All for the Union by Elisha Hunt Rhodes

Author:Elisha Hunt Rhodes [Rhodes, Robert Hunt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-77270-1
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2010-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Capt. Joseph McIntyre

Assistant Surgeon William F. Smith

May 7th 1864—Today we have had comparative quiet with only skirmishing going on in our front. We have entrenched ourselves the best we can with logs and earth and are waiting events. If we were under any other General except Grant I should expect a retreat, but Grant is not that kind of a soldier, and we feel that we can trust him.

Wednesday morning May 4th we left our camp and crossed the Rapidan River at Germania ford and occupied the Rebel forts without opposition. Here we went into camp and rested for the night. Thursday morning May 5th we started at daylight and at 10 A.M. drove in the enemy’s pickets in a dense forest of pine trees and underbrush. Our lines were soon formed, and our Brigade was ordered into action. Advancing in line of battle we soon met the Rebels and opened fire. The woods being very dark we could not see them, and they flanked our right, driving us back in confusion. We soon reformed and advanced again but were driven back leaving our killed and wounded on the field. The little birds sang sweet amid the scene of death and destruction. A third time we advanced and drove them about a mile when it became dark, and we halted for the night amid the dead and wounded. Such a night as I passed. No sleep and the wounded groaning on all sides. Daylight Friday the 6th we advanced again under a heavy fire of Artillery. Our men fell in all directions, but we kept on. (Yesterday a bullet struck me in my right fore finger but only hurt me a little.) Our lines were driven back and fresh troops sent in, but these shared the same fate. Soon we were ordered forward but had to return. A third time we tried it with the same result, losing many men every time. When we retreated the Rebels shelled us and added to the confusion. Officers with drawn swords and pistols were urging the men foward, but poor fellows it was no use, for it was certain death. Genl. Hays came galloping into the fight, but soon his white horse came out riderless leaving the Genl dead on the field. A fourth time our lines were formed and we advanced, but some troops on the left gave way, and the Rebels came into our rear and fired into us from three sides of a square. The way we did leave! Everybody travelled as fast as possible. Many were captured, but I came out all right. We formed new lines and rested for the night but had no sleep. Saturday our Regiment was sent on Picket on the plank road. We had two Regt’s of Cavalry in front of us and when the Rebels opened fire they skedaddled through our Regt to the rear, but we stayed there and Genl Sedgwick drove the Cavalry back to the front. During the night the Rebels retreated to Spotsylvania and we followed.

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