Chapter IV: Part 4

According to orders, Gen. Butler moved his main force up the James River, and succeeded in taking Petersburg and destroying the railroad, but, failing to fortify his position, he was attacked in a fog by Beauregard and driven back; his army, therefore, though in a position of great security, was as completely shut off from further operations against Richmond as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked, and it required but a small force of the enemy to hold it there. The army having been sent to operate against Richmond was now lying at Bermuda Hundred, without power to do anything. Butler had thus far proved himself a military governor, but when it came to taking an army in the field he was not competent; but had General Sheridan been placed in command, Richmond would have fallen and the war ended sooner, thereby saving thousands of lives; but those scenes are past, and errors that are now seen if known at the time could have been avoided. The enemy were now enabled to bring the most, if not all, of the re-enforcements brought from the South by Beauregard, against the army of the Potomac, and in addition to this a very considerable force was brought in, not less than 15,000 men, by calling in the scattered troops under Breckinridge from the western part of Virginia. The position at Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was difficult to operate against the enemy. Grant therefore determined to bring from it all available forces, leaving only enough to secure what had been gained, and accordingly on the 22d, the 18th army corps, under command of Major General W. F. Smith, joined the army of the Potomac. On the 24th of May the 9th corps, which had been a temporary command, was assigned to the army of the Potomac, and from that time forward constituted a portion of General Meade's command. Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than any of his previous ones, Grant ordered another flank movement on the night of the 26th to the north bank of the North Anna river, and moved via Hanovertown, to turn the enemy's position by his right, starting at dark and re-crossing at Jerico's Ford, marching seven miles and then halting in the morning at Chesterfield's Station to issue rations. Thus far our regiment had taken an active part in the campaign, losing a great many men. Leaving Chesterfield at seven o'clock, we marched during the day twenty miles, passing Concord Church and Bowersville. Generals Torbert and Merritts' divisions of the cavalry, and the 6th corps were in advance, crossing the Pamunkey river at Hanovertown after considerable fighting, and on the 28th the two divisions of cavalry had a severe but successful engagement with the enemy near the river. On the 29th and 30th the troops advanced with heavy skirmishing to the Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and developed the enemy's position north of the Chickahominy. Late on the evening of the 31st the enemy came out and attacked our left, but were repulsed with considerable loss. An attack was immediately ordered by General Meade along the entire line, which resulted in driving the enemy from a part of his entrenched skirmish line. The 14th was on the skirmish line during the afternoon, and lost several in killed and wounded. Orderly Black of Co. I was shot in the heart and instantly killed; Col. Truex was slightly wounded in the hand, but remained on duty during the time; he was a brave officer and a fighting man, always at the head of his men when they were in action.

On the 31st General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the railroad bridges over the North Anna river, and defeated the enemy's cavalry. General Sheridan on the same day reached Cold Harbor Road, and held it until relieved by the 6th corps and General Smith's command, which had just arrived via White House, from General Butler's army.

Grant had thus far failed to exterminate Lee, but, confident of success, he determined, using his own expression, to fight it out on this line if it took all summer. The 6th corps had thus far suffered severely in those terrible battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, losing over 10,000 men; but there was yet more to be done, as Lee was merely acting on the defensive, choosing his own position. On the morning of June 1st, 1864, the army was again ordered to move, the 6th corps in advance, starting at two o'clock a. m., and marching fifteen miles, relieving the cavalry at Cold Harbor; the roads were very dusty and the sun very warm; a heavy line of battle was formed during the afternoon; again the enemy were ahead of us and were strongly entrenched awaiting our approach; the cavalry had discovered their position and awaited our arrival. An attack was made at five o'clock, forming in four lines of battle, the 3d division being ahead, and the 14th New Jersey in the front line. A terrible battle was fought which lasted long after dark; the losses were very heavy on both sides; the 14th suffered severely, losing in the fight, in the short space of two hours, two hundred and forty in killed and wounded; Lieutenant Stults, of Co. H, and Lieutenant Tingley, of Co. E, were killed. Our men were compelled to fall back a short distance, entrenching during the night and building three lines of works. Firing continued during the night; a great many wounded had fallen between the lines unable to move, and lay all night under fire from both sides. Robert Perrine, of Co. K, being wounded in the hip fell in a ravine, being unable to move; he was struck eight times while lying there and mortally wounded; he was brought in next morning, and died at the White House. The Colonel of the 106th New York was also killed, his body lay but a short distance off from our lines, but the firing being so heavy it was impossible to get to him. The other corps having been held in readiness now came up and formed under a heavy fire, the 9th corps on the extreme left, the 5th on the right, and the 2d, 6th and 18th in the centre. We were now but twelve miles from Richmond, and had, at an immense loss of life, succeeded in driving Lee steadily back from Mine Run. The dust and heat were almost intolerable and flies and lice were in abundance. The men were compelled to lie close, as skirmishing was continued day and night. During the attack the enemy made repeated assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack, but were repulsed with heavy losses in every instance. The 2d of June was spent in getting troops into position for an attack on the 3d, when the enemy's works were again assaulted in hopes of driving them from their position; in the attempt our loss was heavy, the 14th again suffering severely. Both armies were very much weakened by repeated losses, the enemy acting only on the defensive. Over 350 men had been lost from the 14th since crossing the Rapidan, but one short month before, and more were yet to be lost ere the rebellion would be crushed. The troops remained in line at Cold Harbor twelve days, and forts were built, heavy lines of works erected, and a regular siege commenced. Firing was kept up by the pickets and sharpshooters day and night, the men lying close when not on duty; many were shot while going after water and cooking. There was no place to wash and the weather was intensely hot; officers and men were covered with lice, huddled together as they were behind the works. Those twelve days were days that never will be forgotten; the sufferings of the men can never be told; it was death to stand up, as the bullets were continually flying through the air.

On the night of the 9th the enemy made an attack along the line, hoping to surprise our men, but they were handsomely repulsed by the 2d corps, driving them back from their first line of works. On the afternoon of the 6th a flag of truce was sent in by Lee requesting a suspension of hostilities for two hours, for the purpose of burying the dead between the lines; it was granted by General Meade, the pioneers were sent out and the wounded brought in, the dead being buried where they lay. But a few moments before both armies were engaged in hostile combat, now all was as still as death, the men talking with each other and exchanging papers, the Yankees trading sugar and coffee for tobacco; the works were lined with unarmed men, all gazing upon the solemn scene. The two hours soon passed, the signal was given, the men rushed back to their arms, and the rattle of musketry was again commenced along the line, Lieut. Tingly's body was recovered, but the body of Lieut Stults could not be found. The brigade was still commanded by Colonel Truex, the regiment by Lieut. Colonel Hall. The men were weary of the campaign, but there was no rest, it being Grant's determination to take Richmond. From the proximity of the enemy to their defences around Richmond it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between them and the city. The army was still in a condition to either move by Lee's left flank and invest Richmond from the north side, or continue the move by his right flank to the south side of the James. Grant's plan from the start was to defeat Lee north of Richmond, if possible; then after destroying his lines of communication north of the James River, transport the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat. After the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that Lee deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army he then had, and acted fully on the defensive behind his works, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and in case of repulse could easily retire behind them. Without a greater sacrifice of life than Grant was willing to make, all could not be accomplished that he had desired north of Richmond; he therefore determined to hold the ground we then occupied, taking advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville or Gordonsville to break the enemy's communications between Richmond and the southwest, and to cut off their supplies, compelling them in time to evacuate Richmond; when the cavalry got well off so that the enemy's cavalry would follow, to move the whole army south of the James by the enemy's right flank, and, if possible, cut off all supplies from all sources except by the canal.

On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry were sent under General Sheridan against the Virginia Central Railroad, to join with Hunter, who was then moving up the Shenandoah Valley. Seigel had met the enemy and was defeated by them with heavy loss, and was superseded by General Hunter. Thus far the work of the three armies had been but one-half accomplished. From the start, Butler was to take Richmond and Petersburg; Siegel to move on Lynchburg, and the Potomac army to whip Lee. Butler and Siegel had both failed, and the Potomac Army, that had never yet failed, had thus far accomplished all that was desired of it, and was left to finish what the other armies could not do. When Sheridan started for Lynchburg he was instructed to again join the Potomac army, choosing his own route in returning, after fulfilling his instructions.

Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, General Smith's command, the 18th army corps was sent back to Bermuda Hundred via White House, to reach there in advance of the army of the Potomac. This was for the express purpose of capturing Petersburg, if possible, before the enemy became aware of our intentions and re-enforce the place. The 1st New Jersey regiment, whose term of office had now expired, were relieved from the front and sent home; they bade their comrades good-bye with happy hearts, soon to meet their loved ones at home. For three long years they had battled for their country, and their thinned ranks showed that they had suffered severely. The 14th had still fifteen months to serve, the hardest yet to come.

Finding that nothing more could be accomplished at Cold Harbor, the movement to the south side of the James commenced. After dark, on the night of the 12th, one division of cavalry under General Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossing of the other corps. The advance Corps reached James River at Charles City Court House on the night of June 13th; the 6th corps was left to guard the rear and the trains; marching on the night of the 12th twenty miles, halting thirty-two miles from Richmond; on the morning of the 14th marched eight miles to Charles City Court House, halting at noon near the river and pitching tents; guarding the rear until the trains passed; a pontoon bridge was laid, the troops crossing at Wyandott's Landing. The 3d division, the rear of the entire army, remaining on the banks of the James three days, until the trains had all passed. The army had now joined with Butler and moved on Richmond. After the army had crossed, the pontoons were taken up, and the 3d division placed on transports, and after sailing 25 miles--a splendid moonlight night--we landed at Bermuda Hundred at three o'clock the next morning. The James is a splendid River. One year ago the 14th was on the cars riding to Harper's Ferry; now in the vicinity of Petersburg. After landing the division marched eight miles, halting at five o'clock near Butler's headquarters for breakfast; cannonading and musketry at the front; the army was now in position, having failed to capture Petersburg, were investing the place.

During three years the armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia had been confronting each other. In that time they had fought more desperate battles than it had ever fell to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing the vantage ground of either. The southern press and people, with more shrewdness than was displayed in the north, finding that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New York, as they had boasted they would do, assured that they only defended their capital and southern territory; hence Antietam, Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were by them set down as failures on our part and victories for them. Their armies believed this, and it produced a morale which could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard fighting. The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled them as to make them wary ever after of taking the offensive. Their losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking party, and when they did attack it was in the open field. The details of those battles, which for endurance and bravery on the part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are too fresh in the minds of every one to be repeated again. During the campaign of forty-three days from the Rapidan to James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting base by wagons, over narrow roads and through a densely wooded country, with a lack of wharves at each new base at which to conveniently discharge vessels. Too much credit cannot therefore be given to our chief quartermaster, as the trains were made to occupy all the available roads between the army and our water course, and but little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.

Before proceeding farther, it will be necessary to explain as briefly as possible why Petersburg was not taken. As soon as the crossing of the army commenced, Grant proceeded by steamer immediately to Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the capture of the place. The instructions to Butler were to send to General Smith immediately that night all the troops he could give him, without sacrificing the position he held. After remaining with Butler a few hours, he returned immediately to the Potomac Army to hasten the crossing, and throw it forward to Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as possible. We could thus re-enforce our army more rapidly there than the enemy could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg before daylight the next morning, but for some reason did not get ready to assault their lines until near sundown; then, with a part of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the first line for a distance of two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about seven P. M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there was another line, and there was yet no evidence that the enemy had re-enforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night was clear, the moon shining brightly, and favorable to further operations. General Hancock, with two divisions of the 2d corps, reached General Smith soon after dark, but instead of taking those troops, and pushing at once into Petersburg, he lay quiet until morning, when the enemy under Beauregard came down from Richmond in force, and by the next morning the inner line of the works was fully manned by rebel troops. An attack was ordered the next morning, but failed, as the enemy were too strongly posted. The troops commenced entrenching, and a strong line of works was built around Petersburg.

The 5th and 9th corps had now arrived, and the attack was again renewed and persisted in with great fury, but only resulted in forcing the enemy to an interior line of works, from which they could not be dislodged; but the advantage gained in position by us was very great. The army then proceeded to envelope Petersburg towards the south side road as far as possible, without attacking their fortifications. The enemy, to re-enforce Petersburg, withdrew from a part of their entrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred. Butler, taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond. The 3d division was ordered to support Butler, if necessary, and was then lying in front awaiting orders. About two o'clock Butler was forced back, the enemy re-occupying their old line. As our division was not needed, we were ordered to join the balance of the corps that had preceded us.

On Sunday afternoon, June 19th, orders were issued. Accordingly at two o'clock the division started, marching ten miles and crossing the Appomattox River on pontoons. The evening was splendid; the boats sailing on the river all reminded us of home. The negro troops were guarding the bridge, their bands playing national airs as the columns passed. At 11 o'clock the division halted near Petersburg, in full view of the city. The next day a negro was hung in presence of the army, for abusing a white lady. We remained in line the next day, the enemy shelling the train.

On the afternoon of the 21st, the corps was ordered to move and take position on the left, the 3d division in advance; passed the 2d and 9th corps, marching six miles, and forming in line of battle to cut the enemy's communications, crossing the Norfolk railroad that had been taken possession of by General Smith, in the attempt to take Petersburg; lay in line of battle during the night, and advancing the next day, building works. The Weldon railroad was reached and torn up some distance. During the afternoon the enemy appeared in force, and succeeded in flanking us, capturing several from the division; about forty from the 14th were captured and several killed. At night the troops fell back, after destroying three miles of road. The headquarters of the 3d division was at the house of Brig.-General Williams, of the rebel army. A new line of works was soon erected, the men sleeping on their arms. The house of General Williams had been ransacked from top to bottom by the soldiers, carpets torn up and everything destroyed. A splendid piano was left in the house, and as several of the men could play, dancing and singing were kept up in a rude style for several hours.

On the 22d, General Wilson, with two divisions of cavalry from the army of the Potomac, and one division from the army of the James, moved against the enemy's railroads south of the James and southwest of Richmond, striking the Weldon railroad at Reams' Station, where he met and defeated a force of the enemy's cavalry, reaching Burksville Station on the afternoon of the 23d; and from there he destroyed the Danville railroad for a distance of twenty-five miles, where he found the enemy in position and was defeated with small loss. He then commenced his return march, and on the 28th met the enemy again in force on the Weldon Railroad, near Stony Creek; moving on the left, with a view of reaching Reams' Station, supposing it to be in our possession. Here he again engaged the enemy's cavalry supported by infantry, and was cut off with all communication, with the loss of his artillery and train. A Lieutenant and a few of his men cut their way through, and succeeded in reaching headquarters. Informing General Meade of the situation of General Wilson, orders were immediately issued to General Wright to take the 6th corps and move out to the support of Wilson; starting at three o'clock on the afternoon of July 29th, marched eight miles and halted for the night near Reams' Station, the enemy retiring, as their force was insufficient to cope with the cavalry and 6th corps.

Wilson was now extricated from his perilous position, and with the 6th corps remained at Reams' Station three days. The 14th New Jersey and 106th New York were detailed to destroy the railroad. General Wilson, with the remainder of his force, crossed the Nattoway River, coming in safely on our left and rear. The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than compensated for the losses sustained; it severed all connection with Richmond for several weeks. On the 13th of July the regiment was mustered in for the thirteenth time, for four months' pay, March, April, May and June, by Lieutenant-Colonel Hall. Our lines now extended a distance of over thirty miles, from Reams' Station to the Appomattox; the Potomac army lay behind extensive works that had been erected under fire. In the recent campaign our losses had been heavy, but still the army was large, as recruits and convalescents were continually arriving. Butler's army extended from the Appomattox to Deep Bottom, with cavalry on the flank and rear. It has been estimated that Grant lost from the Rapidan to Petersburg, eighty thousand men in killed and wounded. The losses of the enemy were not so great, as they were acting on the defensive behind their works.

It was supposed the enemy would make a grand attack on the morning of the 4th of July, and preparations were made to meet them. The morning dawned and the troops were all in line behind their works; the enemy's communications were in danger, and the Potomac army must be driven back; the morning passed and not a shot was fired along the entire line. It was now evident that the enemy did not intend attacking, and the troops laid aside their arms. The weather was warm and the sand dry and hot. The men laid off in their shelter tents thinking of former days, when the 4th was spent in a different manner. At noon General Butler, for the purpose of firing a salute, trained and shotted one hundred guns upon Petersburg, and the shells were soon flying through the air; the enemy replied, and a lively cannonade was kept up until sunset.

General Hunter having been placed in command of the armies of Western Virginia, immediately took up the offensive, and moved up the Shenandoah Valley, where he met the enemy, routed and defeated them, and moved direct on Lynchburg, which place he reached on June 15th. Up to this time he was very successful, and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march through a hostile country, he would no doubt have captured that important place. To meet this movement under Gen. Hunter, General Lee sent a force equal to a corps, a part of which reached Lynchburg before Hunter. After considerable skirmishing, Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give battle, retired back from the place, and moved back by the way of the Kanawha Valley; this lost to us the use of his troops for several weeks. Immediately upon the enemy ascertaining that Hunter was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raids into Maryland and Pennsylvania, he moved down that Valley. It was at first supposed to be only a small force of the enemy, and General Wallace, with a brigade of one hundred days' men and detachments from the Invalid corps, was sent to Monocacy Bridge. Their advance, consisting of a few guerillas under the notorious Harry Gillmore, were met and driven back. The troops in the Potomac army were all lying in front of Petersburg, under fire day and night, preparing to besiege the place.

At two o'clock on the morning of July 6th the bugle sounded, and the troops were ordered to fall in and prepare to move, the 3d division being ordered to Harper's Ferry; the men were glad to go, as they were tired of lying in the sand. At four o'clock the division started, and marched fifteen miles to City Point, the dust and sand so thick that nothing could be seen, the men being completely covered and no water could be had; this march was very tiresome to the men, numbers falling out on the way. City Point was reached at noon, and the men were placed on transports, and new clothing was issued. The 14th Regiment and 151st New York were placed on a splendid steamboat called the Sylvan Shore, the men enjoying the sail very much, a distance of three hundred miles, passing Fortress Monroe, Point Lookout, and the Rip Raps. The scenery along the river was grand; they landed at Locust Point near Baltimore on the morning of the 8th, at five o'clock. Rumors were now in circulation, and the people of the North were alarmed for the safety of our National Capitol, for instead of a few guerillas as was first supposed, it was a grand raid of the enemy in force on an extensive scale. So silently and secretly had this movement been conducted, that none were aware of the magnitude of the invasion. Major General Jubal Early, with a force of thirty thousand veteran troops, had taken possession of Martinsburg. General Seigel, who was in command of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac to Shepardstown, and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry, crossed the river and occupied Maryland Heights. On the 6th the enemy occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column toward Frederick City.

The 3d division, under General Ricketts, numbering but five thousand men, were placed immediately on baggage cars and forwarded to Monocacy, the first train carrying the 87th Pennsylvanian and 14th New Jersey. The enemy were now in force at Frederick City. The Baltimore American was issued that day with the following address to the public: "That Ricketts' division had arrived from the Potomac army; that the 14th New Jersey and 87th Pennsylvania had reached Monocacy, and with such veteran regiments as these nothing more need be feared" from the then supposed guerillas. The remainder of the division was forwarded as rapidly as possible, reporting to Gen. Wallace, then in chief command. Fourteen months had elapsed since the 14th regiment had left Monocacy Bridge, but the place looked natural; none dreamed that on the morrow a terrible battle would be fought on the old camping ground; grass and weeds had grown in abundance, and scarcely a vestige of the former camp could be seen. The regiment with the troops that lay there, marched up to Frederick City, and then around a circuit of ten miles, but nothing of the enemy could be seen, and halting at ten o'clock, near the bridge, in line of battle.

Saturday, July 19th, 1834, will long be remembered by the Jersey boys. The remainder of the division with General Ricketts and staff had arrived, and orders were issued to form the men in line and prepare to repel an attack, as it was now discovered that instead of a small force it was a corps of rebels thirty thousand strong. To retreat would only result in the capture of Washington and Baltimore, and it was determined by Generals Wallace and Ricketts to hold Monocacy Bridge at all hazards, and to retard the advance of the enemy as much as possible until re-enforcements would arrive. Just one year had passed since the 14th joined the Potomac army, and during that time we lost a great number of men.

At 9 o'clock the enemy's advanced skirmishers made their appearance; our skirmishers had crossed the river, and advanced with promptness to meet them. After a short time it was found impossible to withstand the enemy, as they out-numbered us six to one. Our skirmishers were driven back across the river, and the battle began, the enemy opening with several pieces of artillery; the battle raged terribly for eight long hours. The enemy crossed the river, driving our men steadily back, and coming up in four lines of battle thirty thousand strong. Our little band of five thousand men fought as if everything depended upon the issue, several times driving the enemy back, strewing the ground with rebel dead, and not until flanked right and left did the men fall back. The boys from the 14th fought nobly, but with regret saw that they must retreat. The regiment being on the extreme left of the line suffered severely; Lieut.-Col. Hall, Adjutant Buckalew and several officers were wounded; Captains Stullts, Kanine and Conover were killed, and every officer, both field and line, was either killed or wounded except Captain J. J. Janeway of Co. K. The command of the regiment devolved upon him, and he fought bravely, leading the men on. The one hundred days' men would not fight, but ran in all directions panic-struck, some of them reaching Baltimore, fifty-eight miles distant, without halting.

Eight long hours had passed, the enemy were pressing on all sides, and it soon became evident that unless we retreated all would be lost. At four o'clock the order was given to fall back, which was done in order, the men disputing every inch of the ground; we had but four pieces of artillery, and that without ammunition. The enemy poured grape and cannister into our retreating columns, mowing down the men like grass. More than one-half of the division were killed and wounded; several hid in the woods and were captured next day. It was now every man for himself; knapsacks, haversacks, and even canteens were thrown away. The main force of the enemy moved on the Georgetown Pike to Washington, the cavalry and a portion of the infantry following the retreating column as far as New Market, six miles distance. It was a hard fought battle, but what could five thousand men do against thirty thousand? Capt. Harris, from Co. C, was twice wounded, and was again struck while being helped to an ambulance; several staff officers were also wounded, among them Capt. King, adjutant general of the division. Capt. Janeway was wounded in the shoulder shortly after taking command, and was forced to leave; the regiment was now without a commander. Several recruits had arrived after the battle of Cold Harbor, and the regiment was partly filled, entering the fight with three hundred and fifty men; but ninety-five came out, two hundred and fifty-five being killed, wounded and captured in that terrible battle. Of the nine hundred and fifty men that left New Jersey, but ninety-five were left for duty, on the night of July 9th, without an officer to command them. The other regiments suffered greatly, but none of them losing as many men as the 14th. The news had reached Baltimore and Washington that the enemy were pressing on and preparations were made for an immediate defence, the citizens turning out in vast numbers entrenching. The cities were proclaimed under martial law and none allowed to leave. Time and again had the 14th regiment drilled battalion and skirmish drills over the same hills, little thinking that a terrible battle would be fought, and that the regiment would suffer as it did. Although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, it detained the enemy, and thereby served to enable Gen. Wright to reach Washington with the two remaining divisions of the 6th corps, which had been sent as soon as Gen. Grant was aware of the enemy's movement.

The 19th army corps from General Banks' command had been sent to reinforce the Potomac army, but were immediately sent north with the 6th army corps, together with the 8th army corps that had lain along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad as guards. In a few hours a large army had assembled at Washington, with the citizens of the place and every foot of ground guarded; every avenue bristling with cannon. It was three days march for the enemy from Moncacy and in that time Washington was in a state of defence; all the forts were manned and the heavy guns loaded and shotted. Citizens were armed and formed in companies, all work being suspended. The remnant of the division reached the Baltimore pike, retreating rapidly toward Baltimore, marching all night, passing through New Market, Mount Airy and several small villages along the route; reaching Ellicott's Mills on Sunday afternoon, having marched fifty-five miles without resting. Harry Gillmore, with two hundred rebel cavalry, had advanced as far as the railroad, destroying it between Baltimore and Washington, capturing a train of cars and a mail and severing all communication for two days; there was no Union cavalry near and they did as they pleased. Frederick City was filled with rebel wounded, as our boys had made every shot tell; if the first line was missed they were sure to hit one of the rear lines. Two hundred thousand dollars was demanded from the citizens, or the place would be laid in ashes; the amount was paid by the banks; the city was pillaged and the houses robbed. From Monocacy, the enemy having moved on Washington, reached Rockville on the evening of the 10th.

The 1st and 2d divisions of the 6th corps had been sent from City Point and landed at Washington, and on a double quick proceeded to Fort Stephens; by this time the enemy had reached there. Skirmishers from both armies were immediately thrown out; the enemy, with dismay, saw that instead of one hundred days' men and men from the Invalid corps, they saw the red and white cross of the old 6th corps; they had laid in front of Washington during the afternoon, intending to attack at night; during that time the 6th and 19th corps had reached there, and Washington was out of danger. The 3d division deserves all the praise for saving the National Capital; holding them in check so long at Monocacy, enabled other troops to arrive, but not a moment too soon. A severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred in killed and wounded; the enemy's loss supposed to be greater. All was anxiety in the city, as the fighting was but three miles distant, near Tennelly Town, but when the veterans from the Potomac army arrived they were loudly cheered, and were treated well. President Lincoln and members of the Cabinet were present in Fort Stephens, witnessing the fight; the skirmish lasted two hours, in which the enemy were defeated and driven back; Washington almost within their grasp, was no longer in their power. Vain delusion! Had the 3d division retreated from Monocacy without fighting, the enemy would have reached there twelve hours sooner, and the place would have been taken and hundreds of men lost their lives. Every drop of blood shed at Monocacy, every life lost, was sacrificed in a noble cause. Those fallen heroes, whose bones lie bleaching there, if they could only know that their lives saved our National Capital from destruction, would willingly exclaim, "I die content, I gave my life for my country."

The division remained at Ellicott's Mills until Monday afternoon, stragglers coming in every few hours in squads; the men were placed on baggage cars for Baltimore, sixteen miles distant, arriving there at dark, lying near the track until morning; then marching two miles to Druid Hill Park, near the outskirts of the city. This park was fitted up at a great expense and was a beautiful place, the citizens were very unwilling that the troops should encamp there, but General Ricketts promising that nothing would be disturbed, consent was given, the men encamping in regimental order; tents on a line and orders given not to molest a thing, which was done. The rolls of the different regiments were called; but one thousand three hundred men reported for duty of the five thousand men embarked from Petersburg; three thousand seven hundred had been killed, wounded and captured at Monocacy Bridge; an equal number of the enemy were slain as they advanced in four lines, and a bullet was sure to hit one. General Ricketts reported the division unfit for duty; the men had lost their blankets and all their clothing, keeping nothing but their guns. General Early finding that re-enforcements had arrived retreated from Washington and was pursued by the two divisions of the 6th corps, and the 8th and 19th corps on the afternoon of the 14th. The division was ordered to join in the pursuit; being placed in baggage cars for Washington, forty miles distant, reaching the suburbs of the city at night, encamping until morning. The next day marching through the city and through Georgetown, halting in the afternoon near Tennelly Town; rations were issued and cattle furnished for a tramp; moving again, marching in all eighteen miles; halting at night near Cross Roads twelve miles from Washington.

Learning the exact condition of affairs at Washington, General Grant telegraphed the assignment of Major General Wright to the command of all the troops that could be available to operate in the field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside of the trenches with all the force he could and push Early to the last moment. On the 16th the division started early, marching twenty-five miles; crossing the Potomac at Edwards Ferry, wading it, nearly one mile wide and waist deep. While the remnant of the Potomac army was lying in their camps at Petersburg, the 6th corps was marching in the hottest of weather from fifteen to twenty-five and even thirty miles per day, moving up and down the Shenandoah Valley until a decisive battle was fought at Winchester, resulting in defeat to the enemy and victory to us. On Sunday, the 17th, but eight miles were made; the column halting near Leesburg; the 3d division joining the corps as they had halted for us to come up, and now began the hardest marching, unparalleled in history. The 6th corps having the name of marching farther than any corps in the army and were called Wright's walkers, for their rapidity in marching; horses and mules fell lifeless along the road and were speedily replaced by others, but the men that fell never to rise again could not be replaced. The ambulances were full, and every baggage wagon with those that could not walk. The army now numbered over forty thousand men, all under command of Major General Wright, and was called the middle military division, composed of the 6th, 8th and 19th army corps, with sixty pieces of artillery.

The 6th corps was temporarily commanded by Gen. Ricketts, the 8th by Gen. Kelly and the 19th by Gen. Emory. The rebel army confronting us were thirty-five thousand strong, commanded by Gen. Jubal Early, and formed in five divisions, commanded by Gens. Rhodes, Ramsen, Wharton, Pegram and Gordon, with the notorious guerillas, Imboden, Jones and Harry Gillmore, the latter from Baltimore, together with Mosby, ever hovering in our rear and on our flank, and knowing every foot of the ground. These for a time were more than a match for our gallant little army, as every house our army passed contained persons that would not hesitate to inform the enemy of our movements, and who were in league with those guerilla bands. The troops were all now together, and were encamped near Leesburg, until three o'clock on the morning of the 18th, when the troops were routed out, drawing three days' rations, with orders to move. Marching out on the Georgetown pike, passing a place called Hamilton, and then marching ten miles, through Snickersville, near Snicker's Gap, the Potomac army encamped on the same ground the previous year when in pursuit of Lee--reaching the banks of the Shenandoah river during the afternoon; the enemy had halted, and were in force on the opposite side, with a determination to resist our advance and to give battle if our troops attempted a crossing; everything was in their favor, as our men had the river to cross under fire. There was no other alternative but to wade it nearly waist deep, and with a raking fire from concealed batteries posted on a hill. The column halted, and a skirmish line was formed, the men cooking dinner. Nearly every man had something that he had picked up on the way, as the country was filled with everything, such as hogs, chickens, honey and potatoes; all served for a meal, and was eaten with a relish. Hard-tack and salt pork remained in the haversack until needed.

The command of General Hunter had now reached and re-occupied Martinsburg, destroying over one million dollars worth of rations, and capturing one thousand prisoners that the rebels had left as guards, moving by detour, he flanked the enemy. As his force was insufficient to meet them if they should fall suddenly upon him, he with his command reached us while at Snicker's Gap, and reported to General Wright; they had suffered almost incredible hardships, having lived on the country for several weeks. Hunter was ordered to throw out a line of skirmishers, and force the river; supported by the 1st division of the 6th corps they succeeded in crossing the river, when the enemy's skirmishers advanced in three lines, driving Hunter's men pell mell back in confusion, several of them being drowned; the 1st division did not cross, as darkness came on. Both sides commenced shelling, and several in the 6th corps were killed and wounded, the Major of the 2d New Jersey infantry losing his leg; thus the day ended in disaster and defeat; but the men were not disheartened, and rested as quietly on their arms as though at home; a man can soon get used to anything. Many soldiers have slept as soundly in action as if nothing was occurring, the deep booming of the cannon and even shells striking near, failing to arouse them.

The troops remained at Snicker's Gap two days, and nothing important occurred, the enemy being still in force on the opposite side, and both armies with pickets on each side of the river. All sorts of rumors were circulated throughout camp, some of them very absurd. The men were glad to rest, as none felt like marching, the sun being hot and the sand very dry. On the morning of the 20th, it was discovered that the enemy had left our immediate front, but having no cavalry, Gen. Wright could not ascertain their movements. At eleven o'clock the troops were ordered to move, wading the Shenandoah at Snicker's Gap. A splendid shower came up and was very refreshing, as there had been no rain in sometime; the column halted in a woods on the banks of a river. It was now evident that the enemy were again making for Washington, and at dark the troops were ordered immediately back, recrossing the river; marching all night and part of the next day; moving back on the same road, the men nearly worn out, and halting all night near Goose Run Creek, having marched since crossing the Shenandoah thirty miles.

The men now began to murmur at General Wright for marching them so hard, this march being equal to the retreat from Culpepper, then the weather being cold the men were enabled to stand it better. The next morning the troops moved out again, marching twenty miles; halting at dark near Lewinsville, the men were too tired to cook, and threw themselves on the ground regardless of anything, and were soon asleep; it was now sixteen days since the division had left Petersburg; having travelled during that time, by water three hundred miles, by rail one hundred and sixteen miles, and on foot one hundred and seventy-five miles, total five hundred and ninety-one miles in that short space of time; but this was comparatively nothing, considering the marching the men were compelled to undergo while in the Shenandoah Valley.

On the 23d of July the troops marched fifteen miles, crossing the Potomac at Chain Bridge; again were the men within the defences of Washington. The paymasters were present, paying the guards, and the various detachments. On the 25th the troops received their pay for four months, remaining at Washington four days, when the enemy again attempted to remove north into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Gen. Wright was ordered to move immediately to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. The troops started on the afternoon of July 26th, marching ten miles, passing Tennelly Town, and halting at Rockville, the next day marching eighteen miles, passing Gatysburg and Clarksburg, halting in the afternoon near Hyattstown, with sore and blistered feet. Such marching now began to tell upon the men, and many wished to meet the enemy and engage in battle, rather than be marched to death. On the 28th marched ten miles, passing Hyattstown and Urbanna, halting during the afternoon at Monocacy Bridge, on the battle ground of July 9th. The ground was broken up and traces of the conflict could be seen; remnants of shells, cannon, and unburied corpses lay strewn around. Our boys, with feelings of kindness ever displayed toward the enemy, carefully buried both friend and foe. The members of the 14th regiment visiting their old camp; after leaving Monocacy to join the Potomac army the men had never expected to see the place again, but they were destined to fight as severe a battle on the same ground one year after as was fought during the war, and to see the place several during the three years, as the army moved back and forth eight successive times while in Maryland. They had tried to destroy the railroad bridge, but failed, as the pillars were hollow and could not be blown up. The hotel and tank at the depot were burned, the bridge also, crossing at the main road. There was now a sufficient force to meet the enemy, without fear of flanking, and the men anxious to fight. The 3d Maryland regiment was there guarding the bridge. After resting a few hours orders were given to move, marching eight more miles, halting at Jefferson until morning in the same field the division halted when leaving Maryland Heights to join the Potomac army the previous year. Leaving Jefferson on the morning of the 29th, passing Petersville, Knoxville and Sandy Hook, crossing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, on pontoons, marching twenty-five miles, and halting at Halltown on Bolivar Heights, near the headquarters of Gen. Crook.

In the meantime Early had sent a raiding party into Pennsylvania, which on the 30th burned the beautiful village of Chambersburg, and then retreated towards Cumberland, where they were met and defeated by General Kelley, and with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West Virginia. From the time of the first raid, the telegraph wires were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making it necessary to transmit messages by boat. It took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches through and return answers back, so that often orders would be given by General Grant, and then information would be received, showing a different state of things from those on which they were based, causing a confusion and apparent contradiction of orders, considerably embarrassing General Wright, and rendering operations against the enemy less effective than they otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was necessary to have a commander with full power, to act as he thought proper. General Grant therefore ordered General Sheridan to have the supreme command of all the forces in the departments of West Virginia, Washington and the middle military division.

General Sheridan had not yet arrived, and General Wright acting under orders remained at Halltown, when it was discovered that the enemy were again bent on invading the north; on the 30th of July the troops were again ordered to move; marching back, passing Bolivar, re-crossing the Potomac on pontoons at Harper's Ferry; marching all night, and all next day thirty miles; halting on Sunday evening near Frederick City. As the weather was hot and the roads dry, more than one half of the men fell out; remaining three days, until August 3d, when the column marched six miles; wading the Monocacy at Buckeystown, remaining in camp until the night of the 5th, when orders were given to move, marching five miles to Monocacy Bridge, it raining hard. At this time the enemy were in force near Winchester, while our forces were at Monocacy, at the crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; leaving open to the enemy Maryland and Pennsylvania. General Grant being so far off hesitated to give positive orders for the troops to move lest by so doing it should expose Washington. On the 4th of August, he left City Point, and visited General Wright, at Monocacy, to determine for himself what was best to be done; arriving there he consulted with Generals Wright and Hunter, and then issued to them the following instructions:

MONOCACY BRIDGE, MD., Aug 5th, 1864--8 P. M.

_Maj.-Gen. Wright._

GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay, in the
vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and
garrisons, for public property, as may be necessary. Use in this
concentrating the railroads, if so doing, time can be saved from
Harper's Ferry. If it is found the enemy has moved north of the
Potomac in large force, push north, follow them and attack them
wherever found. Follow them if driven south of the Potomac as long
as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that the enemy has but
a small force north of the Potomac, then push south with the main
force, detaching under a competent commander a sufficient force to
look after the raiders and drive them to their homes. In detaching
such a force, the brigade of cavalry, now _en route_ from Washington
via Rockville, may be taken into account.

There are now on the way to join you three other brigades of
cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horse. These will
be instructed, in absence of further orders, to join you by the
south side of the Potomac, one brigade will start to-morrow. In
pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have
to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to
invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage and stock
wanted for your command, and such as cannot be consumed destroy. It
is not desirable that the buildings should be destroyed; they should
rather be protected, but the people should be informed that as long
as an army can subsist among them, recurrences of these raids must
be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all hazards.

Bear in mind that the object is to drive the enemy south, and to do
this you want to keep the enemy always in sight. Be guarded in the
course by the course they take. Make your own arrangements for
supplies of all kinds, giving regular vouchers for such as may be
taken from loyal citizens in the country through which you march.

U. S. GRANT,
_Lieut.-Gen. U. S. Armies._