CHAPTER XVIII.
Abandonment of the Peninsula.—Arrival at Acquia Creek.—Disembarkation at Alexandria.—Pope’s Operations.—Death of Generals Stevens and Kearney.—Retreat to the Fortifications.—Responsibility for the Disaster.—Fitz-John Porter.
On the following day, the Thirty-third and other Regiments of the Third Brigade embarked at Fortress Monroe, on board the steamers Vanderbilt and Empire City, and came to anchor the same evening at Acquia Creek. The design in sending them here was to reinforce General Burnside, who had already arrived, and held Fredericksburg with a large force. As affairs were assuming a threatening attitude around Washington, it was deemed best, however, to withdraw all the troops from Fredericksburg and vicinity. General Burnside, therefore, commenced evacuating the region the same day that the Thirty-third arrived. The three bridges constructed over the Rappahannock, the railroad, Quartermaster and commissary buildings at Falmouth, were destroyed, the Fredericksburg machine-shop and foundry blown up, and various other property laid in ruins. As the last of the forces were leaving, a woman appeared, with three little children clinging to her side, whom General Burnside recognized as a prominent Union lady. He immediately remarked to her: “Have you anything down to the bridge, madam?” “Only a bed and a few small articles, sir.” Turning to one of his wagon-masters, he said, “Send down an ambulance, wagon-master, and have them brought up and carried to the depot.” The lady afterwards had the pleasure of being landed safely in Washington with her children and effects. This was a little incident in itself, but illustrates the character of the man.
The Thirty-third did not disembark, but proceeding on up to Alexandria, went into camp near Fort Ellsworth, on the 24th, just five months from the day it left for the Peninsula. Five months of active campaigning had brought with it all the fortunes of war. Victory and defeat had anon perched on our banners. New Generals had come and gone. Brave spirits innumerable had been shot to death on the field, lain down in sickly swamps to die, or breathed their life away in northern hospitals or homes. The retrospect was not a cheerful one.
The other Regiments of Franklin’s Corps arrived during the same day, on the Daniel Webster and other transports.
General Pope’s army was in the meantime actively engaged.
Saturday, August 9th, the battle of Cedar Mountain was fought between Generals Banks and Jackson, which can hardly be claimed as a victory for the Federal arms, though the subsequent retreat of the enemy left us in possession of the field.
Wednesday, 13th, General Buford’s Cavalry pushed on further south, as far as Orange Court House, capturing many wounded who had been abandoned.