ON THE NORTH ANNA AND THE PAMUNKEY.
The great army was once more on the march, and another "left-flanker"
was in progress. At six o'clock, on Sunday morning, we halted an hour
for breakfast. At seven the march was resumed. The day was pleasant
and very hot, relieved by a half hour's rain at noon. Our brigade was
separated from the remainder of the corps, which had marched during
the previous night while we had been holding the river fords. During
our noon halt all the trains of the army passed us, together with the
head-quarters' guard, and the rebel prisoners captured in the recent
battles. The noon halt was at Guiney Station. In the afternoon we
marched in the direction of Bowling Green, toward the North Anna river,
and our brigade had the rear of the column on this road. The march that
day was very pleasant. We had emerged from the dense forests of the
Wilderness and Spottsylvania to an open and beautiful farming country,
abounding with well-tilled fields and fine dwellings, which bore
evidences of comfort and plenty, unscathed by the desolations of war.
As we advanced southward the roads improved, and our march was very
rapid. At five o'clock we came up with the remainder of our division,
and continued the march until nightfall, when we bivouacked near Bethel
Church, having marched sixteen miles.
Early the next morning the march was resumed, but the roads were so
crowded with the wagon-trains and artillery that the progress was very
slow, and we did not fairly commence our day's work till three o'clock
in the afternoon. The roads having by that time been partly cleared
we pushed along with great rapidity, our ears being every few minutes
greeted with the distant booming of artillery. Our speed was not abated
until about dark, when we approached the North Anna river at Ox Ford.
We bivouacked for the night by the roadside near Chesterfield Church,
and were lulled to sleep by the din of moving battalions and the steady
fire of the skirmishers.
Grant's movement to the North Anna had been observed by Lee. The
operation, which in the presence of a wary foe is one of the most
hazardous, had been conducted with great skill and complete success;
yet the enemy, possessing the direct road to the river, had been
enabled to move with great rapidity, while the march of our army
had to be made cautiously over comparatively unknown roads. When,
therefore, we reached the river we found the enemy prepared to dispute
its passage. The army of the Potomac reached the North Anna on the
afternoon of the 23d, at three points,--the Fifth and Sixth Corps, on
the right, at Jericho Ford; the Ninth near Ox Ford; and the Second, on
the left, at the Chesterfield bridge. The river at the points where the
army reached it makes a bend to the south, and then immediately to the
north-east, thus nearly forming two sides of a triangle. Lee's army was
in a strong position, the centre resting opposite General Burnside's
position at Ox Ford, with his flanks drawn back, the line of battle
being nearly in the form of the letter V; or, as a rebel author aptly
writes, Lee had "inserted a wedge of gray tipped with steel," in the
centre of Grant's line. The Fifth and Sixth Corps crossed the river to
the right, and the Second, after sharp fighting at the bridge on the
left.
When the passage at Ox Ford, between the two wings of our army, was
attempted by General Burnside, it was resisted with great spirit; and
it being impracticable to attack at that point, although a portion
of the corps crossed the river, the Ninth Corps was divided, and our
division assigned to General Hancock to coöperate in the movement on
the left. The 24th was excessively hot. The men were obliged to lie in
an open field exposed to the sun, and suffered much from the heat. Soon
after daylight the picket fire deepened into a heavy and continuous
discharge of musketry, mingled now and then with artillery. At two
o'clock came the order "Fall in!" and in a moment we were on our way
toward the river which separated us from General Lee's position. Just
before we reached the river a brief halt was ordered. We had moved out
in column, and the Thirty-sixth had the left. When we resumed the march
we faced by the left, and moved by a circuitous route through the woods
to Chesterfield bridge, passing the hospitals of the Second Corps. Upon
reaching General Hancock's head-quarters Colonel Curtin reported to
that officer in person, who ordered us to cross the river at once. We
were, however, obliged to wait for some time, while other troops and
batteries were crossing, and were exposed to a severe artillery fire,
which would have been very destructive had the guns been better served.
We also encountered a severe fire as we crossed Chesterfield bridge,
but fortunately no one was injured.
After crossing the river Captain Barker was directed to push on
without waiting for the brigade, with orders to report to any officer
of General Hancock's staff. We passed through a strong line of works
captured early in the day by Birney's division of the Second Corps,
and were ordered to relieve a Pennsylvania regiment of Mott's brigade,
which had been deployed in the woods as skirmishers. This duty was at
once performed, when General Hancock, who had come out to look at the
ground, ordered us to push forward, with the remark, "See if you can
find any rebels." The regiment advanced gallantly with a fine line,
considering its length and the dense forest. In a few minutes a sharp
rattling fire proved that we had found the enemy and in strong force.
We continued the advance until we neared a large clearing,--an open,
level field, across which, in the edge of the woods, could be seen
the enemy's entrenched picket line and the strong main line beyond. A
charge across this field would entail fearful loss, for the rebels were
burrowed in their works and could pour a most destructive fire upon our
line. By this time the remainder of the division had come into line in
our rear, and in a little while had a line of log breastworks erected.
We were ordered to cover the front of our division, and it became
necessary to extend our right to the bank of the river, which at this
point was very high and steep. The enemy were well posted, and the fire
of their sharp-shooters was very annoying and fatal. Company A lost
Sergeants May and Derby, two of its best men, within five minutes after
the line was extended. At the same time the left was extended, and our
line, though thin, was in good position.
While these movements were in progress a most furious thunder-shower,
which had threatened for some hours, burst upon us in great violence.
The rain poured in torrents, and the blinding lightning and rolling
thunder mingling with the volleys of musketry and crash of artillery
produced an impression calculated to inspire terror in the stoutest
heart. The storm was so severe as for a time to put a stop to the
firing while the battle of the elements continued. After the fury of
the tempest had somewhat abated the picket-firing was actively renewed.
Just before dark General Potter came out to examine the position, and
while inspecting the picket line narrowly escaped death from the fire
of the sharp-shooters. He was mounted, and presented a good target for
their fire. He was cautioned of his danger and the nearness of the
enemy, but answered only with an indifferent "Humph!" and after he had
completed his inspection, which seemed unnecessarily long, turned and
rode leisurely away, to the evident relief of his companions.
Notwithstanding a heavy rain, which continued the greater part of the
night, and our cheerless and exposed position, a steady fire was kept
up all along the picket line, and the enemy's fire was unusually
hostile. The returning daylight revealed the entrenchments of the enemy
across the clearing in our front to be much nearer than we had realized
in our advance in the previous twilight. They were very strong,
protected by a formidable abatis, and were well filled with troops, who
poured upon us a very close and effective fire. Our position, although
somewhat protected by detached rifle-pits thrown up the night before,
was greatly exposed and very dangerous. Soon after daylight the left
of the regiment was advanced a short distance, for the purpose of
correcting the formation of the picket line. The work was accomplished
under a severe fire, by which Luke Doyle of K, and Corporal Rice of C,
were badly wounded. By slow degrees the picket-pits were extended, and
by noon the line was made continuous and afforded a good protection. At
four o'clock that afternoon the regiment was relieved, and posted in
rear of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania in the line of battle, having lost
one man killed and four wounded.
During the 26th the brigade was under arms all day. The Second Brigade,
supported by a portion of our own, attacked and drove back the whole
line of the enemy's skirmishers in our front, and established a new
line farther in advance. The works of the enemy were now reconnoitred,
and found to be so strong as to make an attack impracticable;
accordingly the anticipated assault was not made. The rain continued;
but the arrival of an unusually large mail caused much joy in camp, and
more than compensated for the drenching we sustained. At nine o'clock
that evening Captain Smith, brigade officer of the day, advanced the
entire skirmish line, under a sharp fire of musketry and artillery.
Our brigade was then relieved by a brigade of Birney's division, and
quietly withdrawn across the river, the Thirty-sixth leading the
division line. After stumbling about in the mud and darkness for some
five miles, the brigade, at two A.M., bivouacked near Mount Carmel
Church, on the same ground occupied by us on the night of the 23d.
The operations of the last four days had been extremely exhausting.
The constant strain by day and night, the exposure to storm, and all
the dangers and fatigue incident to such a campaign, began to tell
seriously upon the command. The effective strength of the regiment now
was ten commissioned officers and two hundred and thirty-six enlisted
men.
On the 27th orders bearing date of May 25th were promulgated from
General Grant's head-quarters, consolidating the Ninth Army Corps with
the Army of the Potomac. Heretofore it had been an independent command,
receiving directions from General Grant. By this arrangement General
Burnside, although senior in rank to General Meade, placed himself
voluntarily under his command, and, with characteristic unselfishness,
generously waived all considerations of rank and military etiquette for
the good of the service.
During the forenoon of the 27th the corps was concentrated near Mount
Carmel Church. Early in the afternoon the third flanking movement
commenced. Each of these movements had brought us face to face with
the enemy strongly intrenched to dispute our further progress. Each
time, after days of toil and bloodshed, without gaining any material
advantage, we had been withdrawn to renew the struggle at some other
point. This movement was secretly and successfully accomplished. Not
a picket shot was fired, and the enemy did not seem to be aware of
the withdrawal. In the march the Second Division had the rear of the
column, and we moved in a south-easterly direction, toward the Pamunkey
river. The roads were so obstructed by wagon trains and artillery
that it cannot be said that we _marched_ until night. We caught two
or three hours' sleep at intervals during the evening, but after nine
o'clock the halts were less frequent until about one o'clock, when we
bivouacked by the roadside, after a toilsome march of about twelve
miles.
At daylight on the 28th the camp was astir. At seven o'clock the march
was resumed, and we passed through a fine, open country, level and
well cultivated. The march, however, was as tedious as that of the day
before. The regular roads were given up to the immense trains, and
the troops were obliged to make their way across fields and bottom
lands. At noon we had an hour's rest for dinner, and at half-past two
we halted on the grounds of an extensive plantation, where the corps
was massed. Corps head-quarters were at the mansion-house. It was a
princely establishment, surrounded by the cabins of the slaves, and
from appearances "all the hands" were at home. We expected to camp at
this place; but, after an hour's halt, greatly to our disappointment we
were ordered forward.
The Second Division now had the right. The march was severe, and
many fell out exhausted. Occasionally a halt was ordered, and the
men dropped in the road for rest, and many had to be aroused to
prevent them from being run over by the galloping artillery. It was
emphatically a forced march. The roads were ablaze with burning rails,
and the tall pines on fire presented a most picturesque and brilliant
scene for those who could keep their eyes open long enough to enjoy
it. Soon after midnight, near Hanover Town, we reached the Pamunkey
river, which we crossed on the pontoon bridge at one o'clock, and half
an hour later bivouacked about two miles from the river. It was noticed
that there was no playing "High, Low, Jack" to determine who should
go for the water or cook the coffee. Every man dropped in his place,
completely exhausted from the effects of a night march of more than
twenty miles.
At four o'clock on the 29th we were again aroused, moved forward a few
miles, and halted in the woods by the roadside while the Fifth Corps
passed to the front. Soon after noon we were ordered to the rear, and
halted for rest in a pine grove, through which flowed a stream of
water in close proximity to the wagon train. It was Sunday; surely
rest was never more welcome to wearied, jaded men. It was the first
rest deserving the name since the 20th, at Spottsylvania. Here we
pitched our tents, and the men availed themselves of a fine opportunity
for washing clothes, and overhauling their sadly diminished wardrobe.
The evening was bright and beautiful. The head-quarters' band near us
discoursed patriotic and sacred music and songs of home, and the memory
of that pleasant Sabbath is undimmed even at this lapse of time. To
many it was the last Sabbath on earth. The next dawned upon their lowly
graves in the swamps of the Chickahominy!
At eight o'clock on Monday, the 30th, we moved out of camp, and soon
joined the remainder of the division at Hawes' shop. An intelligent
guideboard informed us we were only twelve miles from Richmond. Line
of battle was soon after formed, and an advance ordered. The enemy was
in a strong position, and the skirmishing was very sharp. The division
halted in the road while the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania cleared the
ground in our front by a gallant charge, when the division crossed a
creek, and advanced about half a mile by the right flank into an open
plain, where we formed line of battle under the personal direction of
General Potter, who himself placed the guides. Here we were ordered
to intrench, and soon had a good line of rifle-pits, while a heavy
skirmish line was deployed in the woods in our front. The Second Corps
was upon our right, our corps occupying a position between the Second
and Fifth Corps. Strong reconnoissances were made on the roads leading
toward the Chickahominy and Richmond. The firing was very heavy, and
the rebel army was found to be in strong position on the line of
the Totopotomoy. Again having the direct road they were enabled to
confront us with their entire army strongly intrenched. The result of
the movements of this day was to secure ground well up to the enemy's
lines; but no decisive action was fought.
On the 31st, in the afternoon, an advance was ordered. We left our
strong works in the plain, and moved forward in line to the woods, and
supported a gallant attack of the Second Brigade, made in connection
with the Second Corps. We advanced about three-quarters of a mile over
what General Potter reported to be the worse ground he ever knew.
The firing was very brisk, but being in the second line our loss was
slight. The enemy was found to be strongly intrenched; but the attack
forced him out of a line of skirmish pits, which were captured by our
division, and the troops pushed closely up to the enemy's main line.
The picket line was established with great difficulty, after severe
fighting. The line of battle was now in a dense forest, reminding us
of the Wilderness, and we occupied the remainder of the afternoon in
preparing for a general attack. We connected on the right with Birney's
division of the Second Corps, and were ordered to advance with the
right or left, as the occasion might demand. On our right General
Hancock attempted to force the enemy's line; but the resistance was so
determined that no advantage was gained. A strong line of works was
erected, and the men slept on their arms, ready to repel an attack.
Early the next morning a battery of six Napoleon guns was brought up
and put in position immediately in rear of our regiment, and opened
fire on the enemy. At the same time heavy skirmishing was resumed,
and the line was prepared to assault the works in our front. General
Birney was to attack on the right, and our movement was to conform to
his. His troops moved out; but the works in his front were found to
be very formidable, protected in front by marshy ground and a strong
abatis, and the approaches enfiladed with artillery. In moving forward
General Birney uncovered a battery, and he was obliged to suspend the
attack. The men were under arms all day, ready to move forward or to
the right or left. It was a long day of anxiety and suspense. Later the
enemy made a fierce attack upon the two divisions on our left, but was
handsomely repulsed, with heavy loss. Toward night he advanced a strong
line to attack our division. He advanced in fine order, under a heavy
fire; but, not liking the appearance of our works, prudently retired.
The fighting all along the line was very severe. Much artillery was
used, but no special advantage was gained.
About midnight we were aroused by whispered orders to move by the right
flank, and with the utmost secrecy, to the rear. Long before daylight
we were in position in the line of works built by us on the 30th of
May. The Second Corps had been withdrawn from our right and moved to
the left of the army. We were ordered to be in constant readiness
for a rapid movement. While waiting here some of our comrades of the
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, seized with a sudden attack of the Eastern
Tennessee foraging mania, visited a recently deserted house in our
rear. Upon searching the premises they found some hams and bacon
sides buried in the cellar, and, on pursuing their investigations
further, dug up, not hams, but bags of silver coin, which the owner had
secreted. The amount found, it is said, was more than $3,000, besides a
considerable amount in gold. The lucky miners carried on a profitable
brokerage business for an hour, and soon the silver coin, exchanged for
currency, was everywhere throughout the camp.