The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-04-18
AT CHANCELLORSvILLE
The First Brigade, Second Division, of
the Eleventh Corps.

you the experience of soldier boy OF
the Eleventh Corps at Characteristic.
We belonged to the First Brigade, Third
Division, Eleventh Corps, composed of
the SD ILL.,, 61st Ohio and 18th and
18th N. Y. AS 1 remember, we left
camp at Aqua Creek, Va, with eight
days rations in our haversacks the lat
ter part of April, 1868, and marched
four days to our position at Chancel-
louisville, arriving there May ], in the
early afternoon. My bunk or meSsmate,
Emil Leir, was ordered on picket duty
at once. Being a fleshy fellow and sore
from the march, 1 volunteered to take
his place. About o'clock We heard
an unusual noise, the hacking of wood
and brush. / was anxious to know
what this meant, So l moved over to my
next picket to get his opinion, and he
said the noise was made by the fellows
we had been hunting for the last four
days. Soon our Captain, George Heinz
mann, who was Officer of the Day,
made the rounds and told us who was
in front, and gave me instructions to
stand fast, take good aim as soon as the
Johnnies came in sight, and not to re-
treat. In the morning the Captain again
made his rounds, and further stated
what a great victory was gained; that
by holding our ground Lee would soon
be on his retreat. / was much pleased
because 1 thought that was what we
were there for, and about 10 O'Clock
our bands played all the National airs
they could think of. We had likely the
finest brigade band in the army, and
there was continuous cheering all along
our lines in our rear. AT noon, as we
were not allowed fires to make coffee
we made light luncheon IN bareback
There We're no JohnnieS in sight, tho
We could hear some noise in front.
A IL
Geved and went back to our command,
where 1 drew my ration of fresh beef
and the first thing 1 did was to make
me cup of coffee. While that was
boiling / took a look at our position.
In our front was cedar thicket, to our
right for about three-fourtils of mile
was an open field, and to our left for
about the same distance was also On
open field. To our right was 4 small
brook, where some of the boys We're
bathing. Ny coffee being ready, ] was
Just in the act of breaking some hard
tack into it, when there was a musket
report to our right followed by a vol
ley. The command was given to fall in.
The firing to the right increased into a
perfect roar Of musketry. / hated to
lose any of my good coffee, SO 1 strapr
on my knapsack, grasped my gun in
one hand and tin cup of coffee in the
We stood at attention for a few min
utes, were then ordered to about
facet" marched some Is rods, and then
halted just over little knoll and about
faced. Now We could see a brass band
coming at full speed, followed by troops
In some confusion. Gen. o. o. Howard
passed our rear going to the right.
stream of troops coming in from the
right, all taking cover in the woods. We
were now ordered to unsling knapsacks
and fix bayonets. Something seemed to
be happening. A few, of the boys to
the right of the regiment were crawling
to the rear; one Of my company dropt
his gun and lay down. We looked to
the front, and to our amazement saw q
column coming out of the cedar thick
ct, followed by another column and still
another. Our Colonel Fred Hecker.
gave the command, Charge bayonets!
march," and our boys moved over to a
little crest. We got one volley. The
Colonel was badly wounded and SO was
the Major. An Aid on a white horse
rode up, and with all the power of his
voice commanded: Fall back! sgd ILL.,,
fall back!" We turned to do as Or
dered, when a private from my COM
pany said: I'VE did not come here to
run away, boys. Come on!" There Were
probably about 10 or Is of Cos. B and
g who heard this. We about-faced, but
before we could advance they were all
dead but three, those who escaped be-
Ing George Rich, sandy-haired man Of
Co. G and myself. Rich took the lead
to the rear. There was lone Tree about
halfway across the field, where Rich
took cover, at once reloading his gun
The Co. 6 man was better runner than
], SO he got there next and took cover
behind Rich. / soon carIe up and took
cover behind them both. We all three
hred, taking shot at the color bearer.
expected to keep the protection of my
comrades persons, when, locking, 1 be-
held Rich nearly to the timber and Co
g man running at full speed. I first
thought / would drop, pretending was
dead. but my legs ran away with me-
saw Co. G man fall on his face; as /
shot past him his head trembled; !
think he was about dead. / finally
reached the woods, putting like a steam
engine. Making myself secure behind
q large oak, / loaded my gun, and by
that time / had my wind again. There
was a Sergeant behind a tree near me,
who swore We must hold the rebs. He
formed us into skirmish line, and we
fired two or three shots at that cussed
column. When 1t got too hot we re-
tired. We moved back pretty fast, and
struck some cavalry, who soon followed
1n our direction. Joined line OF bat
tie Of the Third Corps. It was now
about dark, and the boys were busy
making breastworks of brush About 9
Or 10 o'clock the Johnnies raised a yell
that shall never forget Our artillery
Jet loose on them, and finally they We're
yepulsed. This must have been close by
Charlottesville. Some officers would
ride along in our rear calling out the
number Of the regiments. Soon one
came along calling, "S2d ILL.,, fall in
line" / was very glad to find my COM
mand. The boys were all awake and
inquired for the other boys, but / could
not give the names of any of our boys
shot. Sunday, May 3, we were ordered
about or 10 o'clock to fall in. We
past the town, down the plank
road for about three-fourths of a mile
to a place where there were good
breastworks. Here we stacked arms.
All at once the rattle of musketry and
artillery began. seemingly in our rear.
1t scared me. j listened 1t came near
er and nearer. We could hear the John
mics, and what roar! The firing slack
ems, and We hear a great cheer. It is a
Union cheer. and we know what that
means. The Union is once more saved,
We fell back with the balance of the
army to our old camp, which we had
left about q week before. We had a
nice tent for four then, but now / was
alone in 1t, for Emil Leir, for whom !
went on picket, slept In an unknown
grave, and the others were, I knew not
where. He was true blue. Had Gen
o. o. Howard withdrawn our division
o. as much Of 1t as was possible to the