unburied on the field, already become objects of loathing and horror,
nor could their comrades of yesterday spare the time to lay them beneath
the moist, and blood-stained earth. The day wore slowly away, both
Unionists and Confederates making preparations for more fighting but up
to three o’clock in the afternoon there seemed no prospect of the battle
being resumed during that day. At half past three the rebels made a
furious and sudden attack upon the left wing of the National army,
Colonel Beatty’s division, (in command since General Van Clere had been
wounded) with the evident intention of cutting it off from the rest of
the line. But Beatty was not wholly unprepared, and met the overwhelming
force hurled against him, with skill and gallantry. The rebels were
three columns deep, and consisted of the divisions of Breckinridge,
Claiborne, and Anderson. Beatty’s three brigades defended themselves
with desperate bravery; and in return for the flood of shot, shell, and
Minnie sent into their ranks, they sent back a perfect storm of lead
that caused the first rebel column Breckinridge’s division, to fall back
instantly, mowed down by the fierce fire of the Union brigades. The
place of the retreating column was instantly filled by another formed of
Claiborne’s division; which met with better success than its
predecessor; as Beatty’s division, after the severe treatment it had
just received could not hope to stand before an entirely fresh column of
the enemy.
The Union brigades fell slowly back, and recrossed the river, pursued to
the very banks by the rebels, pouring in upon them a steady fire, and
then immediately forming their line in the deserted position. The rebel
artillery was moved, and from both sides of the stream a heavy fire was
poured into each force by its opponents.
There was still a Union reserve; for a wise purpose of his own, General
Rosecrans had not yet permitted Negley’s men to be sent forward; but by
the General’s order they were now ordered to come up, which they did,
closely followed by General J. C. Davis’s division. With shouts of
enthusiasm they pressed forward toward the aid of Beatty’s left; and
having reached the banks of Lytle’s creek, they opened a furious and
destructive fire upon the rebel force beyond. Two batteries were set to
work, and a severe volley of grape and shrapnel poured in on the enemy’s
line. The effect was perceived at once—they fell back slowly; and
Davis’s division was ordered to cross the stream in pursuit. The Seventy
eighth Pennsylvania sprang forward, plunged in, and were the first to
cross, led by the gallant Colonel Sirwell. Immediately the Nineteenth
Illinois and the rest of the two brigades followed, Davis also crossed,
speedily followed by Beatty; and one of the most brilliant and desperate
charges of the day was executed. Davis pressed through his ranks, and
taking off his hat placed it on his sword, and with a loud hearty shout
to his men to _Charge!_ led them himself to the top of the hill. The
rebel line broke before the gallant charge, and fled in the greatest
confusion. Negley perceiving the advantage gained by the troops across
the stream, followed it up without an instant’s loss of time, by
ordering his batteries to cross, which, together with a captured rebel
battery were put to work, pouring death into the enemy’s retreating
line. General Negley now sent word to General Rosecrans that he was
driving the rebels before him, and that they were almost compelled to a
complete and disgraceful rout. “Drive ’em!” was the enthusiastic
response of the Union General; and he immediately ordered the whole of
the National line to be advanced; and on the instant after one sheet of
flame burst from right to left along the entire front, and the shouts of
victory rose high above every other sound.
The rebel resistance was desperate, but useless; and Polk’s entire
division fled before Negley, who never slackened in pursuit till the
enemy was driven far beyond their outer works, when the coming on of
night saved them from utter destruction. General Negley now ordered a
halt, and sent a dispatch to General Rosecrans that darkness had
overtaken him within three-quarters of a mile of Murfreesboro’, but he
would advance no further till he had received orders from the General in
command.
[Illustration: BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO’, DEC. 31, 1862.]
[Illustration: REBEL BATTERY CARRIED BY ASSAULT BY GENERAL ROUSSEAU’S
COMMAND.]
The order for advance was not sent; and the tired soldiers bivouacked
within sight of Murfreesboro’. It was evident that the battle was over,
and the morning would prove the enemy completely defeated.
On Saturday it rained; and General Rosecrans determined to keep his
powder dry. Knowing that success was certain, he permitted nothing to be
done except shelling the enemy, and this was kept up during the day.
About two o’clock, at night, the rebel redoubt in front of Rousseau gave
considerable trouble by opening an artillery fire. General Rousseau sent
to General Rosecrans for permission to take the works, and having
received it, he detailed the Third Ohio and Eighty-eighth Indiana for
the duty. In the face of a heavy fire they advanced and took the works
at the point of the bayonet. They also captured fifty prisoners.
During the night came reports that the rebels were already evacuating
Murfreesboro’; and although the intelligence was scarcely credited at
first, morning proved its correctness, for the enemy was gone! It now,
only remained to take possession of Murfreesboro’, and at eleven o’clock
on Sunday morning, General Rosecrans entered the village, with the main
army.
NORTH CAROLINA AT THE CLOSE OF 1862.
Notwithstanding the brilliant victories by the army and navy of the
Union in the early part of this year over the Confederate forces in
North Carolina, but little, if any impression had been made on the stern
spirit of opposition and defiance which was here as everywhere else
manifested by the leaders of the rebellion.
The brave and indomitable army led by Burnside, and the no less valiant
and victorious naval forces under Commodore Goldsborough, had unitedly
subdued and captured all the defensible positions on the coast; and the
capture of Roanoke Island and the Confederate navy in those waters, had
opened the Albemarle sound and its tributaries to the unmolested passage
of the Federal fleet, and placed Newbern, Edenton, Winton, Beaufort,
Elizabeth city, and many other towns in possession of the Union forces.
The magnitude of the operations on the Peninsula of Virginia, at a later
period of the year, overshadowed these earlier movements, which were
only designed as supplementary by the Federal government. The military
operations for the remainder of the year were not therefore of a
character demanding an extended notice in this history.
Colonel Vance was elected Governor of the State in August by a large
majority; and in his message in November, urged a vigorous prosecution
of the war. In this he was seconded by the Legislature, who by
resolution declared the separation of the State from the Federal Union
as final, and pledged all the power and resources of the commonwealth to
maintain the Confederate government.
As an important part of the State had now come under Federal control by
conquest, the authorities at Washington determined to appoint a
Provisional or military Governor, as had previously been done in
Tennessee by the appointment of Andrew Johnson.
Edward Stanley, formerly a distinguished citizen of North Carolina, was
tendered that office by President Lincoln, and accepted the trust. He
arrived at Newbern on the 26th of May, and entered upon his duties. On
the 17th of June he made an address to the people of Washington, N. C.,
which citizens from all parts of the State were permitted to pass
through the Federal lines to attend. Men were present from seventeen
counties to hear him; but the result showed that so long as the
Confederate Government retained its organization and power, the citizens
were powerless, and dare not oppose it.
Governor Stanley endeavored by wise and conciliatory measures to win the
confidence of the people, and thus restore peace to the State. To that
end he proposed a conference with Governor Vance; but that functionary
refused to meet him, and referred Stanley to the Confederate Government
at Richmond.
Thousands of slaves flocked within the Federal lines, five thousand
having collected in Newbern alone within three months after its
occupation by the Union army.
Simultaneous with the campaign against Richmond undertaken by General
Burnside, efforts were made to cut the rebel lines of communication
between Richmond and the southwestern states. There are three lines of
railroad running south and southwest. One running southwest, passes
through southwestern Virginia, eastern Tennessee, northern Alabama, and
connects with roads to western Tennessee, and to New Orleans. A
southerly line connects Richmond with Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah,
and parts of Alabama; while another southerly line passes through North
and South Carolina. By cutting the former of these roads at Cumberland
Gap, reinforcements and supplies could not be brought from the southwest
for General Lee; neither could Lee aid General Bragg’s army at
Murfreesboro’. By cutting the second the most direct communication
between Richmond and the principal cities of the Confederate States was
destroyed.
When General Rosecrans was preparing to move from Nashville to attack
the Confederate army at Murfreesboro’, an expedition was sent into East
Tennessee to destroy the railroad, and so prevent reinforcements from
Richmond from reaching General Bragg. General Carter with a force of one
thousand cavalry left London in Kentucky, December 21st, and entering
Virginia between Cumberland Gap and Pound Gap, advanced within six miles
of Bristol, burned the bridges across the Halston and Wataugo rivers,
and took up portions of the track, destroying the rails for a distance
of one hundred miles, almost to Jonesboro’. They captured five hundred
prisoners, seven hundred stand of arms, and a large amount of stores.
They reached Manchester, Kentucky, on the 6th of January, having lost
only ten men in their hazardous but successful enterprise.
The expedition against the second line of railroads was undertaken in
North Carolina, and forms the only subsequent military movement of
importance in addition to those hitherto described in the department
during the year. It was a march against Goldsborough and the destruction
of the railroad at that place, which is the line connecting Charleston
and Savannah with Richmond.
General J. G. Foster, who commanded the department after the departure
of General Burnside, took charge of the expedition.
The force consisted of four brigades under Colonels Wessels, Amory,
Stevenson and Lee; the Third New York and First Rhode Island batteries;
also sections of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth New York Independent
batteries, and the Third New York cavalry. It left Newbern on the
morning of December 11, and moved on the Kingston road fourteen miles.
Some parts of the road were obstructed by felled trees. On the next
morning it advanced to the Vine Swamp road, having some sharp
skirmishing with a small Confederate force. At this point three
companies of cavalry were sent up the Kingston road as a demonstration,
and the main force took the Vine Swamp road, thereby avoiding the
obstructions and the Confederate forces. It was delayed to build the
bridge over Beaver creek, where the Fifty-first Massachusetts and a
section of artillery were left to hold it, and support the cavalry on
the main road, and halted at a distance of four miles.
The next morning the main column advanced, turning to the left, and
leaving the road it was upon to the right. At the intersection the
Forty-sixth Massachusetts and a section of a battery were left as a
feint and to hold the position.
On reaching Southwest creek a Confederate force was found posted on the
opposite bank, about four hundred strong, and with three pieces of
artillery. The creek was not fordable, and ran at the foot of a deep
ravine. Under the protection of a battery the Ninth New Jersey effected
a passage and formed on the opposite bank, where it was afterward
supported by the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania. This caused the Confederate
force to retire with some skirmishing.
On the next day an advance upon Kinston was made, and the Confederate
force found posted in a strong position about one mile from the place.
An attack was at once made with the Ninth New Jersey in advance, and the
position taken. The Confederate force retired across the Neuse river,
with a loss of four hundred prisoners. On crossing, the bridge was set
on fire, but soon extinguished by the advance of General Foster. The
bridge was immediately repaired, and the column crossed, and occupied
the town of Kinston. With constant skirmishing, the force of General
Foster continued to advance until the 17th, when it reached
Goldsborough. Here it burned two trestle-work culverts, destroyed a
train of four railroad cars, water station, depot, etc., and some small
arms which it was unable to carry off. After destroying other bridges,
and capturing some small positions that had been occupied by a
Confederate force, the expedition successfully returned to Newbern.
These expeditions, although successful, secured no important advantages,
as the great movement on Richmond had, in the mean time, been suspended.
They were useful reconnoissances, and the former may have delayed the
arrival of reinforcements from General Lee to General Bragg before the
battle of Murfreesbero’.
On the 6th of September a body of Confederate troops surprised the
garrison at Washington in the department of North Carolina. A vigorous
resistance was made, and the attacking party was repulsed with a loss of
thirty-three killed, and nearly one hundred wounded. The Federal loss
was eight killed, and thirty-three wounded.
BATTLE OF POCOTALICO BRIDGE, S. C.
OCTOBER 23, 1862.
A severe engagement occurred on this day in the Department of the South,
where the military operations of the year, not previously detailed, had
been unimportant. General Mitchel, the renowned man of science and
brilliant commander, whose untimely death at a short subsequent period,
filled the whole country with sorrow, was at that time commander of the
department. An expedition was sent out from Port Royal to destroy the
trestle work bridges of the Charleston and Savannah railroad across the
Pocotalico, Tullifinny, and Coosawhatchie, tributaries of the Broad
river, and to make a reconnoissance of these streams. The expedition was
under the command of Generals Brannan and Terry. The main body of the
troops was landed at Mackey’s Point, about fifteen miles from the
railroad, and marched seven miles inland, where the Confederates were
met in force. After a sharp fight of an hour they retired to a point two
miles distant, and made a second stand. From this point they again fell
back to the village of Pocotalico, and having burned the long bridge
across the stream, they were inaccessible.
Meanwhile Colonel Barton, with three hundred and fifty men, penetrated
to the railroad at Coosawhatchie, and destroyed some of the rails, cut
the telegraph wires, and fired upon a train containing troops. The
engagement by the main force was severe, and the Federal loss was
thirty-two killed, and one hundred and eighty wounded. The Union force
retired on the next day, having failed in the object of the expedition,
except the reconnoissance.
BATTLE OF BATON ROUGE, LA.
AUGUST 5, 1862.
Another important engagement took place on the above date, which our
general plan will not permit us to engross in its historical connection.
On the 5th of August an attack was made on Baton Rouge, in the
Department of the Gulf, which was under the government of General
Butler. The Federal force at this city was under command of
Brigadier-General Williams. The Confederate army making the attack was
under the command of General John C. Breckinridge. The contest was sharp
and bloody, and the attack was successfully repulsed. The Federal loss
was ninety killed, and two hundred and fifty wounded. Among the killed
was General Williams. Three hundred of the Confederates were reported to
have been killed and buried by the force of General Williams. The city
was subsequently evacuated on August 16, by command of General Butler.
General Williams was a graduate of West Point, and an officer of great
merit and promise. He was a native of Connecticut, but received his
appointment in the army from Michigan.
OPERATIONS IN MISSOURI.
Early in April, 1862, General Halleck having departed for Corinth,
Miss., General Schofield was left in command of the largest portion of
the State of Missouri, General Price having been driven, after his
disastrous defeat at Pea Ridge, to a point south of the Boston
Mountains, where he remained, no longer pursued by the troops of General
Curtis, in the hope of obtaining reinforcements, and recovering from his
losses. On the 5th of April a rumor that General Price was moving upon
Springfield, Missouri, caused General Curtis to march in that direction.
During a march of two days his army accomplished thirty-eight miles, and
reached the junction of Flat Rock with the James River. The river could
not be crossed at that point; but a crossing was subsequently effected
at Galena. In another march of two days, after a heavy rain storm,
twenty-nine miles were accomplished; and the rebels, under General Price
were found to be encamped on the other side of the river about five
miles farther south.
No engagement took place between the two armies. All remained quiet in
Missouri for some weeks.
On June 3d the State Convention met: the financial condition of the
State was found to be in a very unsettled condition; and the civil
condition not much better. Although in many parts of the State courts of
justice were open and the laws properly administered, in many other
parts every species of disturbance and crime was perpetrated under the
name of guerrilla warfare.
From this time till the middle of the month the Convention was variously
occupied in receiving and passing bills, in repealing ordinances, &c. On
the 16th a Mass Convention of emancipationists assembled at Jefferson
City. Immediately after the dissolution of the two Conventions the State
was threatened by an unusually terrible guerrilla outbreak. The largest
part of the National forces being absent, the guerrillas, consisting in
most part of the returned troops of General Price, felt themselves safe
in repeating the raids of the previous year.
General Schofield on June 22d issued an order holding rebels and rebel
sympathizers responsible in their property, and, if need be, in their
persons, for damages thereafter committed by guerrillas or marauding
parties. This order produced no lasting effect. About the middle of July
the entire northern and western parts of Missouri were constantly
disturbed by intelligence of guerrilla raids and outrages. Colonel
Porter and Colonel Quantrell had already began to gather followers about
them; but the former had been defeated at Cherry Grove in Schuyler
County, and his band dispersed. The increasing rumors of raids, and a
general fear that the guerrilla uprising would be followed by another
invasion from the south made vigorous measures necessary for defence. On
the 22d July the Governor of the State, H. R. Gamble, issued an order
authorizing Brigadier-General Schofield “to organize the entire militia
of the State into companies, regiments, and brigades; and to order into
active service such portions of the force thus organized as he might
judge necessary for the purpose of putting down all marauders and
defending peaceable citizens of the State.” On the same day General
Schofield issued the necessary orders; and the militia was organized
rapidly and energetically; so that the State was soon prepared at all
points for a vigorous opposition to guerrilla attacks. Colonels Porter
and Cobb, rebel commanders, attempting a raid, were defeated, July 28th,
in Calloway County; but on the 31st Colonel Porter captured Newark in
Knox County, and took prisoners two companies of National troops. About
the same time, and during the first week in August a new guerrilla
leader, Colonel Poindexter, sprang into notice in the central Missouri
Counties, and, together with Quantrell in the West, caused the National
commanders to take additional precautions to repel the daring marauders.
On the 6th of August, Colonel Porter was defeated with great loss by
Colonel McNeill at Kinksville, in Adair county. The warfare was now
shifted to the central and western portions of Missouri; and Colonel
Coffee and Colonel McBride went to the assistance of Quantrell.
On the 13th, an attack was made by three guerrilla bands; in which the
National troops were severely defeated. On the 15th, eight hundred men
of the State militia were drawn into an ambush by Colonels Quantrell and
Coffee, but were rescued by reinforcements from Kansas, under General
Blunt.
No sooner was the southwest cleared of guerrillas, than their raids upon
the north were renewed with great activity. The town of Palmyra was
plundered by a gang of these marauders on the 12th of August, the Union
garrison there being overpowered. It was at this time that the rebels
seized the person of Andrew Allsman, a Unionist, and an old and much
respected resident of Palmyra. Subsequently, when the Unionists again
occupied Palmyra, General McNeill demanded the return of Allsman, within
ten days from the 8th of October, on peril of the lives of ten rebel
prisoners. The man was not returned, and, on the 18th of October, ten
rebel prisoners were publicly shot at Palmyra. Long before this the
State had been cleared of guerrillas. Quantrell made some trouble, in
the month of September, but he was speedily defeated and chased across
the border. An election took place in Missouri, in November, resulting
in victory to the emancipation wing of the Union party. The State was
thus pledged to the Government. The war-cloud drifted away from it, and
from that time to this it has been loyal and free.
NAVAL OPERATIONS IN 1862.
A general review of the naval operations to the close of the year 1862,
not heretofore described in the first volume of this work, will now be
given, which we will preface by a description, and the names of the
commanders of the several squadrons.
The North Atlantic squadron was under command of Rear-Admiral L. M.
Goldsborough until September 5th, at which time he was succeeded by
Acting Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee. The Virginia and North Carolina coasts
were assigned to this squadron. The South Atlantic squadron, blockading
the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and the northeast coast of
Florida, was commanded by Rear-Admiral S. F. Dupont. The Eastern Gulf
squadron was under Acting Rear-Admirals Lardner and Bailey, and the
Western Gulf squadron was commanded by Rear-Admiral Farragut. The
western flotilla on the Mississippi, was under command of Rear-Admiral
A. H. Foote from May 9th to October 15th, at which date Rear-Admiral D.
D. Porter succeeded him. The Potomac flotilla was commanded by Commodore
Harwood, and the James river flotilla was under Commodore Wilkes.
BATTLE OF DRURY’S BLUFF.
MAY 15, 1862.