Home History 79th at Wilderness and Spotsylvania Part 2

79th at Wilderness and Spotsylvania Part 2

Written by William Beard

Monday, 30 April 2007

The 79th found themselves on the Fredricksburg Road near the Ny River. After the Confederate guard had been pushed away from the crossing, Christ’s brigade crossed and occupied a hill on the Beverly farm. The farmhouse nearby was occupied by a Mr. Russell, and the road ran right in front of the house. [The Official Records reports the house was owned by the Gayle family. The two farms are near one another, and it is possible that the headquarters was moved from one to the other. There were several Beverly farms on the Spotsylvania battlefield nearby.] The 79th was held in reserve while the rest of the brigade went and took positions behind the house along a grassy hill leading to a set of woods. The Confederate troops who had been driven from the river crossing were concealed on the wooded hill above the small brook, which feeds into the Ny River. This little valley would be the last place this “first” organization of the 79th would fight during the war. The fighting at Spotsylvania would stretch to over five miles, and the 79th was just in a small portion of it on the Federal left. As in most large-scale battle, Spotsylvania became a series of regiment, brigade, and division fights all along the line and separate from one another. This fight on the Beverly farm is a good example of the type of action this campaign had become. Shortly before noon the Confederates advanced from the wooded hill to retake ground they had lost earlier in the morning. These were troops of General A. P. Hill, and they were veterans who knew how to fight. [William Todd and the Official Records reports claim it was Longstreet’s troops. Longstreet’s men were on the Confederate left, and A. P. Hill’s troops were in position in front of Burnside’s men. It is very possible that some of Longstreet’s troops were detached to fight on the Confederate right.] The Federal regiment held their ground at first, but as the Confederates kept advancing the Union troops slowly gave way. Then the Rebels gave one of their famous yells, jumped a fence, and charged the inexperienced Union regiment (60th Ohio Infantry) in the front. This was the very first battle of the 60th Ohio and they were not yet ready. The regiment broke and ran back up the hill in disorder. As they passed the Highlanders they yelled, “Get out of here, quick! The Rebels are right upon us!” The 79th tried in vain to stop the troops already in flight. It was now their turn to show how an experienced, battle-hardened Union regiment fights. Some Union soldiers on the left held their ground, and one company of the 20th Michigan in front of the Highlanders under a Lieutenant Lounsberry held onto the hill as the 79th on the left and the 17th Michigan on the right went forward. Since the beginning of the war the 79th had proved their bravery and their fighting skills over and over. At First Bull Run, they charged up Henry House Hill many times. At Secessionville, they ran over two other units to attack the Tower Battery. At Chantilly, they were there to hold back the Confederate tide so the rest of the army could get away safely. At Blue Springs, they led the army into battle. At Fort Sanders they held against the whole Confederate attack, and won the day, and their greatest victory. Now they were being called out again and under the command of their old colonel. Morrison commanded in a loud voice that was heard by all, “Come Seventy-Ninth! You’re wanted once more! Shake out your colors! Forward!!” The 79th quickly obeyed and with determination went toward the enemy. There was a garden fence that stood in the way of the right of the line, but it soon gave way as the Highlanders broke it down. The Confederates saw the 79th and advanced in their direction determined to make the Highlanders run and give way. The 79th was under a scattering fire by the Rebels, but the Highlander did not fire a shot in return but marched steadily onward. When the Rebel lines were just a few yards away Morrison gave the command, ”Charge Bayonets! Double quick! March!” The Highlanders went forward with a cheer and charged directly into another volley of the enemy. The Confederates turned and ran. They fled back over the brook and over the fence up into the woods. Several of the Rebels were captured before they could escape across the fence. An aide rode to the 79th and told them not to advance further than the fence and to take up a position behind it. The Confederates had rallied and were returning fire. Several Highlanders had fallen in the charge and several more were hit at the fence including Colonel Morrison and both color bearers. (Many of the wounded were not serious enough to be removed from the regiment.) Colonel Morrison was taken from the field and command of the regiment fell on captains Laing and Gair. The 79th held this position for more than an hour and they kept up a lively skirmish with the Confederates hidden in the brush of the woods. While the 79th battled the enemy, the rest of the brigade was developing a strong line nearer the house on top of the hill. During a lull in the fighting one soldier, imitating a child, called out, “I want to go home! Boo hoo! Boo hoo!” The regiment started laughing, but their merriment was cut short by a volley of the Rebels, which wounded a couple of Highlanders. After some time on the fence the regiment was recalled back up the hill where they rejoined the rest of the brigade. The Rebels had lost this portion of the field and had fallen back. General Wilcox came up to the Highlanders with very strong praise. He said, “Gallant Highlanders! You have again saved my division!” In the evening a small herd of cattle was spotted by the men and a volunteer detachment of Highlanders went to drive them in so the men could have a tasty supper. As evening proceeded the enemy made another attempt at taking the Federal position and the Yankee cannons soon made the Rebels abandon all plans of moving Wilcox’s division off that hill. Things were quiet in their immediate front afterwards but the fighting over to their right went on until midnight. The Highlanders had gone a long time without sleep and rest and the men were so exhausted that many fell asleep while standing in line.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 October 2007 )

 

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