The Wilderness campaign.
April 29th, we pulled up stakes again, and entered upon our last
campaign. We broke camp and marched to Warrenton, a distance of thirty
miles, and on the next morning continued on in the direction of
Culpepper, and rejoined our old comrades of the main army, in the
evening of that day.
We all knew that we were on the eve of an important campaign, and one
that would in all probability close the war. The soldiers were very
enthusiastic, and had the utmost confidence in the two great
commanders who were to lead them.
On the 3rd of May there was great excitement in camp, and all
anxiously waited for orders to move. The army had been reinforced, and
everything now appeared to be in readiness to commence the campaign
that was to end the war.
Directly after mid-night, May 4th. the reveille was beat, and was
heard echoing and re-echoing all along the line of camps, and soon
after the great movement against the rebel capitol had begun. Our
corps (the Fifth) moved in the direction of Germania ford on the
Rapidan river, and having crossed at that point, we marched until four
o'clock in the afternoon, when we halted for the night, having marched
fully thirty miles. Our camp for the night was in the vicinity of the
Wilderness tavern. About sunrise on the 5th we continued the march but
had not gone far, when we found the enemy in our front. Preparation
was immediately made to give them battle. Our position was on the Lacy
farm, until ten o'clock, when we moved to Parker's store and formed
line of battle, our regiment and the Bucktails being on the extreme
left.
John W. Urban in his "Battlefield and Prison pen" says, "Capt. Wasson
of Co. D, was ordered to take his company and move through the woods
beyond for the purpose of reconnoitering the enemy's lines." This is
an error. The party was made up of a special detail of twenty men, two
from each company in the regiment. Captains Minnigh and Wasson were in
charge, and the actual mission was entirely unknown to Capt. Wasson,
who was ordered to take charge of the men and assist Capt. Minnigh, in
the duty which had been secretly communicated to him. Wasson, nor any
of the men knew what was to be done. Fortunately, I have in my
possession the order, delivered to me, at Division Head-quarters, on
said occasion. This order reads as follows:--
"Captain, You will proceed, at once, to the front bearing slightly to
the left, to the Plank-road, and (if possible,) find out what troops
are moving on it & in which direction they are moving."
It was intimated at the same time, that the mission was of a
_peculiar_ character, and that Capt. Wasson would obey my orders.
Comrade Urban's description of our advance, is in the main correct,
but when we found the enemy before us, I asked Capt. Wasson to
withdraw a few paces into the woods through which we had advanced,
then and there informing him of the orders placed in my hands. He
began at once to put on airs, (a habit of his,) and positively refused
to obey my orders. He advanced the detail out into an open field, when
one single shot stampeded the party, and they returned to our line,
with the enemy on their heels.
I abandoned the detail hastily, and moving toward the left parallel
with the Plank-road, soon discovered the enemy on that road, moving
toward the extreme right of the position occupied by the Union army,
which movement culminated in the attack on the outpost position
occupied by the Penn'a reserves, and upon the Sixth corps later on.
Having accomplished my mission, I had no trouble in getting back to
our line, and reported to Head-quarters, when the advance at the
Parker house had been forced back to the main line, and when the
Seventh Reserves had been captured. My impression has always been,
that if Capt. Wasson had heeded my advice, the enemy would not have
made the advance on our front at Parker's, and the Seventh regiment
would not have been taken prisoners. I do not fear to speak upon this
point, as the question has been considerably agitated, as to what led
to the capture referred to.
If Co. D, was sent out on a reconnisance, as stated by Urban, I am
unacquainted with the fact.
Urban also says, that subsequently, "Lieut. Wilder, (we presume he
means Weidler,) and ten men were sent on a reconnoisance in the same
direction, and encountered the enemy, and after being driven back,
Companies C and K were sent to dislodge them; but finding the enemy in
strong force, fell back in haste to our lines."
It is not our object to contradict this last quotation, but it does
seem to us, that this jumble of details from one single regiment, out
of a whole division, needs an explanation at least.
A single proof of the correctness of the statement I have here made,
is this:--Gen'l Crawford was much surprised when I reported to him,
all begrimmed with dirt and smoke, having passed through the burning
woods on my return to our line. Having reported, he said, "We never
expected to see you again, ... but, your service shall be duly
reported to the Secretary of war." This may account for the peculiar
wordding of the Commission as Brevet-Major, now in my possession,
which reads as follows:--"_for gallant and meritorious services in the
Wilderness campaign, Virginia, May 5,. 1864_." Here we leave this
subject.
Safely back to the Lacy farm we rested for the night, waiting
anxiously for the dawning of another day, that the terrible conflict
might be continued.
Early on the morning of the 6th, the rebel forces were concentrated
against Hancock on the left, where a terrible battle raged nearly all
day. Such a continuous roar of musketry, inasmuch as artillery could
not be used, we never heard in all our experience before.
During the heavy fighting on the left, we became engaged with the
enemy in our front, driving them back, and in the evening started to
the aid Hancock, but not being needed we returned to our old position.
Under cover of the night, Lee rapidly moved a heavy column forward,
and hurled them on our extreme right. Our division was ordered to the
support of Sedgwick, whose communication had been severed from the
main army. In the darkness we felt our way cautiously, but our
services were not needed, as the Sixth corps had stopped the advance
of the enemy, so we returned to our former position.
And now one of the peculiar movements, from the right to the left
flank commenced, preserving all the while an unbroken front.
We moved slowly during the night of the 6th, but as the new day dawned
we moved faster, and by nine or ten o'clock it was a double-quick. It
was said to have been a race between Grant and Lee for position at
Spottsylvania Court House, and Lee won the race, securing the
position, having had the inside track.