ranks were formed, and the order was issued for the entire line to
advance—and never was a finer charge made than that which followed. But
they were Longstreet’s men who opposed, and they rallied and rallied
again, maintaining their reputation desperately; but Thomas, Reynolds,
and other heroic leaders inspirited their men with their own ardor; the
foe was still driven and Longstreet threatened with annihilation.
Attacked both in front and in the flank, the enemy was slaughtered
mercilessly; the artillery he had captured was, with the exception of
three pieces, recovered; and he was finally compelled to fall back, in
confusion, on his reserves, posted in a strong position on the west side
of Chickamauga creek.
While the contest was progressing so gloriously on the left, Polk and
Cheatham, with a powerful force, fell upon Palmer and Van Cleve, and
upon Reynolds’ right. The assault was made with such suddenness and
effect that Palmer’s division was staggered, and Van Cleve’s completely
shattered. Prisoners and artillery fell into the hands of the exultant
foe, and he was driving everything before him, when General Davis’
division came upon him and restored the fortunes of the day. But the
chosen legions of the enemy, and all his available forces, were massed
in this quarter, and the unparalleled obstinacy of Davis’s men would
have proved unequal to the occasion, had not Brannan’s division arrived
on the scene just in time to defeat Cheatham’s efforts to turn Reynolds’
right and rear. General Negley had been ordered to afford succor, and
responded readily to the summons. The gallant Wilder was however the
first to scatter the enemy in terror before him, but they rallied, and
forced him slowly back. General Sheridan now joined in the wavering
struggle and led Colonel Bradley’s noble brigade into the midst of it.
The rebels opened, from some timber near his flank, an enfilading fire,
which rained death into his ranks and compelled him to give way. But
Wood and Negley, who had been busied hitherto, repelling feigned
attacks, came at last to the rescue, and the tide was stayed. The
scattered troops reorganized, and lately broken brigades resumed their
places. A weltering fire now blazed along the whole Union front, with
such terrible effect that the rebels shrank from it. The Union centre
was restored to its integrity, and victory, was snatched from the grasp
of the foe.
SECOND DAY’S BATTLE.
Sunday, the twentieth of September, proved an eventful day to the Army
of the Cumberland. The sun rose bright and clear, but an impenetrable
mist hung over the field between the two hostile armies. General
Rosecrans was anxious and alarmed, from the fact that, at the close of
the preceding day, there were only two of his brigades which had not
been brought opportunely and squarely into the action. This convinced
him that he was greatly outnumbered, and he must now fight, not only for
the position of Chattanooga, but for the very existence of his army. The
corps commanders met at headquarters, at Widow Glen’s house, and, after
participating in long and grave consultation, received orders for the
disposition of the troops for the following day. General Thomas, with
his reinforcements, was to maintain the line he had assumed, with
Brennan in reserve; General McCook, when his pickets were driven in, was
to close on Thomas, and enclose the position at Widow Glen’s house.
Crittenden with two divisions in reserve, near the junction of Thomas’s
and McCook’s lines, was to place himself in position to succor either.
But McCook stationed his troops too far on the crest, and the reserve
under General Davis was removed to a wooded hill side, west of the Dry
Valley road, instead of being placed in close column in a sheltered
position more to the left. General Crittenden was in the valley close
by, too far to the right, and the indispensable necessity of keeping
near to the left where the enemy’s first assault might be expected, was
not sufficiently regarded. General Negley withdrew his reserve brigade
from the line and joined General Thomas, but General Crittenden failed
to relieve him. Wood’s troops were, however, finally moved into the
position vacated by Negley’s reserves; but the delay proved of serious
consequence, for the battle had already begun, at half past eight A. M.,
on the extreme left, as was expected. General Thomas sent for Negley’s
remaining brigades, and as he continued to be hard pressed. Van Cleve
was sent to his assistance. General Reynolds’s right was now found to be
exposed, by an opening in the line, to the enemy. General Wood was
ordered to close up on Reynolds, and General Davis on General Wood, and
General McCook to concentrate his whole command to the left. General
Wood, however, withdrew from the line and passed to the west of General
Brannan, who was in echelon, thus opening in the line of battle
“A gap for ruin’s wasteful entrance,”
into which the enemy poured like an avalanche. The keen eyes of the
rebel Generals Longstreet and Buckner had seen it. They opened on Wood,
Davis, and Brannan with a terrific fire of grape, canister and shrapnel,
shivering the woods behind which the timid attempted to take shelter;
and Stewart’s division fell furiously upon the left flank of Davis, and
sent it to the right in utter disorder. The first rebel torrent, on the
other side, struck Van Cleve, and what remained of Palmer’s command, and
shivered them as if by a thunderbolt. Rosecrans, sword in hand,
expostulating, shouting, and exposing himself and staff to the pelting
storm of the missiles of death, strove in vain to check the rout. After
this fatal break the line of battle was not again reformed that day. The
army was cut in two. Rosecrans attempted to rejoin Thomas, by passing to
the rear of the broken portion of his line, but could not make his way
through the broken throngs pressing to the left; and the enemy
advancing, compelled him to retire to Chattanooga. Davis’s two brigades,
one of Van Cleve’s, and Sheridan’s entire division were driven from the
field, and the remainder, consisting of the divisions of Baird, Johnson,
Reynolds, Palmer, Brannan and Wood, two of Negley’s and one of Van
Cleve’s, were left to sustain the conflict against the whole power of
the rebel army. Davis’s and Sheridan’s divisions were forced off toward
the right, in their retreat, and were fearfully cut up. Men, animals,
and vehicles became a mass of struggling, cursing, shouting, frightened
life. Everything and everybody appeared to dash headlong through the
narrow gaps, and men, horses, mules, ambulances, luggage wagons,
ammunition wagons, artillery carriages, and caissons were rolled and
tumbled together in a confused, inextricable, and finally motionless
mass, completely blocking up the mouth of the gaps. Nearly all this
booty subsequently fell into the hands of the enemy. The exultant rebels
boasted of the capture of forty-nine pieces of cannon, prisoners
amounting to over eight thousand, thirty thousand stand of arms, and
forty stands of regimental colors. The boast was an exaggeration, but no
doubt General Bragg and his army were elated beyond measure, and their
delight and exultation would doubtless have been justified by the event,
had not their victorious army encountered a lion, or rather a rock of
adamant, in the corps of the invincible General Thomas.
During the night, General Thomas’s troops had thrown up temporary
breastworks of logs; and he had with the prescience which distinguishes
genius in whatever art or science it engages, made every disposition for
the impending struggle. General Negley, sent for and promised, did not
come in time, for the enemy held him in check; but General Beatty’s
brigade arrived and assisted in stemming the furious assault which the
enemy were making on Baird’s left. But Beatty was not strong enough for
the work, and was obliged to recede before an overwhelming force.
Johnson’s reserve was sent to strengthen him, and with a helping hand
from Vandeveer’s brigade of Brannan’s division, a portion of Stanley’s
and Wood’s forces, drove the foe from Baird’s rear, where he had thrust
himself, entirely away from his left. Thomas now directed the massing of
artillery on Missionary Ridge, so as to sweep the ground to the left and
rear of Baird’s position. Similar assaults to that above described were
simultaneously made upon Johnson, Palmer and Reynolds, and renewed again
and again with fresh troops, but were met with Roman coolness and
deliberation.
The rude breastworks of logs and rails, constructed the night before,
saved the lives of thousands of Thomas’s troops. The men placed
themselves behind these, their artillery in the rear firing over their
heads. Their long line of defences appeared like an immense pyrotechnic
serpent, instinct with hideous and withering life, which it belched
continually, in volumes of smoke and flame, from its ghastly length.
Again and again the rebel lines emerged from the cover of the woods,
into the open corn-fields, charged with impetuous fury and terrific
yells toward this formidable obstacle, but each of the fiery blasts from
the Union batteries and battalions met them, and their ranks were swept
away as if washed by a rushing flood. But as fast as the line fell off,
another appeared, rushing sternly on over the dead and bleeding bodies
of their fallen comrades.
Thomas fought with his forces of Saturday, weakened by Saturday’s heavy
losses. It was an unequal contest. He now learned that the Union right
had been turned, and thus the enemy was in his rear, in force. He
notified General Reynolds of the fact. General Wood had barely time to
dispose his troops, on the left of Brennan, before they were both
exposed to a succession of such assaults as are above described. General
Gordon Granger, at the head of Steedman’s division of his corps,
appeared now on Thomas’s right, and was ordered to push forward and take
position on Brennan’s right. Steedman moved his troops into position
with almost as much precision as if on drill, and, fighting his way to
the crest of the hill on Brennan’s right, moved forward his artillery,
driving the enemy down the southern slope, and inflicting on him a most
terrible loss in killed and wounded. The opportune arrival of fresh
troops revived the flagging spirits of the Federals, and every assault
from that time till nightfall was repulsed in the most gallant style by
the whole line. Their ammunition, however, ran very low, for the
ammunition trains had been by some mistake removed to the rear; and, had
it not been for the small supply furnished by General Steedman’s
command, Thomas’s men would have had no resource but the bayonet.
General Thomas now received General Rosecrans’ despatch from
Chattanooga, directing him to take command of all the forces, and assume
a threatening attitude at Rossville. Accordingly, at half past five P.
M. the retirement of the Union troops commenced, under the direction of
General Thomas. Turchin, of General Reynolds’ division, executed a
manœuvre, with the view of covering the retreat, by which two hundred
prisoners were captured. A brigade commanded by Colonel Robinson of
Reynolds’ division, assisted by Turchin and General Willich, were posted
on the road leading through the ridge, to hold the ground while the
troops passed by to Rossville. The rebel leaders Stoull, Gibson, Helm,
Wood, and Polk had all day been hurling their commands against General
Thomas’s lines, and now prepared to make a final effort. The signal was
given and forward they pressed, with their wonted wild yell. Johnson’s
and Baird’s division, which were preparing to retire, saluted them with
several volleys as they advanced, but nothing could stay the tide and
the exhausted veterans began to waver in the face of the charging,
shouting, thundering host which confronted them; the next moment, wave
after wave of the rebel sea came surging upon the breastworks, dashing
madly against and over the barrier, and greedily swallowing up many of
its defenders, with their ammunition and material. Never was resistance
more stubborn and determined, and never was attack prosecuted with more
devilish pertinacity.
“But all too late the advantage came
To turn the odds of deadly game;”
for night had come on; the enemy’s forces were moving undisturbed toward
Rossville; and the Army of the Cumberland, after having had the
narrowest possible escape from annihilation, was saved by the masterly
generalship and intrepidity of General Thomas.
Major-General George H. Thomas was born in Virginia, July 31, 1816. He
graduated at West Point in 1840, and served with distinction in the war
with Mexico. He was subsequently stationed in Texas and in the Indian
territories. When the rebellion broke out, he was a Major in the regular
cavalry. A sincere patriot, he remained true to the flag which he had so
long and so honorably served, and he soon rose to the rank of Colonel.
In August, 1861, he was made Brigadier-General of Volunteers in the
Department of the Cumberland. After much active service, and after
thoroughly beating the rebels at Mill Spring, he, with his division,
joined General Buell, at Nashville. In April, 1862, he was constituted
Major-General of Volunteers. When General Rosecrans assumed command of
the Army of the Cumberland, he was assigned to the command of the
centre.
[Illustration: MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS.]
In personal appearance General Thomas is dignified and manly; in habit
temperate, and distinguished alike for wisdom in council and courage in
battle, “George H. Thomas,” said General Rosecrans, “is a man of
extraordinary character. Years ago, at the Military Academy, I conceived
that there were points of strong resemblance between his character and
that of Washington; and I was in the habit of calling him General
Washington.” General Thomas is singularly modest and unobtrusive in his
demeanor. He was a brigadier-general for some months before he put on
the uniform of that office. He did not assume the double star till after
the battle of Stone river, though made a major-general more than six
months before.
OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN 1863.
The National force in North Carolina was comparatively small during the
year 1863, as it was the purpose of the Government only to occupy the
important posts already gained there, and act merely on the defensive.
On Saturday, the 14th of March, a demonstration was made against Newbern
by the rebel forces under General Pettigru. At about daybreak sixteen
guns were placed in position near a small fort just opposite the town on
the north, and across the river Neuse. The enemy’s artillery was
supported by about three hundred infantry. Even while placing the guns
in position they commenced a fire of shell and canister against the
fort; but after firing a few rounds they sent in a flag of truce,
demanding a surrender, with information that further resistance was
useless, and they threatened a combined attack by the whole command
under General Longstreet. Colonel Anderson, in command of the Union
forces, with a view of gaining time for the National gunboats to get
into position, asked for a half hour’s time for consideration and
opportunity to consult with General Foster. The half hour was granted,
and at the end of that time Colonel Anderson’s answer was ready—“My
orders are to hold this place, and I shall never surrender it.” The
rebels in the mean time having got everything in readiness in the event
of such a reply, immediately opened a rapid and furious fire. Inside the
fort the Unionists, desiring to conceal their real strength until a
charge should be made, lay close back against the sand wall, and got
themselves in readiness by biting off cartridges, and putting them up
before them on the logs, that they might be able to open a quick fire
upon the enemy when they advanced to the assault. Soon one of the
gunboats was in position; and a schooner with one gun, and manned by
negroes, was the first to enter the contest. The firing raged
incessantly for upwards of four hours, though very ineffective, and the
rebels were apparently gaining ground, when there came a favorable
change to the Federals in the tide of battle. The gunboats came round
from the Trent river, with strains of music floating on the air, and the
batteries and gunboats poured forth a storm of shells, weighing from six
to one hundred pounds; the rebels were compelled to retreat toward the
bushes in great disorder. About fifteen was the enemy’s loss in killed,
and thirty wounded. The Union loss was two killed and four wounded.
* * * * *
[Illustration: PROVOST GUARD ATTACKING THE RIOTERS.—SEE PAGE 235.]
In April the town of Washington, on the Tar river, was laid siege to by
General Hill. The town had but a very small garrison, and was but
slightly fortified; but General Foster caused the works to be
strengthened so that the Union force was enabled to hold the city till
reinforcements arrived from Newbern, and the siege was raised.
* * * * *
ATTACK ON GUM SWAMP.—The next movement was made on the 22nd of May.
General Foster sent Colonel Lee’s brigade, consisting of the Fifth,
Twenty-fifth, and Forty-sixth Massachusetts regiments, a battalion of
cavalry, and three pieces of Bogg’s battery, to report to Colonel Jones,
who had declared his belief that the enemy’s outpost regiments at Gum
Swamp could be captured. Colonel Jones ordered a portion of the brigade
to attack the enemy in front, while the rest should close up on his
rear.
At daylight of the 22nd, the main body of Colonel Lee’s command drove in
the enemy’s pickets, and commenced an attack upon their front. Upon the
rear, some of the Union batteries had been deployed, and immediately
opened fire. The enemy made but faint resistance, and then scattered in
confusion in every direction. One hundred and sixty-five prisoners were
captured by the Unionists, and the rebel works were completely
demolished. Colonel Jones then made a demonstration towards Kinston, a
few miles distant; but the same evening his pickets were driven in, and
he was attacked by the enemy in such strong force, that he was obliged
to beat a hasty retreat, pursued by the rebels to the very edge of the
Union outpost line. On the afternoon of the following day, the enemy
again attacked the Unionists, but were severely repulsed at every point.
In this second attack of the enemy, Colonel Jones was shot through the
heart; and the army lost in him a gallant leader and efficient officer.
THE EXPEDITION AGAINST ROCKY MOUNT, N. C.
JULY 24, 1863.
The last, and indeed the most important movement of the year in North
Carolina, was made on the above date. General Foster sent a force
consisting of the Third New York cavalry, and a squadron of the Twelfth,
and one company of a North Carolina regiment, under command of
Brigadier-General Edward E. Potter, to destroy the railroad bridge at
Rocky Mount. This bridge, which was three hundred and fifty feet in
length, was completely demolished. Besides this valuable bridge, a
cotton mill filled with cotton; a flour mill, containing one thousand
barrels of flour, and large quantities of hard bread; a machine shop,
filled with shells, gunpowder, and munitions of war; a large depot, with
all its offices and outbuildings; an engine and a train of cars; a wagon
train of twenty-five wagons, filled with stores and munitions; an armory
and machine shop, with all the machinery and materials, and eight
hundred bales of cotton, were destroyed in the same expedition. Further
on, at Tarboro’, on Tar river, two steamboats, and a large iron-clad, in
process of construction, were destroyed; and a saw mill, a train of
cars, one hundred bales of cotton, and a very large quantity of
subsistence and ordinary stores were destroyed, and about one hundred
prisoners, and three hundred head of horses and mules, captured. The
expedition was followed on its return to Newbern by about three hundred
negroes. During the entire time from its leaving Newbern till its
return, the force was engaged in constant skirmishing with the enemy,
particularly on the return, the rebels making every effort to impede
their way, but being in every instance compelled to retire, frequently
with loss. The Union loss in killed, wounded and missing, did not exceed
twenty-five men. For the next few months the Department of North
Carolina was transferred from General Foster, and united with that of
Virginia, under General Dix, who was subsequently transferred to the
Department of the East, when General Foster was reinstated in his former
position. Later in the year General Foster was transferred to the
command of the Department of the Ohio, and General B. F. Butler was
placed in the vacant position, as commander of the combined armies of
the Departments of Southern Virginia and North Carolina.
OPERATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN 1863.
Active operations in South Carolina were until the month of March as
dull as in North Carolina, and for the same reason. Up to this time the
only events that broke the strict monotony of inactivity were the
occasional running of the blockade by English and by rebel vessels; and
rare skirmishing with the enemy. But heavy work was soon to come. An
attack upon Fort Sumter and Charleston had long been contemplated by the
Navy Department, and success was regarded as certain, as it had been
arranged that the operations of the iron-clads were to be assisted by a
large land force prepared to join in the attack. The rebels were not
unaware of the measures that were in contemplation against one of their
strongest positions, and were busily preparing to resist them. General
Beauregard issued a proclamation in Charleston in March, in which he
declared it to be his duty to inform the “citizens of Charleston and
Savannah, that a land and naval attack on one or both cities, might be
expected at a very early date.” He conjured the citizens of Charleston
to arm themselves, adding, “Be not too exacting in the choice of
weapons. Picks and scythes will do for exterminating your enemies,
spades and shovels for protecting your firesides.” The citizens of
Charleston and Savannah reported promptly, and the preparations for the
attack, and for resisting the attack went on simultaneously.
THE ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER.
APRIL 7, 1863.