Arrival of Reinforcements.—Visit of President Lincoln.—Attack
by the Enemy.—Reconnoissance to Malvern Hills.—A Deserter
drummed out of Camp.—A change of base decided upon.—Return
March to Fortress Monroe.—Scenes by the way.
Reinforcements began to come up the river, so that in a few days the army
numbered one hundred and twenty thousand men.
On the morning of the 8th President Lincoln arrived unexpectedly from
Fortress Monroe, and was welcomed with a salute of thirty-two guns. After
spending a few hours at Headquarters, he proceeded to review the various
commands, accompanied by General McClellan. As he rode along the lines,
and observed the thinned ranks and torn and tattered flags, he exhibited
much emotion. The review was not completed until 9 o’clock, the moon
shining brightly, and a cool, fresh breeze blowing from off the water.
General Halleck likewise made his appearance on the 24th, and inspected
the army.
The enemy soon began to show themselves on the opposite and higher bank
of the river, and in the course of a few days increased to the number of
several thousand. About midnight, on the 31st, they opened a vigorous
fire from three batteries on our shipping and camps. Many of the shells
struck in the vicinity of the Thirty-third. Our gunboats returned the
fire, and, with the assistance of the siege-guns, drove them away, at the
end of two hours. Only two men were killed, and twelve wounded, by this
night attack.
On the following morning eight hundred troops crossed the river in boats,
and burned all the buildings, and cut down the trees in the vicinity.
Monday, August 4th, a force consisting of infantry, cavalry and
artillery, under General Hooker, proceeded back to Malvern Hills,
and after a brief engagement re-occupied them, the enemy retreating.
They remained here until Wednesday, and then returned to camp. On the
following Friday, great rejoicing was occasioned in General Hooker’s
Division, on the reception of the news that he had been promoted to a
Major Generalship. The troops assembled en-masse at his headquarters, and
cheered vociferously for “Fighting Joe,” while various bands discoursed
national airs. Several hundred lighted candles were fixed in the
surrounding trees, imparting a beautiful effect to the scene. The same
day Colonel Taylor left for the north on recruiting service, taking with
him Lieutenant Corning and a Sergeant from each Company. Gen. Davidson
also departed, having been ordered to the Department of Missouri.
Lieutenant-Colonel Corning, being now senior officer of the Brigade,
assumed command of it.
A soldier who had run away from the Golden’s Farm fight, was paraded
before the Division with his head half-shaved, and a placard marked
“Coward,” suspended upon his back. He was also sentenced to forfeit
all back pay, and spend the remainder of his time of enlistment at the
Tortugas. All the Regiments were drawn up in line of battle, and the
culprit marched back and forth before them, while a band played “the
rogue’s march.”
Owing to the movements of the enemy in front of General Pope, unhealthy
location of the army at Harrison’s Landing, and because they had come to
regard the Peninsula route to Richmond impracticable, and lost confidence
in General McClellan’s capacity, the military authorities at Washington
decided, early in the month of August, to recall the army from the
Peninsula. General McClellan was strongly opposed to this, declaring to
them that if fifty thousand reinforcements were furnished him, he would
yet enter the rebel capital. His wishes, however, were not complied with,
and preparations for a “change of base” were commenced. Smith’s Division
received orders to be in readiness to march at daylight, Thursday,
August 14th. It did not move, however, until the following Saturday. All
the necessary preparations were conducted with secrecy and dispatch;
wooden guns were planted on the fort which the Thirty-third had assisted
in building, and sentinels of straw were posted a few feet apart on
the ramparts. All day Thursday and Friday, other portions of the army
marched by, the artillery and wagon trains proceeding at night. Generals
Porter’s, Keyes’, and Sumner’s Corps proceeded by the Charles City Court
House, and General Heintzelman’s by the Cole’s Ford route. The object of
the previous movement to Malvern was now explained, it having been made
to mislead the enemy, and cause them to think that another advance was
intended.
About four o’clock Saturday afternoon, Smith’s Division took up the
line of march. As the troops moved away, the enemy who, apparently for
the first time, had discovered the movement, drew near and fired for
some time at the sham pickets or sentinels, occasioning many humorous
remarks from the soldiers, such as, “They won’t drive them,” “Why don’t
you drop him, Mr. Rebel.” “How are you, sharp-shooter,” &c., &c. The
column was forty miles in length, General Porter, who was at the head,
having then reached Williamsburg. The Thirty-third proceeded by the river
road, and marching five miles the first night, encamped on a deserted
plantation. While halting by the way, General McClellan appeared, and
after addressing the men a few encouraging words, urged the necessity of
marching as rapidly as possible. The moon shone brightly, but the air
was chilly, and many who had thrown away their blankets suffered from
the cold and heavy dew. The following day, Sunday, the march was resumed
at six o’clock, and continued until three in the afternoon. The Regiment
marched seventeen miles, crossing the Chickahominy near its mouth on a
pontoon bridge—the longest ever constructed in this country—consisting of
ninety-six boats, anchored about twenty feet apart.
Among other craft lying here was the steamer Matamora, which had conveyed
a portion of the Thirty-third from Alexandria to Fortress Monroe. The
troops encamped in a wheat-field on an elevated spot about one-fourth
of a mile back from the river. All danger of an attack from the enemy
was now past, and they slept soundly after their long and wearisome
march. The country for miles back in the interior was very flat, almost
on a level with the river’s bank, and abounded in swamps and marshes.
Evidences of ruin and decay were seen all along the route. The orchards
had frequently been so neglected that a second growth of trees had sprung
up and grown through the limbs of the older ones, presenting an anomalous
sight. Col. Vegesack, who had been assigned to the 20th New York, now
took command of the Brigade, and Lieutenant-Colonel Corning returned to
the Regiment. Col. Vegesack, who had obtained a furlough from the Swedish
army to cross the water and fight in behalf of the Union, was a brave
and beloved officer. While the first battle of Fredericksburg was in
progress, he received an extension of time, and in announcing the fact to
his men on the field, added; “My soldiers, I fight from patriotism: you
fight from patriotism and for country; I expect that you will fight well.”
The next day the Regiment marched fifteen miles, passing through
Williamsburg. The inhabitants manifested in various ways their delight
at seeing the army retreating, which four months before had marched so
victoriously in the opposite direction. Marching by Fort Magruder and
the old battle-field, the Thirty-third bivouacked in a pleasant spot
three miles beyond. The troops rose early the next morning, and by
six o’clock were in motion. Proceeding through Yorktown, the Regiment
encamped near a grave-yard, two miles distant from the city, in which
two of General Washington’s Aids, killed in the first siege of Yorktown,
were buried. Officers and men now for the first time visited the city,
spending several hours in wandering through the streets, and examining
the heavy fortifications constructed by the enemy. General Van Allen
was in command of the place. Near to the fortifications was a “Union
Cemetery,” containing the graves of 300 Union soldiers, each of which was
adorned by a neat head-board, designating the name and Regiment of the
soldier. Wednesday the march was resumed at five o’clock, and continued
for ten miles, until Big Bethel was reached. At ten o’clock on the
following morning the Regiment arrived in Hampton. The various Divisions
of the army had now reached here, the entire retrograde movement having
been performed most successfully.