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[Illustration: James Longstreet]
FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX
MEMOIRS OF THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA
BY JAMES LONGSTREET,
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CONFEDERATE ARMY
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PLATES, MAPS, PORTRAITS, AND ENGRAVINGS
SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR THIS WORK_
PHILADELPHIA
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
1896
COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.
_All Rights reserved._
ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA,
U.S.A.
THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE
OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE FIRST CORPS OF THE ARMY
OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
TO THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
In Memory of
THEIR BRAVE DEEDS, THEIR TOILS, THEIR TRIBULATIONS,
AND THEIR TRIUMPHS
PREFACE.
Immediately after the surrender of the Confederate armies engaged in the
war between the States, General Lee undertook to write of the campaigns of
the Army of Northern Virginia while under his command, and asked such
assistance as I could give in supplying reports, despatches, and letters
of his, the originals of which had been lost or destroyed. Under the
impression that they could not be put to better use, such as were then in
hand were packed and sent him. He gave up the work, and after a few years
his death made it impossible that the world should ever receive the
complete story of the Confederate campaigns in Virginia from the noble
mind that projected and controlled them.
Possibly, had I not expected our commander to write the history of those
campaigns, I should have written it myself a decade or so earlier than I
have done. But, personally, I am not sorry that I write of the war thirty
years after its close, instead of ten or twenty.
While I am so constituted, temperamentally, that I could view then almost
exactly as I do now the great struggle in which I bore a part, I do not
know that others, in any considerable number, might have so regarded it at
the earlier periods to which I refer.
I believe that now, more fully than then, the public is ready to receive,
in the spirit in which it is written, the story which I present.
It is not my purpose to philosophize upon the war, but I cannot refrain
from expressing my profound thankfulness that Providence has spared me to
such time as I can see the asperities of the great conflict softened, its
passions entering upon the sleep of oblivion, only its nobler--if less
immediate--results springing into virile and vast life. I believe there is
to-day, _because of the war_, a broader and deeper patriotism in all
Americans; that patriotism throbs the heart and pulses the being as
ardently of the South Carolinian as of the Massachusetts Puritan; that the
Liberty Bell, even now, as I write, on its Southern pilgrimage, will be as
reverently received and as devotedly loved in Atlanta and Charleston as in
Philadelphia and Boston. And to stimulate and evolve this noble sentiment
all the more, what we need is the resumption of fraternity, the hearty
restoration and cordial cultivation of neighborly, brotherly relations,
faith in Jehovah, and respect for each other; and God grant that the happy
vision that delighted the soul of the sweet singer of Israel may rest like
a benediction upon the North and the South, upon the Blue and the Gray.
The spirit in which this work has been conceived, and in which I have
conscientiously labored to carry it out, is one of sincerity and fairness.
As an actor in, and an eyewitness of, the events of 1861-65, I have
endeavored to perform my humble share of duty in passing the materials of
history to those who may give them place in the records of the
nation,--not of the South nor of the North,--but in the history of the
United Nation. It is with such magnified view of the responsibility of
saying the truth that I have written.
I yield to no one as a champion of the Southern soldier wherever he may
have fought and in whatever army, and I do not think I shall be charged
more now than in war-time with "underestimating the enemy." Honor to all!
If I speak with some particularity of the First Corps of the Army of
Northern Virginia, it must be ascribed in part to the affection of a
commander, and in part to my desire to relieve its brave officers and men
in the ranks from unjust aspersions. After General Lee's death, various
writers on the Southern cause combined with one accord to hold the First
Corps and its commander responsible for all adversity that befell the
army. I being under the political ban, and the political passions and
prejudices of the times running high, they had no difficulty in spreading
their misrepresentations South and North until some people, through their
mere reiteration, came to accept them as facts. I simply present the facts
concerning the First Corps in all fulness and fairness, attested by
indisputable authorities, that the public may judge between it and its
detractors.
In the accounts of battles and movements, the official War Records supply
in a measure the place of lost papers, and afford a great mass of most
trustworthy statistics. I am under obligations to General E. P. Alexander,
General G. M. Sorrel, Colonel Osman Latrobe, Colonel J. W. Fairfax,
Colonel T. J. Goree, Colonel Erasmus Taylor, and Colonel J. C. Haskell for
many interesting suggestions.
To Major George B. Davis and Mr. L. J. Perry, of the War Records office, I
am under obligations for invaluable assistance; as also to Mr. Alfred
Matthews, of Philadelphia, for material aid in revising the manuscript of
these memoirs.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I.
THE ANTE-BELLUM LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
Birth--Ancestry--School-Boy Days--Appointment as Cadet at the
United States Military Academy--Graduates of Historic Classes--
Assignment as Brevet Lieutenant--Gay Life of Garrison at
Jefferson Barracks--Lieutenant Grant's Courtship--Annexation
of Texas--Army of Observation--Army of Occupation--Camp Life in
Texas--March to the Rio Grande--Mexican War 13
CHAPTER II.
FROM NEW MEXICO TO MANASSAS.
The War-Cloud--The Journey Northward--Appointed
Brigadier-General--Report to General Beauregard--Assigned to
Command at the Scene of the First Conflict--Personnel of the
Confronting Forces--Description of the Field of Manassas, or
Bull Run--Beauregard and McDowell of the same West Point
Class--Battle of Blackburn's Ford--Early's Mistake--Under Fire
of Friend and Foe 29
CHAPTER III.
BATTLE OF MANASSAS, OR BULL RUN.
Commanders on both Sides generally Veterans of the Mexican
War--General Irvin McDowell's Preconceived Plan--Johnston
reinforces Beauregard and approves his Plans--General Bernard
E. Bee--Analysis of the Fight--Superb Work of the Federal
Artillery--Christening of "Stonewall Jackson"--McDowell's
Gallant Effort to recover Lost Power--Before he was shorn of
his Artillery he was the Samson of the Field--The Rout--
Criticism of McDowell--Tyler's Reconnoissance--Ability of the
Commanding Generals tested 42
CHAPTER IV.
THE CONFEDERATES HOVERING AROUND WASHINGTON.
An Early War-Time Amenity--The Author invited to dine with the
Enemy--"Stove-pipe Batteries"--J. E. B. Stuart, the Famous
Cavalryman--His Bold Dash on the Federals at Lewinsville--
Major-General G. W. Smith associated with Johnston and
Beauregard in a Council--Longstreet promoted Major-General--
Fierce Struggle at Ball's Bluff--Dranesville a Success for the
Union Arms--McClellan given the Sobriquet of "The Young
Napoleon" 59
CHAPTER V.
ROUND ABOUT RICHMOND.
The Defences of the Confederate Capital--Army of Northern
Virginia at Centreville--Aggressive Action--Council with the
President and Secretary of War--Mr. Davis's High Opinion of
McClellan--Operations on the Peninsula--Engagements about
Yorktown and Williamsburg--Severe Toil added to the Soldiers'
Usual Labors by a Saturated Soil 64
CHAPTER VI.
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG.
The Attack on Fort Magruder--Hancock occupies Two Redoubts--The
Slaughter in Early's Brigade--The Fifth North Carolina Regiment
and Twenty-Fourth Virginia mercilessly exposed--A Hard-Fought
Engagement--A Confederate Victory--McClellan not on the Field
the Greater Part of the Day--Hancock called "The Superb" by
McClellan--Johnston pays High Tribute to Longstreet 72
CHAPTER VII.
SEVEN PINES, OR FAIR OAKS.
A New Line of Defence--Positions of the Confronting Armies--
Fitz-John Porter--Terrific Storm on the Eve of Battle--General
Johnston's Orders to Longstreet, Smith, and Huger--Lack of
Co-operation on the Confederate Side, and Ensuing Confusion--
Fatalities among Confederate Officers--Kearny's Action--Serious
Wounding of General Johnston at the Close of the Battle--
Summary and Analysis of Losses 81
CHAPTER VIII.
SEQUELAE OF SEVEN PINES.
The Forces under Command of G. W. Smith after Johnston was
wounded--The Battle of the 1st--Longstreet requests
Reinforcements and a Diversion--Council held--McLaws alone
sustains Longstreet's Opposition to retiring--Severe Fighting--
Pickett's Brave Stand--General Lee assigned to Command--He
orders the withdrawal of the Army--Criticism of General Smith--
Confederates should not have lost the Battle--Keyes's
Corroboration 103
CHAPTER IX.
ROBERT E. LEE IN COMMAND.
The Great General's Assignment not at first assuring to the
Army--Able as an Engineer but limited as to Field Service--He
makes the Acquaintance of his Lieutenants--Calls a Council--
Gains Confidence by saying Nothing--"A Little Humor now and
then"--Lee Plans a Simultaneous Attack on McClellan's Front and
Rear--J. E. B. Stuart's Daring Reconnoissance around the Union
Army 112
CHAPTER X.
FIGHTING ALONG THE CHICKAHOMINY.
Retreat--Lee's Bold Initiative--Lee and his Lieutenants
planning Battle--The Confederates' Loss at Mechanicsville--
Gaines's Mill--A. P. Hill's Fight--Longstreet's Reserve
Division put in--McClellan's Change of Base--Savage Station--
Longstreet engages McClellan's Main Force at Frayser's Farm (or
Glendale)--President Davis on the Field--Testimony of Federal
Generals--Fierce Bayonet Charges--"Greek meets Greek"--Capture
of General McCall--McClellan's Masterly Retreat 120
CHAPTER XI.
BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.
Last Stand in the Great Retreat--Strength of McClellan's
Position--The Confederates make Poor Use of their Artillery--A
Mistake and Defeat for Lee's Army--The Campaign as a Whole a
Great Success, but it should have been far greater--McClellan's
Retreat showed him well equipped in the Science of War--Review
of the Campaign--Jackson's and Magruder's Misunderstanding--
Moral Effect of the Gunboats on the James River--"There should
be a Gunboat in Every Family" 141
CHAPTER XII.
HALLECK AND POPE IN FEDERAL COMMAND.
Centres of Activity gravitate towards Orange and Culpeper
Counties--Pope's Unsoldierly Preliminary Orders--Jackson's and
Pope's Encounter at Cedar Mountain--Confidence in and Esteem
for General Lee--The Confederate Commander's Plans for cutting
off Pope miscarry--Capture of Captain Fitzhugh with Important
Orders--Longstreet puts General Toombs under Arrest--General
Pope withdraws 153
CHAPTER XIII.
MAKING READY FOR MANASSAS AGAIN.
General Lee modifies his Order of March--Continuous
Skirmishing--Cavalry Commander Stuart gets into General Pope's
Head-quarters and captures his Personal Equipment--His Uniform
Coat and Hat shown along the Confederate Lines--Jackson's
Superb Flank Movement--Confederates capture Trains, Supplies,
Munitions, and Prisoners--Hooker and Ewell at Bristoe Station--
Jackson first on the Old Field of Bull Run--Longstreet's
Command joins passing Thoroughfare Gap--Pope practically throws
Responsibility for Aggressive Action on McDowell--Preliminary
Fighting--General Pope surprised by Jackson--Pope's Orders to
Fitz-John Porter 163
CHAPTER XIV.
SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS (BULL RUN).
Battle opened by the Federals on Jackson's Right, followed by
Kearny--Longstreet's Reconnoissance--Stuart, the Cavalry
Leader, sleeps on the Field of Battle--Pope thought at the
Close of the 29th that the Confederates were retreating--Second
Day--Fitz-John Porter struck in Flank--Longstreet takes a Hand
in the Fight late in the Day--Lee under Fire--The Federal
Retreat to Centreville--That Point turned--Pope again
dislodged--"Stonewall" Jackson's Appearance and Peculiarities--
Killing of "Fighting Phil" Kearny--Losses--Review of the
Campaign 180
CHAPTER XV.
THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.
General Lee continues Aggressive Work--From Foraged Fields of
Virginia into a Bounteous Land--Longstreet objected to the
Movement on Harper's Ferry--Lee thinks the Occasion Timely for
Proposal of Peace and Independence--Confederates singing
through the Streets of Fredericktown--McClellan's Movements--
Cautious Marches--Lee's Lost Order handed to the Federal Chief
at Frederick 199
CHAPTER XVI.
"THE LOST ORDER"--SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
How the Federals found the Despatch--With every Advantage
McClellan "made haste slowly"--Lee turns back to meet him at
South Mountain--Longstreet preferred that the Stand should be
made at Sharpsburg--The Battle at the Pass--Many killed--
General Garland of the Confederate and General Reno of the
Union Side--A Future President among the Wounded--Estimate of
Forces engaged 212
CHAPTER XVII.
PRELIMINARIES OF THE GREAT BATTLE.
Confederates retreat from South Mountain--Federals follow and
harass them--Franklin and Cobb at Crampton's Pass--A Spirited
Action--Fighting around Harper's Ferry--Its Capitulation--The
Confederates take Eleven Thousand Prisoners--Jackson rejoins
Lee--Description of the Field of Antietam--McClellan posts his
Corps--Lee's Lines advantageously placed--Hooker's Advance on
the Eve of Battle should have been resisted 227
CHAPTER XVIII.
BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM.
Bloodiest Single Day of the War--Comparison of Casualties--
Hooker opens the Fight against Jackson's Centre--Many Officers
among the Fallen early in the Day--McLaws and Walker in time to
meet Sumner's Advance under Sedgwick--Around Dunker Chapel--
Richardson's Splendid Advance against the Confederate Centre
the Signal of the Bursting of another Storm--Longstreet's and
D. H. Hill's Troops stood before it--Fall of General G. B.
Anderson--General Richardson mortally wounded--Aggressive
Spirit of his Command broken--Wonderful Cannon-shot--General
D. H. Hill's Third Horse killed under him 239
CHAPTER XIX.
BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG, OR ANTIETAM (CONTINUED).
Closing Events of the Great Struggle--Burnside crosses the
Bridge he made famous--Toombs made Gallant Defence, but was
outnumbered and dislodged--The Confederate Brigades from
Harper's Ferry under A. P. Hill in Time for the Final Crisis--
Burnside's Advance arrested by them--The Battle against
Burnside "appeared to spring from the Earth"--"Lee's old War
Horse"--The Killing of a Kinsman at the Bridge seriously
affects General D. R. Jones--The Sharp Fight at Shepherdstown--
Confederates retreat--Casualties of the Battle--Confederate
Losses in the Campaign--Neither McClellan's Plan nor Execution
was strong 256
CHAPTER XX.
REVIEW OF THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.
Confederate Expectations--General Lee's Salutatory to the
People of Maryland--The "Lost Despatch"--McClellan's
Movements--Turn in the Tide of War--A Miracle great as the
throwing down of the Walls of Jericho--In Contempt of the Enemy
the Confederate Army was dispersed--Harper's Ferry a
"Man-Trap"--It diverted the Army from the Main Issue--Lee and
McClellan compared and contrasted--Tribute to the Confederate
Private Soldier 279
CHAPTER XXI.
REORGANIZATION AND REST FOR BOTH ARMIES.
The Confederates appoint Seven Lieutenant-Generals--The Army of
Northern Virginia organized in Corps--General McClellan
relieved, and General Burnside appointed Commander of the Army
of the Potomac--A Lift for the South--McClellan was growing--
Burnside's "Three Grand Divisions"--The Campaign of the
Rappahannock--Getting Ready for Fredericksburg--Longstreet
occupies Fredericksburg--The Town called to surrender by
General Sumner--Exodus of the Inhabitants under a Threat to
shell the Town 290
CHAPTER XXII.
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
Description of the Field--Marye's Heights--Position of the
Troops of Longstreet's Command--General Jackson called down
from Orange Court-House, and Preparations made for a Determined
Stand--Signal Guns at Three o'clock in the Morning announce the
Long-Expected Battle--Burnside's Bridge-Builders thrice driven
back from their Work--The Crossing finally made by Boats--
Federals under Hot Fire enter Fredericksburg--How they obtained
their Foothold on the West Bank of the Rappahannock--Gallant
Officers and Men--Ninety-seven killed or wounded in the Space
of Fifty Yards--General Burnside's Plan of Battle--Strength of
the Contending Forces 297
CHAPTER XXIII.
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG (CONTINUED).
The Battle-field veiled by a Heavy Fog--Terrific Fighting of
the 13th of December--Forlorn Hope of the Federals--General
Meade's Division of Franklin's Command makes the First
Advance--General French leads against the Confederate Left--
Hancock follows--General Cobb killed--The Sunken Road and Stone
Wall below Marye's Hill--Desperate Advances and Determined
Repulses--Humphreys's Heroic Assault--The Stone Wall "a Sheet
of Flame"--General Jackson loses his Opportunity to advance--
The Charge of Meade's Divisions compared with that of Pickett,
Pettigrew, and Trimble's Columns at Gettysburg--Forty Per Cent.
killed in charging Lines here, and Sixty Per Cent. at
Gettysburg--Total Losses--Peace to be declared because Gold had
gone to 200--Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia 306
CHAPTER XXIV.
PREPARING FOR THE SPRING OF '63.
Burnside's Abortive Moves--The "Mud March"--General Hooker
supersedes Burnside--The Confederates strengthen their Position
for the Winter--Longstreet ordered to Petersburg--Secretary of
War Seddon and the Author talk of General Grant and the
Confederate Situation on the Mississippi and in the West--
Longstreet makes a Radical Proposition for Confederate
Concentration in Tennessee, thus to compel Grant to abandon
Vicksburg--The Skilful Use of Interior Lines the Only Way of
equalizing the Contest--Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee's
Brilliant Achievement--Criticism--Death of "Stonewall"
Jackson--The Resolve to march Northward--The Army reorganized
in Three Corps--Ewell and A. P. Hill appointed
Lieutenant-Generals 322
CHAPTER XXV.
INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Plan of the Confederate March North--General Lee hoped to draw
Troops from the South and develop Important Results North of
the Potomac--He wanted Beauregard sent to support the
Movement--The Authorities in Richmond failed to comprehend--The
Value of the "Interior Lines" not appreciated--Spirited Cavalry
Fight at Brandy Station between Stuart's and Pleasonton's
Commands--Engagement of Ewell and Milroy at Winchester--The
Question of Authority for the Cavalry Movements--
Lieutenant-Colonel Fremantle of the Coldstream Guards, British
Army, as a Guest and Observer--The Confederate Advance reaches
Pennsylvania Soil--General Lee issues Orders for a March on
Harrisburg--Municipal Authorities of York and Gettysburg
surrender to General John B. Gordon 334
CHAPTER XXVI.
GETTYSBURG--FIRST DAY.
Information of Federal Force and Positions brought by the Scout
Harrison--General Lee declines to credit it--General Longstreet
suggests a Change of Direction in Conformance with the
Revelation--General Meade had succeeded Hooker in Command Five
Days before Battle--Positions on the Eve of the First Day--
Confederate Cavalry "not in sight"--"The Eyes of the Army"
sadly needed--A Description of the Famous Battle-field--
Generals Ewell and A. P. Hill engage the Federals--Death of
General John F. Reynolds--The Fight on Seminary Ridge--General
Hancock in Federal Command on the Field--Concerning the Absent
Cavalry and Information given by the Scout--Conditions at the
Close of the First Day's Fight 346
CHAPTER XXVII.
GETTYSBURG--SECOND DAY.
The Confederate Commander reviews the Field and decides on Plan
of Battle--Positions on the Morning of July 2--Night March of
the Federal Sixth Corps--It was excelled by Law's Brigade of
Confederates--The Battle was opened after Mid-day--General Hood
appeals for Permission to turn the Federal Left--Failure to
make the Flanking Movement by the Confederate Right was a
Serious Mistake--Hood, in his usual Gallant Style, led his
Troops forward among the Rocks--Desperate Charges against an
Earnest Adversary--Hood wounded--General Law succeeds him in
command of the Division--"Little Round Top" an Important
Point--"The Citadel of the Field"--It was a Fight of Seventeen
Thousand Confederates against twice their Number--Quiet along
the Lines of other Confederate Commands--"A Man on the Left who
didn't care to make the Battle win"--Evidence against the
Alleged Order for "Battle at Sunrise"--The "Order" to Ewell was
Discretionary--Lee had lost his Balance 362
CHAPTER XXVIII.
GETTYSBURG--THIRD DAY.
The Stroke of Arms that shook the Continent--Longstreet opposed
the Attack as planned and made--The Confederate Column of
Assault--It was weak in Numbers but strong in Spirit--
Tremendous Artillery Combat begins the Day's Fighting--Charge
of Generals Pickett, Trimble, and Pettigrew--Armistead falls by
the Side of the Federal Guns--The Federal Cavalry Charge of
General Farnsworth--The Commander falls with Five Mortal
Wounds--Could the Assaulting Column have been safely augmented
from Longstreet's Right?--Testimony as to that Point--Where
rested the Responsibility for Disaster?--Criticism of the
Battle as a Whole--Cemetery Hill stronger than Marye's Hill at
Fredericksburg--Controverted Points--Casualties of the Three
Days' Fight--Organization of the Forces engaged 385
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE WAVE ROLLS BACK.
Confederates retreat from Gettysburg--The Federals pursue--
Crossing the Potomac under Difficulties--Kilpatrick's Cavalry
Dash on Pettigrew's Command--General Lee thought to rest his
Army in the Valley of Virginia, but Meade followed too fast--
Engagements that harassed the Retreat--General Lee wished to be
relieved of Command, but President Davis would not consent to
the Appointment of Joseph E. Johnston or General Beauregard 426
CHAPTER XXX.
LONGSTREET MOVES TO GEORGIA.
The Author reverts to the Perils and Opportunities in the
West--Proposes to the Secretary of War to reinforce against
Rosecrans from the Army of Northern Virginia--Makes Plan known
to General Lee--The Move finally effected--Difficulties of
Transportation--A Roundabout Route--General Longstreet narrowly
escapes capture when seeking Bragg's Head-quarters--General
Bragg assigns Longstreet to Command of the Left--Instructions
for the Battle of Chickamauga--The Armies in Position--Federals
in Command of Generals Rosecrans, Crittenden, McCook, and
George H. Thomas 433
CHAPTER XXXI.
BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
Tactical Features--The Battle opened by Direct Attack on the
Federals in the Early Morning of September 20--Repeated and
Determined Front Assaults--Brigadiers Helm killed and Adams
wounded--The Union Commands lay behind Defences--Hood's
Brigades surged through the Forest against the Covered Infantry
and Artillery--Hood wounded--Longstreet suggests a Plan for
Progressive Action--Halting Tactics at High Tide of Success--
The Confederate Left fought a Separate Battle--General Thomas
retreats--First Confederate Victory in the West, and one of the
Bloodiest Battles of the War--Forces engaged--Losses 445
CHAPTER XXXII.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW SUCCESS.
Longstreet differs with General Bragg as to Movements of
Pursuit--The Confederates on Lookout Mountain--Federals gain
Comfortable Positions around it--Superior Officers of Bragg's
Command call for his Removal--Bragg seeks Scapegoats--President
Davis visits the Army--Tests the Temper of the Officers towards
Bragg--He offers the Command to Longstreet--He declines--His
Reasons--General Bragg ignores Signal-Service Reports and is
surprised--General Joe Hooker's Advance--Night Attack on
Lookout Mountain--Colonel Bratton's Clever Work--Review of the
Western Movement and Combination--It should have been effected
in May instead of September--Inference as to Results had the
First Proposition been promptly acted upon 461
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN.
General Bragg's Infatuation--General Grant in Command of the
Federal Forces--Longstreet ordered into East Tennessee--His
Plans for the Campaign--Poorly supported by his Superior--
Foraging for Daily Rations--General Burnside's Forces--Advance
upon Knoxville--Affairs at Lenoir's and Campbell's Stations--
Engagement near Knoxville an Artillery Combat--Reprehensible
Conduct of Officers--Allegement that One was actuated by
Jealousy--Federals retire behind their Works--Laying the
Confederate Lines about Knoxville 480
CHAPTER XXXIV.
BESIEGING KNOXVILLE.
Closing on the Enemy's Lines--A Gallant Dash--The Federal
Positions--Fort Loudon, later called Fort Sanders--Assault of
the Fort carefully planned--General McLaws advises Delay--The
Order reiterated and emphasized--Gallant Effort by the Brigades
of Generals Wofford, Humphreys, and Bryan at the Appointed
Time--A Recall ordered, because carrying the Works was reported
impossible--General Longstreet is ordered by the President to
General Bragg's Relief--Losses during the Assault and the
Campaign 497
CHAPTER XXXV.
CUT OFF FROM EAST AND WEST.
Impracticability of joining General Bragg--Wintering in East
Tennessee--General Longstreet given Discretionary Authority
over the Department by President Davis--Short Rations--Minor
Movements of Hide-and-Seek in the Mountains--Longstreet's
Position was of Strategic Importance--That Fact fully
appreciated by President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and
Generals Halleck and Grant--"Drive Longstreet out of East
Tennessee and keep him out"--Generals Robertson and McLaws--The
Charges against them and Action taken--Honorable Mention for
Courage and Endurance--The Army finally fares sumptuously on
the Fat Lands of the French Broad 509
CHAPTER XXXVI.
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD.
Longstreet again considers Relief from Service--General Grant
at Knoxville--Shoeless Soldiers leave Bloody Trails on Frozen
Roads--A Confederate Advance--Affair at Dandridge--Federals
retreat--Succession of Small Engagements--General Grant urges
General Foster's Army to the Offensive--General Foster
relieved--General Schofield in Command of Federals--General
Grant's Orders--General Halleck's Estimate of East Tennessee as
a Strategic Field--Affair of Cavalry--Advance towards
Knoxville--Longstreet's Command called back to Defensive for
Want of Cavalry 524
CHAPTER XXXVII.
LAST DAYS IN TENNESSEE.
Longstreet's Army at Bull's Gap--U. S. Grant made
Lieutenant-General--Richmond Authorities awake to the Gravity
of the Situation--Longstreet's Proposition for Campaign--
Approved by General Lee--Richmond Authorities fail to adopt
it--General Bragg's Plan--A Memorable and Unpleasant Council at
the Capital--Orders from President Davis--The Case of General
Law--Longstreet ordered to the Army of Northern Virginia--
Resolutions of Thanks from Confederate Congress 542
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
Campaign of 1864--General Grant in the Field--Strength of the
Armies--Their Positions--Description of the Wilderness--The
Battle opened--A Brisk Day's Fighting--Longstreet's Command
faces Hancock's on the Morning of the Second Day--An
Effective Flank Movement--General Wadsworth mortally wounded--
General Jenkins falls under Fire of Friends, and Longstreet is
seriously wounded--Carried from the Field on a Litter--Tribute
to General Jenkins--Criticism and Controversy 551
CHAPTER XXXIX.
AGAIN IN FRONT OF RICHMOND.
Longstreet absent on Leave, nursing his Wounds--Hears of the
Death of Cavalry Leader J. E. B. Stuart--Returns to Virginia--
Assigned to Command on the North Side of James River--Affair on
the Williamsburg Road--Lee's Apprehension of Grant's March into
Richmond--Closing Scenes of the Campaign of 1864 about the
Confederate Capital--General Benjamin F. Butler's Move against
Fort Fisher--Remote Effects on the Situation in Virginia 572
CHAPTER XL.
TALK OF PEACE.
Second Federal Move against Fort Fisher and Wilmington Harbor--
Confederate Disaffection--Act of Congress appointing a Supreme
Commander of the Armies--Montgomery Blair's Peace Conference--
Longstreet has a Meeting with General Ord, Commander of the
Army of the James--Military Convention proposed--Correspondence
between General Grant and General Lee--Longstreet's Suggestions
for Measures in the Critical Juncture near the Close of the War 582
CHAPTER XLI.
BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS.
Various Affairs of the Closing Campaign--The Massing of Grant's
Forces--Sortie against Fort Steadman--Captured but quickly
retaken--General Grant's Move around the Confederate Right--
General Lee anticipates with Aggressive Work--Sheridan makes
Battle with his Whole Force at Five Forks--Desperate Situation
of the Confederates--Disparity of Numbers--Splendid Stand and
Battle of Generals Pickett and Ransom--Colonel Pegram mortally
wounded--W. H. F. Lee, the "Noble Son of a Noble Sire"--Corse's
Division--Pickett's Generalship--Casualties 590
CHAPTER XLII.
PETERSBURG.
The Fierce Concerted Assault by the Federals--Death of A. P.
Hill--General Lee announces to Richmond Authorities that he
must retreat--Reception of the News by President Davis at
Church Service--Federals take Forts Gregg and Whitworth--The
Retreat harassed by Continuous Fighting--Longstreet saves High
Bridge, a Vital Point--Ewell and Others compelled to
surrender--General Mahone's Account of Interesting Scenes--
Magnitude of the Disaster--"Is the Army dissolving?"--General
Reed mortally wounded--Panic occurs, but Order is restored--
General Gregg and Part of his Cavalry Command captured by
Rosser and Mumford 603
CHAPTER XLIII.
APPOMATTOX.
Some of General Lee's Officers say to him that "Further
Resistance is Hopeless"--Longstreet does not approve--General
Grant calls for Surrender--"Not yet"--The Confederate Chieftain
asks Terms--His Response to his Officers as represented by
General Pendleton--Correspondence of Generals Lee and Grant--
Morning of April 9--General Lee rides to meet the Federal
Commander, while Longstreet forms the Last Line of Battle--
Longstreet endeavors to recall his Chief, hearing of a Break
where the Confederate Troops could pass--Custer demands
Surrender of Longstreet--Reminded of Irregularity, and that he
was "in the Enemy's Lines"--Meeting with General Grant--
Capitulation--Last Scenes 618
CHAPTER XLIV.
POST-BELLUM PENDANT.
Old Friends and their Kindness--General Grant--His
Characteristic Letter of Introduction to President Johnson--In
Business in New Orleans--Political Unfriendliness--Cause of
Criticism of Military Career--Appointed Surveyor of Customs--
The Old Nurse 632
APPENDIX.
Letters of General Robert E. Lee and General Longstreet 639
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
General James Longstreet (1895) _Frontispiece._
Colonel John B. Richardson 37
Colonel T. J. Goree 47
General J. E. B. Stuart 60
General R. E. Lee 112
General Thomas J. Jackson 166
Battle at Thoroughfare Gap 174
Defeat of the Federal Troops by Longstreet's Corps (Second
Manassas) 188
General Lafayette McLaws 231
Colonel John W. Fairfax 250
The Battle of Antietam (Burnside's Bridge) 263
General James Longstreet (1862) 290
The Battle of Fredericksburg (from the Battery on Lee's Hill) 308
Colonel Osmun Latrobe 316
Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Lyon Fremantle 343
The Confederate Scout Harrison 346
Gettysburg (Second Day's Battle) 374
General E. P. Alexander 388
General George E. Pickett 392
William Blake 408
Retreat from Gettysburg (Accident during the Night-Crossing of the
Potomac on a Pontoon Bridge) 430
Colonel R. J. Moses 451
Battle of Chickamauga (Confederates flanking the Union Forces) 454
The Assault on Fort Sanders, Knoxville 506
General G. M. Sorrel 518
The Wounding of General Longstreet (Battle of the Wilderness) 564
Colonel Erasmus Taylor 572
General Charles W. Field 577
The Last Line of Battle (Appomattox) 624
Fac-simile of Letter from General R. E. Lee 638
LIST OF MAPS.
PAGE
First Battle of Bull Run 42
Battle of Seven Pines 96
Battle of Mechanicsville 124
Battle of Malvern Hill 142
Second Battle of Bull Run (Opening) 186
Second Battle of Bull Run (Nightfall) 196
Battle of Sharpsburg 246
Battle of Fredericksburg 298
Strategic Map of the Theatre of War, May, 1863 328
Battle of Gettysburg 362
Position of Confederate First Corps, Gettysburg, Third Day 399
Battle of Chickamauga 446
Confederates around Chattanooga 462
Siege of Knoxville 498
Battle of the Wilderness 556
Battle of Five Forks 601
FROM MANASSAS TO APPOMATTOX.
CHAPTER I.
THE ANTE-BELLUM LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.
Birth--Ancestry--School-Boy Days--Appointment as Cadet at the United
States Military Academy--Graduates of Historic Classes--Assignment as
Brevet Lieutenant--Gay Life of Garrison at Jefferson
Barracks--Lieutenant Grant's Courtship--Annexation of Texas--Army of
Observation--Army of Occupation--Camp Life in Texas--March to the Rio
Grande--Mexican War.
I was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, on the 8th of January,
1821. On the paternal side the family was from New Jersey; on my mother's
side, from Maryland. My earliest recollections were of the Georgia side of
Savannah River, and my school-days were passed there, but the appointment
to West Point Academy was from North Alabama. My father, James Longstreet,
the oldest child of William Longstreet and Hannah Fitzrandolph, was born
in New Jersey. Other children of the marriage, Rebecca, Gilbert, Augustus
B., and William, were born in Augusta, Georgia, the adopted home. Richard
Longstreet, who came to America in 1657 and settled in Monmouth County,
New Jersey, was the progenitor of the name on this continent. It is
difficult to determine whether the name sprang from France, Germany, or
Holland. On the maternal side, Grandfather Marshall Dent was first cousin
of John Marshall, of the Supreme Court. That branch claimed to trace their
line back to the Conqueror. Marshall Dent married a Magruder, when they
migrated to Augusta, Georgia. Father married the eldest daughter, Mary
Ann.
Grandfather William Longstreet first applied steam as a motive power, in
1787, to a small boat on the Savannah River at Augusta, and spent all of
his private means upon that idea, asked aid of his friends in Augusta and
elsewhere, had no encouragement, but, on the contrary, ridicule of his
proposition to move a boat without a pulling or other external power, and
especially did they ridicule the thought of expensive steam-boilers to be
made of iron. To obviate costly outlay for this item, he built boilers of
heavy oak timbers and strong iron bands, but the Augusta marines were
incredulous, as the following from the city papers of the times will
indicate:
"Can you row the boat ashore,
Billy boy, Billy boy;
Can you row the boat ashore,
Gentle Billy?
Can you row the boat ashore,
Without paddle or an oar,
Billy boy?"
Full of confidence, the inventor thought to appeal to the governor, and
his letter is still preserved in the State archives:
"AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, September 26, 1790.
"SIR,--I make no doubt but you have often heard of my steamboat, and
as often heard it laughed at, but in this I have only shared the fate
of other projectors, for it has uniformly been the custom of every
country to ridicule the greatest inventions until they had proved
their utility. In not reducing my scheme to active use it has been
unfortunate for me, I confess, and perhaps the people in general; but,
until very lately, I did not think that artists or material could be
had in the place sufficient. However, necessity, that grand mother of
invention, has furnished me with an idea of perfecting my plan almost
entirely of wooden material, and by such workmen as may be had here;
and, from a thorough confidence of its success, I have presumed to ask
your assistance and patronage. Should it succeed agreeably to my
expectations, I hope I shall discover that sense of duty which such
favors always merit; and should it not succeed, your reward must lay
with other unlucky adventures.
"For me to mention all of the advantages arising from such a machine
would be tedious, and, indeed, quite unnecessary. Therefore I have
taken the liberty to state, in this plain and humble manner, my wish
and opinion, which I hope you will excuse, and I shall remain, either
with or without your approbation,
"Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant,
"WM. LONGSTREET.
"GOVERNOR TELFAIR."
He failed to secure the necessary aid, and the discovery passed into the
possession of certain New Yorkers, who found the means for practicable
application, and now steam is the goddess that enlightens the world.
My father was a planter. From my early boyhood he conceived that he would
send me to West Point for army service, but in my twelfth year he passed
away during the cholera epidemic at Augusta. Mother moved to North Alabama
with her children, whence in my sixteenth year I made application through
a kinsman, Congressman Reuben Chapman, for appointment as cadet, received
the coveted favor, and entered with the class that was admitted in 1838.
As cadet I had more interest in the school of the soldier, horsemanship,
sword exercise, and the outside game of foot-ball than in the academic
courses. The studies were successfully passed, however, until the third
year, when I failed in mechanics. When I came to the problem of the
pulleys, it seemed to my mind that a soldier could not find use for such
appliances, and the pulleys were passed by. At the January examination I
was called to the blackboard and given the problem of the pulleys. The
drawing from memory of recitation of classmates was good enough, but the
demonstration failed to satisfy the sages of the Academic Board. It was
the custom, however, to give those who failed in the general examination
a second hearing, after all of the classes were examined. This gave me two
days to "cram" mechanics, and particularly on pulleys. But the professors
were too wily to introduce them a second time, and took me through a
searching examination of the six months' course. The bridge was safely
passed, however, and mechanics left behind. At the June examination, the
end of the academic year, I was called to demonstrate the pulleys. The
professor thought that I had forgotten my old friend the enemy, but I
smiled, for he had become dear to me,--in waking hours and in dreams,--and
the cadet passed easily enough for a maximum mark.
The cadets had their small joys and sometimes little troubles. On one
occasion a cadet officer reported me for disobedience of orders. As the
report was not true, I denied it and sent up witnesses of the occasion.
Dick Garnett, who fell in the assault of the 3d, at Gettysburg, was one
witness, and Cadet Baker, so handsome and lovable that he was called
Betsy, was the other. Upon overlooking the records I found the report
still there, and went to ask the superintendent if other evidence was
necessary to show that the report was not true. He was satisfied of that,
but said that the officer complained that I smiled contemptuously. As that
could only be rated as a single demerit, I asked the benefit of the smile;
but the report stands to this day, Disobedience of orders and _three_
demerits. The cadet had his revenge, however, for the superintendent was
afterwards known as _The Punster_.
There were sixty-two graduating members of the class of 1842, my number
being sixty. I was assigned to the Fourth United States Infantry as brevet
lieutenant, and found my company with seven others of the regiment at
Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in the autumn of 1842.
Of the class graduating the year that we entered were G. T. Beauregard and
Irvin McDowell, who, twenty-three years later, commanded the hostile
armies on the plains of Manassas, in Virginia. Braxton Bragg and W. J.
Hardee were of the same class.
The head man of the next class (1839) was I. I. Stevens, who resigned from
the army, and, after being the first governor of Washington Territory,
returned to military service, and fell on the sanguinary field of
Chantilly on the 1st of September, 1862. Next on the class roll was Henry
Wager Halleck, who was commander-in-chief of the United States armies from
July, 1862, to March, 1864. W. T. Sherman and George H. Thomas, of the
Union army, and R. S. Ewell, of the Confederate army, were of the same
class (1840). The class of 1841 had the largest list of officers killed in
action. Irons, Ayers, Ernst, Gantt, Morris, and Burbank were killed in the
Mexican War. N. Lyon, R. S. Garnett, J. F. Reynolds, R. B. Garnett, A. W.
Whipple, J. M. Jones, I. B. Richardson, and J. P. Garesche fell on the
fields of the late war.
Of the class of 1842 few were killed in action, but several rose to
distinguished positions,--Newton, Eustis, Rosecrans, Lovell, Van Dorn,
Pope, Sykes, G. W. Smith, M. L. Smith, R. H. Anderson, L. McLaws, D. H.
Hill, A. P. Stewart, B. S. Alexander, N. J. T. Dana, and others.
But the class next after us (1843) was destined to furnish the man who was
to eclipse all,--to rise to the rank of general, an office made by
Congress to honor his services; who became President of the United States,
and for a second term; who received the salutations of all the powers of
the world in his travels as a private citizen around the earth; of noble,
generous heart, a lovable character, a valued friend,--Ulysses S. Grant.
I was fortunate in the assignment to Jefferson Barracks, for in those days
the young officers were usually sent off among the Indians or as near the
borders as they could find habitable places. In the autumn of 1842 I
reported to the company commander, Captain Bradford R. Alden, a most
exemplary man, who proved a lasting, valued friend. Eight companies of the
Third Infantry were added to the garrison during the spring of 1843, which
made garrison life and society gay for the young people and interesting
for the older classes. All of the troops were recently from service in the
swamps and Everglades of Florida, well prepared to enjoy the change from
the war-dance of the braves to the hospitable city of St. Louis; and the
graceful step of its charming belles became a joy forever.
Of the class of 1843, Ulysses S. Grant joined the Fourth Regiment as
brevet lieutenant, and I had the pleasure to ride with him on our first
visit to Mr. Frederick Dent's home, a few miles from the garrison, where
we first met Miss Julia Dent, the charming woman who, five years later,
became Mrs. Grant. Miss Dent was a frequent visitor at the garrison balls
and hops, where Lieutenant Hoskins, who was something of a tease, would
inquire of her if she could tell where he might find "the small lieutenant
with the large epaulettes."
In May, 1844, all of our pleasures were broken by orders sending both
regiments to Louisiana, near Fort Jessup, where with other troops we were
organized as "The Army of Observation," under General Zachary Taylor.
In March, 1845, I was assigned as lieutenant in the Eighth Regiment, and
joined my company at St. Augustine, Florida. The soldier's life of those
days was not encouraging to those of active aspirations; but influences
were then at work that were beginning to brighten the horizon a little.
The new republic of Texas was seeking annexation with the United States,
which would endanger the peace between them and the republic of Mexico.
Annexation of Texas became the supreme question of the canvass of 1844.
James K. Polk was the nominee of the Democratic and annexation party, and
Henry Clay was on the other side as the Whig nominee. Polk was elected,
and his party prepared to signalize its triumph by annexation as soon as
it came into power; but in the last days of President Tyler's
administration, through skilful management of Secretary of State John C.
Calhoun, joint resolutions of annexation were passed by both houses of
Congress, subject to concurrence of the Congress of the new republic.
Strange as it may seem, the resolutions that added to the territory of the
United States more than the New England and Middle States combined, and
which eventually led to extension to the Pacific coast and hundreds of
miles north, only passed the lower house by twenty-two majority, and the
Senate by a majority of two.
When the resolution was passed, the minister from Mexico to our
government, General Almonte, demanded his passports, and diplomatic
relations between the governments ceased. On July 4, 1845, the Texas
Congress accepted and ratified the resolutions of annexation by unanimous
vote, and Texas was a State of the Union.
General Taylor's little army of observation was ordered to Corpus Christi,
Texas, and became "The Army of Occupation." All other available forces
were ordered to join him, including General Worth and his forces in
Florida. At the time there were in the line of the army eight regiments of
infantry, four of artillery, and two of dragoons, stationed along the
northern frontier from Fort Kent in the northeast of Maine to the west end
of Lake Superior, and along the western frontier from Fort Snelling to
Fort Leavenworth, and southward to Fort Jessup in Louisiana.
By the middle of October, 1846, three thousand eight hundred and sixty men
of all arms had concentrated at Corpus Christi. Seven companies of the
Second Dragoons had marched from Fort Jessup to San Patricio on the Nueces
River, about twenty-eight miles up from Corpus Christi; the other three
companies were halted at San Antonio, Texas. Near our camps were extensive
plains well adapted to military manoeuvres, which were put to prompt use
for drill and professional instruction. There were many advantages too in
the way of amusement, game on the wild prairies and fish in the broad gulf
were plentiful, and there was the salt water for bathing. On one occasion
during the winter a violent north wind forced the waters over the beach,
in some places far enough to disturb our camps, and when they receded,
quantities of fish were found in the little puddles left behind, and
turtles more than enough to supply the army.
The officers built a theatre, depending upon their own efforts to
reimburse them. As there was no one outside the army except two rancheros
within a hundred miles, our dramatic company was organized from among the
officers, who took both male and female characters. In farce and comedy we
did well enough, and soon collected funds to pay for the building and
incidental expenses. The house was filled every night. General Worth
always encouraging us, General Taylor sometimes, and General Twiggs
occasionally, we found ourselves in funds sufficient to send over to New
Orleans for costumes, and concluded to try tragedy. The "Moor of Venice"
was chosen, Lieutenant Theoderic Porter[1] to be the Moor, and Lieutenant
U. S. Grant to be the daughter of Brabantio. But after rehearsal Porter
protested that male heroines could not support the character nor give
sentiment to the hero, so we sent over to New Orleans and secured Mrs.
Hart, who was popular with the garrisons in Florida. Then all went well,
and life through the winter was gay.
Formal diplomatic relations between the republics were suspended, but
quasi negotiations were continued, seeking a course by which war might be
averted. The authorities of Mexico were not averse to the settlement
according to the claims of Texas,--the Rio Grande frontier,--but the
political affairs of the country were such that they could not agree.
Excitement in the United States increased as the suspense continued. But
the authorities, having confidence in their negotiations or wishing to
precipitate matters, ordered General Taylor to march across to the Rio
Grande at Matamoras in the spring of 1846. The execution of the order
precipitated war.
The move from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande made necessary a change of
base from St. Joseph's Island to Point Isabel and Brazos Santiago, near
the mouth of the Rio Grande. Supplies were sent by sea, under charge of
Major Munroe, with a siege train and field battery, and the army took up
its march on the 9th of March, 1846, the advance under General Twiggs,
consisting of the dragoons and Ringgold's field battery. The army was well
instructed, under good discipline, and fully prepared for field work, the
weather was fine, and the firm turf of the undulating prairies made the
march easy. Wild horses and cattle, and deer and antelope, were often seen
in the distance as they scampered away to hide themselves. On the 19th the
head of the column approached Arroyo Colorado, one hundred and thirty
miles from Corpus Christi. The arroyo was about three feet deep, of salt
water. Mexican lancers were on the southern side, and gave notice that
they had orders to resist our further advance. On the 21st the army was up
and deployed along the high banks of the arroyo, the field batteries in
position. General Worth was ordered to make the crossing, and rode at the
head of the column. We looked with confidence for a fight and the flow of
blood down the salt water before we could cross, but the Mexicans had no
artillery, and could not expose their cavalry to the fire of our
batteries; they made their formal protest, however, that the crossing
would be regarded as a declaration of war.
On the 24th of March the column reached the road leading from Point Isabel
to Matamoras. General Taylor ordered Worth to march the greater part of
the army towards Matamoras and halt at the first good camping-ground, and
rode towards Point Isabel to meet the detachment ordered there under Major
Munroe. He found them already landed, and the Mexicans fired their little
hamlets and fled. After ordering construction of protection for his
supplies and defensive works for the troops, General Taylor returned to
the army, and rode with General Worth towards the Rio Grande. As the army
approached the river the Mexicans on the Matamoras side made some display
of forces, manned their works on that side, and prepared to resist us,
under the impression that we would cross at once. General Worth was sent
over, and was met by General La Vega, on the part of General Mejia,
commanding on that side. He was told that Mexico had not declared war,
that the American consul was in the exercise of his functions; but Worth's
request to see the consul was refused, which was denounced as a
belligerent act, and he cautioned General La Vega against passing Mexicans
to the north side of the river.
Camps were pitched in range of the Mexican works about Matamoras, grounds
staked for constructing defensive works, and large details put out to work
on them. The Mexican forces at this time were three thousand, and they
were soon joined by two thousand more.
Political affairs with them were confused. President Herrera was thought
to favor the claims of Texas to the Rio Grande border. General Paredes
made pronunciamento, overthrew the president's government, and had
authority as war president. He sent General Ampudia to the frontier to
take charge, but the appointment was not satisfactory on the border, and
General Arista was assigned. There was discord over there between the
authorities and the generals, while General Taylor was too far from his
government to be bothered. His army was all that he could wish, except in
numbers.
Marauding parties came over occasionally and made trouble about the
ranches on the American side. One party killed Colonel Cross, our chief
quartermaster, on the 10th of April. Scouting parties were sent out to
look for the intruders. Lieutenant Theoderic Porter, in command of one
party, and one of his men were caught in ambush and killed. Captain
Walker, of the Texan Rangers, while out on a scout lost his camp guard of
five men, surprised and killed, and later Captains Thornton and Hardee, of
the dragoons, were met at Rancho Carricitos by a large cavalry force and
some infantry under General Torrijon, who took captive or killed the
entire party. Captains Thornton and Hardee and Lieutenant Kane were made
prisoners. The other commissioned officer of the command, George T. Mason,
of my class, refused to surrender; being a superior swordsman, he tried to
cut his way out, and was killed. This affair was taken as open war, and
General Taylor called on the governors of Texas and Louisiana--under his
authority from Washington--for volunteers of infantry and cavalry.
The capture of Thornton and Hardee created great excitement with the
people at home. Fanning's massacre and the Alamo at San Antonio were
remembered, and it was reported of General Ampudia, who on a recent
occasion had captured a general in Yucatan, that he boiled his head in
oil. So it was thought he would give no quarter; but in a day or two we
heard from the officers that they received great kindness from their
captors, and that General Ampudia had ordered that his government should
allow them their full pay and every liberty consistent with their
safe-keeping. They declined, however, to accept pay, and were held as the
guests of Generals Arista and Ampudia.
On the 1st of May our tents were struck, wagons parked, assembly sounded,
and the troops were under arms at three A.M., marched at four o'clock, and
bivouacked within ten miles of Point Isabel. No one was advised of the
cause of movements, but all knew that our general understood his business.
He had been informed that General Arista, with his movable forces, had
marched to Rancho de Longoreno, some leagues below us on the river,
intending to cross and cut us off from the base at Point Isabel. Major
Jacob Brown was left in charge of the works opposite Matamoras with the
Seventh Regiment of Infantry, Captain Sands's company of artillery, and
Bragg's field battery.
By some accident provision was not made complete for Arista to make prompt
crossing of the river, and that gave General Taylor time to reach his
base, reinforce it, and draw sufficient supplies. Advised of our move by
General Mejia, at Matamoras, General Arista was thrown into doubt as to
whether our move was intended for Matamoras, and sent back part of his
forces for its defence. Finding, however, that Taylor had gone to Point
Isabel, Arista crossed the river and put his line athwart our return march
at Palo Alto. To hasten Taylor's return, he ordered General Mejia, at
Matamoras, to open his batteries on our troops at Fort Brown, and make
serious demonstrations against them.
General Taylor started on his return on the 7th of May. We had heard the
artillery-fire upon comrades left at the forts, and were anxiously looking
for the order. It was received with cheers, and a good march was made, but
the night was awful. The mosquitoes seemed as thick as the blades of grass
on the prairie, and swarmed and buzzed in clouds, and packs of
half-famished wolves prowled and howled about us. There was no need for
the sound of reveille. The wolves and mosquitoes, and perhaps some solemn
thoughts, kept us on the _qui vive_. Arista's army was known to be in line
of battle only a few miles off. About one o'clock we halted to fill the
canteens, and marched to meet the enemy. The columns were
deployed,--Fifth Infantry on the right, Ringgold's battery, Third
Infantry, a two-gun battery of eighteen-pounders, the Fourth Infantry,
battalion of artillery acting as infantry, Duncan's field battery and
Eighth Infantry, Captains Charles May and Croghan Ker, with squadrons of
dragoons, looking to the trains; the Third and Fourth Infantry, the Third
Brigade, under Colonel John Garland. That brigade, with the Fifth
Regiment, the heavy guns, and Ringgold's, were of the right wing, General
Twiggs commanding. Other forces of the left were under Colonel William G.
Belknap, Eighth Infantry, and Duncan's Battery.
As the lines deployed, Lieutenant J. E. Blake, of the Topographical
Engineers, dashed forward alone, made a close inspection of the enemy's
line with such lightning speed that his work was accomplished before the
enemy could comprehend his purpose, rode back and reported to the
commanding general. He was one of the heroes of the day, but his laurels
were enjoyed only a few hours. As he took his pistol off at night he threw
it upon the ground, and an accidental explosion of one of the charges gave
him a mortal wound.
The line advanced until the puff of smoke from one of the enemy's guns
rose, and the ball bounded over the prairie, passed over our heads, and
wounded a teamster far in our rear. Our infantry was ordered down and our
artillery into practice. It was an artillery combat more than a battle,
and held until night. The Mexican cavalry made a charge against the Fifth
Regiment, and finding our front of square too strong repeated on another
front, but were repulsed. Presently the grass took fire, and the winds so
far favored us as to sweep the smoke in the enemy's faces, and when it
passed we found the Mexican line had been drawn back a little. May's
squadron was sent there, and General Taylor advanced the right of his
line, but night closed in before decisive work could be done. The armies
were near enough during the night to hear the moans of the wounded. Major
Ringgold was mortally wounded, also Captain John Page, of the Fourth
Infantry, but less than fifty of our troops were lost.
Early the next morning a few of the Mexican troops could be seen, but when
the sun rose to light the field it was found vacant. A careful
reconnoissance revealed that the enemy was in retreat, and the dragoons
reported them in march towards our comrades at Fort Brown.
General Taylor remained on the field a few hours to have the killed and
wounded of both sides cared for, but sent the dragoons, light infantry,
and Ringgold's battery in pursuit, the latter under Lieutenant Randolph
Ridgely. The light infantry was of two battalions, under Captain George A.
McCall and Captain C. F. Smith. The route of march was through a dense
chaparral on both sides of the road, the infantry finding their way as
best they could through the chaparral, the dragoons and Texas Rangers
moving on the road, and far off from our flanks, wherever they could find
ways of passage. The company to which I was attached was of Smith's
battalion, on the right of the road. After a considerable march the
battalion came to the body of a young Mexican woman. She had ceased to
breathe, but blood heat was still in her body, and her expression
life-like. A profusion of black hair covered her shoulders and person, the
only covering to her waist. This sad spectacle, so unlike our thoughts of
battle, unnerved us a little, but the crush through the thorny bushes soon
brought us back to thoughts of heavy work, and then came reports of
several guns and of grapeshot flying over our heads and tearing through
the wood. A reconnoissance found General Arista's army on the south bank
of a stream, Resaca de la Palma, which at this season had dried into
lagoons with intervening passes. The road crossed at a wide gap between
two extensive lagoons. The most of the enemy's artillery was near the
road, the infantry behind the lagoons, with improvised breast defences of
pack-saddles and other articles that could be found to stop musket-balls.
The lagoons were about a hundred feet wide and from two to three feet
deep.
The position was so strong that General Arista thought it would not be
attacked. He left General La Vega in command at the road, and made his
head-quarters some distance in rear, holding his cavalry in hand to look
for any flank move, unpacked his mule-train, and turned the animals out to
graze. General Taylor received reports of our adventures and
reconnoissance when he rode up, deployed his army for battle, and ordered
it forward. In the dense chaparral it was not possible to hold the
regiments to their lines, and in places the companies were obliged to
break files to get along. All of the enemy's artillery opened, and soon
his musketry. The lines closed in to short work, even to bayonet work at
places. Lieutenant-Colonel McIntosh had a bayonet thrust through his mouth
and neck.[2] Lieutenant R. M. Cochran, Fourth Regiment, and T. L.
Chadbourne, of the Eighth, were killed; C. R. Gates and C. D. Jordan, of
the Eighth, were severely wounded. The latter, a classmate, was
overpowered and about to be slaughtered when rescued by Lieutenant George
Lincoln, of the Eighth, who slew with his sword one of the assailants.
Finding the enemy's strong fight, in defence, by his artillery, General
Taylor ordered Captain May to charge and capture the principal battery.
The squadron was of his own and S. P. Graham's troops. The road was only
wide enough to form the dragoons in column of fours. When in the act of
springing to their work, Ridgely called, "Hold on, Charlie, till I draw
their fire," and loosed his six guns upon the battery at the road.
The return was prompt, but General Taylor, not noting the cause of delay,
repeated the order. Ridgely's work, however, was done, and May's spurs
pressing his horses had them on the leap before the order reached his
ears. In a minute he was at the guns sabring the gunners, and wheeling
right and left got possession of the batteries. General La Vega was found
at one of his batteries trying to defend it with his sword against one of
May's dragoons, but was forced to get in between the wheels of his guns to
avoid the horse's heels as they pressed him, when his rank was recognized
and he was called to surrender.
As May made his dash the infantry on our right was wading the lagoon. A
pause was made to dip our cups for water, which gave a moment for other
thoughts; mine went back to her whom I had left behind. I drew her
daguerreotype from my breast-pocket, had a glint of her charming smile,
and with quickened spirit mounted the bank in time to send some of the
mixed infantry troops to relieve May of his charge of the captive knight.
As a dragoon and soldier May was splendid. He stood six feet four without
boots, wore his beard full and flowing, his dark-brown locks falling well
over his shoulders. His appearance as he sat on his black horse Tom, his
heavy sabre over General La Vega, was grand and picturesque. He was
amiable of disposition, lovable and genial in character.
Not so grand of stature, or beard, or flowing locks, Randolph Ridgely was
as accomplished a soldier and as charming a companion,--a fitting
counterpart in spirit and dash.
I have gone thus far into the Mexican War for the opportunity to mention
two valued friends, whose memory returning refreshes itself. Many gallant,
courageous deeds have since been witnessed, but none more interesting than
Ridgely's call for the privilege to draw upon himself the fire that was
waiting for May.