on the high ground. On the 30th of July, 1864, a heavy body of timber stood between the meadow and the breast- works at this point and obscured the breasts works from the view of one standing on the railroad. The same body of timber stood in front of the breast-works on the hUl upon which stood Wright's battery. At this point, also, the timber has disappeared, leaving only a hedge-row of small trees visible in this picture on the brow of the hill on the right. Since the address and addenda have been in print the following typographi- cal and other errors have been noted, and it has been deemed proper here to correct them: The 16th Va. regiment was command- ed in the action by its lieutenant-colonel. Col. R. O. Whitehead, and not by Capt. L. B. Kelly, as stated at page 153. The name of the major of the 41st Virginia regiment was Wm. H. Btheredge, not Wm. H. Etheridge, as printed on this page. The word Infantry in the note near the foot of page 179, should be read wi^h in- verted commas next after the letter j/, so as to show the quotation. In Mr. J. E. Whitehorne's statement on page 180 he says, "Whilst this was going on I was astonished at the splen- did handling of a piece of artillery to our left and rear." After going over the ground he is satisfied that the artillery referred to was Wright's battery, which was to his left and front, and he directs the word front to be substituted in the place of the word rear in this sentence. Gen. Delevan Bates calls attention to the following errors in his statement and requests their correction: An omitted word, it, should b'e inserted next after the words what to do or howio do, in the first column of page 183, and in the sentence but all stopped at the Crater until all the surprise was over, in the same column, the word all before the words the surprise should be omitted. In the next column, on the same page, the word companies near the top of the page should be strick- en out and the words the flank substitu- ted. In the last mentioned column the word officers should be substituted for offi-officers. In the first column on the next page (p. 184) the word /ar?n should be substituted by the word former before the word life and the hyphen omitted. In the statement of Mr. Wm. C. Smith, on page 185, the name of David McCoru- nochie is erroneously printed David Mc- Conichie. In the statement of Mr. Putnam Stith on page 188, in the second column, the words in close proximity of Meade Ber- nard's head should read in close proxim- ity to Meade Bernard's head. In the letter of Maj. D. N. Walker, in the second column of page 204, the name of Capt. Manner is erroneously printed Mannery. In Capt. Pegram's statement on page 207, strike out the word instant after the words and figures on the 16th. In Gen. Mahone's statement on page 213, place inverted commas, to show the quotation, before the words The primary in the first paragraph of the second col- umn, and before the words General Beau- regard in the second paragraph of the same column. FREEMAN W. JONES. DARING EXPEDITION. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OF CONFED- ERATE VETERANS, OP PETERSBURG, VA., ON THE EVEN- ING OF JANUARY 2nd, 1890, BY Me. FREEMAN W. JONES. GOMEADBS: port to Capt. Eead at Drury's The story I shall now Bluff. A young friend, Mr. Eraser, relate, I am sure, will be one and myself, determined to offer our of interest to you, as, so far as I am services. We reported that night to aware, it has never as yet been given Capt. Eead, as directed. After to the public. I have for a long spending a quiet night at the Bluff, time felt it would be an interesting not then knowing the dangerous er- matter of history. The hero of this rand upon which we were bent, the expeditionwasCapt. Ohas.W. Eead, next morning, February 3rd, after of the Confederate States navy, who an early breakfast, we were ordered was at the time stationed at Dru- to fall in line, our command num- ry's Bluff, on James river. I was at bering about 120 men. Very soon the same time stationed a few miles we were armed each with a heavy below this point on what was then cutlass and pistol — the former a called the "Hewlett line," extend- large knife about twelve inches long ing from James river to the Appo- by about two and a half inches wide, mattox, and held by Pickett's divi- Our pistols were, most of them, sion. I was an humble private in old navy flint-and-steel pistols, car- Co. ]fi, 56th Virginia Infantry, Hun- rying only one ball. Matters began ton's brigade. to look serious, at least to me. I On the 2nd day of February, 1865, should have felt better if I had re- orders came to my regiment that a mained with my regiment. But as few volunteers were wanted for an there was no chance to make an ex- expedition, "and those wishing to go change now, I soon determined to could do so. The order was to re- make the best of a bad bargain. 232 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. It was very soon told us that we After capturing one or more of these were going upon a dangerous jour- boats he expected to steam at once ney, and that every man was ex- up James Eiver and take possession, pected to do, his duty. We had if possible, by surprise, of the first thirteen marines along who were gun-boat he met. "I am sure, " said armed with rifles. The rest of the he, "before they could possibly have command consisted mostly of sail- known what was going on, I could ors, together with a few artillery have run alongside and boarded a and infantry men, armed as I have gun-boat with my men, and, having described . In a short time up drove thus captured the first gun-boat, with four wagons coupled at great length, this gun-boat and my torpedoes, each bearing a long boat, and on I could easily have sunk the rest of each side two or more long heavy the gun-boats. Besides, at the first poles. On the end of each pole was signal, our own gun -boats, which fastened a torpedo. The sight of were lying in readiness near the these implements of marine warfare Hewlett house, in James Eiver, added to the discomfort of many, would have come immediately to my myself one of that number in partic- rescue. My plans were made known ular, as I have a horror of water to Gen. Lee, and approved by him, when it gets beyond the depth of and were also approved by Presi- three feet. As before stated, the dent Davis himself." object of this expedition was to dis- Let us now see how far he carried lodge Gen. Grant from before Pe- out his plans and what caused the tersburg. Just think of it. Com- failure of this most daring under- rades, 120 men going on an expedi- taking: tion to force Grant with over 100,000 On the morning of Februarys, troops to evacuate Petersburg! At i865, we left Drury's BlufP and first blush such an expedition strikes marched about two miles west of one as simply ridiculous. Petersburg, and camped on or near But let us look at the facts of the what is now the farm of Dr. D. W. case before passing judgment: Lassiter. On the 4th we marched Capt. Bead told me his plans with some fourteen miles, going above his own lips. I cannot, therefore. Burgess' mill on the Boydton plank be in error in my statement. His road, thence a few miles south, to plan was this: He intended to go the left of this road. It was bad around Gen. Grant's army, and, weather, and we could not get our when fully in his rear, he expected, wagons along, as the roads were bad. under cover of night, to board one Making an early start the morning or more United States transports of the 5th, we had only gone a short then lying at anchor in James Eiver, distance when heavy picket firing at a point known as Burwell's Bay. was heard in our front. In a short A DARING EXPEDITION. 233 wMle some caTalryinen came rusli- could not stand, but reeled from side ing back and told us the enemy were to side like a drunken man, while advancing and we would all be cap- his rider, though exhausted, ap- tured. Our gallant captain was not peared much pleased at reaching us. to be easily discouraged. We soon Capt. Bead then ordered the second found a road leading fxirther to the officer in command to take us back a south, and by rapid marching made few miles and to leave the road some good our escape. We marched some distance. The order was also to al- thirty miles that day, and by nine low no fires to be kindled, and that o'clock that night we were camped the men be kept as quiet as possible, at a safe distance in Grant's rear, while he, Capt. Bead, with his guide, On the 6th we marched some fifteen would ascertain whether there, was miles and camped near Wakefield danger ahead. - station, on the ISTorfolk & Petersburg For nearly two days we were kept railroad, now the Norfolk & Western in suspense, hidden away in swamp railroad. On the 7th we continued and woods, at the end of which time our journey, and about midday we Capt. Bead returned and said that halted until we could procure some he l^ad found the enemy in heavy forage for our teams. Just as we force, consisting of infantry, artille- were about to resume our march our ry and cavalry, a few miles ahead, attention was directed to a horse- He afterwards told me that, but for man coming at full speed toward us. the timely arrival of this messenger, Being in the enemy's lines, of course, the last one of us would have been the sight of this approaching horse- captured, and he thought probably man caused much excitement. We would have been killed. We made soon saw he was a Confederate, and our way back by a most circuitious knew he must be bearing an im- route, by way of Sussex Court-House portant dispatch. Eiding up at full and Stony Creek, thence by Dinwid- speed, he dismounted and handed die Court-House, where we safely Capt. Bead a dispatch from Gen. reached our lines. We reached Lee. This dispatch was to inform camp the evening of the 13th of Capt. Bead that, since our departure February, ,having been eleven days from Drury's Bluff, one of our na- on the march. Worn out, hungry val officers had deserted and had in- and suffering much from cold, we formed the enemy of his (Capt. were glad to get back to old quar- Bead's) whole plan. Capt. Bead ters once more, was also informed that, unless very The great aim and end in view cautious, he and his whole command on the part of Capt. Bead would would be captured. I can never for- have always, perhaps, been un- get how exhausted this courier and known, even to me, Comrades, (as I his horse appeared. The poor horse confess I at the time little dreamed 234 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the great and dangerous work that had been planned for our little band to do), but I chanced to meet with this gallant captain in the city of New Orleans during the spring of 1867, and he then and there, in his quiet way, kindly related to me his plans and purposes as I have related them to you, and he seemed much pleased to meet with one who had followed him on that expedition. The character of this expedition, involving so much peril and aiming at such grand results, entitles it to an important place in the history of the war, and Capt. Eead, its projec- tor, deserves to be remembered as among the bravest of the brave. ADDENDUM. Since the foregoing address was delivered by Mr. Freeman W. Jones, the brave and distinguished Captain Charles W. Eead has gone to join the great majority of the heroes of the late war. In the ' New Orleans Picayune of January 26, 1890, in which was made the announcement of his death at Meridian, Miss., on the preceding day, the following interesting sketch of this gallant man appears: "A THRILLING BIOGRAPHY . "The news of the death of Capt. Charles W. Read will be read with regret by many. The brave soldier who passed away was honored all over the broad land for his valor, and beloved by his friends for his loyalty, his modesty and the many good qualities that distinguished his noble character. "Some two months ago the ^z'co- yune published a lengthy history of Capt. Eead's career during the war. His deeds of daring read almost like chapters of a romance. Capt. Read never repeated them, although furnishing data about any particu- lar event when applied to by a friend. The record is found in his- tory, and Northern chronicles accord him as much praise as the writers of the South. He was the naval hero of the war, and the late Capt. Sam P. Blanc, a lamented leader of the " local bar, fitly styled him the John Paul Jones of the Confederacy. "Capt. Eead was born in Yazoo county, Miss., in 1840. He had a love for the sea from early boyhood, and sought and obtained an ap- pointment to Annapolis. There he graduated and was made a cadet on the Powhatan. As soon as the news of the secession was received the ship started from New York. Young Eead resigned on the way, left the ship when it landed, and came south to report to President Davis and Secretary Mallory. He had just reached his majority when he don- ned the uniform of a Confederate lieutenant, and was assigned for duty to the steamer McRae at New Orleans. He took part in the naval battle preceding the fall of the city, and fought with noteworthy gal- lantry. "Lieutenant Eead then joined the Arkansas, the celebrated ram, which had a short, bloody and brilliant life on the Mississippi, command- ing the stern guns in all her actions. After a brief spell of sickness at Jackson, Miss., he was ordered to the steamer Florida at Mobile. On the 15th of January, 1863, she made her escape to sea through the block- ading fleet, and commenced a long list of captures. One of these cap- tures was the brig Clarence, which Capt. Eead obtained permission to A DARING EXPEDITION. 235 board with a crew and set out on a privateering cruise. From the Clar- ence, Eead and his crew transferred themselves to the Tacony, the Ar- cher, and other vessels, played havoc with Northern ships that came their way, and made a bold stroke by going into the guarded harbor at Portland, Maine, and carrying off the revenue cutter Caleb Cushing. The daring Confederates were final- ly captured and sent to Fort War- ren. There Capt. Read assisted in organizing and carrying out a plan to escape, lay all night on wet ground after the elements placed the rescu- ing boat out of reach, was prodded with the bayonets of passing sen- tries, and coolly walked back to the fort when daylight made further concealment impossible. "The heroic young oflftcer was ex- changed, and appeared at Rich- mond for more duty. At the latter place he organized several forlorn hopes to destroy Grant's base of supplies, open James River to the Southern fleet, and give Lee an op- portunity to break the lines fast closing around the Confederate capital. Read displayed a desper- ate daring in this series of actions almost beyond belief. The last for- lorn attempt by a land expedition, was frustrated by treachery, and the little band of men engaged in the march had to trace its way through the woods at night, and ford the Appomattox River when it was cov- ered with ice. Seventy-four of the hundred men who took part in the plan remained in the Richmond hos- pitals long after the evacuation of the city. . "Capt. Read closed his war record with the wonderful run of the ram Webb, from Alexandria, on the Red River, almost to the mouth of the river. The boat was specially pre- pared for the trip, and in April, 1865, she passed through the Fed- eral fleets along the Mississippi, and had almost passed New Orleans when her identity was discovered and chase given. The Webb gave her pursuers a glorious race, and twenty-five miles below the city Capt. Read slowed up to allow the Hollyhock, which had distanced the others, to advance. Just then the masts of the Richmond were seen over the point ahead. Read thought it was a trap, and prepared to fight the formidable Richmond, when a flat was discovered between. The Webb would have to go around and pass under the enemy's broadside. Read knew what that was and so ordered his own ship run ashore, and each man was told to shift for himself. The cavalry had been sent down from New Orleans and sur- rounded the sailors, and the latter returned to their boats, preferring to fall into the hands of the navy. The Webb's crew surrendered to one of the gun-boats and were con- veyed to New York. Gen. Kirby Smith's surrender gave them all their freedom, Capt. Read among them. "Since the war Capt. Read contin- ued to follow the sea as a profes- sion, and took up his residence in New Orleans. For a number of years he commanded the City of Dallas, of the Royal Mail Line, en- gaged in the fruit business between this port and British Honduras. The gallant sailor was happily mar- ried to Miss Carter, of Meridian, Miss., and his home was brightened by several lovely children. His life took him often away from home, but it seemed as if he had found snug harbor at last when Governor Nichols, recognizing the veteran's worth, appointed him one of the harbor masters of the port. But the Great Commander had already de- cided to call the brave sailor home to his reward. He was stricken with 236 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. disease just as he was about to en- ter upon a season of rest in the bo- som of his loving family. The char- acter of the man asserted itself to the last. He looked fate hopefully in the face, and after the doctors said there was no help he quietly remarked to the writer, at their last interview, that he would obtain a leave of absence from the governor, go up to the Mississippi hills for a month, and return in condition to resume his duties. Capt. Read did get 'well, only to be stricken down by a more relentless foe, and the fearless commander's ship of life went down in the ocean of eternity. "A fearless soldier, a stainless man, a devoted husband and father, a faithful friend and a loyal citizen — it is no wonder that a legion of true hearts, all over the south, mourn his passing away." Note. — Mr. Fraser, the young Friend of Mr. Freeman W. Jones, to whom he refers on page 231, was Frank E. Fraser, of Bruns- wick ooimty, Va., a private in the same company with Mr. Jones. DE. JOHN HERBERT CLAIBORNE. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OP CONFED- ERATE VETERANS, OF PETERSBURG, VA., ON THE EVENING OF THE 6th of MARCH, 1890, BY Dr. JOHN HERBERT CLAIBORNE. COMRADES : fire to-night ; I have only a simple "Arma Virumque cano" story to tell, a tale of personal rem- — sang the Bard of Mantua iniscence, a recountal of march and in epic story, which nineteen cen- bivouac and battle, measured by turies have decreed immortal; but septenary deeds of heroism, of days it is a story whose stirring incidents of disaster, in which the heavens pale in shadowy nothing, in the seemed hid ; and finally, of a black presence of that mighty drama, and starless night, in which the war- whose tragic history you made in rior's banner was planted for the the "Seven Last Scenes of Lee last time by warrior hands, and of a AND His Paladins." coming morning of unspeakable The poet has not been born nor sorrow, when slowly and sullenly it the orator made, who, with lyre or was furled forever, tongue, has given to the World a When, in the memorable cam- fitting recital of that heroic strug- paign of 1864, Lee and Grant, on gle of one short week, in which was the 18th of June, confronted each lost a cause and country that we other in the trenches at Petersburg, had dreamed to be a heritage from I was in the city, assigned to duty heaven, and which we had loved as senior surgeon, or executive offi- even better that life. cer, in charge of all general military Do not look to me, therefore, for hospitals at this post, reporting im- song or story worthy of Confede- mediately to the general command- rate fame. I have no flower of ing the department, rhetoric to show, no measured lines My duties were scarcely of a pro- pf epic verse to bring, to your camp fessional nature at all — I had no op- 238 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. portunity of seeing the sick and beyond its means, in the care of its wounded except on tour of inspec- sick and wounded soldiers. I had tion — but my whole time was con- permission and authority to make sumed in receiving and forwarding requisitions, at my own will, for morning reports of the number and money in any amount, and, when condition of those under hospital money would not buy the necessa- treatment ; to see that they had ry supplies, to draw requisitions for proper and sufficient accorctmoda- cotton yarns and snuff, with which I tion ; that they were carefully and rarely failed to get what I wanted, skillfully attended ; that their diet But as the months wore on ; as was full and in accordance with the casualties of the siege daily in- regulations ; that they were sup- creased ; as the hospitals and ceme- plied with bedding and clothing; that teries were beiag constantly fiUed ; the sick were carefully apportioned as the recruits became fewer and to hospital dimensions ; that the fewer ; as the food, gathered and wounded were removed from under bought or impressed, came in more fire as promptly as possible, &c., and more slowly from broken and &c. ; in the execution of which my badly equipped roads ; it became life was no sinecure, and my posi- evident that our struggle was tion not pleasant, not safe, especial- against hope. The deserters — gaunt ly after the heavy shelling of the city and hungry — God help and forgive commenced, and one not especially them, for they had been men and to be coveted. Few men had the soldiers and patriots once— began privilege of selecting their places, to creep away under cover of night, however, in those days, and my lot and our attenuated lines could no was Kght ia comparison with that longer be held. of many others. On the morning of the 2nd of "When Gen. Lee assumed com April, 1865 (my quarters then were mand, or rather when he was placed on Washington street, on the south in command, of all the forces and side, just opposite to the present affairs at the post, my duties were residence of Mr. Bangley), Col. P. 1 increased, and I was required to re- came galloping down from the di- port at his headquarters, or to for- rection of Turnbull's farm, the head- ward my reports to his headquar- quarters of Gen. Lee, and, reining ters. I made a friend of his chief up in front of my office, informed surgeon, a frank, genial and gene- me that Gen. A. P. Hill had been rous man, a surgeon in the old ar- killed, and that our lines were bro- my, and I had his support and help ken on the Dinwiddle plank road, in the discharge of some of my one- He would give me no specific infor- rous and unpleasant duties. And mation, however, said he had no or- here let me record, that the Confed- ders for me, and hurried on to the erate government was liberal, in and l. Col. Henry Peyton, now of Baltimore. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 239 front on the Jerusalem plank road. Fair Grounds hospital and the Con- He did not tell me — (it was about federate hospital on Washington 11 A. M.) — that Gen. Lee had left his street, at the corner of Jones' Eoad ; headquarters, nor of the fierce fight- the latter the best organized and ing at Fort Gregg. I was soon made equipped military hospital I ever fully aware of the situation on the saw, which I had fitted up without west of the city by one of my assis- regard to expense two years before, tant surgeons, who, having consti- in a large tobacco factory, that could tuted himself a scout, proceeded, have been no better adapted for the without my command, to reconnoiter purpose, if it had been built for a about a mile up Cox Road. He re- hospital. turned with great precipitancy, and. The other hospitals in the city— I might say, with haste unbecoming one, the North Carolina hospital, at his rank, and informed me that the the present site of Cameron's facto- Yankeeswere advancing their lines ry; one on Washington street, the as far as the Whitworth house, now Virginia hospital, in Watson & Mc- the lunatic asylum, and, swinging Gill's factory; one on Washington around their left, were threatening and Jefferson streets, the South to encircle the city. There soon Carolina, now the factory of J. H. came tidings from the hospital at Maclin, and one on Bollingbrpok the Fair Grounds, (now West End and Second streets, the Ladies' hos- Park,) that things were very unplea- pital— we had been compelled to sant in that vicinity, and that sur- abandon the first month of the siege geons and attaches were compelled on account of the shelling, which to resort to the leeward of the large made them unpleasant and unsafe- trees, to protect themselves from for the sick and wounded. The the enemy's random bullets, whilst Confederate and Fair Grounds hos- the convalescents were disposed to pitals, therefore, were crowded with go, and not to stand on the order wounded, and especially during the of their going. hard fighting which preceded the About two o'clock my orders came evacuation of the city. Therefore, to leave the city, and to take with I found on inspection I could take me as many surgeons, hospital at- but few surgeons or attaches with taches, servants, &c., as could be me, and when I mustered my little spared from hospital service, and to force at sunset, in front of the Con- cross the river at Campbell's Bridge, federate hospital, I found I had take the road to Chesterfield Court- four surgeons, as many attaches House, go as far as practicable that (white), one ambulance and driver, night, and to await further orders, one wagon, one buggy, and four col- For some months we had been ored servants, one of whom, a able to keep open within the corpo- sprightly and smart young lad of rate limits only two hospitals, the sixteen, his mother, who was one of 240 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. my slaves, brought up just before I tlest, most loveable of men, living left, and with many imprecations in a quiet country home, amidst a and abjurations,' told him to follow simple-hearted, peace-loving people, "master to the end of the earth," an Arcadia, in which war was not and "never to come back unless even a dream. But he did not know master came back." me. His honest, brave life was fast As I stood at the gate of the hos- ebbing away, and the mist was gath- pital and watched my little cortege ering over his eyes, which could move off, loth, indeed, to turn my only be swept off in the sunlight of back on home and city, for I felt that country where the nations shall that I should never see either again learn war no more, as I saw them then, if I ever saw As I turned away, heart-sick, from them at all — the wounded were be- this scene, a poor woman caught ing hurried in from ambulance and me by the hands : "Doctor, will you upon stretcher, the moans mingling not order somebody to help me car- with the cries of women, the shriek- ry my poor husband home ? I can ing and bursting of shell, and the take care of him and nurse him bet- hoarse orders of men in authority — ter than any one else — there he is." two scenes caught my eye, which And there, lying only a few feet are as indelibly fixed there now as away in the hospital yard, where on that holy Sabbath eve, which the with many others he had been hur- great God had seemingly given up riedly brought in and put down any- to the devils in pandemonium. where that space could be found, A stretcher was borne in the gate- was a private, an humble citizen not way by four soldiers, just from the subject to regular service, a private near front, one of them crying, "My belonging to the second-class mili- poor captain ! the best man that tia, who had been summoned ever lived !" A large, finely made, to the immediate defence of the officer he was, his right arm shot city, when our lines grew so thin, away at the shoulder-joint, and the He had fallen not very far away quivering, bleeding flesh soiled with from the little cottage, where in days dust, stained with powder and filled of peace he had lived with his wife with shreds of the gray sleeve that and little ones — and now there he had been hurriedly cut off. Some- lay, a fourth part of his skull car- thing moved me as the bearers halt- ried away with a fragment of shell, ed to uncover the face, over which exposing his brain, leaving him with some rude but kindly hand had some little automatic life, but of thrown a piece of dirty blanket, course not conscious, whilst his Great God ! There lay before me a poor wife was striving to get from friend of my earliest boyhood, him some sign of recognition, and Years had passed by since we part- begging that he might be carried ed— I had known him as the gen- home. I could only stop to tell her LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 241 that my right to order was at an bring me my dog, or fall into the end, and that, if a thousand men hands of the enemy with him." The were at my beck, none could help man looked at me^for a minute as if her now. I could see no more, and, he would question such an order, mounting my horse, I slowly follow- but four years of discipline and obe- ed my little party, crossed the river, dience had not lost its force on the and on the heights at Bttrick took first night of the retreat, and he one last look at Petersburg — as it turned off and retraced his steps to was. Here I overtook my cortege, Petersburg. I never expected to and, mustering them, found one ab- see him again, but, late at night and sentee. This was a yeUow, bob- after we had gone into camp, he re- tailed, bob-eared, rough-haired turned on horse-back (he had bor- Scotch terrier, about twelve years rowed a horse — soldiers rarely found old, who had seen no little service, any difficulty in borrowing ahorse), and who showed it. He was irrita- and was leading Jack by a chain of ble, selfish, self-asserting, frail as to white handkerchiefs, I did not en- virtue, his name disagreeably asso- quire where he got the horse, but, ciated with any number of scandals, having some curiosity to know where but full of faith in his master, and he got the handkerchiefs, I ventured irrevocably attached to his master's to ask him. "Well, sir," he said, fortunes, or misfortunes. I had "they are breaking up everything in given my chief of ambulance orders town and robbing the stores, and I that, whoever should be left behind, found these handkerchiefs at the Jack should go, and that proper head of Old street." transportation should be furnished We found, on taking up our him. He had always had too high march, that some broken sections of an appreciation of himself to walk, artillery had been ordered to take and had ridden more thousands of the same road to Chesterfield Court- miles, had fallen out of more vehi- House that we were following, and cles, and been run over oftener, that our retreat was somewhat ob- than any other dog in the world. I structed by their irregular and tar- assert this without fear of contra- dy movements. The teams were diction. bad, the roads worse, the drivers He had but few friends, and but profane, neither helping themselves little capacity to make friends, nor calling upon Hercules to help. Some incompatibility of temper, I when a wheel fell into a hole, and suspect, had occurred betwixt him when we had gotten over Brander's and the chief of ambulance, on the Bridge, about four miles from the subject of riding, before the start city, one or two caissons were stuck Irom Petersburg, and hence Jack so badly in the mud that the officer was left behind. I said to the chief, in charge of the party, or somebody "Return at once to the city and else, concluded that it would be 242 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. safer^for the caisson to be left there, marked "Claiborne," in the old and it was so ordered, or at least it Blandford cemetery, and his epi- so occurred. It was now about nine taph in the 3rd chapter of Eccle- , or ten o'clock at night, and our lit- siastes, 20th and 21st verses, tie party went into their first camp AU of our party moved off in or- or bivouac. der except Jack, and the next morn- We were very tired after the stir- ^^S about 11 o'clock we arrived at ring and fatiguing incidents of the Chesterfield Court-House, and found day, and the most of us were soon Mahone's division drawn up in line asleep. I do not know how long we a* right angles with our road. It re- had slept, when we were awakened ceived us with a cheer, and opened by what seemed quite a heavy fir- ^^^^^ to let us through. With ing, both of artillery and musketry, tliese bronzed veterans behind us, a few miles to our right, exciting ^^^ between us and pursuit, we dis- our fears of pursuit and capture. It missed aU fear, and, passing a few seemed so near and the danger so hundred rods further, we lay down imminent, that we thought best to to rest and to await further orders, break camp and to continue our After waiting several hours my march. One tremendous explosion orders came : "Take the right-hand caused such panic in our little party road to Goode's Bridge, rendezvous that Jack, who had slept on my at Amelia Court-House. There ra- blanket at my side, became demor- tions and transportation by rail will alized and sought individual safety await you." We recommenced our in individual flight. As he disap- march, but did not reach Goode's peared in the darkness I never ex- Bridge that night, bivouacked some- pected to see him again, and never where on the side of the road, and did until after my return, some two next day made the bridge. Just months later, to Petersburg, when before we reached that point, how- he was the first one of my acquain- ever, we came to a beautiful resi- tances to meet and greet me. His dence on the side of the road, one subsequent history, though not with- of the old time Virginia mansions, out interest of detail, would lead me the seat and embodiment of hospi- away from my subject, and hence- table invitation and luxuriant enter- forth he will appear in this narrative tainment, and under some patriarch- no more. He was a poor soldier, al trees on the well-kept lawn were always left the line when the firing seated Gen. Mahone and staff, evi- began, impelled by thirst or some dently awaiting refreshments. He other consideration of a personal recognized me and called to me to character ; but his services in civil halt and tie my horse, and come in life entitled him, in my belief, to and get something to eat. My habit the right of civil sepulture, and you of obedience was too firmly fixed, will find his grave in the sectipn after four years of service, to permit LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 243 me to refuse, and I dismounted and and what are you going to do?" joined this party. We discussed the I told him that I was without any situation with as much freedom as a special attachment ; that I had re- major-general could afford with a ceived orders to proceed to Amelia subaltern, but there was no sort of Court-House via Goode's Bridge, restraint when the buttermilk and and to conduct a few surgeons and ash-cake and fried chicken were hospital attaches, and a wounded brought out under the trees, and we officer or two who came out of Pe- enjoyed the hospitable repast as tersburg with us, to that point, where only soldiers could do, who had I would receive rations and trans- "had no where to sleep, and noth- portation to some other point, I ing to eat in four days." Had I knew not where. He said to me, known then, though, that which I "Take my advice, send your de- discovered later on, that Mahone's tachment along under one of your division was not between me and surgeons, and stay with me. If the enemy, I do not know that I any troops get out of this trouble, should have dined with so much Mahone's division will get out — it sang froid, or tarried with my hos- will get through." pitable general so long. It seems I looked back over the country that sometime during the night which we had traversed, and there Mahone's division had passed my was a cloud of dust which could not little party, and put us again, with- have been made by our troops (for out my knowledge or consent, in its all of them had passed on), and rear, or between it and the enemy, some long blue lines could be seen reversing the position which had in the far distance, and I asked the afforded us such satisfactory sense general what that meant. "Yan- of security the day before. Mahone, kees, I suppose," he said. "We however, knew where his troops wiU have to stop here." were and where the enemy was, and The sun was about sinking down as soon as we had finished our din- behind the high hills and dark pines ner, he said, "It is time we were that skirted them, and things look- °"- ed very peaceful but for those blue I rode with him leisurely for an lines which I felt boded no good, hour or so, perhaps, before we came and I had great confidence in Ma- up with our men, talking more of hone and his resources, and his the past, in which we had many men, scarred and bronzed in battle pleasant things in common, than of and campaign for four long- years of the future, in which neither of us war — I believed in him and I be- saw much of promise, when he rein- lieved in them — but my little corn- ed up his horse and, looking quietly pany had gone on, we could reach and gravely at me, said, "Doctor, Amelia Court-House that night or what command are you attached to the next morning, there was no en- 244 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. emy in front that I knew of, andl commissary instead of ours. Worse thought I had better follow them, than that, the railroad for a short So I said, "General, you have a very distance beyond the Court-House good surgeon on your staff, haven't was torn up and probably in the you?" "Yes," he said, "there is hands of the enemy, and the infor- Wood." "Well, then, as you have mation and outlook was that a fight no need of my services, I believe 1 was imminent and necessary, if the will go on, though I appreciate your army proposed to foUow the left, kind attention, and will not forget the road parallel to the one on you. He replied, "Go on then, but which my little cortege was resting you will be sorry that you did not on the right. Indeed, some desul- remain with Mahone's division." tory firing just then began on the The denouement, as we shall see left, and there was a general move, later in my story, proved the wis- the officers going forward and Maj. dom of his words. B and I turning back to the We went -into camp that night road on which I had spent the night. about> mile from the Court-House, I found the road filled with a long were undisturbed during the night, Hue of quartermaster wagons, am- and, rising early next morning, I bulances, stragglers, &c., and saw rode to the Court-House alone, to tbat they had been ordered to fol- view the prospect and to receive my low the same road, where there orders. There I found, or rather would probably be less interruption just before reaching there, a bivouac from the enemy. I got my wagon, of officers high in command, one or ambulance, buggy, &c., into line, two generals amongst them, at after some scrouging and swearing, breakfast around a fire, and I re- and took up our march, we scarcely cognized Major Thos. Branch,2 who knew whither. introduced me to several officers, Only those who have followed a whose names I do not remember, large army can know how slow- and who asked me to breakfast. I ly and with how many halts a wa- politely declined this civility and gon train can move. A broken axle made known to the major the ob- or a balky horse can detain the ject of my visit. He could not tell whole line, as there is rarely afford- me where Gen. Lee was or where or ed an opportunity for one wagon to how I could get further instructions, turn out and pass another ; indeed, but I was informed that the train, the attempt is met with such a storm which it was expected would be of obloquy and opprobrious Ian- there with rations for the army, had quage that one's nerves become de- gone on to Richmond through some moralized, if nothing worse, blunder of somebody, and that it Being well mounted on a fine would probably supply the Yankee black mare, which I got from an ' 2. Maj. Thos, P. Branch, of Atlanta, Ga. impressing officer, who had taken LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 245 her from a gentleman's farm near tie gang. In less than an hour the Court-House the day before, Eomulus and Venable and Tucker and which was too high strung for were all captured and in the hands artillery service, I rode leisurely of the enemy. But I forestall my up and down the long lines of wa- story. gons, meeting an acquaintance now Stopping just then on the road to and then, and exchanging views talk to some friends who occupied in reference to the situation. I that portion of the line, the wagons, soon became convinced that, unless &c., moved off, my party with them, our pursuers were the most listless and, knowing that I could overtake and unenterprising of men, our wa- them any time in five minutes, I gon, ambulance and baggage train loitered in good company half an would soon come to grief, and I de- hour, perhaps, and then rode on. termined to make my personal ar- I had gone not more than a mile, rangements accordingly. Eiding when I came to an open place on back some half mile along the line, I the side of the road, where some came to my party, and to the usual one had camped the night before, halt. Calling up Romulus, the col- and, seeing some excellent forage ored boy, who had been my house left unused, I dismounted, took the servant and pet, the one whose bit out of my horse's mouth, and mother had bade him "follow mas- thought I would give her a square ter to the end of the earth," I said, meal, as I did not know when or "Boy, no Yankee shall ever claim where she would get the next. She that he gave you your freedom. I had hardly begun to eat, when I wiU set you free right here." And heard some one cry, "The Yankees getting down from my horse, I wrote are coming," and saw a general i;ush, his free papers, gave him a knife as pell-mell, of teamsters and strag- a memento of his master, such glers back to the rear. I remem- money as I could spare, and told bered that, when I traded for my him to stay with me as long as he black mare the day before with found it agreeable and safe, but, that Sergeant Harrison, the impressing when things became too hot, to ske- officer, he told me that she was daddle in any direction which should hard to bridle. I thought of this, prove the safest. He pocketed my and looked down the road, where I bequests, but evidently thought the saw coming up from a cross-road a whole thing a good joke, and went few hundred yards away a compa- back to his place in my buggy, be- ny of Yankee cavalry, apparently side a young man named Venable, about fifty, and, as they got into our and J. V. Tucker, Esq.,3 who was road, forming line parallel with it, one of the attaches of the Oonfede- and pouring their shot into the poor rate hospital, that made up our lit- mules and horses of the team. I 3 Joseph V. H. Tucker, of Petersburg:, Va. thought nOW, if this mare is a fool, I 246 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. am a goner. But she took the bit stream of stragglers rushed by, very kindly and in a minute I was increasing in numbers and mak- on her back. I looked down and ing a panic that was irresistible, saw I had dropped one of a fine In a few minutes we all came out pair of military gloves that some- together in the road, a little out of body had given me, and, as a glove range of the fire, and here a Col. in those days bore value not at aU C ,4 of the cavalry, stopped in commensurate with its present worth the road, and I with him, think- in money, I started to get down ing that he would be able to exer- and rescue it. But never did caval- cise some authority and to stay the ry arrive so rapidly and in such rout. But they paid no more atten- numbers before. I only had time tion to him than they did to me. to dash out into the woods and Just then my attention was attract- make my retreat through them, par- ed by a captain and quartermaster, allel with the road, as fast as the who was making the most urgent impediments of riding through the efforts and appeals to the men to woods permitted. This, however, halt and shoot. "Shoot," he said, was not very fast, and gave me op- "one time, and you will drive them portunity of remarking again that away." One man, who seemed in- they were only shooting the horses clined to halt and make fight, re- and mules, and, being few in num- plied, "I have no gun." "There are ber, had no other idea than obstruc- plenty of guns and ammunition here ting the road and disabling us by in my wagon," said the captain- destroying the animals. Seeing me about this time, he said, There were a number of our men "Major, you have been to the front, rushing back through the woods on yo" ^^"^ Jiow few Yankees there line of the road, many of them arm- ^^^ attacking us, speak to the men," ed with muskets, and I called their ^^^ ^^^^> jumping upon a log or attention to the fact that the Yan- stump or something, he continued kees were few in number and only his harangue : "Stand men! Stand! shooting the teams, and begged Eight here ! Five determined men them to halt and make a stand and can stop this whole rout. Stop ! save the train. One old soldier ^^^ your country's sake 1 For Gen. looked up at me for a minute in a Lee's sake! For God's sake! For sort of dazed way, and said, "If you "^y sake !" In the meantime I was are fool enough to believe that, you so attracted by his earnestness, if stop ; I am going on." I thought "^ot moved by his eloquence, that I of the stars on my collar and of the ^^ ^^^ as accurately note the situ- little brief authority of command ation as I should otherwise have that they had given me for four ^one, and I was rather startled into years, and thought of endeavor- a consciousness of the real condi- ing to enforce my words, but the 4. coi. casUe, of Eichmond, va. LAST DAYS OP LEE AND HIS PALADINS. U1 tion of things, by two or three of ed to be bringing np the rear of the the enemy riding up in most disa- fugitives. Somebody called out greeable proximity, and the pop, "Fall in Company Q," but it was pop, pop, (not at the horses and received as a piece of pleasantry mules this time,) from their car- not appropriate to the occasion. bines, which purported to shoot on- My quartermaster friend suggested ly sixteen times without reloading, that he and I take across the fields in but seemed to me, then, to shoot a certain direction, which he thought nearer sixteen hundred times. My would bring us under the aegis quartermaster, I think, made fight — of some of Lee's fighting men. We somebody fired a gun. He soon had only gone a few hundred yards, went down,' however, and I heard however, when we came upon Maj. afterwards with a broken arm, HiU, a brother of Gen. A. P. Hill, though I never saw him again. and one or two other officers, who My mare, not relishing the situa- seemed to be trying to find what we tion, and having been for the first were looking for. And just as we time, I suspect, under fire, whirled liad saluted each other, a full regi- with me, and I discovered that, be- ment of infantry came out of a piece sides the quartermaster, I held the o* woods a few hundred yards to field alone. She discovered the same to our left, and with a yell and a thing, and several things, it seem- double-quick made for our position. ed, which lent wings to her feet. With the peculiar reflection of the Without at all consulting my wishes, light in the little valley they were but, in full unison with my desires, crossing, they seemed dressed in she left incontinently, I lying down blue, and we took them for the ene- on her neck, and not knowing at my, and awaited our fate with re- what moment I should receive an signation. On coming up, however, ^.nglorious wound in the most ob- it turned out to be the — th ISTorth jective portion of my person. The Carolina, under Col. Yarborough, fugitives who preceded me must which had been sent to the rescue of have made good time also, for it the baggage trains. We went with seemed nearly a quarter of a mile them back, but the affair was over before I overtook anybody. Then -^^i^gn we reached the place where I ran into another quartermaster, q^^ quartermaster had been cut whom I recognized by his exple- ^^.^^ g^pt. J ,5 whom some tives as an old friend from North ^f y^^ ^new as a resident of Peters- Carolina, and into a gentlemen, ^^g ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ g^^^ ^1^^^^ ^^ j^^^ with three stars on his collar, whom ^^j.^^^ ^^^^ back by getting a few I recognized as the president of a ^ago^ers to stand and fire a dozen court martial that I had attended ^^^^ ^^ g^_ r^-^^ position at which some few months before. These, with one or two other officers, seem- 5. Capt. Stephen W. Jones, now of New York. 248 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. the Yankees were repulsed was one a hundred ambulances were burn- at which a dozen determined men, ed, and a number of wagons, and a with muskets, could have repelled number of horses and mules were an hundred horsemen. The road shot, and the road so obstructed was only about twenty or thirty feet that it was several hours before we broad, and on either side was a could recommence our march. There thicket, one of black jack and the were no killed amongst our men, other of second growth pine, that no and* only our brave quartermaster cavalry could penetrate. We found wounded. I was told he had an a few dead Yankees, one just in arm broken. front of the position which my elo- ^he casualties amongst my Uttle quent quartermaster friend occu- ^^^ j ^^^^ ^^^ r^p-^g . pied, and I cheered myself with the belief that he had faUen under the tenable died at Point Lookout ; fire of the quartermaster. There ^^''^^^^ ^^ ^^w (March, 1890,) with were others lying on the ground un- ^r. George C. Starke, and Eomulus hurt, one dead drunk— too druni to somewhere in New York, be kiUed or captured— I do not Tucker, Eomulus and Venable, as know what disposition was made of i said, were taken from my buggy liini- and made prisoners. The subse- The little party of the enemy who quent history of Eomulus is not with - had made the havoc had retired by out interest, but I cannot introduce the same cross-road by which they it in this place. Drs. Hume Field, came. They were picked men of Eich'd B. Lewis, and J. P. Smith, Sheridan's cavalry, who, under the former two well known to some guides that knew the country well, of you present, escaped into the hung on our flanks, and in small woods and returned just as I came parties would every day strike some up. A young officer, a Oapt. Eid- portion of the most unprotected part dick, who was in my commissary of our trains, and, having burned wagon, and who had been wounded and destroyed as much property as some months before, and who had they could, would retreat as soon as been in the Confederate Hospital, fighting troops appeared. The bait was also captured and carried off. which had tempted them to this spe- His sister, a splendid young girl of cific attack was said to have been six about eighteen or twenty years of new Brooke guns, which had been age, I omitted to say, accompanied brought out of Eichmond when our him from Petersburg, where she had forces left, and to which were at- been nursing him, and was with tached some very fine teams, which him in the wagojif . She refused to had been impressed for that pur- leave the wagon when he was taken, pose. These were carried off, about and as they could not burn ^t with LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 249 her in it, it was saved, and all of dered to me. He had been with me our commissary stores by her cour- for many months, was faithful, hon- age and firmness. There was also est and fearless, and the greatest a fat chaplain along, the Eev. . forager I ever saw. It was owing Miss E 6 said that he escaped to his being off on an expedition of by making the best time she had this sort that he got away. He did ever seen through the woods. We better than escape — ^he captured a did not see him again. very fine saddle and bridle from a The young lady was put into the dead horse, and one of the finest wagon of a North Carolina quarter- young thoroughbreds, about four master, which had just come up, years old, I ever saw, which I think and in which there were already two the Yankees had stolen and been other ladies — one a Miss D , 7 unable to manage. Burkhardt (that whose father was quite a learned "^as my man's name) caught him, man, and who had held some im- mounted and rode him to Appomat- portant oflBlee under the government tox Court-House, though I saw him in Eichmond, and the other a Mrs. get some hard falls. S , whose maiden address im- That disposes of all our party ex- pressed itself on my mind, because cept two colored men, one named my brother had been a great ad- Howard, now a servant in the em- mirer of hers, Miss P , 8 ploy of Mr. J. H. Slater, on Liberty of Florida. The subsequent fortunes street, and another named John of these brave women who had de- Davis, who had belonged to Mr. termined to foUow the Confederacy, Clinton Jones, of this city. These I will rehearse presently. men escaped and followed us to the There was a young surgeon from last, faithful then, as, I am told, North Carolina who took to that they have been honest, law-abiding wagon mightily for the few days that and good citizens since. they remained in our company, and Only one animal was left, and things seemed very lively, consider- that was my mule, or rather a mule ing the circumstances. belonging to the Confederate govern- My chief of ambulance escaped, ment, which I had hitched to the though I saw him no more, I be- buggy, when we left Petersburg, as lieve; also my orderly, who was a a reserve force. He had escaped Moravian that had been impressed the bullets of the enemy, and was or conscripted in the army, but who left like "the last rose of summer, refused to fight on account of reli- his lovely companions all fallen and gious scruples, and had been sent to gone," and standing in the midst of the medical department and was or- the general destruction, with air and 6. Miss Riddiok, of suffoiic, va. general appearance so forlorn and 8:SFiScottorofFioridk. lugubrious, that it was impossible 250 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. not to smile when looking at Mm. But my mule — I feel that I can- There was also a sad and seedy look- not dismiss him so summarily — I ing darkey standing near, and con- am sure that the interest of my eom- templating the picture with dazed rades is enlisted in his story. I had and troubled mien. I called him to not gotten back home from durance me, and, hastily writing a note in vile but a short time when I had a doggerel from the pommel of my note brought me by private hands saddle, I gave it to Sambo, with a (we had the luxury of few mails just dollar, and directed him to take the then — it was the latter part of May, mule and buggy to a handsome resi- 1865), saying that, if I would send dence on quite an eminence above for my mule and buggy, I could get the road, and deliver both to the them. But whom should I send? gentleman who lived there. I had Whom could I trust with my mule? no idea who this gentleman was, nor Was my own agent honest? The can I remember the doggerel lines whole country was full of stragglers now, except the first two, which ran and Yankees, who had the most pe- somewhat in this way: culiar and narrow ideas in reference "This to the gentleman who lives on to the sanctity of personal property, 1IJ-U ^'^^'^^^i' u 1- 4-1, 4.-11 .1 and especially if that property had " When I return may he live there still." sf j f i' a „ ,. , -r -, „ , . its form in the investment of horse JNor did I ever dream of hearing; , „ , „ , • -D iTj-/ or mule flesh, from mule or man again. But I did. The gentleman was an honored mem- However, I soon met a comrade, ber of my own profession. Dr. J^^* ^^^'^ ^^o™ P'^i^o^' ^— ^ '^° J ,9 who returned me both mule impecunious and seedy, and I said and buggy in good order, in the *« ^™= "^o^^*! ^"^ S^ *» ^-°^elia month of May orJune, after the sur- ''o™*^' ^"^^ ^^"^^ ™e a mule and render. I made my most grateful ^"^gy? You would have to walk, acknowledgements for this kindness ^^ *^*^^''®®' ^^* ^"^ *^*'^'l ^i*^® ^^"^ as well as every possible apology for ^ ^ ^uggy." He replied: "Would my silly note, which must have *^® J°^ ^^ "^^^^^ ^™ doUars?" I seemed to him very absurd and very ^^^^ ^^^^ ^ thought so. ''Have you unfitting an occasion of so much dis- ^""^ *^® ^''^^^ *« P^^ ™ advance?" aster. But my blood was younger "^®®-" ''Then.it is a bargain." then than now, and aU soldiers, poor ^® ^^ ^^^M of baggage, and as soon fellows, are apt to make merriment "^ ^® replenished his commissariat, of misery. There was many a merry ^^^ joke made amidst the fiercest fight- ^^ ^"''^ ^^^^ ^® returned, and, driv- ing, and many a brilliant sally was™^ ''P *^ ""^ ^^^^^^ ^^i*'^ ^ ^^^ ™- spoken by lips sealed the next min- provised on Bank street, he called ute in death. out, "Here's your mule," and therp 9. Dr. Jeter, of Amelia county, Va. 10. Peter Stainbaok, of Brunswick county, Va. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 251 he was, greatly improved and fat- though, with the fixtures, and he tened, but his personal identity was maintained that it was Ms, and that unquestionable. "Whose personal I did steal that; but I talked him out property he was, was a question not of that idea — an accusation of deed- so easily settled. He was an asset ing was not matter iov fighting under of a broken concern, the Confederate the peculiar circumstances of that government, which had gone into day, but I was left in undisturbed the hands of a receiver, and many possession of my property, representatives of that receiver, in But to return to the retreat. My the shape of Yankee quartermasters, ambulance was burned, with all of &c., lined the streets. I reaUy had my clothes; indeed^ they were no some conscientions scruples on the great shakes, except a very fine new subject myself, for which some of cloak of Confederate cloth, elabo- my old comrades jeered me, and I rately finished, the gift of a friend, thought I would inquire amongst and made somewhere abroad. Its "my friends, the enemy," stating a estimated value in the currency of supposed case. the day was $1,500. It was too fine I did so, selecting as an umpire an to wear, except for a major-general, officer whom I did not know, but but I regretted its loss exceedingly, who seemed a friendly sort of fellow. A greater loss was my diary, that He paid me a doubtful compliment dated back to the days of the in replying, "If you have got a mule Charleston convention of 1860, which of that sort, and don't sell him at was the real inauguration of the rev- once and put the money in your olution, in which the South staked pocket, you are a bigger fool than I its aU for constitutional liberty, take you to be." I acted on his This I regretted more than the cloak, suggestion, promptly; sold my mule Our lives were spared, however, for $75 (no man asked for a biU of and some commissary stores were sale or guaranty in those days), my left, and our little party trudged buggy for $75 additional, and bought along with the wagon train until the a horse, saddle and bridle, and car- day following, when we took the ried the horse into the back lot to my vote amongst ourselves whether we office. would continue with it, constantly Before very long several lewd fel- menaced, as it was, by marauding lows in blue, of the baser sort, came parties of the enemy's cavalry, in and said I had stolen a horse, which, seemed always to be hover- On taking them to see him, however, ing on our right, and against which he did not quite come up to their we had little or no protection, or idea of plunder, and the spokesman whether we would foUow the fight- said, "Thatisnotthehoi-se." There ing men, at a respectful and prof es- was an excellent saddle blanket, sional distance, in the rear. We 252 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. had not found out then that the rear ''Don't take me right into the battle! was simply the left of the line, whilst Don't take me right into the battle!" the front was the right, and that I rode forward to see if I could be of there was just as much and just as any assistance, when an infantty ofEi- hard fighting in the rear as in the cer caught the mules, and, taking the front. We had only changed our lines, turned them around and drove route a few hours when we were told rapidly down in the direction from that the enemy had scooped down which they came, and soon placed on the wagon train again; so we the party under the shelter of a hill, thought we were lucky. But short- We followed and found some sur- ly after we came upon some of Ma- geons had selected the same place hone's men, not apparently retreat- for the reception of the wounded, ing, but seemingly lounging around, and were rigging up some sort of I remember seeing Mr. A. A. A. 11 a table, the sanguinary usage of Mr. W. J. B. 12 sitting down on which we only too well divined. a pile of rails with their shoes off. Of course we cast in our lot with and not very far from the same them, and proposed to render any ■place I saw Gen. Mahone lying assistance in our power. But we down in the corner of a fence near also found seeking the same shelter- the road, with one or two orderlies, ed position, and in a wagon, (how it I did not recognize any of the staff, got there I cannot tell), our lady I thought he was trying to get a nap, friends, Miss E 13 and Miss perhaps, and I did not salute or dis- D ,13 from whom we had parted turb him, but went leisurely on a the day before. The battle was now short way towards the front, when opened, and in a few minutes the we saw Gen. Longstreet and several first victim came in, a 2^orth Caroli- of his staff, apparently lounging na soldier, on a horse, though not a around, and, still suspecting nothing, trooper. We had only time to take we went on, nobody halting us, until him down and to see that he was a few minutes after, we came into an badly wounded through the knee, elevated and open plain, where a and that his leg would probably thin line of men were strung out di- have to be amputated, when increas- agonally across our road for some ed noise in front indicated increased distance on either side, and a little activity of some sort, and immedi- stir of some sort going on. Present- ately a courier came dashing up and ly an ambulance drove up froip a sort delivered an order from Gen. Lee or of cross country road, and went rap- Longstreet for the surgeons to fall idly forward through the line, and I back at once, and to leave the heard a lady cry out from within it, wounded, the ladies, the ambulances, — wagons and everything, and showed :i. Mr. A. A. Allen, of Petersburg, Va. Si.- 12. Mr. Wm. J. Brancb, of Richmond, Va. 13. Misses Rlddiok and Dimltry. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 263 US a rough road through the woods the house on Sycamore street, now at right angles to our position, by owned and occupied by Mr. S. W. which we were to retreat. And so V .14 He was riding slowly we left, our poor wounded soldier on along the line of inextricably tan- the ground, and the ambulance, wa- gled wagons, as if going to the rear, gon and ladies with hurried and no one with him, as far as I can re- rather informal adieu. We heard member, and I was near enough to that they fell into the enemy's hands look into his face. He rode erect, shortly after we left, and that they as if incapable of fatigue, and with received very courteous attention, the same dignified mien that I had and were sent back to Petersburg so often noted on the streets of Pe- under safe-guard. The fight was the tersburg. From his manner no one at or near Eice's station. Some man would have discovered that, of you, Comrades, have doubtless which he so well knew, viz: that his more accurate information in refer- army was melting away, that his re- ence to it than I. sources were exhausted, and that in Our road soon carried us back to ^ ^^w days he would be compelled the main road on the right, along ^ ^^'^^^'^ ^^P *» *^« ^^^^^^ ^^^""^ which the wagons, as many as were ^^ ^^^ «« «ft^^ defeated, the rem- left, were dragging their slow "^^*« ^^ *^««« ""^^S^^ j^«^^*« ^^« length. We marched all night, or tad followed him for four long years, rather crept along with them, until ^''^ ^^^ had never failed him ex- at some creek or double creek of ^^P* "^^ ^^^^ «^ annihilation." some sort, a panic occurred, and Another incident was this: Some- ,there was crowding and confusion time during the night, on some high worse confounded. How many ever hills, in the county of Cumberland came out, I do not know. Being or Prince Edward, I know not light of baggage ourselves, we got which, it was very cold, and Dr. ahead of them, kept the Farmville Lewis, one of our party, found a road, and went into that town about captain and quartermaster, whom daylight the next morning, Thurs- he introduced to me as Capt. day, with any number of soldiers, O ,15 of North Carolina, who but none, I think, in regular organ- had some whiskey, and who invited ization. me to take a swig from his canteen. There were two incidents of that It was the first drink I had taken night which indelibly impressed in many months, and I suspect the themselves on my memory: It was whiskey was as good as any, but it during that night that I saw Gen. had the most peculiar effect upon me. Lee for the last time, until after the I had congratulated myself up to war was over, when I dined with • T.. , J. ^^ n/r !,„ „)n „<- !*■ Capt. S. W. Venable, of Petersburg, Va. mm one day at G-en. Manone's, at is. capt.oates, of North Carolina. 254 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. that nigM that I had not suffered ed with his own hands a side of mid- from fatigue, from hunger, from dling meat to my man, and we pass- want of sleep, from fear; and yet in ed on. ten minutes after I took that drink As we reached the river there were of whiskey I was hungry, tired, halted on this side, and out of the scared, and so sleepy that I had to road so as not to interfere with the get off my horse and walk to keep passage of the troops, the Yankee awake. prisoners who had been captured on WeU, we got into Parmville, as I the route. I judged, from a rough said, about daylight, and my man estimate, that there were more than Burkhardt said that, if we would a thousand of them, and a sorry halt there awhile, he would go into looking set they were. A good somebody's kitchen and bake some many of them carried large pieces of biscuit from a little flour that he meat, sides of middling, such as that had foraged. We turned off on a I had just drawn at the last issue of by -street, and I lay down on the rations to the Army of N"orth^rnVir- sidewalk, first fastening my reins ginia, but we had no time for con- around my body, to assure my versation with them, awakening in case of anyone's at- Gen. Long crossed the river about tempting to steal my horse, a pre- that time, and, knowing him very caution which I learned the night well, we crossed with him, and rode before, an officer informing me that with him a short distance. In less some one had stolen his horse from than an hour, I suppose, the army, his side whilst he was asleep. I prisoners and all, had passed over, slept for several hours, and when I and Gen. Lee had given orders to awoke the whole town was full of burn the bridge behind us, which I soldiers, and the army — ^infantry think was done by Major Cook, 17 one and artillery — was crossing the coun- of his inspectors, a gentleman who, ty bridge as rapidly as possible over after the war, became an Episcopal into Buckingham. minister, and who had charge of a As we started to follow, my man, colored church in this place for many with his eye ever on the commissa- years. ry, informed me that Major Scottis On the hills beyond Farmville was issuing rations at the railroad there seemed to be a great deal of depot, and that we had better go by artillery halted, or parked, as I af- and see what we could get. It was terwards learned, and it was here true the major was dealing out hur- (we know now that which few knew riedly, and I suspect without requi- then) that Gen. Lee opened his first sition in duplicate, the little that correspondence with Gen. Grant in was left, and at my request deliver- reference to the surrender of the 16. Major Fred'li E. Scott, .of Eichraond, Va. 17. Eov. Giles B. Cook, of Maryland. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 255 army ; and it was a short distance ed to be doing the same thing — co- further on that they seemed to be lonels, generals, even lieutenant- lightening the load of headquarter generals, and I saw a member of the wagons by destroying letters and pa- staff of one of Lee's most distin- pers from them. A ^ young man guished lieutenants throw himself namedMorgan,18from this city, who on the ground and swear an oath had belonged to the 12th Virginia, that he would never draw his sword but who had been detailed as clerk from its scabbard again ; and then I in the medical department of Gen. noted that there were more and more Lee's headquarters, seemed entrust- small arms thrown aside on the ed with this duty. Here, for the roads, muskets stuck up in the last time, I saw Dr. Guild, Gen. ground by their bayonets; yet with Lee's medical director, and Mrs. hundreds, yes, perhaps thousands Guild, who was trying to make her of others, I had not entertained for escape with the army into friendly a moment the idea of any surrender lines, and Gen. Lee's carriage and of Lee's army as a whole, horses, which I never saw him use, To me, as to every Southron, as to though I was told he did ride in the every soldier, as to every man and carriage once or twice during the woman and child of the Confedera- retreat. It was upon a road that cy, it had been the embodiment of had been evidently just cut through courage and fortitude and heroism, some pines, and the progress was The cause for which it contended very slow and tedious. Dr. Guild ^as the cause of liberty and truth said to me, "You had better remain and right. God could never suffer with us," and I thought so too, but those brave battalions to go down, something occurred to separate my even before might, whose standards party from his, and then came the ^ad been upheld for so many years usual daily and nightly order, "For- ^y the arms of our heroes; those ward, " and I saw him no more. battle-flags could never trail in dust, "We moved on without incident of which, consecrated and kissed by special concern to us, until Saturday Southern women, had been baptized afternoon. There were increased in the blood of the truest and the signs of demoralization and disinte- best of the earth. The prayers of a gration all along the roads. Soldiers million of Christian men and women, whom I knew had been soldiers of proving their faith by their works steadiness and courage were strag- of self-abnegation and self-surren- gling and sleeping, unarmed and der, could not fail to have a hear- apparently unconcerned; I attribut- ing above, where the destiny of na- ed it to fatigue and hunger and ex- tions were ordained and determined, haustion. Officers of the line seem- Oh, Comrades ! Many a heavy- 18. wm. T. Morgan, of Baltimore, Md. hearted man survivcd the surrender 256 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. at Appomattox, and trudged his years of peril and fatigue an^ fight - weary way home, believing with ing had proved their mettle ; but N'apoleon Bonaparte that, after all, gaunt hunger had at last overcome heaven was on the side of the heavi- their manhood, and they had scat- est ordnance. tered throughout the country to any On Saturday afternoon, preceding house or hut that promised a piece the fatal morning of Sunday, the 9th of bread. I saw men whose rations of April, my little party was well in for days had been corn, stolen from the front, keeping pace with some the horses' feed, and parched and broken sections of artillery belong- munched as they marched and ing to different commands, which, fought. I said to Col. P , "Does with exhausted ammunition and in Gen. Lee know how few of his sol- crippled condition generally, had diers are left, or to what extremities been ordered to make for Lynch- they are reduced?" "I do not be - burg. I came upon Col. P ,19 lieve that he does," was his reply. Gen. Lee's inspector -general, plac- "Then whose business is it to teU ing a few infantry troops in posi- him, if not his first inspector's?" tion upon a knoll commanding a i gaid. "I cannot," he replied, "I considerable view of open country cannot." on the left, and, riding up to him, I For the first time my faith and my asked what command it was. It did fortitude failed me, and choking, not seem to comprise more than two -^^ith tears, I said to my little party: hundred men in aU. He replied "I cannot see of what further use we slowly and sadly, "That is what can be here; let us push on ahead, is left of the 1st Virginia regi- may be we can get to Johnston's ar- ment, and that is the sole guard of my ; may be, beyond the Mississip- the left flank of the Army of North- pi gome leader will raise the stars em Virginia." At a distance away, and bars, and liberty wiU find there beyond musket range on the left, a rallying point and a refuge !" there was a body of Federal horsemen Comrades, my faith in the Con- hovering around as ill-omened birds federate cause was strong, and when of prey, awaiting their opportunity, the sun went down a few hours later Within range of my eye there behind the hills of the Appomattox, were a great number of muskets I looked upon life as a bauble, and stuck in the ground by the bayo- the only blessed ones those brave nets, whose owners, hearth -sick and men who were sleeping in soldiers' fainting of hunger and fatigue, had graves without knowledge of defeat, thrown them away, and gone, none without taste of the ignominy of knew whither. God help the poor walking under the victor's yoke, fellows, and forgive them ! Pour As I rode along, classic readings, ' 19. Col. Henry B. Peyton. in t^ie halcyon holidays of the happy LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 257 past, haunted my memory, and I time, though an artillerist. The thought of Ulysses, after the siege train got off for Lynchburg safely, of Troy, wandering the world a not half an hour too soon. wrecked waif, and of Homer's lines: We rode back in the direction of "JEappy, thrice happy, who in battle the Oourt-House to the Lynchburg slain, it, m • , • road, where we found some of the Pressed in Atndes' cause the Trojan plain, ' Oh ! had I died before that well fought artillery going into bivouac, as it XT ^^^^' J- i- ■ V, J J J was about sunset. Some of our party Had some distinguished day renowned ^ my fall, were for going on to Lynchburg that Suchaswasthat when showers of jave- jjjgi^t ^^ at least for moving on From conquering Troy around Achilles' and getting ahead of the artillery, head." Odyssey, Lib. s, verse 306. ^^^^ pj.. peild. Dr. Smith and I, with^ And I thought of the grand Epic, my faithf al Burkhardt, concluded in the words of which I began this we would lie down and sleep, at story, and of the laments of the un- least for an hour or so. I unaad- happy Aeneas and his song — died my horse, gave her some prov- "O terque quaterque beati, ender which Burkhardt had cap- Qiis^J^ora Patr'im Trojae sub moen- ^^^.^^^ ^nd lay down with my head Contigit oppetere !" on my saddle, and was soon asleep "Thrice happy those whose fate it was to and dreaming of better things than Exclaims the chief, before the Trojan ^ ° ' , wall, a very short time when Burkhardt Oh ! 'twas a glorious fate to die in fight, gi^Q^jj. j^g rudely by the shoulder To die so bravely in their parents' sight, -^ •' Oh, had I there, beneath Tydides' hand, and cried, "Doctor, the Yankees That bravest hero of the Grecian band, -^^ upon thee " Poured out this soul, with martial glory ^ fired, I arose quickly, but not so quick- And in the plain triumphantly expired, , • ^ -rv c!_-j-i. When Hector fell by great AchUles' ^J as my companions, for Drs. Smith spear." and Peild were fast disappearing Virg. Aeneid B^k 1st, Vol. 91. ^trough the thick black-jack forest. But pushing on, we reached Ap- ^^^ Burkhardt, who had not unsad- pomattox Conrt-House just before died or tied his fine animal, was fast sunset, and hearing there was a train flying up the road towards Lynch- of Confederate sick and wounded burg, whilst, coming down the road, at the depot on the railroad, some ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ j^^^. traversed from two miles further on, we rode at ^j^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^ of Yankee once to that point. There I sue- ^avaky, in column, rushing with ceeded in getting on a few more of ^^^ ^nd clanking of sabres and our sick and broken down men. I ^-^^^^^ ^^ ^^g^ ^^-^^^ upon me. I had remember Mr. J. J. Cocke20 amongst ^^ ^j^g^ ^f course, to mount my them, who was but a boy at the ^^^.^^^ ^^ ^^^^ to snatch a haver- 20. Jno. J. Cooke, of Prince George county, Va. Sack Or cauteeu from the pommel of 258 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. my saddle, but catching up a large they had, and had opened fire on shawl on which I was lying, and the column at short range. which I now keep as a memorial. An eye witness. Sergeant D ,21 with a bullet hole through it, I of the Howitzers of Eichmond, him- made the best tim'e I could, foUow- self in charge of one of the guns, tn- ing my companions, and, coming to formed me that the havoc was fearful, a high fence in the woods, we climb- The Yankees were repelled, but form- ed over that, and put it as well as ed again, and, seeing, I suppose, the the black-jack between us and the fewness and insignificance of the force enemy's horse. There was, imme- arrayed against them, came back diately after, some pretty smart almost as audaciously as before and firing over our heads of carbines in column again, led by a bronz- and of artillery, a rebel yeU, and a ed old major on a gray charger, hurried retreat of troopers. Then -^riio, with many others, met his there was another charge and an- death with a reckless courage wor- other irregular discharge of field thy of a better cause. The second pieces, and a general scattering, as charge, however, was successful ; far as we could tell. Darkness, our men had no more ammunition however, had come on, and, making and were run down by the cavahy, a bed of leaves in the corner of our some surrendering and some escap- fence, we concluded that, ignorant ing into the woods. The casualties as we were of the topography of the on our side were few — I do not know country, and the relative position of that any were killed. Dr. If ,22 the contending forces, we had better of Norfolk, who was then surgeon of remain still until daylight. one of the artillery companies en- The next day, after we had fallen gaged in the fracas, got a pistol bul- into the hands of the enemy, and let in his face, I remember, had had an opportunity of shaking But to return to our fortunes: the hands of a few feUow prisoners, Eising up in the morning, as soon as we got a good account of the skir- it was daylight, we began- to cast mish of the night before. It seems about for our moorings. There was that the Yankee cavalry, made bold before us a large open field, and, and careless by almost constant and thinking that lay in the direction unresisted raids upon our wagon of Lee's lines, we commenced to cross trains and stragglers, had charged it^ in hopes of rejoining our men. down the road where they passed "We were strengthened in our opin- us, in column, and that some of our ion by seeing, a few hundred yards broken artillery, getting the wind to our right, a vidette sitting quiet- of what was coming, had loaded up ly on his horse as if looking out for to the muzzle with what relics of ammunition, grape and cannister r2: d?, HS?Sk,t''CfoiktvL" LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 25!) news. "We approaclied him, and and a very ignominious death. But after getting within ten or fifteen he did not change his position, and paces were halted and brought in I saw that I had to change my tac- range of a very ugly looking navy tics, or that any little irregularity revolver. Mentioning the fact that in the motion of his horse might we were friends, and only three lost send a bullet through my brain. So Confederate surgeons looking for I re-opened my conversation on a dif- Lee's lines, and asking very naively ferent scale, and said, ''Sergeant, in what direction they were, he those are poor spurs you wear for so pointed to the direction which we fine a trooper. I have in my over- supposed, and we started to go when coat pocket a beautiful pair of spurs, we received another "halt," accom- made out of copper taken from the panied this time with an ominous old Merrimac you people sunk in clicking of the weapon in his hand, the Gosport navy yard. If you will and a request "to come forward." let me stop and get at them I would We did so, and found that our vi- like to make you a present of them." dette wore a different uniform from He smiled and said, "All right." I our own, and that we had been ta- took them out and handed them up ken in. He gave a curt order, to him, and he put them in his "Eight about face, march — quick!" pocket and the pistol back in the We obeyed promptly, and strode holster. I had valued those spurs forward in the opposite direction to very highly. They were made, as I Lee's lines, he on horseback, and said, of copper taken from the old selecting me as "next man," and Merrimac; made in the quartermas- keeping his pistol very disagreeably ter department in Norfolk, under near my head. I ventured to re- the care of Capt. Samuel Stevens, 23 mark that we were unarmed, and -A. Q. M., and I had removed them that I thought it not at all necessary from my feet the night before to that we should be kept quite so save them in case of my being cap- closely covered by his weapon, but tured, and now I had just used them he made no reply. to save my life. I had little idea of We went hurriedly on over the "^^^^ would be their destination rough ground, his pistol bobbing up """lien I used to prance with them on and down near the right side of my inspection days, when we played head, and I really apprehended some soldier the first year of the war, at danger, and said, "Sergeant, you the entrenched camp below If orfolk. will shoot me presently." Here- Well, our sergeant carried us back pUed very cheerfully that he "did ^ ^^^ picket lines, and delivered us not care a d— n if he did," to which ^ Gen. Devens, who was afterwards I said, "I do— I care very particu- attorney-general of the United States larly. It would be a very unpleasant 23. Capt. Samuel Stevens, of Petersburg, Va. 260 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS under Grant. He received us cour- But in a few minutes the general teously, and, finding out who we turned us over to a courier, with or- were, called up his surgeon, and we ders to take us to the rear. "We soon were offered coffee and requested to reached the advanced lines, and make ourselves comfortable. The there we met Gen. Sheridan, who general then asked me, ''Why had apparently been spending the doesn't Gen. Lee surrender? How night in a large frame building long is he going to keep up this fool- which looked something like a coun- ishness? If he falls back to Lynch- try church in bad repair. He was burg, or the mountains, does he not splendidly mounted, and a number know that he cannot escape?" I re- of his ofiicers with him, his staff, I plied that I was not in Gen. Lee's suppose, all well dressed, and, with confidence, nor had I attended a caparisoned steeds, presented a council of war, and that I was real- very different appearance from our ly unprepared to say what his in- poor, broken cavalry, tentions were. He then asked me There was a large body of horse "how many men of all arms Gen. in an adjoining open piece of wood, Lee had left, and how many prison- and, as Sheridan rode up, they were ers he had with him, and what his advanced in line. Some one re- position was, and what roads bore marked to us, "Kow boys you are upon it," &c., &c., aU questions going to see something grand." A which I could not answer, nor would man near me said it was Sheridan have answered if I could. I did ven- ^ho spoke. The infantry, of which ture to say, however, for mischief, there seemed to be a pretty good that he had more prisoners than sprinkling around, jeered the troop- men when I saw him last. ers, as our men used to jeer them This was received good humoredly, occasionally, and said, "Oh, you as was intended, except by a dapper will be back pretty soon!" and Kttle officer, who said, "General, he "pretty soon" they were, pell-mell, is lieing, he does not want to know." and we were hurried back to the I had not often been talked to rear rapidly with the fugitives, to in that way in my life, and to prevent being recaptured. I was be thus insulted, a prisoner and my told that Gen. Sheridan was not hands tied, I felt myself burn down only repelled but that he lost two into my boots. I suppose I showed guns in five minutes. This is also it, for not only Gen. Devens, but one written elsewhere, but Gen. Sheri- or two of his staff, gave the fellow dan says nothing about it in his ac- such a look that he fell back out of count of the "Last Affair at Appo- decent company, and I was saved the mattox." Nor does he speak of temptation of makingafool of myself, having met me. which I should probably have done. Before we had gone back a mile LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 261 we met the Yankee infantry advanc- tails were permitted and ordered to ing — and such numbers ! They bring in fence rails for fires, or for seemed to come out of the ground, constructing temporary shelter, and We had to give them the road to let with the instinct and ingenuity of them pass, and I can well believe soldiers, many soon fixed themselves that which history records, that ta tolerably comfortable quarters, there were 75,000 or 80,000. There was also a barn of splendid We were soon in the rear; indi- tobacco near our camp, of which we cated by the number of our prison- were requested (by our /enemies) to ers, who were halted under guard in help ourselves, a large body, by the hospital ar- Drs. Smith and Peild and I and rangements, and by a curious look- another gentleman, whose name I ing cooking affair on wheels, cannot recall, but who introduced which we were told belonged to the himself to us as a medical man, whom "Christian Commission." It was we afterwards suspected of having all of the "Christian Commission" imposed upon us, had one fire and that we ever saw. 'No doubt the one improvised shelter. Friend cookiug stove had its functions, as Simpson occupied the allotted space the commission had its functions, in front of us with his mess; Capt. but they were never developed un- G ,25 of Eichmond, and his mess der our observation. to the left; and to our right there We were marched up and merged were strangers. The first day, the into the body of prisoners, may be Sabbath, closed without an issue of a thousand of them, and soon met rations. We, (I m^an my party), several of our acquaintances, who had had a cup of coffee with Gen. had been captured earlier in the fray Devens in the morning, and noth- than we, among them Capt. Thos. J. ing since. Having light stomachs Lassiter, of the Iforfolk and Western and great fatigue we slept well, and railroad, and Mr. S. L. Simpson, 24 a did not awake until sunrise of the son, I think, of Mr. Wm. S.Simpson, day following. The next morning whom I see before me. To him I 9, 10, 11 o'clock came, and no ra- soon became indebted. tions. Our friend Simpson came to During the afternoon the prison- us and divided some compressed veg- ers were marched across a little ra- etable cake with us, showed us how vine into a body of woods, open and to make a sort of soup or medley with but little undergrowth; the with it, gave us a piece of corn limits of a prisoners' camp was de- bread, and giving him grateful signated, the dead lines drawn, and thanks we made a light breakfast, we were told for the second time to About sunset a beef or two were "make ourselves comfortable." De- driven up and shot on the outskirts 24. S. L. Simpson, of Charleston, S. C. 25. Capt. Gibson, of Richmond. 262 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. of the camp, and skinned and flay- "Help yourself, Doctor, your people ed on the ground. So much of the furnished the menu," (with a smile quivering flesh was dispensed to as if to intimate that the provender each mess, one member of the mess before us was impressed) ; "we have going under guard to get it. We no rations; your Fitz Lee burned received ours, broiled a portion of all of our wagon trains Sunday, and it on sticks, without salt, ate it for I don't know when you -will get any- supper, and put the other away for thing more." We made a square breakfast. Having no closets or meal, and having talked very pleas- othei conveniences for stowing away antly for a few minutes, both sides supplies, we put our rations in our avoiding topics that might excite caps, and so slept with them. It disagreeable discussion, I thanked was voted, after conference with our my stranger friend and returned to neighbors, as the only safe place we camp. had. Poor Capt. G had cap it is needless to say that I was and rations both stolen in the night, the lion and the envy of all imme- and the last I saw of him he was diately about me. But I was invit- marching to prison bareheaded. ed out no more. We had a little The next morning a Yankee, who fresh beef issued to us every day, had been busy about our mess the nothing more. We did not know day before, and asking a good many that Gen. Lee had surrendered un- questions and talking generally in til Wednesday, and then we could a manner which led us to treat him get no reliable account of anything. as a nuisance, came up to me and The fact is oar captors, or those said he had an invitation for me to with whom we could have any con- take breakfast with Dr. Richardson, versation, did not seem to take any of New York state, and showed a sort of interest in affairs, and did permit for me to pass the lines, on not seem to know or care anything my honor to return. How my friend about what was going on. Soldier- ever knew who I was, or to what ing was altogether mechanical with circumstance I was indebted for this them. And those who were in mark of distinction, I could never charge of our camp did not even find out. I found Dr. Richardson, seem to take any especial interest with some half-dozen officers — sur- in their business. Our soldiers, the geons, quartermasters, &c., some prisoners, I mean, broke the dead few hundred yards from the prison- line constantly, and jeered and guy- ers' camp, about to sit down to a ed the guards, until I confidently very comfortable breakfast of broU- expected they would shoot into our ed pig, bread and coffee, spread on camp, but they manifested neither an extemporized table under the pleasure nor displeasure, and I trees. They received me very kind- think any Confederate could have ly, and one of the officers remarked, walked away that wished to — some, LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 263 I suppose, did go. I am sure of it ; will have to take your chances with but there was so little prospect of a them." man's getting home, without money, After a little time he came back without food or without friends, and said, "According to the terms that few thought their chances of Gen. Lee's surrender all men and would be improved by going away, officers captured within so many Then, too, if Lee had surrendered, hours before the time of surrender was not the war over ? and within so many miles of Appo- However, the hopes of all who mattox Oourt-House, are entitled to thought that way were soon dissi- t^eir liberty and parole." "Well," pated. On Thursday morning an I said, "if that be so, I and my order came for the officers amongst three friends here, and some eighty the prisoners to be mustered and or more Alabamians of Grade's registered. We were gotten out brigade, with their colonel, are en- and put in line to march. I notic- titled to their parole." And I call- ed the officer of the guard with a ed up the colonel, a gentleman badge pinned on the lapel of his named Saunders, I think, and put coat, which indicated that he was a b™ in communication with the offi- Mason, or I thought so, and, draw- cer of the guard. The upshot of ing a bow at a venture, I took an tl^e affair was, that my guard pro- opportunity, the first time he came duced pen and paper and made me near me, to give a signal of distress, state the case to Gen. Meade, I He came to me and asked what he ^^^^^ i* ^as directed to him, at least, could do for me. I asked what he and forwarded by a mounted order- was going to do with me. He said ly. and in a few hours, we all stand- that the officers were to be sent to ing in the meantime in line in the Fort Lafayette. Then I repUed, rain, there came an order for eighty- "I would like to get away." He said, four of us to be sent back to Appo- "Iwill do anything for you which mattox Gourt-House and to report to is not in violation of my oath as a Gen. W. F. Bartlett, a Federal officer soldier." "What grounds have you oi distinction, and a gentleman. He, for asking to be released?" I said, after the war, settled in Eichmond, "I am a non-combatant." He re- and made many friends during the marked, "Are you not one of the few years of his life in the South. I surgeons who were captured with ttiink ^e finally died of wounds re- that artillery which did such fearful ceived in action, execution amongst our men on Sat- We were conducted under guard urday night last?" I said, "Yes, through the dark and rain several but I was not at a gun — I never miles back in the direction of the pulled a lanyard in my life." He Court-House, and reached Gen. smiled and said, "You were in Bartlett's command about 9 o'clock mighty bad company, then, and p. M. 264 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. He sent for Col. Saunders and the door, but refused to open it, and, myself to be brought into his tent, saying that the house was already and after some kind talk gave direc- full of wounded, told us that we tion for us to be carried to the pick- could not get in and to move on, et lines and released, instructing us (a man who said to you "move on" to report to General , who would just about that time usually had parole us. According to the terms some means of enforcing his views, of the surrender the Confederate gen- and it was best not to discuss them), erals were required to parole the men which we did, and, having cleared of their respective commands on pa- the yard, lay down for rest. The roles which had been printed by the water ran down my back in such a Federal authorities, and which bore stream, however, that I protested the impress of that fact. against any such baptism by pour- We were accordingly taken to the ing, and with Dr. FeUd moved on. picket lines, which seemed to be Going some hundred yards or so, I somewhere in or about the small suppose, in what direction we had village, in a kind of blacksmith shop, no idea now, for we had lost our where we were halted. Our con- reckoning, and the darkness was ductor gave the countersign and the worse than Cimmerian — it could be pickets passed us, our guards releas- felt — we fell over a new mound of ed us, and directed us, with a "good- earth, and then another, which bye, Johnnie," down the road in the seemed to be new made graves, and direction of our lines, in the dark in the end proved to be so, and, and in the rain, about 10 or 11 gathering ourselves up for fresh ad- o'clock p. M., with about as much ventures, came upon a small house, idea of where our lines were, or the door of which was open, we where Gen. was, as any other judged, by its being a little darker stranger in a strange country in the just in that place than any other, dark, with nobody to enquire of, and I said to the doctor, "Here at could be expected to have. least we can find shelter." What became of Col. Saunders It was a weird looking concern, and his men I know . not — I never but I said, "Let us go in." But Dr. saw them again. Our little party Feild drew back and remarked, struck out "down the road," but "That is a dangerous looking place." soon left it to try and find shelter I said, "That from yow beats all. You and somewhere to halt until day- are the gamest boy and man (for I light. We soon came to a »mall had been his school-mate and seen two-story house, with a light in a him tried) that I ever saw, and now window, and, going up, knocked at for you to talk about being afraid the door, and asked to be permitted borders rather on the ludicrous ; be- to enter and remain all night, if on- sides, what have you got to lose but ly in the hall. Some man came to your life. Come on." LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 265 As we stepped into the door there fore for a gold ring', and which, tied came to my nose that ineffable smell up in his old pocket handkerchief, of gore, two or three days old, which ^'^^ soaked by the rain to an extent but too many of us learned to re- which made them edible, if not im- cognize in our four years' experience proved in flavor. We went out now of war, and, taking a match-box out to try to find our way to Gen. . of my pocket, I struck a light. Sure We soon came upon Dr. Smith, who enough we were in a field hospital, told us that after parting from us he There was the bloody floor, the liad spent the night sitting up with bloody clothes and rags that had tiis back to a tree. He was an old been cut off from the poor fellows campaigner and had done that thing who had been operated on, and even before. He had found out, some- a book of anatomy, from which tow, the route to our destination, some young surgeon had doubtless and we put out through mud and been refreshing himself during the rain. Coming to the Appomattox, process of mutilation, and straw which was an insignificant branch upon which the wounded had lain when we crossed it on the fatal Sat- and the table and broken chairs, urday afternoon before, we found it &c. Well, we were at home, at quite a swollen and angry stream, least, and our right there was But there was neither bridge nor none to dispute, as we thought, ferry, and so with others, who I sup- There was a large open fire-place pose also were looking for Gen. in the room, and with the straw and , we went in and waded broken furniture we soon had a through without the formality of blazing fire, and lay down before it undressing. The water did not reach to warm and dry. We were soon greatly above our knees, and we suf- asleep of course, how long I do not fered no inconvenience from our know, but I was awakened by the morning bath, biggest wasp next falling down up- Qn going about half a mile, I sup- on iae I ever saw. I suppose the pose, I came upon a group of Con- room had been uninhabited, and federates breaking camp and about the wasps had built in the chimney, to commence the journey, no longer We were not long in getting up and march now, home. As good for- out;but we returned to the combat, t^ne would have it, I knew them and managed to destroy our new every one, and in company with enemies and to take possession of every one but one, I had commenc- our old quarters, where we slept ed my military career four years soundly until morning. Leaving before lacking four days. our house as soon as it was daylight, , 1 1 o J. I, J There were Gen. Wm. Mahone, we made a breakfast on some hard „ , „ >i oi. ok /-i i. t. • tack, which Dr. Feild had purchas- Capt- Sam 1 Stevens,25 Capt. Benja- ed of a Yankee soldier the night be- 25. Capt. Samuel Stevens, of Petersburg, Va. 266 WAR TALSS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. imnHaiTison,26Capt. John E. Patter- that wept over our defeat can bear son,27Maj. J. Arthur Johnston.^SMaj. testimony to the mud and to the ex- O.H. P. Corprew,29Capt. Hamilton J. ceeding slippenness of the roads. StoneSO and one or two orderKes, one On the night before, under a forced especially, a young Kentnckian, who march to freedom, our Yankee es- was a nephew of Capt. Stone, had won cort had taken a mischievous pleas- the soubriquet of the "bravest of the ure in hurrying us mp, and how of- brave." His name was Blakemore.31 ten I had fallen down, and how often Another one I did not mention in I was ordered to "get up, Johnnie," my last address (he was before me with a bayonet inconveniently near then) and one man whose merit can my person, I cannot recount, be measured by his modesly. He had But this was no time for fooling, been a soldier in the Mexican war I said, "Boys, you are not going to before he was old enough, but had leave me here ?" Mahone then said, seen that service and come home, "Did I not tell you not to leave Ma- and now left with us aU of the 4th hone's division ? Now you see what Virginia battalion, on the 19th of has come of it." "Yes, General, April, 1861, to do battle again for but where is your surgeon. Wood?" his country, though under a differ- "Qh, that fellow got shot." I knew ent flag. He was a quiet, diffident, that, because I had seen him grie- fighting private of the Ith battalion, vously wounded, and he had asked afterward of the 12th Virginia, Ma- me to take charge of his instruments, hone's brigade, until he got an ug- or watch, I forget which, but the ly woimd at Sharpsburg, in the Yankees had given him an ambu- breast, of course, when he was lance and driver and two mules, and made a quartermaster-sergeant. His I suggested that he would have a name32— well, so much the worse for better chance than I to secure their you if you do not know him. and his safety, which he did. He As we approached the group, all reached home safely, I afterwards of whom were mounted and ready heard, near Pincastle, Va., and to be off, Gen. Mahone accosted me: hved there many years. "Well, where in the h— have you But for myself— I said, "May be been?" "The last place I was in so, I could not be much worse off was a mud hole," I replied. "You than I am." "Are you paroled ?" look like it," he said. And I expect he asked. "If you are I will take that I did. Those of you who were you home with me." "No," I said, left at Appomattox Court-House "I and many others, my two friends long enough to encounter the rain here amongst them, and sixty men 35. Capt. Benjamin Harrison, of PeKRbarg, Va. of yOUr old Alabama brisTade Were 27. Capt. John R. Patterson, of Petersbuig.Va. ,•' ,, "«••"« "xio**"". '"'i" 2s. Mai. J. Arthur Johnston, of Peteisbvtrg, Va. released last msfht bv mv influence 29. Maj. O. H. P. Corpren . of XorfoUt, Va. - , "^S"* "J "»> ^u^uciiots, 30. Capt. Hamilton J. Stone, of Peteisbnig, Va. and Ordered tO report tO GeU 31. James H. Blalcemore, of New York. , , , , ., , .,„, „ 32 J. E. spotswood, of Peteraboig, Va. to be paroled. Well, he said, LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 267 "go down and see Gen. ; he a blank parole made out by Gen. is about a mile down the road, and Mahone, who had requested me to tell him to parole you and send you get his signature to it, as he wished back to me. He says you will have to take me away with him, and had to have a blank parole," and, turn- loaned me his horse to ride down to ing around, asked if anybody had see him. He heard me through, one. Capt. Patterson produced one and then going to the door of the from somewhere, and then I asked tent and pulling aside the blanket if I could not get another one for that hung over the door of the en- Drs. Feild and Smith, but not an- trance, he said, "Do you see those other could be found anywhere, men shivering in the rain and The general then got off his horse, scattered about in bivouac under made me mount her, and told me those bushes? That is the remains that he would provide some way for of 's division. The Yankee me to accompany him by the time printing press at the Court-House I returned, and to hasten to Gen. is broken down, and I cannot teU 's headquarters before he left, when I can get any blank paroles, When I reached Gen. 's but untU every one of those poor headquarters there was no difficulty men is paroled and sent away not in finding him, as I think that his one of you wUl leave here." "That is was the only tent I saw. Riding hard upon me, at least. General," I up there was at the door of the tent said. "We have all suffered enough Capt. , a lawyer of Richmond, and lost enough to give us some who, I think, was Gen. 's ord- common fellow-feeling for each oth- nance officer, though I am not sure er, and I think we should be glad of that. We had been students to- for any one to get out of this trou- gether at the University of Virginia, ble. I have a parole filled out by Besides, I had met him in the army Gen. Mahone, and only wanting occasionally, and we were well ac- your signature to enable me to re- quainted. He bade me get down, join him and leave for home." "I and, giving my bridle to a soldier, shall not do it," he said. I replied, took me in the tent and introduced "As you please. General," and turn- me to Gen. . My reception ed to leave, knowing that the war was decidedly the reverse of cordial, was over, and also his brief author- but I was not prepared for what fol- ity, except that with which the Yan- lowed. I told him that, with seve- kees had crowned him by the terms ral surgeons and some sixty or of the surrender, and made up my eighty men of an Alabama brigade, mind to go with Gen. Mahone any- I had been ordered to report to him way. He called me back and said, to be paroled, and that the remain- "Let me see that parole." He took it, der of the party would report soon ; read it, and, picking up a pen from his that I was fortunate enough to have table, wrote " , Major General." WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. That parole is in my possession not been released, and to make for now. It was enough. Before he Charlotte Court-House as the first could make up his mind for further objective point, negotiations I was off. But just as Drs. Smith and Feild, after my I mounted Gen. Mahone's horse to experience at Gen. 's, declined go back, Capt. said to me, to report to him, and going back to "Claiborne, have you another one the Court-House ,got permission to of those blank paroles ?" I replied, go immediately to Petersburg, rid- " , there was not another one ing on the rail when the trains were to be found at Gen. Mahone's camp running, and walking when the when I left. Besides, if there were, roads were torn up or obstructed. I have two companions there who I cannot think that the paroles would claim them." With tears in amounted to anything. We passed his eyes he said, "That is the way a number of Federal troops and no of the world ; you have gotten out man ever asked to see a parole, of trouble, and now you are willing Soon after getting out of the lines to leave an old school-mate and com- at Appomattox Court-House, Capt. rade perishing of cold and hunger, Stevens opened his heart and sad- th€( streams rising behind him, and, die-bags, and gave me the first piece no means of relief." Until that of bread I had eaten in four days, brave man spoke I never realized That was my day's rations. Riding what hunger and cold and hopeless- all day, just before sunset, our cav- ness could bring one to. I said, alcade — cold, hungry and tired — "Don't talk so, . Come, get came to a beautiful country house on your horse, let us go to Gen. in a noble grove of oaks, and sur- Mahone, and, if there is a parole rounded by every evidence of luxu- that can be gotten for love or money, ry and wealth. Flocks of sheep and you shall have one." We rode rap- lambs, turkeys, chickens, pigs, roam- idly back to Gen. Mahone's camp ed about, just the things to make a and searched, but no parole could soldier's mouth water, evincing that be found, and slowly and sadly and no ruthless war had visited that without salute the captain turned country. A full crib of corn stood off and rode away. right in our way to the house, and Gen. Mahone dismounted one of ^^ thought, "What a haven for a his couriers, put him with Corprew, tired, hungry Confederate soldier! his commissary, in a wagon which ^o doubt we shall find a welcome had been allowed him, and mount- ^^^^> and all creature comfort for ed me on a rough, raw-boned charg- t^BjH and beast." er, and we left Appomattox for, we Gr^n. Mahone called up Major scarcely knew where, but determin- Johnston33 and said, "Johnston, ride ed to get to the south of the return- forward and ask the proprietor to ing armies and prisoners, who had 33. Maj. J. Arthur JoHnston, of Petersburg, Va. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 269 allow US to remain all night. We ginia caught from constant contact shall want supper for our party and and association with gentlemen, a corn for our horses, and would like character which is now dying out, to have two rooms in the mansion, and which never can be reproduced, with fires ; but we are ready to pay, met me and said, "My mistress, and in gold, for all we get. Besides, Mrs. , is a widow, sir, receives our presence may afford protection no gentlemen company, and asks from stragglers." The major rode that you will excuse her." I told off, and soon rode back, evidently him that my business was urgent, disappointed and discomforted, and and that times were troublous, and reported : "General, Mrs. probably it would be better for his owns and lives at this place, and mistress to see me. With an apol- says we cannot stop here ; that she ogy for not taking me into the front doesn't want any soldiers about her way he led me around to the rear house or place, and that we must of the house. As I was about to move on." The general remarked mount the steps of a long portico in in a laconic style: "The devil! the rear, Mrs. appeared at Johnston, you have made a mess, I the top of the steps, and making no expect. Dr. Claiborne, I wish you acknowledgement of my salute, re- would go to Mrs. and tell her marked, "Do not come up the steps ; who we are, and engage what we we will have no soldiers here." I wish." "All right, sir," I said, and apoligized for my intrusion, said rode forward full of my mission and that we had no idea of forcing our confident of a graceful reception. I way in, but that Gen. Mahone and got off my horse at the yard gate, his staff, some seven in all, wished tied him to the rack, which at that to remain all night, that we wo aid day was a feature of the landscape like also to have supper and some never omitted from the picture of forage for our horses, and that we the planter's home, went into the would pay in gold for all that we yard and was met by a dignified and got, besides protecting her prem- most respectful looking darkey, past ises. "No, no," she said ; she "did middle age, whom without introduc- not intend to have us stop there." tion I recognized at once as the din- I was as tired as a man weU could ing room servant, butler or garden- be, and really I did not feel like go- er, or fac-totum generally, who illus- ing any further, and I thought I trated and adorned every planter's would try the patriotic and senti- home in those days, and who inva- mental. I said, "So you seriously riably met the visitor and showed propose, madam, to deny the rights him to the house. This colored of hospitality, in an old Virginia gentleman, with the grace and dig- home, to one of her most famous nity of manner which such servants generals and his staff; men who, for of a gentleman's house in old Vir- four long years, have fought your 210 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. battles and placed themselves a liv- could receive a soldier, gave us sup- ing wall between yourself and the per of hot rolls, broiled chicken and Northern vandals who have come coffee ! And such roUs, such chick- down upon you to seize your prop- en and such coffee ! The savor of erty and to slay your people ?" "I that supper has never died away do," was her brief and unmistakable from my senses. reply. "I don't know you nor Gen. Mrs. 8 's daughter and one or Mahone, nor ever heard of either of two other young ladies received us you before, and I want you to leave." in the parlor, and Capt. Patterson Never heard of either of us before! introduced me as Dr. Claiborne of What is fame ? Petersburg, "the glass of fashion I returned to the general not on- and the mould of form." As I had ly crest-fallen, but I confess, no lit- not washed my face and hands, or tie irritated. Johnston was the only combed my head, or made my toilet man who seemed to enjoy my dis- for ten days, and was muddy to my comfort. Gen. Mahone remarked blinkers, I felt that, I was being that it would serve her right to camp trifled with, but I 'made my best right there in her lawn, take what obeisance, took a proffered chair, we wanted and pay for nothing, but and distinguished myself by going that it would be a bad example to to sleep immediately in their pres- set, especially in such lawless times, ence. They were polite and con- and that we must go on, which we siderate enough to ask us to our did, to Charlotte Court-House, four room at an early hour. There were miles further, the longest four miles two beds in the room, and Gen. that I ever rode. On reaching there Mahone and I were bunked togeth- our little party broke up into sec- er. But now a very serious ques- tions. Gen. Mahone, Capt. Patter- tion arose, which I feared at one son, Capt. Stevens, I think, and my- time would give rise to some un- self going to Mr. S 's,34 who for- pleasantness. I had not had an op- merly lived at Westover, on James portunity of taking off my long cav- Eiver, but who had sold his place airy boots for thirteen-days, and they, during the war and moved up. to having in that time been often wet Charlotte Court-House, to be out of and dried on my feet, were literally reach of the enemy. moulded to them, and positively de- Its location was such that it was clined to come off. Gen. Mahone, supposed that not even a Yankee and then my other companions, re- could ever find it. Mr. S was fused to sleep with me with boots not at home, but was out in the on, to say nothing of the improprie- woods dodging capture, as Mrs. ty of occupying one of Mrs. S- S told us, but she received us beds with such foot-gear. A negro only as a patriotic Virginia woman man was summoned, the situation 34, Mr. seiden. explained to him, and he guaranteed LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 271 relief. After dragging me around time had been crowded into that the room two or three times, encour- short week. It was almost impos- aged by the cheers of my compan- sible to realize the changes I had ions, who enjoyed the fun more seen in that time, and now the mar- than I did, he succeeded in getting vel of looking at Gen. Mahone sit- them off, and I slept with Gen. Ma- ting down in peace, playing hone for the first and last time in with his children, whom one week my life. before I had left at the head of his The next morning Mrs. S. sent us ragged veterans in fierce and hope- up a box of paper collars, the first I less fight, was more than I could had ever seen, and with one of them take in. on, my face and hands clean, head Sunday I was too sick to get up, combed, and some of the mud off but with the kindly ministrations of of my clothes, I appeared the next Mrs. Mahone I was on my feet Mon- morning in fair comparison with day morning, and after breakfast any of my comrades. After break- Blakemore and I, the last of the fast, bidding farewell to our kind "Paladins" of our little group who hostess and her daughters, and seek- had left Appomattox together, re- ing the others of our party, who newed our journey. We traveled had found homes in different houses together about half a day, when he of the village, we renewed our jour- turned off to go to his aunt's, Mrs. ney. After riding some ten miles J 's,35 in Mecklenburg county, we separated. Gen. Mahone taking Va., and I took the road for Louis- Blakemore, Corprew and myself burg, N. C, where my wife and with him to his home at Clarksville, children had been refugeeing. I and Patterson, Stevens, Ben. Har- had no companion for the balance of rison, Johnston and Spotswood that day, reached Eidgeway about turning their horses' heads towards night, and found hospitable quar- Petersburg. ters with an old friend and college We reached Clarksville that night mate, Dr. J .36 after a forced march, and after a The next morning I met our adju- hot supper, which Mrs. Mahone pre- tant, J. R. Turner ,37sitting by the side pared for us after our arrival, I went of the railroad, recalling to my mind to bed more dead than alive. I had some lines of Patience on a monu- undergone not only all the fatigue ment. I then made for Louisburg, of the retreat, but my Eosinante about twenty-five miles, saw and was the roughest riding animal I overtook many of Lee's soldiers ever backed, and riding him rapidly trudging their way on foot to differ- two long days had used me up. ent portions of the state, and saw This was on Saturday night sue- several splendid teams belonging ceeding the surrender. 35. Mrs. Jones. _, . .„ ., i. i i-j 36. Dr. Jermaine, of Ridgeway, N. C. it seemed as 11 the events 01 a llie- 37. John R. Turner, of Petersburg, Va. 272 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. to the quartermaster department of that heaven ever gave ; and now, the government, which had been alone, ragged, unaccompanied by out foraging, but whose drivers one single comrade, unheralded, seemed to be at sea as to where to without country, without home, go or what to do. One man, who without faith and without bread, I told me that he lived in one of the was before them, even a stranger to far Southern states, and who had my children. I leave the picture — been out with a fine team and wag- let some other finish. But the on, of four mules, begged me to take bitterest experience of aU fell to them, saying that he was certainly my lot when a selfish, crabbed old going' to leave them on the road man, who had done nothing for that day or the next, and make his the cause and continually prated at way home afoot as well as he could, home his lugubrious prophecies, met Of course I had no more use for me with the stinging welcome, "I the team than he had, and no more told you so. How do you feel now?" right to it, and I declined. About I never could look at that man, or midnight I came to a camp which hear of him, or think of him again, some cavalry had occupied the night with christian forbearance, and it before. Amongst other odds and was a load taken from my life when ends they had hurriedly left was a I knew that a few years later he had bolt of fine imported jeans, which I paid the penalty of nature, and that picked up and tied behind my sad- he and I did not live in the same die. From it was fabricated the world together, only change of under-clothing I had. j^^ ^ow. Comrades, one word I reached Louisburg about six more: If those men whom you left o'clock the evening of that day, rode behind you at Seven Pines, at Cold up to the house, where two years Harbor, at Malvern Hill, at Second before I sent my wife and children, Manassas, at Crampton's Gap, at and soon had my loved ones in my Sharpsburg, at Gettysburg, at Chan- arms. Pour years before, almost to cellorsville, at Spotsylvania Oourt- the day, at my home in Petersburg, House, at the Wilderness, at Hatch- I had taken them in my arms, and er's Eun, in the gorged mouth of the giving a last kiss and "God bless you" Crater; if those men feU for noth- I had gone out with my comrades ing; if no God sits in the heavens to and compatriots to the war, with judge their cause, if there be no re- brilliant uniforms and flying banner, ward for them, who, seetag duty did with heart full of hope, if full of sor- it, laying down life as a common row, with no fear of defeat and no thing in defence of kindred and reckoning but that we should save home; then we have no future — let to them, if not to ourselves, our fair us patch up a treaty with the horrid Southern land, a heritage the -best past, let us eat of the grovelling LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 213 swine's food fed to rebels, let us spit the laws were silent, and Mr. Greeley upon the dust of our dishbnored declared that the constitution was dead, and let us teach our children "a league with heU and a covenant to despise their fathers as a robber '^i^^ tlie devil." Congress ordain- band. Is there one in aU this au- ed that the safety of the nation de- dience who can believe and teach manded such construction, and the that creed? NO! NO! I see be- sword established the new policy of fore me women who sent out their central power. We yielded— not husbands that came back no more convinced, but conquered— and only when the soldiers returned from the after such a contest that the world war. I see before me mothers, fa- looked on and wondered how six mU- thers, who sent out their sons to do ^^^^^ of people could keep at bay for battle for the right yonder where ^oi^' long years forty millions, with the battle was raging so fiercely, ^^cry government upon earth at and they came back no more. Think tl^^ir back. We accepted the terms you there is any attaint of treason o^ ^^^ ^ic^ government, not the old; on those honored names, which you "^^ gave our fealty, and we shaU hand down as a heritage to them who l^^ep it to the new, as we kept it to are to come after you? Sits there a ^^^ ol erate money, but in writing paper and coffee, we started about nine o'clock,, went first to the Furnace on James River, and then came up the 'tow path' to this point, having stopped at Mr. Echols' at the North Biver Junction, where Mr. Echols had our horses fed. On the road this evening we heard that Johnson had retreated from Danville, and that a major is trying to get togeth- er a party of guerrillas to join Gen. Lee in S. Carolina. We will go on to Buchanan to-morrow morning and will there determine our future direction. If affairs look as hope- less as represented, we may, as much as we dislike the alternative, abandon the effort to get to the army, or rather to what remains of it. I lost my pistol to-day, a serious loss.' " It may be mentioned here that, after discovering my loss above men- tioned, I offered a negro whom I saw at Mr. Thompson's a large sum in. Confederate money — the only money I had — to go down the tow- fath to the blacksmith shop, where left the pistol (some two miles distant), and get it for me. But the fellow seemed to have less faith in this money than I had, and refused the offer. I was too much broken down at the time to go back myself. So I left the pistol to its fate. "Another incident may be here mentioned: During the night Bob Hackley aided the young men at Mr. Thompson's in burying, I think under a stable or grain ary, a lot of brandy. The idea was that it would thus be secured against loss by fall- ing into the hands of Federal sol- diers, who were expected' soon to make their appearance in the neigh- borhood. Midnight was the time selected for hiding it, under the idea that the negroes on the place would not know where it was, and so could not, as it was expected they would, if they knew, inform the Federal soldiers who might come along." Here ends what I wrote in the book referred to, leaving the account of the experiences of our little party during those eventful days unfinish- ed. They can be briefly told: On Wednesday morning, April 12th, we pursued our journey up the tow-path to Buchanan, arriv- ed at which place we found it was useless as well as impracticable to proceed further, and accordingly concluded that it was wisest to make our way down the Valley to Orange county, and there to await developments. It will be best to let the entries made in my diary tell the story. They are as follows : "On road from Lexington to Waynesboro, 15 miles of Waynesboro, Friday, April 16, 1865.* *This date is by mistake written Friday, April 16th, Friday, April 14th, being in- tended. LAST DAYS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. 283 "On our way back to Orange. Arriving at Buchanan on Wednes- nesday morning we concluded, in view of the very great danger of capture at this time and the difficul- ty of getting along on horseback, to make our way back to Orange and endeavor to make our way to John- son's army from that point, going on foot in another direction, that is, if upon getting to Orange we learn that there is still hope in pros- ecuting the war. Almost all the Virginia soldiers appear to have gone to their homes, or to other points of safety, there to be ready to fight more if need be, but with the intention of watching for the present the course of events. Very few are so much whipped as to fa- vor the abandoning of the cause. The Southern soldiers from Lee's army appear to have the same in- tentions, and no doubt most of them will go to their homes, if possible, before joining Johnson. "Wednesday night we stopped at Mr. John Lackey's (of Company H, 14th Virginia Cavalry), 9 miles from Lexington, and were very hos- pitably treated by him. Beaching Lexington about 11 o'clock the next morning we called to see , and accepted his offer to pre- pare us a snack, which we enjoyed very much. Last night we went off the road a little way, and went to the house of a Mr. S , who prov- ed to be a blood relation of mine, and who entertained us very well. Thus far we have met with excellent fortune. My spirits are bettej now than two days ago." "At Mr. Jas. B. Newman's, Orange County, Monday morning, April 17th, 1865. "Stopped Friday night with Mr. S , two miles south of Waynes- boro. Left Mr, S 's next morn- ing in a rain, which continued until we reached the summit of Eockfish Gap, 6 miles distant. As we ascen- ded the mountain the wind blew a perfect gale, driving the rain with some hail right into our faces. Get- ting over the gap we missed our way, and after traveling about 4 miles found ourselves on the Scotts- ville road. Just at this point Char- ley Scott's horse broke down, and was left with a Mr. , living on the road. Changing our direction near this point we went on to Hills- boro, and thence to within 3 miles of Whitehall, and stopped with an old gentleman named , who, with his wife, was very kind to us and made us feel very much at home. I had almost forgotten to mention that some old ladies near Mr. 's, whom we asked for some bread and milk, very kindly set a table for us and gave us a regular dinner. They seemed to be in such humble circumstances that I gave them half the meat I had, which it was with difficulty we could induce them to accept, and they seemed •rather hurt at anything being offer- ed them. Yesterday between Ear- lysville and Fray's mill an ' old gen- tleman named , whom we asked the privilege of grazing our horses in his lot, insisted on our going in the house and partaking of such dinner as he had, which invitation we accepted, and we found the old gentleman's dinner a very nice one. After dinner wq started first for Fray's mill, 3 miles distant, at which point we determined to go on to BarboursviUe, 12 mUes further on, and if possible make Eockwood that night, thinking it could not be more than 4 miles beyond Barbours- viUe, but it was so late when we reached this place, and we appre- hended such difficulty in finding our way across the mountain that we concluded to accept Mr. New- man's kind invitation to spend the night and to complete our trip this 284 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. morning. Before concluding this entry I must mention that at various houses on the road we were given bread and milk and other delicacies. We have been surprised at our good fortune, traveling as we have been, on the charity of the good people by whose houses we passed, our Confederate money of course being worth nothing. Our return trip has been quite pleasant, and we are now rejoiced at being so near our destination." "Eockwood, Tuesday, April 19th, 1865. "Reached here yesterday morn- ing about 11 o'clock. Everybody rejoiced to see me back. The va- rious rumors about French recogni- tion and an alliance with the Con- federacy appear to be true, and it is said that a French fleet has had an engagement with the Yankee fleet somewhere in the Gulf of Mex- ico, in which the French sunk three of the Yankee vessels and captured the balance. It is also said that Johnson has whipped Sherman, capturing from 15,000 to 25,000 pris- oners.* If these reports be true, we still have much to hope for — the Confederacy has not yet been de- stroyed." "Petersburg, May 22d, '65. "After writing last, whilst at Rock- wood, made arrangements to join the Black Horse Cavalry in 4th Vir- ginia regiment, which was called together to meet at Charlottesville, Waynesboro and other places the first week in May, but the news of the fate of Johnson's army deter- mined me at once to go down to Richmond and get my parole. Reached Richmond last Monday, May 15th, was paroled May 16th, and came over here the following day, and to-day took the amnesty oath, a bitter pill indeed. I find nothing to do whatever in my pro- fession and am taking steps to get employment as a teacher." I should mention that on Thurs- day, April 13th, as we were going down the Valley, we met a train of several wagons wending its way up the Valley in the charge of a quar- termaster, or other Confederate offi- cer, the whole proceeding along as if nothing had happened. I do not remember that we were asked the news or that we volunteered to com- municate any information that we had. In looking back to the last sad scenes of the Lost Cause, I have of- ten recalled the appearance of this organized party of Confederates — the last I ever saw — quartermaster, or wagon-master, and teamsters, stiU in the faithful discharge of their duty, solemnly and slowly moving to their point of destination in obedience to the orders of some superior officer whose commands had, when they were issued, the bayonets of the once powerful Army of Northern Virginia to enforce them, but which was now a thing of the past, t *Thi8 is a sample of the wild rumors that In Dr. Claiborne's address, were from Din- floated through the country at this period, widdie county, Va. Dr. J. P. Smith was fDr. Hume Feild (whose name iserrone- from Clarke county, Va. Dr. J , refer- ously spelled Field on page 248) and Dr. red to on page 271, is Dr. T. P. Jerman (not Blohard E. Lewis, so frequently mentioned Dr. Jermaine) of Eidgeway, N. C. HON. JAMBS M. MULLEN. LAST DAYS OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY. A COMRADE'S EXPERIENCE WITH GEN. L. 8. BAKER'S COMMAND AT WELDON, N. C, DURING THE FIFTEEN DAYS PRECEDING JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER AT GREENSBORO, N. C. AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE A. P. HILL CAMP OP CONFED- ERATE VETERANS, OF PETERSBURG, VA., ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 25th, 1890, BY Hon. JAMBS M. MULLEN. GOMEADES : choosing, for the boys of our bat- Looking back, perhaps tery would have had it otherwise, I am justified in saying that and we did not relish the paternal my lines during the late war were, in regard of the "powers that were" in one sense, cast in pleasant places, our behalf. It did seem, however, At the time, and while the conflict that the authorities studiously avoid- was raging, I did not think so ; but ed exposing us to danger, and kept "blessings brighten as they take their the battery continuously on the flight." Hudibras says that move, so as to shield it from the "He who fights and runs away, enemy's bullets. Around Richmond, Will live to fight another day;" from April to November, 1862, either and thinking "on my marcies" dur- in camp of instruction or manning ing the piping times of peace that some of the heavy redoubts that en- have succeeded the late unpleasant- circled that city, we took no active ness, I have learned to properly ap- part in the bloody scenes that were preciate my good fortune in being enacted at Seven Pines, Mechanics- kept out of harm's way. The run- viUe, Gaines' Mill, Cold Harbor, Sav- ning away was not of our own age's Station and Malvern Hill, 286 WAR TALES OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. though within sound, and at times never be my pleasure to relate with in sight of bursting of shell and rat- bated breath and glowing cheek to tling of musketry upon those fields my children and children's children, of carnage. From November, 1862, as one of the actor's therein, those to June, 1863, we helped to guard mighty passages of arms that made the line of the Blackwater under for Lee's ragged veterans a name Pryor, and assisted in the invest- as great as, if not greater than, that ment of Suffolk under Longstreet. of any armed host whose achieve- Dujing the remainder of 1863, with ments are recorded in the annals the exception of a few weeks of history. "In aU the tide of at Chaffin's Bluff, we remained time" the brilliant deeds of that ar- around Petersburg, our principal ray of "bright muskets and tattered duty being to stand guard over Fort uniforms" will live and glow upon Clifton. The first five months of the historic page, in attestation of 1864 found us on the coast below the fortitude, prowess and courage Wilmington, N. C, about six mUes of that noble band of patriot sol- above Fort Fisher. From there we diers. Would that I could, as one were sent in June, 1864, to Weldon, of the actors in the bloody drama, N. C, where we remained until the tell of the charge up the heights of close of the war. Cemetery Hill, when nothing daunt- When approached, several weeks ®^ "^ ago, with the request that at some "Cannon to the right of them, . , X- T J ii Cannon to the left of them, future meeting I favor the_ camp ^^^^^^ .^ ,^^^^ ^^ ^^^^„ with some of my war experiences, the same feeling took possession of ^^^^ gallant command pressed on, me that doubtless came over that ^* *^s ^^^ °^ ^^^y' *« certain death. good woman when about to cast all ^^* i* ^}^^ privUege accorded the she had — two mites — into the treas- °^^ soldier to ury of the Lord. I was oppressed "Weep o'er his wounds, or tales of sor- .,, ,, . .1 i 1 t T row done, with the consciousness that what I ghouider his clutch, and show fields are might be able to contribute would won," fail to entertain scarred veterans is denied me, I am possessed of the who had "stood like a stone wall' proud consciousness of having done with Jackson, or marched and all I could — all that was permitted fought with A. P. Hill's "Light Di- me to do — to secure the success of vision." As it was not my privi- the cause I believed to be right, lege to witness or participate in any It is announced that I shall speak of the many glorious victories won to-night of "A Comrade's Experi- by that incomparable body of men, ence with Gen. L. S. Baker's Com- the Army of Northern Virginia, the mand at Weldon, N. C," during the din and shout of fierce battle are fifteen days preceding the surren- not within my experience. It can der of Johnston at Greensboro, N. LAST DAYS OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY. 2S1 C." I shall endeavor briefly to re- L. H. Webb, Company A, IStli bat- count some of the incidents and talion North Carolina light artille- events that came under my observa- ry) was in command, tion while with the little command You will remember that the days during this short but eventful pe- of which I speak were times that "°"" tried men's souls, and put to the After the evacuation of Plymouth, severest test the metal with which Washington, Kinston and Golds- the Confederate soldiers were made, boro, Brig.-Geneial L. S. Baker was All signs indicated that "the end sent to Weldon, charged with the was near at hand." Lee had aban- duty of holding on to that place, doned Petersburg and Eichmond, not only for the purpose of preserv- though this was unknown to us un- ing railroad communication between til several days thereafter, as I shall the other forces in North Carolina later on show ; all of North Caro- and the Army of Northern Virginia lina east of the Wilniington and and those along the line of the Wil- Weldon railroad had been given up ; mington and Weldon railroad, from and Sherman had made his mem- Goldsboro to that line, but of col- orable march through Georgia to lecting supplies for these armies the sea, and through the Carolinas, from that portion of Eastern Caro- having as his objective point Golds- lina not actually in the possession boro, where he purposed to form a of the enemy. The authorities re- junction with Scofield, moving from cognizing the importance of this Newberne and Kinston, and with position in these respects — it being Terry, moving from Wilmington, one of the principal sources of sup- This was accomplished by him on ply for the armies — instructed Gen. the 23rd of March, 1865. The giant Baker to hold it until the last mo- arms of an octopus were rapidly ment, and at the same time watch closing upon the Confederacy in out for and repel any raids of the her final desperate but grand strug- enemy coming from the Blackwater gle for independence. Just one and Chowan, and from Plymouth, month previous to the junction of Washington and Goldsboro. With these three armies, flushed as they the force under his command this were with victory, that old war was no light duty, and he was ne- horse. Gen. Joe Johnston, had re- cessarily absent from Weldon most lieved Beauregard at Charlotte, N. of his time, looking after the various C, and was charged with the diffi- points under his supervision. Wei- cult task of collecting and uniting don, however, was the headquarters in one army the scattered forces of of his department, which was styled Bragg, Hardee, Hood and Beaure- "The Second Military Division of gard, for one supreme effort to stay North Carolina." In his absence the tide of the invader, and be pre- the captain of our battery (Capt. pared, if necessary, to unite his 288 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. forces at Danville with those of Lee, on Ealeigji, which place he reached who even then contemplated aban- on April 13th* and found that John- doning his position around Peters- ston had moved further on. burg for that purpose, with the hope Let us now leave Sherman at Eal- that the two armies might fall upon eigh, and go back to the little force Sherman and crush him before at Weldon. And, in the outset, I Grant could come to his assistance, take pleasure in acknowledging my Vain hope born of desperation ; for indebtedness for much I shall now Sherman, having reached Golds- recount to my old commander, Capt. boro, his next plan was not to fol- L. H. Webb, than whom a truer low after Johnston, but open com- soldier never drew sword, and who munication with Grant, so that the has very kindly furnished me ex- two might act together. This is tracts from his diary kept during shown by his special order, issued this period. I have also obtained April 5th, at Goldsboro, which valuable information from that gal- reads : "The next grand objective lant soldier, Hon. James C. McRae, is to place this army (with its full then assistant adjutant-general on equipment) north of Roanoke River, Gen. Baker's staff, and now one of facing west, with a base for supplies the superior court judges for North at Norfolk, and at Winston or Mur- Carolina.* freesboro on the Chowan, and in The task imposed upon this small full communication with the Army force, consisting of two or three of the Potomac at Petersburg ; and hundred infantry and our battery, also to do the enemy as much harm numbering about one hundred and as possible enroute." His army was twenty-five men, was no light one. to move on the 10th of April, in For weeks it had been in a state of three columns of 25,000 each, with constant , activity and excitement, his cavalry under Kilpatrick, aiming enhanced towards the last with con- directly for Weldon until it had tinual suspense and anxiety. It had crossed the Tar River, the general been constantly on the move to point of concentration being War- meet threatened advances from the ronton, N. C. But his whole plan directions of the Tar and lower Hoa- was suddenly changed by the news noke and the Chowan and Black- of the fall of Richmond and Peters- water rivers. If I remember aright, burg, which reached him at Golds- during the month of March it had boro on the 6th of April. Inferring been sent upon two expeditions that Lee would succeed in making a through Northampton, Hertford and junction with Johnston, with a frac- Bertie counties, to repel reported tion of his army, at least, somewhere "TZ" '' '~ ; ; . , . » , , 1 ti n *Judge MoEae was, in August, 1892, ap- m his front, he prepared, on the day pointed by Gov. Holt an associate justice he had appointed (April 10th) to 9**^^ supreme court of North Carolina, to , _, , , , . , . , , fil' ^ vacancy thereon caused by the death leave Goldsboro, to move straight of Associate Justice Joseph J. Davis. LAST DAYS OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY. 289 raids of the enemy's cavalry from, ordered the train stopped. This the Ohowan ; one, to and below precaution was not taken any too Tarboro to meet a threatened ad- soon, for, as soon as some of' the vance from the lower Tar and Roa- infantry were put off as skirmishers noke ; and one down the Seaboard and the situation was taken in, it and Roanoke railroad towards was discovered that the track for Franklin, to check a cavalry raid some distance just ahead of us was from the Blackwater. This last ex- torn up and that the enemy had pedition, however, was in April, the ambuscaded both sides. We had command returning to camp there- passed Seaboard about a mile. As from the night of April 6th. It was soon as the train was stopped the under command of Gol. Whitford, enemy opened fire upon us.'T^i.Col. who had with him not to exceed Whitford caused the train to be two hundred infantry (about fifty run back to Seaboard, where the of whom were members of our com- remainder of the command was put pany, armed with inferior rifles) in position to await the return of and two guns from our battery. I the skirmishers, who were ordered was with the expedition as a can- to fall back as soon as they could noneer of one of the guns of the ascertain with some certainty the battery. I forgot to say that we force and purpose of the enemy, were conveyed down the Seaboard They soon reported that the enemy, road upon two or three flat cars, consisting of a regiment of cavalry, and possibly a box car or two. Upon had retired in the direction of Jack- reaching Boykin's depot, about son, which was distant some eight twenty-flve miles from Weldon, we miles in a southeast direction from discovered that all below that point where we were, and away from Wel- the enemy had torn up and burned don. Col. Whitford concluded to the track, so that it was impossible follow on after them, but I suspect for us to proceed further on the with no hearty desire to meet up train. Disembarking, we reconnoit- with them, for he could but know ered the situation for several miles that our force was not able to cope around, and remained there until successfully with a full regiment, next morning, when, hearing that Upon reaching Jackson, we learned the enemy was making his way in there that the regiment was the the direction of Weldon, we board- 3rd New York Cavalry, about six ed the train and started back, hundred strong, well mounted and After passing Seaboard, a small sta- thoroughly equipped with Spen- tion about ten miles east of Weldon, cer repeating carbines, and had Col. Whitford, who was riding on passed through thattownsomehours the engine, saw one or two men run before, and then must be near Mur- across the track some six or seyen freesboro, some twenty-five miles hundred yards ahead. He at once distant. After waiting several hours 290 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. at Jackson our guns were ordered from Gen. Johnston, ordering tliat back overland to Weldon, while the all trains north of the Roanoke infantry, under Col. Whitford's com- River be recalled at once, all the mand, retired to Halifax. I shall artillery that could be moved got on always remember with pleasure one the south side, and such heavy guns little incident connected with this in the defences north of the river affair: Several weeks before, as we as could not be moved destroyed, had more men than were required and the railroad bridge burned, or needed to man the guns, about Steps were at once taken to execute sixty of our company had been arm- the order, and by hard service all ed with rifles and acted with the night, the next morning (Saturday, infantry. When the train was halt- 8th) found everything in the shape ed and skirmishers thrown off I was of guns, ordnance, quartermaster anxious to join them, and endeav- and commissary stores removed ored to get* one of the riflemen to from the north side of the river and exchange places with me. I knew delivered in Weldon, and combusti- he was disaffected, and it occurred bles at once gathered and placed at to me that he would not hesitate to each end of the railroad bridge to fire shirk danger; but I reckoned with- it as soon as all the trains were out my host. He rejected the over- safely over. The bridge, however, ture with some indignation, and re- was not fired that day ; why, I will marked that, if anybody had to use let Capt. Webb speak. I quote from his rifle, he proposed to do it him- his diary : "Gen. Baker came up self; and I ascertained that he be- about 10 o'clock A. M., and ordered haved as gallantly as any man. me with my battery and Williams' This but illustrates that it was not section of artillery across the river cowardice that caused a great many again. Upon getting my battery of our soldiers to waver in their al- over the river I put my guns in po- legiance toward the close of the sition along the old line as I war, but the terrible hardships to thought best, and awaited ulterior which they were subjected, the dis- orders from headquarters. My on- tressing accounts of suffering of ly support were the feeble remains their loved ones at home, and the of a company of so-called cavalry intuitive knowledge that defeat was under Capt. Strange. In all the inevitable. I remember with sad- twenty men of his command there ness, without any feeling of cen- was not a single man or officer de- sure, many instances of desertion cently mounted. With my old fiery of as brave men as ever marched Bucephalus, 'Duncan,' I could have to the tap of a drum. charged and overturned every skel^ On the 7th of April, about 5 eton of a horse in his company, p. M., a telegram was received by But the men were all true 'Tar- Capt. Webb, who was in command, heels,' and there was no braver man LAST DAYS OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY. 291 than Capt. Strange." On the after- two days after we had marched noon of the 10th the artillery was away. One of the duties imposed ordered back on the south side, and ^p^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^f our battery, just preparations made to leave Weldon. before leaving Weldon, was the col- According to Capt. Webb, there 1^^^^^^ ^^^ destruction of boats were then at that point about five ^^^^^ ^he river, so that, upon the hundred men, including at least burning of the bridge, communica- seventy-five stragglers, furloughed y^n with the north side might be men, convalescents from the hos- effectually cut off Perhaps it was pitals and detailed men. ^ precautionary measure that could On the 12th the command to leave have been very safely dispensed Weldon was given. Capt. Webb was ^ith; and when I recall my expe- ordered to take charge of the column rience in the performance of that and start towards Ealeigh, keeping (j^ty I am strongly inclined to that as near the railroad as possible. By opinion. In company with a moun- 10 o'clock A. M. the column was well taineer, who knew nothing of boat- on its way in good order, the objective craft, I was sent up the river for being, if possible, to join Gen. John- that purpose. After proceeding ston at or near Ealeigh. We marched about half a mile above the bridge, about sixteen miles that day. we came across a boat ; but the For several days previous to our owner, who doubtless had taken the departure, and even while the artil- alarm, had hid the poles with which lery was on the north side of the to propel it. Nothing daunted, we river, everything was done to put improvised the best we could, and the force in good marching condi- started down the river. Tempted tion. Unfit and worthless animals by the sight of some fish upon a connected with the artillery, quar- slide near by, we essayed, to cross termaster and commissary depart- over and secure them, and had al- ments, were condemned and either most reached the prize when my sold or given away. To supply companion's pole broke, and away their places squads of mounted men we went down the rapids. We for- were detailed to make detours tunately passed the worst safely, through the adjacent farms and plan- and by dint of extra exertion reach- tations to impress horses and mules, ed the shore ; but for a few moments The extra men of the command were there were two badly scared naviga- parcelled out and assigned to the tors. The r.est of the trip to the different regular organizations, and point we were ordered to bring the everything in the way of stores sent boats was made by swinging around, off by raif up the Raleigh and Gas- one of us in the stern and the other ton railroad. The bridge, however, at the bow, alternately catching remained in statu quo, and was not hold of and turning loose the bushes burned until the night of the 13th, along the bank. 292 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, The scenes in and around Weldon and cut off. Capt. Webb, who was in these few days were heart-rending, command — Gen. Baker not yet hair As early as the 8th the citizens in ingcomeup — refused to believe him, the country around, especially on and ordered him and some others the north side of the river, became under guard to accompany the com- panic-stricken, and came crowding mand until their story was verified, into the town, imagining the direst But it was not long before all were calamities would befall them upon fully convinced of the truth of their the withdrawal of the troops. We statements, for the roads were soon could but remember the kind and filled with soldiers returning from ■ hospitable treatment these good Lee's army. I shall never forget and loyal people had always ex- the feeling which came over me when tended to Confederate soldiers, and fully impressed with the fact that were deeply touched at their dis- Lee had surrendered. Until then I tress. But some of us, who had had never permitted myself to doubt witnessed similar scenes, took com- the ultimate success of the Confed- fort in the thought that it would eracy ; and, as to the Army of Nor- not be half as bad as they imagined, thern Virginia, I believed that, un- I remember the confusion and con- der "Marse Eobert," it was simply sternation in and around my own invincible. I apprehend this feeling home upon hearing of the capture was shared by most of the Confed- of Eoanoke Island; and yet, the erate soldiers; hence their endu- storm of war passed by without in- ranee, courage and devotion under flicting the grievous woes appre- the sorest trials and in the darkest hended. But Sherman and his hours of the cause. With Lee's sur- bummers did not pass that way. render, all hope fled, and thereafter By sunrise on the 13th we resum- ^'^ obedience and discharge of duty ed our march in a hard rain, and "^^^^ ^^^^^^ mechanical. Swift upon with the roads in a terrible condi- t^^ heels of the news of this terri- tion. Not long after starting we be- ^^^ disaster, and on the evening of gan to meet stragglers making their ^^^ same day, came the rumor that way to our rear. Among the first Sherman was in possession of Ral- to attract our attention was a weary- ^igh, and that Johnston was retiring looking, foot-sore and jaded young before him towards Greensboro, fellow in the dirty and tattered uni- Madam Eumor was not a lying jade form of a lieutenant of infantry, who ""^ time. About nightfall, weary told us he was going home; that ^^^ l^ngry, depressed with the Lee had surrendered, and what was gloomy outlook, and after a hard left of his army had been paroled, ^^y'^ ^°^^> we halted and went into TT . .1 • .• j-j i. 1 camp near Warrenton Jr--*- — Up to this time we did not know q^^^ ^^^^^^ j^^^ ^^^ y^^ ^^ that Petersburg had been abandon- and Oapt. Webb was in muol ed, so completely were we isolated as to what course to pursue. LAST DAY8 OF JOHNSTON' 8 ARMY. 293 Let me narrate the events of the succeeding day in the words of Capt. Webb himself. I quote from his diary : "Friday, April 14:th. About day- light this morning the bugles sound- ed reveille, and as soon as the weary men could be got into line, and the horses hitched, without breakfast, we started for the junction, about four miles distant, intending to feed at that place. I pressed on ahead of the column to see if I could hear any thing of General Baker, and at that early hour I found the road filled with stragglers, all reitera,ting and confirming the news of yesterday. Nothing could be heard of the gen- eral. The column came up in about an hour, was halted, horses fed, and men got breakfast. About the time we were ready to move again a soli- tary horseman rode up to the depot, in whom I recognized General M. W. Eansom. He dismounted and hitched his horse, while I went for- ward to meet him. He confirmed the reports of Gen. Lee's surrender, having himself been there and wit- nessed it. I told of my situation, the reported occupation of Raleigh by Sherman, and that, surrounded by the enemy as I was, I hardly knew what to do with the stores and men under my charge. He replied that he knew nothing of Sherman's posi- tion, but hardly thought he was in Raleigh, and that, being a paroled soldier, he could not give me any advice in the premises; but that his brother, Gen. Robert Ransom, was at his house, only about four miles away, and, as he was not paroled, I could consult him. This I concluded to do, and countermanding the or- ders to resume the march, we mouiit- ed and rode off. We found Gen. Robert Ransom at his house (he was home on sick furlough), and I enter- ed at once into the matter which had brought me to his presence. Gen. Matt. Ransom was present, but took no part in the discussion. After some reflection, Gen. Robert remark- ed that under the circumstances he could see no good in holding out longer ; explained the difficulties of reaching Johnston if Sherman occu- pied Raleigh, and that he thought it best to remain where I was, and send a flag of truce to Sherman at Ral- eigh, offering to surrender upon the same terms accorded Lee's army. At the conclusion of Gen. Robert's remarks. Gen. Matt., forgetful of the fact that he was paroled and could give no advice, sprang to his feet and exclaimed with flashing eye and extended arm, 'Never! Un- der no consideration surrender until there is a force in your front suffi- cient to compel it. But what am I doing ! I am a paroled prisoner and have no right to speak in this manner,' and walked out of the room. There was that in his manner, looks, and ringing tones, which settled the question for me, and bidding both 'good-bye,' mounted my horse and rode back to Warren ton Junction. Upon arriving there I found a consid- erable number of the men in a state of disquietude and disorder, amount- ing to almost total demoralization. They had broken into one . of the cars containing supplies of food, were wantonly wasting the supplies, and were preparing to break open other cars. Springing from my horse and making my way to them, calling my bugler as I went, I had him sound the assembly, and bade them fall in with their several com- mands at once. The better and no- bler instincts of good soldiers com- ing to their assistance, they soon quieted down and readily fell into line. I then addressed them as best I could ; told them all the news I could, learn; of my conference with the two generals ; that we had food 294 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. enough for a week at least, and in that time felt sure something would be done, either by the arrival of Gen. Baker, or in some other way, which would enable us either to continue or close our services as Confederate soldiers in an honorable way. That I proposed now to move on to Ridg- way, halt and call a council of offi- cers ; and urged them to be men a little longer and trust me, and I would do for them the best I could. My emotions choked my utterance; many of the men wept with me, and all promised implicit obedience to my orders. The column was soon form- ed and marched to Ridgway, where we arrived about noon. Hastily calling the officers together for con- sultation, we concluded to send an engine and tender up the road as near Raleigh as possible, and ascer- tain, if we could, whether Sherman was there or not. An engine on the track, already fired up, was seized, and as many men, armed with En- field rifles as could be were put aboard and in charge of Lieutenant Blount, of Tenth North Carolina Troops, with orders to go as near Raleigh as he deemed safe, and if he found the enemy in occupation to return with the best speed possi- ble, burning the most important bridge on the road in his rear. The engine was about to move off, when the president of the road, who lives here, stepped up, and in an authori- tative tone, ordered the men off, and the engineer not to move an inch. I renewed my former order, which the president again forbade, deny- ing my authority to impress his roll- ing-stock in such service. Remon- strances proving unavailing, I direct- ed a sergeant, with a file of men, to re- move him into the railroad office and keep him under guard, which being done, the engine moved off up the the road. In the consultation with the officers it was decided that if, upon the return of Lieut. Blount, Gen. Baker had not come up or been heard from, another meeting should be called for definite action. At 5 p. M. news came that Gen. Baker and staff were coming, and about 6 p. m. they rode up. Upon his arrival the president of the road was set at lib- erty, and he at once made complaint to the general ; but he endorsed all that I had done, and then saying he would make his headquarters with the president, they rode off together. Soon after, he called a council of the officers, from which I returned about 9:30 P. M. With few dissenting votes it was decided to send a flag of truce to Sherman, tendering our surren- der upon the same terms allowed Lee's army. Lieut. Blount had re- turned about 8 p. M., reporting that he had gone within twelve miles of Raleigh, and getting what he deem- ed reliable information that Sher- man was in possession of the city, on his return, in obedience to orders, he had burned the bridge over Ce- dar Creek." On the morning of the 15th, the general announced an entirely dif- ferent programme from that deter- mined upon the evening before. That now announced was, to aban- don the artillery and all except ab- solutely necessary supplies, and with the whole command in as light or- der as possible, mounted on artillery horses and transportation animals; as far as could be done, and armed as best we could, try to get to John- ston by passing around Sherman's rear. This change met with wide- spread dissatisfaction, but nothing further was done that day. On the 16th (Sunday), the general was urged by some of his officers to carry out at once the plan originally LAST DAYS OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY. 295 decided upon, to surrender ; for they with flowers in one hand and some- were satisfied they could not control thing to eat in the other. It made a deep impression on me at the time, and I shall never forget the scene. About sundown on the 16th we their men longer. He promised to take the matter under consideration and announce his final decision at an assembly of all the forces that even- ing. The plan finally adopted was, reachedArpsboro and halted. There to try and cut his way through to the general informed us he had re- Johnston with all who would volun- liable information that Johnston had teer to follow him, the others to dis- surrendered, and he had determin- band and go home as be^t they ed to send in a flag of truce to Eal- could. About fifty volunteered, of eigh, tendering his surrender. On which nineteen were from our bat- the next day, having re-crossed the tery. These fifty were authorized to Tar River and counter-marched sev- be mounted on government horses, eral miles, we started the flag, the and armed with Enfield rifles. This officer in charge bearing the foUow- was done, and at midnight they took ing letter : up their march. I might relate several ludicrous incidents of this march, but I have already detained you too long, and must hasten on. The next morning, having been up all night, we present- "Headquarters 2d Military District, 1 Nash Co., N. C, April 19, 1865. / "Major-General W. T. Sherman, Com'ding U. S. Forces, Raleigh, ST. C. "General — Finding thatGen. Johnston has surrendered his army, of which my command forms a part, I have the honor to surrender the command, with a re- ed anything but a martial appear- qyggj ^^^^^ the same terms be allowed me ance, and, if the truth must be told, our enthusiasm was at a low ebb, for we were pretty well satisfied that ours was a "wild goose chase." Nothing but a sense of duty, and a reluctance to turn back as long as we were called upon to go forward, carried us on. For two days we wandered on over the through the woods of as were allowed Gen. Johnston's army. "1 have the honor to be, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, "L. 8. Bakee." A rumor reached us to-night that President Lincoln had been assas- sinated. About 5 o'clock p. M., on the 20th, hills and our flag returned with a letter from Franklin, Gen. Sherman to Gen. Baker, stat- Johnston and Wake counties. On ing that Gen. Johnston had not sur- one of these days we passed through rendered, but that terms had been Louisburg, worn out and hungry, agreed upon between them for a The good citizens of the town re- cessation of hostilities and the res- ceived us enthusiastically, and treat- toration of peace. Accompanying ed us most hospitably. It must the letter was a copy of the agree- have been an amusing sight to see ment. The letter gave Gen. Baker us straggling through the streets, the right to disband his force upon 296 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. the terms granted Gen. Lee's army. The general, deeming it best to ac- cept these terms, issued the follow- ing order : "Headquarters 2d Military District, Department North Carolina, Bunn's House, Aprir20, 1865. "(General Order No. 25.). "The brigadier-general commanding announces to the officers and men who have remained with him that the two grand armies of the Confederate States having been compelled to make terms with the enemy, it has become necessary that he should disband his command. "The officers and men will be allowed to return to their homes, where they will remain peaceably and quietly until call- ed forth again by the proper authorities. "He offijrs his profound thanks to those who have remained with him to the last. Though their labors have not met with present success, they will carry with them the proud consciousness of having done their whole duty to the country, and of having laid down their arms only when they could be of no further service to the cause to which their lives were so freely devoted. "With the kindest wishes for their fu- ture welfare he bids them farewell. "By order Brigadier-General Baker : "J. C. McRae, a. a. G." And the following to each com- manding officer in the force, mutatis imdandis : "Capt. Louis H. Webb, Co. A, 13th Battalion N. C. Artillery : "Captain — You will please present the thanks of the brigadier-general com- manding to the following named officers and men of your company, who have courageously remained at the post of du- ty until the last moment, and who have not feared to trust their safety to him in the hour of adversity. He has done all he can for these brave men, and only surrenders them when it would be folly and madness to continue longer in arms : "Captain L. H. Webb, First Lieut. H. P. Home, Sergeant T. G. Skinner, Ser- geant J. G. Latham, Corporal L. W. Mc- MuUan, Privates James M. Mullen, Al- phonso White, Peter McMillan, A. J. Ba- ker, J. A. Jacocks, Daniel Morrison, Na- thaniel Hathaway, Richard Boguc, Wal- ter J. Webb, Charles Barber, Thomas H. Snowden, Wm. H. Whedbee, E. W. Happer, and George W. Fentress. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, "James C. McRae, A. A. G." The men were each furnished with the following : "Headquarters 2d Military District, 1 Department North Carolina, \ Bunn's House, April 20, 1865. J ' 'In accordance with an agreement with Major-General Sherman, commanding United States Forces in North Carolina- Private. , Co. A, 13th battal, ion North Carolina artillery, is permitted to go to his home, and there quietly re- main, taking with him one horse, his private property. "L. 8. Bakeb, Brig.-Gen." In passing, let me say that the horse was the best pay I ever re- ceived from the Confederacy, and he proved a valuable acquisition. Early the next morning (Friday, April 21st), we turned our faces homeward, feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted off our shoul- ders, and relieved that the suspense was over. Capt. Webb, who was going to join his wife on the Black- water, accompanied the Perquimans county boys, of whom there were about a dozen. This party kept well together until just before reach- ing Halifax, when Capt. Webb, Wm. H. Whedbee and I, pushed on ahead. I quote again from the cap- tain's diary : "On Sunday, the 23rd of April, at Martin's Cross-Roads, Northamp- ton county, N. C, I parted from Mullen and Whedbee, the last two of my company to remain with me." And now, Comrades, I have but little more to add. After leaving Capt. Webb, Whedbee and I pushed on to Murfreesboro ; reaching there LAST DAYS OF JOHNSTON'S ARMY. m we found the ferry had been de- been used to for three years, the stroyed, and we were compelled to frail appearance and elastic motion cross the Meherrin in a small canoe, of the sulky were alarming. I soon swimming our horses. Our nearest yielded the concern to Whedbee, route home from Murfreesboro who seemed to take to it better, would have been to cross the Cho- This was inspiring, and when my wan at Winton, but the citizens of turn came again I claimed the priv- Murfreesboro informed us that at ilege, and accustomed myself to its Winton were several Federal gun- motions. "Whedbee, who lived in boats. We did not know how we the country, left me when I was sev- might be received by the enemy, so eral miles from home. He was hard- deemed it the wiser course to aban- ly out of sight when I heard in the don that route and cross the Chowan direction I was going, the booming at a ferry higher up. This we did, of cannon, repeated at invervals. It but there we met with the same luck occurred to me at once that the fir- as at the Meherrin, and had to cross ing was from the gun-boats lying in in a small boat ourselves, and swim the river at Hertford, and out of re- our horses. Here a hit of good spect to President Lincoln. This luck befell us — not much, but we was not very comforting ; for, while were thankful for small favors. We there was no reason why I should met with a gentleman who had a apprehend trouble or annoyance, I sulky which he wanted to get to the did not fancy facing the music aU town (Hertford) in which I lived, alone, satisfied as I was of meeting It must be borne in mind we were in the town soldiers and sailors from not cavalrymen, and yet we had these boats. But seating myself been in the saddle seven or eight more firmly in my novel vehicle, days, on the go all the time, were drawing the reins of my steed tight- completely worn out, and had still er, and mustering up courage for before us about sixty miles to travel the ordeal, I dashed over the bridge before reaching our homes. We and through the main street of the gladly availed ourselves of this op- town in fine style. As I expected, portunity to change our mode of lo- the town was filled with sailors and comotion. Whedbee and I agreed soldiers, but they gave me a cheer we should ride "turn about," with as I passed, and shouted, "There my first go. But "all is not gold goes a Johnny coming home in the that glitters," and we are often best style yet." I realized at once doomed "to see our fondest hopes that "this cruel war was over," and decay." I had hardly started before these hearty greetings from quon- the fear of the thing breaking down dam foes went a long way towards took possession of me. The trouble reconstructing me. was, compared with the vehicles I would commend the example of (caissons and gun-carriages) I had these, their brethren, to those of the 298 WAR TALKS OF COXFEDERATE VETERAXS. North who would keep alive the fires slaves at the foot of Bunker HiU," of seotional hate more than twenty- there was no arbitrament for the five long years after we Southern "irrepressible conflict" but the soldiers had laid down our arms in sword. True, we fought for a con- good faith. I venture to say that stitutional right, yet better violence none of the men that greeted me so to that thaji the perpetuity of an in- fraternally that April morning are stitution which was the fruitful found in the ranks of those who source of "all our woes." Eliminat- would deny us the right to meet to- ed of its radical feature, time will gether to commemorate the deeds right the wrong done "state's of valor of our comrades in arms, rights" (already we see the "Old They, no doubt, Uke us, look upon Ship of State" gradually drifting the courage and bravery of the back to her rightful course), while "boys in blue" and the "boys in slavery, that was surely sapping the grey" as a common heritage, to be "bone and sinew" of this Southland tenderly preserved and proudly of ours, is gone forever. Enter- transmitted to posterity. No want taining these sentiments, which I of loyalty and devotion to our com- believe are those of our entire sec- mon country, and to the one flag tion, when I hear men like Foraker that floats above us prompts to do questioning the loyalty of the South honor to our illustrious dead and to the Union, I feel that they but contribute a pittance to cheer the insult our inteUigence and good destitute who fought nobly and now faith. When they pour upon our endure uncomplainingly. We cher- heads the vials of their bitterness I ish in our hearts no feelings of dis- am almost constrained to exclaim loyalty, neither do we regret the with old Jacob, "Cursed be their faUore to establish the Conf edera- anger, for it is fierce ; and their ey. The war was inevitable. Inflam- wrath for it is cruel." They have ed as were the two sections of our yet to learn to appreciate this South- country, the one stigmatizing the erh people ; and to their unjust constitution as "a league with hell criminations I can but retort in the and a covenant with death," while words of Evan Macombich, when the leading statesmen of the other taunt- mob sneered at his promise to come ed the fanatical anti-slavery senti- back and redeem his chief, "they ment with the boast that "they ken neither the heart of a Hieland- would live to call the roll of their man, nor the honor of a gentleman." APPENDIX. SEVERAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS BOOK WERE RECEIVED TOO LATE FOR INSERTION IN THEIR APPROPRIATE PLACES IN THE BOD|f OF THE WORK. THEY ARE ACCORDINGLY HERE APPENDED. THE MAEYLANb CAMPAIGN with the driving-rem from the har- OP 1862. Jiess of a mule team to serve as a -,, „ _rr _, ^ , rope, and from the branch of an ap^ Ex-Gov. Wm. E. Cameron, who p^^ '^^.^^ jje came to the head was adjutant .of the 12th Virginia of the column as we reached a cross- regiment of Mahone's brigade at road, and gave orders as coming the battle of Second Manassas, writ- from Gen. Lee that the troops should ing from Chicago under date of July ^^irn to the right-that is down the 1^ i«Q9 uc-vr^. ^'^^^^- ^"* ^®^- Longstreet hap- irf, !»»/, says. ^ened to be on the spot, and knew "I am in receipt of the advance that the exact contrary was the line sheets containing your address and of march. It had been raining, and mine— Turner's I already have, as the pretended courier had on a gum you sent it to me in Tallehassee, coat, the skirts of which reached The notes and additions you have his boot-tops. When this was strip - made, Kelly's letter. Col. Peild's ped off a fuU Federal uniform was description, &c., are very valuable exposed to view. The whole affair in filling up the outlines I was able scarcely lasted for as many moments to furnish. I was glad to notice, as would be required in relating the too, that in nearly all points the circumstances. I remember at the memoranda taken contemporaneous- time that remark was made about ly seem to bear out the accuracy of Hatcher's taking the trousers from my memory. the body, and ill-luck was predict- * * * * * * ed to him; and afterward, on my re- "The spy to whom you allude on turn to the army, the iaoident. was page 11 was hung with very little often recalled in connection with shrift, and, if I am not mistaken, his death upon the field at Cramp- 'ioo WAR TALKS OH' CONffEDEBATE VETERANS. ton's Gap, not propter hoc, but post hoc. Of the group of of&cers you men- tion on page 15, I have the most perfect recollection; I recall them as to our left and in front of our line. Gen. Jackson was only there a short time in the morning, but Gens. Lee and Longstreet remained in the same position until we moved, as you have described, in the afternoon. Stuart was also there for a long time, and he lay prone on a red blanket pointing out to Gen. Lee roads and positions on a military map which was stretched before them. I was close to the group, almost among them, in conversation with Col. Fair- fax, of Longstreet's staff, and heard Gen. Lee's direction to Gen. Ander- son, substantially as given by the late Theo. Ruffin in the letter from which you have quoted in a note on page 15. "Our division was the reserve of the army, and the position we then held was just about the centre. When we moved to the left, and slightly to the rear, with a view of rest and rations should time permit, we crossed the turnpike and so came in rear of Jackson's line. Just at that time occurred the terrific fight in the railroad cut, in which Talia- ferro's division was so nearly over- come, and in which the men fought with clubbed guns and stones. Jack- son sent for aid, and we were order- ed up. Li advancing we passed so near our cooking-camp that the de- tail came out to see their comrades march into battle, and one of the cooks handed me a pone of bread and hunk of pork, which I divided with Major May, and devoured as we hurried on. We formed line un- der shelling, our right resting on the 'pike, and expected to be led direct- ly forward into the presence of the enemy. Gen. Anderson, mounted on a fine black mare, and decked off with white waistcoat and gloves as if going to a ball, sat directly in front of the 12th regiment. Ool. Walter Taylor, of Lee's staff, dashed up to him, made some brief commu- nication, and dashed away. Gen. Anderson turned and said, with a smile, 'Gentlemen, Gen. Jackson says that by the blessing of God his necessities have been relieved. So we will go to the right and help Long- street.' Weimmediately faced, clam- bered down the steep bank into the road, theh up the opposite side, and so moved to the position where Hood had fought, from which our final ad- vance upon the enemy was made. "While we were moving through the woods, before encountering any infantry fire, one of the guides, in- stead of keeping a straight Itue of direction to the front, seemed bent upon comforming to my movements, which were governed by the nature of the ground. Lt.-Ool. Fielding L. Taylor, of our regiment, a man of pious habit and conservative in daily life, was, as will be remembered, a swearer worthy of Flanders when once in the smoke of combat; and, at last, hebrokeout,'D — ntheadjutant, sir; and d — n you, too; it's no busi- ness of your s where lie goes . Why the h — 1 don't you follow your nose?" The poor fellow, bewildered before by the signs and sights of his first battle, was worse confounded by this sulphurous blast from his usu- ally placid and agreeable officer; and shortly afterwards he took advan- tage of a confusion worse than his, and took a straight line for the rear, following his nose so successfully in the new direction that he never re- turned to the regiment dm'ing the war, nor have I ever seen him since. "The night of the battle the APPENDIX. 301 wounded were treated at a field hos- pital about tliree miles from the scene of engagement. It rained, of course, and we had no shelter, but lots of coffee and brandy which Jack- son had captured at JVj^anassas Junc- tion a few days before, and the men did not complain of the weather. By some accident, when the army moved forward, Buck Kevan, George May, E. Q. Jolly, and myself were left by the side of the road under an oak tree, without any provision for our care or removal. I had my horse and negro boy, and so alone for twenty-four hours we obtained no food or even water. Finally Col. Eobt. B. Boiling drove by, return- ing from a trip to lopk after the safe- ty of two of his boys who were with Stuart's cavalry, and he, taking us one at a time in his barouche, re- moved the party to the house of Mrs. Dade in Haymarket. Here we lay for a week, receiving every possible attention from our hosts; but they had been stripped of everything, and we were a burden upon their poverty. Our wounds were undress- ed for many days, and we were in a bad way generally when Major J. Arthur Johnston happened along and supplied me with enough money to meet our wants and hire a wagon to haul us to Oulpeper Oourt-House. All four of us were badly wounded, and the trip through the Gap, over rocks that seemed as big as tables, and in a vehicle totally innocent of springs, was an experience of such exquisite agony as to defy descrip- tion. At Warrenton the mercenary driver threatened to leave us to the mercy of the hospitals (which were full of gangrene), because I had not money enough in hand to pay in ad- vance his exorbitant charges. But again the Good Samaritan appeared on the ^cene at the moment of need — this time in the person of Mr. W. H. Spratley, of Greensville county, who acted as banker, mother and father as well, to the party until he delivered us into the hands of the medical director at Gordonsville. Here, with rare good fortune, we met Mr. Andrew Kevan and Oapt. Nat Harrison,* and our troubles were at an end. The doctors had orders to pass no wounded on to Sichmond, but fortunately the secretary of war was my kinsman, and a telegram brought quick orders for our release, and that we should be furnished a hospital car and sent on at once. The next day we reached home, the first to arrive of the wounded at Ma- nassas, and received such ministra- tions as well repaid all that had been endured on the journey. JoUy lost his arm, but George May never recovered from the effects of his wound, and was never able again to take up arms for the cause to which his family gave so much priceless blood, and lingered not long enough to know the pangs of defeat. "I omitted to say that the Federal cavalry rode in upon us twice dur- ing our stay at Haymarket, but did not consider us fit subjects for cap- ture, or even to be paroled. I be- lieve they sent a squad to hunt up *Oapt. l^ath'l C. Harrison, of Petersburg, Va., the mention of wliose name recalls many pleasant memories to the surviving members of the 12th Virginia regiment. For two years— from the time the regiment took part in the campaign around Rich- mond in the summer of 1862 until its return to Petersburg with the Army of Northern Virginia in the summer of 1864^ this gen- tleman, in charge of a wagon and team fur- nished and maintained by the people of Pe- tersburg and bearing supplies to the Pe- tersburg boys in that regiment, sent by lov- ing friends" at home, made regular trips from Petersburg to the camps of the regi- ment, and his arrival was always hailed with the greatest delight. 302 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Gen. Mahone, who was near Aldie, but he managed to evade the search. "Another fact, closely connected with the history of our regiment during the chmpaignsof 1862, should be mentioned: James D. William- son, whose name occurs among the killed at Second Manassas, was the color-bearer in our "baptism of blood" g-t Seven Pines. His hesi- tation, under a conflict of orders, was mistaken for want of courage by one of his superiors, and, without op- portunity for defense, he was de- prived of the colors on the field and degraded from his position. For months he bore bravely the unde- served stigma, but went about his duty like one weary of life; and though the harsh and cruel edict was never withdrawn by the officer who issued it, the victim had the sympathy and respect of his com- rades throughout the ordeal, and at Manassas he fell in the fore-front of the fight, and found his vindication in a hero's death. His unjust judge did not long survive him, and his faults may be remembered with greater charity, in that he too met a soldier's end, and met it bravely. "I wish I had time while my mind is on these subjects to touch on some incidents connected with Turner's paper on the 6th of May at the Wil- derness; but I have stolen an hour to scribble the above for you, which, or part of which, you may be able to work into the appendix." Col. Thos. W. Smith, of Suffolk, Va., who was a lieutenant in Com- pany A, 16th Virginia Infantry, Ma- hone's brigade, in a letter dated August 7, 1892, referring to the bat- tle of Crampton's Gap, says : "The 16th regiment was ordered to the Gap . before any other regi- ment of the brigade, and was in po- sition and came very near getting into trouble before the other regi- ments arrived. When the 12th and 6th came up they were put in on the left of the 16th. The 41st was guard- ing another pass, and the battle was fought, if I remember correctly, by the 16th, 12th and 6th. We had several killed and a good many ta- ken prisoners (I write this after talking with some of my men who were there). I was at the time act- ing quartermaster and commissary, and, though not compelled to go into this 'fight, did so, and saw the whole movement of the enemy, and was with or near our artillery when it fired on the enemy. Moreover, I came very near being killed, as I was told next day by Col. Parham. His words were, 'You d — d fool, you ought to have been killed. Who ever heard of a commissary going into a fight VI knew Parham well, and of course understood. The next day, in the presence of Gen. Wil- cox, he compliiaented me on 'ra- tioning the men with cartridges.' Parham was a glorious, brave man, a good fellow and the best curser when he chose I ever heard." Capt. John E. Patterson, of Pe- tersburg, Va., referring to the Ber- ry Stainback and Buck Johnson in-- cident mentioned in the note at page 43, says : "It was Berry Stainback, not Buck Johnson, who carried the blanket and who got caiptured, the boys said, when he found that Buck, his part- ner, was a prisoner. 'The bomb- proof detail' given Berry was not given him 'a few days previously,' but on the day of the battle of Cramp - ton's Gap . A few hours before the bat- tle Berry said to me, 'Pat, I am tired of marching up and down these d — d APPENDIX. 303 mountains. Please detail me to cook to-day.' I complied with his re- quest, but the battle had scarcely- opened before Berry came up to our line. I said to him, 'I thought I had detailed you to cook.' His re- ply was, 'Oh, h — 1! I could not stay with that crowd of bummers and wagon-dogs.' " Mr. Jno. E. Crow, of Wilmington, N. C, who was a member of the Pe- tersburg Eiflemen, Co. E, 12th Vir- ginia Infantry, Mahone's brigade, in a letter dated October 23, 1892, ac- knowledging the receipt of a copy of a pamphlet containing the advance sheets of this book, embracing the Maryland campaign and the battle of Chancellorsville, gives the foUo's^'ing interesting account of his experiences in the Maryland campaign: "The pamphlet containing the ad- dresses about the 'Maryland 'Cam- paign of 1862' and 'Chancellorsville' came to hand yesterday. I have read both, and bteen prbfoundly in- terested from the beginning to the end — the Maryland campaign espe- cially, having been all along there in propria persona. I was not at Chancellorsville, as I was serving on that 'detail' mentioned in my recent letter to you about the battle of the Crater. Cameron's description is simply splendid. "In crossing the Potomac at Lees- burg I lost my shoes, and went through the Maryland campaign bare-footed. Those of us in this de- plorable fix had not only to contend with the sore and tender bottoms of our feet, but our feet were also sun- burned and blistered on top, which was equally painful. Going through Frederick city I was in a dilapidat- ed condition indeed. My cap had no brim. The sleeves of my jacket were worn out and were ragged at the elbows, and I was bare-footed and dirty. As the regiment ' march- ed through the town I marched along with ity on or near the side- walk. We halted a minute or two in front of a door in which stood a very pretty young woman, wearing an apron of the United States col- ors. I did not speak, but she eyed me for a minute or so, and then, in the most contemptuous way, with a sneer on her face, said to me, 'You a,re a nice specimen, you miserable ragamuffin rebel!' What impressed me at the time most was the spirit she manifested under the circum- stances, the 'rebel' army, as she call- ed it, in possession of the city and she perfectly defiant. "Just before the battle of Cramp - ton's Gap Billy Douglas* and myself were sitting together, both bare-foot- ed and excused from duty by the surgeon on account of our condition. Our regiment was then ^commencing to move from our camp in Pleasant Valley to the Gap. Col. Allen Par- ham, who was commanding the bri- gade, had known pouglas as a boy long before the war, I think- At any rate he said to us, 'What are you boys doing there?' We told him we were bare-footed, and that our feet were in such bad condition we had been excused from duty. 'Boys, ' said he, 'the enemy are advancing upon us; there is a stone wall behind which we will fight, and you can shoot them down like squirrels.' There- upon Billy Douglas and myself buckled on out accoutrements and followed behind the regiment as best we could. When we got up to them the regiments were all in line at the foot of the mountain, the 12th in *Wm. C. Douglas, of Florida. 304 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. the centre, the 6th on the left, and the 16th on the right. The stone wall turned out to be a fe'Sr stones on the ground, on which was built a rail fence — at least this was all I saw that might be called a 'stone fence.' "As I came to our line the pickets were firing. Lieut.-Col. Fielding Taylor was lying down. He had been sick and was using a cane — a gold -headed cane I am pretty sure, as you will see later on. I said to him, 'Colonel, I am a volunteer fighter to- day, and would like to choose my own position, which shall be behind this tree, if you have no objection, rather than lie down behind that fence. I canload much faster.' I was then near an oak tree. He replied, 'You can do as you choose, but you will be more exposed behind that tree, as the enemy can see you from the flank.' "Up to this time I had carried the same Enfield rifle that I started in the war with, and I believe I had gotten my marksmanship down to a fine point with this gun. From this position I could see the enemy's main line and reserves coming up. On the left I could see them coming. I saw a horse loose in a lot cavort- ing in the most excited way. I won- dered what would become of him, when the firing opened from both lines, there being only skirmishing now. I go to loading and firing as fast as I can. I can see numbers of the enemy, and I am careful to take the most deliberate aim. Every now and then I could hear our wounded and their friends call for the ambu- lance corps. Joe Maclin, I remem- ber, was one. He went in and came out under this terrific fire several times. I did not think it was pos- sible for him to escape. I noticed a young hog come running behind our line from the direction of the farm lot where the horse was. I thought to myself, 'How can Joe Maclm escape?'* I saw him bearing off a wounded man. I 'halloed' to him, 'Joe! I am nearly out of am- munition.' Hearing me, he cut off the cartridge box from the wounded soldier whom he was carrying out and threw it to me. In that fight I must have gotten in sixty to seventy rounds. Joe has told me since the war that he thinks I must have fired that many from what he knew. I had my cartridge box full, and he says the one he threw me had only a few out. The tree behind which I stood received a dozen minnie baUs at least, the bark flying in my face. The fire was enfilading. "Soon our fixe slackened for want of ammunition. Bill Andrews, the driver of the ordnance wagon, had come as near to us as possible to supply us. The enemy soon found out our weakness in this respect and prepared to charge. Col. Taylor was *Jos. J. Maclin, of Petersburg, Va., who did not escape the enemy's missiles. Mr. Jos. Edwin Spotswood, of the same place, says : ' ' Joe Maclin was wounded as we made our way up the mountain slope. I came across him on my way up and took him on my back to the Gap and left him at what I thought was a safe place. I then went into the woods, trying to find our men, but was suddenly surrounded by a number of the enemy — Germans— and surrendered. They gave me some crackers to eat and told me to put my rifle by the side of a cliff of rooks near by. Their attention was just at this time drawn off from me, seeing which I took advantage of it, seized my rifle and darted down the west side of the mountain. My captors fired several shots at me, but it was getting dark and they could not see me. About the foot of the mountain I came upon some of our regiment — Capts. E. W. Jones and Jno. T. Clements I remem- ber A line of battle was formed in a corn- field, and in this position we remained un- til morning." B ^ P' CD ^ Co tij Ifto SS o* ?? =^ 2. 11" ST" f^ s s CD E^ 1 a ? a 2 S' 2. »■ ae ^ ft : 5 - "US O Sill gIgB tS- Qi » B S S= S "> CA ,_. ^ t& g 3 S A- _ g so s, a g^ "> "> 5 f^ O B &•= "=5 oo ^ CD r;- §■■< S'? •% S-'S.^ S og. ff O <^ B B to g — ^ CD 2 B^ h- f^ o o> g ^ =■ 2. S '^ g^ ^ ^ CD - o 1^ Q f> B ?;■ ^r O CD 05 » o ?■ s r+ - en o ^ O '" CD B CD S" CD r+ onj s; §s P O Ti- o w. cr f? CD r- CD (3 S ►d pi Pg lo 00.*: 5 B- P 3 wy ^O 2 "^ o >^ w o SI APPENDIX. 305 wounded only a few steps from me. The enemy started forward, led by an officer riding a sorrel horse. This officer I wished to shoot, and at- tempted to load my gun for that purpose, having just fired it. I had noticed for several shots that my gun had become very foul, and it was difficult to drive the ball home. This time I got the ball down some six inches from the muzzle. I could not get it further, although I seized a stone and hammered the rod. It is fixed in my memory, whether cor- rectly or not I cannot say, that Gen. Eeno was that officer. "When we had to retire I grab- bed up Col. Taylor's gold -headed cane, thinking at the time that whether he lived or died this cane would be historically prized by his family. I stuck the small end in the muzzle of my gun and started up the mountain. Very soon Capt. John Patterson was shot. As I was going up the mountain I saw a Federal sol- dier draw a bead on me and I made myself small behind a small hicko- ry. He plumbed the centre of the tree. On my side of it, thelick sound- ed like a cannon ball had hit it. Presently Cobb's legion opened fire. I was between the lines. I could not get along any faster. My feet were so sore I got down on my hands and knees and crawled safely through Cobb's line of battle, and then straightened up. Gen. Cobb was right by, and saw the cane sticking out of the end of my gun. 'What's that you've got theref he asked me, undoubtedly thinking at first sight that I had some new patent gun. I told him it was Col. Taylor's cane in the end of my gun, which was so foul I could not fire it. 'Throw it down and get another gun,' he said. I was now near our ordnance wagon, and threw in my gun and Col. Tay- lor's cane, and got another gun. "Mght was now coming on, the enemy still pushing us back, and we firing in retreat. We would get in squads, fire and fall back to another squad behind us. I recoUect that Mr. Bruce Gwynn and myself had fired on the head of the enemy's col- umn, when, looking to our rear, we saw about 100 of our own men about to fire through us on the same col- umn. We fell on our faces to the ground and crawled into our lines. "Darkness coming on, we went back into Pleasant Valley. My feet were so cut to pieces that I was thrown into an ambulance and sent to Charlestown with the wounded. I was hobbling about the street when a lady came to her door and called me. She said she had a pair of shoes that belonged to her son, off in the army, which had been slightly worn. 'My daughter,' she said, 'saw your condition from the win- dow and wished to offer the shoes to you, but was ashamed to do so, and begged me to do so.' 'I am an old lady with a son in the army,' she continued, 'and you must not mind taking them from me under the cir- cumstances.' I appreciated the kind intent, accepted the shoes, and thanked her for them. They fitted me well, and I wore them a long time — indeed, until I got a pair sent from home. "I have a poor memory for names, and I may not be correct about the name of the lady by whom Ned Aiken was so tenderly nursed and in whose house he was. I think she was a Mrs. N . Tayleure can tell you, as he doubtless remem- bers the name. I saw him in Balti- more in 1866, 1 think, and he talked over that (to me) sweetest memory. Mrs. N had a niece living with her, a Miss Lizzie , for whom 306 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. I cherish the tenderest feelings for her gentleness, sweetness and kind- ness to me. I was frequently in and out of the. house, helping to nurse Ned Aiken especially, of my own com- pany, and the other wounded sol- diers who were there — seven, I think, in all — and to relieve as far as I could the burden of care upon these noble ladies. I determined that I would assist them, but would not allow myself to accept their hos- pitality, already taxed so severely, as I was getting my rations at the hospital, a church being temporarily used for the purpose. Even here we were not allowed to live upon the 'commissary department'; the ladies supplied us with everything nice, even the most delicious fruit being added to our bill of fare. A great many of our regiment had made ac- quaintances here during the John Brown trial. Several companies from Petersburg, you know, were sent to Charlestown at that time. I recollect a Miss Jennie H , whose kindness knew no limit, with other ladies of the family. "I had been in one day to see Ned Aiken at Mrs. N 's, and, knowing it was near her dinner time, I started out the back-way to the hospital to escape being seen. As I passed out Miss Lizzie was looking after affairs in the kitch- en and she stopped me, and insisted on my taking dinner. I begged to be excused, and urged that I was needed at the hospital. 'I wUl take no excuse,' she said; 'something must be done after dinner, and it is necessary you should be here.' Her charming manner and that 'some- thing' fixed the matter, and I re- mained. Let me describe my ap- pearance : My cap was without any brim. I was wearing a shirt made of bed-ticking — a streak of blue, a steak of yeflow, and a streak of white, adorned £lt the collar by an immense white horn-button discol- ored and brown from use. My jacket was out at the elbows, which I have already mentioned. I was shod with the shoes I have already referred to, but had no socks. This was the figure I cut before that love- ly little woman, whose winning ways went straight to my heart. "We had a splendid' dinner, fin- ished up with pears and grapes. Af- ter dinner Miss Lizzie said, 'Come with me," with a kind of delicious mystery in the tone of her voice and manner. She led the way up stairs and ushered me into the most charming little library — her own — the personification of her own sweet self. All the appointments were of exquisite taste and there was an air of coziness about it that was irresis- tibly pleasing. I dubbed it dream- land. I realized now that mysteri- ous something was about to be made known. She said : 'I will send you a box of cigars and a cup of coffee, and you can amuse yourself while you sip your coffee and smoke (if you are a smoker), and be sure you send me that jacket. I have already secured your cap, and you are now my prisoner.' "She then left me to my own thoughts. By the time I had fin- ished my delightful reverie the jack- et was sent back with the elbows both patched in the neatest way. When I came down stairs my cap had a new brim and I was aglow with an indescribable sense of my good luck and improved condition. I now felt ready to march, my feet having gotten well, and I informed these ladies that I would the next morning rejoin my regiment, which I had heard was at Bunker Hill, on or near the Winchester turnpike, and that I expected to leave very early in the morning, and that I had come to say good-bye. Hearing this, Miss Lizzie said to me, "I wifl APPENDIX. 307 not say good-bye now. You must come in the morning before you start and tell us good-bye.' I re- plied that I would be glad to do so, but that I had a long march before me and as I wanted to make the regiment before dark I must start before they were up. Miss Lizzie replied, 'You come any way. You will be apt to find us up. We get up very early.' I then went to the commissary and got a haversack and some hard-tack, and by day- break I was ready. According to promise I went to Mrs. N 's house, fearing I was too early. I tapped at the door and Mrs. N came forward and invited me in. I thanked her for all she had done for me and bid her good-bye, crest- fallen, however, because I did not see Miss Lizzie anywhere about. "Feeling diffident about asking for her so early in the morning, I shook hands with Mrs. N and started to go, when she remarked, 'You will find Lizzie in the parlor. She is waiting there to tell you good-bye.' I went at once to the parlor and there found Miss Lizzie. As I en- tered the room she came forward at once, and said, 'I know you will have a long march to-day, and have fixed you up a haversack to carry along. Leave yours here.' It flashed upon me that she had intended to fix up this haversack for me as soon as she learned of my intention to start ear- ly in the morning, to surprise as well as to please me. As the haver- sack was handed me she gave me both hands, and we said good-bye. Not another word could I speak. With.these recollections of the place I can say that the tenderest and sweetest memories of the war linger around Oharlestown." CHANOBLLOBSVILLB. Mr. Wm, C, Smith, of Ifashville, Tenn., of Company B, 12th Virginia Infantry, Mahone's brigade, whose statements in reference to the bat- tles of the Wilderness and the Cra- ter, appear respectively at pages 96 and 184 of this book, furnishes the following interesting statement de- scriptive of what transpired with a detachment of men doing duty at Germanna Ford just before the bat- tle of Chancellorsville: "I think it was the latter part of January, 1863, that Mahone's brig- ade of Virginians, and Posey's brig- ade of Mississippians, were removed from their respective camps near Fredericksburg, to a new position near the United States Ford on Rap- pahannock Eiver, about four miles from its confluence with the Eapi- dan. We were in bivouac here the remainder of the winter, and until the aggressive movement of Hook- er's army the latter part of April, 1863, which culminated in the bat- tle of Chancellorsville. About three weeks before the battle of Chancel- lorsville a detail of one hundred and twenty men, including officers, was made from the two brigades (Ma- hone's and Posey's) and placed un- der the command of Capt. J. E. Ty- ler, of Company D, of the 12th Vir- ginia regiment, with orders to re- port to Capt. Collins, chief engineer of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's staff, at Germanna Ford, on the Eapidan Eiver, for the purpose of building a bridge across this river at that point. Two days afterwards the writer was detailed by special order, on a re- quisition from Capt. Collins of the engineer corps, and directed to pro- ceed to Germanna Ford and report to that officer. On my arrival there I was given immediate charge of the construction of the bridge contem- 308 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. plated, which had been ordered to facilitate the movement of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's horse artillery, then in camp at Culpeper Court-Honse, in anticipation of a movement of the Federal army against Gen. Lee.* "The facilities afforded me by Capt. Collins for the construction of the bridge were of the most meagre and primitive kind, and several day's delay was occasioned thereby. I expected him, as a matter of course, to furnish the design and details of construction, including the necessary tools, ropes, etc., and waited several days for them, but they were not forthcoming; where- upon, at the suggestion of Oapt. Ty- ler, who seemed to appreciate the importance of its speedy completion, I made the necessary surveys of the site, and from these latter made the design and details of the bridge. "The work of construction was progressing rapidly when, on the morning of April 28th, 1863, 1 think it was, we were advised that the enemy was crossing the Eappahan- nock at Ely's Ford. "We gave little credence to the report at first, but at a later hour, about 10 o'clock A. M., the report was confirmed by Lieut. Price, of the engineer corps, one of Capt. Collins' assistants. "We had commenced our opera- tions of building the bridge from the north side of the Eapidan, and had three spans of it completed on the morning referred to, though all the men of Capt. Tyler's detail were quartered in the Old Mill building on the south side of the river at Ger- manna. Hence, those of the detail, about fifty men, who were imme- diately engaged in the work of con- struction, were on the north side of the river, when the news reached us of the advance of the enemy across the Eappahannock at Ely's Ford. "I directed the men to go at once to their quarters across the river for their arms and accoutrements, and to return and resume their work;^ that, if the reports of the advance of the enemy were true they would then be ready for any emergency. "The first boat load of these fifty men had been at work but a few minutes when it became evident that the reports heard earlier in the morning were not idle rumors . Capt . Tyler took me into consultation with him as to the situation and plan of action. In the meantime Capt. Jas. Smith, of Company E, 41st Virginia regiment, was ordered by Capt. Ty- ler to take ten men, and with them to proceed to the north side of the river and advance some distance on the Culpeper road from the north abutment of the bridge, and there to establish a picket post, so that the men working at the north abutment of the bridge would have warning in the event of the approach of the enemy. The residue of the detail, about sixty men, were divided into three squads and posted on the south side of the river as follows : "Squad No. 1 was posted on the right at the ford, Capt. J. E. Tyler, commanding in person. Squad H^o. 2, was posted on the left at the Old Mill building, with an ofacer from the 16th Mississippi regiment in. command, while squad No. 3 was posted in the centre, at a point di- rectly opposite to and commanding *After the battle of Chancellorsville a petition signed by the regimental and com- pany officers of the 12th regiment, and oth- er officers of the brigade, and approved by Gens. Mahone, Anderson and A. P. Hill, asked the appointment of Mr. Smith to a commissioned office In the engineer corps in recognition of his services at Germanna Ford, but it was not granted, on the ground that Virginia had received her quota of ap- pointments to this corps— a well merited compliment.— G. S. B. APPENDIX. 309 the approach to the northern abut- ment to the bridge, with the writer in charge. "These details had been deter- mined upon and arranged only a few minutes before it became necessary for every man to get at once to his post. The last boat load of the fifty men who, with their arms and accoutre- ments, had re-crossed to the north side of the river for the purpose of resuming their work, had scarcely reached the top of the river bank be- fore it became necessary to deploy as a line of skirmishers and go at once into action. "Capt. James Smith, of Company E, of the 41st Virginia regiment, who was guarding the Culpeper road with his ten men, heard the firing in his rear, in the direction of the bridge, and on attempting to reach the bridge came upon the rear of a Federal line of skirmishers. He was not observed by them, however, and, quickly directing his men to fol- low him, made his escape by a move- ment to the right, under cover of the undergrowth, some distance up the river, where he was fortunate in finding a boat with which to cross to the south side of the Bapidan. In the meanwhile squads Ifos. 1, 2 and 3 on the south side had become engaged with the advance line of skirmishers of the enemy, who lined the northern bank of the river. Our firing was kept up until our ammu- nition was well nigh exhausted, when, according to the previous agreement as to the plan of action, the men were directed to retire, one at a time, and to assemble at a cer- tain point beyond the hill ia our im- mediate rear. In this way we re- treated from our respective posi- tions, and I shall never forget the sight presented to my view on as- cendrag the hiU behind us. I stop- ped for a moment or two before reaching the crest of the hill, and, on looking over the river, I saw a line of battle presenting a front of nearly a mile in length, with several pieces of artillery in battery ready for ac- tion. In this action we lost among those engaged on the south side of the river one killed and one wound- ed. The fifty men who returned to the north side with their arms and accoutrements to lesume work on the bridge were all captured. A few men of the respective squads posted on the south bank of the river were also captured, among them Capt. J. Edward Tyler. "The cavalry of the enemy fol- lowed us very rapidly, but we man- aged to elude them by keeping to the woods, and at the same time keeping the road in view. In this way we retreated parallel with the Culpeper road until we reached the Fredericksburg and Orange Court - House plank road, about 4 o'clock p. M. Here we concluded to halt for the night, or at least until we could hear from Gen. Mahone. "It was nearly sunset when a cou- rier arrived from Gen. Mahone with an order that a reconnoissance be made towards Germanna Ford, to ascertain the strength of the enemy advancing by that route. Being fa- miliar with the topography of the country, I determined to make this investigation in person, and called for two volunteers to accompany me. Two young men of the detail, who belonged to Capt. Thos. P. Owens' company, from I'J'orfolk, responded as volunteers for the business in hand. I regret very much that I cannot recall their names. They were gallant and fearless, and both were gentlemen of culture and re- finement. At sunset we were about 310 WAR TALES OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. starting on our mission, when we saw on a Mil, half a mile distant, a squad of soldiers. At first we thought they were Federals. Final- ly they were induced to come a little nearer, and then there was a mutual recognition. "It proved to be Capt. James Smith, of CJompany E, of the 41st Virginia regiment, with his detail of ten men, who had been sent in the morning as an advance picket to guard the Culpeper road beyond the northern abutment of the bridge we were constructing at Germanna. "A short distance beyond the northern abutment of the bridge there was a small and apparently unimportant road branching off to the right from the Culpeper road, but Capt. Smith went some distance be- yond this fork in the road, with a view to guarding the main road at what was thought to be a more impor- tant point, not thinking for a moment that the enemy would advance by the small road referred to, but, be- fore reaching his destination, he heard firing in his rear in the direc- tion of the bridge, and he at once retraced his steps and endeavored to reach the bridge, when he came upon the rear of a heavy line of skirmishers of the enemy advancing towards the Eapidan Eiver. See- ing that it would be impossible to reach the bridge by the road, he or- dered his men to be quiet and to fol- low him, and thus, under cover of the bushes and other undergrowth, he made his escape with his men as hereinbefore narrated. "After the mutual greetings and congratulations were over between Capt. Smith's detail and those of us who had escaped from Germanna, with the two young men from Com- pany H, of the 12th Virginia regi- ment, who had volunteered to ac- company me, the writer started on his scouting expedition towards Ger- manna, to ascertain if the enemy were advancing by that route in any considerable force. It was now about twilight. The writer being quite familiar with the country be- tween the Orange Court-House and Fredericksburg plank road, we had no difficulty in reaching the resi- dence of Mr. Dempsey, who lived at the distance of about half a mile west from Germanna. From this point we were guided by an old friend of Mr. Dempsey's by way of a hog path through a pine thicket to the open field at Germanna, over which we had effected our retreat in the morning. Here we found a very large body of the enemy in camp. Having obtained all the in- formation we desired, we returned to the residence of Mr. Dempsey, and from there retraced oiir steps to the point on the plank road at its junc- tion with the Culpeper road, from which we had started in the even- ing, reaching there about one o'clock A. M. "Gen. Mahone's courier was in waiting, and to him the information obtained was given. He returned to us between four and five o'clock A. M., with an order from G«n. Ma- hone to fall back at once to Chan- cellorsville, and in retreating to post a man about every half mile, with instructions to retire towards Chan- cellors in from six to eight minutes. In this way we retreated towards Chancellorsville, arriving there just as a large body of Federal cavalry emerged from the woods into an open field on our left, immediately north of the Chancellor house, in full view of us. Seeing this we quickened our ^tei)s to escape cap- ture. A moment or two afterwards, however, we came upon a part of APPENDIX. 311 the 12tli Virginia regiment nnder the immediate command of Col. E. M. Feild, who was apparently con- ducting a retreat. Those of us who had escaped at Germanna went im- mediately into ranks with this part of the 12th Virginia, which was be- ing very skillfully handled. "The skill displayed by Col. Peild in conducting the retreat from the Chancellor house until we overtook the brigade, impressed me most fa- vorably with the ability of that gal- lant officer." THE BATTLE OP THE WILDBE- NBSS. Col. Thomas W. Smith, of Suffolk, Va., who was wounded at the battle of Spotsylvania Court-House, in his letter from which an extract has al- ready been taken, referring to the lamented Ben May, says: "I would like to tell you all I know of poor Ben May. We lay in a tobacco barn in Spotsylvania coun- ty, which was turned into a hospital, and we were within a few inches of each other. The night he died he said to me, 'Tom, I shall die to- night.' I tried to cheer him up and said, 'Ben, old fellow, we will live to fight again.' '^o,' he replied, 'I'm going to teU you good-bye for, I think, the last time," and with a sweet, kind 'good-night' we both went to sleep under an opiate the surgeon was giving the wounded. The next morning my friend, Ben May, the gallant color -bearer, was dead." Professor Eichard W. Jones, who was major of the 12th Va. Infantry, Mahone's brigade, writing to Mr. John E. Turner, of Petersburg, Va., from the University of Mississippi, underdateof July 16, 1892, says: "I recall very vividly most of the events related by yourself. Gen. Sor- rel and others, as given in your ad- dress before the A. P. Hill Camp of Confederate Veterans. I need not reiterate these, but mention only a few things not recited by you: "I commanded Company I in that battle, and was next to the 41st reg- iment, I think. While we were charging and driving the enemy in that deeply tangled woods, through the blinding smoke of the burning leaves and undergrowth. Private James J. Taylor, of my company, was struck about the centre of the forehead by a minnie ball. He con- tinued to go forward and use his ri- fle until we halted near the plank road. Then turning to me he call- ed my attention to the wound he had received. . The poor fellow did not know how serious it was. I was astonished. The ball had penetrat- ed the skull just far enough for the posterior end of it to be on a line with the skin of the forehead; in other words, the minnie ball had penetrated its length. I told him the ball had entered and that the wound was extremely dangerous, and directed him to go to the rear. He said he did not need any one to go with him, and seemed to be uncon- cerned about it. He asked me to extract the ball. I told him I pre- ferred that the surgeon do that. Af- ter he reached the field hospital and the ball was removed, he became delirious and died in a few days. ' 'One of the most pathetic scenes of the whole war occurred in the Wilderness after we had made that splendid and successful charge and some of our bravest boys had fallen. It was their burial. The dead were brought to one place. I remember 312 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. now how John Mingea looked. They were wrapped in army blankets, a trench was dug hastily with bayo- nets, the bodies were disposed as well as possible in the shallow trench, Dr. (now Bishop) J. C. Gran- bery read from a little testament in the most solemn and impressive manner a burial service, and then we covered the lifeless forms of our honored and loved comrades with the earth, using our hands for hoes and shovels. Many a soldier's eye moistened with tears as he looked for the last time on those motionless bodies and then upon the long mound under which they lay. It is true: 'the bravest are the tender est.' "When we started on that charge we were commanded to swing round to the north, and in doing so we were ordered to 'dress to the left.' The guide was left as I remember it. In your account of this battle you say: 'Our color-bearer, in the ex- citement of the moment, failed to observe that the other regiments of of the brigade had halted at the plank road. "We became detached and passed over the road forty or fifty yards before halting . ' I might make similar quotations from the written accounts of others. The point is this: I think two companies next to the 4l8t regiment kept their alignment with the brigade to their left, and the division occurred with- in our own regiment. I do not re- member with certainty just where it occurred, but am certain that a part of our regiment did not pass over the plank road.* "I do not know, however, that this is a fact worth preserving, and yet it is a fact . The brush was so thick I doubt whether our color -bearer could *This statement agrees with that of Col. Jos. P. Minetree of the 41st Va. regiment. See note page 104. see the colors of the regiment on his left . I did not see the plank road un- til we were within a few feet of it." THE DEFENSE OP PETERSBURG Capt. Joseph A. Rogers, who com- manded one of the companies in Ar- cher's battalion, in the famous action of the 9th of June, 1864, in a letter to his grandsons. Masters Reinhold and Floyd Rogers, sons of Capt. Geo. J. Rogers, of Richmond, Va., written June 7, 1892, from Macon, Ga., af- ter giving them a very interesting account of the battle, closes in the following timely words, conveying a noble and beautiful tribute to the gallant Confederates and to the brave men who met them on the fields of battle : ' 'I have written you boys this be- cause I want to tell you that the men who fought and the men who died in defence of home and coun- try in our war were as true patriots as ever laid down their lives for home and country in any war. It is now over, and we are all one peo- ple, and I have no malice to the brave men who opposed us on many battle-fields, but let my boys remem- ber, and remember always, that it was numbers, resources, that over- came us, not superior valor. No braver, truer men, ever drew sword than our Confederates. Honor their memory, strew flowers on their last resting place, and encourage our girls and women to do this to keep alive their memory to the end of time. I am an old man now, 76 years old. I have enjoyed writing to you to-day; it brings back old memories, and, though there is some sadness with it, there are pleasures APPENDIX. 313 also . The greatest pleasure of mem - ory in old age is of duty faithfully performed." THE BATTLE OP THE OEATEE. Mr. A. "Whit Smith, of Americus, Ga., who was a sergeant of the Otey battery, writing from that place on the 16th day of August, 1892, says: "Some weeks before the battle of the Crater a detachment from the Otey battery (whose names are cor- rectly given in Mr. Plournoy's state- ment), and one from Dickinson's battery, numbering in all thirteen men, under command of Lieutenant Jack Langhome, were detailed to take charge of three six-inch mortars placed in the rear of those guns of the Otey battery nearest the Crater. Lieut. Langhome having returned to his old section of the Otey battery, at the time of the battle I was in charge of the three mortars. We knew that the enemy was mining, and had arranged our platforms so that we could bring our pieces to bear on various points on our line where the explosion might probably take place. This was fortunate; for thereby we were enabled to fire rapidly and ac- curately, with little exposure, from the time of the explosion until about one o'clock, when we ceased firing, as I had orders to reserve ten rounds for each mortar, to be used only in case of a charge on our lines. ''The explosion of the mine, which took place before sunrise, was most terrific, causing the earth and our bomb-proofs to heave and stagger, arousing us instantly from sleep. We immediately opened fire, and continued firing until our shells were reduced to ten to each gun. As soon as we ceased firing an orderly from the commanding officer in our front came, ordering us to continue firing, as it was most effective; and on my not doing so a second orderly came, to whom I explained our lack of ammunition and my orders to re- serve the number of rounds we had. "That the fire was accurate and effective is shown by the testimony of Lieut. Bowley, United States ar- my, who was in the Crater. He says : 'A mortar battery also open- ed on us; after a few shots they got our range so well that the shells fell directly among us. Many of them did not explode at all, but a few burst directly over us and cut the men down most cruelly. Many of our troops now attempted to make our lines, but to leave they had to run up a slope in full view of the enemy, and nearly every man who attempted it fell back riddled with buUets.' "The only man from Dickinson's battery whose name I remember was , a big raw-boned farmer, in whose hands I put a musket, and, placing him in the covered ditch near us, caused him to stop the many who, in the first consternation of the explosion, sought retreat through it to the rear. All our men did their whole duty, those from the Dickin- son as well as the Otey battery; and whilst there were many 'close calls' not one of us was wounded. The bravest sight I witnessed that daj>- was an infantry private coming alone over the field to join his company on the lines through a fire in which it seemed a sparrow could not live. "We remained at that point many months in charge of the mortars, afterwards having two nine -inch guns added; and we were so well thought of after the battle of the Crater, that no matter what requisi- tion we made for building material for our fortifications it was most promptly furnished." 314 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. Judge Horace H. Burbank, of Sa- co, Maine, who was captain of Com- pany K, 32nd Maine Volunteers, 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th army corps, and was captured at the Cra- ter, writing under date of October 7, 1892, says: "Eeferring to our conversation on the cars, I write that I find only this in my diary relating to the oc- currence of July 30, 1864: "'July 30, 1864: This morning the fort in our front was blown up, and a charge made by the 9th corps. About 900 prisoners were taken and 77 officers, myself among the num- ber. The affair of to-day is a shame- ful failure.' " Mr. John E. Crow, of Wilming- • ton, N. C, who was a member of the Petersburg Eiflemen, an extract from whose letter about the Maryland campaign appears on page 303, of this book, in a private letter written from that place, dated October 7, 1892, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of a pamphlet containing the advance sheets of this book relating to the battle of the Crater, gives the following graphic account of his ex- periences in the battle: "There is no battle of the war so deeply impressed upon my memory as the 'Crater,' notwithstanding I was with my regiment at Seven Pines, through the Chickahominy, the second battle of Manassas, into Maryland to Crampton's Gap, where you were severely wounded and taken prisoner. I was bare-footed at Crampton's Gap and had my feet so cut to pieces that I was unable to do duty at Sharpsburg; indeed, I had to be carried to Charlestown hospital in an ambulance. Well, to make a long story short, I was con- stantly with my regiment up to Bur- gess' Mill, with the exception of a winter detail at Hamilton's Crossing. "By the bye, I am specially proud of that detail from the fact that our magnificently gallant colonel. Col. Everard M. Peild, sent for me to come to his tent. He said to me: 'Gen. Lee has issued an order for a detail of two men to do provost duty at Hamilton's Crossing. It is light duty, and it is his wish that the de- tail be given to two men who have been with their commands through all the campaigns.' Col. Peild kind- ly detailed me as one of these two men, and with me a man from the 'Old Grays, ' whose name I have for- gotten. I may say that with these exceptions I was constantly with my regiment, from Seven Pines to Bur- gess' MiU. Yet the battle of the 'Crater, ' after all these years, stands more deeply and indelibly impressed upon my memory than any other of the war. "I recollect that at this time the army in the trenches was divided into three reliefs, and did guard du- ty every night. I was sleeping with Meade Bernard — bless his soul! — and had just come off duty when we were ordered into line. I remember the immense column of dust, smoke and debris, as it rose gigantically in the early morning, between day- break and sunrise, with the east for a background. I remember well the conversation between Capt. Wm. ISTorborne Starke and Meade Ber- nard, mentioned in the latter's state- ment, and I noticed the earnestness of each. While they were moving along talking a solid shot, the only one I saw in motion during the war, came rolling (nearly spent) towards me, and I was about to put out my foot to stop it, when one of these gen- APPENDIX. 315 tlemen hallooed to me, "Get out the way! It will break your leg!' When Meade rejoined the line he told me that Capt. Starke said that there was some desperate work ahead; that fifteen stands of Federal colors had been counted in our line then occu- pied by the enemy. ''I remember well the shot that plunged into Hannon's pond as we passed along by the pond. I remem- ber our emerging into the open field up the ravine. I did not see Gen. Mahone, but it was passed up the line that he was near, and that one of the boys said, 'General, no prisoners to-day, but the black flag.' I remember a little mortar, which I have since been told, perhaps erro- neously, belonged to Miller's Iforth Carolina battery. Ton will remem- ber my water-drinking propensity. "Wen, I was very thirsty, and asked the men at the mortar for 'a drink.' One of them handed me an old earth- en jug with a cotton -twine string tied around the neck, the handle having been broken off. There was a comradeship and a heartiness with that drink of water I shall never for- get. I said, 'Boys, this may be the last drink of water I will ever take, for I have made up my mind never to turn back, as a volley from that crowd of Yankees in the rear wiU be certain death. ^ "You 'will remember that we made that charge with the 41st on our right, with a gap between the regi- ments. When the line was formed there was no time for counter-march- ing, for I have a very vivid recol- lection that the Federals were form- ing rapidly for a charge; and it would have been impossible for us to resist the momentum of such a tremendous force down the hill in our position. I think every man felt this terrible crisis, and that what was to be done must be done quicJdy. It was said at the time that Capt. Gi- rardey, that gallant Georgian, voiced this impulse by the command to 'forward!' and I believe it. I have always believed, too, that there was a spontaneous' impulse felt by every man and officer alike, and that the command was given by several at the same moment; for, under the in- spiration of this impulse, the entire line rose as one man. I cast my eyes up the line and it was like a dress parade. I was a sergeant at the time, and my position was in rear on the left of my company, and, the left being in front, I was thrown next the 41st. Having made up my mind that it was safer to go on to the works than to halt, or be forced back, should such a catastrophe hap- pen, at the command to forward, I rushed through the gap between the 12th and 41st regiments to the front, and well remember the splendid line of advance. This move threw me more with the 41st, among whom I did most of my fighting that day. Put Stith being the only man of our command I recollect seeing until we reached the main line of works, of whom more later. • 'When we were half way up the hill a negro soldier rested his gun upon the shoulder of a Federal offi- cer and fired. The ball whistled near my head, and, although our or- ders were to fix bayonets and not to fire until we reached the works, I returned this shot. Two other shots were fired, and the negro fell . ,My gun was now empty, and, as I approached one of the traverses, I saw a white Federal soldier half -bent with a min- nie rifle cocked . He was standing at a 'ready, ' and I was expecting every second he would put his gun to his shoulder and fire at me, I being slight- ly in advance of our Une, I could 316 WAR TALKS OF CONPEDERATE VETERANS. see the great 'hat-cap' on the nipple of his rifle glistening in the snn. I felt I vas doomed, but never took my eyes off the man who held the rifle. "When I reached the traverse I came to a 'charge bayonet' on him, and ordered him to surrender . I was above him and had him at my mercy. He was badly demoralized, and seemed to expect 'no quarter.' He said: 'What are you going to dowithmef I said, 'Go to the rear.' He replied, 'It will be certain death to go over that field.' I said, 'I have just come over it.' Finding him loth to move, and, fearing he would shoot me from the rear if I moved forward, I reached down with my left hand and caught him in the col- lar, and, holding my gun midway with the right, the bayonet at his breast, I jerked him up, gave him a kick and sent him to the rear. I took his gun and fired it into the enemy in front, threw it down and re-took my own, stiU unloaded. Just at this moment Put Stith, whom I did not see before, was above me on the traverse (I was in the ditch), fix- ing down ui>on the negro soldiers on the other side, who were falling back to load. That big, black burly ne- gro, of whom Put speaks in his state- ment, came from that side, and made an attack upon me with his bayonet, which I parried, but which tore open my pants just above the left knee. Put struck him over the head with his musket clubbed, and felled him to his knees. He recov- ered and started to the rear in our lines, and was fired at twice on the run, but was not hit, or at least did not faU, for I watched him. Put Stith, I had felt sure, fired one of these shots, until I read his state- ment, in which he says his gun was empty when he reached our works. "Meade Bernard went in on our left, and my recollection is that he told me that Jake Old was the man who came to his rescue. Put was wounded just about this time in the shoulder. The time we congratu- lated each other on getting safely through the charge was before — ^and just before — the fight with the ne- gro. Put then went to the rear. We had not then reached the main trench, but were fighting in squads up the ditches. I got with a young and splendidly gallant soldier boy from the 41st, and we were making our way as best we could to the main trench, he on my right. I never knew his name. He called me 'Twelfth' and I called him 'For- ty-first.' He saw a stand of colors in front in the main trench and was pushing towards it. At this point I came to one of those 'mortar proofe* which went into the ground. At the entrance was a Federal ofiicer, and I always believed he was the same man on whom the negro rested his gun. I came to a charge and ordered him to surrender, with my bayonet at his breast. He was very reluctant to give me his sword. He said he was willing to surrender, but desired to surrender to a commis- sioned officer. He was evidently afraid of 'no quarter, ' and wished the better protection of a commis- sioned officer. I said, 'Give me that sword, or I'll run this bayonet through you.' He gave me the sword and I buckled it around my waist. "In this bomb-proof were, I think, fourteen negro soldiers. Capt. Cox, of the 41st, was immediately by my side, with sword drawn and the devil in him. He was infuriated at the idea of fighting negroes, and would have run the first one he en- countered through had he not fallen on his knees and begged for his life, APPENDIX. 317 saying, 'Master! Master '.please don't ''There was that day fired at us a kill me! I'll be your nigger!' "We missile we had never heard the marched these negroes out and sent sound of before, and it was said then them to the rear, along with the that the enemy was short of ammu- lieutenant above referred to. nition and were shooting ramrods "It was here I got the Spencer at us. rifle which I have now, and the like "Do you recollect this circum- of which I had never seen then. I stance? I have not seen for a long soon found out how it worked, and, time any of the 'boys,' and these are finding the magazine fuU with the my recollections, unrefreshed by any exception of one load, I threw down conversation except one with Meade my gun and used the Spencer till I Bernard about a year ago, when he got to the main trench, when, some "^as here, and which I enjoyed be- time after we had been in possession yond expression." of the works, I again fell in with the 41st boy, whose death just at Since a part of this Appendix has this juncture shocked me greatly at been in the hands of the printer, the time and has always been a dis- Mr. F. Perry Lockwood, a citizen of tress to me. We had been keeping Petersburg, Va., has placed in my up a fire on the Federals from the , ■■ • * i.i,„ t>„*.„„„v,„^™ tvTv. parapets of the main trench wher- bands copies of the Petersburg ^^- everwewouldseethem, and, when- i^'^^ss, published during the week ever one would attempt to run back succeeding the battle of the Crater, to the enemy's line, this boy would and from these the subjoined ex- step up and fire from the parapet tracts are taken. The statements and then jump down again, and I ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ extracts contain some the same. When the order came .» , , , •, ■ ■,„ ^^ , .T. T j> j-i, • i,j- 4-„ „<- manifest errors, but it is deemed down the line from the right to get , , , ' , , . , , aU the loaded guns we could, and to best to reproduce them for what load up all our own, and, when they are worth, as the practically Saunders gave the 'yell, 'to fire to the contemporaneous accounts of the right oblique and "to keep their battle of the Crater, written by a heads down," this brave boy fired person, or by persons, near the scene and remarked, 'I killed that d— d ^j, . • Yankee! I saw him faU!' At that °^i!;f"°^ j, ,x ^ » instant a ball struck him in the fore- The £;xpress of Monday, August head and he fell convulsed in death 1st, 1864, in its editorial column, giv- in my arms. ing the news from the front, says : "That same day in the trenches, "As soon as the nature of the dis- after things got quiet, I presented asterwasknown, Gen. Hill dispatch- the sword I got from the Federal ed a courier to Gen. Mahone's head- of&cer to a young lieutenant, of Com- quarters, and that vigilant of&cer pany D, I think, and the impression moved off immediately at the head upon my mind is that he was an of- of his own brigade, with instructions ficer recently commissioned or pro- for Saunders' (Ala.) brigade and moted, and that he was a handsome Wright's (Ga.) to follow, and a modest young man. I have "Arriving upon the ground Gen. forgotten his name. It may be that Mahone found twelve of the enemy's you can place him for me. flags waving upon the ramparts of 318 WAR TALKS OP CONFEDERATE VETERANS. that portion of our line carried by the explosion, and the whole vicin- ity swarming with white and black Yankee troops. "Getting his troops into position, Gen. Mahone ordered his brigade to retake a portion of his works, and instructed Wright's brigade to come up in such position as would insure the re-capture of the remaining por- tion. Under the command of Col. Weisiger, acting brigadier, Ma- hone's brigade formed into line, and were about to move up when the enemy salhed out and made a charge. The Confederates reserved their fire until they could 'see the whites of the enemy's eyes,' when they poured into them such a storm of bullets that the enemy recoiled and fell back in confusion. A charge was now ordered, and Wei- siger's men dashed forward with a yell, driving the enemy .up to and over the breastworks. On the works our men halted and deUvered a plunging fire, which proved so de- structive that the enemy were never again rallied on this portion of the Ime, but left our men in undisturbed possession. "In the meantime Wright's brig- ade, commanded by Col. Hall, in- stead of coming directly up, by some means deployed and came around, and thus failed to re-take that por- tion of the line assigned to them. "At a later hour Wilcox's old brig- ade, now ably commanded by the young and intrepid Saunders, came gallantly up to their work, and by a charge drove the enemy from the remaining portion of the works, and thus enabled us to re-establish our lines, precisely as they were before the explosion. "The enemy finding escape im- possible rushed for safety into the immense hole or chasm made by their explosion, and around the edge of this great basin our men closed in and fought hand to hand. This was done chiefly by Mahone's old brigade, and Saunders' Alaba- ma men. Here the slaughter was terrific, and here, too, many a gal- lant Confederate fell to rise no more. As an evidence of the desperate na- ture of the contest around and in this chasm, we would state that Gen. Saunders' men, after removing a large number of wounded, buried in the hole on Saturday night, fifty-five Yankee negro troops, and 178 of the whites." In this account of the events of the preceding Saturday, the editor says: "The enemy opened a severe fire on the city with his siege guns sim- ultaneously with the explosion, and for two hours his shell fairly rained upon our streets. Thanks to a kind Providence, but one accident occur- red, and that was the loss of a fin- ger by the chief engineer of our fire department, Mr. Robert Green. It was cut off by the fragment of a sheU. The few houses burned w:ere small wooden buildings, very old, and of but little value." In the Express of Tuesday, Au- gust 2nd, 1864, the editor, giving the usual editorial summary of the news "From the Front," says : "During Sunday night there was but little picket firing, the enemy seeming disposed after their heavy losses on Saturday, to enjoy a little rest, to which our forces offered no serious opposition. "The flag of truce sent in Sunday, as we expected and stated yester- day, was to ask the privilege of bu- rying their dead. The request was granted, and yesterday morning from 5 to 9 o'clock, there was a ces- sation of hostilities. The enemy APPENDIX. 319 went actively to work, as there was a heavy job before him, and by means of a very large force succeed- ed in placing under the sod seven hundred of their dead which had fallen between our intrenchments and his own. But few of our dead were found in this locality— not over twelve in all. "We have now positive evidence that the enemy's sapping and min- ing experiment has cost him most dearly. One of our generals, who has all of the means of ascertaining, estimated the Yankee loss yester- day, at an early hour, to be all of 4,000. At a later hour, and pend- ing the flag of truce, one of Burn- side's aids stated to a Confederate captain, that their losses had not been definitely ascertained, but would certainly range between 4,000 and 5,000. "We omitted yesterday, in our account of the fight of Saturday, to state that Gen. Elliott's South Caro- lina brigade occupied a prominent position on the line, and suffered heavily in officers and men. This brigade was on either side of Pe- gram's battery, for its support, and five companies of the 18th and the same number of companies of the 22nd, were involved in the wreck caused by the explosion. Many of the men are known to have been blown up, or buried in the general wreck. The 17th South Carolina, attached to this brigade, lost forty- eight wounded and 25 killed, and it is believed that many were taken prisoners. Three companies in the 17th, and the whole of the 25th South Carolina, the two command- ed by Col. Smith, participated in the charge with Mahone's old brig- ade, which occurred at 8 o'clock." In the foregoing, as in some of the following paragraphs, there are errors of statement, but it is never- theless best to reproduce them for what they are worth, as the state- ments of the press about the time of the occurrence. Proceeding, the editor of the Express, in this state- ment, says : "At a later hour of the day, about 2 p. M., the whole of the l7th South Carolina participated with Saun- ders' brigade in the charge which wrested from the enemy the remain- ing portion of the works which the enemy had taken from us. "The 22nd and 23rd South Caro- lina regiments, of Elliott's brigade, occupied a position to the right of Pegram's battery, and although much stunned by the explosion held their ground manfully, never yield- ing an inch during the day. "Col. Fleming, of the 22nd, who has not been heard from since the explosion, is supposed to have been blown up, although hopes are en- tertained that he is a prisoner in the enemy's hands. The command of the 22nd and the 23rd devolved up- on Capt. Shedd, who, by his cool- ness and intrepidity, inspired his men and most nobly did they emu- late the example of their com- mander. "Other ttoops — a portion of Wise's brigade, all of Gen. Matt. W. Ran- som's and Clingman's brigade, par- ticipated during the day, and we hear the conduct of all highly spoken of." In the Express of Wednesday, August 3rd, 1864, Lieut.-Col. Hall, who commanded the Georgia brig- ade in the action, published the fol- lowing card : 320 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. ' ' [Communicated .] "WEIGHT'S GEORGIA BRIG- ADE. " Headq'ks Weight's Brigade, } August 2nd, 1864. J "Editors Petersburg Express : "Sir — In your editorial column of August 1st, 1864, giving an account of the engagement of July 30th, there are some erroneous state- ments about the action of Wright's brigade that I desire to correct. "You state that Gen. Mahone, getting his troops in position, or- dered his brigade to retake a por- tion of the works, and instructed Wright's brigade to come up in such a position as would ensure the re- capture of the remaining portion. No such instructions were given. When Mahone's brigade charged only one regiment and a half of Wright's brigade had emerged from the covered way leading to the bat- tle-field. They were ordered by Capt. Girardey, Mahone's assistant adjutant general, to charge with the right of Mahone's brigade, which they did gallantly. You state in the meantime, that Wright's brig- ade, commanded by Col. Hall, in- stead of coming directly up, by some means deployed and came around, and thus failed to retake that por- tion of the line assigned them. This statement is incorrect and without foundation. That portion of the brigade that did not go in with Ma- hone's was moving up rapidly, form- ed in line, and charged the works on the right of Mahone's brigade. They made a gallant charge, and the list of casualties, amounting to two hundred and thirty-one, is suffi- cient evidence of the murderous fire to which they were exposed. "Wright's brigade was as well re- presented on the edge of the im- mense hole, caused by the explo- sion, as any brigade on the line. One of Wright's regiments planted their colors on the edge of that im- mense hole, and remained there un- til the last Yankee had been dispos- ed of and they ordered away. "M. R. Hall, "Lieut.-Ool. Comd'g Brigade." Mr. John E. Laughton, Jr., of Richmond, Va., first lieutenant of Company D, 12th Virginia regiment, who commanded the detachment of sharpshooters from the 12th regi- ment in the charge at the Crater, under date of October 15th, 1892, writes as follows : "I wish you to amend the state- ment made by me which appears at page 185 of "War Talks of Con- federate Veterans" by adding that I distinctly remember that a small number of Wright's brigade made the charge along with our brigade, and were immediately on the right of the battalion of sharpshooters." In the Express of Thursday, Au- gust 4th, 1864, Capt. White, who commanded the 23rd South CaroU- na regiment, publishes the follow- ing card : ' ' [Communicated.] "THE FIGHT OF SATURDAY. "CONFEDEBATE STATES HOSPITAL, ) _ August 2, 1864. i "Messrs. Editors: "Gentlemen : In your issue of this morning, mentioning the position occupied by Elliott's brigade, I no- tice you state that the 22nd and 23rd regiments, South Carolina Volun- teers, occupied the right of Pe- gram's battery. This is an error in part. There were but two compa- nies of the 22nd regiment on the right, with the 23rd regiment. The 23rd regiment was commanded by myself, and not Capt. Shedd, up to time I was obliged to leave the field • BATTLEFIELD • °0r ' THE • CRHTER • MADE BY T. F.RIYES. COUNTY SURVEYOR OF DINWIDDIE. COUNTY. VA SEPTEMBER 3"-5.1S98. FOR Geo. 5. Bernards'* WAR TALKS of Confederate VETERANS Scale, SOO.ft, GGJisyds lo oae iaciv tovrKgRM rn/6t Co., Ktciff>ioM». ytr. APPENDIX. 321 in consequence of my having re- ceived a wound. You -will pardon me for trespassing on your time, but you -will do me and the com- mand a great favor by correcting the same; for both the command and myself feel a little sensitive in regard to the matter. "My regiment suffered very se- verely, being subjected to a galling fire from the front and flank. I am proud to say that my regiment act- ed with great coolness, and evinced a determination to die at their post sooner than yield one inch. About 10 o'clock, while passing along the line, conversing with my men and giving directions, I received a se- vere flesh wound through the shoul- der. I did not leave the field until compelled to do so by the contin- ued loss of blood. "Very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "E R White "Capt. Comd'g 23rd Eeg't S. C. V., on the 30th July." A DAEING EXPEDITION. Mr. John W. H. Porter, of Ports- mouth, Va., in his valuable work, "History of Norfolk County, Va., 1861-'65," in the chapter entitled "In the Navy— Norfolk," in that part of the chapter giving a sketch of Lieut. W. H. Ward, describes the expedition which is the subject of the address of Mr. Freeman W. Jones, as foUows : "He (Lieut. W. H. Ward) was second in command of a boat expe- dition which left Drury's Bluff, Feb- ruary 10th,* 1865, to destroy, with torpedoes, the Federal iron-clads at City Point, and which failed on ac- *It will be noted that Mr. Jones gives the date as February 3, 1865, which was taken from his diary. count of the treachery of one of the officers of the expedition. The cir- cumstances of this affair are some- what peculiar, and are detailed in an article by Master W. F. Shippey, of the Confederate States navy, in Vol. XII, page 416, of the Southern Historical Society Papers. It seems that after the failure of Commodore Mitchell's squadron at Richmond to engage and destroy the Federal iron-clads at City Point a boat ex- pedition left Drury's Bluff to accom- plish that object by means of torpe- does. The expedition numbered 101 officers and men, and was under command of* Lieutenant C. W. Read, of the navy, with Lieutenant W. H. Ward second in command. The ex- pedition had several boats, mount- ed on wheels and drawn by mules. It was also supplied with long booms with arrangements at the ends for fastening torpedoes. The plan was to move at a distance around the left of Grant's army, then in front of Petersburg, and reach the James River in Surry county or Prince George and re- main concealed on the shore until an opportunity might present itself of capturing one or more tugs pass- ing up or down the river ; then to fit the torpedo booms on them, as- cend the river to City Point and sink the Federal iron-clads anchored there. The expedition left Drury's Bluff on the 10th of February, 1865, and Lieut. Lewis was sent ahead as a scout to reconnoiter. He was to rejoin the party at a ford of the Blackwater River and pilot them from there to the James River. Lewis is said to have been a North- ern man, and was at Norfolk at the beginning of the war. He enlisted in the Confederate army and served faithfully with his company until June 29th, 1864, when he was ap- pointed a lieutenant in the volun- teer navy, and enjoyed the confi- 322 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. dence of his brother officers. Every- thing went well with the expedition for the first three days. Grant's army was successfully, turned with- out discovery, and on the afternoon of the third day, when near the ford of the Blackwater, the party sought temporary shelter from a se- vere storm of rain and sleet. While engaged in drying their clothing a young Confederate soldier made his appearance and informed them that he had just escaped from the Fede- ral lines, where he had been as a prisoner of war, that Lewis had de- serted to the enemy and betrayed the expedition, and was then at the Blackwater ford with a regiment of infantry, lying in ambush, waiting for their approach, and that just be- fore he succeeded in making his es- cape he overheard Lewis and the Federal commander talking the mat- ter over. Lieut. Read halted his command where it was, and went forward alone to examine the river, and rejoined his men the next day, having ascertained the correctness of the report of the young soldier. The party succeeded in getting back to Drury's bluff with whole skins but disappointed hopes. Several bodies of Federal cavalry were scouring the country in search of them, but Lieut. Read succeeded in eluding them." ' LAST DATS OF LEE AND HIS PALADINS. Mr. AUen W. Magee, of Clarks- ville, Va., who was ensign of the 12th Virginia regiment of Mahone's brigade from May, 1864, until the office was abolished in the early part of 1865, in a private letter to Mr. James M. Quicke, of Petersburg, Va., gives the following interesting narrative of his experiences during the last days of the Confederacy: "When the office of ensign was abolished by an act of the Confede- rate States congress, all ensigns were given a sixty days' furlough, with liberty at its expiration to join any branch of the service they might select. Having been ensign of the 12th Virginia regiment, on the 2nd day of April, 1865, I was at my home in the city of Petersburg un- der a furlough of this kind, and, hearing the firing, I determined to go out to the lines, and went to that part of them near Fort Mahone, my own command being then on the north side of the Appomattox. "When I got out to the lines the enemy had taken Fort Mahone, and also a part of our main line about the Jerusalem plank road. In a little while the main works were re- captured and there was a call for volunteers to re-take Fort Mahone, and I was fool enough to offer my- self as one of these. A charge was made and without any resistance it was re-captured, and I got the sword of one of the officers. This was some time between nine o'clock in the morning and mid-day, and after this everything seemed quiet, ex- cept some cannonading around on our right. "About four or five o'clock in the afternoon I went into town, and on my way to my father's place of res- idence I met some ladies who told me that it was understood that the city was to be evacuated that night, which was very unexpected news to me, as everything seemed to be go- ing on well at the part of the lines I had left. I soon found, however, that this information was correct, went home and provided myself with rations for the trip with the army. I got my information from Col. Cutis, of the artillery, whose head- quarters were in my father's yard, APPENDIX. 323 and who told me confidentially that he had orders to retire with his ar- tillery to the north side of the river as quickly as possible under cover of darkness. "On my way down town that night I feU in with Pat (H. H.) Drinkard, Charley Blanks and James Shep- herd, all 12th regiment boys, in town on a twelve hours' leave. With these boys I went across Pocahon- tas Bridge and, reaching Dunn's Hill, we bivouacked for the night. We had hardly lain down, how- ever, before we saw that Pocahontas Bridge was on fire. "At an early hour in the morning we could hear the Federal troops coming into town, with their bands playing. Having no idea that Eich- mond had been evacuated, or that our lines on the north side of the Appomattox were being abandoned, our little party of four made their way to the Kichmond and Peters- burg railroad, and went along it in the direction of Richmond, our pur- pose being to join our command, which we supposed was stiU station- ed on the Bermuda front. When we got to Swift Creek we found the depot buildings had been abandon- ed, and the country people were helping themselves to the supplies that were left. Crossing Swift Creek we pushed on towards Chester, and when within about a mile of that place, at a bend in the road, we saw ahead of us that the road was alive with blue coats. We then changed our course, taking to the woods and bearing west until we reached the public road leading to Chesterfield Court-House, getting into which we moved on until we overtook our rear guard. With this body of Confede- rates we made our way along this road untn we got to the place at which it crosses the Clover Hill railroad. "Seeing a little fire at this point, our party determined to halt for a little while to warm some of our ra- tions and to rest ourselves. While we were doing this the rear guard passed ahead of us, and before we were aware of their presence a party of Federal infantry were upon us, so unexpectedly that we could not make our escape, but were compell- ed to surrender. A lieutenant in command of the party demanded my sword, which I gave him, telling him that I had captured it the day before. He laughingly remarked, 'A fair exchange is no robbery.' "We were put under the guard of two men belonging to the 2nd Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery, neither of whom could speak English intelli- gibly, and were started eastward down the railroad towards Chester. Having what I considered a clear record during my four years' ser- vice as a soldier in the field, I dis- liked the idea of being captured and languishing in a prison, and said to Pat Drinkard, 'I mean to get away.' He tried to dissuade me, urging that the attempt might lead to the death of all of the party, but, seeing that our guards were careless, I felt sat- isfied that we could get away. So, to accomplish my purpose, I adopt- ed this ruse to get in rear of the guard: I would stumble over a cross-tie as we marched along, and I noticed that neither of the guards took notice of this. In this way I managed to get just behind the hindmost guard, and as I did so suddenly seized his musket from behind, but, instead of resisting as I thought he would, he ran down the railroad embankment. Having the gun now in my hand, I drew a bead on the other guard and demanded his surrender. Taken by surprise, he immediately surrendered, and handed his gun to Charley Blanks. Thereupon I called upon the flying guard to halt, which he did, and 324 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. surrendered himself as prisoner, manded by Col. D. A. Weisiger, This occurred at a curve in the rail- sustained in the gallant charge upon road, where we were cut off from ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^ B^^^er road, the Tiew oi the force, of the army „ , -f that captured us. ^n Saturday: "Having our prisoners in charge twelfth vikginia ebgiment. we left the railroad, entered the Field and Staff — Wounded. Col. woods and made a detour north- d. a. Weisiger, slightly, westwardly in the direction of the Company A— Wounded: B. P. Court-House, and there came up Eckles severe, with the rear guard, to whom we Company B-^Killed : L.H. Deane, handed over the prisoners. chr. Weaver. Wounded: Val- "I took with me to Appomattox entine, severely: Joseph C. Polks, Court-House the- gun I captured, giigbtiy. Eobt. Chappel, nose; Mil- and I think Charley Blanks did the ^^^ ^asey, slightly; Henry E. Chase, same with his. Major Bridgeford, g^gj^tiy j; s, jj j 7 commandant of the rear guard, safe- f^^J^ C-KiHed: John J. ly carried the two prisoners to Ap- p j,, w! E. Eawls. Wounded: pomattox Cou rt-Hous e. ^J^^^^^ ^.^^^^^ j,p^^ ^^.^^^-^^^ Company D — Killed : ifone. CASUALTIES AT THE CEATEE. Wounded: Lieut. J. E. Laughton, The subjoined lists of casualties severely; Charles HarbCT, mortaUy, in thP hatflP of thP Cratpr are the ^^^^ ^^^^'^ George Smith, slight, m tne Dattle ot tne Orater are tne company E— Killed: E. E. Butts, lists as published in the Petersburg Marcellus Harrison. (Va.) Express within the week next Company P — Killed: Wm. Wel- after the day of the action, and em- ton. Wounded: Sergeant James brace those in Pegram's (Va.) bat- Whitehorne, slightly; Peter McKen- j T.«- X. r /TT \ a A ) nyi since dead; George Welton, se- tery, and Mahone'sCVa.), Saunders' ^^^^^y. p^^^^^^ g^.^« ^^^^.tlT, E. (Ala.), Clingman's (E. C), Ean- -q Davis, slightly, som's (N. C.) and Wise's (Va.) bri- Company G — Killed: J. B. Sacry, gades as there published. It is re- Jed Gibson. Wounded: Privates gretted that no list of the casualties ^iirkes and Wm. Pord, severely, in Wright's (Ga.) or EUiol^'s (S. C.) bX"' WoSi^ed^^^feut.'chS brigade, or in other commands, was Beale, sUght; Private Smith Wood- also published in that journal, or in house, severely; J. Griffin, slightly; any other newspaper of the day, the J- D- Murray, sUghtly. files of which are now accessable, J^'^'^r^^ ^-^^^^^\ ^- ^/. ^T' , ,, ■,. , ^ T. Wounded: jST. L. Harrison, slightly; and they are accordingly nou here A.W.Howard. & J' given: Company K— Killed: E. Puqua. ^Express of Monday, August 1, 1864.] Wounded: Sergeant Litchford, se- LIST OP CASUALTIES OP MA- '*'®^®- „^,-r-,.,t^ -r.-r,x^ A T^T^ TXTT ^T O.Y SIXTEENTH VIRGINIA regiment. HONE'S BEIGADE, JULY 30. t« i., n.^ • t m txt ai. ' Pield — Major J. T. Woodhouse, The foUowing is a list of the cas- wounded, ualties in Mahone's brigade, com- Company A — Killed: Privates F. APPENDIX. 32g Pruden, W. E. Duke, William J. White, Wm. Owen; Corporal Ha,m- lin Fraiiklin, Henry Styron . Wound- ed: E. A. Purvis, since dead; Jesse A. Hamilton, J. E. Winburne, — Brent, — Parker. Company B — Wounded: Lieut. James M. Bailey, mortally; Privates D. P. Wright, Virginius Kilby, Ju- lian Hines, H. E. Cully. Company C — Wounded: Nathan Munden. Company D — Killed: Private Ste- phen Pierce . Wounded : Sergeant W . J. Freeman and Private H. M. Carr. Company E— Killed: Capt. W. W. Broadbent; Privates E. L. Owens, J. W. Westbrooke, J. M. Neblett. Wounded: Privates J. H. Ivey, B. P. Northcross., Eichard J. Bendall. Company P — Killed: Corporal J: L. Brown. Privates B. B. Blanken- ship, James Ellington, Wm. Lacey, W. Eggleton. Wounded: Privates Solomon Carr, E. H. Perkins. Company Gr — Killed: Eobt. Smith, A. D. Joynes, Harrison Wright, W. H. Shawhan, H^ Hand. Wounded: Sergeant T. S. Dozier, T. S. Dozier, T. S. Belote, Benjamin Shipp. To- tal kiUed, 21. Wounded, 18. SIXTY -FIEST VIEGINIA KEGIMENT. Company A — Killed: Private Jas. H. Butt. Wounded: Lieut J. T. West, slightly; Lieut. C. A. Nash, slightly; Private C. C. Cooper, slight; J. A. Cooper, severe in the arm; D. A. Williams and D. Wood- ward, slight; J. P. Halstead, severe in shoulder; Peter Wright, slight. Company B — Killed: Privates George Sykes, .Wellington Nichols. Wounded: Lieut. James E. Pulford, slight; Sergeants John H. Tucker, badly; H. B. McCauman, badly, both legs; Private A. Hodges, badly in the arm. Company C — Killed: Corporal B. B. Cowell; Private James M. Mc- Pherson. Wounded: Captain John G-. Wallace, severely hit; Lieut. St. Julian Wilson, mortally; Privates Miles W. Halstead, severely; Thom- as Turner, mortally; B. W. Forbes, slightly; Miles D. Powers, slightly. Missing: John Wood. Company D — Killed: Private John Sheppard. Wounded: Sergeants C. E. Tatum, badly; 'Alonzo Ives, slightly; Corporal Joshua Charlton, slightly; Privates Ludlow Crethrell, slightly; Alexander H. Jarvis, se- verely. Company F — Killed: Private Jas. Babb. Wounded: Privates Henry H. Pruden, severely; A. Eedd, se- verely; J. W. Mumford. Company G — KiUed: Privates S. W. Branch, J. H. Davis. Wound- ed: Lieuts. M. M. Green, severely; W. P. Baugh, badly; Privates John W. King, badly; A. Hawkins, sUghtly; W. T. Herrin, sUghtly; J. W.Eivers, slightly; C.Tudor, badly. Company H — Killed: Lieut. H. McNeder. Wounded: Lieut. W. W. Eew, badly; Privates G. B. Ad- kins, slightly; B. Edds, H. F. Ayatt, slightly. Company I — KiUed: Sergeants M. P. KUgore, Smith Toppin. Wound- ed: Privates John D. White, se- verely; Eichard White, badly; Par- ker Duke, slightly; Lieut. John Hobday, slightly. Company K — Killed: Privates C. W. Griggs, W. H. Lewton. Wound- ed: Private Malicho Hichcock. In the same column of the Eoepress, in its issue of Monday, August I, 1864, and next after the foregoing, appears the following: 326 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. [^a;press of Monday, August 1, 1864.] THE MISSrSTG IN PBGEAM'S BATTERY. We append a list of missing of Capt. E. Gr. Pegram's battery, of this city. This battery occupied the im- mediate point of our lines blown up by the enemy on Saturday morning, and consequently suffered a good deal in men and guns. None of the missing, we uAderstand, have as yet been positively heard from as being alive, though prisoners that were taken state that they dug out two lieutenants alive and sent them to the rear. From their description one of them is supposed to be Lieut. Hamlin. Several bodies were found beneath the upthrown earth with life extinct: Lieut. W. B. Hamlin,* Lieut. C. S. Chandler ; Sergeats Beasley and Eoy- al. Corporals Slaughter and Taylor, Privates Jloach, T. J. Wells, G. W. Woodley, Maghee, Covington, C. Brown, Thompson, W. T. Scott, Jas. M. Green, J. B. Shortt, Mangum, Tisdale, Kelsey, J. Britton, B. T. Wells, George Pollard, and T. Nu- gent. Total, 23. It is to be hoped that some, if not many of these men may turn up safe in the enemy's hands. Lieut. Ham- lin is from this city, and Lieut. Chan- dler from Eichmond, and both gal- lant young men. [IJxpress of Tuesday, August 2, 1864.] LIST OP CASUALTIES IN MA- HONE'S BRIGADE JULY 30th, CONTINUED. Owing to the press of matter upon our columns, we were unable to give the fuU list of casualties in Mahone's *In the editorial column Lieut. Hamlin is mentloBed as "a young member of the Pe- tersburg bar," brigade, in the battle of Saturday, in our issue of yesterday. We give the balance this morning, with the ex- ception of the kiUed in the 6th regi- ment, which we have been unable to obtain, save those of Company I: SIXTH VIRGINIA INFAJf TRY. [Here follows a list of the killed and wounded which are omitted, a more correct list being given later.] FOETY-FIEST VA. INFANTRY. Field and Staff — Killed: Sergeant- Maj or C . H . Porter . Wounded : None . Company A — Killed: Corporal O. C. Inman. Wounded: J. P. HoUo- way, left shoulder, severely; Sergeant B. F. Whitehorne, face, severe; Pri- vate F. A. Inman, right arm, severe. Company B — KiUed : Sergeant Jas . McCook. Wounded: Lemuel Tuck- er, hand, slight. Company C — KiUed: Capt. H. M. Mtrigea, Sergeant Jos. W. HoUoway. Wounded: Privates W. O. HaU,left thigh, severe; Patrick E. Perkins, amputation finger on left hand. Company D — Killed: Sergeant E. H. Thurman. Wounded: Private James Costly, left side, mortal. Killed: Lieut. W. S. Gee; Ser- geant Charles P. Eosser; Private Pe- ter M. Gill. Wounded: Sergeant Samuel M. Gregory, amputation two fingers right hand; Privates Alexan- der E. Hair, flesh wound head, E. A. Gray, contusion head. Company F — Killed: None. Woun- ded: Lieut. W. S. Sykes; Corporal J. F. Murden, head, slight; Private James A. Eutter, arm and head, se- vere. Company G — Killed: None. Woun- ded: Sergeant Wm. McDonald, left leg amputated; Private W. D. Stur- divant, shell, left thigh, severe. Company H — Killed: None. Wounded: Corporal J. W. Miles, APPENDIX. 327 hip, severe; Private E. O. Furger- son, side, severe. Company I— Killed: Private Jas. B. Ellis. Woxmded: Sergeant J.E. Brinkley, flesh wound, thigh; Cor- poral S. J. Holland, hand, slight; Privates Leroy Parker, head, dan- gerous; W. S. Skinner, hand, se- vere; James H. Parker, finger, left hand; James E. Lassiter, hand and arm, severe; G. A. Johnson, shoul- der, severe; Solomon Savage, both hips, dangerous; John Brinkley, shoulder, severe. Company K — Killed: Capt. B. B. Hunter; Lieut. Charles E. Denoon. Wounded: Lieut. Wm. Hunter, breast, slight. Missing: B. D. Johnson. Total killed, 11; total wounded, 27; aggregate, 38. Li another column of the same pa- per appears the following: [Express of August 2, 1864.] THE CASUALTIES IN EANSOM'S BEIGADE. [Reported for the Daily Express.] Hbadq'es Eansom's Brigade, ] July 31st, 1864. J Hditors Esepress: The following is a list of the killed, wounded and missing in General M. W. Eansom's brigade North Carolina Troops, dur- ing the action of 30th of July, 1864: TWENTY -POUETH NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. Wounded: Lieut. John P Bethew, severely in the shoulder; Sergeant Neil A Smith, severely; Privates Jeremiah Beaver, Augustus Tatum. TWENTY-FIFTH NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. « Killed: Captain James M Cathey; Privates Henry Green, J H Colbert, C M Posey, E H Garrison, E A Drake, B P Hensley. Wounded: Major W S Grady, severely; Captain I B Tatham, slightly; Lieut L J Smith, severely; Sergeant M A Courtis, mortally; Sergeant J E Pat- terson, sieverely in arm; Corporal Amos Boon, slightly in the hand; Corporal E J Burton, severely in face; Corporal J B Mann, in arm, severely; Corporal B. J. Wilson, dangerously on breast; Corporal H C Edney, in arm, severely; Privates J M Summy, in hand; J E Laugh- ter, slightly on leg; E Curtis, slight- ly in back; James Drake, in arm; John E. Bigham, inhand; P MEich, dangerously; D C Burgner, slightly in shoulder; J B Smith, slightly in thigh; J A JReagan, in thigh slight- ly; B P Barton, severely in both thighs; T D L Clayton, slightly in arm; J Mc Wilson, slightly in leg; G W , Alexander, slightly in back; H T Bugg, in leg severely; B F Edmonson, mortally in head; D A Stamy, severely bruised by a shell; J W Conner, slightly in arm; Eichard Allison, slightly in hand; Will Ownley, mortally in abdomen; J Davis, severely in thigh; E Bald- win, slightly. THIRTY-FIFTH NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS. Wounded: Privates BBaisden, se- riously in hip; Hosea Baisden, slightly in arm; Thomas Davis, arm broken; W A Euss, slightly in foot. FORTY-NINTH NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT. Killed: Lieut-Col John A Flem- ing; Captain E V Harris; Privates M M Patterson, Isaac Litton, G Hart, John Horton, Seth E White. Wounded: Captain C H Dixon, painfully in arm; Lieut Eichard Bai- ley, slightly in arm; Lieut T Y Lytle, shocked by shell; Sergeant — Henderson, Company H, flesh 328 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. wound in arm; Sergeant Henry Shell, slight wound in breast; Pri- vate T Howell, in arm, M Eeid, slightly in head; J D. Dellinger, slightly in leg; J H. Fall, slightly ia skull; J G Whitesides, mortally in breast; J Holland, in hand; L A Fox, severely in arm; J Whiffling, flesh wound in leg; E Anthony, mortally in groin. FIFTY -SIXTH NORTH CAEOLINA REG- IMENT. Killed: Privates G Hart, John Horton, Seth E White. Wounded: Thomas Gregory, severely in hip; Markman Wood, slightly in breast; John Bmmett, 1st sergeant, severely in thigh; Eufus Parker, slightly in hip; Henderson Luter, severely in leg; A W Bridgers, severely in leg; H C Hollifleld, slightly in shoulder. TWENTY -FIFTH NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS. Missing from the shirmish line: Jeff George, W H Grigg, W Gibson, B Garm, J C Evans, L Godwin, C F Johnson, N P Johnson. Below the foregoing, in the same column of the JEscpress of Tuesday, August 2, 1864, appears the follow- ing: {_i:xpress, August 2, 1864.] FOETY-SIXTH VIEGINIA EEGI- MENT, WISE'S BEIGADE. Headq'rs 46th Va. Inf., | Petersb'g Trenches, July 31. J Editors Express: The following list embraces the casualties in this regiment, which you will please pub- lish the first opportunity, and re- quest Eichmond, Lynchburg and Charlottesville papers to copy: Beport of OaswaMies in 46th Va. Infan- try, near Petersburg, July 30th, 186^, Gapt. George Norris, commanding. Field and Staff— Killed: Musician J M Hancock. Wounded: Sergeant Major L W Wise, face slight. Company A— Killed: W T Lips- comb. Wounded: Corporal J Wil- kerson. Privates J Dodson, E Eeid, J W Smith and L T Truehart. Company B — Killed: Private W H Purson. Wounded: Privates J D Furguson and J M Franklin. Company C — Wounded: Private D M Durkin. Company D — Killed: Privates Jno Shopper and N Shoemaker. Wound- ed: Captain George Garrison, Pri- vates James M Dobbins and W T McAllister. Company E — Killed: Privates J H Carter and E W Staton. Wound- ed: H W Beaver. Company F — Killed: Privates A Bradford and S Grinnalds. Wound- ed: A Scarborough and N Melson. Company G — Killed: Private Wm H Quick. Wounded: Corporals J Eeynolds and J Dudley, Privates J Lankford, S Spencer and S J Vin. Company H — Wounded: Private B O Ford, slight. Company I — Wounded: Privates W Price, E Wingfield, E Thomas, W M Jones and Lewis Bishop. Company K — Wounded: Private A C Givens. W W Alexander, Adjutant. In the Esepress of Wednesday, Aug- ust 3, 1864, appears the following: CLINGMAN'S BEIGADE. [Reported for the Petersburg Express]. Headquarters 61st Eegiment, N. Q. T., Clingman's Brigade, Hoke's Division, near Petersburg, August 1st, 1864. Messrs. Editors Express: Please pub- APPENDIX. 329 lish for the information of the friends of the regiment, the following list of casualties while assisting in charg- ing the enemy from our works in front of Major-GeneralJohnson's di- vision, which they had gained early on the morning of the 30th July, 1864, by mining and blowing up Pe- gram's battery, and taking advan- tage of the temporary confusion caused. The regiment was detached from the brigade, and under the command of Capt. Edward Mallett during the charge. Col. James D. Eadclift" hav- ing been stunned by the bursting of a shell while lying in reserve, and Major H. Harding having gone to the rear from exhaustion. Field and Staff — Colonel James D Eadcliff, stunned. Company A, Captain James H Eobinson, commanding — Wounded: Lieutenant Prank M Carroll, in jaw, severely ; Privates Sherman J Blount, in side, slightly: James G Heath, in neck, severely; James H Horn, iji arm, severely; Andrew J Smith, stunned. Company B, Lieutenant Jno T "Wil- kerson, commanding — Wounded: Corporal Daniel Corson, in leg, slight- ly; Privates Lorenzo D Manning, in shoulder and thigh, slightly; Wil- liam B Neil, in abdomen, mortally. Company C, Lieutenant John P Guthrie, commanding — Killed: Pri- vate John L Barnhill. Wounded: Corporal James D Wilson, in hip, slightly; Private E. W- Moore, in arm, severely. Company D, Sergeant S L Brown, commanding — Ifone . Company E, Lieut. J Q Jackson, commanding — Killed: 1st Sergeant A W Wooten, Lieut. J Q Jackson, in arm severely; Private J P Suggo, in arm and leg severely. Company P, Lieut. Jesse D Barnes, commanding — Killed: Lieut. Jesse D Barnes, Privates B P Pelton and Jos Pelton. Wounded: SergeantPPM Daniel, in side slightly; Corp'l Abra- ham Darden, in wrist slightly; Pri- vates B P May, in head slightly; W Y Owens, in groin slightly. Company G, Sergeant John U Bloodworth, commanding — Wound- ed: Private David G. McGowan, in hand slightly. Company H, Capt. JohnDBriggs, commanding — Wounded : Sergeant A. E. Peal, in abdomen, mortally; Corporal Foah T Lanier, stunned; Privates James Corprew, in breast severely; Joseph Corey, in arm slightly; Henry Corey, in side slight- ly; H T Hodges, in arm and hip se- verely; Archibald Harriss, in mouth severely; William M. Perry, stun- ned; Godfrey Eogerson, in shoulder slightly; Harrison Eogerson, stun- ned. Company I, Lieut. Coalton Sparks, commanding — Killed: Lieut. Coal- ton Sparks. Wounded: Private D C Caudel, in head and thigh severe- ly; Meredith Cheek, in thigh se- verely. Company K, Capt. S W Noble, commanding — Wounded: Sergeant J B. Noble, in ear slightly; Privates L J Howard, in leg severely; Stephen Howard, in shoulder slightly. RECAPITULATION . Ofiacers killed, 2; officers wound- ed, 3; enlisted men killed, 4; enlist- ed men wounded, 30. Total, 39. I am sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. L. Paison, Adj't. In the Esff^ess of Thursday, Au- gust 4, 1864, appears the following: 330 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. WILCOX'S (OLD) ALABAMA BEIGADE. [Reported for the Petersburg Express.] List of casualties in Wilcox's (old) Alabama brigade, commanded by Brigadier General J C Sanders, in the engagement on the 30th July, near Petersburg, Va : 8th ALABAMA REGIMENT — CAPT. M. "W. MOKDECAI, COMMANDING. Field and Staff— Wounded: Ser- geant Major J P Harris, severe. Company A-:— Killed: Private Sam- ple Orr. Wounded: Private M D L Oakes, slight. Company B — Wounded: Capt. G T L Eobinson, severe; Private A Ed- wards, slight. Company C — Killed: 1st Lieut. HMcHugh. Wounded: 2nd Lieut. W D McDonald, severe; Privates H Cooper, severe; and T L Dearman, severe. Company D — Wounded: Private Malone, severe. Company P — Killed: Corporals George Lee and Charles Barefield. Wounded: Private J W Dunn, slight. Company G — Wounded: Privates Eobert L Wilson, severe; and Jack Pearson, severe. Company H — Killed: Corporal H Buck. Wounded: Private W O Jackson, severe. Company I — Wounded: Private M Chalin, mortally. Company K — Killed: Private C C Harborn. KiHed, 6; wounded 13. Total, 19. 9TH ALABAMA REGIMENT — COL. J. H. KING, COMMANDING. Staff and Field— Killed: Lieut. J D Chandler, acting adjutant. Company A, Capt. Hays, com- manding — Wounded: Sergeant John Butler, severely; Corporal L T Smith, severely. Company C, Sergeant T Simmons, commanding- -Wounded : Jno Brooks, severe. Company D, Capt. J W Cannon, commanding — Killed: S D Green- ough. Wounded: J L Mclntyre, slight. Company E, Lieut. M H Todd, commanding — Wounded: Sergeant J L Preston, severely. Company P, Capt. J C Feather- ston, commanding — Killed: Sergeant A Mc Williams. Wounded: Corpo- rol G H Stewart, severely. Company H, Lieut. E. Puller, commanding — Killed: Sergeant C Jackson. Wounded: H Patterson, slightly on August 1st. Company I, Lieut. B T Taylor, commanding — Wounded: George W T Derbin, severely. Company K, T B Baugh, com- manding — Killed: L Martin. Woun- ded: W Henry Wallace, severely; P V Winfrey, severe. Killed, 5; Wounded, 10. To- tal, 15. IOTH ALABAMA REGIMENT — CAPT. Field and Staff— None. Company A — Killed: Corporal John S Morris. Wounded: Privates James Lee, severe; Hiram Bice, se- vere. Company B — Wounded: Lieut. T J Hickman, slight; Private L C Falke, severe. Company C — None. Company D — None. Company E — Killed: Private W C Saxon. Wounded: Privates J L Busby; severe; G A Adair, slight. Company F — Wounded: Sergeant E J Eoberts, slight; Private J B Martin, martally. Company G — Killed: Lieut. John Francis. Company H — Killed: Privates E APPENDIX. 331 S Moore and F M Anderson. Wound,- ed: Private Allen Pierce, slight. Company I — Wounded: Private Albert Battles, mortal; Jacob Chany, slight. Company K— Killed: Private J T Bishop. Wounded: Lieut. S J Mor- ris, severe. Killed, 6; wounded, 12. Total, 18. llTH ALABAMA EEGIMENT — LIEUT. (30L. G. E. TAYLOE, COMMANDING. Field and Staff— None. Company A — Killed: Sergeant John J Carter, Corporal Thomas H Johnson and Private William H Boozer. Wounded: Sergeant J J Williams, slight; Privates J W Bis- keny, severe; Henry Brame, severe; . John W Brady, slight. Company B — Wounded: Private M P Hamilton, slight. Company C — Wounded: Corporal J F Gandy, severe; Privates John W Carnes, severe; E L Waller, se- vere; Private Thos W Winn, severe, on July 31st, 1864. Company D — Killed: Lieut. John W Cole and Private Joseph W Thompson. Wounded: Private Cal- vin Noble, slight. Company E — Killed: Private A J Johnson. Company F — Wounded: Capt. J C CaddeU, severe; Lieut. PM Vance, severe; Private S M Wright, severe. Company G — Killed: Lieut. H T Williamson and Private Wm H Leo- pard. Wounded: Sergeant P K Thompson, severe; Corporal James McGee, slight; Privates James M Kent, severe; David Shamblin, slight. Company I — KiUed: Capt. L Harris. Company K — Killed: Private W M Lovelady. Killed, 10; Wounded: 17. To- tal, 27. 14th ALABAMA REGIMENT — CAPT. ELIAS FOLK, COMMANDING. Field and Staff-Killed: Capt. Elias Folk, commanding regiment; Lieut. F V Fonville, acting adjutant. Company A — Wounded: J J Au- trey, since dead. Company B — Wounded: T W Thrower, since dead. Company F — Killed: Private Jas- per O'Neil. Company G — Wounded: Isaac Shadis, mortal. Company H — Wounded: H M Lovejoy, severe; J E Jackson, se- vere; Phenix Largant, slight. Company I — Wounded: I J Na- pier, mortally. Killed, 3; wounded, 7. Total, 10. EECAPITULATION OP LOSSES. KUled. Wounded. Off. Men. Off. Men. Tofl 8th Ala. Eeg't, 1 5 2 11 19 9th " " 1 4 10 15 10th " " 1 5 2 10 18 11th " " 5 7 2 15 27 14th " " 2 1 7 10 • 89 Geo. Clark, A. A. Gen. In the local column of the Exfpress of Friday, August 5, 1864, appears the following: CASUALTIES IN THE SIXTH TA. INFANTRY. In publishing the casualties in Mahone's brigade, in the engage- ment near this city on the 30th ult., we were unable to give a full list of those occurring in the Sixth Virginia Infantry. We give a correct list this morning: Field and Staff — Wounded: Lieut. Col. H W Williamson, severely; En- sign H S Wright, dangerously. Company A — Killed: Corporal G M Hudgins. Wounded: 1st Lieut. J L Hopper, severely; 1st Sergeant 332 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. W H Whitehurst, slightly. Miss- ing: Sergeant William Banks, Pri- vates A F Jones and McHenry. Company B — "Wounded: Sergeant W V Dudley, slightly; Privates James Gregory, William Warden, se- verely. Missing: 1st Lieut. P White- hurst, Privates Jesse Shields and W Gaunto. Company C — Killed: 1st Lieut. S M Spratt. Wounded: Ist Sergeant T J Henderson, severely; Privates E Buchanan, slightly; Jo Wright, severely. Missing: P. Padgett. Company D — Wounded: 1st Ser- geant E Banks, severely; Sergeant W Coats, dangerously; Privates Joseph James, severely; G Dixon, severely. Company B— Killed: Sergeant M Babb. Wounded: Sergeant W H Pierce, severely;. Privates Jo P May, severely; and H Holland. Missing: Private W Taylor. Company P — Killed: Sergeant D M Drewry, Private P C Fizzle. Wounded: Capt. A Coke, slightly; 1st Lieut. J J Cornick, slightly; 2nd Lieut. T H Banks, severely; 1st Ser- geant W H Bainey, severely; Pri- vates W P Wilkins, G W Stone, A White, severely; and John James, slightly. Company G — Wounded: Sergeant John P Hill, severely; Corporal Chandler Hill, severely; Privates HeMn, , severely; Black, Malode. Missing: Private Wm H Whiting. Company H — Killed: Capt. David Wright, Privates Peter Gillilane, Wilfiam J Eoberts. Wounded: Pri- vates Prank Higgins, slightly; Wil- liam B Wellons, slightly; George C Crockett, dangerously. Company I — Killed: Privates Benjamin Crowfield and Thomas J Cory. Wounded: Sergeant George C Anderson, slightly; Privates Wil- liam Walthall, severely; Thomas J Warnack, slightly; T H Tibbs, se- verely. Company K — Killed: Privates William T Puqua, Benjamin E Phaup and A A Cotton. Wounded: Capt. David M Goode, slightly; 1st Lieut. Samuel Flournoy, severely; Corporal Julius Condry, dangerous- ly; Privates H C Coleman, slightly; J E Goode, severely; A A Ellett, W E Bailey, slightly; Lewis Dorsett, dangerously; William C Purdie, dan- gerously; Jno Bass, dangerously; A A Pord, severely. Missing: Privates Thomas J Martin, C C Ellett, Ed- mond C Goode. Eighty-five men carried into ac- tion; greater portion of the regi- ment was on picket. RECAPITULATION . Killed, 13.; wounded, 50; missing, 12. Total 75. In the same paper, the Eatress of Friday, August 5, 1864, appears the following : WISE'S BEIGADE. [Reported for the Petersburg Express.] List of casualties in the 59th regi- ment, Virginia Volunteers, Wise's brigade, July 30th, 1864: Capt. Henry Wood, commanding, Wounded slightly in the head. Company A, E C Thompson, com- mandtag— Killed: Private W B Hurndon. Wounded: P Sweeney, severely in shoulder. Company B, Lieut. W. F. Elmore, commanding — Killed: Charles H Stainback, W H Mize and WiUiam S Jackson. Wounded: Corporal E M Lucker and Privates A B Cross and T A Peebles. Company C, Lieut. John H Ed- wards, commanding — Killed: Pri- vates T D Cole, W M Dance. Wounded: Privates L Hart, J W Dunkley. APPENDIX. 333 Company D — Lieut. B A Miller, ready given, could not be obtained for commanding— Killed: None. Woun- publication in this Appendix.* ded: None. Company E, Lieut. N P Oliver, ^ commanding-Killed, None. Woun- DESCmiON OF ILLUSTmiONS. ded: Henry Evans. Company F, Sergeant A Miller, BalUe of the Grater — View No. 1. commanding-Killed: None. Wound- This picture, taken from the site tate(f ""'^^^^ Meredith, arm ampu- ^f ^j^^ Davidson battery, just south ^Company G, Sergeant J L Cli- of the Baxter Eoad, a part of which bum, commanding— Killed: None, is plainly visible, looking north, Wounded: None. shows the site of the Crater, upon Company H, Sergeant J E Wal- which have grown in the last twenty- son, commanding— Killed: Corporal ^^^ ^ the cluster of tall trees L T. Cheatham, Privates W H ■■■.-,■ 1. 1. i.^ • i.j. „^ Ti/r„ c^^it Tucker, W W Phillips. Wounded: ^^^^^^ J^«* *« *^« "S^* «^ ^^- ^f " Sergeants J C Watson, mortally; M fit^i's barn, Mr. Griffith's house be- T Goodw3mne, severely in shoulder, ing to the left. Privates Josiah Johnson, severely in The line of small trees to the right arm and side; T A Powlkes, slightly ^f ^-^^ cluster of tall trees are along in head; G C Overton, slight. the line of the tunnel. The line of Company I, F S Mosby, command- " xv, • x.^. j. xu • ing— Killed: None. Wounded: 1st larger trees on the right of the pic- Sergeant Robert Johnson, severely ture stand within the line of the Fed - in arm; Private Palmer, slightly, eral breast -works and along the west C. E. Bailey, bank of Taylor's Creek. 2nd Lt. Co. G. and Act'g Adg't. The open field in front of the Gra- in all of the foregoing lists of cas- ter that was swept by one of David- ualties there may be errors. In the son's guns, manned by a detachment list of casualties of the 12th Virgin- of men from the Otey battery under ia regiment some are noticed, as for Maj. D.N. Walker, is visible in front, instance the placing of Privates Eich- and to the south, of the line of smaU ard B. Davis and Putnam Stith in trees above mentioned. Company P instead of Company E, The Confederate earth -works south and the mentioning of Sergeant J. of the Crater ran southwestwardly E. Whitehorne, of Company F, as just to the right of the barn for James Whitehorne. But it must be about 125 yards, then bore more remembered that the lists are simply southwestwardly into Mr. Griffith's reproductions of the lists published corn-field, visible in the picture, there in the Express. *Should anyone who may read these pages It is regretted that reliable lists of -^^^-^ err.r ^-^^l^.^^^^^^^^- casualties in Mahone's brigade in the dersigned be informed of the error, with a Maryland Campaign of 1862 and at ^^:,r.A^^^X^^:o^\^,^r:XX Chancellorsville, beyond those al- Ushed. . G- S. B. 334 WAR TALKS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. formed an angle and ran southeast- the fence, as they stand in this de- wardly and across the Baxter Eoad pression. about the site of the telegraph pole. The sloping ground over which Some time subsequently to the bat- Mahone's brigade charged is visible tie the course of these works was on the right or west of the fence, changed a little, so that after the The liue of bushes along the de- change they occupied a position in pression at the northern terminus of this corn-field a little west of that the fence indicate the course of the occupied by them on the day of the branch shown in the map of Mr. battle. There were also changes Eives, which crosses the Confederate made in the location of the works breast-works and runs into Taylor's north of the Crater, for about 50 Creek. yards. They were thrown back a few On the day of the battle a body of feet and a picket line was run a few heavy timber stood a few yards in feet in front of the main line both front of the Confederate works on north and south of the Crater. On the ground now clear. "Wright, of the day of the battle there was no Halifax," says Capt.McCabe, "open- picket line for a distance of 100 or 125 ed a withering fire from his light yards along the front of the Crater, guns posted on a hill to the left, nor In the meadow along Taylor's could he be silenced by the enemy's Creek, just at this point, were mass- batteries, for his front was covered ed the 1st and 4th divisions of Burn- by a heavy fringe of pines." — [De- side's corps before they entered the fense of Petersburg, So. Hist. Pa- Confederate earth -works after the pers, vol. II, p. 286.] explosion. Mr. G-rifiith's house is visible on Battle-field of the Orater—View No. 2. tlie right of the tall sycamore tree This picture, taken from the site of standing near the southern extremity Wright's battery looking south, ^^ t^« ^^""^ ^^^<^«- ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ "^ shows the site of the Crater near the ^^^^ *« ^"^^ 1^^* «f this tree marks southern terminus of the wire fence t^« ^^t^ «^ *^« C^^*«^- ^^^ ^^^^ °^ visible in the picture, which fence ^^^^ ^ *^« 1«^* o^ ^^^ P^^^^^^ ^^« marks the general course of the ^^^^^ ^l«°g Taylor's Creek. Confederate breast-works north of Battle-field of the Orater—No. S. the Crater, which were, as shown by This picture is taken with the in- the map of Mr. Eives, in the main strument in the corn-field at a point to the left or east of the fence. near, and to the north of, the point at The Federal occupation of these which the covered way by which trenches did not extend north of the Mahone's brigade came out the ra- depression plainly visible in the pic- vine, depression or swale in which it ture. See the three small trees, the formed for its charge enters the tops of which are seen to ihe left of branch that runs along the ravine, APPENDIX. 335 depression or run, as shown in the Burnside massed a portion of his map of Mr. Eives. This view, look- troops for the assault on the morning ing south, shows the ravine, depres- of 30th of July, 1864. sion or swale, or low ground,, from Along the brow, or crest, of the which the charge was made. The hill to the left of the picture stood willow tree nearest the right of the the Confederate breast-works, some picture stands south of the point at 200 yards of which next on the north which the covered way terminated, of the Crater were occupied by the as also does the post visible in the Federal forces and were the scene of picture. The line of battle was form- some of the most bloody hand-to- ed with its left a little up the slope hand fights. The Crater is in the (southeast) from the post, and with cluster of trees immediately to the its right some sixty yards south, or left of the single sycamore tree visible southeast, of the other willow tree on the hill to the left of the centre visible in the picture. In the pic- of the picture, ture the slope is not as distinctly In this picture the parts of the marked about the position from wire fence so plainly visible in View which Mahone's brigade began its No. 2 are not visible, although they charge as in point of fact it is, the may be seen from the car windows of ground about this position being ap- the ITorfolk & Western trains as they parently nearer a level than it ac- pass this point, tually is. On the 30th of July, 1864, a heavy The charge was across the sloping body of timber stood in front of the field from right (west) to left (east), Confederate breast-works and ob- moving obliquely southeast wardly. scured from the view of the Feder- The trees on the left indicate the posi- als about the line of the railroad at tion of the Crater, the tall tree be- this point not only these breast- ing the sycamore standing on the works, but also those on the hill to line of the works andjSO plainly vis- the right of the picture, the breast- ible in View "No. 2, which tree, it is works on the latter hill standing a said, marks the place at which Capt. little back, or west, of the trees vis- Broadbent was kiUed. ible on the brow of this hill on the Battle-fleld of the Orater—M. 4. right of the picture, in rear of which This picture is taken with the in- trees stood Wright's battery, strument on the track of the Norfolk For further details see note on and Western Eailroad, at a point pages 229 and 230, and the map of about two miles east of the depot in Mr. Eives there referred to. See also Petersburg, looking southwest, and McCabe's "Defense of Petersburg," shows the meadow along Taylor's So. Hist. Papers, Vol. II, page 286, Creek, in the upper portion of which, and references there made, seen on the left of the picture, Gen. the end. ERRATA. Page 7, line 14, read Comrades for Gomrades. •' 26, note 36, read JET. T. Booker for H. F. Booker. 48, line 18, read cooping for crossing. 54, note g, line 2, insert alone between been and among. 76, line 6, read considerably for considerable. 95, line 6, read Etheredge for Etheridge. 113, line 21 read Hagood's for Haygood's. 121, line 37, read Shafer for Shaffer. 139, line 1 of note, read fifty-five for forty-five. 148, last line of note, read arms" for arms. 157, line 10, read possible for posible. 179, line 5 of note, read Infantry" for Infantry. 179, line 7 of note, read Leonidas H. Dean for Leonidas D. Dean. 183, line 2, read thefiank for companies. 183, line 31, insert ii between do and iVb. 183, line 35, strike out all before the surprise. 184, line 8, lesA former life iot farm-life. 185, lines 2,a,nA27, vesudDavidMoConnoohietoiDavidMcConiehie. 202, line 31, read five for four. 204, line 9, read Manner for Flannery. 207, line 2nd from the bottom, strike out instant before from. 213, line 1, read Augustus C. Brown for Augustine O. Brown. 2l!3, line 4, read '■^Theprimary for Theprimary. 213, line 19, read ^^ General Beauregard for General Beauregard. 230, line 26, read i. J?, ^lifij/ for L. R. Kelly. 236, line 1 of note, leaA friend for Friend. 254, line 27 and note 17, read Cooke for CooA;. 271, note 36, read Dr. Jerman for Dr. Jermaine. 280, line 30, read expected for intended. 281, line 2 of note 39, read 1881 for 18S,S. 305, 4th line from bottom, read we for he. Capt. Geo. J. Rogers, mentioned on pages 152 and 312, is of Petersburg — not of Richmond, Va. Jos. J. Maelin, mentioned at page 304, is of Chesterfield county— not of Petersburg, Va, SUPPLEMENT TO ERRATA. — — - » ■ The list of errata should be amended so as to embrace the following: Page 1 of preface, line 29, read JUfa^ gist for May mh. In biography of Mr. Simon Seward, first paragraph, read mh Virginia Cavalry for mh Virginia Cavalry; and in biography of Dr. John Herbert Claiborne, second paragraph, read ftmr years' curriculum for four years, curriculum. ?e 29, line 19 read mountain for mountains. In the address of Governor Cameron, page 51, line 12, read Mon Church for Tabernacle Church, Zion— not Tabernacle— Church being called the "Wooden Church" and being the church near which the line of battle here referred to was formed. In the statement of Mr. William C. Smith, page 308, strike out the words at Ely's Ford next after the words the Rappahannock in lines 5 and 29. In lines 6 and 29 of page 154 for only one hundred read only about one hundred. Page 179, line 8 read of a for of brigadier-general. To the note on page 179 referring to Capt. Victor J. B. Girardey add the following, having first substituted the word weeks for days: On the 20th of July, 1864, Gen. Mahone, in a letter addressed to Gen. A. P. Hill, says: "There are now with Wright's brigade for duty only two field officers, one lieutenant-colonel, and one major, the former now commanding the ' brigade, Gen. Wright being absent on sick leave for 30 days. With no disparagement to the officer now commanding this brigade, for whom I entertain a high regard, I am emphatically of the opinion, that the better interest of the service as wey as the greater efficiency of this bri- gade would be most materially subserved by the assignment of Capt. G. ■ J. Girardey with temporary rank of brigadier-general to its command. Until very recently this oflicer has been connected' with this brigade as its adjutant^general from its earliest organization and no one, I am per- suaded, enjoys more of the confidence and regard of the officers and men thereof than he, and in my judgment deservedly, no less for his uniform interest (in) its destiny and good repute, than for his skill and gallantry as an officer. ^ "Under these circumstances I venture to nominate Capt. Girardey for promotion and assignment as indicated. Besides I may add that during the current .campaign no one under my observation has better earned such promotion or shown himself more competent for the command of a brigade." Gen. Hill's endorsement on the letter is as follows: "Respectfully forwarded and recommended. Capt. Girardey 'is emi- nently qualified for the command of the brigade because of his own fit- ness for the position, his association with the brigade, and his acceptar bility to it. The law was made to cover just such cases as this, and I • know of none in which it can be applied with happier efiect. The bri- gade needs it and the country needs it. Capt. G. is a Georgian. I hope the appointment will be made with the least possible delay." Gen; Lee's endorsement is as follows; "Respectfully forwarded and recommended." On the 3rd of August, 1864, Capt. Girardey was appointed to the tem- porary rank of brigadier-general and assigned to the comimand of Wright's brigade. Less than two weeks later, on the 16th of August, . in front of Richmond, whilst gallantly leading the brigade in a charge " on or near the Charles City Road, this gifted and brave young officer fell, , his forehead pierced by a hostile bullet. v^ : J