|
Post by marklemon on Nov 8, 2008 22:46:34 GMT -5
I thought I'd open a new thread about the American Civil War, as some of the members may have an interest in it. My family was up to their necks in it, and I have an astounding manuscript written (in 1886) by my ancestor concerning his war exploits, as well as telling the story of what happened to his wife, who was forced to open her house to General Sherman and his staff when Sherman's army occupied their town on the way to Atlanta. Here is a section dealing with an encounter my great great grandmother had with Sherman as he was eating a meal in our dining room: (Note: while these events were happening, my ancestor, Capt. James L. Lemon, 18th Ga Infantry, was a POW, having been captured atop the parapet of Ft Sanders, Knoxville, TN, in Nov, 1863.) "My wife reported that she was, as well as possible, enduring the Yankee occupation of our home, though they seemed to do their best to needlessly destroy our belongings. She reported to me that after the Yanks had taken over the town & infested our home, they had become enraged when they could find no valuable plunder (as she had wisely had all of our silver & china buried) & so began to break & rend such goods as were available to them. Windows were smashed, plates & dishes broken (all fairly common & cheap) & curtains torn asunder. They even sent poor Bap (NOTE:a freed slave:M.L.) under the house to dig at their bidding, thinking, wrongly, that our goods were sequestered there. The most infuriating outrage, however, which was visited upon my family was the barbaric practice the idle yankees camped about our place employed of randomly shooting through the walls of our kitchen, in which Eliza(his wife:M.L.) & little Mariah (his daughter:M.L.)& our servants were compelled to live & serve the yankees. It surely was only by the hand of Providence that no ball found its mark. She then reported the most astounding news & that was that Sherman himself occupied our house, using the small tenant house (to the west) for his sleeping quarters. Our house was taken over by Sherman's staff officers & Provost Marshal who set up an office in our parlor....... .....Gen'l Sherman would visit our house to see & hold council with his officers several times a day (he was in Acworth for about 4 days) & each time he came his officers would scurry about seeing to his whim. Eliza was ordered by an officer named Dayton to always have a pot of hot coffee ready for him at all times. As for the General himself, Eliza described him as the most rude & officious scoundrel she ever met & devoid of any humane or gentlemanly quality whatsoever. An amusing anecdote was told to me by Bap after the war (an confirmed by Eliza) that may illustrate the character of the man. On one such occasion, when Sherman was "holding court" at our dining table, Eliza was brought in to serve coffee to the assembled officers. Perhaps intending to amuse or impress his officers, Sherman began a conversation with her, viz: Sherman: " I am told, madam, that your husband is a rebel officer." Eliza: "He is an officer in the Confederate Army, if that is your meaning." Sherman: " So it is. Where is he now?" Eliza: "In one of your Yankee prisons." Sherman: " Ah, I see! Well, never mind, he is in his proper place." Eliza: "What is your meaning sir?" Sherman: "I mean, madam, that prison is just the place for anyone who takes up arms in rebellion against his government." Upon hearing this remark, his assembled officers were heard to chuckle most arrogantly. Eliza was as good as this remark & did him one better, answering "I'll wager, sir, that if there is ever to be a prison for Yankee generals who pillage & plunder & burn out innocent persons from their homes & shoot helpless invalids like poor old Mr Mitchell lying sick in his bed, that you would rank highly among its inhabitants." Sherman replied in a grave tone that with but a word from him she would in a twinkling be arrested & in irons. Eliza, quite recklessly, but bravely, answered "Arrest me! Yes! That is all you know, you brute, arresting women & mothers of infants! You make war upon helpless citizens, old men & women & children, burn their homes & shoot & steal our property & livestock without apology or payment & now you come uninvited into my house & eat my food without obviously, feeling obliged to act like a gentleman, but by G-d sir, I will not permit you to add to your affrontery by sitting yourself down in this house & insulting the good man who built it!" Sherman, clearly seeing his predicament, ordered her to be removed from his presence but did not arrest her, perhaps respecting her grit but most likely understanding that he had been successfully out-maneuvered & that he did not dare have her arrested lest he lend truth to her charges. He did, however, ensure that whenever he entered the house, Eliza was kept in the kitchen & out of his sight..." God Bless Southern Women... Mark
|
|
|
Post by Herb on Nov 9, 2008 11:53:14 GMT -5
Family History is interesting, my Great Great Grandfather came from a large family in Lexington, KY, he joined John Hunt Morgan's first regiment that ended up being part of Forrest's Brigade, and rode with Forrest for the rest of the war, except for a short time he was a POW and held in the Louisville City Jail! He ended up the war as a corporal. One of his brothers went north and became a Union Colonel and commanded an Illinois cavalry brigade.
My Great Grandmother's father owned I guess what you would call a small plantation on the Tennessee-Kentucky line in what is now the land between the lakes area. During the Forts Henry/Donelson campaign according to my Great Grandmother, Grant/Sherman cut a road through the settlement cemetery. When I was a kid anytime we would drive down that road, she would get upset over driving over the graves of her dead relatives.
When Forrest made his raids on Paducah, he used her father's land as a staging area. Apparently, my Great Great Grandfather came to know the family during those raids, and after the war sent his son down there to work for them, where my Great Grandfather met and married my Great Grandmother.
I haven't been to the area since the early 1970s, but the old family plantation house still stood then, and there were several historical markers placed telling about its small role in the Civil War (or the War of Yankee Aggression as my ggrandmother called it).
|
|
|
Post by stuart on Nov 9, 2008 15:37:13 GMT -5
Oddly enough I may be able to claim a piece of the action here too, although I can't provide any detail.
According to family legend my great great grandfather Stewart Marjoribanks Grant (Dr James Grant's eldest son), who was a seaman, sailed on blockade runners during the Civil War. I used to have his revolver (Colts 1849 pocket model) until it was stolen in a burglary, and I also remember a couple of bowie knives in our atticc, although they disappeared sometime after my Dad died and the house was sold by my sister.
|
|
|
Post by TRK on Nov 9, 2008 17:52:56 GMT -5
Nice stories, guys. Keep 'em coming.
I had two ancestors, one paternal and one maternal, in the same division, Griffin's, in V Corps, Army of the Potomac in the last year of the war. One of them, my g-grandfather William Kilburn, was drafted into the 91st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in June 1864. He lived out in the sticks in central Pennsylvania and may not have even known he was conscripted until the bounty hunters came and arrested him for "desertion." He was 39 at the time and married, with a newborn. What's more, he was a recent arrival from England and it's not known if he was even a U.S. citizen at the time.
He was hauled in and court-martialled for desertion but evidently got off without punishment, so the offense wasn't considered grave. Toward the end of the war he was promoted to corporal, so presumably he served faithfully.
My maternal g-g-grandfather, Seth Graves, was a private in Company I, 189th New York. He took a saber wound in his arm at the Battle of Hatcher's Run in the last days of the siege of Petersburg, and that was the "red badge of courage" he proudly wore the rest of his life.
|
|
|
Post by marklemon on Nov 9, 2008 21:15:13 GMT -5
Instead of wandering around piecemeal through the manuscript, I guess I'll start from the beginning, and post selected excerpts which I feel best illustrate the flavor of the book my ancestor wrote. Here is an interesting excerpt concerning slavery, and how my ancestor thought about it. Very interesting, considering it comes from a Confederate Officer:
Slavery-Our Lost Opportunity
".....The matter of slavery was at that time a relatively minor one, being mainly espoused by the abolitionists who, seeing the growing rift between the regions, used this opportunity to inflame the situation. While not at the heart of the real issue, slavery was a matter of great emotional potential & as such, was used to inflame every debate. As for myself, I have always felt in my heart that slavery was wrong, both as a moral matter and a practical one. While I believed then, as I do today, that Negroes in the South, under slavery in most cases fared better than those living in free squallor (sic) in the North, still I always felt uneasy about the principle of the complete & utter possession of another human being. Because of this belief, I elected to free those slaves in my possession in 1856, preferring rather to have them on as free men, if they chose to remain, confident in the belief that a free man with pride & self-respect will be happier, and work better, than one in bondage. All of them knew me & we had long before established good relations & the kindest feelings among us. I had encouraged their basic education & conducted Sunday School classes for them, teaching most to learn to read the Bible & this they did with great enthusiasm. As a result, upon their liberation all of them gratefully responded to their freedom & every one steadfastly maintained they would remain under my employ.......
Even before the War, social attitudes in the South were beginning to evolve on the matter. The many advances in industry & horticultural sciences both before & after the War would have eventually forced an end, if for none other than practical reasons, to slavery in the South. I am sure that the better, more influential minds felt as I did & if left to our own devices, we would ourselves decided this & gradually prohibited slavery, replacing it with gradual education & liberation. I believe that the results of the last 20 years have shown that the instant, shocking freedom thrust upon the Negro, who was not prepared to responsibly accept it has done much more harm than good for them.... As it happened, once the War began our great mistake was in not freeing the slaves, or arming them to fight on condition of their freedom (This many did anyway, in large numbers) This would have left the Yankees only with the untenable position Constitutionally as to our rights under that document to secede. Britain would have no doubt come to our aid (as slavery was to them the troubling issue) & the War would have had, I think, a much different result..."
|
|
|
Post by marklemon on Nov 10, 2008 22:45:10 GMT -5
Continuing in proper sequence in the 1886 manuscript, here is an excerpt about the beginning of the war, and how it effected Southerners in a small town:
The War Begins
As we drilled, the nation drew ever closer to war, and in April of 1861 Ft Sumter was fired upon and seized from the Yankees, who had refused to surrender it to the State of South Carolina. Of course, the reader knows that Lincoln then called up 75,000 Federal troops for the invasion of the South, and the War was on. Georgia, in short order, seceded and joined the Confederate States. For a month or so afterwards, our company continued to train and practice the Military Arts in Acworth. We were very soon thereafter ordered to proceed to Big Shanty (NOTE: Now Kennesaw, GA) to a new camp established there for the muster and training of various companies from across the state. The news of our departure sent a thrill through our little town and while we could have taken the cars, we opted to try our legs and march the few miles to camp. Before we went off, a ceremony was held in town with may speeches and prayers in our honor. My wife and I parted with heavy hearts and great emotion. She gave me, as I left, a rose to press into my journal (which I carried through the war). Even our hired Negro men and women came out, some with downcast countenances and others wailing to Jehovah to grant us victory and a safe return. It was with the greatest difficulty and exertions that I finally compelled Bap, Lewis, and Allen (NOTE: Capt. Lemon's former slaves) to remain behind. I was very close to these men, especially Bap and Lewis, with whom I had spent many a fond hour fishing and hunting throughout the years. They were really beside themselves with grief and anger at not being allowed a chance to defend their homes from "de Blackhearted yankees," but I was finally able to convince them that they could do much more valuable service to me and our families by remaining and seeing to affairs at home. Both Bap and Lewis were dead shots however, and I have no doubt they would have killed their share of Yankees. Events later in the War however, would prove the wisdom of keeping them home.... ....With tearful "Good-byes" and hearts full of emotion, we presently set out with bands playing Patriotic aires. All along the way we were met with the wildest cheers of the poor citizens, many of whom stopped in their labors and rushed to give us such food a they could spare. Here, a sweetheart rushed to embrace her beau with tear-filled eyes, pressing some keepsake into his hand- there, a father and mother, hearts brimming with emotion, bade their boy "Farewell!" Many of the boys, as we were marching, passed their own farms along the way, seeing their old home places for the last time. We marched to Big Shanty with mixed feelings. Sadness and longing for our loved ones, mixed with a sobering realization of the task ahead, were also mingled with a great sense of excitement for what we felt was to be the Great Adventure of our lives.
NOTE: The company from Acworth (later to become Company A, 18th Georgia Infantry)marched to the town of Big Shanty, now called Kennesaw, where they encamped for about 3 months at Camp McDonald, a camp of infantry instruction managed by the cadet officers of the Georgia Military Institute. Late in August, 1861, the troops, now formed with other Georgia troops in a regiment, embarked on the troop trains, and set off for Richmond,VA.
"...At length, we arrived in Richmond, a city which none of us save the Colonel, had yet seen. It was a beautiful city, situated on a high hill by the James River and was utterly alive with activity. Throngs of citizens filled the station and cheered wildly as we arrived. As we disembarked the cars, musical bands, much as we had heard on our departure, struck up the most stirring martial and patriotic anthems. Many voices called to us, asking who we were and from where had we come? Naturally, in our boyish pride, "Georgia!" was shouted in reply. Instantly the crowd burst forth with "Hurrah for Georgia!" and "Hurrah for the Gallant Georgians!," tho' at that time we had certainly done nothing to merit such thrilling accolades. We formed in the street and marched through the gaily cheering crowds exalting us as heroes though as yet we had fired not one shot! After a pleasant march of a mile or so, we came presently to our camp located on the outskirts of town near the city Reservoir...."
Note: Next excerpt will describe the Georgians' joining the famous brigade of Texans, later led by BrigGen John Bell Hood.
|
|
|
Post by marklemon on Nov 14, 2008 1:00:35 GMT -5
While the 18th Georgia was encamped around Richmond in the late summer and fall of 1861, they were tasked to guard a large group of northern prisoners, mostly from the 5th New York Infantry, called "Duryea's Zouaves," a regiment of infantry who wore French/Algerian styled uniforms, huge, red baggy pants, red trimmed blue vests, and red fez'es. As you will see in the following excerpt, there was no love lost between the New York Zouaves, and the Georgians. Almost a year later, at Second Manassas, the two regiments would meet face to face on the battlefield, with disastrous results for the New Yorkers. Here's the excerpt from 1861:
"...About September 16th, we relocated ...for new duty guarding a large lot of Yankee Prisoners taken at Manassas (NOTE: First Manassas). The prison was located in a tobacco warehouse....During this time, an unfortunate incident occurred. One of the men of my company, whom I will call A_N_,was on guard duty when he became the target of the loud and vulgar abuse heaped upon him by a group of Yanks from the New York 5th Regt., a group we came to know as vulgar "blowhards" of the lowest order. Our "association" with these men would continue the following year when we met them at Manassas, with terrible results. Here, as our prisoners, however, we first saw face to face our enemy. A_N_, whom I know well, is a most quiet and reserved fellow and had a characteristic of which I had long been aware, and that was he had a "long fuse" but when that fuse was used up, the "report" was a fearful thing to behold. The group of yanks gathered at the bars were heaping abuse upon him relentlessly and for no apparent cause save for "sport." One of the yanks in particular was making shameful remarks about A_N_'s mother, whom I also knew. Well, upon hearing these scurrilous remarks, A_N_ raised his piece and shot the Yank through the heart. A._N_ then walked up to the yank's body and ejected a stream of tobacco juice into the dead man's face, coolly saying as he did so "You son of a dog. No man slanders my kin and lives." The incident,which was witnessed by others in my company, was told to me by them after I had arrived, in much haste, to investigate the report of this musket. A_N_ was disciplined but not harshly, as all who witnessed the incident testified that A_N_ had taken more shameful abuse than any man should be made to endure and if any man deserved to die, it was that foul-mouthed Yankee from New York...." In November, 1861, the Georgians were incorporated into the soon to be famous "Texas Brigade." here is the excerpt describing the first meeting between the two groups..very interesting:
"Among the Texans"
"About this time we were again reorganized and placed in a briggade (sic) of Texas boys under General Wigfall. At that time our briggade consisted of the 1st, 4th, and 5th Texas Reg'ts, the 18th Geo. and for a brief time the 5th Alabama. Our first meeting was, when I recall it now, most comical, as we were both, Georgians and Texans alike, very proud. Neither of us were willing to show deference to the other, so we stood, in two groups, giving each other "the look." To me it seemed much as a dis-interested belle at her Cotillion would give to a suitor "below her status." If the looks fired between us had been minie balls, blood would have flowed and casualties would have been severe indeed. Luckily, a few of the boys from both Georgia and Texas, being by nature less proud and more gregarious, walked through the "firing-line" and cheerfully shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. This seemed to have a charmed effect and soon we realized our prideful folly and were soon amongst each other, clasping hands and chattering away like long-separated chums. This was the beginning of a most remarkable "union". What became known as "Wigfall's," then later "Hood's Texas Briggade" was begun here at this meeting of boys from Georgia and Texas. We soon came to trust, rely and depend upon one another with unquestioning faith and it was a truly sorrowful day when a year later and after the shedding of much blood on many a victorious field, we were separated by another reorganizing of the Army....." This battle account is perhaps one of the best I have ever read in any war. It's long, so I will break it up over 4 or 5 parts. It follows the Texas Brigade in it's first major battle, the Battle of Gaine's Mill (June 27, 1862) just outside of Richmond, VA.
NOTE: The following is an excellent account of the Battle of Gaines Mill, near Richmond on June 27, 1862. . It is long, so I appologize, but I felt that it was so good that I couldn't edit much out of it. I will post it in about two or three parts, the following is the first part:
The Battle of Gaines Farm or Cold harbor
"On the 26th of June we broke camp quite early and marched towards the southeast, in the direction of Cold harbor. Away off in the distance we soon could hear the sounds of a great battle. At about 3 o'clock in the evening, we approached a small stream and bridge by which we were to cross. A Yankee rearguard there had set fire to the bridge and was firing upon us from the other side. Reilly's guns at once moved into the field to our left, and unlimbered, unseen by 3 Negroes who, with a white farmer or overseer, were sitting on a worm fence and engaged in calling out to us as we passed by with such remarks as "das right, go get them yanks" and "look out sah, dems a whole mess o' yankees down dat road," and such like. One of them met my hard gaze and said gaily "hey boss, lets us go fight dem yanks, we'll whip 'em sho nuff." Their taunting remarks were harmless, but it was plain that they were having much fun at our expense, believing that we would surely be whipped. At about that precise moment, Reilly let go the first shot from one of his 12 pounders, which was only about 100 feet to their rear in the field. The sudden, loud report from this gun caused all four to leap into the air with the wildest shrieks and curses and all were last seen flying to the rear into a piece of woods. Bill Stansell, of my company, cried out after them "Ho, boys! A'goin' for reinforcements, are ye?" Our entire briggade (sic) instantly was convulsed in fits of laughter so violent we could hardly keep marching. This comical episode did much to lighten the rising tension in our ranks. At length the Yanks were driven off and we repaired and crossed the bridge without further incident. We pressed on for 4 or 5 more miles and finally halted and camped at a crossroads.
"Well before sunrise on the 27th of June 1862 we were again on the march towards Cold harbor, several more miles to the south. Ewell's men were ordered to separate from us and march to the south at about noon and about 3 in the evening we set off to the south by a different road, as well as through field, forest, and swamp. Our speed of march convinced us all that grim work lay ahead. About 4 o'clock in the evening, we neared the field of battle which resounded with the perfectly thunderous roar of musketry and artillery......We continued to the southwest and soon emerged from a piece of timber and halted near a crossroads. " "Here at this place we first saw Gen'l Lee, who had recently assumed command of our army after Gen'l Johnston's wounding at the Seven Pines fight. He had ridden up on a beautiful gray charger, accompanied by Gen'l Whiting & staff & seemed to be seeking out our Gen'l Hood, who at once rode up to greet him. Tho' we did not know, nor at the time recongnize him, his superb grace & soldierly bearing were at once apparent & I heard major Griffis of our Regt exclaim "Boys, look yonder at that officer with olf Hood. Isn't he a magnificent looking fellow?" To this, we all could but heartily agree. He then said, "Boys, I do believe that to be Gen'l Lee, or I miss my guess," but as none of us had seen him, we could only look in awe upon this unknown officer who seemed to embody so completely in one form, the ideal of Southern manhood. Gen'l Hood rode up to him & smartly saluted & the salutation was returned in kind. The conference lasted but a few minutes, as Hood saluted & soon left the group to see to our disposition. He rode past us & shouted for us to stand by & he galloped off to look at the ground to our front." "Presently, he returned & ordered us forward about 200 yards at which point we turned to our left towards the southeast, in the direction of the enemy. Here he placed Hampton's Legion, 5th Texas & 1st Texas in line of battle near a thick piece of woods & moved us (NOTE: 18th GA) & the 4th Texas about 100 yards or so to the rear in reserve near a battery, which I took to be Braxton's guns. After Hood had placed us near the battery, we again saw Gen'l Lee approach. Gen'l Hood rode a short distance to meet him & saluted respectfully. We could not hear their words but it was clear they were speaking earnestly. I could see that Lee was directing Hood's attention to a far ridge, about a half mile distant on which a number of Yankee guns were arranged & from which they were playing on the entire field with murderous effect. After a moment's discussion, Hood again saluted & turned his horse, at which time Lee removed his hat & held it in his outstretched arm to Hood, speaking words we could not hear. ( I have since learned that Lee had sought out Hood to get Hood's assurance that he would take the guns on the heights, to which entreaty Hood had replied that he would do it or die in the attempt. As he rode off, Lee was said to have exclaimed "God be with you, Gen'l Hood!") "Hood rode over towards our front to see to our placement & here spoke briefly to Col. Ruff. I was to determine later from speaking with Ruff that he had greeted Hood with a mild protestation as to what appeared to be the Regt's use once again as a battery-guard. Hood had answered him sharply with words, as I recall from Ruff as being," Never mind that, Colonel, and see to your troops, and have them ready. When I send for you, follow me, and with dispatch." While speaking to Ruff, Hood seemed somewhat distracted & his attention drawn to an opening in the trees through which a clearing could be seen. He gave then the order to an aide for the three Reg'ts of the brigade (NOTE: Hampton's Legion, 1st Texas, 5th Texas) previously described as formed in line of battle, to advance, & soon we saw them step off & move into the timber with a shout. How we envied them! They, at least, were getting their chance, but it seemed that all we could do that day would be to lay in the woods & be shelled, a dubious skill at which we were becoming expert. Hood, meantime had ridden away off to our right front & into the clearing. While he was gone, we officers had a mighty hard time suppressing the anger of our boys at once again being held in reserve. Now, certainly there could be no reason for it, as we were now armed with the finest rifles in the world, & had shown ourselves to be ready & willing on every occasion. Little did we know the awful fight which lay ahead of us & in which our Reg't would play so conspicuous a part." "Col Ruff (NOTE: Col Solon Z. Ruff, temporarily in command of the 18th GA), especially, seemed beside himself with fury & though he concealed this from the men, those of us who knew him saw his wrath. Sitting astride is horse & facing away from us, as he gazed unmoving at our brigade's line of battle as it moved forward in the distance, he suddenly snatched his cap from his head & slapped it once against his thigh. It was enough for us, his fellow officers who instantly understood & agreed with his frustration. Almost at once, Hood returned & rode across our front to the 4th Texas. he seemed to speak to them in earnest tones & at once, every man of them lept to his feet with a shout. Instantly they formed & moved off smartly to the right, "by the right flank." As Hood rode again across our front leading the 4th Texas, he seemed to turn in his saddle & wave his boys forward with his cap. As he did so, he looked over in our direction & continuing to wave his cap, seemed to all of us to beckon us to follow him. This was all Col Ruff need see & flicking spurs to horse, he wheeled about & his mount raised him up in a magnificent martial picture. Ruff, holding his hat in hand, called out in a loud, clear voice, "Up boys! Now is your time!" We answered at once with a tremendous yell, as the men lept up & formed into ranks. Quickly followed the command "Attention! Right shoulder shift! Forward, Quick-time, March!" We set off with a piercing shout from every throat, as we knew our time had finally come. Soon, our pace was increased to the double-quick so as to close with the 4th Texas, which we soon did, falling in behind them at about 50 yards distant. (In recalling this incident afterwards, I was quite certain that, as far as I had observed, no real order form Hood had been given for us to advance, and Col Ruff, one of the finest soldiers & bravest men that I had ever known, was certainly risking much by moving us without proper orders. But we all saw Hood's gesture & took its meaning to be "Follow Me!" and coming so soon after their conversation, Ruff had, I think, sufficient grounds to believe he was being ordered, however informally, to advance.......)" "....As we moved into the large open field & wheeled to the left, we again come under a hot fire from the yankee guns on the heights. Men soon began to fall, but we continued our advance. We neared a peach orchard beyond an old house & here Hood halted the 4th Texas & formed them into line of battle. The 18th Geo was behind the 4th still at a distance of about 40-50 yards & here Ruff halted & formed us behind the Texans. We could see that Hood was giving his men a talk, but we could hear none of it due to the tremendous din of battle. To whatever he told them, the Texas boys responded with a shriek which made even our own blood run cold. Col Ruff was never one for giving speeches, but when he did speak, and owing to his reticence to pontificate one tended to listen all the more intently. Here, however, his "blood" was clearly up. He pranced his mount to & fro in front of us & standing in his stirrups he yelled at us "Boys, keep your alignment & guide on the colors, you know the way. Don't stop & when you come upon them feed them the steel!" A great scream went up from every throat & then Ruff, seeing that the 4th had stepped off to the attack, turned back to us & ordered loudly "Attention! Forward, quick-time, March!" With a thrill which ran through every heart, we were off. The moment we had all waited so long for, and dreaded, was at hand. Every heart pounded & every mind raced with the possibilities of what lay ahead, but all were firm in the conviction to do their duty. We marched in perfect order, though it seemed to me that we all, without being conscious of the fact, marched slightly bent over as the shells burst overhead. Our appearance & quick advance drew at once to us the attention of the yankee guns, which threw their shells at us with great fury & soon more of our boys began to fall. We had moved rapidly across the rear of Law's Brigade & were now coming up on & past his right flank, part of which had halted & gone to ground." ".....We soon reached a brigade of Alabama troops. They were lying down near the far edge of the field, just before the ground began to slope downward & were very much cut up & were calling for us as we passed them to "go back" as it was certain death for us to advance. This brought a most severe rebuke from our boys, who began to bleat at them like sheep. Further on, we saw a large body of Mississippi troops, of Law's command, who likewise had halted & were lying down. A group of them, more manly than their compatriots, rose & followed us closely, coming up on our right. (I later learned they were from the 11th Miss Inf'ty) "We crested the ridge & were met with a most galling fire from the 3 lines of enemy infantry to our front, still hidden from our view on the opposite ridge. Each of these lines was selected and placed in such manner as to allow each one to fire over the head of the one in front, creating an almost impregnable position. Now, if by some instinctive sense of necessity, both the Texans & Georgians, without orders and as one, increased the pace of advance to almost a trot. This was caused at least in part by the declivity of the ground, and also I think by our excitement. There was no attempt to correct this, as it was instantly seen by all as undeniably appropriate. large gaps were cut in our ranks but, we wavered not & advanced in almost perfect order down the slope, which briefly shielded us from the fire of the enemy...." "As the 4th Texas reached this small ridge, they halted & quickly fired a volley against Hood's orders & Hood was instantly among them yelling "Don't stop! Forward! Trail Arms!" Our men had, by necessity owing to the 4th's halting,began to halt & lower their pieces, but did not fire. As soon as Hood resumed their progress, we followed close behind with arms at the "trail." I thought this to be a most unusual order, but its wisdom would reveal itself presently. As we within 50 yards of the creek, which ran along the bottom of the ravine, we could clearly see now the first line of yankees, as they furiously fired & reloaded. With blackened faces like demons from the infernal regions, they tore cartridges in clenched white teeth, while rammers flew up & down the barrels of their pieces. While we were advancing now at very close range & still with our arms at the trail, Hood cried out "Fix bayonets!" & in an instant, one thousand men extracted these deadly articles on the move & fixed them to their guns with a metallic clatter. This was made possible only by our carrying our pieces at the trail position, and I have always felt Hood was a genius for having the wisdom to know this in a very short time, as it saved precious moments & preserved our momentum. A few steps closer to our foes, and still without halting, we heard "ready! Aim! Fire!" We delivered our volley, one thousand rifles, while walking at a very quick gait. At once came the command "Charge!" & the woods fairly rang with the piercing "rebel-yell." Running now, at the double quick, or faster, on we swept the few remaining yards down the slope in good order and, upon reaching the creek, our ranks were broken as each man leapt down into the creek-bed, jumped across the stream, & climbed up the other side. Rising out of the creek bed, we saw that the 4th Texas, about 20 yards to our front & left had reached the first line of the enemy's works & had driven them from that point. Hundreds of Yanks began to flee up the hill with the 4th closely following, literally "on their heels" and shrieking like devils. we paused for only a moment to re-align ourselves, the raced up the hill after them, We caught the 4th Texas as they neared the second line of the enemy's works halfway up the hill. The Yankees fired a few shots at us but had to wait for their comrades, fleeing from the first line of works, to clear their front. When they were at last able to fire, we were almost upon them. A few scattered shots were fired at us but we were upon them with the bayonet, and they could not stand, but broke & fled up the hill. As this second line broke, we raised a shout which ran like an electric shock through every Confederate soldier, and it was passed down our entire line, as a wave moving to shore. We instantly set out again up the hill & after the fleeing Yankees. Upon reaching the crest, the United States regulars there were so un-nerved at the breaking of the first two lines & their precipitous flight to the rear through their ranks, that as we came near them, they fired an ineffective volley and, throwing down their arms, broke & fled wildly to the rear. We quickly reached the edge of the plateau and were met with an almost indescribable scene of the pandemonium of war. Thousands of men in blue were fleeing in all directions, but principally to the rear. Words cannot describe our fierce excitement. It was a most thrilling sight, but we could not pause long to enjoy it. Here at the edge of the timber we quickly reformed our lines. The 4th Texas had begun to advance & had gone ahead of us slightly." "Now, with our lines re-formed, we stepped off at the "quick-time" pushing all before us...."
Part II tomorrow.....
|
|
|
Post by marklemon on Nov 14, 2008 22:09:23 GMT -5
The Battle of Gaines Mill, continued:
We passed about 100 yards to the south of a farm house & then we met the 4th Texas again, halted in an orchard. Here, we formed on the right of the Texans & again dressed our lines. Our object was the vast array of guns which for so long had been tormenting us......" "......In a very short time the order "Forward" was given & we moved ahead smartly, in the following order-from left to right, 4th Texas, 18th Georgia & a few companies of the 11th Mississippi. We soon reached a very steep ravine about 200 yards to our front, which looked to me like a very deep, but dry creek bed. This ravine, positioned as it was between us & the guns, provided us with some shelter. Into it we moved at once & again our formation was broken as the men struggled down the steep banks. We soon saw that it was fairly crowded with terrified & skulking Yankees who had, in the terror of their flight, thrown away their guns & huddled together in the safety of the ditch. We moved into them & pushed them aside, as there was no more "fight" left in them.......After a few moments, we moved up & out of the ditch & while still below the crest & still hidden from the view of the Yankee gunners, we again saw to our alignment. This was quickly done......Now was the supreme moment & Ruff was at his zenith. He stepped to our front & I saw at once the light of battle blazing in his eyes. He turned to us with a savage look & with clenched teeth, he called out in a loud, clarion voice "Come on Boys! Let them taste some cold Georgia steel!" At once, the command "Forward!" was heard & we instantly let out the most tremendous yell imaginable. We moved up over the crest with a renewed will towards the mouths of the guns, now belching double cannister. many of our boys began to fall from this terrible fire. William Stansell, my good friend from before the War, was hit directly in front of me, fell into my arms & was dead in an instant without uttering a sound. On we pressed, the guns still about 150 yards away, seeming almost never to be drawing closer." "Almost at once, we felt the earth fairly tremble and we began to hear a rumbling, even over the guns, of horses' hooves. While still advancing, we were met with an awe-inspiring sight. 250 horsemen of, we were told, the 2nd United States Regular Cavalry, hove into view to our front, galloping directly towards our front & right flank. They had emerged from somewhere behind the guns & were apparently intent on saving them from our capture. As the left wing of our reg't continued towards the guns, we on the right flank, about three companies, A, B, & C, refused our line to the right so as not to be flanked & in an instant, formed to "receive cavalry." Our men, in two ranks, formed with the front rank kneeling with bayoneted rifle, butt-piece against the right knee. The rifle was thus angled upwards and outwards, towards the advancing enemy. The rear rank was standing behind them & ready to fire, waiting until they came within about 50 yards from our lines, and then we poured into them a volley which hit them like a whirlwind. Men seemed to fairly fly from their saddles in every sort of wild position. Horses fell in heaps or tumbled headfirst hurling their riders over their heads. The sudden violence of our fire was so great that their horses were instantly panicked. The wild-eyed mounts, heedless of their riders' strenuous efforts to turn or control them, ran & scattered in all directions. Most turned & fled into the path of the guns, but some continued straight ahead for our lines....." "....Almost at this instant, a great cheer went up from the left & we looked over & our left was among the guns. Our colors were seen waving from the tops of 2 guns, waved by their valiant Ensigns Foster & Weems. We cheered them and wanting our own glory, realigned our formation & continued our advance to the battery of guns directly in our front. These guns were now being limbered up by their gunners, but were apparently hindered in their efforts to do so by the panicked horses thundering through their position. we received from them a final volley of canister which cut a large gap in our lines. This was quickly closed & now with a furious yell we were upon them, bayoneting them, clubbing & shooting down the gunners in a wild, but brief melee'. The y managed to remove, as we advanced, a few of their guns, but our three companies captured 4 guns before they could be saved. The scene before us was now one of the most utter & wild pandemonium, with confused masses of artillery caissons, mounted & un-mounted horses, gunners & masses of fleeing Yankee infantry, all streaming to the rear. A great cheer was raised by us (not wanting to be out-done by the Texans & our left wing)& they, with spirit, picked it up & raised one too. We were utterly exultant, & felt as if no army on earth could stop us...."
NOTE: This ends the excerpted section on the Battle of Gaines Mill. I hope you found it interesting. M.L.
|
|
|
Post by stuart on Nov 15, 2008 6:02:23 GMT -5
Phew... yes, I've got to agree, that was certainly the best account I've read of the charge at Gaines' Mill.
|
|
|
Post by marklemon on Nov 15, 2008 21:28:06 GMT -5
Yeah, Stuart, it is a great account. His eye-witness accounts of Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and Chencellorsville are great as well, but the experience with posting the Gaines Mill material has left me leery of doing something so lengthy again.... Mark
|
|
|
Post by bobdurham on Nov 17, 2008 10:42:49 GMT -5
Mark,
Your journal is a real treasure -- have you thought about getting it published? First person accounts, especially ones with battle depictions, are in great demand, especially with universities. I do book reviews for The Civil War News and I've been sent a lot of journals, diaries and letter collections that are not nearly as well written or as exciting as the examples you've posted here.
Bob
|
|
|
Post by Kevin Young on Mar 15, 2009 21:31:25 GMT -5
Mark, those accounts are great. Thanks for sharing!
If I may jump in, several family members were involved in the war. Grandfather Suycott was in the 73rd Illinois and was wounded at Stone's river. He was actually retreating across a fence when a shell exploded nearby. No fragments hit him, but a section of fence rail hit in in the chest and head. He was captured and taken to Libby Prison buy exchanged (better to exchange a wounded Yankee than a fit one). He apparently had all sorts of internal injuries and was out of it for the rest of the war. The war injuries bothered him the rest of his life, but he did manage to father a couple more children...his pension record is very thick with medical reports from various doctors.
Grandfather Young served in the 20th Illinois. Was at Shiloh, Champion's Hill and Vicksburg. On the general assult of May 22, he was loading and firing so fast that a round cooked and blew off his thumb. The flash pretty much sealed the wound, and he just wrapped his neck rag around the wound and carried on. He later came a visited Mark's home state with Sherman.
Uncle Anderson served in the 15th Tennessee CSA.
|
|