In a short time after the arrival of the infantry, Colonel Johnson had assembled the whole of the Maryland Line at the Junction, and immediately proceeded to establish his lines and erect winter quarters.
The beautiful situation selected was soon cleared, trees were felled, and in a little while villages were reared that would have done credit to more experienced builders.
After having done everything possible to contribute to their bodily comfort for the winter, they turned their attention to something of a spiritual nature, and soon, under the direction of their “fighting parson,” the Reverend Mr. Cameron, a neat and substantial little chapel graced the grounds.
The winter, and away into spring, was passed here most pleasantly, and was one ever to be remembered. Scarcely a week went by but the camp was enlivened by the appearance of throngs of lady acquaintances from Richmond and the surrounding country, and by the management of that most estimable of women, Mrs. Bradley Johnson, parties, concerts, and balls were frequently gotten up. These were largely attended, and for the time the cares and privations of the field were forgotten. And then on the Sabbath day it was truly an interesting sight to see the gallant fellows escorting the fair damsels of the neighborhood to their little church to listen to the word of God.
But things cannot always be as we would wish, for about the first of March, 1864, the peace and quiet of their camp was invaded by a rumor that the Yankee cavalry under Kilpatrick was coming down upon them. Instant preparations were madeto give them a reception. The infantry was not brought into requisition, but taking the cavalry and two pieces of artillery Colonels Johnson and Brown harrassed them for days, a detailed account of which will be found in the operations of the cavalry.
After the raid of Kilpatrick everything went on as before, and weeks glided by in this delightful place almost imperceptibly.
About the 10th of May, by General Order No. 38, A. I. G. Office, General Arnold Elzey was ordered to Staunton to recruit and receive transferred Marylanders from other commands, and it was for a time hoped that the Maryland Line would be much increased in numbers, and in the future kept intact. But in this they were disappointed, for the men, now accustomed to their officers, and having made their associations where they were, preferred to remain. But few were, therefore, added to the little command. This failure to increase the numbers of the Line necessitated the distribution of the several commands to other bodies, and never after did they operate together. Colonel Johnson was ordered to the command of a cavalry brigade in Early’s army in the Valley, and took the cavalry with him. The artillery was also ordered to report to Early soon after the battle of Cold Harbor, whilst the infantry was assigned to Breckinridge, as will be seen.
On the 27th of April winter quarters were brokenup, and the troops left the little village in which they had spent so many happy hours with regret.
The campaign of the year was now about to be inaugurated, and they were to change the quiet and (in this instance) pleasures of the camp for the perils and privations of the field.
After a short march the battalion went into temporary quarters a little distance southwest from the Junction, on the old telegraph road.
After remaining here until the 23d of May, most of the time engaged in guarding the various railroad bridges in the vicinity, the Second Maryland was ordered to Hanover Court House, there to await orders from General Breckinridge.
On the 26th, by order of that General, it joined his division, when the whole moved down the telegraph road and halted within ten miles of Richmond.
On the 28th the march was resumed as far as Atlas Station, where next morning slight skirmishing ensued, in which the enemy were repulsed.
On the morning of the 30th they opened a heavy artillery fire upon Breckinridge’s command, which was as vigorously responded to, and kept up until the evening of the 31st, the battalion sustaining a loss of but one man wounded.
June 2d.—In the early part of to-night the division moved in the direction of Gaines’ Mills by way of Mechanicsville, passing on the road many destitute families fleeing from the neighborhood. There werea large number of children among them who were suffering terribly from hunger, and their appeals to the rough soldiers for a mouthful of food was distressing indeed. These shared their day’s rations with them, and they eagerly devoured the coarse bacon raw.
In the afternoon the division of Breckinridge reached the farm of Dr. Gaines, and took its position in line of battle, which was upon the same ground held by the Federals in the memorable engagement of the 27th of June, 1862. The Second Maryland was here held in reserve, to support Echols’ brigade of Virginians, and formed line about one hundred yards in rear of the main body.
The skirmishing was very heavy during the afternoon and evening, and the enemy made repeated attempts to charge the Confederate lines, but the utmost efforts of their officers failed to induce the troops to leave the shelter of the woods in which they were posted.
During the night the lines were strengthened by the arrival of Wilcox’s and Finnegan’s brigades, which also formed in reserve.
June 3d.—To-day is memorable in the history of the glorious little Second Maryland, for they this day won honors of which every Marylander may be justly proud, and wrung from the great Lee, in his official report, a compliment which will live forever on the pages of history.
At the break of day the command was hastilyaroused from its slumbers by the loud peals of cannon and the rattle of small arms. Springing to their feet, what was their surprise to behold that part of the line of battle in their immediate front precipitately retreating, and abandoning their works, and the artillery there stationed, to the enemy, who were swarming over the breastworks. But an instant was, however, left for reflection. Another moment and their own artillery, double shotted with canister, would be turned upon them, and their destruction was inevitable, and, perhaps, the destruction of the whole division. And then and there they did what few troops had ever done before. Almost spontaneously (for in the confusion and noise no command could be heard) they rushed upon the overwhelming masses of the Federal infantry with the bayonet, and wrested the guns from their hands just as they were about to belch forth death and destruction to all who stood in their way. A most desperate and sanguinary hand-to-hand struggle then ensued, in which the bayonet and the short swords of the officers were used with dreadful effect, and it can be said to be one of the few instances of the kind in the history of battles. The enemy did not long withstand this mad attack, but fled over the breastworks and sought the cover of the line of works from which they had just emerged, falling by hundreds at every step, from the fire of the recaptured artillery and the deadly minnie that relentlessly pursued them. Again and again theyadvanced, but right upon the heels of the Maryland boys had followed Finnegan, with his Floridians, and the utmost efforts of the heavy Federal columns failed to make the least impression, and the result was, that the whole ground in front was strewn with the dead and wounded of the enemy, and at the close of the sanguinary battle of Cold Harbor Breckinridge remained master of his position, with several hundred prisoners in his possession, captured in the headlong charge of the Marylanders.
The fight was not yet ended when the glorious Breckinridge, who had witnessed it all, dashed up, and, with tears of gratitude streaming down his classic face, extolled their conduct and thanked them for what they had done; and even as he did so he came near falling a victim to his own generous impulses, for a cannon shot struck his noble charger full in the breast, and horse and rider fell heavily to the ground. Except a few bruises, however, the General escaped unhurt.
Here is what “a Virginian” says, in the RichmondSentinel, of the part taken by the Marylanders in this great battle:
Near Richmond, June 6th, 1864.
Near Richmond, June 6th, 1864.
Near Richmond, June 6th, 1864.
Near Richmond, June 6th, 1864.
Mr. Editor—The public have already been informed, through the columns of the public journals, of the general results of the late engagements between the forces of General Lee and General Grant. But they have not yet learned the particulars, which are always most interesting, and in some instances, owing to the confusion which generally attends large battles, they have been misinformed on some points. It is now known by the public that the enemy were momentarily successful in one of their assaultson the lines held by Major General Breckinridge’s division, which might have resulted in disaster to our cause.
It will be interesting to all to know what turned disaster into victory, and converted a triumphant column into a flying rabble. The successful assault of the enemy was made under cover of darkness, before the morning star had been hid by the light of the sun. They came gallantly forward in spite of a severe fire from General Echols’ brigade, and in spite of the loss of many of their men, who fell like autumn leaves, until the ground was almost blue and red with their uniforms and their blood. They rushed in heavy mass over our breastworks. Our men, confused by the suddenness of the charge, and borne down by the rush of the enemy, retreated, and all now seemed to be lost. At this juncture the Second Maryland Infantry, of Colonel Bradley T. Johnson’s command, now in charge of Captain J. P. Crane, were roused from their sleep. Springing to their arms they formed in a moment, and rushing gallantry forward, poured a deadly fire into the enemy and then charged bayonet. The enemy were, in turn, surprised at the suddenness and vim of this assault. They gave back—they became confused; and General Finnegan’s forces coming up, they took to flight; but not until nearly a hundred men were stretched on the plain, from the fire of the Second Maryland Infantry, and many others captured. Lieutenant Charles B. Wise, of Company B, now took possession of the guns, which had been abandoned by our forces, and with the assistance of some of his own men and some of General Finnegan’s command, poured a deadly fire into the retreating column of the enemy.
Thus was the tide of battle turned, and this disaster converted into a success. I am informed that the whole force of the enemy which came within our lines would have been captured, had it not been for the mistake of an officer who took the enemy for our own men, and thus checked for a few moments the charge of the Second Maryland Infantry. I take pleasure in narrating these deeds of our Maryland brethren, and doubt not you will join in the feeling.
A Virginian.
A Virginian.
A Virginian.
A Virginian.
In this affair the battalion suffered a loss of between thirty and forty men killed and wounded, as follows:
Battle of Cold Harbor, Captain J. Parran Crane commanding.
Capt. JNO. W. TORSCH.
Capt. JNO. W. TORSCH.
Capt. JNO. W. TORSCH.
Company A, Captain George Thomas commanding—Killed, privates Wm. H. Hollyday, Henry C. Owens; wounded, Alexander Fulton, mortally; Thomas O’Brien, severely; Frederick Heister, slightly; Wm. Hoffman, severely; John C. Henry, slightly; Thomas D. Harrison.
Company B, First Lieutenant John H. Stone commanding.—Killed, none; wounded, First Lieutenant John H. Stone, severely; privates James R. Herbert, severely; Rinaldo J. Moran, slightly; A. W. Neale, slightly.
Company C, Captain Ferd. Duvall commanding. Killed, none; wounded, Second Lieutenant Thomas H. Tolson, severely; privates, William H. Claggett, severely; C. S. Ford, severely; Henry Loughran, slightly; R. B. Willis, severely.
Company D, First Lieutenant James S. Franklin commanding.—Killed, private James Hurley; wounded, Second Lieutenant S. Thomas McCullough, severely; First Sergeant Thomas C. Butler, severely; Abram Phillips, severely.
Company E, John W. Torsch commanding.—Killed, private Charles E. Byus; wounded, Captain John W. Torsch, severely; First Sergeant Samuel Kirk, severely; privates Levi G. Dawson, slightly; William Wilkinson, mortally; Joseph Smith, slightly.
Company F, Captain H. A. Gwynne commanding.—Killed, Lemuel Dunnington; wounded, Captain H. A. Gwynne, slightly; Sergeant R. F. Muirhead, severely; privates Andrew Cretin, slightly; HillaryCretin, slightly; Bernard Dooley, slightly; Alexis V. Keepers, slightly.
Company G, First Lieutenant G. G. Guillette commanding.—Killed, Wm. S. Reed; wounded, private Michael Hines.
Company H, Captain J. Thomas Bussey commanding.—Killed, none; wounded, Maurice Ward, severely; William Hardy, slightly.
Not long after the battle of Cold Harbor, much to their regret the Second Maryland was transferred temporarily to Walker’s brigade, I say much to their regret, for General Breckinridge had won the heart of every man of the command.
Their stay with Walker was short, and they were assigned to Archer’s brigade of Heth’s division.[3]With this command they were destined to see much heavy fighting around Petersburg, where the Confederate army entrenched itself soon after the bloody battle of the 3d of June.
3. General Archer was soon after taken sick and died, when General McComb assumed command.
3. General Archer was soon after taken sick and died, when General McComb assumed command.
On the 13th of June a severe fight occurred at White Oak Swamp, in which the Confederates gained a signal success. The loss of the Second Maryland in this affair was as follows:
Company A.—Killed, private John G. Wagner.
Company C.—Killed, private Lewis H. Viet.
Company G.—Killed, private William H. Calhoun.
After the fight at White Oak Swamp the command was set to work, along with the rest of the army, building breastworks and entrenching themselves in their position. In this they were much annoyed by the enemy’s sharpshooters and artillery, and many casualties occurred. Up to the 25th of August the loss of the Second Maryland was as follows:
Company H.—Wounded, Captain John J. Ward, severely, June 26th; private John Parker, slightly, August 9th.
Company G.—Wounded, privates Thomas Brannock, slightly, June 26th; James Abbott, severely, August 12th; George Langford, severely, August 25th.
Company C.—Wounded, private Richard T. Anderson, severely, August 12th.