of that part of the battlefield after the fight just after dark
near our regiment where I was, inquired what troops were there and
on being told it was the Tenth Vermont at that particular point
Sedgwick said to Meade, "We are safe enough with that regiment!" as
though they doubted the security of their surroundings.
SATURDAY, May 7, 1864.
Weather very warm, but suited to the work we have got to do. We fell
back about a half mile last night, just after Generals Meade and
Sedgwick passed our regiment, to some breastworks in which we lay
on our arms all night. This morning we were moved to a stronger
position on a ridge just to the left of the position we occupied
last night, and threw up very strong breastworks, several brass
cannon having been placed along the ridge before our arrival. We
have remained as support to this artillery all day, but it hasn't
been used. The enemy made an attempt to carry the works to our
left on the pike early this morning but were repulsed in less than
five minutes with a loss of two hundred. We have remained on the
defensive all day. The Second Corps repulsed the enemy just at dark,
as it was trying to carry their works.
Our regiment has not been engaged to-day, but the suspense has
been wearing. The rebel yell when they have made their various
assaults at other places on the line to our left, and the ominous
bull-dog-like silence along our lines till the roar of musketry
commenced when the enemy got in range, made one at the time almost
breathless and his heart to stand still on any part of the line.
It is awful! But the rebel yell makes one clinch his teeth and
determine that it shall be victory for us or death before we will
give up our works. But I don't like war and wish it was well over.
This is the _real_ thing, though! Grant don't _play_ fight.
Our casualties in the Wilderness including the Ninth Corps were
10,220 wounded, 2,902 missing, and 2,265 killed, making a total of
15,387. The Confederate loss was 6,000 wounded, 3,400 missing, and
2,000 killed, making a total of 11,400. The Tenth Vermont lost nine
wounded and three killed.
SUNDAY, May 8, 1864.
It has been _very_ warm and sultry. Our forces commenced a flank
movement last night. We withdrew from the enemy's front about 10
o'clock p. m. and marched, via the Chancellorsville turnpike--where
we passed many trains, our wounded and Burnside's Corps--through the
old battlefield of Chancellorsville of a year ago, as far as Piney
Branch Church, when we left the pike at Alsop's house, and after
marching southerly some time on the Todd's Tavern road formed line
of battle near Alsop's farm about 3 o'clock p. m., our Division
being on the right of the Sixth Corps. We advanced across the Ny
river--a mere creek--but meeting with a sharp artillery fire from
a rebel battery on the opposite ridge to us skirting the valley,
we were ordered to halt. This was about three miles north of
Spottsylvania Court House and is called the Battle of Alsop's Farm.
Our regiment lost sixteen men here. Generals Robinson and Griffin's
Divisions of the Fifth Corps took two thousand prisoners and lost
about one thousand.
We continued to change position from one point to another till just
after passing Spottsylvania when just before dark we found the enemy
in our front in force. It had felled trees across the road which
delayed us considerably, but our artillery soon opened the way for
us. We proceeded about two miles and found the enemy strongly
intrenched across an open slightly rising field from us in the edge
of the woods which was fiercely charged by us but without effect
except to be repulsed with the field covered largely with our killed
and badly wounded. General Meade was in rear of our regiment which
formed a rear line in our assaulting column, superintending the
assault, and when jocularly reminded by a wag that he (Meade) was in
a dangerous place, he graciously replied: "It's safe enough behind
a Vermont regiment anywhere!" Which was a clever thing to say to
the men and they appreciated it. We threw up breastworks after the
assault, uncomfortably close to the enemy and are well fortified,
but not in as naturally a strong position as the enemy. Assaulting
in the dark is unsatisfactory and very demoralizing. It ought not
to be done when it can be avoided, one is so apt to shoot his own
men and straggle into the enemy's lines and be captured; it's very
trying and nerve-taxing. It has been a strenuous day.
MONDAY, May 9, 1864.
Our army's line is about five miles long this morning and runs
northwest by southeast. General Hancock occupies the right followed
by General Warren, Generals Sedgwick and Burnside in the order
mentioned. Our batteries have been shelling the enemy fiercely all
day and this evening, but the heaviest fighting seems to be on our
left. Our regiment was terribly shelled when supporting batteries
which has been all day. We were ordered to lie flat on the ground in
one instant and there's no doubt but what we did for the ground was
a dead level and the shells whistled and shrieked very thickly and
closely over us. It was _terribly_ nerve-trying. The Johnnies didn't
want to see us bad enough though, to come over and call. We could
see many dead between the lines in our front a little to the left
of where we supported a battery this morning, of both armies, as a
result of the assault last night. It is a shocking sight, but such
is war.
TUESDAY, May 10, 1864.
Warm and sultry. The stench from the dead between the lines is
terrible. There has been hard fighting on our right all day. As for
the Tenth Vermont it has been supporting a battery most of the time.
According to rumor we have captured a large number of prisoners and
several pieces of artillery. About 6 o'clock p. m. our batteries
opened a tremendous fire on the enemy's works, and kept it up for
two hours, but with what result I do not know, except that the guns
in our front were silenced. It was a fine artillery duel and the
roar appalling even to a practiced ear. We are getting the best of
Lee in this battle but it's stubborn fighting on both sides.
The accuracy with which our gunners fire is wonderful. I have seen
one piece of the enemy's artillery opposite me turned completely
over backwards carriage and all, by a solid shot from one of our
guns in front of our regiment; it evidently hit the enemy's cannon
square in the muzzle. It is awe-inspiring to see the regularity,
the determined set look and precision with which our begrimed
artillerymen stick to their work; shot and shell screeching close
by don't seem to disturb them. I was spellbound and speechless with
awe and admiration for their splendid pluck and nerve for some
time, at first. No words can picture such a scene. I'd rather be
a "doughboy"[4] though--anything but an artilleryman, for I hate
shells and solid shot. I think I can face anything in a charge
without flinching after this splendid exhibition of nerve.
[4] An infantryman.
Our regiment relieved the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on the skirmish line to-night. I am on lookout in a
grave-like hole about the length of a man some two feet deep on top
of a hillock with cut bushes stuck all about as a mask in the soft
dirt thrown from the hole. The cheerfully suggestive grave-like hole
is wide enough for two, and I have Corporal Shedd with me. Even such
a place is _fine_ under the circumstances for there is a constant
whizzing of bullets and shrieking shells over my abode. We are not
more than fifty yards from our main line so close are the two armies
at this point. We have to relieve each other at night stealthily
under the cover of darkness.
WEDNESDAY, May 11, 1864.
Very sultry until about 5 o'clock p. m. when the heavens became
shrouded with dark and threatening clouds and a terrific
thunder-storm followed, which continued till about dark, when our
whippoorwill again dolefully sang out "Whip-em-well! Whip-em-well!"
as our men are pleased to interpret it. A whippoorwill has appeared
midway between the lines every evening since we left winter camp,
with its solemn song, until the men regard it as a good omen. It
don't seem to occur to them that the enemy may regard it the same
way, as meant for them to whip us.
There has been a furious cannonading kept up by our side all day.
The enemy has made three or four fruitless attempts to plant
batteries, and return the fire in our front, but without success;
has been hard fighting on our left all day by the rest of the
Sixth Corps and General Hancock's men; was relieved from my pit by
Lieut. G. E. Davis. I ache all over from having been in the hole
twenty-four hours in the same position. It wasn't safe to stand up
nor did I try it, as it would draw the sharpshooter's fire up the
trees, etc. One could only occasionally raise his head high enough
to peek under the bushes, during lulls in firing, which masked our
position as the place was almost continually under fire. It is close
by on the ground occupied by our regiment and in its front that
General Sedgwick, our Corps Commander, was killed by a sharpshooter
when locating a battery, and where General W. H. Morris, our Brigade
Commander was wounded when changing the position of two regiments
which makes us doubly cautious. It's a dangerous point being high
and furthest advanced of any part of the line. The stench from the
dead is sickening and terrible.
THURSDAY, May 12, 1864.
Rained all night and incessantly till 10 o'clock a. m. There has
been desperate fighting by the Sixth and Second Corps on our left
all day at the "Bloody Angle" where they have held the enemy back
as well as tried to take its works, but with great loss of life.
This will evidently go down as one of the most bloody and desperate
battles of the war. The Tenth Vermont was relieved by some of the
Fifth Corps about 3 o'clock p. m., our Division having been ordered
further to the left adjoining the "Bloody Angle" or "Slaughter Pen."
Just after we had stacked arms under the brow of a slight ridge next
the bloody angle, Captain H. R. Steele wandered a little distance in
front and almost immediately returned hopping along holding up his
foot saying he was shot. I ordered some of the men to take him to
the hospital.
I am now in command of Company K. The men seem pleased, and I'm sure
I am for I like the Company. The men seem sensible, and I know them
to be reliable good fighters. I am not sure but what they will win
my esteem from Company B, but I never have been fickle; there's
room in my heart for all the men of the gallant old Tenth Vermont.
They have faith in me and it's mutual. They will never be turned
down by me. We are to bivouac on our arms in a dense growth of
pine forest with the enemy immediately a short distance in front.
_Surely_ this fierce struggle of giant armies can't last more than a
day more. Either one or the other will have to yield, and as we have
had the best of it here thus far, it will be Lee.
It is wet and depressing for the "Slaughter Pen" will be our portion
next without Lee withdraws to-night which God grant he may do if it
is His will. The thought that we may have to assault into the jaws
of death at the bloody angle in the gray of the morning is appalling
for I am told there are thousands of dead and uncared for wounded
on the field between the lines, and in the rebel works the dead and
wounded lay in piles, the wounded bound in by the dead several deep.
The rattle and roar of musketry and artillery is dreadful as I write
and may continue all night. I am about to lie down perhaps for my
last sleep, but I'm too exhausted to have the thought keep me awake
for seldom has sleep, sweet sleep, been more welcome. But I have
never thought I should be killed in battle. It's delightful to have
perfect faith--the faith of a child in such a way. It helps one to
go into battle, although I dread being wounded, it shocks the system
so. I never go into a fight or take a railroad journey, though,
without feeling reconciled to yield up my spirit to Him who gave
it if it is His will. This gives one calmness and reconciliation
unspeakable. God be praised for giving me such peace. This is my
prayer.
FRIDAY, May 13, 1864.
My prayer for Lee's withdrawal last night was granted. Our Division
moved to the "Bloody Angle" this morning; it virtually joined our
regiment's left last night. The enemy abandoned the angle during
the night after three days' _desperate_ fighting. No pen can fully
describe the appearance of the battlefield--and yet our wounded and
dead have been cared for, and some of the enemy's, by us and _such_
are mostly out of view. The sight of the enemy's dead is something
dreadful. There are _three_ dead lines of battle a half mile more or
less in length--men killed in every conceivable manner. The wounded
are fairly bound in by the dead. Lee abandoned his works leaving
most of his wounded, and all his dead in our hands unburied. Several
pieces of artillery were taken. Prisoners say that General Lee
fought in person as it meant the loss of his army if his line was
broken here, as well as Richmond.
No wonder from its present appearance this place has been christened
the "Bloody Angle" and the "Slaughter Pen." For several hundred
yards--fully a half mile or more--in the edge of the heavy oak
forest of immense trees skirting an open field, the enemy's works
are faultlessly strong of large oak logs and dirt shoulder high with
traverses fifty feet back every sixty feet or so. This breastwork is
filled with dead and wounded where they fell, several deep nearly
to the top in front, extending for forty feet more or less back
gradually sloping from front to rear, to one deep before the ground
can be seen. The dead as a whole as they lie in their works are like
an immense wedge with its head towards the works. Think of such a
mass of dead! hundreds and hundreds piled top of each other! At the
usual distance in rear of these breastworks--about ninety feet--are
two more complete dead lines of battle about one hundred feet apart
the dead bodies lying where the men fell in line of battle shot dead
in their tracks. The lines are perfectly defined by dead men so
close they touch each other. Many of the bodies have turned black,
the stench is terrible, and the sight shocking beyond description. I
saw several wounded men in the breastworks buried under their dead,
just move a hand a little as it stuck up through the interstices
above the dead bodies that buried the live ones otherwise completely
from sight. Imagine such a sight if one can! It is indescribable!
It was sickening, distressing and shocking to look upon! But, above
all, think if one can of the feelings of the brave men who, regiment
after regiment, were marched up in line of battle time and again
for several days to fight with such a sight confronting them! Could
anything in Hades be any worse? Only the misery I imagine, of an
uneasy conscience at some great wrong done an innocent person could
exceed it. It seems like a horrible nightmare! Such intrepidity is
worthy of a better cause. Was there ever before such a shocking
battlefield? Will the historian ever correctly record it? No pen can
do it. The sight of such a horror _only_ can fully portray it.
The First and Second Divisions of the Sixth Corps and Hancock's men
have done most of the fighting today at the "Bloody Angle." The
Sixth Corps has lost eight hundred and forty wounded and two hundred
and fifty killed. The loss of our army at Spottsylvania Court
House has been five thousand two hundred and thirty-three of which
number nine hundred have been killed. Our Division has lost in this
fight to-day twenty-three killed and one hundred and twenty-three
wounded. I examined this forenoon an oak tree fully eighteen inches
in diameter felled by being cut off by minie bullets at the apex of
the "Bloody Angle" occupied by the enemy. I could hardly believe my
eyes, but there stood the stump and the felled tree with the wood
for two feet or more all eaten away by bullets.[5]
[5] The stump of this tree is on exhibition at the War Department in
Washington, D. C., or was a few years since--L. A. A.
SATURDAY, May 14, 1864.
We were aroused several times during the night by sharp firing on
the skirmish line. About daylight we received an order to move
further to the left, and soon found ourselves on the extreme flank
of the old line of battle. Soon after we left our old position, the
skirmish line that had caused us so much trouble during the night
was captured. We found on examination that Lee's army fell back
during the night still further. We moved about two miles towards
Spottsylvania Court House, charged across the valley and Ny river,
and took possession of the heights where Lee's headquarters were
this morning relieving the First Division of our Corps which had
been hotly engaged. Thus we virtually part with the stage on which
was fought one of the greatest battles of modern times if not in
history, and no one regrets it; it seems like a horrible dream. But
how about the uneasy souls--the remorse of those who are responsible
for this war in the hereafter? What does it all mean, anyway? Is man
irresponsible? Should he not have a care? Verily!
SUNDAY, May 15, 1864.
Cloudy, with a bracing air; have thrown up a line of rifle pits
along our front. The army is quiet to-day; very little cannonading
heard. Divine services were held in nearly every regiment in the
Brigade; wrote to Pert this forenoon. The Sixth Corps is encamped on
as beautiful a plantation as I ever saw. It seems a pity to spoil
such finely laid out grounds, but such is war. The whole Division
got ready to move about 6 o'clock a. m. but as the enemy remained
quiet we did. There's no picket firing to-night. I'm so tired and
lousy I do wish we could stay somewhere long enough to wash and boil
our underclothing. However, the general officers are as lousy as
the rest of us for lice in war times know no caste. I saw a General
lousing to-day. I hope this won't shock anyone when they read it
after I have passed along. It's a part of the history of the civil
war though, and should be recorded.
MONDAY, May 16, 1864.
It was sultry and warm until 4 o'clock p. m. when relief came
through a fierce thunder-storm; no fighting; remained quietly in
camp all day; much appreciated mail came to-night; got two letters
from Pert, one from Abby and one from Dr. J. H. Jones. I know not
how long we shall remain in this position, but God grant that this
suspense will soon be ended. I dread another such battle as that of
last week and hope we may avoid one for a while, anyway.
TUESDAY, May 17, 1864.
Cloudy with wind; regiment has been on the skirmish line; have
advanced about a mile by swinging our left round nearly parallel
with our present line of battle; met with no opposition; enemy seems
to be in the valley between the two flanks of our army; no news
to-day; army very quiet; can't continue long, as Grant seems to
be cautiously working round both flanks of the enemy; things look
suspicious to-night; mistrust something's afoot.
WEDNESDAY, May 18, 1864.
We were ordered to withdraw our line this morning at 3 o'clock which
we did without difficulty; found our Corps had gone to the extreme
right of the line to reinforce the Second Corps, quite a little
brush having occurred between it and the enemy this morning which
was repulsed and driven back into the valley; occupy the same ground
we did yesterday; have orders to march in the morning at daylight;
another mail came this evening; all's quiet. Perly Farrer was killed
to-day on the skirmish line. He was a good boy, a member of my old
Company B, of which I am so proud and fond. His remains will be
numbered with the unknown dead, as it will be impossible to send
them north now. He was a brave man and died manfully doing his whole
duty. We can't even reach his body now.
THURSDAY, May 19, 1864.
We were ready according to orders to march early this morning.
General Burnside moved his Corps to the left of us during the night.
We all moved about a mile and a half to the left and threw up a
new line of entrenchments: enemy about twelve hundred yards in our
front; weather fine; small shower about 5 o'clock p. m. cooled the
air greatly; enemy quiet in our front, but heard heavy guns about
dark on the extreme left; don't know the cause or result.
FRIDAY, May 20, 1864.
Weather very warm and sultry; showery towards night; enemy in front
all day; neither side seem ready for another fight at present; no
picket firing to-day to mention. General Meade rode along the line
and seemed much pleased with our breastworks; said if we could hold
them eight days we should be all right; don't know what he meant by
this; mail to-day; all's quiet.
SATURDAY, May 21, 1864.
Very warm and sultry until about 5 o'clock p. m. when quite a
hard thunder-storm come up and cooled off the air; remained in
our breastworks until about 4 o'clock p. m. when the first line
was abandoned for the second where we remained about an hour when
all withdrew. Our Division was in rear and had not gone more than
twenty-five rods from our works when the rebs charged on our picket
line but without effect in our front, except to make us double
quick back and reoccupy our intrenchments where we remained about
two hours then quietly withdrew and marched all night. It's been a
worrying day. Since the fourteenth we've done nothing but march and
countermarch and change about.
SUNDAY, May 22, 1864.
The enemy appeared on our right flank about 3 o'clock a. m.
evidently with the intention of cutting us off from the rest of the
army, but didn't succeed. It has been very warm all day, and by
far the most difficult marching we have had during the campaign;
encamped near Bowling Green. General Hancock is reported ten miles
ahead of us; no fighting to-day.
MONDAY, May 23, 1864.
We were ordered to be in readiness to march at 4 o'clock this
morning, but did not start till near 9 o'clock a. m.; marched until
about 11 o'clock a. m., and encamped about three miles from the
North Anna river; heavy artillery firing heard in the direction of
the river; have not heard the result; very warm all day, but the
men bear the heat grandly. General Longstreet's Corps is only about
three miles ahead of us from which it would seem we are chasing
him--anyway, have captured many of his stragglers. It's intensely
hot.
TUESDAY, May 24, 1864.
The weather continues very warm, but thanks to the citizens along
our line of march for their ice houses we are doing very well by
helping ourselves to such needed comforts as happen to be in sight.
Probably they would rather the Johnnies should have them, but they
are on their last legs--they are playing out. We broke camp this
morning about 6 o'clock a. m.; arriving at the North Anna river
about 10 o'clock a. m.; found the Fifth Corps had crossed last night
after a hard artillery duel which was what we heard. We crossed the
river at Jericho Mills and laid on the south side of the river until
6 o'clock p. m., and then moved to the left to reinforce General
Russell; saw General U. S. Grant to-day for the first time, at his
mess table under a tent fly; was in his shirtsleeves; good view.
The men enjoyed the bathing this afternoon greatly. The whole army
seemingly has been in swimming. At any rate I never saw so many in
bathing at once before or those who seemed to enjoy it more. It was
a sight to be remembered. We marched towards the South Anna river
till 8 o'clock p. m. when we ran into the enemy's pickets, fell back
a little, camped and threw up breastworks.
WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1864.
It has been a very warm day, but we have not had to march much;
laid on our arms in line of battle last night behind our works at
Quarles' Mills; no skirmishing in front till this morning. A portion
of the Sixth Corps passed by us to the left and ran into the enemy
a few rods beyond. Our brigade started about 10 o'clock a. m. and
marched to Noles Station as did the First Division of our Corps. We
burned the depot, destroyed the Virginia Central Railroad for about
seven miles, and returned to the train; remained there about an
hour, changed position to the left about two miles and camped for
the night.
THURSDAY, May 26, 1864.
We were ordered on picket last night; no appearance of any enemy
in our front; men enjoying the novelty of foraging greatly; rained
hard about an hour this morning and has been cloudy and gloomy all
day; has been quiet most of the time along the line, too; not much
going on save the countermarching of troops; possibly General Grant
is covering another flank movement; enemy seem to be in force on the
south side of Little river.
FRIDAY, May 27, 1864.