May 7, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Special Reports from the Battle Field.
OPERATIONS ON FRIDAY.
DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES.
These forces all reached their destination on Thursday, and were promptly thrown into position to repel any attack that might be made upon them. On the same evening the Second corps followed across at the United States Ford, and moved promptly up the road, and on the following morning the Third, which had been aiding in the demonstration on the left, crossed by the same route. Thus by noon of Friday there were in position at and about Chancellorsville the whole of the Second, Third, Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth corps. This was a most formidable army to contend against, and, occupying the commanding position that had been selected for it, there seemed no chance that it could ever be repulsed. The disposition of these forces on Friday evening I have shown in the sectional diagram which accompanies this.
Up to this time there had been no fighting save the slight skirmishing which took place at the seizure of the fords. The enemy had not deigned to show himself in any direction, and it was a perplexing question where and how soon he would come upon us.
RECONNOITERING.
In this dilemma the Commanding General despatched reconnoitering parties of cavalry, supported by suitable bodies of infantry, on all the roads to scour the country round about, and ascertain if the rebels were in force and position anywhere in our vicinity. General Hooker himself accompanied and advanced party down the main Fredericksburg road as far as Tabernacle Church, two miles beyond Chancellorsville. Strong lines of pickets were also thrown out in front of our lines, completely encircling the position, and every effort was made to guard against a surprise.
THE FIRST FIGHT – APPROACH OF THE ENEMY.
About two o’clock on Friday afternoon, the enemy were discovered advancing in force down both the old turnpike and the plank road, thus approaching our position nearly from the east. Although these two roads enter Chancellorsville at right angles – one from the east direct and the other from the south – they join and make a single road near Tabernacle Church. When the discovery was made of the approach of the enemy, General Hooker immediately returned to his headquarters at Chancellorsville and made his dispositions to meet them. It was yet uncertain whether the attack would come from the east or south, and it was therefore necessary to be in readiness at both points. With this purpose the Fifth corps, Major General Meade, was formed on the front facing the east, Sykes’ division of regulars occupying a line north of the old turnpike road, and the other two divisions taking the line of the Banks’ Ford road, on the left of Sykes. The Second corps, Major General Couch, was held in reserve to support the right wing of this line, and the Second division, Major General Berry, of the Third corps, Major General Sickles, to support the left.
On our south front two corps – the Eleventh, Major General Howard, and the Twelfth, Major General Slocum – were deployed, the latter in double line of battle, with its left resting on the plank road, and the former on the right of the Twelfth. The two remaining divisions of Sickles’ corps – the First, Brigadier General Birney, and the Third, Brigadier General Whipple – were ordered up as supports for this line.
THE ATTACK.
Sykes’ division was formed in the open field, directly on the slope southeast of and scarcely a quarter of a mile distant from General Hooker’s headquarters. Immediately behind them, on the extreme elevation of the plain, three batteries of field artillery were planted. General Sykes’ skirmishers advanced down the field and into the woods, where they waited the approach of the enemy. Soon the brisk cracking of rifles and muskets announced the rebel proximity, and our skirmishers, in compliance with orders, gradually fell back upon the main line of battle. This manoeuvre drew the enemy outside of the woods, from which they emerged close after our retreating skirmishers, yelling and shouting like a tribe of wild Indians. The sight was both exciting and amusing at first, and all movement on our part was momentarily suspended, while our brave men gratified their curiosity in scrutinizing their gray-backed adversaries. But the charge of the rebels was not a trifling matter, and as column upon column of them, and line after line came dashing out of the woods, it seemed as though that one little division stationed there to check them would be swallowed up. It was one of those skilful manoeuvres for which Gen. Lee is particularly distinguished – the hurling of an immense body upon a small force of his antagonist. The rebel force, as it charged out of the woods, was certainly three times as large as that of Gen. Sykes; yet the latter showed no disposition to quail; but, after giving a moment’s glance to satisfy their curiosity, every soldier brought his musket to his shoulder, and five thousand bullets were sent into the rebel line. Such steadiness appalled them. They were unprepared for it. Their front rank quailed before it. The sudden thinning of their numbers amazed and frightened them. They discharged their pieces recklessly and broke in confusion. But there was no fight for them. The heavy bodies behind them to whom the front rank had been a bulwark, protecting them from the murderous volley of the Union regulars, were steady and determined. They absorbed the front rank in the second, and still moved forward – firm, unshaken, confident. Meantime our men had reloaded their pieces, and simultaneously a volley was fired from both sides, and then from the brow above our artillery opened with canister and grape, throwing over the heads of our own men and dealing destruction and confusion to the enemy. And as the loud canon continued its work with fearful rapidity the order was given to our men to “fire at will”– an order that was copied by the enemy – and the continuous roar of musketry that followed almost deadened the reports of the artillery. It was the first fight of the great battle, and for nearly twenty minutes both parties stood firm, as though nothing should lead them to give the prestige of a first success to the other. But, although outnumbered, we had an advantage in the support of artillery, which while our infantry held the rebels in check, made huge gaps in their ranks. Still they yelled and shouted defiance, and attempted charges and continued their firing, rank after rank of them being broken and thrown back in confusion, while their officers shouted, and ordered and stormed, and cursed, in the vain effort to rally them to a persistent, determined charge. They fought well. They fought as none but Americans dare fight. But with musketry alone they could not contend against both artillery and musketry. It was simply murder on the part of their officers to attempt to hold them to it, and their officers began to appreciate the fact when nearly half their column had been placed hors de combat; and then the order was given to retire.
THE REPULSE.
And then came our turn to shout. The rebels were retreating. Our force was sadly thinned and broken; but there were enough left to send up a shout after the retreating rebels that made the woods ring with the echo. Even the wounded joined in the glad cheer, many of them staggering into an upright position and throwing up their hats in their excess of gladness at the victory. The charge had been right gallantly met and the host of the enemy finely repulsed. It was the first achievement of the great struggle – an augury of success in the end. Our men had stood like veterans, and they had a right to cheer.
THE PURSUIT.
But they were not allowed to stand long and imbibe the sweet satisfaction of success. Their enemy were flying. Pursuit was now the order, and the order was not reluctantly obeyed. The rebels were just disappearing in the woods when our column was ordered forward. The enemy, having gained the cover of the thick timber, attempted to make another stand, and as our men advanced they opened upon them a murderous fire from behind trees and stumps and logs. But the victory was ours, which gave inspiration to the men, while the defeated party were demoralized by their repulse, and, though partially sheltered, could not be made to stand firmly. At our first volley they started again in their flight. And thus for a mile the pursuit went on, the enemy wheeling and firing at every convenient shelter, and our men crowding hard after them, regardless of their frantic efforts to check us. For over a mile we chased them, through the first valley, over a hill, across a second ravine and well up a second range, when a second and most formidable line of rebels was discovered. Against this fresh force, and at this distance from support, it was not deemed proper by Gen. Sykes to attempt to contend. The order was therefore given to retire.
FALLING BACK.
As our brave column faced about to retire, the fresh masses of the enemy sprang to their feet and prepared to give chase. As they rose up and revived their tantalizing yells, Gen. Sykes ordered his men to face about and fire. The order was obeyed willingly. The rebels knew nothing of such fortitude. It was beyond their comprehension. This little column repulsing and chasing three times its number and then, when faced by an overwhelming force of fresh troops, coolly to face about and fire upon them, was courage beyond their conception.
They wisely concluded not to attempt a chase, and the wearied and victorious division, shattered and reduced in numbers, was permitted quietly to retire.
THE RESULT.
The victory was ours – completely, incontestably ours. The rebels had been driven back a mile, and with great slaughter. They had lost heavily. How many they had lost I cannot say; but hundreds can hardly express it. Perhaps a thousand in killed, wounded and prisoners would be nearer the fact. As for us, notwithstanding the galling fire that was at first showered upon us, the fortitude with which our men stood against it, and the energy with which they responded, completely demoralized the enemy, rendering their aim wild and unsteady. They were frightened from the first, and their volleys flew harmlessly over our heads or went into the ground short of us. Our total list of casualties will not exceed one hundred and fifty men.
SKIRMISHING ELSEWHERE.
Immediately upon the termination of this affair it became apparent that Lee was arranging a grand reconnoissance along our lines to ascertain our weak point if we hail any. The Twelfth corps were drawn up in two lines of battle facing the south, their left resting on the plank road, as indicated in the above diagram. The enemy had crossed the road some distance beyond our lines, and at a point where they were concealed from our view by an intervening elevation. Massing a body of troops in the woods in front of General Slocum, they suddenly came down upon him like an avalanche. It was a rapid and somewhat unexpected movement but the Twelfth corps were not startled. They met the shock firmly, and with half a dozen volleys sent the rebels back.
Soon afterwards the Eleventh, which was formed on the right of the Twelfth, became engaged. But here it was merely picket skirmishing, though the rebels did unmask a battery on a distant elevation and throw some shells at our artillerymen at work in the southwest corner of the clearing. But, as the artillery of the Eleventh opened in reply, the rebels quickly withdrew their pieces, and desisted from further demonstrations for the day.