removed to a place three miles distant, on the Fairfield road. General
Longstreet talked to me for a long time about the battle. He said the
mistake they had made was in not concentrating the army more, and making
the attack yesterday with 30,000 men instead of 15,000. The advance had
been in three lines, and the troops of Hill's corps who gave way were
young soldiers, who had never been under fire before. He thought the
enemy would have attacked had the guns been withdrawn. Had they done so
at that particular moment immediately after the repulse, it would have
been awkward; but in that case he had given orders for the advance of
Hood's division and M'Laws's on the right. I think, after all, that
General Meade was right not to advance--his men would never have stood
the tremendous fire of artillery they would have been exposed to. Rather
over 7000 Yankees were captured during the three days;--3500 took the
parole; the remainder were now being marched to Richmond, escorted by
the remains of Pickett's division. It is impossible to avoid seeing that
the cause of this check to the Confederates lies in the utter contempt
felt for the enemy by all ranks.
Waggons, horses, mules, and cattle captured in Pennsylvania, the solid
advantages of this campaign, have been passing slowly along this road
(Fairfield) all day: those taken by Ewell are particularly admired. So
interminable was this train that it soon became evident that we should
not be able to start till late at night. As soon as it became dark we
all lay round a big fire, and I heard reports coming in from the
different generals that the enemy was _retiring_, and had been doing so
all day long. M'Laws reported nothing in his front but cavalry videttes.
But this, of course, could make no difference to General Lee's plans:
ammunition he must have--he had failed to capture it from the enemy
(according to precedent); and as his communications with Virginia were
intercepted, he was compelled to fall back towards Winchester, and draw
his supplies from thence. General Milroy had kindly left an ample stock
at that town when he made his precipitate exit some weeks ago. The army
was also encumbered with an enormous waggon-train, the spoils of
Pennsylvania, which it is highly desirable to get safely over the
Potomac.
Shortly after 9 P.M. the rain began to descend in torrents. Lawley and I
luckily got into the doctors' covered buggy, and began to get slowly
under way a little after midnight.
[61] The Napoleon 12-pounders are smooth-bore brass guns, with chambers,
very light, and with long range. They were invented or recommended by
Louis Napoleon years ago. A large number are being cast at Augusta and
elsewhere.
* * * * *
_5th July_ (Sunday).--The night was very bad--thunder and lightning,
torrents of rain--the road knee-deep in mud and water, and often blocked
up with waggons "come to grief." I pitied the wretched plight of the
unfortunate soldiers who were to follow us. Our progress was naturally
very slow indeed, and we took eight hours to go as many miles.
At 8 A.M. we halted a little beyond the village of Fairfield, near the
entrance to a mountain-pass. No sooner had we done so and lit a fire,
than an alarm was spread that Yankee cavalry were upon us. Several shots
flew over our heads, but we never could discover from whence they came.
News also arrived of the capture of the whole of Ewell's beautiful
waggons.[62] These reports created a regular stampede amongst the
waggoners, and Longstreet's drivers started off as fast as they could
go. Our medical trio, however, firmly declined to budge, and came to
this wise conclusion, partly urged by the pangs of hunger, and partly
from the consideration that, if the Yankee cavalry did come, the crowded
state of the road in our rear would prevent our escape. Soon afterwards,
some Confederate cavalry were pushed to the front, who cleared the pass
after a slight skirmish.
At noon, Generals Lee and Longstreet arrived, and halted close to us.
Soon afterwards Ewell came up. This is the first time I ever saw him. He
is rather a remarkable-looking old soldier, with a bald head, a
prominent nose, and rather a haggard, sickly face: having so lately lost
his leg above the knee, he is still a complete cripple, and falls off
his horse occasionally. Directly he dismounts he has to be put on
crutches. He was Stonewall Jackson's coadjutor during the celebrated
valley campaigns, and he used to be a great swearer--in fact, he is said
to have been the only person who was unable to restrain that propensity
before Jackson; but since his late (rather romantic) marriage, he has
(to use the American expression) "_joined the Church_." When I saw him
he was in a great state of disgust in consequence of the supposed loss
of his waggons, and refused to be comforted by General Lee.
I joined Longstreet again, and, mounted on Lawley's venerable horse,
started at 3 P.M. to ride through the pass. At 4 P.M. we stopped at a
place where the roads fork, one leading to Emmetsburg, and the other to
Hagerstown. Major Moses and I entered a farmhouse, in which we found
several women, two wounded Yankees, and one dead one, the result of this
morning's skirmish. One of the sufferers was frightfully wounded in the
head; the other was hit in the knee: the latter told me he was an
Irishman, and had served in the Bengal Europeans during the Indian
Mutiny. He now belonged to a Michigan cavalry regiment, and had already
imbibed American ideas of Ireland's wrongs, and all that sort of trash.
He told me that his officers were very bad, and that the idea in the
army was that M'Clellan had assumed the chief command.
The women in this house were great Abolitionists. When Major Fairfax
rode up, he inquired of one of them whether the corpse was that of a
Confederate or Yankee (the body was in the verandah, covered with a
white sheet). The woman made a gesture with her foot, and replied, "If
it was a rebel, do you think it would be here long?" Fairfax then said,
"Is it a woman who speaks in such a manner of a dead body which can do
no one any harm?" She thereupon coloured up, and said she wasn't in
earnest.
At 6 o'clock we rode on again (by the Hagerstown road) and came up with
General Longstreet at 7.30. The road was full of soldiers marching in a
particularly lively manner--the wet and mud seemed to have produced no
effect whatever on their spirits, which were as boisterous as ever. They
had got hold of coloured prints of Mr Lincoln, which they were passing
about from company to company with many remarks upon the personal beauty
of Uncle Abe. The same old chaff was going on of "Come out of that
hat--I know you're in it--I sees your legs a-dangling down," &c. When we
halted for the night, skirmishing was going on in front and rear--Stuart
in front and Ewell in rear. Our bivouac being near a large tavern,
General Longstreet had ordered some supper there for himself and his
Staff; but when we went to devour it, we discovered General M'Laws and
his officers rapidly finishing it. We, however, soon got more, the
Pennsylvanian proprietors being particularly anxious to propitiate the
General, in hopes that he would spare their live stock, which had been
condemned to death by the ruthless Moses.
During supper women came rushing in at intervals, saying--"Oh, good
heavens, now they're killing our fat hogs. Which is the General? which
is the Great Officer? Our milch cows are now going." To all which
expressions Longstreet replied, shaking his head in a melancholy
manner--"Yes, madam, it's very sad--very sad; and this sort of thing has
been going on in Virginia more than two years--very sad."
We all slept in the open, and the heavy rain produced no effect upon our
slumbers.
I understand it is impossible to cross the lines by flag of truce. I
therefore find myself in a dilemma about the expiration of my leave.
[62] It afterwards turned out that all escaped but thirty-eight.
* * * * *
_6th July_ (Monday).--Several horses were stolen last night, mine nearly
so. It is necessary to be very careful, in order to prevent this
misfortune. We started at 6.30, but got on very slowly, so blocked up
was the road with waggons, some of which had been captured and burnt by
the enemy yesterday. It now turned out that all Ewell's waggons escaped
except thirty-eight, although, at one time, they had been all in the
enemy's hands.
At 8.30 we halted for a couple of hours, and Generals Lee, Longstreet,
Hill, and Willcox had a consultation. I spoke to ---- about my
difficulties with regard to getting home, and the necessity of doing so,
owing to the approaching expiration of my leave. He told me that the
army had no intention at present of retreating for good, and advised me
to stop with them and see what turned up; he also said that some of the
enemy's despatches had been intercepted, in which the following words
occur:--"The noble but unfortunate army of the Potomac has again been
obliged to retreat before superior numbers." I particularly observed the
marching to-day of the 21st Mississippi, which was uncommonly good. This
regiment all wear short round jackets, a most unusual circumstance, for
they are generally unpopular in the South.
At 12 o'clock we halted again, and all set to work to eat cherries,
which was the only food we got between 5 A.M. and 11 P.M.
I saw a most laughable spectacle this afternoon--viz., a negro dressed
in full Yankee uniform, with a rifle at full cock, leading along a
barefooted white man, with whom he had evidently changed clothes.
General Longstreet stopped the pair, and asked the black man what it
meant. He replied, "The two soldiers in charge of this here Yank have
got drunk, so for fear he should escape I have took care of him, and
brought him through that little town." The consequential manner of the
negro, and the supreme contempt with which he spoke to his prisoner,
were most amusing. This little episode of a Southern slave leading a
white Yankee soldier through a Northern village, _alone and of his own
accord_, would not have been gratifying to an abolitionist. Nor would
the sympathisers both in England and in the North feel encouraged if
they could hear the language of detestation and contempt with which the
numerous negroes with the Southern armies speak of their liberators.[63]
I saw General Hood in his carriage; he looked rather bad, and has been
suffering a good deal; the doctors seem to doubt whether they will be
able to save his arm. I also saw General Hampton, of the cavalry, who
has been shot in the hip, and has two sabre-cuts on the head, but he was
in very good spirits.
A short time before we reached Hagerstown there was some firing in
front, together with an alarm that the Yankee cavalry was upon us. The
ambulances were sent back; but some of the wounded jumped out, and,
producing the rifles which they had not parted with, they prepared to
fight. After a good deal of desultory skirmishing, we seated ourselves
upon a hill overlooking Hagerstown, and saw the enemy's cavalry driven
through the town pursued by yelling Confederates. A good many Yankee
prisoners now passed us; one of them, who was smoking a cigar, was a
lieutenant of cavalry, dressed very smartly, and his hair brushed with
the greatest care; he formed rather a contrast to his ragged escort, and
to ourselves, who had not washed or shaved for ever so long.
About 7 P.M. we rode through Hagerstown, in the streets of which were
several dead horses and a few dead men. After proceeding about a mile
beyond the town we halted, and General Longstreet sent four cavalrymen
up a lane, with directions to report everything they saw. We then
dismounted and lay down. About ten minutes later (being nearly dark) we
heard a sudden rush--a panic--and then a regular stampede commenced, in
the midst of which I descried our four cavalry heroes crossing a field
as fast as they could gallop. All was now complete confusion;--officers
mounting their horses, and pursuing those which had got loose, and
soldiers climbing over fences for protection against the supposed
advancing Yankees. In the middle of the din I heard an artillery officer
shouting to his "cannoneers" to stand by him, and plant the guns in a
proper position for enfilading the lane. I also distinguished Longstreet
walking about, hustled by the excited crowd, and remarking, in angry
tones, which could scarcely be heard, and to which no attention was
paid, "Now, you don't know what it is--you don't know what it is."
Whilst the row and confusion were at their height, the object of all
this alarm at length emerged from the dark lane in the shape of a
domestic four-wheel carriage, with a harmless load of females. The
stampede had, however, spread, increased in the rear, and caused much
harm and delay.
Cavalry skirmishing went on until quite dark, a determined attack having
been made by the enemy, who did his best to prevent the trains from
crossing the Potomac at Williamsport. It resulted in the success of the
Confederates; but every impartial man confesses that these cavalry
fights are miserable affairs. Neither party has any idea of serious
charging with the sabre. They approach one another with considerable
boldness, until they get to within about forty yards, and then, at the
very moment when a dash is necessary, and the sword alone should be
used, they hesitate, halt, and commence a desultory fire with carbines
and revolvers.
An Englishman, named Winthrop, a captain in the Confederate army, and
formerly an officer in H.M.'s 22d regiment, although not in the cavalry
himself, seized the colours of one of the regiments, and rode straight
at the Yankees in the most gallant manner, shouting to the men to follow
him. He continued to distinguish himself by leading charges until his
horse was unfortunately killed. I heard his conduct on this occasion
highly spoken of by all. Stuart's cavalry can hardly be called cavalry
in the European sense of the word; but, on the other hand, the country
in which they are accustomed to operate is not adapted for cavalry.
---- was forced at last to give up wearing even his Austrian forage-cap;
for the last two days soldiers on the line of march had been visiting
his ambulance in great numbers, under the impression (encouraged by the
driver) that he was a Yankee general. The idea now was that the army
would remain some days in or near its present position until the arrival
of the ammunition from Winchester.
[63] From what I have seen of the Southern negroes, I am of opinion that
the Confederates could, if they chose, convert a great number into
soldiers; and from the affection which undoubtedly exists as a general
rule between the slaves and their masters, I think that they would prove
more efficient than black troops under any other circumstances. But I do
not imagine that such an experiment will be tried, except as a very last
resort, partly on account of the great value of the negroes, and partly
because the Southerners consider it improper to introduce such an
element on a large scale into civilised warfare. Any person who has seen
negro features convulsed with rage, may form a slight estimate of what
the result would be of arming a vast number of blacks, rousing their
passions, and then allowing them free scope.
* * * * *
_7th July_ (Tuesday).--Lawley, the Austrian, and I drove into
Hagerstown this morning, and General Longstreet moved into a new
position on the Williamsport road, which he was to occupy for the
present. We got an excellent room in the Washington Hotel on producing
greenbacks. Public opinion in Hagerstown seems to be pretty evenly
divided between North and South, and probably accommodates itself to
circumstances. For instance, yesterday the women waved their
handkerchiefs when the Yankee cavalry were driven through the town, and
to-day they went through the same compliment in honour of 3500 Yankee
(Gettysburg) prisoners whom I saw marched through _en route_ for
Richmond. I overheard the conversation of some Confederate soldiers
about these prisoners. One remarked, with respect to the Zouaves, of
whom there were a few--"Those red-breeched fellows look as if they could
fight, but they don't, though; no, not so well as the bluebellies."
Lawley introduced me to General Stuart in the streets of Hagerstown
to-day. He is commonly called Jeb Stuart, on account of his initials; he
is a good-looking, jovial character, exactly like his photographs. He
has certainly accomplished wonders, and done excellent service in his
peculiar style of warfare. He is a good and gallant soldier, though he
sometimes incurs ridicule by his harmless affectation and peculiarities.
The other day he rode through a Virginian town, his horse covered with
garlands of roses. He also departs considerably from the severe
simplicity of dress adopted by other Confederate generals; but no one
can deny that he is the right man in the right place. On a campaign, he
seems to roam over the country according to his own discretion, and
always gives a good account of himself, turning up at the right moment;
and hitherto he has never got himself into any serious trouble.
I rode to General Longstreet's camp, which is about two miles in the
direction of Williamsport, and consulted him about my difficulties with
regard to my leave. He was most good-natured about it, and advised me
under the circumstances to drive in the direction of Hancock; and, in
the event of being ill-treated on my way, to insist upon being taken
before the nearest U.S. officer of the highest rank, who would probably
protect me. I determined to take his advice at once; so I took leave of
him and of his officers. Longstreet is generally a very taciturn and
undemonstrative man, but he was quite affectionate in his farewell. His
last words were a hearty hope for the speedy termination of the war. All
his officers were equally kind in their expressions on my taking leave,
though the last sentence uttered by Latrobe was not entirely
reassuring--viz., "You may take your oath he'll be caught for a spy."
I then rode to General Lee's camp, and asked him for a pass to get
through his lines. We had a long talk together, and he told me of the
raid made by the enemy, for the express purpose of arresting his badly
wounded son (a Confederate Brigadier-General), who was lying in the
house of a relation in Virginia. They insisted upon carrying him off in
a litter, though he had never been out of bed, and had quite recently
been shot through the thigh. This seizure was evidently made for
purposes of retaliation. His life has since been threatened, in the
event of the South retaliating for Burnside's alleged military murders
in Kentucky. But few officers, however, speak of the Northerners with so
much moderation as General Lee; his extreme amiability seems to prevent
his speaking strongly against any one. I really felt quite sorry when I
said good-bye to so many gentlemen from whom I had received so much
disinterested kindness.
I am now about to leave the Southern States, after travelling quite
alone throughout their entire length and breadth, including Texas and
the trans-Mississippi country, for nearly three months and a half,
during which time I have been thrown amongst all classes of the
population--the highest, the lowest, and the most lawless. Although many
were very sore about the conduct of England, I never received an uncivil
word from anybody, but, on the contrary, I have been treated by all with
more than kindness.[64] I have never met a man who was not anxious for a
termination of the war; and I have never met a man, woman, or child who
contemplated its termination as possible without an entire separation
from the _now_ detested Yankee. I have never been asked for alms or a
gratuity by any man or woman, black or white. Every one knew who I was,
and all spoke to me with the greatest confidence. I have rarely heard
any person complain of the almost total ruin which has befallen so many.
All are prepared to undergo still greater sacrifices,--they contemplate
and prepare to receive great reverses which it is impossible to avert.
They look to a successful termination of the war as certain, although
few are sanguine enough to fix a speedy date for it, and nearly all
bargain for its lasting at least all Lincoln's presidency. Although I
have always been with the Confederates in the time of their misfortunes,
yet I never heard any person use a desponding word as to the result of
the struggle. When I was in Texas and Louisiana, Banks seemed to be
carrying everything before him, Grant was doing the same in Mississippi,
and I certainly did not bring luck to my friends at Gettysburg. I have
lived in bivouacs with all the Southern armies, which are as distinct
from one another as the British is from the Austrian, and I have never
once seen an instance of insubordination.
When I got back to Hagerstown, I endeavoured to make arrangements for a
horse and buggy to drive through the lines. With immense difficulty I
secured the services of a Mr ----, to take me to Hancock, and as much
farther as I chose to go, for a dollar a mile (greenbacks). I engaged
also to pay him the value of his horse and buggy, in case they should be
confiscated by either side. He was evidently extremely alarmed, and I
was obliged to keep him up to the mark by assurances that his horse
would inevitably be seized by the Confederates, unless protected by
General Lee's pass in my possession.
[64] The only occasion on which I was roughly handled was when I had the
misfortune to enter the city of Jackson, Mississippi, just as the
Federals evacuated it. I do not complain of that affair, which, under
the circumstances, was not to be wondered at.
* * * * *
_8th July_ (Wednesday).--My conductor told me he couldn't go to-day on
account of a funeral, but he promised faithfully to start to-morrow.
Every one was full of forebodings as to my probable fate when I fell
into Yankee clutches. In deference to their advice I took off my grey
shooting-jacket, in which they said I was sure to be taken for a rebel,
and I put on a black coat; but I scouted all well-meant advice as to
endeavouring to disguise myself as an "American citizen," or to conceal
the exact truth in any way. I was aware that a great deal depended upon
falling into the hands of a gentleman, and I did not believe these were
so rare in the Northern army as the Confederates led me to suppose.
* * * * *
_9th July_ (Thursday).--I left Hagerstown at 8 A.M., in my conductor's
good buggy, after saying farewell to Lawley, the Austrian, and the
numerous Confederate officers who came to see me off, and wish me
good-luck. We passed the Confederate advanced post at about two miles
from Hagerstown, and were allowed to pass on the production of General
Lee's authority. I was now fairly launched beyond the Confederate lines
for the first time since I had been in America. Immediately afterwards
we began to be asked all sorts of inquisitive questions about the
rebels, which I left to my driver to answer. It became perfectly evident
that this narrow strip of Maryland is entirely Unionist.
At about 12 o'clock we reached the top of a high hill, and halted to
bait our horse at an inn called Fairview. No sooner had we descended
from the buggy than about twenty rampageous Unionists appeared, who told
us they had come up to get a good view of the big fight in which the
G----d d----d rebels were to be all captured, or drowned in the Potomac.