From Bull Run to Chancellorsville

CHAPTER IV

The Battle of Bull Run

CHAPTER IV

It is probable that in no battle of modem times, in which thirty-five thousand men were engaged, was there so small a number of officers educated in the science and art of war; nor was there a battle which was the nursery of so many who came to great prominence in the profession of arms, as those who rose from the mob-like forces which contended at Manas- sas. Those who became the most prominent were of the field or line, and generally the junior in years, as well as in rank, of those holding higher commands; the men who attained the greatest success were, chiefly, graduates of the MiUtary Academy. Colonel William T. Sherman gained a place among the world's great generals; Colonel Henry W. Slocum, who commanded a regiment, Colonel OUver O. Howard, and Colonel Ambrose E. Bumside, who commanded brigades, rose to the command of armies; Colonels Samuel P. Heintzelman, William B. Franklin, Israel B. Richardson, Erasmus D. Keyes, and Orlando B. Willcox rose to the com- mand of corps. A number of captains and lieutenants rose to the command of corps, divisions, and brigades. John A. Logan, a civihan, who had gone out to the field to witness the operations of the day, resigned his seat in Con- gress, and raised a regiment; he afterward rose to the head of the Union generals who came from civil life. Lieuten- ant William A. Elderkin, appointed a cadet from Potsdam, New York, who had gone from the graduating exercises at West Point to the battle-field of Bull Run, where he rendered

CHAPTER IV

From a strictly mihtary standpoint, the battle of Bull Run was a mistake, but its effect -on the country was a blessing,

CHAPTER IV

The battle of Bull Run was fought in obedience to a public sentiment, which demanded the immediate suppression of the insurgents who had encamped near the capital, and it was generally believed that an armed force, however organized or equipped for action, would speedily disperse "the unlaw- ful combination." The defeat at BuU Run awakened the people of the North to a realizing sense of the situation, and to the fact that they had to make proper preparation for war, or yield to the demand for a dissolution of the Union. It was after Bull Run that the people were aroused, and that immediate steps were taken to organize a military force at the capital. The history of the Army of the Poto- mac shows with what result their efforts were crowned.

FROM THE CHICKAHOMINY TO THE JAMES

"We were held at Savage's Station until after the battle of Malvern Hill and then taken to Richmond. We of the Sixteenth New York, wearing straw hats, received special attention from the Confederate officers and men who fought against us, who said 'We have great respect for the members of the "straw hat regi- ment," they were a brave and stubborn lot and inflicted severe punishment on us near the McGehee house.' David McAllister, Henry Sharp and myself were the only members of Company H left at Savage's Station. McAllister was not wounded, but was detailed by the surgeon to attend those who were. He contracted fever in prison and died in West Philadelphia hospital. We were exchanged about August ist."

FROM THE CHICKAHOMINY TO THE JAMES

a short confinement they were liberated. They reported, that, in the morning following our escape, the enemy sent a flag of truce to demand our surrender, supposing it impossible for us to escape; and they were very much taken by surprise to find that their bird had flown. By sunrise, after a cool and easy march, we were on the summit of Malvern Hill. Here we found almost the entire army in line of battle, and the mouths of hun- dreds of cannon pointing to the enemy's land."

FROM THE CHICKAHOMINY TO THE JAMES

Osbom's battery came through on the change of base, fighting at Peach Orchard, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp; marching with the rear guard in order for quick action, with the caissons leading the guns; and taking prominent part in winning the victory at Malvern Hill. Bartlett's brigade went to work building breastworks and constructing abatis. The sixteenth were under arms during the progress of the action, but were rather witnesses of, than participants in the battle of Malvern Hill on July ist. As the day advanced victory for our arms seemed to be assured, and our men lay down weary and himgry to get a few hours of much needed sleep.

HARRISON'S LANDING

On the 4th of August, General Hooker had a very spirited engagement with the enemy at Malvern Hill, and succeeded in occupying that position and in driving the Confederate forces four miles on the New Market road towards Rich- mond, capturing more than one hundred prisoners. In the afternoon. General Hooker received the following cormnimi- cation from General McClellan :

CHAPTER IV

The Battle of Bull Run

CHAPTER IV

It is probable that in no battle of modem times, in which thirty-five thousand men were engaged, was there so small a number of officers educated in the science and art of war; nor was there a battle which was the nursery of so many who came to great prominence in the profession of arms, as those who rose from the mob-like forces which contended at Manas- sas. Those who became the most prominent were of the field or line, and generally the junior in years, as well as in rank, of those holding higher commands; the men who attained the greatest success were, chiefly, graduates of the MiUtary Academy. Colonel William T. Sherman gained a place among the world's great generals; Colonel Henry W. Slocum, who commanded a regiment, Colonel OUver O. Howard, and Colonel Ambrose E. Bumside, who commanded brigades, rose to the command of armies; Colonels Samuel P. Heintzelman, William B. Franklin, Israel B. Richardson, Erasmus D. Keyes, and Orlando B. Willcox rose to the com- mand of corps. A number of captains and lieutenants rose to the command of corps, divisions, and brigades. John A. Logan, a civihan, who had gone out to the field to witness the operations of the day, resigned his seat in Con- gress, and raised a regiment; he afterward rose to the head of the Union generals who came from civil life. Lieuten- ant William A. Elderkin, appointed a cadet from Potsdam, New York, who had gone from the graduating exercises at West Point to the battle-field of Bull Run, where he rendered

CHAPTER IV

From a strictly mihtary standpoint, the battle of Bull Run was a mistake, but its effect -on the country was a blessing,

CHAPTER IV

The battle of Bull Run was fought in obedience to a public sentiment, which demanded the immediate suppression of the insurgents who had encamped near the capital, and it was generally believed that an armed force, however organized or equipped for action, would speedily disperse "the unlaw- ful combination." The defeat at BuU Run awakened the people of the North to a realizing sense of the situation, and to the fact that they had to make proper preparation for war, or yield to the demand for a dissolution of the Union. It was after Bull Run that the people were aroused, and that immediate steps were taken to organize a military force at the capital. The history of the Army of the Poto- mac shows with what result their efforts were crowned.

PAGE

Hopkins's Letter.— Visit to Confederate Hospital.— Inter- viewed a soldier from North Carolina and one from Georgia. — Resemblance to a namesake. — Marching to Battle of Antietam 167-178

CHAPTER XVn

CHAPTER XVn The Battle or Antietam [w. s. VOL. xrx.] General Lee places his forces in position at Sharpsburg. — The order in which McClellan's army corps came to the field at Antietam. — ^Major Joseph M. Knap. — Burnside's delay at Antietam Bridge. — Charge of the Sixth Corps prevented by protest of Sumner. — The hesitation of Burnside and fail- ure to send the Sixth Corps forward turned what might have been a victory into n drawn battle. — Casualties.^-Colonel W. B. Goodrich. — General George S. Greene. — Captain L. L. Buck 179-191

PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTION IN THE ART OF WAR

On July nth, the regiment marched down 7th Street and took boat for Alexandria, arriving late in the afternoon, in a heavy rainstorm. It marched out Duke Street and encamped in a meadow south of Fort Ellsworth then in course of construction. It was very dark when we reached the camping grounds and many disagreeable incidents occurred. One befell Captain Stetson, who fell into the raceway which carried water from Hunting Creek to the Cameron Flour MiUs; his splashing brought help, but some of those who went to his aid slipped down the bank into the race, and not until several had joined hands and formed a line were their efforts at rescue successful. The darkness was Egyp- tian, all were utter strangers, and ignorant of what might befall them in a single step. When Captain Stetson and the others had been rescued, he commented cheerfully on the occurrence, and said that if he must die in the service he preferred to die as a soldier. These words were recalled by members of the Sixteenth when they received the news of his death, and by the party of friends from his old regiment who searched the battle-field of Antietam and found, where the dead lay thickest, the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Stet- son, then of the Fifty-ninth New York, and paid it the honors of a battle-field burial.

THE BATTLE OF GAINES'S MILL

This chapter, which recalls to the participants so many scenes of unselfish devotion, of unsurpassed valor, and of heroic fortitude, will be closed by a quotation from a for- eign officer in the service of the Confederates,* who writes of the sadder side, the truth of which we might find it hard to believe, were it not for what we ourselves witnessed, nearly three months later, in caring for the wounded left on the battle-field of Antietam:

HOOKER IN COMMAND

' General Couch's "The Chancellorsville Campaign," in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

"At 2 o'clock P.M., April 30th, I reported to General Hooker at Chancellorsville, that we had evidently surprised General Lee by our rapid movements across the river, and, as Lee had pre- pared for a battle at Chancellorsville, we had better anticipate him by moving toward Fredericksburg. A march of three or four miles would take us out of the woods into an open country where we could form our line of battle, and where our artillery could be used to advantage; we could then be prepared to move on Fredericksburg in the morning; besides, such a movement would enable us to uncover Banks's Ford, which would shorten our communication with General Sedgwick over five miles, and bring us within three and one-half miles of Falmouth by that Ford.

THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

The conduct of the Eleventh Corps was severely criticised. The principal officers vigorously defended its action, and repeatedly asked that their official reports should be pub- lished, or that a court of inquiry should be ordered, " so that the true facts may come to light and the responsibility for the disaster be fairly apportioned." These requests were disapproved by General Hooker and General Halleck. The laborious investigations made by Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus C. Hamlin, Medical Inspector, published under the title of "TheBattle of Chancellorsville," will correct many misconceived notions about this battle and the part taken in it by the Eleventh Corps, and should be read in connect- ion with the official reports.