river). The old flag was raised with wild cheers from its parapet; and
eight cannon were quickly unlimbered in the field beyond. A smaller,
intermediate outwork was still held between this and Fort Magruder. In
front of it a line of rebel skirmishers deployed, but were quickly
dispersed and forced to retire. In five minutes the Union guns were
playing, some on the great fort at six hundred yards distance, the rest
on the woods to the north, through which the rebels were retreating on
their main body.
Just then the clouds broke away in the west, and a flood of light came
in upon the whole panorama. Nothing could be more beautiful and
inspiriting. The deserted rebel forts, surmounted with Federal colors;
Hancock’s infantry awaiting orders in battle line; a signal officer
waving to the centre his flag-signals from the parapet of work No. 3;
the long fire-belching, smoke-canopied curve of Fort Page in the
distance; still further beyond, white flashes, and huge clouds of smoke
appearing from Hooker’s battle-ground on the left, of whose desperate
contest the stunning roll of musketry and roar of cannon gave true
token—all these combined formed a broad battle-picture worthy of Varney.
Wheeler’s artillery fired with precision and rapidity for an hour, the
fort answering gun for gun. But the rebel infantry seemed to have their
hands full in managing Hooker, and as it was not yet practicable to
storm the fort, the Union forces found little to do, and stood under
fire of the artillery with small loss, awaiting a share in the business.
It was not long in coming, and came in the shape which more than one
observer had feared from the outset. It was preceded at four o’clock by
one of those dead, ominous half hour pauses which so often make the
decisive turn of an engagement. Many thought the enemy were retreating.
Others, who have had occasion to dread these still and awful lapses from
the bloody work of a field-day, prognosticated an unknown danger
impending close at hand.
Suddenly there burst from the woods on the right flank a battalion of
rebel cavalry! Then, to the right and left of the horse, three regiments
of infantry supporting it!
But General Hancock was equal to the crisis. Forming his infantry
against this sudden attack, he held them in magnificent order, while the
rebel foot and horse came on, cheering, firing, and charging in gallant
and imposing style. Wheeler’s battery turned and poured hot volleys into
them as they came, and over five thousand muskets riddled them through
and through. But they kept on—nearer—nearer—closing up, cheering, and
sure of their power to sweep the Federals before them.
[Illustration: [Battle]]
Thus they came, swifter than it can be told, until their line, now
broken and irregular, was within two hundred yards of the unwavering
columns. Then Hancock showed himself the coolest and bravest of the
brave. Taking off his hat, and using the courtly prefix of the olden
time, he said: “_Ready, now! Gentlemen_, CHARGE!” The whole line swept
forward, as the reaper’s sickle rushes through the grain. Its keen edge
had not yet touched the enemy, when his ranks broke simultaneously, fled
in confusion to the rear, and the field of Williamsburg was won.
About five o’clock P. M. some excitement was caused in the rear, and
soon an officer, with his staff, rode to the opening in the woods where
he could get a view of the field. It was General McClellan. The moment
he was seen, loud and deafening cheers rose up along the lines of the
centre, and rolled away to the right and left, imparting a new
enthusiasm to the forces. The chief officers were quickly consulted, and
reinforcements were sent to the aid of Hancock and Hooker. Hancock’s
brilliant and successful charge had already won the day on the right,
and the effect of it in the panic and rout of the rebels was becoming
sensibly felt in front of Hooker’s division, when the long-looked for
assistance came to his side. The rebels promptly retired, and the
desperate struggle of the day closed on a splendidly contested field.
The men were compelled to bivouack on the ground, with the rain still
falling, in proud anticipation of a renewal of the conflict in the
morning.
The rebels had been reinforced as late as five o’clock, and it was
expected that General Johnston would command them in the morning in
person, but the opportune appearance of the Federal reinforcements,
together with the successful movements of General Hancock, created a
panic among them, and they fell back on Williamsburg, and commenced
their hasty retreat from that place. At two o’clock on Tuesday morning
the Federal forces began to move. As they approached Williamsburg they
found the way clear, and on coming up to the city the rear guard of the
foe were flying on the road toward Richmond, leaving the town to be
occupied by the Federal troops. General McClellan appointed General
Jameson Military Governor of the place, and the troops marched through
the main street of the city to the homely, but glorious and
soul-stirring strains of “Yankee Doodle.”
The houses, churches, barns and stables were found filled with the
wounded of the rebel army, as well as the Federals whom they had taken
prisoners. It was a sad, heart-rending scene, those brave soldiers
mangled, dying and dead. The Federal troops immediately commenced the
work of burial, while the surgeons found incessant occupation in the
discharge of their duties. The battle field presented a frightful scene
of carnage, and several days passed before all the dead and wounded
stragglers were found in the woods and among the underbrush where they
had fallen.
The loss of the Federals was about 500 killed, 1,600 wounded, and 623
prisoners. That of the rebels was somewhat greater in killed and
wounded. Five hundred prisoners fell into Federal hands. Some hundred of
the rebel dead were buried on the day following the battle.
Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, of the Eighth Alabama, formerly United States
Senator, was found dead on the field.
Thirty-five regiments of the rebels were engaged in the action, that
number being represented by the wounded men left after the battle.
BATTLE OF WEST POINT, VA.
MAY 7, 1862.
West Point is the name given to the landing-place at the head of the
York river, which is formed by the junction of the Pamunkey and
Mattapony rivers, and is thirty miles above Yorktown.
After the evacuation of that place, and the entrance of the Federal
troops, the Union army proceeded in its advance toward Richmond by
different routes, as already detailed. One column marched by the land
route, under Heintzelman, Sumner, Hooker, Kearney and Keyes, while
General Franklin led his corps by transports up the York river to West
Point, leaving Yorktown at nine o’clock, on Tuesday morning, May 6th.
The banks of the river presented a fine appearance, and white flags were
displayed from many of the houses. The house of Mr. Bigler, a firm
loyalist, was almost covered with an immense flag, bearing the stars and
stripes, while one of the ladies of the house waved the beautiful emblem
of peace along its folds, from one of the windows. The rebels had set
fire to a valuable mill belonging to Mr. Bigler, and its ruins were
still sending up great clouds of smoke into the air, a lurid witness of
the destruction which had marked their progress. The army arrived at
West Point about two o’clock, P. M., and commenced its disembarkation.
In consequence of the shallowness of the approach by water, it became
necessary to use pontoon boats and scows to facilitate the landing.
Operations were therefore slow; but the troops were landed by midnight.
The rebels did not dispute the landing. Pickets were immediately thrown
out into the woods in front, the roads leading to the landing-place
examined, and trees were thrown across the roads. The pickets were
occasionally engaged during the night, but only two or three of the
Federals were lost in these irregular skirmishes. The night was spent in
active labors and in jealously watching the movements of the foe.
At half-past three o’clock the next morning, the whole division was
under arms. At six o’clock information that the enemy was approaching
was received, and the troops prepared at once to meet him. The Gosline
Zouaves, (Pennsylvania,) New York Sixteenth, Eighteenth, Thirty-first
and Thirty-second, and Maine Fifth were ordered to take the advance; the
New Jersey brigade following them up as a reserve. The Fourth New Jersey
having in its front a marsh, and immediately on its far side a piece of
woods, from which the enemy could fire upon it with advantage, Colonel
Simpson ordered his fine body of pioneers to throw a bridge over the
creek. This was the work of a few moments, and his regiment, by
direction of Colonel Taylor, took possession of the woods, and were
strongly posted behind a ravine, ready to deliver a telling fire upon
the rebels, in the contingency of the Fifth Maine, immediately in front,
being driven back. This contingency, however, did not occur.
The Thirty-second New York, Colonel Matteson, of Newton’s brigade, was
directed to clear the wood of rebels, who had made their presence known
to the pickets. The Sixteenth New York was ordered to the same work in
other portions of the wood. The Thirty-second proceeded to execute their
duty. Entering the wood they came upon a ravine, at the bottom of which
they were fired upon by the rebel skirmishers. They charged at once,
delivering a galling fire upon the enemy’s position. The enemy retired,
the troops following until a second ravine appeared in view. In
attempting to cross this the rebels from the other side again poured a
volley into them with considerable effect. They had not, however, the
power to drive back the Federal troops, who gallantly pursued the
rebels, delivering their fire upon them, or rather upon their position,
for they kept themselves adroitly concealed by the woods. At a third and
last ravine, the rebels had erected a breastwork on the opposite side,
from which they opened on the Federals with small arms, and grape and
canister from mountain howitzers. The Thirty-second charged gallantly up
to within a few feet of the work, but were forced to fall back from the
superior force of the enemy. They retired in admirable order. There were
only seven companies of the Thirty-second regiment engaged against
Alabama, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee troops.
At two o’clock, P. M., the gunboats, three in number, opened fire upon
the enemy from their large guns, the shells apparently taking effect in
the right quarter, for the enemy soon afterwards retired, their battery
being silenced on the first shot from the boats. The enemy’s retreat
could be traced by the line of smoke in his rear. The retreating rebels
were evidently attempting to destroy every thing on their route. The
Sixteenth and Thirty-first regiments, New York Volunteers, were also
engaged with the enemy in the woods. The loss of the Thirty-second
regiment New York Volunteers was nearly one hundred in killed and
wounded. Three officers,—Captain Young, of company D; Captain Brown, of
company C, and Lieutenant Wallace, of company G—were killed, and
Lieutenant Stone, of company B, and Lieutenant Twaddle, of company F,
wounded severely, and thirteen privates were killed. The total loss in
the different regiments of Newton’s brigade was about two hundred in
killed, wounded and missing. The loss of the rebels was heavy, as was
presumed from the fact that they were seen from the transports carrying
off their dead and wounded in great numbers.
Most of the Federal regiments that took part in this engagement suffered
severely, and many prisoners were taken by the rebels. The timely
service rendered by the gunboats was mainly instrumental in defeating
the enemy.
Captain Montgomery, of General Newton’s staff, had a most extraordinary
escape from the Hampton Legion, into whose picket lines he became
entrapped. Captain Montgomery knew that only the utmost self-possession
could extricate him from his difficulty, and he coolly saluted them.
They supposed he was a rebel officer, and asked him how far General
Hampton was from them. Montgomery told them he had left him about ten
rods distant, and said, “Now, boys, the General expects you to do your
duty to-day!” and turned his horse slowly around to retire. But the
rebels saw the “U. S.” on his cap, and immediately sprang to their feet,
while the Captain was dashing with all the speed of his horse down the
road. But too late. A volley of minie rifle balls whistled round him,
and his horse fell dead, pierced by seven balls. He fell upon Captain
Montgomery’s leg, giving him several severe bruises. The Captain fell
back, with his head in a ditch, where he lay some ten minutes,
pretending to be dead. The rebels came up to him, talking, swearing, and
making their comments on the Yankee, while they rifled his pockets.
The brave fellow lay perfectly still, holding his breath, while these
rude men were searching his person; but a sense of his ludicrous
position came upon him too strongly, and he burst into a hearty fit of
laughter, much to the astonishment of those who believed themselves to
be pillaging a dead body.
Of course, there was no avoiding his fate now, and he surrendered
himself a prisoner of war, with the merry laughter still bright upon his
face. His captors were greatly annoyed by his coolness and his
“shamming,” and were leading him off to headquarters, when a couple of
shells came whizzing through the air and exploding in their midst,
dispersed them. Captain Montgomery seized the opportunity, and plunging
into the woods found his way to the Federal lines, where, after a little
rest, he mounted another horse and joined the fight again.
CHRONOLOGY.
=1860.=
=Nov. 8.= The election of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, as
President and Vice President of the United States, was announced at
Washington.
9–11. James Chesnut, Jr., and James H. Hammond, U. S. Senators from
South Carolina, resigned their seats in the Senate.
=Dec. 3.= The Second Session of the 36th Congress opened at Washington.
10. U. S. House of Representatives appointed a Committee of 33 on the
State of the Union.
10. Howell Cobb, of Georgia, Secretary of the U. S. Treasury, resigned
his office. John A. Dix, of New York, was appointed his successor.
14. Lewis Cass, of Michigan, Secretary of State, resigned.
17. Meeting of the South Carolina State Convention at Columbus, and
adjournment to Charleston.
20. The South Carolina “Ordinance of Secession” passed.
23. Discovery of a large embezzlement of the Indian Trust Funds, in
charge of Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Department of the Interior.
24. Resignation of the South Carolina Representatives in Congress.
25. Intervention of citizens of Pittsburgh, Pa., to prevent the removal
to the South of ordnance in Alleghany Arsenal.
26. Major Anderson removed his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort
Sumter.
26. Messrs. Barnwell, Orr, and Adams, Commissioners appointed by South
Carolina to treat with the Federal Government, arrived at Washington.
27. Captain N. L. Coste, U.S.R. service, in command of the cutter
William Aiken, betrayed his vessel into the hands of the State
authorities of South Carolina.
28. The palmetto flag was raised over the custom house and post-office
in Charleston, S. C., and Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie were
occupied by the South Carolina military.
28. Enthusiastic Union meeting at Memphis, Tenn.
28. Twenty-one guns were fired at Wilmington, Del., in honor of Major
Anderson and his men.
29. John B. Floyd resigned his position as Secretary of War.
30. South Carolina troops took possession of the U.S. Arsenal at
Charleston, containing many thousand stand of arms and valuable military
stores.
=1861.=
=Jan. 2.= Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, dispatched troops to seize Fort
Macon, the forts at Wilmington, and the U.S. Arsenal at Fayetteville.
3. Fort Pulaski, at Savannah, Ga., taken possession of by Georgia
troops, by order of the Governor.
3. South Carolina Commissioners left Washington for Charleston, the
President declining to receive any official communication from them.
4. United States Arsenal at Mobile seized by secessionists. No defence.
4. Fast day, by proclamation of President Buchanan.
4. Fort Morgan, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, taken and garrisoned by
200 Alabama troops.
5. Steamship Star of the West sailed from New York with troops and
provisions for Fort Sumter.
7. Meeting of Alabama State Convention.
7. Meeting of Mississippi State Convention.
7. Meeting of Virginia Legislature.
7. Meeting of Tennessee Legislature.
8. Jacob Thompson resigned his place in the Cabinet, as Secretary of the
Interior.
8. United States sub-Treasury at Charleston seized.
9. Mississippi Ordinance of Secession passed.
9. Steamship Star of the West, with supplies for Fort Sumter, fired into
from Morris’ Island and Fort Moultrie, and driven from Charleston
harbor.
11. Louisiana State troops, under Captain Bradford, took possession of
the U.S. marine hospital, two miles below New Orleans, and ordered the
removal of the patients, 216 in number.
11. Florida Convention adopted an Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 62
to 7.
11. Alabama Convention adopted an Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 61
to 39.
11. Abolition meeting at Rochester, N. Y., broken up by a mob.
12. Senator Seward’s great Union speech in the U.S. Senate.
12. Fort Barrancas and the Navy Yard at Pensacola, Fla., seized by rebel
troops.
15. Col. Hayne, Commissioner from South Carolina to Washington, demanded
the withdrawal of the garrison of Fort Sumter.
15. U. S. coast survey schooner Dana seized by Florida State
authorities.
18. Massachusetts Legislature unanimously tendered to the President of
the U.S. such aid in men and money as he might request to maintain the
authority of the general government.
19. Convention of Georgia adopted a secession ordinance by a vote of 208
to 89.
21. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi, withdrew from U.S. Senate.
24. U. S. arsenal at Augusta, Ga., surrendered to the State authorities.
26. Louisiana Convention passed an ordinance of secession by a vote of
113 to 17. The popular vote afterwards taken was 20,448 for; 17,296
against.
29. U. S. revenue cutter Robert McClelland, Captain Breshwood,
surrendered to State of Louisiana.
29. Secretary Dix’s dispatch to Hemphill Jones at New Orleans, “If any
one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.”
31. South Carolina authorities offered to buy Fort Sumter.
31. U. S. branch mint and custom house at New Orleans seized by State
authorities.
=Feb. 1.= Texas Convention at Galveston passed an ordinance of
secession, to be voted on by the people on the 23d of February, and to
take effect March 2.
1. U. S. revenue cutter Lewis Cass, Capt. Morrison, surrendered to the
State of Louisiana.
4. A convention of delegates from the seceded States organized at
Montgomery, Alabama; Howell Cobb, President, J. F. Hooper, Secretary.
5. Peace Convention at Washington organized; John Tyler, of Va.,
Chairman, J. C. Wright, of Ohio, Secretary.
8. Congress at Montgomery adopted a Constitution for a provisional
government, to go into immediate operation; Jefferson Davis, President,
Alex. H. Stephens, Vice President.
8. U. S. arsenal at Little Rock, Ark., with 9,000 stand of arms and 40
cannon, &c., was surrendered to State authorities.
13. The election of Lincoln and Hamlin, as President and V. President of
the U. S., formally declared in the Senate by John C. Breckinridge, V.
President.
18. Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of the Southern
Confederacy.
22. John Ross, principal Cherokee Chief, rejected a proposition of Gov.
H. M. Rector, of Ark., to entice his nation to take part in the
rebellion.
23. Hon. Abraham Lincoln, President elect, arrived in Washington.
23. U. S. property to a great amount, together with the various army
posts in Texas, surrendered to the rebels by General Twiggs. Property
valued at $1,500,000, besides buildings.
27. Peace Convention, at Washington, submitted to the Senate a plan of
adjustment of the national difficulties, involving seven amendments to
the Constitution.
=March 1.= General Twiggs expelled from the army of the United States.
2. Revenue cutter Dodge seized in Galveston Bay by Texas authorities.
4. Abraham Lincoln inaugurated 16th President of the U. S., at
Washington.
4. A State Convention declared Texas out of the Union.
5. Gen. P. T. Beauregard took command of the forces investing Fort
Sumter, S. C.
6. Fort Brown, Texas, surrendered to State troops.
18. Supplies cut off from Fort Pickens and the Federal fleet in the Gulf
of Mexico, by rebel authorities at Pensacola.
20. Sloop Isabel, at Pensacola, with provision for the Federal fleet,
was seized by the rebels.
21. Great speech of A. H. Stephens, V. President of the Southern
Confederacy, at Savannah, Ga.
30. Mississippi State Convention ratified the Constitution of the C. S.,
by a vote of 78 to 7.
=April 3.= South Carolina Convention ratified the Constitution of the C.
S. by a vote of 114 to 16.
10. Militia organized in District of Columbia for defence of the
capital.
11. Steamship Coatzacoalcos arrived in N. York, bringing Federal troops
from Texas.
11. Confederate States Commissioners left Washington.
12. Attack on Fort Sumter.
12. Reinforcement of Fort Pickens.
14. Evacuation of Fort Sumter.
15. Seventeen vessels from Southern ports, without U. S. clearances,
were seized at New York and fined $100 each.
15. President’s proclamation, calling for 75,000 volunteers to suppress
insurrection, and also calling an extra session of U. S. Congress on
July 4.
16. The government of the Southern Confederacy called for 32,000 men.
16. New York Legislature appropriated $3,000,000 for war purposes.
16. At New York, Philadelphia, Trenton and other places, journals were
compelled to display the American flag.
17. State Convention of Va., in secret session, passed an ordinance of
secession.
18. 500 volunteers from Pennsylvania, and 300 regulars, arrived at
Washington.
18. Lieut. Jones, in charge of Harper’s Ferry arsenal, hearing of the
advance of a large Virginia force to seize the establishment, set fire
to it, and retreated to Carlisle, Pa.
18. Great Union meeting at Wheeling, Va.
19. Seizure of the U. S. transport Star of the West, at Indianola, by
Texas troops under Col. Van Dorn.
19. Sixth Massachusetts regiment on its way to Washington, attacked by a
mob in Baltimore, and 3 killed and 7 wounded. In defending themselves, 7
rebels were killed and 8 wounded.
19. The N. Y. 7th militia, Mass. 4th and 8th militia, and R. I.
Providence Artillery left New York on their way to Washington.
19. Clearances refused to vessels in northern ports to ports south of
Maryland.
20. Eighth Mass. regiment reached Annapolis, Md.
20. Great Union mass meeting of citizens in Union Square, N. Y.
20. 600 kegs of gunpowder, destined for New Orleans, seized by the U. S.
Marshal at New York.
20. Fourth Mass. regiment landed at Fortress Monroe.
20. U. S. arsenal at Liberty, Mo., seized.
20. Steamship Star of the West, having been seized by secessionists, was
taken into New Orleans.
20. The ports of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas, ordered to be blockaded by the President, as those
States were in a state of insurrection against the government.
20. Bridges on Pennsylvania Northern and Philadelphia railway, near
Baltimore, burned by a mob from that city.
21. Gosport Navy Yard, opposite Norfolk, Va., set on fire, and vessels
scuttled and sunk, by U. S. officers in charge, to prevent their seizure
by the rebels.
21. Branch Mint of the U. S. at Charlotte, N. C., seized by order of the
Governor of that State.
21. Philadelphia and Baltimore railway taken possession of by U.S.
government.
21. The N. Y. 6th, 12th, and 71st, and one R. I. and one Mass. regiment,
with a battery, left New York on transports for the Chesapeake.
21. Fourth Mass. regiment arrived at Fortress Monroe.
21. Andrew Johnson, U. S. Senator from Tennessee, mobbed at Lynchburg,
Va.
22. U. S. arsenal at Fayetteville, N. C., containing 37,000 stand of
arms, 3,000 kegs of powder, and a large quantity of shot and shell,
seized by State authority.
22. Depot of U. S. stores at Napoleon, Ark., seized under orders of
Henry M. Rector, Governor of that State.