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THE STORY OF A CANNONEER UNDER STONEWALL JACKSON
[Illustration: GENERAL "STONEWALL" JACKSON
FRONTISPIECE]
The Story of a Cannoneer
Under Stonewall Jackson
IN WHICH IS TOLD THE PART TAKEN BY THE
ROCKBRIDGE ARTILLERY IN THE ARMY
OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
BY
EDWARD A. MOORE
Of the Rockbridge Artillery
WITH INTRODUCTIONS BY
CAPT. ROBERT E. LEE, JR., and HON. HENRY
ST. GEORGE TUCKER
_Fully Illustrated by Portraits_
NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON
THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1907
Copyright, 1907, by
E. A. MOORE
TO MY COMRADES
OF THE
ROCKBRIDGE ARTILLERY
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction by Capt. Robert E. Lee, Jr 13
Introduction by Henry St. George Tucker 15
I--Washington College--Lexington--Virginia Military
Institute 19
II--Entering the Service--My First Battle--Battle of
Kernstown 25
III--The Retreat--Cedar Creek--General
Ashby--Skirmishes--McGaheysville 34
IV--Swift Run Gap--Reorganization of the Battery--Wading
in the Mud--Crossing and Recrossing the Blue Ridge--Battle
of McDowell--Return to the Valley 43
V--Bridgewater--Luray Valley--Front Royal--Following
General Banks--Night March--Battle of
Winchester--Banks's Retreat 52
VI--Capturing Federal Cavalry--Charlestown--Extraordinary
March 60
VII--General Jackson Narrowly Escapes Being Captured
at Port Republic--Contest Between Confederates
and Federals for Bridge over Shenandoah 66
VIII--Battle of Port Republic 72
IX--From Brown's Gap to Staunton--From Staunton
to Richmond--Cold Harbor--General Lee Visits
His Son in the Battery 77
X--General Jackson Compliments the Battery--Malvern
Hill--My Visit to Richmond 86
XI--From Richmond to Gordonsville--Battle of Cedar
Run--Death of General Winder--Deserters Shot--Cross
the Rappahannock 93
XII--Capture of Railroad Trains at Manassas Junction--Battle
with Taylor's New Jersey Brigade--Night March by Light of
Burning Cars 102
XIII--Circuitous Night March--First Day of Second
Manassas--Arrival of Longstreet's Corps 110
XIV--The Second Battle of Manassas--Incidents and
Scenes on the Battlefield 117
XV--Battle of Chantilly--Leesburg--Crossing the Potomac 125
XVI--Maryland--My Day in Frederick City 130
XVII--Return to Virginia--Investment and Capture of
Harper's Ferry 138
XVIII--Into Maryland Again--Battle of
Sharpsburg--Wounded--Return to Winchester--Home 144
XIX--Return to Army--In Winter-quarters Near Port
Royal 161
XX--Second Battle of Fredericksburg--Chancellorsville--Wounding
and Death of Stonewall Jackson 170
XXI--Opening of Campaign of 1863--Crossing to the
Valley--Battle at Winchester with Milroy--Crossing
the Potomac 179
XXII--On the Way to Gettysburg--Battle of
Gettysburg--Retreat. 187
XXIII--At "The Bower"--Return to Orange County, Virginia--Blue
Run Church--Bristow Station--Rappahannock Bridge--Supplementing
Camp Rations 202
XXIV--Battle of Mine Run--March to Frederick's
Hall--Winter-quarters--Social Affairs--Again to the
Front--Narrow Escape from Capture by General
Dahlgren--Furloughs--Cadets Return from
New Market--Spottsylvania and the Wilderness--Return
to Army at Hanover Junction--Panic
at Night 212
XXV--Second Cold Harbor--Wounded--Return Home--Refugeeing
from Hunter 222
XXVI--Personal Mention of Officers and Men--Rockbridge
Artillery--Second Rockbridge Artillery 234
XXVII--Oakland--Return to Camp--Off Duty Again--The
Race from New Market to Fort Gilmore--Attack
on Fort Harrison--Winter-quarters
on the Lines--Visits to Richmond 260
XXVIII--Evacuation of Richmond--Passing Through
Richmond by Night--The Retreat--Battle of
Sailor's Creek--Battle of Cumberland
Church 274
XXIX--Appomattox 286
Appendix 293
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
General "Stonewall" Jackson _Frontispiece_
Captain William T. Poague, April, 1862--April, 1863 19
Gun from which was fired the first hostile cannon-shot
in the Valley of Virginia 25
Robert A. Gibson 40
Edward A. Moore, March, 1862 60
John M. Brown (war-time portrait) 80
William M. Willson (Corporal) 98
W. S. McClintic 120
D. Gardiner Tyler 140
R. T. Barton 158
B. C. M. Friend 180
Edward A. Moore, February, 1907 200
Edward H. Hyde (Color-bearer) 220
Randolph Fairfax 240
Robert Frazer 260
John M. Brown 280
Fac-simile of parole signed by General Pendleton 291
PREFACE
More than thirty years ago, at the solicitation of my kinsman, H. C.
McDowell, of Kentucky, I undertook to write a sketch of my war
experience. McDowell was a major in the Federal Army during the civil
war, and with eleven first cousins, including Gen. Irvin McDowell,
fought against the same number of first cousins in the Confederate Army.
Various interruptions prevented the completion of my work at that time.
More recently, after despairing of the hope that some more capable
member of my old command, the Rockbridge Artillery, would not allow its
history to pass into oblivion, I resumed the task, and now present this
volume as the only published record of that company, celebrated as it
was even in that matchless body of men, the Army of Northern Virginia.
E. A. M.
INTRODUCTION BY CAPT. ROBERT E. LEE, JR.
The title of this book at once rivets attention and invites perusal, and
that perusal does not disappoint expectation. The author was a cannoneer
in the historic Rockbridge (Va.) Artillery, which made for itself, from
Manassas to Appomattox, a reputation second to none in the Confederate
service. No more vivid picture has been presented of the private soldier
in camp, on the march, or in action. It was written evidently not with
any commercial view, but was an undertaking from a conviction that its
performance was a question of duty to his comrades. Its unlabored and
spontaneous character adds to its value. Its detail is evidence of a
living presence, intent only upon truth. It is not only carefully
planned, but minutely finished. The duty has been performed faithfully
and entertainingly.
We are glad these delightful pages have not been marred by discussion of
the causes or conduct of the great struggle between the States. There is
no theorizing or special pleading to distract our attention from the
unvarnished story of the Confederate soldier.
The writer is simple, impressive, and sincere. And his memory is not
less faithful. It is a striking and truthful portrayal of the times
under the standard of one of the greatest generals of ancient or modern
times. It is from such books that data will be gathered by the future
historian for a true story of the great conflict between the States.
For nearly a year (from March to November, 1862) I served in the battery
with this cannoneer, and for a time we were in the same mess. Since the
war I have known him intimately, and it gives me great pleasure to be
able to say that there is no one who could give a more honest and
truthful account of the events of our struggle from the standpoint of a
private soldier. He had exceptional opportunities for observing men and
events, and has taken full advantage of them.
ROBERT E. LEE.
INTRODUCTION BY HENRY ST. GEORGE TUCKER
Between 1740 and 1750 nine brothers by the name of Moore emigrated from
the north of Ireland to America. Several of them settled in South
Carolina, and of these quite a number participated in the Revolutionary
War, several being killed in battle. One of the nine brothers, David by
name, came to Virginia and settled in the "Borden Grant," now the
northern part of Rockbridge County. There, in 1752, his son, afterward
known as Gen. Andrew Moore, was born. His mother was a Miss Evans, of
Welsh ancestry. Andrew Moore was educated at an academy afterward known
as Liberty Hall. In early life with some of his companions he made a
voyage to the West Indies; was shipwrecked, but rescued, after many
hardships, by a passing vessel and returned to the Colonies. Upon his
return home he studied law in the office of Chancellor Wythe, at
Williamsburg, and was licensed to practice law in 1774. In 1776 he
entered the army as lieutenant, in Morgan's Riflemen, and was engaged in
those battles which resulted in the capture of Burgoyne's army, and at
the surrender of the British forces at Saratoga. For courage and
gallantry in battle he was promoted to a captaincy. Having served three
years with Morgan, he returned home and took his seat as a member of the
Virginia legislature, taking such an active and distinguished part in
the deliberations of that body that he was elected to Congress, and as a
member of the first House of Representatives was distinguished for his
services to such a degree that he was re-elected at each succeeding
election until 1797, when he declined further service in that body, but
accepted a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was again elected
to Congress in 1804, but in the first year of his service he was elected
to the United States Senate, in which body he served with distinguished
ability until 1809, when he retired. He was then appointed United States
Marshal for the District of Virginia, which office he held until his
death, April 14, 1821. His brother William served as a soldier in the
Indian wars, and the Revolutionary War. He was a lieutenant of riflemen
at Pt. Pleasant, and carried his captain, who had been severely wounded,
from the field of battle, after killing the Indian who was about to
scalp him--a feat of courage and strength rarely equaled. Gen. Andrew
Moore's wife was Miss Sarah Reid, a descendant of Capt. John McDowell,
who was killed by the Indians, December 18, 1842, on James River, in
Rockbridge County. She was the daughter of Capt. Andrew Reid, a soldier
of the French and Indian War.
Our author's father was Capt. David E. Moore, for twenty-three years the
Attorney for the Commonwealth for Rockbridge County, and a member of
the Constitutional Convention, 1850-51. His mother was Miss Elizabeth
Harvey, a descendant of Benjamin Borden, and daughter of Matthew Harvey,
who at sixteen years of age ran away from home and became a member of
"Lee's Legion," participating in the numerous battles in which that
distinguished corps took part.
Thus it will be seen that our author is of _martial stock_ and a worthy
descendant of those who never failed to respond to the call to arms; the
youngest of four brothers, one of whom surrendered under General
Johnston, the other three at Appomattox, after serving throughout the
war. It is safe to say that Virginia furnished to the Confederate
service no finer examples of true valor than our author and his three
brothers.
HENRY ST. GEORGE TUCKER.
Lexington, Va.,
December 20, 1906.
[Illustration: CAPTAIN WILLIAM T. POAGUE
(April, 1862--April, 1863)]
THE STORY OF A CANNONEER UNDER STONEWALL JACKSON
CHAPTER I
WASHINGTON COLLEGE--LEXINGTON--VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
At the age of eighteen I was a member of the Junior Class at Washington
College at Lexington, Virginia, during the session of 1860-61, and with
the rest of the students was more interested in the foreshadowings of
that ominous period than in the teachings of the professors. Among our
number there were a few from the States farther south who seemed to have
been born secessionists, while a large majority of the students were
decidedly in favor of the Union.
Our president, the Rev. Dr. George Junkin, who hailed from the North,
was heart and soul a Union man, notwithstanding the fact that one of his
daughters was the first wife of Major Thomas J. Jackson, who developed
into the world-renowned "Stonewall" Jackson. Another daughter was the
great Southern poetess, Mrs. Margaret J. Preston, and Dr. Junkin's son,
Rev. W. F. Junkin, a most lovable man, became an ardent Southern
soldier and a chaplain in the Confederate Army throughout the war.
At the anniversary of the Washington Literary Society, on February 22,
1861, the right of secession was attacked and defended by the
participants in the discussion, with no less zeal than they afterward
displayed on many bloody battlefields.
We had as a near neighbor the Virginia Military Institute, "The West
Point of the South," where scores of her young chivalry were assembled,
who were eager to put into practice the subjects taught in their school.
Previous to these exciting times not the most kindly feelings, and but
little intercourse had existed between the two bodies of young men. The
secession element in the College, however, finding more congenial
company among the cadets, opened up the way for quite intimate and
friendly relations between the two institutions. In January, 1861, the
corps of cadets had been ordered by Governor Wise to be present, as a
military guard, at the execution of John Brown at Harper's Ferry. After
their return more than the usual time was given to the drill; and
target-shooting with cannon and small arms was daily practised in our
hearing.
Only a small proportion of the citizens of the community favored
secession, but they were very aggressive. One afternoon, while a huge
Union flag-pole was being raised on the street, which when half-way up
snapped and fell to the ground in pieces, I witnessed a personal
encounter between a cadet and a mechanic (the latter afterward deserted
from our battery during the Gettysburg campaign in Pennsylvania, his
native State), which was promptly taken up by their respective friends.
The cadets who were present hastened to their barracks and, joined by
their comrades, armed themselves, and with fixed bayonets came streaming
at double-quick toward the town. They were met at the end of Main street
by their professors, conspicuous among whom was Colonel Colston on
horseback. He was a native of France and professor of French at the
Institute; he became a major-general in the Confederate Army and later a
general in the Egyptian Army. After considerable persuasion the cadets
were induced to return to their barracks.
Instead of the usual Saturday night debates of the College literary
societies, the students either joined the cadets in their barracks at
the Institute or received them at the College halls to harangue on the
one absorbing topic.
On the top of the main building at the College was a statue of
Washington, and over this statue some of the students hoisted a palmetto
flag. This greatly incensed our president. He tried, for some time, but
in vain, to have the flag torn down. When my class went at the usual
hour to his room to recite, and before we had taken our seats, he
inquired if the flag was still flying. On being told that it was, he
said, "The class is dismissed; I will never hear a recitation under a
traitor's flag!" And away we went.
Lincoln's proclamation calling for 75,000 men from Virginia, to whip in
the seceded States, was immediately followed by the ordinance of
secession, and the idea of union was abandoned by all. Recitation-bells
no longer sounded; our books were left to gather dust, and forgotten,
save only to recall those scenes that filled our minds with the mighty
deeds and prowess of such characters as the "Ruling Agamemnon" and his
warlike cohorts, and we could almost hear "the terrible clang of
striking spears against shields, as it resounded throughout the army."
There was much that seems ludicrous as we recall it now. The youths of
the community, imbued with the idea that "cold steel" would play an
important part in the conflict, provided themselves with huge
bowie-knives, fashioned by our home blacksmith, and with these fierce
weapons swinging from their belts were much in evidence. There were
already several organized military companies in the county. The
Rockbridge Rifles, and a company of cavalry left Lexington April 17,
under orders from Governor John Letcher, our townsman, who had just been
inaugurated Governor of Virginia, to report at Harper's Ferry. The
cavalry company endeavored to make the journey without a halt, and did
march the first sixty-four miles in twenty-four hours.
The students formed a company with J. J. White, professor of Greek, as
their captain. Drilling was the occupation of the day; the students
having excellent instructors in the cadets and their professors. Our
outraged president had set out alone in his private carriage for his
former home in the North.
Many of the cadets were called away as drillmasters at camps established
in different parts of the South, and later became distinguished officers
in the Confederate Army, as did also a large number of the older alumni
of the Institute.
The Rockbridge Artillery Company was organized about this time, and,
after a fortnight's drilling with the cadets' battery, was ordered to
the front, under command of Rev. W. N. Pendleton, rector of the
Episcopal Church, and a graduate of West Point, as captain.
The cadets received marching orders, and on that morning, for the first
time since his residence in Lexington, Major Jackson was seen in his
element. As a professor at the Virginia Military Institute he was
remarkable only for strict punctuality and discipline. I, with one of my
brothers, had been assigned to his class in Sunday-school, where his
regular attendance and earnest manner were equally striking.
It was on a beautiful Sunday morning in May that the cadets received
orders to move, and I remember how we were all astonished to see the
Christian major, galloping to and fro on a spirited horse, preparing for
their departure.
In the arsenal at the Institute were large stores of firearms of old
patterns, which were hauled away from time to time to supply the troops.
I, with five others of the College company, was detailed as a guard to a
convoy of Wagons, loaded with these arms, as far as Staunton. We were
all about the same size, and with one exception members of the same
class. In the first battle of Manassas four of the five--Charles Bell,
William Wilson, William Paxton and Benjamin Bradley--were killed, and
William Anderson, now Attorney-General of Virginia, was maimed for life.
There was great opposition on the part of the friends of the students to
their going into the service, at any rate in one body, but they grew
more and more impatient to be ordered out, and felt decidedly offended
at the delay.
Finally, in June, the long-hoped-for orders came. The town was filled
with people from far and near, and every one present, old and young,
white and black, not only shed tears, but actually sobbed. My father had
positively forbidden my going, as his other three sons, older than
myself, were already in the field. After this my time was chiefly
occupied in drilling militia in different parts of the country. And I am
reminded to this day by my friends the daughters of General Pendleton of
my apprehensions "lest the war should be over before I should get a
trip."
[Illustration: GUN FROM WHICH WAS FIRED THE FIRST HOSTILE CANNON-SHOT IN
THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA]