Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-05-07
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
AT CHANCELLoRSvILLE.

How JacksOn's Men Came UpNn tn,
Eleventh Corps.
! We OF Devens' division, 18th corps
had been idling away the whole day al
charlottesville. Rockers army hae
crossed the Rappahannock above Fred
ericksburg to flank Lee out of his Posi-
ton 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
a 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 priyates alike
we're kept in ignorance of Rockers 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 a 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 private soldier who stood in the
highway fall dead. The single sho.
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 a confederate with
in five miles of us, and had they been
looked for il would have been from the
other direction. A few men got into
line here and there, but the resistance
melted away as the confederates adj
yanced. 1t was furious fire which
Jacksons men poured into the
llth. 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
at the critical moment Jackson would
have driven wedge into the federal
army. Gen. Pleasanton, then COM
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 a regiment Of dis
cavalry forward to form n
line and check the confederate advance.
and the other regiments, mounted, at
once charged into the mass OF fugitiyes
and drove them clear off the field on
the left Of the plank road. Then. one
by one 22 guns were brought
10 the front and numbered.
1t was in the cleared field
10 the left of the Charlottesville
blank road and about half mile below
he famous brick house. Those guns
.ntiladed Jackson's whole front, and |
he moment his lines broke cover they |
we're met with such storms OF canister |
hat whole regiments lay down after
he first volley. For the first quarter
If an hour these guns were supported