The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War

Chapter. Page.

VII. Breaking Camp at Wigfall.--The March to the Battlefield.--General Beauregard and His Appearance and Advice.--First Cannon Shot.--Battle of Bull Run. --The Advance.--The Charge.--The Wounded.--Isaac Hare and John Q. Martin.--Retreat of the Enemy.-- Severe Artillery Duel.--The Dutchman and His Chunk of Fat Bacon.--Casualties 61

Chapter VI

[1] This company joined the regiment on the morning of the day of first battle of Manassas.

Chapter VII

Battle of Bull Run.

Chapter VIII

During the sojourn at Fairfax, a detachment under Lieutenant Allen, of the 28th Virginia, was sent to the station on the railway to guard some baggage and stores deposited there. Of this detachment was John R. Crawford, of our company, who for true physical courage, bravery and self-possession, had scarce an equal; indeed, it was often said of him that he knew no fear--did not know what it meant--never dreamed nor imagined what danger was; that he felt as much at ease in the storm of battle as when resting quietly in the camp. The reader doubtless has heard of the "Louisiana Tigers," who in the first battle of Manassas, when closing with the enemy, threw down their muskets and rushed upon the enemy with their bowie-knives. They were a dangerous, blood-thirsty set--at least so reputed. It was two of these same "Tigers" who found Crawford on guard over the baggage and stores above referred to, which they proposed to appropriate. Crawford warned them to stand off and go away. They paid no heed to the warnings, but persisted in their purpose. Crawford then reversed his musket and downed the man nearest to him, who fell trembling and bleeding at his feet; whereupon his companion quickly advanced to his rescue, but Crawford's belligerent attitude caused him to beat a hasty retreat.

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XI. Preparations for Active Field Service.--Dress Parade and Speeches of General Kemper and Colonel Patton.--Battles Around Richmond.--Gaines' Mill or Cold Harbor.--Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill. --Testing a Man's Courage.--Casualties.--In Pursuit of the Enemy.--In Camp Near the Chickahominy.-- Sickness and Death.--Threatening Attitude of the Enemy in Northern Virginia.--Concentration of the Confederate Army on the Rappahannock.--Pope's Bravado.--Lieutenant Hugh M. Patton Succeeds Stark as Adjutant, and Sergeant Parke Appointed Sergeant-Major, Succeeding George S. Tansill 107

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XXII. To Richmond.--Captured Flags.--Affair at Milford.--Tom Yowell's Yarn.--Hanover Junction. --North Anna.--Cold Harbor.--John A. Hale and His Prisoner.--Malvern Hill 259

Chapter XI

During that night our troops rested on the field without disturbance from the enemy, who continued his flank movement, a masterly retreat, to a position at Malvern Hill, on the banks of the James: a position of great natural strength, where the entire Union army was concentrated, supported by the gunboats in the river. The Battle of Malvern Hill did not begin until the afternoon, but its tide swept to and fro until far into the night. The divisions of Longstreet and A. P. Hill were held in reserve, close up, but not called into action, near enough, however, to be in range of the enemy's artillery and heavy projectiles thrown from the gunboats, inspiring fear and terror among our men not justified by their execution. The repeated charges of our troops against the enemy's stronghold failed to dislodge him. Our men were repulsed; they had bearded the lion in his den; he refused to yield; he could not afford to, for if he did he had but one place to go and that was into the river, or the alternative, of surrendering. In the Battle of Frazier's Farm the Federals largely outnumbered the Confederates. They lost ten guns captured by the Confederates, who, when the battle closed, held the greater part of the field. The Federal General McCall was captured by the 47th Virginia regiment.

Chapter XI

At the opening of the campaign, the Union army numbered 105,000, the Confederate 80,762--tremendous armies, when we come to think of it. The losses on each side, up to the Battle of Malvern Hill, in killed and wounded, were thought to be equal, but in that battle it is stated upon authority that the Confederate loss was about 5,000 men, the Union loss about one-third that number. During the Battle of Malvern Hill, Mr. Davis, President of the Confederate States, was with us in the morning and under the fire of the gunboats.

Chapter. Page.

VII. Breaking Camp at Wigfall.--The March to the Battlefield.--General Beauregard and His Appearance and Advice.--First Cannon Shot.--Battle of Bull Run. --The Advance.--The Charge.--The Wounded.--Isaac Hare and John Q. Martin.--Retreat of the Enemy.-- Severe Artillery Duel.--The Dutchman and His Chunk of Fat Bacon.--Casualties 61

Chapter VI

[1] This company joined the regiment on the morning of the day of first battle of Manassas.

Chapter VII

Battle of Bull Run.

Chapter VIII

During the sojourn at Fairfax, a detachment under Lieutenant Allen, of the 28th Virginia, was sent to the station on the railway to guard some baggage and stores deposited there. Of this detachment was John R. Crawford, of our company, who for true physical courage, bravery and self-possession, had scarce an equal; indeed, it was often said of him that he knew no fear--did not know what it meant--never dreamed nor imagined what danger was; that he felt as much at ease in the storm of battle as when resting quietly in the camp. The reader doubtless has heard of the "Louisiana Tigers," who in the first battle of Manassas, when closing with the enemy, threw down their muskets and rushed upon the enemy with their bowie-knives. They were a dangerous, blood-thirsty set--at least so reputed. It was two of these same "Tigers" who found Crawford on guard over the baggage and stores above referred to, which they proposed to appropriate. Crawford warned them to stand off and go away. They paid no heed to the warnings, but persisted in their purpose. Crawford then reversed his musket and downed the man nearest to him, who fell trembling and bleeding at his feet; whereupon his companion quickly advanced to his rescue, but Crawford's belligerent attitude caused him to beat a hasty retreat.

Chapter. Page.

XI. Preparations for Active Field Service.--Dress Parade and Speeches of General Kemper and Colonel Patton.--Battles Around Richmond.--Gaines' Mill or Cold Harbor.--Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill. --Testing a Man's Courage.--Casualties.--In Pursuit of the Enemy.--In Camp Near the Chickahominy.-- Sickness and Death.--Threatening Attitude of the Enemy in Northern Virginia.--Concentration of the Confederate Army on the Rappahannock.--Pope's Bravado.--Lieutenant Hugh M. Patton Succeeds Stark as Adjutant, and Sergeant Parke Appointed Sergeant-Major, Succeeding George S. Tansill 107

Chapter XXII

At 4 o'clock, June 2, the battle of Cold Harbor began on our right, raging furiously until sunset. By means of an improvised telegraphy, information was received that the enemy had been repulsed. This improvised telegraphy was nothing more than passing word from man to man and on this occasion came, "Pass it along the lines that we have whipped the enemy on the right." Early on the morning of the 3d the battle of Cold Harbor was resumed, Hoke's, Breckenridge's and part of Anderson's divisions being engaged on the right. When the battle ended, we were informed by the same telegraphic line that the enemy had been defeated. On our front had been nothing more than artillery fire, with severe skirmishing. However, as the battle progressed, our division was ordered to be ready to attack the enemy in front, and we were very well satisfied when the order was revoked.

Chapter XXII

The Federal casualties in the battle at Cold Harbor were over 10,000; the Confederate 1500. I find no report of casualties in our division, brigade or regiment; no casualties in Company D.

Chapter XXII

I cannot well help breaking the thread of my narrative to tell a little humorous camp story prevalent among our men just after the battle of Cold Harbor. It was claimed to have been told by a Union soldier to some of our men. It ran thus: A private Union soldier who had been in the battle and saw the terrific slaughter, said to his captain, "We have killed and had killed enough men and the war should end, and I know what will end it." The captain inquired, "What?" "Take Richmond," was the response. "Yes," said the captain, "that is what General Grant is trying to do." The soldier insisting that he knew how Richmond could be taken, and the captain pressing him to know, he replied: "Swap Generals!"