Leaves from the Diary of an Army Surgeon by Thomas T. Ellis
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Title:Leaves from the diary of an army surgeon; or, Incidents of field, camp, and hospital life. By Thomas T. Ellis.

Author:Ellis, Thomas T.

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Print Source:Leaves from the diary of an army surgeon; or, Incidents of field, camp, and hospital life. By Thomas T. Ellis.

Ellis, Thomas T.

312 p. fold. facsim. 19 cm.

New York,

J. Bradburn,

1863.

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If 1-1 I LEAVES FROll TIIE DIAPTY OF A AiMY StJIGEOiN; 1.~%’-IDE-NTS OF

FIELD CA.I[P, AIND IIOSPITAL LIFE. 13y THIOMAAS T. E~LLIS, Al.D., LATS, POST-SUR.GEON AT NEW YOIRK, A-ND AC,TING ME1~DICAL DIR.ECTOR AT WITIOE,VA.

11Liter.,tu,-e itself must languish, wl~ere thoughts are no,t reiiewe(I by N-ig,orous ai~d vai-ied actio)n.” - MADA’\Ip Dn STAEI NEIV YORK: PUP-LTSJTID PY JOHTN’~UN SUCCE-SSOR, TO’-. DOOLAI)Y,) 49

AVALKEP,-STI:‘EET. 1 8 63. OR,, . 0 0

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, BY JOHN BPRADBURN, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. RENNIE, SHEA & LINDSAY STRgKOTYPEBS AND

ELCTROTYPKRS,. 81, 83 & 85 Centre-street, Nxw YORK. R. CRAIGHf’AD, PRIII., 83 N. Y. 0

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4 ~~ 0 4 %N

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cict’ Ittb, bo @;It issi T, TO MAJOR-GENERAL GEOIIGE B. M’CLELLAN, UNITED

STATES ARMY, AS A TOKEN OF ADMIIRATION AND RESPECT FOR HIS SKILL AS A GENERAL, IIIS BRRA-ERY AS A SOLDIER, HIS COURTESY AS A SUPERIOR OFFICER, IIIS IIONOR AS A GENTLE.MIAN, HIIS CIIITSTIAN’ SYMIPATTIY FOR TIIE WOUNDED

SOLDIERS OF TIIE ARMIY OF TIIE POTOMIAC, AND HIS KINDNESS AS A MIAN, BY

THE AUTHOR. a

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PREFACE. In-submitting to the reading p)ublic the follo wing pag’es, it is but prop)er to informn themi why the author has wiritteii thlese “

Leaves fiom thle l)iay of an iArmy Suro,eoil,” or on -whlat groundcls lie lays claim to their lperusal of this ;narrative of incidents of the war.

In the autumnin of 1861, -whlen recruiting was at its zenitlh, ind tlhe Citv Ilall Park was white with the tents of recruitinl officerS and its streets resonant withl sound of fie andl drum, repeated and daily representations were m’tde to tlhe then Governor of the State, by comimandiing officers of reoiminenits, of the incompetency and total want of knowledge of tire military and 1)professional duties, by tlhe sultgeons hlio hlid been appointed to the various reg,inients already sent to the seat of war; these complaints became so fireqtuent and well groundedl that the appointllent of a Post Suig,eon, -whose duty it would be to olganize thle imedical staff of eacih regim ent, inspect and vaccinate the recruits, atteind the sick, aind instl’UCt tlhe regimental surigeons, assistanit-surgeons, and hospital stewards in their duties, oii tlieir being app)ointed by the Sturgeon-(general, was decidedl oi, and the writer was selected for that position, by tlhe heads of the del)artments.

In naking, this selection tlhey were influencede by the faicts of his hlaving been in tlhe Britisls arui-y as staff sriiigeoi aud his liavinug served it tlle Cape of Goodl IIol)e lduringi, the Kliffir AVai,,wlileie duties of a similar character were performed by hiiii, atd where a

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PREFACE. his efficiency and capability earned and received the pub lic commendation of the ” Horse Guards,” the name given to the heads of the British army, analogous to the war de partment of the United States. For those services, and for wounds received on the battlefield, he was permitted to retire from the service with an honorable discharge and an annual pension. During the performance of these duties of Post Surgeon at New York, and of Medical Director in Virginia, entailing on him the care and treatment of the wounded, with the innumerable duties and responsibilities contingent thereon, the incidents related in the following pag,es came under his notice, and it was his good fortune to be able to soothe the last agonies of many hundred officers and soldiers of the army, and to bear the parting message of affection and dying blessing to many a bereaved parent or sister who would never again, in this world, meet the manly and beloved form sent out in the full enjoyment of health and spirits to fight the battles of his country, and, alas, to become a victim of that civil war, now desolating this once happy and prosperous land. In the recital of these facts the author has carefully avoided the introduction of all political or sectional discussion, deeming it beyond his province and unsuited to this faithful record of facts, which will be found often ludicrous, sometimes pathetic, but always interesting. And that the reader may so consider them is the wish, and will be (for the labor of relating them) full compensation for the AUTHOR. NEW YORK, March, 1863. 6 0

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INTRODUCTION. A XATIOX that for many years has enjoyed the blessings of peace, and whose standing army, if it deserved that name, was scarcely sufficient to protect its frontier firom intrusion, and keep in check the uncivilized tribes of Indians forming a part, though a troublesome element, of its population, could not be expected to possess the martial spirit, or knowledge of the profession of arms, rendered necessary to grapple with and subdue a rebellion or civil war of that magnitude which sprang into existence in 1861, by the secession of the slave-owning States of the South, the first overt act of which was the bombardme nt and reduction of Fort Sumter, in April of that year. Nor could it, with justice, be supposed that the machinery found sufficient for the management and direction of a few tlhousand troops, or the officials having its direction and government in their charge, and who for years had trodden in the beaten path of routine and old fogyism, would prove capable of organizing and equipping the vast army, recruited from an agricultural and commercial population, which was created on the call of the nation’s chief magistrate; many of whom were actuated by patriotism, but niot a few responded firom that necessity or want of employment which the interruptions of trade and total stagnation of commercial enterprise, through the war, had produced; others, influenced by less worthy motives, adopted the life a l 0

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INTRODUCTION. of a soldier more firom the facilities it was supposed to affordcl themn to lead a life of idleness or dclishlonesty, than fiom the desire to aid their country in its hour of trying darkness, and the government in its often Ivwell-meant but imbecile efforts to crush the gifgantic struggle that threat ened the (csrupl-tion of this vast and hitherto prosperous republic. Nor was the latter class confined to the rank and file, for many of the commissioned officers were men whose lives had been passed in gambling-houses, or bar-ioomls, and wlho, from the supposed possession of political ilfliLence, had obtained fi’om the Governors of their respective States commissions in the volunteer army, on which their ignorance, incompetency, and total want of honesty, has brougohlt disgrace, and to whilch, in many instances, the defeats sustained by our troops, and tlieir demoralized conditionI, can be traced.

A,mong the many ingeniioius coim)parisons to whichll life has been subjected, and which, if we do not clearly understand, it is not for want of ” reasonilg, by illustration,” none amlong the reseitIlanles which at mnomen ts to a quiet contemplator suggests so clearly tlhe image of a whirligig or roundabout, in which each paiticipator ofthle pastime, seated on his hlobby, is alwvays p)llislliIg some one before him, whlile he in turn is pursuecd by SOlme one behind, as the efforts of these pseudo-p)olitico officers, iwh-o by every contrivance endeavored to supplant or overreach each other, that the successful one might obtain, as he hoped, a morc extensive field for his thieving operations. In contradistinction to this too numerous class, there were manly noble and strikilng exceptions-iien who abandoned lucirative positions, and a wvell-pI)aying occulpation or comfo1-ttlble homes, to rally round the fla(r of thleir country, and dctind the goveirnmenlt fioom its threatened annihilation andi the Union o undivided Nor vweie these disinterested 8 0

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INTRODUCTION. gentlemen alone found in any one particular State or political party of the Union; for I can recall to mind many from the agricultural West, the manufalcturing East, and the commercial Mliddle States of the Unllion, who, possessed of wealth, promptly and cheerfully responded to the call, and willin,gly braved the rigorous and irksome duties of camp life, with the chances of that possible fatal future which has been the lot of so many brave and unselfish heroes, who have become martyrs to a war that has entailed misery on thousands, and that appears as likely to continue to sap the life’s blood of the nation as it did before the hundreds of thousands of lives, and the thousands of millions of money which it has cost, had been expended. The wriiter’s position having brought him in contact with most of the volunteer regiments raised, not alone in the State of New York, but in the Western and New England States, he is led to the conclusions here expressed, by an unlimited intercourse and exchange of sentiment with the officers and men composing those regiments: and lie does not hesitate to express the opinion, that the material of the army, both physically and in intelligence, has never been excelled, if it has been equalled, by any nation of the world; and, if the government (at whose desire it was called into existence, as if by magic) had but evinced an ordinary amount of prudence or ability in the command or disposal of this mighty force, it would hlave, by concert of action, struck the death-blow to the rebellion, and peace, now despaired of, would ere this have been restored to us. For the leaders of this rebellion -which has grown into gigantic dimensions, not so much firom its own innate strength, as firom the stupid blunldering and guilty miisiaanagement of the Federal forceswould have been forced to lay down their arms and seek 1* 9 0

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INTITODUCTION. an early opportunity to renew their allegiaice to this thlen iunitedl, but now disrupted nation. The prepondleratinc amiount of testimony firom wliiell tlise s ol)iiions are iformed, has been collected fi’oim tle ]nost intellig’ent officers of the airmy, cery ir’mny of whomn if(ll victims to tlhat crimninal ign’orance and blind obstinacy w-hichl has characterized the conduct ofthe war, and wlich hlas made the military acquireiments of the American pcople a by-word and reproach. The Southern peol)e, who, by education and their peculiar state of social life, are eminently qualified to command, were not slow to take advantag(e of these Federal blunders; and the unconstitutional inroads made on their institutions gave color, if not indorsement, to their appeals, descrlibing the war as one of invasion and extermination. Nor have those appeals been made in vain to the ablebodied population of the Southern States, who have respondecd with alacrity to the supposed defence oftlceir rig,lts, liberties, and firesides. Every patriotic lover of his country must deplore tlhe course pursued by the President’s constitutional advisers in sncdingc forthl the firebrands of emanoipation Iproclamatiolls, whlich hav e proved barren of all good results, and has but served to inflm-e and intensify the hatredl of the Southern people, and divide irrevocably tlie population of the loyal States; nor can it be claimed for tlese injurious p)roniunciamentos that tlhey have, in the smallest degree, benefited the slaves, for whose amelioration they were ostensil)ly issued, as flom tlleir very tenor and spirit they are alone intended for that portion of the Soutlern States over wh-ichl the Federal Government has no control, nor ability to enforce them. The Southern slave, too, if we may judge from the experience of this rebellion, has but a I ()

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INTRODUCT’ION. little desire to avail himself of this unexpected liberty; and thle ftict is incontrovertible that no attempt at a servile insrl’rection has been made, tlioug’h tlhe facilities foi )lrodillcing it must in many l)laces have 1)een al)le. Vletlier’ we are to attributc tlhis to the geneially mild(l form of slavei)ry, the fitness of the Aflican for a life of bonidage, and his unfitness for an independent state, or to the distrust of tllhe negro in the philanthropic exertions of the advocates of abolition in his behalf, the writer does not )pretend to deci(de; but the facet remains patent, that the negro, for lwhose emancil)ation this war is now avowedly carried on, has piroved himself but a poor auxiliary in its prosecution, and often an unwilling participator in its boasted benefits.

The iwriter deemis it fitting, here to state that on an iiml)artial comparison, drawn fr’om extended personal observation of the condition of the Afiican in his native land, in thle Xorthlern free States, and Canada, or in the Southern States inow in rebellion, he has become conv-icedl tlhat in none of these conditions are the negroes as happy or well cared for, talenii as a body, as in the cotton and sugar (gro0wing States of the South. Nor are these coinvictions hurriedly made or recently arrived at-thley are the growtll of y)ears of reflection; for the writer, when he left lIis Enilisli lioie in 1S842, w-as as w-arni an advocate of the doctrine of anti-slavery as ever left the slhores of happy and firee Al)ion. These introductory remarks are ma de to sliow the reader that the flicts and tlrillincg incidents related in tle following pag’es are not dictated by any political or party spirit, but are, as they profess to be, leaves from the diary of AN Ar.uMY SUIGEON. 11 0

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LEAVES FROiM TIlE DIAPRY OF AN ARAMY SURGEON. CHAPTER I. Ix the month of October, 1861, pursuant to the orders of the commandant of New York, I commenced the discharge of my duties as surgeon of the post, which included the medical supervision of the several camps in the city and on Staten Island. Camp Washington, at the latter place, first claimed my attention. It is situated on an inclined plane of the northern end of the island, well suited for the purpose, and on which the State authorities had erected a wooden barracks, capable of accommodating 1000 men, with the necessary buildings for officers’ and surgeons’ quarters. This station had been occupied by the Sixth New York, known as “Billy Wilson’s Zouaves,”

and at this time contained a portion of the Volunteer Engineers and the nucleus of two or three other military organizations, as yet in a state of infancy, but which had not reached the number entitling them to the exclusive services of a surgeon; and as the medical officers of the two first mentioned regiments had no interest in the condition of the camp beyond its sanitary condition while occupied by their __0 0

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LEAVES FRiOM THE regiments, I was not surprised to find it in a disordered state; but neither was I prepared to meet with the absence of all iegard for the healtlh, cleanliness, and comfort of the troop))s, that presented itself on my first visit, wlhich tlhe naturattl position of the ground, from its proximity to tlhe water, had made a matter of easy accomplishment. ily first care was to inspect andl reform the cookl-house and nless-room, hitherto totally disregarded, and to make daily examination of the cooked rations, suppl)lied by the coIntractoIrs, the quality of which was of the poorest kind, and had giveni just cause for repeated complaint and dissatisfltction amnong the men; and here, at the outset of my duties, I was met with the most determlined hostility by the contractors, who dreaded that the threatened inspection of the food would oblige them to supply a better and more wholesome article, and put a stop to the shameless firauds priactisedcl on thle soldier in their department.

The sum paid by the governmenit-40 cents a day was liberal, andcl enabled the contractors to realize a handsomle profit while supplying a good and wholesome quality of food. But the temptationl was too strong, and the representations I made to tle head of the subsistence department of the unfitness of the food, and the unclean and ill-arranged mode of cooking, andi issuing it, was met with the most determined and systematic opposition, backed by false statements of the intelested parties; but perseverance and the judicious use of the power I possessed, succeeded, and I soon had the griatification to see that my daily visit cluring dinner to tlhe mess-room, secured for the soldiers a clean and wholesome meal. The alternate offers of thlreats and bribes were alike unavailing to turn me aside firom the plain path of my duty, in this first essential step to promote the health of the troops. The contractors thlemselves, after some time, 14 0

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DIAIY OF AN ALRMY S URGEON. findling it of no avail to continue their opposition, became reconcile d to the change, as they learned tlhat the improved discipl in e of the men put a stopl) to the firequent outrag,es committ ed on their cookiing house and utensils by disorderly or drunk’en soldiers, who, in this way, revenged thlemselves on the contractors for the inferior quality of the provisions. a 15

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTEIt II. CAMP WASHINGTON, the situation of which is described in thle foregoing chapter, was, about this time, on my suggestion, made a depot for military organizations, while in a formative state. Its isolated but healthful condition, the facility with which it could be guarded, and its easiness of access to the city, recommended it strongly for this purpose,-the only connection with the city being by ferryboat, a small guard could at all times prevent stragglers or deserters from reaching the city, and the temptations held out by the villages on Staten Island were not more numerous or attractive than could be expected from the large number of troops stationed in its several camps; even these the commanding officers could always keep in check by the assistance of the civil authorities, which was promptly rendered. When those means have failed, the soldiers themselves, when suffering from imposition by the keepers of these groggeries, or when released from the confinement to which they had been sentenced as a punishmnent for drunkenness, not unfiequently “abated” these rutm-shop nuisances by the demolition of one or more of them. But this illegal and unjustifiable course often led to a conflict with the owners, and the personal injuries received in the encounters have often swelled the morning sick report. I succeeded in procuring, by requisition on the medical purveyor, a liberal supply of drugs for this station, and in having appointed a post-hospital steward, who not belonging to any regiment, remained permanently 16 0

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DIARY OF AN AR-IY SURGEON. w’ithl me. I also had a buildcling fitted up for a hospital, and by these and other imuchl needed reformis, was enal)ledl to t.ake care of thle sick, and in time issued to tle otlher e.aml)s on the island whatever dlrugs or hlospital supplies I needed for the tieatiment and care of tlhe sick at thlose stationlls. tUndLer orders from the State siurgeon-general, I assumed, at tlis tiiue, the medical cihaioe of Canip Sott, situated about fotiur mniles fi’oin the Vanderbilt Landingi on Stateil Island; and found, on my arrival, that over one lindre(l men of the 6tl New York Volunteer Cavahly, better knowni is tile -d Ira hIarris Guard, were sick withl measles, togetier withi the assistant-surgtieon and hlosl)itatl-stevward of tlhe re gimet, lwich w-as in tenits and( destitute of an) loSl)ital acconiniodatioun. Colone l Devin had taklen comiand but the (day-before, and the total want of discipline, agg’ravatecd bv thie unclean condition of tile caml), hiche recent raiiil,. h ad made almost iimpa).ssable, increased the laIbor of (,ettino this station into a lhealthifil condition. iIy elfrts to prociure a buiil(ling( suitable fobr a hlospl)ital were unavailing. rThe building in use for tl(he purpose was partiall] occu)ied 1by a portion of thle Si(ckles IB) iigade, for whlosec use it was erected; tile roof beingi le.aky acnd tle butilding, ini a dilapidated condition, it was totall)y unfit for a lioslital, nor wAas it until I personll y assumed the cost of tlle necessa’ repl),tirs, that I litid aliy lplace to accolniilo(1atw tlhe v-ely laiLrge ilnumber of sick, mIost of wNlom1 were distributed :,oigo the company tenlts, tlihus spre’adil(g’ this cont.)i(ai,s dis.cas, wlhichi assutilied a iialiignant tyl)e. IIo-everi, l)y co)tinlued peirsonal suipervision and d:tilv close attentionl to tl( i(,npr)~velut’lX t of tie s.iit:‘y condil(litill of tle ca ilil), an1(l euthucing’ ha,bits of cletililiess llInOllg the linc(, I liaid tile ,gratilicationl of chleckingi, its spread, whichi the hitlherto iii 17 0

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LEAVES FROM THE discreet intercourse of sick and well had greatly increased. For the month which this regiment remained at Camp Scott, my daily labors were exceedingly onerous; as the entire duty of inspecting the recruits, vaccinating the whole regiment, and the treatment of the sick, together with arduous sanitary inspections daily made of the tents, the appointing and instructing hospital-stewards, obtaining hospital supplies, all devolved on the writer. The officers of this regiment, before leaving the station, presented him with a flattering testimonial of their appreciation of his services, and made liberal acknowledgmnents of the reforms made, and the perfect organization made in the medical department. The surgeongeneral also acknowledged those services, and in refusing the unanimous application of the officers for his appointment to the regiment, stated as his reason that the position occupied by him could not be filled by any other surgeon as well versed in its duties. During this period not a single death occurred in any of the camps under the writer’s care, notwithstanding the average number of troops was over 3000.

Caml; Ledlie, at Palace Garden, New York city, was another of these stations, and to it his first morning visit was paid. It contained about 400 of the 12th New York Volunteers, and about 700 of the 87th New York Volunteers, commanded by Col. Dodge. 18 a 4

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER III. TItE command of Camp Ledlie, Palace Garden, at this time, devolved on Lt.-col. Henry Weeks, of the 12th New York Volunteers, which had been removed fi’om Camp WVashington to increase its recruiting facilities; this regiment was in part made up from the Twelfth New York iMilitia, that had served in the three months’ campaign, under the command of Col. Daniel Butterfield, its gallant conduct procuring for him a brigadier-generalship. This camp wa~ stationed at Palace Garden, on Fouiiteenth-stIreet, near 6th Avenue, in New York city, and had been previously used as a place of public amusement. It was poorly adapted for the accommodation of the troops. The quarters were two low and badly-lighted hlalls, without proper ventilation, and entirely destitute of bunks, which obliged the soldiers to spread their mattresses all over the floors, that were often wet and but seldom cleaned. This, and the many temptations to drunkenness held out to the men by the adjoining bar-rooms, greatly increased my labors, and materially swelled the daily list of those reported sick and asking exemption front duty. There not being any accommodation for the officers in the camp aggravated those evils, as their absence at night, when the men returned to quarters drunk and disorderly, frequently permittedcl rows, often attended with serious personal iinjury. The many devices resorted to by the men to procure short fuirlotughs were such as could not fail to provoke a smile for their novelty and ingenutity. If an appeal to me for a 19 ‘I 0

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LEAVES FROMI THE pass failedc, I vwoldl often hear of the same apllicant lhaving obtained one fi’omi the comnimanidant, on tle plea of tlhe sudden illness or death of a near relative whiclh had no existenee iii fact; or it mighlt be that the pass was ob)tained on the piesunmed klnowled,ge of the ihereah)onts of one or more deserters; or an assertion of the apl)licant’s ability to bring one or more recruits, and as the positions of these liine officers vwere dependent on tte number mustered into their comipan ies, thlese applications were usually successfnl. The miode of recruitilg and girantiing eonmissions adopted in tlhis State was as follows TlTe g,overnor giranted authority to any person, on appll)ication, -whlo was suppl)osed to possess the influence to raise a reg’iment, withl the understanding, that if successful hle should be commissioned as colonel of the regimenit. This coloniel would tlhen issue similar authority to persons to raise companies, withl tlhe promise of the cap)taincy wIlen the nimimiin number required by tlhe United States Army Ic(gtlations weie mustered into the Uiiited States service, and as tlhe calptain, in time, would -mak-te like arriangemients with al)pplicants for the 1st and 2d lietutenaiicies, it was the interest of all to iprocure as maniy recruits as p)ossible. As the duty of examiningii these recruits, on tlleir joilning the iregimenit, devolved on lme, and as I was iinexorably strict in my examinatioln, I fi’eqtlteitly liave given oltenee to those line officers, and tihey resorted to mlany sutbterftig’es to evade my examiinationi; nor were tlhe officers alone interested in passing any and every recruit, as it became of vital importance to tlhec colonel of the regiment, as an order was issued at tlhis time to consolidate the several oirganizations, thlose having less tlani a giveni number to be nierg,ed into tlhe largerl. Tlhis order, had it beeii carried out witlh imnp)ar tiality, would not alone lhave givc geneial satisfaction, but lhave bceil 20 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. productive of much good. But with the same system of favoritism that has cursed the army, many were given )o sitions totally unfit for the service, to the unjust exclusion of more competent and experienced men. Under this order the 12thll Pegiment Newv York State Alilitia, reorganizing for the war, under command of Colonel IIeniy Weeks, and wh-ich occupied this camp for. three montlhs, were consolidated with the 12th New York Volunteers, a Syracuse regiment, whose ranks had been thinned and re(Iduced to 400. The Syracuse regiment, coimmanlded by Lt.col. RPicihardison, was stationed at Uplton’s Hill, Virginia, and the Newv York portion left to join them; the siurgeon, J)r. Reese B. Berlky, who by this consolidation was rendered s upernumerary, was transferred to the 4thi Nevew York Volunteer Artillery, commanded by Col. Doubleday, encamiped at Staten Island. Dr. Berky, for some time, acted as my assistant at Palace Garden, and I embrace this opportunity of testifyiing to his professional ability and solicitude for the comfort and health of the men, and sanitary condition of the camp. With the officers of the 12th I had formed a most agreeable acquaintance, and felt indebted to them for their cordial co-operation in my exertions to keep the camp firee firom an epidemic made imminent by its insufficient ventilation and drainage. They left for the seat of war w-ith the best wishes of many citizens of New York, and with none warmer than the vwriter’s. It has been imy lot to meet many of them since in Virginiia, andl I klnow of 1no single regiment, that had been stationed at this post while I was post surgeon, in lwhose officers and men I felt a greater interest, or whose military reputation I felt more concern and pride for; many of the poor fellows who left the Palace Garden in high spirits have since met ani honorable grave on the truly-called sacred soil of Vir 21 0

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LEAVES FROM THE ginia. Soon after the departure of the 12th from Palace Garden it was taken possession of by the 2d battalion of 3d New York Volunteer Artillery, commanded by Colonel James Ledlie, numbering about 400 men, recruited from the agricultural districts of Western New York; their stay at this station was but for three weeks, and since their departure its use as quarters for troops has been discontinued; nor is this a matter of regret, as its position in a populous part of the city, and its unsuitableness for barracks, made its selection for the purpose alone justifiable on the pressing plea of necessity. 22 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER IV. CAMP SCOTr. SITUATED in a valley and approached by a drive of three miles firom the Vanderbilt Landing, along a beautiful road, which passes through the village of Clifton, the encamp ment named in honor of General Scott, is located. The briigade raised y General Sickles, was the first quartered here, and on its proceeding, to the seat of war, the Ira Harris Guard, or 5th and 6th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiments (then in a state of formation), were ordered to Camp Scott. Stables had been erected, and a wooden building adjoining the old homestead, called the “Stone-house,” was used as cook-house and mess-room.

The condition of these buildings, and the food issued to the men, I found, on my first visit of inspection, to be very bad, and I learned that the same contractors who supplied Camp Washington had a monopoly of this station. Feeling satisfied that the extraordinary large number of sick in camp was, to a great extent, owing to unwholesome and badly cooked food, I issued an order that the officer of the day should at each meal be present and inspect the food. This had a twofold advantage: it obliged the contractor to furnish better rations, feariing a report being made to me on my daily inspection, and also preserved order amongr the men; the want of which had been iurged by the mess-man as an excuse for the filthy condition of the mess-room. 23 a

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LEAVES FROM TIlE The wooden building used as a gutard-house, I found one of the most wretlched nd filthy holes imaginable; the roof leaky-, tlhe boarded floors had been torn up aind used for kindiclling-wood(l, by the prisoners confined in it, and all those whlo for weekls had been locked up there, had accumulatedl a heap of filth, composed of thie rejected food and offlil of every kind, whichl sent forth an intolerable and unhealthy stench. I at once determined on the removal of thle l)risoners to better quarters, and on examining( tlhe dozen or miore unfortunates, ordleredl four to the hospital, andl recommended to the commandant of thle post, hlio accompanied me, the discharge of four others. The remiaiinder being deserters, confined under written clhages 1)refLrred against them, who, at great trouble and expense had been brought,t back firom TBoston, hle had no authority or desire to liberate. To obtain a suitable building to use for a gutard-lhouse, was a matter of nlo small difilculty, tlerec being but tlhree others near the caip: olne, the lhosl)ital, I bad neally fill of patients; another, the post sutler’s establisllhnent, was too lairge, iand was indispensable to the camp, as mrost of the oficers’ and all the hospital food wvas cooked in it. I found, lho-ever, a smaller wooden building, which belonged to the former sutler of the Sickles Brigiade, and recomnmended the coimmandant of the post to take possession of it and miake the necessary chlanges to ndapt it for use as a guard-hlouse.

tav-in,g miade these arrang,ements, and hlaving had the hospital bulilding repaired and heated with lairge stoves, and( tlle belldding l)ropecrl)-
cared forl, I was able to control the epidemic then ragio)’; and, before twvo wveeks had expired, the sick report decreased friom one hundred and six to sixty-four. There was still another fiuitfil source of dis(,rdcr and dlisease, lii, tlon-lgh not in tlhe camp, exer ,)4 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SUIEGEON. cised a wonderful and pernicious influence on the mel). On the roadside which led to the steamboat landing, aind within an eighth of a mile, there stood a frame cottage, in which the vilest liquor was sold, and from whence it was daily smuggled into camp, causing drunkenness with all its attendant ill consequences, and sickness from exposure, as the men, on getting intoxicated, would ramble off into thee adjoining woods, and there lie down on the damp ground, certain to awake in the morning with a violent cold or the prevalent sore throat; besides these ill effects, the oflicers found this place a source of great annoyance, and I was not at all grieved on passing the place one day, where this rum-mnill had stood, to find it torn down. On inquiry, I learned that the evening previous a fight occurred between the keeper of the place and some of the soldiers, who, maddened with the vile stuff drank onl the premises, proceeded to blows, and in tile nilee w-hichl followed, the cottage was entirely gutted, and then levelled to the ground. Several of the men who participated in this affair, were, I found, on my daily visit to the guardhouse, doing penance for it: but, as a few days showed that the removal of the groggery was a blessing to the camp, they were let off with a lighter punishment than wvouldcl otherwise have been their lot. The isolated position of the camp was one of its strongest recommendations, and went far in influencing the selection, in spite of the soft, muddy nature of the ground, and the difficulty in guarding it against desertion by the men, and thieving by the Staten Islanders-a nest of whom from Rtocky Hollow fnade nightly visits, and generally succeeded in carrying off some booty. One night it would be a government saddle; another, a sack of oats, or even a horse; the aggregate loss to the government, by these depredations, o 25 a

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LEAVES FROM THE was considerable, nor could the utmost viilance of the officers prevent it. Camp Scott continued to be occupied by the 6th New York Volunteer Cavalry until the 23d of December, 1861, when they left for York, Pennsylvania, where they remained some months. They have since been in active service, and proved themselves, as they promised to be, one of the best disciplined and bravest re,giminents in the army of the Potomac.

A terrible snow-storm raged on the day of their leaving Staten Island, the inhabitants of which parted from them with regret, and many ladies of the island braved the storm to witness their embarkation, which, owing to some mismanagemenit in the quarteirmaster’s department, was attended with unnecessary delay and exposure that cost the lives of many of the men of.this splendid regiment, perfect in its officers, men, outfit, and discipline, and possessing, at the time of its departure, as thoroughly organized and as efficient a medical staff as any regiment that left the State. In consequence of their being unable to be moved, I kept back fifteen sick members, and also retained the hospital steward, SIr. T. E.

Icing, to take care of them, the whole being under the command of Lieut.

Wrighlt, detailed for this and recruiting duty. In a couple of weeks they were able to travel, and their leaving broke up Camp Scott, which was not again used as a military station until by the Corcoran Legion, in the summer of 1862. 26 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER V. CAMIP ARTHUR, another of the stations under my care, is situated on Staten Island, at the Quarantine Landing. It was named after the quartermaster-general of the State, Brigadiergeneral Chester Arthur, whose services in fitting out the New York troops and courteous treatment of all having official intercourse with him, has made him very popular. The Commissioners of Emigration consented to the use, by the volunteers, of the buildings and grounds of the old quarantine establishment, which had not been coi1sumed by fire when the people of Staten Island “abated the quarantine nuisance,” in 1858, while the citizens of New York were wild with the joyous excitement of the Atlantic cable procession. The buildings that escaped the fire were four in number; these, with the storehouse, a three-story brick building, and two smaller ones, were converted into barracks for the volunteers. Tle 52d New York Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Paul Frank, and other troops, had occupied this camp before my taking charge; it was, at this time, in the possession of the 78th Cameron Rifle Highlanders, afterwards consolidated with the Van Buren Light Infantry-i 104th New York Volunteers, and by the Scott’s 900, United States Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel James B. Swain, by whose name they were at this time better known; besides these the Marine Artillery, commanded by Colonel Ianchester, occupied one of the buildings before mentioned. These three organizations, in one camp, totally independent of each other, 27 0

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LEAVES FROM THE was a daily and fruitful source of annoyance, as the orders I found it necessary to issue for the sanitary regulation of the camp were but partially obeyed, each of the coi-mmandlants claiming that the duty required belonged to one of the other regiments. Strange as it may appear, there had not been any hospital established at this post until I took charge of it; the sick were previously either allowed to remain in the quartelrs, to the dangelr and discomfort of the men, or craimmed into a small room of the building used by the boatmen employed by the health officeri. Owing to the kindness of Dr. Gutn, the port physician, I got the use of this building, and, at a trifling cost to the State, converted it into a very good hospital, in which I accommodated the sick of the three different regiments in the camp. I continued in the discharge of the onerous duties of this and the other camps, until recruiting was stopped by order of the Secretary of War, when I turned it over to Dr. Walter Kidder, tbr whom I had procured the appointment of surgeon to Scott’s 900, which at this time was nearly recruited o its full number, and which soon left for Washington, where it has since done mounted provost-guard duty. I now devoted my time to compiling a statistical re port of my services as post surgeon, and on their being completed proceeded to Washington and personally pre sented them to the surgeongeneral, who was so well sat isfied with the manner I had discharged the duties of the office that he requested me to proceed to the Peninsula in a professional capacity. This was a change of location I had not expected, but as obedience, in my opinion, is the paramount duty of all military men, I hesitated not to comply. Making a hurried visit to my home, in New York, I returned to Baltimore and took the steamer 28 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. Georgiana, for Fortress MIonroe, where I presented my instructions to Dr. Cuyler, the medical director at that place. I then visited Norfolk, commanded by General Viele, which but a short time before had been retaken firom the rebels; and while here went through the navy yard at Gosport, on the opposite bank of the Elizabeth river, adjoining Portsmouth, which is reached by a ferry. This splendid yard had been burned by the Confederates before its surrender; the loss sustained by this uncalledfor and barbarous destruction of property was immense. On driving through the yard I was struck with the magnitude of the buildings, machinery, and docks, which were now lying in a heap of confused ruin, and the desolation saddened and disgusted me. I was accompanied by two officers of the Brazilian navy, whose ship lay at Fortress Monroe. We returned slowly to Norfolk, where the incidents related below occurred. I copy from my diary of the 27th of May. A really pleasant incident occurred at General Viele’s headcl-quarters, last evening. About nine o’clock, in a pitiless northeast storm, a deputation of citizens, composed of some of the most respectable persons in the community, called upon the general, and desired to take the oath of allegiance to the government. A more impressive scene can scarcely be imagined than that presented in the generial’s room, on the occasion alluded to. About forty persons were there assembled, embracing a fair representation of the solid men of the place; and the heartfelt earnestness with which they pledged themselves to sustain the Constitution of tlhe United States, gave evidence that loyalty was the sole inceiitive to the renewal of their plighted faith. Some were aged citizens, who had passed long years oftheir life under the blessingr,s ofthe Union, and who were anxious to close their days 29 a

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LEAVES FROM THE in the enjoyment of the benefits so long vouchsafed to them, but of which they have been so ruthlessly deprived by this existing infamous rebellion. Others were in the meridian of life; while others were just entering upon the stage of active duty,-and all were deeply impressed by the importance of the act in which they were engaged. General Viele addressed to them a few words of encouragement, and assured them, that the protecting arm of the government would be effectively extended over them in the future. After a pleasant interview of half an hour, the party departed, highly gratified with their visit, and confident that other deputations of a like character would soon follow their example. Intending to return to the fort next day, I spent the evening and next forenoon in looking over the old city of Norfolk, and grieved to see the deserted state of its streets and emptiness of its stores and warehouses. Nor did my uniform escape the notice or jeers of the Secession ladies who still remained in the city. Passing the corner of one of the streets, in the western part of the town, I saw a lady sitting at an open window, with a bright and beautiful child playing on the sidewalk under the casement; feeling irresistibly attracted by the little fellow’s pleasing face and merry gambols, I stopped to speak with him, and one of my Brazilian companions handed him an orange. We were, at this time, ignorant of any relation between the sickly looking lady in the window and the child; but before we had resumed our walk, she had stepped from the house, and raising the child in her arms, she took firom its little hands the orange, and returned it to the donor, with the cutting remark, that “she and her child could do without any favors firom the enemies of her country and plunderers of her home!” The scene was so sudden and unexpected, 30 0

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DI)TARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. that I was hardly able to reply for my gentlemanly comp)anion, who did not speak English; but I informed the lady that hlie was not an American, and visited NorIfolk not as a belligerent but from curiosity, and his kindness to her cld, dictated by courtesy alone, was so badly received, that it must make a most unfavorable impression on an officer of another nation’s navy. WVe were informed that the boat for Fortress MIonroe started at 3 P.r., but on arriving at the wlharf, learned that General Wool had taken possession of it, and had left at one o’clock. The day being Saturday, and I having arranged to return, and my companions being anxious to get to their ship, we were much disconcerted. Thanks to Quartermaster Morton, of General Viele’s staff, a tug-boat was placed at our disposal, in which we safely reached the Roads and were received onI boaid the Brazilian corvette Parasia with demonstrations of welcome. I was here made acquainted with the officers of this splendid ship, built in Rio Janeiro, and manned, from captain to cabin-boy, with Brazilians, with’but one exception-a Mr. Williams, an Englishman, engineer of the vessel, and who was highlly spoken of by the officers. On our arrival at the foit, rumors were in circulation that a fight was in progress or expected, on the Chickahomiiny, and with imnpatience I retired to rest, the steamer for the White HIouse not leaving until morning. Before I had been an hour in bed, a terrible thunderstorm commenced, which firightened the inmates of the Hygeia Hotel, where I stopped,-in fact, the only hotel at Fortress MIonroe, the greater part of it being occupied as a hospital, under thle charge of Dr.

Bouiitico, -so that the portion used for an hotel was limnitedl, and miserably furnished. It was kept by one of the Willards, of Washington, who added nothing to his reputation by 31 a

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LEAVES FROM THE the management of this hotel. It rivalled in’filth and exorbitant charges any California ranch that the reader has ever heard of.

In consequence of the crowded condition of the house, I was the joint occupant with two others, of a dark, small-sized room. Fortunately they were acquaiutances, and one of them, a Mr. Cook, of New York, on hearing the very loud thunder, arose firom his bed; scarcely had he done so, when a much louder clap and the most vivid flash of lightning lit up the room, this was soon followed by a crackling of broken timber and hurried voices in confusion, which we learned proceeded from a government stable near the hotel, that had been struck and set on fire by the lightning. The uproar caused by the fire, lasted through the greater part of the night, and morning broke long before we expected it. Swallowing a hurried breakfast, I proceeded to the steamer John A. Warner, bound for the White House, which, after a pleasant, though tedious passage, on the most tortuous river I had ever seen, we reached at six o’clock. Anxious to press forward to the sphere of my duty, I landed without delay, and found spread over the railway track, on the wet and muddy ground, over three hundred wounded firom the first day’s fighlit after the battle of Chickahominy, or by some called Seven Pines or Fair Oaks. In order to give the reader a clear idea of the engagement I copy firom my diary of this dlate, and would here state that I am indebted to officers who were on the field, and to Mr.

Farrell, of the New York press, for the subjoined graphic description of this bloody and fiercely contested fighlt, in which so many brave fellows fell, and cwhich will be long remembered by every manai of the left wing of the army of the Potomac. 32 0

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DIARY OF AN AREMY SURGEON. CHAPTER VI. THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS. THE army of the Potomac which, since the battle of Williamsburg, had encamped on the Chlickahominy creek, w i t h its left wing resting on that stream, were suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by the rebels, under General Joe Johnston; the attack began by driving in the pickets of Casey’s division, and so sudden and fierce was the onslau gh t that before th e line of battle could be formed the enemy had fired several volleys into, and killed many in their tents. So ggreat was the consternation and confuision cau sed by the c harge, th at the brigade which formed the centre of the division was thrown into disorder, one or t w o regiments of whic h broke and run, but the 88th New Yo rk, 83d Pennsylvania, 5th New Hampshire, and 3d .i aine Volonteer s, succ eeded in rallying to the fight and checkce d the panic and dismay caused by those two regimi ents tturnin g thei r b ack s on the enemy. The engagement n ow became general along the line, and the corl)s to which these regiments belonged, under the command of General S umner,, were soon under a heavy and murderous fire. The commanding general soon learned of the assaults on h i s left iwing and the unfortunate disorder into whichl Casey’s division w as thr rown, and ordered a reinforcement t o supporot the columns, which had now borne for two hours the hottest part of the fight. The soft and muddy state o f the groun d alon g th e creek, and at Seven Pines, ren 2* 0 33

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LEAVES FROM THlE dered the movements of the artillery a most difficult task, and the day wa s fa r spent before sufficient numbers arrived t o prevent Johnston, th e rebel general, carrying out his de sigi of cuttin g off the left wing from the centre and thus whipping them in detail. The sultry heat of the atmos. phere told terribly on the men and horses, and increased the fa tigues caused by the condition of the ground. But not withstanding(r these impediments the charges of the rebels, thou gh made in a style of daring, and with a gallant bear ing( seldom excelled, were met by our men with the most uinflinchingc heroism, and on two occasions the order givenl to dislodge the rebels from the copse-wood adjoining the Se ven Pines, f rom which the battle takes its name, was condlucted with un hesitating alacrity and spirit, and the hotly contested possession of the ground, cost the lives of many hundred brave fellows. In one of these affairs, a corporal of the 88th New York Volunteers, Irish Brigade, got separated from his company, by pressing onward too eagerly when the rest of his column were ordered to halt, and before lie could recover his position found himself surrounded b y over a dozen Confe derates, who loudly ordered him to sur render; withou t replyling to their demand he stepped aside and, aiming his musket, shot a sergeant of the 11th Mississippi, and then retreating behind a tree, where, for a few moments, he was concealed, he reloaded his piece, a gain advanced, and taking aim picked out another, who fell firom the mass of yelling rebels; by this time his regiinent had regained t he ground it temporarily lost, and he, again falling into its ranks, advanced to the edge of the wood, from which the enemy had been driven, but to which they soon returned strongly reinforced, and, in turn, d rove our men f rom their vantage ground. A minie6-ball having struck one of the officers of his regiment, this cor a 34

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. poral, and a companion, lifted him fioni the ground to carry him to the rear, and while so engaged he was shot through the ribs; in this condition, and side by side with his captain, he was, after a tedious delay of many hours, carried to the railway station, and placed on board the fieight car, with 300 others. I met him when the train arrived at the White House, and during my professional attendance on his mortal wound received from him the foregoing facts. The train that brought this humble but brave corporal, brought down 65 of the wounded of this regimcnt and over two hundred of other regiments of the division. All of these were wounded in the repeated contests for the possession of the copse-wood, but as it affoi’ded good cover for the enemy’s riflemen it was deemed important to dislodge them from it. Saturday night closed in on the contending forces, and the result of the day’s fighting was clearly in favor of the rebels. The Union loss could not be less, in killed and wounded, than 3500. The rebel loss was not so large, thoughl their loss in having their daring leader, General Johnston, wounded, was a heavy blow.

During the niight the men slept on their arms, and a heavy thunder-shower deprived them of the rest so much needed after their day’s hard filghting, and, if possible, made worse the condition of their muddy camping-ground.

Sunday morning broke bright and clear, and a glaring summer’s sun shone down on the mud-stained and begrimed ranks of the contending armies.

Orders having been issued by the commanding general, MIcClellan, to attack the enemy, a hurried breakfaist was swallowed, and the long-roll being sounded, the line was formed of fiesh troops, the ranks of those regiments engaged the day before being sadly thinned by the asualties of the fight.

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LEAVES FROM TSlE The attack on General Casey’s division, which it appears numbered only about six thousand men, was made sud(ldenily by a force of about thirty-five thousand rebels. General Casey’s camp was located in a cornfield, surrounded by woods; and the enemy, after driving in his pickets, which were a mile in advance, made a sudden dash on the camp, with the above-named immensely superior force. The troops of General Casey fought splendidly, the general himself and his field-officers braving danger without flinching; but in the face of overwhelming numbers, they were forced to fall back until reinforcements arrived, as mentionecd in General MIcClellan’s official report, when the fortunes of the field were speedily turned by the action of Heintzelman’s, Richardson’s, Sedgwick’s, Kearney’s, and Keyes’ corps, and a complete victory of the Union army was the result. All acknowledge the importance of that victory, though our loss was undoubtedly heavy. The bayonet charges made by Richardson’s and Sedgwvick’s divisions on the flower of the rebel army, commanded by Generals Huger, Longstreet, and Rains, were magnificently executed, and although the enemy stood the fire of our troops bravely, they broke before the vehement charge of the bayonet, at every point. The loss on both sides during this portion of the action, was very serious, the rebels suffering terribly. Saturday, May 31st, 1862, is distinguished to the future as the first day of the hard-fought battle of the Seven Pines. This battle was an attempt of the rebel generals to force our lines and to drive back upon the Chickahominy river, now swollen greatly, the left wing of the Union army. ,Iany suppose the present hig,h state of the Chieckahominy river not to be natural, that the rebels by some contrivance of dams near its head, have flooded it, and that their 36 a 4

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURIGEON. strategy went so far as to involve our original passage of the stream, which they are thus thought to have permitted that they might swell the stream bchind us, and then, by an overwhelming attack, cut off and destroy the whole of General Keyes’ command, and whatever other troops might be in its rear. Perfectly informed of oUr position and force, they chose a point for their attack that could least bear it. They intended the blow to be desperate, and made it with their best troops. Eighteen thousand men of the rebel army in one division. Men from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Virginia,-men of high courag(e and admirable discipline, led by General Longstreet, left Richmond at daylight, on that Saturday, and went out to battle. They went also to ruin, failure, and defeat. Never did simple courage more deserve success than they did; never did soldiers falter less under fire or show a better front than they did through five long hours of that day. But they returned to Richmond, save that large proportion of them that, side by side with so many of our own brave men, “look proudly to heaven firom the death-bed of fame.” Returned to Richmoncl, and far to the rear of the left wing, the Chickahominy tumbles turbulently on: the Union lines are drawn closer than ever; the Gaul is still at their gates.

Though the battle of the Seven Pines may not be the bloodiest of the war, it is the most important battle yet fought, and it is the one in which the armies of either side have had their hardest fight. Nor will it fall far behind any other fight in respect to loss, as our own will amount to eighteen hundred killed and four thousand wounded, while the loss of the enemy was cven grieater than this. Nearly all of our men are accounted for, and the number of our missing is consequently small, while of the enemy’s 37 0

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LEAVES FROM THE men we have taken firom a thousand to fifteen hundred -)i’isoners. For a short distance beyond the Chickal1ominy river the highway to Richmond, known as the Williamsburg road, runs directly west to the rebel capital. Seven miles east of Richmond, on this road, is the place known as the Seven Pines; a common country road, k,iowin to us as the Nine Mile road, crosses the main road, and on the left (our left) runs thlrough the woods towards ,White Oak Swamp. On the right the road runs in a northwesterly direction by Fair Oaks station, on the railroad to Richmond. By this road it is nine miles from the Seven Pines to the city.

In the northwestern angle of this road and the main road is a house, and farther up the same road, beyond a swampy wood, is another house. A third house stands to the right of the Richmond road, half a mile nearer to Richmond, and a fourth on the lefthand side of that road. Beyond the latter house was a large open cultivated field. Towards Richmond both these fields are bounded by a thick wood, the edge of which had been felled to form an abatis and obstruct the approach of the enemy. Dense woods run all along our left, but nearly all the battlefield has once been cultivated, though in parts of it there was a high growth of wood when we came up; this was felled and formed abatis. General Casey’s pickets were in the edge of the wood, beyond the house before mentioned, and his camp was formed with his first brigade on the rilght, his second in the centre, and the third on the left of a line across the plain in the rear ot some inconsiderable earthworks hastily thrown up soon after his occupation of the point. These wiorks,-a redoubt on the left, and a line of riflepits,-were planned by Lieutenant McAllister, of the United States engineers, and executed by Lieutenant E. Walter 38 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. West, acting engineer on General Casey’s staff.

It is necessary to speak of the condition of General Casey’s command; and it will not, perhaps, be amiss to say of it, what is not true of any other division of the army, and what will not be true of that division, after a few weeks of rest. It was made up, when first organized, of very raw troops-the latest enlistments of our immense army. There was no cohesive strength, even in the regiments; discipline was lax; and the men, as soon almost as the division was formed, were pushed into active service, made to march and starve with our year-old regiments; to bivouac and fight, side by side, with those who had been out so long as to consider themselves veterans. Numbers, consequently, became sick, and this weakened his division considerably. Aloreovei, it had, on the day of the battle, an unusually extensive picket line, and nearly every regiment had out three companies on picket or fatigue duty,-from these various causes this division had not in the field, on Saturday, more than six thousand effective men. General Longstreet, of the rebel army, left Richmond with the whole effective force of his command (six brigades), purposely to drive the Un,ion forces across the Chickahominy. Other troops also came, and a number of prisoners state the force in the field at five divisions.

They advanced down the WVilliamsbuig road, and thus the whole brunt of the first attack fell upon General Casey. It was about noon when we first hdard the scattered fire of our pickets in fi’ont. For two or three days before, there had been skirmishes between the pickets near the road in firont, and this was mistaken for another affair of the same kind, and thus some time was lost, fol, instead of the dispositions that should have been made, a regiment was simply ordered out-the 103d Pennsylvania, to support the pickets. This regiment went out quickly, 39 0

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LEAVES FROM3 THE was formed near the road, and almost stumbled upon the enemy advancing in line of battle. Before the men had even loaded their pieces the One I-Hundred and Third re ce(ived a flill and steady volley, fiom the effects of which it did not recover. That one fire, delivered almost as a complete surprise, and which our men could not return, cut down perhaps one-fifth of the regiment and demoralized the remainder. No more service was had from the One Hundried and Third that day, and what was worse, the men began to stream to the rear, with the old story of “cut to pieces;” it is a shibboleth with many, in which they boast their own dlisgrace, though in this case it was somewhat different. Of course this stream of men had no good effect upon the spirits of their fellows, and thus the day began in misfortunes. But that one volley, while it annihilated the regiment, told, quicker than courier could carry the news, the mistake that had been made, and that the enemy were upon us. Casey’s force was turned out in a hiurry and formed, and Colonel Bailey, of New York, Casey’s chief of artillery, had the enemy’s line under his fire before it had gotten through the first wood, and before the line was completely formed. Spratt’s battery, which was posted in a field to the right of the road and near the edge of the wood, and RIegan’s battery, which was also in the same field between Spratt’s and-.the house, got into action immediately, and were supported by the 100th New York, in the road to the left, by the 11th Alaine and 104th Pennsylvania on their right, and by the 92d New York in the rear. B(th batteries did splendid execution, but the enemy’s line advanced silently and steadily, receiving the fire with apparently perfect coolness, and firing in return with great effect.

As the enemy’s line came into fire of our infantry, regiment after 40 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. regiment gave it to them in fine style, but still if there was many a gap in their lines, there was no break; fire after fire tore through their ranks but could not break them, and our regiments engraged at that point, fell back, a little shaky perhaps, but in good order. Spratt’s battery was composed of’Napoleon guns. Four hundr’ed yards in fi’ont of where it was posted, there was rather a difficult railfence, which the rebel line had to cross. As they came up to it, the fourl Napoleons played upon them fearfully with grape and canister. They could not pass the fence. Every time they came up to it, the new discharge tore their lines asunder, mowed wide gaps through their formation, and held them there beyond the fence. They did not pass the fence till Spratt’s grape and canister were gone. IHe could not be supplied again, for the wagons were beyond the Chickahominy. So the rebels passed the fence, and Spratt with his four Napoleons fell back to the redoubt. Regan’s battery still maintained its fierce fire. But now the enemy dressed his line in the most perfect manner, and made for that.

Should he have a few more pieces? Not if fire could prevent it, and the fire of the battery became warmer, while that of the four infantry regiments that supported it was redoubled. But fire could not prevent it.

General Casey saw that, in spite of what hle could do, the battery was gone. The old hero, conspicuous on his large gray horse, and by his white hair, rode in the thickest of the fire, formed the four regiments, the 92d and 100th New York, the 11 th Mlaine, and the 104th Pennsylvania, into line, gave the word, and led the charge in person. _’dre couzld ot sctve the battery, beet tae bcayonet didc! Back went the rebel line, driven fairly out of existence. Plenty were behind however to take its place, and still the enemy came on. And now a new line appeared on the right flank of Casey’s 41 a

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LEAVES FROM THE front, and Re(gan’s battery and its supports fell back.

Another attack came simultaneously on the left flank, held bythe 98th and 96th New York, and they too retired, still in good order. Casey’s division was thus fairly driven into his first line of defence, and the enemy advanced against that in the redoubt. On the left was Bates’ battery of six pieces, which immediately began to put in reasons why it should not be taken. In support, were the 81st and 85th New York, and 85th and 101st Pennsylvania; Fitch’s battery was posted to the right, and in rear of the redoubt, behind this line, Casey’s other regiments now retired. There was a silence of a few moments, and the rebel line again began its terrible advance. Bates’ and Fitch’s batteries had already opened, and now also the four rebel batteries did the same; the rebel infantry, and our own infantry. Never since this war began has there been heard a more terrible fusilade. At this time the left of the rebel line was formed of Jenkins’

Palmetto sharpshooters (South Carolinians), the 6th South Carolina regiment, and the 6th North Carolina. A fair view of this line was obstructed by the abatis of fallen timber between us and it; but we knew how steadily it came on, for over the obstruction of branches and green leaves, we could see the light faint fiinge of smoke curl up firom the continued file fire, and far above the smoke their white battleflag fluttered proudly out and showed how fast they came. This battleflag is, doubtless, what has given rise to the many stories of the enemy’s exhibition of flags of truce in battle; it is a small square white flag, with sometimes a regimental insicgnia upon the centre, but at others a green cross charged with stars. The enemy reached the redoubt and the riflepits, and stormed both. In the redoubt was left Bates’ whole battery and two of Spratts’ guns, because they 42 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMNIY SURGEON. could not be taken away, but every gun was spiked. Out of one lot of one hundred and thirty-eight horses, only twenty-eight were left alive. Casey’s resistance was now pretty well done with; his batteries were all en routte rearward, and the majority of his regiments were completely broken, but we must not overlook what the gallant old soldier had already really done. General Keyes had apparently not been fiom the first very sanguine of his ability to hold Casey’s position, and had given his whole attention to see that Couch’s line of battle behind Casey should be such as to hold the enemy and check him there at least. Thus Casey was so far left alone, save some assistance rendered by the New York 62d, 55th, and a regiment from Kearney’s division. But this assistance was completely ineffective. The attack began shortly after twelve o’clock, and the battle was in full fiury at two; for three hours and a half, General Casey, with six thousand raw troops, had suistained the whole weight of the rebel onset, an onset made by a force at least triple his own, and with the very oldest regiments of the Southern army. From Casey’s front to the point of his last resistance it is not half a mile, and it had taken the enemy three hours and a half of hard fighting; hlie had lost by casualties nearly every fourth man he had in the field. He had lost many of his best officers, including his gallant and capable chief of artillery, Colonel Bailey, and now, at last, he was compelled, with a heavy heart, to relinquish the unequal struggle. During the quiet that ensued, after the loss of Casey’s last position, General HIleintzelman arrived upon the field and assumed the command that had been previously held by General Keyes. General Couch, upon whose command the enemy was 43 0

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LEAVES FROM THE next to fall, had upon the field parts of twelve regiments. The brigade that contained his oldest troops, General )Decin’s, had only the 7th and loth Massachusetts, and the 36tlh Xew York, on the field, and each of these regiments had three companies out on picket.

Peck’s brigade also, and Abercrombie (lately Graham’s), were both weakened in the same way; but General Couch, ready for any emergency, prepared to do his best upon the first intimation of the enemy’s advance, his division was quickly turned out and posted. Two lines of rifle pits, rather inadequate for the purpose, had been constructed in advance’of Couch’s camp, and in open fields to either side of the main road and in front of the cross-road; in the pits to the left of the road the 55th Xew York and the 62d New York had first been placed, but when they went ahead the Massachusetts Tenth were placed behind the pits with the 93d and 102d Pennsylvania on its left and rear; in the wood on the right and a little in rear of the 10th, was posted battery C, 1st Pennsylvania Artillery, Captain McCarty. In the pits to the right of the road, and nearest the road, was the 36th New York, to the right of the 36th the 7tlh Iassachusetts, in rear and to the righlt of the 7th was Captain Miller’s battery of light twelve pounders. Farther to the rilght, in advance and resting on the Nine Mile road, was the 23d Pennsylvania, and behind it the 1st Long Island. The 31 st and 61st Pennsylvania and the First Chasseurs, were also on the right towards Fair Oak station. Brady’s battery was in the same neighborhood, and Flood’s battery was placed behind tho Nine Mile road, near to its junction with the main road. Such were the positions taken by the respective parts of Couch’s command. At two o’clock the Williamsburg road was lined with a stream on their way to the rear. Many were wounded, a 44 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. and they seemed to show their wounds as the expianation of why they went in that direction. Others were sick, and others again were the firagments of the broken regiments, the i103d, 104th, and other Pennsylvania riegimIents, for it is only simple justice to say that the Pennsylvanians were in the majority in this stream.

Casey’s division, however, was composed, in a very large degree, of Pennsylvania troops. General Keyes and Couch both endeavored to ailrest this rearward stream, at first by moral suasion, and subsequently by guard. Lieutenant Eccleston, the efficient provost marshal of Couch’s division, was posted in the road with his men, and did what could be done in the matter. General Keyes, accompanied by his staff, rode to every part of the field, and did much, by the example of entire indifference to the einemy’s fire, to inspirit the men. It was little more than halfpast four when the renewed advance of the enemy brought them to Couch’s line. His line was not drawn exactly parallel to the enemy’s advance but was obliqued in such a manner that its right became first engaged. Once more the woods were alive with fire. Colonel Neile, with the 23d Pennsylvania, was first into it, and by his presence kept up the spirit of his men. His fire had been reserved until the enemy were very near him, and only six rounds had been discharged when his own men and the enemy’s were fairly face to face. Then the colonel gave his men the word to charge and went in ahead to show them how to do it. Again the cold steel was offered, and again the men of the South refused it. They gave way and scattered before the Twenty-third, and the way was clear, but now Neile had the fire of the enemy upon his right and left and began to suffer severely as lihe fell back to his place. Many of his men also had gone down in the charge besides those that were hit, for it was 45 0

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LEAVES FROM THE over difficult ground and as they came up again did not find their regiment. Thus the Twventy-third was weakened but fell back fighting, and Colonel Neile, with his colors ctad less than a hitc’lred men, formed on the 1st Long Island, the next regiment to his line, and in a few minutes later our whole right was in hot battle. There the fight seemed to have formed a nucleus, and supports were poured in from the ]eft; the 93d and 102d Pennsylvania, and the 62d New York, were hurried across; and a brigade of Kearney’s division, Birney’s brigade, then on the railroad,, was ordered to push ahead and get into action at that point.

While these occurrences were going on, on our right, another misfortune happened on our left. From its place near the rifle pits the Massachusetts Tenth was ordered into a piece of ground nearly surrounded with abatis, and with the thick wood on its left, the 93d and 102d Pennsylvania were ordered to the right. Thus the Tenth were left in a bad place and entirely without support. As the enemy advanced firing and torn by the firing of Flood’s, MCarty’s, and MIiller’s batteries,-for Miller, firom his side of the field, when hlie could not get a clear shot at the enemy in his front, threw his missiles clear across the field, and with awful effect, too,-as the enemy advanced under his fire and the Tenth became engaged in front, a body of the enemy made their way through the woods on its left. Lieutenant Eccleston first discovered this body and rode desperately over the field to find General Couch, that he might get an order for the Tenth to move and so save it. But his exertions were vain, General Couch was in the thick of the struggle on the right, too far away to be reached in time.

Colonel Bri,ggs was not aware of the approach of this 46 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. body, but as he knew the position that Peck’s iegiment had held, he deemed the report incredible, and went in the woods to see. He had not far to go. There they were, not only in the woods but through it, and ere an order could be given they delivered their fire in the full rear of the Tenth. Utter confusion was the result. The regi ment broke, but it proved itself to possess that power which has been denied to Volunteers, and claimed as the especial attribute of old and so called “regular” soldiers, namely, the power of regeneration. It was rallied and becamne once more a complete regiment, with only those out whose bodies lay upon the field. Nay they did it repeatedly. Four different times they were broken on that day, and four different times the gallant Tenth were rallied and went back into the fight. Thus reformed the Tenth went back into the rifle pits to the left of the road. But the left now rested upon others. Kearney was in and at it. 3Beiry’s brigade, and a portion of Jameson’s, now held the left, and the Tenth was soon called across to take part in the bitter struggle at that point which was then our right, but which, by the extension of our line, by the arrival of firesh troops, on both sides, eventually became the centre. After the brilliant fight of the 23d Pennsylvania, which is described above, the enemy brought up a large reinforcement of fresh troops, and advanced again in the same good order that had been observed in his line throughout the battle. Miller’s battery, a splendid battery of Napoleons, formed in a field in advance of the Nine MIile road, and tore the rebel ranks terribly until the rebel artillery got the exact range of it and hit the pieces every time. Then it changed its place, and Brady’s battery to the right kept up a rapid fire.

Soon the 36th New York, the 7th MIassachusetts, the 1st Long Island, the 1st Chasseurs, 61st, 31st, 47 0

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LEAVES FROM THE 33d, and 102d Pennsylvania, 62d New York, and 10th 3iassachusetts, were all hotly engaged at that point. Three batteries also played on the advancing line, and still it came on, it seems as if nothing can stop it. The scene at this time, was awfuilly ma,gnificenlt, the faint smoke of the musketry fire arose lightly all along the line, just so the heads of the men could be seen through it, sudden gusts of white smoke burst up firom the mouth of cannon, all around bullets shredded the air and lwhistled swiftly by, or struck into trees, fences, boxes, wagons, or with their peculiar chuck into men, and far up in the air shells burst into sudden flame, like shattered stars, and passed away into little clouds of white vapor, while others filled the air with a shrill scream and hurried on to burst in the rear. Every second of time had its especial tone, and every inch of space was packed with death. It seemed that the enemy’s advance was checked, for he was fairly stopped in the swampy ground, near the iNine 3Iile road; but he had gained too much to give it up easily, and he tried again, and again our line gave way. The 1st Long Island broke, but two of Jameson’s regiments, the 57th and 63d Pennsylvania, would have more than retrieved it; but Colonel Campbell, of the Fifty-seventh, was soon down, but Colonel Hays, of the Sixty-thlird, kept the men in their places, and inspired all around him; yet the fire was fearfutil, the regiments seemed to melt. At this point it was that Colonel Devins received his wound. Hardly a man remained mounted, for every horse was shot, and the regiments were thinned and thinned terribly; but a few brave men stood there for their country, and kept their places.

Birney’s brigade, of Kearney’s division, when he advanced, had been ordered to advance by the railroad in fuill time to have reached this 48 0

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DIIAR.Y OF AN AR?,IY SURGEOLN. point of our hardest fight. Had he reached it, hfis fl’eshl troops poured in after the hard fight already made, must have tunned the tide, and the enemy would have been routed then; but he did not, he halted. Patterson’s brigade, formed into Bilrney’s left, went into the swampy wools and almost impassable thicket and pushed on still, while Birniey with a fair dry road, and the filght not a mile away, halted and sat down. It is not certain that our men would not still have held the point, but inowv they were ordered to faill backl, rallyiing and forming as they went, so that they gave ground and kept their order. The fight in that part of the field on tlhe AVilliamsbturg, road for that day ended a few hundred vards faithier on. For hour after hour, the enemy withl continued accession of firesh troops had pushed on, and now after lie had pushed us a mile, we still wenet fighting him, step by step, and in good order. Ihis impulse was spent a,nl he stopped. He occupied our camps that night withl troops -who had not been in action. AWhen the enemy finally forced our position on the Nine 3Iile road, the greater part of Couch’s division fell back in the direction of the AWilliaisburg road. But the general himself, with a smaller body, beiing, nearer to Fair Oakls station, fell back across the railroad, and was thus cut off firom the army. As soon as this was ascertained, hlie prepared to lmakle the best of it. He examined his position carefully, sent men to beat p) all the roads, and especially along the New Bridge road, to see if Sutmner might be near.

The force with Couch was found to consist of four regiments: the 1st New York Chasseurs, Colonel Cochrane; the 62d New York (,Anderson Zouaves), Colonel Riker; the 7th MIassacliusetts, Colonel Russell; and the 31st Pennsylvania, Colonel Williams; and Brady’s battery of four pieces. His 49

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LEAVES FRO.I TiHE position was in a large open field, in an an,gle between the railroad and a road that runs northward towards New Bridge. On the west was a dense wood firom which tl)e enemy might emerge any moment; and on the south was the railroad and a fiinge of wood, thlrough iwhich they could cross for a flank attack. Whether he had any road for retreat, the general did not know. So he formed two lines of battle,-one towards the railroad, with a section of Bi-ady’s battery, supported by the Mlassachusetts 7th; another towards the wood to the west, with the other section of the battery, supported by the Anderson Zouaves, with the 31st Pennsvlvania and the 1st Chasseurs formed close in the edge of the wood, under cover of a railfence. Lieutenant Edwards, who had ridden down the Newv Bridge road, came back with word that Sedgwvick’s division was only two miles away. Couch knew hle could hold his ground till they cane, so he was saved the misfbortune of defeat. They hurried on, and came up at halfpast five o’clock, General Sutmner with them. No change was made in Couch’s dispositions, save in the comparative strength with whichl either line was held. The 1st Minnesota, Colonel Sully, was formed on the right of the Chasseurs, and Ricketts’ battery of Napoleons to the left of the 31st. All the rest of the division was formed on the line towards the railroad. Shlortly after six o’clock the enemy advanced through the woods, onI the west-in what force, it cannot be said with certainty. Prisoners report it at eight thousand. As we caught two brigadiers, the number is, perhaps, not overstated. As soon as the line of the enemy’s advance was known, Ricketts’ battery opened, and threw grape and canister into the wood with great effect. Brady was not idle either. One wounded man, of a North Carolina regiment, taken 50 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. fiom the field the next day, says, “that he fell at the first fire; and, that his regiment only went a dozen yards beyodcl the spot w-here hle fell, until it brokle.” It could not be rallied. Btt the line kept on until it was in the edge of thle wood, and wiithiii ten paces of w-here the 31st Pennsyl vania, the 1st Chasseurs, and the 1st i[innesota, lay on thleir faces, between the rebels and the battery. The rebels could not see them, and as they came to the ed,ge of the wood, they delivered one volley at the Anderson Zonaves, in the field fiuther out.

That volley killed Colonel RIiker, and the Zouaves broke and ran. Yet they ran only tiwenty yards, lwhen they were rallied, and went righlt up to the edge of the wood and opened th)eir fire. \No sooner had the rebels by that volley emptied thleir guns, than the three regi ments that had been lying down arose to their feet, and ponredl a volley in at almost no distance at all. ” That volley settled that fight.” Through the woods in fiont, the rel)els lay dead and -wounded in heaps. Briigadier general A. C. Davis was found dead there; and Brigadiergeneral Pettilgrew, wounded and his horse killed, was there taken prisoner. When the rebel line advanced in the wood, Gorman’s biigade, fiom the line of battle on the railroad, was thrown forward on the right flank of the rebel line, to turn it; but when the musketry broke that line, and the rebels fell into confusion, the birigade pressed forward, and so cut off and drove in a large number of prisoners. So closed the battle for that day, and General Couchl (than whom his country has no better or briaver soldliei) slept that night further forward on the road to Richmond, nearer to the rebel capital than he had done any night before. Both armies lay upon the field. Iainy -woundls were dressed at Savage’s, w-hich had been made immediately a hospital, and between that point and the 51 0

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LEAVES FIROI TIIE battlefield many remarklable experiences were compared.

Perhalps the miost notable was the great number of officers l)it.

B,igao-(lier-general Derins received a bullet in tlc ight leo’, but kel)t the field for two hours afterwar (s. B,rigadierg’eneral,Vessels was struck by a ball in the sh,outlder, but not disabled. A musket-ball passed across General Couch’s breast, and only cut his coat. Colonel P,riggs, of the 3iassacliusetts 10,, was struck in three places, and disabled finally by a rifle-b’dll that passedc thiougtbh both thighs. Colonels Riliker of the 62d New York, Dodge of the 87th New York, B3ailey of tlle 1st New York Artillery, and Ripley of the Glst Pennsylvania, were all killed.

Colonels’IcCartey of the 93d Penns3ylvaiia, Pow-ley of the 102d Pennsylvania, Van W\Tyek of the 56th New York, and Hlunt of the 92d New York, were wounIIIded. i,ajors Ely of the 23d IPennsylvania, and Kiiuc of the 85th New York, wei’e also severely wounded. The loss of horses tells where the officers who rode tlhem were. General Keyes had a horse hit, and Captain Suydaun, of his staff, had his horse killed. All the gentlemen of Couttchs staff, Captain WAalker, and Lieutenants Edwards and Burt, had horses shot. General Peck’s was hit tilhree timnes. General Casey-‘s horse was hit, also General Devins’. In the fighlt of Saturday, the bulk of the losses on either side took place, and show the terrific severity of the fight ing. Our loss for that day will scarcely fall short of 3000 killed aclnd wounded. Upon the field of battle the enemyi’s loss was estimated at probably two to one for our own, and tlhe appearance of the field made the estimate seem reasonable. On the second day, which was Sunday, our men stood to their aims before daylicght. As the einemy chooses Sun day for his battle-days, we expected him; but we knew that if he did not advance, there would be no battle, as, 52 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. Sunday is never chosen for a movement on our’

part, and would not be, appariently, to win back our camp. So, firom very early on Sunday it beg.an to look, what it proved to be, an affliir of three days. Our men, at’dawn on Sunday, were disposed as follows: On the left, stretched across the Richmond road, the Sickle’s briiade Iwas in face of the enemy, at scarcely two hundred yards’ distance, posted on a slope, so that the rise of the ground towards the enemy served as a complete cover. To the righlt of Sickles, in a thick swamp, was Patterson’s :New Jersey biigade. Both of these brig,ades faced towards RPichlmoiid, and this was the point at w hichl our men had been pushed the hardest and fiurthest. To the right of Patterson was Richiaridsoi’s brigadec, the line of which was drawsn at right-angles withl the line of Sickles and Patterson. RPiclhardson ficed towards the flank of the force in firont of these two brigades. Sedl,gwick joined on to Richai-dson, andc a part of his division assisted to strengtllenl Coeluch’s line, in tlhe wood firom whic,iieh the rebels had been dii-veii on Saturdclay afternoon.

Oitr first anticipations had scarcely settled into the con-IIvictioii that the enemy intended to give S(unday to care for tlhe dying and dead, than we heard the pickets at it. It was in firont of Richardson’s division.

Riclhardsoi’s line ran, as we have intimated, parallel with the railroad, aid( was on the northern side of it. The enemy was in our camps on the southern side of it, and in a strong positioln, covered by a swamp. Force was immiediately sent forward(l to support the pickets, and became en,gag,ed in its turn. The enlemy formed his imen il line, anid was disposed to feel us ag,ain. Our men had risen fi’om sleep in anticipation of battle, and theirn minds were ready for it. Thley were not green troops, and the day gave pronmise of hard 53 a

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LEAVES FROM THE work. Soon the fire became general, and spread along the lines of the Irish Biigade, French’s brigade, and the biigadele of General Howard. This day, also, the enemy’s fire was well directed and severe, but was returned with certainly equal effect, and our men pushed forward across the irailroad, and down into the swamp; and now the enemy in his turn gave way. It was very difficult ground, and the men could not, at all times, keep the line, and were often up to their waists in water, in the advance throulgh the swamp. Yet still they kept on. Sometimes, too, there may have been a weakness under the fire, but the gallantry of the officeis kept the men up to it. This was once or twice the case in Howaird’s brigade, but by his gallantry he gave an example which restored all: two horses were shot filom under him in this advance, and he received two rife-balls in his right arm, but he bound up the shatteredl limb in a handkerchief; and kept the field. With the continual din of the musketry, as it pealed up alld down tlhe lines on eitlher side, no order could be heard, and only examnplc served. Thus the mounted officers were compelled to keep ahead, in the advance, to show the men what vwas wianted. There was the Irish Brigade, in all the glory of a fair,i fiee fight. Other meni go into fights finiiely-, sternly,, or indifferently, but the only man that really loves it, after all, is tlhe green, immortal Irishman. So there the brave lads firom the old sodl, with th,e chosen Teagrher att their head, laughed and fought, and joked, as if it were the finest fun in tlhe -world. AV,e saw one sitting on the ecldge of a ditch with lis feet in the water, and the sun and the water, too, very hot, and he aplparently wounded. As we rod(e )by hle called out to know if we had ev-er seen a boiled Irishman. From PRichardson’s division the fire spread around to the New Jersey brigade, on the front which the enemy had pushed 54 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. so far the day before. Nobly did the Jerseymen stand up to it, and push on closer and closer, and the enemy fell back througih the thick s-wamp slowly and steadily. On this firont the fire was not so severe as on Richardison’s, but still it told heavily on our brave fellows, though it did not pi-evenet the advance. Still further to thle left was the Excelsior Birigade, and General Sickles with it.. Though on, we believe, his first battlefield, the general had not the air or manner of a novice. He was all activity, and thought only of the way to win.

Sickles’ men apparently lost their patience, andcl we suppose the officers did, and General Sickles esplecially. WVhen men advance across a battlefield, loadirng and firing as they go, they naturally do not go fast, and the Sickiles brigade voted the gait to be decidedly slow. So tlhe order was given to fix bayonets and charge, and they did it, not minciii,gly at all, but in terrible earnest, and wiith a glorious chleer.

Some of the rebels stood it and held their places, some stood long enough to fire thleir pieces and then run; but tle mass ran at once, scalmperinig away through the wood(s likle so many squirrels. That ended the fighlt for Suniday in that directioln, for it NouLld not do to let the men go raslily too fair into the w-ood(s. AV, e did not know what little arlanigements of aitilleiy, &-e., the enemy might have made there in our absence, so with a wise caution the Sickles brigad(e was drawn-) back to the edgle of the wood, and laid there snugly, and there it spent its Sunday, ready for visitors, tlhough none came, if we except several innocuous shell that the eniemv t-hrew into the wood, over thleir heads. On Rich-i’dson’s fi’ont, also, the fight dropped off very much as it lhad J)egun. It iwas all)ppaiently not thle dlesi(gn th-at we shlould iimake any general advance on Slunday; so we nmerely drove the enemy away as he came up, and then fell inte .5 5 0

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LE-AiVES FIZO’,[ TIlll our places again with a true Sunday calm. It was only nine A. m., when the calm came, but in this short figlit much had been done. IHoward’s brigade alone, lost, in this fight, in killed and wounded, over five hundred and thirtysix men. General AIcClellan had ridden over very early on Sunday morning, and when the fight first began, he immediately rode down the Williamsburg road, and over the whole scene of action which he directed. His presence excited the most intense enthusiasm in the troops, both on the field, and later in the day, when he rode along the lines, and looked kindly on the shattered regiments that had been in Saturday’s fight. To these brave fellows, “few and faint, but fearless still,” thle young commander addressed a few words of pleasant encouragement that thrilled every ear, and then rode away. The scene in the woods on Sunday told a sad tale, which will, no doubt, be heard w-ith sad ears thlrolughout the South. There lay in lheaps the dlead, and those in mortal acgony, terribly mingled, men young and old, mostly young, firom every Southern State. All dclay SLnday, after our own men had been seenl to, we had out parties in thle woods, wvith stretchers (which had been sent to us from the White House), bringinglc in the wounded rebels, and other parties engaged in burying them. Our enemies, tired of the fight, employed the -reater part of the day in the same way. And so vwent out the second day of the battle of the Seven Pines. On 3Ionlday morning our position could be summed iup about thus: Two divisions, much reduced in streng,th fi’om vaniouIIs causes, had been attacked( by a greatly superior force of good troops, and driven fully a mile fi’om the first point of attack; but by the arrival of firesh troops the enemy’s course had been arrested, and his purpose to drive us into 56 a

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DIARLY OF’ AN Ai Y SUIIGlEN.GO the Chickahlominy decidedly defeated. Yet lie occupied our c amps an d the position hle had taken. On SLII(unday lie had aagai n attacked us, and been coimplelled to retire with loss. Bu t tlo thouigh Ricihardson’s division had driven hilim on th e railr oad, and Sickles’ brigade throuIgh the woods on t he A Willia msbti urg road, he still held nearly all, and certai nly m uc h t he greater part of the ground taken on Saturday. Some men of the loth Inssachusetts regimcent -wen t into t heir camp on Sunday, and broughit away a ham; on thlei r rettu rn they were greeted by some of the boys of one of th e N ew York regiments w-ith the wellknown populai c horus  Johnny stole the hliam, Sickles killed the man. This exploit was quoted as a piece of dexterity, so near -were the enemy to the p)lace; and the camp of the Tenth w-as in the rear of all Conch’s division., So now, on lon  dlay moriing, we were apparently to begin tl-he week well, to go forward and reoccupy-, alive or dlead, the position fiom n whlich the enemy had driven us. Pesolutioni was on eveiry face, and all buckled themiselves up withl a full determination to do a fitll share of the woik, and not only to retiieve +what had been lost, but to win moie. It was still dini and miistv when the lines wei-e under arms, and but little later lwhen the advance of skirmishers was tliiown forward. Cautiously the men went on, every step being -ncde completely sure before the next was taklen, until a position was gained on the AVilliamsburg road, vlwhere a battery could be posted.

There a batteiyv was accordingily placed so as to command the w-lole ro.d, and a,gain the men went on fiartlher and further, and the enemy fell back, his pickets in silght. It began to look very mulch as if the third day-the dclay of reoenpation, was to be a bloodless 57 i,* a

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LEAVES FliO3 TIIE one. And so it proved, our men pushed on, step by step, pishing the rebels on before, with a light exehange of flre, but no serious resistance, until we were once more entirel at home. Tlhen they pushed on again, through camip and beyond it, and once more they were on the road to IRichmond; and they kept on it, and that night our pickets were posted within four miles ef the rebel capital, and near to a line of works that we fancy is. o’ repre9ts,9 tlle celebrated last ditch vhere the rebels were to nmake a filal stand. Thus tlhe affair became complete, we had lost our camp, the enemy held it, and now it was retaken, ours once more, and we felt a satisfaction in the result that would not have been greater if we had retaken the canmp as bloodily as we had lost it. Ilis departure was a full acknowNledgment that he had failed, and was defeated in the purpose for which lie came. Hlere lay yet a large number of the rebel dead, even some of their wounded were still alive and uncared for on the third day. 8 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER VII. INCIDENTS AT THE WHIIITE HOUSE.

TIHE Richmond and York railroad crosses the Pamunkey iver at the AWhite House. This place, made memorable )by being the residence of MIrs. Custis, who became thle wife of Washlington, on his visit of three days to the fhmily mansion, which, up to the time of writing, stood on the bank of the river, was stiurrouinded by a handsome and wellkept goardclen. The house itself was a two and a half story frame buil(ding, conitaining six rooms, with out-offices, and, by order of General McClellan, was guarded against intrusionI, in compliance w-itlh a promise niade by him to Colonel Lee, of the rebel army, who is a descendant of lIis. Custis. The river at this point is quite a large stream, very deep and muddy. The opposite bank is but little above the level of the stieami, which now bore on its winding waters a numerous fleet of steamboats, barges, schooners, and every imaginable kind of vessel used in transporting troops; and the hoises, mules, guns, gun-carriages, locomotives, railroad ca’rs, and thle immnense amount of llay, grain, and commissary stores necessary for the army. Over one thousand (vessels, of all sizes, were afloat on the river,-some fi’eig7hted with ordnance stores, and many others packed with live cattle and mutles, which fi’om their unceasing uneasiness seemed to suffer fi’om the heat and confined quarters. The landing of the cattle was an occasion of much sport among the hundreds of idlers on the bank; and as each one, tied by its horns, would be hoisted over the vessel’s .59 0

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LEAYVES FROMi THF side into the river, a shout of merriment wvould rend the ailr. AVitli the exception of the cldwelling and out-houses described, and firom whichll the place derives its name, there is not a dwelling for a mile round. And the slhanties, erected by suttlers and refi’eslhment dealers, wer-e the only shelters firom the burning sun, if I except the pinetrees aloing the river’s bank, beneath which, and extendilg to the railroad, the quartermaster, his assistants, post-office, telegriaph, and a hlost of other officials, had erected la,ge and comfortable tents, in which the business of their departments was carried on. About a mile beyond the AN’White House there wvas erected a large number of’hospital tents, in which were treated the sickl sent down from the advance. The wretched water and miiasimatic condition of the Chickahlominy kept these ten)ts well filled. The rebels having destroyed the railroad biidgle across the river, the car’s were run down to the river-side, filled with the wounded, after the battle of Fair Oaks. It was here, lying around on the track, as thley had been taken out of the fi’eighlt-ars in whichl they -were transported fiom Savage’s station, I found over 300, many of them in a d(ying condition; and all of them more or less muttilated, anid still enveloped in tlheir filthly and blood-stained clothingi, as they were found on the battlefield. Sonie of these had been attended to by the surgeons, but by far the greatest numIber were sent down to the station Tiefore receiviingo any surgical care. On learning that there w-as not anv medical officer detailed for this duty, I consuiltecld w-ith Colonel Ingalls, the chief quartermaster, and D1. Alexanclder, the mciedical purveyor, and withl their advice proceeded to have them taken care of, first telegraphing to the suirgeon-general and Dr. Cuyleir, the medical C-. 0 0

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DIA,pY OF AN AT,MlY SUTRGEION. director at Fortress Ilonroe, the exact state of affairs. I foIund tlhat there vwas lying in the river a large number ot steam(boats, chartered for the Ipur-pose of tians)poiting tlhem, )ut haviug no orders remained totally inactive. Colonel In)galls at once placed the lharbor-miiaster under mny orders; and by his aid I got the steamers State of iNaiue, Elm City, and AVIhildin alongside of the railroad w-harf. On board of these boats I hli(ad the woundiled men carried (,n litters by all the civilianis I could( press into the service, and a detail of the 93d New York Voliunteers, promI-)tly given me by-Lieuit.-colonel Butler of that reoimenieit, which NIas stationed as a guard over the stores accumulated here. The agents of the Sanitary Commission, on board of their boat, the AWilson Small, were also in the river, under the gutidance of Frederick Law Olmstead, Esq., the efficient secretary of the Conmmission. Hle responded to my call in the most prompt and effective manner, and labored with i-e, night and day, to relieve the suiffeliings of the unfortunlate. The general agent of the society, 3i.

IKnapp, t. Jlitchell, and Dr. AVare, were also untiling in their exertions. -Nor can I ever folget the devoted and selfsacrificig services of the ladies of the Commission, IMs. GCiiflin, Ilrs. Ilowland, and Mliss W7oolsey, and the invaluiable aid they rendered in makin(g nutritious be verages and cooling drinks for the parched lips of the fhinting and exhlausted woundedl for forty-eight hours, withouit intermnission or rest.

They quickly and cheerfilly responded to my innumerable calls on them for clothing, bandages, lint, &c., and their iniitelli(‘eit ad fatigui self-iIlmposed duties were disclar gecd with a couirtesv and endeavor I have ne-er seen equalled. By tileir aid I wais enabled to have the nmen w-ell providecd witli clean under-clothing, and fieely supplied, on arrival in the cai’s, with tea, coffee, lemonade, &e. AMany a poor fellows 6-t I 0

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LE,.kVES FRPOM TIIE life vwas thus savedl, and the hundreds of blessings asked for these ladlies, by the pa’cled lip)s of the exhausted but l)ltient heroes, will doubtless be granted. Without food or r(st, at all hours, and often under the most tirying and dlisagrieeable circumstances, they labored cheerfilly., carriiig hope andc comfort to the wounded and weary. 13efoire three o’clock, onclday morning, June 2d, I had loaded and d(ispatlched the Wliildin, under Dr. Smith of Pennsylvania, the Elmn City, under the care of several physicians and surlgeons of the Sanitary Commission, and the steamer State of 3Iaine, under the care of Dr.

iIcDonald. These vessels carried away about twelve hundred, but they cointinued to arrivie firom the field by hundreds. I felt terrnibly tlhe w-ant of assistants, and called on the surgeons of tlhe gunboats Sebago, Alarblehead, and Currituck, anchored in the river, who quickly lent their aid. I am under oblig,ationis, oft no ordinary kind, to Dr. Quin, of the Sebago, for able and unremittin(g assistance. He worked with me steadily and with great skill, fobr three days and nights, and not until exhausted nature compelled him, did lhe relinquish his humane efforts; and again, as soon as hle had snatched a fewv hours of rest, he returned to his post. In this manner, for the seven successive days and nights, did I work, not stopping a moment to eat or sleep, perfobrming the necessary amputations, providing steamers, after inspecting them, procuring surgeons, stewards, and nurses for each vessel, and supplying it with commissary and medical stores, and the equally important articles bonntitfily contributed by the Sanitary Comnmission. This eno,nement was the first that really tried the resources and efficiency of this truly good and useful association, and nobly did it respond, through its officeis and supplies. The amount of ice, luxuries, and necessaries, freely given and 62 a

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DT)A,Y OF AN ARPMY SUPGEO’N. judiciously selected for the wounded, was immelnse, nd I joyfillly bear my unqualified testimony to its lusefilness.

There was at this time, in some of the cities, aii unjust prejudice ag(aiinst the association, which was even entertained by armv officers, but it has fully proved itself to be the most needful and well-conducted charity that has ever been org,anized on so large a scale. This is, in a great m.anner, owino to the character and usefiulness of the gentlemeni connected with it, and the truly iiol)le ladies, whlo, at the risk of life and health, and total self-denial and surrender of every personal comfort and necessary accomdation, lave contributed tlheir invaluable personal services. The incidents crowded into this eventful week were so very numerous, and the writer’s time was so completely oceupiedl, and his mind continually on the stretch to meet the multitudinous wants ofthie occasion, that he had but a scanty opl)portunity to make note of them, and the following are but soine of the most strikiig, which firom being, imprinted on his memory, he has been enabled to reproduce, wiithout claimingi, them to be firee firom the eri’iors inseparable fi’omn the confusion attendant on a scene of carnage of such magnitude. Amonig the many wounde(ld brouglht down fiom the l)attlefield I had abundant oppl)ortuiit),, while atteniding to t]heir wounids, of learningi, the true state of thiings on the C}hiekahominy, since it was quite necessary I should know l-hethler our army was falling back, as in stuchi case tlhe Aliite Ilouse would be abandoned. Reports to thlis effect leaving been fieely circulated, I lost no opportunity to inform inmy-self of the fitets, by interi’ogatingT sluchI officers as, fi’om their position on the field, were likely to be best informed. From Col. Champlain, of the 3(d Iiehigan Voliniteeirs, whlo had received a flesh vwound of the thigh, I 63

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LFA’ES FROI TtIJE received the followiing sketch of his iregiment’s engage menit. Captain Nolan ancl Lieut. AIason, of this regiment, welo w-ere also brougl,t ldown wotunded, corroborated this sttemount. In the lattei, I met a schioolfellow whom I lald not seen for twenety years, and our meeting under such circumstances wn-as very affecting. Col. Cicin la)I(i)l’s Stcttenme( zt. After Couch’s Division lhad fallen back, on Saturday, Belr’y’s Biig,ade was broughlt foirwarad, consisting of the ]st, 2d, 3d, and 5th MIichigan, and 3,th New York Vol unteeis. The 3d 3Iichigan (Col.

C.‘s iregiment) was thrown into the battle in advance, anid about half an hour before the others arrived. General Iearney directed them to attackl the enemy on the left side of Bottom’s Bidge road. The rebels opened fire firom among the falllen timber, wvlhere thley laid concealed. On the right wing of this regiment, not distant over ten rods, an advance was ordleied in double quick on the enemy’s position. The centre and left wing extended to a thiclk grtowth of young pines, a(nd by the time it was fonrmed in line was wiithin thirty feet of the slashes. The rebels nownv opened a nmurldeious fire on the centre and left, causing a heavy loss, land tlliining the rankls of the 3d; but the boys received the fire in a most unflinching manner, and before the ene m-ry had time to reload, the iigholt chlaged on them with the bayonet, reserving their fire until the concealed foe w)ere diawnN fi’om their cover, and as soon as they were iii ig}l~t delivered a deadly vollev. This madcle theci breakl mi(I run like sheep), leaving tle slashles filled with thleir dead and wouinded. The iiglit continued to load and fire at the rebels, who mnade several ineffectual attempts to reform their shattered ranks, but at each volley they again 6 -1 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURRGEOX. broke and ran. Thus clvi-en out of the slashes, they fell back still fui’ther, and held in this position until reinforced 1).y the balance of their brigiade, when tlhey still continued to retreat, until we had recovered the ground lost by-General Couch on that sidle of the road. Wlile this was transpiriing the eniiemy was gainingi ground on the other side of tlhe road, and otur brigadcle was in gireat dan. ger ofil)eig, flanled; on perceiving w hich, General Beerry witlhdrew his brigade w-ithin the slashes, which he held till relieved, as nighlt came on. As the coloi0el finished relating the foregoiing, a wounded erebel of tle ltlth iississippi, who la y on an al djoining mattress, called out, ” That is true. I got th is wound runn inf4 out of those piies. I waas not w-ithl m y regimenit, lhavilg’ot o sepaaated. As I was told if I shot the onearmed General IKearney I -woul(l be piromoted, ande seinig Iiiam in the field thle other side of the road, I left the ranks, entered the wood on the opposite side just as our men -were leaving it, and, turniing to ran back, I was shot in the thi(‘h. Do -on thlink tlhe bone is biroken, doctor?” To whlich( I replied that I feaired it w-as; and oil close examnination found it f’ actiured for f)ur inches of the shaft, and was ol)ligedl to amputate it. IIe bore the operation with great fortitude, and(, onl being dressed and returned to his bed, mninus the left legr, he cheerfully said, “Phil Kearney is better off nown-, with his one arm, than I aml.” Oi the adjoiningi bed there lay a youIIng, delicate-looking fellow-, a corporal in the 3d Georgia Voltunteers, -who had lost ani arm on tihe battlefield, in Satturday’s fig(ht, and whose fathei, also iwoundedl, was at the timie on board of the Daniel WVebster, the steamer I selected for use as a receiving ship, as it afforded facilities not possessed by any 65 a

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LEA’FvS FII(Ol TIIE of the other steamers; and having dispatched all the steamers there were in the river adapted for floating, hospitals, I was obliged to have a receiving ship for those that would arriv e. Even this was insufficient. So that I was obliged to make requisition on the quartermaster’s department for fortv Siblev tents, which I had elected along the railroad trackl, to protect the wounded firom sun and rain, and have their wounds dressed and their clothing changed without dclelay. Some of these men had been lying on the battlefield uncared for for two or three days; nor could this be avoided, as the ground was alternately in the possession of the Union and rebel troops; and their condition, on aririvNal at the WVhite House, was filthy in the extreme, thlei]- wounds alive with maggots, their clothing saturated and stiff with congealed blood and dried mud. The captain of the Geo(rgia regiment before mentioned, on hearing my dialogue with the MIississippian, asked me what wvas his destination, or where I intended sending him and the other wotunded Confederate prisoners. I told him I had arranged to have as many of the Confederates left at Old Point and Portsmouth, Va., as tlhose hospitals could accommodate. He expressed great satisfaction at this announcement, and seemed terriblv unwilling to go North. I was anxious to learn the cause of his hostility to the Northern people; and -while engcaged withl a patient in an Idcljoining bed, made some inquiries of him as to the feeling (xistiIlg in his State. He described it as intensely and iinaniiaioulsly hostile; of Imany years’ growthl; and stated that he personally was opposed to war, and had been, for lis peace proclivities, looked on by his nieighboll)ois withl suslicion of entertaining Union sentiments. “But,” said he, “Doctor, whlen I found it had to come to blows, I raised money on my plantation, equipped and mounted a com 66 a

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DIAP’RY OF AN ARIMY SURGH()N. panv of youngc, fellows I had recruited, and hav-e paid them fi’om imy own means ever since.” Ile flrther sail, “I lhavNe but that one boy you see lying there with his arm ,shot off,”

pointiing to the co)rporal; “and if I had a doze]], or wa-s -worth a million of dollars, I would risk and lose all before I would again consent to live un(ler the United States fla,g.” I told him I hoped hle Nwould change his opinions before his wound was suffi(iently healed to allow him to be exchanged, and I trusted yet to see him a good Union man. When I visited the Chesapeake Hospital, some weeks after, he recognized me, and renewed the convei’sation; an-d in reply to my inquiry, if he was yet converted( to Unionism, he said there was little hopes of it, but if any tling woutld have suell an effect on him, it wouldl be the good care and kind treatment he and the Confederates had received fi’om me and the other surgeons sinlce they were taken prisoners. As an offset to this deep-rooted hostility to the Union, I will mention the case ot’f a rebel surgeoin, a Doctor IcPhlail, of Geoirgia; he h.ad been taken prisoner withl a couple of -woundecd rebel officers hle was attending on the field, and all three wei-ec se,t dow-n to the WVhite Houtse, fiom Awhence I forwarde(d tlhem to the Fort, on board the steamer Kennebec, in cllarge of which I had placed DrI. MIiddleton, Asst. Suig,eon U. S. A., and Dr.

Alvord(, of Michig,an, who had ililant lii’opically volunteered his services. Dr. loPhal:il remained( oil board of my receivillo-h-ospital-boat with his fi’iends, and I aillow-ed him all the lilerty and extended to himr any couirtesy-in my poweri. On lhis goi,g ahboard of the Keninel)ee, wilen albout to start, he ectime to bid me fluewell, and thank] me foi mv kind,ess. I asked him to whliat State lie belonged(l, and( stated I was sorry to see himi in the irel)el service. He replied, he was firom Georgia, aidc 67 a

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LEAVES FrnO0[ TIHE was ashamed to tell it, as he believed the war, which had cost the lives of many dear relatives, could have been avoid(led, but for some llnsclrupulous politicians firom his ow%n and other Soutlhern States. The arrivial of wounded and sick continuing unabated, I determined to send away none but the wounded. To put in the hospital the sick, for whom room had been made by my repeated drafts on it for convalescent soldiers to act as nuirses. I also obtained firom Assistant Quartermaster Broaldwoodcl fifty contrabands, to aid in car’rying the wounded, and distributing thle lemonade, as the men detailed firom the 96th New York Volunteers were entirelv iwo,rn out with the fatigue of the last tlhree days and nights; but I found the colored men poor substitutes for the willing boy-s of the ninety-sixthl, who, under the orders of their efficient officers, rendered most valuable aid. A niumber of cteting assistant-suirleons arrived this day in response to my repeated telegriaphic requests for them, but I found, on an interview, that a very large majority iwelre young and inexperienced, and totally incompetent to take chlarge of a steamer. I consequently recommended thlem to proceed to the advance, wherei the demand foir dr’essers was very gieat, and requested Captain Sawtelle, assistant quartermaster, havingi charge of the transportation, to inform me of thle arrival of any surgeon under orders to join the advance. By this means I was able to secure the assistance of some few surgeons, and thus give a respite to t]:ose gentlemnen who had worked so long and faiitlfiflly w-ithl me. Tile news of the great battle, spread over the nation tlhrough the newspapers, brought,t hundreds to the WNVhite IIoIse, each one fearing, his or her relative or fiiend hlad fallen a victim; the repeated inquiries by these persons, to many of whom I could offer no consolation, nor 0 Is a

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DIARY OF AN AR.IY SURGiEON. imlpart ainy intelligence, seriously hindered me, whiie it’ was of but little use to them. I adopted a pla’ b,’ having my clerk learn fi’om any officer that came down in charge of the woun(oided, or of )risonllels, thle names of the regiments engsaged, and by talkinio’ a list of tlhose that ha,d arrived, I was frequently enabledl to giv-e the desired infolrmation. Judg’ingl fiom the number of dclisI)teches I hourly received firom Dr. CLuytler, at the fort, he must have been similarly importuned. As far as I couldt I used the cooking appairatis of the receiving steamer, the Daiiiel Webster, to cook food fob the nurses, where the beeftea and otlher necessaries for the -woun,ded vweie prepared; and as there was not any hlotel or place to procure a meal at the Whlite Ihouse, it soon became known that it’ any thilng could be hlad to eat it was on boaird the hospital boats. This broughlt many field and line officers, whlo for (lays had not tasted cooked f()od, and fi’om them I learned the latest news, and probable number of wvoucnded I would be obliged to make provision fotr. The Con(gressional comnuittee on the conduct of the war had paid a visit to the White House, accompanied by Ilo10. John C. TuLckei, assistant secretary of war, and other gentlemen.

Two members of it, the IHon. Aloses F. Odell, 3[. C., of Brooklyn,I and Hon. John Patten, M. C., of Pennsylvania, wiorked unceasingly to aid in getting the wounded fi’om the cars to the boats, and preserving order. In this tlhey were ably seconded by Col. Wm. Borden, of New Yoi’k, agent of the Fall River line of steamers, two of which, the Canonicus and State of Maine, were being used as hosl)ital boats, and both of them were models of cleanliness and order, and well worthy the imitation of others. The number of wounded was so great that I was obliged to have mattresses spread on the saloon floolrs of the 69 0

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LEAVES FROM THE steailers, on each of which a patient was laid. And finding it much cooler and easier, I selected thle vworst cases for these beds. Frequently I have heard the poor fellows, who nowr lay helpless beside each other, recount the bloody deeds of those two days; and on one occasion I was called to separate two vwho had quarrelled. Both Nwere Irishmen, and had been fiiends, working for a stevedore. One went to -Iobile, where he entered the Confebderate service; thle other, remaining ill Nev York, joined tlhle Irish Biigade. TIle) had not met for seven years, and their recognition, under these peculiar and tiying circumstances, was the opposite to fiiendly, and I have no doubt, if able, they would lhave had a set-to. Each reviled the other for havi,ng taken up arms on his side, and fieely used the names of traitors and turncoats.

This turbulent scene had scarcely been ended by the removal to another part of the vessel, of one of the belligerents, before another, of a very different nature, occurred. It appears that a private of the 15tlh 3Iassachusetts Volunteers had, on the death of his wife, some years ago, gone West, taking, his two children with him. One, a daulghter, had married in Detroit; the other went to Grand Rapids, the father returning to Boston. The son, on the breaking out of the rebellion, joined the 3d 3Iichigan Volunteers, and the father the 15tlh Iassachusetts; and here, after a separation of several years, they met on board the hospital steamer, both wounded. The meeting was very alffecting, the old man, with a sev’ere wiound of the shoulder, and a flesh wound of the leg, cirawled firom his bed to embrace his son, who lay terribly mangled by the explosion of a shell, from which he died the following morning. There arrived this day, with the woundedl, a private of one of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, who had become a ravingcr and violent maniac firom fi’iglht, i a 4

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DIAIRY OF AN ARNIY SURGEOX. The shock to his nervous system was more than hle could beai. His exclamations of terror were piteous and heart rending, and caused rsuch discomfort to the other sufferersl that I sent himt onI shore to the hospital, to do which six of the strongest men were barely sufficient. Mr. Clement Barclay, of Philadelphia, has been most ac tive and untiring in his exertions in aiding, the transporta tion of the wounded and car]ying out my suggtestions, which hle asked and cheerfully acted on, he enabled me to devote to the operations the necessary time; hlie also sent for me to the Secretai’y of War several dispatches to lh]ave steamers and surgeons sent on, and rendered such services as only could be contributed by a gentleman of ability and whole-souled philanthropy. The staff of volunteer nurses was increased this day by several ladies: one, the wife of Lieut.-col. Chlas. Salip son of the 3d 1ainie Volunteers, was most active an(d useful, and did mtchl to alleviate the sufferings of the b.rave fellows, all of whom bore their wounds, and subsequent exposure and want of care on the field, with wonderful and uncomplaini(ng heroism. WVhere their parched lips received the cup of tea, gruel, or lemuonade, or, as in many cases, a stimulating drink, they were truly gratefutl, aind expressed their thanks to the lady nurses in a very flattering manner. On Thursday night, at 11 P.r., I received a dispatch firoml the advance that a cargo of 250 wounded had left for th-e White hIouse at 6 P. 31., and asking if they had arrived, as the officer in charge had failed to telegraph his arriival, as ordered. I proceeded, with about fifty nurses carrying lanterns, along the road for a mile, the rain pouring in torrents, not meeting the train. Several of them sat down, myself among the number, and soon fell asleep, the a 9

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LEAVLES FI.O~. TrI l first I had since the Saturiday night previouts. I had lain on the wet gronlud for about ani hour, when I was awakened 1)b the shrill whistle of the locomotive, makin,g up ill speed foi the loss of time it had sustained by irunningi off the track near Dispatchll station.

AVlieni these had been re ceived and cared for, I determined to return w-itlh the train to the advance, to learn, by personal observation, the num ber of -wounded( still remaining. We started at three in the mnorningi, and after a tedious ride of tlhree hours reached Fair Oaks station. I then procured a horse and ordclely to visit the hospitals and learn the niumber each contained. To do this it was necessary to pass near the battlefield, the odor firoom which was insufferable. For over a mile, the ground was thickly strewvn with unburied men, mules, and horses, -whlose decomposing bodies infected the atmos phere for miles. Having collected all the wounoded togrethier -it to be removed, I proceeded with two hundred of them to the WVhite House, the rest to followv thle return of the train. I had them conveyed on board of the Louisiana, one of the largest and best boats chartered by the govern  nmelt, and determined on the arrival of the others fiom the advance, to proceed ii person with thlem to a INoitheiii hlospital. lly reasons for so dcloing were, that I had re-ei-vedl all the wounded who for somie time would be fit for iemov-al, and as among those last sent down, were very many of the most dangerous cases,-many of them hlaving lain on the battlefield uncared for for several days,-aind as all the surgeons in whom I could place confidence had been dispatched with the other steamers that took away over four thousand of the wounded; I decided on going with these myself, taking Dr. Bates, surgeon of the 15th 3Iassachusetts, and Doctors Case and Robinson, of Buffalo, as assistants. i 0

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I)IAI’,Y OF A(N A1-I’Y StGE()N. WVednesday night the train fi’om Fair Oaks station, with over two hundred wounded, was delayed nearly three hours by the following causes. It appears that a rebel cavalry company of Stuart’s brig,ade conceived thl-e idea of cutting off the communication between VWhite IHouse and headquarters, and made a sudden dash at the train, whicl-h, in consequence of the trackl having been washed awvay with the late heavy rain, was proceeding at a very slow pace. A shot firom one of their carbines disabling the engineer, the fireman stopped the locomotive, and the rebels proceed(led to rifle the cars. Ascertaining that it contained wounded, they were not very close in their scrutiny, and failed to discover a paymaster’s safe, containing thirty thousand dollars of government funds, which Paymaster Taylor was returning to the White Ihouse with, havin~ir been obliged, by the conflusion consequent on the battle, to suspend pay-ing the men of the brigade to which he was attached. The attack on the train was so sudden and unexpected, and the means of resistance at hand so feeble, that the paymaster, leaving the safe with the money belindcl him onl the car, sought refuge in an adjoining wood.

The train, after some delay, was allowed to proceed to its destination, and the valuable, but mitch-coveted prize, was found in one of the freight cars, and handed over to Captain Sawtelle, of the quartermaster’s department. The fiighteneed paymaster made his appearance at the White IIouse in a state of great trepidation for the supposed loss of the money; but, after some bantering and ridicule for his cowardly desertion of the treasure, was informed of its safety, to his great and unconcealed joy.

Among the wounded which arrived from the field on Wednesday, was a young private of the 1st Long Island regiment, son of Captain Stillwell, of that corps, who had 4 75 0

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LEAVES FROMI THE been shot through the body. He was carried on board while I was busily engaged in extracting a musket-ball fiom beneath the fiontal bone of a young fellow of the 103d Pennsylvania Volunteers. His f*ther, who was sick at the White House, having been sent off the field in a feeble state, was a friend of IHon. AMoses F. Odell, who was woirking with unflagging andcl laborious zeal. This gentlenlan requested imy care for young StillIwell. The falllily iresided in Brooklynl, New York. I was unable to give any reason to hope for his recove]ry, as he was then sinking, and died in a few hours. Tlhe body, through the exertions or -AIr. Odell, was embalmned, and was taken by me on the Louisiana to F;ortress Monroe, on the following Saturday, ‘lhere I was obli(ed( to leave it, ini consequence of the previous orders issued( forbiddilng the transportation Nolrth of dead bodies. I was, howiever, enabled to recover it on my return fiom Philad(lelphlia, fi’om which place I brought his brother on the steamer, and witlh the aid of -ir. Allartin, of New York, a most carefll and considerate undlertaker, ladl his remains removed to Brooklyn for burial. MIr. :Martin had accompanied MAr. James Cooke, of New York, lwho was now returning to the White Itouse, to renew his valuable lal)ors, of no ordinary kind, for the soldiers. Mr. Cooke’s kindcl and cheerful compliance with the many requests of the suffering, and his untiringi attendance on them, was a most valuable assistance, and a blessing to many, who gratefiully remember his kind and encouraging nursing, promptly rendered, without hope of reward but that arising from the pleasing kntowledge of soothing the ag,onies of a suffering fellow-being Another member of the 1 st Long Island regiment, which had suffered so terribly, was eagerly sought for by his fathler on Wednesday, but I had not as yet received him. It 74 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. was Corporal Samuel F. Bouton, of Brooklyn. HIe arrived on Tlhuisday, and as I had taken the receiving, ship, the Daniel W’ebster, down the river to load the Spattlldingi firom beri, and tlhen turned her over to be cleaned and fiumigated,  rendered necessalry by the intolerable stench arisitng firom tlhe hundreds of wounded that had been treated. and the lari ge number of operations performed on board of her lier main-deck and saloon being used for this puirpose,-I had Corporal Bouton, who w-as dangerously wounded, car itied on board the Louisiana, and appropriated enough sl)ace in the uipper saloon to his use. Hlis deeply distressed father” clainmed the privilege of nursing him, to whlich I assented, and detailed a inurse for his special assistance. The ball ]raving passed thiIough the subl)stance of the iight lung, his bienthing was dclistressinglyN difficult, and his being able to reach lhis home alive depended on his beiing kept perfectly quiet. No surgical aid could be rendered him, the ball hiaving passed out below the shouldler-blade, and medical skill was alone useiful in relieving the distressing symptoms.

Iis flther watched and waited on him with the most solicitous affection dur’ing the week he was on board the Louisiana, until our arrival in Philadelphia, when he had him carried to the Camden and Amboy railroad, en ro?te for his home, in a very feeble condition. The fatitgue of the joiurney was too much for his fast-failing strength, and as thle Amboy steamboat came within sicrght of his native city, opl)osite to Staten Island, he breathed his last. His mother, to w hom, at MIr. Bouton’s request, I had telegraphed friom Philadelphia of his havingff started for home, was denied the p)rivilege of seeing himn alive. Her grief must have been heart-rending when she behleld the lifeless body of her handsome son.

Too many mothers, alas! have thus sadly been bereaved since tlhe breaking out of this unholy war, T5 0

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LEAVES FROMI THE w-hichl has spread desolation over the land, and swept away th-e briohltest floweis of its youth and manhood. Aimong the wounded Confederate prisoners I brought down to Fortress 3Ionroe wvas a major of a North Carolina regiment, as noble and as fine-looking a fellow as I had ever seen. He had been shot in the thigh, firacturing the thigh bone very badly, and renderiing amputation necessary, which I perfornied before leaving the WhAVite Hiouse. After the operation was over, and he had been removed to his I)td and made comfortable, he thanked IIus for our attention, statiing that he had not expected such kind treatment at our’

hands, but said, “Your men will never take 1Tichmond, unless tlhey do it over the dead and wounded bodies of fifty thousand Southern soldiers. They have resolved upon it and will perform it at any cost of life.” I-e was very communicative, and was evidently a gentleman of fine education and good social position. He deplored the war and its necessity, but said it had been brewing for many years, and that sooner or later it should come, and that the Northern and Southern people were so dissimilar in their habits, sentiments, and social organization, that they never could, nor should they be commingled as one people and one nation. HIe argued that the Union had been held together, for the last twenty years, by a dislike on the part of the Southern people to go to war with the North, and that the concessions, which they had firom time to time made to the N\orth, had only put off the evil, but not remedied it-that Webster,’ Clay, Calhoun, and the statesmen of the last generation, had foreseen this rebellion, and had succeeded in postponing it by advising compromises of the just claims of the South to the peaceffl possession of their slave property, guaranteed to them by the Constitution, which he claimed had been violated by Northern abolitionists. 76 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER VIII. VOYAGE TO FORTPESS MTONROE AND

PIIILADELPHIA. WVE started at 6 P. Mr., on Saturday evening, for Fortress 3lonrioe, and during the night performed several operations. Just before leaving, a yotung private of the 3d MIline Volunteers, named Gordon, who had been struck in both legs by minie-balls, and wlose legs were amputated abo-ve tle knees, died. On the voyng(e down the river: five more breathed their last, having sunk under their wounds andcl exhaustion, and were buried at the fort, which we reached on Sundclay iforenoon. I at once called on Dr. Cuyler, the medical director, and was most kindly received by lhim: he knewN firom the inumber of wound(led I had consigned to limi, and the daily reports of gentlemen arriving firom the AWhite House, the extent of my labors, and made fiill acknow-lecdg’ment of them. I also visited General Dix, wlto had relieved General Wool at this station, since nmy departire fiomn it. Ile came on board the Louisiana, talkled kindly and snympathized with the wounded sufferers, and expressed his fuill commendation of my services and the ordeily condlition of the vessel. On consultation w-ith Dr. Cuyler, we decided on removing to the hosp)itals, at tle fort, 85 wounded Confederates I had on board, and to take an equal number from these hospitals, lwho vwould thus benefit by a change to a more northern hospital. A sudden and violent storm spitung, up, which made the steamer part 77 a

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LEAVES FROMI TIlE her moorings fromn the dock, and run into the steamer Flushing, previously sutnk opposite the fort. The storm continued wvith unabated fliry for three days, and obligedl us to run the steamer to Newvport News, as slhe had lost both her anchors at the fort. On Wednesday, tlhe weather giving promise of a chlange for the better, I took on board the wounded Union troops and started for Plhiladelphia withl my precious cargo, all of whom had, notwithstanding the storm, greatly improved firom the sea-breezes and care bestowed on them, and the attention paid to their wounds. On tlhe way down firom the White House, the Confederate wounded had also picked up in spirits, and becamne more communiiiiCative witl) our men; the dialogues between them were of the spiciest kind, each clairing bfor ])is side all the bravery, and each having some instance of cowardice of the troops of their opponents to relate. I was busy the whlole night in getting throughI w-ithl tlhe opelations, and, on their completion, in taking a correct list of all1 on boalrd foi my own use, a copy of Iwhichl I slupp)llied to the press.

D)uiring the hours spent in this weary taisk, many of the men being too sick or too sleepy to disturb, I heard a Conifcdlerate soldier, on thle lower deck, singinlg for lhis own, and the aimuseinent of some dozen others in ad(joining beds, the following Secesh song, of wlhich I obtained a copy, and now give it for the reader’s edification. Secesh SoJyg.

CHIVALROUS C. S. A. Air.-Vive la Compagnie. I’ll sing you a song of the SoutlIt’s sunny clime, Cliivalrous C. S. A. V’hicll wvent to lhousekeel)ing, once on a time, Bully for C. S. A. 78 a

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Thllree cheers for the Southl now-, boys, with a will, And:,.roans for the U. S. A. Cl/or ls.-Cllivalrous peop)le are tliey, &c. Thiirs(lay mornio cng brokle briliit and sunny, a(nd foiund us steaming i up thle Delnware river. Wc reached Plhiladelphia at nine o’clock, and droplping ainelior in t]he streatm, I )proceedled on shore to report my alrrival to Dr. Kiil(,, tlim meliecal director at that city. H-ardly hlad the Louisiana touceled the C.llowlill-street ~illaif, when the citizens of Phliiladelpl)lia, amoing whomo tle news of her ar]ival hlad spread like imagic, cerowded the llarves 1anid stieets aldjoiniing, all eager to catlch a’,limpse of the imutilated heroes of Fair O.aIks. Vithl tlhe concuriiuce of Dr. Kingi, I determinedi on giving firlotglis to ill tlhe wounotded iwho were ale to )pro(ee(d to tlieir |lomes; aid( a, miany of t-hemi belonged( to Pellnsy-vania reg’imets, tt,is piviieg’e w-as g,la(ly ace)te( l)y nealy lialf the niun)er on board. Lxl)eri, ne had tagi,it ime that Iceli sifiring io’ fiii wool onds and the long-contined privatiolns of ca.tl) life, would recovner multCh sooiuer under the kind 0

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LEAVES FROMI 1 IIE care of home and fiiends than in a military hospital, and thus return to their duty in far less time than if kept in general hospitals. The result proved the correctness of my conclusion, and a vast expense was thus spared the govern mient, while it afforded much gratification to the soldier and his anxious fiiends. The Philaclelphians, true to their wvell-earnedl reputation, behlaved most generously on this occasion. The police force attended and preserved order, and afforded full opportunity for us to avail ourselves of tlle promptly tendered services of the fire department, lwho turned out e~~ 9i~cisse to convey, on their carriages, to the dififrent hospitals those poor fellows unable to walk.

The citizens, generally-, vied with each other in bestowing klind attentions on them, and before leaving for the seat of war, I received, for thle benefit of the Awonnd(ed, bountifuil contributions of elvery imagintiable luxury and necessary indispensable for their use. Thle Sanitary Coiimission, throughll its philanthropic and benevolent agent at tlis city, also sent to their general a gent liberal supplies of articles most needed, and thus replenished tlhe stock on w-hicli I had largiely-drawn at the AVhite House. AImong those lwho had fallen or been wounded in the Fair Oakls’ fighlt, there -were many residents of Philadelphlia, the friends of whom heaped the kindest and most generous couitesies on the -writer. Among them was the family of Colonel Lee, lwho had lost a noble son, Lieutenant Lee, of the 81st regiment Pennsylvania Voltunteers, and whose eldest son, Captain P1obert Lee, had received a severe wound from a mini5iball, lwhichl had lodlged betwieen the bones of the leg. This exemplary family received the kild sympathy of many, and elicited my sincere condolence for their bereavements. Their delicate and kind attentions, tendered throtugh their fiiend, Joseph P. Lougheadcl, Esq., to me, during my briet so 0

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DIARY OF AN ARM.IY SUORGOON’. N stay in their hosp)itable city, -ill ever be gi-atefull’ remembeiedl. It -was, indeed, a rich ireward for my services, and I sincerely g, iie-ved that the piressiung necessity for nmy return to the Peninsula, alone prevented me fi’om paayinig my respects in person to that venerable gentleman, Colonel Lee, whose soirrow-stricken fiee, when I first met himn, at Fortress MIonroe, bearing manfilly up under the twofold afflicting visitation, was a true index to his warm and pati’iotic heart, and bespoke him the iworthy fatTier of a -worthyl) son, whose heroic and iuncomplainillg fortitude had1 enideared himi to me, as it had to his regiment. There were miany noble -woutnded under my care at the Whllite Iotuse, but y-ou, Captain Robert Lee, stand out in pleasino, ioiniience on my memory. It being necessary to have some replailrs (lone to the boilers of the Louisiana, she was taken to the Richlmond boiler-slhops, and this delayed our departure until lIonday-. Tl1e assistant-surgtceoiis and niurses, as soon as we had l:uided our wiounded, eaCerly sougnlt leav-es of absence, lwhich I could not refulse; and, withl some few exceptions, tlhey -wenIt to 1)ay short visits to their families.

T}his I-)prevented iny leaving, and obli,ged mne to telegraal)h for nmy wife to meet me in Philadellphlia, to aillay her anxiety for my safety, as I lad not been able to -write to her for many days; and shle knowingii I was at the great battle, naturally felt solicitous for imy return. On her arrival, in the ni,ght train, she w-as struck wiith the chlang,es whichiel fiti,gue, exposure, andi the loss of rest, for ten consecutive nighilts, had effected oni me. I hId h oped, onii leaving tlhe AViite Ilouse, to lave ol)taliied som e r est on the oy ae, but the many seveie cases on boaid, requiling my conlstant care, tlle illniess of Dir.

IB~ates, my fiist assistant, and tlhe inexperienice of the others, prevenitedl my sniiatching anl hour’s sleep; and while 4* 81 0

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I.EAVES FROM’ THE in Pliiladellphia, the demnands on my time were’so nlmelrolis fiom the friiends of the soldcliers, that I had but little titie to reciruit my strenthi, so much needed on my return to the Peninsutla. Fisit to the Philt(7el2Jhict Ihosia itals. At the invitation of the surgeons in charge, I visited tllhe hospitals in which the wounded volunteers firom the several steit,ers I had dispatched fi’om the VhIite House and fi’om loue Louisiana, were cared for. On my aiivail at the U. S.

llospital, corner of Fifthi and Buttonwood streets, I was unexl)ectedlvy greeted with a heairty clheer fiom the poor fellows, as they lav on thleir comfortable beds. iIany of their tfaces were quite familiar to me, but the number I had attended duiring the pieceding ev-entftil week was so large that I could not possibly recollect thlem all. They, however, geneirally riecogeized me, and expressed their thanks. I found here Col. Cross, of tlhe 5tlh Newv Iamnpshire Vol llnteeis, who had been woundoed in the leg, while leadingr on the birigadle of Nwlichl his regimenlt formed a part, and of whiclh hle was then in command. I was gratified to find lhim fast recovering fi’om thi effect of his vwouInd, but suftering mentally firom soi-e unjust statements, in relation to his regiment, tlhat appeared in one of the N-ew York 1l)apers of the day previous. Jealous of the well-earned reputation of his gallant corps, and of his own valorous contduct, lie stated the partictulars of his part in the engagenmeIt, whichl I giv-e in his own words: “3Iy regimelnt, the 5th New IHampshiie Voliunteers, wans detached firom Iloward’s Briigade on Saturday eveniug, and on Sunday morniing occupied the extieme righit of tlhe line formed by General French, wlhen we skirmislhed with the enenmy, aind took quite a number of prisoners. 82 a

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T)IAIPY OF AN ARIIY SUL-IGliO()N. The battle lhacd r,aged som,e tinme, -whlen orders came for me to (oo to the relief of a porltion of Frenclih’s Brig ade. I moved( quicklyI doiwn tile railroad track, passed Genelral Fi-enchl, and halted on thle track, fatee to the enemny, in rear of the position just occipi)ied( by tIoward’s two regiments, the 01st and 04th Xew Yoirk. Beiing in command of the brigadle, I sent an order by Adjutant Gregory, of the 61st, foi tlhe two regiments to clear my firont as soon as possible, and I would take their place. Tlhis i-as done at once, and wlhile the movement was oiig’ 01on, the li-llisi-.riade came 1i}) ill ny rea’. The 69t]i New York foi-med on th)e irig,lt ot [,iy line, and the 88thl on my left, but in rear of my line, where they halted(l. The 5tlh NewN Iiampslirei tlhen enter’ed the w-oolds, solitary and alone, the iregimenits on tlhe ‘igrht and left remiaini,ig in tlheir places. About 200 yards fiomn the railroad track we camie upon the dead and wounded of the 61st and 64thl New ~Yok, and a few yards fairther on we met the enemy.

Twice we drove b)ack tlheir line, and( it rallied; the tl)ird time it broke. AIost of the fi:‘ing took place at twenty yards i.range. While advanciing the second time on the enemy’s line, the 69th fired a volley right into the backs of my men, for I had obliqned llmy line to prevenet being(r flanked. That volley mortally -wounaded many of miv best men.

Fortunately, being on the railroad track, their aim was hig,. I expected the tw-o re(gimenits on my flanks would have entered the woods w-itlh is, but they did not; and wly, I never could learn. \Vlhen the eneiy ceased(
firing, my regiime)t broke by tlhe rihllt of companies to the rear, and filed out to the railroad. It was here I received this ngly wound in tlhe tliil, that made me acqiuainted witlh yon, Doctor. 3Iy boys cariied me to the track, in fi-ont of thle regiment. On the track -we found the two iregimenits; and hecre two men oft 81, 0

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L’EFAYI3S FROMi TII’ the 69th relieved Iny own men, and carried me’to the rear. Thle Irish Biigadcle, while on the track, lost four killed and twentv-seven wouinded. The 5th New Ilampshiire lost neaily two hundred killed and wounided, among tliem mysell; the major, and many other ofieers; and yet we have hardly been mentioned as having been in the fihlt, and tlhere, as you see (hainding me the newspaper),.grossly misreipresented. No otiher regiment was sent into the wioods. This ended the fight of Sutinday. The 5th bore their part in its closing’ scene, and not till then did I turn over the command of the 1st Biigade to Col.

Parker. It is true that the brave Ilioward’s Brigiade bore the brunt of Sundlay-‘s fight,,ianid no doubt thle official reports will do justice to tlhe 61st and 64th regimnients, wilich foght so well and lost so he,avily.

But I do wvant to see justice done the 5th, and no more. AVe did our duty, and want our country to know it; and I owe it to the imotheirs, wives, and sisters of the brav-e boys I took with me firom New IIampshire that the truth should be told.” Tihe recital of the above consumed all the time I couldI sparie to this w-ell-oir(eired establishmient. It had been a coach ftetoiy-, and was converted into a hosl)ital. The wairds were laige, and kept well ventilated. The patients, onec and all, were loudcl in their plaises of tlhe care tlhey -were receiving’(, and of the kind attentions bestowed on them by the ladies of Philadelphia, many of ihomn I saw tenderly-niursing the -wouinded, to whom thie change firom thle )loody field of Fair Oakls to the comforts they were then siiilrounded with, must have been as striking as ag,reeable. The Louisiana having received the necessary repairs and taken in coal, was again hautiled into the Callowhill-street 8-1 Phil(tclell-)bict. 0

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DIAPY OF AN ARIMY SURGEON. wharf, to take on board the generous contributions of the Philad(lelpliians for the sick and wounded, the necessary commnlissai’y stores, and the supplies for the Sanitary Com mission at the AWllite I-House. The quartermaster haviing received diiections to forward, with all possible haste, a number of aitillery horses, sixty were p)ut on board, in boxes or stalls, fitted up on the miain-deck. WVith this caig’o, so unsuited to a hospital boat, we started fi’om I’Philadlellplia on the afternoon of Mlonday, June 16th. The ihliarves were again crowded w-ith a dense throng of people, to bid us farewell, and send messages to their fiiends in the armyn, and to obtain poromises t hat all the IP ensn sIl v aniia wounded uwouldl, in ftture, be sent to Phliladel phia. A nnumber of gentlemen, MIr. Binney, 3ii.

Longhead, ancl others, came on board, some with tleeir ladies, to see the Louisiana, of whose size they ha d h eard much. Nor d id they come empty4-hanclded; thlei r carriages b rought down m a ny luxuries for the use of the medecical sta ff on board, and valluable contributions for the wonunded. Steam being up, anI the oword “alals ready” having been given, the gangplak pulled in, we moved out of the wharif, and amid the 1de’feuing cheers of the crowd, the Louisiana steamed majestically down the Delaware on her mission of nmercy and relief. I slubjoin a list of the medical staff and nurses on board, whlen we started for Fortress AIonroe, which we reached on WAVednesday: LIST OF 3[EDICAL STAFF AND NURSES.

S?(‘yMo/z1 i)z C/Ictr,/c Dr. Thlomas T. Ellis. 4e(i)?d Assistct)t S,trgeoiis-Case, Janiner, iMaury, Tyson, Corson. Actidly Ilosl)it(l Stewc(r(I-Sankey, 49th Penn. Vols. 85 0

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LEAVES FPO5l TIIE Cler7 to S?(;ieo~z iz Carcd)e-G. A. WVood, 40thl N. Y.

Voliunteelrs. ),‘esse,’ Platt Paymondl, 5th AVisconsin Volunteers.

Vt;(‘eses-E. Graves, E. ti. Post, L. Port, G. Foot, Wm. ItI. Bo(yd, O. L.

Guildl, C. Ii. AMiller, F. E. Wheeler, G. L. AVelden, T. Riae, J. Potts, J. Bliven, L. I1. Clapp, E. S. King, J. 3tyeryN-, E. Emerson, WV. P.

BarIncs, I31. II. Conley, J. G. Abbott, L. Ratyinoud, J. Legarty, WVin.

Jillin-s, Patr ick Lyons, E. Almnsted, E. B icelay, J. Gay lo(rd, F. AV.

Carpenter, S. G. Peterson, G. W. Gillel), L. Ilaven. These men were members of volunteer regimnents, and the grieater niumber of them I had obtained froni the hoslpital,it the White House. Thle fobllowing Philadelphia ladies requested to be allowed to )roceed to the VWhite IlHouse as voluniteer nurses, but returned, withoutt rendering any services: Mrs. Corson, [IlIs. Pliillil)s, Miss Caldwell. In addition to these, we hId( on hoard, Mr. Jas. Cooke, iMr. Mlartin, iMr. Taylor; IMajor ]trinten, U. S. paaymaster; iMr. Goddard and Mr’. Alexiander, his clerlks; and Mr. Stillwell, of Brooklyn-thle dleath of whose brother I have mentioned-ancd who was now proceeding to Fortress MAonroe to recover his iremainis, whlich, through the kindness of Dr. Cutyler, he was enabled to do. Our trip was a most agreeable one. Ihaving al aitially recovered firom the fiticgue, and not hlavingT any care but the disei)line of the inurses to attend to, we enijoyed the beaititit1 sail down the Delaiware river and bay, iand arrived on WAVediiesday at tle tolrt, well supplied with every requisite foir our future labors. 8 (,) 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CIHAPTERP IX. FORTRESS MONROE RETURN TO IVHITE

IIOUSE. ON our arrival at Fortress Mlonoe, I anxiously inquired for the latest inews firom thle armiy, fefaiing a renewal of the fighlt had taken place, as I was satisfied that thle fitilure of tle rebels to achieve their desirgn in cutting, off our left fi’om the main body of the army, tlhough for the I)present foiled, was not totally abandoned; but I learned firom Geneial Dix, to wnlom I introduced the ladies and gentlemen from Philadell)lhia, that all had been comparatively quiet since my delpartuie, and that, with the exception of some shlelling, of thle pickets and slight skiirmisliing of the outposts, matters were as I had left them. As a coupl)le of hours -would necessarily elapse before starting for the A\Vhite Iouse, in consequence of our intention to tow thle li)sliital-ship St. 3larki, whichl lay in Ilampl)ton PRoads w-aitiig( for a ttug, it was spent by the Philadelphlians in viewingir the Fort. Foirtress MIonrioe, as most of my readers are aware, is built onl the san(ldy promonotory fobrming one ot’ tle southern boundaries of Chlesapeake ITay, and which lhas been better known as Old Point Comifort,-biit a fewv yeais since one of thle most popular and fs}hionable Soutlhei-i w-ateiring-pl)aces, to accommodate whom a largie wooden hotel, with a circular friont ornatmenited with Corintlhian co)lumi s, was erected. This hotel, the only one at the place, was capable of containing 1,200 guests, iand such was the rush to the “Point,” that fiequently 1,500 persons ST a

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LEAVES FRO5[ THE laV-e been accommodated at one time. It contained a fine dilill gig-room and concert-room, with all the necessary public Ilaialtmenits usual in an hotel on a scale of such magnitude. It iwas at this timie, and had been for some months pr’evious, used as a United States hospital, under the clhaige of DI)octor Bointico, an excellent sturgeon, who spared no trouble to prevent the ill effects of its want of ventilation, in a great measure owving to its peculiar shape, and inll consequence of w-hichl it was soonI after abandoned for hospital purposes.

Two or three other general hospitals were situated near-thle Chesapeake and Seminariy. The reader can hardly iimagine a busier scene than that going on at this time at Old Point: thousands of soldiers, sutlers, calmp)-followers, and contrabands hurrying to and fio in a state of confusion; the steamboat wharif-the great rendezvous-contitnually crowded with passengers going to or returning from the Peninsula. This was the outer gate of the army lines,-all passes to which, were here issued, oil proper authority, by the Provost 3Iarshlal, !Jajor WAV. P. Jones, U. S.

A., lwho performedl his arduous duties wn-ith unusual suav-ity. His forbearance must have beeni friequently overtaxed by the unreasonable requests for passes firom persons hlaving no better claimi than curiosity.

The general satisfaction given by MIajor Jones caused much sincere regret on his leaving, wheii General AVool (of whlose staff he was a member) was relieved by GCeneral Dix. The maijor’s office was in the hotel building a(ljoiningI the hospital; and between it and that portion of tlhe buillding used as an hotel by Willard, the other staff officers, viz., the quartermasters and commissary, were distributed around amiong the cottages formerily used as family residences, or were accommodated in temporairy buildings, a large number of which had been 88 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. erected for these and various other purposes, such as storie-ho utses, post-offices, express-offices, lharbor-master offices, &c. Their number and unfinished appearance, scattered around without any reference to order, gave tle place an appearance very unlike what it presented w-hen used as a watering-place before the comrmencement of the rebellion, and bearing a striking resemblance to San Francisco or iMelbouirne in thle early days of the gold fever. The Rip Raps, on which Fort Wool is being erected, lies in the roadstead oplposite the fort. It is a small, baie rock, and presents the appearance, at a distance, of having been artificially constructed. It is used as a military prison, the inmates being, obliged to work on the fortifications: cut off firom all communication with the mainland, they miist lead a terrible life. Besides the steamboat wharf there is another, the light-lhouse vlwharf, the approaches to w!-ichl were equally throngedl, and, taken in connection with the crowds of shiI:l)piing and steamboats which lined the Iwharves and filled the roadstead, presented a scene of animation tllat could not fail to strike a visitor as peculiar, and only to be accounted for by its proximity to the army of a g,ieat nation in time of war. As the Fort was used as the depot of supply for all oridnance and other stores, the offices of the lheads of each department were continually crowded, and any one havingo business to transact with these gentlemen suffered an unav-oidlable loss of time, trying to their patience; and in some cases the outbursts of temper caused by the delays created amiisement, and helped to pass the time spent in Nwaiting. Ilavingi completed my arrangements on slioie, we started for Yorktown, where we left the St.

Mark, and reached the AVhite Ilouse next dclay after another scoirching trip up the tortuous and muddy Pamunkey. 89 0

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LEAVES FR0OM TIIE Back again to the former scenes of our busy labors. But how-changed an appearance every thing wears! No hurrvyim to andi fro fi’om the hospital steamers; no arrivals of tr.ains witlh woundedl; every thing peaceful; and the bustle and confusion at the quartermaster’s, and other offices, seems to have quieted down, as if tIhe scorching sun had p)roduced a letihargy w-lich the employees of the departments could not shake off. Even the contrabands, horses, and nimuiles were visibly affected by the lheat; and the oppressive calm seemed an ominous precursor of the storm that soon broke over this placid scene. I found that bult a few wounded had been received fioni the advance during miy absence. They were now lying on board the steaimer South America, at the railroad wharf, w-aiti-( until enouglh had been sent down to load the vessel. M[y letters had been sent on board the Sanitary Conmliission steamer AVilson Small, as was usual while I was lere; but she had gone to Yorktown with Mr1.

Olmstead and Dr. Vollum, iand would( not return until next day. Tlhe short distance firom the Louisiana to the post-office occpj)ied some time in getting over, as I met miany wvellklnow-n flces, and was fiequently saluted wvith, ” Welcome b)ackl, Doctor.” Most of these gentlemien had labored with me,-many of them day alcnd niglht,-and we consequenltly had hecome better acquainted than an ordinary 11tcrcoui’se of years would have made us. From them I learned that Dr. Chas. Tlil)ler, Medical Director of the Ainmy of the Potoimac, had been down to the White Ilouse, laving, as I suppose, heard of the commendations I had irecived firom thle memnbers of the Committee on tlhe Conduct of thle Wair, and of the censure he received fo)r not having’i made p)rovision for tlhe d(lischarge of the duties I assumed on my first arrival. I have stated, in a former 90 0

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DIARY OF AN APRMY SURGEON. chapter, the condition of things on my first getting here. I at once telegraphled to tlhe surgceon-general, Dr. Cuyler, anid D1). Trii1)ler. Frolfi the two former I received orders to act as mv (liscretion would dictate; but Dri. Triple took little or no notice of nmy letters and disl).patcles. The formner, hlowever, were sufficient authority bfor me to act on. The amount, quality, and necessity for the services I had perfoirmed had received the commendation of the authorities and the coUntry. Of this Dri. Tripler was aware; and, in order to neutralize it, he appointed for those duties a Dir. Watson, who was in chari,ge of the hospital at the AVWhite House, and who, as he expressed it, had more duties than hle could perform. The opporituine arrival of Dr.

Vollumn, at this time, set this miatter to riglts; and tlhe relief (as medical director of the Army of the Potomtac), of )Dr. Trliiplei, by Dr.

Lettellrman, which occurred a few days after, -was the most convincingli decision in my fivor. The excitement at tlhe AWhite Ihouse to-day, and for the last twenty-fbour hours, hl as been intense. The story is ab)iroad tlhat the lubiquitous Stonewall Jackson, witlh a lairge flying co)lS, i’a))s m, is applroaching the AVWhite IHouse, with the general idea of capturing the stores lhere for thle Army of the Potomac, or of dlestroying, thlemi, or of b(re.iking up) our communication with the advance, and tliereby of starving out the armvy, acnd of clearilg out thiings ii general, besides killing all the troops, canmpl)-follovwers, &c., C. as a sort of by-play. Ahlat atddls to the excitement, is the fact that a goia-el-tiain, tl)at went up) tlhe railroad fi’om herwe this mornino, lias jlst returned, and briings backl the stoiy of the taking 1)y - thle rebel troops of Dispatlch Station and a do wn train. Be tlhis as it may, it is certain that a train leaving before the one capitured ehad tlitiee army paymasters on board, w-ith about $6,000,000 between 91 0

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LEAVES FROM THE them;-this would have been a good haul folr Jeff. Davis.

On receipt of the above intelligence, orders were given civilians to leave. The fact of the taking of Dispatch station needed only to be told them to insure prompt conmpliance with the order. There has been, too, a studden diminution of the firaternity of sutlers, who have skedaddled in an agony of fiiglit. The mail-boat, which left very late, never went away so well loaded. There is a general movement of all the vessels, that have been so long lying in the Pamunkey r iver, towards the mouth. Every thing, possible to be moved has been, or will be, sent down to Ctmnberland or WAVest Point. All the ttugs and steam-vessels have been busy as bees, and things look rather lively on the water. The river is now comparatively firee firom vessels, and if the famous “Stonewall Jackson” does come, he will find little in the river to tempt his cupidity. On the land there has been quite a general cleaiing out. Quartermasters, and other officers, have placed their effects, private or official, upon steamers, ready for an instant start, so soon as the rebel bayonets gleam near us. Thle woods liningi, the shores of the river have been cut down to give the guns of the gunboats a chance to work, and evelry precaution has been taken to insure Jackson a wiar reception. There is certainly a great fiighlt on every one’s face. But I fancy there is little reason for it. Perhapls, as a precautionary measure, all this general evacuation may be wvell enoughl; but it strikes me, a looker-on in Venice, that it would have been as well to have sent troops eno,ugh here to guarantee safety, when it could have been done. It is certainly a singular oversight to leave a base of operations, and a point so essentially important as this, with a force which may not be deemed sufficient to protect it against small raids of partisan corps. It may have 92 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. been an oversight, but after the “scare” which the presence of a roving band of rebels caused, some weeks since, it seems to be a blunder that precautions against a recutrlenllce of the movement should not have been taken. VWe are stronger to-day, of course, but it seems by military ininds not to be deeimed strong enough. Eight or ten thousand men ough(t to be at this point guarding it, as well as the railroad to the firont. There is undoubtedly hleavy fighting going on, on the right wing of the army, to-day. The enemy are endeavoring to turn our right flank; but fi’om all accounts they are not meeting withl success. It is very generally believed the grand battle is soon to come off, and may be now going on; if so, the result will soon be known. May it be a glo]rious one. 93 a

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LEAVES FPROM THE CHAPTER X. TRIP TO NVASlIINGTOX ON TIlE JUNIATA. HAVING
received orders to proceed to Washington and make a personal report of my duties while acting medical director at the Whlite House. I turned over the chaige of the Louisiana to Dr. Middleton, assistant-surg,eon United States Army, and started in the Juniata, which Captain Sawtelle, assistant quartermaster, placed at my service. The trip, which occupied two dlays, was delighltful, the clear bracing sea-air was a most agreeable change firom the hot and sickly banks of the Pamunkey. I arrived at 5 p.

Nr. on MIonday evening, and had been at the Kirkwood Hotel but an hour when I was called on by Dr. Alvorcl, of the office of the Interior, already mentioned, and who had, with Judge Clark, his associate (as a commiittee), to look after the interests of the wounded Michigan Volunteers, efficiently aided me. They had also written from the White liouse a very strong letter to Senator Chandler, making favorable mention of my services, and now called to introduce me to him. Between Senator Chandler’s rooms and that of Mr. Odell the evening passed away, ancd, accordipg to appointment, I reported at the Surgeongeneral’s office the following morning at nine o’clock. My reception by Surgreon-oeneral Hammnlond, was cordial in the extreme; he stated he had heard of my valuable services fi’om quite a numiber, mentioning Mr. Odell, Paymaster King, IMr. Olistead, and others, and said I had proved myself a highly competent and efficient sur’geon, and that he 94 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY’I SURGEON. wns d(leelIly gratefil to me for assuming the duties at tlie IVliite I-House as I had thlereby saved him and the coiuntiry everlastingc disorace; that he sup)posed tlhere was a stiureon it the White HIouse, detailed by Dr. Tril)ler for that duty. Thlat it would afford him pleasure to forward my claims for pr’onotion, if I desired it, and that lie aldvised me to take some rest after my unusual labois, and tendered inc( tianspoltation to imy home in New York for the purpose, wh1ichl I accepted, and after considerable coiversatioc with ]inm alnd tlhe assistant surgeongeneral, in relation to re f)irms needed aiimong the niurses, withi whomi I had had great tiouble to keep sober, and other matters connected with tlhe department, I left the office to return, by ap)pointmelit, it three o’clock for a second interview. Leaving the Sur geon-genieral’s office I proceeded to the capitol to meet, by :-)pointmenit, the Committee on the Conduct of the War, somre members of which, as I have stated, were at the AVlNite louise when the wounded firom the battle of F,air Oaks were arriving, and witnessed my exertions. I was initriodiuc(cd to the committee by Senator Chandler, who sp)(ke higlily of my services. I replied to several questions fi oni members of the committee, and urged on them many needed reforms. I then was birought into the Senate chimI)er anid introduced to miany senators. The confirmation of (General Shields as a miajor-general, was iunder discussion, and I learned before leaving the capitol that it had fallect tliouglih. 3Ir. Forney, the secretary of the Senate, who lhal lbeen written to by,)Ir. Lougheadl of Philadelpl)hia, showed me lmuch attention, and promised me any influence hle possessed to insure my promotion-this he redeemed so far as wrliting letters for me. But I found, that for some reason tlein unknowni to me, the sturgeon-general, who, I suppose, feared beiiing censured for not having provided suitable care 95 0

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LEAVES FROM THE for the w-ouncldedl, wvas most anxious for me to leave Waslington, under pretext of his,giving me leave of absence, w-ith the hope that the session of Congress would have adjoiurned before mny return.

He wvas proceedingT to Philadelphlia by the train of this evening, and desired me to accompany him, wlrich I did. After a few days spent at home, and in official visits to Albany and Boston, I returned to the White House in time to witness its evacuation. 96 a

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DIARY OF AN AR,MY SURGEON. CHAPTER XI. EVYACUATIOX OF TIIE WVHITE IIOUSE.

SINCE the 15th of M1ay, the White House has been the base of operations and the griand depot of supplies for the Army of the Potomac. It now is being abandoned. This has been determined on for some days, for the reasons that it is too remote from the main body of the army, and being easily approached by many avenues, afforded superior inducements of attack by the enemy, and required too large a force to guardt it. Yesterday, forty or fifty cargoes of Qiuarter-master and Commissary stores were sent down the riverI, Nwich were in danger of capture, and wortli three or four millions of dollars, of just such supplies as the rebels most need. The raid made by the rebels under General Stuart and Colonel Lee, two weeks ago, convinced General MIcClellan of thieir anxiety to cut him off from, and capture the large amount of supplies stored here both ashore and afloat. The enemy have commenced their flanking movement, which has been purposely met with but slight resistance; but when they do get possession of the White House, it will be to find it a mass of ruins, and thoroughly empty of the valuable prize they hope to come in possession of. General Casey assumed command here two days ago, and at once gave orders for the felling of the trees along the river’s bank, to give play to the gunboats, so that if attacked before the stores are all removed, the rebels will 97

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LEAVES FROMI TIIE get a warmi reception. Coloniel Butler, the Provost 3Iarshal here, to whom the order was given, has a large force now engag,ed of the 93d New York Volunteers and 6th Pe nusylvanlia Reserves in cutting down thle lofty pinetrees under w-hichl so many men found shelter firom the scorchiing sun. The axemen of’ these two regiments commenced on the lawn in front of the White HIouse, and the sound of the chlopping is plainly heard, as one by one the lofty trees of a century’s growthl-oaks, elris, and pines-topple over and fall with a fearful crash. Others are engaged in the erection of a hili signalstation, from whichll the movements of the enemny can be watchied, and a lofty cupola on the roof of the White liouse or Lee house, from which a splendid view of the river for its full length and the surrounding counltry can be had. A detachment of the signal corps fiom the gunboats are now stationed in both of these, to give notice to General Casey’s headquarters and the vessels on the river, so that they can act in concert, and, if necessary, drop down beyond the reach of the enemy’s gutns. Otlher active preparations for departure are going oln the fireig,ht-laden sehooners and transports are one by onle startingl for Fortress 3tonroe, and 1many exclamations of surprise issue from the lips of those ignorant of the order to evacuate, but as yet little or no panic exists. The railroad over which so many hundred Nwounded have been carried, with its locomotives and hundred fireight-cars, and w-hich carried all the supplies, men, and horses to the advance, is now busily engaged in biinging back such supplies and wagons as can be shipped down the river, and are not required in the purported change of firont by the airmy. These active preparations have not escaped the notice of the hundtre(ls of sutlcris and canl,)-followers, 98 0

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DIAPY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. the buastle soon becomes geneiral, and vessels of every kind Iare beiing rapi(dly loaded at thle’lwharves. The papelrs iand l)personal eiects of the chief oflicers here are beillg put on board of the steamboats, and the heavier articles on the sclhooners, barges, &c.

The contrabainds are being put on board of canal-boats. TIhe order was sent this noon to their camp, about an eighltli of a mile from here, and withl their camp eqitipage tley are busily ihurrying to andcl fio fromi the boats. One old iwhite-hleaclded darkey was the first to go on board.

lie vwas closely followed by a motley crowd of men, women, and children, each carr,ying some household article 0or piece of dilapidated fiurniture.

This colored stream con tinnues, and soon all of the three or four thousand ” culer’d p)ussons” will bid farewell to this part of Dixie.

JuLdgiig fi’om the grini each face wears, I think they don’t regrlet tileir exodus firom the Old Dominion. But the negro loves excitement, and nothiing is now thought of but the sail (ldown the river. The excitement has increased so much thi’t many of the laborers, panic-stricken, refuse to work, fearing to be taken prisoners. Colonel Butler has a bandl plaiying airs around the camip, which seem-ns to inspire them wi th confidence as to their safety. 5tt,rcct.,O]3~o )ig(.-A1ll the night was spent in getting the stores on board, and by the crowd in getting ready for the start. The fighting we know has been going on for two days, but we are in suspense as to the result. A report has just come in that a train laden with commissary supplies, which started early this morning, has beenl capturted; and another, laden with railroad truck, went as far as Ttiinstall’s station, but was sent back by General Stoneman, whlo comnmands a brigadle of cavalry and flyirng artillery, detailed to watlch the eneimy’s flankiing, movement made 99 a. li - I

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,lLEAVES FRPO5 TIIE yesterday ag,ainst General Porter’s corps. The rebels were pressing on to thle Wliite T-louse, and had cap)tured l)ispl;teli station. General Stoneman consequently orderedI the return of the train, and requested that as soon as it reached the White Housse the locomotive should return, so that hle milght ride up the railroad to reconnoitre, which was compl)lied with. ie had proceeded but a fewN miles, when he found himself within musket-shot of the enemy. The removal of the sick in the General Ilospital began to-day. -Ilany of them bein(r well able to wvalk to tlhe river, were permitted to do so; the remainder, several Tllundred in number, were carried in ambulances or on litters, as their cases required. The whole number were quietly and comfortably removed, and by the arrangeiments I had made were well accommodated on the hosp,ital transports. AVlhen they had been all placed safely on board, the large tents of’ which the hosI)ital w-as composed -were struck, and col-nveyedl onl board of the barges provided by the Quartermaster’s Department for this purpose. I here mention w-itlh pleasure my acknowledcgalenlts to Captains SaNvtelle, P, wkin, Fiarnsworth, and Waagner, for thei(ir prompt co-operation on this and other occasions, and cannot omit making, mention of their efficiency and the perfect order preserved by the employees under them. General Stoneman has just arrived firom Tunstall’s station, withl an escort, and is now holding a consultation with General Casey, at his tent on the lawnii in fiont of the 5Vhite IHouse. I-e ordered supplies to be sent up for his command, and says he can hold the enemy in check until we have all left here. At the same time hlie recommends all possible dispatch. The gunboat Commodore Barney has been added to oui 1 I’ 0 0

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DIARlY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. fleet. The Currituek is about a mile above the railroacl bridg(le. The other’s are in positionl below, w itlh every tlli)ng inl readiness for all attack, should the elneliy force our proteetingi lines. Tlhe si(nal gun, for all to elbark, has just been fired, and hundreds, takifng advantage of it, nre making a fierce onslaulght on the sutler’s stores, stripping, them of dry-goods, groceries, and whiskey. Thle soldiers and laborers vie with each other as to who shall make tlhe largest haul of the miserable stuff, and if not prevented in thleir depredations, we will have a boisterous time. Eaclh one onI loadiingl himself starts for the boats, and his place is quickly filled by another. The stores cannot long hold out, at thle rate they are disappearing. Already many tlhonsalds of dollars’ worth must have been carried away. The oflic,rs interfered to prevenlt this waste of property, butt too late. The commissary stores, to a great extent, were g(ot onl board; but a large amount, stored in a wioodlen building, were destroyed, as they were said to be partially ldai-l,ged(l. The building, outside, was heaped up wNithl bales ot’ hy, oln wh-lich lwhiskey was spilled, to hlasten its destrutctio)ll. Colonel 3[orris, this afternoon, under orders fr1om General Caisey-, coimmenced the destruction of the goverli-lnent )i’opeity, by the imen of his regimenit, the 93d New v ork. They began withl the large water-tanik, built to sul)lpply the locomiotives. The p)ost-ofice and quartermaster’s tents, the ofliceris’ aiId sutlers’

tents, the negro quarters and railroad shanties, then the Whlite House itself, were given to the flames. Tile fl,ame, smiioke, and noise firom the crackliIng and fialling timbers, made the scene one of the grandest i magminatble, tlhrowing, a lurIid glare for miles around andI over the river, in stranoe contrast with the sunliglht. Added to this, was the fi’equent explosion of shells and 101 a

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LEAVES FROM TIlE other aimmutnition. The light firom the fire continued until after dark, and lit up the heavens, mnakingc visible for miles the scene of the destruction. The White House itsel;f, situated as it was on a highl bluff must have been seen blazingr at a great distance. il~any mourned its destruction, which, I learn, was contrary to the orders of Gcnieal Casey, but the torch was set to it by some one of the many who had for a long time complained of its being so jealously guarded by Union sentries, and it the property of a rebel leader-claiming that it could, with advantage, be used as a hospital. There was some justice in these complaints, for althloulgh the building was small, and would accommodate, comparatively, but febw, yet it could be used for the worst cases, or as medical headquarters, apothecary ,shop, &Ce.; and a large number of hospital tents could have been erected( on the lawn, beneath the slhady trees withl which it was covered. This would have afforded an ag,reeal)le and cool shladiing to the sick; and the well of sl)iingi water on the premises, the use of which was denied, would have prevented miany cases of dysentery that occurred on the gunboat fleet and among the ecm)loyees on the boats. These complaints were iurged wiith considerable pertinacity at WVaslington, and the surgeongeneral issued an order for its occupation by the Sisters of Chariity, who have been, for a couple of weeks, devotedly nurllsingc the sick and wn-ounded. The workl of destruction beitlg nearly complete, including( the explosion of three splendid locomotives and the burnig of over one hundred railroad cars, General Casey, wiith his staff, are gettingc on board the Knickerbocker. Colonel Ingalls and his department have gone on board tlle Circassian, and we start down the river, whichl is filled with the transports. As we turn the winding, of the crooked 102 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. stream, forests of masts can be seen, bound for Fortress 3Ionroe. Lookiing, back at the Wllite Ilouse, e cain still see the brigh,t flames fly)-ing pwari(d, lig,llting np thle blnks of tle mudd(y stream, nov loaded witli a fleet, resecmbling ioine closely the approach to a large conmmercial city tliaii a quiiet inland river of Viirginia. AVe soon (dropped anchor fbr tlhe iiight, it being unsafe to proceed fniither. As soon as daylight returned C-e started for Fortress 3Ionrioe, which wNe reached at 10 A. [., Sti(ay. ColoncI Iig,alls started(
at once up the Jamies river to learn hown matters were going, and, if possible, the result of thle battle l(f()rc 1i(1ichiimoncd, whiclI has been rag’ing for tle( last t-wo dcays. Orders n-ere received to send but a I)oitioin of tlhe flect, w’ith supplies, upl the James ri-ver thle remainder to remain at Fortress Mfonroe awaiting orders. 103 0

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTER XII. THlE SEVEN DAYS’ FIGHT THREE or four days have again passed witnout any thing of any great importance occurring here, except a very lively skirmish between the pickets, which came near bringing on a general engag(,ement. I was at some distance firom the scene of the skiirmishl when it first commenced, but the rapid booming of cannion, which lasted nearly an hour, told ie that something was occurriing in that direction which I should know. As I approached the late battlefield I be,came convinced that the heavy firing was firomn our side altogetlher: it proved so upon my arrival. It seems there is a redoubt of great force, and mounted withl heavy gulls, -whichl the rebels hlave got an eye upoIn: in filet, I learn tlhey lhave had an eye upon it ever since it was comiilmenced, as it is in plain sight of their pickets, whlo have attempted to capture it no less than four or five times, each time being, repulsed with great loss. The last attempl)t will probably remain the last until the great battle takes place, as they should, by this time, knowN
its little use; but if they sllould try it again they will find as warm a reception both here and elsewhere as heretofore. At five o’clock yesterday afternoon the pickets of the 2Cd (Troy) re’imenit, Colonel Cari, New York State Volunteers, relieved those of another brigade. They wvere about four hundred strong, those on the right of the redoubt comnmanded by Lieuteniant-coloniel Olmstcad, and 1 0-1 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. those on the left by 3imajor Otis. About six o’clock the enemy made a feint on tile left p)ickets, to di-aw thle attentionI of the reserves inll tlhat direction. Alimost at tlle saiae instant they attacked the right, and in a few minutes tlhe -whole line was engag,oed. Tbhe eenemy were futll six hlundired sti-ong, as no less than eighlt coml)anies were seen by our p)ickets. The pickets comimanided by Maijor Otis wiere outnuinmibered and driven in, retreatiing( in good order, and )laciiig tlhemselves on the right of thle redoubt, the enenmy out of lang,e fioln our battery and riflepits. The troops unider Lieuteinant-colonel Olinstead maintained thieir positioil fi’oim first to last. Three or fotur comipaIies of the rebels followed the retreating pickets beyond the skirt of tlle woodcls, ex!)osing themselves to vieN, and commnenced( a -,.lling-fire of imusket-ry on our rifle-lpits. WVhen within r,nge our men returned their fire, and the eneniy still advcilng, tihey approached so near the redoubt that the orders of thle oflicers could be distinctly’ heard. Nowv was thle tiime: tlhe tmusklet firing lhad lasted about tlhree minutes, drawing tlhe enemly on, lwhen the artillery, fi’om a redoubt in thle celntre, opened upon tliem. This was instantly foll)\ed by-a chlarge of caiister friom the redoubt on the riglit and shlell on the left, makling a cross-fire, the iniusketiy, firom the riflepits, still continuing. Nothingi could wiitlhstand tlhis; as shot, shlell, and canister, with deadly.air, flewv amiong then, loilowing tlhemn down and scattering l]hem like chaff befbre the wiidc, they retreated ill great (liso(rder. The firinog was continued soine time loIi,er, when% the pickets whlo retreated to the riflepits were sent to tlieir original )positions, hlolding the g,round until irelieveed tlhis imorning. Tile enemy’s loss, in killed and wounded, must be very great. They were seen fi-oin the first reiuovigff themi to the rear, and even to thle end, as they sup 5* 105 a

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LEAV-ES L;‘R:5[ TIEIL posed, carried off all thleir dead and wounodedl with them; but early tlhis morniniiig our pickets observed a man lying uil)on the ground, waiving a -white handkerchief ie was biouchlt in, and found to be a rebel sergeant. -ie Nwas badly wounded in the groin, by a rifle-bloall, and lIis iecovery is y-eiy doubtful. He reports a great num-ber of the enemy killed and woundedl, and states that hle heard tlte eries aid groans of the wouniided and dyiiig all ni ght, and that they were all carried off but himi. According to iis account, there was one Georigia regimenit and four comil)anies of the 2d Northi Caioliiia engaged in tile fight, and thley had v-oliiteered their services to take tile redoubt. Vhien they saw our I)ickets on the left retreat, they yelled like madmen, and, no doubt, thought that the redoubt was already won. Our noble fellows fotughit bravely. Two were killed and seven wounded, thieir names are as follows: George Miurray, Coi)mpanyiv B, killed, shot in the breast; iteniy L. Dunham, Companlay B, flesh woIund in arm; Jesse G. Iliuse, Company F, slightlyt, in fLce and ]land; James MieGann, Companyil)a D, wounded in hip, seriously; George IPaine, Comipainy D, wounded badly in the arm, thle ball eniterinlg at the elbow and comingi, out at tile wrIist, shatterilg, the boine; Firancis 3iegott, Compr any D, wounded in thie hip; 3iichael Barrett, Company D, sllot through the lad.; Johlin 3IcGoverii, Company D, slighitly in tlhe fice. Thle otiher thlat.was killed belonged to the Third Excelsior, and was shiot in tile breast, whlile on )iceket, just befoire the ski’ni ihl coieinieecld,-I could not learn h}is name. [ufiii-ray wias fioln Scllaghlticoke, Rensselaer county, unmarried and about thilrty-five years of age. ie lived abouit an lloiur after being shlot. The woundiced are all fi’om Troy, N.., an(L werIe tile advianced pickets. Tiheie is no doubt but that if thle eienemy lad succeeded in ca ptliag thle redoubt, a gell 106 a

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DIA~, Y ol’ AN ARiMY SUiGEON. eral enag(eimenit would hve b)eeln the result. I fol’got to imenition, that the first notice of ally thil unsunltil u was tlLe al)ppearance of several officers, apl)pal-elltly makingil a recoinoissane, and tlhe chief oficer sen(ling aids to ttle iight and left. Two horses, belongingr to the rebel oflic(rs, were brouglh(-t in by the pickets this imorningiy, tlhey havingo found them strayilng riderless in the woods. One was a splendid aniinal, and the otller desirable. A few days since two companies of this reg,ilnent, Corn]1,ay D, under comma(nd of Cap)taiin MIeGuiire, and CorIi,.ay E, by Lieutenant Wilso’n, drove tlhe enemy, after tlley lad driven in our I)ickets, skiri-isihilg thliouglil tlhe wioods, back to thleir own riflepits, wiitlouit losing a man. Colonel Carit, of thlis regimnent, is acting Biigadier-general, as General Patterson was taken sick and has returned borne. I have just seen a number of rebel prisonelrs and conti,a,bauds, Awho are on tlheir way to Foirtiess l3onroe. The coltlral)aunds were so stupid and thiek-skutlled that notling, could be oleaned firom themn, and the rebels so bitterly sceesli tlhat equallv as little could be learned firom tlhem. Of thleir appearance there as prisoners, however, I learn that some lhave been cap)tured by our pI)ickets; some were of tlie 1st Virgiuia cavalry, andl had been hunted down, as tliey teirmed it; while otheis-honest, quiet farmers-lhadcl beeni torn fi’om thleir homes, b)ecaiuse they said they -would not take the oath of allegiance, but were, probably, sll:)l)osed to be connected withi, or kinow soliethil)g of that little aff.iir down the road the otlher evenigi). Tlhey are teribi)ly seceshl, as I saild befoie. Tlhey appear to delight in l)oasti)ng of tlleir connection with thle rebel army, their ijtention nev-er to take the oathl of allegiance, and their h)atredc aind contempt of thle ortllehn army and people. 107 0

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LEAVES FROM THE One man said, ” RicAmiond(I is not y’ours yet, noir can it ever be.,” U-pon asling one, who appeared more intelligent than the rest, if he did not think w-e would be in Richmond before long, he said: “Yes, I think you will, but the same wa-as I am here,” meaning as prisoners. They did say they did not expect the kinid of treatment from us that they received. Yet they act as though they despised it. It will be well to remark, that after General 1IcClellan had paid his accustomed visit to our troops in this direction, on Wednesday afternoon last, when he was Igreetedl with such bursts of applafise, the rebels attempted, and succeeded, in driving back, with an immensely superior force, our pickets to their reserve. The rebels engaged in this affair consisted of a whole brigade, while our picket and reserve did not outnumber a lwhole regiment.

What the motive for this attack was cannot be diviiled, unless it was to learn the cause of the immense glee in our camp. “Seceshl,” probably, imagined that reinforcements were arriving for General MIcClellan, and the reconnoissance in force was for the purpose of ascertaining the extent and nature of the reinforcements. At all events, the effort, whatever may have been intended, was a perfect and entire Iailure, the shells firom our batteries drivingo them like chaff turoug,h the woods and swamps, and enabliug, our pickets to obtain an advanced position. On Friday, Orderly Sergeant II. D. Ilanahlan, Company I, 2d South Carolina Volunteers, Colonel Kennedy, of IKers-haw’vs lrigade, was found in the woods, wounded in thle legs, where he had been since ATcdnesday ni,ght. IIis legs -were ampultated by tlhe surgeon of the 1st Califoirnia. HIec was found, by Captain W. P. Tomlinson, Company F, 1st California, in an emaciated condition. The prisoner expressed a great desire to have one f,act noticed, which was, to disa ios 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURIGEON. buse the minds of the Southern soldiery, who believe, firom representations of thleir leaders, tha t thei r woun0ded do not receive mei-cifil and charitable attenltion at oire hands. IIe desires to express his thanks for the noble and generous treatment extended towards him since he has been a -woniuded plrisoner in our hands. le believes the loss of tlhe rebels severe, in the skirmisl of Wednesday, as the sliells firom otur battery exllodecld iight among tlhem in tlheir retreat throughl the wioods. As aii incident illustrative as well of the fearlessness as of the vigilance and activity of General McClellan, durin,g Aediiesday hlie rode to the outer line of oure pickets and pulling off his coat Illounted a tall tree, generally use(d for reeoninoitel:;ng purl)oses bv our officers and men, withl all the agility of a w-ell-trained “salt of the ocean,” and ascended illtO its topmost branches, where hl e had a siplendid view of the einemy’s position and dlefences, and also of hIis army’Ils lPari(lisian city of Riichmond, the heart of the the rebellion. Thle rebels were no respecters of his valuable presence in the tree, for their volleys flew thick and fast around and aimong its clusteiingc boughs, happily wvithout ilijuryi to the chief above, who was taking notes. The ol)ject of their most recent movements is judged, by our geiiei-als, to have beeni to capture a quantity of comniiissary stores, Nwhich they piestumed laid near Fair Oaks stationi.

Our picket lines, during the whole of last niolit, resoundled with the crack of musketry, mostly fi’om thle rcbcls, who, fi’om motives of spite, seen determined to 1lrevcnt our forces in caimp fiom enjoying, tlheir nightly sleep. These eonstaltly r-ecurringi( alar’ms in campl) are now, lho-ve-er, taken chlieerfillly by the imen, and the line of battle is iuniformly foirnmed after a few shots have been exchanged between the pickets. Wlhile the position and It, 109

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LE.AVES FI’OMO Ti1’E stienthl of our forces are at present sulch as to dissipate all fear fi)r our own safetyN firom aany attack whichl the rebels laya make upon us, a reinforcement of fifty thousand fiesh trool)s would insutie thle imm4i ediate reduction of Riclhmond, which is generally conedeed here, and with miuchl less loss to oiii side than it could be accomplislhed otlciherwise. It is id(le to deny the fatct that the rebels outnumnber us, tliongli in effectiveness our animy is sui)erior to thleirs in the field. I aua g’lad to see that some of our regimenits have been p-rovNi(1ed, as a measure of protection fiotn the fervent heat, with a ne,at,n(d light straw hat, with tlhe name of tlhe 1 eC( iiment neatly printed on its black band. I noticed the 16th New York, in iregimenital line, this mornilng, and tlhey presented a really neat aicnd tidy appearance with thleir new chapeaus. If any thing can be said to be hopeftil about tile rebels, the fact that yesterday they allowed the blessed Sabbath to pass, or at least the devotional nmorning hours of the same, without the resort to tile messenger of death, would indicate a changie for the better on tleir part. Thle health of the troops has slighitly improved. AWedn(esdlay\, June 25thi, was signialized by another gloi’iolts stcruggle between the rebels and thle Union troops, in whichl the latter were twice victorious. About six thousand of our men encountered (on that day) two divisions of tlhe rebel army, a short distance beyond Fair Oaks, and driove tl,em back a mile. By a very remarkable blunder, we relinlluishled all the g,round we gained as soon as we had obtainedl possession of it, and then wheii the errior was sifted and nu,derstood, our gallant 1],ds went at it again and corrected the mistake. Upon our retirement, the enemy latd once more swN-ept in over the field like a recurrent tid(lewave, and for a second time we drove him back, step by step, over all the giound oiigiiiallyr won, and maintained 110 0

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DI-)APY OF A,N ARP[Y SURGEON. our 1position tlhere at nighit. But little artillery was eim-)loy-ed, and tlhe casualties are therefore not so niumerious as iig,hit be s)upposed fi’ol the duration of the fight. As the anitiller that was used was minostly ours, the enemy’s loss is, doubtless, considerably hleavier than our own. Oniis will, pe1)rlhalps, reacli the neigolhbolrhood of eightty killecd, and less tlhan two lhunclred -woutnde(l. It slhould be clearly understood what this particular fight was for. It was not an int(eirup)tion of our march to Ricihmonil, in wvichi, as might be supposed, the rebels tlhrew themselves in our way and stopped us at a mnile firom our original line. It was a fi(,lht for a position; a determined stiruggle for a piece of (rIlounvd which it was deemedC necessary that we should “have and hold.” This piece of ground is barely a mile beyondc our formner line, and we have it and hold it, for what purpose I cannot state. It will be remoembered, that the field on -which the battles of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines was fo,ugllt, was bounded on the side towardis Rtichmondei by a line of woods. This wood extends on eitlher side of the ANilliamisburg road for a mile, and beyond it is a piece of open country. Our outer pickets have lhitherto been posted in that edg,e of the’ woodl whichl is farthest fiomn the ” sacred city,” and the line of rebel p)icklets was drawn only a little fairtler in the woods, ariid so near to our lines that the men could talk to one another. It appeared to be well understood that any firthle aidvanace on our part -would bring on a general engg-teiteiit, and in tlhat view our line was kept stationary. lBut, fidtlly, it was deeimed necessary that our pickets should be posted at thlle oute r edge of tlhe wood. Accordingly, General Ileintzelmian was ordered to advance the pickets on l)is fiolot to the point namnedl, and to advnance the pickets on ,.is left in a lile withl those in firont. At seven i. i r., tliei’e ill 0

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LEAVIES FiROlIM THE fore, the greater part of his two divisions was in line aicnd r’eady for action; but the advance was not made by so lariige a force. Two brigades of Ilooker’s division, Grovel’s a’)d Sickles’, did nearly all the -workl, tloughl some other brig’ades were sligohlitly ecngaged before the day was over. Sickles’ brigiade is composed of the five “Excelsior” reg,imeats, the Se-venitiethl, Seventy-first, Sevenity-seconid, Sevenity-third, and Sevenity-fouitli Ne\ew York. This gallant ])ody of men has lost so heavily ill previous battles, and by ilaless, that it imustered( for AVedniesday’s fight only foiurteen hlundred men. Grover’s birigadle is composed of the First Alassachutisetts, Colonel Cowvdin; the Second Newv Ia’ill)sliire. Colonel Gilhnan 3Jarston; thle TFwenty-sixti enii issylvanaia, temporaril y commanded by LieCteinant-colonel Wells, of the First MAassaclihusetts; the Alassaclitusetts EleNventhl, Colonel AVilliam illaisdell, and the M[assaclhuisetts Sixteenth, Colonel Wymian. This birigade mustered about four thousand men for duity. At a little before eighlt A. 3M., the -worid was gi-iven, and thlese two brigades imoved forward. Sickles’ line was formnied across the AVilliamisbulg road, and he advanced in the direction of that tihoroughfar-ie, lis second regilienit on his rig,hit, tlhe Fourth next to it, and both these reg’imenits on the right of the Williamisbiurg road. To the left of the roadcl in the order in which they are tnamed, the Fifth, First, and Thirld were formed. Sickles’ left stretched about three hundred yards to the lcft of the road. Grover’s line joined on to Sickles’

left, :edi was fobrmed of the First Mlassachuisetts on the riglit, and thie Eleventh ALassachusetts on the left. lIis othler rcg’iments -were at hand ready for use anywhere. bIotli bri)‘ades advanced in line of’ battle with skiirmislhers out in f’ont. Never was there a day better fitted for a fight. Two or three teimpest-like showers in the few days previ 112 0

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DIARY OF AN AIZMY SURGEON. oils, seemed to have washed all that was disagreeable out of \irginiia. Natture and tile cool, fiesh air, filled our Northern lutings withi life. It was just cloudy enoughli, too, so to temper the sutin’s heat withlout miaking it a dull day, a-d tlhere was just breeze enoulgh to lift the smoke. As the line moved out across the field that lay between the point and where they had been drawn up and the wood, it presented a beautifiul spectacle; the light-blue of the unliforms contrasted with the brilliant green of the field; tihe( light reflected fiom thleir guin-barrels in a silvery slheen; and( their olorious standards blown out in the breeze, gave thle iwhole scene the gayety and show of a Fourth of July 1parade. In a few minutes the whole line disappeared in the woods, Sickles’ part more slowly than the others, for the left of his line had to move thirotghi an abatis that was very difficult, and was thus detained. Thlroughl this imeans, also, the regucilarity of lhis line was broken, and did not,et into action so soon.

Only a fewv moments, ho wever, lhad elpl)sed( after the disapl)pearance of Grover, when the scattered ” po)p,” “1)po1),” told that hle had reached the cuerney’s rifle p)ickets. This little fire only continued a fetw minutes, rattled rapidly once, twice, thrice, and down the lines’rid was over, and Grover went on. The eniemy’s outer line was driven in. Slowly and cautiously the advance was continued. AWhenI the picklets were driven in, they formed onl the picket reserve sonie distance in their rear, and after some little delay-, with difficult ground and necessary caution, (Grover’s skirmishers came upon their second line. They dislputed the ground tenaciously. Nearly all their firont al)Iearied to be held by -North Carolina troopls, iwhom we hve foiund to be by far the best and bravest troops of the Southern Coifiederacy. These gallanit tfellows stood to their 113 0

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LFLEAVES FRO5[R TIlE posts and kept up a rapid and accurate fire that galled our lines severely-, until they were filirly driven back in rout by (Irover’s stecady advance. The stout resistance of these 1)ickets gave ample time for the formation of Hlill’s division, to whhi(h they belonged, and which is made up in great Iart of North Carolina troops. This division, supported T)y that of General Ituger, now advanced to meet our line, and in a little whlile the ball was fairly opened. So rapid was the rattle of the fire this time, that the sotund seemed to be without cessation, without pause, or interval, one continuous rattle of rifles.

This fire was very severe, Iand wounIIded men now began to find their w ay to thle rear; somne on stretchers, otlers leaning, on tlhe shoulder of a comrade, and others again, withl a bravAe pride, determined to help tlhemselves, and “g o it alone.” Thle headquarters were established in the open field near to Fair Oaks, and there General IHeintzelman, very (juietly, and wiithl a very business-like air, ” taiught the doubltftil battle where to rage.” The two houses at that 1)oint were used as hospitals, and numbers of the wounded were laid on the ground in the oak grove that gives name to the locality. There, many wounds were dressed and the soldiers made comfortable; aind there, also, many a gallant fellow bcreatlhed his last. Alore commodious hospitals were established further back, and the ambulances passed liastil bI)etween field and camnp with suelh good effect that the wounded men were all cared for withl admirable disI)atch. General Sickles, for tlhe reasons heretofore givei, dlid not become engaged as soon as General Grover, and whlen the very heavy fire was heard on the latter’s firont, the Excelsior Brigadcle was still under the irregular picket fire of the enemy’s outer line. l)y deorees, as they advanced, this fire becaime hotter, until it broke into the rattle of 114

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DIARY OF AN APMY SURGE~ON. several thousand rifles; a fire fiilly as severe and intense as that on the left. On Sickles’ fionlt it was straighjtforward work. I-e had only to keep his mien up to it and push on, and this was well and gallantly done. WI,hen Grover advan,iced lhis line, it was understood tlhat iearncy’s line, wlhicil joiined IHooker’s at that point, was to lhave been advanced also; but, as it did not keep up, Grover’s position became dangerous just in proportion to his apparent success, for his flank was left exposed to tlhe attack of the rebels, whlio filled the woods in firont of’ iearney. To gnaird against maishaps in that quarter, and to establish the co,nection with iecarniey, he threw out, on his left, five comp)anies of the 3Iassacliiisetts 16th, which regimenit wae s ]held in reserve. At about the samie time, as the fire conitumed teiribly-severe in firont, lie p)laced a battalion of the ew IIampshirie 2dcl on his extreme righlt, to strengtlie his coinnection wiith Sickles’ left, and placed the 1remainder of the same erCimeni t between the 3Iassacliiisetts 1st and 1 itlith, ilwhere tlhere was some apl)eaniance ofweak,iess. Thus stiecnthened in firont, and provided against attackl on lhis flank, Ie went on. Betiy’i s brigade soon began, howeveri, to push forward on Giover’s left, drove the enemy irapidly and easilv before it, and advanced till they comp)leted( the line fi’om Grover’s left. Robinsoni’s brigade (late Jaiiieson’s) w-as subsequently pushed in between GrIover’s and 1crry’s, and continued the movement. But the enemy was not at any time in gireat force b)eyond Grover’s left, so tha)t tlhe figlit in that direction iwas not severe. At halfl.st nine our line was )brought to a stand still. It was evidenit that the enemy was iln gr,Ieat force along the whole line.:Near that lhour the 5th NewNr Jersey was sent out as a reserve to Sickles; thle‘2d New -York, to reinforce his advance, and a legimea.t of Sedgwick’s division, the 19th 115 0

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LEAVES FRIOMI TIIE i3[assachusetts, was pushed in on lhis iil]ht, so as to extend lis line to the railroad. Still, with occasional intermissions of comparative quiet, the fire iag,ed along the vwhole firont (t’ tlie two devoted brigades, and seemed ever to rage wiith iiltense fiiry as it approached the road on which the Excelsior Brioade had advanced. Duiring this hlard-foiugllt hour our men had not flinched at all. Every one toed the niark resolutely to do what he came for. There was not a straggoler to be seen; and those even who helped the wounded off the field, helped tlhem only to where they could get better hellp, and then went back. Gloriously does the conduct of these two brigades speak the praise of the gallant officers who have made them soldiers, and filled them wiithl the soldier’s spirit; and especially does their good conduct on this dclav redound to the honor of that noble old veteran, General IIooker. AW,hen the rebels found that our boys were not going to give way, under any circumstances, they concluded to give wav themiselves. Their disposition to do so first appeared in fi’ont of Grover. It was hailed withl a hearty cheer by our bo-s, -whlo pushed ahead, and, now that the machline was firly started, went oln withl a rush. In a few minutes tliey broke out into the open field, and the object was so ftr gained at that point. A battery was sent down to IKearney to play on the enemiy’s flank, and shlell the masses iii retreat. Grover was not, however, permitted to hold the ground he gained in quiet. An attempt was made to dislodge him, by a body sent to reinforce those previously driven out. A hard filght ensuted, and the attempl)t was iepullsed. I’)ut while the enemy were thus driven in on the left, the righlt did not get along so well. There the enelmy’s -whlole available force seemed concentrated in one endeavor to bear down the gallant Excelsira B]rigade. lPeinforce 116 a

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D!IARY OF AN ARM\Y SURGEON. imeits were ordered there immediately, and Birney’s Bli,gade went llup the AVilliamsbuirgT road at the double quick.

As t!hese regimients filed on, chieeredl by those they passed, a chorutis of responisive cheers arose fi’om Grover’s brave fellows, a-way off on the left, as thiey drove the enemy before them. Sickles’ boys took it up in turn, and made a stouiter push at tle foe. Ev-erybodyl seemed exhilarated at tlhe sound. Orderly after orderly rushied in to tell how (8rover was drivingl them, and others to say thlat Sickles could hold his ground till B}irney could reach them. NWe l]ad tlhe enemy fairly started, and could have driven hill any distance. Just at tis exciting juncture, the order was received fi’om headquarters, to “withldraw gradually to tlhe original line.” They alone who know how brilliantly the fiirst daw-n of vietory beams upon the battlefield, can al)llpreeiate the gloom this order east on every spirit, but it had to be obeyed, and was disseminated.

It was hard to credit the news firom the tongues of aids or orderlies, but it was soon venified, and the men were withdirawn. They all believed that we were beaten on some other part of the line, and that we had gone too far ahead for safety, and all retired in good order, and took up the line in the edge of tlhe wood nearest the camp. This w-as about halfpast 11 A.

Mr. General MIcClellan and staff rode upon the field at one r. -r., escorted by Captain iIcIntyre’s squadron of regular cavalry, and the 1st PRegiment New YTork Volunte(er cavalry, Colonel 3IcReynolds. He made his headquarters at Fair Oaks, where Heintzelman had previously been; and there drewi around him all the sources of inforimationI that such occasions fiurnish. All -were then in amazement at the recent unaccountable order. B-ut hle soon saw how affairs stood, and ordered, very shortly after, that the same advance should Ibe made ill 0

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LEAVES FROMI THE again. The order was received with joy on every hand. All was again activity and s)pirit, and evelry one prepared to dlo the thingo over again, as bravely as if thley had never been conmpelled to relinquish the almost gotten prize. Once more they went fo-rwar’d, in the same order in which they had already done so well. Girover, on the right,,ot inl first again, and rattled away; but the resistance there was not so tenacious as it had been, and he pushed tlhroug], still finding,, lhowever, enouglh resistance to keep up the interest. IKearney, on the extreme left, found also no great resistance. But on the Williainsburig road, in firont of General Sickles, the fightiIng was harder than ever.

There the enemy had evidently gathered a strong force, and he seemed determined to hold that point at every hazard. Steadily and accurately as the battle-trained boys of the Excelsior Brigade delivered their fire, still they made no permanent impression. The place of those rwho fell on the rebel side were again filled, and tlhe enemy wvas still there. For nearly three-quarteris of an hour the hard fire was continued at this point. Thus the battle stood at a little after two o’clock, when General J. N. Palmer’s (late Devin’s) Brigade, of Couch’s Division, was ordered up to sup)port Sickles. The vigilant, and ever-ready commander of the Fourth Corps, had put Couch’s Division under arms when the firing first began on the left, and they had awaited their chance till now. They went up the road handsomely-tlthe 3Iassachusetts 10th, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Decker, in advance, followed by the Rhode Island 2dcl, Colonel Frank WVheaton; the New York 36th, Colonel Innes; and the MIassachusetts 7th, Colonel Russell. At the same time, Batteiy D, l st New York Artillery (four rifled pieces), Captain J. IV. Osborn, was ordered up tlhe Williamsbturg road to shell the woods beyond our advance. 118 a

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DIAItY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. It was expected that they would throw shell directly over our advancilg line illto the eneuiy’s line, and into his caij) b(v-ond. This is always a perilous attempt. Slhells eitlter fill false, or the distalce is mniscalcil.ited, and misfortune ensues. So it did iln this ease. Several of Captain Os boin’s fell fiilse, and exploded in the rear, and even rilght in the rankls of ouri men. By this means the M1assachutsetts thl, wlich was ldeployed in the woods as skinrmislhersl, lost seeral nmen; and, by one of these shells, Lieutenant Buil lock, of tl,at iregiaient, received a wound which soo11 proved fatal. This fire was immediately stopped. Two glns of Battery K, 4th United States Artillery, Ca,ptain De IIussey, were then sent up the road and into the wood, and(l took position right in the midst of Palmer’s Brioade and thence opened fire, whichl they kept up briskly for some minutes. ileanwhile there was an almost complete cessation of the musketry fire. At the sanme time Gener al Sumner began to shell the woods on his friont, and tlhe aitillerymen had it all to themselves. Soon the eneniy also got artillery at it, and began to throw shell and sleot, with considerable accuracy, all around De Russey’s guns. So perfectly did he get the range of their pieces that they were withdrawin. But this did not stop the eniemy’s fire, Alaniy IrqOjectiles-slishell and round-shot-fell in the woods in that neilghborhood, and a number of men were mutilated by them. Lieutenant V, hiting,, of General Palmer’s stafr, lost his arm by a round-shot at this time. Colonel A. TJ. Mloirrison, volunteer aid to General Palmer, had beeii wounNo ded in the thigh and hand earlier in the day. The contiinual push of the Excelsior Brigade, and the fire of the artillery, finally forced thle einemy entirely through the woods, and our line now lay just in the fittheri ecldg(e of it. Thus we had gained our ol-ject, and thecre the battle restedl 119 0

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LEA’VES FROMi THE for atime. The fire now fell off into an occasional shot firom skirmishers, and in that position matters continued until six P. Ar.

At about that hour General Kearney led 1-3ir-neys B~rigade against the enemy. Pushing, in on Grov-er’s left, and between Grover and Robinson, lie went at it in gallant sty-le, and entirely cleared the woods. The fire there was very fierce for several minutes, when it subsided, and shortly all was quiet ag(ain. Thus had passed altogethler a glorious day, in which we hadcl twice beaten the enemy, twice driven him before us over the same ground. Dispositions to hold the ground, in case of a night attack, wvere made all along the line; and on the right, the weakened and weariied Excelsior Brigade was withdrawn, and relievedl by that of General Palmer, which thus held the ad-.ance on that part of thle line. Soon after dark large bodies of the enemy were brought up in fiont of the position held by General Palmer, and the rebels also pushed forwvard, at the same poiiit, a battery of field-pieces. Arrang(ements were in progress to strengthlen our position there, when at ten r. P. a large force was pushed in suddenly, and delivered a volley in the line of the 2d Rhode Island and 10tlh Iassachusetts. Sonme confusion was caused, but the men were soon ]rallied, and repulsed this threatened advance, driving the enemy back with considerable loss. 120 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XIII. CONTINUATION OF THE SEVEN DAYS’

FIGHIT. TIiE foregoing particulars of the battles of Friday and Saturday, necessitated the vacation of the north bank of the Chickahominy, and made certain the evacuation of the White House and the York River railroad.

This obliged the falling back on the James river as a new source of supplies and another base of operations. The tents of General iMcClellan’s headquarters, which had been pitched in Dr. Trent’s field, on the Chickahominy, were moved to Savage’s station at dusk on Friday. At night, as the several brigades came over the bridge and clustered on the borders of the swamp, one single tent stood on the hillside, and that was General MIcClellan’s. At eleven o’clock a council of war was held in fiont of this tent, in which the general commanding, corps commanders, with their aids, among them the French Princes and the General of Engineers and Artillery, took part. A large fire had been lighted just beyond the arbor in firont, and its blaze lighted up the faces of the generals as they sat in the arbor which formed a pavilion for the tent. The conference was long and seemingly earnest. This was the first council called by General McClellan since he took the field, and here he disclosed his plans of reaching the James river. The rumor soon got wind that the army was to move, and all Friday night the baggage wagons went in long trains towards Savag,e’s station, whence they took their way over 6 121 a

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LEAYES FPROOM TIIE the hills to the AVilliamsbulro road, and thence to White Oak Swamp. This procession continued all the following iliorning’, andcl the large siege p)ieces Awhichi had colme up) fromi the AVhite Ilouse the previous weekl, went passidng along with ambulances, batteries, and pontoon trains ” retiring in good order” in pursuanee of the prearranged plans. The celerity of their movements, howvever, caused an anxious look on the faces of the initiated; and the quartermasters, thoulgh they said nothing, appeared disconcerted. All know it requires much patience to await the tardy uarch of an army, even when the troops are firee to go in advance and leave the teams to follow leisurely; but when the baggage-wagons lea,l the way, blocking up the roads, sticking in the ruts, and upsetting down the lhills, the marich is trying in the extreme. Such was the case on tihe several marches of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, wvjieii the tedium became almost unbearable, firom the anxiety to press forwiard. At dayli,ght on Saturday it was kinown that the army was to evacuate its line of intrenchments. To do this waith sufficient celerity, it was necessary to move only thle most essential baggage, and leave behind every thllilg )oncderous or bulky. An order was issued to officers to discriilinate between necessaries and luxuries. Even the sick had to be told that but to fewv of them could ami)bulances be allowed.

The wounded were told nothling, but the oiinous silence must have convinced thlemr that they were to be left on contested ground at the mrcey of the enemiy, while the army would, column after column, recede to the distant Jamnes river by a doubtful anddangerous route. None w-ho witnessed it w-ill ever forget the scene on Saturday morning. All knew the AWhite llouse had been abandoned, thus cutting off the depot of sul)l)lies-a part of the line of earthworks were deserted, and the tentless army lay on 122 0

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DIA-‘,Y OF AN AP,-:Y SLUTGEON. the open field, man), sleeping after the labors of the battle, but by far a greater numhber wveire grouped in anxious coiI veisationI. llIundrleds, also, were limping along, or with ani arm ill a sling, iniquiring eagerly for their own regi menits. 3lany, very IImany3, started on the painfill and lop)e less )ilgrimage to the nowv coveted Jamnes river, wvhere tley hoped to find the Union gunboats, feeliig tlhat under their portholes alone could they find rest or safety.

Tlhe long and stiraggl,,ing lines of these left many a drop of blood on tlhe sandy track as tlhey filed through brook and wood and over hill and dale, braced by the certainty of deliverance whicell each step secured to thlem. Some of them hobbled ten miles the first day lill)on crutches; and one poor fellow Nilio had received a ball in the hip, and lhad the aikle of tle othler leg brokein, kept ullp N withl ani ambulance for eleven hours. The ambulances vwerie crowded so fiull that the s)rings, often bieakini, were all bent flat on tlhe axle. -laiiy poor wound(led fellows sat on the tail of the alllbulances, tlleir bloodt-dripping feet dang,ling, behind. FIiles upon files of wagons were )assiing all dclay, and the troops sauntered alono, eacli one bent on reachingr the wislhed-for destination. Witli them the siege-guns and p)ontoons were corming,led; the horsemen, teamsters, and( iegroes vied withl each other in profane eflorts to,urge on the hor-ses or mules. Few, if any, slept this Saturday night, for the heavy forebodings of the conling day, and each felt a terrible anxiety for the army and his own personal safety. It was reported that the enemy, advised of our planls, had Uslled a large coltiumn between us and the James river, and that if we succeeded iIn reachling the river, JBeaui.egar(d was there with a hundred tholusand men to prevenlt our e.acihing the iigunboats. A little rain that fell duiiiing the ni,ght moistened the dusty ground and improved the walk 123 0

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LEAVES FROMI TIlE img. At 3 A. -r., the rebel prisoners in chllarge of iMajor AVillard were marchedl off, the teams were on their way, and before two hours after, the commanding general and his staff were dashing across the country. Coming to an elevated position, General McClellan reined his horse and took a survey of Richmond and his late position. Over a thousand wounded were left in the hospital at Savage’s station. This was unavoidable, under the circumstances, and every arrangement that could be made was attended to, to insure their comfort and secure thiem good treatment firom the enemy whose bloody grecting they were a second time destined to hear. Sturgceons and nurses in abundance volunteered for the duty, and but little complaint was heard even among the wounded thus unwillingly abandoned. Thte Ba(ttle of Peacht Orcha)‘d. Daylight Sunday morning saw the trenches deserted and the artillery moved a mile in the rear, where it was judiciously distributed. The batteries masked and the infantry concealed by the woods which formed a part of tlhe battleground of Fair Oaks, but to distinguish it is now called Peach Orchard. At daylight the enemy were discovered coming eastward along the WVilliamsburg road-one column advancing down the railroad. They opened from two batteries on the left, but their artillery and musket fire was irregular and ineffeetive, thoughl the latter was within ordinary range. When they reached a line of marsh about three hundred yards firom our front, a terrible fire from our large guns burst uplon them. They staggered, but before the full effect of one of the discharges was discernible the guns rang again, and their columns were fearfully thinned. For an hour and a half the fire was so continuous that it seemed a 12.1

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. the unbroken echo of one prolonged deafening report. A perpetual blaze of flame and flying of balls, to which the Confederates replied feebly but wvithl determination. Gen eial Sumner passed throoughl the thickest of the fight, and 1Icalgher’s gallant Irish Brigade stood like an unyielding row of RIound Towers. The troops of Richardsoni’s, Ieyes’, and HIeintzeliman’s divisions vied with each other in the rapidity of their firing and the steadiness of thleir behavior. The whole fight, although it lasted fiom eight in the moining until noon, was like one unbroken incident when it terminated. Many a participator breathed a lonIg breath of relief, and the nervous tension of many brave mlen was followed by a corresponding reaction that prostrated them. Our loss was utnder 200, that of the rebels must have been five to our one.

IIis efiorts to overreach us were rendered futile, as we took pains to protect our left. Otur line of general retreat lay along the Williamisbiurg road to a creek that crosses it more than a mile fi’om Savage’s station. The enemy tried to chalrge through the brigades of Burns, Dana, and Gorman, but the steady fire of the regimeenuts, conspicuous amongo whom was the Mlassacliusetts Twentieth, baffled them completely. Having held the position until the teams, ambulances, heavy artillery, sick, and wounded, had crossed White Oak Swamp, the order was given to fall back leisurely to Savage’s station, and aigin firm in line of battle. So the fight of Peach Orchard ended with a clear victory to the Union troops, it was fought with but a small fobrce of our army, and against largely superior numbers, with a comparatively tirifling loss, when the ftact is considered that we were the rear of a retreating army, and opposed to a foe, who, flushed with victory, supposed us flying before him. To plan and execute such a battle, in the manner it had been conducted, 125 a

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LEAVES FROM THE required more than ordinary general,hlip and bravery.

General Sumhner’s large figure, miounted on a noble charger, and attended by his dashing staff, with his long and flowinig white beard, was conspicuous during the figlht; his appearance, as he rode down the lines, was greeted by the soldiers with the exclamation, “Boys, here comes Old Bull, give him three cheers,” which they did; and his acknowledogment of the compliment made them fight with redoubled energy, and renewed enthusiasm. General Dana’s cool, steady, and valorous conduct all through the enogagemnent, won for him the loud praises of the mien, the best proof ot’its being merited. There were many others conspielotts for their bravery on the occasion, and many who, thoilgh they were not privileged to wear a shoulder-strap, by their coolness and bravery materially aided in securing to the Union army the victory g’ained on this occasion. A private of the 74th LNew York Volunteers, seeing the last gunner of a battery shot down, slprung to the gun and rendered efficient service, dealiing death to the rebel ranks. The B((cttle of $((vc*ge’s Stcttio). The battle of Sa vage’s was much morec sanguinary than that of Peachl Oelrchard; it coimmenced at five in tlle afternoon, and lasted until eleven at night.

The ]ebels, wlen we had fallen back firom Peachl Orchard, filed with large reiniforcemients andl additional batteries, as well as witli several squadrons of cavalry, toiwards several roads leading( to the ClhiclkahomiIny; and, covered by the thlick tiimberl, they were enabled to remnain concealed until tlhey hlad reached a whleat-field that stretclhes fiom Sav,ae’s to a ldense belt of woods in tlhe direction of Dr. Trent’s flium, and the falr’ms of a A1r. Dudley and a Mlr. Couche. Suddenly appearing out of the edg,e of the timnber they opened with a 126

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. their rifled guns on our men, drawn ap in fuill view to the southl of the railroad. Directly they ran out their batteries to commaniding points in the whe’t.ield, and o)pened a ral)id and w-ell-directed enfilading filre of shell and g’ape, -hiehll was at first so staggeiing that our men could not fonrm, nor the artillerymnlen bring their guns into service. Tlhe OCthl Pennsylvania were panic-stricken, but soon recovered and did good service. Tlhey lost, in tlle beginning of thle battle, a hundred killed and woundedl, and a regiment of rebel cavalry galloped throughi their ranks, d(iiving the regiment off and obligingii tlhem to abandon their wounded. In thle iiem time, a rebel iigadce was observed stealing ldown to tlhe right, as it’ with the desiogn of flanki1)g, o01r troops by reac}ing a position on the WVilliamsbl)tii(
road. Captain Pettit at once planted two o-ins oR the railroad and swept thle column with gral)pe and canister until it went back to tile woods upon a run. Soine of the sharpest infthtty filghting of the -war ensued, ill wilich lparts of Sedgwick’s, Iliehardson’s, IHooker’s, Iearney’s, and Smiith’s di visions eingaged witih variious success. The rebels came determinedly across the field, firing as they advanced, until General Sumner ordered oiur trool)s ul), at dclouble quick, to a clibage. About four thousand of them went off at once, witll a roar thiat might have drowned the mnuskCetiy. Tilo rebels kept tlheir position for a mnomenit, and then fell back to the rear of thleir batteries. Ieagcrlier’s l)rigrade, however, succeeded in clhaging righlt up to the guns of a -iinoiiia battery, two of which they haitled ofl; spikedl, and clhol)led the carriages to pieces. The 88thl, 63d, and( 69t-h, )articil)ated in this gallant act. It was here that biave Colonel Pierce of the 29tih i3assacliiisetts regimlent, iormerly General Pierce, of Big Bulethel famne, lost an arm; it 127 a

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LEAVES FROMI TIlE was taken off by a solid shot. Night came on, but put no end to the carnage. The steady roar of cannon, and the sharp ring of musketry-now bursting into volleys-now dlegenerating to that rasping noise, made by file-firing, filled the whole air. The darkness was lit up by fitful flashes, and to complete the awful picture, the woods were set on fire by bursting shells, and conflagration painted fiery terrors on the sky. In the battle of Savage’s the rebels fired into our hospitals repeatedly, although admonished by the customary red flag,, and afterwards the white flag. Deaf to all appeals for forbearance, they continued to hurl messengers of death among those already past their vengeance, and the wounded were compelled to lie immovable and receive the quietus to their sufferings from the hands that had already maimed them. A fewv had limped away fiom the hospitals, but were shot down, whenever they were discovered by the blood-thirsty foe. The battle at Savage’s was much heavier than that of Peach Orchard. We lost, in addition to our wounded,-all of whom fell into the possession of the enemy,-fiomi seven hundred to a thousand men, the greater part of whom were killed or wounded. ]Nost of the wounded and all the killed were left behind, as we had no means of transportation for them, and the exigencies of the army would not allow of delay in waiting the tardy movements of the wounded. The enemy lost severely, and several of his caissons were blown up by the effectivenless of our firing.

During the several parts of the action, we took not less than five hundred prisoners, but were compelled to let them go, for the same reasons that operated in thle case of our wounded. The weary but still resolute soldiers received orders at midnight to fall back rapidly firom Savage’s across White Oak Swamp. The enemy was 128 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. making furtive attempts to overreach them in thlis respect, and it was likely to become a tighlt race between the rebels and Unionists as to which should first cross the creek and gain the high ground on the other side. If they should be more speedy, and succeed in placing, thb swamp between ourselves and them, our retreat would be inevitably cut off and almost the whole army butchered or surrendered; althlough every soldier and officer felt this dreadful alternative so close, no one acted otherwise than as a Northerner and a man. There was no murmurinlg, no flinching, no undue hastening,-onily the subdued talk of soldiers comp)aring opinions, the steady tramp of battalions, and nownv and then the gritting of teeth, or the hard drawing of a breath to indicate the bitterness in the hearts of all. Had some spiirit supplied the torch, there was the requisite fire in the whole army to rush headlong upon immolation at Richinond and end the campaign with honor if not with consummtnation. At dawn, all had reached the swamp, and the enemy were coming on behind. TVAIite Oak Swcamp. Tlle enemy followed us hard towards WVhite Oak Swamp -the faithful fellows of Heintzelman, Sumlner, and Frank]in protecting our laggarad baggage and artillery. These, indeed, were compelled to keep in line of battle across the country, along the whole extent of the retreat, for the (lenly w-as forever trying to turn us upon thlle right and left. Notwithstanding this, our march exhibited no symptoins of haste or fear; the trains went on duly, but not riotoutsly, and -whlen finally the last wag,oni and cannon went splashing throughi the creek, our teamis whitened all the l]ills on the southern side, and the weary soldiers, having torn lip the bridge, laid themselves down to rest.

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LEAVES FRO3M TIlE It was now eight o’clock on 3Ionday, a day aridi, dusty, and closer than the )panting, but inidomitable, Nortlierners could -well enduri-e. lIaniy of them were hiungry-the water in the swvamnp was such, the stomach turned at it with loathiing anid the wounded hobbled here and there, withi dry eyes, that seenmed to plead for drink. White Oak Cr’eek runs thliough a belt of swampy timber, precisely as the Chiekalhoiiliy flows throughl its encomnpassing morass. The creek is not more than fobur or six feet deep, and had been made passable by the engilleer’s brigade, who built a good corduroy bridge across it. A strip of’ bottom-land lies on both sides of tlhe swalmp, and on the north side a steepl) hill, crowned with a fatrm-house, formerly the headquarters of General Casey, had been encircleed, by our own troops, with a line of riile-p)its. An abatis also stretched across the bottom-land. Beyond the stream the country w-as rising, and two falrm-houses lay opposite each otlher, at a little distance, -lwhere some of our oflicers stopped to rest and refi’eshl. Beyond thlle most easteni house ran a small creek, suplported by a thick wood. This was the right of our newv line of battle, wherec General IlanIcock was posted wNithl lis brigadle, conlsisting of the 5tli Wisconsin, 6th 3Iaine, 43d Newv York, and 49thl Pennsylvania. Generals ]’;rookls and Davidson lay close into Ilancock, and the batteiies of the division were commanded by Captain Ayres, foirmerly of Shlerlmaii’s battery. Gecenials Stumner, Ileintzelmtan, Poiter, and, in fact, thle whole of the army,-exceptinu tle col’l)s of Keyes, and anI immense numnber of stiagg,leirs that had pushed on towards the James river aud could not be rallied in time to be of service,-extended( the line of’ b)attle nl)NNwards of fotur miles to tlhe left, bordiering, tle -lwhole distance uponl the swampl, wvithl batteries rangedl upon every commanding hill, and a strong p)icket 11,910 0

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DIARY OF AN ARIMY SURGEON. situated at Charles Cit r cross-roads, whlere it was Ahrewdly expected that the elnemly would come out in force fi’om ielichimond. Hancock’s position was a stiroIif one, and it would have taken a strongi enemy to dlislodcge himi.‘lThe fire coIImimencied at this point, on iloniday, whenl the bridge that tlhe englineels had constructed for the passage of our army, llavitg siubserved its purposes, wAas iremoved firom White Oak Creek. Previously, the railroad biidg,e lhad been bhurned, the culverts blown up, and a lot of superfluous ainimiunitioni and cumbrous baggag(e run, by train, into tlhe Cliickahlominy. Thle enemy al)peared oln Whlite OakSwamp, strong in force, and directly opened firom soiIe twenty mnaskled batteries, tlhat )blew up several of C.ll)tain Mott’s caissons, dismouilitedI his pieces, and iraised lhul)biub generally, altiong teamisters, wagonerls, canniroeers, and infitntry. Thie 20tl New olrk.it tlhis timiie made tlheir celebrated stampedle, for lich next day thle provost guarid, by order of General -[cClellan, picked tlhem ul) and took them to head-(quarters, like so many cll)rits. Very soon our lighlt batteries recovered tlhemiselves and vigorously .responded to the einemy, lwho waxs soon at a perceptible disadv(antage, so far as accuracy and effect was concerned. Our iizfiutry, too, fell in line, ready to supl)port the batteries, or meet lhalif-way any attenl)t of the rebl)el infantry to pushl across the creekl. Tlhus the battle )prog iessed(l till late in the afternoon, with selious loss to both sides, mor’e wounds’

fi’oem cannon-shot, perhaps, resultiing than at any other battle. The rebels made sonie desperate efforts to cross the creek, but General Smiith brouglht his meni up to close quarters with them whlenever they dared the contest, and although in each case somie of our best soldiers bit the dust, there were no signls of holding’ off. Thle cannon firing was inces 13.t 0

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LEAV* FROM TIIE sant here-some of the deepest and closest of the war-and the infantry fire extended along the whole column. The cannonading( had continued several hours with fearfiul effect among our baggag,e and artillery teams. AVe had, however, prevented the enemy firome crossing the swamp in our firont, and fervently hoped he would be unable to pierce its fastness at any other point of our ri,ght or left. That this hope was ill founded was soon testified by the appearance of the enemy in strong force at Charles City cross-roads, which lies about four miles from White Oak Swamp, due south, and about a mile and a half or two miles from the James river at Turkey Island Bend. lIe had advanced direct fiom Richmond eight brigades, the first under command of the redoubtable Gen. I-enry A. WVise, and, when discovered at the cross-roads, was endeavoring to work quietly down the river road between our trains and wounded and the army. Two hours previous such attenmpt niight have been successful, when utter ruin and conftusion would have ensued. Porter and K,eyes were ordered up to repel these new-comers, the troops of the former still suffering firom the battle of Friday in so great a degree that many regiments had no organization at all, and many brigades scarcely a regimental organization.

At five o’clock they engaged the enemy, hidden by woods and the swelling of hills, and the firing from musketry and fielcl-batteries was soon intense. The rebels did fatal exelcutiol among us, and some of our most valuable officers fell here wounded and dying. The reports of ordnance had now been heard so many dayls, that such chaos seemed the normal condition of nature, and painfully the battle went on. It was scarcely an enthusiastic fight, for all the romance of battle had worn off by reason of its monotony. The men fought well, however, though half dead with 132 0

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DIARi’Y OF AN ARMY SURGEON. l1eat, thirst, and weariness. Some broke for theiiver and ptlunged in the cool wvater for an instant, then emnerging, ruiished back to the fi’ay and fought like lions. Fresh troops and superior numllbers seemled bearing the tide of battle against us at five o’clock, and the fate of the army hung trembliing in the sunset, when a new advocate came to our relief. About five o’clock in the afternoon the gun boats, Galena, Aroostook, and Jacob Bell, opened fiom Turkey Island Bend, in the James river, with shot and shlell, fiom their immense rifled guns. The previous roar of field artillery seemed as faint as the rattle of musketry, in comparison with these monsters of ordnance, that liter ally shlook the water and strained the air. The shells seemned to be supplied with eight-second fiuses, and a con si(lderable interval elapsed between tlhe shock of the report and the subsequent explosion of the shells. They fired about three times a minute, frequently a broadside at a time, and the immense hull of the Galena careened as slhe delivered her complement of iron and flame. The first few shots went wide, but the man in the Galena topmast lookout signalled the proper elevation to the guns, and SoonI they tlhrew among the seirried ranks of the rebels on the hills their ponderous obligations, that cut down whole lines, spreading confusion, desolation, and dismay. The fire went on with the same fatal effect, making music to the cars of our tired men, and consternation among, the rebels. They, alireadv( confident of concludiing their work and diriving us into tlhe James river, began to reel and grow unieasy. Tlhe(ir fire )erceptibly slackened, thleir ranks scenemed slow to close up lwhen the naval thunder had torni them apart, disaffection and disappointment had already seized upon tthem, and every deep tocsin from the Galena added its impetus to the prevailing dread. General Ileintzelman, 133 0

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LEA.ES FIOIOM THE withl his whole coi)ps, confident that a recovery of the fortuntes of the time could be made, prepared to give another great effort to retrieve the losses of the day and the cause of the country. Suchl a charge of horse and foot was seldom seen, while our batteries upon the hill-tops fair and near -)layed incessantly uiponi the foe. Signals were given to the Galena to cease firin(r w-hen this advance was determined ui pon, the Galena lhavilg, aliea(ly hauled off. This w.as done by consecutively placed signal officers all the way firom thle i)oint of battle to the banks of the James rivel, whlen the thuinder lllled( and the grieat ship rested after her labors. Ileiiitzelman made a little appeal to his gcenerals, telling them, that in the dashl about to l)e made their confidence and couragoe might not only save the army, but do something towards avenging the great number of loyal men who had fatlleni in the several fatal encounters. Thle soldiers, poor, helroic, jaded fellows, responded with a sl)irit tlhat must have come friom huiigry hleaits, and soo50 the i’and corps of IIeintzelmian was in line, with the gaunt, gi’ay figure of its commander galloping down its columns. The enelny anticilated sonme such dashl, for they directed their fire uplon this part of the line, if possible, more coIleeitratedly than ever. Thlen Heilintzeclinan passed dow-n tlhe order, and like the sulrging of a sea long emabosomed in a plain, the column moved slowly, certainly, vigorously, belchingi fire and ball at every step, but never lialtiig, until they camie so close to the rebels that they might have hlallooed the names of each man to man acrioss the little interval. The latter camie up bravely to the offered combat, but there -was a destructiveness in our fire, and a velieoennce in our tread, that they could not withlstand. The fiery-brigadei.d of Aleaglier eldgedl up gallantly on the liglit, using tlhe musklet quite soldierly; and General Sickles’ Ex 13-i 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. celsior Brigade, already fearifily cut Uip, went into tlhe action like a battalion of fivesl yeterans. The brigade of Ihooker w-as ably led by that distinguishled officer, and Genecial IKearney seemed ubiquitous, as lie screamed lhis orders here and there, always ur(,ing( his men on to the foe. The brigade of General Grove-r, including somie Mass.ichlusetts regiments, behlaved finely here; but the whole corps was a unit, and HIeiniitzelmnian was its genius. Pushing steadily aheadcl, defying, all etforts of the enemy to break or turn its line, the corps had at last the satisfiction of seeing the enemy break and fly in confusion to tlhe swamli), totally dispirited and repulsed. WTe took, in thlis ellgagen.ent, over two thousand prisoners; but as our object had been gained, in covering’ our advance to thle Janies rivei, it w’as not deemied of sufficient importanlice, in viewv of the risk to be enicotiunteredl, to hold possession of theiii through tilhe nig-lit. A large numl)er of these prisoliers, lo)wevecr, remain on orI hanlids, and wvill serve in some way to coniisolc us for tlhe loss of very many of our ownl. Tlie b)attle of AVhite Oak S\wampi w-as scarcely inferior to that of Gatinces’ Mtill in point of losses of life, woiundtled, and )prisoiiers.

We undoubtedlyN sufired less than the enemiy, iwho w-as literally butcheired, but our own loss is enormous. VWe lost all of MLott’s battery but a single gunii; the wVlole of l)andalli’s battery; one o,iun, we-believe, of Captaill Ayres, and several otheis in various parts of the field. We could not lihave lost, in killed and w-ountided, less thlan 2500
miieI, iand our loss may reach tw ice tlhat amounit. lBut wec gained our 1)oint, and made thle Jamnes river-, despite all tlhe eemiv’s attempts to cut us off theref’rom. In failiii to (do thlis, lie suffered a defeat.

AVliereas, in the I-itelt of l)attle, w-e beat him back wiith imnmense loss, and he was so eril)l)lecl as to be unwNilliing, or unable to fire a gun next 19. 0

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LEAVES FROM TIiE d(lay. The gunboats Galena and Aroostook are entitled to the most unbounded credit. They came into action just at the ri,ght time, and did most excellent service. The region of the James is high, hilly, and bountifiully marked by nature with all that vegetable opulence can supply. The ripe wheat-fields, and tlhe long wavy stretches of clover, burst like a vision in fever uponl the weary eyes of our wounded and footsore. Some fell down by the banks of the river, and lapped the bri,lIt water like dogs. Others fell upon the imargin, and wepl)t. General MIcClellan’s tenit was pitchled by a beautiful farm-house at Cummings AVhalf; near Great Turkey Bend, just on the balnk of the river. lie wrote his dispatches here, and sent them off by the “Stepping Stones,” in charge of the French Prince De Joiinville, the Duke de Chartres, and the Count de Paris. The general spent a part of the afternoon on board of the Galena, and as he passed along the crowded banks in the coimmodore’s b,arge, all the troops, even to the lhaggald wounded, cheered him lustily. lIe doubtlessly slept peacefully that nilght, having saved his army and placed it more secure, and in a more convenient position. In addition to the loss of our fieldcl-batteries reported, we also lost several of the large siege-guns, that had only reached the army a few days before the action on Friday. A number of them were spiked, and rendered useless tfor all tilme to come. rThere are here, at I-Iarrison’s Landing, fine wharves and roads, vwhich will probably be the future depot of the grand army of the James.

It is a fine old property, commanding a long viewv down the river, and there are several excellent wells on the premises. The house itself has been turned into a hospital. At the landing there are several thousand teams of all descriptions, and five hospital transports were I 1”) 6 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. lying off the pier. Ammunition was being landed in great quantities, and hauled to the field of battle. On Tuesday, at two o’clock, every thing on the James had assumed a coIndition of comparative cheerfuilness. There was no strong desire to leave the place expressed either by civilians or soldiers, reviving, confidence was expressed in every look and assurance. The people had comprehended General McClellan’s bold plan; when it was fought out, and the reins, by unanimous consent, were restored to him, as still the only successful arbiter of our destiny.

Had we had half as many men as the enemy, in the fights of Gaines’ Mill and AWhite Oaks, we would have possibly retrieved the whole fortunes of those disastrous engagements. The James river was full of transports on Tuesday afternoon, and the -wounded will soon arrive in New York and other large cities. Tlle Battle of Goldingr’s _;ctrm. About seven o’clock on Friday evening, Toombs’ Georgia Birigade, one of the best in the Confederate service, drove in our pickets, and advanced, with close volleys of mnuskletry, in two lines of battle. Hancock’s BP)rigade, consistin(r of the 5thl Wisconsin, 6th MIaine, 43d New York, and 49th Pennsylvania regiments, was immediately under arms, as they had indeed been all day, expecting to join in the contest on the other side. They advanced over a piece of corduroy road, passed the redoubt to the right, and after traver-sing a bottom or declivity, formed in line of battle about a third of a mile firom the redoubt, and on the as. ceinding slope of a lhill. Here they threw themselves upon their bellies, so that they could just peep over a crest by rising to their knees, and awaited the onslaught of the enemy. The pickets skirmished right into the main body, 137 0

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LEAViE”S Fl10I TIlE tlle rebels coming pell-mnell after them, hoping to capture thle -lwhole force, Awhlen, just as thley turned the crest of the l]ill, tIlancoek’s arigade ld lrooks’ 5th Vermont regiment gave them a staggeringi fire. At tlle same time tl-he artilleiy fiomn the redoubt and below opened upon them, and tliey fell right and left, in heaps and files, until the desperation of the Georgians chlanged to doubt and then to panic. As they attempted to fall back our men rose to their feet, rushecd some distance, and lay downn again, pouring in, as before, murderous volleys. The whole filght lasted half an hour or an hour, and ended in one hundred dead Geoorgians beiiing left upon the field. Our loss was exceedingoly sliolght, as our men were not only properly gener.illed, but the regimnental officers of this brigiade are some of the most eflicieniit in the service, as Colonel Cobb of tlle 5th A isconsin, Colonel B-uruliam of the 6tih ]Iaine, Colonel Vinton of the 49thl New York, &-c., &c.

ASecond _)cty of the lyight act Golci?g’s F(grn. The next morning, the infuriated Georgians, who had imeantiime heard of their stucecess of Friday across the Chicktliomion, determined to attackl our lines before General SHiitlh’s division a second time, and make another effort to occupy the iredoubt near Gold(ling’s house. Their dead still l:Iy in the bottom or meadow whilere they hlad fallen tlhe ighlt before, and our troops had stolen around in tlte iiight to a strip of wood near a picket station, where tlley dugc and masked a riflepit. About eighlt o’clock tlhe Geoirgians formed in line of battle, commanded by Colonel Lamiar of the,th Georgia Volhinteers,-whose connection w itlh the celebrated slave case of tlhe yacllt AV,-cderer will be rmeiuberee(e,-tlthe Seventli was the first regiiment, by rep)ute, which joined the rebel service. They 13S

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. (lid not seem displirited bv their ill success of the (lday be foi)e, but imarched’bol(lly up to thlle same inevitable fite. Terr’ible v-olle-s that cut them to pieces, literally butcher ilg, them, and their enemyiv, though so obv-ious to ieeling, wa.s nowlieie plain to the silght. Lyiing in tlhe tangled grass, br’ied in the timber, prone under the sill of turf, or di-awitg a bead tlu’ough a fence, the keen-eyed Wisconsin, [aline, or Pennsylvaniian, was hlolding the terrible rifle, every tlhrill of w-hichl sent the leaden messenger throtugh, flesh andd bole. In the be(ginning of the filght Lamar was mioitally wounded, and in attempting to rescue hiim lis lieutenant-colonel was taken prisoner. Our riflepit galledl their retreat, a nmovemenit they were compelled to make, )but all its heroic cldenizens were bayoneted. Lamar was a beautiful man, singularly like a woman, but lie h.ad all the fierce elements of a warrior, and died suppressing every moan or criy. His wotund -was a badcl one, and lie must have sufiered terribly. General Brooks is generially rumor ied to be seriously wounded. htis brigade of Ve-rmouters behayed like veterans in the several engagements between ({,aines’ Aiill and AVhite Oak Swamp. The same indomitable pluck that instigated tihe clharge across the da.m1 at W1arwiek ilciver, marked their course in the fi,ght of Gol(limo’s Farm, Sa-a(e’s, and AVhite Oaks. The loss of tlhis brigadle is, perhaps, less than that of any of the li)rigad(les of Sinithl’s (livision. The provost marshal’s troops, commanded by LAIjor John 3[. Willard, were of incalculable service in maintainingr discil)liue on the d(lay of the battle. Thley collected the tihed straggleis and skulkers and sent tlzem to tlheir several leg’iments. Otlhers Awho could not be turned ov-er to tleii commands, were organized by sonlie of thle oflicers of thle piovost guard(, and made to do guard service in the fight at Clharles City cross-roads. Captain 139 0

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LEAVES FROM THE WValcott commanding a battery, did fine execution in the fight at White Oak Swamp. They were posted on the brow of a hill, and signalized themselves among a number of batteries posted around them, for skill in the handling of their guns and general soldierly demeanor. There is no doubt as to the loss of General MIcCall. This gallant officer had his horse, a spirited black stallion, shot in four places during the fight on Friday. His coat was also repeatedly torn by bullets, and his aids trembled for his safety as he persisted in riding hither and thither encouraging his men. The gallant fight of these men may be traced entirely to the coolness and collectedness of their commander. lIe had(l been the victim of neuralgia for a long time, but has filfilled his duties unflinchingly through evil and good report. General Mleade, also of this division, distinguishled himself for courage andcl activity. Hie has been taken prisoner. The rebel officers were so disguised by questionable and obscure costumes, that perhaps on the several ecngagemeIlts they lost fewer officers than we. Our officers, on the contrary, were so conspicuously clothed that they were promiinent marks,-hence the great mortality in thlis respect. Our troops say that, during the fight, they saw no rebel officers. Rush’s regiment of lancers did good service, not only in the fight of Friday, but in the subsequent occurrences of Savage’s station and White Oak Swamp. In the battle of Gaines’ MIill they charged a little to the south of the old mill upon an Alabama brigade, and threw their long-handled lances with terrible effect, in many cases smiting the rebels to the ground by piercing them through and tlhrlough. The scene witnessed when this fine regiment charged, may well be historical: their long lances upright, their redl pennants streaming, and the riders like so many avengers, bending forward to make the plunge. 140 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. The most fiightftil slaughter occurred in the New Jersey Brigadle, commanded by General Taylor. Colonel Tuckler, of the 3d regiment; Colonel Simpson, of the 4th; and Lieut.-colonel Hatch, of the 4th, are dead; Miajor Birney, brother of General Birney, shot through the bowels; 3iajor Ryerson, of the 2d, killed; Miiajor -Hatfield, of the 1st, shot in the head; lAdjutant Fairly, formerly connected with General Garibaldi, wounded seriously in the head. The l st regiment went into action with 685 mnen, lost 195 tlie 2d lost upwards of 200 men; the 7th went into action wiith 700 men, aind came out with 70; the 3d had only four companies eLngaged: the brigade went into action with 2500 bavonets, and cannot now muster 1200. All this loss ocemrred on Friday, between the hours of five and seven r. NP., and does not include any subsequent losses that may have happened in other battles. Colonel Torbert, of the 1st regiment, is safe, having been sick with a fever. He rode upon the field, tottering. The Pennsylvania Reserve colrp-)s foilught on Thursday, Fiiday, Saturday, Sunday, and 3Ionday, on each and all of the leading fights, and their losses are terrible. In all cases they behaved like good and gallant soldiers, and the commonwealth they represent hadl nothing in common with them of which she may not be proud. The Reserves did not lose more than 150 men in the en,gagement of Thursday, at Mechanicsville; but after thle fight on Friday, they reported the almost incredi})le loss of 2200 men.

The subsequent encounter must have increased their loss to 4000, and in this is contained three generals, including General iMeade, several colonels, majors, captains, &-c., &c., representing every part of Pennsylvania. Among the rumors afloat on the field of battle was one, on Tuesday, that General IMcCall had been killed; and it was also reported that General Meade and General ]‘ey-nol()s 141 a

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LEAVES FIROM TIlE were mnissintg. Ayres and i-Iott’s batteries, of General Siuitlh’s Division, hlave been eng’(aged in a dozen fights, andl ]ave acquitted thieiselves g lorioisly on each occasion. Captain in1ott lost his battery at AVhite Oak Swvamp. Ii the embarrassing position in -hieli hle was placed, he fitted up temporary -wheels firom the baggage-wagons, and fired to the last. The charge of thle 1st and 5th Regular cavalhy, at Gaines’ HIill, tiougtii brave and dashiing,, was not prudent. The 1st ha&
btl5 two companies; the 5th, 600 men. They charged up the hill and galloped around two divisions of the rebels, firing their revolvers at them. The rebels waited with fixed bayonets for them, and drove tlhem over one of’ our batteries. The next morniiing the 5th reported but one officer for duty. The 20thl New York, it is said, did not bellave well at the battle of White Oak Swamp. Some mules were drinking at tllhe time in WVlhite Oak Creek, and these, alalnmed at the opening of the fire, g,allopedl furiously up the hill, close to the 20th, which broke and run, scarcely less undignified. General 3IcClellan ordered a squadron of cavalry to pick up stragglers of this organization, on Tuesday, and guacrd them to headquarters. The order was carried out in its extreme conditions, and thle regiment may be considered as virtually under iarrest, officers and men. Colonel Gallagller, of the 1 itli Pennsylvania Reserves, was killed in Friday’s fight; Lieutenant-colonel Porter and c Iajor Snodgrass, of the same regimrent, were made prisoners. The Bticktails report about 120 men left. Four of their companies were witlh Iane in the Shenandoah Valley, and six with 1IcClellan. A -whole company was taken in the fi,ght on Thurlsday. 3I1jor Stone commanded dluring the late battle. Thle 6th regiment of lResel’ves were doing, picket duty at Tunlstall’s station, and it is believed they all escaped 142 0 4

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DIARY OF AN Ai35IY SURGEON. lharm upi to Saturday, but subsequently they mighi,t have stifered seriously. General Seymotur, iwho commandedl tlle bi-igadle, formerly commanded by a general of Dranesville ‘fitme, had two horses killed under him. The Rcselrves made several desperate dashes withl the bayonet. Their ammuniition gave out at six o’clockl on Friday, up to whicll time they had discharged 100 rounds-50 in cartridcge-box and 50 iin haversack. At foure o’clock, on Friday, the fight beyond the Chicka lhominiy g,rew desperate. The enemy redoubled his effoirts, ai(d pressed hard upon our centre and lright. le evidently labored to turn us in the latter direction, and to that end pushled his left to Coal Harbor, desig(rning, to flanlk us and l)rievent, if possible, access to our bridgles of communication withl tlle south baink. Our brig,ade was ready to l)revent any such catastrophe, and battery after battery was brolug,lt into position, until the screaming of balls bafled description such sublime artillery practice was never witnessed. The iifilntry that had been skirimisliing on their bellies, or fliillg irregularly firom some concealed covert, now rose in line and l)outred in deadly volleys. All seemed to realize that ani eimer,genucy had come, and resolved to contest each inlch of ground. The scene has never been excelled on this continent.

Eiach volley took hundreds off their feet, until tlhe air seemied to grow clammy with the dead, and hoar’se with thle dying. Slowly our troopls-outntumbered, but greathlearted-fell back after resigning their dead; and all tle w-lile the enemy’s shell and ball played havoc in their ranlks. Ilost of thle dead, and a p)ortion of the wounded, we were obliged to leave on the field at Gaines’ 3Iill to the imercy of thle enemynv. It was a cruel necessity, but unnavoidl.ble. All thle hospitals were crowded withl sick and otinde(ld, and thle sulg,eons were busily engaged in relieving,,is f-ast 143 0

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LEAVES FROM TIIIE as possible, the suffering and misery of the great numbers committed to their care. The usual heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the hospitals; and, as the groans and sighs of the wounded and lacerated heroes ascended to heaven, it seemed as if the hatred of this cruel, causeless rebellion in which their lives had been sacrificed, must be deepened and intensified throughout the land. The loss of the rebels in the battle at Mechanicsville wvas much larger than ours; and as they by far outnumbered us at the battle of Gaines’ Mill, and were for hours under a very heavy artillery fire, as well as small-arms, and exposed to repeated and determined bayonet chlarges, it is thought that their loss on Friday must have largely oxceedcd our own. It is but justice to the rebels to say that they fought well, and with a bravery which, if displayed in a better cause, and in defence of, instead of for the destruction of our national existence, would have forever secured the admiration and( gratitude of their countrymen. They fought with an energy and desperation which has not hitherto been displayed by them anywhere.

They were animated by the presence of “Stonewall Jackson;” and Jeff. Davis himself was on the field cheering them to the battle. The 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Childs, assisted in covering the retreat. At the battle of Gaines’ Mill it lost ten men and twenty horses. The bridges that had cost so much labor were blown up on Friday night and Saturd’ay-Woodbury’s beiing the last to go up, at ten o’clock, on Saturday morning. They had facilitated our retirement; but their removal could not greatly embarrass that of the enemy, who recrossed at New Bridge and above, and prepared for their subsequent descent upon our forces at Peach Orchard and Savage’s. Sykes’ Regular Brigadle, the gallant brigade of regular infantry men, is 14-1 0

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DIAi.Y OF IAN AM3IY SURGEOX. said to have lost forty officers and two thousand soldiers. The 2ld regimenet is cut down to a mere vestig(e, and some (:an scar cel-turn out a corporal’s g(uard. Lieutenant-colonel B)ar nley of the 2d Mlaine is miissing’, probably a prisonor; Ad jltitanIt L.

P. ludgc-ett, dlo., Assist.-surg. A. D. Palmer, do. Ca;l)tain Emmeisoni, Company E, severely wounded, and a l)risoner; Lieutenant Brown, Com)any B, wounded and a prisoner; Lieutenant Currier, slig’htly wounded. All these were lost in the fight of Friday. This regiment took the flag of the 5th Alabama. Aiiiong the killed in Flraanklin’s division, now Slocum’s, Colonel Tucker, 2d New Jersey; Colonel Goslin of the IPlila(lellphlia Zouaves; Colonel Simpson, 7th New Jerse-; Lieutenant-colonel Heath, 5th Nlaine; Colonel Stocktoil, 16th ili,chigan. Among the wounded and prisoners are Colonel Jackson, 5th Mlaine; Colonel Pratt, 32d ‘New Yorkl; Maljor loug’h, 55th Pennsylvanaiia. The presence of General Slocunmi at Woodbutiry’s Bridge battle is a high attestation to his gallantry. lie had been sick, with fever, for a long time, but when the order was given for his division to advance, he determined to lead themi. The firingcr was hottest when they entered the field, andl death made gashes in their lines. They persevered, regimenleit after regiment pressing on, until depleted and wasted; and the heroic Slocum cheered them on, until Nature assertedl her claims, and hlie fell from his horse. lavin-iig been taken fi’om the field, he recovered, after a time, and again ordered his men to place him on his horse and accompany him to the field. Perhaps no one is more regi’etted, in this division, than Lieutenant-colonel Heath, of WaVterv-ille, lainie. li-e was, of all men, the most consistent, courageous, and chivalrous. I-e was seen, a little while before the battle, reading serenely in the shade of his 145 7 0

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LEAVES FROM TIlE tenit, a Latin copy of Cesar’s “Commentaries.” His relations with his men and fellow-officers were such as only exist among high-miinded gentlemen. Ileatlh was a soldier by instinct, and a man of rare forensic powers. IHe had been UTnited States consul at Quebec, during iMr. Buchanan’s admlinistiration. Colonel Jackson is seriously wounded, but -was in good spirits when last heard firom. Hie has arrived at Fortress Mionroe. Each of the three brigades of NewtonI, Bartlett, and Taylor fought like fiends, and they covered the army, saving it firom still greater loss. The reserve artillery was engagedl on Thursday and Friday, and also in the great battle of Monday. Tidbatll’s battery blew up three of the enemy’s caissons, and had seven men and six horses shot.

5lIjor lRobinson’s battery suffered as severely. WAVeed’s regular artillery broke two axles, whereby two pieces had to be abandoned, afier beiiig spiked. Captain Weed was wounded in the face. We captured a rebel flag, now held by the 2d Mlaine reg,imenlt, marked on one side ” Victory,”

and on the other “Equal Rights.” That regimnent had lost one hundred and thirtysix men, firom various causes, up to Satturday morninghow many since, it will take some time to decide. It was posted on the left of 5Iarticndale’s brigade, in the centre of the line of battle. The 13th New York took the battleflag of the 7th Tennessee. The rebel artillery consisted, in the several battles, mostly of rifled six and twelve poundeirs, seldom, if ever, of larger calibre. They practised the concentration of fire firom a dozen or twenty batteries upon a single point, and their practice was most unerring and powerful. In some cases, as for a time at White Oak Swamp, wve could not get under play at all, owing to the vehemence of the enemy’s artillery. When the Galena’s big guns opened, however, the rebels beg,an to think we 146 0

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DIARY OF AN ARPIMY SUPGEON. bad a whole armada in reserve. Colonel Toihbeirt, of the 1st Newv Jersey, is safe. HIe had thle fe-ei, but p)erlsisted ill riding to the field, lwhere findillg his colors still waving, he seized them, in an acrdor of emotion, and pressed theon to his breast. Ile is the idol of the brigade, and the sign’ tures of e-very general in his corl)s have been fo-rwardtled to the War DIepartment to make him a birigadiei-g-eneiral. The 83ld Pennsylvanaia regimnent was raised in Crawford alud Erie counties. Its colonel, J. W. iMcLane, of Eie, had been sheriff, and his term was yet uiinexpiied, whlen lhe hastened to the defence of the Union. Ile was shot throlglh the head, Ineai Woodbury’s BI-idge, and instantly killed. lI,ajor L. II. Nagle, of Newv Alb,any, Indiana, of the 83d Pejnnsylvania regiment, was shot thlioli,l tlhe breast at the satne time. Captain MIorris, of Company ]3, was shot thirough the hip and taken prisoner. Tie regi ment lost, in the filght of Friiday, about two hundred men. It was attached to Aorrell’s division, and was the left ]egi inenit in line but one, v-iz., the 44th Newv York. They also suffeied badly. Several companies of the 1st regiment United States Slharp-shooteirs, Colonel Berdan, were, early in the day of Friday’s fight, deployed as skirmishers in the w-oods on our right and in firont of General Griffin’s biigadcle, underi the immuediate command of Lieutenant-colonel R,,ipley. They had thirty-eig,ht of the new target rifles; and the two companies in tlle woods, to the left, used Siharlpe’s riifles. They held their position until their support had fallen back somie distance, so that the rebels attacked them on the flank, as well as in firont. They then fell back and formed a line with them. Lieutenant Gibbs, with the tariget rifles, was ordered by Colonel Griffin to pass around the reserve. This brotcughlt them into a field surrounded on three sides by rebel riflemen. Ihere they were ein ., 147

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LEAYES FPOMl THE ployed with the artillery with great success. They were attakedl( by a rebel brig’ade, which deployed out of the woo(ds in good order, bearingi a black flar, w-ithl deatll’s hle(ad and cross-bones. This brigade was repulsed by the united efforts of tlhe artillery and sharpshooters. The different companies were splendidly posted by Colonel Berdatn, and were on duty the whole day, rendering good service, as iusual. The 14tlh New York, 9th MIassachusetts, and 62d Penns-lvtania were formed in the woods, on thie right. About two o’clock they were attacked by a large force of rebels, v,lio had succeeded in entering tlhe woods.

They were at first driven back, but soon rallied and charged ulpon tlhec enemyl, and drove them1 out of the woods. They lield the position until sundown, when they were ordered to fill back. Early in the day Colonel Black, of the Pennsyl’ania 62dl, was killed. Ie was an able and popular oflicer. Oni the opposite side of the ravine, Colonel LIcQutade, of the 14th Newv York Volunteers, assisted by detachments fionli differenit regiments of the Pennsylvania RIeserves, held tlhe position until the left was broken; and it becoming mitcnable, they retreated up the hill. For about an hour and a half, in the afternoon, the rebel infantry and riflemen fired by volleys, without cessation. It was one continuous sheet of fire, and the noise terrific. Dnring this time they did great execution, but the men stood it well and returned thec fire vigorously. It rained shot and musket-balls. To -wards night a number of the regiments, who had lost a large number of their officers, began to retreat rapidly towiards the bridge on the Chlickahomiiny, and for a time therie was danger of a regular stampede. IIad not this been checked the battle would have ended in a complete rout. Seeing, this, Colonel Berdan, of the sharpshooters, rallied 0 14S

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DINARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. some officers and men, and determinedly stayed the retreat iigr mass, discliargingI several shots from lhis revolver over their heads, calling loudly upon tlhem not to disgrace them selves and their cause by such an ignominious flight in the face of the enemy. In this hle was vigorously assisted by Captain Hoyt, of General Butterfield’s staff, and other officers. The disorderly retreat was checked and the men formed in line of battle, under Colonel Berdan’s command. While this was goiIng on, the enemy had collected a large force, and were preparing to charge down upon them. The men then commenced to advance rapidly, cheeringr loudly, and the enemy, seeing this, withdrew. Inlch credit is due to Colonel Berdan for his prompt and decisive action, anil it is undoubtedly due to his exertions that this portion of the army was saved firom the disgrace and disaster of a disorderly retreat. Ie was enthusiastically cheered ly the men whom he had sa.ved. They remained in position, near the hospital, until about d.irk, wvhen they retreated, in good order, across the Clficekalominy. Jeff. Davis was at the house of SIs. Price, just opposite DLi. Gaines’, for three consecutive davs before the battle of Thurslday, in every case engagedl in close consultation withl General Lee. Colonel Towers, of the 7th Georgia, stated that Jeff.

)lanned the whole attack. 149 a

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTER XIV. RETREAT TO JAMES RIVER. Ix the foregoing pages I have given a full and faithful account of the movements, actions, and conflicts of the two contending airmies during the ever-memorable seven days’ fight before Richmond; but some’detail of the individual commands will not be uninteresting to the fiiends of those brave troops engaged, and will serve as an impartial record of those initeresting incidents of this volume of the rebellion. AWlile the great battles of the 26th and 27thll of June w-ere progressing on the extreme igh-lt wing of the armly, there was more or less fi(ghting, aloing the whole line of tle extreme left. The enemy was now everywhere oii the offensive. In these affairs Sumner’s corpls, which formed our centre and firont, played an important part. The sound of cannon on our ri,ght grew louder towards tlhe evening, aind it became evident that we were drawing, the enenlmy into a trap, or that our troops were obligedl to retire before them. The latter soon became a,pparent, when the right wing, under General Porter, were retreating, after an obstinate and bloody resistance. At six o’clock, in the evening, General cIeClellan ordered two birigades firom Sumhner’s corps to the ri,ght, to cover the retreat of our forces across the Chiiekalickiiny. In obedience, General Sutmner sent forward the Irish Brigade and General’French’s. They proceeded at a double quick, with cheers, and crossed the Chickahoininy bridge in less than three-quarters of an hour after I!- 0 il 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. warids. Here they joined the brave fellows who’b had been figllting thle rebels all day against superior numbers, but iwho were novw hlastily f-lliung back, Sykles’ division covering their retreat.

General French’s brigade was tlhrown out to the ri,ght. The regulars, under Genera.l Sykes, were ordered to fall back, the Irish Birigade takiing their place. As the stream of dead and wounded was hluiirried to the rear, these fresh troops, undaunted by the panic, rushed forwarid with enthusiastic chleers, wlhich the rebels hearing, and seeilng the newi re,iments (deployiiig before themi, hesitated. This gave timie for all the other battalions to reform, w-lsicl thley did in good order, and stouitly lheld their grouind. The Irish BIrig(ade at once tlihrew one or two volleys inito the rebels, and Flencl’s Brig(ade iuaneLuried in a menacing iannier on tlheir flank; thus chiecking their pursuit alnd oblig,ing tihemi to fill back a or so beyond the late battlefield. As the niglit closed on the scene, some of the troops were so near each other that the 30th Geoirgia lay down wi ithiin forty paces of thie SStl New York VYolunlteers, of the Irilih Briigade; and its adjut;anit, and several of its mien, unwittingrly entered the caimp of the 88thi, and were astonishied to find themiselves prisoners of war. The orders wceie not to pursue the enemy, and both sides were too imuich exhausted to continue the conibat. The morning broke clear and cool. Our troops still held the g roundiic be-yond( the Chickahominyii. The rebels had returned towards the position they held on the precedilng day. The losses of yesterd.y were ]ieavy on both sides. Ae lost over six thousand, in killed, -woundied, anld missing. ”lie einemy’s loss, if not greater, was fill as many. Early tils morning the Irish and French’s brigades fell back to protect the bridgce, until the division of General Sykes lhad crossed over. This it did at dayli,ght, in good order, but 151 a

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LEA.VES FROMh THE with terribly reduced ranks, and without any opposition firom the enemy, who showed but little disposition to renew the fight, as they imagined our right wing had been reinforced, and supposed we wanted to draw them into an ambuscade across the creek. As soon as all the troops had safely crossed over, the engineers blew up the bridge, and then these two brigades, Frenlch’s and the Irish brigades, returned to their encampments with their own division (Pichardson’s), and, with the rest of the army, remained constantly under arms. It now becoming evident to General McClellan that no time was to be lost in carrying out his plan of chang,ilg his base of operations from the Pamunkey to the James river, he at once changed his firont, as the ground gained by the enemy enabled himn to threaten our right flank, as as wNell as our communications in the reai. The order, whlen given, was promptly obeyed. The baggage a nd supply trains commenced mioving, while a strong force of cavalry and artillery were placed at every ford and liridgec across the Chiekahlominy by whichl the enemy mig,llt effet a crossing before we were fuilly prepared to receive him. Skiirmishiing had been briskly carried on by the rebels durting tle night, but discontinued earlier than usual. At dayli,ght on the 29thl, most of the troops had left tlhe breastwvorks and taken up their marlch for the James river. General Sumnher’s corps was intrusted with the dlangerous post of covering’ the retreat. By four o’clock the pickets were called in, which wvas done so quietly that the enem-iy was still unconscious of our design, and imagined that we were still in full force before them. Yet they soon dcliscovered tlhe movement, and before long tl-hey entered the works our men had left. The imarch was steadily continued, undet the precautions taken to cover otur rear; nor did we again 152 0

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DIAFIY OF AN All’MY SUI’GEON. see the enemiy until they iappeared( before us at Peach Oirchard, on the line of the IRiclhmond and IVest Point railroad. Xo sooner were they discovered than Geneiral Sedgwick ordered General Burns to prepare to receive tlhem. They were distant but a mile, and beginiiiiig to showi their strengthll; and before we were aware, a terrible shower of shells and rotnd-sliot snapped the branches of the trees above and around us. It became evident that to save ourselves thlle enemy must receive a check. The 1st 3Iinnesota was thrown out as skirmishers, and the rattle of musketry soon mingle(ld with the booming of artillery. Oi our side, Iirby’s battery had obtailed a good range, and(
l)layed away, w-ith a certainty of aim and constancy that tore the ranks of the rebels asunder; but their force was so large that the M[innlesota boys were soon obliged to fall backl, w-hichl they did in good order, under Colonel Stlly, their commander. The 71st Pennsylvania, 2d New York, andl otlher regiments now rushled to thleir assistance, whiech (heceled the advance of the enemy, and obliged himi to fall back to the cover of the woods. This occurred between nine and ten o’clockl, and cost us over one hundred and fity-, killed and -woundedl. Tlhus ended the first of a series of encounters, whlich, witl the several battles described, ingiut be said to ha-ve commenced at Orchard station, and continued, without intermission, until our arrival at Tll’lkey Grove, on the James river. The time spent inl d(lestroyilig the stores whichl we were unable to carry with us, gave the einetIny timne to rest, anid at about five o’clock in the a.fternooIn hle came in siglt, ne’ar SavaNi’e’s station, about three miles fr’om Oirc(Iard station. AVWe first discoNvered,his ceivaliy-miasking a battery, and w-ithl botlh flalnks and iinfintry, in the reail, marching in colnumn of brigades, presenting a triple fi’ont of over half a mile in length. Thle 0 153 7

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LE1AV4-ES iFR)IO TIIE lIinnesota boys, with Baxter’s Zonaves, were again thrown out to skiilmish. Smiitlh’s Division fornied on ourl rilght, and(

]iclhardsoln’s protected our left finom the flanking columins of the enemy. Segdwick’s Division formed the firont, and well maintained its,ground, though often the skirmishers were drivenl back upon it, by the terrific firont and flanking fiIes of the eneimy. A heavy portion of the action fell on Buirns’ I’fligade, and General Burns was wounded by a inini-ball, which shaved off his moustache and passed thlough l is cheek, comning out below the ear, fi’actur’ing the jawbone and knIockiing out several of his teeth; but thongh lie received this painful woundl, he continued to keepl) his seat, and, by gestures (for he could not speak), to direct his nmen in the face of the enemy, with great gallantry. That he was able to do so, can only be accounted for by his possessing a brave anid indomitable spirit, whiichi the occasion had nerved to its utmost pitch. His heroic conduct called forth the unqualified admiration of his men land of General Sedgwick. Tlhe terrific onslaught of the enemy was momentarily stay-ed by the steady and well-directed fire of the 1st Calitornia, 2d Nevw York, and 106th Pennsylvania, who weie hlotly-engaged duliln’i this time, and the reinforcement iio\ received by the rebels told upon our centre, under tlheir terrible storm of grape and musketry. Just at this momentous timie, General AIcClellani was seen ridling in thle mid(st of the field with the greater portion of his staff Ilis order to let the enemy have some grape and canister was heard mid passed along( the lines; and as hlie rode feariessly thlrough the enemy’s fire, he was loudly cheered by the gallanlt 88th, iunder Colonel Bakeri, who now came suddtenly onl the flank of the rebels and routed them conmpletely, taking 140 prisoners. In the miean time, other 15-1 a

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DI.” rY OF AN AI IlY SUR’lGEON. rebel regiments closed around them; and to add to their diso c o mfiture, they weee slelled fi’om th e w-oods out of w hich they eimerged to the engagement. This figlht oc curi’ced in an open field nearly a mile square, and the strug gle was one of the fiercest ever known. It lasted over three hours, in the most determined manner, and the yells of the men on both sides, mingled at intervals with the thundering of the guns and the incessant cracking of musketry, lent an exciting interest to the scene, that held in breathless agony of susp)ense the lookers-on of this bloody conflict, whilch night put an end to; but not until the rebels vwere fail-ly driven from the field of battle. When these allimportant results were procured by the bravery of the gallant Irish 88th N. Y., General 3IcClellan, seeing that all dang,er was at an end, rode off the field towards the firont. Our loss in this engagement was very heavy,-over one thousand men killed, iwounded, and mnissing. The enemy’s loss was also heavy, equal, if not exceeding, ours. Of this we had no means oft ascertaining but by the gaps made in their ranks by our artillery and nmuskets. Our troops remnained in the unmolested possession of the battlefield until eleveil o’clock, when our advance guard of the coverii(r column i esulned its line of ilarch to the James river. At oie o’clock that nighilit it reached the White Oak bridge; and at 3 A. Ni. on AIo(nday the rear-guarda, consisting of a squadron of the 6tlh NewN York V. C., crossed the bridoe, bi-ilgilng up with them all the stragglers capable of walkimg,; but many were so worn out that they fell by the wayside and became the enemiy’s prisoners. At 5 A. 3r. the bridge over the swamp was blown up. This was done as tlhe hellad of the enemy’s coltumn was seen advancing. Soon tlhe tl-ool)s reached a position which will ever be reinembei-ed by them, and will form a strikling feature in the an 155 0

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I, IAYES FROMI THE nals of warfare. Encamped here in the stillness of a sum-imer’s morning, the clear whistle of a steam-valve is heard .-t a mile’s distance. One reimarks, ” The rebels are running the train;” to which another repl)liecs, “That cannot be the cars.” “Yes, but it is,”

chimies in a third. But hark! another, louder whistle is heard, unlike a locomiotive. It is not firom the direction of the railroad.:No; it is a much more welcome sound. It is fiomn the gunboats on the James river; and now that this is decided, a loud, spontaneous, and long-continued clieer is given for the gunboats -whlich proclaim their readiness to assist Its.

But our toils are not yet over. No; we havc to fight the bloodiest of the seven days’ battles, and that withlin hearing of our gunboats. The enemy, prevented by our artillery firom reconstructino the V, hite Oak biidg,e, would, we thlouoht, not molest us for a day at least. 3Iany of our men were much exlauisted firom w-ant of sleep and extra labor, and all were so weary that the prospect of even a temporary rest was a grieat boon to us; next to which came the beautifiul weatlher, which kept the roads in fine condition. Quietness reiigned until four o(‘clock in the afteirnoon, when we were again aroused by tlhe boomingii of distant glis. We knew that the rebels could not have crossed the broken bridge, as our artillery held it.

From vlwhence, then, did this new cannIionadingc come? Could hle have got in our rear? Such were the questions quickly put to one anotlher by the nmen and officers of our corps, as the shells begani to fhll a’oui(i us.

[lortihied, but not discouraged at thlis fr’esh attack, a shout, clear aind ringing, passed down thee lilnes, IHere they are again, boys Let us show them agaill how they imust run before Yankees!” This was thle spirit that animated Sumnier’s corps. Mleanwhlile the rebel guns 1 )6 a

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DIARYT OF AN ARMY SURGE,ON. werie imowing down the trees andcl branches, and every thing tlhat offered resistance to their missiles. Our guns Awere not lon’ silent, and, as usual, soon slackened the enemn’s fie. Thle inquiry becanme geneial, “Hlow did they get theie?” It was )laiu. They made ulse of two roads un knownii to us, by which tlhey flankled us on tlle rigiht and left withl their coliumns, while we hlad otur wearied troops guarding the biridge on the principal roadl to the James iiver. Our troops were disposed as follows at this junc tureil’: Piclhardson, with lhis own division and two brigadcles of Sedgwick’s, with the bulk of Sumner’s artillery, were eni,. gaged together in w-atchingi the biridge.

3IeCall’s corps was the nearest to the enemy by the by-road on our liglht flaulk as we marched towards the James rivei. I3Burns’ BIigade was detailed to (guard a portion of the supply train, whichl we now had overtaken; and Hooker’s division formed our left wing, on a road almost parallel to them, by w-lhich 3IcCall’s and Biurns’ were advanacing,; and the ene y, after engaging us in the rear and on the left flank, slil(lddeily and unexpectedly appeared in firont of General ‘[(:Call’s forces. This was a disastrous be,ginning to the )tttle, buit the sequel proved that ” all’s well that ends Awell.” Gcneral Buirns, seeing the dang,er, ordered over the 69th] Pennsylvalnia to check the progless of the einemny, whlo Awee cih’siig our flyiiig troops-artillery, infntiy, and cawaliy-, all mixed in indiscriminate confiusionII-across an ol)pen field(
in the direction of ilichari(sonl’s forces. At this criticil timie and lplace, the 69thl Peniisy-lania, i(lunder Colonel Owcnls, clhlaged bhayonets onl the enceny’s fl,ank, whicell checlked1~ thleir leadloing impetuosity. \stoiislhed( at the attack, they turned to figlit thlis inew-foe. A fierce struiggle einsued, lasting for some time, w-ithi varIiable results; but, finally, the 69t1i drove them bevond a 1]ill across the road, 157 a i .

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LEAVES FROM TIIE which they occupied and held. Wlhile this Was going on, the engagemenit became general along the whole line. Sedg’wick’s and Richardson’s divisions drove the enemy back. General HTooker, at the head of his division, nowv came Utp, and seeing Colonel Owens, of the 69th, sharply aslked him,‘“Where is your regiment, sir?” “On that ]ill,” proudly returned Owens, pointing, to where his regimcelt was drawn up in the form of an arc arIound the crest of the hill. “Well and nobly done,” said Iooker, and rode away. On the left, IKeces’ corps was desperately asstiulted, lwhile the fuiry of the rebel attack on our firont was unabated. Trap after trap was set for the enemy, and our ,hein literally mowed them down so that their wounded and ours lay in heaps together on the ground. The 2d and 34th New York regiments lost terribly, but did good service. The 42d New York also fought well, and lost their liteutenant-colonel, 3looney. The 1st California and 19th ~Iassachusetts were placed in the space occuplied by the broken regimients, and, with one of the most destructive fires ever heard, repelled the enemy after a long-contested and often doubtful struggle. Thus Sedgwick’s division at all points drove them off, yet could not retakle the guns iwe had lost.

But at another point of the line some of the enoemy’s gIuns were captured, his columns driven away fr’ont and( rear, and he found there was no possibility of uniting, llis tfoices, so long( as we chose to prevent it, and hastened to lirotect one of his wings, in dalger of being cut off by us. Night came to the rescue. Our object was not to pursue them; so that, after a short chase, they were allowed to retire unmolested from the field. Next morning at one o’clock our reair-gu(ard reached Turkey Grove, on the James river. The loss to tlhe enemy by his firequent attackls on us during our weary march and in the ei,ngag,e 15S 0

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DIARY OF AN ARM1IY SURGEON. nments provoked, was not less than 3,500
killed and’wvou(lded(l. Our own loss was nearly as heavy. When the battle of the 30th was over, we all expected an attack firomi the enemy-along our -whole line, as their best hope lay in oveiwhelinug us before reinforcements could arrive. At this critical time iMeClellan rode through the ranks, inspiring confidence among the men, assuringi them he had now got the enemy in the position he wanted to have them. They had played the old game of masked batteries whenever possible during the retreat of our columns. Their loss in the whole pursuit must have exceeded 20,000 up to the eveningi of the 30th June. OuIrs was not so heavy, thoughl terilbily severe, for many hundreds of stragglers fell into thleii hands. The position taklen up at Turkey Grove, near thle Jamies river, by our forces, was a promontory of highl land formed by a bend in the river nearly opposite City Point. It was naturally strong’; and in addition to this, our left wing was well guarded by the gunl)boats. All that was left of the brave almy of the Potomac, was drawn up in line of battle on the promontory this Tuesday morninig, Jtily thle 1st. Contrary to expectation, thle enemy remained quliet dturing the previous nighlt, thus admiitting the severity of the conflict on the afternoon before. At daylighlt we were formed in a circular line, our left flankl on the river, our riglt well protected by the igunboats, tlhe reserve corps in sIuchl a position that the wlhole had the appearance of a half mnooil: the front of the line in some 1,1aces was three miles distant firom the river. The rebels were drawn up about a mile and a half beyond; and thle shleen of their bayonets, glisteniing gayly in the morning sun, could be seen extending for mile upon mile: tlheir -waving bainners sho-wed wlhere the long line rose over the 1511) a

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LEXA-VES FRO0I TIIE wooclded lhill, or sunk in the slopes of the rich;alleys. The picture was sublime beyondcl conception, and fully showed the proud pomp of war. Sumner’s corps, which up to nine o’clock had been engag,ed in coveringc the retreat, now fell into its original position in the liine; and when it had done so, thle enemy again assumed the offensive. Their cannonade lasted an hour, but did us little damage, as their shells either fell short or failed to explode. Our men were suffering( for want of irations, and in fact every necessary. D)uring the dclay there was a good deal of skirmishling alolg the line. At Sumner’s corps the cannonade was revived at i’uterv-als until ni,ghtfall. The enemy had plantedcl a battery on the left of his position, fiom Iwhichl Sumner’s force suffered considerably. General IeClellan decided on its capl)ture.

It was planted on the margin of a wood, about lHalf a mile firom our principal line of battle. Between five and six, General Sumner ordered a battery of the 4th Ullited States artillery, thle Irish Birigade, supported by the 69th Pennsyl-aniia Volunteers, the 29th 3Iassachusetts, and a couple of other regiments, to take up a position near to and capture that battery. The rebel leader Jackson’s eagle eye quickly discovered the movement, and he determinedl to prevent it, and sent for-iward ten thousand men, in.arlCling at slupport-arms, in columns of brigades. This w-as done to deceive us as to their object. But no sooner ,tdcl tliey debouched firom the wvoodls which lay between tl]eir lposition and oiurs than they broke to the iht ni(I leftt, and opened on our men a deadly fire of shell, (-apl)e, slnrapnel, and c,‘nister. The 69th Pennsylvania was the first to open fire and engage them. Such was the natiire of the ground, that but one of our regiments at a time could oppose them. The rebel front was twice the extent of ours. The 69th, after a san,guinary struggle, were 160 a

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DIARY OF AN ARM~Y SURGEON. compelled to fall back towards the right, where they sub sequently dlid goodl service on the flank of the enemy. The 69thl Ne-w York replaced them, with Meagher iriding, at their headl, br-andlisling his snword, and their colonel (Nug; ent) commianlded themi to chaige the enenmy witll tle bayonet. AVhile these movements were going on, a fi’esh body of rebel troops suddenly appeared on the left flank of this regiment, and fired two volleys into their ranks at twenty paces, whichl annihilated the two left companies of thle battalion; every officer of these companies fell dead or wounded, and but ten men escaped. This, howevere, did not prevent the bayonet clhage, and the 88t), under il[iajor Quinlan, comling up, repaid futlly the death-blows dealt to the )9thi reg,iment, inaklig a desperate charge witlh tlhe bayonet. Tlhev were w ithl difficulty prevented by tlheir offi ceis fi’oi ruslling on the enemy’s batteries, lwhich would hae resulted in their destruction. Thle 63d Newv York of tlle Irish Bigade, under Col. Johln Burke, and the 29t1i 3[ass.lulset.ts, iunder Col. Pierce, now arrived; the latter lieree filly ri(et iiev-ed lis reputation firom tile cloud tlihrown over it at )ig Betllel, and a general chaige bayoiets along the line followedl, produtcing, an instantaneous and comp)lete rout of tl,c enemy, withl a loss of I 500-one half of them were killed ill thle )pursuit and in the incessant and ineffectual attempts to lally. Our boys chleered loudly as tlhey followed up the enemiy, and( paid them severely for their temerity whverever tlhey atteml)tecl to re-form., re captured two guIns, and l numberl c of prisoners; but our loss was terribly heavy: over 1200, in killed and nwoundedl, fell in this bloody conflict. f’le officters and men bela aved nobly. l[eagliler was con;l)i(.ioils ill the figlht; and Captain [IcCoy, of lhis staff, had iis lhoise shot under lhim by a iround-shot. As niglht set iii ;lie rebels fell back, to attack us no miore. They had failed 161 0

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LEAVES FROM TIHE in their efforts to turn our left, and had received a severe blow, lunder which they reeledl back to their position. Qtietness reicrned in our camp that ni,ht: the dead were b)eiiing buried in silence, and the wounded cared for in the temporary hospitals, as well as our limited supplies and circnmstances would permit. The surgeons worked all night, and the gray morning broke on our labors. The wounds were chiefly firom mini6-balls, and fi’agments of shell. Numbers were wounded in several places, and in their prostrated condition were unable to undergo the necessary operations until recruited by rest and nourishment. The enemy, finding our position impregnable, and our troops prepared to defend it, at once determined on a chlange of tactics, and commenced the erection of a fort on the opposite bank of the river, firom which he could bomb)ard our camp in the rear. General MIcClellan came to the determination of foiling him in this, as he had already done in all his desig,ns. For this purpose he had the bag-g.ae ordered to a pCinIt down the river, called Iarrison’s ILanding,, where the streamu is so wide that a battery on tlhe ol)posite bank could receive more damage firom the gunboats than it could inflict upon us at such a distance. This loinlt is about seven Ioiles below Turkey Grove. The bagg-,o’e and heavy artillery commenced moving, early on Tuesday afternoon; and at two, A. L, the rear-guard, coilsistingc of Sumner’is corps, commenced its marchl without mnolestation fiom the enemy. Tlhe rain had now begun to Ipoir down. The roads were getting in a bad condition. This made the movement slow, but as we were on the best road, the enemy, in followiing us up, were unable to move even as faist as our train. The rain was on WAVednesday followed by a thick fog, tlhrouglh which the eiemyy’s videttes were visible. Somie sliglht skirmishingi took place between 162 0 4

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D)IARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. his cavaliry and ouirs, and the gunboat Galena threw a few shells among their ranks, which dispersed them, and for the nighlt all was quiet; nor have the enemy made any si(ns of attacking 1us to-day, doubtless having heard of our reinforcements. All the prisoners taken by our men were ijtoxicatedcl, and most of them had their canteens partially filled withl bad whiskey. They say their losses, since the retreat to the James river commenced, amount to 30,000, our artillery having made sad hlavoc in thleir ranks, and tlhat the firing of the gunboats was very accurate and dcestructive. Thiey boast of taking General.1cCall prisoner whenl he was wounded, and speak of him as a skilful general. The rebels are, in their present position, far removed fiom their base of operations and suppllies-their commiunic.ttion is dlifficutlt; while we are on the bank of James river, on w-hich float our supplies, and able allies-the gulnboats. These are some of the advantages gained by abandoning the Chickaliomtiny intrenclhments, and tlhe White lI(ose as a depot. But the change has cost us terribly; anid but tor the valor and endurance of the men, the patielnce and pronmptitude of the officers, and the ability of tlhe coininmaldiing general, the Army of the Potoiimac woul(i have been annihilated by our indefatigTable foe. As it is, otur men are in good spirits and discipline, thotugh mucel fittigu,ed by the hardships of the retreat and battles of the last days. Their confidence in General IeClellan is iunshaken; this has borne themn along, and encouraged thema to sutrmount every trial, difficulty, and danger.

Their fortitutide,’ when ifot-sore and wieairy, whenl suifiering for water and fi’om intense lheat, want of sleep and rations, and, in slhort, w-heii iindeig’oiing evervy privation, never forsook theni; and their l’eliai:e w’as increlased when they saw the folresiglht of General MceClellan in providing so laig, 163 0

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LEAVES FROM THE a park of artillery, and proceeding so cauttiously against the rebels. It was a shield and a safeguard to the retreating army at every step, and a terror to the enemy, who had to sacrifice their best and bravest troops in capturing one masked battery after another. We lost 25
of our guns, which must have been a rich prize to the rebels, as they stood in need of such war material. The wonder is, that with such a force, such an immense train, and during such a retreat, our loss was not even greater than it is. h-ad General MIeClellan received 50,000, or even 30,000 fresh troops, we would have whipped the rebels, and to-day, instead of bivoutacking on the James river, would, in all probability, be resting in the hotels of Richmond. 164: 0

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DIARY OF AN ARIMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XV. INCIDENTS OF TIIE SEFVEN DAYS’

FIGIIT. COLONEL WAVOODBURY, of the 4th ilicligan, fell at thle head of his regiment, as -he was cheering his men on; his command has been terribly cut up, having had fiftythree killed, and olne hundred and fifty-eight wounded, besides tlhirty-three missing. Among, the officers killed was Cal)tain Pose, whom General McClellan complimented so highlyl-at New Briidge. He was formerly principal of in acadeimy, and eleven of his pupils, who were in his coinllany, are either killed or wounded. Captain Pie, was also klilled; he was a great favorite with his men. Captain l,:tlding and Adjuttant Earle are wounided. The 9th Miass:tcliusetts has suffered the severest loss of any regiment in its division, amounting to one half the regiment. Colonel Cass. their leader, was wounded in the head, and for days we feared(l he would die. He is, however improving; he was on thle sick-list when we went into action, but refused to allow any one to lead his boys but himself. The 62d PJennsylvania, of this brigade, also suffered heavily, and others of General Griffin’s command. General Daniel Butterfield, of New York, behaved with great gallantry. He risked his life repeatedly; he rode close upon the enemy, and planted the colors of the 44thl New York with his own hands. It had been twice stricken down; while doin(g 0o, two balls passed thlroughl his hat; one of his aids, young Fisllher, of New York, Nas3 killed by a minii-ball wile 165 a -. -.

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LEAVES FRIOM THE ridiing beside him. His brigade suffered terribly, and lost a third of its number. Colonels Stocktonl and 3lcLeanI were both wounded. I learn that Prince de Joinville has to(lday presented General Butterfield w-ith his horse, in token of his admiration for the general’s bravery. The plrince, w-ith the other French nobles on MicClellan’s staff, leave today for Europe. It is said they intend to return, but this is doubtful. General 3Iarltindale’s Brig ade has also lost heavily. In fact all 3Iorrell’s division has been badly cut up. They did some of the hardest fighting. Captain Achmuty and Lieutenant Williams, of General Miorrell’s staff, had each a liorse shot under him. Great praise is given to Lieutenant Batchlelder for his defence of the ammunition-train, of whicli hlie had commnand; and which, but for his coolness and braveiry, would have fallen into the enemy’s hands. I have just had an interview with Professor Lowe, the aeronaut, who witnessed the battle of Friday firom his balloon. Ile describes thle evolutions of the battalions, the charges of the cavalry and infantr’, the flashing of the artillery, and the cairnage of the fight, as truly grand. He says the rebels also sent up a balloon, and that he and the occupant of the rebel balloon for some time viewed each other thlroughl their telescopes. The distance was too great to permit him to distinguish one division firom another, but he could plainly discern the blue uniform of the Union troops from the butternut and many-colored clothing of the rebels. This enabled him to judge of the relative firmness and endurance of the contending forces; and he speaks highly of the rebels, for their unflinching bravery and obstinate resistance, which vwere at length overcome by our mien. The information hlie gained by the ascent was of great importance to General M[cClellan in the disposition of 166 0

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I)IARIY OF AN ARMY SURGEON.L his torces and the strengthening of our weakest points at the proper time. Wittiledfl’om t/he B<(ttle befor e o Richl))Oio(. A remarkable feature of the wounded I have received on board the transports fi’om the seven days’ light is, that almtost all of thenil are wounded in the limbs, principally in the left thi,gh. The nuniber wvounded in the head, abdomen, or side, is very few. One, Colonel Pratt, of’ the 31st New Yoik, was wounded by a mini6-ball in the left cheek, in Friday’s battie. The ball entered the left clheek betwveen the,gum and upper jaw, passed tlhrlough the nose, II(nd lodged in the right cheek or mnalar-bone. Hle has gone to lhis ]home in BrIooklyn, where he will have it extracted, as there was no pressing necessity for its beiiig done here, anmd he was anxious to get to his home and family. Another poor fellow, named Sharp, of the 2d United States Infantry, was struck in the abdomen with a piece of shell, -liich lacerated the muscles and firactured the floatilng iibs on tle left side. The wound left by the missile was tl.e mnlost jagged andiil extensive I have seen: the intestines, hlaving lost their support, protruded. After returning theim, and other proper surgical care, he is doing well, and, notwithlstandling the extent of the wound, will probably recover. Lieutenant Freeman, of the same regiment, hlad hlis arm shattered, but it will be saved. WVe dispatched, yesterday, the Vanderbilt and Louisiana o Waslingiton with neaily 1300 -wounded. MIany of tlle ure able to walk, having been but slightly -wounded in the tllper extremities, and some were sick. To-day we sent off ,he Arrownsmith with,00 wounded, the Elmn City with !00; many on board of this vessel weree very badly ujuried. We are now loading the steamer John Brooks, 167

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LEAVES FR’O5 TIlE and will put 400 on her. A great many officers, some of thlem badly wouncledl, will go in her. The IKennebec and State of Auiine Mill follonv to-nig,lht, and will takle nearly 600 imore; miany of tlhem are but slilghtly wounded, and a lairge number are sick. A inumber of prisoners will be sent dowvn to-dclay to Fortress Mtonroe fi’om this place. Among themi are fiftythree ofticeis. The mien are fine-looking fellows, but imiserably clotlhel, and terribly dilty. The Comlmodore took down nearly 500, mostly wounded, few veiy bad eases. This is a terrible scene, ecliplsing that of the \TWhlite Iouse; but tlhere is imore assistance and less confiusion, and the accomimodationts are more extensive than there. As I before stated, when the order was given to abandon our old caimp on tlhe Chiekahominy, the sick hlo were able iwere told to walk to the Jaimes river. Many of theiii gladly desired to cdo so -who were unequal to the taskl, but as transportation had to be provided for a laig,e nu.mber, tlhey were not prevented. On beini( furnished plentifully with cooked rations, coffee, etc., off they started, a long and stiraggling, line, on Satur day evening; some on crutchles, som$ e lhad caies. 3[ost of themi reachied tlhe JamIes river 3ionday nig(ht, and bivouacked near Epilp)ig Island, in a beautiful, shady grove on the river’s bank, where they received such attentions as we could bestow. On MIonday morning they werec sent to Harrison’s Island, but soon after they started it began to rain in torrents, whilch so cut up the soft, clayey road, that it took themr many hours to get there. Their suffering during the journey was very great, but unavoidable. On ariivii]g, there was not any accoimnmodations for them; but some of them soon erected shelter on the lawnI iin front of the HIarrison inanision, and as I heard there was about a dozen wall-tents 108 a

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DIARPY OF AN A1RMY SUPRGEON. at hand, I got possession of them, and had them eretefed. In them all tl-hat could crowd took shelter; and on the lawn, the poor, w-eary fellows, with their blankets wrapped around them, lay down in the rain, and soon forgot, in sleep, the solrow-, privxations, and dangers of the past week. We took )possession of the dwNelling-hlouse for a hospital. As fast as each case was attended to, we sent them on the steamers. Noui’ishment was, with great difficulty, procured for them, I,-lt, after some delay, I had coffee and soup prepared for them; and in distributing it, the Rev. MIr. Fuller, chaplain of the 10th Mlassachusetts, was most efficient. IIe worked withl untiring energy, and appeased the cravings of many a poor fellow who for days had not tasted any thing but hard crackers and muddy water, which he could not at all times procure. We hope by to-morrow to hlave matters in better preparation; but our labors are very onerous, and but few of the surgeons have as yet had any rest, and little, if any, food. 8 169 0

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTER XVI. VISIT OF TIlE PRESIDENT TO THE ARMY. I STARTED yesterday for Fortress Monroe on the steamer John Brooks, with nearly four hundred wounded. It was not my intention to proceed further than the fort. My visit was for the purpose of obtaining supplies, and,naking other necessary arrangements. I found, this morning, that many of the hangers-on and sutlers, swho have thronged the White House and Harrison’s Landing, are about leaving for the North; it appears that General Dix, having had repeated complaints made to him of the frauds committed on the soldiers by the Jews and sutlers, has issued an order that they at once leave the fort. Yesterday Lieutenant Duval, of General Dix’s staff, notified 200 of them that they should depart withlin twenty-four hours. All last night and this mlorning, they have been on the move; the order is a just one, although it will bear heavily on some honest men, who have invested all their capital in the purchase of goods that are much needed by the soldiers and cannot be got elsewhere, for which they have charged a fair price, considering the cost of bringing the goods to this point; but others have been robbing the poor fellows by selling them worthless trash at enormous prices. I found that the steamer State of Maine, which I dispatched two days ago from Harrison’s Landing, and which I hoped was now safe in New York or New Haven, has returned here, having broken her shaft. On going on board of her 170 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. I found the wounded doing well, but sadly disappointed at tlhe delay in ieachin” their firiends. To-day (Tuesday) the President arrived here (Fortress MIonroe). As I start back for Harrlison’s Landiing he is goilg ashore to hold an ijterviewv with General Burn side, who is at the fort,-Ihis division being on its way to reinforce General -icClellan, but has been, as I am in formed, countermanded.

Yesterday the flag-of-truce boat which was sent up the York River on the tli inst. returned: at Cumberland 105 sick and wounded of our boys were found and taken on board, the rebels consenting to their surrender, but afteirwards changed their minds and obliged themn to be brought back. They were terribly disap,,pointed. They were iunder the care of Dr. Daniel Wersel, U. S. A. On my arrival at Iar]isoi’s Landiing I learn2ed that the retfusal to give up the wounded at Cumberland, by the rebels, was owing to some mistake, and that another vessel will at once be senit for them. A giand review of all the troops is about taking place. The President, who has arrived from Fortress 3Ionroe, is now in consultation with Generial 3IcClellan, and the line will be formed at 6 r. M. It will necessarily be quite late before the review is over, as the line extends several miles; but it is moonlight, and this will afford the men an opportunity to see President Lincoln, of whom they have heard so much, even firom the rebels, whose pickets daily taunt them with repeating the opprobrious names they have given the President. Stctem)en,ts of Rebel Prisoners at Il(trrison’s Landinig. On conversing, to-day, with some of the wounded rebels, I learned that the wounded we had been obliged to abandoni, but whom we left in charge of surgeons, had been 171 a

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LEAVES FRO51 TIIE w-ell taklen care of by the enemy, who had treated them and the surgeonI s wiithi great kindniess. This is doubtless the eftect of our good treatment to their woiunded. The prisonels who arrived yesterday are being sent down tlhe river to-dav there are many officers among them; I had some conversation withl a colonel and a captain. They are genltlemien of education and refinement, and have been in thle habit of makling(r annual visits to the orlthern cities, especially Baltimore and Philadelphia, where they are well known: they made thle following statement, with every appearanece of candoi., and it seems iwortlhy of credit. Before the evacutation of Corinth portions of Beauregard’s army began to arrive in Rlichmond, and continued to do so until that event took place, by which time nearly 50,000 hbad arrived, and that, subsequent to the evacuation, half as many more arrived; thlat these 75,000 troops are the flower of Beauregard’s army, the best of the old army of 3[anassas, and that, as a general thing,, they hav-e not been engaged in the late battles, nor in the pursuit of our army onl its retreat, but are held in reserve; that the whl-ole number of troops around Richmond amounts to 200,000; that General Lee has the chief command. Generals Beauregard, Jackson, and Joe Johnston, before receiving his woutnd at Fair Oaks, had the command of the cor)s d’(argte under hini. They speak of the report of Stonewall Jackson’s deathl as if it were a rutse, and say that he will soon again turn up at some unexpected point. From what tlhese officeis say, I infer that the ei,ght forts of earthworks nortlh of Richmond, two or three miles from the city, are not very strong, nor are they mounted with heavy guns. They mainily rely on Fort Darling to defend the city, the obstructions and subaqueous batteries in the James river and on the fighting of their troops. They are greatly 1 i-2 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. elated at our reverses before Richmond And Chlaileston, whichl they attribute more to the fighting quality than the number of their troops, but say they have plenty of reN serves, and can place fiesh men in any battle when those first enigaged become weary. They say it is utterly impossible for the Union army to take Richmond by land or water. By land, on account of the number and quality of their troops; and by water, on account of the defences of the James river. Of these, Fort ItDarli is but one, for besides it they have erected three iron batteries, mounted with heavy guans, and casematedcl for the protection of the gunners. That there are also siub merged iron batteries, each containing five tons of gun powder, connected with the land batteries by wires, and so ariranged as to explode at any desired moment. WVith regardi to the obstructions in the river, they are such, that althloulgh it is possible to remove them, yet it will require such a vast amount of labor, and so much time, that it never can be dclone under the fire of the bat teries, and no vessels can pass while they remain. During the -whole of the seven days’ contest our troops fought biavely, and drove the enemy back at many points: this was, they said, noticeable when General Heintzelman charged with his whole division. Yet in spite of this the general result is in their favor. The Chickahominy was no barrier to their pursuit of our wearied and decimated coliumns. General V,oodbury’s Eingineer Corps remained behind till the last moment, destroying and blowing up the biridges. But the enemy has also engineers to reconstruct bridges; and firom their intimate knowledge of the topog raphly of the country, had a decided advantage over us, as they knew the position of many fords; so that while a por tion of their army crossed on the bridges they rebuilt, l3 I 0

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LEAVES FRO-[ TIlE others crossed at these fords. Thus they kept close on our rear. Our engineers obstructed all the roads through the White Oak Swamp so effectually, that they saved the Union army by delaying the advance of the enemy; but they toiled day and night to remove these obstructions, and found new pathls, by which some of them were avoided. By Tuesday night they had cleared their way so that they could advance across the swamp in any number they pleased; but at that time our troops had reached the James river, and were comparatively safe. We are now encamped for five miles along its left bank. The rebels are in our rear, between us and the Chickahominy, their right resting on Richmond, where the main body of their armay remains. Their left extends to the junction of the two rivers. If they had recovered firom their fatigue they would attack us before they knew of our being reinforced; but the labor of the seven days’

fight has told as heavily on them as it has on our men. Doubtless, before many days will have passed, we shall again hear firom them. Our men are not unwilling, nor at all daunted at the prospeect, thoughl the enemy has two to our one. Yet our position is strong, our artillery well posted, and our able auxiliaiies, the gunboats, prepared to meet them, but we look daily for reinforcements. 174 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XVII. SECOND BATTLE OF MALVERN IIILL. ON

Saturday last, an expedition under General Hooker set out for the purpose of recapturing 3Ialvern Hill, where our troops fotught so well, but lost so many, and the position. For some reason they returned wvithout any engngenmeit, but started again yesterday evening for the same purpose. The column was not all on the road until the mnoon hadl risen, which threw a flood of light on the men’s brilliant bayonets throughl each ol)ening in the woods. The roads were in good order; the artillery train went smoothly on, makling but little noise. Precautions were taken not to give alarm to the enemy’s pickets, one of whom was arrested on the road. Guards were stationed around each dwvelling-houtse they passed, to prevent the inmates giviing the alarm to the enemy, whose camp was near. Our men having reached the place determined on to halt for the night, pickets were thrown out with the greatest quietude and caution, so as to prevent the enemy fioni being aware of our proximity. These precautions would have succeeded, but that some newly-fledged brigalier, to show his authority, gave the order to lhis brigade to halt, in a voice that could be heard for miles. It was heard by the enemy’s pickets at 12 o’clock, and reinforcements were sent for. Our men bivouacked on the Quaker Church road, in the rear of the battleground at Glendale. Grover’s Brigade was in the advance: their pickets sawv IT5 0 0

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LEAVES FRO3 THE none of the enemy, but three, who, on seeing the 2d New IHampshlire, disappeared. At daylight the column moved, and passed through Nelson’s farm, by the old battleground, and near the church, which on a former occasion had been riddled with shot and shell, and its pews torn up to make amputating tables. At halfpast five the column reached 3lalvern HIill. The sky was clouded, the atmosphere damp and heavy, and not a breeze moved the leaves. The cav alry and artillery led the column into the field through the wooded gorge, in firont of the hill occupied by General tIooker and his staffi, who at once took a position, by posting his artillery and ordering the cavalry to the attack. The enemy had a battery in position on the right of the brick house wh-ichl stands on the bluff towards the James i-ver;-this was Sti-ibling’s Fatuquier battery.

The 8th and 1,thll Georgia regiments, and two cavalry regiments, were also on the field. Orders were given to the 8th Illinois cavalry to charge on the Fauqnier battery, whilch received them withl a storm of grape and canister that drove thlem back. It then fired shell and case-shot on the road leading to the Quaker church, to whichl Benson’s artillery replied.

The morningr, as stated, was calm and cloudy, but the ene my, with great accuracy, continued to shell the road on whliichl our troops were advancing. Grover’s Brigade led the infantry, and stood the fire unflinchllingly. Tlhe other birigades followed in good order. The men, by dropping down as a shell w-as heard, escaped unlhurt, with the exception of two killed and fifteen wounded. Thus they marched upon the field and took theiri position. The smoke became so dense, fi’om the absence of any wvind, tlhat General Ilooker ordered the artillery to slacken their fire, and soon discovered that the rebels were retireating along, the road that leads to Ptichlmond, on the balnk of the river. Gent 176 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURIGEON. eral. Pleasanton, with cavalry and artillery, charged on them. They formed ill line of battle to receive as they supposed, nothing but a cavalhy charge, but a couple of rounds firom the batteries undeceived them, when they again retreated, closely followed by our cavalr’y, which cut up thleir rear-Lguard and took fifty prisoners.

Thus ended the second battle of Mialvern IHill. The enemy were not prepared for us, and not receiving the expected reinforcements, retreated towards thle river, where it would be unwise to pursue them, as a strong force was posted further ulp, near Richmond. We took over 100 prisoners.

Lieutenant Ilubbard captured ten prisoners and two horses. IVe lost Lieutenanit-colonel Gamble, of the 8th Illinois cavaliy, \vhlo was shot thlrotugh the lung. Captain Benson lost a leg by the explosion of a sltell near the muzzle of one of his guns. Before our men were all quietly settled down, General.IcClellan arrived, and, in company with General Ilooker, rode over the field. It is reported that our troops will occupy this place permanently, but I tlhink we will all soon leave the Peninsula.

This opinion is based on the refuisal to reinforce ius, as our present force is inadequate for tl,,e calpture of Richlmond, and daily growing smaller by sicknIess. 8* 1?77 i a

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LEAVES FROM THE CIIAPTER XVIII. INCIDENTS AT IIARRISON’S LANDING. FOR the last two days we have been occupied in sending off the sickl and wounded, as soon as they were able to be moved, and we couldl procure steamers for the purpose. Every thing is unusually quiet since the enemy shelled our camp, firom the opposite bank of the river, at night. I had a conversation to-day with a gentleman who has just returned from Richmond. Ile remained with our wNounded at Savage’s station, on the retreat of the Union army.

IHe describes the scene as truly awfuil. The confusion and want of accommodation, caused by the retreat of the army, added to the sufferings of the wvounded. It was many hours before they could secure a cot, shelter, or blanket, to lie down on. The dwielling-louses and negro-quarters were filled to overflowing. A few tents, and improvised coverings of boards and branches, were all the shelter that could be obtained. The surgeons were without instrumenIts, bandages, stimulants, or the necessary appliances. Tlhe wounded fi’om the battle of Peach Orchard were brought to Savage’s, and during the battle in the afternoonI, to the left of Savace’s, shells were thrown into the hospital by the rebels. A flag of truce was sent to them, and a promise obtained to respect the hospital, signed by three colonels of the Confederate army. The wounded fromi this battle, whichl raged until nine or ten o’clock at night, were also brought to this hospital. At 178

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DI-ARY OF AN AlRMY SURGEON. daylight, next morning, the rebels mounted a gitard over the hospital, and sent out wagons to collect the wounded still left on the field. Thle burying of the dead, after these two battles, continued for three days. On Tulesday morning, the barricades and the smouldering ruins of the locomotives and cars burned by our forces hlaving been removedl, the truck-trains were run out fiom Richmond to Satvage’s station, and the Confederate wounded were takeni to the city. Detachments of their troops were set to pick up the spoils of our camps,-old shloes and clothing. Thley also took our men’s haversacks, belts, and even the fi’agments of shells that lay around. The rebel wounded weie placed in hospitals and private houses. Our wounded were not removed until Tuesday week after the battle. InI the mean time many of them had died of their wounds, and were buried near tlle station. When they were transferred to Richmond they were Inot treated as wounded men, but as prisoners, and placed in warehouses and prisons, where the airi, firom want of ventilation, was shlocking. The rebels did not provide surgeons for them, except one in charge of each of the temporary hospitals. These took no means to relieve the wounded, save in one case, where a surgeon, with a rusty saw, performed an amputation, firom which the patient soon died. The Richmond ladies attended to their own sick and wounded; but not one came near our men, amIIong whom the mortality is increasing. Our surgeons were not kept in prison; and the gentleman vwho informed, me of these facts, being a civilian, was allowed to come awayv to make arrangements for an exchange of prisoners, on giving his parole to return in twenty days, unless previously exchanged. He came by way of Petersburg, to City Point.

Ile says the rebels are exultant over our recent defeats, but that Richmond and Petersburg are ili-9 a

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LEAVES FRO-1 i’IE filled with mourning for their relatives lost in tile late battles. General Dix has arranged the exchange, which has commenced.

Two hundred and fifty of the Union prisoners have been sent to the AWhite House for this purpose. Generals McCall and Reynolds are in one of the prisons at Richmoend which is used for officers. These officers and the -wolnded( receive rations of bread and meat twice a day. Tihe officers have bunks, but the sick lie on the floors of the warehouse, which has not been cleaned since last occupied as a prison. Until a day or two before he left, many lay in the same clothes they were taken firom the battlefield. Before leaving, some of them had received clealn drawers and coverlids. Their old clothing was collectedcl, to be sent to a woollen mill, to be manufactured into clothing, for the rebel soldiers. There are in prison, at Richmond, over a dozen sntlers of our army, many of whom have a,greed to pay large sums for their release, if not exchlanged. From some of these the rebels have received futll particulars of our strength.

Many of them are Jews: the rebels have made agrleements with them to commence rutnning the blockade, with contraband articles most needed in Richmond, on their return within our lines. The steaimer Louisiana was sent yesterday up the river to receive the sick and wounded Union prisoners who have been exchanged. Shie passed down the river to-day with a joyful load. These are the wounded taken at Savagce’s *tation. General Dix made the request for their release. Tlhey are on their way to Baltimore. f[ajor Clitz, of the 12Ith Regculars, andcl Colonel Charles of the New York Tammany regiment, both of whom were reported as killed, are on board and are doing well. They give a much better account of the treatment they received than we received before. They say that, excepting the food, they 180 a

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DIARY OF AN ARM:Y SURGEON. were well cared for, and the reboels gave them’the best food they-had. All is quiet here. It is expected that Geneial Beauregard, withl 30,000 men, has taken posses sion of the southl bank of the river downi to City Point. This may cause a renewal of the firing on our steamers p)assing down-the ri-ver. For the last week they have not been molested, and since the Juniata was fired into, but little injury lhas been done to any of them. We are busily einigaged to-day, endeavoring to have the abuses existing on tlhe Baltimiore boat fiom Fortress Alonroe remedied. lIatny of the sick sent down-n firom here, who were able to go home on ftirloughls, andcl others discharged fiom the O(ld Pl’oint hospitals, have been kept lyingc onl the floor of the boat anld wharf, before tley could procure berthls. The consequence has been, in many cases, a relapse of their illniess. These complaints have comle firom Baltimore, and I hope in future it will be prievented. The provost-marslhal to-dlay seized a quantity of percussion caps at the expressoflice. AIatters and tlings here wear the usual quiet appearance.

There has not any tiiincg happened to break tlhe moliotony of diills, parades, &c., excepting the visit of (Gen. Ilalleck to headquarters. Some say we are goinig to make an advane on RPiclhmond as soon as all our reinforcements arrive, and that Gen. Halleck’s visit to Gen. iMcClellan was to decide on the nilumber of trool)s he requires to securee tlhe capt’~ of the city. Others say we are about abandonilg the IPeninsula, and that Gen. Ilalleck reftlsed( to give Geni. McClellan any further reinflorcenents. Deathls in the hoslpitals are daily occurring. The weatler is intensely,hot. Tlhe fatigue parties are di,ging wells, but meet witlh but poor success. Our supply of wiater is miserable A terrible row took place last night on board the Adams’ 181 a

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LEAVES FROM THE Express Company’s barge. The negroes employed by the Company, in the absence of the agent, Mr. Montgomery, getting intoxicated had a row, which broke the stillness of the nilght. Quite a number of absentees are daily returnin(r to their regiment. This looks as if some change was near at hand. The surgeon of the 1st U. S. Sharpshooters liaving died in the Richmond hospital, the account of his death and a eulogy was read last evening to the regiment. Dr. Marshlall was an excellent surgeon and a favorite with his regiiment. The occasion was peculiarly affecting: as the men, drawn up in a hollow square, heard of his death, their emotion was quite evident. The thunderstorm of last week here, has given us some cool and refireshing weather. The army are daily engaged with reviews. The regimental bands are being mustered out of service, and in future but one will be allowed to a brigade. This, I am convinced, is mistaken economy, as the men fight much better with music, and remain in camp more satisfied if there is a band. Besides this, the band-men, if properly trained, carry the wounded to the iear, thus avoidiing the necessity of reducing the ranks when most needed. The regiments most decimated are being filled up with recruits but slowly.

Yesterday a cavalry picket was sent out in the direction of Richmond, and met the enemy’s cavalry with an artillery escort. This was looked on as a sure forerunner of an attack, but as yet “all is quiet.” General Marcy and General Butterfield ileturned to their duty to-day, and were (especially the latter) heartily welcomed by the men of their brigades. I see with satisfaction that our firequent requests for vegetables for the men has at last been heeded: a lairge cai-rgo arrived to-day, and will be at once distributed to the commissaries. This change of diet will check the alarming spread of scurvy, 182 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEION.-‘ and give great satisfaction to the men. A large force was sent across the river yesterday, to cut down the trees that gave shelter to the rebels dulring their midnight attack onI IS. The firing on the mail-boats by the rebels, and the means taken to prevent it, have been the only topics here for a week. The list of sick is daily diminishing under the improved vegetable dcliet. One of the gunboats ran aground above City Point yesterday, and as yet is not got of;f, but it is expected that by to-morrow she will again be afloat. At twelve o’clock, last night, General Hooker’s division fell back to its old encamp)ment, leaving a strong guardl at Hlaxall’s; on perceiving which the rebels advanced by three roads from Richmond, under the impression that our forces were marching on the city, but on driving in our p)ickets for a mile or so, they discovered we had no such intentions, and fell back.

While at AI’lvern IIill one or two of the soldiers set fire to an ice-house, the flames and smoke firom w-hich, on being seen by the enemy, made him suppose we were about to evacuate it, and a large force advanced by the Newmarkcet road, but on discovering their mistake returned. The remains of Lieuten,ant-colonel O’Conner, of the 81st Pennsylvania Volunteers, were discov-eiecd yesterday, buried near one of the barns used as a hospital after the battle at Nelson’s farm. Ihis money, compass, &c., were all found in his coat pocket, and were takenl care of with his remains, which are now being forwarded to Pennsylvania. Yesterday Gen.

Butterfield’s Brigade returned to their old camp, after having been on duty on tlhe opposite bank of the James river. During their short campaign they saw but little.of the enemy. Part of the time the brigade headquarters were in the Ruffin house. Our ambulance corps 183 0

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LEAYES FROM TlHE is uindergoing reorganization. Each division ambulance coIrps will be placed under command of a lieutenant, with a dcletail of ten men fiom each regiment. These men will be dlistiinguishled by a igreen cap-band. This arrangement, if properly carried out, will insure prompt attention to the wouinded, and prevent straggling. On the mail-boat, this miorning, a large number of officers and sergeants went down the lriver, on their way home for reciruiting duty. We had an arrival from RPichmond this afternoon. A small steamer came down with a flag of truce. On board of her ire a number of British subjects, leaving D)ixie. A Lieutenant Aurplhy, of the 67th New York Volunteers, arrived to-day, lhaving, in company with three others, made his escape fi’om Richmond. They were taken prisoners, with the other wounded, after the battle of Savage’s station, and since then have been confined in one of the tobacco warehouses. They give a detailed description of tlheir mode of escape-by pulling off a board fiom the back of the buildigc, and getting into an alley-way. They are now with General [IcClellan, desciibing the Richmond fortifications.

This morning orders were received to dispatch all the sick and woutinded down to Fortress MIonroe. This will occupy us for several days. The regimental, brigade, and division surgeons have also received orders to hold a general inspection, and to send to us every man unfit folr active duty, so tlhat tlIevy may be forwarbled with the others. This indicates some rieat chl.ance; and, firom the order issued in relation to the lse of transports by the sick, I have but little doubt tlhe wNliole aiimyv is about to evacuate the Peninsula. General -IcClellan has been very active, lately, in visiting the diffeient camps, and thleir concentration towards the river would, if necessary, confirm this opinion. There is much dissatisfaction among the men at the failure to send reinforce IS4 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. ments; and now that the engagements of General Banks’ and Pope’s commands have become known to them, they seem very desirous to leave here, as there is not any prospect of an attack on Richmond. The weather is becomi,g intensely hot, and tlhe sick suffer much firom the heat. Several of the generals commnanding divisions and brig,ades, who have been away on leave of absence, have returned to their commands. These combined movements will, ere long, produce the usual result. The reports fiomr thle recruiting officers to their commandants are not encouieaging to the men here, nor do the lairge bounties, now paid to recruiits, please the troops. They argue that it is an injustice to ihlose wl-o have for so long a time borne the fatigue and ldangeis of the campaign. Yesterday the news reached camp of the release of Colonel Corcoran, after a year’s imprisonment in Richmond. The occasion was one of rejoicing in the 69thl Newv York regiment; but they feel that the corps has passed tlhrou(gh many scenes since his capture, whichl entitles every meimber to an equal amount of glory. The army, as a whlole, is in good condition, tholugh there are many who desire to return to their homes, and are silck of the war. This morning, about 10 o’clock, smoke was seen arising firom the vicinity of’ City Point. The rebels had set the wharf on fire at that place: the smoke increased and soon the whole vwharf was inr flames. The flag-of-truce boat, which usually stops at this -wharf, was consequently obliged to proceed further up the river and may not return to-night. The flamies and smoke ascending from the fire could be seen for many miles. It is said that the gunboats coul(d have prevented the destruction of the w-harf, but feared they might fire on tile flag-of-tiruce boat, then momentarily expected. The enemy’k object in destroying it, is supposed to be to pre 185 a

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LEAVES FROMI TIIHE vent our landing a large force on the other bank of the river. While the wharf was on fire, a report arrived that the enemy had appeared in force in the woods on the other side of the river. Two of the gunboats commenced shell ing the woods in that direction, and kept it up for half an hour. These have been the only incidents that occurred here for maany days; we daily look for the order to leave. 1S6 a a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGRON. CHAPTER XIX. EVACUATION OF IIARPRISON’S LANDING.

EARLY this morning the long looked-for order has been issued, and important movements are now being made: the gunboats were all ordered up to cover our mnarchl. The advance has started for Williamsburg: the rear-guard will probably start by midnioghlt. The movement is not received with much favor, the bulk of the officers and men think that Richmond can be taken now if ever, as Gen. Pope has drawn off a large portion of the rebel force hitherto engaged in its defence; they also say that the present camping ground w-as gained at a terrible heavy loss to be abandoned withlout cause. For the past week, heavy ordnance and loads of’

ammunition have been shipped down the river. To-dclay the contrabands are being sent down on barges and the steamer Illinois. The 93d Newi York, lwhicll was doingiprovost-g(uard duty here, was sent down on the North Amierica. About 10 o’clock, Col. Ingalls’ tents and desks were sent on board the Long Branch, and he wvent to Gen. )[eClellan’s headquarters to march overland with the army. There has not been any loss but the burning of two bairg,es tlhat were worthless: all the stores vwere safely shipped.

Thus the prolonged encampment of the Union army on the pleasant bankls of tlhe Jaunies river ends. Its future destination is not generally known, but we all first proceed to Fortress MAonroe, wvhelre our fleet of transports are nowv lying, to the number of twelve or thlirteen hundred.

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LEAVES FROM THE 3fctrch to Yorktozwn. By Wednesday night all requisite arrangements were completed, and the army ready to march at short notice, at any time. XNearly all the sick had been embarked, and the rest could be disposed of in an hour’s time. In the afternoon, it became known that General MIcClellan had gone down the river for some purpose connected with the anxiously expected movement; it was reported, and generally believed, that upon his return marching orders would be issued, and the line of march to be taken would be indicated, and the suspense relieved. The uncertainty whichl existed as to our destination was rather annoying, to us who had to make the journey, as it might be, in the dalrk, not know ing what enemnies we were to meet, or -whlat battles had to be fobught before we were extricated fiom our unpleasant situation. The weathler continued to be quite cool and comfortable, and much better for marchiing than any which had prevailed for two or three weeks previously. Thursday morning was pleasant and comfortable, and nothing of particular interest transpired througih the day, until in the afternoon, when General IMcClellan ieturned, and it was soon rumored about that the long looked-for time had arrived, and that the army would coinmence moving in a few hours, and that its destination was to be WAilliamsburg, in the first instance. It was believed that the army would move by three roads, in order to get throug,h more rapidly, and to be better prepared to meet any attack which the rebels should make upon our columns. By some means the general plans intended to be pursued hadcl become known (as events proved), probably it not being, deemed necessary to maintain such perfect secrecy in regard to them as had hitherto been done. At iss a

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DIARY OF AN AlRMY SURGEON. abouit six o’clock in the evening, orders were issued to the reg,‘imeints and batteries coimprising General I’orter’s corl)ps to I)repare to move immediately. These orders were received w”ith cheers by the soldiers, who were rejoiced at the termination of their suspense and the prospect of a clhange of locality. 3Iany of them believed, up to the last, that it was an advance towards Richmond, to co-operate with General Pope in the reduction of the rebel capital. Thev could not, or would not believe, that after so many sacrifices, and the expencliture of so many lives, and so muchl time, labor, and money, the campaign was to be abandoned, and the Peninsula allowed to relapse to rebel rule again. They could not realize the fact, that the proudcl Army of the Potomac, which three months before had commenced its march w-ith such high and noble hopes and aspiratious, with fill r’anks and joyous hearts, to wipe out the record of Butill Runi and Ball’s Bluff, was now, with decimated ranks and disheartened spirits, about to retrace its steps and return, withoit haviing accomplished its purpose. True, too, that the army had foutight well, and stood by their general throiughi good aicnd evil report. They had, at Yorktown, IVilliamsburg, Fair Oaks, Hanover Courthlouse, Gaines’ lill, WAhite Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill, enshrined their name with a halo of glory by their dauntless courage and gallant bravery, so fearlessly displayed(l, often against superior, and sometimes overwhelming niumbers;-and now, that all was to be abandoned, and a retrograde movement was to be made, they utterly refused to credit. Soon all was bustle and excitement in the camps, the tents struck, and wagons packed very rapidly. So perfectly had every thing been prepared, that it took but comparatively short time to have every thling in readiness. By nine o’clock most of the regiments were ls9’ a

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LEAVES FROM0 TIlE ready and waiting for marching orders, and by ten all the preparations were made. The division of General Sykes, which was to lead the advance, commenced its march at about that hour. This was followed by General Morrell and General’McCall’s divisions. It was nearly three o’clock on Friday morning before all were fairly started for the march. The sight was very romantic and interesting, as the long files of soldiers moved out of the intrenchlments at the firont and into the Charles City road, their bayonets ,listeniing in the moonlight as they moved silently along. Suppressed congratulations were exchanged, that we were at length actually leaving the contracted lines wsithin which, for more than six weeks, the army had lived, and suffered discomforts which must ever render the recollections of the place any thing but pleasant or satisfactory. We proceeded slowly along, and soon the signs of approacl-ing day streaked the horizon, and in the light of early dawn we bid, at last, farewell to the scene of our recent uncomnfortable experiences. The air was cool and healthful, and the men generally cheerful and good-natured. The incidents and descriptions of the scenes connected with the beginning of marches have become so familiar, it is sufficient to say, that at last we were fairly started on our journey, and prepared to meet whatever fortune or adventures were in store for us. AVe reached Charles City Coturt-house at about eight, A. Mr.,-this is about five miles firom Harison’s Landing, -and from it a road which leads to Barrett ferry, on the Chlickahominiy river, near where it empties into the James. To this point our day’s march was intended to reach, and it was said to be twelve miles distant, but my subsequent experience would seem to indicate that it was nearer fifteen. The Charles City Courthouse, which is the seat of government of Charles City county, is a very an 190 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMI:Y SURGEON.. cient and venerable-looking onestory brick building with two wings. The main building was used as a court-house, and the wings contain the jutry-dfoms, &c. &c. Adjoining the court-house is another smaller building, which contain ed the various county offices, and where were kept the public records of the county. These buildings have for some time past been used as a sort of headquarters for one of our cavalry regiments on duty in that vicinity. The records and public documents which were kept in these butildings, extended back for nearly two hundred years, and must have been of very great importance to the inhabitants and property-owners of the county. These had been pulled about and torn to pieces and scattered all about the build ing and adjoining grounds. Great confusion must arise firom this wanton destruction of valuable papers, and liti gation in the future be largely increased thereby. By such conduct friends and foes are injured indiscriminately, and without any accompanying advantage to compensate for the injulry inflicted. Here also is the county jail; and these, with three or four other buildings, appear to con,stitute the city. It does not take much to make a city Sotlth. The dwelling-houses appeared to have been generally deserted by their inhabitants. Leaving this place, we moved along slowly and cautiously, as it was thought beyond here we might possibly meet with some trouble firom the enemy Previouts cavalry reconnoissances had shown no rebel force between us and the Chickahominy river, but yet there was a possibility that they might attempt to annoy us, even if not in force to attack seriously. The moving column of soldiers, artillery, army wagons, and horses filled the road for miles, as it moved along. There were not many iresidences along the road, and some of them had been abandoned by their former occupants. The few inhabitants 191 a

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,LEAVES FROOM THE who remiainecld weie astonishled to see us mo-ing along in suchtel force. Tihey-pretended to have had no communrication wsith their rebel firiends, or wNithl Richmond, for a lone time, and to be in coimplete ignorance of what hadc lately transpired in the outside world.

They were very cur’ious to know if it was a movement of our whole armly, or if only a portion of it, for some particular purpose. Their rebel proclivities caused, what their caution could not entirely disguise, the exhibition of their rejoicing at the thought that we were going a’way, although they, generally, made professions of neutrality, and denied having any part in the war, -, &C &c. One fact is generally noticeable in this State, and I have found it almost invariably wherever we have been, that is, the absence of all young or middle-aged men. A persevering inquiry will usually disclose the fact that they are with the rebel army, although most generally their fiiends claim that they lhave been forced away under the conscription, or volunteered to save the disgrace of being drafted. There are to be found on the plantations only women, old men, and children. The negroes who are able to be of any service are also mostly gone. Some having been removed down South by their masters for safety, and the balance having sought refiuge within the lines of our army, where they, of course, cannot be pursued, and are thenceforth free. This portion of the State is fertile and productive, and has been styled the Garden of Virginia, but owing to these causes and the disturbing influence of war, is largely lying waste and overgrown with weeds and brambles at present.

The crops gathered this year will be but small, and with the destruction caused by the presence of contending armies, the inhabitants must suffer greatly, and will find difficulty in obtaining a subsistence until next year’s harvest 192 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. is gathered. In every household there is mourning for near and dear ones, whose lives have been sacrificed to the wicked and pestilent delusions to which, for the time being,, the Southerners seem to be given over. All along the line of our march the houses were visited by stragglers from our allrmy, of whom there will always be many, in spite of every exertion made to prevent it. The occupants of these houses appeared highly indignant because guards were not stationed, as formerly, to guard their property and prevent intrusion.

They thought it extremely hard that they should be compelled to contribute towards the support of the army in any way. Poultry and firuit rapidly disappeared, and many a soldier’s mess that night could boost of a.o/el addition. In some instances, what was taken was paid for, but in more they were in too great a hurry to rejoin their regiments to settle. The sufferers acknowledged, however, that their firiends, of the rebel army, treated them with no more regard for their vested rights; but what seemed to afflict them most was, that the hated Yankees should have the benefit of secesh property. Of course this pillaging by soldiers as they pass through an enemy’s country must be condemned, and when detected and proved, should be punished for the good of the army itself, which such practices tend to demoralize; but still it is a great temptation to one, who has for weeks lived on salt pork and hard bread, to see a young and fat fowl within close proximnity to him. The march was conducted in an orderly manner, and the absence of any attack or attempted opposition to our passage, must of course detract from the interest of the story. It however gratified both officers and men, who, as nothing could have been gained by fighting, more than was better attained without it-a passage through the country-desired that we might get peaceably 0~~~~~~ 9 193 a

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LEAVES FRO0M THE through it. They were all ready to fight, if required, but preferred, if possible, to be spared the necessity. Without any incidents worthy of note, the river was reached by tho advance early in the afternoon, and by night the divisions of General 3Iorrell and General Sykes were crossed over to the opposite bank. General Il[cCall’s division having taken another road, and having left the old camp subsequently to the others, did not reach there until the next forenoon. A splendid pontoon bridge, of nearly a third of a mile in length and about thirty feet wide, had been built across the Chickahlominy by the engineer brigade, and upon this marched the weary soldiers, followed by the artillery, and encamped upon the opposite shore for the night. Near this bridge were lying the gunboats Delaware and Yankee, to protect it against any attempt the enenmy might make to destroy it. The day’s march had been loing and tiresome, but the men stood it very well. The weather throughout the day was cool, and until about one p. M. was overcast; so that, except for the dust, the march had been pursued in comparative comfort. In fact, up to this time, the weather had been most favorable. Ilad it been ordered expressly it could not have been bettered; except, perhaps, a little rain, to lay the dust, would have been an acceptable improvement. The intense heat under which we have been sweltering for weeks past, has been succeeded by a cool and comfortable temperature, which has enabled us to march through the day and encamp at night, to the manifest advantage of the army, as regards its health and strength. Night marches have not been resorted to, except upon the first night, but the men have been allowed to rest and refi-esh thenmselves after the day’s march, and prepare for the labors and fatigues of the succeeding day. Saturday morning the march was resumled, 19-i a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. and the columns moved on towards Williamsburg, at which place tile advance arrived about eight A. M. General ~Moi rell’s division arrived there about one P. x., and passed on to the vicinity of the old battlefield, where they remained encamped until Sunday morning.

Every thing passed peaceably. It wsas now evident that the rebels were either unaware of the time when and the direction in which we were go ing, or that they had other business for their army than following us. Their experience at White Oak Swamp and i[alvern Hill may have taught them a lesson which they do not care to repeat at present. If any attack is intended by them, it must be upon our rear-guard, but it is not thought that they will now disturb us at all. Tlhis dlay’s march witnessed a repetition of the previous onslaught upon the poultry and orchards of the secesh inhabitants by the stragglers. As a general thing they were civil, how ever, and willing to pay for what was taken (when re quested to do so). Large quantities of unripe firuit and melons were devoured, which will most probably cause a material increase of cases of diarrhea and dysentery, and refill the regimental hospitals, which had been cleared of their occupants preparatory to this movement. There was, also, some disappearance of fowls and poultry of all kinds, which had become a very common article of diet in the camps. AMany of the soldiers were seen to carry, in addition to their arms and accoutrements, extra rations in the shaple of turkeys, geese, chickens, and ducks, which, by the noise they made, had evidently been recently served out to them (?), and were yet, in many instances, alive and kicking. Just before entering Williamsburg, there was noticed an enterprising private by the side of the road, under the shade of a large tree, with some half-dozen un 195 a

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LEAVES FROM THE ril)e water-melons spread out before him, which he was dis)posing of to his less fortunate comrades at the moderate rate of fiftv cents each. HIow he became possessor of this valuable merclhandise is unknown, but that his profits equalled the total of his receipts there is no doubt. He was not a native Yankee, but an Hibernian, and one who evidently, with the reckless generosity and profusion characteriistic of his countrymen, combined the thrift and shrewdness which is supposed to belong to the natives of the land of his adoption. The secessionists of Williamsburg, as elsewvhere along the route, were much rejoiced to see our army making a retrograde movement, anticipating that soon this part of the Peninsula, also, would be surrendered to the rebel rule again. The colored population had taken the alarm, and were very anxious to learn what the future had in store for them. Some of the more indiscreet of the rebel sympathizers, upon learning that we were evacuating our position upon the James river, indulged in threats of what should be done to the negroes when the Yankees were gone. This increased their alarm and agitation, and the exodus of this class of the population, most of whom had been the slaves of rebel fugitive masters, has already commenced, and probably a few days will see the town relieved of nearly all of them, but a very few will remain to experience the tender mercies of their secesh friends.

Between the action of the rebels in carrying their slaves down South, and the operation of military rule, the Peninsula has been cleared of the more valuable portion of the slave property, those who are left being generally either of an ancient or very tender and juvenile age, neither of which are of much profit. Practical emancipation has taken place; and those who have not availed themselves of its benefits, are of the class who arc either too old, too young, or too shiftless to 196 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. do so. This morning, one of the rebel sympathizers of this place, named Robert Coles, was arrested, by order of the provost-marshal; at his residence a quantity of ammuiiition and some arms were found. It is said that he was busily engaged, yesterday, in running bullets, while our troops were passing through the town. The avowed purpose was, to stop the departure of the contrabands after the expected withdrawal of our troops. At an early hour, this morining, the march was resumed, and continued in an orderly mannelr until Yorktown was reached. There was now no danger of an attack, and there did not exist the necessity for any special care in making the advance. Nothing worthy of note occurred, and Yorktown was reached soon after noon, and the weary soldiers encamped in the old camp, made familiar to most of them by a four weeks’ residence, during the famous siege of the rebel for. tifications.

Here they remained and rested. The marchigc was beginning to tell upon the men, and there were a good many stragglers, who had fallen out of the ranks. The provost-guard was constantly employed in riding to and fio upon the road, hunrying them up, but in spite of their exertions they came in slowly, by twos and threes, and sometimes in squads. Mlost of them rejoined their commands in the course of the day and evening. The scenes of the previous two days were repeated along the route, although not to so great an extent. It was, however, highly dangerous for poultry to show itself in any close proximity with the soldiers. Upon my arrival at Yorktown I called upon General Van Alen, the military governor of the place, who received me kindly and courteously; and to him am I indebted for kind favors and attentions received. Since the occupation of the place by the Union troops, it has been much im 197 0

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LEAVES FROMl TIlE proved, and its general appearance and clean and orderly condition is higrhly creditable to him and to Captain R1evere of the 44th regiment, New York Volunteers, the provost-marshal. When the “Union”

troops first took possession of the place, it was in a filthy condition.

Under the direction of Captain Revere it has been thoroughly cleaned, and large quantities of filth, offal, and decaying carcasses of animals have been removed and buried. The main street has been filled and raised two feet, and every thing possible has been done to make the villagre a healthy and respectable place of residence. The earthworks and intrenchmnients built both by the Union and the rebels rlemain intact, and by their extent and massiveness show with what perseverance and energy both parties contended for the locality. The first buildings erected in Yorktown for twenty-seven years, is a rowv of five onestory buildings, built under Captain Revere’s direction for the use of the officers, etc., connected withl headquarters. Thle place is fully prepared for deftnce against any attack which might be made upon it by the rebels, who cannot safely or successfiilly enter upon any operation of this natutre. A single gunboat would conmmand Gloucester Point opposite, and prevent the erection of batteries there, alnd any hostile demonstrations firom the other side must result in a speedy repulse of any force which might be brought down for that purpose. Upon the plain, outside the rebel works, quite an extensive biurial-cground has been laid out, whiclh already contains about three hundred graves, mostly of our soldiers who have been buried there.

When the army advanced firom this point, a large number of sick were left here, of whom many died. Some bodies were also brought here fiomn Williamsburg and other points up the Peninsula, and here, after “life’s fitful fever, they slept well.’ A 198 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. headboard at each grave records the name, regimeit, and company of its occupant; so that their firiends can, at any tilte, find the place of their sepultiure. A neat rail-fenlce inceloses the whlole and protects it fi’om intrusion. The avant-courier of the army of tle Potomac arrived at Jiampton Roads this morning, in the shape of Htunt’s artillery reserve, and immediately went into camp for two or tlhree days’ rest. Fitz-John Porter’s corps is now at Newport News, or rapidly airriving there, and by to-moirrow imorning the entire army of the Potomac will be at Yorktown, Niewport News, and Ilampton. Up to the present time I have heard nothing but rumors of filghting; they were based on the fliing of gunboats, as they shelled the w-oods on the banks of the James river, to keepl) them clear of the rebels who mighi(t use their cover to hang oi our flanks and rear to annoy us, and perhaps do us considerable damage. So far as can be learned, not a silgle rebel has been seen on the entire march. In short, tlhe cliang,e of base has been effected withlout the loss of a man, tle necessary firingi of a shot, or the dclestruction of a hundred dollars’ worth of stores, commissariat or quartermasters’, and the army will soon be in a position to speedily embaik for other points, where the enemy and Richoond are more accessible and success more certain. Most assuredly, to effect such an important change in the relative position of contending forces, without a severe and disastrous conflict, must have called forth the highest powers of a great general, or it must have resulted firom the weakness of the enemy. One or the otler cause gave to our arlms this fortunate escape from disaster, and perlhapls destruction. Old Point Comfort will be quite lively of course for a little time. Storekeepers and sutlers are hauling in sail and making ready for a long calm. 199 a

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTER, XX. SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN. PART of the Army of the Potomac, after fatiguing marches, have formed a junction with the Army of Vir ginia, now commanded by General Pope. For the last four days a heavy firing has been heard, and I learn that another battle has been fought on the identical battleground of Bull Run. On the 26th, General Pope discovered that the enemy was turning his right towards Manassas, and as the division ordered to take post there had not arrived firom our forces at Alexandria, he broke up camp at WVarrenton and the Junction, and marched back towards Washington by three columns. General IMcDowell’s and General Sigel’s corps, with part of Reno’s division, marched upon Gainesville by the Warrenton and Alexandria turnpike; General Heintzelman, with the remainder of Reno’s division, marched on Gainesville; and Pope, with Porter’s and Hooker’s divisions, marched back to MAanassas Junction.

General McDowell’s corps interposed between the enemy’s force that reached MIanassas through Gainesville, and his main body, that was moving from White Plains through Thoroughfare Gap, and drove Longstreet’s corps back through the Gap to the west side of the mountain. Gen. Hooker’s forces came upon the enemy at Kettle Run on Wednesday afternoon, the 27th, and had a sharp engagement with them, killing and wounding a large number, and capturing some baggage and small-arms. On Thursday 200 0

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DIAIY OF AN ARIMY SUPGEON. morning the command moved forward rapidly to Manassas Junction, which General Jackson hlad evacuated some hours before.

Returning by Centreville, on the Warrenton Pike, six miles west of the village, hle met the forces of 3[IcDowell and Sigel, late in the afternoon. A severe fight followed, which ended when darkness came on.

Next morning Heintzelman’s col’ps advanced on the enemy at daylight fioin Centreville, and at thle old battlefield of Bull Run the combined forces of our army and the enemy fought with fiury until after dark: the result was in favor of the Unioni troops. The enemy acted on the defensive, and remained withini siglht of our camp during, the night. The fight was renewed on the two following days, with heavy loss to both sides, but no decided advantage to either. On the 30th, General Pope again attacked the enemy. The Union forces are suffering very heavily, and hundreds are airriving firom Washington to witness the battle acnd attend to tlhe woundedl, among the latter a great many clerks in the I)epartments are constantly arriving to attend to our men. Thle response by them to a call issued for the purpose, has been miost prompt. Among them is Vinceent R.

Jackson, of the city post-office in Washington, and I learn he and twenty others have been taken prisoners by the rebels, tlhoughl acting as nurses and entirely unarmed. The battle which was raging yesterday (the 30th August) was one of the bloodiest of the war. The Confedcrates were reinforced, and drove General Pope back to Centreville with heavy loss.

The excitement was intense at Pope’s defeat, and from his dispatches was entirely unexpected. It is fearedl that the supplies for his army may be cut off, as the rebels are marching, for the Chain Bridge, but this is doubtless mere rumor. From all indications for the past week, it was clear that 9-*. 201 0

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LEAVES FROM TIIE a severe battle would come off at Mianassas or Bull Run.

The first sign of this was the rebel raid on Catlett’s station, on the Alexandria railroad, on Sunday, the 24th August; and next their appearance at Bristow station, on the 2 th, and the destruction of our army stores.

This was followed by an attack on our troops at Manassas, and the continued arrivial of reinforcements, Withl the evident intentionl of turnling Pope’s right. On Wednesday morning Taylor’s Biig,ade of Slocium’s division of the Army of tle toto2mac left Camp Ellsworth near Alexandria by rail for 3[lanassas, and arrived at Bull Run bricdge at seven, the next evening. They landed and crossed it without delay and marchled for Manassas; but on ascending the hill over tlhe valley of Bull Run, they met the enemy’s skirmishers, who fell back. The brigade proceeded to Manassas, and as soon as they came withlin range of the circular fortifications around the Junction, they were opened on by a lheavy fire of artillery.

Having no artiTllery or cavalry, they were obliged to fall back to the shelter of a hill. Here thley were attacked by a brigade of rebel infantry, and a sliarl) fire of musketry was kept up for half an houri, when a force of rebel cavalry was seen advancing in the rear of tle brigade, whichl obliged the general to retreat across tlhe rnl at Blackburn Ford; whlile doing so, they were followed by horse-aitillery, and badly cut up. The enemy seized on the advantage, or rather disadvantage, of our troops being so far separated, and actively endeavored to fall upon and whip each division, in detail. Oil Tuesday, the 22d, Stonewall Jackson arrived at Bristow station, four miles south of Manassas, burned the station and two railroad trains, tore up the track, cut the telegraph wiries, and took all the Union guards on the railroad prisoners. He and General Ewell had started on Sunday 202 0 4

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. firom near AVrrenton, with their divisions; crossed the Rap )allaniIIock, Six miles solthl of’ the Blue lidge, and arrived l)y waya of Orleans and Salemn, making the distance in less than three davs. Ilis first attack after was arrival, on the dwelli,ng-houose of a 31r. Lipl)scombe, in which were a dozen Union officers, all of whomn, with the exception of one, were takei prisoners. The next attack was upon a com pany of 105thl Pennsylvainia Volunteers and about twenty cavalry, left to,guard the road. Two or three of themi weie killed and the remainder were tlaken prisoners. A train oft’emplty cars then caine along, tfr’om Warrenton, and was fired into, but escaped. Jackson then issued orders to tear up the track. It was done, and a second train cominig along, ran off the track and was also fired into. A tlhird one, in like manner, followed, and was also run off the trackl and into the last train.

All the persons on board were madle prisoners. The cars were then set fire and destroye(l. Proceeding down the track, about a mile, they burned the bridge at Cattle Run, tore lup the track, and cut tlhe telegral,)h wires, and, subsequently, burned the bi-idg(l,e at Biroad Run, near Bristow. On Wednesday inol-iling Ewell’s division, with the batteries, took up a p)ositionl near the railroad, one on each side, the other quite near the trackl, withl infantry and cavalry betweeii. This entire force of the rebels was encamped behind brtshwlood and the railroad bank, with an open field in firont. General Ilooker’s division left Warrenton to attack, with a portion of Kearney’s; but these did not have an opportunity of getting into the filght. General IHooker, being in coimmandl, gave orders to charge thlrough a piece of woods and into the open space, not ex)ecting to meet the enemy in great force; but no sooner had they entered the woods than a murderous fire was 203 a I-,

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LEAVES FROIM TIHE opened on his men, firom the entire line of the rebels,three batteries throwing grape and canister. The most of it, however, passed harmlessly over their heads; but the fire fi’om the infantry was very destructive, compelling some of Hooker’s regiments to fall back to the woods; but, on being supported by others, they repeated the charge, and fired several volleys, when the enemy broke and retreated.

Hooker’s boys pursued them, yelling. The 3d New Jersey BIrigacde, commanded by Colonel Carr, sustained a loss of over six hundred, killed and wounded, in this action. Colonel Carr had his horse shot under him.

This was plain evidence that the rebels were in force at Manassas, and that it was his intention to turn Pope’s right. The battle of Saturday, the 30th of August, was continued by the army corps of Heintzelman, McDowell, and Sige], against a force of fifty thousand of the rebels, undler Jackson and Lee. The location of the battle was in the vicinity of Haymarket, towards Sudley church, but a few miles nortlhwest of the old and famous Bull Run. HIeintzclman’s corps came up with the enemy’s rear at ten o’clock, A. M1., seven miles firom Centreville. He there found Jackson fighting with IMcDowell and Sigel’s forces, in the direction of Ilaymarket, the position they took, by going north from Centreville, to command Thoroughfare Gap. It was supposed that the reserve of Lee’s army, thirity thousand strong, might suddenly appear near the field. Fitz-John Porter was so posted that he could, with equal facility, narch on Lee, whether attacking McDowell, Sigel, or Ileintzelman. The enemy was reinforced early on Saturday, and attacked Pope’s army before the arrival of Sumner and Franklin, a severe battle followed, in which Pope was badly beaten and forced to fall back on Centreville. This second battle of Bull Run was a long and bloody 204 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. one. General Pope had concentrated the greater portion of the army under his command, and commenced the at tackl. HIe supposed, at first, that the rebel forces engaged were only those whlich had been met on the previous day under Generals Jackson, Ewell, and A. P.

Ilill, but they had received reinforcements in the nmorning. The line of battle was formed withl the left resting eon that portion of the Bull Run battlefield which, on the 21st of July, 1861, was occupied by the main body of the rebel troops. The line was extended in the direction of Manassas Junction. The battle began at noon, and success appeared to be on the Union sile until about four in the afternoon. General HIleintzelman’s corps was on the right and McDowell on the left. The army corps of Fitz-John Porter and Sigel, withl Reno’s division, were in the centre. The enemy’s artillery was advantageously posted, and at once opened a brisk fire on our line from right to left. The ground in that vicinity is broken and uneven, and for the most part covered with woods. The fighting on both sides was desperate and destructive-the artillery of both armies firing shrlapnell and grape. The Union troops were, to somne extent, protected by the unevenness of the ground firom the enemy’s most destructive fire. Yet they suffered terribly, and many of their best officers were killed or wounded. Our artillery was well and accurately served. About four o’clock the whole of General Pope’s troops, excepting those under Banks, were closely engaged with the enemy. The Awhole army, from generals down, behlaved well and foiught with heroic valor. At this time the result was very doubtful; but soon reinforcements of the flower and full strength of the rebel Army of Vii]ginia were brought up to the fi’ont of the engragement. The estimated number of the rebels was between 150,000 and 200,000, under the command of 205 0

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LEAVES FROM TIlE Gens. Lee and Johnson, who brought their men forward in deCnse imasses, and hurled theli with irresistible violellce against every p)art of our lines, which turned the tide of battle ag,ainst us. In addition to this furious onslaught on our i(gIht and ceintre, and without any diminution of the enein-‘s bforce at these points, an overwhelming number of reiniborceime1its were precipitated on our left wing, under (eineral MIcDowell, whichl compelled hili to fall back, not oluly on account of the violence of the attack, as the fear of all our forces being outflanked by the superior forces of thle elilaemy. Our left wing keplt retreating, until at niglltfill it formedl an acute angle with the line of battle formed in tlhe imorningi. The severe losses our troops were susttiIinig, and the evident superiority of numbers, compelled the retreat of the whole army to this side of Bull Itun and tle hleighlts of Centreville, where General Pope established his headquarters. Our loss in this second unfortunate battle of Bull Run is over 6000. The enemy’s is not as much. The division and brigade generals behaved with great I)Iavery and coolness, and our men fought withl their usual valor; but the number pitted against them, and the disp)iri-gti results of the previous dlays’

fights, added to the lack of enthusiastic confidence in their leader, produced its inevitable effects-a disastrous defeat. The wounded talken to the rear during the fight are in our possessioln, but all those who lay on the battlefield are in the hands of the enemy. During the battle General Schenck was wvounded in the arm, which has been amputated. General Towers was wounded in the thigh. General Hatch was slightly wounded in the head.

While General Pope was writing a dispatch hlie had a narrow escape, as a shlell from one of the enemy’s batteries struck and killed two horses belonging to his staff, standing quite near him. 206 0 4

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. General Franiklin’s corps did not reach the battlefield in time to be engaged. The brigades which suffered most are being sent to the rear of Centreville to protect tlhe roads to the capital against any attack or raid that mi,ght be made in the rear of the army.

The men are much dispirited and demoralized. The heavy rain of Saturday nighlt prevented a renewal of attack by the enemy on Sunday morning. Both armies rested during the day, with tlhe exception of movemnents of baggage trains, and a flank movement by the enemy to cut them off on tlhe road to Fairfax Court-louse. On MIonday morning the scene was beautifully striking firom the heights of Centreville. The weather was clear and balmy. The panorama splendid, full of life and bustle, spread out before the beholder. In the direction of Bull Run you coild see the mountains rising in the distance, with the splendid surrounding, scenery. There was also to be seen, not only the large bodies of troops moving up steadily to their assi,gned positions in the fiont, but hundreds of wagons and ambulances hurrying to the rear, so that, as far as the eye could reach, the road was crowded with moving troops and trains. The flashes of the enemoy’s guns could be seen in the distance, and the curling smoke of exploded shells was seen sailing, in the air. Thle nion-arrival of Franklin’s corps in time for the battle is much talked about. It reached here yesterday, and took up a position in the firont. During the fight of Saturday, General Buford’s brigade of cavalry, comprising the 1st IAlichigan, the 1st Virg,inia, and the 1st Vermonit regiments, was ordered to reconnoitre on the left to prevent the enemy turning our flank; riding, beyond the left where our infantry were found close behind the batteries, which were playing on the enemy while the men were loudly cheering, the cavalry reached 207 a

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LE,AVES FROM[ THIE an eminence, and were about to send out a-detachment to explore, when a large force of the enemy were seen (onling along the line of the adjacent woods. A rebel battery whleeled into position, which soon threw shell, canister, and grape, into the midst of our cavalry. Long lines of rebel iinfintry could be plainly seen hurrying to take up position, and soon other batteries opened on our left. Our cavalry, forced to return, retreated behind a low ridgce; but the clouds of dust revealing their place of retreat, the rebels continued to shell them, and obliged them again to change their position. Soon a cavalry force was ol)served riding towards them. The order was given to draw sabres and prepare for a charge, when it was discovered that the squadron were firiends, of the 4th New York Volunteer Cavalry, which now fell in behind General Buford’s Brig(ade. The bugle sounded the advance, and over the hills galloped our men to meet the enemy. As they appeared, the rebel cavalry discharged double shot-guns at them, and then both met in filll charge. Our men broke their line; they rallied in fine style and dashed forward again; but again their line was broken,-seeing which the rebels opened on our boys with a battery, and conmpelled them to return. By this time our left had given way, and on the retreat passed the cavalry, which now safely carried off a battery that was short of ammunition and came near being captured. Our troops then fell back on Franklin’s division which had just come up, and were formed in line to prevent striaggling and quell the panic which now existed. Franklin’s arrival a few hours earlier would, probably, have altered the result of the fight. In this cavalry charge, Colonel Broadhead of the 1st Michigan, a brave and gallant officer, fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Morse was killed, and Lieutenant Merriam was wounded and taken 20S 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON., prisoner. Franklin’s division after rallying our panic stricken men, retired to Centreville. General Martin dale’s Brigade made a charge and drove a body of the enemy concealed in the woods, who were harassing our forces by their rifle-shooting. General Hlartsall’s Brigade made a similar charge, but with a different result.

They penetrated the woods, when a deadly fire of grape and canister opened on them; at the same time a murderous volley of rifle-balls came firom one side, and a dashing charge of the enemy from another. Our men foulght well, but were forced to retreat. The enemy remained on the battlefield all night. The road, from Centreville to Alexandria, is crowded densely with wagon trains, ambulances, and carriages. Some of the wounded have been sent to Washington, but a larger portion of them are being sent to Alexandria. The couit-house, city-hall, and churches there are being converted into hospitals, and confusion reigns suprelne, distrust and disaster is painted on every one’s face along the road. On MAonday evening following the disastrous battle of Bull Run, a severe engagement with the enemy took place at Chantilly, two miles north of Fairfax Courthouse, between a portion of our army and Jackson’s forces. Our loss was very heavy, including General Stevens, who was shot in the head, while he was leading his brigade into action, bearing the colors, the color-sergeant having been previously shot. His son, also, who was acting on his staff, was wounded. General Philip IKearney was also killed the same evening. Ile was shot through the back, while whleeling his horse around to clheer on his men. His loss is deeply deplored by the whole army. lie was considered one of the bravest generals in the service, and the 209 0

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LEAVES FROMl TIIE enemy made repeated efforts to kill, wound; or capture him. Ijis daslhing and fearless bearing, and his cons)icnous figuire, withl but one arm, made him an easily distinguisled and coveted aim. Up to the night of his death lhe was, on every occasion, to be found in the thickest of the fight, and seenled to lead a charmed life. The Union army has not lost an officer who will be as much regretted as General IKeairnev. The operations of the contending armies, on the south side of the Potomac, completely absorb the attention and interest of everybody, citizens and soldiers. The excitement that would naturally be awalkened by the knowledge of the fact that bloody battles were being fought within cannon sound of the national capital, was considerably increased, because no full and authentic information respecting the results, or losses, had been received firom the scene of action. The authorities at XVashington called for volunteers fi’om the citizens to proceed to the battlefields to pick up and attend to the wounded and bury the dead. Thousandts are strewn, for miles, all over the sanguinary field. The reason tfor this call on the citizens, is so as not to wealken the strength of the forces by detailing the weary soldiers for the duty. HIundreds of citizens promptly responded to the call,-each one supplied with two days rations, a bucklet, and tin cup, to supply water to the wounded, and also a bottle of brandy. Transportation wtas, as speedily as possible, provided for them.

Orders wAere also issued for the immediate removal of all the sick and wounded, that were able to be moved, firom the hospitals in Washingiton, to make room for those expected to arrive fiom the b)attlefield of Bull Run. Soon the streets wvere crowded with ambulances, conveying them to the cars for Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other places. In the 210 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. afternoon the War Department impressed into the service of the government, all the stages, hacks, and wagons, whicl s()Oll swelled the long ambulance train that was on its way to I)ingi in the wounded. Some of the citizens tendered tlheir private carliages for the purpose, and, by nightfall, the turnpike from Alexandria to Fairfax Courthouse was crow ded with this long procession. The experiment utterly and slhaineftilly failed,-thie drivers and many of the voliunteer nurses, who drank fireely of the brandy, mistaking the road, travelled all night, and at two in the morning,, instead of reaelliing the battlefield, found themselves entering Alexandria. They were at once ordered to return to AVaslliig,ton, which most of themn gladly obeyed. Others went in a train of cars firom the capital, but, by some Iiisimanagiement, it was four hours behind time in sta’tiiig, and by this time half of the volunteer nurses had gone ]home to their beds. Wheni the train did start, it slowly proceeded to Fairfax station, where it stopped. Some of thlle nurses, determ,ined to be of some use, proceeded fiomr this place on foot, in a hleavy falling iain, to Centreville, where they were stopped by tfe guards and sent back. Some went, by way of Fall’s Churchl to Ball’s Cross-ioads, but were here informed that the pickets were driven in by thle rebel cavalry. Thley then crossed to Fairfax Court house, firom which place to Centreville the road was completely blocked by trains of wagons, gutn-cairriages, and ambulances, goingl in difierent directions. All this time tlhe rain was pouring in torrents, and, to add to their discomifort and confulsion, they were met by seven hundred Union prisonelrs, taken by Jackson but paroled iminediately. Behind them were twelve hundred rebel prisoners, who were captured durigi Friday’s battle. They were proceediing under guard to Washington. 211 a

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LEAVES FROM THE At Fairfax Courthouse, the hotel and other buildings were converted into hospitals. It was here that the news was received of the tide turning against the Union troops, which obliged them to abandon the field during the night. At Centreville, the whole of Pope’s army, with the exception of Banks’ corps, were found bivouacking: some drawn up in line of battle on the heights. Some of the brigades which had been badly cut up were in a demoralized state, and their generals were exerting themselves to restore order and discipline among them. The confusion was terrible, and arose from many regiments and parts of regiments getting separated from their commands, and now were unable to find the brigade or division to which they were attached. So great was the uproar, it was impossible to ascertain the number killed or wounded. Dui’ing the past fortnight over a dozen battles had been fought, some of them little more than skirmishes, but the battles of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were the most bloody of Pope’s campaign, though not equal to many fought on the Peninsula under MIcClellan. Among the Union losses, besides Generals Kearney and Stevens, General Taylor was mortally wounded, and died last night in one of the hospitals at Alexandria. Colonel Fletcher Webster, son of Daniel Webster, was also mortally wounded on Saturday, and has since died. The scenes in the hospitals at Alexandria are heart-rending. The churches are crowded with the wounded. In the Baptist church, under the care of Acting Assistant-surgeon Hammnlond, I performed in two hours several operations; the beds are filled with the poor fellows, many of whom are mortally wounded, all of them suffering firom the worst horrors of the battlefield. The dwelling-houses on an adjoining street, and all the public buildings, are in like 212 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. manner filled. The surgeons are working, continually. The old Lyceuml is now being prepared to receive patients, as every other available place is full. The wvounds are chiefly firom minie-balls. mIany. of them are wounded iii the lungs, and all of them have suffered by the tedious journey fi’om the battlefield over the rough roads, and the utter impossibility of obtaining any refreshment. Even water was difficult to procure, and the teamsters, in many cases, were so panic-stricken that they forsook their teams. 213 a

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LEAVES FROMI THE CHAPTER XXI. GENER,AL M’CLELLAN RESIUMES COMMAND. TO-DAY, by order of the President, General McClellar. has again resumed the supreme command of the alrmy. Immediately after accepting the chief command of all the Ulnion forces in the neighlborhood of Washington, Gener al McClellan proceeded to inspect the troops and fbrtifica. tions on the south side of the river. This occupied him until after midnight. His reception by the officers and soldiers was marked by the most unbounded enthusiasm. In every camp his arrival was greeted by hearty and prolonged cheering, and manifestations of the wildest delight. Many of the soldiers who fought under him in the hardest battles of the war, wept with joy at having again for their commander one upon whom they could place implicit reliance. Already his hurried visit to our camps has wsroutght a remarkable change in the soldiers. His presence seemed to act magically upon them, despondency is replaced by confidence, and all are glad that McClellan will hereafter direct them. He has been busy in perfecting the organization of the army, and preparing it for the duties to be assigned; and has easily resumed his old habits, and spends most of his time among the camps and forts. Yesterday General Ilalleck was at General McClellan’s quarters for a long timne, and subsequently the latter pro. ceded to join the army. This, now, consists of veterans for the most part; and a little time for reorganization, and for “I 1 4 a

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DIARY OF AN ARIMY SURGEON. the designation of some new general officers, will make it so formidcable a force, in conjunction with the new regi inients now here, as to render it doubtfil whether the rebels will dare to advance into 3Iarylanid. Fresh excite mnent multiplies upon us with each incoming day; and this has been the most painfiully exciting period in the history of our national capital. What with the pouring in of the wounded fi-om the field, the rushing hither and thither of ambulance carriages, wagons, and vehicles of every dclescrip tion; the movements of troops through the city towards-s the scene of war; the queryings and button-holeings of every person coming firom across the river; the heralding and bulletining of every rumor however vague and iunie liable, the whole town is kept in confusion worse con founded. The scenes in the street, at the hotels and newspaper offices, and at the various departments, beggar description. Early this morning, long before the denizens of the capl-ital are usually alive, the whole population was out, and then commenced the manufacture of rumors and reports, each relator vieing with the others in extravacgance and color. The Washington morning papers set the ball rolling with the story that “our army was safe at Centreville;” but this story was soon spoiled by another, that the enemy had succeeded in moving quietly down near the railroad, towards Alexandria, and is turning our left wing, and that they were now on this side of Fairfax Courthouse, and between that place and Falls Church. This latter story gained credence from the fact that at 10 A. r. a long line of army wagons, loaded with camp paraphernalia, came moving, up Fourteenth-street, fi’om the Long Bridge, and defiled out towards the outskirts of the town in the direction of the springs. Then an officer 215

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LEAVES FROM THE of General Pope’s staff came in, confirming the report.

Yesterday there was brought into General Halleck’s headquarters, from VYirginia, as prisoner of war, Captain Ashe, of North Carolina, acting adjutantgeneral in Gen. Jackson’s army, firom whom much has been learned of the state of affairs in the rebel army, and at the South. It is learned from other sources, entitled to credit, that the enemy have no fears or doubts of their ability to take Washington, and that very soon. Their force they deem amply sufficient for the purpose, numbering, as it does, under the five generals, Jackson, Longstreet, Ewell, Hill, and Smith, not less thani two hundred and fifteen thousand men at the present time.

Jackson, Longstreet, Ewell, and Hill are now consolidated at Mianassas, while Smith (our own Gustavus) is marching, with a column thirty thousand strong, on Fredericksburg. The gentleman from whom these facts were learned left the rebel camp at four A. Mt. yesterday. He also states that the rebels now there were quite destitute of rations, they having expected to subsist on those captured fiom our men at and near Mlanassas. They were in this disappointed, as their supply trains had not come up when my informant left; and as they had not been heard firom, it is to be presumed that the rebel troops are fully as badly cared for in the commissary line as our own. The rebels appear to look upon this movement as their last hope, and I am confidently told will never turn their backs upon Washi.ngton, but are determined to do or die there, and now. Their mortality has been enormous, and their own captured officers and surgeons admit a loss of from ten thousand to twelve thousand in killed and wounded up to Saturday night last. Generals Jackson and Longstreet had a quarrel one day last week, growing out of the question of rank, but it was 2t6 0

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, DIARY OF AN AIZMY SUPRGEON. settled in favor of the former by General Lee, who com mnands the vwhiole rebel force in person. The Bull Run biidcoe, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, has its l)ps anid downs as wvell as every thing else. When the rebels left Mfanassas last springr, they biurned the structure, but it was rebuilt by outr people, and held by tliem until yester(dai w-eek. The first structure built by the Union forces w’ts merely a temporary one, but over it was thrown a beautiful trestle friame afterwards, and the temporary one was thrown down. On the night of Tuesday, the 26th of Au11Ist, the rebels made a dash upon it, drove in our guards, and burned it the second time. X’othing daunted, liowever, Colonel -[cCollumi got his men at work ag,ain, and oin illonday night of this week had it rebuilt and ready for the cars to cross. But alas for all human calculations, about midnight of the same nighlt a body of rebel ca  aIlry dashed down to the bridge, drove away the sentries, and burned it for the third time. General Pope’s headquarter trains have arrived at Alexandria. General [IcClellan has arrived firoom Alexandria, and established his lhead-quarters in this city. The sick, wounded, and missing continue to arrive, by all possible means of conveyance, firom the field, and are being cared for at the several hospitals. The following statement was made by a g’entleiman who has every appearance of being reliable. lie left WAVashlington yesterday to go to Centreville to look for his brother, who was wNounded on Saturday. He went out on the cars as far as Fairfax station (seventeen miles), then walked across to Fairfax Court-lhouse, arriving( there at 4 r. r. Here he met, as hle judges, about four miles of army wagi os, loaded withl tlhe army llrggagec and sick and wounlCded men, coming this way. Tlher’e was also some artillery, some cavalry, and a large number of skulkers 10 217

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LEAVES FROM TiHE interspersed, all belonging to A[cDowell’s corps. They brought the news that Pope’s entire army had fallen back, and were en 9’ozrte for the forts around Washington. MIy informant pushed on about a mile the other side of Fairfax, and as he reached the summit of a hill, he saw in the plain before him a large number of our troops drawn up in line-of-battle order. Here he met an officer, who told him that Jackson had succeeded in turning our left wing, and our troops were momentarily expecting an engagement. Just then the rain commenced falling, and my inf,Vmant went back to Fairfax. He had not more than reached the village before the action became general, and continued until night, in the midst of a terrible thunderstorm. General Pope’s assistant adjutantgeneral, Selfiidge, who had left the scene at six o’clock last night, confirmed the above report. There is great dissatisfaction against Pope and MAcDowell, made continually manifest by imiprecations and execrations, which are loud and deep. General Pope may claim that he has obeyed orders, no muatter what the result may have been, but I find no one inclined to do BIcDowell honor. To-night the Union army will all be concentrated in the works around this city, and General MicClellan has already assumed the position of commander-in-chief of all the forces in the field in this part of the country. The announcement of this latter fact has been hailed with acclamations of infinite delight by nearly the whole population. Those who were before trembling with apprehension, and preparing to evacuate the city, are now assured of safety, and feel confident that the splendid army concentrated in the vicinity will be able, under the administration of a general in whomn it has confidence, not only to repel the assault of the whole rebel army, advancing with rapid strides upon the defensive works 21S

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SUPRGEON. around the city, but to drive them back and utterly defeat and routt them, and thus withini a febvw weeks end the pres ent campaign. After a desperate strugg,le upon the twice troddein field of Bull Run on Saturday last, the foirces uui der General Pope withdrew to the other side, of the heighllts of Centreville. It appears the enemy immediately began to execute another of those mlanceuvres by which they have accomplished eveiy success they have gained. As was reported, on Sunday morning intelligence was broulght to the headquarters of General Pope that a large force of rebel cavalry and artillery was moving around his right. The general, apparently regarding thle niovemelnt as a simple reconnoissance in force, to ascertain definitely his positionl, paid little attention to the information; but subse quenit events have demonstrated that it was tlhe beginniing, of a general movement of the rebel army to the right and rear of the forces of General Pope, in position at Centre ~ille. Fortunately, as a protection to the immense supply trlins, moving in the direction of Fairfax Cournt-l-lhoutse, a considerable force had been detached firom Pople’s arimy and thrown in that direction. The remnant of IMcDowell’s co())s d7’as re had been sent to the rear, and was located uploln the WVarrenton turnpike, leading from Fairfahx Courthouse tlhrough Centreville, about a mile beyond its junction with the Little RPiver turnpike, leading to Leesburg. Gen. Couclh’s division was located near Germantown, about two miles from Fairfax Courthouse, upon the Little River turnpike. During yesterday information was received that a large rebel force was approaching Fairfax Court-houtse by the latter route, and a portion of Heintzelman’s corps, under Generals Kearney and Grover, was moved in that direction; and General Hooker was specially detailed, by orders from headquarters here, to take command of all the 219 0

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LEAVES FROI[ THE forces at tlhat point. Just before dark an attack wvas conmmencedl by a stroing rebel force, comprising the divisions of Generals Ewell, A. P. HIill, and Longstreet, upon the position occupied by General Couch. General s KIearney and Grover were marcheld rapidly through the woods to his support. A few discharges of artillery wvere made by one of our batteries, but the battle, which was brief and fierce, was almost exclusively an infantry eng,agemnent. The charge of our gallant troops was desperate and irresistible, and the enemy were almnost immediately repulsed. It wvas here that General Groveir’s Brigade, of Ilooker’s division, had one of the fiercest bayonet filghts that has occurred duiring the war. The brigade charged into the woods, lwhere the enemiy were posted, in three lines, behind a breastwork four or five feet high, and in about twenty minutes five hundred and seventeen of their nu-mber fell. Formed in one line, the brigade broke through two lines of the enemny, but, being unsupported, they were oblig,ed to fall back. The 2d New Iliamlpshire regiment, Colonel )Iariston, actually crossed bayonets with the rebels, and had a desperate encounter, in which they lost severely, although they drove the foe from their position. Among the killed was Lieutenant HIiram Banks, of the 16th MIas sacliusetts regimenit, brother of MIajor-g,eneral Banks. Hle was a true soldier, and was rapidly winning his way to distinction. M,ajor Gardiner Banks, another brother of General Banks, is in command of the 16th Massachusetts, Colonel Lannatt and Lieutenant-colonel Lawson being in hospital. General Butterfield commanded a division in General Fitz-John Porter’s corps, in the battle, and in his division twenty-two color-bearers were shot. The victory was achieved with the loss of two of our most gallant, brave, and accomllished generals,-Isaac J. Stevens and 220 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. Phlilip Kearney. The former fell at the head of his brigade, and the latter while leading one of his regiments into position. Thle ob)ject of this rebel movement upon Fairfax Courthouse was, unquestionably, to obtain possession of some portion of the vast amount of supplies which were parked in that vicinity. It was known here yesterday, from information derived firom Wm. S. Ashe, formerly representative in Congress firom North Carolina, but lately assistant adjutantgeneral to Stonewall, Jaekson, who was captured by our troops onl Alonday morning, while making a reconnoissance, that the rebel army was greatly in want of provisions. Their raid upon Catlett’s station and Alanassas Junction, and this last movement, were all intended to obtain suplplies. Their movement towards Ilaryland is supposed to be actuated, not so imuch by the hope of thereby capturing this city, as to obtain food for their army. They foiught, last night, like dlesplerate and starving men, but they failed in their object. The supply trains, Iwhichl had all been moved firom Centreville to Faiif-ax Coutrt-house, were immediately put in miotion: and without the destruction of any public property, except the loss of a wagon here and there overturned on the road, all the thousands of wagons have been brouglbt into Alexandria, or within the circuit of the forts around this city. As soon as it was ascertained that the whole rebel army had moved to the right and rear of Centreville, the rest of General Pope’s forces were marched towards Fairfax Courthlouse, General Fitz-Joln Porter briinging up the rear; and by midnight to-nilght tlhe whole army will have arrived within the slhadow of our fortifications. There was no object in holdling Centreville after the depl)arture of the rebel army firom before it, and now new plans are to be formed and new positions taken. Durinig last 221 0

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LEAVES FROM THE night a small force of rebel cavalry came in as far as Fairfax Courthouse, about three miles from Upton’s IIill. This morning a large force of rebels was reported at Leesburgt, and it is stated that a considerable portion of the rebel army will attempt to cross the Potomac, between that point and Harper’s Ferry. Reports have also reached here that another rebel force, under the command of General Gustavus Smith, has arrived at Fredericksburg, and designs crossing the Potomac into lower MAlaryland, somewhere about the Rappahannock river. This is the present position. There was no lack of courage in our troops, nor faltering on the part of their officers, to which may be charged this retrograde movement; but there was, and is, sad complaint of mismanagement by commanding generals, and a deplorable want of confidence in their capacity. 3Mr.

Dennis, military ageut here for the State of Indiana, has received a letter from Colonel Ateredlith, of the 19th Indiana, which, with the 2d, 6th, an(d,th’Wisconsin regiments, form General Gibbons’ Brigadle. On Thursday evening they encountered Hill’s rebel division, from whom they took a battery, which they are repor’ted as still possessing. They held the battlefield, but Col. MIereditlh was the only field-officer who was not hurt. TIe had three horses shot under him. Our entire loss in this brigade, killed, wounded, and mnissing, was seven hundred and seventy-eight. The Indiana 19th lost two hundred and twenty-seven. The brigadcle was not in the fight on Friday, but was on Saturday, and held out to the close of the day. Their loss has not been ascertained. A Newi York battery came in this nmorning to exchange their damaged giuns and appu rtenances for new ones. It went off in tlhe direction of the arsenal.

I did not learn the name of the commanding officer. It is stated that the New IIampshire battery lost three of its guns. Balti 222 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. moreans, of secession sympathies, state here, to-day, that the rebels will cross into AIaryland, below Harper’s Ferry.

It is stated that General Wool has gone to I-Harper’s Ferry. to concert measures for the protection of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. A gentleman fiom the immediate neioghlborhlood of Leesburg states that a force of rebels is there. WTV(sh(iw/ftoi, September 2, P. Mr.-Thie city to-night was in a state of great excitement, and not without most substantial cause. Crowds were gathered at all the hotels, and on the streets, discussing and speculating on the future. It may here be said, that while the more timid of our fellow-citizens apprehend danger firom the rebel movement.s, there are stout hearts that are not intimidated.

Last night there was a series of skirmishes along the whole front, Lduring which wve lost two or three of our best generals, and other valuable officers. According to prievalent reports, it was HIlooker’s division which was mainly, if not altogether, engaged in driving back the rebels, but the one mile of skirmishing, was attended withl muchl loss of life. At about four o’clock this morning, a train of one hundred -wagons, with commissary stores, was intercepted by the enemny between Fairfax and Centreville, and driven off towyards Mtanassas, before the party could be overtaken. They secured the entire train. So soon as this raid in the rear of our army at Centreville was known, the necessity of giuarding that direction became apparent, and at noon the whole army of Virginia had abandoned Centreville, and was massed this side of Fairfax Coiurt-house.

This noon they again took up a line of march, and this evening the advance was in sight of ltunson’s Ilill. The enemy’s cavalry followed them in the distance, but made no attack, and the entire movement was being accomplished in exel 223 0

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LEAVES FROM THE lent order. At noon to-day, General MIcClellan rode out to meet the returning column, and was received with great demonstrations of gratification and pleasure by the army. The works for the defence of Washington are all in excellent condition, and are strongly manned by experienced artillerists. The gunboats lining the Potomac are doubtless dlesigned to prevent any attempt to interrupt the navigation on that river. T/~e Netreacr of thie Left Wibg in the Bu?ll Rin Battle, September 3C1, 1862. When General Franklin’s corps arrived at the battleground on Saturday afternoon, the fortunes of the day had been decided, and the command was halted near Cub Run. iI,ajor-gencral Slocum, seeing that General Pope’s left wilng was falling back towards Centreville, formed his division in line of battle across the road, and deployed a squadron of cavalry attached to the corps, as skirmishers. General Smithl’s division was also drawn up in line of battle half a mile in the rear. WVhen the troops came back they were brought to a halt, and not allowed to pass this point, and numbers of stragglers and skedaddlers were collected. General Hooker’s division, and General Kearney’s division came back in order, the regiments marching with wellclosed ranks. Many of the stragglers attempted to fall in wsith thiose regiments and march off the field with them, but they were repulsed and kept out of the ranks of the steady veterans, who did not desire the companionship of men on the retreat who would not face the enemy by their sides in the front of the battle. As incidents of the battle, I will mention that over eleven hundred paroled prisoners, some of whom were taken by the enemy as far back as Thursday at Mlanassas, 224: 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. arrived late this evening at Aqueduct Bridge, Georgetown, andi report that General Lee has establislle( lhis headqui:urters three miles beyond Bull IRtun, on the Warrlenton turnpike.

The only force at Fairtfx was Stuart’s cavalrhy, hle beiIg there in person. The rebels assisted the men in the bturial of our dclead last nighlt, wlhomi they stripp)ed of their clothing, except their pantaloons.

Our men say that the rebels were so hungiry, they rushed for the haversackls of our killed and wounded. They saw the solliers of the enemy marching, to the rear, on the Varrenton tiilurnp)ike, towards Thorotughfare Gapl). WVasliington is comlparatively quiet, the excitement of the last two days havingi slubsided. Such disposition has been made of the troops within the last twenty-four hours as to restore confile’lence.

P-,eports have reached here, firom time to time, of certain regiments having been annihilated, when after the lapse of a few days the rumors prove groundless, the appeairanice of numerous stragglers being thle best refiutation of the exagg,eration. Brig’,adiergeneral Butterfield, in the battle of Saturday, commanded that portion of General 1oirr-ell’s division taking part in the engagement. General [torrell was with General Griflin’s Brigade, wvlichi took no part in the fight. Colonel IHenry A. Weeks, of the 12th New York, who commanded General Buttecfield’s jBrigade, -as shot through both legs. IIis coolness and bravery on the field, and the able manner in which he manceiuvred his comman d is worthy of the highlest praise. The officeris, one and all, and tlie men of the 12th1 regimenit, fuilly suistaimed their reputation. Captain RPyder, whio was temiporar,ily attached to General lButitterfield’s sta-ff, was shot in the head, but not imortally iwounded. Captain Fowler, also of the Twelfth, was wounded in the foot: his conduct here, as well as at MIalvern Ilill, elicited the wiarimest commendation 10* 225 a

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I,EAYES FP-OM1 TtlE of the vwhole brigade; when unable longer to lead his comIcany he was unwillingly mounted on a horse, which was (altiiied(l fi’om thle enemyv, on which he proceeded to Fairfix Court-liouse: wvhile restiing there dutring Io\onday niglht the enemy shelled the town, and he again narrowly escaped with his life. On Tuesday he was sent forward, via Alexandria, to Washington. Some of the best oflicers were not present during the engagement; Captain Boyle was acting brigade provost-marshal, and Captain Cromie, who had been severely wounded during the Seven D)ays’

filght and taken prisoner at Sa-vage’s station, was not suffieientlv recovered to rejoin his regimenlt. Lieutenant Oli-ver distinguisled himself during, the fig,ht; he is a welldeserved favorite with officers and men. Colonel Roberts, of the 2d Iaine, who commanded General Iiartindale’s Bri,gadcle, had his hlorse shot und(er him. All the regiments engaged fought gallantly, and none better than the 17th New York and 18th [aNssachusetts regiments, never before under fire. The 5th New York sustained severe loss. General Dutryea’s Brigade, which is composed of the 97th, 194tlh, and 105tlh New York, and 107th Pennsylvamia regiments, was ordered, duringr the battle on Saturday, to adclvance into a piece of woods near the old Bull Run battlefield. Here they found tlhe 57th New York, which had been obliged to fall back firom the advanced position w hich had been previously occupied. They were ordered to relieve thlem, and did so. This was about one o’clock, r. Ar. The brigade was then ordered to advance to the position originally held, and firom whichl the 57th had retreated. Soon after reaching this advanced position, the rebels made their appearance in considerable force and w ith tbur pieces of artillery, witlh whichl they opened fire; but fortunately their guns were too much elevated to do 226 0

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DIIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. serious mischief. This continued for half an hour without material advantage to either side. While thus engaged, General Dutryea received a wollud in the righlit hand fi’om a piece of shell, while dismounted and cheering on his men. IIe had the hand bandaged up, and remained on the field in command of his brigade through the day.

The brigade was then ordered to fall back and occupy a position in the woods, about 400 yards in the rear. They remained in this position two or three hours, engaged in skirmishing and bush-filghting, and until an order was received to fall back fiurther; but before this could be done the order was countermanded, and they were ordered to advance to their original position. Here they remained until between five and six o’clock, P. x., constantly under fire of the rebel artillery. Captain Thomas Hight, of the 2d regular cavalry, was taken prisoner by the rebels near iManassas, and the first question asked him by his captors was, whether he beloingedC to Pope’s army. Colonel Fitzhugh Lee took him in charge, and told him that he could not be paroled until Stonewall Jackson should come up or fall in with them. Hle was put upon a horse and rode with Lee, except, wihenever they came in collision with our own troops he was sent to the rear, so that he might be out of danger. When Stonewall Jackson came up, the next day, Captain Ilight was paroled. He was given to understand, that if he had been under General Pope’s command he would have been sent to Richmond. On Sunday morning, as the rebels neared our provision trains of cars at MIanassas, Captain D. L. Smith gave orders to save all that could be saved and to burn the balance, wthich was done. To carry out this, he directed two young clerks in the commissary department, named Rollis C. Gink and James Paul, to stay to 227 0

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LEAVES FR0OM THE the last, which order they cheerfully obeyed. They succeededl in saving over one thousand dollars’ worth of coffee and bacon, and other articles of value, when the rebecls ngain appearing, they began to think it was time to leave. Looking for their clothes, they came across the almy mailbags; and dropping their own property, they shouldered the mailbags, and carried them a distance of twelve miles, through heavy rain and mud, to Bull Run, where they got the cars, and delivered the mail safe in the post-office. One of these brave )‘young men has been quite ill since from fatigii e. 298 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XXII. INCIDENTS AFTEPR TIIE BATTLE OF

BULL RUN. TIIE excitement existing for the news of the expectedl great battle has been partially gratified by the intelligence, received to-nilght, that a skiimishl occurred last night, in the vicinity of Poolesville, between about 140 Union cavaliy under Captains MIeans and Cole, of eastern Virginia, and a large force of rebel cavalry, and that a battle has been going on to-day on the Virginia side of the river, opposite Poolesville, 28 miles firom Vashlington. General Sumner’s corps has been sent forward to intercept the rebel troops, who are said to be concentrating near Poolesville with the intention of crossing into AIaryland. Reports firom Falls Church state that brisk cannonading, in the direction of Poolesville, was distinctly heard this mornilg, about nine o’clock. A large number of ambulances and an immense train of wagons are proceeding towards Poolesville, and three batteries are now on their way.

The provost-guard is again impressing all the hack-carriages found in the streets, and sending them to join the ambulance-train. These preparations indicate a severe engagement, and a large number of wounded to be cared for, but nothingi beyond this is certainly knowni. WThen the restoration of General 3[eClell.an to the supreme command of the army was made known in the hospitals, the men who had been wounded at Bull Run and Chantilly, under General Pope, though suffering agony firom their wounds, sent 229 a

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LEAVES FROM THE forth shlouts of glaldness, and endeavored to rise from their cots to 1-thurrah for him. Nor is the effect of General McClellan’s reappointment confined to the army in the field or the wounded in the hospitals, it has actually allayed a panic, already begun, among citizens of all classes, who are now loud in their expressions of congratulation, whatever their former opinions may have been. Since the accession of General McClellan, the recruits are arriving in great numbers to fill up the decimated links. They will add much to the efficiency of the several divisions, now so much reduced in numbers, especially that of General King, which left Cedar Mountain on the 19th of Atugust, and arrived at the Rappahannock next day. The following morning the enemy opened their batteries on the division, - and kept up the fire till Friday night, during which the division lost a very large number of men and some officers, among whom was Lieutenant Jordan, acting aid to General Hatch.

On Saturday the division moved to Warrenton, preceded by Butford’s cavalry, which di-ove out a considerable force of the enemy. On Tuesday morning the command reached the Sulphur Springs, where they were again shelled by the rebels firom the south bank of the Rappahannock. The enemy also sent down to the river, and stationed in the bushes a body of inifantry, who attempted to pick off our men. A detachment of the 2d Berdan Sharpshooters were sent down the river and stationed behind trees.

From this position they soon checked the enemy’s fire, and held them in their own ambush until after dark, whlen a flag of truce was sent by the rebels, under pretext of returning a woman found in man’s clothing, but really for the purpose of withdrawing their men. On Wednesday the division was ordered to fall back to Centreville, and reached Groveton that night, 230 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. iwhere it joined General Reynolds with a division of Penns-lv-ania troops. Early on Thursday, signs of the enemy were discoveredl, and the brigade of General Iatcl was sent forward to reconnoitre; but finding nothing, save indications of a small cavalry force, the command moved on. Hardly a mile had been made before a heavy fire of artillery was opened upon General Hateh’s brigade firom the left.

Campbell’s battery, 4th artillery, immediately galloped lup to the front, got into position upon a ridge, and opened upon the enemy, posted just across a valley upon the crest of another hill, but a short distance off.

Gibbons’ Brigade was then ordered up; the 2d Wisconsin taking the left of the line, then the 6th Wisconsin, next the 19thl Indiana, and lastly the 7th Wisconsin. Scarcely had our lines been formed before the rebel inflintry began to advance, pouring a terrible fire of musketry into our ranks, and repeatedly attempting to charge on our battery. It was a hotly contested fight; for over an hour these four regilments were under a storm of ball and buckshot, fired by a whole division of the enemy, and never yielded an inch. Colonel Conner fell, mortally wounded; others dropped fast, and the ranks seemed to melt away iunder the fire. The rebels repeatedly advanced in overlwhelnilug numbers, and were as often driven back by the steady fire of these Western regiments, until nilght closed the scene and both parties retired firom the field. As the fig,ht was about to close, Doubleday’s Brigade came up to the support of Gibbons’; it consequently lost but a few of_ its numbers. All night the surgeons worked hard and earnestly, attending to the wounded. Amputations sueceelded each othler in rapid succession, until the gray daiwn of the morning broke in through the windows of the tenmporary hospitals. Among the few benefits derived firom the a 23t

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LEAVES FROM TIlE war, is the marked improvement ill military surge]ry.

Some of the stugeons, who now skilfully perform the ne c(xsai,y oplerations, and judicioutsly decline to amputtate iwlieie a hope of savingi the limb exists, were at the cornmencement of the rebellion inadequate to the positions they occupied. On Friday morning the weary men of this division started for )ianassas, having fought an entire division, under Ewell, wlho had been Nwounded in the leg. In the afternoon the division returned to the field of yesterday-, and found Sigel’s andcl Reynolds’ divisions slelling the eneimy. As the brigades of IIatch, Doubleday, and Patrick moved oIff to the left to the aid of Sigel and RFeynolds, an order arrived firom iMcDowell for the division to proceed to the right, and pursue tlle enemy, said to be retreating. Although this was known to be an error, tlle order was promptly obeyed, and the brigade of General 1Iatchl hastened up the road until it approached a ridge, lwhere the regimients were deployed in line of battle, and moved rapidly up the slope to the left. Suddenly a shleet of fire burst on them firom the right and left, at close range, chlecking their advance and causing a momentary panic. At this juncture General Hatch rode along the line and restored order. It was now getting dark, and the field presented a view of unequalled grandeur. The fire of tl-e enemy kept up incessantly a steady shleet of flame, blazing away firom the ridge-now advanicing, and then recedingenv-elolping our troops completely, and mowiing down the men by scores. General Hlatch’s horse was shot under hian; 1his assistant a(djutantgeneral, Captain Judcson, was captured; one of his aids, Lieutenant LyonI, was dismounted. It being found impossible to carry the eienmy’s position, and the regiments having been terribly thinned, orders were given to retire, and the division gradually fell ‘) 3 2 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. back for the night, leaving many of the killed and *N ounded on the field. Saturday mnorning the enemy had disappeared, every thing was perfectly quiet, and not the least indication of another engagement was to be seen. Suddlenly the rebels were discovered upon our right; and in a few moments it w-as found that they had moved around to a position at rilght-angles wvith that held by them on Friday. Our line immediately swung round, and the engagement commenced. After some hard fighting, the enemiy sueceeded in turning our left: bringing his batteries rapidly, one by one, still further around, near our rear, he compelled us to withdraw fi’om the fight, though wve retained a portion of the field.

Dturing those three days’ fight, our loss in killed, wounded, and missing w-as unusually heavy, thought our troops foughqt well against superior numbers. Every effort was made to remove our iwounded, but many had to be left on the field. Our paroled prisoners say they were w-ell treated by the rebel officers, but that their men treated them shamefully. General JacksonI sent withlin our lines the hat, sword, watclh, spurs, and other personal eflects of Alj-:or Barny of the 24th New YTork, and issued an order permitting our paroled prisoners to biing back with them the private effects of their comrades killed on the field. The enemy captured several hundred new uniforms of the Brooklyn 14th, and distributed them among their artillery. T/te -Rebels cross tle Potom(zac. It is believed the rebels have crossed the Potomac in force, this side of Point of Rocks.

Jackson has entered Leesburg w-ith his troops, and is pushing on for IIarper’s Ferry. Longstreet with his corps is marching in the same direction. They are well supported withl artillery. Many 233 0

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LEAVES FOIOM TIlE of the inhabitants along the route are escaping to Maryland. Others have, while attempting to do so, been arrested by the Confedlerates and irnpisoned. Night before last, a rebel battery arrived at Edwards’ Ferry and fired on the boats on the river. The rebels announce their intention of crossing the river at three points and marching into Pennsylvania, with the intention of capturing Iharrisburg. All our wounded that were in the hospitals at WarVrenton have arrived at Alexandria, after a perilous and tedious journey of four days, part by railroad, and part by vwagons; and passed close to where the battle was raging for miles. They came in charge of Dr. Haynes, and escallo molestation. Visit to the Bull -Run Battlefield. ‘We had some interesting experience within the enemy’s lines since the recent battles. Several of us surgeons went in bugg,ies to the field after the long train of ambulances had started, under a flag of truce, on Monday morning, for the purpose of bringing in our wounded. When we had gone about a mile beyond the stone house which had been used as a hospital during the first battle of Bull Run, and which stands on the Warrenton turnpike beyond the stone bridge, we established a depot on the hill, and sent out the ambulances all over the field. The rebel pickets, on meeting with them and learning their business, passed them without hesitation. HIalf of the day was spent in examining, the battlefield of Saturday, and caring for the wounded we found. After passing the rebel pickets we met a whole brigadie of cavaliry stationed on the Warrenton road, and large parties of their infantry, all of whom passed us in silence. The part of the field which most claimed our attention was upon the right of our lines, where General 23-1 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. HIatclh’s Brigade, of Kearney’s division, had been en,gaged. During the battle this brigade had lain behind a piece of wood(s, having skirmishers thrown forwarId to its edge. In firont there is a plain about a quarter of a mile wide, and an ascending slope, crowned by a railfence; belind it is an excavation, through which the MIanassas Gap railroad passes. Behind this fence, and within the excavation, tlhere had been posted a large force of the enemy, to attack whom Hatch’s brigade had been moved over this extensive plain and up the ascending slope. From the point where they emerged out of the woods and moved up the hill, the ground was thickly strewn with the dead. WVhen our line had been formed, it was open to a destructive fire from the rebel artillery and infantry, which nmowed downi our ranks, so that the dead lay in one continuous line w-here they fell. Here and there, under a tree, or the slhadow of a rock, we saw groups of mnen who had been wounded, most of whom died unstucecored, while an occasional one was living still. The railfence, in front of which our line of battle had beenl formed, was blown to pieces and scattered by the enemny’s grape and canister-the rails being perforated by bullets. On the other side of the railroad-cut a group of rebels were employed burying their own dead, with whom we had some conversation. They treated us politely, and offered to accompany us through the woods in search of our wounded, many of whom said they had been well treated by the enemy. In passing, along the railroad excavation to a point where it was followed by an embankment, we found eighty-five of our dead; these we had covered by the levelling of the embankment over them, as the most expeditious mode of burial. We came up wnitll a party of our wounded under the shade of some trees and a neg,ro cabin, in which a number were 235 a

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LEAVES FROM THE being(r cared for. There were about sixty, officers and men, all badly wounded, in these places; among, them was a lieutenant of the 30tllh New York, whose spinal column ]had been seriously injured by a rifle-ball; he was completely paralyzecd, and could not be removed. The rebels who accompanied us during our search were quite conmmunicative; they seemed to know all about our army, its strength, and condition. They said their marches to reach the battle were long and harassing, their food, though often indifferent, was plentiful, and their confidence iii Generals Jackson, Lee, and Longstreet, unbounded. They stated they had no doubt of soon clearilng Virginia of the tfnion army, and carrying the war into MIaryland and Pennsylvania. After going over a large portion of the ground, andcl making, complete arrangemients for the discovery of all the wounded and the burial of the dead, we returned to the depot, and performed some of thlle necessary operations. AVith the aid of the other surgeons, all that had been brotught to the depot were cared for. Next morning we did not see any of the enemy but a few cavalry videttes on commandiing points. The medical director of the rebel forces informed our iambulance drivers this forenoon that the place must be cleared as soon as practicable, and those of the wouinded who had not been sent away should be broughlt down to the stone house to be paroled. As this would necessarily occupy several hours, I drove down the road across Bull 1]tlt by the ford, below the stone bridge, imeeting occasionally two or three ofthe rebel soldiers. In a meadow, near tlhe Run, I saw another hospital depot, alnd our men eiigaged in burying a number of the dead. All over the identical battleground of the first Bull Run, our dead lay thickly scattered, after the second fight, as far as the eye 236 0

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DIApRY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. could reach, side by side witlh the fast-decomposing carcasses of horses and mrules, broken caissons and fi’agm,ents of shlel!s, and but one cannon. Further on, I met somte of the enem y’s pI)ickets, who were now inquisitive as to my objects, and closely scrutinized my dress. I had on a linen blouse over my unifornm, which they wished to see, evidently dout)tiug my being a surgeon; but I soon satisfied thlem on this point, and proceeded on for half a mile, when I agu,il met another hospital containing about sixty more of oui-r wounded, under the charge of Dr. Berryville, who infoirmed me that our troops had evacuated Centreville and tlhat the rebels had taken possession of it. I proceeded, ]however, passing many dead artillery horses, and a quantity (-)of rifle ainmuniition. On reaching Centreville, I was met l)y a rebel officer, who inquired my name and business, and told me to consider nmy-self a prisoner; but on claiming the exemiption of siurgeons firom arrest, I was, after a few hours’ delay, permitted to proceed by the provost-marshlal, who was butsily eingaged in placing guards over the medical stores left by our surgeons for the use of the sick. Ile stated it as his intention of protecting them for the Confederate government, whose property he declared they lhad become, expressing his willingness to issue whatever medicines were absolutely required for our’ wounded, but said “he wanted none of our d dcl Federal extravagance!” At two o’clock, on Tuesday, we left Centreville for Fairfalx Courthouse. On the road we met several of the enemy’s pickets, who allowed us to proceed, on presentingi their provost-marshal’s pass; but, on reaching our own cavalry pickets, we had considerable difficulty to get thlrough, and had to wait their sending back to headquarters, at Fairfax Courthouse, for instructions for our admission within our lines. We noticed that the enemy 237 a

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LEAVES FROM THE had but a small force at Centreville. WVe met on the road the colonel of a -Iassachusetts regiment and over twenty of his men, all unarmned. They said they had got separated firom their regiment in the battle of ]1onday, and had been since lying out in the woods, without food, endeavoring to evade the rebel pickets. They were on their way to Centreville, and would soon have been arrested; but, on learning their mistake, they again took to the woods, and reached our lines in safety. On arrival at Fairfax Courthouse, we found General Couch with his division, and some cavalry regiments, covering the rear of our army. From Fairfax to Alexandria the road was filled with our men, marching in good order to Alexandria, at which place we arrived that night. 238 a

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DIARY OF AN ARtMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XXIII. REBEL ADVANCE ON FREDERICK, MARYLAND. TiE rebels having crossed the Potomac, their forces occupy the north bank of Seneca Creek, their line extending to 3iiddlebrook, on the road between Washington and Frederick, the capital of Maryland. The Union fo rces that had occupied Frederick have fallen back to Harper’s Ferry.

Friday afternoon the rebel pickets extended as far as New Mlarket, eight miles southeast of Frederick, the Union pickets having been withdrawn to sixteen miles from that place. The rebels got possession of several cars loaded with pontoon bridges. Mlany of the Southern syiti)athizers of Baltimore, and other places, are joiningi( the rebels, but there is no general uprising of the people, as they evidently expected. On Saturday morning the rebel cavalry arrived at the Frederick junction of the Baltilinore and Ohio railroad, cut the telegraph, and carried away the operator and his instruments. They did not molest any one else, nor was there a shot exchanged between them and the Federal guard at the bridge over the Monocacy, which retired on their approach. Later in the day their infantry arrived and took possession of the bridge, throvwing out pickets in all directions. Another body of the rebels, 5000 strong, crossed the Potomac yesterday afternoon. Gen. McClellan sent forward some cavalry, under Colonel Pleasanton, to Poolesville, to reconnoitre fiom that point back to Frederick, and ascertained that the enemy is not in 039 .1 0

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LEAVES FROM THE force. Last night our forces occupied six miles further out, and continue to-day to acldvance. Tlhe rebel force that passed through Frederick on their way west, is variously estimated firom fifteen to fifty thousand. It is thiought this raid is not alone for the purpose of obtaining supplies, but to induce General’IcClellan to drawv his forces firom the defence of WVashington to pursue them, and thus give their army in Virginia an opportunity of advancing on the cal)ital. Our force at Iarpl)er’s Ferry is large enoughl to hold at bay an army of tw-enty thousand until the aririval of )IeClellan. The intelligence of this morningr indicates that a division of the rebel army has taken a wiestern course to wards Iag’eristown, the inhabitants of which have fled to Chambersbiirg, tlhoughtl that town has not as yet been occupied by the rebels. By moving on Ilagerstown firom Frederickl, the enemy virtually turns his back on Baltimore and Washington, but will then be wvitliiii seven miles of the Potomac at Williamsport. The enemy’s cavalry is scouring on the borders of York county, Pennsylvania. No fiurther movements have been made by the enemy, w-ithl the exception of scouting parties being sent oiut in the direction of HIlagerstown. A body of rebels have also crossed the Potomac at Noland’s foird, and marchled on Buekeyston, five miles fiomn Point of Rocks. They are sadly in want of clothing and slhoes, a gieater part of their cavalhy and infantry being barefooted. Their advanceguard, during the night, camnped at WVhite Oak Springs, three miles firom Frederick. During, their malich they seized all the cattle and provisions they could find, but paidcl for it in Virginia and South Carolina money, or United States treasury notes, and generally treated the people well, declaring thley came as fiiendcls and not as enemies. They destroyed the culvert of the Chesapeake and Ohio 240 a

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DIARY OF AN ARiMIY SURGEON.l. canal, thus cutting off navigation with Washington. Another division of their forces crossed the Potomac on Friday,- night, near Berlin, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and made a junction with the other forces at White Oak Springs.

On Friday evening the people of Frederick heard that this force was collecting cattle and sheliep firom the farmers. This caused great excitement, as the whole military force left in the city consisted of one conmp)any, under command of the provost-marshal, who, on learning these facts, at once commenced to have the wagons loaded with the most valuable of the stores, leaving sufficient for the use of the six hundred patients in the hospitals there-the balance w-ere set fire to, to prevent their falling into the enemy’s hands. This conflagration, as might be expected, increased the excitement, and many of the citizens at once left the city, by every mode of conveyance, and duiing the night thousands departed, blocking up the roads to Baltilmore and Pennsylvania. Many of the convalescent patients in the hospitals also left, and becoming exhausted on the way, were afforded shelter by the farmers. The rebels entered Frederick at ten in the morning, to the number of twenty thousand, and marched quietly into Market-street, where they were halted, and a proclamation issued, of which I subjoin a copy. The people were informed that their persons and property would be respected, and that any supplies taken for their troops would be paid for. They appointed a provost-marshal, with a strong iguard to preserve order. During the afternoon the streets were thronged with the rebel soldiers, visiting the stores, that had been closed, but which their provost-marshlal ordered to be opened. They made large purchases, for which they promptly paid, and preserved the strictest order. In the evening a meeting was called, 11 241

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L1E~AVES FRIO5 TIIE at whichl Bradley Johnson delivered a miost conciliatory speech: hlie asserted the ability of the Conifederates to take AW,ashingtol and Baltimiore, and dictate terms of peace in Independence IIall at Philadelphlia. The following is the proclamuation: TO TIIE PEOPLE OF IAPHYLAND. Headquarters Armny of Northern Virginia, nieair Frederick, Septemiber 8, 1863. It is right you should know the purpose that has brought the army under my command within the limits of your State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves. The people of the Confederate States have long watched, with the deepest syripattO, the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest social, political, and commercial ties, and reduced to the condition of a conquered province. Under the pretence of supportiig the Constitution, but in violation of its most valuable provision, your citizens lhave been arrested and imprisoned, upon no charge, and conitrary to all the fornms of law. A faithfuil and imanily protest against this outiage, made by a venerable and illustrious lIarylanlder, to wlhom in better days no citizen appealed for right in vain, was treated wvithl scorn and contempt. The governmenit of your chief city has beeni usurped by armed strangeis, your Legislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of its members, fireedom of the press and of speech has been supl)pressed, words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree of the Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be tried by military commission for what they may dare to speak. Believing that the people of Iarlaland possess a spirit too lofty to submit to such a goverulmeliet, the people of the 242 a

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DIAlEY OF AN AIRMY SURGEON. Soilthl have long w-ished to aid you ill thlrowing: off thlis f()reig’n y-oke, to enable you agaill to enjoy the illalien’ble rigi,lts of fieelelle, and restore the independence and the soverei~gnty of your State. In obedience to this wish, our ally has conie ailong you, and is prepared to assist you w-ithl the power of its arms in regaillilg tlle righ,lts of which you hlave been so unjustly despoiled.

Thliis, citizens of ‘itaiyland, is our mission so far as you are concerned. No restraint upon your fiee will is intenided-no intimfid(ation will be allowed, within the limiits of this airmy at least. a3
iIrylaiidelrs shlall once m,(,‘e enjoy their ancienlt freedom of tlhoug(ht and speechl. AVe know no enemiies aliog you, and will protect all of y-ou in every opinion. It is’for you to decide your destiny, fieely and witllout constraint. This ar-my will respect your choice, wlhatev-er it may be, and while the Southelrni peolie will rejoice to w-elcoi-ile you to 3youIr nat’ural position among tlhem, they will only welcome you when you com1e of your own firee will. P-. E. LL:E, GeCac)‘cl Co)2)))Icci(i)iry.

Alanyl of tlhe citizens of Frederick, who sympathized withl the South, attended this meeting, but the Unioiiists wl}o remained in the city kept to their houses. At ten o’clock all the Confecderate soldiers were orderecd to their campls on the outskirts of the town, and soon all was again quiet. The Federal flags wNere lowered, and the Confederate stars and bars were ]loisted in their stead. MIost of their officers were quartered at the hotels and private Ihouses. All the cattle seized by the rebels in the surroundiiiiigii counltry, were immediately driven towards the Potomac. There is inow but little doubt that tile vwhiole of the Confederate army are crossing the Potomac. They have 243 0

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LEAVES FROM THE extended their pickets for twenty miles on the roads leading east and west from Frederick. Their main column is moving direct for Pennsylvania, through Hagerstown and Chamlbeisburg, to Harrisburg,.

The inhabitants of the two former places are fleeing, there being no Union forces to protect them. General McClellan has advanced his headquarters beyond Rockville. iTis army is approaching the ‘Nonocacy river, some of the bridges over which have been destroyed by the enemy. At halfpast seven o’clock last eveningl, the rebels made a raid into Vestminster, about five hundred strong, with two pieces of artillery, but abandoned it this forenoon, marchling towards Uniontown. While at Westminster, they destroyed the books of the provost-marshal, and those that contained the names of persons enrolled as liable to do military duty. They took possession of the post-office, and carried away all the postage-stamps.

They treated the inhabitants with respect and consideration. They made large purchases, and paid promptly, even for the food for their horses.

Colonel Rosser, who was in command of their cavalry, rode a horse which had belonged to General Pope. Many recruits joined them, but none were accepted unless armed and equipped. Loss of Ilarper’s Ferry. This morning, at daylight, General Pleasanton, with the 8th Illinois cavalry, and Captain Fitchall’s battery, started after the enemy. At Boonesboro’ he came up with the 9th Virginia cavalry, with a battery acting as a rear-guard. The Illinois cavalry charged after them through the town, and two miles out, on the Hagerstown turnpike, capturing two of their guns, and killed, wounded, or took prisoners about thirty of them. General Richardson’s division, being in advance, took the road from this place 244: 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. towards Sharpsburg, two miles and a half from which town he came up with the enemy, in large force, who occupied a long rang,e of hills. They showeed a line of battle a mile and a half long. The afternoon was spent in ascertaining the position and force of the rebels, not a sufficient number of our troops having come up to bring on an engagement. During last night the larger part of the army arrived on the ground. It is now nine o’clock, and no engagement has taken place. The rebels are rapidly moving across the river. The receipt of intelligence confirming the loss of Harper’s Ferry, and the absence of dispatches firom General McClellan, throughout the early part of the day, cast a gloom upon the community, which was relieved at a late hour to-night, by the news of the hasty evacuation of Harper’s Ferry by the rebels. This is considered to be sutfficient evidence that General McClellan is progressing successfully, and that the whole of the rebel army, including the captors of Harper’s Ferry, are involved in the rout. Up to late this evening few of the wounded, in Sunday’s battle, had arrived at Frederick. They have, probably, been provided for at Middletown and Boonesboro. A hundred and eight prisoners, captured along with General Lonlgstreet’s baggage train, by the cavalry that cut their way through firom Harper’s Ferry, arrived here this morning, and fifty more have reached Chambersburg. 245 0

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTER XXIV. BATTLE OF SOUTH M[OUNTAIN. THERE is a report to-dclay, September 13th, that a battle is ragingi south of Hagerstown, between the Union forces and the rebels, under Stonewall Jackson. The cannonading was heard at HIanover and Chambersburgc, this morning, proceeding,, evidently, firom an action between McClellan’s forces and the rebels, at South Mountain. The lheaviest part of the filghting was done by the 9thl army corps, under General Ieno, who was shot dead. General lBurnside was also on the field, and assisted in the direction and command of the troops. The fight commenced early in the morning, and lasted until nine at night. The Union loss is over twelve lhundred, killed and woundled. The enemy’s loss is much heavier, and differently stated. The forces, on both sides, fought with great bravery. The position of tlle rebels was very strong, and required repeated efforts to dlislocdge them.

Their artillery was advantageously posted and did great execution on our ranks; but the determined charg,es of our men triulmphed. WAVe took a large number of prisoners. Among the enemy’s loss, there are many officers. The rebel General Lee is reported wounded, -and General Garland killed. They are hurriedly retreating for the river. Thle riglit w-ing of the Union army was opposed by Hill and Longstreet. The left, commanded by Franklin, was equally victorious. 246 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. The Field( of -Battle. From Middclletown the road runs in a westerly direction throughir a rather rough countiy, and stiikes the abrulpt irise of the mountain, at about three miles fiom the towin. It heere becomes very steep and stony; in some places the ltill rises considerably above the road, on eitller side, forming a gulch rather than a road. Ilighl and rougih as the country is at this point, it is fenced, and near the summit of the mountain, at a point where the sides of the road are consideral)ly higiher than the road itself, a good stone wall ]runs around firom the road to the riglht at’right-ang’les, and crosses the field to the wood. A slhort distance beyond, a lane leaves the road fi’om the left at a right-angle, and on eitlher side of this lane there is a low stone wall with onie iail above it. This spot, intersected by the roald and( thle three stone w-alls, was the scene of action. From an early hour in the day two 20-poulnders on a rid(ge lelow the mountain had shlelledcl the various parts of tle imountain’s side, -lwhere the rebels were s5nul))osed to be, and( at 9 A. Mr. a portion of General Cox’s division went foiward(l as skirmishers, and drove the rebels fi’om thle lower part of the mountain. Tlhis was followed by artillery firing on Lothl sidles, which ended in many of the enenmy’s guns being silenced.

Early in the afternoon, Genecral Seammion’s Brigcade-the 12th, 23l, and 36thl Ohio recoiments -wa-s sent forward up the mountain, and deploye(d in tlhe iroug h goround to the right of the road, while the 45th Penyivi -\va nia vas dleploe yed to tlle left of it; on its left the 4 8t11

Penns-lvanina w as formed. All this time the rebels l’ty concealed behind the tw o stone walls to the left of tlhe r oad, where they ha d posted a battery, which playved upon o ur men, as they a dvanced, w-itlh terrible effect. Notwith a 247

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LEAVES FROM THE standing this, our men pushed up the hill and over the difficult ground to the left of the road. On one side the 45th Pennsylvania carried the position, but with terrible loss; on the other, the Ohio boys were repulsed in their first advance, and were driven back.

They, however, soon rallied, returned to the charge and carried the position. All around this point the dead lay thickly strewn, and also down the lane where the Pennsylvanians fought. At nightfall the Ohio boys were relieved by the 51st New York, 51st Pennsylvania, 21st and 35th Massachusetts, un der command of Colonel Ferrero, who held the summit of the mountain. Soon after dark the rebels made a determined attempt to regain their position, but were driven back by these regiments, who held the field during the night. On the other side of the hill, the 17th Michigan, a newv regiment, was engaged with a part of the enemy’s force ill the woods. They employed the stone-wall tactics, and delivered their fire from behind this barrier with telling effect, cutting up a regiment of the rebels so severely they could not be rallied. The rebel force engaged, during this fight, was part of the division of General D. H.

HIill, and part of Longstreet’s,-these latter were brought eight miles on the double-quick to the battle. On the followVing day, at Clayton’s Pass, five miles south of this engagement, and near the town of Burkittsville, a portion of Franklin’s corps -Slocutm’s division not over 6000, engaged the rebels under General MIcLaws. It was a brief and decisive action. The enemy was driven firom the town on the eastern slope of the Catocini mountain, across the hill, and lost over 400 killed and wounded, and 500
taken prisoners. The Union loss was under 300. The town of Burkittsville is situated about four miles southwest of MIiddletown. It is a pleasant village of teat brick houses, with one or two handsome churches. 248 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. General Franklin arrived near the town with his corps on Sutnday afternoon, and at one sent forward General Slocuim’s division: two regiments of Bartlett’s Brigade, the 5th inMaine, and 96th Pennsylvania, were sent out as skirmishers through the village and up the lower slopes of the mountain, driving the enemy’s pickets before them. On the slopes they were supported by the ]6th and 27th NXew York, which steadily advanced, fighting all the way, until the enemy’s main body was found, which was admirably posted on the eastern slope of the Catocin mountain, at Clayton’s Gap. The road here is narrow, and winds up the mountain in long reaches, which could be so swept by grape-shot that nothing on it could live. Apart firom this road, the side of the mountain is so steep and rocky that it is only withl great difficulty one can climb it. The enemy had availed himself of every advantage of his position. At the foot of tile steep part of this hill his infantry was posted, behind stone walls, and also on other parts of the mountain; and the only part where an attempt could be made to scale the place was swept by eight pieces of artillery. Notwithlistanding the desperate nature of the undertaking, it was determined to attack without delay, and Newton’s Brigade, of Slocium’s division, was ordered up to strike the main blow; while Kearney’s old brigade, composed of the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th New Jersey regiments, under command of Colonel Talbot, was ordered to support General Newton. Simultaneously with this movement, General Brook’s Brigade of Smnith’s division was sent to skirmish the mountain, and advance upon the extreme rig(ht flank of the enemy. It had a long way to go, and thus the battle was a single straight-forward attack, by Slocum’s division, with a contingency on the rebel flank 11* 249 0

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LEAVES IFROM1 TIlE in case they met with great difficulty. As Newvton’s Biig1d(e imove(C foli’waid therie wa,s not a straggler to be seenl.  All seemed eqially cager for the ti-‘ay, and intent on victolry. leI nevIer we nt in-to an action with better spirit, whichl was showni thlioughl the whole battle. The obstructions in the line of advance were of great advantagre to the enevmy, and consisted of six-rail fences and two stone walls, all of which hlad to be crossed, the enemy playing feaIfully writh tlheir artillery all the time. The stone walls were all held by the eienemy’s inftalntiy, who were ultimately drivien from them by oir troops at the point of the bayionet. Soon after tlis advance be,gan, General XNewton, seeing tlhat the rebels were started, ordered forward the other two biri,gadles of Slocium’s division, to advance witli his own. Oniward thley piishecl, tlhe enemiy flying and fighting, until they reached thle foot of the steep declivity, where they, a-pparenitly, expected to makle their best defence. It is hardly posil)le to conceive how this position could hlave been carr’ied; but it was, withi little delIty aid loss by our men. After the battle, it was fouind tlhat it was a work of no small difficutilty to climb the precipitous side of tihe lhill. Yet our bo-s stiruggled ulp, with coiurage, while the foe abov-e pouried down upon them a perfect storm of balls, and drove him firom the -veryv summit of the ]lill, fly-ingi down the further side in one wild auid confiised mass. A large number of prisoners were taken, especially firom the briga(les of IJowell Cobb and Semmroes. Nearly the whole of the Cobl)b Legion were capture(d, with their colors, on wlhichl is inscribedl, ” Col)b Legion-in the name of the Lord.” The colors of the lthl Virginia regineint were also taken. Thle ficlld of battle l)presented a muclli less torn-i-Up apl)ear mice thaln usual, -whichl can be accounted for by the fact that artillery was not much used on either side. The stony 250 0

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Di)AI-Y OF AN AAI’,!Y SUItGEON. and steep slope of the lhill was thielly strewn with tlhe dead. The rebels had to ahbIandoni one of their gunis, whichl fell into the hands of t}he Union tl-OOl)S; iand such was tlhe suddenness and boldness of thle charge, that it was with difficulty they saved their remiaining pieces. The removal of the wounded fiom the field, aftei the close of the action, was one of the most impressive pictures of the day. The road leading to the Gap was filled with long and windling lines of ambulances, goincg and returning. As fast as the men could be placed in the ambulances, they were removed to the principal pnivate-hotses in Bu’rkittsville, and their wounds dressed. Mtany had to remain where they fell all nigihlt, and tle impossibility of attending to them promptly, cost many a life. The inhabitants of Bnrkittsville opened their houses witih alacrity for the reception of the wounded, and offered the kindest attentions to the sufferers. The surgeons were busy all nilght, and the most painfnl operations were submnitted to without a nmiurmnur. As soon as they are able to bear removal they will be sent to Frederick, where arranigeients are made for the reception of 1000
patients. The rebel wounded were nearly all taken to the Baptist lchurch in Biurkittsville, whIich has been converted into a temporary hospital, where they receive the same attention as our men, at which they express their suirprise and gratitide. On the battlefield, bodies of the dead lay about in every direction, and in every imaginable position. Here fell an officer, sword in hand, urgcing on his men; one was drinkingii fi’om his canteen as the fatal bullet pierced his br’ain; another, in the act of d(liselhargilg his piece; and othlers, while loading thleir miuskets.

3[ost of the killed were shot in the head, whlich is owingA to the elevated position on which the enemy was posted. General Howell 251 a

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LEAVES FIROI TIIE Cobb commanded a brigade in MeIcLaws’ division, and led his brigade into action. He was wounded in the leg. The Cobb Legion, commanded by his brother, was terribly cut up: but few of its number oame out of the action alive. Seeing our men advancing upon them up the mountain’s side, the order was given to push down from their position and repel us. Instead of remaining behind the stonie wall, and taking advantage of it as a protection against our fire, they madly leaped the wall, and, with a yell, rushed on our advance column. It was a madness that led them to death. Besides the fire of our advance column, they suffered from an enfilading fire on both sides. Several rebel officers were killed, and many taken prisoners. General Newton and his brigade acted with coolness and bravery. He was in the thickest of the fight, and his men climbed up the steep rocky sides of the mountain with unflinching bravery. The loss of the brigade, colnsidering the severity of the action, is very small. The 2d brigade of Stevens’ division, under Colonel Bartlett, was alike conspicuous for its courage and steadiness. Colonel 3Iatthewson and Major Lawson were both wounded. The latter had reached the top of the mountain before being disabled. General Smith’s division pushed on after the enemy, who retreated for some distance, and shelled their rear; but as no stand was made they returned, on account of the news having reached them of the fall of Harper’s Ferry. On the right, at some distance, heavy cannonading has been heard, which probably proceeds from Sumner’s corps, engaged with the enemy. As no effort was made by the rebels to recover their dead after the battle, orders were issued for their interment. The wounded in the houses at Burkittsville are all doing well; but few deaths have oc 252 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. cutrred since their removal from the field. The rebel wounded are chiefly inIjured in the lower extremities, and one or two of them positively refused to submit to the necessary operation, preferinig death, the inevitable consequence of their obstinacy, to the supposed suffering of an amputation. One very remarkable case, of a gunshot wound through the loins, came under my notice. The patient, though quite sensible, was entirely free firom pain, notwithstanding the wound would prove mortal, and produced total paralysis of both legs. Operatiois of the 9th Army Corps. The scene of the reception of our troops in Frederick was one of exciting joyfulness, but, if possible, was excelled when they started in pursuit of the rebels on the following day. For hours the long lines of men, horses, and artillery, kept passing through the town, and it was not until near midnight that the monster military procession hadc drawn to a close. The citizens hailed them as performing, or about to perform, the double task of preserving the country and driving firom the soil of Maryland the rebels who had come to conquer and despoil them, or to tamper with their loyalty; but they were not easily to be moved. The brief stay of the Southerners in Frederick is the reason they assign for the failure of its citizens to join their army. The 9th army corps proceeded to Middletown, a small village, beautifully situated in a valley about eight miles firom Frederick, where they learned that the enemy occupied the Catocin mountain in force (a description of which is given in the previous chapter), and that they were strengtheningc their position, with the avowed intention of resisting any attack that might be made upon them by our forces. It was known that they had a large body of men, 253 0

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LE,A’ES FRO31 THE but thle i(ldea pr)evailedc thiat they would not make any decidled stand until thev reached 13oonesboro’ or ITagerstown. On tlle niglit of the 13thi Sepl)tenil)er, thle troops removed a little distance firom the tow-n, where they encamped for the nig(lit, readyn and williing for any -work they would be called on to d(lo on the followingc day. The new regiments were all anxiety, the old ones confident that success would be theirs, whlile figting under l[cClellan and Btiurnsid(le, even tlhouigh opposed by Jackson, Lee, and Longsstreet, with thleii darLing and desperate troops: their night’s rest was not broken or disturbed by any forebodings of defeat, and the imorning found them eager for the contest.

The dclay broke fine, but with-the appearance of comin, rain, whlich renlered the air cool and lpleasant, and well sutited for an engagemient.

At an early hoiur, the booming, of guns told tl)at the artillery had resumed the contest beguin the previots evemning, but which was now destined to be attended witlh tr more important results than before. The men were soon marching to the scene of action. It was a splendidl pageaintthle long lines of infantry, unattended by wagons, and consequently unbroken, passing over the hills iIi a steadyl aind solid coliumn. On approaching nearer, tlhe reports of the artillery became more distinct, and the iwreaths of smoke that rose after each discharge, showed at a glance the relative positions of our own and the eieimv’s batteries.

The rebels were apparently holding ba.ck their fire, so as to use it with effect against our. iinfintiy wNhen they were attacked by it: this, their usual wise plan, told severely upon soime of our poor fellows. The position w-as well chosen, and with all possible reference to military advanitages. Situiated on the slope of the mountain, covered itih w-ood(s, it was splendidly calculated for masked batteries, and those surprises, for which the rebels have become 254 0

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DIIARY OF AN ARP,MY SURGEON. so fatoiis. The road ascendinl the side of the’mounitain was steel) and narrow, and so filled with la ge stones tll:it qui(ck locomotion w’ts imipossible, and a clarge a d(lifli(lilt thi ng-c to execute. The enemy also had a series of breastih igh stone fences, tha t had been built by the farmers. Behilnd these thley coul d fo rtify themselves, and pourIII volley anfter volley i nto any opposing( force, while they were corn)a.ratively firee firom dlanger, being able to diopl) and load(l as soon as they fired. They had also cut down the trees il thie imimedliate vicinity of these fences, to as to leave an open space, that must be crossed by the attacking force )efoire they were dislodgled. In these natural fortifications they possessed great odds; and without good officers and men, it would have taken a much larger force than that we emilloyed to disloldg-e them. But our men went there that mornllino deteinmined not to f.il. The fiohlit, properly speaking, began on Sunday morning, our trool)s foreing tlheir way, to the top of the mountain lknow-n as South or Seared mountain, one of the Catocin group, by a road situated a little to the left of whalit is known as tlhe Natioinal road, and thus drove the rebels back, step 1)- step. At three o’clock the greater part of the corps was fully engeaged, and fought desperately until seven, when the enemyii was iairl driven back, leaving their dead and -woiiided on the field. By nine o’clock the summit of the hill was entirely in our possession, and the rebels, under cov-er of the darkness, left for parts unknown, and all fiiing ceased in that quarter. They were not closely pursuied, for fear of mistaking our own men for them. ‘lThe most daring fihitiing was done by Cox’s division, as befoire desciibled, their splendid bayonet clha,g,e, made nIl)oion the rebel iintirenehients, behind the stone walls, though wmaimly received by a shower of bullets, was ii’e 255 a

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LEAVES FROM THlE sistible. They continued to push on; and though many fell dead and wounded, still the rest heeded it not, but kept on their avenging course, like a destroying avalanche, and, with a yell, rushed on to surmount the obstacles, killing the enemy right and left, who could not stand the cold steel. After making a feeble resistance, they broke and retreated as fast as possible, leaving a number of wounded and some prisoners in their victors’ hands, which were at once sent to the rear.

The regiments that achieved this gallant exploit were the 11th, 12th, and 30th Ohio. The officers and men of these corps acted with unflinching bravery, and reflected credit on the whole division to which they belong.

About nloon, General WNVilcox’s division, composed of the brigades commanded by Acting Brigadiers AVelchl and Christ, was ordered to the support of Cox’s division. They went forward to the ridge, where they found him, slowly, but surely, advancing on the left of the Sharpsburg road. The 50th Pennsylvania was sent to support him, and the balance of the division was formed on the right of the road, wvith Cook’s battery planted opposite to a rebel battery that was stationed on the ridge. It opened with good effect; but there were other rebel batteries that had not, as yet, exposed their positions, but which now opened an enfilading fire on the left, from this central point of defence, commanding the road.

Their first discharge disabled one of Cook’s guns, killing and wounding four men, on which the battery retired. At this point the enemy appeared and threatened to charge, intending to capture Cook’s battery. A rumor was now started among the men of Wilcox’s division, that a large rebel cavalry force was coming down on them, which almost created a panic in the ranks.

All this time they were under a heavy fire from the enemy’s guns; grape and 256 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. canister were flying about them in a most lively manher. The 79th New York was now sent to repel the expected charge, and the 17th Mlichigan was dispatched to their support. The division then changed front to left, and advanced again to the ridge. At about four o’clock the pickets reported that there was a battery, and two regimnlents supporting it, some little distance ahead, in the woods, when an order was received from General Reno to take it, if possible. A fitting reply was made to the order, and General Sturgis’s command was sent to support General Wilcox. The enemy appeared to divine our intention, and also prepared to make a charge. It was now about five o’clock, and the charge was met by the 45th Pennsylvania, under Major Curtin, and the 17tllh Aichigan, under Colonel AWhittington. A desperate fight followed, both sides doing bravely, but the dcletermined will of the Union soldiers prevailed, and the rebels were driven back with great loss. The charge was a splendid one, and cost the Union forces nearly four hundred, in killed and wounded. The two brigades under Ferrero and Nagle, of Sturgis’s division, which had been ordered to the support of Wilcox, advanced on the left of the road, Ferrero’s in advance. They met with determined opposition, and some hard fighting was done by them; but the rebels were again obliged to fall back, leaving their wounded, and some prisoners, in our hands. During, this the division of General Rodman was sent to scour the adjacent woods, around the base of the hill, on which Ferrero held his position under the most trying circumnstances. The 51st New York and 51st Pennsylvania contended, in the most heroic manner, against superior numbers. All of this brigade, firom Colonel Ferrero down, fully sustained the reputation they had earned through the Virginia campaign. 257 a

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IlEAVES FrO.r TIIE The brigadcle of General Nagle was not actively engaged, but dischargedl the duty allotted to thlem withl coolness ap 
steady obedience. General Rodman’s division did some hard fi(gl,tin(g in tlhe woods, and lost a number of men. Our victory, tlhougth complete, has been dearly won, as we have lost many brave fellows, as well as M,ajor-general Reno, wh-lo commanded the 9th armny corps, formerly under Gen. lurnside. All day General Reno had been most active, fearing no danger, and apparently at several places at one timie. Up to seven o’clock he was safe, standing, with his staff, back of the woods in a field, in fi’ont of which were the rebels; a body of his troops were before him, and’ at this point the enemy’s fire was directed. A mini-ball struck him, and went through his body; he fell, and fi’om that moment seemed to have a knowledge that lhe could not survive. He was at once carried to the rear and attended by his surgeon, Dr. Cutter. At the foot of the hill le was laid under a tree, where he died in a few minites. Thle officers of his staff exhibited the most sincere gief at his los. 3[any wep)t overl him, and vowed to avenge lhis death. lHe was one of the bravest generals in the service, respected and loved by all, and warmly attached to General Burtnside, who will deeply deplore his loss and momurn his untimely end.

The country can ill afford to lose suc!l men as IKearney, Stevens, and Reno. The command .t once devolved on General Cox, -who ably directed the no-ovements of the corps. It is difficult to determine the exact loss in the ditferent divisions, brigades, and regiments, as to each; but our total loss is fully 1200. The eioemy’s loss is still greater. The roads and w oods are thicklv covered with their dead. Colonel Vild, of the 35th New York, was seveirely -wounded in the arm; Lieutenant WVilliamns, 51st NewN York, wounded in the chest, and Lieu 25S 0

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I)IARY OF AN APMY SURGI;.ON. tenant Spriiigweller, of thle same regiment, was shot dead. Thle woundedl were cared for in the temp)orary hospitals, tlhe siurgeonls workingr all ni(lght at their onerous tasks, doing all in their power to make tlhem comfortable, whichl tlhey seemed filly to alppreciate, and but little compl)aint was heard, the pooI’ fellows bearing their sufferings like martyrs. Some exl)ressed thleir regret for loss of legs and arms, as it would dlisable tlheIn fi’om duty. IVien all tl-he wolIunde(d were dressed and cared for, they were sent furither back in ambulances, w-heie they could be better provided for. The prolportion of killed is unusually smnall to the number woutnded-the rebels must have had two for one of our killed, as firoom tleir position hehind tlhe stone walls, when struck it was mortal, being chiefly in the lheatd or cllest.

The appearance of the field the nmoriing after the fight was a terrible siglht. In some plaes tlhe dteadl were lying two or three dleepl). On the road( or pass along wlielh r’an the stone walls, tlhe dead lay tlhickly strewiin. Tlhe death of many w-as so instantaneous tlhat thleii arms nwere in position of firing their pieces, while others still retained the bitten cartrid(le in their hands. Thley al)l)ealed(l to be mostly yoiung men, many of tlhem mere boys. The diffirence between the clotliing of the Union and( tlhe iebel dead was very marked. The Union troops vwere all well cladl, while the rebels were in rags: in many instances wiithout any pretence at uniform. Their garments were of all colors and styles. Tihere firearms, lhowever, were all good, and they used themn well. A number of farmers came on the field to witness the sig(ht, of wihich they had so often heard but never seen. Tliey collected as relics every thing(
portable: car-thig de-boxes, bayonet scabbards, old( musklets, an_d even cannon-balls were carriedl away by them. A paitly of imenl were detailed as soon as possible to I.D 5 9 0

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LEAVES FROM THE bury the dead. When this sad and painful office was performed, and the men rested from the fatigues of the battle, orders were given to prepare for another march and another fight. General Burnside rode by, this morning, and is again to take command of the corps in person. HIe was welcomed by the men with shouts of delight. It is expected that the rebels, disappointed at their reception in Maryland, will attempt to recross the Potomac, and reoccupy Viuginia. But it is hoped that before doing so, General McClellan will force them to another fight, and, if possible, cut off their retreat. 0 260

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XXV. THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. Ox WAVednesday, September 17, the Union and rebel forces in MIaryland met in the Blue Ridge, and fought a battle which, when its full extent is known, will probably dwarlf all other battles yet fought in the present war.

General MIcClellan commanded the National troops in person, and had on the field the whole command of General Burnside, recently augmented by the addition of several new regiments,-the army corps lately under General MAcDowell (now under command of General Hookeli), General Sumner’s corps, General Franklin’s corps, General Banks’ corps, commanded by General Williams, and Sykes’ division of Fitz-John Porter’s corps. On the other side, the rebels undoubtedly had present the whole force which they oriiginally brought into Maryland. They were commanded by General Lee. The battle was fought in the valley immediately west of that portion of the Blue Ridge known as the South mountain, and to the east and north of Sharpsburg, almost in a semicircle, the concave side of which is towards the town. Unlike most of the valleys in this Blue Ridge country, this valley has not a level spot in it, but rolls with eminences of all dimensions, from the little knoll that your horse gallops easily over, to the rather high hill, that makes him tug like a mule. Many of the depressions between these hills are dry, and afford amnple 261 a

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LEAVES FrPOM TIIE cover for infantry against artillei’y. Others are watered by the deep, nalrrowv, and croolked Antietanm, a stream that seems to observe no decoirum ill r’espect to its course, but his to be crossed e-very ten minutes, ride iwhich way )oi will. Shlarpsburg lies on the western side of the valley, and a little to the south firom our point of viewv. PRight across the valley, froom the nortl)east, runs the turnpike fi’om Boonesboro’ to Sharpsbuirg. Two little villages, Polterstow-n and Ieetersville, or 1,ee(dyville, lie on the eastern side of the valley, at the foot of South mountain. Numerous fine firm-houses dlot the valley in every direction, some standing out plainly and boldly on the hill-tops, others halfhiddei cdown the little slopes; and, with the larg,e, comfortable bairns about them, and their orchards of firuit-trees, these hitherto happy and quiet homes greatly enrichl the view. N’early every part of thle valley is under cultivation, and the scenes are thus varied into squares of the light - ,reeni of nearly-ripened corn, the deep-green of clover, aind the duIll-brown of lnewly-ploughed fields. Tovwards the nortl, wlhere our right lay, are some dense woods. IJmagine this scene, spread ini the hlollow of ani amphitheatre of hills, that rise in terraces around it, and you have the field of last WAVednesday’s battle. Our position had been taken in outline, as it -were, on Tuesday, and was filled lip to its proper strength as flist as the troops arrived and streamed down the mountain by the road firom 3iiddletown. This they continued to do for the greater part of Tuesday and Tuesday night. It was a miagnificent sight to see our men thus pouriled forward across the field to different points, in long shiming lines. Burnside’s ilen turned short to the south, passing across the foot of the Elk Pidge mountain, and took a position on our extreme left. Porter held a commandi nglii eminience to the ‘162 0

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DIAIRY OF AN AIRAMY SURGEON. righlit of Buuside, though, Wairien’s Brigade of Porter’s corps wvas subsequently posted in the woods onl our lett, in sup)port of BIuruside’s i menl. Sumer’s coirps was onl aii eiineneice next to tile right, or northl fi’oin Portei, and General Hooker had tile extremile iiht, in and bel-hiid the w-oods before mentioned, and onl the Antietami. Our left was on Elk PRildge mountain, and our line of battle stretcIl ed to the northieast, across the ShapIsbiig road. The lijie -wa.s betveen four’ and five miiles long. Thle rebel left was in the woods, directly in fiont of General IIooker, ann( thieir force was posted across the valley between ls aii( Sharpsbui’g, in a line iieai’ly parallel with our own. Tlhougt the men have been spoken of as onl eminiences, it must be understood that they were carefully covered in every case just belowv the erest of the hills they held. Our artillery was also carefilly posted behind the crests of the hills, ready to be run up and to blaze away at a imomenit’s notice. Nearly every hill had a battery on it, and tihe greater number of batteries looked over fields that extecnded to the limit of the range. General hooker had the honor to open this great coIibat. He commanded the corps iformerly under General Iec)oweil, composed of Ricketts’ division, iMeade’s (fOimerly AIeCall’s), and Iiing’s division.

3lanty of these miiel caine iup inii the night, and there was perhaps a little conftusioni in posting themi. Mleade’s men say that they slept amiong the rebels. Owing to this over-near neighbolrhoold, thle pickets got at it in the night, and kept uip a scatterlig fire until the battle began. General Aieadcle, who was thus nearest the rebels, was relieved at daylight by General Ricketts’ divisionl, which also immediately advanced against the einemy, supported by the division of General Kviug, whichll eventually became engaged on tihe right of General 263 0

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LEAVES FROMN THE Ricketts’, and also by the division of General Meade. The line advanced through a piece of woods, a cornfield, and a piece of ploughled land, and into another piece of woods, where it found the einemy in line of battle, and was received with a hot file-fire, which told very severely on our men. B3ut they steadily advanoed into the fierce fire, giving back’one equally destructive; while our batteries, particularly a Pennsylvania battery under Captain MIatthew-s, and Captain Thompson’s 1st MIaryland battery, played splendidly upon the enemy’s line. Thus pressed, the rebel forces gave way, thoiugh they certainly did not “skedaddle.”

Slowly, and in fair order, they fell back, disputing every foot that they gave up w-ith the greatest obstinacy. Still our boys pushed on with great courage and determination, every man, firom IIooker down, intent only on victory. Occasionally a more determined resistance at some point in the line, or some difficulty in the ground, would check our advance for a few moments; but, with these exceptions, it was almnost steady firom its comn mencement until about ten o’clock in the morning, when General Hooker was wounded and carried firom the field. General Ricketts at once assumed command of the corps, but our’ victorious movement had lost its impulse.

At that time our right had advanced and swept across the field so far, that its firont, originally almost in a line wvith the front of the centre and left, formed almost a righlt-angle with them. While our advance rather faltered, the rebels, greatly reinforced, made a sudden and impetuous onset, and drove our gallant fellows back over a portion of the hard-won field. What we had won, however, was not relinquishled without a desperate struggle; up the hills, and down through the woods and the standing corn, over the ploughed land and the clover, the line of fire swept to 2(34: 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. and fro, as one side or the other gained a temporary advantage. Thus the battle raged, till Sumner’s corps came up to support the worn-out heroes who had maintained the fight so long against very evident odds. How gloriously they went at it, those Peninsula boys-Burns’s old brigade, led by gallant young Howard, who lost an arm at Fair Oaks, and A[eagher’s Irish Brigade, led by the gallant MIeagher himself, and many other heroes tried in the fire! As the Irish BBrig,ade charged the enemy’s line, their cheers arose in one great surge of sound, over the noise of battle, over the roar of a multitude of artillery, and was heard far down the lines to the left, where Burnside’s boys were just getting, at it. Thus met, the rebel advance was checked and broken, and they were driven with awful slaughter. It is beyond all wonder how such men as the rebel troops are, can fight as they do. That, ragged anid filthy, sick, hungry, and in all ways miserable, they should prove such heroes in fight, is past explanation-men never fought better. There was one regiment that stood up before the fire of two or three of our long-range batteries and of two regiments of infantry, and though the air around them was vocal with the whistle of bullets and screams of shells, there they stood, and delivered their fire in perfect order; and there they continued to stand, until a battery of six light twelves was brought to bear on them, and before that they broke. Nothing mortal can bear a battery of six light Napoleon guns, if there is plenty of grape and canister in the ammunition chests. Thus Sumner effectually stayed what at one time threatened to be a fearfully dangerous onslaught. But all the ground Hooker had gained was lost, and we were as we had been before the misty daylight had dawned upon us. But there is-a stir 12 265 0

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LEAVES FROM TiO and a murmur around us different firom the nioise of battle. There are troops in motion behind, and here comes Frankiin’s corps. When the battle began at daylight, this corps was in camp eight miles away, on the mountain over which it had driven the rebels on Sunday last. There it was, in all the seemingly inextricable camp confuision; and in the valley, at the foot of the same mountain, was Couch’s division, temporarily attached to Frankliii’s command. All these troops had had orders on Tuesday night to be in readiness to march at a moment’s notice, and so they lay down. But the night passed, and no orders came to move; and the morniling hours went by, till it seemed that they could not be wanted. But at eight o’clock the orders came, and here they are, at one.

It was a good march, and, unlike most troops that make those hasty marches, they are not too late, nor are they used up. H-Ieralded only by the jingle of their own canteens, and their regular tramp, they move into the field. No slogan announces them; no music note tells that the Campbells are coming. But hardy, brave, and comparatively fresh, here they are. The two fi’esh divisions at once moved forward, lobr it was rightly reasoned that the enemy must be fully as much shaken as we were. Onward went Slocum, with the three brigades that carried Cramnptoln’s Gap so handsomely on Sunday; and onward went Smith, with the brigades of Hancock, Brooks, and Davidson, who first made the enemy’s acquaintance on Warwick Creek. Exhausted, no doubt, by his last desperate endeavor, the enemy gave way. Easily, and without the great outlay of life that it at first cost us, the ground was once more won. Hitherto we have spoken only of what transpired on our right. There, after desperate struggles, we had won what, considered in itself alone, was a glorious battle, and our O 6 6 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURIGEON. enemy was there fairly beaten. When the batteries that participated in Hooker’s attack at daylight first opened their fire, and were severely felt, several rebel batteries opened upon them, and also on our advancing line. Some of these batteries were on points quite out of the battle that raged on the right. As they opened their fire, one by one, our batteries, posted on various eminences, opened on thenm, and, in their turn, were opened upon by still other rebel batteries; and thus was begun a stupendous artillery fight, which soon became quite independent of the battle on the right. From every little hill a battery thundered, until the mountains around seemed to be shaken with the roar, and the tracks of shells and shot were woven across the valley like net-work. So numerous were the batteries, and so constant their fire, that it was impossible to keep up with it. However much this or that beautiful shot might excite your admiration, you could not decide who made it, or what battery was entitled to the credit. It is probable that the artillerists were fi’equently deceived themselves, and assumed, as their own, those shots that luckier gunners had made. The effect of the artillery can hardly be estimated, save where the effect of its fire can be seen ploughing through the masses. When, as in this battle, batteries fire at batteries, no result is perceptible; and even if a battery ceases to fire, you are not sure that it is damaged. The whole artillery fire of Wednesday looked very like a waste of ammunition, though, doubtless, many a badly injured gun was the result. Whether any one “blundered” on the left, it is impossible to state now; but the battle, there, got started late, and went on slowvly. It was noon when the fire of musketry first announced an engagement at close quarters in that direction; and then the firilng was not heavy and continuous, but desultory and light in its char 267 0

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LEAVES FROMI THE acter. Our first advance was made there down the slope of a hill, to a bridgcle which crosses the Antietam river. Beyond the river the enemy had so posted his men, as to sweep the bridge with a severe musketry fire: their own advance was checked, and General Burnside seemed to hesitate. The peculiar brass pieces handled by the HIawkins’

Zouaves-one of the many recent experiments in artillery-were then tried on the rebels beyond, as the position was one in which regular artillery could not work; but the peculiar brass pieces achieved but little, and the enemy remained in position beyond, and kept up a severe and well-directed fire upon our men. Finally, at about two o’clock, P. M., after much time had been lost, the bri(dge was carried by a brilliant charge, in which the 11th Ohio and lth Connecticut participated very conspicuously and lost many men. If the greater obstacles constitute the post of honor on a field of battle, General Burnside may justly claim to have had that post in Wednesday’s fight. Once more across the river, he found the enemy in force before him, and in a new position of great strength, on a hill. Against this position he advanced at once, and the old valor of the divisions of Generals Cox, Wilcox, and Sturgis was once more triumphant, and the hill was taken. No sooner was its summit reached, than a heavy battery of artillery at once opened upon his ranks, with a fire which must have annihilated them if permitted to continue. It was at once clear that the hill was untenable, unless the battery was taken. At the same time the enemy, in front, began to receive heavy reinforcements, and General Burnside’s position became critical. To go forward, with that heavy battery mowing his flank, and with an equal number of the enemy on his front, and overwhelming numbers coming up, would seem like 268 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. madness. To stand still would only be destruction; and then came the alternative to retreat. Bitter as this alternative was, it had to be taken, and steadily the line swept back, relinquishing the hard-won hill; but it was now so fully under the fire of newly posted batteries, that no enemy could occupy it. As Burnside’s line withdrew, the word was passed along the hill for Sykes’s men to “fall in;”

and the tough old soldiers of the regular regiments, who had been lounging on the hill, quiet spectators of the battle, hurried gladly into line, joyful at the prospect that their turn had come; there they stood, ready to check the progress of any sudden disaster. Night prevented fiurther operations. Let it be understood that we were only not entirely successful on the left. WVe suffered no disaster-nor could we suffer any; for it is the glory of General iMcClellan’s plan of battle, that if the rebels had even routed Burnside and driven him in conllfusion from the field, our left would still have been safe, for there, close in hand, was Porter’s corps, fi’esh and ready oibr the emergency. General McClellan had his headquarters during the day at a commanding point of the field; he did not remain there all the time, but rode over the field firom point to point, as the battle raged here or there, watching vigilantly its progress, and sharing the dangers of the nameless heroes who fought so bravely to win the glorious day. As we rode fiom the field at nightfall, and passed Porterstown, near to where our wagons were parked, we noted one circumstance which alone ought to establish the superiority of our men.

There was beef cooking on the fire. All about the camp, kettles stood in rows on blazing rails; and while the battle raged furiously, at half a mile distant, rations were being prepared as quietly as if all were in camp. Thus our tired boys were sure of 269 0

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LEAVES FROM THE a supper ere they slept, while if the rebel soldiers had any thing at all to eat that night, it must have been a scanty bite all around. The smoke of the battle of yesterday is now dispelled, and we can see more clearly what has been done. Our victory is an undeniable and glorious one. Our soldiers have done what was expected of them. They have come upon the rebels, who, showing fight, were met and whipped at every point along the line by our invincible army. In every concerted movement yesterday we were successful, while every movement against us was handsomely repulsed. General McClellan’s headquarters for the day were at a large house on the hill on the north side of the Porterstown valley, about one mile from Keedysvillc, and in a position overlooking the entire field of action. To the wide field of vision opened before him, may be imputed a large measure of the success which attended our arms during the day. At nine o’clock in the morning the severest fighting commenced, when Sumner’s full corps became engaged with the enemy. These veterans of the Peninsula pitched into the seething tide of the battle with a right good-will, their old and plucky general leading them. It is said, indeed, that his undaunted courage carried a division, Sedgwick’s, into the enemy’s line, where they fought superior numbers successfully for an hour, though at times their situation was critical indeed. Cothing but the most daring and determined courage saved this noble body of men from annihilation. The rebels here made a bold push to capture the 1st Rhode Island and Kirby’s, formerly Ricketts’, batteries, against which they have the old grudge of Fair Oaks and Savage’s station to settle. Ricketts’

light brass twelve-pounder battery poured grape and canister with 2 i’O 0

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DIARY OF AN AR~IY SURGEON. destructive effect, and with the aid of its support of infantry firom the 15th Massachusetts, effectually checked the enemy’s advance in the direction of the battery: the fire of the combined infantry and artillery literally mowed down the rebels. The 15th Massachusetts followed the enemy, who by this time rallied their forces and received assistance. Noobly did this regiment sustain itself against the increased and increasing numbers of the rebels, bringing down scores of them at every discharge. They were finally obliged to fall back to the original line, whichl they did in good order, fighting the mean time under cover of Kiirby’s well-directed grape and canister. The 15th Massachusetts went into action with six hundred men, and came out with about two hundred uninjured, the rest killed, wounded, and missing. The 1st Rhode Island battery was well served, and ably supported by the 34th New York and the Baxter Zouaves, and finally drove off the rebels. The 34th and 2d New York Militia, and Baxter’s Zouaves, suffered terribly. One of the severest struggles occurred near Numas’s house and barn, where a large force of rebel infantry was posted, with some artillery. The scene described is, that the ground is covered with the rebel dead and wounded. Fire firom several of our batteries was directed there with terrible effect, as the hecatomb of victims attest. -uLmas’s house and barn were destroyed by fire, making a splendid spectacle after the night began to darken. Colonel Pratt, of New York, was wounded in four places, at dif ferent times during the day. After he had received the second wound, and was bleeding profusely, he led his men into a most gallant and successful chlarge, receiving his death wounds. The colonel of the l7th Michigan was killed while advancing his men to a bayonet charge, after they had exhausted their ammunition. The Washington 271 0

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LEAVES FROM THE artilleiy, of New Orleans, was the last battery of the enemy to cease firing last evening, all the rest having pre viously become silent. It is supposed that the want of ammunition was one cause of the slacking of the rebel fire in the latter part of the day. Our well-served and numer ous batteries did the most towards silencing those of the enemy.

In the afternoon the rebels were using the ammunition captured at Harper’s Ferry, with more effect than their own ammunition used in the morning. The enemy used, in this engagement, railroad iron, slugs, and smooth stones, as missiles of destruction. The New York troops which suffered most severely were the 82d, 34th, 59th, 69th, 53d, 9th, and 42d. This morning, September 18th, a few shells were thrown into the enemy’s lines, to ascertain their whereabouts. Shortly after a flag of truce came out from the rebels to solicit permission to bury their dead. This was granted by General MIcClellan, and until four o’clock this afternoon was given in which to do the work. Our forces are in a condition to renew the engagement, begun so gloriously yesterday, with increased vigor. About three o’clock a heavy rain began, which would prevent further hostilities.

The pickets, on the outer posts, have been firing at intervals today. Six regiments from General Cox’s division are engaged at South Mountain, to-day, in burying the dead firom the battlefield of Sunday last. On Tuesday night, the 16th instant, the enemy massed his forces under Lee, Jackson, and Longstreet, with the intention of turning 3IcClellan’s right-flank. At daylight artillery skirmishing wvas commenced on tihe right, and continued until about a quarter of eight o’clock, when musketry firing commenced -the opposing forces having got within the musket range of each other. This was near Sharpsburg, and about five 22 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. or six miles northeast of Boonesboro’. Sumner’s c6rps was mainly engaged. Sedgwick’s and Frenchl’s divisions were foirmed in line of battle, and so advanced in two lines across the fields and through the woods. The brigade of Genieral 3[ax Weber formed the first line of French’s division. As they came on the brow of the hill they found the rebels in riflepits and behind stone walls, who immediately opened a withering fire, which our men stood bravely. The enemy had also planted two batteries in a position to give us a galling flanking fire. This was replied to by our batteries, and a terrible cannonading ensued. The Irish Brigadeileaghlier’s which is in French’s division, made a ga]lair and effective chiarge upon the enemy, who retired slowly, disputing the ground as they went. The enemy were driven beyond Sharlpsburg, towards the Virginia line. General Sumner was in his element, and encouraged his men by calling upon them to “go in boys,” wavng his hat enthusiastically in the air, &c., &c. He has every reason to feel increased pride in his command after the work they did yesterday. General Alax Weber was shot, and severely wounded, while ordering a bayonet charge. hIis assistant adjutant-geineral, Captain H. M. Burleigh, was also wounded in the shoulder. The rebels were driven three miles beyond the position they occupied at the beginimg of the fight in the Inorning. Brigadier-genei’al Crawford, while leading up his division in an attack upon the enelmy’s centre, was severely wounded in the thigh, but refused to leave the field.

Jackson’s forces are now so backed up against the river, that unless hlie can get off towards IHagerstown, where there is a ford by which he might cross the river, or receives aid firom the vicinity of Harper’s Ferry, he must experience great difficulty in extricating himself from his present position. The usual 12* 273 0

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LEANVES FROM5 THE report, that General Jackson has been killed, is, of course, circulated. The battleground covered a large area, comnposed of mountain, wood, field of grain, and marsh near tlhe Antietam river, whlich had to be, and was, forded by our soldiers, although the water wvas from three to four feet deep. The loss on both sides was very heavy, but the enemy’s loss was largely in excess of our own. Three barns, besides all the dwelling-houses in the vicinity, are filled with the wounded. About three thousand prisoners were captured. The firing was kept up until halfpast seven P. M. Fttrther Particulars of the Battle of Antietam. The battle of Antietam, in western Maryland, fought on Wednesday, the 17th September, between the main bodies of the rebel and Union armies, was the fiercest and bloodiest battle of the war. The close pursuit of the rebel forces by 3McClellan’s army, the several skirmishes with the rear-g,uard of the enemy, and the positions assumed by the contending armies on Tuesday, rendered it apparent that a tremendous battle would speedily be fought in that vicinity. Accordingly, on Tuesday afternoon and during the night, both parties were busily engaged in marshalling their men and making judicious disposition of their troops, preliminary to the commencement of the battle. 3McClellan had pushed forward his several army corps with great alacrity, and on Tuesday evening our advance, composed of Hooker’s corps, drove back the enemy on the right, and secured a favorable position for the opening of the great battle at the coming dawn. It was with great reluctance that the enemy surrendered that favorable point on the right, and on several separate occasions during the night he appeared to be attempting to regain it before morning 2’i-4 0

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I)IAPY OF AN AlRMY SURGPON. came, as he kept up a sharp picket-fire from dark till daylight. But whenever the pickets of the enemy endeavored to advance, under cover of the dlarkness, they were promptly repulsed by our own. General Lee, the coimmander-inchief of the Confederate forces, and his principal generals, were also actively employed foiming their lines to meet and resist the anticipated attack, and placing their columns in position, ready to be hurled against our infantry or sent to storm our batteries, as opportunities, during the shifting scenes of the battle, might afiford, or their minds suggest. The enemy received heavy reintbrcements from the Virginia side of the Potomac. Jackson’s, Hill’s, and MIcLaw s’ divisions, which had participated in the attack on Harper’s Ferry, were among the troops that had left that place on Tuesday. They recrossed the river, marched all night, and arrived in time to participate in the battle of the valley of Antietam. All the available forces of the enemy were concentrated to resist this grand assault. It was believed tlhat, with the exception of some detachments, the whole Army of Virginia, under the command of its ablest generals, confironted MIcClellan’s army on this battlefield. General:McClellan planned the battle, and gave instructions to the different corps commanders what part their troops were expected to perform in the conflict; while he himself was on the field all day, visiting different portions of the lines, and directing all the operations, from the commencement of the contest to its close. The battlefield is one of the most magnificent that could be selected for a contest of such magnitude. The valley of Antietam is a luxurious part of MIaryland; the ground admirably adapted to the successful inasincg of troops in reserve, as they could be shielded behind the numerous knolls firom the artillery fire on either side,-as well as to the firee and fair 275 a

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LEAVES FROM THE engagement of the contending infantry, when the lines came in close proximity. The undulating nature of the ground furnished fine positions to both parties for artillery, while the beauty of the surrounding scenery-the trees beginning to show their rich autumnal tinges-threw a halo of enchantment over what was now, at once, the garden and the battleground of M1aryland. On our left, heavilywooded mountains rose to a considerable height, inclosing the valley on that side, and Antietam creek wound its way through the gorge and along the verdant valley beneath. Away, in every direction, hills covered with splendid corn and clover fields, vales rich with the summer’s harvest, and orchards laden with ripening fi’uit, spread out before our view. It almost seemed at times, during the cessation of the firing, that many engaged in the bloody fray would turn from the scene of carnage to contemplate the lovely valley and its surrounding scenery. The position of the Union forces, as ordered by General McClellan, was splendid. Hooker’s corps, formerly McDowell’s, which had made the advance, occupied the extreme right of the Union line. Here the battle began. Mansfield’s corps, formerly under Banks, acted in concert with Hooker’s. Franklin’s corps came up in that vicinity during the afternoon, and acted as a reserve at first, but was pushed to the fiont later in the day. Sumner’s corps had the centre of the line, where some of the hardest fighting took place. Fitz-John Porter’s corps, which was only slightly engaged, followed next in order; while Burnside’s corps acted as a flanking column on the left. It was here that our loss was heaviest, by reason of the determined opposition of the enemy to the repeated, and finally successful attempt at storming the stone bridge over the Antietam. On the centre and right, as well as on the left, 2 i.6 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. the fighting was furious and the losses severe.

Along the crests of the chain of hills our batteries were posted, in opposition to those of the enemy planted in similar positions beyond. The smooth-bore short-range guns were placed on the little knolls in firont, and the rifled artillery, for longer range, on the higher hills behind.

Supporting their several batteries, regiments of infantry were lying down, or moving into line, just taking their positions to begin the battle, while whole brigades and divisions could be seen from the commanding summits, also hidden by the elevations of the ground, marching away to support these attacking lines. On various prominent points small groups could be distinguished. These were corps, division, and brigade commanders, surrounded by their staff officers, who had, for the most part, chosen positions where they could direct the operations of their own commands, and at the same time perceive how the battle was progressing in other sections of the field. The cavalry, with four batteries of flying horse-artillery, under General Pleasanton, were posted in the centre, to the rear, whence they could descend swiftly to any portion of the field.

On a higher hill, still further behind, General McClellan established his headquarters. From this commanding eminence he could view the whole scene of action, watch the execution of his plans, and speedily proceed to any portion of the field, where his personal presence in the fi’ont might be required. As General Hooker captured the position where the battle commenced, it is proper to state, for the sake of continuity in the narrative, that after the enemy had been driven from his position at South Mountain on Sunday, Hooker’s corps, preceded by artillery, with skirmishers and supports in fiont, moved forward to Valley Mills, on Monday, where 2’i-7 a

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LEAVES FROMI TIlE a slight aitillery engagement took place. L1ater in the afternoon, the corps pushed forward on the road whichl stretched away to the left, for the purpose of obtaining a position in which it could engage the enemy’s flank with the hope of turning it. The corps consisted of AMeade’s, Doubled(lay’s, and Ricketts’ divisions. lIeade’s division (fobrmerly MIeCall’s), composed of the Pennsylvania Reserves, led the march, the other two divisions following. Thus the corps moved forward in solid column. The advanceguard came upon the enemy’s pickets about five o’clock, on Tuesday afternoon. MAeade’s division was deployed in line of battle, his skirmishers in firont driving in the rebel pickets. The rebel line of battle was encountered in a piece of woods, with ploughed fields and cornfields to the right and left. It is only necessary, in view of the description already given of the fight, to say, that the opposing forces were hotly engaged with artillery and infantry till dark. Both fought in splendid style, our men determined to take the position, and the rebels apparently as determined to defend it; but at last our men drove them fi’om the ground, secured the important position, and slept on their arms all night. There was an opening in the woods, thus forming two separate belts of trees: General Seymour’s Brigade occupied that on the left; the 2d Brigade, Colonel Magilton commanding, covering the opening; while the 3dcl Brigade, Colonel Anderson commnanding, occupied the belt of woods upon the right. This was the position of the division at dark, the pickets of the opposing lines being, in some instances, within a dozen yards of each other during the night, and sharp picket-firing was continued until morning. The battle began at the first dawn of day. General iMcClellan’s order of battle provided that the attack should be commenced on the right, continued 2 i-S 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. along the centre, and in turn pressed forward by Burnside on the left,-Franklin’s corps, constituting the reserves for the right and centre; and Porter’s corps for the left of the line, and its flanking column. The arrangements for the battle were complete, and the battle was won almost without the necessity of a shot being fired by the troops in reserve. The moment it was light enough for the pickets to perceive each other,theyblazed away. The men in line on either side sprung to arms. The skirmishers on either side were thrown out in fi’ont; but as soon as the troops advanced, these, of course, retired, and the two battle lines were immediately engaged. In these operations, our front line, formed as on the preceding evening, steadily advanced, supported by two other lines, composed of the two remaining divisions of Hookei’s corps.

The enemy had placed heavy pieces of artillery to defend this point; but as our lines advanced the rebel artillery retired, while, on the contrary, our batteries, advancing with the infantry, took up new positions as they went. Ricketts’ division pushed forward to the left of Seymour’s Brigade, while Doubledclay’s advanced in front of the position which had been occupied by Magilton and Anderson on the previous evening. Thus Seymour’s Brigade was detached on the right, and the other two brigcades of Meade’s division were led forward by their commanders between Ricketts’ and Doubleday’s divisions. Our troops fought with deternined bravery for several hours, drove the enemy friom the ground he occupied at first, advanced through the thin belts of woods over the ploughed, corn, and clover fields beyondl, slaughtered the rebel regiments in a fearful style, and calptured a large number of their colors. Ricketts’ division advanced to the support of Seymnour’s Brigade, and fought with vigor. After the men had been hotly engaged, 279 0

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LEAVES FROM THE and expended their ammunition, they returned to replenplenisi their cartridge-boxes, and while doing so Ricketts’ division pushed forward and delivered a fresh volley in the enemiy’s fiont.

Duryea’s Brigade was on its right, Hartsuff’s a little in advance, on the left, and Christialn’s, consisting of Jones’s Brigade, was placed in the rear as a reserve: Thompson’s and Ailatthews’ batteries of rifled guns wheeled into position between D)uryea and Hartsuff. The sun had scarcely risen before the whole division was participating in the bloody fight-the enemy returning our fire with considerable effect. Through the cornfield the enemy advanced in considerable force, with eight or nine colors flying, in line of battle. It was a splendid sight to see their long and steady line, the men moving among the high stalks of corn, the bayonets glistening above the ears, and the battleflags floating over all. The whole division fought in gallant style, and equal bravery and valor were displayed by the rebel troops. The firing was terrific at this time, and the ground (especially the colrn-field), after the battle, told how severe the contest had been. The rebels succeeded in killing a number of gunners at one of the batteries. The remnant of Duryea’s Brigade, which was still fighting in the cornfield on the right, took up a new position, a little in the rear of a ledge of rocks, and kept up a continuous cross-fire, preventing the enemy from carrying off the guns. Early in the engagemenit, both Hartsuff’s and Chiistian’s brigades were under fire, and poured destructive volleys into the enemy’s ranks. Geneial Hartsuff was wounded in the side by a rebel sharpshooter. The command of his brigade devolved on Colonel Coulter, of the 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Our wounded, as fast as they fell, were carried to the rear, and without delay put into an ambulance, to be carried to the hos 280 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. pitals we had established, and were promptly cared for. She fight was raging furiously all this time, with great destruction to both sides. As the right flank could be easier turned by the enemy, it was the most important point to hold. It was consequently of much importance to General cIeClellan and General Hooker to provide for its protectioni and defence by our troops. The enemy was observed to be massing large bodies in that direction, and he subsequently tried to drive us fiom our position at that point; but the attempt was gallantly repelled, and proved entirely ineffectual. All the brigades in each of the divisions here engaged suffered severely. General Ricketts’ had his horse shot under him, but himself escaped injury. A similar accident happened to General Duryea. His brother, Captain Duryea, was severely wounded. Many of the other staff-officers had their horses shot. But one field-officer of this brigade escaped injury; and of the foulr regiments which went into the fight, two hundred men could not he mustered on the following morning.

Other brigades of this division suffered in like manner, which will give the reader some idea of the fierceness of the conflict at this point. When the rebel battery suddenly opened in the morning, at the commencement of the action, Doubleday’s division, composed of Patrick’s, Phelps’, and Gibbons’ brigades, was within a few hundred yards of it, and suffered severely. The rebels appeared to be short of ammunition, as they threw solid shot where shell would have been more destructive. One of their shells, thrown as Gibbons’ Brigade was getting into motion, exploded among the 6th Wisconsin regiment, killing and wounding several of Company A.

This brigade preceded the other two, all of which went into action in regular line of battle, supported by Doubleday’s old brigade, under 281 a 0

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LEAVES FROM TuEF Lieutenant-colonel Hoffman. As General Hatch had been wounded at South Mountain, Colonel Phelps commanded his brigade. The ground was obstinately contested by the enemy. The rebels in large force, supported by strong reserves, were driven nearly a mile beyond their original position, by the right wing, in which Doubleday’s division participated. At the close of the action, not more than sixty men out of one of the brigades could be nmustered, but many have come in since.

Amnong the regiments especially commended for their splendid conduct, was the Brooklyn 14th, which behaved in the most gallant manner, and suffered severely. General Gibbons’ Brigade moved up in column, and deployed in line into the woods. General Patrick’s Brigade came up immediately, and formed on the righlt, in support of Gibbons’. The brigade commanded by Colonel Phelps formed partly on the left and partly on the right, as reserves. The fire in front of Gibbons’ Brigade was fearfiul, but the troops held their ground until more than half the officers and men were killed and wounded. They were then relieved by General Patrick, and retired to the foot of the hill, where they reformed for fiuture action.

After getting into the woods, at the commencement of the fight, where the action was severest, in moving( to the firont, an enfilading fire of the enemy did considerable execution among Col. Phelps’ men. They re; turned it with vigor and effect; but in order to escape the dreadful consequences of a flanking fire, the brigade changed its front, and filed off under a ledge of rocks on the right of the wood, and fotught in that position, near where the troops who had come firom the front wvere reorganizing, until all the ammunition was expended but nine or ten rounds. At the same time the fire of the enemy 282 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. was tremendous, and other troops were wavering in fi’ont. General Hooker had given instructions to hold that position, at whatever cost. General Hatch’s Brigade was pushed forward to the firont, and became engaged, and a fiesh line of reinforcements sweeping up, poured a regular fire into the rebels, who soon retired, and left us master of that portion of the field. For a moment it seemed as if we must entirely relinquish the ground which had been taken so bravely on the right the night before; but, just at that critical moment, reinforcements came to our relief. This had the effect to reanimate the troops, whose ranks had become so terribly decimated, and several regiments which were reorganizing, although they had not been replenished with ammunition, dashed into the fight behind the reinforcements, and fought until they had expended every round. In this encounter on the right, a large number of flags were taken. General Patrick’s Brigade has five of the battleflags, one for each of his regiments, and a spare one for at battery of artillery. As our victorious troops crossed over a hill, they suddenly came upon a mass of rebels five or six thousand strong, in the hollow.

This rebel force had been quietly awaiting just such an opportunity as was now presented. They immediately arose, and poured in some murderous volleys, and, with flashing guns and fixed bayonets, stood like a wall of fire add steel before our men, whom they drove back a considerable distance, to the cornfield, wlhere such fearfil execution had been done among the rebels at an earlier stage of the contest. At this important moment Captain Campbell’s battery opened on the rebels with double-case and canister, at close range, and mowied them down in heaps in that fatal cornfield. At the same time a portion of the division 283 0 0

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LEAVES FROM THE came upon the enemy’s flank, and the enfiladinig fire from our artillery and infantry was more than they could stand. They fled in considerable confusion, and although they had driven us back fiom the ground which we had taken, we still held the position where the fighting had commenced in the morning. Captain Campbell ws severely wounded in the shoulder. After this encounter, the command was relieved by General Sumner’s corps. Lieutenant Ilaskell, of General Gibbons’ staff, while riding in the cornfield, returning from delivering an order, came across a corporal in the 2d Wisconsin regiment. The corporal was badly wounded.

The lieutenant asked him how he came by such an ugly wound in his breast, “was it a piece of shell that hit you?” The dying corporal feebly replied, “No, I was wounded first by a musket-ball, and afterwards a rebel thrust a bayonet into my breast.” It is impossible to estimate, with any degree of accuracy, the number of our losses or those of the enemy. It is certain that no harder fighting was ever seen on this continent-not even in the bloody battles of the Peninsula. One or two instances, in this connection, will be sufficient to illustrate the fearful character of the contest.

That of General Duryea’s Brigade, as previously mentioned, is one. The 2d regiment of the United States Sharpshooters, which had been reduced by death and sickness to one hundired and twenty men, lost over one half their number, among them Colonel Post and Adjutant Parmalee. The regiment is now reduced to a number less than a single company, and is conmmanded by Captain Stoughton, the only captain remaining on the field after the fight. give captains are now on the sick-list, and were absent in the hospital. The ranks of the Brooklyn 14th were also greatly thinned. 281 a 0

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1)IAP.Y OF AN AR3IY STURGEON. Rather early in the action Gen. Hooker was wounded in the foot by a musket-ball. It was a matter of sincere regrtet to this gallant general that he was compelled to relinquish his seat in the saddle,-and was not vouchsafed the privilege of leading his men in the consummation of the great wGlk which had been assigned him in the morning.

GCen. IIooker is a soldier in the flillest sense of that military term. Of commanding form, and pleasing features, lie presents a fine appearance on the field. He has withl him nearly all of his excellent staff-officers, and has retained AIljor Alyers, Captains Sanderson and Houston, and Dr.

3Ia(ruder, of 1IeDowell’s staff; and, as an additional aid, has appointed Captain MIoore, of the Italian army, who is here oni leave of absence from Victor Emanuel, and who served with the lamented General Kearney in European battles, and in all the battles of Virginia, up to the moment of the death of that regretted general. General Hooker’s wound is painful, though not dangerous. He says he would have been willing to have compromised with a mortal wound at night, and died a soldier’s death at the conclusion of the action, could he have remained with his command all day. He had eight orderlies shot during the progress of the battle. The army corps which had been under General Banks before he was directed to take charge of the defences about Washington, was assigned to the venerable General MIansfield. It consists of two divisions commanded by Generals Williams and Green. The corps advanced to the scene of action in close columns of companies, arriving on the field about a couple of hours after the battle was begun. General Williams’ division occupied the right, and General Green’s the left, when the command was formed in line. The battle was raging fiercely on the right, when this corps 285 a

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LEAVES FPROM’ TilE came up. With commendable alacrity the divisions were placed in positions ready to push into the contest. Hooker’s men were fighting bravely and losing heavily, and assistance was required. Ilapidly the regiments wheeled into position and deployed into line. General Mansfield was mortally wounded while directing their formation. A rebel sharpshooter seeing him mounted in firont, withill range of an excellent rifle, and evidently perceiving also, from his venerable appearance, that he was a general officer, took deliberate aim and shot him down. The general fell, mortally wounded in the breast, and was carried from the field before his command became engaged in the important operations of the day, in which the corps bore no inconsiderable part. General Williams being senior officer, assumed command of the corps, and General Gordon, till then commanding a brigade, took charge of his division. The corps was formed in battle order in the rear of General Hooker, and relieved a portion of that officer’s brave, but decimated regiments. General Williams’ division was deployed with Crawford’s Brigade on the right, and Gordon’s on the left and centre. This is a small command, there being only two brigades in the division. These two brigades went right into the contest, pushed through the woods and met the enemy, still fighting furiously and in fuill force. The division, though small, bore not a little of the brunt of the eiermy’s retaliatory attack upon Hooker, and in turn helped to fill the cornfield and the surrounding fields with dead and wounded rebels, which were subsequently found there. Changing, position, rendered desirable by the movements of the enemy, this division fought with distionguished valor, and held the position they had taken up, until subsequently relieved by some of the fi’esh troops, who were led by General S,tmner. They were warmly 286 0

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DIA[Y OF AN AiMLiY SURGE()N. engaged on the left of the hard-fighting previously dcle scribed, and shared a portion of it. They fought side by side with other victorious troops under the command of Ilooker. General Green’s division, which is better known as Gen eial Augur’s, was divided before going into action. It is composed of General Geary’s old brigade, commanded by LieuLtenanlt-colonel Tyndale of the 28th Pennsylvania riegi ieunt; General Prince’s old brigade (Geneal Prince who was taken prisoner at Cedar MIountain), commanded by Colonel Steinrook of the 109th Pennsylvania; and Geneial Gi-eein’s Brigade, commanded, after Mansfield fell (and thle other changes in consequence), by Colonel Goodrich. This brave and gallant colonel, however, was, like the venerable General Mansfield, killed at his post by a musket-ball, at the commencement of the fight, and the command of the brigade devolved upon a subordinate officer.

The division was brought into the thickest of the battle, on the left of General Williams; the 3d brigade, under the lamented Colonel Goodrich, having been placed by General Williams on the right. The other two brigades at first were posted as supports to the 3d Rhode Island battery.

The battery wvas placed in position in fiont of a small (Dunkard’s) church. The guns, apparently without much infantry support, at first presented a tempting offer as trophies to the enemy, and consequently a large force of the rebels soon advanced in splendid style, firing on the gunners as they came, apparently determined to capture them. But as they came within convenient distance, they soon found, to their sorrow, that these two brigades of General Green’s division had, in the mean time, been getting into position, and had formed on a line to the right and left of the Rhode Island battery. The rebels came from the woods in splendid 287 0

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LEAVES FR0OM THE style, as mentioned, and were met not only by the galling fire of the artillery itself, but by a simultaneous fire of the infantry, which until then was unperceived by them. It is comparatively an easy undertaking for a large body of soldiers to capture a battery of artillery, however quick its fire, if undefended by infantry, because the advancing line soon shoot down the horses and the gunners; but it is quite another thing to capture guns, and carry them firom the field, when they are well supported by infantry. And so, in the present instance, were these Rhode Island guns defended. The rebels were driven back into the woods, when our infantry then advanced, drove them out of it, and occupied the woods themselves. The battery then wheeled to the left, and poured in a most destructive fire upon their retreating lines, and upon other rebel troops appearing on the left. The 27tli Indiana regiment, which had been sent to participate in the last-mentioned operation, fired fast, and was compelled to retire before some of the other regiments because the men had expended all their ammunition. The 13th New Jersey regiment, which was present on a similar service, did excellent execution, and remained in the woods till the command retired. The rebel battery had been compelled to retreat-the gunners leaving limnbers behind. This position was held for a full hour, until, at nearly noon, the rebels came out in tremendous force in front of Gen. Howard’s command, of Sumner’s corps, which had already got into action further to the left; and General Green’s being partially outflanked, and subjected to a disastrous enfilading fire, was compelled to withdraw firom the woods about a quarter of a mile, and did not actively participate in the action during the remainder of the afternoon.

Six flags were captured by this division, which are held by ” 8 8 0

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DIARY OF AN AZIMY SUPGEON. the regimenlt that took them. Indeed there is scarcely a brigade, w-hichl was actively engaged, along the lines, that did not capture some of the enemiy’s colors, and wear themn in triumphl firom the field. I have stated that Colonel Goodrich, commiandincrg a brigad(le, was killed early in the action. It is also my painiful duty to state that among many other noble fellows who fell during the battle, Lieutenant-colonel Tyndale, who was likewise cormmanding a brigade, was wounded near the close of the engagement. The corps was fiercely engaged for four or five hours, and lost a number of its best officers and men; in return for which, the satisfaction to be mentioned is, that more than corresponding numbers of the enemy were stricken to the ground. The corps, shattered but not disorganized, reinained in firont until relieved by a portion of General Franklinii’s commiland in the afternoon. A considerable portion of the hard fightiing of the day was done by the troops under the commiand of General Siumner. Before coming on the field of action, he had under his command, as senior officer, his own and General Mlansfield’s corps,-two veteran commnanders, and who fought near the same portion of the field whereon the latter fell with a mortal wound. Pre-ious to the present engagement, as will have been perceived, General Mlansfield’s corps had been detached for temporary service with General Hooker, who had command of the right wing of our army, while Suimner had the centre.

Hooker, who had opened the battle early in the morning, had been fightilng some hours, with his whole command, before General Sumner received his orders to biing his troops to the front. It was nearly eight o’clock -henli he was directed to cross the Antietam with his corps and push forward into the enigagement. The order was obeyed with promptitude.

General Sumner himself, by 13 289 0

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LEAVES FROM TIlE his personal presence keeping his columns well closed up, and after his lines were formed urging them forward to the friont. The corps came upon the field in three lines, Sedgwick’s division on the right, Frenclh’s on the left, Richardson’s considerably in the rear, and went into action on the left of General Ilooker’s. General Sumner on arriving on the field found General Hooker wounded, and his command being pressed back by superior numbers. As the corps advanced-in three division lines-so the first division (General Sedgwick’s) went into the battle, in three brigade lines, General Gorman’s Brigade constituting the first, General Dana’s the second, and General HIoward’s the third. They formed in rear of the position occupied by Ilooker on the evening previous, and then marched up to about a hundred paces apart, where they were brought under the enemy’s fire. When these troops had been placed in position, it was perceived that the enemy had been fast extending his line of battle to his right-our left; and a gap existed, where he was coming in heavy force to flank General Hooker’s left, while we had no troops there to oppose him. When General Sedgwick became acquainted with the position of matters in his immediate front, he ordered the 34th New York regiment to march, by the left flank, to meet this flanking force of the enemy. During this movement the regiment was exposed to a double fire, receiving it both on the flank and front. This unexpected greeting, before it had formed into position, had a very disastrous effect. The regiment immediately broke, and the consequence was, that the first line retired in confusion tQ the rear, carrying the second line away with it. The mass of fugitive soldiers, falling on the third line, had almost the effect of breaking it also, and scattering the whole division in confusion over the field. A portion 290 0 11 1.

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DIARY OF AN ARIMY SURGEON. of Baxter’s Zouaves, in the third line, did break’; but the remainder of the regimient, and of the bhiigade, held its ground and met the onslaiught of the einemy. The officers did all that mortal men could do to reorganize the terrified troops and put them forward in their positions, but the force of the enemy was tremendous.

Captaiii Howe and Lieutenant Whittier, of General Sedgwick’s statff, were prominent among those who attempted to rally them. They succeeded in rallying a portion of the 34th, and re-establishing it in action; but it had already lost many of its choicest officers. The remnant of the 34th was rallied around its colors and conducted to the fi’ont, on the left of I-owa-rd(‘s Brigade. General Sedgwick wvas wounded while gallantly urging the men in his division to fearlessly face the foe-no matter tlhougt,h the rebels came with such superior numbers. At the time he was shot he was far in the advance-right in the thickest of the battle-close by his forward line. He was wounded in two places, one striking his wrist, the other his neck. Reluctant to leave the field, he remained two hours after he was wounded, when he was taken off, and the gallant General Howard, who lost an arm in the battle of Fair Oaks, assumed command of the division. 3:ajor Sedgwick, assistant adjutantgeneral, and nephew of Gen. Sedgwick, was seriously, and it is believed, mortally wounded. Gen. Sumner was one of the prominent personages on the field. Though he is a veteran commander, the weight of years seems to rest lightly upon him. The vicissitudes of a campaign do not inconvenience him, and he came upon the field, apparently, with all the vigor of more youthful generals. Accompanied by his staff’

officers, he was in the hottest of the’ fight, conducting thimself in the most commendable manner, and succeeded in rallying those who had become disorganized. 291 a

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LEAVES FROM TIIE General Dana was slightly wounded at the -head of his brigade, -whlen the fearful front and enfilading fire of the enemy caused our lines to waver. The wound, however, is not dangerous. It is a flesh wound in the leg, by a musket-ball, and the general hopes to assume command of his brigade again before the present campaign is ended. The command was ordered to retire to the piece of woods in firont of which it had been fighting. In obedience to the order of General Sumner, General Sedgwick’s division fell back and reorganized in the woods, about three hundred yards to the rear, where the line of battle was formed again. The division, however, performed little efficient service after that. While it was reformiing in the edge of the woods, Capt. Kirby’s battery came up, and Gen. Sedgwick, after he was wounded, placed it in position. The battery opened a sharp fire with spheri. cal case-shot, effectually driving back a force of the enemy -whichl was seen advancing. Kirby’s battery was supported by the 125th Pennsylvania Volunteers; so that the enemy did not attempt to take it. Simpson’s and Hooper’s batteries, which were in position on the brow of an adjacent hill, opened on a brigade of rebels that was fast bearing down towards General Sumner’s right. The nature of the country gave full sweep to the artillery, and the rebels retired before its raking fire. These troops were subsequently relieved by General Franklin’s corps. The loss was lheavy,-as it is a fixed principle, that when troops falter before a fire, though ever so fearful, their loss is greater than if they stood by their colors and fought bravely, no matter how numerous the foe, until support arrives. Colonel WAVistar, who lost the use of his right arm at Ball’s Bluff, was wounded in the other yesterday; amputation will, probably, be necessary. In the Fifteenth 292 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. ‘Iassaclusetts recgiment nine officers were killed and wounded, out of seventeen on duty. Company E went into the battle with forty-three men, out of which number five were killed and twenty-three were wounded. The colors are always tenaciously guarded by their bearers; and when one color-bearer is shot down and the colors fall, another man immediately grasps them, lifts them to the breeze, and carries them either till he is stricken down to the earth himself, or bears them triumphantly firom the field. An interesting instance of this kind occurred in the battle of yesterday. The color-sergeant of the 15th Massachulsetts regiment was shot dead; hle fell wNith the colors in his hand. The flag was instantly caught by his comrade, who, sad to say, had scarcely raised them in the line, when a bullet killed him also, and again the colors fell. A third time they were raised; and were carried from the field when the regiment retired. One interesting incident was quite observable on the rebel side. Our troops had broken the enemy’s line, stricken down the rebel flag, and were steadily ad(vancing over the disputed ground. The rebel color-bearer had fillen mortally wounded. As he fell, he caught the colors which were falling from his hands, and grasped them tightly with his fast-failing strength to his bosom. Another rebel took them fiom the dying man, and bore them off. Numerous instances of similar devotion and bravery w ere found on either side. General French’s division, which had just been organized as a part of General Sumner’s corps, is composed of General Kimball’s veterans, a brigade of raw recruits under Colonel IMorris, and Max Webl)er’s splendid command. WVhen the heavy firinig had been heard in front, Sedgwick’s and French’s divisions marched in parallel columns across the Antietam creek, 293 a

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LEAVES FROM TI E Richardson’s division not crossing for nearly an hour afterwards. French formed his division in three lines on the left of Sedgwick’s. General Max Weber’s fine brigade formed the first line; the new troops under Colonel Morris, the middle line; and General Kimball’s command, the last. Thus the new troops were placed between two brigades of splendid disciplined soldiers’ The right of this division’s line rested on a fine plantation, with its group of houses in the hollow. Each line was over half a mile in length, and about fifty yards from the other. The lines of the two divisions moved forward almost simultaneously, until they encountered the vast force of the enemy, which immediately opened with artillery and infantry. None of our artillery in front of this division had got into position, and the iinfiantry performed alone the important service which followed. Our troops moved forward firom the ravine or hollow, up the rising ground, for the purpose of carrying the crest of the hill upon which the enemy was p)osted. They moved rapidly at first; but the fire was so fearful in front of General Sedgwick, that the left of his line retired (it will be remembered), leaving a wide gap on the right of General French’s. HIe pushed forward a regiment from Kimball’s Brigade, to prevent the left flank being turned. Changing front towards the right, General French met the enemy, who was advancing through the gap, and engaged him, while Richardson’s division went into action. The Irish Brigade was sent forward, and, with an impetuosity which cost many lives, gained the crest. Colonel Burk’s Brigade now assisted in driving the enemy away. General’Max Weber was wounded in this encounter. General Rilchardson’s division, as before stated, got into action, and bore the brunt of the enemy’s attempt to cut our line. The divi 29-1 b 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. s,on deployed into line of battle by brigades.

Meagher’s took the lead to the right, Caldwell’s followed, and Burk’s came last. VWhen they arrived on the ground, the enemy were engaged with French’s division, in the ploughlied field in the hollow. General Richardson was wounded while personally directing the movements of the division. The Irish Brigade was ordered to charge up the hill, the 69th and 29th New York to chlarge the enemy’s column on the right, and the 88th and 63d New York to charge on the left. The two former regiments obeyed in gallant style, but Lieutenant-colonel Kelly, of the 69th, being wounded in the face, they faltered, but continued an unbroken fire on the enemy firom the ascendilng ground on which they hlalted. The other brigades of this division participated iii this attack, driving in the enemy’s column.

General iealgher’s horse was shot under himn. General Richardson was wounded, while near one of the batteries, by a piece of shell, in the shoulder. He was taken to the samie house where General Hlooker lay.

General IHancock, by order of General MIcClellan, assumed the command of the division until the close of the battle. General Franklin’s corps, as stated, marched from Crampton’s Gap, and arrived while the battle was raging, and went into action without delay, doing good service, and slept on the battlefield. General Fitz-John Porter’s corps was but slightly engaged. The corps of General Burnside performned an important part in the battle, having had to encounter the most determinied opposition in successfully executing that part of General MAcClellan’s plan to whlich it was assigned. Being distant from that part of the field, I can give but a gene,‘al outline of its operations. Antietam creek lay betweeii General Burnside’s forces and the enemy, who were strongly posted in a favorable position on the oppo 295 0

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LEAVES FlOMI TIHE site side. It was necessary to cross the creek, hnd dislodge the enemy. The stream is spanned by a stone brildge, which joins the turnpike. It was well defended by the rebel infantry and artillery, and after two bloody and un successful attempts to cross it, which cost us many lives, a third and successfifl one was made, and the enemy driven firom his position on the other side. This, the crowningi feat of the day’s victory, was soon followed by simultaneous shlelling along our line, and our troops driving the enemy befbre theIll fiom all their stronlgholds. The enemy were now, under cover of a heavy artillery fire, endeavoring to push forwardcl on the left a large body of their skirmishers, followed by three columns, but our’ batteries in firont kept them back. At this time, several farm-houses were set on fire by the shells, and added to the exciting scene. Burn side’s coirps, assistedcl by the batteries on the hills, was suc cessful; and the rebels, driven on the right centie and left by our advaincihg columns, plainly told that the battle of Antietami was won by the Uuioli arms, under the able direction of General MlcClellan, who, during the elntire day, w-ithl indefati gable einery,, personally guided the various movements, riding to andcl fio, now rallying, tlhis point, then another, and leaving nlothing to chance. lie inspired, by his presence and sagacity, lhis brave men, who, in turn, stood by him, in this, their bloodiest battle, anA addedl the name of Antietam to the long list of victories to which he had led them. Next morniing the battlefield presented a scene of carnage and struggle that baffles description. During the whole night the wounded were being searched for, and continued to arrive at the temporaiy hospitals. To-day the burying of the dead will bu attended to. 296 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. CHAPTER XXVI. THE REBELS RECRIOSS TtIE POTOMAC.

TIiE rebel army has succeeded in making its escape fiom [laryland. They commenced to leave about dusk, on the 18th of September, and by daylighlt, yesterday morning, were all over except a small rear-guard. They saved all their transportation, and carried off all their wounded but about three hundred. General Pleasanton’s cavalry, who led the advance of the Union forces, picked up between three and four hundred rebel stragglers. After our forces occupied the whole field, the rebel loss was found to be filr greater-particularly in killecld-than was at first supposed. Fully two thousand five hundred were found lying on the field, thouglh a larger number had been buried the day before by their friiends. This will iiiake their total loss, in killed and wounded, nearly twelve thousand. Lairge details were made this miiorning to bury the dead, which hlave become offensive. General Stark, of the rebel army, is reported killed, and Generals Ripley, Walker, and Ilayes were wounded. The rebels, on Thursday nigi,ht, burned the railroad bridge and several houses at lHai per’s Ferry. They are still visible on the opposite shore, in force. They have posted a large amount of artillery to )preent our trool)s firom crossino’

the river. Nearly every house in Sharpsbnrg, was struck by our shlells.

Two were burned, and also a laige barn located in the centre of the town.

The citizens wh-lo remained escaped injury by staying in their cellars.

One child was killed. Some of the rebels were also killed while cooking in a kitchen. 13* 2911

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LEAVES FROM TiHE 2~oveeiizts of the Army, after the _ -erIey recrossea the Potomiac. Early this morning some rebel cannon were to be seen on the opposite bank of the Potomac, to the left of Shepherdstown. A few gunners were the only men visible. A reconnoissance was ordered. The 4th MIichligan, Colonel Childs, and portions of the 62d and 118th Pennsylvania ieg,iments, were ordered across on a tour of observation, ‘accompanied by Griffin’s battery, under command of Lieutenant Naslett. The 4th Michigan took the lead, and righlt gallantly they led the way, in the face of tile enemy’s frownin(rg gutlls belching grapl)e and canister. Unflinching ly they plunged into the stream, and forded its dangerous wiaters, not unlike as they forded the Chickahlominy, near New Market bridge, in face of Semmes’ whole rebel briigade. During the passage over, one private was killed, and Lieutenant Gordon, company I, and eight privates, wounded. Our men poured a terrific volley of musketry into the rebels, which made them run, leaving their dead and tguns on the field. They took possession of the four guans, and recrossed the stream. No rebels were now discernible, and the coast seemed clear. Forthwith, General lMaitindale’s Brigade, Colonel Barnes commanding, consisting of the 18th Massachusetts, 2d Maine, 25th and 13thl New York, and 118th Pennsylvania regiments, with the 5thl and 10tlh New York, of Sykes’ division, were thrown across the river. As these men were allowed to land undistiurbed, it increased the conviction that the enemy was inaking a hasty retreat into the interior of Virginia.

The 3(1 Indiana cavalry, of General Pleasanton’s Brigade, was the only cavalry that succeeded in crossing,-the enemy having suddenly opened a cannonade of shot and shel’ 298 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. upon the remaining regiments, that proved too warm a reception, and obliged them to return to the Maryland shore. The principal portion of the day’s work now commenced-a brief but spirited battle, in which a small force of our men fought valiantly against a superior number. The enemy began to show himself in unexpected strength, and could now be seen in line of battle as far as the eye, aided with a glass, could extend, on the left of Shlepherdstown. It was the duty of our men to stand their ground until beaten or ordered to retreat, and they stood most nobly. The enemy camne down on them like an avalanche. The sharp crack of musketry, and the rising smoke, betokened that a battle had begun. Seeing the perilous position of our men, RPobertson’s, Gibson’s, Benson’s, and Tidball’s United States artillery, took positions on this side, and poured shell and solid shot at a furious rate into the eneny’s ranks. But few shots were received in exchange. Our men remained on the other side several hours, although actual firing was kept up but little over half an hour. When the order to recross to the Maryland side was given, our men came back in excellent order, notwithstanding the enemy kept up a continuous fire. Our muskets and artillery had played fearful havoc among the enemy, and our troops had the consolation of knowing that they have left more rebel dead and wounded on the field than of our own. A number of our men were taken prisoners. They belong principally to the 118th Pennsylvania, now in the field. Through some mistake, they took the wrong road on the retreat. They fought with great bravery, and received the commendations of their commanders. Colonel Provost received a severe but not dangerous wound in the side, while carrying the colors of the regiment. The men of all the re,giments engaged be 299 a

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LEAVES FROM TIlE haved splendidly. They have suffered heavily. Whlile thle battle raged, a woman crossed the rivei, and imparted to General 3Ioriell information as to the positioln of the enemy, and stated tlhat they were maicliing towardis our army wvith the intention of enti’apping us. There has come a lull, in which the contending armies are lying quietly, with the Potoimac between them, await ing developments which will probably eCrc long bring tlhem iito collision; but neither will inadlvisedly reinew the contest, without exhaustin g all the precaution wh-ichi their leaders’

skill can sutgest. The battlefield of Wednesday is daily explored by an airmv of relic-hunters froni all parts of the country, who have nearly cleared off all material evidence of tlie fight. The dead have all been buried, except some poor fellows who in their last hours of agony crawled to a secluded spot or shady cornier, and whose bodies escaped the burial parties. Their whereabouts is now easily detected by the intolerable effluvia firom their fast-decomposing remains. I mentioned, in a former chapter, the marked improvement in the surgeons attached to the army in contrast with thleir inefficiency at the commnencement of the rebellion. I cannot withl justice avoid alluding to it again. After the battle of Antietam the wounded were more promptly and properly cared for than ever before, notwithstanding the large number to be provided for. This is owing, in a great measure, to the beneficial change in the ambulance service, which, under the efficient management of Lieutenant Dunkelberger, of the 1st United States cavalry, has become more prompt in the discovery and conveyance of the Nwounded. The surgeons also are more eielngetic and capable, and the hospital supplies are obtained with less delay and circumlocution than bef()re. These chlanges, which 300 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMIY SURGEON. have been so long and hitherto fruitlessly urged on the surgeongeneral, have been produced by the co-operation of the surgeons with the medical inspectors Drs. Cuyler and Coole(dge materially aiding the good work. The Sanitary Commission has also borne a large share of the expense and labor. Its assistants, and the liberal distribution of its clothing and supplies, have again alleviated the sffeirings of hundreds. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on this great and good institution. In it the people havre a safe and efficient channel tbr the dispensation of its contlibutions. The untiring and faithful exertions of the secretary, general agent, and volunteers of the Commission, are a sure guaranty that no wasteful or improper use will be made of the means placed at their disposal. The wounded hleave been all recovered. Those who were able to bear the journey have been sent to Hiagerstown, Chambersburg, HIarrisburg, and other places. The worst cases we have placed in the houses and barns in the vicinity of the battlefield, which have been fitted up as temporary hospitals. Dr. Muir, Medical Inspector-general of the British army, was here on the field. He has witnessed some of our operations and the preparations made for the wounded. Their extent and completeness has called forth his praise. His opinion, in such matters, is entitled to the highest respect from his large and varied experience in the Crimea and East Indies, and the thoroughly organized and wellknown efficiency of the surgical department of the British army. Di-. Mluir made many valuable suggestions, prominent among w hich he advised the organizing, under a competent head, of the female nurses, who should be selected between the ages of thirty and forty-five. This sucggestion, which coincided with the opinions of many of the surgeons, has been since acted on; and Miss Dix; 301 0 a

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LEAVES FROM TIIE whose name has for many years been identified with the most philanthropic exertions in behalf of suffering humanity, has consented to take the supervision and management of that department, which has hitherto been a source of annoyance to all the surgeons of the army.

Women from New York and other cities, of doubtful age and reputation, had succeeded in getting employed?as nurses, and had abused the privileges of their ill-assumed position to plunder the poor wounded soldiers and embezzle the clothing and luxuries generously contributed by individuals and the Sanitary Commission. I can recall to mind more than one of these female harpies who, under the garb of religion and phlilanthropy, have robbed the dying sufferer of his hardearned pay, sacredly hoarded and intended for his suffering family. Some of these miserable counterfeits of noble women, have been detected and exposed; but others, I regret to say, have carried on their nefarious practices with such artful and methodical secresy, as to elude detection. The day, I trust, is not far distant, when the generous and selfsacrificing attendance and almost divine sympathy, evinced by the efficient and kind anticipations of the wants of the patients, of that inestimable class of ladies-” The Sisters of Charity,”

will be sufficient for the wants of the hospitals; their presence in which lends a sanctity to the place, and restrains any disposition to profanity or impropriety that may exist. The wisdom of the rebels in bringing their famished army to the beautiful Cumberland valley, and on to Harrisbtrg and Hagerstown, is fully proven by the rich and luxurious landscape it presents; teeming, as it is, with every production of husbandry, and its numerous and well-stocked farm-houses giving unmistakable evidence of the superabundant plenty tlhat abounds. This also suggests the great 0 302 -1

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. importance of that repulse which, under the able generalship of McClellan, promptly aided by his gallant officers and men, they have sustained. Had they been permitted to remain this side of the river but a week, they would have found sufficient supplies to feed their half-starved legions for months, and would, undoubtedly, have carried out their threats of capturing Baltimore and Washington. The headquarters of General McClellan were moved yesterday three miles nearer to Harper’s Ferry. This movement is interesting, as it is supposed to be the percursor of an advance of the army into Virginia. Harper’s Ferry is is now held by a large force of our troops, as it is regarded as an important point in the position of the army. The great distance from the centre to the right wing of the army gives one an idea of the immense number of men and the amount of material that has been collected herefor 13 miles the eye never loses sight of the camps. The Virginia side of the river continues to be picketed by the enemy; while our troops do the same on this side. The pickets of both armies, by mutual consent, have abandoned the useless and murderous practice of firing on each other. A few days since a Dr.

McLaughlan, of the rebel General Bradley Johlnson’s staff, crossed the river and gave himself up to the 8th Maryland pickets, stating that he was tired of the rebel service, and preferred being sent to Fort McIHen’y to serving longer in the Virginia army. Early this morning a large force of our cavalry crossed the river at Blackburn’s ford. At Shepherdstown and at Shepherdstown Ferry, there are between three and four hundred wounded rebels. The former place is neutral ground; and not being occupied by either side, is visited alternately by our men and the rebel cavalry. The rebel wounded prisoners at Sheplherdstown are guarded by the 91st Pennsyl 303 a 0

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LEAVES FROM THE v’ania regimnent. They are under the care of three rebel s,rgceons, and have been liberally supplied. We have done every thing in our power to make the pool’ fellows comfortable. iMIost of them are badly wounded, the greater number of themi having lost a leg or arm. I reached Harper’s Ferry this noon, from Sharpsburg, and found important movements going on. Already a pontoon bridge crosses the river, and the railroad bridgedestroyedl by the rebels-is being reconstructed by the railroad company, who have a large force employed upon it. Its completion at an early day is of great importance to the movements of the army,-should they advance into Virginia,-it being the only means of supplying the army, should it be necessary to make rapid marches against the enemy in its direction. Our advance is four or five miles out firom the river, on the Virginia side; and in our fi’ont are two rebel brigades of Louisiana and North Carolina troops, who seem prepared to contest our further progress.

A skirmish took place this morning. Our cavalry and artillery drove the enemy some distance, and captured an officer and a squad of their cavalry, who were brought to the Ferry. Preparations are now making to protect Cumberland against an attack, as it is expected the rebels will make a dash on it. General McClellan’s report to General Halleck of the battles of South Mountain and Antietam was made known to-d(lay in the camps along the river. He estimates our loss at South Mountain, as killed, four hundred and forty-three; wounded, one thousand eight hundred and six; missiIg, seventy-six; making a total loss of two thousand three hundred and tw-enty-five. The loss at Antietarn, it will be seen by the following numbers, is heavier that of any battle since the commencement of the war, though less, by e 30-1 a

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. considerable, than the losses in the retreat firom the Chick ahlominy to the James river, or the Seven Days’ fight. It amounts to twelve thousand four hundred and sixty-nine, divided as follows: killed, two thousand and ten; wounded, nine thousand foul hundred and sixteen; missiing, one thousand and forty-thlree. The total loss, in both battles, is fourteen thousand seven hundred and ninety-four. The immense number of wounded to be cared for over ten thoutsand-nearly one half of whom required surgical operations, and all requiring care and hospital accommodation, will give the reader some idea of the amount of duty and responsibility devolving on the medical department of the army, and will show the necessity of placing at its head a man of unquestioned ability, and incorruptible integrity, who cannot be approached by parties interested in obtaining contracts for supplying the hospital stores, mnedicines, instruments, and appliances, the cost of wvhichl, for the last year, has exceeded twelve millions of dollars. The sinful waste of supplies at some places, and the impossibility of obtaining iwhat has been most urgently needed for the sick and wounded at others, together with the guilty sacrifice of human life caused by the incompetency and negligence of men claiming to be surgeons, is justly charged to the governing head of the department, who from either favoritism, ignorance, or imbecility, has permitted such persons to be employed in the government service at a rate of compensation much larger than they merited; though it was, by far, too little for the competent surgeons, whose services were constantly needed.

In agreeable contrast to this, I will state, that many eminent surgeons have relinquished a lucrative practice to join the army, since the commencement of the rebellion; and many surgeons justly distinguished in their several communities, volunteered after each . 305 0

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LEAVES FRO()M TIlE of the great battles, and at a great sacrifice of personal con venience and pecuniary gain, rendered valuable aid to the army surgeons in the treatment of the wounded, at a time when overpowered with the overwhelming numbers requiring their aid. October 1st, 1862.-This morning General Pleasanton crossed the river at Shepherdstown with a force of cavalry and artille,‘y, for the purpose of making a reconnoissance in the enemy’s rear, information having reached General McClellan that they were falling back from the river. iHe came up with their pickets beyond Shepherdstown, and drove them to MIartinsburg, from which place they were soon after driven by his artillery. The greater part of the rebels are encamped between Martinsburg and Winchester. General MIcClellan, with General Marcy, and their staffs, visited Harper’s Ferry, Bolivar, and Sandy Hook to-day, and inspected the railroad bridge across the river, which will be completed to-morrow. General Rodman, who was wounded at the battle of Antietam, died yesterday, and will be sent to Baltimore for burial. Review of the Army by the President. To-day the whole army are preparing for a grand review. President Lincoln has arrived, and, in company with General McClellan, is now reviewing General Burnside’s corps, near the mouth of the Antietam. He will next review the corps of General Franklin, at Bakersville, and then those of Generals Porter and Reynolds.

There are crowds of spectators, and the cheering of the soldiers for McClellan can be heard at a great distance. The President has also b)een well received, but by no means so enthusiastically as General [IcClellan.

His proclamation, issued last month, has caused considerable discontent among the regiments oI O 306 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and the West. The President came by railroad from Washington to lharper’s Ferry, where he was met by General McClellan, at General Sumner’s headquarters. After General Sumner’s corps had been inspected, he rode with General McClellan, his staff, and a large nunmber of officers, over the battlefield of Antietam. lIe will remain to-night at General McClellan’s headquarters, and return to Washington to-morrow, by way of Frederick. Our hospitals at Keedysville and Sharpsburg have to-day been cleared of all our wounded, but the rebel wounded still remain. We are having the vacant houses in Sharpsburg prepared for use as hospitals, as they may possibly be again required, though General Pleasanton, who has just returned fiom his recoinnoissance, says the rebels will not again invade Maryland. For several days there has been nothing of importance transpiring along our lines. On Saturday, October 4th, a company of the 54th Pennsylvania regiment, guarding the railroad bridge between Hancock and Cumberland, were taken prisoners by a rebel cavalry force; but while they were thus engaged, Colonel McReynold’s 1st regiment of New York cavalry captured their camp, and took two pieces of artillery and several wagons and mules. Colonel Egan, of the 40th New York, and his regiment, have returned fiom a reconnoissance to Leesburg, where they captured a riebel wagon-train, containing supplies, tents, and the personal baggage of General Longstreet. Commanders of corps, divisions, and brigades, are to-day lhaving read to their regiments a congratutlatory order firom General McClellan, for the victories of South Mountain and Antietam.-Exciting news reached us to-day, October 12th, that General Stuart, with one thousand rebel cavalry, has crossed the river above here, at Hancock, and has marched to Cham 307 a

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LEAVES FROM THE bersburg, Pennsylvania, which surrendered t6 him, there being no troops there. The rebels seized all the governmenet property, carrying off clothing, etc.; they destroyed the machine shop of the Cumberland Valley railroad, and government storehouses, and took away over five hundred lhoises. Cavalihy and infantry are being sent out to intercept the rebels, and if possible to cut them off.-A report received here to-day, October 13th, says that the rebels under Stuart are recrossing the Potomac, at Noland’s ford, with over one thousand horses and othler property they have captured. Their force which has thus escaped our army, it is said, numbers two thousand five hundred cavalry and four pieces of artillery. General Pleasanton, in his report of the rebel raid of last Sunday, throws the blame on General Stoneman. I learn to-day that the rebels are moving on Centreville in force.-October 16th. Our army are advancing into Virginia to-day. This morning, General Humplrey’s division crossed the river at Blackburn’s ford, and advanced on Shepherdstown, supported by Gen. Porter’s division. They were met by the rebels, who opened a heavy fire on them. Having no artillery they retreated across the river. Part of Sumner’s corps, under General Hiancock, advanced on Charlestown, met the enemy at Ilalltown, and, after some artillery fighting, drove the enemy back, and at noon occupied Charlestown. In the afternoon they formed in line of battle near Bunker Hill, and, after some skirmishing, the rebels fell back. Ifeacl-Qtearters moved into Viryinia.

General 3IcClellan has crossed the river and reached Charlestown in the afternooon. Large reconnoitring parties continue to be sent out daily.

Early this morning the cavalry force, under General Pleasanton, with four 308 a 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. pieces of artillery, crossed the river, on the new pontoon bridge at Berlin, and proceeded to Lovettsville, in London county. Soon after General Burnside commenced crossing with his corps, which has occupied nearly the whole day. To-day, October 30th, the whole army is now in motion, except Sutmner’s corps, andare pressing on into Virginia. General McClellan’s headquarters are at Berlin. Yesterday we had a terrible fire at I-arper’s Ferry, which destroyed fifteen railroad car-loads of hay and a portion ot the bridge. The reports to-day represent that the rebels are in strong force between Winchester and the Potomac.

General Slocum’s division took possession of Leesburg without opposition.

Our cavalry have been attacked and driven towards Aldee by fifteen hundred rebels under General Stuart. On Saturday General Pleasanton had an artillery fight witll the rebels at Phillimont, which lasted five hours.

The rebels retreated to the town of Union, which he took possession of next day. A train of cars, sent to Bull Run, was captured by the rebels, with one hundred men who accompanied it. Our army is making advances through the gaps of the Blue Ridge mountains, hitherto held by the enemy.

Our forces are in front of Ashby’s Gap. General Pleasanton, commanding our cavalry, moved on Barbours, near Chester Gap, on the 5th (Nov.). On approaching the town he came up with the rebels, three thousand strong, under General Stuart. They had but one battery, which was posted on a hill, but was driven off. Salem was to-day occupied by our cavalry, under General Bayard. Stonewall Jackson occupies Chester Gap with a large rebel force. General Reynolds’ corps took possession of Warrenton to-day at three o’clock. Our men found five rebel cavalry there, the rest having retreated on the arrival of our troops. 309 0 0

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LEAVES FROM THE CHAPTER XXVII. GENERAL M’CLELLAN’S REMIOVAL FROM THE

COMMAND OF THE ARMY OF TIlE POTO:MAC, NOVEMBER 8, 1862. INTENSE excitement was caused to-day, in all the camps, by the report that McClellan, their beloved commander, was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that General Burnside had been appointed to replace him. The order was received at headquarters last night, and was presented by Assistant adjutantgeneral Buckinghlam, in person. General McClellan at once issued an address to his army notifyingc them of the change, taking a kind farewell of the men who fought and conquered with him so gallantly through his long and arduous campaign. He will leave for Trenton as soon as he can place General Burnside in full possession of his plans, and turn over to him the command of the army. This will necessarily occupy some time. The excitement in camp is intense, there is nothing else talked of, and many, very many of the best officers express a desire to quit the service; not that they have any dislike to General Burnside, for he is a universal favorite, but they feel and say, that without McClellan, the Army of the Potomac will be powerless. His name alone acts like magic on the men, and the beloved “Little Mac,” who is looked upon by every soldier as the father and preserver of the Army of the Potomac, can wield an influence over them that no other general can hope to possess. 31C 0 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. Sunday was a sad day in. camp, as General McClellan took his leave of the gallant Army of the Potomac, which he loved so well and had done so much to organize; which had shared with him so many perils, and had bestowed on him so much of its confidence and esteem. He visited, one by one, the several army corps he had so often led to victory; and as he rode by, in company with General Burnside, the shattered colors of each regiment, bearing the unmistakable evidence of many hard-fought battles, were lowered in salute, while the long-continued applause of the men spoke fully their love, confidence, and esteem for McClellan, and their regret at losing himn for their commander. In the evening, the officers attached to General McClellan’s headquarters paid their respects to him in his tent, and seldom has such a scene been witnessed. One and all were stricken with grief of no ordinary kind. The love, honor, and respect entertained for him by the soldiers of his army was, if possible, exceeded by that of the officers, whose daily intercourse with him had endeared him to them. “The Army of the Potomac”

was the only sentimnient given. It was enough. Those few and simple words bore a meaning that required no eloquent elucidation, no lengthy dissertation to explain. The reason assigned for the removal of General McClellan firom the command of the Army of the Potomac by General Halleck, is, that he has refused to advance into Virginia. This, every one who has accompanied the army knows is false. Not a day has passed since the battle of Antietam was won, but some important movement has been made by the Union army. But General McClellan wisely allowed his weary troops to recruit their wasted energies, and, with the skill of a superior general, hesitated to 311 0

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DIARY OF AN ARMY SURGEON. lead his forces, with insufficient supplies and inadequate means of transportation, into the interior of Virginia, every foot of whicl had been prepared by the enemy, and on which our army had been twice before beaten. Political influence alone, or his hesitation to sacrifice his beloved army to the ignorance of the War Department, has been the cause of his removal. And nowi, having accompanied my readers through the trying scenes of battle, with its varied fortunes of defeat and victory, and admonished that I have exceeded the allotted space to these imperfect, though unbiased descriptions of my campaign, I must bid them a reluctant farewell:-shall I say forever? The reply must come from my readers; for, if these pages sufficiently interest them, I will renew our relations of writer and reader, and continue the history of the Virginia campaign; in which it is my intentionl to give a correct list of thie killed and wounded during the several battles described, firom the commencement of my connection with the Army of the Potomac. 312 0

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