Pictures of American Life

Detroit Free Press

Nov., 30, 1913

James Montgomery Flagg

Civil War Related By A Participant

By Charles T. Witherell

Brevet Major U.S. Army Retired

Fifty years ago, November 7, 1863, the brigade commanded by general David A. Russell, Sixth army , corps of which the Sixth Maine formed a part, was encamped in the outskirts of the beautiful village of Warrenton, Va., and had orders to move with the rest of the army of the Potomac, General George A. Meade commanding.

We marched from there to Rappahannock station, a distance of about twelve miles and promptly attacked the forces of the enemy, who were entrenched on the right bank of that river. Half of the regiment was deployed as skirmishers. We advanced over a broad open plain and the enemy ewer steadily pressed back toward their entrenchments just before dusk. General Russell received orders to assault the entrenchments in front. The remaining half of the regiment was deployed as skirmishers in rear of the others on the line virtually making a double line of battle in single rank extended order.

The order for the attack was given, led by Lieut. Col. B.F. Harris. Sixth Maine. The regiment in that formation rushed forward to the assault. Probably so small a number of men never before made such an uproar. We were joined by a small force of skirmishers, on our left, from the Twentieth Maine regiment fifth army corps., under command of Captain Morrill, formerly of our regiment. They went into the fight without orders, simply because they saw us start on the desperate venture and thought we needed help. We were supported by our twin regiment the Fifth Wisconsin., General Russell and staff went forward with us and were in the thickest of the fray throughout. The entrenchments in front of us contained more than two thousand infantry and four field pieces [artillery] under command of our old adversary, General Jubal a. Early.

The fire that was opened on us as we swept forward was something terrific. It is impossible to describe it. The sensation was that the air was so filled with bullets that it was heated to a high degree of temperature and scalded the throat and lungs when inhaled.

Men were seized with wildest transports of rage and frenzy. We seemed to be marching against a blind, inscrutable force which defied all our efforts ot reach or grapple with it The only relief seemed our continuous yell, which every man kept up until the fortifications in front of us were reached. As at Mary’s Heights the guns were uncapped and not a shot was fired while the men were rushing to the assault. We entered the enemy’s works in a thin line and scattered, a handful here and there, among swarms of the enemy. Why they recoiled from their entrenchments none of us has ever been able to understand. Some of their prisoners, private soldiers, said afterwards: “We allowed that the whole army of the Potomac were coming, you uns kept up such an infernal yelling.” Bayonets and butts of muskets were used in the melee which ensued as we scaled the earthworks. Our gentlemanly and mild-mannered regimental adjutant, Charley Clark, got in such hot company he was forced to thrust his saber into his adversary before he was wounded, It seemed to me as I crossed the earthworks with about a dozen of my men that the whole rebel army was present. We were forced over the works, but soon rallied and went back. Sergeant John A. Gray of my company who carried the regimental colors was shot down and killed and many of the men were killed or wounded as we crossed the works the second time. Sergeant Otis O. Roberts who became my sergeant, Company D. 1^st Maine Vet. Vols. Inf., was afterwards awarded a congressional medal of honor for distinguished valor in the capture of a battle flag in the hand to hand conflict with several of the enemy. The confederates covering their pontoon bridge in the rear and further to the right, kept up a furious contest.

It is impossible to record the many individual acts of valor among our men. Three confederate battle flags were captured in a hand to hand contest. The confederate guns were defended with desperate bravery and determination. The “rebel yell” mingled with our cheers of victory and the musketry on both sides continued sharp and furious. Shortly before the firing ceased Corporal Kerr said; “Captain, I’m shot through the body.” At the same moment I was hit in the right foot and a moment later in the abdomen. I thought my fighting days were over when I fell inside the earthworks. It seemed an age after we entered the works before other troops which were hurried up from the rear came to our support. Meanwhile the confederates were crossing their pontoon bridge as fast as they could get away. When the supports came up their retreat was cut off and they had to surrender. General Early and his staff made their escape after we were in possession of the works, as he had done twice before at Williamsburg and Mary’s Heights.

As our supports came up the confederates without further contest surrendered to the number of two thousand men or more. Their artillery and battle flags also became the spoils of war. The losses in our regiment were terrific. Captain R. W. Furlong commanding Company D. 6^th Maine - the next company on my right- leaped over the enemy’s works an after he had emptied his revolver, fought with a musket swinging it around his head until he fell dead. After the battle his body was found with his lieutenant H. H. Waite, near him and a pile of dead. Several of them ha d been killed by the blows of his musket stock.

From historical authority, “Fox’s Regimental Losses,” I quotes as follows; “There was no more brilliant action in the war than the affair at Rappahannock Station, Va., November 7, 1863. The Sixth Maine with uncapped muskets, supported by the Fifth Wisconsin, stormed the enemy’s works and springing over them were engaged in a desperate struggle. Some of the fighting being hand to hand, bayonets being freely used, and in one case an officer thrust his saber through his antagonist. The brunt of the fight fell on the Sixth Maine. It lost 38 killed and 101 wounded out of the 321 present in the action, and of 21 officers engaged, 16 were killed or wounded.”

This was not the first time that the Sixth had leaped the enemy’s breastworks against the blazing muzzles of a line of rifles, In the successful assault on Mary’s Heights May 3, 1863, the flag of the Sixth was the first to wave over the enemy’s works. The regiment was then in the famous “Light Brigade” of the Sixth Army Corps, General Hiram Burnham.

Privates George W. Brown and Emil Hanniman of my company K had quite a practice in bayonet exercise as they pressed over the stone wall at the foot of Mary’s Heights. Seemingly, they had not forgotten their previous instruction, Hanniman was killed a few moments later when we took the last earthwork on top of the heights, capturing seven pieces of the famous Washington artillery of Louisiana. The loss of the regiment in that battle was 23 killed, 111 wounded and 33 missing. Major J. A. Haycock and four Captains, Gray, Young, Ballanger and Roach were killed.

General Hiram Burnham, formerly commander of the light brigade was killed after his capture of Fort Harrison, Va., Sept 3, 1864. Two more gallant, brave and loyal officers never drew a sword.

As to our gallant and lamented dead who fell on that occasion’

Peace to those loyal and the brave,

Who fought our glorious land to save;

Who fought and fell, and found a grave

Beside the Rappahanoocks wave

Garlands of cypress and myrtle twine

For those who died for yours and mine

Poured out their blood like red, red wine

Beside the Rappahannock