THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
The Sixth and Nineteenth corps follow the enemy--Crossing the
Potomac--Averill's fight at Snicker's Gap--Return of the Sixth
corps to Washington--March back to Harper's Ferry--Return to
Maryland--Death of Major Ellis--General Sheridan assigned to
command--Back in the Valley--Charlestown--John Mosher--March to
Fisher Hill--Return to Charlestown--Fight at Charlestown.
At one o'clock the column of the Sixth corps moved away from Fort
Stevens, marching through the little village of Tanleytown, following in
pursuit of the rebels. We moved rapidly till ten o'clock, then halted,
much fatigued, at Potomac Cross Roads. At five o'clock, next morning, we
were once more on our way, and after a march of twelve hours through a
pleasant country, we made our bivouac at Poolsville, having marched
thirty-six miles since leaving Fort Stevens. Our Sixth corps, with the
two divisions of the Nineteenth corps, now constituted a new army, under
command of General Wright, General Getty having command of the Sixth
corps. At Poolsville we lay all day, waiting for our small cavalry force
to find out the course which Early's army had taken, but on Saturday
morning, the 16th, we were moving at daylight. We marched toward the
Potomac, which we forded near the scene of Ball's Bluff slaughter. The
spectacle at the ford was novel and exciting. The stream was wide, but
not more than two or three feet deep. The bottom was rough and stony,
and the current was strong. For nearly a mile up and down the river the
brigades were crossing; the stream filled with infantry wading with
difficult steps over the uneven bottom, mounted officers carefully
guiding their horses lest they should stumble, trains of artillery and
wagons slowly toiling through, and groups of pack animals scarcely able
to keep their footing under their huge burdens. The laugh of hundreds
sounded up and down the river, as some unfortunate footman, slipping
from a smooth stone, would, for a moment, disappear beneath the surface
of the river, or as some overloaded mule or pack horse, losing his
footing, would precipitate his load, and peradventure the small negro
boy, who, in order to secure a dry passage across the ford, had perched
himself on the top of the bags and bundles, into the rushing waters.
The troops gathered upon the southern bank of the river, and the
infantry proceeded to empty the water from their boots and shoes, and to
wring it from their stockings. This short task over, the march was
resumed.
Passing through a section where some very interesting conglomerate rocks
attracted the attention of those scientifically inclined, we left the
little town of Leesburgh behind, and at eight o'clock in the morning
encamped in a ploughed field, tired and hungry, and, it must be
confessed, a little dissatisfied at the idea of sleeping on ploughed
ground while fresh meadows were on every side of us. In this bivouac we
spent the Sabbath, and services were held by the chaplains in the
various brigades.
Early Monday morning the march was resumed, our little army passing
through the delightful hill scenery of Loudon county, and through the
diminutive villages of Hamilton and Purcellville. As the afternoon
advanced, we found ourselves toiling up the ascent of the Blue Ridge,
pleasant farm houses and fine orchards greeting our sight on either side
of the road. Darkness was upon us before we passed through Snicker's
Gap, a deep gorge in the mountains, through which winds a rough, unkept
road; and by the moonlight we spread our blankets for another night's
rest.
The morning revealed the lovely Shenandoah Valley spread out before us,
its river lying at our feet.
The troops of the "Army of Virginia," under Averill, had engaged the
enemy with doubtful success before our arrival. Indeed, the troops on
both sides seemed to have become demoralized. The rebels were
retreating, and Averill's men had made their way back to the east side
of the river in such hot haste as to leave some of their flags floating
in the stream.
We remained during the 19th in apparent uncertainty as to what course to
pursue, whether to give chase to the enemy, who it was now supposed had
made good his retreat up the valley, or to return to Washington. But an
order from General Grant, directing General Wright to get back to
Washington at once with the Sixth corps, that the troops might be at
once returned to the Army of the Potomac before Early could reinforce
Lee, determined our course, and at night we were again passing through
Snicker's Gap, the infantry and teams crowded together in the narrow
defile to the great inconvenience of the footmen and annoyance of the
artillerymen and teamsters. Marching rapidly all night and the next day,
halting only a short time for coffee in the morning and at noon, we
retraced our steps to Leesburgh, then following the turnpike we reached
and passed Drainsville, and halted near Difficult creek. July 23d, the
corps marched through Lewinsville and Langley, passed Camp Griffin, the
memory of which was indissolubly connected with our first winter in the
service, crossed Chain bridge and went in camp near Tanleytown, five
miles out from Washington.
Transports were waiting on the Potomac to convey us to City Point, but
as matters in the valley still seemed unsettled, the corps remained at
Tanleytown, and on the 25th, it became certain that Early with his army
was again moving down the valley, threatening Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The Sixth corps received orders to move at once toward Harper's Ferry,
but by some delay it was noon of the 26th when it turned back from
Tanleytown toward the scene of our future brilliant operations.
The day on which the corps moved had been hot, and many of the men,
weary with long marches, had been forced to fall out, but, most of all,
bad whisky from Washington had demoralized great numbers, and these,
with the sick and weary, made up a great crowd of stragglers. The task,
which was assigned to the rear-guard, the Seventy-seventh New York, of
urging these inebriated and discouraged ones toward their commands, was
not an easy or agreeable one. The corps made all haste in the direction
of Frederick, which city it reached on the 28th, crossing the field of
General Wallace's battle with Early.
Without halting at Frederick, except to get our coffee near Monocacy
creek, we pushed on to Jefferson, getting into camp at midnight. The
next day we marched through Knoxville, Newton and Sandy Hook, through
that wonderful gorge in the mountains at Harper's Ferry, and arrived at
evening footsore and weary at Halltown, four miles south of Harper's
Ferry. Then, next day we were ordered back again. The whole command
poured into the deep valley at Harper's Ferry, the day was sultry even
for that locality, not a breath of air seemed to be stirring, and the
high mountains on every side reflected the heat and kept off the breeze.
Into this hot, dusty inclosure among the hills, the whole army poured,
and as there was only a single pontoon bridge to serve as an outlet,
there was of course great delay. Horses stood harnessed to the cannon or
under the saddle, the sweat literally pouring off their sides like rain,
while men panted for breath and seemed almost on the point of
suffocation. It was late in the night when our corps was all over the
bridge, and the march was continued without rest during the whole night
and all next day till we arrived again near Frederick City, where we had
a night and a day of rest. We now learned that the cause of our sudden
countermarch was the raid of Early's cavalry, who had burned the city of
Chambersburgh, and caused much destruction of property elsewhere.
By this time the Sixth corps was, in army parlance, "about played out."
Even our famous marches on the Gettysburgh campaign were eclipsed by
this perpetual series of forced marches for nearly a month. The men were
very much worn from their campaigns before leaving Petersburgh, but now
we had had a month of traveling, night and day.
Hardly were the troops settled in camp for a night of rest, before the
bugle called them to go again. Now when we marched, horses would drop
down by dozens along the road, unable to rise again. Their riders would
strip them of their saddles, and leave the worn out steeds to their
fate. If, by chance, one of these deserted horses, after a few hours of
rest, could muster strength to rise to his feet, he was doomed to be
seized by some drummer boy, or other wight of the "bummer" tribe,
mounted and rode till his strength again failed. Then the dismounted
bummer would coolly remove his hempen bridle, shoulder his drum, and
seek for another steed. For two or three days past the weather had been
excessively hot, and men could be seen lying all along the roadside, as
we marched, suffering from sunstroke.
Wednesday, August 3d, the Sixth corps marched to Buckeystown, a little
village on the Monocacy, about five miles south of Frederick.
The different brigades of the corps were scattered about on the
hillsides which bounded the pleasant valley of the Monocacy, where pure
fresh air was in abundance, and the men gladly availed themselves of the
privilege of bathing in the delightfully clear waters of the river. For
a distance of nearly two miles the river was filled with bathers at all
hours, except in the hottest part of the day and in the night, and even
then some might be seen enjoying the luxury of the bath.
At Buckeystown we remained two days, in the enjoyment of a pleasant
bivouac; yet, as though no place was free from evil, an event occurred
here afflictive to our brigade and to the corps.
Among the most energetic and brave officers of our Third brigade, was
Major Ellis, of the Forty-ninth New York. He had been wounded at
Spottsylvania while leading a charge against the enemy at the terrible
"angle." A ramrod had passed through his left arm, and bruised the chest
near the heart. He was taken to Fredericksburgh, from whence he went to
Washington, and thence home. Returning to his command before he had
fully recovered, he was advised by medical officers not to attempt any
severe duty. But being detailed to the staff of General Russell,
commanding the First division, he at once resumed active military
duties. On these recent marches, the major, weary of inaction, had taken
command of a body of men who acted as additional provost-guard to the
division.
In this position he had exhibited his usual energy, though it was
thought by some he executed his duties with too great severity. Ever
since receiving his wound, he had complained of severe neuralgic pains
in the region of the heart. Except that this pain was slightly more
acute than usual, the major retired to his tent on the night of the 3d,
in his accustomed health.
In the morning he sent his servant from the tent for a moment, and when
the man returned the major was dead. An autopsy was made by the writer
of these pages, in the presence of about twenty of his professional
brethren. A sharp splinter of bone from one of the ribs was found with
its acute point piercing vital organs.
The funeral display was the most imposing ever witnessed in any corps of
the Army of the Potomac. We had seen military pageants on a large scale,
but nothing to compare with this in its solemn sublimity.
The remains were laid in state in a large tent near General Russell's
head-quarters, wrapped in a silken flag, and the tent itself was draped
with the Stars and Stripes. Presently the major's regiment, the
Forty-ninth New York, came as mourners, unarmed, and formed in two ranks
facing each other near the tent. Then the chaplain of the Forty-ninth,
led in a short religious service, very appropriate and very impressive,
while the whole of the First division was being formed in two parallel
lines facing each other, and about eighty paces apart. The service over,
a regiment of heavy artillery came to act as escort. The remains,
inclosed in a rude coffin, wrapped in the flag under which he had so
often fought, were placed in an ambulance, and the funeral cortege began
its slow march through the long lines of sunbrowned veterans who stood
on either side. First in the procession was the escort, the muskets of
the men reversed, preceded by a band playing a solemn dirge. Then the
ambulance with the remains, the major's hat, coat and sword lying upon
the coffin; then his riderless horse, saddled and bridled, and led by a
servant; then the regiment as mourners; and finally General Russell and
the staff of the First division with the division flag, and the staffs
of the three brigades of the division, and our Third brigade, Second
division, each with its flag, with a large concourse of officers,
personal friends of him whose remains were thus honored.
As the cortege proceeded with slow steps between the lines of soldiers,
they stood with arms presented, and the colors of the regiments drooped
as the procession passed. Thus attended the remains were conveyed to the
railroad station, three miles distant, where they were placed on board a
train for Washington.
Lieutenant-General Grant visited our army on the 5th of August, and, in
consultation with General Hunter, determined upon a course for our
future operations. So quietly was this visit of the Commander-in-Chief
of the armies made, that very few in our little army knew of the
presence of General Grant.
Among other things determined upon at this time was a change of
commanders. General Hunter, who had commanded the "Army of the
Shenandoah," with credit to himself and honor to our arms, was to be
relieved, and General Philip S. Sheridan, who had, since the
commencement of the spring campaign, commanded the cavalry corps of the
Army of the Potomac, was to take command of all the forces operating
against Early. The department of West Virginia, Washington, Susquehanna
and the Middle Department, were to constitute the "Middle Military
Division," to be under the command of General Sheridan. To this middle
military division the Sixth corps was temporarily assigned. This was a
new era in the history of that corps. Hitherto it had been, from the
beginning, connected with the noble Army of the Potomac. Its history and
its fame were inseparably connected with the history of that army, and
when the corps had come to the rescue of the capital, it came as a
detachment of the Army of the Potomac. Now, for the first time, the
corps was to be identified with another army. But great as was the fame
and honor which the corps had, by noble deeds, won for itself, it was
now, by heroic achievements in the new field, to crown itself with
glories even more dazzling than those in its proudest days in the old
army.
We were ordered, on the evening of the 5th, to march immediately. The
troops of the Sixth corps proceeded at once to Monocacy Junction, where
they took cars for Harper's Ferry. The quartermasters, and hospital
trains followed rapidly by the wagon roads.
Troops and trains reached the heights beyond Harper's Ferry at night,
and on the following morning the line of battle was established at
Halltown.
General Sheridan now assumed command. We knew little of him except that
he had very successfully commanded the cavalry of the Army of the
Potomac for the last three months, but we were satisfied that General
Grant trusted to his generalship, and we had already learned enough of
General Grant's knowledge of human nature to place confidence in the
general of his choice.
One thing pleased us at the start. Our new general was visible to the
soldiers of his command; wherever we went he was with the column,
inhaling the dust, leaving the road for the teams, never a day or two
days behind the rest of the army, but always riding by the side of the
men. His watchful care of the details of the march, his interest in the
progress of the trains, and the ready faculty with which he brought
order out of confusion when the roads became blockaded, reminded us of
our lamented Sedgwick. Another feature of the new administration pleased
us. When the head-quarter tents of the commander of the Middle Military
Division were pitched, there was one wall tent, one wedge tent and two
flies. This modest array of shelter for the general and his staff was in
happy contrast with the good old times in the Army of the Potomac, when
more than eighty six-mule teams were required to haul the baggage for
head-quarters of the army.
At Halltown we remained for a few days, gaining what we so much needed,
rest. The air was delightfully cool and refreshing, and it seemed as
though each particular breath was laden with health and strength.
We were rejoiced to see some of our Army of the Potomac cavalry joining
us, and our army began to assume dimensions which filled us with
confidence. We had now the Sixth corps, General Wright, two divisions of
the Nineteenth corps under General Emory, and Hunter's "Army of
Virginia," usually called the Eighth corps, under command of General
Crook. Our cavalry consisted of Averill's force which had been in the
valley, and we were now receiving two divisions from the Army of the
Potomac, one in command of General Torbert, the other of General Wilson.
The cavalry force was soon afterward organized, with General Torbert in
command of the whole force, and Generals Custer, Averill and Merritt,
each in command of a division.
On the tenth of the month we commenced our march up the Shenandoah
Valley. No sooner had the sun made its appearance above the Blue Ridge
than we found the day to be most intensely hot. Soldiers were falling
along the roadside in great numbers overcome with the heat, and what
added to the hardships of the day's journey was the want of water. The
turnpike along which we marched was parallel with a fine stream of water
on either side, but the water was so far distant as to be useless to the
soldiers. Yet there were a few springs and wells at some distance from
the road which supplied those who could leave the column.
We passed through Charlestown, the scene of the trial and execution of
John Brown. There was the court house to which he was brought on his
couch to receive his trial for treason, and there the jail in which he
spent his last days, and from which he was led to execution. How had all
things changed! The people who stood about the gallows of John Brown,
and gnashed their teeth in their bitter hatred, were now themselves
guilty of treason. The court house was in ruins, and the jail was but a
shell of tottering walls. The town also had suffered fearful ravages
from war, and now a Union army was marching through its streets, every
band and every drum corps playing the stirring but to southern ears
hateful air, "John Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave," and we
may anticipate our narrative to say that whenever our army or any part
of it had occasion to pass through this town, the bands always struck up
this air, as if to taunt the inhabitants with the memory of their
victim, and played it from one limit of the town to the other. So John
Brown was revenged!
The Shenandoah Valley has been often called the "Garden of Virginia,"
and truly it is a lovely valley, yet as we marched along we could see
but little cultivation. The groves of oak were delightful. Teams with
wagons might be driven anywhere among them. But the fields were mostly
desolate. Here and there a field of corn promised a medium crop if left
to ripen untrodden by our army, but there was no luxuriance of
vegetation. The mountains, the Blue Ridge on one side and the North
mountains on the other, rose abruptly from the valley in parallel lines,
and looked as though a race of Titans had been at war, and had thrown up
these long ridges as breastworks for opposing forces.
A little beyond Charlestown was a lovely meadow, lying between two
groves of oak. At the further end of the meadow was a neat white
cottage, where there seemed more comfort than we had seen elsewhere in
the valley. The place was away from the direct line of march, and partly
concealed by the groves.
Those who left the column were furnished by the family with pure sweet
water from a well, which the family asserted was sunk by order of
General Braddock. Such places were so rare that our men and animals
suffered from thirst. Few who were on that march will forget a spring
which we passed near the close of that day's march. A large white frame
house stood upon an elevation, surrounded by trees, and at foot of the
elevation, a large spring, under the shade of a huge willow, and
surrounded by other trees. The water gushed out from a fissure in the
rock, clear as crystal, and in such volume that a large brook was formed
at once. Over the spring was the usual "spring house." Soldiers filled
this building, covered the great rocks, crowded the grove, and for many
yards around a dense mass of men pressed to get near the tempting
fountain, all eager to fill their cups and canteens, and hasten on with
the column. No one can know with what delight the soldiers quaffed the
sparkling fluid from their sooty coffee pots, who has not suffered the
torture of extreme thirst.
We halted near Clifton, and resumed our march on the following morning,
to suffer, if possible, more from heat and thirst than ever. At night we
bivouacked near Opequan creek. We threw ourselves upon the grassy sward,
with the beautiful canopy of heaven with its mottled clouds and
twinkling stars and flying meteors, for our tent. For many of us, this
was the only tent we had slept under since leaving Petersburgh, and we
were satisfied with it. The air was purer and the breeze fresher than
when we were inclosed by canvas.
Again, on the morning of the 12th, we were marching. We passed through
the villages of Newtown and Middletown, and halted at night on the banks
of Cedar creek.
We were startled in the morning by the announcement of the death of a
good soldier. John Mosher had marched with the column the day before,
but owing to the overpowering heat was obliged to fall a little behind.
Toward evening, finding himself too much exhausted to walk further, he
applied for and obtained permission to ride in an ambulance of the First
division. During the night he was found to be dying. The kind hearted
surgeon in charge of the hospital of the First division, Dr. Crehore,
and one of his assistants, spent some hours with him, using every means
to restore him, but without avail. He died before morning. A letter in
his pocket told his name and regiment. We made a grave near Cedar creek,
and a few of his comrades stood around it while he was lowered to his
bed of earth, wrapped in his blanket. The chaplain offered a brief
prayer; his fellows in arms fired a parting salute, and we left him to
sleep in the valley where, a few weeks later, some of his companions
were to rest by his side.
On the 13th all the troops were across on the south side of Cedar creek.
The pickets of our Second division occupied one end of the village of
Strasburgh, while those of the enemy held the other. We were sure that
we must fight here, and we were not unwilling. Our cavalry was scouting
on the flanks, skirmishing with rebel cavalry and searching for a way to
outflank Early's army. The rebels held a position of great strength, and
to make a direct assault would be to run a great risk of a repulse. The
walls of the valley, the Blue Ridge and the North Mountains, came close
together here, and, to render the position stronger, Fisher Hill, a
commanding eminence, a prominent object in the landscape, to be seen
from one end of the valley to the other, rose directly in our front and
obstructed our passage. Upon the declivities of this hill the enemy had
planted batteries so as to command our approach from any direction.
We remained gazing at this strong position till nightfall, and then
recrossed the river, and made our position strong for defense. General
Sheridan had been instructed by General Grant not to bring on a general
engagement unless it was forced upon him. General Grant regarded our
army rather as one of defense than for offensive operations. Should we
suffer defeat, the capital and the rich fields of Pennsylvania and
Maryland would again be open to the rebels. So we were to watch their
movements and hold them in check, but we were not to risk a battle with
them.
Meanwhile, the ubiquitous Mosby was at work in our rear, at Berryville,
with a band of guerrillas. He had made a bold dash upon a long train,
belonging principally to the cavalry, and guarded by almost a brigade of
hundred days' men; had dispersed the inexperienced guard, which was
scattered along the road for miles; had captured the mules, and burned
the wagons and supplies. Seventy-five wagons had fallen a prey to the
adventurous bandit, while the hundred days' men had made good their
escape. Old men, women and children, joined in the work of destruction,
setting fire to the wagons, and carrying off whatever articles they
could easily remove from them. Prisoners whom they captured were
murdered, either by Mosby's band, or by the more merciless citizens, and
left unburied.
This raid upon our communications led General Sheridan to fear a more
general advance of the rebels beyond the mountains, with a view of
coming with force upon our rear.
So, on the evening of Tuesday, the 16th, the army marched northward down
the valley again. All night and all the next day the weary march was
kept up. We went through Winchester, where the rebel women came out by
hundreds to rejoice at our retreat, and halted on the banks of the
Opequan for the night. Then, when the morning came, we were off again,
and, after a severe march, formed in line of battle a mile south of
Charlestown.
The Jersey brigade, under Colonel Penrose, was left as rear-guard and
support to the cavalry on the retreat. At Winchester the brigade,
flanked by cavalry, made a stand. The enemy came down upon the brigade
in large force, handled it roughly, and sent the Jersey boys through the
town in confusion. Their resistance had been all that could have been
asked; but the brigade, staunch as it was, was not enough for the force
that came against it.
Our Sixth corps guarded the turnpike leading from Harper's Ferry to
Winchester. On the left of the pike, facing southward, was our Second
division, and on the right our First division.
The Eighth corps held the center of the line, and the Nineteenth corps
the left, its flank resting on Berryville.
On Sunday morning, the 21st of August, our cavalry was driven back upon
the infantry, and we suddenly discovered the enemy coming down upon the
Sixth corps in three heavy columns. With scarcely any warning we found
shells pitching into our camp among the standing tents, and bullets
whistling among the trees that afforded us shelter from the sun.
The corps was quickly in line, the tents struck and everything in
fighting trim. Our boys received the onset of the rebels with cool
bravery, giving them back volley for volley. The fight was kept up for
several hours, the Eighth corps being but slightly engaged, and the
Nineteenth corps not at all. Our Second division, Sixth corps, receiving
the weight of the attack. Our men threw up breastworks along the front,
and at length the Vermont brigade was ordered to charge upon the enemy.
The charge was executed with the usual brilliancy and fighting joy of
that brigade and the confederates were glad to leave us in undisputed
possession of the ground.