President Abraham Lincoln reviews the reorganized army. Hooker approaches the enemy from their rear and surrounds Chancellorsville. Hooker delays the attack and waits. Jackson initiates a surprise early morning attack, triggering a stampede of Hooker's IX Corps. Owen and the 14th Indiana rushes into form a defensive line that slows Jackson's momentum and earns Hooker's praise.
April 1, 1863
This morning General Whiskey had us reviewed by moonlight. We were ordered to be under arms at 3 o’clock, and after stacking arms repaired to quarters. I believe that it was uncalled for and think that General Whiskey was in command, that is on an avenge(?)
April 8, 1863
Today we were reviewed by President Lincoln including most of the Army. It was an imposing array. Several horse races came off before the President arrived which was about 1 o’clock.
Abe rode passed the different divisions and we then passed in review before him and Mrs. Lincoln.
April 14, 1863
Got orders to be ready to march with five days rations in knapsacks, and three in haversacks. All superfluous things packed up such as blanket, overplus(sic) of clothing, etc., etc., and sent off to Aquia Creek.
April 16, 1863
On picket duty at the Lacy house, with ten men and a Contraband!
About three o'clock in the evening, a rebel regiment came out on the open field on the south bank of the Reppahumacky [Rappahannock], on battalion drill. They had a red banner out. Could not see any stars and bars.
Contraband
Contraband was a term used in the North for a runaway slave; sometimes, it was used as a synonym for a slave.
The term “contraband” was coined by General Benjamin F. Butler, who took command of Fort Monroe at the beginning of the war. The war had scarcely begun when runaway slaves began to flow to Fort Monroe. A Confederate colonel presented himself at Fort Monroe to demand the return of the slaves. Butler refused.“Do you mean to set aside your constitutional obligations?” asked the colonel, knowing the US law required the return of all runaway slaves. Butler argued since Virginia had passed an ordinance of secession two days prior and had claimed to be a foreign country that he was under no constitutional obligation to return the slaves. “I shall detain these as contraband of war,” Butler said about the now-former-slaves under his protection. From that day forward, “contraband” became a synonym for a slave.
Harper’s “The Federal Government and Slavery,” page 201. Fairfax Press, New York, 1866.
April 17th, 1863
A Rebel officer came down on the bank of the river and wanted permission to cross saying he had so by both Generals. An orderly was dispatched to Couches Hd Qrs. whether to let him cross or not.
April 27, 1863
Got orders to be ready to march at 8 O’clock on the next morning the 28th.
April 28, 1863
Marched up the Reppahamocky about eight miles and camped. Two regiments sent down to the river to picket.
The boys like camping out better than any other way. “They say” that the rebels have sixteen pieces of artillery on the opposite side of the river.
April 29, 1863
Crossed the Rappahannock about three o’clock without any opposition whatever, notwithstanding the opposite side of the ford (which is United States ford, was lined with breastworks).
We marched in and about five miles and camped.
April 30th, 1863
Our troops commenced marching in the morning, but we lay most of the day where we camped on last night.
The cannonading was beyond the crossroad, where the plank road from Fredericksburg to Gordonsville crosses the road leading straight out from United States ford.
During the day our Division moved forward to the crossroads before mentioned but immediately moved back to our old camp of the night of the 29th where we camped.
May 1, 1863
There was considerable cannonading along the lines today. The Rebs were moving up from Fredericksburg to prevent our progress further.
May 2, 1863
There was considerable fighting today and the Rebels are trying to open the plank road to Gordonsville and are making desperate efforts to that effect. Late in the evening, the 11th Army which was on the right—was attacked and driven back a considerable distance.
It is said that they were completely surprised, and in the night the rebels charged on our men where their arms were stacked, and completely surprised them.
We camped near Couche’s Hd Qrs.at night and was roused up several times by heavy moonlight firing.
May 3, 1863
Col. Carroll, commander of our brigade, told us that he was ordered to be ready at a moment’s warning to go in with Sykes Regulars on a double-quick. This pleased the boys and it would have had a splendid effect if we had been supported by that mission.
Heavy firing commenced at five o’clock and about half after 6 the 14th, 4th & 8th Ohio, and 7th Va. formed a line of battle in the open field and advanced into the woods towards where the right of the 11th Corps had fortified on the 1st Ind.(?)
We had advanced a short distance when we run plump into a rebel column and then the Hoosier with the other three Regiments poured in a destructive volley, accompanied by a terrific yell, which staggered the Rebels like unto a drunkard. They stood but a few moments when they rapidly gave way, our men following them. We killed an captured a great many of them.
We drove them across the plank road into a large field, and such a sight I never saw before. It was almost plump full of Rebels and them retreating from our little brigade of about 1800 men all told. From what I can judge there must have been at least two Divisions retreating.
The Rebels soon opened in the right and rear of us with grape and canister, their infantry following suit. There was no time to be lost for there we were just a few men, and whole brigades of the enemy on our right, front, and were rapidly gaining our rear.
We extricated ourselves by some tall running, but we kept together very well. If we had been strongly supported, I believe we would have put the whole left wing of the Rebel Army on the retreat. I do not see any strategy in throwing a brigade into the very jaws of death.
Our brigade was formed again in the field and marched to the rear or rather to the left and camped. Late in the evening our lines were changed and formed around Hd Qrs of Old “Joe” Hooker.
Our Regiment lost 74 in killed and wounded in the fight today. The loss in our camp was five wounded and none killed.
Colonel Coon, Lt. Col. Cavins, Maj Houghton, and Adjutant Thomas C. Bailey displayed great bravery, and I never saw men go into a fight with a better will than ours. Not one man flinched in our Comp. although, there was several considered heretofore suspicious.
Fighting “Joe” passed along the lines before dusk, and each Regiment gave him three rousing cheers.
May 4, 1863
There is considerable firing amongst the pickets today. We have substantial breastworks along our whole lines, and we would be greatly disappointed if the Rebels did not attack us for then it would be to our hand.
There was heavy firing in the direction of Fredericksburg yesterday evening and the news came this morning that our troops occupied the heights of that stubborn city of Rebeldom
About 5 o’clock the Rebs advanced with the evident intention of charging our works but a few volleys and shots from the grim mouths of our bulldogs of peacemakers sent them pell-mell into the woods.
May 5, 1863
On last night we were alarmed by volleys of musketry but soon stopped.
At half after seven this morning the enemy advanced against our boys but were driven back. Heavy firing heard in the direction of Fredericksburg last night.
In the evening about an hour before sunset the enemy advanced skirmishers opposite our brigade and drove part of them in.
They made their appearance in some force to the left, but a few well-directed muskets volleys and a few cannon shots sent them back into the woods.
This was the first demonstration of the enemy against the line of our brigade since we established our lines permanently.
The praise of our brigade is upon every lip almost for the gallant and bold dash we made on Sunday the 3d. Col. Carrol commanded us, and his brigade was complimented highly by Fighting “Joe” and other distinguished Generals.
The Rebels the day before had driven the eleventh Corps in confusion from their work forming the right way of our lines. They fought very badly the cause of which I know not for they have been considered heretofore as excellent fighters. On Sunday our brigade of four Regiments drove the Rebels over the same ground the eleventh Corps was driven from.
I never seen so many Rebs at once in my life, and nothing but our little brigade driving them.
We captured one Brigadier General, three stands of Colors, eight hundred prisoners, and also released two Regiments of our own men who the Rebs had captured the day before. Besides we captured on battery, and an immense amount of ammunition which the Rebels had captured from the 11th Corps, which we could not bring away without supports coming up which failed to arrive till our small band of Spartan Heroes were completely flanked and forced to about-face.
There must have been at least two Divisions retreating across a field.
We came down upon them with a Hoosier yell which deceived them concerning our strength.
We strewed the woods with dead rebels, who were three times as thick as the dead of our troops.
