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| Capt. William Saxton, Co. C, 157th Regiment, New York Vols. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, June 27, 1903.
WAR REMINISCENCES.
By Captain Saxton of the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.
PREPARING FOR THE BATTLE.
Confederate General Jackson Sets Out to Flank the Union Army—Lee Keeps Hooker Busy at the Front Major—Carmichael Hears the Rebels Marching, but is Told He is New and Easily Frightened—Dispute Over an Important Order from General Hooker.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir—Saturday, May 2, 1863.—The Confederates followed up Gen. Slocum along the turnpike and plank road, on the afternoon previous, till they came to a road diverging south, leading to the old Catherine furnace, a mile and a half southeast from Chancellorsville. Here McLaw's and Anderson's divisions were stationed across the roads. Here Gen. Stonewall Jackson met Gen. Lee and they bivouacked for the night under the protecting foliage of some pine trees. Here they planned the move for the next day.
The reconnaissance along Hooker's front had shown them that he was pretty strongly posted on the east and south, and was protected by thick woods. Cavalry Gen. Stuart reported during the night that he had been around to the right of the Union army and found it defenseless. There were several men there who were thoroughly acquainted with the whole country and knew every road and by-path. Among these was a son of Melzi Chancellor, who lived at the Dowdall house where Gen. Howard had his headquarters.
Gen. Howard says when he started to follow up Slocum the day before, he forgot the members of his family and when he returned some of them were missing.
To Flank the Union Army.
It was decided that Gen. Jackson should take his corps, over 30,000 strong, make a detour to the south back out of sight of the Union army, march around Hooker's right flank and rear, hurl it bodily on Howard's unprotected Eleventh Corps and rush it, with the hopes of driving Hooker's whole army into the river.
The move commenced before daylight, on Saturday, May 2, the wagon trains moving on roads still farther south. Gen. Lee had with him not far from 15,000 men to keep up his show along the whole front. Could Hooker have known this condition of affairs, that would have been a good time to have crushed Lee or driven him off toward Richmond, but he did not know it.
Disposition of the Union Forces.
The morning of May 2, 1863, found the Union army posted about as follows: The Fifth Corps, (Mead's) occupied the left of the army facing east, its left resting on the Rappahannock, where that stream turns to the east from a bend south below U. S. ford, entrenched. Then came the Second Corps, Couch's facing east. This Corps extended south as far as the turnpike east of the Chancellor house, also entrenched. Next came Slocum's Twelfth Corp bending around to the west and facing south. Next, Birney's division of the Third, Sickles' Corps, facing southwest with entrenchments along the north side of Hazel Grove, connecting on the right with the Eleventh Corps. Hooker bad ordered Slocum to post Williams' first division at nearly right angles to the right of the rest of his Corps, forming an interior line facing west extending north to the pike. Here they erected strong log breastworks as a reserve back of Birney and Howard about midway between Chancellorsville and Dowall's.
The Eleventh Corps, (Howard's) consisted of three divisions of infantry and the necessary apportionment of artillery. The first division was commanded by Brig. Gen. Devans, later attorney-general in President Hayes' cabinet. He had two brigades, the first command by Col. Von Gilsa, the second by Brig. Gen. McLean. The second division was commanded by Brig, Gen. Steinwehr, who had two brigades. The first commanded by Col. Bushbeck, the second by Brig. Gen. Barlow. The third division (ours) was commanded by Major Gen. Carl Schurz. He had two brigades, the first (ours) commanded by Brig. Gen. Schimmelfennig, the second by Col. Krayanowski. The Eleventh Corps was posted on the right of the army mainly facing south. Steinwehr's second brigade (Barlow's) was in reserve north of Bushbeck's first brigade. Bushbeck's first brigade connected with Birney on the right and extended partially across the Dowdall farm; here it was joined by Schurz's third division. First came Capt. Dilger's Battery I, First Ohio, then the second brigade Krzyanowski's, half in front and half in reserve. Then came the first brigade, (ours) Schimmelfennig's, along the pike disposed in like manner, the right extending through the woods to the Talley farm, our regiment lying in reserve a quarter of a mile north, in the south edge of the clearing of Hawkins farm. Devan's division came next, McLean's second brigade joining Schimmelfennig's and Von Gilsa's first brigade joining McLean's. Von Gilsa had two regiments on the pike extending into the woods half a mile beyond Talley's. All of Howard's Eleventh Corps faced south except the two right regiments of Von Gilsa's brigade, they turned at right angles north and faced west. Von Gilsa's brigade occupied the extreme right of the Union army, and the One-Hundred and Fifty-fourth Pa., and the Fifty-fourth N. Y. regiments were the ones north of the pike and facing west, the Fifty-fourth N. Y. being the right regiment.
I have gone into detail in regard to the position of the Eleventh Corps at the risk of being tedious, for it was the principal actor in this day's tragedy.
A Historic Place.
This same locality, occupied by the right of our Corps, and to the south and west was made still farther historic, by the battle of the Wilderness, a year later fought between Generals Grant and Lee.
The shape of the Union line was something like a sickle, back being the front of the army, the handle being the Eleventh Corps. The length of the line was five or six miles. The Union position was surrounded by Jack oak thickets, except the openings, of which I have previously spoken. One at the north around the White house, another around the Chancellor house, that looking to the southwest called Fairview, southwest of Fairview on higher ground called Hazel grove, to tbe northwest of Hazel grove about a mile where the Eleventh Corps was posted is Dowdall's, connecting on the west with Talley's. The Union army had pickets well out to the front along the whole line south, and most of the roads had cavalry videttes. This was the situation at 8 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, May 2.
To Keep Hooker Busy.
Some Confederate cavalry in the woods in front of Mead on the left annoyed him somewhat. A battery opened sharply on Hancock's division of the Second Corps, also infantry and artillery on Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps.
This was part of Lee's plan to keep Hooker occupied.
Gen. Taylor, adjutant-general of the army of northern Virginia, says Jackson had 26,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, 1,600 artillery, a total of 33,600. Jackson had 102 pieces of artillery besides four pieces of Stuart's horse artillery.
Gen. Lee, a few days after the battle stated to the Confederate war department, that both Longstreet's and Jackson's Corps had 30,000 men and were too many for one man to handle and asked to have the two Corps divided into three, which was done.
Hooker Reconnoitres.
At daylight Gen. Hooker in order to become thoroughly familiar with his position and note for himself its defenses, accompanied by his staff and Gen. Sickles, rode around his whole line.
Gen. Howard says, "I joined the cavalcade at Dowdall's and Hooker noticed the breastworks unusually well built by Schurz and Devans and as he looked over the barricade, he said to me: "How Strong! How strong!"
I wish to say here, notwithstanding all the statements in history and Gen. Howard to the contrary notwithstanding, the One-Hundred and Fifty-seventh N. Y. did not throw up a single shovelful of dirt or place a stick or stone in the form of an entrenchment.
When we finally fell back by the side of the Eighty-second Ill., (Col. Hecker) there was what appeared to be a plowed furrow thrown up, and that was the only pretense of breastworks I saw except when we occupied those of the Fifth Corps next day.
Stonewall Jackson's marching columns were not hidden entirely from the Union army.
Major Carmichael was Vigilant.
Major Carmichael of our regiment, who had charge of part of the picket line, heard the sounds of wagon and artillery moving west past his front and in the morning reported the same to Gen. Howard, and was told: ''You are new troops more frightened than necessary."
The skirmishers in front of Gen. Green's brigade of Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps soon after daylight heard the enemy marching to the right on the road in front of them. They distinctly beard the officers giving commands and men talking as they marched along. Some of the skirmishers climbed trees and saw the column of the enemy moving west. This was immediately reported to headquarters. At 8 a. m. Gen. Birney reported to Sickles and he to Hooker, that a continuous force of the Confederates was marching along his front towards our right. The report was circulated, and believed that the Confederate army was in full retreat toward Gordonsville. Every private in our regiment knew it, and some of our boys went up on a knoll by the plank road to see if they could get a glimpse of the retreating Johnnies.
Gen. Hooker’s Orders.
Gen. Hooker, after returning from his inspection of the lines, immediately issued the following order:
"Headquarters Army of tbe Potomac, Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 1863, 9:30 a. m. Circular.
"Major Generals Slocum and Howard: I am directed by the major-general commanding to say that the disposition you have made of your Corps has been with a view to a front attack by the enemy. If he should throw himself upon your flank, he wishes you to examine the ground and determine upon the position you will take in that event, in order that you may be prepared for him in whatever direction he advances. He suggests that you have heavy reserves well in hand to meet this contingency. The right of your line does not appear to be strong enough. No artificial defenses worth naming have been thrown up, and there appears to be a scarcity of troops at that point, and not, in the general’s opinion, as favorably posted as might be. We have good reason to suppose that the enemy is moving to our right. Please advance your pickets for purpose of observation as far as may be safe in order to obtain timely information of their approach."
"I. H. Van Allen, Brig-Gen. and Aide-de-Camp."
Gen. Howard’s Observations.
Gen. Howard writes as follows:
"Headquarters Eleventh Corps, May 2, 10 minutes to 11 o'clock, (10:50 a. m.)
"Major-Gen. Hooker, Commanding Army—General: From Gen. Devan's headquarters we can observe a column of infantry moving westward on a road parallel with this on a ridge about one and a half to two miles south of this. I am taking measure to resist an attack from the west.
"Respectfully, O. O. Howard, Major-Gen."
Gen. Howard in his Century Magazine article "Jackson's Attack Upon the Eleventh Corps" says: "Gen. Hooker's circular order to Slocum and Howard neither reached me nor, to my knowledge, Col. Meyenburg, my adjutant-general."
Gen. Schurz’s Testimony.
Gen. Carl Schurz writes to Gen. Hooker on the 22d of April, 1876, from New York City in answer to Hooker's letter of inquiry to him: "About noon or a little after on the day of the attack of the Eleventh Corps, I was at Gen. Howard's headquarters, a house on the Chancellorsville road near the center of our position. Gen. Howard, being very tired wanted to rest a little, and asked me as next in rank to open dispatches that might arrive and to wake him in case they were of immediate importance. Shortly after a courier arrived with the dispatch from yon calling Gen. Howard's attention to the movement of the enemy toward our right rank, and instructing him to take precautionary measures against an attack from that quarter, I went to Gen. Howard at once and read it to him, and if I remember rightly, while we were speaking about it, another courier, or one of your young staff officers, arrived with a second dispatch of virtually the same purport. We went out and discussed the matter on the porch of the house."
Letter from H. M. Kellogg.
I have a copy of a letter in my possession from Comrade H. M. Kellogg of Cortland, N. Y., with whom I am slightly acquainted, and can bear testimony that he is an honorable, truthful and respected business man of that city. He formerly belonged to Co. G, Fifty-fifth Ohio of Gen. McLean's brigade. He had been detailed at Howard's headquarters and had sole charge of all records, letters, orders, etc. He says:
"T. A. Meysenburg, Gen. Howard's A. A. G., came to me after the battle of Chancellorsville and we had returned to Brook's station, and told me as soon as I could write up the record books and file properly the orders and letters received of that campaign, to make an exact copy of the whole Chancellorsville matter ready for his signature, to make them official, and that they would probably be wanted at Washington. I finished my records and when I came to the dates of May 2 and 3, there was no such order on file or in my possession. Although I had always been a great admirer of Gen. Hooker, I had to admit that he had been caught napping and knew nothing of Jackson's movement and made no preparation to meet him; that he had been outgeneraled and surprised in broad daylight.
"I made an official copy of the papers ready for use and turned them over to Col. Meysenburg, A. A. G., so that if an investigation was had they were ready for use."
In June we started again and marched via Catletts, Centerville, Goose creek, Edward's ferry, Jefferson, Middletown, reaching Frederick, Md., June 28, at dusk. That night Hooker was relieved of his command, and he left us. We marched at daylight for Emmettsburg, 30 miles, reaching there that night. June 30, we lay quiet and I did some work on the records. On the day before the battle of Gettysburg began, while in the tent, Col. Mysenburg walked in, came to me and handed me a paper, saying "There is a very important paper relating to the Chancellorsville campaign; file it among those papers in its proper place and record it now, giving it its proper date. Of course you cannot enter it in the records in its proper place of May 2 because the pages are full, but enter it among the June accounts of this campaign."
The paper was folded and worn at the edges as if it had been carried in the vest pocket or in a diary. When I opened the paper I was struck almost dumb with astonishment as I read this 9:30 a. m. order of Gen. Hooker's, word for word. I made up my mind there was trickery, devilish, detestable trickery going on. Hooker had been gone only 48 hours. Where had this order been? Who was the coward that carried it in his pocket and kept it from its proper place in the files for two months? I wrote an extra copy for myself, which I have now. The order is not in the files at Washington."
What can Gen. Howard say to the above letter of Comrade Kellogg of Cortland, N. Y.? Or what can he say to Gen. Schurz's letter, in which he positively states that he (Schurz) read it to him (Howard?) Does he mean to quibble out of it, and because Schurz received it and opened it while he took a nap, (but read it to him) that it did not come into his (Howard's) personal hands? Again, how long a nap do you suppose Stonewall Jackson was taking at this hour?
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