The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-27
AT SPOTTSYLVANIA.
INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM THE
DIARY OF GEN. BUTTERFIELD.

shot From the Enemy-Ihe Long
EoII"-A Surprise and Capture-Tho
Losses tf One Brigsde.
Gen. F. W. Butterflid had a very COM
plete and interesting shry of the operations
of a portion of Gen. Hancock's corps tho
Second in that meme able campaign under
Gen. Grant toward Richmond. 1t is faith
ful record, written down every day-some-
times after a desperate battle, while yet on
the bloody field; sometimes after long and
weary marches. 1t is n record of almost one
continuo't, bloody battle of iifty-one days
duration, the corps being under the enemy's
fire every. day of the. he.fifty-one excepting two.
Following we giva extracts which are of
thrilling interest:
Nav 1.-THE two armies have been gtowl-
ing at each other all day, the lines being only
seventy-fiye or eighty yards apart, but con-
ceaIed in thick, second growth timber. l re-
ccived orders from Gen. Hancock to place a
six-gun battery in position, on the front line
Of battle i selected dense growth of small
pines, where we could work withouA being
observed by the eremy. Got the batt lry in
trencted and dragged the guns in bySiand.
Sharpshooters busy all along the line, with
heavy cannonading on our right.
May I2-At II o'clock last night left
our position and marched around to the ex-
trcrc left. After dumping our knaps1cks
and everything that would make the lSast
noise, we quietly and slowly marched through
thick woods, brush and weeds until order
came along the line in low tone to "halt;
make no noise; be as quiet as possible" The
corps numbered then nearly, il not quite,
aO,OU0 men, and so quiet were they during the
march that one would scarcely have thought
that there was more than one regiment in
motion. Every soldier knew that there was
fun ahead for the morning, and that to make,
the fun more interesting it was absolutely
necessary to keep perfectly still, in order to
give us the advantage, and we always liked
TO have the advantage in n fight where our
lives were 1T stake, and we all knew they
would be in q few hours.
Gen Carroll commanded the First brigade
OF the Third division of the Second corps. As
soon our men were brought to halt, and
Just as Gen. Carroll and staff had dsmounted,
Gen. Hancock and staff rode up, and they,
too, disnount.d- Our men were all in posi-
ton. The moan had gone down and the stars
were shining brightly. All put in the time as
best they could waiting for the signal at break
of day. Some tried to sleep, some w -e crack
ing jokes and others discussing the situation;
but all spoke in voice scarcely above a
whisper.
AT THE DAWN OF DAY.
When the first streak of light appeared in
the eastern horizon Gen. Hancock, who was
pirc, asked one of his staff officers for the
time. On being told that it was 3:45, he told
Gen. Carroll that he better have his men fall
in, and at the same time sent word to other
commanders to do the same. Our horses
stood ready, having stood saddled all night.
We mounted and Gen. Carroll in rather q
stentorian voice, forgetting himself for the
moment, called out to his men: Fall inr'
Gen. Hancock spoke up quickly and said:
Il.
coming, Gen. Carroll" Soon the men were
in line, and the order was given to move for
ward as slowly and silently rs possible.
The lines of skirTniShers were fifteen PAGES
in front of U.s. Slowly, steadily, but firmly,
we moved on, each soldier carrying eighty
rounds of ammunition Occasionally an Off
Ger could be heard to calculate in low but
emphatic voice: "Steady there, boys; not so
fast; keep quiet" Finally the suspense is
broken, single shot is fired. The enemy's
outpost has discovered one of our skirmishers
through the gray morning light, and has fired
Mt him and retreatcd in hot haste. Our skir-
miSh line haltS for n moment. Our first line
of battle comes up with and joins them An
other AID another shot is fired, and then the
line of battle Is ordered to movelforyvaki
double quick. Then several of the enemy's
outposts are gobbled in; great confusion is
heard in our immediate front; the "long roll"
arms!' in the enemy'S camp.
OVER THE LINE OF BREAsTwoRKs
But it is too late. The boys in blue have
been ordered to charge with fixed bayonets
Over the first line of brcastworkS they scram-
bicd, and are in the midst of the enemy's
camp they are right among their tents The
surprise is most complete. Some of the enemy
are only half dressed; some not that, but the
whole camp, some 1900 in all, are prisoners
..fauH
Early's division commanders MANY resisted
capture, only TO be bayoneted or shot. Sew
erai batteries ot artillery also fell into our
hands
met Gen- Johnston as ne was passing over
his own Notifications ON his way to our rear
prisoner and he asked me whose troops
these were. l told him they were Gen. Han
cocks, and be said: lit was the most gallant
charge l ever saw replied: YES. il was
rather n gallant affair"
Gen. CarroIl's brigade took two stands of
colors-glory enough for one day. The enemy.
much chagrined at the inglorious surprise in
this quarter, soon came upon US in great
force; but We held our position all day 1t
was right here, IN our front, that trees which
were about foot in diameter, We're COM
pleteiy cut down by niusket balls Such was
the terrible fire from the enemy
May l3-We laid on the battle ground all
night had charge of the SkirmiSh line and
at . O'Clock this morning | received orders to
move slowly forward, Supported by Gen. Car
roll We drove the enemy several hundred
yards, capturing several stands of colors and
two pieces of artillery Gen. Carroll was
wounded-elbow broken
CarrolIs brigade has lost in this campaign
since May 5, or only ten days-I,a45 men
and officers Yesterdays and to-day's fight
ing IS called the battle Of Spottsylvania
Kansas City Journal.