The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 6, March, 1885Various
History
The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 6, March, 1885
Various
Massachusetts -- Periodicals; New England -- Periodicals
When the cannonading was first heard on Sunday morning 'you
issued orders' at once, for the concentration of the division at
camp of the Second Brigade, at Stony Lonesome. The baggage, camp
and garrison equipage was ordered to Crump's Landing, and
detachments were made for its protection. "_These orders were
given before you heard from Headquarters_."
About 9 o'clock General Grant passed up on the Tigris and in
passing the boat upon which were your Headquarters, had a
conversation with you. I did not hear what was said, but you
immediately mounted, and accompanied by your staff rode rapidly
to the camp of the Second Brigade. It was, perhaps, two hours
before any order arrived. I know you were anxiously looking for
orders, and finally despatched one of your aids to ride to the
landing to ascertain if any one had arrived with orders, and
conduct him to you. Shortly after that,--it must have been 12
o'clock, M., Captain Baxter, A.Q.M., arrived with orders, and
brought the very cheering intelligence that our army was
successful. I cannot tell at this time what the particular
language was. The order was placed in my hands as Assistant
Adjutant General, but where it is now, or what became of it, I
am unable to say; very likely, having been written on a scrap of
paper, it was lost after coming into my hands; a matter which I
much regret, as I feel confident that its production now would
conclusively demonstrate that you obeyed the command contained
in it. I remember, however, distinctly, that it was a written
order to march and form a junction with the right of the army,
which was understood to be the right of the army as it rested on
the morning when the battle began. Suffice it to say, that the
division marched at once, and took the road which had been
previously ascertained as leading to the right of the army, in
the position it occupied on the morning of the sixth, and
previous to that time. The road was then patrolled and picketted
by cavalry detachments of your command. By your permission, I
was marching with the advance guard, comprised of several
companies of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant
Colonel Berber, commanding. We marched very rapidly, and to
judge from the sound of the battle, we were approaching it fast.
The advanced guard had reached the crossing of Snake Creek, near
a mill, or some large building, where a bridge had been
constructed, and from that point we could see the smoke
overhanging the battle-field and distinctly hear the musketry,
when an order was received, to retrace our steps, and work our
way to the head of the column. We marched back at once, almost
to our starting place, where we found the column was marching
through the woods where there was no road (not even a trail
appeared) to save time and distance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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