Every hour or so during the night, the Johnnies would give us the rebel yell. These outbreaks occasioned alarm on our side at first, but after the terrible din had died out several times without the appearance of the boys in butternut, we concluded that the enemy was shouting to keep up courage for a general attack in the morning.
We had no opportunity to sleep – I mean to go into camp and stretch our weary bodies at full length on the ground for a season. About the time we would begin to congratulate ourselves on the prospects of a nap we would be ordered into the saddle, ready to repel an attack. There were any number of false alarms. Old soldiers will remember how exasperating it was to be hustled out at the dead of night, marched here and there – “up and down and through the middle” – only to find that somebody had made a bull. We marched several times during the night, sometimes going a hundred yards. When daylight came Saturday morning we found ourselves within three hundred yards of the spot where we bivouacked Friday night. We had been moved around like men on a checker-board – one man trying to catch another in the double corner, so to speak; “hawing and geeing,” as a Berkshire boy expressed it.
The Battle of the Wilderness ended Friday night, from an infantry standpoint, but Sheridan’s cavalry had fighting enough Saturday to prevent them from getting-rusty. We were given to understand early in the morning that the army was to go on. While the infantry were cutting the pegs out of their shoes, and burying the dead Saturday, the troopers were feeling the enemy over on the left toward Spottsylvania. There was a good deal of trouble in locating Lee’s line of battle. The rebels had not felt safe outside their breastworks after Gordon had failed to double up our right. When they were found by our pickets Saturday morning, they seemed to have lost their thirst for Yankee blood so far as coming outside to rebuke our curiosity was concerned. A reconnaissance by Gen. Warren of the Fifth Corps occasioned a suspicion that the infantry were at it again, as the firing was lively in Warren’s front for a few minutes. Lee did not accept the challenge, and no general engagement was brought on.
There was a sharp set-to between Stuart’s cavalry and the first brigade of the first division of Sheridan’s corps, commanded by Gen. G. A. Custer, early Saturday morning. The rebels found Custer an ugly customer. They skedaddled to Todd’s Tavern, after vainly trying to check the advance of the boys in blue.
Gen. Custer was an ideal cavalry officer. He was something like six feet in height, and sat his horse perfectly. He was one of the youngest generals in the army, having won the star of a brigadier before he was twenty-four years old. His pleasant blue eye seemed to fire up with the first intimation of battle. His appearance was all the more striking because of his long wavy hair and his dashing make-up, which included a large red necktie. His brigade adopted the red tie as a part of their uniform, and Custer’s troops could be distinguished at long range. It was a common saying in the cavalry corps that the rebels preferred to have nothing to do with Custer’s brigade except at “long range,” and therein the Confederates exhibited excellent judgment.
Custer was a favorite in the regular army after the war, and his death – in the Custer massacre in 1876 – was mourned by soldiers and civilians throughout the United States.
CHAPTER IX
Sheridans Raid – Turning Out Lively – Crossing the North Anna – Massa Linkum’s Sojers – The Tables Turned – The Name of Mother – A Yankee’s Benediction – Pushing On Front Beaver Dam – “The Kingdom Comin’” – The Grave of Massa Tom – Foraging on the Enemy – The Old Planter and the Vandal Horde – Yankees Without Horns.
"TURN out, men!”
“Turn out, lively!”
“Saddle up – mount at will!”
We turned out lively enough. The rebels were shelling our bivouac on the banks of the North Anna River. It was just at daylight. Our dreams of home were interrupted by the “pinging” of bullets, and the more distressing sounds of missiles of larger caliber.
“Look out there!”
“What’s that?”
“Only a cannon ball, but it’s too late to dodge now – it has gone by.”
“Get into your saddles, boys – never mind your haversacks – be sure your ammunition is all right. As fast as you’re saddled up, mount and ride over there where the major is forming the regiment.”
The Johnnies had nearly cheated us out of our suppers Monday night, as they did not cease firing on our pickets till after ten o’clock. And now they evinced a disposition to spoil our breakfast. In this they succeeded, but some of them were severely punished. Soldiers are inclined to be ugly when attacked about meal time, and Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalrymen were given a red-hot reception when they pitched into our boys before breakfast.
One of our boys got his saddle on with the pommel to the rear – he must have stood on the off side of his horse to buckle the saddle girth. After he mounted his horse he could not get his feet into the stirrups as they were “hind side afore.”
“Halloo, there! what are you facing the wrong way for?”
“I’m all right; it’s a new wrinkle, don’t you see? I can about face in the saddle and load and fire on the Johnnies while my horse keeps going on. I saddled up this way on purpose.”
During the night Fitzhugh Lee had posted a battery so that he could make it hot for us when we came to cross the river. And very hot it was for an hour or so.
The shot and shell came tearing through the bushes skirting the bank. A regiment was deployed to the rear to hold the rebels in check while the Federal troopers were crossing. The Confederates were mad – fighting mad. They understood that if Sheridan kept pushing on without halting his main column to give battle to the rebels in the rear, the Union cavalry could ride straight into Richmond. This was what caused Stuart to draw off the larger part of his command from the line of the North Anna to get in between Sheridan and the rebel capital, first making a feint on the south bank as if to attack Merritt’s division in the morning. We succeeded in getting over the river without great loss, as the first division covered our crossing, and our flying artillery did splendid work in silencing the rebel battery that gave us the most trouble, and then sending cannon balls among the Johnnies who were peppering us at close range.
When we reached Beaver Dam Station – or the ruins of what had been the station the day before – we found that Custer’s brigade had demonstrated the ability of the Yankee troopers to smash things.
“Golly, massa!” exclaimed a plantation hand, who had witnessed the capture and destruction of the station, “dem sojers from Massa Linkum’s army dun knock de bottum out’n de las fing roun heah – shuah’s yo born. Whar’s yo all gwine?”
“Richmond, Uncle.”
“‘Pears like yo’ mean it, shuah nuff, dis time. Reckon yo’ll get dar if all Massa Lee’s sojers am as skeery ob de Yanks ah de crowd dat was heah when yo’ all com’ gallopin’ cross de bridge las night. Whew! how dem rebels did run. Spec dey’s close to Richmond by dis time, if dey not slack up some ‘fore now.”
The old darky was right. Custer had knocked the bottom out of everything around the station, making a total wreck. The ruins were still burning, and our boys were particular that the destruction should be complete.
The mortification of the rebel prisoners was something ludicrous. Only a few hours before they had been guarding a detachment of Yankees captured in the Wilderness. They had reached Beaver Dam Station, where they had halted for the night. The prisoners had been assured that their chances of spending a year or so in Libby prison were of the best. But while the Confederates were boasting of their ability to whip Grant’s army three to one, Custer’s troopers dashed down on the station, and in a few minutes the fire-eating F. F. V.‘s were ready to throw up both hands and surrender. Some of the Union boys who had been released buckled on C. S. A. belts and cartridge boxes, and stood guard over the crest-fallen gray backs.
An infantry corporal of a Pennsylvania regiment, had been forced to give up all his personal effects to one of the rebel guards when leaving the Wilderness. The corporal had been “well fixed,” as the boys called it when a comrade had money, a watch, etc. After the tables had been turned on the Johnnies the corporal, having taken into custody the man who had robbed him, at once singled him out, and imitating the voice of the Johnnie, said:
“That’s a fine ring on your finger – think it would fit me? Hand it over.”
The prisoner surrendered the ring, saying:
“You’ve got the drop on me this time, Yank.”
“Mighty fine watch you carry – you’ll have no chance to keep it in prison where you’re going. I’ll take charge of it for you.”
The watch was handed over.
“Just go down in your pocket and see how many greenbacks you can find – you can’t spend them in prison.”
A pocket-book with quite a sum of money was given up.
“Let me see! They won’t allow you to smoke a meerschaum pipe in prison; so I’ll save that for you till you get out. I’ll guarantee it will be well colored.”
The pipe was returned to its owner.
“Now, that half-pound plug of tobacco, please. You may bite off one more chaw, as it will probably be the last you’ll get right away.”
The rebel obeyed orders.
“As you will have no tramping to do after you get to the prison, and I’m liable to be on the go most of the time, we’d better swap shoes, as mine are nearly worn out.”
The exchange was made.
“That canteen!”
Handed over.
“Haversack!”
Surrendered.
“Fine tooth comb!”
“I shall miss that.”
“Suspenders!”
Handed over.
“Jack-knife!”
“Here it is.”
“Shirt – no, never mind the shirt. I haven’t got yours to return in place of it, for it was so thick with graybacks when you took it off to put on mine, that it was run away with. I’ve no doubt my shirt that you’ve got on is in the same fix now, so keep it, Johnnie. I don’t want to be too hard on a stranger. You may also keep my drawers and stockings, as I can get a supply from some of my friends in the cavalry. I see you’ve got a ring that you didn’t take from me. Does it belong to one of our boys?”
“No, Yank; it’s mine. It was my mother’s. She’s dead – it’s all I have left that was hers. But it’s yours now, as I’m your prisoner. Take it, Yank. It’s hard to give it up.”
“I know it is.”
“Do you?”
“Yes; the ring you took from me was my mother’s, Johnnie. She’s dead – no, I can’t take your mother’s ring – keep it.”
“I took yours, but you didn’t tell me it was your mother’s.”
“No; for I didn’t believe it would make any difference.”
“It would have made a difference, Yank – sure’s you’re born, it would.”
There was a grasp of hands as the tears ran down the faces of the corporal and his prisoner. A tender chord had been struck in the heart of each. They had been foes a few minutes before. They were brothers now.
Each had fought for a cause, and would go on fighting as before. They must continue to be enemies on the field of battle till the great questions at issue were settled by the sword. But all this was forgotten as they spoke of “mother.”
The heart beneath the blue and the heart under the gray beat in unison. Each felt the blessed influence awakened by the utterance of that magic word “mother,” which is so beautifully expressed by Fanny J. Crosby:
“The light, the spell-word of the heart,
Our guiding star in weal or woe,
Our talisman – our earthly chart —
That sweetest name that earth can know.
“We breathed it first with lisping tongue
When cradled in her arms we lay;
Fond memories round that name are hung
That will not, cannot pass away.
“We breathed it then, we breathe it still,
More dear than sister, friend or brother,
The gentle power, the magic thrill
Awakened at the name of Mother.”
“Johnnie?”
“Yes, Yank.”
“Take this pipe and tobacco. You’ll need them.”
“Thank you.”
“Here’s my pocket-book.”
“But you’ll need the money?”
“Not so much as you will. Take it, I say.”
“All right, if you insist on it.”
“And this fine tooth comb – you’ll need that also.”
“Yes, I need it now.”
“Here’s my jack-knife; it’ll come handy.”
“It will.”
“Now take my canteen and haversack – no, don’t refuse; I can get more. I’ll see them filled before we part.”
“Thank you, Yank – God bless you!”
“God bless you, Johnnie!”
And all who stood by said, “Amen.”
So mote it be.
Leaving Beaver Dam Station in ruins, Sheridan’s cavalry corps pushed on toward the rebel capital early on the morning of Tuesday, May 10.
Not far from Beaver Dam we rode by a Virginia farmhouse. It was a one-story building, with chimneys on the outside and an “entry” running through the center. Two or three plantation hands stood near the fence, grinning and shouting:
“Bress de Lawd!”
“Hyar cum ‘Massa Linkum’s sojers – bress de Lawd! O, Glory!”
“Are you glad to see us, Uncle?”
“Yes, massa, ‘deed I is.”
“Where’s the ‘massa’?”
“He run and gone. Must be de king-dom com-in’.” The old darky had struck the keynote of one of the ditties that were immensely popular in the Union army. The boys took up the song. They made it ring as they rode along:
“Say, dar-keys, hab you seen de mas-sa,
Wid de muff-stash on his face,
Go long de road some time dis morn-in’,
Like he gwine to leab do place?
He seen a smoke, way up de rib-ber,
Where de Link-um gum-boats lay;
He took his hat, an’ lef’ berry sud-den,
An’ I ‘spec he’s run a-vvay!
Chorus: “De mas-sa run? ha! ha!
De dar-keys stay? ho! ho!
It mus’ be now de king-dom com-in’,
An’ de year ob Ju-bi lo!”
At another farmhouse we found a new-made grave in the dooryard. It was just inside the gate, and to the right of the walk leading up to the porch. The earth heaped over the grave was still moist, which showed that it had been filled in during the morning. A spade with the letters “C. S. A.” burned in the handle, lay beside the mound. At one of the windows of the farmhouse we saw the faces of two or three young ladies. They had been weeping, but it seemed as if they were holding back their tears till the Yankees should get out of sight. We concluded that the grave in the yard was that of their brother. The eyes of many of Sheridan’s raiders filled with tears as they came to understand the situation, and their minds went back to their own homes and the dear ones in the North. Mother, sister, sweetheart – in a few days they might be weeping over the news of the death of their soldier boy. Every voice was hushed. With uncovered heads the troopers rode by. Their hearts were moved with sympathy for the distressed household.
A staff officer inquired of an old negro who was drawing water for the soldiers at a well near the house:
“Whose grave is that, Uncle?”
“Young Massa Tom’s, sah.”
“And who was ‘Massa Tom’?”
“He war missus’s only son.”
“And the brother of the young ladies at the window?”
“Yes; all de brudder dey had. Ole massa he war killed at Seben Pines. Den young Massa Tom cum home for a time to look after de plantation. But when de news cum dat Massa Linkum’s army” had cross de Rapid Ann, young massa buckle on he sode an’ tell de young missuses and ole missus dat he obliged to go to de front. He only lef’ home Thursday, five days ago. He war in de Wilderness and war sent wid Yankee prizners to de station which you all’s sojers burn up las’ night. He cum home to supper in de early ebenin, an’ den went back to de station. He said dey spected to start for Richmond ‘fore sun-up dis mornin’. But de Yankees sweep down on de camp, an’ soon de news cum dat Massa Tom been kill. A party of Massa Lee’s sojers brought young massa’s body home, an’ bright an’ early dis mornin’ we laid him away in de groun’. De sojers say: ‘Better bury him ‘fore de Yankees cum long,’ and ole missus say: ‘Yes; dey shall nebber glory ober my son’s dead body.’ So Massa Tom war laid away. It did seem so cruel like to jest ‘rap a blanket roun’ him an’ put him in de groud’; but it won’t make a heep ob diff’nce, I reckon, when de resurreckshun day shall cum, for de good Lawd will know his chil’ren.
“Poor Massa Tom – he’s free. Ole missus say she ‘spec I’ll run off wid de Yankees now; but, massa, ole Ned’s gwine to stay by an’ help ole missus all he can, for de time’ll soon cum when dis poor ole slave will be free! For whom de Lawd make free, he be free ‘ndeed.”
As we rode away ole Uncle Ned was singing:
“Dar’ll be no sor-row dar,
Dar’ll be no sor-row dar,
In heb-un a-buv,
Whar all is luv-
Dar’ll be no sor-row dar.”
The enemy did not molest us during the march Tuesday. They had received severe punishment in the early morning, and when the three divisions of the cavalry corps had secured a position on the south bank of the North Anna, Stuart concluded that it was a waste of time – to say nothing of the danger – to attack Sheridan in the vicinity of Beaver Dam. At any rate, they left us to ourselves a good part of the day.
And what a picnic we enjoyed! Foraging parties were sent out in all directions, and they returned with an abundance of corn for our horses. The corn was in the ear, and we shelled it for our chargers. Now and then a trooper who had been out on the flank would come in with a supply of eggs and butter, with a chicken or two hanging on his saddle. All such provender was classed as “forage,” and was confiscated by the raiders. It was delicate business, however, and I do not believe that one out of twenty of Sheridan’s troopers took anything from the plantations along the route that was not needed by the soldiers.
I would not be understood as saying that the boys did not confiscate things that were not included in the Government ration. Not at all. They relished extra dishes – such as ham and eggs, butter for their flapjacks, and milk for their coffee, and wherever they found supplies of this kind they foraged them. But the Yankees showed a good deal of discrimination. When they found a dyed-in-the-wool rebel who had a goodly store of provisions, they confiscated what they needed, but in cases where the supply was scant and the farm was worked by the women and darkies, the boys admonished one another to go slow, and only a small percentage of the crop was taken into camp.
A foraging party went out to a plantation about a mile from the road on which our column was moving. We saw the planter’s house on a gentle rise of ground, surrounded by magnificent shade trees. Everything about the place indicated that the proprietor belonged to the F. F. V.‘s. As we rode up the broad avenue leading from the front gate to the residence, the sergeant in charge of the party said: “Boys, we’ve struck it rich. There must be something good to eat here.” Seated in an armchair on the broad piazza was the “lord of the manor,” his eyes fairly snapping with the hatred he could not conceal for the visitors. He was full threescore years and ten. His long white hair hung down upon his shoulders, and served to heighten the color in his cheeks – and the beet red of his nose. The planter arose at our approach, and demanded:
“To what am I indebted for this visit?”
“Firing on the old flag at Fort Sumter, primarily,” replied the sergeant, who seemed to enjoy the old Virginian’s hostile attitude.
“But, sir, I did not fire on Sumter!”
“No? Then you’re a Union man, I take it?”
“No, sir! I’m a Virginian, loyal to my State and to the Confederacy. If I were able to bears arms I should be in Lee’s army to-day, fighting the vandal horde that has invaded the sacred soil. Sir, we are enemies!”
“I am sorry to hear you say that. If you were a Union man you could get pay for the forage we were sent to secure. But as you are a sworn enemy of the United States of America we will be obliged to confiscate some of your corn and other supplies.”
“I knew you were a band of robbers when you rode through my gate. The Northern mudsills make war on private citizens and rob them by force of arms.”
“It’s the fortunes of war.”
“You may call it war. We of the South call it the unholy attempt to subjugate freemen – to destroy the sovereignty of the States. But Abe Lincoln with all his vandal horde will never conquer the South!”
“Well, stick to your State’s rights, old man; but in the meantime we must have corn for our horses to brace them up so’s we can ride into Richmond and hang old Jeff Davis – ”
“Jeff Davis! He’s a saint, sir, when compared with your negro-loving railsplitter in the White House!”
“All right; I don’t propose to quarrel with you. Please show us where the corn can be found.”
“Never, sir! If you will plunder my plantation I am powerless to defend myself; but I’ll not help you to anything.”
“Then we’ll prospect on our own hook. Perhaps we can find what we want.”
“I protest in the name of the sovereign rights of a Virginian.”
“Uncle Sam’s a bigger man than ‘ole Virginny,’” replied the sergeant.
We had no difficulty in finding the corn crib and the old Virginian’s commissary department. A young darky “let the cat out of the bag” on his master, and we soon had our horses loaded with forage. We had struck it rich, indeed, for the plantation yielded “corn, wine and oil” in abundance. There was food for man and beast. A large number of hams, cured on the plantation, sides and sides of bacon, and a goodly store of “groceries” were among the “forage” we confiscated. But we did not strip the planter of all his provisions; enough was left to run him for several months.
“I’ll give you a receipt for this forage,” said the sergeant, as we were about to leave.
“What would the receipt of a robber be good for?” exclaimed the old planter.
“You can present it to the Government when the war’s over and get pay for the forage.”
“Do you want to add further insult to the injury you have done me? I scorn you and your Government. You can never whip the South, sir, never, and under no consideration would I disgrace myself by taking pay for stores used by the enemies of the Confederacy. Leave my plantation. Go back to your general and tell him that my prayer is that he and his followers will get their just deserts – that they will all be hanged.” The enraged planter walked back and forth on the piazza, and shot defiant glances at us as we rode away with our plunder. I have no doubt that he would have “bushwhacked” us if there had been an opportunity.
A couple of miles south of the big plantation we came to a farmhouse on a cross road. We stopped at the well to fill our canteens, and one of the boys explored the premises to see what he could find. He came back with the report that the house was occupied by a widow with a large family of children.
“There don’t seem to be anything to eat on this farm,” the trooper remarked.
“I’ll see about it,” said the sergeant, as he rode up to the porch. “Halloo, inside there!”
A middle-aged woman came out into the entry and advanced timidly toward the Yankee.
“We’re out after forage,” the sergeant said. “Have you any corn around here?”
“We have nothing but the crap that’s gro’in’. We had some provisions until a few days ago a lot of soldiers came along and took all our corn and bacon. We’ve got a mighty little meal and a trifle of bacon left.”
“I didn’t know that any of our men had been through here lately.”
“They were not Yankees; they were our own soldiers. They said they were hungry, and when they begun to eat it seemed like they would never quit. They fairly ate us most out of house and home. It’s mighty sorry times with us. I don’t know what we’ll do to get along till harvest.”
“Where’s your husband?”
“Done killed in the wah.”
“Have you no sons?”
“Yes, sir; two fighting under General Lee.
“And you’re short of provisions?”
“Very short indeed.”
“Boys, leave a couple of hams, a bag of meal and some bacon with this lady.”
The boys gladly complied with the instructions, and they also went down in their haversacks and contributed quite a number of rations of coffee and sugar.
“Oh! that’s real coffee,” exclaimed the oldest of the children, a girl of about twelve years.
“I expected you would take what little we had to eat,” said the head of the family, as the tears rolled down her face. “I never thought the Yankees would be so kind to the widow of a Confederate. The Richmond papers said if you all came this way you would destroy everything; they said heaps of black things about you.”
“Do you all have hams on your saddles and sacks of corn to carry along all the time?” ventured the young miss who had listened to all that had been said.
“No, no; we confiscated these back at the big plantation yonder.”
“Where ‘bouts?” inquired the widow.
“At that fine house a couple of miles north.”
“Was there an old gentleman there?”
“Yes; he gave us his benediction when we left, by expressing the wish that we would all come to the gallows.”
“And these hams and other things came from his plantation?”
“Yes.”
“I declare, ‘vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.’ Yesterday I called there and asked the colonel – they all call him colonel – to help me along by letting me have a little meal and bacon. I promised to pay him back when we gather our crap, by and by.”
“He assisted you, of course?”
“No, indeed. He said he could not afford to distribute his provisions among other people who had no claims on him. He refused to let me have a pound of meat, or a quart of meal.”
“He knows your husband was killed fighting for the Confederacy – and that you have two sons in Lee’s army?”
“To be sure he does; he urged them to go into the army, to hurl back the invaders; but he now says I must look to the Government at Richmond for help. I’m thankful for what you all have done for us. It’s a right smart help. But I believe the colonel would come down here and take the provisions away from us, if he knew you all had left them here.”
“Let’s go back and take what’s left at his plantation and burn him out,” exclaimed one of the troopers.
“No; not this time,” said the sergeant. “But we shall probably come this way again, and then we can pay our compliments to the old skinflint.”
“Do you think the wah’s coming to an end soon?” the woman asked as we were about to move forward.
“I hope so,” replied the sergeant. “I think this campaign will wind it up.”
“Who’s going to whip?”
“We are.”
“You’ll be obliged to do some powerful hard fighting, I reckon, for our side won’t give up so long’s there’s anything to eat in the Confederacy. But if we’re to be overcome, sure enough, I hope it will be soon – before my sons are killed. Our boys’ll die game, sure’s you’re born.”
“I hope your sons will be spared.”
“I trust they will. They believe they are fighting for a just cause. They are Virginians, and they have great faith in Gen. Lee. They will follow him to the end. But it’s a cruel wah. Somebody must be wrong; both sides cannot be right. I don’t understand it thoroughly, but I feel that somebody has made a terrible mistake.”
“Ma, the Yankees hasn’t got horns, has they, ma?” exclaimed one of the children, a girl about five years old, and who was gnawing at a hard-tack one of the troopers had given her.
“No, my darling.”
And the Confederate soldier’s widow joined in the laugh that followed this juvenile outbreak. Good-bys were said, and the foraging party hastened to rejoin the column.