Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-11-23
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
AT cHANcELLoRsvILLE.


How JaclSson's Mon Came Upon tho
Eleventh Corps.
We of Devens' division, 18th corps,
had been idling away the whole day at
Charlottesville. Hookers army had
crossed the Rappahannock above Fred
ericlsburg to flank Lee out of his posi-
tion on the hills above the town. The
general idea was that we were to move
down on his flank and rear, and why we
should waste time in the woods was
n mystery to all. Reports had come to
us that there had been fighting with
Stonewall Jackson's corps over on the
Furnace road. We wondered why we
didn't move out across the line of re-
treat, but officers and privates alike
were kept in ignorance of Hooker's in
tentions. Some said we were to move
towards Fredericksburg that night;
others that we would follow after Lee;
Others yet that Hooker was spreading
his net to capture the whole confeder-
ate army on the morrow.
We were on the extreme right of the
union line, and in front of us was n light
breastwork of rails and logs. From
noon to four o'clock we broke ranks,
stacked our guns and took things easy.
At five some of the men began to fry
bacon and boil coffee. AT six every
man of us was thus busy and felt GER
tain of spending the night on the spot.
OF sudden two or three rabbits came
running out of the dense woods beyond
us, and scores of men jumped up to try
to kill or capture them. Everybody
round me was laughing and shouting
when shot was suddenly heard and
saw n private soldier who stood in the
highway fall dead. The single shot
was followed by another and another,
and then some one shouted at the top of
his voice:
Great heavens, but there are the
Johnnies in battle Incl"
There was panic at once. No one
supposed there was confederate with
in five miles of us, and had they been
looked for it would have been from the
other direction. A few men got into
line here and there, but the resistance
melted away as the confederates ad-
vanvod. 1t was furious fire which
Jackson's men poured into the
11th. They were elated and enthusi-
astic, and they swarmed through the
forest as if their number was endless.
Men have said that the panic would
have extended no further, and that the
corps would have speedily recovered
from the surprise, and men have writ
ten that but for one mans GOODNESS
mt the critical moment jackson would
have driven a wedge into the federal
army. Gen. Pleasanton, then COM
manding three regiments of cavalry
and field battery, lay in position to
be run over by the frightened fugitives
as they sought place of safety. In
the midst of the most embarrassing
confusion he sent regiment of dis
mounted cavalry forward to form a
line and check the confederate advance,
and the other regiments, mounted, at
once charged into the mass of fugitives
and drove them clear off the field on
the left of the plank road. Then, one
by one % guns were brought
to the front and unlimbered
1t was in the cleared field
TO the left of the charlottesville
plank road and about half mile below
the famous brick house. Those guns
the moment his lines broke cover they
were met with such storms of canister
that whole regiments lay down after
the first volley. For the first quarter
of an hour these guns were supported
.Su ,> g r. NS1EN