The Words of War Page 5
What the Historians Say
Manassas, First known also as First Bull Run took place in Fairfax and Prince William counties in Virginia on July 21, 1861. It was the third and final engagement in the Manassas Campaign and the first large battle. The first two conflicts were at Hoke’s Run and Blackburn’s Ford and were repulsions of reconnaisance forces.
The principal commanders were Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell of the Federal Army and Brigadier Generals Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard of the Confederate Army. 28,450 men in the Union Army and 32, 230 Confederates clashed that day resulting in 2,950 and 1,750 casualties respectively.
This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. On July 16, 1862, the untried Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Fighting raged throughout the day as Confederate forces were driven back to Henry Hill. Late in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements (one brigade arriving by rail from the Shenandoah Valley) extended and broke the Union right flank. The Federal retreat rapidly deteriorated into a rout. Although victorious, Confederate forces were too disorganized to pursue. Confederate Gen. Bee and Col. Bartow were killed. Thomas J. Jackson earned the nom de guerre “Stonewall.” By July 22, the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington. This battle convinced the Lincoln administration that the war would be a long and costly affair. McDowell was relieved of command of the Union army and replaced by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, who set about reorganizing and training the troops.
This was a major victory for the Confederate Army, and it had a decisive effect not only on the outcome of the Manassas Campaign but on the outcome of the war for it propelled the two sides of the conflict into a larger and much longer war than either side originally anticipated.
FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN, SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 21, 1861 (J. BROWN) LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
3
Fort Donelson
General Grant’s First Important Victory
AUTHOR’S COMMENTARY
The capture of Fort Donelson was the first major Union success. The newspaper coverage from the battle site had been sparse because only a handful of northern reporters had been there, and it was not a pleasant four days for them. The weather was foul and rations were hard to come by. Some of the correspondents even took to firing arms at the Confederate garrison.
Franc Wilkie of The New York Times had tried it, too, but finding that his fire was being returned and seeing the splinters flying from the logs in front of him, deduced that his obligation to The New York Times came before his military instincts. He hastily retired from active combat.
When Fort Donelson had fallen, the news got out sparingly but enough to brighten Union hopes. Celebrations were held in cities from Chicago to New York and Washington. There was corresponding gloom in Richmond and the cities to the south.
Most newspapers got their information telegraphically by way of Captain Walke of the U.S. Navy, who was the commander of the Carondelet. When the ship arrived at Cairo, Illinois, the morning after the surrender, Walke announced the news to all dockside that Fort Donelson had been taken. The telegraph operator at Cairo, the nearest telegraph office to Fort Donelson, clicked his keys and sent the message to the world.
The Charleston Mercury, upon hearing the news, accepted it stoically but with resolve that further sacrifice would correct matters, while taking a swipe at the Yankees in the east as being an inferior lot to the hardy frontiersmen of the west who manged to take Fort Donelson.
Feb. 1862: From the Charleston Mercury The crisis of the war is upon us. The fire with which our foes have so long threatened to surround us has been lighted at last, and whichever way we turn, we find the horrors of a brutal and relentless warfare pressing to our hearthstones. The events of the next fifteen days will, probably, have a controlling influence upon the duration of the war.
Nobly are our troops upon the banks of the Cumberland vindicating the reputation of Volunteer State. The men whom they have to face are not the dastard Yankees who fled in terror from the Plains of Manassas. The assailants of Fort Donelson are made of sterner stuff. They are the hardy frontiersmen of the Northwest, who are not wont to flinch in the day of danger. To drive back such men at the point of the bayonet is a task worthy of the prowess of our brave volunteers.
In North Carolina, the people of that sturdy old Commonwealth are rallying with one impulse: to beat back the invader from their shores. We shall have a sharp work there, ere long.
The ball will, ere long, open in our own neighborhood. Savannah is already a beleaguered city, and there are indications that Charleston, too, is to be attacked. Let our people, if they would avert desolation from their city, and destruction from whatever they hold most dear, range themselves, at once, in the ranks of the State defenders.
The Charleston Mercury
February 18, 1862
Fort Donelson
Our telegraphic columns bring us the intelligence that Fort Donelson has surrendered, that Nashville has been taken, and thirteen thousand of our troops have been captured. Making all due allowance for exaggeration and panic, it is reasonable to suppose that we have suffered a severe defeat in the West, and have lost our military position, together with a number of our troops. What then? No doubt it is a severe blow – well delivered and effective. But what then? It is only what we have foreshadowed for many months past in our journal, and only what was to be expected by reasonable men, who, unawed and calmly, would review the field of operations and all the circumstances of our position. We have said our say on the subject, and pronounced the defensive system of warfare adopted by our authorities, situated as we were with a coast of five thousand miles to defend, without a navy, with a limited supply of arms, and with our ports blockaded, as a monstrous absurdity, necessarily involving weakness and much unnecessary disaster and prolongation of the war. But others were wiser than ourselves. We were equally alarmists and precipitate.
The fruits of that policy are before us. They are disastrous enough, as we had feared. But our business now is not with the past. What is the burthen of the future? It has accumulated much during these last six months of inaction on our part; but it is far from insupportable, yet. There is power in the South, and there is nerve in the South to do much, and to endure much. We must pay for our inaction; but it brings with it a lesson to string every heart to redeem our errors. Let every man, who can strike a blow in defence of his household and his home, spring to his arms. Let us realize the work before us, and let us go forward into the breach, like men. Italy was overrun by the Carthaginians, under HANNIBAL, and Spain by NAPOLEON – perhaps the two greatest military leaders in ancient and modern times. Yet, both were defeated, and driven back from the soil they occupied. Prussia, likewise, was overrun by France, Russia and Austria; yet were they driven back by FREDERICK, after bloody defeats on his part, leaving twenty and thirty thousand dead men on the field. Our own revolution, in 1776, is strikingly illustrative of a similar lesson.
We must fight to retrieve the past – blood must be shed. We must fight like desperate men. But there is nothing before us to blench the hearts of resolute and earnest men. We must be up and doing, daring and achieving. The time for action is upon us – upon every one of us. Let us but act, act with bold decision and undertaking, and not stand still in passive abatement, and the time is not far distant when the Northern horde will learn the temerity of their aggressions.
FORT DONELSON, SHOWING CONFEDERATE EARTHWORKS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF FEBRUARY 1862. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
The Charleston Mercury
March 12, 1862
News by Telegraph from Richmond
Richmond, March 11
President DAVIS today sent a message to Congress stating that he had suspended Generals FLOYD and PILLOW from their respective commands, until they shall give more
satisfactory accounts of their action at Fort Donelson. The President is not satisfied with their report. The President, in his message, says that neither the reports of FLOYD or PILLOW state that reinforcements were asked for. He further says that it is not shown that their position could not be evacuated, and the whole army saved, as well as a part of it; nor is it shown by what authority two senior Generals abandoned their responsibility, by transferring the command to a junior officer.
The official reports of the great naval battle in Hampton Roads have been received. Our entire squadron carried a total of only 21 guns, while the United States frigate Cumberland had 24, the Congress 50, the St. Lawrence 50, the Minnesota and Roanoke each 40, besides the land batteries at Newport News and the small United States gunboats, armed with heavy rifled guns. The action lasted three hours. The flag of the United States frigate Congress, and the sword of her commander, are now in our Navy Department. The casualties of the Confederates are: Capt. BUCHANAN, wounded in the thigh with a Minie ball, seriously; Lieut. MINOR wounded in the left side, not dangerously; two men killed and five wounded. Congress has passed a vote of thanks to Com. BUCHANAN, and the officers and men of the Virginia and other Confederate vessels, for their unsurpassed gallantry in the late action.
The House of Representatives has passed a resolution advising planters not to put in any cotton or tobacco this season, but to exert themselves to raise the largest possible amount of provisions, hogs, etc.
The Senate has passed a bill to organize the Supreme Court of the Confederate States.
From The New York Times
February 19, 1862
The following dispatch, giving a somewhat detailed account of occurrences at Fort Donelson – on Saturday and Sunday, with the correspondence between the commanding officers of the opposing forces preceding the surrender, and the names of some of the National killed and wounded – appeared in but a portion of our morning edition yesterday, owing to the late hour at which it was received:
Chicago, Monday, Feb. 17
A special from Fort Donelson says: The forces were about equal in numbers, but the rebels had all the advantage of position, being well fortified on two immense hills, with their fort near the river, on a lower piece of ground. From the foot of their intrenchments, rifle-pits and ahattis extended up the river, behind the town of Dover. Their fortifications on the land side, back from the river, were at least four miles in length. Their water battery, in the centre of the fortifications, where it came down to the river, mounted nine heavy guns.
The rebels were sure of success. In any other cause and against less brave troops, they could easily have held the position against a hundred thousand men.
The business of getting the different brigades in position for attaching the new arrivals to the different divisions took up the greater portion of Friday night.
At daylight Saturday, the enemy opened on the Eighteenth Illinois, when Col. OGLESBY’s Brigade was soon engaged, and was soon followed by WALLACE’S and MCARTHUR’S Brigades, the latter acting under McClernand as the position of the troops had been changed during the night, and Gen. Grant has been called away during the night to the gunboats.
The movements of all the troops, except those attached to MCCLERNAND’S division, were made without anything except general orders.
At suggestion from Gen. MCCLERNAND, Gen. WALLACE sent up four regiments to support his division, who were nearly out of ammunition.
From the commencement till near 10 o’clock the fighting was terrific. The troops on the right were disposed as follows: MCAUKEN’S Brigade, composed of the Ninth, Twelfth, Fortyfirst, Seventeenth, and Nineteenth Illinois Regiments; next Gen. OGLESBY’S Brigade, consisting of the Eighth, Thirteenth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-first Illinois Regiments, SCHWARTZ’S and DRESSER’S batteries; next was Gen. WALLACE’S Brigade, of the Eleventh, Twentieth, Fortyfifth, and Forty-eighth Illinois Regiments. These three brigades composed Gen. MCCLERNAND’S Division, and bore the brunt of the battle.
It was found that the enemy was concentrating his main force to turn our right, which was done by our men getting out of ammunition, and in the confusion of getting up reinforcements, retreating about half a mile. As soon as the division, which had stood its ground manfully for three hours, retired, the enemy occupied the field, when Gen. GRANT ordered Gen. SMITH to move forward his division and storm the enemy’s works on our left. This order was obeyed with great alacrity, and soon the cheers of our daring soldiery were heard, and the old flag displayed from within the enemy’s intrenchments.
Gen. GRANT then sent word to Gen. MCCLERNAND that Gen. SMITH was within the enemy’s intrenchments and ordering their forces to move forward and renew the attack on the right. One of Gen. WALLACE’S Brigades – the Eleventh Indiana, Eighth Missouri and some Ohio Regiments – was rapidly thrown into position and Company A, of the Chicago Light Artillery, was planted in the road; and as the rebels, supposing we were in retreat, came, yelling, out of their works into the road, the Chicago boys poured a hailstorm of grape and canister into their ranks, slaughtering dozens of them.
Simultaneously with this the infantry commenced firing at will, and the rebels went pell-mell back into their works, our men advancing and taking possession of the ground lost, and a hill besides. Fresh troops who had not been in the action were then thrown forward, and as the shades of night drew on were in a strong position to participate in a simultaneous attack to be made on Sunday morning.
Gens. OGLESBY, WALLACE AND McARTHUR’S brigades did the hardest fighting, and have suffered terribly. They would undoubtedly have held their first position but for the failure of their ammunition. The ammunition wagons were some distance off the hills preventing their being moved.
Some of our best officers and men have gone to their long homes.
SEARCHING BY TORCH-LIGHT FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS AFTER A REBEL ASSAULT ON SCHWARTZ’S BATTERY DURING THE UNION SIEGE OF FORT DONELSON TENNESSEE (HARPER’S WEEKLY) LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
How the Surrender was Made
At daylight the advance was made, and when the full light of day broke forth, white flags were hung in many places on the enemy’s works.
An officer at a convenient point was informed that they had stacked their arms and surrendered early in the morning, the following correspondence having passed between the commanders:
Gen. BRUCKNER to Gen. GRANT
Headquarters, Fort Donalson, Feb. 16
To Brig. Gen. U.S. GRANT, commanding United States forces near Fort Donelson.
Sir: In consideration of all the circumstances governing the present situation of affairs at this station, I propose to the commanding officer of the Federal forces the appointment of Commissioners to agree upon terms of capitulation of the forces at this post under my command. In that view, I suggest an armistice until 12 o’clock today.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
[L] B BUCKNER, Brig. Gen., C.S.A.
Gen. GRANT to Gen. BUCKNER
Headquartes on the Field
Fort Donelson, Feb. 16
To Gen. S. [H.] BUCKNER
Sir: Yours, of this date, proposing an armistice and the appointment of Commissioners to settle the terms of capitulation is just received. No terms except unconditional surrender and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works. I am very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Brig. Gen, Com’d’g.
Gen. Buckner to Gen. Grant
HEADQUARTERS, DOVER, Tenn., Sunday, Feb
Brig. Gen. U. S. GRANT, U. S.A.
SIR – The distribution of the forces under my command incident to an unexpected change of commanders and the overwhelming force under your command compels me, notwithstanding the brilliant Confederate arms, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms which you propose.
I am, Sir, your servant
S. B. BUCKNER, Brig. Gen., C. S.
Our force was soon in the enemy’s works, when the rebel officers g
ave up their swords. The bulk of the rebels are chagrined as they knew of the surrender long before our men were apprised of it. PILLOW and FLOYD had planned and executed their escape during the night, taking with them Floyd’s Brigade and a few favorites, occupying what few small steamer they had. The prisoners are loud in their denunciations of the runaways. Many of them acknowledged the hopelessness of their cause, and intimate a willingness to take an oath of allegiance, and return to their homes. To the question put to an officer, as to how many prisoners we had, he replied “You have all out of twenty five thousand, who were not killed, or did not escape.”
What the Historians Say
The battle at Fort Donelson occurred on February 11-16, 1862, in Stewart County, Tennessee. It was the second battle in the Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers Campaign of 1862. It followed the battle and Union victory at Fort Henry that occurred a week previously on February 6th.
The principal commanders were Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Flag Officer A.H. Foote leading the United States forces. Commanding the Confederate forces were Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd, Brig. Gen. Gideon Pillow, and Brig. Gen. Simon B. Buckner.
The forces engaged consisted of the U.S. Army in the Field and the Confederate garrison in Fort Donelson. The estimated casualties were 2,331 and 15,067 respectively. After capturing Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant advanced cross-country to invest Fort Donelson. On February 16, 1862, after the failure of their all out attack aimed at breaking through Grant’s investment lines, the fort’s 12,000 man garrison surrendered unconditionally. This was a major victory for Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and a catastrophe for the South. It ensured that Kentucky would stay in the Union and opened up Tennessee for a Northern advance along the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Grant received a promotion to Major General for his victory and attained stature in the Western Theater, earning the nom de guerre “Unconditional Surrender.”