War pictures from the South

Preface

I HAVE, as a refugee, for the second time set my foot upon the rocky shores of Old England, to complete, under the shelter of her glorious banner, a narrative of the remarkable events that occurred during a period of more than eighteen months’ campaigning in America, the knowledge of which I acquired from my personal experience as an officer of the Confederate army.

Now that my book is ready, I can confidently place it before the reader, with the assurance that these *““War Pictures” have been delineated not only to the best of my ability, but with a conscientious regard to truth.

Although circumstances led me to take service in the Confederate army—my long residence in the Southern States being, however, the main inducement thereto—I have not been the less disposed to do justice to both sides engaged in this lamentable contest. Thus, while ever ready to bestow my hearty admiration on all the instances that came to my knowledge of heroism, patriotic devotion, and high-principled con- _ duct, whether displayed on the part of my own comrades or on that of their opponents, I have, on the other hand, not hesitated to lay bare the errors and blamable acts, by whomsoever committed, that have iv PREFACE.

been conducive to so much disaster and misery, nor have I spared the wrong doers.

Having completed my task, my thoughts naturally ~ recur to the land wherein this unholy war is raging. To America, my second home, whose image I cling to with fond attachment, I cannot look back without sorrow for her misfortunes. I there contemplate deploringly the spectacle of a people once united, now dissevered through mad dissensions—dissensions which, involving in their fatal course the principle of the defence and maintenance of sacred rights, have issued in a suicidal conflict. My memory, in reverting to the fearful scenes so recently witnessed, painfully recalls those sanguinary battle fields whereon many a gallant soldier breathed out his spirit, struck to death by the bullet of a man whom he had been wont to regard in the light of a brother. Again the gaunt spectre of discord rises before me, with lightning flashing from its eyes, and rancor foaming at its lips, as, armed with a scourge of serpents, it frantically urges on whole populations to mutual destruction !

Now that my book is ready, I dedicate it to the soldiers of the two contending armies, as a greeting from afar. I have only to add, that if some of my criticisms may appear too severe to those whose conduct I censure, I have, in making use of them, been actuated solely by a fearless resolve to tell the truth and state my honest convictions. In the exercise of this, which I claim to be an undoubted right, have I written my book.

THe AUTHOR.

Dover, May, 1863.

Contents

CHAPTER I. a3 Secession of South Carolina, ; : ~ : : 2 1 CHAPTER II.

The Riot at Baltimore, . : ; i A 0 ; : . 86 CHAPTER III.

Destruction of the Fleet at Portsmouth, : F . ° 2 42 CHAPTER IV. ; The Battle of Bethel, . : f A A : ‘ ° hoe 3, CHAPTER V.

Chapter II. The Riot At Baltimore

Consequences of the secession of Virginia—The Confederate Government is transferred from Montgomery to Richmond—Riot at Baltimore—Movement of the troops.

Ir ought not to be matter for astonishment that the Government of Washington was greatly incensed at the secession of Virginia from the Union, for the consequence of that act was that the States of Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina quickly followed, and thereby the Confederate Government was sufficiently strengthened to carry on the war on a grand scale. All the railways were voluntarily placed at the disposal of that Government; and it certainly made the best. use of this generous offer. The Congress at Montgomery authorized the Government to contract a loan of five million dollars, which was subscribed for immediately. In all the States which had of late seceded, regiments were raised zealously and at much personal sacrifice. All the male population between the ages of eighteen and forty years pressed forward to be enrolled under the Confederate banner; and, indeed, many men of even sixty years of age would not be deterred from taking up arms for their new Government. It is at the same time true that many regiments were only thus suddenly raised because a number of dues and charges were bound up and connected with their formation. Everybody

VIRGINIA THE SEAT OF WAR. 37 was enthusiastic in support of the war; in my opinion, however, not so much for the sake of fighting in defence of the Confederacy, as from the opinion that, their States having seceded, matters would be soon, if they were not already, arranged; and none looked forward to the terrible events which were to follow. A great many persons availed themselves of their military position in order to travel on their business avocations, or to make little pleasure excursions at the Government’s expense. Equipped in stately uniforms, and armed to the teeth with excellent weapons from the military storehouses, which had all been seized by the insurgent Government, these gallant soldiers strutted about without any apparent fear or alarm. It was a kind of general masquerade or carnival. That this was to be succeeded by the stern reality of war, with its bloodshed and misery, never ‘seemed to enter any.one’s mind. That a future was approaching replete with disaster to the country, which would break up all unity and concord, and lead to the derision of their enemies and the inexpressible sorrow of their friends, was not thought of.

After a while the Government began to put a little military order into this chaos, by placing detachments of troops in the forts of Charleston, Pensacola, Morgan, Jackson, Philip, and Pulaski; whilst all the forces of the different States belonging to the Confederacy were ordered to the State of Virginia, which latter had been selected for the theatre of war. On the 20th of May, the seat of Government was transferred from Montgomery, Alabama, to Richmond, Virginia; and Jefferson Davis, the benefactor elect of the people, made his entry into Richmond amidst the vociferations of his friends and worshippers.

Richmond, the capital of the State of Virginia, and, virtually, indeed, of the whole South, was at this time, as regards its resources in mechanical industry, quite in its infancy, particularly as respects the manufacture of arms, for which the Confederates would indeed have been badly off, had it not been for the opportune aid they received from J. B. Floyd, the late United States Secretary of War, who helped them in their dilemma, dexterously contriving to transfer 115,000 ‘excellent muskets and rifles from the United States military stores at Springfield and Waterford to the camp of the Secessionists. Thus, at the commencement of the war the South had, thanks to Mr. Floyd’s good offices, from 150,000 to 200,000 muskets ready for the equipment of their troops. The Government at Washington was not idle whilst these . movements were occurring in the South, and assembled large bodies of troops. And it cannot be denied that, during the confusion and disorder with which it was at first surrounded, the people of the Northern States generally manifested the same kind of patriotic devotion as had been shown in the days of the great Revolution. The men who first responded to the call of their President were the volunteer militia regiments of Massachusetts, who hurried to Washington for the ‘protection of their President and the Republic. The first regiment, on arriving at the railway station of Baltimore, was obliged, in order to reach the station of the railway for Washington, to traverse the city; a portion of the regiment was then conveyed by the horse tramway, the rest being obliged to walk. On the news arriving of the approach of these - troops, the vagabond population of the place, always ready for mischief, became highly excited ; whilst the police although well acquainted with the intentions of the mob, offered little or no opposition. This passive conduct of the police authorities can only be construed as actually favoring the riot. Encouraged by this inactivity, and excited by drink, the leaders of the mob proceeded to violent acts. The rails were torn up, and barricades erected in the streets; whilst a part of the rioters, with the Confederate flag at their head, threw themselves in the way of the military, in order to dispute the passage through the town; and stones were

RIOT AT BALTIMORE. 389 thrown at the soldiers, as they were proceeding quietly on their way. Although the officer commanding the troops exhorted the people to let them pass quietly and unmolested, his efforts were in vain, and he was received with groans, hisses, and abuse. This officer maintained perfect self-possession; but when the soldiers were assailed by the mob, and showers of stones increased, he ordered the drums to beat and the men to make ready; and presently, at the word “ Fire!” a deadly volley was discharged at the rioters, who, armed with knives and revolvers, commenced a regular struggle with the military. The soldiers forced their way, despite repeated attacks, to the railway station, with the loss of but few men. There, however, they found awaiting them a still more enraged multitude. The directors of the railway had, meanwhile, not been inactive, having hurriedly collected carriages for the conveyance of the troops to Washington. Nevertheless, the train was stopped, and the scene at the station became terrific. The soldiers, having taken their seats in the carriages, the mob continued to abuse them, threatening them with their knives and revolvers, howling and cursing at them incessantly. The police at last made some show of interfering, but without effecting much good ; and the people were by this time so excited, that any attempt at expostulation was more calculated to inflame than to soothe them.

The train got off at last, leaving the populace howling and raging at the escape of its intended victims; and to compensate for this they completely demolished the station. As the _train was moving off, some soldiers fired into the people, who were collected on each side; and, as is but too frequently the case on such occasions, many fell who had taken no active part in the riot. Several respectable citizens of Baltimore paid for their curiosity with their lives, and many others were dangerously wounded. The revolutionary party in Baltimore, of which we have already had occasion to speak, now developed itself and proceeded to great extremities. The railway bridge over the Susquehanna was burnt down, and Governor Hicks forced unwillingly to join in the movement against the President and the Washington Government. He did not, however, allow himself to be led astray by these would-be representatives of the people of Maryland ; and before long placed four regiments at the disposal of the Union Government. For along while subsequent to these events great disorder and discontent continued to prevail at Baltimore.

Baltimore had to submit to the military power of the Union, whilst the revolutionary element migrated further south. The railroads were soon put in order again, and they enabled the Government to forward from 4,000 to 5,000 men daily to Washington. The Southern party in Maryland protested in vain against the passage of these troops, as also against the military authorities, who had now taken possession of Baltimore and its fortifications. President Lincoln let them protest as much as they liked, and quietly pursued his course. General Butler, who was named Military Governor of Maryland, was a proper man to reéstablish quiet and order after the riotous proceedings which had taken place. The mayor of the city of Baltimore and all the chiefs of the police were dismissed and sent into the fortress as prisoners, and all rebels and criminals brought before a military tribunal, so that in a short time peace and tranquillity were restored.

In the North nothing was heard of but preparations for the war, and “ Down with the rebels!” was the general watchword. Nobody seemed, however, to take the trouble to solve the problem of how this end was to be accomplished.

To prove in black and white that the North had a greater _ population and more wealth than the South—that it possessed a navy—seemed to be every man’s favorite occupation; indeed, the merchants in the North went so far as to announce as an unquestionable fact, that the South would surely be

CONFIDENCE OF THE NORTH. 4} starved, if they resolved simply to withhold corn and other articles of consumption from them.

The warlike plans of the North at this time may be thus succinctly summed up :

Simply to send 25,000 men across the Potomac to march on Richmond ; to send another body of 25,000 men to Cairo on the Mississippi; to close all communications with the West; and to keep 25,000 more men as a reserve force.

In short, the journalists of the North had planned their strategical movements with such nicety and military genius, that a mere parade and march was all that was required for the subjugation of the half-starved Southerners. Soldiers were only enlisted for three months; and it was hoped and expected that the whole campaign would be over in that time. President Lincoln, however, fortunately did not allow himself to be led astray by these newspaper vagaries; and issued a second proclamation, calling out a further body of 45,000 men to serve for the time the war should last; giving orders at the same time for ten additional regiments to the regular army, and for an augmentation of 18,000 men in the navy. From all this it was clearly to be deduced that President Lincoln fully foresaw the dangers and difficulties of the task he had before him. As soon as a sufficient body of troops had been assembled at Washington, they received orders to cross the Potomac immediately, and to proceed along the Orange and Alexandria Railway in the direction of Richmond ; whilst another column was sent from Pennsylvania through Maryland into the valleys of Virginia. The first military act “was the occupation of the not unimportant town of Alexandria, which was effected on the 24th of May; on which the Southern troops fell back to the Manassas Junction, General Bonham assuming the command of those from South Carolina.

Chapter III. Destruction Of The Fleet At Portsmouth

Proclamation of President Lincoln—Virginia the seat of War—General Lee commander-in-chief—Destruction of Harper's Ferry—LEstablishments at Portsmouth—Burning of the fleet.

On the 19th April, 1861, President Lincoln issued a procelamation, in which he declared all ports of the Southern States under blockade. Hostilities between the North and South had therefore regularly commenced ; troops were drawn together on both sides, and Virginia was generally acknowledged to be the chief seat of the war. It now became the endeavor of both parties to inflict as much damage as possible on each other ; and this frequently was carried out with such a spirit of Vandalism as to shock the civilized world. One of these acts was the destruction of the fleet at Portsmouth; and I will endeavor to describe this event in a few words. Immediately after the publication of President Lincoln’s proclamation, President Jefferson Davis appointed the quondam United States colonel of cavalry, Robert E. Lee, commander-in-chief of all the forces in Virginia. The troops of the United States army abandoned Harper’s Ferry, one of the most important manufactories of arms in America, on the 19th of April, after destroying the greater part of the buildings and machinery, and retreated to friendly territory. This destruction of property was, however, carried out so hurried-

DESTRUCTION OF SHIPS AT PORTSMOUTH. 43 ly, that a great many most valuable machines fell into the hands of the Confederate Government almost wholly intact, and they rendered very good service subsequently.

Great preparations were on the same day made at Richmond for the purpose of attacking the harbor of Portsmouth, whioh is situated at the estuary of the James river. The officers and Government officials of the harbor, who were pre-informed of this plan, lost no time in consummating their preparations for the destruction of this, the greatest military port of the United States. The officers in command, instead of endeavoring to hold these works for their Government, seemed to have become quite bewildered, and incapable of recognizing the great importance of their position; so in the face of the most favorable circumstances they condemned to the flames that fine military harbor, on which all the former Governments of the United States had spent millions of dollars in order to render it one of the first in America.

It was a grand and imposing spectacle to see the columns of flame ascending from the majestic ships at anchor in the port and in course of construction in the docks. Amongst the ships lying there were, the line-of-battle ship Pennsylvania, of 3,500 tons, carrying 131 guns (once the largest man-of-war in the world), the beautiful frigates Columbus and Delaware, and the subsequently so-dreaded Merrimac. The frigate Raritan and schooner Dolphin were consumed by the flames, and the docks, which had cost millions of dollars, were blown up. The signal for this general destruction was given at midnight; and in a few minutes these magnificent produc tions of the energy and genius of man were encircled by a girdle of flame; and a slight breeze which sprang up increased the conflagration rapidly. The naval workmen and the whole garrison were meanwhile busily employed in conveying valuables on board the two vessels, Pawnee and Cumberland, which were riding at anchor, and both vessels were laden to the very portholes. At four o’clock in the morning the tide turned, and a signal sent up by a rocket from the Pawnee announced to the men in the dockyard that the moment had arrived for consummating the work of destruction, and in a few minutes the dockyard was one blaze of flames—a truly grand but saddening spectacle. The crackling of the fire and rustling of the flames, the falling of the masts, the explosion of the ships doomed to destruction, the blowing up of the buildings, which had been undermined—in fact, the whole of this gigantic work of destruction—was a catastrophe on which I cannot look back, even now, after the time that has elapsed, without a shudder. It was one of those silly and cowardly acts of destruction which, while causing no harm to the enemy, crippled their own Government, and caused them irremediable loss. Had the commandant of this place, his officers, and the garrison of the naval dockyard of Portsmouth, understood how to preserve this valuable and important place to their Government and country, their names would have lived in history, and been gratefully recorded in the hearts of their countrymen. They might well have waited for the indulgence of this strange eagerness for destruction until the moment of attack, instead of forestalling that event by the premature sacrifice of the accumulated wealth of so noble a harbor. The military port and harbor of Portsmouth ceased to exist on the 20th of April, 1861, and the country around was lighted up for miles as the Pawnee and frigate Cumberland sailed down the bay, laden with the valuables saved from the fiery wreck, to seek shelter under the guns of Fortress Monroe.

BATTLE OF BETHEL. 45

Chapter IV. The Battle Of Bethel

Tue Southern troops, about 1,800 strong, had, under the command of General B. Magruder, constructed defensive works in the vicinity of the church of Bethel: which place is about nine miles distant from Hampton, where the enemy’s troops had established their camp. On the 9th of May, Major-General Butler, who commanded the Federal troops, sent forward a detachment of 4,000 men, who were to advance on Bethel in two separate columns, with the view, if possible, of driving away the enemy and destroying the defensive works which they had erected. “Che command was given to Colonel Pierce. The first column crossed the river a little below the Southern posts, whilst the second column effected a similar passage lower down. No opposition whatever was made to the landing of these troops; and while the first column was attacking the Confederate troops in flank, the second assailed them in front. A battery of Richmond mortars, under the personal command of Major Randolph (now Secretary of War) opposed the attack. On this day Major Randolph gave the first proofs of his undaunted courage, and gallantly maintained his post. In the meanwhile the Federal troops attacked with swch resolution that they succeeded in gaining possession of the first outwork without suffering much loss, and our soldiers were obliged to retreat in disorder, and with the loss of two pieces of artillery. This impetuous attack of the enemy somewhat dismayed our young and inexperienced soldiers, who were frightened, moreover, at the numbers of the attacking force, and not considering that a covered position has a threefold advantage, they rapidly abandoned that position, throwing themselves into the principal work, which lay to the rear.

The enemy took a firm footing in the stormed outposts; indeed, the Confederates were very near losing their whole line of fortified works, and the troops became so disheartened that the consequences would certainly have been most disastrous, had not General Magruder, with great presence of mind and calmness, ordered four companies of the Ist North Carolina regiment, under the command of Major Bridges, to retake the outwork at all hazards. This order was splendidly carried out by the four companies. They advanced with coolness and determination, in the face of a heavy fire of artillery, which assailed them from the front, and on arriving within sixty yards’ distance of the outwork, with loud hurrahs, they advanced at a run to the attack, and dislodged the Federal soldiers who held possession of it, with the greatest ease, causing them to retreat in the greatest disorder, leaving what they had but just before stormed in the hands of the Confederates. The enemy continued to keep up an uninterrupted fusilade, which, however, being directed in a most irregular manner, inflicted but little loss on the Confederate troops. Whilst we established ourselves again in the reconquered outwork, our batteries reopened their fire—not, however, with much effect, the enemy’s position being too well covered. His right flank leaned on a small, but dense wood, and his left was closed by some houses. A twelve-pounder battery responded to our own; it was, however, so well hidden by the wood and the houses, that we were only enabled to guess its position from its fire. The enemy’s battery sent forth a hail of projectiles at us from a distance of from five hundred to six hundred yards; but, fortunately for us, their practice was so bad that ra ee

BATTLE OF BETHEL. 47 the damage occasioned by this continual fire was inconsiderable. General Magruder at the same time ordered the commander of our batteries only to reply to the enemy’s fire with the utmost care, and when large masses of troops appeared in line of battle. A little after one o’clock a large column of the enemy was descried on the road from Hampton, hastening to reach a small bridge in our front. This column was under the command of Major Winthrop, the first adjutant of General Butler. Major Winthrop led his men on to the attack admirably, and they advanced boldly against our outposts, but were received with such a tremendous fire from the 1st North Carolina Infantry, that they were hurled back in complete disorder.

Our marksmen, who were under fire for the first time, occasioned us no small confusion. They were utterly wanting in self-confidence, and would inquire before each shot, “ May I fire? I think I can hit him,” &c. As the enemy was being _ repulsed, a ball struck Major Winthrop in the breast. He was one of the most meritorious officers of the United States army, and his gallantry earned for him the admiration of our officers and soldiers. Colonel Hill, commanding the Ist North Carolina regiment, paid a high tribute to the memory of this brave officer, in his report of the battle. Major Winthrop fell while vainly endeavoring, from a height, to rally his discemfited men. The United States lost in him a most excellent officer. During the hottest part of the fire, a small body of the enemy had ,ensconced themselves in a house to our left, and occasioned us much annoyance by their intermittent fire.

A company of volunteers was ordered to clear this house of its troublesome occupants, and to raze it to the ground. This work was performed with consummate coolness and energy. The volunteers boldly attacked the house, and dislodged the enemy, who availed themselves of every aperture to fire on them.

After a while the enemy ceased firing, and leaving their dead and wounded on the field, retreated in haste beyond range of our guns. The results of the battle of Bethel were of incalculable advantage to our troops, as it inspired them with great confidence in their own capabilities. Although our little army generally behaved well and gallantly in the face of an enemy double its strength on this day, yet the bearing of the 1st North Carolina regiment is especially worthy of praise, as it was the most exposed of all our corps to the fire © of the enemy’s artillery, and behaved with the greatest coolness and determination.

COLONEL PORTERFIELD. 49

*

SeArPrTIOR V.

COLONEL PORTERFIELD’S VOLUNTEERS.

Wuusrt the South was thus showing a front to the enemy in the Virginian Peninsula, and earning its respect, it met with a reverse in the West, which nearly obliged the Confederate Government to withdraw further south from Richmond.

Colonel Porterfield, commanding the Confederate forces at Philippi, received an order from General Lee, the commander-in-chief of the army in Virginia, to raise the volunteers to the strength of 5,000 men, and to act in concert with the officials of the Baltimore and Ohio railway.

General Lee had, however, quite misunderstood the character of Colonel Porterfield, who was one of that numerous class of heroes that discourse much and profess to execute all kinds of impossibilities, but are at a loss how to act in the first really serious encounter. Porterfield was truly a fine example of such heroes. He had no sooner arrived at the district in which he was to recruit, than he discovered that all the counties gyvere very favorably disposed to the Union. His first move therefore was, to ensconce himself in a comparatively safe nook, and instead of proceeding to act with energy and circumspection, he addressed a most wonderful letter to General Lee. In this letter poor Porterfield described himself as surrounded on all sides by thousands of enemies, and begged the General to send him a sufficient military force, that he might be enabled to proceed effectively with the organization of the volunteers. It was only after receiving reinforcements, that Colonel Porterfield actually commenced organizing his army. This beginning, however, showed but poor results, and the general reply which he received to his invitations to join the Confederacy was given in the negative by the people, coupled with the intimation that if they did want to fight they sould do so in defence of the Union. .

Colonel Porterfield strolled through the mountains of Virginia, like a minstrel of the olden time, exhorting the population to join the gallant army to which he belonged, and to follow the banner of the exalted Government of the Confederation. After resorting to numerous expedients, he succeeded. in gathering under his flag a wonderful assemblage of ragamuffins. In a short time his little army had increased to 200 infantry and 800 cavalry, and at Grafton he pitched his tents. As soon as the United States general was informed of the circumstance, he broke up his camp, and overcoming all diffculties, advanced straight against Porterfield’s force.

When informed of the enemy’s advance, Porterfield might have fallen back on Philippi, and he did actually order the destruction of the Cheat bridge. This order was, however, imperfectly carried out. Even his outposts were so carelessly placed, as to betray an utter ignorance of military tactics ; thus it befel that the enemy came upon him like a thunderbolt, when he and all his men indiscriminately took to their heels.

Throwing away their arms, all Porterfield’slevies fled for safety to the mountains, and the Colonel himself, who on this occasion displayed an activity of movement quite surprising, arrived at General Lee’s headquarters more dead than alive. The poor Colonel had positively nothing to say either for himself or for his men, further than to affirm that his little force had been attacked by overwhelming numbers, and that they had

COLONEL PORTERFIELD, : 51 fought like lions; that his army might be, for all he knew, cut to pieces. This was the sum total of the account he had to give of himself and his followers. The Colonel could not explain how he alone had managed to escape and reach headquarters. He was subsequently brought before a court martial at Richmond, but gave so clever an explanation of his conduct, that the members of that court, who, possibly from a fellow feeling for the accused, not only acquitted him of all blame, but also bestowed their praise upon him for his valorous conduct.

Chapter VI. M‘clellan’s Success At Rich Mountain

State of affairs in Western Virginia—The Confederate army under General Garnett—M‘Clellan’s plans—The ground in Virginia—Strength of the Southern army—Attack—General Rosecrans remains behind—Colonel Pegram—M‘Clellan’s indefatigable pursuit—Retreat—Surprise—The engagement at Carrick’s Ford—Colonel Tagliaferro—A mistake—General Garnett falls—Loss of artillery and baggage—Disorganized state of the Confederate army—M‘Clellan’s talents.

Wuutst the events just described were taking place in Winchester and Manassas, a great change had occurred at the theatre of war in Western Virginia. What under all circumstances may be considered as a large army of the Confederates, had been collected, and the command intrusted to General Garnett, who at Rich Mountain, Randolph County, North- Western Virginia, took up a position admirably adapted by nature, from whence he could without any anxiety watch the movements of General M‘Clellan, who was advancing on Beverley, and had not masked his intention to take up a position in General Garnett’s rear, so as to cut off his communications with General Lee. No military man in Europe can form any idea of the position and circumstances of this W estern campaign, unless he possesses an accurate knowledge of the terrain upon which the military movements took place. The whole of Western Virginia consists of barren, unproductive, mountainous tracts, intersected by strips of forest land. The roads and means of communication are of the