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CH. XXVI.]

enemy

BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

It was evident, from the position of affairs on Saturday night, that a change of line was necessary, by which the should be driven from the rear and brought into front again. Gen. Reynolds, with his corps, had been ordered by Gen. Hooker to join him, and arrived at United States Ford 1563. on Saturday afternoon. The troops were put into position at once on the right, which was withdrawn from the plank road to the Ely's Ford turnpike. This line was immediately formed by Generals Reynolds and Meade, the latter's position, on the left, having been relieved by General How ard's 11th corps, which, notwithstand ing its disorganized condition, was so far re-organized during the night as to be fit for duty again. They were assigned the position on the left, where it was probable there would be little or no fighting, and were protected by the strong works built the day before by General Meade's corps. The new line now assumed the shape of a triangle, prolonged at the apex, the right of the line being somewhat longer than the left. As the portion of the line on the right was new, time was necessary to fortify and entrench it, and the work was carried on vigorously by the 5th and 1st army corps. The rebels had been reinforcing their line all night, and as Jackson was no longer able to lead his troops, they were placed under command of J. E. B. Stuart. Their intention was to fight for the possession of the plank road, which it was apparent they must have, as that portion of it which our troops held was subject to assaults in front and on both flanks.

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At daylight, on Sunday morning, Stuart and his men seized the crest which the day before had been oc cupied by the left of the 11th corps, got thirty pieces of artillery into posi tion thereon, and opened a heavy fire on the plain around Chancellor House. Hooker, still retaining this as his headquarters, formed the line of battle, with Berry's division on the right, Birney next to him, on the left, Whipple and Williams supporting. The advance speedily became engaged in the ravine, just beyond the ridge where Captain Best's guns had done such excellent service the night before. The contest was fiercely and energetically carried on. Berry's division, which had checked the enemy's advance before, display. ed their bravery and spirit to a high degree. The rebels dashed forward, with the battle cry, "Charge, and remember Jackson!" and seemed deter mined to crush everything by their tremendous onslaught. fought with equal determination, and resisted the advance of the rebels with steadfast and unconquerable spirit. The exploits of our soldiers in those tangled, gloomy woods may never be brought fully to light; but they would fill volumes. Not only Berry's, but Sickles's and French's troops, made good fight at their position, receiving Stuart's impetuous assaults; but, after a severe struggle, Sickles was forced from his front line. So also French was pressed back, and the attack was renewed on Sickles.

But our men

Lee meanwhile attacked the centre and left, where Slocum and Hancock were in command; but he was gallantly

eleven o'clock on Saturday night, and immediately set about its execution. Some hours before daylight, after sharp skirmishing, he occupied the town, and soon after, Gibbon's division crossed from Falmouth to join him. Sedgwick concluded, under all the circumstances, to carry, by assault, the heights immediately in the rear of the town, includ ing Marye's Hill and the stone wall at

paign. Much time had already been consumed; the forenoon was fast passing, when the deadly struggle began for driving the rebels out of their position; but it was executed with a gal lantry unsurpassed at any time. A thousand of our men were killed, and the rebels made a hand-to-hand fight on the crest and over the guns. The rebel troops under Early retreated over the telegraph road, in a southwardly direction, leaving the plank road to Chancellorsville open and free for Sedg

met by our men. An order was given to fall back to Chancellor House, which was done; and for an hour or more the battle raged at the angle of the roads. Our line, however, soon began to waver; Hooker abandoned his headquarters, now on fire, and retired to a new line, about a mile nearer to the river and covering the fords. The rebels made a dash, and between ten and eleven o'clock gained possession of Chancel its base, where our troops had suffered lorsville. The position taken by Hooker so severely during Burnside's camwas a strong one, the right flank rest ing on the Rapidan and the left on the Rappahannock. The corps of Meade and Reynolds, which, as seems very singular, had not been called into action at any of those times when help was so greatly needed, were formed on the new lines, together with the troops falling back as above stated. Lee was preparing to make a vigorous assault with his entire force, when news from Fredericksburg compelled his attention in another direction. Sedgwick, it will be remembered, wick's forward movement. Gladly seizhad been left some three miles below ing the opportunity, he began his adFredericksburg to await developments vance at once. of the main army at Chancellorsville. The serious injury inflicted on Hooker by Jackson's bold movement, induced the former to send orders to Sedgwick tainly prove a formidable foe in the to occupy Fredericksburg, seize the rear, while Hooker with his army was heights, gain the plank road towards in front. Lee promptly sent a portion Chancellorsville, and move out to join of his troops to assail Sedgwick, not Hooker, destroying any force he might being apprehensive, it seems, that meet, and reaching his assigned posi- Hooker would venture meanwhile any tion by daylight, on Sunday morning. steps in the offensive. Sedgwick was This was a movement which, if success- moving as rapidly as was possible, when, fully carried out, was of great import- being now about half way between ance, but which also involved serious Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, he risk. Sedgwick received the order at was met by the rebel troops. A sharp

It was this position of affairs which demanded Lee's attention; for unless Sedgwick were checked, he would cer

Cп. XXVI.]

STONEMAN'S CAVALRY RAID.

287

army across the Rappahannok, and "ingloriously" left the rebels masters of the field.

The losses on our side, in this badly managed Chancellorsville affair, were 17,197 killed, wounded, and missing. There were left behind on the retreat the killed and wounded, fourteen pieces of artillery, and 20,000 stand of arms; Lee claimed also to have 5,000 prisoners. The rebel loss was said to be, in all, 10,281.

Stoneman, it will be remembered, (see p. 280), had been ordered with a fine body of cavalry, some 10,000 in number, to operate against the rebel com

encounter took place at Salem Heights, belong to "Fighting Joe," ordered the between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, and Sedgwick was unable to do more than hold his own, and hardly that, for his losses were very heavy (probably quite 5,000) and the enemy were attacking him from several different points. This was on Sunday night. On Monday morning, May 4th, Lee finding it necessary to get rid of Sedgwick before attacking Hooker in his new line of defence, ordered reinforcements on the ground, so as to cut Sedgwick off from, or drive him across, the Rappahannock. The attack was not begun till late in the afternoon, when the rebels rushed furiously upon our men; but Sedgwick's force resisted munications, and thereby, it was hoped, stubbornly, notwithstanding they were greatly to aid the plans of Hooker in forced to yield ground on the left. his advance upon Chancellorsville. It Darkness soon after put an end to fur was intended that he should precede ther fighting, and under cover of the the army by at least a fortnight; but night, the corps of Sedgwick crossed very unfortunately, heavy and continuthe river at Banks's Ford, on a pontoon ous rains delayed the cavalry movebridge laid the day before. Having ment until April 29th, when the inthus relieved himself of any trouble fantry crossed the river. Stoneman's from this quarter, Lee now determined command was then divided into two to attack Hooker with all his columns; one which was under Averill, moved to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and encountered two regiments of rebels, who retired towards Gordonsville. Thence he proceeded to Culpepper, dispersed quite a large force, destroyed rebel stores, etc. After considerable active service, Averill was or dered, May 2d, to join Hooker at once. The other column, under Buford, was charged with the breaking up the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad, the destroying of bridges, and everything else which could be of advantage to the enemy. A large amount of damage of

1863.

force at daylight, on Wednesday, May 6th. During the night, however, Hooker, who seemed to have lost all the spirit which men supposed to

* Hooker's course towards Sedgwick has been sharply

criticised, because especially he took no steps to aid the latter in forming a junction with him. Before the com

mittee on the conduct of the war he laid the blame of the disaster of Chancellorsville on Sedgwick's failing

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to join to him on Sunday morning. This is a cruel charge," says Mr. Swinton, "to bring against a commander now beyond the reach of detraction; whose

brilliant exploit in carrying the Fredericksburg Heights and his subsequent fortitude in a trying situation, shine out as the one relieving brightness amid the gloom of that hapless battle."-" Army of the Poto nar," p. 305.

various kinds was done, and Col. Kilpatrick with his force dashed up within two miles of Richmond; but the important Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad was not struck till the 3d of May, and then only trifling injury was inflicted. The James River canal was also damaged but slightly. The principal effect of the raid was to rouse and alarm the entire region; but, as far as any military gain to Hooker, or any future operations in Virginia were conconcerned, Stoneman's raid was of very little consequence.

The army having escaped across the Rappahannock, on Wednesday, May 6th, resumed its old quarters at Falmouth, and on the same day Hooker issued a congratulatory address, which was in bad taste, to say the least, and might better have been dispensed with under the circumstances. The war department also, under date of May 8th, 1863, in a dispatch sent to the governers of the northern states, endeavored to put the best face possible upon matters, as follows:-"The president and general-in-chief have just returned from the Army of the Potomac. The principal operations of Gen. Hooker failed, but there has been no serious disaster to the organization and efficiency of the army. It is now occupy ing its former position on the Rappahannock, having recrossed the river

without any loss in the movement. Not more than a third of Gen. Hooker's force was engaged. Gen. Stoneman's operations have been a brilliant success. Part of his force advanced to within two miles of Richmond, and the enemy's communications have been cut in every direction. The Army of the Potomac will speedily resume offensive operations."

1863.

A military critic of repute, as well as of some pretensions, devotes a number of pages to what he calls "Observations on the battle of Chancellorsville," which are severe but not undeserved, and which show how it was that an "action which, opening with an exhibition of grand tactics, marked by masterly skill, sank into conduct so feeble and faulty as to be almost beneath criticism." We have room for only the concluding paragraph: "Not the Army of the Potomac was beaten at Chancellorsville, but its commander; and Gen. Hooker's conduct inflicted a very severe blow to his reputation. The officers despised his generalship, and the rank and file were puzzled at the result of a battle in which they had been foiled without being fought, and caused to retreat without the consciousness of having been beaten."*

* "Army of the Pot nac," 208-307.

CH. XXVII.]

AFFAIRS IN DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH.

289

CHAPTER XXVII.

1863.

DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH: NAVAL OPERATIONS: BANKS AND PORT HUDSON.

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Department of the South-Hunter in command-Gen. Saxton, and negro troops-The iron-clads in the Ogeechee - Privateer Nashville destroyed by Commander Worden - Movements of the rebels in Charleston harbor-Lofty claims as to breaking the blockade - Attack on Fort McAllister - Negroes drafted to serve in the army - Beauregard's appeal - Dupont begins the attack on Charleston-His force Beauregard's vast and formidable preparations - Opening of the battle-Terrific fire of the rebels - Bravery of our officers and men in the assault- Dupont gives up the attempt for the present to take Charleston - Gillmore succeeds Hunter — Department of the Gulf — Banks sent to succeed Butler - Expedition under Banks — Ad. dress to the people of Louisiana, etc. - Military movements-Port Hudson, its position and strength — Attempt to sail past the batteries-Farragut's ship alone succeeds - Losses, etc. - Banks's demonstration against Port Hudson - Operations against the rebels west of New Orleans, near Teche River-Queen of the West destroyed - Further movements - Entire success - Banks occupies Alexandria - Enters upon attack and siege of Port Hudson - Long and tedious delays - Steady progress - Rebel General Gardner surrenders-Severity of the blow to the rebel cause.

panion, the Passaic, with the Montauk, and the formidable battery, the New Ironsides, made their appearance at Port Royal about the middle of January. Active operations were now promised, and speedy employment in the field.

In a previous chapter (see p. 151), | last day of the year 1862, with circumwe have given a brief narrative of affairs stances of painful interest. Her comin the department of the South. There had not much of any importance been effected, owing to the weakness of the force under the commander of 1853. this department; and since Gen. Mitchel's death, October 30th, 1862, but little had been attempted or done, beyond keeping a vigilant watch on the part of the blockading force in view of subsequent undertakings. Gen. Hunter, on the 20th of January, resumed command, at Port Royal, of the department of the South. Vigorous preparations were entered upon, while the monitors and iron-clads, from which much was expected in regard to conflicts with the rebels, were being completed at the North. The original Monitor, as we have before noted (p. 136),* passed out of existence on the

Gen. Saxton, who had been sent by the secretary of war, in June, 1862, to give attention to the abandoned plantations, and the people, especially the negroes, in the department of the way to the South. The next day she passed Hatteras pre-way Shoals in safety; but that night there set in a furious began to fill the doomed vessel. The Rhode Island did all that was possible in endeavoring to relieve the down about two o'clock on the morning of December Monitor; but it was impossible to save her. She went 31st. Commander Bankhead, in command of the Monitor at the time of the disaster, with six of his officers and forty men, were brought back in safety on the Rhode Island to Fortress Monroe. Four officers and

* The Monitor left Fortress Monroe, on the 29th of December, in tow of the gun boat Rhode Island, on her VOL. IV.-37.

storm from the southwest, which dashed over and soon

twelve men of the Monitor were lost, and one officer and seven men of the Rhode Island, in their efforts to save the men on the iron-clad.

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