THE STAFF
Staff of First Corps--Kirkwood Rangers escort--A camp dinner party in
state--Lee's aggressiveness--Ropes's description of Lee--Duties of the
staff.
The organization of the army having been described, it is time to show
the staff of the First Army Corps; thus, October, 1862:
Major G. M. Sorrel, A. A. G. and Chief of Staff.
Major John W. Fairfax, A. A. G. and Inspector.
Major Osmun Latrobe, A. A. G. and Inspector.
Lieut.-Col. P. T. Manning, Chief of Ordnance.
Captain F. W. Dawson, Assistant to Chief of Ordnance.
Major Thomas Walton, A. D. C.
Captain Thomas Goree, A. D. C.
Lieutenant Blackwell, A. D. C.
Major R. J. Moses, Chief Commissary of Subsistence.
Major Mitchell, Chief Quartermaster.
Captain J. H. Manning, Signal Officer.
Surgeon J. S. D. Cullen, Medical Director.
Surgeon R. Barksdale, Medical Inspector.
Surgeon Kellum, Medical Inspector.
Assistant Surgeon Thomas Maury, Assistant to Medical Director.
Major Chichester, Commissary of Subsistence.
Major I. G. Clarke, Engineer Corps.
Of the names of those starting out with Longstreet at the beginning
only a few have already been given. The others were added as the
command grew in strength and wants. Some of those here named may not
have joined until a little later than this time, which I fix at about
November 15, 1862. Latrobe, a Marylander, had been serving with D. R.
Jones's small division. Upon its being broken up he came to us and
proved most acceptable to the Lieutenant-General, and a valuable staff
officer. He was eventually to succeed me when I was in 1864 promoted
to command in another corps. Moses, the chief commissary, had been a
leading lawyer in Georgia, and was now a most intelligent, efficient
officer. He was much older than most of us, but "bon comrade," and had
an exhaustless fund of incident and anecdote, which he told inimitably.
Latrobe, whom I often see, is my dear friend as I write; in fine health
and good condition; big in body and frame as he is in heart. To corps
headquarters at this time was attached a good troop of cavalry for
courier and escort service. It was the Kirkwood Rangers, from South
Carolina, first commanded by Captain Shannon, then by Captain Tobey.
Captain Shannon was that excellent man, somewhat advanced in years,
and retired, who was forced into a duel in South Carolina, and killed.
The staff well understood their General and he knew them; they worked
together with good results and never did one of them fail him.
An officer who might also be numbered on the staff was Colonel E. P.
Alexander, although he commanded the reserve artillery; but Longstreet
thought so well of his engineering and reconnoitering abilities that he
kept him very near headquarters.
While the three Englishmen were visiting us it was decided to give
them a dinner. Two hospital tents were thrown together and made a fine
mess hall, embellished with trophies of arms and flags. Flowers and
ferns did the rest for decoration. For the table there were planks
on trestles, and the same for seats. The countryside was generous in
lending, as well as giving provisions, and our fête did not lack a good
white covering over its bare boards. Provisions were plentiful outside
the army rations, and I aver that on this occasion they were paid for
honestly. Young pig, well fattened, turkeys, fowls, fresh beef, and
vegetables topped off the commissary's pork and hardtack. There were
good cooks at our call, and the negro servants of the officers fairly
grinned with delight at such a feast. We had many officers of note
to meet our guests, and the function went off most agreeably. The
absence of wine was conspicuous, but no one lacked for good whiskey,
and perhaps before parting it had been tasted too often by some. After
dinner came cards--poker. The Englishmen, except Wolseley, knew the
game and enjoyed it. I know that I was a considerable loser, then a
turn of chance brought me even, and soon we quit for bed, my last real
game of poker to this date.
The army had now been long enough under Lee to satisfy all that he
meant fighting, always fighting. That was the business of the army, and
only by fighting could Virginia be cleared of the enemy and Richmond
made secure. When he first took command there were a few unthinking
speeches made. He had fortified Richmond, and like a skilful general
knew the value of field-works and temporary entrenchments. Some in the
army were given to speak of him as the "King of Spades" who would never
allow us to show fighting. The past fourteen months had indeed opened
the eyes of these sneerers.
Ropes, the distinguished Northern military historian, writing always,
even in the most heated controversy, fairly and dispassionately, has
this to say for our hero, en passant, in one of his books, having
already once declared him "The most accomplished soldier of the day":
At the time of his appointment to the command of the Army of Northern
Virginia, General Lee was 55 years of age, in perfect health,
vigorous, robust, of a commanding presence. His character, public and
private, was of the highest. In intellect it may be doubted whether he
was superior to the able soldier whom he succeeded; indeed, Joseph E.
Johnston possessed as good a military mind as any general on either
side; but in that fortunate combination of qualities, physical,
mental, and moral, which go to make up a great commander, General Lee
was unquestionably more favored than any of the leaders of the Civil
War. He possessed at once the entire confidence of his Government
and the unquestioning and enthusiastic devotion of the army. He had
no rival, either in the councils of the Richmond War Department or
in the colloquies around camp-fires. Lee's position was unique. No
army commander on either side was so universally believed in, so
absolutely trusted. Nor was there ever a commander who better deserved
the support of his Government and the affection and confidence of his
soldiers.
With the growth of Longstreet's command my duties had become doubly
important, and with weighty responsibilities. The General left much to
me, both in camp and on the field. As chief of his staff it was my part
to respond to calls for instruction and to anticipate them. The General
was kept fully advised after the event, if he was not near by at the
time; but action had to be swift and sure, without waiting to hunt him
up on a different part of the field.
The change of movement of a brigade or division in battle certainly
carried a grave responsibility, but it has often to be faced by the
chief staff officer if the general happened to be out of reach.
Nearly two years of war on a grand scale had given me experience and
confidence, and Longstreet was always generous with good support when
things were done apparently for the best. This gave me good prestige in
our large corps, and I found hosts of friends among officers and men.
The reorganization had made the First Corps 40,000 strong, effective,
by the time it got to Fredericksburg in December. Jackson's Second
Corps was fully 38,000 strong.