Official diary of First corps, A. N. V., while commanded by Lieutenant-General R. H. Anderson, from May 7th to 31st, 1864.
May 7th
During the morning there is occasional skirmishing on our lines, which are rectified and connected.
At eleven o'clock P. M. we take up the line of march for Spotsylvania Courthouse, in a shady grove, where we rest an hour at dawn on the 8th,
Kershaw leading.
We find
Fitz. Lee hotly engaged on the
Todd's Tavern and Spottsylvania Courthouse road.
We arrive in time to relieve him but not to save the
Courthouse, which is, however, afterwards occupied by us, the enemy being driven out.
Kershaw's and
Humphreys' brigades are turned off rapidly to the left of the road, and, occupying some cover left by our cavalry, repulse the enemy with great slaughter.
Wofford's and
Bryan's brigades are sent against the
Courthouse by a detour, and finally occupy it. During the fight with the two first named brigades,
Haskell's battalion is sharply engaged and does good work.
The enemy's forces comprise the Fifth corps (
Warren's).
Ewell's corps arrives in the afternoon, and the enemy makes another attack on our position with their Sixth corps, which is also repulsed,
Rodes' division being thrown on
Kershaw's right and relieving the attack.
Commanding-General arrives with
Ewell.
May 9th
Quiet in morning.
Troops in line all day. Trenches dug. An attack by us is proposed, which is, however, deferred in expectation of one from the enemy.
In the afternoon an attack by
General Johnson is projected, to be assisted by the advance of our skirmishers.
For some reason
Johnson does not attack.
The
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enemy feels
Field's skirmishers strongly late in the afternoon.
At. night
Mahone's division is sent to the left of
Field to hold the
Shady Grove road.
May 10th
Reports current of the enemy having gained our rear towards
Beaver Dam.
Sharp skirmishing on the whole line during the morning and heavy shelling.
Hutcheson, one of our couriers, killed at 10 A. M. The enemy begins a series of attacks on
Field's position; they continue at times during the entire day; all of them repulsed until 7 P. M., when the last and most desperate is made against
Anderson and
Gregg.
Some of the enemy succeed in gaining the works, but are killed in them.
The attack is repulsed with great slaughter to the enemy and little loss to us. At the same hour (7 P. M.) an attack is made on
Ewell's lines, and succeeds in breaking through
Doles' brigade.
The enemy is driven back, however, leaving many dead near the works.
Late in the night, at 10 and 4 o'clock, renewed attacks (feeble ones) are made on
Field.
May 11th
Day opened with confident expectation of a renewal of the attacks of the enemy.
Early reports four lines forming to attack our position.
The day passes, however, without an attack in force, but with the usual skirmishing.
Towards evening indications are apparent of the intended withdrawal of the enemy, and preparations are made to move after him.
May 12th
At 4 1/4 A. M. the enemy makes, with an overwhelming force, a sudden dash on
J. M. Jones' brigade and breaks through
Johnson's division, which is thrown back in great confusion.
At the same time the artillery of that line, which had been withdrawn the night previous, just coming up to go into position, is captured, the horses killed and the cannoniers taken prisoners.
Guns not taken off.
Gordon, with
Early's division, attacks the enemy to recover our position.
Anderson's division (except
Wright's brigade), which is left at the bridge on the left, is drawn to the right to drive back the enemy.
A violent battle ensues, lasting without intermission until 12 M., in which the whole of the Second corps and part of the Third are engaged.
It terminates on that part of the line by the enemy being driven from the ground they had gained, with the exception of a small part.
During the action
Wofford is sent to the support of
Rodes.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock A. M. Field sustains two violent assaults on a part of his line, which are again easily repulsed with great loss to the enemy.
In the afternoon
Jenkins and
Humphreys are sent to report to General
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Ewell.
At night a part of
Ewell's line is thrown back to a new position, leaving, however, eighteen guns in the hands of the enemy.
May 13th
Day quiet.
In line before the enemy.
Slight skirmishing and cannonading.
Wofford,
Bryan and
Jenkins returned by
Ewell.
Report of
General Stuart's death received.
May 14th
Usual skirmishing.
Enemy beginning to disappear in front of
Field.
Towards the afternoon
Kershaw's skirmishers occupy the enemy's breastworks, which had been abandoned.
Field ditto.
At night
Field is ordered to withdraw to the vicinity of the church near Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Kershaw is to push forward his skirmishers, but the night is so dark as not to permit it.
May 15th
Quiet. Thirteen caissons recovered from the enemy, who has retired from our immediate front.
At 10 P. M. we receive orders to move to
Early's right.
The troops marched at 12 and 1 and we with them.
As soon as day dawns they are got into position —
Field on the line,
Kershaw in reserve.
No enemy in our immediate front.
Headquarters established near a small house in rear of
Crutchfield's.
May 17th
No change to-day.
Quiet.
May 18th
At 4.45 A. M. the enemy makes an attack on
Ewell with a furious cannonade.
The attack is easily repulsed.
All quiet on our line.
May 19th
Quiet on our part of the line.
Towards evening
Ewell undertakes a movement against the enemy's right — accomplishing, however, little save some information of the enemy's position.
Kershaw is sent to occupy his trenches during his absence.
Kershaw returns on the morning of the 20th.
May 20th
Quiet.
Ewell's front reported to be uncovered.
May 21st
Ewell moves to our right and takes position along the
Po. During the day the enemy is ascertained to be retiring from
A. P. Hill's front.
We prepare to move.
Move in the afternoon by
Dickerson's to the
Mud Tavern, and thence down the
Telegraph road,
Ewell preceding us.
Hill takes a western road.
The supply trains and heavy baggage wagons moving via
New Market,
Chilesburg and
Island Ford.
We march all night, halting on the
Telegraph road at 3 A. M. on the 22d.
After two hours rest the march is resumed.
The head of our column reaches the
Northanna at 12.15 P. M., May 22d.
Corse's and
Kemper's brigades,
Pickett's division, join us.
Barton with
Hill's column temporarily.
Troops are put in bivouac on the south side of Northanna.
May 23d
Enemy reported advancing down Telegraph road.
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Our line is formed.
The guard on the north side of the river is driven across.
In the afternoon we sustain a severe cannonade, and have a chimney knocked over our party.
At night the line is somewhat retired.
Pickett reports to
Hill.
May 24th
Day occupied in examining and improving the line.
Rodes posted on our right, and at night
Early and
Gordon sent to his right.
During the night the line is straightened by cutting off the angle near
Law's brigade.
May 25th
Enemy strong in our front, and manifesting a disposition to extend to our right.
Skirmishing in front.
May 26th
Lines unchanged.
In the afternoon the enemy advances skirmishers on
Law's and
Ramseur's brigades, and is driven back.
Wofford's and
Bryan's skirmishers are also pressed.
May 27th
Early this morning the enemy is ascertained to have left our front and moved back across the river.
The trains are at once sent back across Southanna by
Ellet's bridge.
The troops march by the Fredericksburg railroad.
Pickett's division moves with
Hill and joins us at night.
We move by
Ashland and camp between the
Half Sink and
Hughes' cross-roads.
May 28th
Move early for
Atlee's station, or rather ordered to move early, but we are greatly impeded by the Second, which is on the same road and is ordered to move at the same hour.
Order of march:
Field,
Kershaw and
Pickett.
We go into bivouac between
Hundley's Corner and Walnut Grove church.
May 29th
Morning quiet.
In the afternoon the enemy is reported advancing, and the troops are put under arms.
Field is. partly moved out, but returns and sends two regiments to fill with skirmishers the interval between
Early's corps and
Breckinridge.
May 30th
Early extends to the right, and attacks the enemy's left with
Pegram's brigade.
Pickett starts to support the movement by going through the breastworks, but soon abandons it and is put on
Early's left.
Field on his left and
Kershaw on the left of the corps.
May 31st
Kershaw is taken out of line, and about 3 P. M. is sent to relieve the right of
Early, the whole of whose corps is finally relieved by us, he taking our entrenchments.
Kershaw moves down towards
Gaines' mill in the endeavor to connect with
Hoke.
Pickett takes the right of
Early's old line, and
Field is put on his left.
Hoke on extreme right.
