May 8, 1863, The New York Herald
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF MR. T.M. COOK.
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
NEAR UNITED STATES FORD, May 5, 1863.
In my last communication I was compelled, owing to the length to which it grew on my hands, to make merely a mention of the operations of the army yesterday. I improve the opportunity of a quiet morning to write more in detail of the events of that day.
Operations on Monday.
The fierce struggle of Sunday had crowded our brave forces back several miles, causing the entire relinquishment of the plank road and the general headquarters, and leaving us at night, wearied and exhausted, at the White House, situated at the intersection of the Wilderness and United States Ford roads, and about five miles from the United States Ford. The whole of the fighting ground of that terrible Sunday had fallen into the enemy’s possession, and with it the greater part of the wounded who had been too severely hurt to drag themselves from the battle field. The whole plain at and about Chancellorsville was strewn over with those wretched ones, for whom the rebels had no word of sympathy or pity. Their own fearfully swollen list of wounded demanded all the attention they were able to bestow upon those who had fallen; and those unfortunates of our army who fell into their possession were left to endure the tortures they were suffering until it should be convenient for their captors to give them a little attention. Fortunate were those, under such circumstances, who fell in the woods, and to whom the devouring flames brought a termination of torture in a horrid death.
Our own hospitals – temporary affairs, in most instances, pitched beneath the shade of the trees – were crowded with sufferers, and all night long the attending surgeons had been industriously engaged, given relief to some, and making the wounds of others a mutilation for life. The Third corps hospital, under the care of Drs. Sims and Dexter, had been removed, during the progress of the battle, no less than five times, owing to the disrespect of the enemy for the flag that, by all nations, is considered a safeguard against attack. At first this hospital was located on the plank road about a mile west of the Chancellorsville house, and in the rear of the operations of Birney and Whipple. Here the enemy fired upon it, killing many of the wounded and causing its speedy removal. It was next established on the open field back of the brick house, but for similar reasons, was speedily removed to the brick house itself. The destruction of this building and the loss of the wounded has already been mentioned. The hospital was then re-established at the White House; but soon after the retirement of our troops rendered it necessary again to remove the establishment, and it was located in the woods on the road to the ford. Here the shell of the enemy again reached it with serious effect, many whose wounds had been dressed being killed. The doctors again packed up, and started down the road, finally locating themselves, with their rapidly increasing charge, at the Fitzhugh House, on the south side of the river, close to the ford. In all these movements the attending surgeons have never been accused of neglecting their large number of patients. Their industry and attention have won the highest encomiums for the medical staff of the Third corps, which was the first to send any of its wounded away to permanent hospitals, beyond the present chances of war.
The hospital at the Fitzhugh House has now been transformed into a general hospital, under the charge of Dr. James F. Dexter, Dr. Sims acting as Medical Director.
Our Line on Monday.
Our line, as established in the night after the battle of Sunday, rested on the river, about one mile below the ford, extending back at right angles with the river to the White House, and then, circling about, continued on to the river again above the ford. Along this entire line large working parties were employed all Sunday night throwing up breastworks of logs, rails and brush, and digging rifle pits, so that at dawn on Monday we were strongly intrenched. Indeed, our line being now so contracted, enabling us to form a double line of battle, it is doubtful if the enemy can remove us in however strong force they may come upon us. The men are in remarkably good spirits, considering the fiery ordeal through which they have passed, and, if their movements are properly directed will yet punish the enemy severely.
A RECONNOISSANCE
The extreme quiet that prevailed along the lines throughout the day, and the entire absence of the shadow of the foe, occasioned much apprehension, and the commanding General determined upon ascertaining where they were and what doing. He therefore ordered a portion of the Fifth corps to advance towards the old turnpike and feel the enemy. The party advanced half a mile up the road, and then deployed by brigades into the woods and advanced in line of battle, with skirmishers in advance. As anticipated, the enemy were found in the vicinity of the old turnpike, and a spirited skirmish ensued. The enemy appeared to be in considerable force, and, in accordance with instructions, the reconnoitering party fell back. The enemy followed for a short distance but were checked by our artillery, and fell back to their former position.
SKIRMISHING ELSEWHERE.
Occasionally along other parts of the line there was slight picket skirmishing, but nothing more to indicate the presence of the enemy in any great force.
WHERE IS THE ENEMY?
The general impression prevailing today is that the enemy, after the battle of Sunday, withdrew a large portion of his force and sent them down to oppose Sedgwick’s march. The prevalence of a severe battle in the vicinity of Banks’ ford throughout the day yesterday and the known fact that Sedgwick was driven across the river this morning at an early hour, strengthen this conclusion. It has ever been a favorite policy with the rebels to fall upon detachments of our armies and whip us in detail, and the policy is a good one in a military point of view. But a wary general will always be careful that he avoids giving his enemy opportunity to do this.
PROSPECTS AHEAD.
It is not at all improbable, now that the enemy have disposed of General Sedgwick and protected themselves from an attack in the rear, that they will return to the attack here. If it shall prove true, as reported, that Longstreet has come up from Suffolk and aided in the repulse of Sedgwick last night, the rebel force has been greatly strengthened, and is now, probably, nearly as great as at the commencement of the battle. On the contrary we are left to fight on without reinforcements. We hear rumors enough, but nothing authentic of large forces hurrying to our assistance; but we see nothing to indicate that such is the fact. Indeed it is quite clear that Hooker now has all the troops that the administration proposes giving him, and it is equally clear that, when Lee shall return to the charge with Longstreet’s powerful reinforcements, our brave army will be hastily driven back across the river.
INCIDENTS.
During the severe fighting of Saturday and Sunday many instances showing the valor of our troops and the mettle of which our officers are composed have transpired, but few of which I am able to give you.
VALOR OF THE EXCELSIOR BRIGADE.
The Excelsior Brigade was among the most efficient corps in the army. They fought like tigers wherever placed, and never wavered. They were deserted by their commanding officer (who, I understand, has been placed in arrest), but remained steadfast at the post of duty and danger. Among the trophies taken by them are nearly a dozen stands of colors, the regiments to which they belonged having been annihilated by the steadiness and bravery of this little band. Prominent among these is a rebel battle flag carried by the Eighteenth North Carolina regiment a sketch of which I annex: –
BATTLE FLAG OF THE EIGHTEENTH NORTH CAROLINA REGIMENT.
The ground of this flag is bright red; the stripes are blue and the stars white. The material is ordinary bunting and the staff is a very common hickory pole. The flag bears the following inscriptions, showing that its bearers were veterans in the rebel service. On one side: – “Mechanicsville,” “Hanover,” “Manassas,” “Cedar Run,” “Ox Hill,” “Harper Ferry,” “Cold Harbor,” “FrazierFarm.”On the reverse: – “Manassas Junction,” “Sharpsburg,” “Malvern Hills,” “Shepardstown.” The inscriptions are put on with ordinary white paint.
MORE FLAGS.
The Seventh New Jersey regiment alone captured seven rebel flags. The Fifth New Jersey took nearly as many.
THE DEATH OF BERRY.
General Berry was killed early in the action of Sunday. The diagrams I sent you with my last illustrate the point at which he fell. He had crossed the plank road to prepare a reserve brigade to move up to the support of his nearly exhausted men, and was recrossing to the line where his men were engaged. In crossing this road he passed under a perfect shower of bullets, one of which struck him in his left chest and passed through his lungs. He survived scarcely a minute. His body was picked up and conveyed to the rear by some members of his staff.
GENERAL WHIPPLE’S WOUND.
General Whipple was very seriously wounded on Monday by a rifle shot fired by a sharpshooter sitting in a tree. The ball entered the small of his back, escaping the spinal column by scarcely a hairbreadth, and it is feared found lodgment in his kidneys. This sharpshooter had annoyed our officers very much, firing at those who seemed to him to be prominent, and whom he could readily single out from his elevated position. At last General Sickles sent to General Whipple to have Berdan detach a portion of his command to dislodge this fellow. General Whipple was sitting upon his horse writing the order to Berdan to this effect when he was hit. Almost simultaneously one of our sharpshooters, who had been watching the rebel, drew his rifle on him and fired. The rebel sharpshooter fell from the tree a corpse.
CAPTAIN WILKINS AGAIN A PRISONER.
Captain W. D. Wilkins, Assistant Adjutant General, attached to the staff of Brigadier General A. S. Williams, was taken prisoner by the enemy on Sunday. He was once before a tenant of the Libby prison, having been confined there under the rebel regulations regarding officers of Pope’s army. He was subsequently sentenced to be shot, having been selected as one of the Union officers to share that fate in retaliation for Gen. McNeal’s executions in Missouri, but was saved by the rebel reverse at Antietam, which gave us such a preponderance of prisoners that the rebels were frightened from their retaliation schemes. Captain Wilkins was supposed to be unhurt when he was taken.