Wilson Family Genealogy
Military Service of Alvinzie Hunt Chamberlain
Civil War
| Mustered In: | |
| Rank: | |
| Company: | 8th Michigan Infantry |
| Mustered Out: | |
| Record: | Received disabling wound in the Second Battle of Bull Run |
Note: Regimental and battle records are from information online at www.ancestry.com.
Regimental History
MICHIGAN Eighth Infantry.
(Three Years)
The Eighth Infantry saw active duty on the Atlantic coast in the Army of the Potomac and in the western department, marching and fighting in practically all the southern states from the Mississippi river to the Atlantic ocean.
At the organization of the regiment it was ordered to rendezvous at Grand Rapids, but was afterwards transferred to Fort Wayne at Detroit, where it was mustered into service of the U. S. on the 23d day of September, 1861.
The field, staff and line officers at organization were as follows:
Colonel, William M. Fenton, Fenton. Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Graves, Niles. Major, Amasa B. Watson, Muskegon. Surgeon, Hurlburt B. Shank, Lansing. Assistant Surgeon, Samuel R. Wooster, Grand Rapids. Adjutant, David B. Harbaugh, Detroit. Quartermaster, Asa Gregory, Flint. Chaplin, William Mahone, Detroit.
A. Captain, Samuel C. Guild, Flint. First Lieutenant, George E. Newell, Flint. Second Lieutenant, George H. Turner, Flint.
B. Captain, Gilbert E. Pratt Detroit. First Lieutenant, William E. Lewis, St. Johns. Second Lieutenant, James S. Donohue, Flint.
C. Captain, Ralph Ely, Alma. First-Lieutenant, George S. Gordon, Alma. Second Lieutenant, Charles B. Holliday, Alma.
D. Captain, Benjamin B. Church, Grand Rapids. First Lieutenant, John C. Buchanan, Grand Rapids. Second Lieutenant, Benjamin F. Porter, Grand Rapids.
E. Captain, Matthew Elder, Lansing. First Lieutenant, Abram Cotrell, Lansing. Second Lieutenant,---------------,-------------------,-------------------.
F. Captain, Nelson H. Walbridge, Richland. First Lieutenant, Traverse Phillips, Hastings. Second Lieutenant, Jacob Maus, Hastings.
G. Captain, Ephraim N. Lyon, Flint. First Lieutenant, Horatio Beldler, Flint. Second Lieutenant, N. Miner Pratt, Flint.
H. Captain, Alfred B. Turner, Grand Rapids. First Lieutenant, Richard N. Doyle, Georgetown. Second Lieutenant, William A. Brown, Ann Arbor.
I. Captain, Jay L. Quackenbush, Owosso. First Lieutenant, Albert Bainbridge, Byron. Second Lieutenant, James C. Merrell, Corunna.
K. Captain, George Proudfit, Jackson. First Lieutenant, Reuben S. Cheney, Moscow. Second Lieutenant, William P. Miner, Moscow.
It left Detroit, Sept. 27, 1861, and arrived at Washington the 30th, with an enrollment of 915 officers and men. The regiment was assigned to the "Expeditionary Corps," under General T. W. Sherman, and saw service along the coast at Hilton Head, Beaufort, S. C., Coosaw River and Tybee Island, Ga. In April, 1862, the regiment had a severe engagement with the enemy on Wilmington Island, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. At Secessionville on James Island the regiment distinguished itself by a bayonet charge upon the enemy's works, and though their ranks were swept by the enemy's artillery, not a gun was fired until the paraphet was reached. Here the enemy's fire was so destructive that it was impossible to enter the works and the assaulting party was obliged to withdraw, with a loss of 13 killed, 98 wounded, 35 prisoners, and 36 missing.
In July the regiment left James Island and after a series of embarkations and marches, reached Bull Run, Va., where it was engaged Aug. 29 and 30 as part of the First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. After long marches in the Maryland Campaign of 1862 the regiment was heavily engaged at South Mountain and Antietam, Sept. 14 and 17.
In March, 1863, the Eighth was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Vicksburg, Miss., where it arrived on the 17th. The regiment was engaged in the marches about Vicksburg, especially at Jackson, Miss., and then started for Knoxville, Tenn., by way of Crab Orchard and Cumberland Gap, where it arrived on the 26th of September.
When General Longstreet marched through Tennessee the Eighth was among the troops that met him at Campbell Station, west of Knoxville, and after a severe encounter fell back to the works on College Hill in Knoxville. During the siege, the Eighth was in the advanced works and suffered much in common with the whole corps, on account of the inclement weather, the want of clothing and tents, and the scarcity of rations.
After General Longstreet withdrew his forces from Knoxville, the Eighth started in pursuit and went as far as Rutledge, East Tennessee, and then retired to Blain's Cross Roads.
At this camp the regiment veteranized, 283 re-enlisting, and commenced a 200 mile march across the Cumberland Mountains over horrible roads, in sleety, cold weather, the march averaging 20 miles a day, and arrived at Nicholasville, Ky., Jan. 19, 1864.
The regiment reached Detroit, Mich., on the 25th and was furloughed for 30 days. After the expiration of the 30 days' furlough, the Eighth assembled at Flint and started on the 9th of March, via. Cincinnati, to join the Ninth Corps, which was then at Annapolis, Md.
On the 4th of May, 1864, the regiment, with the balance of the Ninth Corps, started on the campaign under General Grant through Virginia. It formed a part of the First Brigade, Third Division, of the celebrated Ninth Corps, and crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford the 5th, and was engaged in the battle of the Wilderness the 6th. In this battle the regiment reported a loss of 99 killed, wounded and missing. Colonel Graves, commanding the regiment, was killed.
The Eighth was in the assault on the enemy's works at Spottsylvania on the 12th, and suffered severely. The regimental commander reported a loss of 49 officers and men in this assault.
At Bethesda Church, June 3, the regiment in a desperate encounter with the enemy lost 52 killed, wounded and missing. The Eighth crossed James river on the 15th and lost 49 officers and men the 17th and 18th before Petersburg.
The regiment occupied different positions during the siege of Petersburg, almost always under fire, and took part in the battles along the Weldon R. R., Ream's Station, Poplar Grove Church, Fort Steadman, and when Petersburg fell it was one of the first Union regiments to march into that city.
After the surrender of General Lee, April 9, 1865, the Eighth moved to City Point, where it embarked on transports for Alexandria, Va., and reached Washington, May 9. The regiment, under Colonel Ralph Ely started for Michigan, Aug. 1, and arrived at Detroit the 3d, where it was paid off and disbanded.
The Eighth, during its term of service, was engaged with the enemy at Port Royal, S. C., Nov. 7, I86l; Coosaw River, S.C., Dec. 18, 1861; Port Royal Ferry, S. C., Jan. 1, 1862; Pocotaligo, S. C., April --, 1862; Fort Pulaski, Ga., April 14, 1862; Wilmington Island, Ga., April 16, 1862; James Island, SC., June 16, 1862: Bull Run, Second, Va., Aug. 29, 1862; Chantilly, Va., Sept 1, 1862; South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, 1862; Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 12, 13, and 14, 1862; siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 22 to July 4, 1863; Jackson, Miss., July 11 to 18, 1863;Blue Springs, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1863; Loudon, Tenn., Nov. 14, 1863; Lenoir Station, Tenn., Nov. 15 1863; Campbell's Station, Tenn., Nov. 16, 1863; siege of Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 17 to Dec. 5, 1863; Fort Saunders, Tenn., Nov. 29, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 5, 6, and 7, 1864; Spottsylvania, Va., May 10, 11, and 12, 1864; North Anna, Va., May 24 and 25, 1864; Bethesda Church, Va., June 2 and 3, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 7, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 17 and 18, 1864, The Crater, Va., July 30, 1864; Weldon Railroad, Va., Aug. 19 to 21, 1864; Ream's Station, Va., Aug. 25, 1864; Poplar Spring Church, Va., Sept. 30, 1864; Pegram Farm, Va., Oct. 2, 1864; Boydton Road, Va., Oct. 8, 1864, Hatcher's Run, Va., Oct. 27 and 28, 1864; Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, 1865; Fort Mahon, Va., April 2, 1865; capture of Petersburg, April 3, 1865; siege of Petersburg, from June 17, 1864, to April 3, 1865.
Total enrollment. 1,715
Killed in action 134
Died of wounds 87
Died in confederate prisons 7
Died of disease 181
Discharged for disability
(wounds and disease) 278
Source: Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865
Battles Fought:
Fought on 02 Sep 1861.
Fought on 18 Dec 1861 at Coosaw River, SC.
Fought on 01 Jan 1862 at Port Royal Ferry, SC.
Fought on 10 Mar 1862.
Fought on 16 Apr 1862 at Wilmington Island, GA.
Fought on 30 May 1862 at Beaufort, SC.
Fought on 01 Jun 1862 at Port Royal Ferry, SC.
Fought on 16 Jun 1862 at Secessionville, SC.
Fought on 16 Jun 1862 at Wilmington Island, GA.
Fought on 16 Jun 1862 at Hilton Head, SC.
Fought on 16 Jun 1862 at James Island, SC.
Fought on 15 Jul 1862.
Fought on 15 Aug 1862 at James Island, SC.
Fought on 15 Aug 1862.
Fought on 20 Aug 1862.
Fought on 30 Aug 1862 at 2nd Bull Run, VA.
Fought on 31 Aug 1862 at 2nd Bull Run, VA.
Fought on 01 Sep 1862 at Chantilly, VA.
Fought on 02 Sep 1862.
Fought on 14 Sep 1862 at South Mountain, MD.
Fought on 15 Sep 1862.
Fought on 17 Sep 1862 at Antietam, MD.
Fought on 15 Oct 1862.
Fought on 14 Dec 1862 at Fredericksburg, VA.
Fought on 10 Jul 1863 at Jackson, MS.
Fought on 10 Oct 1863 at Blue Springs, TN.
Fought on 15 Oct 1863 at Knoxville, TN.
Fought on 15 Oct 1863.
Fought on 16 Nov 1863 at Lenoir, TN.
Fought on 16 Nov 1863 at Campbell's Station, TN.
Fought on 29 Nov 1863 at Knoxville, TN.
Fought on 01 Dec 1863.
Fought on 05 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 06 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 07 May 1864 at Wilderness, VA.
Fought on 09 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.
Fought on 13 May 1864.
Fought on 15 May 1864 at North Anna River, VA.
Fought on 15 May 1864.
Fought on 20 May 1864 at Spotsylvania Court House, VA.<
Fought on 25 May 1864 at North Anna River, VA.
Fought on 31 May 1864 at Hanover Town, VA.
Fought on 31 May 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 01 Jun 1864 at Grove Church, VA.
Fought on 01 Jun 1864.
Fought on 03 Jun 1864 at Grove Church, VA.
Fought on 03 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA.
Fought on 03 Jun 1864 at Bethesda Church, VA.
Fought on 05 Jun 1864.
Fought on 09 Jun 1864.
Fought on 10 Jun 1864.
Fought on 15 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 15 Jun 1864.
Fought on 17 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 18 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 19 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 22 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 24 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 25 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 26 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 27 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 28 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 30 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 02 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 03 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 04 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 07 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 08 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 09 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 15 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 16 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 18 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 19 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 30 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 03 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 05 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 15 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 19 Aug 1864 at Weldon Railroad, VA.
Fought on 19 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 21 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 25 Aug 1864.
Fought on 30 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 30 Sep 1864 at Poplar Springs Church, VA.
Fought on 30 Sep 1864 at Near South Side Railroad, VA.
Fought on 30 Sep 1864 at Peebles' Farm, VA.
Fought on 04 Oct 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 04 Nov 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 14 Dec 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 16 Dec 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 01 Feb 1865.
Fought on 02 Mar 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
Fought on 15 Mar 1865.
Fought on 02 Apr 1865 at Petersburg, VA.
2nd BULL RUN
AUG. 30th, 1862
Bull Run, Va., Aug. 30, 1862. Army of Virginia and Army of the Potomac.
In this battle, known as the second Bull Run, is included the action at Gainesville late on the afternoon of the 28th, and the battle of Groveton on the 29th.
Gen. Pope's forces at this time consisted of the Army of Virginia and the Army of the Potomac. The former was made up of three corps: the 1st, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Franz Sigel, included the divisions of Schenck, Von Steinwehr and Schurz, the independent brigade of Gen. Robert H. Milroy, and the cavalry brigade of Col. John Beardsley.
The 2nd corps, under the command of Maj.-Gen. N. P. Banks, was composed of the divisions of Williams and Greene and the cavalry brigade of Gen. John Buford.
The 3rd corps, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Irvin McDowell, consisted of the two divisions of King and Ricketts, the cavalry brigade of Gen. George D. Bayard, and the reserve corps under Brig.-Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis. Reynolds' division was temporarily attached to this corps.
In the Army of the Potomac there were also three corps, the 3rd, 5th and 9th. The 3rd was commanded by Maj.-Gen. S. P. Heintzelman and consisted of the divisions of Kearny and Hooker.
The 5th was commanded by Maj.-Gen. Fitz John Porter and embraced the divisions of Morell and Sykes. The 9th corps commanded by Maj.-Gen. Jesse L. Reno, included two divisions the 1st commanded by Maj.-Gen. Isaac Stevens, and the 2nd by Reno in person. With this corps was also the 1st provisional brigade of the Kanawha division, commanded by Col. E. P. Scammon.
The 1st brigade, 1st division of the 6th corps, Brig.-Gen. George W. Taylor, was engaged at Bull Run bridge toward the close of the battle, and there were some unattached organizations.
The Confederate forces-known as the Army of Northern Virginia-were under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee, and consisted of the right and left wings. The former, commanded by Maj.-Gen. James Longstreet, included the divisions of Anderson, D. R. Jones, Wilcox Hood and Kemper.
The left wing, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, was composed of the divisions of Taliaferro, A. P. Hill, Ewell, and the cavalry division of Stuart.
Authorities differ as to the strength of the two armies, but it is probable that Pope had about 63,000 men of all arms and Lee 54,000.
By Stuart's dash upon Pope's headquarters at Catlett's station on the night of Aug. 22, the despatch book of the Federal commander fell into the hands of Lee, who learned from it the position and approximate strength of the Union forces in his front, and determined to send part of his army to the right and rear of Pope, with a view to capturing or destroying his command, which was then in the vicinity of Rappahannock Station at the point where the Orange & Alexandria railroad crosses the Rappahannock river.
On the 25th, Jackson was sent via Thoroughfare gap to strike Pope in the rear, while Longstreet kept up a show of force in front.
The next day the latter took up his march to join Jackson, and Pope got wind of the movement. At sunset on the 26th his forces were somewhat scattered. Reno, Kearny and Hooker were at Warrenton Junction; Sigel was at Warrenton; McDowell was confronting Longstreet at Waterloo bridge; Banks was at Fayetteville; Sykes was south of Bealeton, and Morell was at Kelly's ford, below Rappahannock Station.
Orders were sent to the different commands to move toward Gainesville and Manassas Junction, with a view to concentration. Jackson had by this time gained the Federal rear and occupied the road from Gainesville to Bristoe Station.
Shortly after midnight Stuart's cavalry assaulted the Union garrison at the junction and captured the place, together with the commissary and quartermaster stores collected there. About 7 a. m. on the 28th Taylor's brigade of the 6th corps came up from Alexandria and made a gallant effort to recapture the stores. In the skirmish Taylor was mortally wounded.
Jackson was now in imminent danger of capture or annihilation. In one respect, however, he had the advantage of his opponent. He was aware of the positions of the various detachments of the Union forces, and could at least hazard a shrewd guess at Pope's intentions, while the latter was puzzled as to what Jackson might do.
The general opinion of the Federal officers seems to have been that Jackson would move to the southward, fall on the wagon trains under Banks, then near Warrenton Junction, and join Longstreet near Warrenton. To unite with Longstreet was of paramount importance, and in order to do this Jackson resolved to move northward to the old battle-field of 13 months before, where he was well acquainted with the ground, and secure a strong position where he could hold out until Longstreet's arrival.
Accordingly on the night of the 27th Taliaferro moved by the Sudley road and at daylight on the 28th was north of the Warrenton pike. At 1 a. m. on the 28th A. P. Hill moved to Centerville, and at 10 o'clock, joined Taliaferro. Ewell crossed Bull Run at Blackburn's ford, proceeded up the east side of the stream to the stone bridge, where he recrossed and by noon the whole command was together.
When Jackson began this movement McDowell and Sigel were in the neighborhood of Gainesville, directly between the two wings of the Confederate army. As an evidence that Pope had no intimation of Jackson's purpose, he sent an order to McDowell at 9 p. m. on the 27th to move at daylight the next morning for Manassas.
In this report he said: "If you will move promptly and rapidly at the earliest dawn of day upon Manassas Junction we shall bag the whole crowd." This order caused McDowell and Sigel to waste the greater part of the 28th in a useless march to Manassas under the impression that Jackson would wait there to be surrounded.
McDowell appears to have had better judgment than Pope, for in his report he says: "I varied from your orders to march with 'my whole force' only so far as concerned Gen. Ricketts' division and the cavalry of Buford and Bayard. Knowing that Longstreet would be coming through Thoroughfare, I sent early in the morning Col. Wyndham's 1st New Jersey regiment of cavalry to the gap, and sent up other cavalry as fast as I could get hold of it, and on receiving word the enemy was coming through I detached Ricketts' division to hold him in check.
This departure from your orders to move with 'my whole force' on Manassas I felt called upon to make to carry out the spirit of your plan of crushing the enemy at that place before his reinforcements, of whose position I had just received positive intelligence, could join, as those reinforcements, I thought, could be better held in check at the gap than this side of it."
Before his advance reached Manassas McDowell received another despatch from headquarters, stating that the enemy was east of Bull Run, and directing him to march his command toward that place. King's division, which had formed the rear in the march of the forenoon, now became the advance.
As this division was marching east on the Warrenton pike about 5 p. m. Jackson, thinking the Union army was in retreat, sent Taliaferro's division and two brigades of Ewell's against King. The latter met the attack bravely by throwing forward a strong skirmish line, supported by the infantry in force, while the batteries were placed where they could enfilade those of the enemy, compelling them to change their position.
For over two hours the two lines doggedly held on amidst an incessant fire of artillery and musketry, after which the fight waned somewhat, but was continued until 9 p.m., when the enemy retreated from the field. About the time that this action commenced Jackson sent a body of cavalry down the Sudley road, to harass the rear of a retreating army as he thought, and this detachment ran into Sigel's troops marching northward to strike the pike.
Here another sharp skirmish ensued in which the Federals were victorious. These two affairs are known as the battle of Gainesville.
Reynolds hearing the firing, from his position near Bethlehem Church, at once put his troops in motion and late in the evening encamped near Sigel, about a mile from Groveton. King took steps to hold his position, but late that night he learned that Ricketts' who had checked Longstreet at Thoroughfare gap, was falling back toward Gainesville to avoid being cut off by a flank movement through Hopewell gap, and after consulting his brigade commanders decided to fall back to Manassas.
At 1 a. m. on the 29th Ricketts also fell back toward Manassas, moving via Bristoe Station. At daylight on the 29th Reynolds occupied a position on the south side of the Warrenton pike near Groveton. Sigel's corps lay farther east, near the crossing of the Sudley road. Reno and Heintzelman were farther east, toward Centerville, while McDowell and Porter were near Manassas Junction.
Jackson occupied the ridge north of the pike, behind the line of the unfinished railroad, his left resting on Catharpin run near Sudley springs, and his right on the heights not far from Groveton.
Pope proceeded on the theory that, because Jackson had left Manassas so suddenly, the enemy was retreating, and prepared to strike with his whole force. McDowell and Porter were ordered to move toward Gainesville early on the 29th in order to gain the Confederate rear; Sigel was to attack the enemy's right, and Reno and Heintzelman were to move forward and engage him in front.
Sigel carried out his part of the program and opened the battle of Groveton by a vigorous attack about 6 a. m. The batteries began shelling the woods and under cover of this artillery fire Schurz and Milroy advanced, the enemy falling back to the embankment formed by the railroad cut, where a fierce conflict ensued.
The Federals charged the embankment twice, but each time were repulsed. The Confederates then sallied out in pursuit, but were checked by the fire from the Union batteries. Meantime Reynolds had pushed Meade's brigade across the pike in an effort to turn the enemy's right, but the movement failed because Schenck, who was supporting it, was compelled to withdraw Stahel's brigade and send it to the assistance of Milroy.
In the advance on the railroad a gap was left between Schurz and Milroy. This was closed by the latter but at the expense of weakening his line. Seeing this the Confederates made a vicious charge against Schurz and succeeded in breaking his line.
The men were rallied without difficulty, however, the enemy driven back to the railroad, Schimmelfennig's brigade gaining possession of a part of the embankment and holding it against repeated assaults until relieved by fresh troops in the afternoon. A little while before noon the divisions of Hooker, Kearny Reno and Stevens arrived on the field.
Some of the troops belonging to these commands were used to relieve those who had been engaged all morning, but aside from some skirmishing and artillery firing there was no more aggressive action until about 4 p.m. Pope deciding to wait for McDowell and Porter to come up.
These two officers, pursuant to Pope's order of the preceding evening, moved at an early hour on the Gainesville road. At 11:30 the advance was at Dawkins' branch, about 2 miles northwest of Bethlehem Church, where the enemy was encountered. This proved to be a portion of Longstreet's corps.
Skirmishers were thrown forward across the branch and a few shots exchanged, but a general engagement at this point was not desirable. King's division, then near the church, was ordered to march up the Sudley road and join Reynolds, Ricketts being directed to move in the same direction soon afterward.
Later McDowell advised Porter to attack the enemy in front, while with his own command he would move up the Sudley road and join the forces there on the left. Porter assumed that he was to wait until he heard from McDowell before beginning the attack and remained idle all the afternoon. This conduct on his part was made the subject of a court of inquiry.
Late in the day Pope ordered Heintzelman to attack simultaneously at two points on the enemy's line. Heintzelman sent in Hooker's and Kearny's divisions, the former against the center of the line and the latter farther to the right against Hill's division.
Grover's brigade led the assault made by Hooker and the charge has been described as "one of the most gallant and determined of the war." With loaded pieces and fixed bayonets they advanced slowly until the enemy's fire was drawn, when they fired a volley and rushed forward to carry the position with the bayonet. The railroad embankment was carried in a desperate hand-to-hand conflict in which bayonets and clubbed muskets were the principal weapons.
The center of Jackson's line was broken by this terrific onslaught, but Grover was not supported and the advantage thus gained was of short duration as the Confederates came rushing into the breach, forcing Grover to retire. Kearny's attack was delayed until after Grover's repulse and was made with the same bravery and determination.
It was successful at first and for a short time it looked as though Jackson's left had been turned. Gregg's brigade of Hill's division held on with the bayonet until the brigades of Lawton and Early could come to his relief, and these reinforcements drove Kearny back.
On the march up the Sudley road King was suddenly taken ill and the command of the division fell on Brig.-Gen. John P. Hatch, who arrived on the field, accompanied by McDowell, between 5 and 6 p.m.
At that moment the Confederates could be seen readjusting their line and the impression was gained by the Union generals that they were retreating. Hatch was ordered along the pike toward Groveton to convert the retreat into a rout if possible.
Hatch made a dashing assault on what he believed to be the retreating army of Jackson, and encountered Hood and Evans of Longstreet's command advancing to meet him. After a sharp action of nearly an hour Hatch was compelled to fall back, leaving one piece of artillery in the hands of the enemy.
About the same time Reynolds undertook to renew the attack on the extreme left, but was repulsed by the severe artillery fire of the Confederates and withdrew. The battle of Groveton was over.
Not until the repulse of Hatch by Hood and Evans did Pope know that Longstreet had joined Jackson. Even then he was inclined to believe that only a small portion of the Confederate right wing had reached the scene of action.
Porter arrived at headquarters early on the morning of the 30th and tried to convince the commanding general that all of Longstreet's forces had been on the field since noon of the preceding day. This statement Pope regarded as an excuse on the part of Porter for not obeying orders, and, although it was corroborated by other officers, he still clung to his cherished opinion that Longstreet had not come up.
The battle of the 29th he considered a great victory, and sent a despatch to that effect to Gen. Halleck at 5 a.m. on the 30th.
Flushed with this notion of victory, and believing the Confederates to be in full retreat, he resolved to continue on the offensive. Accordingly, at noon on Saturday, the 30th, he issued the following order:
"The following forces will be immediately thrown forward in pursuit of the enemy, and press him vigorously during the whole day. Maj.-Gen. McDowell is assigned to the command of the pursuit.
Maj.-Gen. Porter's corps will push forward on the Warrenton turnpike, followed by the divisions of Brig.-Gens. King and Reynolds. The division of Brig.-Gen. Ricketts will pursue the Haymarket road, followed by the corps of Maj.-Gen. Heintzelman, the necessary cavalry will be assigned to these columns by Maj.-Gen. McDowell, to whom regular and frequent reports will be made. The General Headquarters will be somewhere on the Warrenton turnpike."
Jackson still held his position along the line of the unfinished railroad. To reach the Haymarket road in his rear Ricketts must march some 5 miles via Sudley springs. Had Jackson been inclined to retreat by that route he could have struck the road far in advance of Ricketts before that officer could have reached a point to intercept him, But Jackson had no intention of retreating.
He knew that Longstreet, during the night, had moved forward to a position south of the Warrenton pike, from which he could call reinforcements if it became necessary. Hood lay across the pike a short distance west of Groveton, ready to move to the assistance of the right or left, or to hold in check any movement down the pike toward Gainesville.
Behind him were Wilcox and Anderson. D. R. Jones and Kemper lay farther south, extending the line almost to the Manassas Gap railroad. This part of the line was effectually concealed by the woods and its existence was unknown to the Union officers.
The engagement was opened by a fierce artillery fire and Porter pushed forward Morell's division, supported by Sykes, against Jackson's line, under the impression that the Confederates were in retreat. Farther to the right Hatch made a determined assault on the embankment, receiving a slight wound as he led his command to the charge.
Both attacks were gallantly made and Jackson was so sorely pressed that he sent for reinforcements to Lee, who ordered Longstreet to send the required aid. But Longstreet knew that reinforcements were unnecessary. He had planted his batteries in a position to enfilade the Federal lines as they advanced, and now opened fire.
In less than ten minutes the Union troops were compelled to retire, suffering heavy losses. A large part of the forces of Reno, Heintzelman and Ricketts were thrown against Jackson, but all failed to accomplish any permanent advantage.
To advance against a sheltered foe, while at the same time subjected to an enfilading fire of artillery, was too great an undertaking.
Meantime Reynolds, to whom had been assigned the duty of guarding the left against a flank movement, had discovered Jones and Kemper advancing from that direction and reported it to headquarters. He was first ordered to form his division to resist an attack, but was later directed to cross the pike and support Porter.
This gave Longstreet the opportunity, of which he was not slow to avail himself, to strike the assailants on the left flank, and he hurriedly massed his unemployed forces south of the pike for that purpose.
Sykes sent Warren's brigade to hold the movement in check, but it was swept aside by overwhelming numbers. All thought of "pursuit" was now abandoned by the Union commanders and the struggle became one for the possession of the pike.
Longstreet advanced his whole line with a rush, Hood in advance supported by Evans, while Kemper, Jones and Anderson swung farther to the Confederate right until the line extended east of the Sudley road. West of this road was an eminence known as Bald hill, and on the east side of it, near the Henry house, was another elevation.
Both had been occupied by the Federal batteries early in the morning, and these guns now did effective service in checking the impetuous advance of the enemy. The possession of these two hills was now the key to the situation.
Sigel was hurried to the support of the batteries; two brigades of Ricketts' division under Gen. Tower and two more batteries were also sent forward to Bald hill, and two brigades of Sykes, division to the Henry hill, where they were soon afterward reinforced by heavy detachments from the commands of Reynolds and Meade.
The battle was thus transferred to the south side of the pike, and the Federal army suddenly thrown on the defensive.
Jackson, as soon as he saw that Longstreet's advance was likely to be a success, sallied out of his works and advanced toward the pike, but was met and turned back by Reno and Heintzelman. The fight now centered around Bald hill.
McLean's brigade of Schenck's division was sent to the support of the troops there engaged in a stubborn defense, and held the hill against several attacks from different directions.
Schenck was severely wounded while bringing up reinforcements. Schurz, division was then sent in and for a time held the Confederates back. In the fight here Gen. Tower was wounded and Col. Fletcher Webster, a son of Daniel Webster, was killed while leading his regiment, the 12th Mass., into action.
Longstreet massed his forces for a final assault and by main force of superior numbers carried the hill, but not without paying a severe penalty in killed and wounded.
At the Henry hill a similar scene was being enacted. Here Sykes' regulars stood in readiness to receive the onset. The two brigades were commanded by Buchanan and Chapman, veterans of the Mexican war, who had stood together at Molino del Rey. Behind them were all the troops it was possible to bring to their support, as this was the last stand that could be made west of Bull Run. If it were lost the Union army was doomed to utter defeat.
Already most of the troops were falling back toward the stone bridge, and the possession of Henry hill was absolutely necessary to cover the retreat.
The Confederates had exhausted most of their energies in the capture of Bald hill but they charged Sykes with a show of courage and enthusiasm only to be repulsed with severe loss. Again they advanced and again the invincible line of regulars stood the shock.
Before the third attack could be made darkness fell with the hill still in the hands of the Unionists. During the night the remnant of the army fell back to Centerville.
The losses of the Union army from the 25th to the 30th, including the engagements at Bristoe Station, Gainesville Groveton and Bull Run, amounted to 1,747 killed, 8,452 wounded and 4,263 captured or missing.
Lee claims to have captured 7,000 prisoners and 30 pieces of artillery, but the facts do not bear out the statement.
The reports regarding the Confederate loss are somewhat conflicting. Taking the figures of the different division and brigade commanders they had in the battles of the 28th to 30th, inclusive, 1,553 killed, 7,812 wounded and 109 missing. The probabilities are that the losses on both sides have been understated.