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CHAPTER XI.
EVACUATION OF HARRISON'S LANDING.
On the evening of August 16th Sumner's corps
moved out of camp some four miles, being the last of the grand army to
leave. The sick had been sent away some days before, as well as the heavy
equipage and baggage, by water, and on the 16th the whole army was put in
motion. Great curiosity was manifest as to our destination, but the few
glimpses of Pope's battles on the Rappa-hannock, to be met with in the
newspapers, afforded to most of us the coveted information.
At six o'clock next morning we took up our line of
march, the Eighth being the rear guard. The pickets of the old camp having
been called in' during the night, we knew there was nothing between us and
the rebels but small detachments of cavalry.
The men were merry over the "dumb sentinels" they had
constructed of old clothes and posted in position to warn off the
inquisitive rebel. The writer was afterward told by a rebel Major, wounded
and captured at Antietam, that these "desperately stubborn sentinels"
received many a ball before their true character was discovered.
Our march was most fatiguing. The dust along the road
was pulverized to the fineness of extra superior flour, and we soon looked
more like an army of millers than soldiers in blue. We passed Charles City
Court House, when all that was to be seen of the city was the court house,
negro pen, whipping post, the remains of an old hotel and what was said to
have been JOHN TYLER's law
office; a new structure had not apparently been built in a century, and
the second growth pine was of forest size' in the ancient streets of this
city.
We halted for dinner on what was called the Tyler farm.
Here we rested two hours and then resumed our march, which was not again
intermitted until we had crossed the Chickahominy, between two and three
o'clock next morning. Our men were soon asleep on whatever vacant ground
they could find. The passage of the Chickahominy was effected just at its
confluence with the James, by means of a pontoon bridge eighty rods in
length.
On the 18th we marched out about seven miles and
encamped. Here we found green corn abundant, and the men improved the
opportunity to change their diet with commendable avidity. The march was
continued during the 19th and 20th. Our corps arrived at Yorktown on the
afternoon of the 20th. On this march we passed through Williamsburg, the
seat of William and Mary's College, the oldest city in the State, and for
many years the capital of the colony, and a noted place, but, at this time
terribly dilapidated. In fact, this whole march from Harrison's Landing
was through the earliest settled portion of the country, and once highly
cultivated and famous for its tobacco crop, but now almost entirely
overgrown with forests of second growth pine, and bearing evidence of a
most thriftless and unenterprising people.
Yorktown was found by the men well supplied with green
corns and, going into the river to bathe, they discovered fine oyster
beds, which they appropriated ad libitum regardless of existing
statutes of Virginia on that subject.
Yorktown was, of course, a point of great interest to
all. Those who had been there with MCCLELLAN
in the spring renewed their acquaintance with the work of his spades and MAGRUDER's
fortifications, which so terribly frightened, for so long a time, the
little General, while we who were there for the first time eagerly sought
out the scene of the last battle of the Revolution and surrender of
Cornwallis, without being much interested in the long ditches and
fortifications so barren of glory as the recent constructions of the
"Mackerel Brigade."
On the morning of the 21st we moved down the peninsula,
passing Little and Great Bethel, the battle fields of that neighborhood,
the ruined and desolate city of Hampton, and arriving on the James again
above Newport News, went into camp on the afternoon of the 23d of August,
tired and worn with the fatigues of our long march.
On the 25th we received orders to be in readiness to move, and about eight
o'clock marched down to Newport News, and during the night the Eighth and
Fourth Ohio embarked on board the Oahawba, a large, fine ocean steamer.
The steamer weighed anchor at daylight and steamed down the river, passing
Fortress Monroe, the Rip Raps, Old Point Comfort, &c, and entering the
Chesapeake Bay, headed north. About noon the next day we anchored at
Acquia Creek, where we debarked. We were now within hearing of Pope's
battle of Cedar Mountain. Towards evening we were ordered to reembark on
the "Long Island," the reason being given' for this new move that Gen. POPE's
army had suffered, a terrible defeat, and was retreating. We arrived at
Alexandria on the morning of the 28th of August, and moved out in front of
Fairfax Landing, and went into Camp, that is, camp without- tents, camp
garrison or any other equipage except our arms and knapsacks. All this
time we were hearing of disaster to Pope's army.
During the night of the 29th, our entire corps, being
now united, moved back through Alexandria, and up the - river, and
bivouaced in front of the Arlington House, in full view of the city of
Washington—it appeared to be safe.
Next morning we moved about a mile further up the
river, where we were ordered to clear off and arrange a permanent camp,
and about which the men worked vigorously until eleven o'clock. For near
two hours heavy cannonading had been heard to the west, which appeared to
be drawing nearer and nearer to us. Everyone knew that Pope was having
another battle.
A little after noon on the 30th the troops were
rapidly formed, cartridges distributed, and with no explanatory orders, a
rapid march commenced toward Fairfax Court House, which was passed during
the night. The terrible disaster of "the second Bull Run" was now known to
everyone. The road was full of splendid carriages from Washington being
rapidly driven to the battlefield to be used as ambulances, while wagons
and ambulances were pouring past us with the wounded and dying, to, places
of safety. Towards daylight in the morning we halted for a while, to
enable the stragglers to come up, for the march had been so rapid that in
some companies half their number had fallen behind during the night.
During a halt of a couple of hours the men breakfasted
as best they could, most of the stragglers coming up in the meanwhile.
About ten o'clock the corps was formed in. three lines
and marched forward towards Centreville. As we came upon the plain to the
east of Centreville, the confused and shattered army lay before us. On
every hand was the confusion of a defeated and retreating army. Wagon
trains, artillery, tents, baggage, camp fires were huddled and jammed
together without order or system. Guide boards pointing out the location
of the various corps, divisions and brigades, were posted everywhere.
Provost Marshals and Provost Guards were picking up stragglers. Wounded
officers and wounded men, with bandaged limbs and heads, in squads and
companies, were inquiring their way to the rear. There was a sad absence
of the "pomp and circumstance of war" in all this.
The Second Corps moved up to the right of the
Gainesville pike, and took post with a battle front towards the enemy,
where pickets were distinctly visible,. but no evidence of any immediate
attack was manifested.
Several officers of our division procured a few moments
leave of absence, and rode over the plain to Centreville Heights, to find
some friends who could give some account of the fate of our Ohio troops.
We soon found Capt. TABER of the Fifty-fifth Ohio,
then acting. Brigade Quartermaster, struggling through the streets of
Centreville with a mule train, and soon after Capt. F. H. MORSE,
then serving on Gen. SCHENCK's staff, Col. ROBINSON,
of the Eighty-second Ohio, and many others.
Col. CARROLL, with his brigade,
in which Lieut. JOHN G. REID,
of Co. D, was serving as Adjutant, had participated in this campaign and
in the late battle.
The Ohio troops had suffered, severely, especially in
the last battle. Col CANTWELL, of the Eighty second
Ohio, had been killed and many other officers and privates whom we knew.
Everybody inquired why the Second Corps had not come up in time to save
the fortunes of the battle.
MCCLELLAN and his Generals
came in for a good share of censure and curses at every point. In company
with Col. CAVINS, of the Fourteenth Indiana, we. met
Gen. MILROY, whom the Colonel had represented as a
most devout and pious man. Col. GAVINS asked him: "
General, what is the cause of this terrible defeat ?" "Treachery and
incompetency, by G - " was the stern old warrior's reply.
The officers of POPE's command
universally sympathized with him, and believed that he had been left to be
crushed by the overwhelming army of LEE, through the
jealousy of the Generals in the interest of MCCLELLAN.
Especially was Gen. FITZ. JOHN
PORTER most roundly berated.
We occupied our position on the left during the day.
and night and next day, during which time the vast mass of disorganized
troops and trains gradually drew out towards Fairfax Court House. The full
capacity of the Alexandria Railroad was taxed in carrying away the,
wounded and heavy munitions of war.
Towards evening, August 31st, Gens. PHIL.
KEARNEY and STEVENS passed our position to attack a rebel force that
threatened the retreating columns toward Fairfax, and soon we heard the
thunder of his artillery, and the distant hum of musketry, but all was
presently drowned in the fury of a rain storm that suddenly came on, which
flooded the whole country, and completely drenched and soaked every thread
of our garments. We were in readiness to support the troops under Kearney,
but were not called on to move.
The fore part of the night was intensely dark, but we
knew of the activity with which the retreat was going forward by the noise
and cursing of the teamsters, the huge bonfires all over-the plains, from
the burning of camp and garrison equipage, disabled wagons, ambulances,
&c.
Gen. BANKS' corps covered the
retreat along the railroad, destroying whatever was left in that
direction, while the second corps covered the Fairfax road. Something
after midnight we began to move. As we passed over the plains to the pike
road, we found the whole surface trodden to a mire, and our line not
being fully formed, regiment jostled.; regiment in the dark. Men sunk in
the mud and lost their places in ranks, and for a time the march was beset
with the utmost confusion. Finally we were fairly on the pike, the ditches
on either side of which were literally filled with the remains of burning
wagons, ambulances, limbers and caissons overset and abandoned by the
drivers. Surgical instruments were strewn along the road. Medicine chests,
arms, knapsacks, blankets and overcoats carpeted the way. These the. rear
guard destroyed, or were, at least, supposed to destroy.
The march was slow and wearisome. Near eight o' clock
in the morning the troops began to mass in the open fields to the left of
Fairfax Court House, several divisions of the retreating army and most of
the wagon trains having halted just below the village. Here we
breakfasted, and here we saw the solemn procession bear along the remains
of the gallant Gen. PHIL. KEARNEY
and the heroic Gen. STEVENS, who were killed in the
battle the-previous evening, and known as the battle of Chantilly.
About nine o'clock the Second Corps moved to the left
and formed in line of battle near Germantown. For a time the rebels
shelled us quite spiritedly, and our batteries replied. The day had become
pleasant, and when the men were allowed to rest,. generally fell asleep on
their arms. Something about four o'clock the corps was formed in three
lines, the regiments of each brigade moving abreast, with artillery and
extra animals in rear of the center column. When our line was first formed
the Eighth Regiment was on the right flank, most remote from the enemy,
but one of the regiments-on the left complained of this, and we were
transferred to the left, an exposed flank. This. caused some sharp
comments from the men of the Eighth, but we had hardly received the order
to march when a rebel shell passed over our heads, striking in the ranks
of the complaining regiment, whereat our fellows raised a cheer, shouting
" fortune favors the brave."
The march was rapid, and continued until near two
o'clock in the morning, when the troops were halted and lay upon their
arms. The route was in the direction of "Vienna and the Potomac Chain
Bridge. The march had not been molested, the rebels only paying their
compliments by an occasional shell from a safe, distance. .The next day we
crossed by the Chain Bridge into Maryland and went into camp at Tenally
Town, where the men for the first time in seven days stacked their arms,
and slept as long as they wished. |
