The Great General's Assignment not at first
assuring to the Army Able as an Engineer but limited as to Field
ServiceHe makes the Acquaintance of his LieutenantsCalls a
CouncilGains Confidence by saying Nothing"A Little Humor now and
then"Lee plans a Simultaneous Attack on McClellan's Front and
BearJ. E. B. Stuart's Daring Reconnoissance around the Union
Army.
THE assignment of General Lee to command the army of
Northern Virginia was far from reconciling the troops to the loss of our
beloved chief, Joseph E. Johnston, with whom the army had been closely
connected since its earliest active life. All hearts had learned to lean upon
him with confidence, and to love him dearly. General Lee's experience in active
field work was limited to his West Virginia campaign against General Rosecrans,
which was not successful. His services on our coast defences were known as
able, and those who knew him in Mexico as one of the principal engineers of
General Scott's column, marching for the capture of the capital of that great
republic, knew that as military engineer he was especially distinguished; but
officers of the line are not apt to look to the staff in choosing leaders of
soldiers, either in tactics or strategy. There were, therefore, some misgivings
as to the power and skill for field service of the new commander. The change
was accepted, however, as a happy relief from the existing halting policy of
the late temporary commander.
During the first week of his authority he called his general
officers to meet him on the Nine Miles road for a general talk. This novelty
was not reassuring, as experience had told that secrecy in war was an essential
element of success ; that public discussion and secrecy were incompatible.
As he disclosed nothing, those of serious thought became
hopeful, and followed his wise example. The brigadiers talked freely, but only
of the parts of the line occupied by their brigades; and the meeting finally
took a playful turn. General Toombs's brigade was before some formidable works
under construction by General Franklin. He suggested an elevation a few hundred
yards in his rear, as a better defensive line and more comfortable position for
his men; a very good military point. This seemed strange in General Toombs,
however, as he was known to have frequent talks with his troops, complaining of
West Point men holding the army from battle, digging and throwing up lines of
sand instead of showing lines of battle, where all could have fair fight.
Referring to his suggestion to retire and construct a new
line, General D. H. Hill, who behind the austere presence of a major-general
had a fund of dry humor, said,
' ' I think it may be better to advance General Toombs's
brigade, till he can bring Franklin's working parties under the fire of his
short-range arms, so that the working parties may be broken up."
General Whiting, who was apprehensive of bayous and
parallels, complained of sickness in his command, and asked a change of
position from the unfair Fair Oaks. Though of brilliant, highly cultivated
mind, the dark side of the picture was always more imposing with him. Several
of the major-generals failed to join us till the conference was about to
disperse. All rode back to their camps little wiser than when they went, except
that they found General Lee's object was to learn of the temper of those of his
officers whom he did not know, and of the condition and tone among their
troops. He ordered his engineers over the line occupied by the army, to
rearrange its defensive construction, and to put working parties on all points
needing reinforcing. Whiting's division was broken up. Three of the brigades
were ordered to A. P. Hill's division. He was permitted to choose two brigades
that were to constitute his own command. Besides his own, he selected Hood's
brigade. With these two he was ordered by way of Lynchburg to report to General
Jackson, in the Valley district.
General Lee was seen almost daily riding over his lines,
making suggestions to working parties and encouraging their efforts to put
sand-banks between their persons and the enemy's batteries, and they were
beginning to appreciate the value of such adjuncts. Above all, they soon began
to look eagerly for his daily rides, his pleasing yet commanding presence, and
the energy he displayed in speeding their labors.
The day after the conference on the Nine Miles road,
availing myself of General Lee's invitation to free interchange of ideas, I
rode over to his head-quarters, and renewed my suggestion of a move against
General McClellan's right flank, which rested behind Beaver Dam Creek. The
strength of the position was explained, and mention made that, in consequence
of that strong ground, a move somewhat similar, ordered by General Johnston for
the 28th of May, was abandoned. At the same time he was assured that a march of
an hour could turn the head of the creek and dislodge the force behind it. He
received me pleasantly and gave a patient hearing to the suggestions, without
indicating approval or disapproval. A few days before he wrote General Jackson
:
" HEAD-QUARTERS, NEAR
RICHMOND, VA., "June 11, 1862.
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON, "
Commanding Valley District:
"GENERAL,Your recent successes have been the cause of
the liveliest joy in this army as well as in the country. The admiration
excited by your skill and boldness has been constantly mingled with solicitude
for your situation. The practicability of reinforcing you has been the subject
of earnest consideration. It has been determined to do so at the expense of
weakening this army. Brigadier-General Lawton, with six regiments from Georgia,
is on the way to you, and Brigadier-General Whiting, with eight veteran
regiments, leaves here to-day. The object is to enable you to crush the forces
opposed to you. Leave your enfeebled troops to watch the country and guard the
passes covered by your cavalry and artillery, and with your main body,
including Ewell's division and Lawton's and Whiting's commands, move rapidly to
Ashland by rail or otherwise, as you may find most advantageous, and sweep down
between the Chickahominy and Pamunkey, cutting up the enemy's communications,
etc., while this army attacks General McClellan in front. He will thus, I
think, be forced to come out of his intrenchments, where he is strongly posted
on the Chickahominy, and apparently preparing to move by gradual approaches on
Richmond. Keep me advised of your movements, and, if practicable, precede your
troops, that we may confer and arrange for simultaneous attack.
"I am, with great respect, your obedient
servant, "R. E. LEE, General"
The brigades under Generals Lawton and Whiting were
transported as above ordered.
As indicated in his letter to General Jackson, General Lee's
plan was a simultaneous attack on General McClellan's army front and rear.
Following his instructions for General Jackson, on the same day he ordered his
cavalry, under General Stuart, upon a forced reconnoissance around General
McClellan's army to learn if the ground behind his army was open.
These plans and the promptness with which they were
conceived and put in operation ought to be a sufficient refutation of the silly
report that the Confederacy had any idea of withdrawing from their
capital,a report which, notwithstanding its unreasonable nature, was
given a degree of credence in some quarters.
Upon nearing Richmond, after leaving Yorktown, General
Johnston's first thought had been to stand on the table-lands between the
Pamunkey and the Chickahominy Rivers, on the flank of McClellan's march for
Richmond, and force him into battle. He selected ground with that view and
posted his army, where it remained some eight days, giving general and engineer
officers opportunity to ride over and learn the topographical features of the
surroundings. A prominent point was Beaver Dam Creek, which was so noted by the
officers. When Johnston proposed to recross the Chickahominy and make battle on
the 28th of May, in anticipation of McDowell's approach, the strong ground at
Beaver Dam Creek again came under discussion and was common talk between the
generals, so that the position and its approaches became a familiar subject.
Then Stuart's famous ride had correlative relation to the same, and drew us to
careful study of the grounds..
For the execution of his orders General Stuart took twelve
hundred cavalry and a section of Stuart's horse artillery. The command was
composed of parts of the First, Fourth, and Ninth Virginia Cavalry. The Fourth,
having no field officer on duty with it, was distributed for the expedition
between the First, Colonel Fitzhugh Lee, and the Ninth, Colonel W. H. F. Lee
commanding; also two squadrons of the Jeff Davis Legion, Lieutenant-Colonel W.
T. Martin commanding. The section of artillery was under First Lieutenant James
Breathed.
On the night of the 12th of June he gathered his squadrons
beyond the Chickahominy, and the next day marched by the road west of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad towards Louisa Court-House, to
produce the impression, should the march be discovered, that he was going to
join General Jackson. After a march of fifteen miles, he bivouacked in the pine
forests of Hanover, near the South Anna Bridge, without light or sound of
bugle, and, throwing aside the cares of the day and thoughts of the morrow,
sunk to repose such as the soldier knows how to enjoy. An hour before daylight
he was up in readiness to move as soon as the first light of morning revealed
the line of march. Up to that moment no one of the expedition, except the
commander, knew the direction or the purpose of the march. He called his
principal officers about him and told of the object of the ride, and impressed
the necessity for secrecy, prompt and intelligent attention to orders. At the
mute signal the twelve hundred men swung into their saddles and took the road
leading to the right and rear of McClellan's army. At Hanover Court-House a
small force of the enemy's cavalry was discovered, but they retired towards
their camp, out of the line of Stuart's ride. At Hawes's Shop a picket was
driven off and several vedettes captured. They proved to be of the Fifth United
States Cavalry,, General Lee's old regiment. Between Hawes's Shop and Old
Church the advance-guard, well to the front, reported the presence of the
enemy, apparently in some force. The column pressed forward, expecting a fierce
encounter of Southern volunteers with United States regulars, but the latter
was a single troop and retreated beyond Totopotomy Creek to Old Church, where
there was a camp of four companies of the Fifth Cavalry under Captain Royal,
which made a brave stand. Captain Latane led the first squadron, and Captain
Royal received the first shock, and furiously the combat went on, both leaders
falling, Latane dead and Royal severely wounded. The enemy fled and scattered
through the woods. A number of prisoners were taken, including several
officers, and there were captured horses, arms, equipments, and four guidons.
In the enemy's camp, near Old Church, several officers and privates were
captured, a number of horses and arms taken, and the stores and tents were
burned. Here it became a question whether to attempt to return by way of
Hanover Court-house or to press on and try to make a circuit around the entire
army, and take the chance of fording or swimming the Chickahominy beyond the
enemy's extreme left. Stuart decided that the bolder ride "was the quintessence
of prudence.."
Arriving opposite Garlick's, on the Pamunkey,one of
the enemy's supply stations,a squadron was sent out and burned two
transports with army stores and a number of wagons. Near Tunstall's Station a
wagon-train was discovered guarded by five companies of cavalry, which
manifested a determination to stand and defend it, but they abandoned it and
rode away, leaving the train in possession of Stuart, who burned it, and, night
coming on, the country was brilliantly lighted up by its flames. After resting
a few hours at Talleysville, the ride was resumed, and the party reached the
Chickahominy at Forges Bridge at daylight. The stream was not fordable, but, by
exercise of great energy and industry, a rude foot-bridge was laid. That part
of the command near it dismounted and walked over, swimming their horses. In a
few hours the bridge was made strong and the artillery and other mounts were
passed safely over to the Richmond side, and resumed the march for their old
camp-grounds.
This was one of the most graceful and daring rides known to
military history, and revealed valuable facts concerning the situation of the
Union forces, their operations, communications, etc. When congratulated upon
his success, General Stuart replied, with a lurking twinkle in his eye, that he
had left a general behind him. Asked as to the identity of the unfortunate
person, he said, with his joyful laugh, " General Consternation." |