The National tribune., 1890-09-11
THE WILDERNESS.

| b WILDER ESS.
staff Officers Recollection of the Salient Angle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The attack OF
the Second Corps on tho Bloody Angle" May 10
| 1864 has seldom been mentioned by those en-
| gagged, though l believe it is the only instance
| during the civil war whore q strongly in
trenched limo was surprised and captured, to-
gether with its guns and defenders, except
where tho whole line gave way.
That the reverse of the early morning attack
was countcraCted and the rest of the limo saved
intact was due TO the able management of tho
Confederate commanders, the desperate fight
ing of their men, and, more than anything else,
to the absence of any near support Mt the time
tho Second Corps had broken itself against
Ewel, III the first onslaught, and were fighting
single handed the hordes Of reinforcements from
the corps of Hill and Anderson [Longstroet)
thrown in to retrieve the disaster of the first
attack, and save tho entire line from sharing
the fate of the Salient Angle.
From what j saw and heard mt Army Head
quarters that day, drew the conclusion, which
have always held, that they had no faith in
the ability of Gen. Hancock to carry the works,
and had made no particular arrangement to
assist him either by combined attack or re-
serve force that no could use in case their line
was broken.
/ was serving in tho Inspector Generals Do
partmcnt of the Second Corps during the Spring
OF 1864, and during tho Wilderness campaign
was attached to the staff of Gen. w. s. Han
cock, which gave mo moro than ordinary facili-
ties for witnessing the movements and action
OF the CORPS
The Second Corps consisted of three Divis-
ions commanded respectively by Gems. Barlow
Birney and Gibbon. / saw Gen Barlow first
at the crossing of the Rapidan about May g.
lie was clean-shaven, looked young, almost
boyIsh, IL seemed to me. His complexion
showed the delicate tint that bctokencd the
recent invalid. He had barely recovered from
the terrible wound received at Gettysburg.
was only boy myself, and his youthful APP
pearance drew mo to him. l always rejoiced
al his successes.
/ carried many dispatches to him during the
campaign, though l don't know that he ever
knew my name, however well he recognized
my face. Gen. Birncy, of the Second Division,
was volunteer officer Of unusual merit. There
was none better, mono drawer. Gen. Gibbon,
who commanded the Third Division, was, and
i think now is, an old Army officer, we'll known
10 the readers OF The NATIONAL TRIBUNE,
We had fought the battle of the Wilderness,
had done some heavy skrmshing around
IOdds Tavern, across the Pc River and had
met an ugly repulse at the smoky charge on
the 10th. There was no fighting on the llth
OF any consequence. IL was determined that
the Second Corps should attack them Mt
salient angle in their lines in front Of Browns
farmhouse This position was about the center
of the Confederate line, some two and a half
miles north of Spottsylvania Courthouse
Their line at this point formed an angle of
about 80 degrees. 1t WAS on high ground was
well intTenched, and IN every way an ugly
looking place TO assault. 1t was defended by
the division Of Gen. Edward johnson, of Ewella
Corps, while score Of cannon looked out over
the breastwOrks.
Their EgrauI line IF
TO this angle but cut across the base, making
much shorter line, and here is whore the hard
hghting OF TIE day occurred. The details Of
the attack were all arranged and the movement
began about 10 o'clock that evening.
1 was detailed 10 conduct Gen. Brney's
division 10 the point Of attack. The night was
dark. steady rain was falling, tho roads
were muddy and the march exhaustinR 10 tho
troops, already Worn out with constant fight
Ing and marching. During the night dropped
alongside my old regiment, the l4th Ind,
spoke to comrades aud chatted awhile with
Col. Coons. lie wRs asking about the nature
OF the ground where the attack was contem-
plated, aud recognizing tho hard task that was
before u.s. said: The l4th will be there and do
their whole duty Is they had always done
before
parted from him lightly, little thinking II
would be the last time we would ever speak
together We arrived at the designated point
In front OF the angle about o'clock o. m The
troops wero placed in their proper positions for
the charge, and dropped TO sleep on the muddy
ground with the rain falling on their upturued
faces, sleeping till the dawn should call them
to battle, TO glory, 10 death.
1t was "A little after 2 o'clock that we reached
the headquarters at Browns house. I went in
at the same time with Gen. Birney Barlow
and GibbOn were already there Gen Hancock
was lying on lounge but was awake, when We
went in. Gen. Barlow was sound asleep upon
the floor. Gen. Gibbon was sitting before tho
fire. Gen. Hancock spoke few words 10 Bir-
ney and composed himself 10 sleep, with in
strnctions TO wake him at 800 Gems. Gibbon
and birney both remained awake, as did the
greater part OF the staff.
IL was arranged that Barlow should attack
at a. m. His division was formed by magsing
the regiments In close columns by divisions,
which shortened his line, but gave il n terrible
weight as an attacking force. Gen. Birney was
10 move on Barlows right in deploycd lines,
and Gibbon was to follow in the same manner,
AT the appointed hour Gen. Hancock was
awake. The rain had almost ceased, but tho
air was murky with fog and the night WAC
pitch dark. At O'Clock Barlow was awakened,
and Gen. Hancock asked him If he wished to
attack Immediately or wait until il became
lighter. Barlow looked out Of the window and
said: p" It's too dark / think il would be bet
Very well; we will wait half AN hour"
The half hour nearly passed; Gen. Hancock
walked the floor, going often 10 tho window To
note the changes IN the outlook. Anyone who
knew him could see that he was thinking in
tently, with every faculty alert. Soon the frat
indication Of the dawn began TO digpeI the
darkness, and the General began TO be merry
ously anxious for the attack TO begin. The
division commanders went TO their commands.
In few moments we were all mounted. Hap.
peDing to DO near the General almost as soon
az he was in his saddle, he turned 10 me and
said: Go tell Con. Barlow 10 move at 0nce.D
! gAloped 10 him, only short distance away.
but III reaching him had to pass through his
men. They were lying upon their backs, where
they had fallen, exhausted, after being placed
In position. The rain was falling on their up-
turned faces, and they looked CHASTITY in the
uncertain light. Their officers were moving
among them rousing them up | could but
think how many were being awakened who
would soon sleep In eternity.
1 made my way 10 Gen. Barlow who was AT
the right Of his line, quietly but rapidly Civ
ing orders. The first line was awake and get.
ting on their feet. T. said, "Gen. Barlow. the
General directs that you move ut once" He
said, Tell the General will move as soon as
the men are awake"
Il returned Immediately to Gen. Hancock
and reported. Hardly waiting for the words
to leave my lips, he said: go and tell him 10
move Immediately, or it will be too late"
/ galloped back again. The men were all
awake. The front lines were standing. those
in rear were sitting up, yawning and pulling
themselves out Of their lethargic sleep. Not