Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War
Confederates, and Lane’s brigade, most of which was now south of the
plank road, had made every preparation to receive it. Against troops
lying down in the woods the Federal artillery, although fifty or sixty
guns were in action, made but small impression; and the dangers of a
night attack, made upon troops who are expecting it, and whose _moral_
is unaffected, were forcibly illustrated. The confusion in the forest
was very great; a portion of the assailing force, losing direction,
fell foul of Berry’s division at the foot of the Fairview heights,
which had not been informed of the movement, and at least two
regiments, fired into from front and rear, broke up in panic. Some part
of the log breastworks which Jackson’s advanced line had occupied were
recaptured; but not a single one of the assailants, except as
prisoners, reached the plank road. And yet the attack was an
exceedingly well-timed stroke, and as such, although the losses were
heavy, had a very considerable effect on the issue of the day’s
fighting. It showed, or seemed to show, that the Federals were still in
good heart, that they were rapidly concentrating, and that the
Confederates might be met by
vigorous counter-strokes. “The fact,” said Stuart in his official
dispatch, “that the attack was made, and at night, made me apprehensive
of a repetition of it.”
So, while Jackson slept through the hours of darkness that should have
seen the consummation of his enterprise, his soldiers lay beside their
arms; and the Federals, digging, felling, and building, constructed a
new line of parapet, protected by abattis, and strengthened by a long
array of guns, on the slopes of Fairview and Hazel Grove. The respite
which the fall of the Confederate leader had brought them was not
neglected; the fast-spreading panic was stayed; the First Army Corps,
rapidly crossing the Rappahannock, secured the road to the White House,
and Averell’s division of cavalry reached Ely’s Ford.
May 3 On the left, between Chancellorsville and the river, where a
young Federal colonel, named Miles,[8] handled his troops with
conspicuous skill, Lee’s continuous attacks had been successfully
repulsed, and at dawn on the morning of May 3 the situation of the
Union army was far from unpromising. A gap of nearly two miles
intervened between the Confederate wings, and within this gap, on the
commanding heights of Hazel Grove and Fairview, the Federals were
strongly intrenched. An opportunity for dealing a crushing
counterblow—for holding one portion of Lee’s army in check while the
other was overwhelmed—appeared to present itself. The only question was
whether the _moral_ of the general and the men could be depended upon.
In Stuart, however, Hooker had to deal with a soldier who was no
unworthy successor of Stonewall Jackson. Reluctantly abandoning the
idea of a night attack, the cavalry general, fully alive to the
exigencies of the situation, had determined to reduce the interval
between himself and Lee; and during the night the artillery was brought
up to the front, and the batteries deployed wherever they could find
room. Just before the darkness began to lift, orders were received from
Lee that the assault was to be made as early as possible; and the right
wing, swinging round in order to come abreast of the centre,
became hotly engaged. Away to the south-east, across the hills held by
the Federals, came the responding thunder of Lee’s guns; and 40,000
infantry, advancing through the woods against front and flank,
enveloped in a circle of fire a stronghold which was held by over
60,000 muskets.
It is unnecessary to describe minutely the events of the morning. The
Federal troops, such as were brought into action, fought well; but
Jackson’s tremendous attack had already defeated Hooker. Before Sickles
made his night attack from Hazel Grove he had sent orders for Sedgwick
to move at once, occupy Fredericksburg, seize the heights, and march
westward by the plank road; and, at the same time, he had instructed
his engineers to select and fortify a position about a mile in rear of
Chancellorsville. So, when Stuart pressed forward, not only had this
new position been occupied by the First and Fifth Army Corps, but the
troops hitherto in possession of Hazel Grove were already evacuating
their intrenchments.
These dispositions sufficiently attest the demoralisation of the
Federal commander. As the historian of the Army of the Potomac puts it:
“The movement to be executed by Sedgwick was precisely one of those
movements which, according as they are wrought out, may be either the
height of wisdom or the height of folly. Its successful accomplishment
certainly promised very brilliant results. It is easy to see how
seriously Lee’s safety would be compromised if, while engaged with
Hooker in front, he should suddenly find a powerful force assailing his
rear, and grasping already his direct line of communication with
Richmond. But if, on the other hand, Lee should be able by any
slackness on the part of his opponent to engage him in front with a
part of his force, while he should turn swiftly round to assail the
isolated moving column, it is obvious that he would be able to repulse
or destroy that column, and then by a vigorous return, meet or attack
his antagonist’s main body. In the successful execution of this plan
not only was Sedgwick bound to the most energetic action, but Hooker
also was engaged by every
consideration of honour and duty to so act as to make the dangerous
task he had assigned to Sedgwick possible.”[9]
But so far from aiding his subordinate by a heavy counter-attack on
Lee’s front, Hooker deliberately abandoned the Hazel Grove salient,
which, keeping asunder the Confederate wings, strongly facilitated such
a manœuvre; and more than this, he divided his own army into two
portions, of which the rear, occupying the new position, was actually
forbidden to reinforce the front.
It is possible that Hooker contemplated an early retreat of his whole
force to the second position. If so, Lee and Stuart were too quick for
him. The cavalry commander, as soon as it became light, and the hills
and undulations of the Wilderness emerged from the shadows, immediately
recognised the importance of Hazel Grove. The hill was quickly seized;
thirty pieces of artillery, established on the crest, enfiladed the
Federal batteries, facing west, on the heights of Fairview; and the
brigade on Stuart’s extreme right was soon in touch with the troops
directed by General Lee. Then against the three sides of the Federal
position the battle raged. From the south and south-east came Anderson
and McLaws, the batteries unlimbering on every eminence, and the
infantry, hitherto held back, attacking with the vigour which their
gallant commanders knew so well how to inspire. And from the west,
formed in three lines, Hill’s division to the front, came the Second
Army Corps. The men knew by this time that the leader whom they trusted
beyond all others had been struck down, that he was lying wounded,
helpless, far away in rear. Yet his spirit was still with them. Stuart,
galloping along the ranks, recalled him with ringing words to their
memories, and as the bugles sounded the onset, it was with a cry of
“Remember Jackson!” that his soldiers rushed fiercely upon the Federal
breastworks.
The advanced line, within the forest, was taken at the first rush; the
second, at the foot of the Fairview heights, protected by a swampy
stream, a broad belt of abattis, and
with thirty guns on the hill behind, proved far more formidable, and
Hill’s division was forced back. But Rodes and Colston were in close
support. The fight was speedily renewed; and then came charge and
counter-charge; the storm of the parapets; the rally of the defenders;
the rush with the bayonet; and, mowing down men like grass, the fearful
sweep of case and canister. Twice the Confederates were repulsed. Twice
they reformed, brigade mingled with brigade, regiment with regiment,
and charged again in the teeth of the thirty guns.
On both sides ammunition began to fail; the brushwood took fire, the
ground became hot beneath the foot, and many wounded perished miserably
in the flames. Yet still, with the tangled abattis dividing the
opposing lines, the fight went on; both sides struggling fiercely, the
Federals with the advantage of position, the Confederates of numbers,
for Hooker refused to reinforce his gallant troops. At length the guns
which Stuart had established on Hazel Grove, crossing their fire with
those of McLaws and Anderson, gained the upper hand over the Union
batteries. The storm of shell, sweeping the Fairview plateau, took the
breastworks in reverse; the Northern infantry, after five hours of such
hot battle as few fields have witnessed, began sullenly to yield, and
as Stuart, leading the last charge, leapt his horse over the parapet,
the works were evacuated, and the tattered colours of the Confederates
waved in triumph on the hill.
“The scene,” says a staff-officer, “can never be effaced from the minds
of those that witnessed it. The troops were pressing forward with all
the ardour and enthusiasm of combat. The white smoke of musketry
fringed the front of battle, while the artillery on the hills in rear
shook the earth with its thunder and filled the air with the wild
shrieking of the shells that plunged into the masses of the retreating
foe. To add greater horror and sublimity to the scene, the
Chancellorsville House and the woods surrounding it were wrapped in
flames. It was then that General Lee rode to the front of his advancing
battalions. His presence was the signal for one of those uncontrollable
outbursts of enthusiasm which none can appreciate who have not
witnessed them.
“The fierce soldiers, with their faces blackened with the smoke of
battle, the wounded, crawling with feeble limbs from the fury of the
devouring flames, all seemed possessed of a common impulse. One long,
unbroken cheer, in which the feeble cry of those who lay helpless on
the earth blended with the strong voices of those who still fought,
hailed the presence of the victorious chief.
“His first care was for the wounded of both armies, and he was among
the foremost at the burning mansion, where some of them lay. But at
that moment, when the transports of his troops were drowning the roar
of battle with acclamations, a note was brought to him from General
Jackson. It was handed to him as he sat on his horse near the
Chancellorsville House, and unable to open it with his gauntleted
hands, he passed it to me with directions to read it to him. I shall
never forget the look of pain and anguish that passed over his face as
he listened. In a voice broken with emotion he bade me say to General
Jackson that the victory was his. I do not know how others may regard
this incident, but for myself, as I gave expression to the thoughts of
his exalted mind, I forgot the genius that won the day in my reverence
for the generosity that refused its glory.”
Lee’s reply ran:—
“General,—I have just received your note, informing me that you were
wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occurrence. Could I have
directed events, I should have chosen for the good of the country to be
disabled in your stead.
“I congratulate you upon the victory, which is due to your skill and
energy.
“Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE, _General._”
Such was the tribute, not the less valued that it was couched in no
exaggerated terms, which was brought to the bedside in the quiet
hospital. Jackson was almost alone. As the sound of cannon and
musketry, borne across
the forest, grew gradually louder, he had ordered all those who had
remained with him, except Mr. Smith, to return to the battle-field and
attend to their different duties.