May 7, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Special Reports from the Battle Field.
CORRESPONDENCE OF MR. L.A. HENDRICK.
FIFTH ARMY CORPS HEADQUARTERS,
IN THE WOODS, REAR OF CHANCELLORSVILLE, Va.,
May 4, 1863.
THE “ESPIRIT DU CORPS” OF THE TROOPS.
About nine o’clock last evening I visited the Ninth Massachusetts regiment, supporting a battery in the rear of the house where General Meade’s headquarters was yesterday, in the rear of where stood, but now stands no more, the Chancellorsville mansion, and the Fourth Michigan, Fourteenth New York, Thirty-second Massachusetts and Sixty-second Pennsylvania regiments – Second brigade, General Griffin division – lying in close proximity to one another and to several batteries massed in the vicinity. I found all quiet, and the boys in excellent spirits, heightened, no doubt, by the fact, notwithstanding the want of sleep for the past few nights, that they had been only slight sufferers in our desperate actions thus far.
A QUIET NIGHT EXPECTED.
It was the general impression that we should have a quiet night of it; hence my temerity in visiting the trenches, which, in case of renewed attack, would be an unpleasantly dangerous locality for a non-combatant. The only news I gather here was the absence of Maj. Lowry, Sixty-second Pennsylvania regiment, with five companies, on a scouting expedition, and some apprehension was felt for his safety, as he had been away several hours. If the rebels get the Major they will deprive the service of a gallant an invaluable officer.
IN THE TRENCHES.
Passing to the Third brigade, Colonel Stockton commanding, occupying the trenches near by, I proposed to make still further circuit of the corps, all of which were in trenches excepting a portion of General Sykes division. When I abandoned my visiting project skirmishers reported the enemy massing in front, and a deserter brought in news of an attack about being made.
NARROW ESCAPE OF YOUR CORRESPONDENT.
Having enjoyed the unpleasant felicity of crouching behind a medium sized oak within reach of the enemy’s enfilading shells the night previous, I cared not to repeat my experience, and concluded I would fall back to the vicinity of the United States Ford, for the double purpose of getting out of reach of the enemy’s explosive missiles, and if possible, get a few winks of undisturbed sleep. I had hardly seated myself in my saddle when, crack, crack, went musketry behind me. It continued several minutes, and was protracted along our line for considerable length. I thought the ball had opened again sure enough; but soon it was quiet, and remained so during the night, except occasional exchange of shots between the pickets. The enemy did advance, evidently purposing again an attempt to pierce our centre, but the vigorous volleys from behind our trenches hurled them back in quicker time than they came up.
ARTILLERY FIRING – SHELLS FLYING ABOUT.
From a tolerably comfortable night’s sleep on the ground across the United States Ford, considering that I had to keep one eye in semi-open state to watch after the safety of my horse, I was awakened at daylight by booming of cannon. It did not take a second report and glimpse of belching flame from the crest of a hill opposite, to develop the fact that the enemy was pouring shells from a battery upon the wagon trains, soldiers, and hospitals located here. For a few minutes the shells came bursting over us with a rapidity as lively as it was dangerous.
NO ONE PLACE SAFER THAN ANOTHER.
A theory that had been gaining strength in my mind ever since our present crossing of the Rappahannock, that no one can count upon any place being safe, received the culminating clinch of assurance – or to its correctness or assurance – made more forcible by the bursting of a shell within forty feet of where I was standing. For a time there was unusual celerity of movement among the teamsters. Some of them started off their wagon at pell mell pace, to seek more serene quarters. One quartermaster started off so fast that it is barely probable that his teams have overtaken him yet. The commotion lasted but a short time, and fortunately did but little damage, only one man being killed and two wounded. The trains belonged principally to the Eleventh and Twelfth Army corps.
SKULKERS UNEARTHED.
This artillery demonstration, with a rumor quickly set in motion that the enemy was in our rear and preparing to come upon us at once, coupled with the fact that no firing was then to be heard in the front, sent skulkers from their hiding places, and into manifesting patriotic eagerness to get to their regiments. Taking this fact into consideration, the firing, on the whole, was attended with beneficial results to our side. Meantime the rebel battery disappeared.
THE FIFTH ARMY CORPS.
At ten A.M., I returned to General Meade’s headquarters, and found this corps occupying the same position as when I left, which position it is still occupying. The change in the programme of fighting, bringing artillery more into active play and leaving the infantry less exposed, is generally approved and believed to be the most judicious, safest and wisest course that could be adopted to ensure victory over the enemy.
DESPERATION OF THE REBELS.
It may seem strange to Northern readers and those away from the scene of contest to read of the repeated attacks made by the enemy, who, it would naturally be supposed, would put themselves almost wholly on the defensive. The fact is they never fought with such desperation before; they feel that they are being hemmed in, their all is at stake and it is victory or death with them.
THEIR CAUTION.
They are more cautious than our men are and more secretive. We can learn but little from prisoners or deserters; many of ours tell all then know. Our men not only must have camp fires and their hot coffee, but they set the woods on fire, thus unwisely revealing their position and making themselves the target of the enemy’s shells. The enemy use exceeding caution about camp fires. Our men are curious and climb trees to see what is to be spied out in the enemy’s land, and are more seen than seeing. The enemy, serpent like, crawl along the ground and keep out of sight as much as they possibly can.
GENERAL HOOKER.
Whatever may be the issue of the present fighting, one thing is certain: General Hooker has made himself known to the army as one of the bravest and most daring men that ever was on a field of battle. There is no fear in him. He rides anywhere and everywhere, and at all times of the day and night. Having occasion to visit his headquarters shortly after my return this morning, and learning that he had changed them from where they had been, I asked Lieutenant Colonel Weld, of General Meade’s staff, his present locality.
“Go to the very front,” said Lieutenant Colonel, “go to the line of skirmishers, and from there advance to the first house further in front, and you will find General Hooker’s headquarters.”
Of course this direction is not to be taken in the literal sense; but it shows the fact that General Hooker spends his time in the front, and is not afraid to spend it there. While our batteries were shelling the enemy yesterday, in their concentrated movement to pierce our centre, as described in my last letter, Gen. Hooker stood by one of the cannon, and, following the rebound after being fired, took hold of the wheels himself, and helped to put it in position. A story is prevalent that he ran his sword through a skedaddling officer yesterday; but I do not believe it.
THE SKIRMISH OF THURSDAY – GEN. AYRES.
In my report of the heavy skirmish in which General Sykes’ division was engaged on last Thursday I mentioned General Aimes as in command of one of the brigades. I should have written General Ayres, who deserves credit for all the gallantry ascribed to the former.
THE PROSPECT OF A FIGHT.
As quiet as the day has been thus far, it is not probable that it will remain so all day. These are exciting days, and the history of an hour may tell the winding up story of the campaign.
THE WEATHER – OUR LOCATION.
In the crowding multiplicity of more important items, I have not stopped in my letter thus far to speak of the weather or describe the country in which we are located. No terms of eulogism would be wasted on the weather, for it is indeed very fine – warm and mild, with refreshing showers at intervals, and the trees each day more and more putting on the vernal robes of spring. The country, particularly where we are located just now, is indescribably abominable – constant woods for miles, filled with underbrush, new and stumpy roads and marsh.
A PICTURE OF THE SCENE.
A true map of the scene of the present fight would be a representation of a piece of woods with explanatory annotation that the troops and batteries are hidden from view by the trees. A particularly disgusting feature to a newspaper correspondent – and I am frank to confess it although the new order compels signing ones name to ones letters – is the absence of a spacious, secure and elevated […..], where out of range of shells and Minne balls, one can coolly and accurately note the varying fortunes of each succeeding battle. Here one can hardly turn around without liability of plunging upon some rebel battery, or at best becoming the unwilling target of their cross-firing.
AN ARTILLERY DUEL.
Just after closing my despatch, about an hour ago, an artillery duel opened near the left of our line. Some rebel batteries had been shoved into the woods fronting our troops unknown to our men. Our batteries soon began a response, and the counter firing continued some half hour. I am unable to give the full result at the time of sending this despatch, but our loss was only slight. Our batteries silenced their guns, and in a short time the latter, gunner, and all had disappeared.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN WEED, OF WEED’S BATTERY.
I am pained to record the fact that during the fight Captain Weed, of Weed’s battery, General Sykes’s division, was killed. He was a most gallant and invaluable officer and a graduate of West Point. His loss will be severely felt. I saw him taking his dinner at General Meade’s headquarters an hour before the fight. He then talked hopefully of the result of the pending fights.
The troops of the Fifth corps are occupying the same position as indicated in my last despatch.