CHAPTER I.
It was towards the close of a pleasant day in October, 1861, that the First Maryland Infantry dragged its weary length into camp near Centreville, after a long and fruitless expedition to Pohick Church in search of the enemy. Things seemed much changed, indeed, since their departure, for in their absence a battery of artillery had invaded the sacred confines of their camp, and a scowl was observed upon more than one face, for we were jealous of our rights and dared maintain them. Judge then our surprise when informed it was a battery manned by brother Marylanders, and called the “Baltimore Light Artillery.” They had just been organized at Richmond, and forwarded to the army at Centreville during our absence. They were welcomed, most heartily welcomed, and it was not long ere we discovered old friends and acquaintances among them.
Before many hours had elapsed we paid our respects to the officers of the battery, and found them to be the true type of the Maryland and Virginia gentlemen. But here they are:
Capt. W. HUNTER GRIFFIN.
Captain J. B. Brockenborough was a Virginian, a graduate of the Military Institute at Lexington, and a son of Judge Brockenborough, whose name is so well known to the people of the South. He was a young man, not long from college, but in that intellectual face you read more than the ordinary man, and the honor and glory with which he subsequently enveloped his fine command is a matter of history.
His First Lieutenant, W. Hunter Griffin, was also a Virginian, but had been engaged in business in Baltimore for many years. Brave, noble-hearted Griffin; how little I thought, as for the first time I took his hand, we should pass together through so many stirring scenes in the field and prison, for with the mention of his name appears before me all the horrors of the retaliatory dens and dungeons of Morris Island and Fort Pulaski. There we shared between us the wretched pittance given to sustain a bare existence, and there we more than once divided our last dollar.
Second Lieutenant, W. B. Bean, was a Marylander, and a fine officer and brave soldier.
Third Lieutenant, George Wilhelm, was also a Marylander, and during the little while he was with the battery proved himself an efficient officer. On his resigning the dashing McNulty was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The personnel of the men was unsurpassed in the army, and was it a wonder, then, that with such officers, and such men, the Baltimore Light Artillery should soon become a household-word in the army of Northern Virginia.
During the winter of 1861 and 1862 the battery remained quietly in camp at Manassas, and when the army of General Joseph E. Johnston fell back from that place in March, they were ordered to remain with General Ewell upon the banks of the Rappahannock.
Here about the 1st of April the enemy for the first time heard the bellowing of their loud-mouthed Blakeleys, which were destined to carry death and destruction into their ranks upon more than one bloody field.
It was a lovely afternoon, and fresh in my memory, that the enemy were observed advancing in force towards the river. Their approach had been long expected, and preparations made to receive them. The Baltimore Light Artillery was posted on the extreme right of General Elzey’s brigade, and supported by the First Maryland Infantry. As the dense masses of the enemy came within range, Brockenborough opened with such accuracy of aim as to attract the attention of Elzey, who upon the spot predicted for them a glorious future. For an hour or two the fight was sharp and severe, and most of the enemy’s artillery fire concentrated upon the Maryland battery; but they stood their ground and fought their pieces like veterans of an hundred battles. Late in the evening the enemy retired, and left us masters of the field.
Once or twice after, they advanced in small force towards the river, but Brockenborough was ever ready to receive them, and a shell or two sufficed to drive them back.
On the 19th of April, 1862, the division of General Ewell broke camp, and began the wretched march to Gordonsville, and of which I have spoken in the First Maryland. For three days the rain poured in torrents, making the roads almost impassable, and for three days the officers and men of the Baltimore battery toiled through the mud, into which the wheels sank to the hubs, and at length reached Gordonsville.
After a halt here of three or four days, the division of General Ewell marched to join Jackson at Swift Run Gap.
After the return of that General from McDowell, the whole array advanced upon Kenly’s forces at Front Royal, and in the sharp fight which ensued the battery took a prominent part.
Early on the 25th of May, Jackson’s army stood in battle array before Winchester, and the engagement soon began. The Baltimore Light Artillery was stationed on the right, and throughout the fight played with much effect upon the enemy’s columns.
A few days after, at Bolivar Heights, they were engaged for some hours, and finally drove the Federal infantry and artillery from their strong position.
In Jackson’s memorable retreat down the Valley from the overwhelming forces of Fremont and Shields, the battery was detailed to support the cavalry under Ashby and Steuart, which was bringing up the rear of the army. Here it was daily engaged with the enemy. At Fisher’s Hill a section under Griffin was entirely surrounded and cut off owing to the bad behavior of Steuart’s cavalry, which was supporting it, but the gallant fellow drove his pieces through the ranks of the enemy, and reached the main body in safety.
At the battle of Harrisonburg it supported Ashby in his fight with the Pennsylvania Bucktails, and did good service.
On the 8th of June the division of Ewell was drawn up in line of battle at Cross Keys to dispute the enemy’s advance, whilst Jackson crossed his prisoners and wagon trains over the Shenandoah at Port Republic. The ground for the battle had been selected by General Elzey, by order of General Ewell, and a most judicious selection it was, as the result of the fight proved, and for which General Elzey received the thanks of Ewell in an official order, which the author regrets he is unable to give the reader.
The Baltimore Light Artillery held the extreme left supported by the First Maryland Infantry. Theirs was a most exposed position, and upon which was concentrated the fire of several of the enemy’s batteries. All day long the battle lasted, and all day long the little battery continued to hurl its shot and shell into the ranks of the enemy. It was a most unequal contest, but stubbornly they held their ground. Generals Elzey and Steuart, who had remained by and watched the battery with painful interest, were both borne wounded from the field. Upon the behavior of that battery perhaps hung the fate of the day, for we were but a handful holding at bay a mighty army. But calmly the officers and men stood to their guns, and although the enemy essayed more than once to drive them from the position, there they remained until night closed upon the combatants, and Jackson’s army was saved from the destruction that seemed so imminent.
As a reward for the gallantry displayed in this fight, General Dick Taylor presented the battery with two of the splendid brass Napoleons, which his brigade captured next day at Port Republic. “I want you to have them,” he said, “for from what I saw of you yesterday, I know they will be in good hands.”
After the battle of Port Republic, which closed Jackson’s great Valley campaign, the army moved up the mountain, where, upon its summit, it remained two or three days, when it returned and went into camp near Weir’s Cave, about five miles from Port Republic. Here the Baltimore Light Artillery was supplied with new harness and fresh horses, and was in a splendid condition for the dreadful fighting about to commence around Richmond, but of which we had not then the slightest conception.
On the 19th of June, 1862, Jackson put his troops in motion for Richmond, and on the afternoon of the 26th the First Maryland Infantry, which had the advance, encountered the enemy in force about ten miles from Gaines’ Mills, and a sharp fight ensued, which lasted some time, when Brockenborough was ordered to open fire, which he did with effect, and the enemy retired.
At daylight on the morning of the 28th, Jackson resumed his march, but owing to the incompetency of his guides it was late in the afternoon before he neared the point of attack assigned him. But at length everything indicated a rise of the curtain in the fearful drama about to commence. Columns were marching and countermarching, staff officers dashed hither and thither, while the crash of small arms, and the sullen boom of artillery on the right told full well that the work of death had begun.
About 4 o’clock Jackson threw out his skirmishers and moved forward in line of battle, and in a few minutes the enemy were developed in heavy force, and strongly posted, when the fighting became terrific. The artillery was directed to take position in an open field on the left, and were soon heavily engaged. The battle here was very unequal, for the enemy had greatly the advantage in artillery and position, and soon succeeded in disabling a number of Jackson’s pieces. In a short time the Jeff Davis Mississippi battery was torn to pieces and the Baltimore Light Artillery ordered to take its place, immediately under the eye of Jackson himself. Gallantly the Marylanders responded to the order, and dashing at a full run across the field, unlimbered and opened fire.
The author was standing close beside General Jackson when the battery went forward, and he shall long remember the look of anxiety with which he watched it, and well he might, for upon the success of that battery much depended. For a while the air was filled with exploding, crashing shells, and the horses and men fell rapidly before that withering fire, which was directed with almost the precision of a rifle shot. Away went a limber chest high in the air, scattering death and destruction around. “We are not close enough,” said the brave Brockenborough. “Limber to the front, forward, gallop!” rung out his sharp command, and in an instant the battery was in position at point blank range. Fiercely those guns were then worked despite the iron hail that ploughed up the ground around them, and in a few minutes Brockenborough had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy retire precipitately, leaving the ground covered with dead and dying men and horses, and shattered carriages and dismounted guns. It was French’s famous battery they had encountered, but French’s no longer, save in name.
On the morning of the 29th, the battery accompanied Ewell’s division to Dispatch Station, on the York River railroad, where a few shots were exchanged with the enemy, when Ewell retraced his steps, and moved towards Malvern Hill.
In the afternoon of the 1st of July the battle of Malvern Hill began, and soon raged fiercely. Through the tardiness of General Huger the enemy had been enabled to reach the heights of Malvern, where he posted sixty guns, which swept every foot of ground around. In vain did the heavy masses of infantry rush with desperate valor upon these guns, but it was only to be driven back, leaving the ground covered with heaps of dead and mangled men. In this unequal contest artillery was not available, for not a position was to be had. Two or three times the Baltimore Light Artillery tried it, but was as often compelled to hastily withdraw, and when night ended the conflict, Malvern Hill was not yet won.
Before morning McClellan withdrew to Harrison’s landing on the James, where he was safe, and General Lee had the mortification of knowing that the foe so completely within his toils had escaped him through the incapacity of a General of division.