May 7, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Special Reports from the Battle Field.
CORRESPONDENCE OF MR. L.W. BUCKINGHAM.
May 3, 1863.
I shall not attempt to chronicle the disgraceful affair of a part of the Eleventh corps (formerly Sigel), till I am able to learn full particulars and send you a diagram of the positions then held by our troops.
GENERAL WILLIAMS’ DIVISION ORDERED TO SUPPORT GENERAL GEARY.
The following is correct as far as it goes: –
At six o’clock P. M., on the 2d of May, the First division, Under General Williams, of the Twelfth Army corps (Slocum), was ordered to leave its intrenchments, which fronted Howard to support General Geary, one half of whose line was then actually engaged with the enemy. The division moved promptly, and in less than ten minutes were both engaged.
JACKSON’S ATTACK UPON THE ELEVENTH CORPS.
General Howard’s right, commanded by Carl Schurz, was attacked by Stonewall Jackson, and held its ground for about an hour, when his corps broke in the greatest confusion dashing to Williams’ rear and over his intrenchments.
AN ATTEMPT TO CHECK THE RETREAT.
A small regiment from each brigade of Williams’ division had been left to support a section of Lieutenant Crosby’s battery, F (Fourth United States), and hold the works. These troops formed across the woods and endeavored to check the flying columns of Howard’s corp, but were unequal to the task. The Twenty-eighth New York infantry, Lieut. Col. Cook, held their ground till after the flight of Howard’s command, and kept the enemy engaged. Colonel Cook, Lieutenants Chaffer and Kenyon, and about 100 men were flanked and taken prisoners.
ANOTHER CAVALRY CHARGE – CAVALRY LOOKING UP.
At about ten o’clock in the morning of the 2d inst. It was observed that the enemy were sending heavy masses of infantry by the road about a mile and a half in front of Birney headquarters. This force was followed by a long train of wagons. General Birney shelled them for a while without any apparent effect, when he sent for a squadron of the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry to reconnoitre and see how the enemy laid, which was done after slight skirmishing.
CAPTURE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED REBELS.
The enemy drew up in line of battle in rear of their skirmishers, and our men, reinforced, met them, when, after a smart engagement, principally with the cavalry, there surrendered to us sixty-five prisoners of Georgia troops, including a major and four officers. Afterwards several hundred were captured by those dashing boys, the Fifth Wisconsin.
A CHARGE ORDERED – THE CAVALRY DIVERTED FROM THEIR PATH.
All went well till about five P. M., when General Pleasanton ordered what remained of the gallant Sixth New York cavalry (now terribly cut up) and the Eighth Pennsylvania to the front, for the purpose of charging down the Fredericksburg plank road.
After arriving at the front word was received from Gen. Howard, of the Eleventh corps, that he needed immediate cavalry support, and these two regiments, reinforced by a battery of heavy artillery, were at once countermarched, and proceeded rapidly toward the Spotsylvania Court House road.
OUR CAVALRY CUT OFF – THE CHARGE.
And now I can mention another cavalry charge – a thing that has been so unusual till of late that it ought to be chronicled. Before reaching the destined point our boys found themselves cut off by the enemy lying both sides of the road, having already driven the unfortunate Howard from his position; but the cavalry charged through to our lines with only a loss of […..]
And fifteen missing, whose names I cannot yet learn. These are all from the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry. The loss of the Sixth New York cavalry I sent you in my letter of yesterday.
IN THE SADDLE, May 4, 1863.
LOCATION OF HOSPITALS, ETC.
On the high land to the east of United States Ford, which is on the Rappahannock, and fifteen miles by road from Falmouth, are situated the hospital camps for the wounded of the Eleventh and Twelfth corps. In close proximity thereto is the Quartermaster’s Department of the Twelfth corps, and other depots which I cannot name without being [……] from the lines.”
IN SEARCH OF “PEACE AND QUIETNESS.”
Last evening I rode down to this place for the sake of a few moments of peace and quietness, that I might endeavor to describe the events of the day; but, to my disappointment, tents were scarce, and even those of our busy quartermasters and commissaries were crowded with wounded. In one of them I took shelter for the night, with a conscious feeling of selfishness that I should be comfortable and safe, while my poor comrades, tired, hungry and dirty, lie exposed to the deadly fire of our enemy. I retired quite late, for the stream of wounded constantly arriving kept me at work. There is no rest for us in these times. Sleep may creep over us, but shots, shells and musketry make music in our ears, and our dreams are battle fields.
OUR POSITION SHELLED.
Just before daybreak we were aroused by a shell screaming over our heads; then another and another. A pretty reveille this, thought I.
THE SCENE was awful, but at the same time comical. The wounded had to lie and bear it, and us of sound limb were scrambling in the darkness for boots, and repeatedly laying claim to those on the feet of our neighbors. Officers hurried their servants to harness their horses, and everything was confusion.
MY PONY GONE.
Having been present at several panics, I knew the value of a saddle, and went at once for the HERALD’S black pony. He was non est. On foot I proceeded down the road towards Stoneman switch, searching for him in vain for about a mile, when I returned. The shelling continued but a short time, but still
A PANIC HAD COMMENCED.
Some of the teams, according to order, were removed out of range, over this narrow, rocky, muddy, hilly and steep road, which was soon packed with cursing teamsters and excited men, in a grand national skedaddle. During a fright a train of wagons is worse than a charge of cavalry, the rumbling, rattling noise always increasing the coward’s fear.
“WHAT DID YOU RUN FOR?”
This state of things did not continue long, for after the cessation of artillery the men commenced accusing each other of cowardice, and putting the question, “What did you run for?” Soon put back.
THE SHELLS AND THE EFFECTS.
On my return to camp I examined the marks of the shells, and fund that one had gone through four hospital tents, striking a tree and going off at an angle struck the ground without exploding. Another killed one of our horses. In the last tent that the shell went through was a wounded corporal of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth New York infantry, in a sitting posture, reading a letter from home. One half of his head was taken off by it, and he was dead. What a horrible thing to contemplate. Men wounded so badly that they cannot move, lying exposed to instant death, with a soul just going before them – where? I could not learn his name.
MY HORSE
was returned with the apology that a humane man had ridden him off that he might not be killed. Somehow or other, I always find friends.
THE ENEMY’S OBJECT
was probably to cause what they pretty nearly succeeded in doing, a derangement of our wagoners’ camp, &c. Result, one man and two horses killed and weak nerves tried.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
On Friday afternoon a shell struck the roof of a house at Chancellorsville, used as the headquarters of Brigadier General Williams. The house was filled with wounded at the time. Another shell struck the chimney and fell down to the fireplace in the first story; but, fortunately, the fire was out, so it did not explode.
ANOTHER SKEDADDLE
occurred on Friday afternoon, about sundown, at Hooker’s headquarters. The enemy succeeded in getting a correct range for both artillery and infantry. Some of the shells flew like lightning directly down the centre of the road running to the United States Ford, killing two men and a horse. Cavalry, teams and infantry at once decided to imitate a “Bull Run,” and it was with great difficulty that the officers could put a stop to it. Somebody at headquarters was responsible for this.
THE GENERAL’S HEADQUARTERS
were in a fine, large brick house, which might be said to have constituted the village. It was surrounded by majestic oaks. On one of the uppermost branches stood an officer viewing the contest. The fashion spread and became contagious, other tall trees were climbed by other foolish men. The day was bright and lovely. These men could not do the enemy a more signal service than to become their beacons. The rebels probably found out from prisoners that Hooker’s headquarters were in this dwelling, and these men in the air were the pilots for their shells.
THE CAMP OF REBEL PRISONERS.
Our camp of Georgia and Alabama prisoners contained last night about six hundred in number. These men are in good spirits, healthy and enthusiastic. In conversation they are quite laconic, and know how to hold their tongues. Whiskey and some coffee these men long for, but as for food they have plenty. They carry flour instead of hard bread, cooking it as required. These prisoners are from Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. When they see a shell coming in our direction their enthusiasm is immense.
THE REBEL GENERALS.
I know that some of the Generals in command of our foe are Stuart, Lee, Longstreet, and D. H. Hill.
THE DISGRACEFUL SKEDADDLE.
I now take a ride to the front, after sending you an apology for a stupid letter. I have abstained from saying anything about that disgraceful skedaddle of part of the Eleventh corps, which all with whom I have conversed blame Schurz’s division for; for it was a matter of such significant importance, not only to themselves, but also to the gallant Eleventh and Fifth corps, that I cannot state what I have been told till I am sure of its entire truth.
THE GENERAL ORDER ABOUT CORRESPONDENTS.
Referring to General Order No. 48, I would state that it is discouraging for correspondents to have their names paraded before the public as authors of carefully written letters; for sometimes the letters are written on horseback or in the woods, and often with shells screaming to us “Hurry up.”
“What is `injudicious correspondence?’ Can you say as much as the Chronicle or Tribune?” was asked me to-day.
I suggested Ike Partington’s composition on the seasons as a model: – “There are four seasons – Spring, summer, autumn and winter. Some like summer the best, and some like winter the best; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”