force from Richmond. I soon had my brigade in readiness, and re
mained under arms until 4 a. in., when orders were received to move
with my brigade in the rear, General Pope s command having required
all night to withdraw.
On the 19th we marched all day, passing through Culpeper, and en
camping at midnight about 4 miles north of that place, on the Sulphur
Springs road.
On the 20th at daylight resumed march toward Sulphur Springs,
reaching there at 5 p. m. without any signs of the enemy in our rear.
Started on the morning of the 21st, with brigade in advance of corps,
in the direction of Rappahanuock Station, tore-enforce Banks and Mc
Dowell, who had thus far prevented the enemy from crossing the river
at that point, and found a heavy artillery engagement going on. We
arrived about noon, and were ordered to rest near General Pope s head
quarters until a position in the field could be assigned me. About 2
p. m. I was ordered to advance toward the river and take position on the
right of King s division. After advancing about a half mile my bri
gade was divided, yourself, general, taking two regiments along the
road, myself moving with the other two through the fields, a small
squad of rebel cavalry, who had been watching our movements from
the edge of the woods in front of us, fleeing at our approach.
Upon arriving at the edge of the woods I halted my column and
allowed the sharpshooters and skirmishers some five minutes in advance.
I then started my two regiments, crossed the woods, about a quarter of
a mile in width, and halted, finding ourselves on the right of the line of
skirmishers then engaged, established by General Patrick, of King s
division. Remaining here some two hours, the enemy making no dem
onstration, I fell back to the fields in the rear of the woods to rest for
the night. In the mean while you, general, had placed my infantry and
battery in position near the road on my right. Thus disposed Of, we
rested until the following morning.
On the morning of the 22d I was early ordered to take the advance
in the direction of Freeman s Ford, about 1J miles in front and to the
right of us, where the enemy had massed the night previous, and were
then holding the ford. When within a quarter of a mile of the ford, in
order to reconnoiter and select position, I hurried forward, accompanied
by my cavalry, being screened in my approach by a long belt of pines
bordering on the river. Arriving at the edge of the pines I halted my
cavalry, and, accompanied by my staff, crossed the road and ascended
an eminence commanding the ford. Scarcely three minutes had elapsed
when the enemy opened upon me from two batterries with grape and
shell. I immediately hurried my cavalry across the road to a safe posi
tion, and ordered my battery, under Captain Johnson, forward on the
double-quick. Too much praise cannot be awarded the captain for the
promptness and skill exhibited in bringing his battery into position. In
less than five minutes after receipt of the order he had his pieces in ac
tion amid a perfect shower of shot, shell, and canister from three of the
rebel batteries, and in ten minutes after had silenced their heaviest
battery. He continued engaging the enemy for about two hours, com
pelling them to constantly change the position of their guns, when, his
ammunition having given out, I asked for another battery. Captain De
CHAP. XXIV.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 317
Beck s battery, of McLean s brigade, was sent me, he in turn being re
lieved by Captain Buell, of the reserve artillery, in about two hours.
The enemy ceased firing about 3 o clock p. m.
My infantry, which at the commencement of the action I had placed
under cover of the woods on either flank of the battery, had suffered
but little some 2 killed and 12 or 13 wounded by canister and shell.
About 3 p. in., wishing to ascertain the cause of the enemy s silence,
I determined to cross the river, and accordingly sent for my cavalry,
numbering about 150 effective men. I then crossed the ford, sending
a company of sharpshooters across and deploying them, ordering their
advance up the hill occupied in the morning by the enemy s batteries,
myself with my cavalry in the mean while going around by the road. Ar
riving at the summit of the hill, I discovered the greater part of the en
emy s wagon train, accompanied by their rear guard, moving up the river
in the direction of Sulphur Springs. Their cavalry, upon discovering
us, gave the alarm, hurrying off their teams and stragglers in the great
est confusion. I posted a platoon of cavalry as vedettes, at the same
time throwing forward 20 of my sharpshooters, who commenced skir
mishing with their rear guard. Being merely reconuoitering, and not
having sufficient force to pursue their trains, I ordered my two remain
ing companies of cavalry into line, under protection of the hill.
The remainder of the company of sharpshooters I deployed as skir
mishers, ordering them to feel their way into the woods on my left.
They had scarcely entered the woods when they met the enemy s skir
mishers, and from their number and the length of their line I inferred
that they had a large force to back them. Shortly after they opened
a heavy fire to my left and rear beyond the woods I had thrown my
skirmishers in, which I afterward learned was the attack of the enemy
upon Bohlen s brigade, which had crossed the river below me. It now
being sundown, and not being allowed to bring any force across, I
returned, my brigade resting fbr the night without changing position.
At 7 a. m. 23d received orders to move in the direction of Sulphur
Springs, my brigade bringing up the rear of the corps. When a short
distance en route I was directed to take a road on my left, a rougher
but shorter route to the Springs, the main body, of the corps having
continued on the main road. Upon coming into the main road again
I found myself in advance of the corps. When within a mile of the
bridge across Great Run I found our cavalry in line of battle behind
the woods. Upon inquiring the cause, I was informed that the enemy
were in force at and across the run and had fired on them. Upon this
information I passed them with my brigade, and finding the rebel guns
in position across the creek, I placed my battery in a commanding posi
tion on this side and commenced shelling them, at the same time throw
ing my infantry into the woods, who soon found and opened a brisk
fire into the rebel infantry in front of them on our side of the creek,
my men being exposed from the commencement to a cross-fire of grape
and canister from a masked battery across the creek. But notwith
standing all these odds we soon forced them across the creek and to
retire for protection behind their guns. The enemy having torn up the
bridge, and it now being dark, I encamped my brigade for the night a
short distance back from the banks of the creek.
Next morning, 24th, a strong pioneer party having been put to work
on the bridge to repair for our artillery to cross, I crossed my infantry
upon the sleepers, not waiting for my cavalry or artillery. 1 deployed
a strong skirmishing party and was soon on the track of the enemy,
who had fallen back during the night to their main body, which had
318 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP.
crossed the river by the bridge at Sulphur Springs, my skirmishers
advancing as far as the Springs. As soon as my infantry appeared on
the heights commanding the bridge across Hedgeman s liiver the enemy,
who were in position, opened fire from the opposite shore. I sent back
for my battery and returned their fire. The other batteries of the corps
soon coming up a general artillery engagement ensued, which resulted
in our driving their gunners away, leaving their pieces very temptingly
displayed. Wishing to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity
in securing their guns, I had just crossed the bridge, with one of my
regiments (the Fifth Virginia) following close behind, and when nearly
in reach of the prize found myself in a hornet s nest. As if by magic
the woods and hills became alive with the enemy ; the deserted bat
teries were suddenly manned, and a semicircle of guns nearly a mile
around us commenced pouring a steady stream of shell and canister
upon the bridge. I called to my regiment, which was then crossing, to
retire, which it did in very good order and rapid style. Our batteries
immediately responded to their fire, thus drawing their attention away
from us. In a moment the air was perfectly alive with shot and shell,
and I took advantage of their elevation to join my command.
At this juncture 1 received orders to take the advance of the corps
in the direction of Waterloo Bridge, miles above Warrentou Springs.
I got my brigade in motion and arrived at the bridge about 5 p. in. I
placed Dieckinann s battery in position on a commanding eminence on
the left of the road and near the bridge, immediately opening fire upon
a rebel battery across the river, at the same time throwing my skir
mishers down near the bridge and along the bank, where they were
soon engaging the rebel skirmishers. Thus matters stood when dark
ness partially put an end to the firing, but the enemy opened on us
furiously several times during the night with small-arms, which was
promptly replied to.
On the morning of the 25th the batteries on both sides opened again,
and continued through the day without serious loss to us. About 3
p. m. I received orders to burn the bridge at once at all hazards, and
to this end brought forward my four regiments of infantry to engage
the enemy s infantry, concealed in the woods near the bridge on the
opposite bank. By keeping up a steady artillery and infantry fire I
succeeded in covering a party firing the bridge, which, being of heavy
oak, burned but slowly, and it was not till dark that the bridge was
entirely consumed. We then received orders to inarch to Warrenton,
my brigade to bring up the rear of the corps. We left about 9 p. m.
and arrived at Warrenton next morning at daylight. Here we remained
in camp until the morning of the 27th, when we received orders to
take the advance in the direction of Gainesville.
My cavalry, upon arriving at Broad Kun, within 4 miles of Gaines
ville, found the bridge on fire, and the rebel cavalry with one piece of
artillery drawn up on the opposite side. Major Krepps, commanding
my cavalry detachment, immediately ordered a charge, and after two
successive charges succeeded in putting them to flight. By this time
my infantry had arrived, and I set the Pioneer Corps to work repairing
the bridge, which was executed with such promptness that in fifteen
minutes after we were enabled to cross our artillery. Meanwhile I
had pushed ahead with my cavalry and infantry in the direction of
Gainesville. When within 2 miles of Gainesville I sent a platoon of
cavalry with a regiment of infantry and a section of my battery to hold
the road leading to Hay Market Station. With the rest of the brigade
I continued on the main road, and upon approaching Gainesville found
CHAP. XXIV.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 319
we Lad intercepted Longstreet from joining Jackson, Ewell, and Hill,
who had just passed up the railroad toward Manassas Junction.
At Gainesville we took some 200 prisoners, stragglers from Jackson s
army. I here received orders to halt my brigade for the night.
Next morning, 28th, took the advance toward Manassas Junction,
arriving within a mile of the Junction at noon. I halted to await fur
ther orders. I accordingly turned my infantry aside into the shade of
the woods, and sent my artillery ahead as far as the Junction, there
being no water for them nearer. Upon visiting the railroad station at
the Junction I found an immense amount of Government stores in cars,
which were yet burning, having been set on fire by the rebels the
night previous, after having helped themselves to all they could carry
off. At 3 p. m. I received orders to join the balance of the corps, then
marching in the direction of New Market. I accordingly moved across
the country and soon overtook them. After marching about an hour
skirmishing commenced in front. I was ordered to go forward and
take position on Scheuck s left, and pressed forward through the
woods and underbrush in the direction of the rebel firing, which
seemed to recede as I advanced. It finally grew dark, but I pushed
forward in the direction of the firing, whicli had gradually grown into
the thunder of a desperate battle. It becoming so dark, and the
nature of the ground not admitting of my battery being pushed for
ward, I left it in charge of two companies of infantry, and started
forward with my four regiments in the direction of the heavy firing,
which suddenly ceased with great shouting, indicating, as we judged,
a victory by the rebels. It being now 9 o clock, and the darkness
rendering the recognition of friend or foe impossible, I withdrew to my
battery, whicli was on a line with the front of the corps, then fully a
mile in my rear, resting my brigade here for the night.
On the following morning (the 29th), at daylight, I was ordered to
proceed in search of the rebels, and had not proceeded more than 500
yards when we were greeted by a few straggling shots from the woods
in front. We were now at the creek, and I had just sent forward my
skirmishers, when I received orders to halt and let the men have break
fast. While they were cooking, myself, accompanied by General
Sehenck, rode up to the top of an eminence, some 500 yards to the
front, to reconnoiter. We had no sooner reached the top than we were
greeted by a shower of musket balls from the woods on our light. I
immediately ordered up my battery and gave the bushwhackers a few
shot and shell, which soon cleared the woods. Soon after I discovered
the enemy in great force about three-quarters of a mile in front of us,
upon our right of the pike leading from Gainesville to Alexandria. I
brought up my two batteries and opened upon them, causing them to
fallback. I then moved forward my brigade, with skirmishers de
ployed, and continued to advance my regiments, the enemy falling-
back.
General Sehenck s division was off to my left and that of General
Schurz to my right. After passing a piece of woods I turned to the
right, where the rebels had a battery that gave us a great deal of
trouble. I brought forward one of my batteries to reply to it, and
soon after heard a tremendous fire of small-arms, and knew that Gen
eral Schurz was hotly engaged to my right in an extensive forest. I
sent two of my regiments, the Eighty-second Ohio, Colonel Cantwell,
and the Fifth Virginia, Colonel Zeigler, to General Schurz assistance.
They were to attack the enemy s right flank, and I held my other two
regiments in reserve for a time. The two regiments sent to Schurz
320 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND Ml). [CHAP. XXIV.
were soon hotly engaged, the enemy being behind a railroad embank
ment, which afforded them an excellent breastwork.
The railroad had to be approached from the cleared ground on our
side through a strip of thick timber from 100 to 500 yards in width.
I had intended, with the two regiments held in reserve (the Second and
Third Virginia Regiments), to charge the rebel battery, which was but
a short distance from us over the top of a hill to our left, but while
making my arrangements to do this I observed that my two regiments
engaged were being driven back out of the woods by the terrible fire
of the rebels.
I then saw the brave Colonels Cantwell and Zeigler struggling to rally
their broken regiments on the rear of the forest out of which they had
been driven, and sent two of my aides to assist them and assure them
of immediate support. They soon rallied their men and charged again
and again up to the railroad, but were driven back each time with great
loss. I then sent the Second Virginia to their support, directing it to
approach the railroad at the point on the left of my other regiments,
where the woods ended, but they were met by such a destructive fire
from a large rebel force that they were soon thrown into confusion and
fell back in disorder. The enemy now came on in overwhelming num
bers. General Carl Schurz had been obliged to retire with his two
brigades an hour before, and then the whole rebel force was turned
against my brigade, and my brave lads were dashed back before the
storm of bullets like chaff before the tempest. I then ordered my
reserve battery into position a short distance in the rear, and when
five guns had got into position one of the wheel horses was shot dead,
but I ordered it to unlimber where they were, and the six guns mowed
the rebels with grape and canister with fine eifect. My reserve regi
ment, the Third Virginia, now opened with telling effect. Colonel
Cantwell, of the Eighty-second Ohio, was shot through the brain and
instantly killed while trying to rally his regiment during the thickest
of the fight.
While the storm was raging the fiercest General 8 tali el came to me
and reported that he had been sent by General Scheuck to support me,
and inquired where he should place his brigade. I told him on my
left, and help support my battery. He then returned to his brigade,
and soon after being attacked from another quarter I did not again see
him during the day. I was then left wholly unsupported, except by a
portion of a Pennsylvania regiment, which I found on the field , and
stood by me bravely during the next hour or two. I then rallied my .
reserved regiment and broken fragments in the woods near my battery
and sent out a strong party of skirmishers to keep the enemy at bay,
while another party went forward without arms to get off as many of
our dead and wounded as possible. I maintained my ground, skir
mishing, and occasionally tiring by battalion, during the greater part
of the afternoon.
Toward evening General Grover came up with his Tew England
brigade. I saw him forming a line to attack the rebel stronghold in
the same place I had been all day, and advised him to form line more
to the left, and charge bayonets on arriving at the railroad track, which
his brigade executed with such telling effect as to drive the rebels in
clouds before their bayonets. Meanwhile I had gathered the remnant
of my brigade, ready to take advantage of any opportunity to assist
him. I soon discovered a large number of rebels fleeing before the
left flank of Grover s brigade. They passed over an open space some
500 yards in width in front of my reserved regiment, which I ordered
CHAP. XXIV.] CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 321
to fire on them, which they did, accelerating their speed and discom
fiture so much that I ordered a charge. My regiment immediately
dashed out of the woods we were in down across the meadows in front
of us after the retreating foe, but before their arriving at the other side
of the meadow the retreating column received a heavy support from
the railroad below them, and soon rallying, came surging back, driv
ing before their immense columns Grovels brigade and my handful of
men.
An hour before the charge I had sent one of my aides back after
a fresh battery the ammunition of both my batteries having given
out which arriving as our boys were being driven back I immediately
ordered them into position and commenced pouring a steady fire of
grape and canister into the advancing columns of the enemy. The first
discharge discomposed them a little, but the immense surging mass
behind pressed them on us. I held on until they were within 100 yards
of us, and having but a handful of men to support the battery, ordered
it to retire, which was executed with the loss of one gun. I then rallied
the shattered remnant of my brigade, which had been rallied by my
aides and its officers, and encamped some three-quarters of a mile to
the rear.
The next morning, 30th, I brought my brigade into the position as
signed them, and remained in reserve until about 4 p. m., when I thre\y
it across the road to stop the retreating masses which had been driven
back from the front. I soon received an order to move my brigade off
to the left on double-quick, the enemy having massed their troops during
the day in order to turn our left flank. I formed line of battle along
the road, my left resting near the edge of the woods in which the battle
was raging. Soon our troops came rushing, panic-stricken, out of the
woods, leaving my brigade to face the enemy, who followed the retreat
ing masses to the edge of the woods. The road in which my brigade
was formed was worn and washed from 3 to 5 feet deep, affording a
splendid cover for my men. My boys opened fire on them at short
range, driving the rebels back to a respectful distance. But the enemy,
being constantly re-enforced from the masses in their rear, came on
again and again, pouring in advance a perfect hurricane of balls, which
had but little effect on my men, who were so well protected in their
road intrenchment. But the steady fire of my brigade, together with
that of a splendid brass battery on higher ground in my rear, which I
ordered to fire rapidly with canister over the heads of my men, had a
most withering effect upon the rebels, whose columns melted away and
1 ast recoiled from repeated efforts to advance upon my road breast
work from the woods. But the fire of the enemy, which had effected
my men so little, told with destructive results on the exposed battery
in their rear, and it required a watchful effort to hold them to their
effective work. My horse was shot in the head by a musket-ball while
in the midst of the battery cheering on the men. I got another, and
noon after observing the troops on my left giving way in confusion
before the rebel fire, I hastened to assist in rallying them, and while
engaged in this the battery took advantage of my absence and with
drew.
I had sent one of my aides shortly before to the rear for fresh troops
to support this part of our line, where the persistent efforts of the rebels
showed they had determined to break through. A fine regiment of
regulars was sent, which was formed in the rear of my brigade, near
the position the battery had occupied. The rebels came around the
21 R R VOL xii, PT n
OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
forest in columns to our right and front, but the splendid firing of the
regulars, with that of iny brigade, thinned their ranks so rapidly, that
they were thrown back in confusion upon every attempt made. About
this time, when the battle raged thickest, Lieutenant Este rnd Lieu
tenant Niles, of General Schenck s staff, reported to me for duty, inform
ing me that General Schenck had been seriously wounded and his
command thrown back from the field. Most thankfully was their
valuable assistance accepted, and most gallantly and efficiently did
they assist me on that most ensanguined field until 8 o clock at night
in bringing up regiments, brigades, and batteries, cheering them on to
action, and in rallying them when driven back before the furious fire
of the enemy.
Shortly after sunset my own brigade had entirely exhausted their
ammunition, and it being considered unsafe to bring forward the am
munition wagons, where the enemy s shells were constantly flying and
exploding, and the enemy having entirely ceased their efforts to break
through this part of the line and had thrown the weight of their
attack still farther to my left, I ordered my brigade back some oiie-
half of a mile to replenish their ammunition boxes and there await
further orders. I remained on the field with Lieutenants Este and
Niles, my own having been sent to see to my regiments. The enemy
continued their attacks upon our left until long after dark, which i t
required the most determined and energetic efforts to repel. At one
time, not receiving assistance from the rear, as I had a right to expect
after having sent for it, and our struggling battalions being nearly
overcome by the weight and persistence of the enemy s attack, I flew
back about one-half mile to where I understood General McDowell
was with a large portion of his corps. I found him and appealed to
him in the most urgent manner to send a brigade forward at once to
save the day or all would be lost. He answered coldly, in substance,
4hat it was not his business to help everybody, and he was not going
to help General Sigel.* I told him I was not fighting with General
Sigel s corps ; that my brigade had got out of ammunition some time
before and gone to the rear, and that I had been fighting with a half
dozen different brigades, and that L had not inquired where or to what