After a few days' rest at Luray, the regiment marched to Front Royal, and soon after left for Alexandria, where it arrived on the 27th of June. It went into camp on a beautiful hill, just outside the fortifications.
Remaining in this camp for a month, the regiment was ordered to join the forces under McDowell, at Warrenton. It arrived there on the morning of June 26th, and soon after reported to General Banks, at Little Washington.
General Tyler had now been relieved from duty with the Third brigade, and General Geary placed in command.
As early as the 16th of July, the advance of Jackson's forces was at Gordonsville; and by the 1st of August reached the vicinity of the Rapidan River. To meet this movement, General Pope, commanding the Army of Virginia, ordered forward the corps of General Banks; and on the 8th of August ordered General Sigel's corps to Culpepper to co-operate with Banks' forces; but Sigel, instead of moving promptly forward, sent a courier to know what road he should take, when in fact there was but one. This delayed the movement of his corps for several hours, so that it was impossible to get it in position in time to render any assistance to the forces under Banks.
On the 7th day of August, Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, had been pushed forward in the direction of Slaughter Mountain, to support General Bayard, whose brigade of cavalry was being driven back in that direction by the enemy; and on the 9th, to support this movement of Crawford, Banks was directed to take up a strong position a short distance in his rear. Rickett's division, of McDowell's corps, was posted three miles in rear of Banks' position, and within easy supporting distance.
Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th; yet General Banks, apparently, did not think the enemy were in force, for, during the afternoon, he left the strong position which he had taken, by order of General Pope, and advanced to assault the enemy, believing that he could crush his advance before the main body came up.
The enemy was strongly posted, and sheltered by woods and ridges; while Banks had to pass over an open field, which was swept by the fire of the enemy thus concealed.
The intention of Jackson, in this advance, was to crush a detachment of Pope's army before the balance could come to its support. Banks, in thus advancing to the assault, aided him in his design, which otherwise would have been an entire failure.
Cedar Mountain, the position occupied by Jackson, is thus described: "The mountain is one of remarkable beauty. At a distance of four or five miles from its base it seems to rise like a perfect cone from the plain below, and from its base to its summit scarcely a deflection is to be observed in its outline form—a perfectly straight line, as if nature had formed it in the same manner that school-boys form sand-hills. The sides of the mountain are covered with a heavy growth of timber: its summit is reached by a poor road. The height of the summit is, perhaps, eight hundred feet above Cedar Creek."
Early in the day of the 9th, General Geary's brigade was sent to hold Telegraph Hill, from which our signal-officers had been driven. To approach this hill was sure slaughter; but the veteran brigade moved on, through a storm of shot and shell, and occupied the position.
Thirty pieces of cannon on our side, and as many on the side of the enemy, were belching forth their fire. There was no part of the Federal lines but that was swept by this fire.
A little after three o'clock the Seventh Regiment was ordered over the crest of the hill, into a cornfield beyond. While advancing to this position, a most terrific cannonade was directed against it. It seemed as if every cannon was being directed against this band of heroes; but it never faltered in this march of death, moving coolly on, regardless of the missiles that were tearing through its bleeding ranks. Comrades were falling, and brothers dying; the mangled, bleeding victims of the fury and violence of war were left thick, making the ground sacred on which they fell; but the line wavered not. Reaching a low place, the regiment halted, and the boys threw themselves upon the ground; and thus for a long hour they lay, in an open field, exposed to a hot sun, with a hail-storm of grape, canister, and shell falling thick and fast around them. Men gave up their lives so gently, that it was almost impossible to tell the living from the dead. The fatal missile struck its victim, leaving the lifeless clay in the same attitude which the living body but just before occupied. During that fatal period death assumed a real character, while life seemed but a dream.
The engagement had now become general. The brigade of General Prince had advanced on the left of Geary, occupying the prolongation of the line. Artillery replied to artillery, musketry to musketry, bayonet to bayonet, in this deadly strife. Daring warmed into rashness, and bravery into recklessness.
About four o'clock the regiment was ordered into a meadow, which position it promptly occupied, although the fire had not slackened, and carnage marked its advance. After dressing the lines, the regiment opened fire; and there it stood without a support, facing, in a death-struggle, three times its number. The fiery Creighton received a wound which compelled him to leave the field. The noble Crane was disabled; and the brave Molyneaux, for the moment, took command. Seeing the regiment nearly surrounded, and exposed to an enfilading fire, which was fast thinning the ranks, he ordered it to retreat; but heroic young Clarkey, mistaking it for an order to charge, dashed gallantly forward, at the head of his command. After understanding the order, he had barely time to fall back before the wings of the rebel host closed in.
Slowly and sadly the remaining few of the regiment fell back, keeping their faces to the foe. Only one hundred and sixteen, out of three hundred and seven, returned to the rear unhurt; and many of these were disabled from service by severe exposure to the intense heat of the sun, and lack of water. The regiment retired to a hill, and was not again brought into action during the afternoon. At night, however, it was ordered out on picket. After advancing to Cedar Creek it was challenged, and no one answering, it received a terrible volley from the front and both flanks. It fell back to the cover of a piece of woods, and finally to the rear, about a mile, where it bivouacked.
As night settled upon this field of carnage, Banks' entire corps withdrew to the position it occupied early in the day; but the artillery kept up an intermittent fire until near midnight. General Jackson, from his mountain-top, could see every movement of troops, and was enabled to calculate just how long it would take to re-enforce General Banks. Had he not been so imprudent as to come down from his mountain fastness, and attack the Federal forces after night, his loss would have been comparatively little. But as Banks retired, he moved twelve thousand men on to the battle-field, and kept them there during the night; at the same time advancing one battery through the woods into the open field beyond the battle-ground. From this position it opened on the division of Union troops occupying the advance. As soon as the first flash of his guns was seen, Major Davis, chief of artillery in McDowell's corps, ordered two batteries into position, and opened on the enemy. These batteries, being very close, and getting good range, did fearful havoc among the rebels. It is said that General Hartsuff sighted one of the guns that did the most execution. After the battery had retired, Major Davis' guns shelled the battle-field. The enemy being massed in small space, this fire told fearfully on their ranks. After firing about one hundred shells, and the enemy not responding, Major Davis ordered his guns silenced, little dreaming that he had left more dead rebels on the field than all the random artillery firing of the afternoon.
Many deeds of daring were performed at this battle. Captain Ash, of General Pope's staff, riding up to a battery with an order from the general to stop firing, saw that it was a rebel battery; he, however, had sufficient presence of mind to give the order, and ride off. It was obeyed; the battery ceased to fire, and soon after moved off. Captain Ball, of McDowell's staff, did the same thing, and with a like result.
The following incident is from the pen of a correspondent of an Eastern paper:
"Just after the firing of musketry became interesting, I noticed a private soldier coming off the field, and thinking perhaps he was running away to avoid danger, I rode up to him, when I found he had two fingers of his left hand shot away, and a third dreadfully lacerated. I saw at once that he had at least a hand in the fight. I assisted him to dress his wound as well as my limited knowledge of surgery would permit, he, in the mean time, propping up my pluck by his quaint remarks. Said he: 'I don't care a darn for that third finger, for it warn't of no account, no how; but the 'pinter,' and t'other one, were right good 'uns, and I hate to lose 'em. I shouldn't have come to the rear, if I had been able to load my gun; but I wasn't.' After I had dressed his hand, he looked over in the direction of the firing, and stood a moment. Turning to me, he said: 'Stranger, I wish you would just load up my shooting-iron for me; I want to have a little satisfaction out of them cusses for spilling my fore paw.' I loaded his gun for him, and he started back for the top of the hill at a double-quick, in quest of satisfaction. His name is Lapham, of the Ohio Seventh."
During the action, General Banks was leaning against a tree, when a cannon-ball struck it about eighteen inches above his head, passing entirely through. It has been his singular fortune to meet with many narrow escapes. While riding through Winchester, on his retreat before Jackson, a rebel, from a window above, took deliberate aim at him, but was shot by a private of a Massachusetts regiment before he could fire.
The loss to the regiment in this engagement was very heavy, and shows with what determination it maintained the contest. It went into the engagement with three hundred and seven, rank and file, and came out with a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred and ninety-one,—a loss of more than sixty-two per cent.
The following is the list:
Killed.—Lieutenants, James P. Brisbine, Joseph Ross, Frank Johnson; sergeants, C. P. Bowler, Moses Martin; corporals, J. J. Evans, D. W. Wright; privates, Joseph T. Blackwell, William Adams, Edward Burnet, E. S. Shepherd, Charles G. Hettinger, Charles Masters, Benjamin F. Gill, H. F. Dinger, H. Hight, John J. Hensher, Henry C. Case, M. Eckenroad, N. H. McClurg, C. C. Miller, G. B. Swisher, E. Fox, James Stephenson, Alvin H. Benton, John Manning, Michael Waldof, James Ray, Frank Miller, John Weeland.
Wounded.—Colonel William R. Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel O. J. Crane, Adjutant J. B. Molyneaux, Captain William R. Sterling; lieutenants, Henry B. Eaton, W. D. Braden, S. S. Reed, Marcus Hopkins; sergeants, Z. P. Davie, J. S. Cooper, J. C. Jones, A. S. Allen, Arvin Billings, George W. Barnette, E. M. Lazarus, James R. Carter, E. G. Taylor, G. W. Moore, Charles A. Brooks; corporals, M. D. Holmes, Henry J. Brown, L. Wilson, Joseph Trotier, William E. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, Frank J. Ware, Clark Wilson, C. H. Buxton, Norman L. Norris, F. A. Davis, Albert A. Smith, James Alexander, Benjamin Gridley, W. T. Callors, Robert M. Brisk, A. C. Trimmer, Christopher Nesper, James Grobe; privates, A. M. Clinton, Thomas Sherwood, Edward St. Lawrence, Arthur Laffin, Leonard Walker, Jacob C. Gaycly, F. N. Brund, Abraham Ginter, John G. Parsons, Henry Hatfield, Andrew J. Crippin, Charles E. Preble, John H. Galvin, F. Creque, Philip Kelley, T. Hammond, E. Lown, William Cammel, John Boyle, James Dixon, Samuel E. Garden, Jacob E. Hine, Benjamin Hasfield, Frank Henrickle, P. E. Hill, William L. Latch, Jacob Marks, Thomas C. Riddle, John Stone, Ernest Zincker, Franklin Gaskill, N. Badger, George Carrathurs, T. P. Dixon, Henry Fairchild, J. M. Rofflige, M. Richmond, Theodore Wilder, Oliver Wise, A. Colwell, William Gardner, John Frank, S. E. Hendrickson, N. R. Holcomb, E. Hobday, W. Lapham, F. Manley, John McAdams, H. H. Rhodes, J. Harnner, Joseph L. Clark, James Kelley, William W. Mecker, Charles Himpson, John Wickham, J. Roberts, J. R. Green, Edward E. Day, Lewis Owens, S. A. Fuller, D. G. Burthroff, J. M. Holcomb, Frank Strong, E. G. Meekins, H. Wallace, M. S. Gibbons, J. Donthit, S. Reed, Arthur Adams, Ezra Brown, Ira M. Barlow, George M. Caldwell, George W. Carter, John Downer, Thomas Ely, Sherman Collinger, Stephen H. Hopkins, Daniel Jones, Perrin D. Loomis, David C. Nunemaker, J. L. Oviatt, G. Russell, N. Twitchell, Ralph Winzenried, John C. Fox, A. Inskeep, James Kincaid, John Lentz, R. D. Murray, John Pollock, E. S. Mathews, A. Shaffer, C. Glendenning, Alfred Jackson, Hiram Deeds, Ira S. Ray, Richard Freeman, Samuel Knap, John Fishcun, James A. Tell, William Kelley, T. D. Williams, Charles Smith, George A. Earl, Maskell Bispham, Frederick Michael, Henry Schmid, John Hammond, William Pfahl, John Pike, George Sahl, George Zipp; George Rogers, musician.
After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment took part in the memorable retreat of General Pope to the Potomac. During the time, it was not engaged in immediate action; but was exposed, on several occasions, to the shell from the enemy's batteries. After a fatiguing march of sixteen days, it arrived, on the 2d day of September, under the guns of the fortifications around Alexandria. On the following day it was marched to Arlington Heights, to the support of Fort Albany, near which it encamped in a beautiful meadow.
At midnight of the same day an order was received to have the command ready to march at half-past eight on the following morning; but it did not leave, however, until near noon, when, crossing the Potomac to Georgetown, it moved off in the direction of Poolesville, bivouacking at night five miles from Georgetown. On the following morning the command started before day had fairly dawned, and passing through Rockville, bivouacked at night near the place. On the 5th it moved forward, and leaving the small village of Darnstown on the left, formed in line of battle, fronting Poolesville, and awaited the advance of the enemy; but he failing to appear in that direction, but threatening Pennsylvania, by the way of Frederick, the command, on the 9th, broke camp and advanced in five columns towards the latter city. After a brief skirmish, the advance entered the place on the 12th. On the 13th, the regiment crossed the mountains into Pleasant Valley to Middletown. While descending the side of the mountain, the progress of the battle of South Mountain was plainly seen. This engagement was fought by the division of General Cox, of Reno's corps. These troops won great praise for their gallantry and good fighting qualities; and the general, an additional star.
On the 15th, the advance of the Federal army drove the enemy in the direction of Boonesboro', and through the town towards Sharpsburg. Generals Richardson's and Pleasanton's column of cavalry and light artillery proved very annoying to the enemy in this day's retreat.
On the following day, the 16th of September, the rebel army took up its position across Antietam Creek, and there awaited the approach of the Federals.
[1]"This position consisted of a series of sharp points, rising from the bank of the creek, and extending to the rear of Sharpsburg in a succession of ridges; but, when viewed from a point a little in front, has the appearance of table-land, the ravines being undistinguishable. These points or ridges are for the most part surmounted by a heavy copse of timber, which furnished admirable shelter for foot-soldiers; while, with batteries flanking each hill, the position was all that a general could wish for defence.
"Seeing the strength of the position, McClellan sent Hooker's and Sumner's corps around to the left of the enemy's advance position, across Antietam Creek, and, ere the close of day, they had succeeded in driving him fully a mile.
"We had lain down in line of battle, expecting to remain till the morrow. The tattoo had sounded, and an impressive silence had settled upon the bivouac, broken only by the tread of the alarm-guard, as he slowly paced his beat, and the occasional passing of an orderly, conveying some order to be executed on the coming day. Not long were we to rest. Our ears were soon assailed with—'Attention, First brigade!' and we were soon in line, and moving around to the right, to the support of Hooker and Sumner, where we arrived about one A.M., and bivouacked upon the ground held by the rebels scarce six hours previous. An occasional shot or volley, in an adjoining piece of woods, reminded us of the close proximity of the enemy. Nevertheless, the rest of the night was passed quietly enough by us.
"The morning came, fresh and beautiful; but our reveille was not the rattle of the drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle. The day was opened by a fierce volley of musketry, succeeded by another, and yet another, which were soon so continuous as to be blended in one unremittent roll. The struggle had commenced, and the sun that rose shone upon a field already red with blood. Soon the heavy booming of cannon was mingled with the sharp, crackling roll of small-arms, and the din was terrific. Hooker was engaged, and hotly too. We were immediately ordered under arms, and advanced in the direction of the fight. Halting in easy supporting distance, we were given thirty minutes in which to make coffee. At the end of this time the volume of sound perceptibly increased, and was becoming nearer. The rebels were re-enforced, and were slowly driving our men before them. 'Forward,' shouted General Mansfield; and forward we went, in column of division, as cool and regular as on drill. Changing direction to the left, we advanced through a cornfield taken by Hooker the evening previous, and which was now held by the rebels, having driven our boys back. An open field lay before us, commanded by the direct and flank fire of the rebel artillery, and the left flank of their infantry. Notwithstanding the heavy fire we thus suddenly received, the advance was made steadily, and in slow time. Arriving at the front, we deployed into line of battle. The line now being complete, we advanced; and the work was begun. No halt was made until the woods were ours; but the enemy was to be dislodged from behind a rail fence. Then we occupied the crest of the hill in the woods, and from this point we directed our fire to the fence, where we could plainly see them level their pieces at us, and fire.
"For an hour and a half we thus remained, and fought: one side with the energy of despair; the other, with an energy imparted with the consciousness of right and justice. The contest was fair and equal, and the right triumphed. At last the line began to waver, and General Green shouted, 'Charge!' With a yell of triumph we started, with levelled bayonets; and, terror-stricken, the rebels fled. Like hounds after the frightened deer, we pursued them fully three-fourths of a mile, killing, wounding, and taking prisoners almost every rod. Their colors fell: a private soldier leaped forward, and tore them from the staff.
"Across the fields we pursued the foe, who again took shelter in a heavy piece of timber, flanked by their artillery. A battery of twelve-pounder howitzers came to our support, and most efficient service it rendered. We formed in two lines in rear of the battery, and lay behind a low ridge, sufficiently high to protect from a direct shot, but which offered no shelter from the fragments of shells bursting near to and over us; these were continually striking amongst us, often grazing a cap or an arm, but doing no particular harm. The howitzers were doing splendidly, when suddenly we heard, 'But eight rounds left!' Twenty more rounds would silence the rebel battery, but we had them not. Soon the rebel fire was more rapid, and a yell in the distance denoted an advance of their infantry. Shall we retreat? No! we will hold our ground, or die! On they come, yelling defiantly: 'tis A. P. Hill's division, second to none but Jackson's. We look anxiously for another battery. It comes! It comes! We are safe! The gallant Eighth Rhode Island Battery comes up in splendid style; our ranks open right and left for them, the exhausted battery of howitzers wheeling out of line. The Parrotts were unlimbered, and shell, five-second fuse, called for, and they opened in glorious style.
"But what means that shout so closely on our right? They have flanked us, and are charging our battery! A half right wheel was made, and we were partially under cover of a narrow ridge. A portion of our front rank, with the colors, advanced, and opened a fire upon their column, but, as it was intended, it only drew them on; shouting fiercely, they dashed forward, expecting to have an easy capture. We waited until they were within six rods, when, with a yell such as freemen know how to give, we rose and poured the contents of our rifles into the mass of graybacks emerging from the woods. They reeled and staggered for a moment, then rallied, and returned our fire for half an hour, then wavered. Perceiving this, Lieutenant-Colonel Tindell, commanding brigade, ordered a charge. As we started, they broke and fled in confusion. Our brigade advanced to the woods, but was soon replaced by a New Jersey regiment, which quickly broke and fled. On came the rebels, yelling and exultingly waving their colors, across a field, and entered a cornfield to the south, to flank our men who were engaging a division. Their triumph was short, for they suddenly found themselves nearly surrounded by General Franklin's troops, who came in from the north and east, over the identical ground we fought over, and precipitated themselves upon the flank of the enemy, six hundred of whom threw down their guns and surrendered, those remaining fleeing in dismay from the field.
"This coup de grace closed the heavy fighting upon the right, and we retired from the front, lacerated but cheerful, feeling that our duty was faithfully performed, and knowing that the rebels were defeated."
The next two days were occupied in burying the dead and collecting the wounded.
On the 19th, the regiment left for Harper's Ferry, arriving at Maryland Heights on the 20th. A few days after it forded the Potomac River, and went into permanent camp on Loudon Heights.
The regiment sustained a loss at the battle of Antietam of five killed and thirty-eight wounded. The list is as follows:
Killed.—Sergeant James B. Carter; Corporal Martin Lazrus; privates, John Bacon, Elbridge F. Meachum, George O. Sherick.
Wounded.—Lieutenant Ernest J. Kreiger; sergeants, George A. McKay, Jerry G. Clafflin, Isaac Jones, James Hansell; corporals, Edward Goodsell, Henry H. Bailey, Hiram J. Bell, John F. Ely, Austin Bull, James Bryant, J. Kurly; privates, George A. Wood, Joseph Kubler, Laurine Lamphier, Pliney E. Hill, George Steinberger, E. C. Miller, Daniel Weatherlow, David Everett, Alfred W. Mosley, Averett C. Reed, Alson Coe, Alfred E. May, Thomas Woolf, Henry Wilcox, George Houck, William Cromwell, Caleb Bryant, George Wandal, Nick Bauer, Charles Briedenbach, Charles Graiter.
While at Loudon Heights, the monotony of life in camp was relieved by drill, guard, and picket duty, with an occasional reconnoissance. On the latter occasions some little skirmishing would usually occur. An occasional dash was made by the rebels upon the Union picket-line.
Soon after the occupation of this post the grand army crossed the Potomac and Shenandoah into the Loudon Valley, on its way to Fredericksburg. We copy a description of the march of a regiment in Porter's corps.[2]
"I have been thinking of the difference between soldiering that we read about—fancy soldiering, glory and honor soldiering—and real soldiering of the rough and tumble kind. How well it sounds to read: 'A regiment of brave men marched proudly through the streets of Harper's Ferry, to strains of sweet music. Gallantly the veterans of a dozen battles streamed along, their banners gayly floating in the breeze; they go to join the Army of the Potomac.' What is it when divested of its trimmings? 'About three hundred and fifty of what once was a regiment one thousand strong, went through Harper's Ferry to-day. In vain the tum, tum, tum of the drum, at the head of the column, urged the men to keep time. Wearied, worn out by continued tramping, loaded down with their knapsacks, three days' rations in their haversacks, and the prospect of a long march before them, slowly they dragged themselves along; their torn and tattered flag, as well as soiled clothes, giving evidence of hard service.' Again let us quote: 'At evening they halted, and bivouacked for the night; refreshed and ready at early dawn to continue the line of march.' Sift that a little—that bivouac. Almost worn out with incessant and continued tramping through mud, and muck, and mire, great clumps of which would stick and cleave on to the shoe at every step, the night fast closing in, the column halted; slowly the lingering mass closed up, stacked arms, and broke ranks. Some, too tired to make a fire and cook food, threw themselves on the cold, damp ground, and, with their blankets wrapped around them, shivered to sleep; others, having eaten scarcely any thing all day, threw off their cumbrous loads, and started, in the now dark night, in search of wood and water. An old fire-scorched tin cup answers for a coffee-pot as well as tea-kettle. Into it the water, muddy with the feet of perhaps a thousand water-hunting tired ones, is put; and while the coffee is boiling, a piece of fat pork is drawn from the haversack, and a slice cut off; a long stick, pointed, on which the slice is secured, and frizzling, sizzling, half burned, half cooked, ready when the coffee is. The pork, coffee, and hard bread form, for the hundredth time, the meal of the hungry soldier. Perhaps on the roadside, right in the mud, glad in truth to lie anywhere, one after another drops his wearied form. The heavy rain comes down in torrents, wetting him through and through, but tired nature heeds it not—must have rest.
"Early dawn comes. Again the pork, coffee, and hard bread; and the stiffened, sore, leg-weary patriot buckles on his saturated knapsack, and, like a foundered horse, limps achingly along till he gets heated up, with the same prospect before him of twenty miles tramp—clamp—tramp."
On the 10th day of December the regiment left Bolivar Heights, crossed the Shenandoah on a pontoon, and winding round the bluff of Loudon, passed up the Loudon Valley.
While passing through Hillsboro', the command was given, by Lieutenant Shepherd to his men, to "Close up!—get into your places!" General Geary, on foot and unobserved, had marched along just in rear of the company. Hearing the command, he remarked: "Well, here is a vacant place, I guess I'll fill it up;" and stepped into the place. He marched, in this manner, some distance, talking freely with those nearest him, at the same time obeying orders promptly.
The regiment encamped about a mile beyond Hillsboro'.
Bright and early on the following morning the command moved on. Leaving the battle-field where the brave Kearney fell, and Fairfax on the left, on the 15th it arrived in sight of the Lower Potomac, and encamped after crossing Naabsco Creek.
Having passed Dumfries on the 17th, an order came that the Fifth, Seventh, and Sixty-sixth regiments, under command of Colonel Candy, should march back and hold that post. On the following day, crossing Powell's Creek, two hours' march brought the brigade in the outskirts of Dumfries, where it went into camp.
Nothing transpired worthy of mention until the 27th of December, when the heavy booming of cannon was heard in the vicinity of the picket-line. It was evident that the enemy were making a descent on the pickets. For several days this attack had been expected, therefore in a few minutes the command was ready and in line of battle. The pickets gradually gave way, under the command of the indomitable Creighton, fighting their way back to the line of battle, in which they took position. The rebels came gallantly forward, in anticipation of an easy victory. When within short-range of our guns, they were met by such a terrible fire of musketry from our partially concealed line, as to check their advance. They, however, rallied, and returned the fire; but in a moment staggered, and finally withdrew in confusion from the field. Again forming their broken columns, they hurled themselves against our line. They were again met by a determined front, and, with a like result, were sent, broken and mangled, back upon their reserves. A third time reforming their wasted ranks, they came down with great impetuosity, and hurled their solid columns against the weak lines of the Federals. They were again met with a sheet of flame, which sent up its column of blue smoke along the entire front. For a moment it was impossible to tell the effect produced on the rebels; but the smoke clearing away before a light breeze, it was discovered that their advance had been arrested. One more united effort, and the rebel line was again sent back crushed and bleeding. They again organized for a last desperate charge, and most gallantly did they sweep down upon our line. Up the hill and over the brush and logs, which lay in their way, with wild impetuosity, which threatened to crush every thing before them. Aware of the avalanche that was sweeping down upon them, the Union boys hugged the ground, awaiting, with breathless anxiety, the command to fire. At last the stentorian voice of the sturdy Crane was heard to shout the order, when a band of patriots, their eyes kindled to a blaze with the ardor of their daring, with strong muscles and steady nerves, rose, and with a shout that made the gray hills of old Dumfries echo, poured a volley of death into the rebel host. Disdaining to again take refuge under cover, the line stood manfully up, and met the continued onsets of the foe. The brave Creighton stood on a hill exposed to the fire—how could men falter while the noble form of their leader was thus bared to the bullets of the enemy? They did not falter; but the line stood like a wall. The rebels were soon seen to waver, and as the night "cast its mantle over the combatants," they tardily and solemnly withdrew, bearing with them the lacerated, bleeding victims to their endurance.
At night the line was drawn in, and after making every effort for the security of the command, the boys lay down upon their arms, harassed by an oppressive uncertainty which always haunts the soldier in the bivouac upon the battle-field.
During that long night the lonely picket-guard peered out into the darkness, intent upon catching the first footfall of the cautious foe. Slowly and with careful tread he paced his weary beat, fearful that he might be pounced upon by the wily enemy ere he could give the alarm to his slumbering companions. Through rain, and sleet, and darkness—oppressed with the solemn stillness that at night hangs over the earth—with a sense of loneliness weighing upon his feelings—he stood like a spectre in the gloom, the guardian of the thousands slumbering in the camp. While others dream of home, and friends, and firesides, afar off on the hills of New England, or the starlit prairies of the West, the wakeful picket keeps his vigil. May God protect him in his watch!
As day again dispelled the shadows that darkened the hills and the valleys, the columns of the brave Sigel were seen winding their way through the village. A shout of welcome greeted these heroes. The dreadful suspense that had weighed upon the hearts of the combatants of the day before, during that long night of watching, now gave place to cheerfulness; and confidence was again restored. But the cautions Hampton had fled; and nothing met the eye save the frowning hills.
The following is the list of killed and wounded in this affair:
Killed.—Corporal Austin Ball.
Wounded.—Corporal E. M. Corrdett; privates, Sylvester Carter, Philip Grigsby, Thomas Roff, Wm. P. Root, Wm. H. Kibbee, W. M. Perry, Stephen Willock.
Prisoners.—John Gordon, Andrew Atleff, Richard M. Vreeland, Douglass F. Pomeroy, Henry T. Benton, Lewis T. Butts, Henry Alderman, Charles Bradly, James Snider, John Beiler, W. M. Perry.
Near the middle of April, 1863, the regiment marched down to Aquia Landing, where it remained in camp for two weeks.
General Hooker was now in command of the grand Army of the Potomac, having relieved Burnside after that general's unsuccessful attack on Fredericksburg. Hooker resolved to make an attempt to drive the rebel army from the vicinity of the Rappahannock. Burnside's failure had demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the river at Fredericksburg; for no army was safe for a moment with a strong army behind three lines of well-constructed earthworks in its front, and a wide and deep river in its rear. He therefore chose a flank movement by the way of Banks and United States fords, thus striking the left flank of the enemy near Chancellorsville Court-house, and avoiding their strong fortifications in the rear of Fredericksburg.
The Seventh Regiment arrived in the vicinity of Chancellorsville on the afternoon of the 30th of April, and encamped for the night a little southeast of the latter place, and near the Fredericksburg plankroad.
Early on Friday morning it was ordered forward, and took position in the second line of battle, in an open wood-lot, facing south. Late in the afternoon it was ordered back; and it finally took position directly south of the famous brick house, called the Chancellorsville Place, where headquarters were established and maintained during most of the action.
Just before dark the rebels came up in great numbers, in an attack on Knapp's Battery, which was stationed on the left. The Seventh was ordered to its support, but the attack was repelled before the regiment became warmly engaged. It remained in support of this battery during the night and in the forenoon of the following day. About noon of the 2d of May, the regiment was ordered forward to support a line of skirmishers; but this line, refusing to advance, was passed by the regiment, when it took the advance, and most handsomely drove the enemy back for some distance, holding the ground for several hours, when it was ordered to retire. It did so without confusion, taking a new position in rear of a piece of woods, where it remained until ordered into the intrenchments.
During this advance, the right wing was hotly engaged, and lost heavily; the left wing suffering slightly. It remained during the night in its old position near the brick house, in the second line of battle.
On the 3d, the regiment advanced to what is known as "the old rifle-pit," which it occupied while the other troops were falling back across a cleared field south of the Fredericksburg plankroad. Here it was exposed to a galling fire from the advancing rebel column; but it stood firm. When the balance of the troops of the brigade were in proper position, it formed under the protection of a battery, and slowly moved off the field, exposed to a terrible fire of both musketry and artillery, taking up its position in rear of the brigade. The brigade, however, was soon driven back, and passed to the rear of the regiment, exposing it to a severe fire. Soon the order came for a general advance, when the brigade, with a loud shout, dashed at the foe, led by the Seventh. The rebels were pushed back for a considerable distance; but no support coming up, the brigade was compelled to fall back to the south of the brick house, where it halted, and laid down in the road; but about eleven o'clock at night the shelling became so continuous and heavy that it was forced still further back, and finally resulting in its withdrawal to the vicinity of United States Ford. That night the regiment occupied a rifle-pit about half a mile from the river. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, it was relieved by the Fifth Ohio; and taking a circuitous route, arrived in a ravine on the left of the column, and near the river, and was soon after employed in the intrenchments.
Early in the morning of the 6th, the regiment crossed the river on a pontoon at United States Ford, and in the afternoon of the 7th arrived at its old camp at Aquia Landing.
In this battle the regiment was actively engaged but a small portion of the time. The loss was not severe, when taking into account the magnitude of the engagement, and its duration.
Why the army recrossed the river has not been fully explained. The immediate battle was not a defeat; at least it has not been considered as such. However, the two columns of Sedgwick and Hooker failed to unite, which fact may have had an influence in determining the retreat. The attacks of the enemy had been repulsed at all points, while Sedgwick had carried a portion of their fortifications in rear of Fredericksburg. The retreat alone turned a prospective victory into a humiliating defeat. The grand army failed to accomplish the purpose of its advance, and was compelled to hasten its march across the river in retreat, over which it had, but a week before, advanced in triumph. It can be said by way of apology only, that while at Chancellorsville the army maintained its reputation for bravery and endurance, the enemy manifestly looked upon it as a fruitless victory to him.
The following is a list of the killed and wounded:
Killed.—Orderly-Sergeant Henry Whiting; Color-Sergeant John D. Creigh; Corporal A. C. Trimmer; privates, Charles H. Cheeney, E. N. Larom, Henry A. Pratt, John Randle, Almon Lower, John Lee, Stafford Penney, Thomas Carle, A. C. Steadman, Victor Perrley, Henry Ackman.
Wounded.—Orderly-Sergeant Elmon Hingston; sergeants, H. H. Bailey, John S. Davis, James Lapham, H. L. Allen; corporals, A. A. Austin, John Gardiner, S. M. Cole, J. S. Kellogg; privates, W. Furniss, H. Owen, F. Eldridge, W. Van Wye, E. C. Palmer, D. L. Hunt, E. V. Nash, Henry H. Pierce, O. Jackman, C. A. Wood, H. S. Smalley, Charles P. Smith, S. P. Sherley, F. Rockefellow, Frank Randal, Joseph Kubler, Michael St. Auge, David Boil, James Dixon, Oliver Wise, James Farron, G. Breakman, F. Mauley, John Shelby, Andrew Copeland, S. G. Cone, W. W. Hunt, E. Kennedy, H. G. Benton, A. S. Raymond, C. A. Parks, Isaac Stratton, H. Thwing, James Baxter, J. W. Benson, S. Hughes, P. Smith, S. A. Fuller, F. Hank, John Clonde, E. O. Whiting, G. W. Bonn, S. H. Barnum, J. C. Brooks, W. H. Fox, I. H. Gregg, W. Hunter, H. Jones, S. Moneysmith, S. S. Pelton, B. Wilson, D. W. Waters, W. H. Bannister, H. Lewis, W. J. Evans, C. L. Cowden, H. Hoffman, S. Renz, M. Saiser, E. A. Spurn, L. Knoble.
After the battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment remained for some time in its camp at Aquia Landing. The Army of the Potomac, as well as that of Lee, was quietly reorganizing, preparatory to another struggle. Soon Lee began to threaten the outer line of Hooker, by making demonstrations on the various fords of the Rappahannock. At one time threatening to move boldly across, and at another menacing the flank, as if to attack one wing of the army. These various movements gave rise to sharp skirmishes, nothing more. At last it was evident that Lee meant an invasion of the North. The Army of the Potomac was therefore set in motion.
The Seventh left its camp early in June, and proceeded to Martinsburg by the way of Fairfax. Lee continuing his flank movement, the grand army was compelled to fall back across the Potomac; the Seventh crossing at Edward's Ferry. The rebel army now crossed the river by the way of Williamsport, and moved forward towards Pennsylvania. The Army of the Potomac moved in the same direction, passing through Frederick City, Maryland, and taking up its position in rear of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The line of battle was formed a little distance from and facing the town. On the first day of July the rebel army advanced and occupied the town, but the day was exhausted in manœuvring, attended with slight skirmishing between the advance of the two armies.
Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade ordered to assume command.
After the Seventh arrived on the field it took its position on the left side of the Gettysburg and Littletown pike.
Early on the morning of the 2d it took a position on a hill on the right of this road, at the same time sending Company H to the front, under command of Captain McClelland. This company remained at the front during the entire day. For the first time in its history, the regiment occupied a position under cover, a stone wall being in its front. Up to this time it had not been exposed to the fire of infantry; but during the afternoon it suffered slight loss from a brisk artillery fire. At eleven o'clock at night it advanced down the pike, and took a position in a hollow, running at right angles with the road. It was now exposed to a musketry fire, resulting in the wounding of one man. It soon fell back to a stone wall, parallel with a road leading to the pike; and shortly after it advanced to this road, from which twenty men were sent forward as skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Stratton. This gallant soldier was mortally wounded while bravely leading his command against the foe.
On the morning of the 3d the regiment moved forward, after having called in the skirmishers, to the relief of the Sixtieth New York Volunteers, occupying a line of intrenchments. In the evening it was relieved, and withdrew to the breastworks in the rear; but was soon after ordered forward to the relief of another regiment, where it remained until late in the evening. During the entire day it was exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, from which it suffered considerable loss, considering the position it occupied. When relieved, it withdrew to the position held by it in the morning.
At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, it again moved forward to the intrenchments, where it remained till the brigade moved off in the direction of Littletown.
The following incidents occurred July the 3d: While occupying the intrenchments, a white flag was seen flying from the front of the enemy's lines. The firing being suspended, seventy-eight rebels came forward and surrendered, including six officers. Lieutenant Leigh, of Ewell's staff, came forward and endeavored to stop the surrender; but was fired upon by the regiment, and instantly killed.
Corporal John Pollock leaped over the breastworks and captured the flag of the Fourteenth Virginia rebel regiment.
Private James J. Melton was wounded, and afterwards taken to a hospital, where he remained for some time; since which his friends have heard nothing from him. The wound being in the head, he is supposed to have become deranged and wandered away, unable to give any account of himself. No means have been left untried to obtain information of his whereabouts, but without avail.
The regiment having fought under partial cover, the loss was slight: one killed and seventeen wounded.
After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was with the grand army in pursuit of the broken columns of General Lee. Passing through Frederick City, it arrived at Harper's Ferry and went into camp. Here it remained for two days, when it moved across the Potomac, and again passing up the beautiful Loudon Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge to Fairfax and Manassas Junction, over the old battle-field of Bull Run. Again taking up the line of march, it crossed the Rappahannock below Culpepper Court-house, and encamped on the banks of the Rapidan.
About this time a riot broke out in New York city, which required the presence of the military, as an assistance to the civil authorities. The Government was therefore called upon to furnish troops. Several regiments were at once dispatched to the scene of strife. Among these was the Seventh. It left the vicinity of the Rapidan about one week after its arrival there. It marched to Alexandria, and there taking the United States ship Baltic, passed down the Potomac through Chesapeake Bay to the ocean, arriving on Governor's Island in the latter part of August. It remained until the first of September, when again embarking, it sailed to Alexandria, from whence it marched to the Rapidan, near its old camp.
General Rosecrans had now been removed from the command of the Army of the Cumberland, and General Grant assumed control. The army occupied the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee; while the rebel army under General Bragg occupied Mission Ridge, immediately in front of and overlooking the city. The task of driving Bragg from this position was assigned to General Grant.
Before entering upon this campaign, however, it was necessary to re-enforce the Army of the Cumberland; for it had not entirely recovered from the disastrous battle of Chickamauga. For this purpose it was necessary to draw on the Army of the Potomac, now lying idle on the banks of the Rapidan. At this time this army had, positively speaking, accomplished nothing. It had barely saved Washington from the enemy. To be sure, it had seen many hard-fought battles, and on all occasions sustained its reputation for courage and endurance. But the results following these battles were entirely negative; and after more than two years of marches, counter-marches, sieges, and battles, when graves had been dug from the Potomac to the James, and filled with the best blood of the land, and the country left in mourning for her fallen braves, but little territory had been gained, and the possession of this little being constantly disputed by a well-organized and gallant army. A sort of fatality had thus settled down upon the Army of the Potomac. Some of the best generals had been summoned to its command, but to no purpose. The hand of fate rested upon it heavily. When about to seize upon victory, some stream would rise in its rear, or some unseen accident happen to its communications or line of supplies, compelling it to let go its hold on victory, and in its stead to accept defeat. No wonder, then, that the authorities saw fit to send a part of this not very promising army to a department where victory sometimes rested upon the Federal arms. Hooker's corps was therefore ordered to report to Grant.
The Seventh being a part of this command, left its camp on the Rapidan in the latter part of September, and moving up to Washington, passed over to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when it left for Nashville, Tennessee, by the way of Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. It soon after left for Wartrays, by the way of Murfreesboro'. It was now ordered to construct winter-quarters, but having them nearly completed, it was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived in due time.
This entire trip from the East was accomplished without any delay, and nothing occurring to lessen the good opinion the people entertained for this veteran corps.