May 11th. Everything quiet this morning. The enemy hug their entrenchments and are now around the Spottsylvania court house. In the afternoon Miles’s brigade was sent back to Todd’s tavern, but returned to camp in the evening, without finding any trace of the enemy. He never fired a shot, I think. Shortly after dark, we received orders to fall in and march, our division following Birney. The night was very dark and rainy, and the roads narrow and bad, but we stepped out briskly and very quietly. About midnight the column halted near a house, the “Brown house,” closed up and massed in close column of brigade, and was then informed it was to assault the enemy’s works in front, which at this point forms a salient angle. The success of this attack depended upon its secrecy, and so all were ordered to keep very quiet and commands were to be given in a whisper. The troops moved up near the enemy’s picket line, supposed to be twelve or fifteen hundred yards from the enemy’s works. Nobody knew exactly the position of the works or the nature of the ground, and so we had to take our chances, moving forward till we struck them. In front of our division the ground gradually ascended and was sparsely covered with trees, shrubs and bushes till near the rebel works, where it was entirely open. Birney’s division was on our right, also in brigade masses, with Mott in rear of him, while Gibbon’s division remained in reserve in rear of all. It took a long time to form the division in column of assault; each brigade was closely massed, all the mounted officers dismounted, and the orders were to advance without firing a shot, and by simple weight of numbers crush everything in front of us. Before starting, the engineer officers found the general direction of the rebel lines by compass and pointed it out to Barlow and the brigade commanders. There was another house in front, called the Landron house, which was supposed to be some four hundred yards from the rebel works, and this was to be our principal guide. The Fourth brigade was on the left, the Second brigade on the right, with Miles and Brooke in command. The Third brigade, now commanded by Brown, and Smyth’s Irish brigade formed the second line and were to advance close behind the first line.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Wednesday, May 11th.
Slept on our arms all night, but everything was comparatively quiet. It looks very much like rain this morning. Hear a report that rebels have been flanked and two thousand prisoners and twelve guns captured, but the report proves to be without foundation. Hear nothing from the cavalry. A thunderstorm came on about 4 P. M., the first rain since we left Culpepper Court House. Reported that the Twenty-second Corps is on the way to join this army. Started towards Fredericksburg in the afternoon and marched all night in the mud, many of the men falling out of the ranks by the way. Very little cannonading during the day.
by John Beauchamp Jones
MAY 11TH.—Bright and pleasant—breezy. This has been a day of excitement.
At midnight the Departmental Battalion were marched from the south side of the river back to the city, and rested the remainder of the night at CampLee. But at 9 A.M. they were marched hurriedly to MeadowBridge. They came past our house. Custis and his brother Thomas ran in—remaining but a moment. Custis exclaimed : “Let me have some money, mother (I had to go to the office), or we will starve. The government don’t feed us, and we are almost famished. Cook something, and get Captain Warner to bring it in his buggy—do, if possible.” He got $20. They looked worn, and were black with dust, etc. My daughter said “they looked like negroes.”
The Secretary issued this morning a new edition of his handbills, calling the people “to arms.”
Mr. Mallory’s usual red face turned purple. He has not yet got out the iron-clad Richmond, etc., which might have sunk Gen. Butler’s transports.
Lieut.-Col. Lay was exhibiting a map of our defenses, and predicting something,—whether good or evil, I did not stay to learn. But I thought such maps ought not to be shown in the public ball of the department.
The armory was open to-day, and all who desired them were furnished with arms.
The Governor, I hear, issued a notification that the enemy would be here to day, etc. I did not see it.
All classes not in the army were gathered up and marched to the defenses.
2 P.M. Respectable men just from the vicinity report a great victory for Lee, yesterday, though we have nothing from him. The Secretary believes these concurring reports, which state that the battle, beginning near Spottsylvania Court House, ended at Fredericksburg, indicating a WATERLOO.
And a dispatch from Gen. Ransom from the south side of the river, states that Butler’s army is retreating to the transports. This is regarded as confirmation of Lee’s victory.
Several dispatches from Gen. Stuart state that the raiders have been severely beaten in several combats this morning, and are flying toward Dover Mills. They may come back, for they have not heard of Grant’s defeat.
Mr. Memminger is said to have been frightened terribly, and arrangements were made for flight.
Six miles from Resaca, May 11, 1864.
We had a real hurricane last night, and a tremendous rain-storm. We lay right in the woods, and of course thought of the Point Pleasant storm and falling trees, but were too lazy to move, and thanks to a bed of pine boughs, slept good and sound. There is a scare up this morning. We have moved a mile toward the front, and building breast-works is going on with the greatest life. A full 1,000 axes are ringing within hearing. Our division is drawn up in column by brigade and at least another division is in rear of us. The latest rumor is that “the railroad has surrendered with 40,000 depots,”
