Home History 79th at Wilderness and Spotsylvania Part 3

79th at Wilderness and Spotsylvania Part 3

Written by William Beard

Monday, 30 April 2007

The whole brigade was ordered to advance toward the Court House about a mile to the west, and around five in the afternoon they slowly went forward. As the brigade went across some open ground, the Confederate artillery opened fire on them. This halted the men who then sought out shelter from the shells. After a few minutes, the brigade reformed and the Highlanders were out in front leading the way. The enemy cannons kept up a steady fire on the brigade as it came toward them. The 79th reached a place where lots of heavy timber had been felled to retard the progress of any advancing troops. They scrambled over the almost impenetrable barrier and when they reached the other side they were ordered to join the skirmish line. The regiments behind them received the worst of the shelling. Darkness fell and the 79th took cover behind the felled trees. The Highlanders were only 300 yards away from the Confederate lines. During the advance, the communications with the other corps was severed. For some time the Ninth Corps was isolated from the rest of the army. The remainder of the Ninth Corps fell back to establish a stronger line. The 79th were now isolated from the rest of their corps and this is where they stayed for the night. They started skirmishing as soon as daylight revealed their position to the enemy. Around two in the afternoon, Captain Baird took command of a strong picket at the front while the rest of the regiment fell back. At three it started to storm and the rain continued on the armies making it very miserable for everyone. Later in the evening the regiment returned to a position where it could support the skirmish line. The morning of May 12, 1864 was now upon the men of the 79th. The regiment had been on this portion of the battlefield for several days. The army was going to advance and attack. The brigade of Christ’s was to be held in reserve on the Ninth Corps’ position of attack. As the troops were gathering and forming for battle, Lieutenant Colonel John More rode up and told the 79th that they were to report to General Burnside’s headquarters. When they got there they were posted to act as provost guard. While they were here, the Rebels had moved to the left and were ready to attack. The order was given to place the commissary stores where they could be burned in case the enemy overran the Federal lines. The 79th was told to take whatever they wanted. They filled their haversacks full of food and coffee. The Highlanders were placed in charge of about 100 Confederate prisoners who were captured earlier in the day by the Ninth Corps. The morning of May 13, 1864 had finally arrived. This was the day the 79th had been waiting for every since they decided to stick out the rest of their enlistment when they were in Blaine, Tennessee. This was the day their enlistment was over and they could return home. For the past week they had fought in the bloodiest campaign of the war and many were worried that they would be killed just as their enlistment was up. This had happened to many Highlanders in the past few days since they had been in Spotsylvania. They had certainly earned their honorable discharges. At five in the morning, the 79th marched toward Fredricksburg escorting their Rebel prisoners. On Saturday the 14th, the 79th reached Belle Plain where they turned over their Confederate prisoners, who were photographed at Belle Plain two days later. The 79th embarked on the steamship General Hooker and started for Alexandria. While the 79th was met by the beautiful state flag which had been given to them by the common council of New York City and was sent to Alexandria to be there when they arrived. It was voted by the regiment as being too nice looking to be carried in the field, but would look good on Broadway. They bathed, got their knapsacks from the warehouse, donned their best clothes, and got ready to go home. Clothing was issued to all who needed any, and by three in the afternoon on Monday they found themselves in Washington. After supper they boarded a train headed for New York. On Wednesday, May 18, 1864, the 79th was met by members of the Caledonian Club of New York City, where a committee presented each man with a new glengarry. These were worn in place of the forage hats. At 10:40 they planted their feet on New York soil which they hadn’t seen in three years. They marched in a parade to need city officials escorted by the 7th and 69th New York regiments. They were marched about the city to several locations until finally they made their way to the headquarters of the regiment at the Mercer House, where they deposited their arms and were dismissed. The families were there to welcome them home and even the families of those Highlanders who did not return from the field were there to greet the ones who did survive. The 79th was now home. On May 31, 1864, the original regiment was officially mustered out. There were those who joined the regiment late and still had time left to serve, as well as those who rejoined, and those who were being organized into a new regiment. This reorganized 79th was to fight in the last campaign of the war. But for those who had enough of the army, they would get a well-deserved rest. The battle of Spotsylvania was the last fight for the original regiment. The whole campaign from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor cost the Union Army 54,929 casualties. The 79th contributed several souls to that number. Officially, the regiment lost none at the Wilderness because they were always being held in reserve. They were the only regiment of Christ’s brigade that came out of the battle unscathed, while the rest of the brigade suffered 112 casualties. At Spotsylvania, the 79th lost 3 men killed, 1 officer wounded, and 12 enlisted men wounded for a total of 16 soldiers. This was a large number when you consider the size of the regiment was 13 officers and 155 men. (One report list 5 killed at Spotsylvania.) It is possible that some were mortally wounded and died later as a result. The rest of Christ’s brigade suffered 640 casualties at Spotsylvania. In the fight in the valley below the Russell/Beverly (Gayle?) house, Christ’s brigade suffered 188 casualties. At the Wilderness, Captain Hazard Stevens was wounded, but he had already transferred out of the 79th for a promotion in the U.S. Volunteers. Hazard won the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1863. At Spotsylvania, Major General John Sedgwick was killed by a sniper moments after he had exclaimed, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” Reports of Confederate losses are incomplete for the campaign. The best estimate is 2,000 killed, 6,000 wounded, and 3,400 missing at the Wilderness, and at Spotsylvania 1,000 killed, 5,000 wounded, and 3,000 missing. The Union Army had certainly lost more men in these battles, but they kept pressing forward and pushed Lee’s troops to Petersburg and Richmond. Incomplete casualty report of the 79th New York from the Wilderness to Spotsylvania: Pvt. William Barnes Co. E wounded Pvt. William H. Devlin Co. E wounded Pvt. William Henderson Co. B wounded Pvt. Alfred Howard Co. G wounded Pvt. Archibald McLachlan Co. E killed Col. David Morrison reg. comdr. wounded Pvt. Joseph Morton Co. G killed Pvt. Charles Rogers Co. E wounded Pvt. William Sullivan Co. I wounded Sgt. John Thompson Co. G wounded Pvt. Richard Wall Co. K killed Such is the death the soldier dies: He falls, —the column speeds away; Upon the dabbled grass he lies, His brave heart following, still the fray. The smoke-wraiths drift among the trees, The battle storms along the hill; The glint of distant arms he sees; He hears his comrades shouting still. A glimpse of far-borne flags, that fade And vanish in the rolling din: He knows the sweeping charge is made, The cheering lines are closing in. Unmindful of his mortal wound, He faintly calls and seeks to rise; But weakness drags him to the ground: - Such is death the soldier dies. Robert Burns Wilson. ©1999 William A. Bead III

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 October 2007 )

 

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