May 12, 1864
This was the date of one of the most fearful combats, which
lasted along one limited line, and in one spot, more than fourteen hours, without
cessation. I fancy this war has furnished no parallel to the desperation shown
here by both parties. It must be called, I suppose, the taking of the Salient.
Hancock was ordered to attack with his corps as soon after
four in the morning as possible and Burnside was to follow the example. A
little after daylight we were all gathered round General Grant's tent, all
waiting for news of importance. The field telegraph was laid to all corps
Headquarters and there we could hear from all parts. At a little after five
o'clock, General Williams approached from the telegraph tent; a smile was on
his face: Hancock had carried the first line! Thirty minutes after, another
despatch: he had taken the main line with guns, prisoners and two generals!
Great rejoicings now burst forth. Some of Grant's Staff were absurdly confident
and were sure Lee was entirely beaten. My own experiences taught me a little
more scepticism. Hancock presently sent to ask for a vigorous attack on his
right, to cover and support his right flank. General Wright was accordingly
ordered to attack with a part of the 6th Corps. As I stood there waiting, I
heard someone say, “Sir, this is General Johnson.” I turned round and there was
the captured Major-General, walking slowly up. He was a strongly built man of a
stern and rather bad face, and was dressed in a double-breasted blue-grey coat,
high riding boots and a very bad felt hat. He was most horribly mortified at
being taken, and kept coughing to hide his emotion. Generals Meade and Grant
shook hands with him, and good General Williams bore him off to breakfast. His
demeanor was dignified and proper. Not so a little creature, General Steuart,
who insulted everybody who came near him, and was rewarded by being sent on
foot to Fredericksburg, where there was plenty of mud and one stream up to his
waist. Our attack was a surprise: the assaulting columns rushed over the
breastworks without firing a shot, and General Johnson, running out to see the
reason of the noise, found himself surrounded by blue blouses. I was now sent
by General Meade to see how far General Wright's column of attack was prepared.
I found the columns going into the woods south of the Brown house; the enemy had
seen them and the shells were crashing through the thick pines. When I came
back and reported, the General said: “Well, now you can take some orderlies and
go to General Wright and send me back intelligence from time to time.” There
are some duties that are more honorable than pleasant! As I turned into the
pines, the musketry began, a good way in front of me. I pressed past the column
that was advancing. Presently the bullets began to come through the pine trees.
Then came back a Staff officer, yelling: “Bring up that brigade! Bring it up at
the double-quick!” "Doublequick," shouted the officers, and the
column started on a run.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 110-1
No comments:
Post a Comment