Browsing named entities in William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. You can also browse the collection for 12th or search for 12th in all documents.

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William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, chapter 6 (search)
er, was assigned. Jackson was to proceed by way of Sharpsburg, crossing the Potomac above Harper's Ferry, and, investing it by the rear; McLaws was to move by way of Middletown on the direct route to the ferry, and seize the hills on the Maryland side known as Maryland Heights; Walker was to cross the Potomac below Harper's Ferry and take possession of the Loudon Heights. The advance was begun on the 10th: the several commanders were all to be at their assigned positions by the night of the 12th, cause the surrender by the following morning, and immediately rejoin the remainder of the army, with which Lee was to move to Boonsboroa or Hagerstown. Up to the time of Lee's leaving Frederick, McClellan's advance had been so tardy as to justify the Confederate commander in the belief that the reduction of Harper's Ferry would be accomplished and his columns again concentrated before he would be called upon to meet the Union army. But this expectation was disappointed, and all Lee's pl
William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, chapter 9 (search)
ing the passage of the Potomac at Williamsport. If it was designed to attack this position, it should have been done the moment the army arrived before it, on the 12th. But the day and the morrow passed in timid councils. On the 13th, at a formal consultation of the corps-commanders, the majority of the general-officers voted at may fairly be said that as General Meade determined to attack on the 14th, against the opinion of his lieutenants, it would have been well had he done so on the 12th, without consulting their opinion. No new element was, in the interval, introduced into the problem, excepting that the strengthening of the position by the enemy rendered attack on the 14th much more difficult than it was on the 12th, and the delay would, therefore, appear to have resulted from hesitation and indecision in the mind of the commander, which under the circumstances must be accounted an error. The problem, whether Lee should have been attacked in the position he had taken
William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, chapter 10 (search)
ut shows how diffident he was in regard to this point—feeling his way, and afraid to move until he had first started Meade, which was the very way of defeating the object he had in view, if he really wished to interpose between the Army of the Potomac and Washington—a purpose which, under the circumstances, was only to be accomplished by the utmost audacity of movement. There is another opportunity of which General Meade might have availed himself, and which I shall point out. When, on the 12th, the Second, Fifth, and Sixth corps had been sent back across the Rappahannock under a false lead, these corps were in position, by a move to the right, to fall upon the rear of Lee's column in crossing at Sulphur Springs. This would have been a bold move, and would have been as effective as a retrograde movement in relieving French on the north bank of the Rappahannock. But it would have been somewhat hazardous; for Lee might have disputed, with a part of his force, the passage of the Aest
William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, chapter 11 (search)
so a new base was opened at Aquia Creek, whither the sick and wounded were sent, and whence supplies and forage, much needed by the army, were drawn. May 17TH.—Hancock received orders to move his command back to the works he had captured on the 12th, and attack the enemy at daylight on the 18th in the intrenchments he then held in front of that position. The Sixth Corps was directed to form on Hancock's right and assail the enemy's line at the same hour. The Ninth Corps was also to participy's division and Tyler's division of foot-artillerists, which had recently joined the army, were in reserve. The Confederates held a strong line of intrenchments about half a mile in front of, and parallel to, the works Hancock had stormed on the 12th. Their position was concealed by the forest, and protected by the heaviest kind of abatis. As the troops moved forward, they encountered a severe fire or musketry and artillery, which completely swept the approaches, making great havoc in their
William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, chapter 12 (search)
command of General Hancock, to whom were placed, in addition to his own corps, the Tenth Corps (now under General Birney) and the cavalry division of General Gregg. The movement was begun on the 12th of August. As it was not possible long to conceal its real character, it was resolved to throw the enemy off the scent by the embarkation of the expeditionary force on transports at City Point, and the promulgation of the idea that it was about to start for Washington. During the night of the 12th, the fleet steamed up stream, and the troops were next morning landed at Deep Bottom, where General Foster continued to hold an intrenched camp. The artillery had been previously sent across the Appomattox, by way of Point of Rocks, and parked under concealment within General Butler's lines. It was then taken to the north side of the James when the infantry had debarked. Much difficulty was experienced in the debarkation, which was not completed until nine o'clock of the morning of the 1