Splendid Condition of the Army.—Gen. Hooker’s Programme.—A
Forward Movement.—Battles of Chancellorsville and
Vicinity.—Jackson turns Hooker’s Right Wing.—Operations
below Fredericksburg.—Strategy.—Address from the Commanding
General.—The Washington Estate.—Crossing the Rappahannock.
Winter had now passed, and the warm, genial days of April were fast
drying up the roads, and rendering the resumption of operations
practicable. Four months had rolled away since the bloody struggle under
Burnside, during which the army had recuperated its energies, recovered
its _morale_, and been reinforced by numerous accessions of troops.
Believing, with Frederick the Great, that a soldier’s pluck lies in his
stomach, Gen. Hooker had added fresh bread, potatoes and other esculents
to the already substantial bill of fare, thereby putting his men in the
best of fighting trim; and they, in turn, had come to cherish a certain
regard for and confidence in him, shouting like the Portuguese under
Crawford, “Long live the General who takes care of our bellies.”
The army was ripe for offensive movements. The long weeks of inactivity
had afforded the General commanding ample time for reviewing the
situation, deciding upon a plan of attack, and completing the necessary
preparations.
About the middle of the month marching orders were issued to the troops,
but were immediately rescinded, owing to a furious storm which arose and
prevailed for two days. The elements again becoming propitious, on Monday
and Tuesday, April 27th and 28th, the various Army Corps left their snug
winter quarters and moved towards the Rappahannock. The programme decided
upon was this: while a portion of the army crossed below Fredericksburg,
and diverted the attention of the enemy, the remainder were to proceed up
the river, and turning their left wing, occupy a position directly in the
rear of the rebel works. At the same time Gen. Stoneman, taking nearly
the entire body of our cavalry, was to make his way down through the
State by the Culpepper route, and circling round to the railroad, destroy
the bridges over the North and South Anna rivers, less than twenty miles
from Richmond.
After the seventy-five thousand men thrown in the rear had attacked and
defeated the enemy, the fifty thousand at Fredericksburg were to press
forward likewise, engage them, and cut off the way of retreat towards
Richmond. This comprehensive and masterly plan—substantially the same as
Gen. Burnside’s last—must, if it had proven successful, have accomplished
no less than its author intended, the total destruction of Gen. Lee’s
army; but, alas! Jackson had not then received his death wound.
The Second Corps, Couch’s; Fifth, Meade’s; Eleventh, Howard’s; and
Twelfth, Slocum’s; marched to the upper fords of the Rappahannock, and
meeting with but little opposition, most of the force moved forward,
and by Thursday night were massed in the vicinity of Chancellorsville,
after having travelled a distance of thirty-six miles. On Friday, Gen.
Hooker, who accompanied this wing of the army, formed the troops in a
line of battle, of a triangular or Redan shape, resting with its wings
respectively on the Rappahannock, between Banks’ and United States Fords
and Hunting Creek—an affluent of the Rappahannock—and having its apex
at Chancellorsville, in the rear of Fredericksburg. The events which
followed we shall allude to briefly, reserving our main description for
those operations in which the Thirty-third were concerned.
During the day reconnoitring forces were sent on the roads leading to
Fredericksburg, to “feel” the enemy, and likewise learn the topography
of the region. All night Friday, parties were engaged in felling trees,
clearing away the tangled thickets, and constructing abatis. Saturday,
Howard’s Corps was posted on the extreme right; then a Division of
Sickles’ Corps (3), which had come up; then Slocum; then Couch; then
Meade on the left; Humphrey’s Division of Meade’s Corps holding the
extreme left. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by the enemy
during the day to pierce the lines, but about four o’clock in the
afternoon, Jackson suddenly hurled forty thousand men upon Howard’s
Corps, which fell back in confusion. The Second Division of the Third
Corps was immediately wheeled around to the rescue, and succeeded in
recovering some of the lost ground, but the right of the line was
completely turned. This success of the enemy placed Gen. Sickles, who had
pushed forward in front with the remaining two Divisions of the Third
Corps, in a very precarious condition, nearly severing his connection
with the remainder of the army. Gen. Hooker now decided upon a night
attack, which, though terrible and bloody, as the engagement through the
afternoon had been, resulted in victory. The enemy were driven full half
a mile, and the lines re-formed on the left, much in the same manner as
they had been before.
The First Army Corps, which had arrived from Falmouth, and the Fifth,
were posted as a new line, while the disorganized Eleventh was
transferred to the left. About 5½ o’clock Sunday morning, the enemy came
down the plank road leading from Chancellorsville, and made a furious
onslaught. The engagement soon became general, and for five hours the
roar of artillery and sharp rattle of musketry resounded through the
forest. Our batteries were posted on commanding positions, and made great
havoc among the enemy as they advanced to the conflict.
About ten o’clock the lines were contracted and re-formed in the vicinity
of the clearing, which, together with a single house, constituted all of
Chancellorsville. During the remainder of the day the enemy made several
attempts to break them, but were each time repulsed. Here the army
remained on the defensive, in a strongly entrenched position, until the
following Tuesday evening, when it retreated, and safely re-crossed the
Rappahannock.
Returning now to the other wing of the army, the First Corps, Gen.
Reynolds, Third, Gen. Sickles, and Sixth, Gen. Sedgwick, proceeded, on
the afternoon of the 28th, to the dense woods back of the point where
Gen. Franklin crossed the river in December, and bivouacked for the
night. The Thirty-third, which was on picket Tuesday, when the Sixth
Corps broke camp, having gone out the day previous, was ordered in at two
o’clock P. M., and in a half hour’s time completed their preparations
for departure. The sick had previously been sent to the Corps Hospital,
which had been established at Potomac Creek Bridge, and placed in charge
of Surgeon Dickinson. All clothing and camp equipage, not absolutely
necessary, were sent to Belle Plain, in charge of Quartermaster
Alexander, and the haversacks and knapsacks, loaded down with rations,
of which the troops were ordered to have eight days’ supply. The time
for their departure northward was drawing rapidly near, and for days the
men had been making themselves merry over the prospect of soon being
with the loved ones at home, after two long years absence. Under such
circumstances they could hardly have been expected to enter upon the new
movement with much heart or spirit. Instead, however, of flinching from
the fresh duties imposed upon them, they stepped with alacrity to their
places when Col. Taylor, who had now resumed command of his Regiment,
gave the order to “fall in,” eager to strike one more blow for their
country—add one more laurel to the wreath of honor which encircled the
name of the gallant Thirty-third.
Leaving the now grass-green crest, where so many pleasant weeks had been
spent, the Regiment wended its way down the sloping sides, through the
fields on the left, and crossing the main thoroughfare near White-Oak
Church, entered the forest. An hour’s march brought them to a small
clearing, where a halt for a few moments was ordered, and the men
stretched themselves out on the green turf. Again entering the woods,
they pursued a circuitous course, through dense thickets, across deep
ravines and over treacherous bogs, until the Division was overtaken at
dusk, close to the spot where the Regiment had encamped after re-crossing
the river in the winter. Fires not being permitted, the men were obliged
to dispense with coffee, and sup as best they could on “hard tack” and
ham, after which the light shelter tents were spread and, they betook
themselves to rest. The “Light Brigade” of the same Division was employed
during the night in getting the pontoons down near to the river.
Instead of being drawn on noisy, rumbling trucks, as heretofore, they
were quietly conveyed on the men’s shoulders, who tugged away lustily
at them until between three and four o’clock in the morning, Wednesday,
when they were launched in the river. So stealthily had the operations
been conducted, that the enemy’s pickets did not sound the alarm, until
they saw boat loads of armed men approaching. They had time to fire only
two or three volleys, and then fled. Russell’s Brigade was the first to
reach the opposite bank, and rapidly clambering up its sides, started
in pursuit of the astonished rebels. The officer of the picket line was
found fast asleep in bed, and on being brought over, entreated us not
to exchange him, “for if you do,” he said, “I shall surely be shot for
having been caught napping.” Col. Irwin, of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania,
and some eight or ten others, were wounded in the crossing. Two bridges
were lain, in the identical positions occupied last year, and Brooks’
Division of the Sixth Corps thrown over.
Later in the morning, five companies of the Fiftieth New York, Engineers,
proceeded one mile and a quarter below, and commenced throwing two other
bridges. Troops from Meredith’s (Iron) Brigade of Gen. Wads worth’s
Division, First Corps, dashed over in boats, and charging up the bank,
took nearly all of the enemy prisoners, who were firing from behind
earthworks and rifle-pits. The Twenty-fourth Michigan, Col. Marrow, led
this gallant charge, followed by the Sixth Wisconsin. Some of the rebels
who escaped took refuge in a house close by, but our guns immediately
being turned upon it, they scampered from the building as fast as their
legs could carry them, provoking round after round of laughter from our
boys. The whole of Wadsworth’s Division crossed, the General not waiting
for the bridges to be completed, but fearlessly swimming his horse
over. Troops now began to debouch at various points from the forest,
and reaching the flats along the river, halted and stacked arms. The
Thirty-third, together with the other Regiments of Howe’s Division,
breakfasted early, and descending to the plain about nine o’clock,
halted at the same spot where it had lain during the day preceding the
crossing last year under Burnside. The sky was of a leaden, wintry gray,
and a stiff breeze was blowing.
[Illustration: CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
The Advance of the Sixth Corps.]
The whole of the Sixth Corps, with the exception of Brooks’ Division, now
over the river, were massed here, and the First Corps, with the exception
of Wadsworth’s Division, near the two lower bridges, while the Third,
Gen. Sickles, remained back on the hills and in the woods in the rear.
Can it be? was the question which trembled on every lip, that we are
again to be recklessly hurled against that amphitheatre of hills, before
which five thousand of our number fell last year? So it seemed. The three
entire Corps could not be designed for a mere feint movement? But when
no more troops were crossed over, and on the following day a series of
marches and countermarches were ordered, all gloomy forebodings were
dispelled, for we then knew that the appearance of the three Corps here
was for a ruse, though on a large scale, to attract the attention of the
enemy, while the force above moved to their rear. The appearance by noon
of two heavy lines of the enemy on the old battle-field, now a beautiful
carpet of green, proved that the strategy had been successful.
As fast as their numerous regiments arrived from above or below, they
descended the hills and formed in line at the foot to receive us. There
they remained in position for hours; but seeing no disposition to advance
on our part, large numbers, dropping back in the woods, swarmed like
bees in the tree-tops to scrutinize our movements, and ascertain, if
possible, “what we were about that we did not come on.” Gen. Sedgwick,
who had charge of this wing of the army, continued to march and
counter-march the troops in view of the enemy. Forming on the crest of
the hills, they would move down in solid columns to the bridges, as if
to cross, but instead of crossing, quietly draw back through a gully,
and in a half hour’s time be descending the hill again. This series of
manœuvres led the enemy to suppose that our entire army was here. The
disappearance, however, of most of the rebel infantry from our front,
on Friday morning, indicated that they had divined our strategy—not,
however, until it had accomplished the purpose intended, as the reading
of the following order showed:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, NEAR
FALMOUTH, APRIL 30, 1863.
It is with heartfelt satisfaction that the General Commanding
announces to the army that the operations of the last three
days have determined that our enemy must ingloriously fly,
or come out from behind their defences and give us battle on
our own ground, where certain destruction awaits them. The
operations of the Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps have been a
series of splendid successes.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER.
S. WILLIAMS, Adjutant-General.
While the enemy had delayed in our front, our right wing had reached
Chancellorsville.
The reading of these brief lines to the various Regiments occasioned the
wildest enthusiasm, and cheer after cheer was given for “Fighting Joe.”
While waiting orders on the flats, elegant swords were presented to
Captains Cole and Gifford by their respective Companies. The Colonel made
a brief address, urging them to wield these new weapons manfully in the
coming strife.
Just at nightfall the enemy opened a heavy fire on the lower bridges and
the infantry on the opposite bank, killing and wounding some thirty of
them. Our guns replied with much spirit, until darkness put an end to the
conflict. The rebels used one heavy Whitworth gun, which was planted four
miles away, and fired with a most uncomfortable precision.
Friday was a day of comparative quiet, there being no infantry and but
very little artillery firing. The enemy’s pickets were posted along the
Bowling Green road, while heavy reinforcements from Richmond could be
seen moving over the hills towards Chancellorsville. Gen. Sickles’ Corps
moved up the river to reinforce Hooker.
During the afternoon, members of the Regiment improved the inactivity
to visit the old Washington Estate, situated down the river, about
a mile in the rear of the lower bridges. The story of little George
cutting down his father’s apple tree with his new hatchet, is familiar
to every one. The exact spot where the tree stood is pointed out, and
the green on which the Father of his Country played and wantoned in his
childhood. The Estate has descended to the Fitzhughs, who abandoned it on
our appearance here last fall. Their son, a Captain in the Confederate
service, was killed on Wednesday, when the Iron Brigade crossed the river.
Saturday morning found our troops posted in about the same position
as the day previous, the Thirty-third still remaining encamped on the
flats. About half-past seven a rebel battery, planted during the night
in front of the ruins of the Bernard House, tossed a couple of shells
among the pickets, who were playing ball. This was immediately followed
by their ten-pound Parrots, planted on the crest, three-quarters of a
mile below, which again concentrated a rapid fire on the lower bridges
and Wadsworth’s Division. They were, however, soon silenced by our heavy
guns. Occasional skirmishing continued through the day. Towards evening,
Gen. Brooks discovered bodies of the enemy moving along the hills, as
if to fall upon our right. When, however, he perceived, a few moments
later, that the head of the column was directed towards Chancellorsville,
he became satisfied that Gen. Lee was withdrawing all his infantry from
our front, and immediately ordered the skirmish line forward. The “Light
Brigade,” which was then in front, advanced, flanked the enemy’s pickets
and drove them in fine style half a mile beyond the Bowling Green road.
Scattered along the turnpike were found knapsacks, canteens and several
“dummeys,” or pickets of straw.
The lower crossing had now been abandoned, and Gen. Sedgwick sent the
First Corps likewise up the river to reinforce Hooker, leaving only the
Sixth Corps below Fredericksburg. Immediately on our obtaining possession
of the Bowling Green turnpike, Howe’s and Newton’s, the two remaining
Divisions of the Corps, passed over the bridges.