The Passing Of The Armies: An Account Of The Final Campaign Of The Army Of The Potomac,: Based Upon Personal Reminiscences Of The Fifth Army Corps [Illustrated Edition]

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Text originally published in 1915 under the same title.

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Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

The Passing of the Armies: The Last Campaign of the Armies

by

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

Biographical Note. 5

Introductory. 9

PORTRAITS AND MAPS 12

Chapter 1: The Situation. 17

Chapter 2: The Overture. 32

Chapter 3: The White Oak Road. 44

Chapter 4: Five Forks. 67

Chapter 5: The Week Of Flying Fights. 97

Chapter 6: Appomattox. 117

Chapter 7: The Return Of The Army. 136

Chapter 8: The Encampment. 155

Chapter 9: The Last Review. 159

Chapter 10: Sherman’s Army. 176

Chapter 11: The Disbandment. 181

Military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States: headquarters Commandery of the State of Maine. 189

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 201

MAPS 202

I – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1861 202

Charleston Harbor, Bombardment of Fort Sumter – 12th & 13th April 1861 202

1st Bull Run Campaign – Theatre Overview July 1861 203

Bull Run – 21st July 1861 204

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 18th July 1861 205

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 21st July 1861 (Morning) 206

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Actions 1-3 p.m. 207

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Union Retreat 4 P.M. to Dusk 208

II – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1862 209

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (6-8.30 A.M.) Confederate Attacks 209

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (9 A.M.) Union Attacks 210

Forts Henry and Donelson – 6th to 16th February 1862 211

Battle of Fort Donelson – 14th February 1862 212

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 213

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 214

New Madrid and Island No. 10 – March 1862 215

Pea Ridge – 5th to 8th March 1862 216

First Battle of Kernstown – 23rd March 1862, 11 – 16:45 217

Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing) - 6th & 7th April 1862 218

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 - Morning 219

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 – P.M. 220

Battle of Yorktown – 5th to 16th April 1862 221

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 24th to 25th May 1862 - Actions 222

Williamsburg – 5th May 1862 223

Fair Oaks – 31st May to 1st June 1862 224

Battle of Seven Pines – 31st May 1862 225

Seven Days – 26th June to 2nd July 1862 226

Seven Days Battles – 25th June to 1st July 1862 - Overview 227

Seven Days Battles – 26th & 27th June 1862 228

Seven Days Battles – 30th June 1862 229

Seven Days Battles – 1st July 1862 230

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 2.30 P.M. Hill’s Attacks 231

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 3.30 P.M. Ewell’s Attacks 232

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 7 P.M. General Confederate Attacks 233

Pope’s Campaign - 24th August 1862 234

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 A.M. 235

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 6 P.M. 236

Second Battle of Bull Run – 28th August 1862 237

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 10 A.M. 238

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 12 P.M. 239

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 5 P.M. 240

Pope’s Campaign – 29th August 1862 Noon. 241

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 3 P.M. 242

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 4.30 P.M. 243

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 5 P.M. 244

Battle of Harpers Ferry – 15th September 1862 245

Antietam – 16th & 17th September 1862 246

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 Overview 247

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 6 A.M. 248

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 7.30 A.M. 249

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 9 A.M. 250

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 10 A.M. 251

Iuka – 19th September 1862 252

Battle of Iuka – 19th September 1862 253

Corinth – 3rd & 4th October 1862 254

Second Battle of Corinth – 3rd October 1862 255

Second Battle of Corinth – 4th October 1862 256

Perryville – 8th October 1862 257

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 2 P.M. 258

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3 P.M. 259

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3.45 P.M. 260

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4 P.M. 261

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4.15 P.M. 262

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 5.45 P.M. 263

Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 264

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Overview 265

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Sumner’s Assault 266

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Hooker’s Assault 267

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou – 26th to 29th December 1862 268

Stone’s River – 31st December 1862 269

Battle of Stones River – 30th December 1862 270

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 8.00 A.M. 271

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 9.45 A.M. 272

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 11.00 A.M. 273

III – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1863 274

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 274

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 275

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4.45 P.M. 276

Chancellorsville Campaign (Hooker’s Plan) – April 1863 277

Battle of Chancellorsville – 1st May 1863 Actions 278

Battle of Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 Actions 279

Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 280

Chancellorsville – 3rd to 5th May 1863 281

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 6 A.M. 282

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. 283

Battle of Chancellorsville – 4th to 6th May 1863. 284

Battle of Brandy Station – 8th June 1863 285

Siege of Vicksburg – 25th May to 4th July 1863 286

Siege of Vicksburg – 19th May 1863 - Assaults 287

Siege of Vicksburg – 22nd May 1863 - Assaults 288

Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 289

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 Overview 290

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 7 A.M. 291

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10 A.M. 292

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10.45 A.M. 293

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 11 A.M. 294

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 12.30 P.M. 295

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 2 P.M. 296

Gettysburg – 2nd to 4th July 1863 297

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Lee’s Plan 298

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Overview 299

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetary Ridge A.M. 300

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Initial Defence 301

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Evening attacks 302

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Hood’s Assaults 303

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard Initial Assaults 304

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard and Cemetary Ridge 305

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Initial Assaults 306

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Second Phase 307

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetery Hill Evening 308

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (1) 309

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (2) 310

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Overview 311

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge 312

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge Detail 313

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Johnson’s Third Attack 314

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Opening Positions 315

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – First Phase 316

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Second Phase 317

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 South Cavalry Field 318

Battle of Gettysburg – Battlefield Overview 319

Fight at Monterey Pass – 4th to 5th July 1863 320

Chickamauga – 19th & 20th September 1863 321

Chickamauga Campaign – Davis’s Crossroads – 11th September 1863 322

Chickamauga Campaign – 18th September 1863 After Dark 323

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Morning 324

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 325

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 326

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. 327

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 11 A.M. to Mid-Afternoon 328

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Mid-Afternoon to Dark 329

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Brigade Details 330

Chattanooga – 23rd to 25th November 1863 331

Chattanooga Campaign – 24th & 25th November 1863 332

Chattanooga Campaign – Federal Supply Lines and Wheeler’s Raid 333

Battle of Missionary Ridge – 25th November 1863 334

Mine Run – 26th to 30th November 1863 335

IV – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1864 336

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 29th to 31st March 1864 336

Wilderness – 5th & 6th May 1864 337

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 – Positions 7 A.M. 338

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 - Actions 339

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 5 A.M. 340

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 6 A.M. 341

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 11 A.M. 342

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 2 P.M. 343

Spotsylvania – 8th to 21st May 1864 344

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 7th & 8th May 1864 - Movements 345

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 8th May 1864 - Actions 346

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 9th May 1864 - Actions 347

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 10th May 1864 - Actions 348

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 12th May 1864 - Actions 349

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 13th May 1864 - Actions 350

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 17th May 1864 - Actions 351

North Anna – 23rd to 26th May 1864 352

Battle of North Anna – 23rd May 1864 353

Battle of North Anna – 24th May 1864 354

Battle of North Anna – 25th May 1864 355

Battle of Haw’s Shop – 28th May 1864 356

Battle of Bethseda Church (1) – 30th May 1864 357

Battle of Bethseda Church (2) – 30th May 1864 358

Cold Harbor – 31st May to 12th June 1864 359

Battle of Cold Harbor – 1st June 1864 360

Battle of Cold Harbor – 3rd June 1864 361

Pickett’s Mills and New Hope Church – 25th to 27th May 1864 362

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – 27th June 1864 363

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 15th to 18th June 1864 364

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 21st to 22nd June 1864 365

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 30th July 1864 366

Wilson-Kautz Raid – 22nd June to 1st July 1864 367

First Battle of Deep Bottom – 27th to 29th July 1864 368

Second Battle of Deep Bottom – 14th to 20th August 1864 369

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 18th to 19th August 1864 370

Opequon, or Winchester, Va. – 19th September 1864 371

Fisher’s Hill – 22nd September 1864 372

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 27th October 1864 373

Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 374

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 5-9 A.M. Confederate Attacks 375

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Afternoon 376

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Evening 377

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 4-5 P.M. Union Counterattack 378

Franklin – 30th November 1864 379

Battle of Franklin – Hood’s Approach 30th November 1864 380

Battle of Franklin – 30th November 1864 Actions after 4.30 P.M. 381

Nashville – 15th & 16th December 1864 382

V – OVERVIEWS 383

1 – Map of the States that Succeeded – 1860-1861 383

Fort Henry Campaign – February 1862 384

Forts Henry and Donelson – February 1862 385

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 23rd March to 8th May 1862 386

Peninsula Campaign – 17th March to 31st May 1862 387

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 21st May to 9th June 1862 388

Northern Virginia Campaign – 7th to 28th August 1862 389

Maryland Campaign – September 1862 390

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – First Phase – 10th to 19th September 1862 391

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – Second Phase – 20th September – 3rd October 1862 392

Fredericksburg Campaign – Movements mid-November to 10th December 1862 393

Memphis to Vicksburg – 1862-1863 394

Operations Against Vicksburg and Grant’s Bayou Operations – November 1862 to April 1863 395

Campaign Against Vicksburg – 1863 396

Grant’s Operations Against Vicksburg – April to July 1863 397

Knoxville Campaign - 1863 398

Tullahoma Campaign – 24th June – 3rd July 1863 399

Gettysburg Campaign – Retreat 5th to 14th July 1863 400

Rosecrans’ Manoeuvre – 20th August to 17th September 1963 401

Bristoe Campaign – 9th October to 9th November 1863 402

Mine Run Campaign – 27th November 1863 – 2nd December 1863 403

Grant’s Overland Campaign – Wilderness to North Anna - 1864 404

Grant’s Overland Campaign – May to June 1864 405

Overland Campaign – 4th  May 1864 406

Overland Campaign – 27th to 29th May 1864 407

Overland Campaign –29th to 30th May 1864 408

Overland Campaign – 1st June 1864 – Afternoon 409

Sheridan’s Richmond Raid – 9th to 14th May 1864 410

Sheridan’s Trevilian Station Raid – 7th to 10th June 1864 411

Sheridan’s Trevilian Station Raid – 7th to 10th June 1864 412

Battle of Trevilian Station Raid – 11th June 1864 413

Battle of Trevilian Station Raid – 12th June 1864 414

Shenandoah Valley Campaign – May to July 1864 415

Operations about Marietta – 14th to 28th June 1864 416

Atlanta Campaign – 7th May to 2nd July 1864 417

Operations about Atlanta – 17th July to 2nd September 1864 418

Richmond-Petersburg Campaign – Position Fall 1864 419

Shenandoah Valley Campaign – 20th August – October 1864 420

Sherman’s March to the Sea 421

Franklin-Nashville Campaign – 21st to 28th November 1864 422

Operations about Petersburg – June 1864 to April 1865 423

Carolinas Campaign – February to April 1865 424

Appomattox Campaign - 1865 425

Biographical Note.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, who won distinction both as a soldier and as a citizen, for the State of Maine, and for the whole country, was born in Brewer, Maine, September 8, 1828. His parental lineage is traced back to England, but on the mother’s side he is descended from Jean Dupuis, who came, in 1685, with other Huguenots, from La Rochelle to Boston. Young Chamberlain was brought up in the country district of Brewer. As Greek was not included in the curriculum of the school where he prepared for college, with the aid of a tutor he attacked that language at home, and in six months, at the age of nineteen, had mastered the amount required for entrance to Bowdoin. In his college course, he took honors in every department. After his graduation in 1852, he entered the Theological Seminary at Bangor, and for several years gave attention to the reading of theology, and of church history in Latin and German. His work included the study of the Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic languages. He earned an ample income for his sojourn in the seminary by teaching classes of young ladies the German language and Literature, while he also served as Supervisor of [iv] Schools in his native town of Brewer. He continued his interest in Sunday-school work, helping to maintain a flourishing school some three miles from Bangor.

In 1856, as a result of his Master’s oration on Law and liberty, he was appointed instructor in Bowdoin in Natural and Revealed Religion, a post that had been vacated by Professor Stowe. A year later, he was elected a Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, which place he held for four years. In 1861, he was elected Professor of Modern Languages, and in July, 1862, was granted leave of absence for two years for the purpose of pursuing studies in Europe. The need at this time of the Republic for all its able-bodied citizens caused him, however, to give up the European trip and to offer his services for action in the field. In August, 1862, he went to the front as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Twentieth Regiment of Maine Volunteers. In May, he received commission as Colonel, the duty of which post he had been fulfilling for some months. His regiment was included with the Fifth Corps, and at Gettysburg on the second of July, 1863, it held the extreme left of the Union line. Colonel Chamberlain’s conduct in the memorable defense of Little Round Top (a position which with admirable judgment had been seized by General Warren) was recognized by the Government in the bestowal of the Congressional Medal of Honor for conspicuous personal gallantry and distinguished service.

After Gettysburg, Colonel Chamberlain was [v] placed in command of the Light Brigade, which he handled with marked skill in the action at Rappahannock Station. The wounds received in that battle made necessary retirement for a time to the Georgetown Hospital, but during his convalesence he gave valuable service as member of a Court-Martial. He returned to the front in May, 1864, when General Warren, at that time in command of the Fifth Corps then stationed at Spottsylvania, made Colonel Chamberlain the commander of a forlorn hope of nine regiments which had been selected to make a night assault on the enemy’s works. The position was gained, but Chamberlain found his line outflanked, and was compelled to withdraw under heavy fire. Shortly after the action at Cold Harbor, while still holding the rank of Colonel, he was placed in charge of six regiments, consolidated as a veteran brigade. With this brigade, he made a charge on the enemy’s main works at Petersburg, as a result of which action he was promoted on the field by General Grant to the rank of Brigadier-General for gallant conduct in leading his brigade against the superior force of the enemy and for meritorious service throughout the campaign. Such promotion on the field was most exceptional, and there is possibly no other instance during the war. In this charge General Chamberlain was seriously wounded, and his death was in fact announced. His life was saved through the activity of his brother Thomas, late Colonel of the Twentieth Maine, and the skill and tireless fidelity of the regimental surgeon, Dr. Shaw. [vi]

During the last campaign of the war, General Chamberlain, with two brigades, led the advance of the infantry with Sheridan, and in the fight on the Quaker Road he was twice wounded and his horse was shot under him. For his conspicuous gallantry in this action, he was promoted to the brevet rank of Major-General. In the fight at White Oak Road, March 31st, although seriously disabled by wounds, General Chamberlain distinguished himself by recovering a lost field; while in the battle of Five Forks, of April 1st, his promptitude and skillful handling of troops received again official commendation. In the final action near Appomattox Court House on the ninth of April, Chamberlain was called by General Sheridan to replace the leading division of cavalry, and the first flag of truce from Longstreet came to Chamberlain’s headquarters. His Corps Commander says in an official report: In the final action, General Chamberlain had the advance, and at the time the announcement of the surrender was made he was driving the enemy rapidly before him.

At the surrender of Lee’s army, General Chamberlain was designated to command the parade, and it was characteristic of his refined nature that he received the surrendering army with a salute of honor. At the final grand review in Washington, Chamberlain’s division was placed at the head of the column of the Army of the Potomac. The General was mustered out of military service on the sixteenth of January, 1866, having declined the offer of a Colonelcy in the regular army. In [vii] his service of three-and-a-half years, he had participated in twenty hard-fought battles and a long series of minor engagements, and he had been struck six times by bullet and shell.

During his campaign experience, he had shown marked ability as a commander, but he had other qualities as important, namely, foresight, prudence, and a strong sense of responsibility. On his return to Maine, he was offered the choice of several diplomatic offices abroad, but was at once elected Governor of Maine by the largest majority ever given in the State. As Governor, while rendering exceptional service to the State, he suffered criticism on various grounds, and among others through his support of the course of Senator Fessenden, of Maine, in the impeachment of President Johnson.

In 1876, General Chamberlain was elected President of Bowdoin College. In 1878, he was appointed by the President of the United States to represent the educational interests of the country as a commissioner at the World’s Exposition in Paris, and for this service he received a medal of honor from the Government of France.

In 1883, he resigned the presidency of Bowdoin College, but continued for two years longer his lectures on public law. During this time, he put to one side urgent invitations to the presidency of three other colleges of high standing. In 1885, finding that the long strain of work and wounds demanded a change of occupation, he went to Florida as president of a railroad construction company. In 1900, General Chamberlain was [viii] appointed by President McKinley Surveyor of Customs at the port of Portland, and through the courtesy of the Government he was enabled to make visits to Italy and to Egypt. The General was in great request as a speaker, and on various occasions his utterances showed a power that was thrilling. Among the more noteworthy of these addresses may be mentioned the following:

Loyalty,

before the Loyal Legion in Philadelphia.

The sentiment and sovereignty of the country, at the Meade Memorial Service in Philadelphia.

The State, the nation, and the people, on the dedication of the Maine monument at Gettysburg.

Maine, her place in history, at the Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876.

The ruling powers in history, at the celebration of the beginnings of English settlement on the east shores.

Among his Memorial Addresses were:

The Two Souls: Self and Other Self;

The concentric Personalities.

The higher law, conditions on which it may override the actual.

Personal and political responsibility.

The old flag and the New nation;

The Expanding power of principles.

"The destruction of the Maine";

Salute to the New peace power.

The General received from Pennsylvania University [ix] in 1866, the degree of Doctor of Laws, and from Bowdoin in 1869 the same degree.

His death came on the 24th of February, 1914. His life had been well rounded out and his years were crowded with valuable service to his state and to his country.

A gallant soldier, a great citizen, and a good man; the name of Joshua L. Chamberlain will through the years to come find place in the list of distinguished Americans.

G. H. P. New York, April, 1915

Introductory.

History is written for the most part from the outside. Truth often suffers distortion by reason of the point of view of the narrator, some pre-occupation of his judgment or fancy not only as to relative merits but even as to facts in their real relations. An interior view may not be without some personal coloring. But it must be of interest, especially in important transactions, to know how things appeared to those actually engaged in them. Action and passion on such a scale must bear some thoughts that run before and after. It has been deemed a useful observance to see ourselves as others see us, but it may sometimes be conducive to a just comprehension of the truth to let others see us as we see ourselves.

The view here presented is of things as they appeared to us who were concerned with them as subordinate commanders,—having knowledge, however, of the general plan, and a share in the responsibility for its execution. This is a chapter of experiences,—including in this term not only what was done, but what was known and said and thought and felt,—not to say, suffered; and in its darkest passages showing a steadfast purpose, [xii] patience, and spirit of obedience deserving of record even if too often without recompense, until the momentous consummation.

These memoirs are based on notes made nearly at the time of the events which they describe. They give what may be called an interior view of occurrences on the front of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the last essay in Grant’s Virginia campaign. This was so distinctive in character, conditions, and consequences, that I have ventured to entitle it The last campaign of the armies.

I trust this narrative may not seem to arrogate too much for the merits of the Fifth Corps. No eminence is claimed for it beyond others in that campaign. But the circumstance that this Corps was assigned to an active part with Sheridan during the period chiefly in view — the envelopment and final out-flanking of Lee’s army warrants the prominence given in this review.

It may be permitted to hope that this simple recital may throw some light on a passage of the history of this Corps, the record of which has been obscured in consequence of the summary change of commanders early in the campaign.

The Fifth Corps had a certain severity of reputation quite distinctive in the comradeship of the army. Early in its history, Porter’s Division — the nucleus of it-had drawn the especial praise of General McClellan for its soldierly bearing and proficiency, being unfortunately referred to in orders as a model for the rest of the army. This had the effect of creating on the part of others a feeling of jealousy towards that Division or an opposition to apparent favoritism shown its commander, which was extended to the whole Corps on its formation in the summer of 1862, when the Regulars were assigned to it as its Second Division, and the choice Pennsylvania Reserves became its Third Division. This feeling certainly was neither caused nor followed by anything like boastfulness or self-complacency on the part of the Fifth Corps; but, if anything, created a sense of responsibility and willingness to endure hardness as good soldiers to make good their reputation. And no doubt the discipline of the Corps was quite severe. Most of its commanding officers in the superior grades were West Pointers, and experienced officers of the old army, and prided themselves on strict observance of Army Regulations and military habitudes. The required personal relations between officers and men were quite novel and but slowly acquiesced in by volunteers who were first-class citizens at home,—many of them equal to their official superiors. For example: my young brother, Tom, when a private in my regiment came sometimes to see me in my tent, but would not think of sitting down in my presence unless specially invited to do so. But he went home from Appomattox Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment and Brevet-Colonel of United States Volunteers—and this on his own merits, not through any suggestion of mine.

Passages in the history of the Corps had endeared its members to each other, and brought out soldierly pride and manly character; but boastful assertion and just glorification of their Corps were remarkably less manifest among its members than with those of every one of the other splendid Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

It may not be improper to state here that there was a manifest prejudice against the Fifth Corps at Government Headquarters,—particularly at Stanton’s,—on account of the supposed attachment for McClellan and Porter among its members. This was believed to be the reason why no promotion to the rank of General Officers was made in this Corps for a long time, unless secured by political influence. Brigades and even divisions were in many cases commanded by colonels of State regiments. This worked a great injustice in the fact that officers of similar commands in the different Corps were not of similar relative rank, and some were therefore unduly subordinated to those who were not in fact their superiors in service. There was also a practical injustice in the added expense of supporting headquarters above lineal rank, which, with no extra pay or allowance, quite cancelled the compliment.

It had not been the habit in the Fifth Corps to encourage detailed reports on the part of subordinates, and in the rush and pressure of this last campaign there was less opportunity or care than ever for such matters, and the impressiveness of its momentous close left little disposition to multiply words upon subordinate parts or participants. The fact also of an early and sudden change in the grand tactics of the campaign confused the significance and sometimes the identity of important movements; and the change of commanders in the crisis of its most important battle induced consequences which, even in official reports and testimony afterwards called for, affected the motive in sharply defining actions where personal concern had come to be an embarrassing factor.

Very naturally, the immediate reports of those days are meager in the extreme; and very much of what has come out since, partaking of official character, has been under the disadvantage of being elicited as ex parte testimony before military tribunals where the highest military officers of the Government were parties, and the attitudes of plaintiff and defendant almost inevitably biased expression.

In the strange lull after the surrender of Lee and the sudden release from intense action and responsibility, but as yet in the field and in the active habit not readily relinquished, it occurred to me, impressed with the deep-wrought visions of those tragic days, to write down, while fresh in mind and mood, some salient facts of that last campaign, within my personal knowledge and observation, to serve for fireside memories in after years, and for the satisfaction of some others who had given of their best for the great issues in which these scenes were involved.

It has been suggested to me of late that these reminiscences might be of interest to a wider circle [xvi] whose hearts respond to the story of things done and suffered for truth and honor’s sake, which they would have gladly shared in their own persons. In preparing for this more exacting demand I have availed myself of additional material which, in the later consolidations in the Fifth Corps, successive assignments brought into my hands: particularly the office-copy of the Corps field-orders for the last campaign, and also the invaluable original records of the Medical Inspector of the Corps for that period. Later, came the (now suppressed) volumes of the records of the Warren Court of Inquiry, and the extensive Records of the War of the Rebellion. In revising this personal memoir, I have diligently consulted these, but have found no occasion to correct or modify the account given from my own point of view, however limited. Qualifying or corroborative testimony from these sources, when introduced, has been clearly indicated.

I confess some embarrassments of a personal nature in giving forth certain passages of this record. These facts, however simply stated, cannot but have some bearing on points which have been drawn into controversy on the part of persons who were dear to me as commanders and companions in arms, and who have grown still dearer in the intimacies of friendship since the war. Alas! that no one of them can answer my greeting across the bar. I feel therefore under increased responsibility in recounting these things, but assure myself that I know of no demand of personality or partisanship which should make me doubtful of my ability to tell the truth as I saw and knew it, or distrust my judgment in forming an opinion.

J. L. C.

PORTRAITS AND MAPS

Chapter 1: The Situation.

It was a dreamy camp along the lines investing Petersburg in the winter following the all-summer campaign of 1864,—that never-to-be-forgotten, most dismal of years. Although shadowed at the very beginning by melancholy tokens of futile endeavor and grievous losses,—consolidations of commands which obliterated the place and name of proud and beloved corps and divisions, flags made sacred by heroic service and sacrifice of noble manhood now folded away with tender reverence, or perhaps by special favor permitted to be borne beside those of new assignments, bearing the commanding presence of great memories, pledge and talisman of unswerving loyalty, though striking sorrow to every heart that knew their history,—yet this seemed not to make for weakness but rather for settled strength. We started out full of faith and hope under the new dispensation, resolved at all events to be worthy of our past and place.

Now all was over. The summer had passed, and the harvest was but of death. New and closer consolidations, more dreary obliterations, brought the survivors nearer together.

For this dismal year had witnessed that ever repeated, prolific miracle,—the invisible, ethereal soul of man resisting and overcoming the material forces of nature; scorning the inductions of logic, reason, and experience, persisting in its purpose and identity; this elusive apparition between two worlds unknown, deemed by some to be but the chance product of intersecting vortices of atoms and denied to be even a force, yet outfacing the solid facts of matter and time, defying disaster and dissolution, and, by a most real metempsychosis, transmitting its imperishable purpose to other hearts with the cumulative courage of immortal energies.

Give but the regard of a glance to the baldest outline of what was offered and suffered, given and taken, lost and held, in that year of tragedy. That long-drawn, tête baissee (bull-headed), zig-zag race from the Rapidan to the Appomattox; that desperate, inch-worm advance along a front of fire, with writhing recoil at every touch; that reiterated dissolving view of death and resurrection: the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, the North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg; unspoken, unspeakable history. Call back that roseate May morning, all the springs of life a thrill, that youthful army pressing the bridges of the Rapidan, flower of Northern homes, thousands upon thousands; tested in valor, disciplined by experience, hearts swelling with manly courage, confident trust, and supreme devotion,—to be plunged straightway