- 30 Apr 2021 13:15
#15170083
May 1863
On two of the three major fronts, Northern armies move in new offensives. The vast Army of the Potomac under mercurial Joseph Hooker is positioned at Chancellorsville in the Wilderness of Virginia, ready to move swiftly between Lee and Richmond. At Fredericksburg a portion of Hooker’s army under Sedgwick threatens the Confederates from that direction.
On the Mississippi Union attempts to capture or lay siege to the fortress of Vicksburg has long been frustrated. Now Grant is below the city and on Mississippi soil. To Confederates the threat is real, desperately crucial. It takes no genius to see the tragedy that will result if Vicksburg and the Mississippi Valley falls. Pemberton keeps a vigilant eye on Sherman’s demonstration north of Vicksburg. Johnston gathers strength, hoping to relieve Pemberton in an attempt to save both the city and the Confederate army. Only in east-central Tennessee, where Rosecrans and Bragg are largely inactive, is there no sense of immediate crisis. Smaller operations, such as Grierson’s in Mississippi and Streight’s in Georgia, also sting the South.
May 1, Friday
South of Vicksburg at 6 am, as McClernand’s Federal corps pushes forward from the vicinity of the Shaifer house, they divide forces; three divisions head southeast on the Plantation Road, while the fourth division, under Brigadier General Peter J. Osterhaus, marches due east on the Bruinsburg Road. Because of the thick woods that lies between them, neither force can go to the aid of the other. Grant’s numerical advantage is not helping him much. It is the kind of country, Grant will say, that makes it “easy for an inferior force to delay, if not defeat, a far superior one.” And sure enough, Bowen’s four Confederate brigades, though greatly outnumbered, manage to keep both roads blocked. The Federals counter by bringing up their artillery and pounding the Confederate lines. The 1st Indiana battery alone fires 1,050 rounds. Under the bombardment, the Confederate forces are almost helpless. Bowen now seeks to meet the threat, stepping to the front of two regiments from Mississippi and Alabama and leading them in a charge on the Federal artillery battery. Amid heavy fire, the Confederate soldiers go crashing through the brush behind their general, straight at the Union cannon. They drive the cannoneers out and take the guns, but now find themselves in an exposed position and are forced to abandon the guns and fall back. It has been a costly attack.
Around 11 am on the Federal right, Brigadier General Alvin P. Hovey leads two regiments from Indiana and Ohio in a charge on a battery of Virginia artillery 150 yards to his front. The Federals give a cheer and start forward with fixed bayonets, but they don’t get far. Raked by canister and musket fire, many of Hovey’s men halt and begin to take cover. Seeing them waver, Hovey rides up and rallies his troops. Ahead, two Indiana companies flank the Confederate battery and begin shooting down the gunners and their horses. The blueclad ranks sweep over the battery, capturing two guns, the flag of the 15th Arkansas, and 220 prisoners.
The Federal breakthrough spurs General Bowen into desperate action. The Confederate commander leads two Missouri regiments in a counterattack that plugs the hole in his line, and even threatens for a moment to turn the Federal right. But fresh Federal troops then enter the battle. Confederate ammunition is running low, and as the afternoon wears on Bowen realizes his position is hopeless. Three miles to the north, the standoff on the Bruinsburg Road has finally been broken by Grant, who has sent part of McPherson’s XVII Corps to bolster Osterhaus’s division. McPherson’s troops, charging through brush and canebrake, manage to flank the smaller Confederate force. By late in the day the Confederates are retreating along both roads, although still in good order. When night falls, the Union force holds the field; Grant’s advance elements are within two miles of Port Gibson. Come the morning Bowen will be gone. He has fought magnificently against enormous odds, delaying the Union advance and inflicting 875 casualties. With substantial reinforcements he might have turned the battle around. But his small force has paid a stiff price, losing 832 men killed, wounded, or captured. As the Federals mop up during the next few days, another 1,000 Confederate soldiers will be captured. Bowen has lost more than a third of his command.
In Louisiana, so far Colonel Grierson has managed to avoid any direct confrontation with Confederate forces. But today, only a day’s ride from Baton Rouge, he finally runs headlong into a fight. At a bridge over the Tickfaw River an advance party of Grierson’s troopers ride straight into three mounted companies of Confederates under Major James De Baun. Almost immediately, five Federals are wounded and five captured. Moments later Grierson’s main force thunders down the road, unlimbers an artillery piece, and drives De Baun’s heavily outnumbered force back from the bridge. Grierson moves his wounded into a nearby plantation house so that they will be sheltered from the elements until the Confederates find them. Then the cavalrymen mount their horses and cross the bridge, riding fast.
At Chancellorsville, when General Jackson reaches his objective at 8 am, he finds Anderson’s men busily digging in. With an army of superior numbers advancing toward them, it is just the thing to do. But it is not Jackson’s way, under any circumstances, to wait for the enemy. He orders Anderson’s men to pack their tools and prepare to attack.
This same morning, Hooker slowly advances eastward out of Chancellorsville. Slocum’s XII Corps and Howard’s XI Corps move out on the right, along the Plank Road, while just to the north Generals George Sykes and Winfield Scott Hancock march their divisions along the Turnpike. Meade’s V Corps advances on the Federal left down the River Road, a rough trail between the Turnpike and the Rappahannock. Everything seems to be in Hooker’s favor. He has 70,000 troops moving out smartly against 40,000 Confederates. Hooker has said that God Almighty couldn’t stop him from destroying the Rebel army, and while the remark offended some of the more devout members of his command, it appears to be based on sound military judgment. As Syke’s division reaches the far edge of the Wilderness, the vanguard begins to exchange fire with skirmishers from McLaws’ division. Instead of recoiling before the Federal advance, Jackson orders Anderson’s men forward, and they begin to assail the Federal division on both flanks. Sykes reports his situation, and Hooker orders up Hancock’s division. Hancock moves forward and occupies a ridge in open country. Slocum is also holding a strong position, off to the right, and Meade is advancing unmolested along the River Road.
Thus far the Federals have suffered little damage; they have responded quickly and gained strong positions on high ground, and are ready to move forward again. Yet suddenly, Hooker orders his astonished corps commanders to break off the advance, abandon the ridges they hold, and return to the positions they occupied last night around Chancellorsville. Hooker’s subordinates cannot believe their ears. Couch sends an aide to Hooker’s headquarters to protest the order, but Hooker is adamant. On their return to Chancellorsville, the troops are ordered to dig in. Couch, fuming, goes to the army commander’s headquarters, where Hooker tries to reassure him that he has Lee right where he wants him. In the midst of a major offensive, at the first sting of enemy opposition, “Fighting Joe” Hooker has abandoned the attack and gone over to the defensive. The debate over what has triggered Hooker’s stunning loss of nerve will begin at once. A few will blame it on alcohol, but most who are around Hooker at this time will disagree. Several of his generals will subsequently testify before the Committee on the Conduct of the War that Hooker is not drunk. Indeed, Couch and others will suspect that a drink or two might have improved Hooker’s performance.
Come evening, Generals Lee and Jackson meet in the forest off Plank Road south of Chancellorsville, near an ironworks called Catherine Furnace. There they review the events of the day and make plans. Jackson is struck by Hooker’s timidity and thinks that the entire Federal army might withdraw across the river during the night. Lee doubts it will be that easy. He believes Hooker wants the Confederates to attack him where he is, and Lee is inclined to oblige. He rules out an attack on the Federals’ left flank, between the Rappahannock and the Turnpike, because of the dense trees and underbrush there. The generals send two engineers out to reconnoiter the enemy center, around Chancellorsville. Then Jeb Stuart rides up to Lee and Jackson with the news that Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry has scouted the Federal right. It is located about two miles to the northwest, along the road leading west from Chancellorsville, and is “in the air,” meaning that it isn’t anchored on any natural terrain feature and is vulnerable. Soon the engineers return to say that the combination of dense growth and abatis along the Federal center makes the line there invulnerable. The Federal right must be turned, Lee says, and leaves Jackson to figure out a way to do it.
Streight’s Federal raiders fight skirmishes throughout the day at Blountsville and on the east branch of the Big Warrior River, Alabama. Other fighting breaks out near Washington, Louisiana; South Quay Bridge near Suffolk, Virginia; La Grange, Arkansas; and between Murfreesboro and Lizzard, Tennessee. In Arkansas Marmaduke’s Confederate raid into Missouri ends with skirmishes today and tomorrow at Chalk Bluff on the St. Francis River.
Before adjourning, the third session of the First Confederate Congress creates a Provisional Navy in addition to the Regular Navy; authorizes the President to contract for construction of vessels in Europe; provides for election of delegates to Congress from some Amerind nations; creates the office of Commissioner of Taxes; tightens some of the exemptions in the draft law; and adopts a new national flag known as the Stainless Banner. A resolution states that captured White officers of Northern Black troops should be put to death or otherwise punished at the discretion of a court-martial for inciting insurrection.
On two of the three major fronts, Northern armies move in new offensives. The vast Army of the Potomac under mercurial Joseph Hooker is positioned at Chancellorsville in the Wilderness of Virginia, ready to move swiftly between Lee and Richmond. At Fredericksburg a portion of Hooker’s army under Sedgwick threatens the Confederates from that direction.
On the Mississippi Union attempts to capture or lay siege to the fortress of Vicksburg has long been frustrated. Now Grant is below the city and on Mississippi soil. To Confederates the threat is real, desperately crucial. It takes no genius to see the tragedy that will result if Vicksburg and the Mississippi Valley falls. Pemberton keeps a vigilant eye on Sherman’s demonstration north of Vicksburg. Johnston gathers strength, hoping to relieve Pemberton in an attempt to save both the city and the Confederate army. Only in east-central Tennessee, where Rosecrans and Bragg are largely inactive, is there no sense of immediate crisis. Smaller operations, such as Grierson’s in Mississippi and Streight’s in Georgia, also sting the South.
May 1, Friday
South of Vicksburg at 6 am, as McClernand’s Federal corps pushes forward from the vicinity of the Shaifer house, they divide forces; three divisions head southeast on the Plantation Road, while the fourth division, under Brigadier General Peter J. Osterhaus, marches due east on the Bruinsburg Road. Because of the thick woods that lies between them, neither force can go to the aid of the other. Grant’s numerical advantage is not helping him much. It is the kind of country, Grant will say, that makes it “easy for an inferior force to delay, if not defeat, a far superior one.” And sure enough, Bowen’s four Confederate brigades, though greatly outnumbered, manage to keep both roads blocked. The Federals counter by bringing up their artillery and pounding the Confederate lines. The 1st Indiana battery alone fires 1,050 rounds. Under the bombardment, the Confederate forces are almost helpless. Bowen now seeks to meet the threat, stepping to the front of two regiments from Mississippi and Alabama and leading them in a charge on the Federal artillery battery. Amid heavy fire, the Confederate soldiers go crashing through the brush behind their general, straight at the Union cannon. They drive the cannoneers out and take the guns, but now find themselves in an exposed position and are forced to abandon the guns and fall back. It has been a costly attack.
Around 11 am on the Federal right, Brigadier General Alvin P. Hovey leads two regiments from Indiana and Ohio in a charge on a battery of Virginia artillery 150 yards to his front. The Federals give a cheer and start forward with fixed bayonets, but they don’t get far. Raked by canister and musket fire, many of Hovey’s men halt and begin to take cover. Seeing them waver, Hovey rides up and rallies his troops. Ahead, two Indiana companies flank the Confederate battery and begin shooting down the gunners and their horses. The blueclad ranks sweep over the battery, capturing two guns, the flag of the 15th Arkansas, and 220 prisoners.
The Federal breakthrough spurs General Bowen into desperate action. The Confederate commander leads two Missouri regiments in a counterattack that plugs the hole in his line, and even threatens for a moment to turn the Federal right. But fresh Federal troops then enter the battle. Confederate ammunition is running low, and as the afternoon wears on Bowen realizes his position is hopeless. Three miles to the north, the standoff on the Bruinsburg Road has finally been broken by Grant, who has sent part of McPherson’s XVII Corps to bolster Osterhaus’s division. McPherson’s troops, charging through brush and canebrake, manage to flank the smaller Confederate force. By late in the day the Confederates are retreating along both roads, although still in good order. When night falls, the Union force holds the field; Grant’s advance elements are within two miles of Port Gibson. Come the morning Bowen will be gone. He has fought magnificently against enormous odds, delaying the Union advance and inflicting 875 casualties. With substantial reinforcements he might have turned the battle around. But his small force has paid a stiff price, losing 832 men killed, wounded, or captured. As the Federals mop up during the next few days, another 1,000 Confederate soldiers will be captured. Bowen has lost more than a third of his command.
In Louisiana, so far Colonel Grierson has managed to avoid any direct confrontation with Confederate forces. But today, only a day’s ride from Baton Rouge, he finally runs headlong into a fight. At a bridge over the Tickfaw River an advance party of Grierson’s troopers ride straight into three mounted companies of Confederates under Major James De Baun. Almost immediately, five Federals are wounded and five captured. Moments later Grierson’s main force thunders down the road, unlimbers an artillery piece, and drives De Baun’s heavily outnumbered force back from the bridge. Grierson moves his wounded into a nearby plantation house so that they will be sheltered from the elements until the Confederates find them. Then the cavalrymen mount their horses and cross the bridge, riding fast.
At Chancellorsville, when General Jackson reaches his objective at 8 am, he finds Anderson’s men busily digging in. With an army of superior numbers advancing toward them, it is just the thing to do. But it is not Jackson’s way, under any circumstances, to wait for the enemy. He orders Anderson’s men to pack their tools and prepare to attack.
This same morning, Hooker slowly advances eastward out of Chancellorsville. Slocum’s XII Corps and Howard’s XI Corps move out on the right, along the Plank Road, while just to the north Generals George Sykes and Winfield Scott Hancock march their divisions along the Turnpike. Meade’s V Corps advances on the Federal left down the River Road, a rough trail between the Turnpike and the Rappahannock. Everything seems to be in Hooker’s favor. He has 70,000 troops moving out smartly against 40,000 Confederates. Hooker has said that God Almighty couldn’t stop him from destroying the Rebel army, and while the remark offended some of the more devout members of his command, it appears to be based on sound military judgment. As Syke’s division reaches the far edge of the Wilderness, the vanguard begins to exchange fire with skirmishers from McLaws’ division. Instead of recoiling before the Federal advance, Jackson orders Anderson’s men forward, and they begin to assail the Federal division on both flanks. Sykes reports his situation, and Hooker orders up Hancock’s division. Hancock moves forward and occupies a ridge in open country. Slocum is also holding a strong position, off to the right, and Meade is advancing unmolested along the River Road.
Thus far the Federals have suffered little damage; they have responded quickly and gained strong positions on high ground, and are ready to move forward again. Yet suddenly, Hooker orders his astonished corps commanders to break off the advance, abandon the ridges they hold, and return to the positions they occupied last night around Chancellorsville. Hooker’s subordinates cannot believe their ears. Couch sends an aide to Hooker’s headquarters to protest the order, but Hooker is adamant. On their return to Chancellorsville, the troops are ordered to dig in. Couch, fuming, goes to the army commander’s headquarters, where Hooker tries to reassure him that he has Lee right where he wants him. In the midst of a major offensive, at the first sting of enemy opposition, “Fighting Joe” Hooker has abandoned the attack and gone over to the defensive. The debate over what has triggered Hooker’s stunning loss of nerve will begin at once. A few will blame it on alcohol, but most who are around Hooker at this time will disagree. Several of his generals will subsequently testify before the Committee on the Conduct of the War that Hooker is not drunk. Indeed, Couch and others will suspect that a drink or two might have improved Hooker’s performance.
Come evening, Generals Lee and Jackson meet in the forest off Plank Road south of Chancellorsville, near an ironworks called Catherine Furnace. There they review the events of the day and make plans. Jackson is struck by Hooker’s timidity and thinks that the entire Federal army might withdraw across the river during the night. Lee doubts it will be that easy. He believes Hooker wants the Confederates to attack him where he is, and Lee is inclined to oblige. He rules out an attack on the Federals’ left flank, between the Rappahannock and the Turnpike, because of the dense trees and underbrush there. The generals send two engineers out to reconnoiter the enemy center, around Chancellorsville. Then Jeb Stuart rides up to Lee and Jackson with the news that Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry has scouted the Federal right. It is located about two miles to the northwest, along the road leading west from Chancellorsville, and is “in the air,” meaning that it isn’t anchored on any natural terrain feature and is vulnerable. Soon the engineers return to say that the combination of dense growth and abatis along the Federal center makes the line there invulnerable. The Federal right must be turned, Lee says, and leaves Jackson to figure out a way to do it.
Streight’s Federal raiders fight skirmishes throughout the day at Blountsville and on the east branch of the Big Warrior River, Alabama. Other fighting breaks out near Washington, Louisiana; South Quay Bridge near Suffolk, Virginia; La Grange, Arkansas; and between Murfreesboro and Lizzard, Tennessee. In Arkansas Marmaduke’s Confederate raid into Missouri ends with skirmishes today and tomorrow at Chalk Bluff on the St. Francis River.
Before adjourning, the third session of the First Confederate Congress creates a Provisional Navy in addition to the Regular Navy; authorizes the President to contract for construction of vessels in Europe; provides for election of delegates to Congress from some Amerind nations; creates the office of Commissioner of Taxes; tightens some of the exemptions in the draft law; and adopts a new national flag known as the Stainless Banner. A resolution states that captured White officers of Northern Black troops should be put to death or otherwise punished at the discretion of a court-martial for inciting insurrection.
Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without.
—Edmund Burke
—Edmund Burke