April 30. — General Benham went up to General Hooker’s in the morning and came back to breakfast, saying that he [Benham] had been accused of being drunk, and that that was the cause of the delay in laying the bridges. He asked all his staff what they thought, and received in answer that they considered him intoxicated. He asked me about it, and I had to tell him my opinion of the matter. He received an order in the afternoon to take two of his bridges up and go to Bank’s Ford, and lay them by daylight, at which time the enemy would have evacuated. On the way to General Hooker’s, he asked me why I had told Colonel McMahon that he was drunk. I gave him my reasons. At dusk we went down to the river, and had two bridges taken up, and started for Bank’s Ford with them, one train leaving at 11 P.M., and the other at 12.
War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld
Headquarters Engineer Brigade,
Camp near Falmouth, April 29, 1863.
Dear Father, — It is now 4.30 P.M., and we have finished five of our bridges. I will endeavor to give you a brief account of everything that has happened since yesterday morning. Yesterday was cloudy and rainy, towards afternoon and evening the weather growing very misty, much to our joy, as last night was the night selected to lay the bridges, two of which were to go down at Bank’s Ford; but these were afterwards shown and exposed to view merely to deceive the rebs, without any effort being made to lay them; three more were to be laid at Franklin’s old place of crossing, and two a mile and a half below Franklin’s old place. The weather was perfect, and could not have been better. A very thick fog hung over the earth, completely hiding every object a few yards distant. The boats were drawn by teams to within a mile of the intended crossing place. From here they were carried on poles to the river’s bank, there being 75 men to each boat. This was done in order to get near the enemy unheard, and take them if possible by surprise. At 10 P.M. last night we left our camp, and went to General Sedgwick’s headquarters, who had entire charge of the movements at the two lower crossings and who had the 1st, 3d and 6th Corps under his command. He and General Benham made their arrangements, and to assist General Benham, General Sedgwick sent an aide with him. While giving him some instructions a short time after, General Benham abused him shamefully without the slightest cause. Soon after he got himself into a scrape with General Brooks, and then with General Russell, whom he placed under arrest. I was asked by two officers, General Russell being one, whether General Benham was not drunk. I said he was not, as I knew he took wine only and not any liquors. Then, too, I was accustomed to his swearing, etc., and thought nothing of it. Pretty soon a captain came riding along on horseback, and General Benham opened on him, yelling out in a loud tone of voice and Goddamning him. This, too, right on the bank of the river and when he had just been cautioning every one to keep quiet. I said to the general, “Don’t call out so loud, sir, the enemy can hear you.” He still kept on, however. All this time he was lying flat on the ground, complaining of fatigue. He then sent me off to find a Captain Reese, and when I came back he was gone, having left directions for me to stay where his horse was. I did not see him then for some time, when he came back on a borrowed horse and reeling in his saddle. He said to me in a thick voice, “Go tell General Sedgwick that General Russell has disobeyed my orders,” and kept repeating it. I went off with the message to General S. During this last hour, everything had been going wrong. There was no one to attend to the matter and General B. confused and confounded everything. The enemy knew of our presence, and were signalling all along their line. And so it was until 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, when men were put into the pontoon boats and pushed over, several shots being exchanged, with a loss of six wounded for us. Our men went right over and drove the enemy. Meanwhile, I was on the go to General Sedgwick with any number of messages from General B. When I came back about 6 o’clock, I found General B. drunk as could be, with a bloody cut over his left eye, and the blood all over that side of his face and forming a disgusting sight altogether. He had fallen down and cut his face. Soon after he reeled in his saddle, and in trying to shake hands with General Pratt, he fell right off his horse on to the ground. I saw him do this. The soldiers picked him up, and he mounted again, and rode round among the men, swearing and trying to hurry matters, but only creating trouble and making himself the laughing-stock of the crowd. Finally three bridges were got across and then we started for the two lower bridges where an unsuccessful attempt had been made to cross in the morning. The general had got moderately sober by that time, and began to feel slightly ashamed of himself. I never in my life have been so mortified and ashamed as I was this morning. I shall leave his staff as soon as possible, and I don’t see how he can escape a court-martial and dismissal from the service. By sheer good luck we got the men across the river and built the bridges. General Benham’s being drunk delayed the laying of the bridges for four hours; his mismanagement all but ruined the whole plan. Every one there expected a disgraceful termination to the whole affair, and as I have said, good luck only saved us, for the rebels had two or three hours to prepare themselves, after we arrived on the ground, when they should have had but half an hour at the outside.
At the lower crossing, I witnessed one of the prettiest sights of the war. It was our men driving the rebs from their rifle-pits. Our men in rifle-pits opened a heavy fire on the enemy’s sharpshooters, and soon one man jumped out and ran, then another, and soon all along the line men could be seen running from houses, ditches and rifle-pits. Then our artillery would open and make the rascals scatter. I saw one round shot knock a rebel head over heels. Then, too, as the rebs ran from their hiding places, our men would yell and cheer and send a perfect storm of bullets after them. Soon our men rushed over in boats and ran up the bank and began popping away at the rifle-pits, houses, etc. Then came the grand skedaddle. From every imaginable place came a rebel running for dear life, with our men cheering at their heels and our artillery helping to kick them along. Out of one large rifle-pit, I saw 10 or 12 rebs taken prisoners. Out of another one, a White rag would be raised and waved. Out of this came three rebels. 100 prisoners were captured in all, and a prettier sight I never saw in all my life. It is all very pleasant to look on and see a fight when your side is whipping, and you are not under fire, but it is not so pleasant to be in it yourself. I think myself that this movement here is a feint, whilst four of our corps cross at Bank’s or United States Ford. However, all will be settled in a day or two, and at present everything looks bright for us.
I cannot imagine where General B. got his liquor. I think it must have been sherry wine which he had with him. He must have drunk it very quietly, as none of us saw him drinking. May I be saved from another such general!
April 29. — At 6 the first bridge was begun, and at 7 it was completed. About 8.30 we all started for the lower crossing, where we had been repulsed in our attempt at crossing. At 9 o’clock our men, protected by rifle-pits, opened a sharp fire on the enemy posted in their pits, and soon made them start from them, they leaving one by one. Our artillery then opened on them, and I saw one man knocked plump over by one of our solid shots. Whenever a rebel attempted to run from one pit to another, or showed himself in any way, our men would open on him, and if he was hit, a shout would be raised by every one. It was pleasant for us who were not under fire to see the devils knocked over. Soon a few boat-loads of men were thrown over the river. As soon as our men appeared on the opposite bank, there was a stampede of the rebels from all the rifle-pits and houses along the bank, and then there was a race, our men running and firing at the enemy as they went along. As we came to the different pits, our men would pull out the rebels, and send them over the river. From one pit a white rag was shown, and one of our men pulled three rebs out of it. Over a hundred prisoners were caught here. The bridges were laid here by 11 o’clock, the enemy shelling us towards 10 o’clock, but without any damage. At 12 o’clock, I reached camp, and immediately went to sleep, not having had any for twenty-four hours. In the morning, I was sent three different times to General Sedgwick: once with the message that General Russell had refused to obey General Benham’s orders; the second time, that General Russell had refused to obey General B.’s orders, and that he had put him under arrest; and the third time, to ascertain how many bridges General S. wished.
Camp near FALMOUTH, April 28, 1863.
DEAR FATHER, — I think we shall start to-morrow night, if it does not rain. The pontoons are all near the river, and everything is in readiness to move. Some of the corps have moved up near the river to-day, in order to move promptly and quickly when the order comes. It seems to me that we shall cross in three places: at Bank’s Ford, where Franklin crossed at Fredericksburg fight, and about a mile below Franklin’s position.
In regard to the feeling in the army, it is not so good as it was. There is a feeling that the golden opportunity has passed away, and that if we cross now we shall have Hill and Longstreet’s forces to contend with in addition to Lee’s force. Had we gone over last Monday, we should not have half the force to contend against that we have now. However, it does not do to give way to any such feelings, especially before the men, and we must all do the utmost in our power to help and aid General Hooker. In regard to his drinking, I will say to you what I have never spoken about to any one else outside the army. I know of his having been tight twice since I have been here, although I hope he does not indulge enough to render him incompetent to perform his duty. He is, to tell the truth, a brave, dashing soldier, rather an adventurer than anything else, and bound to win or lose everything. Too much given to boasting and talking, he is nevertheless a man who will win the love and admiration of the soldiers, provided that he succeeds in his first fight. Whether he possesses the ability and the power to handle this large army remains to be seen. So far, in my opinion, General Butterfield has “run the machine,” and he is admirably fitted to attend to its internal discipline, etc. I feel anxious myself in regard to General Hooker, on account of the numerous delays we have had. They are certainly as bad, if not worse, than any of McClellan’s, and we must certainly admit that either Hooker is right and McClellan also, or that Hooker is wrong as much as McClellan ever was. Every one here begins to say now, “Well, McClellan was right after all.” I do hope most earnestly that by the time you receive this letter you will also have the news of our crossing the river successfully, and giving the enemy a good whipping.
To-night it seems to threaten a storm for to-morrow. We get ready to move during the pleasant weather and are on the point of starting just as the rain begins again.
I was called up this morning to write some private dispatches for an officer going on a secret expedition. General and myself were the only ones around here who knew of the place and object of the officer’s journey. The officer himself did not know, as the dispatches were sealed and were not to be opened until he reached Washington. Yet this afternoon I was told by an officer where and for what purpose the officer was sent. It leaked out from headquarters of the Army of the Potomac in some way. It is a difficult thing to keep anything secret.
April 28. — The general received a telegram from Captain Lubey, saying that the pontoon train arrived at Warrenton at 7.30 o’clock this morning. I took the telegram, or rather a verbal message, to General Butterfield, to the effect that the train arrived at Warrenton at 7.30. General Benham then went over to General Sedgwick’s, with Perkins and myself. General S., General Sickles, and General Reynolds were there. After leaving there, General B. sent me with a message to Major Cassin, saying that he wished his train to be moved over the crest near the Wallace House. Major Cassin moved his train as ordered, and proceeded down to the pine forest near the river bank. At five o’clock in the afternoon, General Sedgwick and General Newton came to headquarters, and General B. went with them to the river, where they left me. I went back to headquarters in accordance with General B.’s orders, having waited for him an hour. At nine in the evening, General Hunt arrived here, and with all his staff, General Benham started for General Sedgwick’s headquarters. After remaining here for half an hour, or rather 15 minutes, General Benham went on towards the river, until he met General Pratt. He ordered me to stay with General Pratt, and as soon as the enemy took the alarm to order the batteries down, and one train of pontoon equipage. While here, General Benham had a row with General Sedgwick’s aide, Captain Halstead.
General Benham, after giving his instructions to General Pratt and other officers, left for the lower bridges. General Pratt sent me down to the river to give notice as soon as the enemy were alarmed, General Newton’s officers, who were to perform that duty, not being present. I waited on the bank of the river some half hour, having first questioned all the pickets in regard to any sounds or noises heard on the opposite bank. Everything was very quiet, except the sound arising from our pontoon boats being transported by our men. When the boats arrived at the bank, I joined General Benham. He sent me down to the river’s edge to listen, and to see whether the enemy were aware of our approach. I soon heard the clanking of swords, etc., and saw signals displayed, and so informed the general. By one or two o’clock some 40 boats were at the river’s bank. At four our men crossed, one volley and a few scattering shots being all the resistance that they encountered. Some half a dozen men were wounded. The time between 4 and 6 o’clock was occupied in crossing troops.[1]
[1] Gen. Hooker’s movement to turn the Confederate left flank, which resulted in the battle of Chancellorsville, began on April 27, when a force under Sedgwick was sent across the Rappahannock below Fredericksburg.
April 27. — General woke me up at 2 o’clock this morning to write some orders for Captain Lubey in regard to the canvas pontoon train. Received a telegram from him at 7 in the evening, saying that he was at Washington Navy Yard. Day was pleasant. Everything points towards a movement to-morrow night.
Sunday, April 26. — Went up to Bank’s Ford with General Meade, General Benham, Captain Weed, and Captain Jay. General Hooker and Captain Comstock went as far as Falmouth, where they stopped. Got back to camp about 5.30 o’clock. Day was pleasant. The works at Bank’s Ford have been strengthened by traverses, etc. The enemy have a battery of five guns covering the river above the dam. Major Cassin telegraphed that the train was ready at 2.30 to-day.
April 25. — General Benham and Captain Clapp went up to Bank’s Ford. Henry Dalton was here. The day was warm and pleasant. The general received a telegram from Major Cassin, who started for Washington in the morning, saying that the canvas pontoon train would be ready by Monday morning. I took the dispatch up to General Hooker.
April 24. — Rainy most of the day. Towards evening it cleared up. Lawrence Motley was here to dinner. General Benham went over to headquarters, and came back very much pleased, as General Hooker told him that the pontoons were ready in time for this last proposed movement. Cut my thumb with case-knife. Received a letter from Father, in answer to the one I wrote about
Headquarters Engineer Brigade,
Camp near Falmouth, April 23, 1863.
Dear Father, — It rained all last night, and for the third time we have had our move postponed. I hope the rain may not last long, as it will stop operations, which are now going on.
The plan of movement as far as I can see is as follows. The main body of the army will cross near where General Franklin crossed last December, about two miles below Fredericksburg. Here there are to be three bridges. One mile below this point there are to be two bridges. On these five bridges the main part of our army will cross, as I think. Then there are two bridges to be thrown across the river at Bank’s Ford or near there, to cause a diversion. This movement, together with that of our cavalry, who crossed the river at Rappahannock Station yesterday, will bring a large force of the enemy up the river. Then a division marched down the river yesterday to Port Royal, where some of them will cross to create a diversion there. Of course I am not sure that such is the plan, but so it seems to me. The weather, however, may interfere seriously with us, as it has several times already. It really seems as if everything went against us.
I get along very well with General Benham, and give him no possible chance to catch me napping, or disregarding orders. He is unfortunately very quick-tempered, and pitches into officers without giving them the slightest chance to tell their side. The consequence is that he is very unpopular and has created a great many enemies for himself. He is a man that I have no respect for at all. He loses his temper and becomes so violent that it is ludicrous to see him. The other day he called me out of my tent and showed me a paper that a colonel had just sent in to him. The colonel had, through mistake, and acting on the advice of one of the general’s staff, the inspector-general, sent in a paper which was not strictly correct. The general worked himself into a terrible rage, swore that it was a piece of damned impertinence, and finally tore the paper to pieces. I tried to explain to him that the colonel was acting in good faith and that he meant nothing impertinent. He would not hear a word, however, and on seeing him tear the paper, I could not help feeling disgusted, both at his folly and anger. If he wanted to convict the colonel of impertinence, it was foolish to tear the paper up. I turned right round and left him, saying, “Well, sir, I had nothing to do with the matter.” That day at dinner, when he had recovered his good temper, he said to me, “I am not quite such a d — d fool as you think I am. I saved those pieces and put them together again.” He said this laughing, and he evidently knew what I thought of him. He is a man of good ability, and it seems too bad that he should go through life making any number of enemies and doing so little good, all from his bad temper. Luckily I can get along with any one and so don’t mind him much.
I was ordered to bring up a pontoon train from Hope Landing the other day, some fifteen miles from here. I stuck to the train until I got it through, although I had a great deal of trouble and labor in doing so. I think that he was pleased at my doing so. However, I shall be careful and always do as I am ordered, and hope to escape all blame by so doing. I have had three chances to go on other staffs since I have been down here, but do not like to do so until I am absolutely compelled to leave General B. It does not look well for an officer to change much. The enemy are being heavily reinforced opposite us, and will doubtless make a strong resistance. A few days ago they were reported to have but 40,000 men opposite here.
