October 14, Wednesday. The election returns from Pennsylvania and Ohio are cheering in their results. The loyal and patriotic sentiment is strongly in the ascendant in both States, and the defeat of Vallandigham is emphatic. I stopped in to see and congratulate the President, who is in good spirits and greatly relieved from the depression of yesterday. He told me he had more anxiety in regard to the election results of yesterday than he had in 1860 when he was chosen. He could not, he said, have believed four years ago, that one genuine American would, or could be induced to, vote for such a man as Vallandigham, yet he has been made the candidate of a large party, their representative man, and has received a vote that is a discredit to the country. The President showed a good deal of emotion as he dwelt on this subject, and his regrets were sincere.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Glendale, Wednesday, Oct. 14. A wet morning, raining heavily. Fed seven ears of corn to team this morning, brought in yesterday by forage team. Rained in the forenoon so that we did not graze, but it cleared off at noon, and as we had no feed, we grazed two hours in the woods and gave three pints of shelled corn to the team for supper. It is strange how they live upon such fare. They are getting very poor. Train arrived from Memphis this afternoon with paymaster but they say that we will not be paid.
14th. Up and breakfasted before sunrise. Skirmishing commenced before fairly on the road. 2nd called to the front, Co. C as skirmishers on left of the road in open field. Ordered to gain a piece. Deployed and advanced. When 10 rods from the woods, opened upon us. Boys dropped behind apple trees and fence and replied, waiting for skirmishers on the right. Bullets whistled close, when Battery on right opened a way to our rear and fired near us. Fell back behind the fence till they came up, then advanced into the woods. Could hear their train and sent word twice, but the right didn’t advance soon enough. Had several good shots. Sergt. Bail wounded in the thigh. Good boy. Soon mounted and advanced within two miles of B. Dismounted and doublequicked two miles, to take a battery. Got out of the way. Spit blood. Played out. Camped four miles back. Rest was sweet.
October 14 — This morning at daylight we heard heavy firing in front and not very far away. General Ewell’s forces passed our camp this morning just at daylight, going to the front at a double-quick whence came the thrilling sounds of actual war.
When we left camp this morning we turned off to the left of the Catlett Station road, and went to the Warrenton and Alexandria pike; just as we arrived at the pike General A. P. Hill’s troops were passing to the front. Then the ominous sound of booming cannon still came rolling from the east through the quiet morning air, and the deep growling thunder of the war dogs swept over the Fauquier hills and died away among the distant peaks of the Blue Ridge. We moved to New Baltimore, a small hamlet on the Warrenton pike, situated eleven miles below Warrenton. We halted there for our brigade, which arrived about two o’clock this afternoon, when we fell in with our cavalry and moved down the pike toward Manassas. We passed through Buckland, a small village of a few scattered houses, situated on Cub Run, in the eastern part of Fauquier County. We moved on the Warrenton pike as far as Gainesville, then turned to the right and marched toward Bristoe Station. It was then nearly dark and we were on the enemy’s right flank and about three miles from their main body. Some of General A. P. Hill’s forces attacked the Yankees late this evening at Bristoe Station. We heard heavy cannonading and a fierce roar of musketry in that direction this evening, but as yet have no tidings of the result. We are camped tonight in Prince William County, about three miles northwest of Bristoe. Bristoe is a station on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, five miles south of Manassas. The firing we heard so early this morning was some of General Ewell’s battery and Rhodes’ division of infantry. They attacked the Yankees near Auburn Mills, in order to assist General Stuart and his cavalry to cut and force their way out through a column of Yankee infantry that was retreating during the night between Stuart’s cavalry and our army, and which had entirely surrounded our cavalry unknowingly. This morning at daybreak General Stuart, with his command, surprised the Yankee infantry and cut his way through their column so successfully that his loss is not worth mentioning. A section of our battery was in there too, and got out safely.
October 14th.
Our part in this expedition is done, and we are on our way back to Knoxville. Wilcox’s “baby brigade,” as our boys call them, and the Twenty-third Corps, together with cavalry and mounted infantry, are following up the retreating Rebels. I have not learned the result of the fight, and probably will not for some days to come. Over a hundred of their dead are buried at Blue Springs, where our forces first overtook them, and as far as I went—which was fifteen miles—every house was filled with their wounded.
I saw some were from Lee’s army. One Lieutenant said he remembered seeing our regiment at Fredericksburg. He had stood picket opposite our boys several times. There was a brigade from the Rappahannock. Their force, he said, was about eight thousand, all mounted. The facts in the case were about as follows: Burnside had cleared his department of armed Rebels and had advanced into Virginia as far as Salt Town, where the Rebels had extensive salt works, strongly fortified. Before he could concentrate sufficient force to destroy these works, word came that Rosa was in danger—that Burnside was to hold himself in readiness to reinforce him at a minute’s notice. In order to do this he must withdraw all his forces from the northeast and concentrate them near Knoxville.
The Rebels followed up as he fell back, and occupied the positions he had driven them from.
Before Burnside reached Morristown, word came from Rosa that he was safe inside his fortifications and was being rapidly reinforced by Grant. This left Burnside free to do over again what had been undone, but through no fault of his.
It was a touching sight to witness the joy of these much-abused people at our return. Men who had fled to the bush as the Rebels advanced, and dare not, for their lives, appear, came flocking in and were welcomed with tears and shouts of joy by wives and children. Their gratitude was unbounded.
As I witnessed the delight of these people and listened to their tales of suffering, I felt more than ever that I was engaged in a just and holy cause, and my heart was strengthened to do and dare for human liberty.
Wednesday, 14th—General Tuttle’s division left early this morning on their expedition, carrying eight days’ rations. General Logan’s Division is also in the command, and there is a total of about ten thousand men—infantry, artillery and cavalry. Our brigade moved into the tents of the Third Brigade of Tuttle’s Division, the Eleventh Iowa occupying those of the Fifth Minnesota.
October 14th. The command sprang to arms without orders, at break of day, on hearing heavy picket firing on the right and rear, which we supposed entirely safe. We formed on the road, prepared to face either way, but presently moved forward, crossed the mill stream and formed in order of battle on the high open ground on that side of the stream. Here we had abundance of room, and open ground sloping gradually to the rear, for over a thousand yards where the woods interrupted the view. Arms were stacked and the troops dismissed for breakfast. An apple tree afforded the general an eligible spot to rest, and beneath its tangled moss grown branches we stretched ourselves upon the ground, watching the preparations for breakfast.
In the course of a few minutes the place was dotted with innumerable little camp fires, surrounded by picturesque groups of soldiers, and scores of pack and saddle horses turned loose to help themselves to grass. The crimson tinted foliage of an early October morn framed in the open ground, completely enclosing a glorious picture of an army en bivouac. The graceful groups of men bending over the little fires, whose curling smoke ascended almost perpendiculary, the animals grazing in the fields, and the general appearance of contentment and ease made a picture not to be forgotten.
The general was so impressed by the scene that for a time he refused to take his breakfast. He christened the place Coffee Hill, and by this name our fellows will recognize it. As we lay on the grass, peacefully enjoying the situation, suddenly a couple of shells came rushing through the air directly from the front, and burst amongst the men; one of them exploded directly over a little fire, killing the four men outright who composed the group about it. Upon looking towards the front, we saw a couple of field guns blazing away with the utmost vigor. On the explosion of the shells, the pack and saddle horses took fright, and the serene, calm picture of a moment before was instantly metamorphosed into one of confusion. Luckily the position was entirely surrounded by a close picket line, which soon captured the flying horses and turned them back.
Without loss of time the general ordered the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth New York regiments, under Colonel A. B. Chapman, to try and capture the enemy’s guns and on the double quick they crossed the field, but the rebels limbered up on their appearance and galloped off. They were a small cavalry force not exceeding fifty men, and had opened fire, probably out of pure deviltry. After this little disturbance, a detachment of pioneers buried the unfortunate four, and we finished our breakfast in peace and comfort.
Our corps constitutes the rear guard of the army, and the First division the rear guard of the corps, consequently we are subject to the movements of the troops ahead. The rebels are making strenuous efforts to get in between us and the Bull Run stream, and the object of the army of the Potomac is to prevent them from doing so. Shortly after breakfast the enemy attacked the picket line, first in rear, then on our right, finally by a general fusilade from all sides, but it did not amount to anything and we easily drove them off. At 9 A. M. the division fell in and continued the march towards Bull Run, passing Cattlet’s Station; here the troops took to the railroad, the wagons and artillery keeping the ordinary road, which runs nearly parallel to it. Both flanks were covered by cavalry and a sharp lookout kept in every direction. As we neared Bristoe Station, artillery fire suddenly broke out directly in front, indicating that some of them at least, had got across our route. The general promptly ordered the column to close up, and taking the batteries of the division with him, rode to the front to take in the situation. I was directed to remain in rear and take charge of affairs there. In a few minutes aides came galloping over the fields, directed us to hurry forward, and two of our brigades at once moved on the double quick to the support of the Second division, then engaged. As we neared Bristoe Station, the ground in front became open, disclosing the whole situation. Along the railroad embankment lay our second division, in rear of them at a considerable distance, the Third division was in line, with one of its brigades across the tracks, the artillery occupying fine high ground in rear of all. From the left of the Second division for a considerable distance, reaching to the wooded country, the railway is carried over a depression on a high embankment, along which our division marched, and on the side of which it immediately formed in line of battle as soon as it connected with the men of the Second division, thus making a continuous line, reaching on the right to Broad Run, where it rested. Heavy fighting was going on in front of the Third division and the batteries were firing over the men’s heads at the rebel batteries, which were shelling our troops. From the frequent shifting of the rebel batteries we concluded they did not like our practice. Very shortly after this, the enemy deployed a brigade of infantry, which, giving the characteristic rebel yell, charged our line; they were met with a volley that completely disconcerted them and they broke and ran away, leaving a great many of their men on the ground, General Hayes, whose brigade lay nearest them, immediately made a counter charge, capturing four hundred prisoners and five guns, his men drawing the latter to the rear, the rebel gunners having managed to get away with their horses. I sat on horseback on the track, just at the edge of the woods, the extreme left of the division, watching the fighting ahead, while waiting for the pack horses, servants and doctors to pass below the embankment out of sight, when I suddenly noticed a regiment of rebel infantry standing in line of battle at an acute angle to the track, not more than a couple of hundred yards from where I stood. Very much surprised, I took out my glasses and concluded there were about six hundred of them. Evidently they did not see me and so I immediately rode down the embankment out of sight, and galloped over to the general, who was amongst the batteries, and telling him of the situation, asked for a section of guns to blow them up with, to which he consented, ordering Captain McClellan to detail them; we moved to the edge of the woods under cover of the embankment, then through them so as not to be observed, and took a position close to the track exactly in line with the rebel regiment, which still stood in the same position. Both guns were loaded with cannister, carefully sighted and discharged at once. What a collapse! the quiet line of a moment before now flying in every direction. Many of them were killed and a number came into our line and were made prisoners; we were jubilant and the enemy disgusted. Soon after the capture of the guns, the enemy disappeared entirely, but our division remained in line till after dark, then continued the march, crossing Broad Run at 8 P. M. and the historic Bull Run at 3 A. M. in a dreadful rain storm, which lasted throughout the night and following day. The staff were worked excessively and after many hours in arranging the position, met together in the dripping woods, without shelter of any kind, the wagons of course having been sent ahead. After examining the ground ruefully enough, we finally lay down, getting as close together as posisble, for warmth, wrapped only in our rubber clothes. At daylight, when we turned out, the depression in the mud where I slept was full of water, and we were a sorry looking crowd; however our servants made some coffee, begged a little hard tack from the men, and so, refreshing ourselves, were again ready for duty.
by John Beauchamp Jones
OCTOBER 14TH. —A letter from Gen. Lee to the Secretary of War, dated 11th inst. at Madison C. H., complains of the injury done by the newspapers of Richmond, which contain early accounts of his movements, and are taken quickly (by flag of truce? or Gen. Winder’s corps of rogues and cut-throats?) to the enemy. He says he is endeavoring to strike at Meade, and has already captured, this week, some 600 of the enemy (cavalry), including that number of horses. The Secretary sent the requisite notice to the editors.
Gen. Gilmer, at Charleston, suggests the removal of the guns on the boats in that harbor to land batteries, to be commanded by officers of the navy.
An order has been sent to Gen. S. Jones, West Virginia, for the 8th and 14th Regiments Virginia Cavalry.
October 14.—Jefferson Davis issued an address to the soldiers of the army of Tennessee, thanking them for the “glorious victory on the field of Chickamauga.”—A fight took place at Salt Lick, Va., between the rebels under Colonel William M. Jackson, who were retreating from the battle-field of Bulltown, and a party of Virginia cavalry under Major Howe and Captain Harrison, resulting in a complete rout of the rebels.—An expedition to the interior of Mississippi left Vicksburgh, under the command of General McPherson.
—The battle of Bristoe Station, Va., was fought this day.— (Doc. 188.)
October 14—My corps of sharpshooters marched in front of the line. Left camp at 4 this morning, and at daylight, as General Ewell and staff rode up to us, there was a volley shot at us. We immediately deployed and after the enemy. We fought on a run for six hours, all the time the enemy falling back. They at one time raised a white flag and surrendered. We then stopped firing, and as we got within one hundred feet they opened on us again, for they saw we were only a line of sharpshooters. We then resumed firing at them. I captured a mail-bag in the fight, and in several letters I found some money. We halted, and the enemy kept on running like wild ducks. This is the battle of Bristow Station. We took many prisoners. As we got through fighting we heard firing on our right. We marched to their support, but when we got there the firing had ceased. Twenty-five miles to-day. We camped on Manassas Plain. Raining hard all night.
