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An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 28: (search)
ntion; but several broke in with their individual experience, and leaving others to decide what is, and what is not, imagination, told some very amusing and occasionally tragical stories regarding its power and its effects. When the fight at Manassas had terminated, said Adjutant Flint, being then in the ranks, I was detailed as one of a burying party, and was out all night and most of the following day. As our regiment had been engaged near Centreville, I was hunting along the slopesllows were walking about the streets of Leesburgh in less than three days, comfortably smoking their pipes, or fighting their battles over again round the fire of the mess-rooms. I know, too, an instance of a young man who came off the field of Manassas, with a cloth tied over the top of his head, and was begging all to pour cold water on it, for a shell had passed so close as to scalp him. Upon examination he proved to be unhurt, but the concussion was so great as to cause all the feeling of b
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 29: (search)
aim, why do our servants go to battle with us?-how comes it that officers cannot keep them from the front? You know as well as I, that Dave behaved gallantly at Manassas, and received his free papers from the State of Mississippi-passed in full legislative style-his price being paid to the owner by the State treasurer; but what d he attempted to describe their positions and bearings, his, head was at fault. I know an instance of a boy who ran from the Eighteenth Mississippi, just before Manassas, July, 1861. He was recaptured during the engagement; for the Yankees putting him in the front, together with other run-aways, made him very uneasy, so he slipporder has been frequently issued to keep darkeys to the rear in time of battle, but although I lectured my boy about it, I was surprised to find him behind me at Manassas, rifle in hand, shouting out: Go in, massa! give it to 'em, boys! now you've got 'em, and give 'em h — ll! There was a very old, gray-haired cook in an A
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 31: (search)
avalry; of infantry he knew little, and, perhaps, cared less; nevertheless, he frequently commanded regiments on foraging excursions during the winter months, at Manassas, and kept the cavalry well supplied from his inroads to the vicinity of Drainsville, and other places near Washington, under the eye and care of Federal commanders, who laid plans to punish him for his audacity. On one occasion he started from Manassas with several regiments of infantry, a small force of cavalry, four pieces of artillery, (Couts's battery,) and over a hundred wagons. The spies of the enemy had informed them of his departure during the night; rockets were seen ascending great, his quiet smile and twinkling eye betray a person of disciplined tastes and habits, possessed of much craftiness and cunning. I saw little of him around Manassas, but at Yorktown lines he was continually on the move, riding one of the finest chestnut mares the eye ever beheld; a small, active, wiry, fine-blooded, and swi
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 32: (search)
ould have more than sufficed for three times the number of men in both armies. Virginia is the only place where fine water is abundant in the South, yet at Yorktown and other places the quality and supply were inferior. The same may be said of Manassas. Although Bull Run ran there, the men had an aversion to using that stream, except for washing purposes. How strange our generals never thought of digging wells! The bread question, said the doctor, is an all-important one; old troops r succeeded so well as their French neighbors. We excel both in that respect, and although not a nation of cooks, have done wonderfully well. Our generals did endeavor to erect large bakeries to supply the army, but they were too small, at Manassas and elsewhere. Those that could bake would not- they enlisted to shoulder a musket, they said, and could not be prevailed upon to try their hands at bread-making, though hundreds were professional bakers, and excellent workmen. The scarcity of
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 38: (search)
e old army and offered their services to the South, and was always looked upon as a promising officer; the part he has played in the present struggle for independence stamps him as a young man of real genius. He greatly distinguished himself at Manassas, twenty-first July, Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mills, etc. He is now a Major-General. Jackson was hovering in their rear, Jackson did it.-It is very easy, now that the affair is over, to perceive the cause of McClellan's recent reverse. At thon Artillery Corps, Kemper's battery, and other organizations; and I must confess the efficiency of volunteers in that arm is surprising. Kemper's battery and the New-Orleans Artillery never fired other than blank cartridges before Bull Run and Manassas; yet such was their precision that the enemy frequently withdrew disabled and humbled — I mean the Federal regulars. I cannot help thinking that the enthusiasm and pluck of our boys have much to do with it. Being accustomed to arms from infancy
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 39: (search)
nd so secretly, that three fourths of the army were ignorant of the fact, and would not believe it! It was true, nevertheless, and had it not been for the accidental capture of the two small baggage-trains, through wilful carelessness, this celebrated retreat would perhaps stand unrivalled in the history of warfare, as being the most secret, successful, and disastrous blow which a feeble army ever dealt to an all-powerful and confident enemy. Your description of Johnston's retreat from Manassas leads me to believe that Beauregard was desirous of emulating your commander; the result at any rate does him infinite credit. Halleck had stored his camps with immense supplies; he had destroyed hundreds of horses, wagons, mules, and carts, in the work of transportation; had prepared for a bombardment of an indefinite period; built magazines and barracks, repaired rail roads, and erected bridges, thus occupying the whole spring in preparation; and now in one moment all these plans were t
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 40: (search)
morrow. From dusty and weary scouts who arrived during night, we ascertained something regarding the true position of Banks's army. A few of these adventurous spirits had been prowling about the enemy's encampments in different parts of the country, and had discovered the following facts: One of the enemy's army corps, under Sigel, was on their right among the hills at Sperryville, watching the roads and all direct communication with their rear at Mount Washington, Warrenton, and Manassas Junction; a heavy force was stationed on Pope's left, at or near Waterloo on the Rappahannock, while somewhat to the rear of Banks and Pope was McDowell's corps. It was concluded with reason that these various bodies would be unable to appear upon the field to assist Banks, should Jackson force him to engage on the following day, (Saturday, August ninth.) During the night, pickets, in our extreme front, were popping away at each other occasionally, and early in the morning our advance was
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 41: (search)
and rear he captures and destroys immense stores at Manassas Junction, and disperses a brigade sent from Alexandria to protect them sudden retreat of Pope's army towards Manassas Engages Jackson with superior forces, but without results advance appearance of our advance squadron, and, running towards Manassas, spread the alarm. The commandant of that post could noto the commandant of Alexandria. The station-master at Manassas was very much mistaken, for our forces suddenly surroundi them cannons do make to be sure-they're fightin‘ agin at Manassas, I know. Just listen! said an old housewife. I startedwould have been the better for it. The firing towards Manassas continued throughout the day, but it was not till sunset had mounted and faced homewards again; I started towards Manassas at a rattling pace, feeling certain if Lee arrived there ther captures; for myself, I could not help thinking that Manassas was glory enough for one day, and felt heartily glad I wa
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 42: (search)
. It was thought we could hold the north bank of the Rappahannock for some short time; but when Pope was forced back on Manassas by Jackson's flank movement, the point of debarkation was again changed to Alexandria — a considerable distance in our rf, broke into disorder. Besides, we had no regular supplies. Your generals had appropriated or destroyed the d6p6ts at Manassas; the railroad to our rear also had been destroyed in part by your cavalry, so that, you may scarcely believe it, we haveer more than eighty-five thousand; and allowing for losses at Cedar Run, and the three days engagements on the plains of Manassas, ten thousand may be safely deducted from that total, if not more. A strong, unconquerable will was the sole motive pow I have before remarked on the great fertility of the fields of Loudon and adjacent counties compared with the plains of Manassas and parts of Fauquier County, through which we had but recently marched. I was informed, indeed, that the old farmers h
An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps., Chapter 44: (search)
Chapter 44: McClellan again invades Virginia Sigel is pushed forward from Washington, and takes position at Manassas the Federal main army moves east of the blue Ridge, and has Headquarters at Warrenton Lee marches in a parallel line through the Shenandoah Valley surprise and flight of Sigel upon the appearance ofeditors, until fully and superabundantly reenforced and equipped. Some time before his own advance, McClellan had pushed Sigel forward from Washington to Manassas Junction, with a reported force of thirty thousand men, but these were said to be levies and unreliable. Railroad communication was once again perfected from Alexanosition and force. The left wing under Jackson had not arrived, though it was rapidly pushing towards us; yet ascertaining that Sigel still held his corps at Manassas, and had not moved nearer to Burnside, Jackson sent a strong force of cavalry to reconnoitre, and their appearance filled the enemy with so much dismay that they
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