The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-29
CAPTORS CAPTURED.
Extracts From Diary of a Comrade Who Does
Not Give Company and Regiment, but Gives
Dates aud Dpings.

campaign which resulted in the battle Of
Chancellorvile. Tie following is a copy
of a diary which was recorded by the
writer of this ut the end of each day.
| April 81, 1SG2-Cp early this morning
and the Eleventh Corps was soon in busy
preparation to march, and ut the break of
| day we bid sgood-by to our old camp al
| Brooke's Station, where we have had
pleasant Winter quarters the past three
months. The long line of our corps was
headed in the direction of Kelley's Ford
Marched II miles to-day through oak and
pine woods. and camp tonight near Hart
wood Church.
April 2S-Aroused at 3 o'clock this
morning and at 4:30 was on the march
Rain commenced about day light and con
| tinued the greater part of the day. We ar
rived at Kcllcy's Ford at = p M, and on
account of the rain pitched our tents and
are to cross the Rappahannock this even
ing. The pOntOOn is being laid this at
tcrnOOn.
April 29-The long line of 10000 men
occupied all night in crossing the river.
The Eleventh Corps was in front. and the
Twelfth and Fifth followed. We were on
the move till a. M, when we went into
camp and rested till II n. m, when the
Twelfth Corps passed in front of the
Eleventh. Marched through beautiful
farm country to-day and camp tonight
close to the Rapidan, which we cross early
in the morning.
April 3O-Broke camp Mt a. m. cross
ed the Rapidan. and went into camp nj
8 n. H.; rain falling all the time. Eighty
rebel prisoners were captured last night by
the advance cavalry while in the act of
building bridge across the river. They say
that Stonewall Jackson with his corps in.
tended to come forward to meet us.
Marched to-day IL miles, on n plank road
leading to Fredericksburg. and camp to.
night II miles south of that place.
May To-day has been one of excite
ment We remained in camp until 10 n. m
when n heavy cannonading commenced in
front. We were called into line by Maj.
Riley, commanding the regiment who de,
liyered to lis very stirring address. ap-
pealing to every man to do his full duty,
as the Nation was looking to us to do good
work in tie contest of that day. We then
started toward the front, but had not gone
far when we were ordered back again to
the place we had left. and there built q
barricadc of rails. Heavy cannonading
and dense roll of muskctry in front, but
with what result is not known.
May To-day has been full of results.
From early in the morning until l p. m. a
brisk cannonading was made by our artil-
lery, and just after noon the enemy could
be seen some two miles to our front, and
seemingly trying to turn our right. Ey-
cry one was on high nervous strain, eX-
Decting something to happen. The writer
was at Gen. Devenss headquarters when
Gen. Lee. of the 55th Ohio. and command
ing our brigade, reported to Gen. Devens
commander of our division, that he be-
lieved that the enemy were preparing to
strike rs on the right flank, and thought it
highly important to send out strong force
Of cavalry to ascertain the true situation.
1t seemed to be the opinion of Gen. Devens
and also of Gen. Howard, commander of
the Eleventh Corps, that the enemy were
in retreat, and no action was taken on
Gen. Lees suggestion. Between l and
p. m. word was passed along the line that
our division, which occupied the extreme
right of the army, should stack arms and
prepare their dinner, which the emergen-
cics of the day had so far prevented.
About p. M. our company Co went on
picket directly in front of where the enemy
was supposed to be, and we had no sooner
been placed than we heard the old rebel
veil resoundins. clear and loud. which was
soon followed by a heavy and continuous
roar of musketry, and we could see our
forces gradually melting away in the on
slaught of the famous Stoncwall Jackson.
fThe Eleventh Corps has received very I'M
just criticism for this unfortunate happen
ing; but the writer will ever hold to the
opinion that some officers high in rank in
that crisis wOfully neglected to ascertain
what the enemy was doing on our right
flank: and thus brought about surprise
on our Eleventh Corps. which no other
corps could have withstood) The attack
came while our men were eating their din
ner, with guns in stack. Every soldier
knows what this means. Before the guns
could be secured the enemy was on them.
What else could happen. but n disastrous
rout? Especially of our First Brigade,
Won Gilsa's. The Second Brigade, known
rs McLean's Ohio Brigade, came next. 1t
consisted of the 9th, 32d. 55th and 10Th
Ohio. 1t was impossible for our division
10 make any resistance, as the enemy
swept in full line of battle against our
flank. The disaster was the direct result
Of complete surprise. The writer being
on the picket line was soon in the rear of
the enemy, but a persistent effort was
made to reach our lines. The right flank
of the enemy poured pretty heavy fire
into the ranks of the pickets, and several
Of our number We're wounded and disabled
before we struck into the dense wilderness,
when their firing ceased and the battle
roared to the front of us; in the dense
thcket of trees and shrubs darkness came
on us, and the night was spent in the
wilderness in the rear of the enemy. Fight
ing and skirmishing went on more or less
during the night: mimic balls and shells
passed through the branches of the trees
under which We lay, and some shells burst
intentionally near us.
May This morning we were up
with the sun and passively awaited our
fate. The battle was still raging all around
rs. We were certain that it would be
folly to try to escape through the rebel
lines while the battle was on: but shells
began to burst a little thicker than seemed
| comfortable to us in the woods, and we
made some haste to get out. We had not
gone far when we came on n squad of rebe
| cavalry, whom we took prisoners. and then
thought it would be great feather in our
caps if we could get to our lines with this
squad of men. and their horses. about &c
in number. We did not go very far until
We came full upon the rebel army, and
were taken prisoners ourselves, about s
a. m. We were escorted by our late pris-
| oncrs along the rear of the enemy. through
Il considerable shower of shell. from our
own guns, which fell pretty thick among
| the enemy and ourselves. We arrived al
rebel headquarters and found about !, 0OO
prisoners cOngregated there. We started
about 8 n. m. for SpOtsylvania Court
House, where we arrived about shutdown
and camped in the Court House yard for
the night. We noted on this march that
the country in the rear of the rebel army
was full of stragglers.
May 4-This morning we took an early
| start on our Journey into deeper Dixie
We arrived at Guiney's Station about
noon. The weather was very hot. Here
we spent the afternoon in trading with the
| rebs who are as eager as savageS to trade
for every little trinket we have. We have
now good opportunity to see the effect of