The Tenth Vermont, Fourteenth New Jersey and the rest of our
brigade as usual, not only proudly led the Division at first by a good deal in
the advance through the woods but in this instance the whole army. It was therefore
not only the most aggressive and conspicuous part of — being on high ground
where I could see our line of battle each way — but the most important point in
the line; was first seen when through the wood and the most dreaded by the
enemy being on the pike, and in consequence its artillery fire within reach was
concentrated on us, and it was a hot place. But soon, after recovering
from the collapse of the Second Brigade on my right which wholly disappeared
and nothing more was seen of it by me, with the valor of the old-time “Green
Mountain Boys” on we went undaunted until, after we had advanced about
seventy-five yards beyond the woods now extinct behind which we had formed in
the open field where I was, being then on a high point where I could see the
whole battlefield, I glanced to my right and left and was appalled to see that
the troops on both flanks of my Brigade were obliquing rapidly away from us,
the whole Nineteenth Corps in perfect lines of battle by an oblique movement to
the right having pulled away from the right of our Division until there was a
gap big enough including that made by the Second Brigade, to more than admit a
Brigade line of battle although it is said that Corps had been directed to
guide on our Division and that a similar state of affairs existed on our left
flank where the Vermont brigade was.* (See No. 3 through opening in woods
showing No. 7; also see No. 5 where I was in the foreground). With a feeling of
dismay I slackened my pace and nearly halted for I saw that through the gap in
the very center and most vital point in our line on my right towards the
Nineteenth Corps opposite which point was a strong force of the enemy's
infantry awaiting us behind its works on the near edge of a little valley which
protected it from our fire until right on it, it would throw its force so situated
opposite the gap on our right and left flanks caused by the gap and have us
completely at its mercy; but glancing almost immediately again to my right and
rear, hearing loud military commands there, my spirits rose as I saw the
gallant Russell leading his splendid Division en masse through the opening in
the timber in his front, magnificently forward as though at drill to fill the
gap. The appearance of his column greatly relieved us, as it drew the
concentrated artillery fire from our column by the enemy largely to his. The
whole battle scene at this moment at this point was one of appalling grandeur,
one which no beholders could ever forget, provided they could keep their nerve
well enough to preserve their presence of mind sufficiently to take in the
situation midst the screeching shells and appalling musketry fire. The splendid
appearance of General Russell’s Division elicited a cry of admiration from all
who saw it. It was the supreme moment or turning point in the great tide of
battle, and as Russell’s men rapidly deployed latterly under a galling fire on
the march either way in perfect order enough to fill the gap, it was
magnificent — beyond description — the grandest, best and most welcome sight I
ever saw in a tight place in battle, and so inspired me — seeing the danger of
a flank movement had passed — I again pushed forward to be in front and was
there when the intrepid General Russell, one of the best fighters in the army,
was twice shot and soon died a short distance to my right rear just about the
time I was also twice hit; (see Nos. 5 and 6 illustrations) but when the enemy
in my front and all along the little valley caught sight of our reserve coming
at them so majestically and in such solid phalanx and splendid order, it seemed
to me the rebs couldn’t run fast enough apparently to get away. It was the most
sudden transformation on a battlefield I ever saw, as well as the most perfect
stampede and rout; and it was the enemy’s last volley when it saw our reserve
coming at them so determinedly that put a stop to my fighting for several
months; and but for our reserve coming on the field just as it did I would have
been worse riddled than I was by the enemy and killed even lying on the ground
wounded, as I was wholly exposed where I lay close on their works not a rod
away, the ground sloping towards them.
 |
No. 8. – View from near the head of the ravine occupied by
the enemy's infantry looking southerly towards the pike running along the edge
of the distant forest. This is now (1908) a fine farm: its building on the left
and those dimly seen in the edge of the distant wood along which the sunken
pike runs have been built since the Civil War. Observe the perfect cover next
to the pike for the enemy: it was here the Tenth Vermont assaulted, and the
Second Brigade, this side as far north as the figure (Mai. Abbott), while the
enemy's infantry behind rail breast-works and its artillery several hundred
yards in rear to the right on higher ground swept the flat open field over
which we charged in their front. It was almost a forlorn hope. Who would wish
to criticise troops unfairly under such circumstances? The divide running east
and west was about a hundred yards to Mai. Abbott's right. On its opposite or
north side the Nineteenth Corps charged.
|
General Sheridan’s plan of battle was perfect and I shall
never cease to admire him as the greatest military genius I have ever seen on a
battlefield, for by this and his pluck and dash, I see the secret of his great
successes. The plan of battle was fully developed by the time I fell twice
badly wounded — at first I supposed mortally — only a few feet in front of the
enemy’s works, and as I arose partially recovered from the shock of being twice
hit, quivering and bleeding profusely, one of the first things my eye caught
was Sheridan all alone without a staff officer or even an orderly near him,
about forty yards in my rear, sitting his splendid thoroughbred horse like a
centaur looking — all animation his very pose suggesting it — intently through
his field glass toward the fleeing routed enemy and later after the third and
last assault of the day all in a jumble with our undaunted dashing cavalry in
perfect order sweeping across the great comparatively level plain bordering
Winchester, like a tornado, with banners, arms, brasses, etc., brightly
gleaming in the blazing autumn sunlight — a battle scene, as badly as I was
wounded, the forepart of which held me entranced. As I again soon turned after
the first assault, Sheridan put spurs to his horse and off he dashed all
animation to another part of the field to reform his line and so on, going
finally like the wind into the very midst of the great congested jumble, the
enemy trying like a frightened flock of sheep to force itself through the
streets of Winchester all at one time, the men literally piling themselves at
the main street entrances on top of each other in order to do so. No battle
scene will remain photographed so vividly on my memory as the first part of
this for I could see nearly the whole field from where I long remained.
The fatal wounding in my sight near enough to hear his cry
of anguish of my old Captain — Major Dillingham — and the killing of Major
Vredenburg of the Fourteenth New Jersey from his horse by having his heart torn
out, and others; General Russell’s brilliant debouch with his dauntless
division marching proudly on the battlefield en masse with all its enchanting
glitter and precision to take a hand at the sacrifice of his life — unfortunate,
gallant, dashing Russell — Merritt, Averill and Custer’s brilliant spirited
final charges on the fleeing enemy, its disorder and worst possible rout all
beggar description, our retreat at the battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, being
one of order and dignity comparatively speaking. I felt revenged for my wound
and at having to run so in retreat at the Monocacy, and for my two wounds that
day even if I did totteringly tarry, maimed and speechless with paralyzed
tongue, chin and blanched face to look at such a brilliant battle scene until I
became so faint from loss of blood, shock and partial reaction, I could hardly
go steadily and finally did accept help, having declined at first, from two
faithful men of my Company who, when I fell instead of stampeding stayed by me
in one of the hottest places I have ever been in on a battlefield, one of whom
was Corporal Joel Walker of Pownal, Vt. My first wound was from the butt end of
an exploding shell in the breast which maimed and knocked me down and
simultaneously as I fell a minie ball fired but a rod away in my front just
grazed my forehead, torn through my upper lip crushing both jaws and carrying
away eleven teeth, the most painless dentistry I ever had done; but, Oh! The
shock it gave my system and the misery I suffered that night!
_______________
* It is alleged by one or more writers that this gap was
partly caused by a turn in the pike to the left, and as the Tenth Vermont had
been ordered to guide on the pike its colors being on it, this alleged turn in
the pike caused the regiment to oblique to the left. This is incorrect. The
turn in the pike when this dangerous gap was caused partially by the obliquing
of the Nineteenth Corps to its right, which General Russell's Division filled,
was about six hundred yards behind the rebel line of battle, a little beyond
the enemy's battery close to the right of the pike, an exploding shell from
which knocked me down, and this turn in the road at this time was within the
enemy's lines in the rear of this battery, and it was then shelling us.
The pike was perfectly straight from us to this turn, about a quarter of
a mile away, or about a half mile from where we formed line of battle, the road
being virtually straight, as can be seen from Nos. 2 and 9 illustrations. Our
line of battle wasn't formed at right angles with the pike, hence the obliquing
alleged.
SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections
and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 163-8
