ME 3rd Soldier Offers Superb Details On Chancellorsville - Confederate Victory
HANNIBAL AUGUSTUS JOHNSON, enlisted on June 4, 1861, at Hollowell, Maine, as a Corporal. He mustered into B Co. He was commissioned into D Co.
Battalion Infantry on April 5, 1865, and mustered out on April 5, 1866. Johnson was listed as a POW on July 2, 1863, in Gettysburg and later exchanged. He was captured again on May 5, 1864, at the Battle of the Wilderness and confined at Macon, Georgia and Columbia, SC. During his enlistment, Johnson was promoted to Sergeant, 1. Offering a 6 pp, 8 x 10, letter from Johnson to his friend Samuel, Camp near Potomac Creek Virginia, May 15. 1863, with wonderful content on the Battle of Chancellorsville, which ran from April 30 - May 6, 1863. The battle was significant as Confederate General Robert E. Lee's perfect tactical victory against a larger Union army. Showcasing brilliant strategy but resulting in the tragic loss of key commander Stonewall Jackson, which dealt a severe blow to the South. The Confederate victory would enhance morale for a short time as the South would lose the upcoming Battle of Gettysburg. I have been waiting day after day to hear from you and neglecting writing on that account, but tonight the long looked for letter arrived, and dated back to the 22. Of April which explains my not getting an answer soon as has been my wont, but where has this letter been the last 19 days... Of April we broke camp and started for Falmouth. We were in front of Fredericksburg where we expected to cross the River, but on the 30.We took up our line of march for Banks Ford. We crossed without opposition, but to give you a clear view of things for fear you do not know any exact position in the Army. Now I will drive on as fast as the enemy will let me.
We came up to the enemy and fought them all day, first in the woods, then out of them, a running fight almost. About night we pierced the enemies center the 3. Corps and were flanking that portion of the enemy, we had been fighting all day and had got them about surrounded, when came the hard report that our right were falling back, that the cowardly Dutchmen were giving away and any crescent back again on the run, but thank God not running from the enemy but for them... We found the enemy in our front in a heavy piece of woods and in the woods was a plank road, which we held all day, but now the enemy had possession. Soon after dark our Genl (Ward) told us (the Brigade) had work ahead of us for Hooker had ordered us to go to that plank road or die in the attempt.This plank road was about ½ mile in the woods and the woods so think that we had hard work to get along and if the enemy kept it they could cut us from the river, also get around our right and therefore very necessary for us to get possession. We formed in line of Battle in the open field with skirmishers ahead and as soon as we got the wood, we were to form the right of the companies to the front without any order from our commanders and to advance in the manner until fired upon. Then fire and return, then charge.
The line was soon in motion and if ever our little Brigade thought of home it was at this time for we had fearful odds to face and we all knew it, but we were ordered to do this work and at it we went. We entered the woods and advanced quite a ways. The Rebs letting us come on until we were in their arms almost, then they arose and gave us a volley which caused many a brave fellow to bite the dust. But now it was our turn, and we fired once then gave them a Bayonet.
We drove them back to their rifle pits, over and through them and beyond the plank road. This I have told you in a very few minutes, but we were most an hour driving them from this position and the bullets were thick as hail.
But our Genl was with us cheering us on and no man would of turned back if he had known his life would be taken in the next minute. So you see we suffered in this skirmish.
Out of this number, we were 2 lieut and 15 men from my town and I feel very sad about their loss. But to me it is a satisfaction to know that they were true men and did their duty to the last moment. As soon as we fell back, the fighting commenced along the whole line and from that time until night there was no cessating, musketry and artillery.
Never as a soldier did I ever hear and see the like, for Fredericksburg was nothing to this. Our Regt was advancing in line of battle when a shell burst in our company, killing my 1. Lieut Warren Cox, taking an arm off of one of my boys, killing 2 in the company on my right and wounding many others.
This shell also put your humble servant horse de combat for it made me assume horizontal position for a while for it took away my senses for a while and by many supposed dead and so reported but in 5 minutes, I was all right and on the right of my company. Cox was one I can never forget, for he was a noble fellow and had many friends. We buried him where he fell and left him with sorrow in our hearts. This day, we lost about 17 men. Monday we supported the 1.
Battery and got a tremendous shelling during the day, and we supported this battery until Tuesday night when they withdrew much to our surprise, so we had no more thought of recrossing the river than of going to France but we supposed we were whipping the enemy and we were strongly entrenched for night... We were on the back track again and to say we were sorry would be telling a lie, not glad to get whipped again, but glad to get where we could get some rest and something to eat, for none of us had slept for most a week and we were so weak that we could but just keep on our feet, and for the past week we had seen nothing but blood and suffering, and we were heartsick enough of such work, for to fight a week without sleep and nothing but hard tack to live on will have its effects on anyone no matter how strong they are and to see our little Regt growing less and less by day was not a very pleasant state of affairs I assure you.
Sunday we were laying beside the 5. Maine Battery when they went into action and in less than 20 minutes they had there Capt. Wounded (leg of), 1 Lieut killed, 6 privates killed and 30 wounded, also 40 horses killed all in 20 minutes. But they got off all their pieces, had to drag them by hand. Oh, they are Bully Boys, I tell you if they are from Maine. After two years experience as a soldier and after being in 16 engagements besides many little skirmishes, I find that life is still dear to me and sometimes I think a live coward is better then a dead? Although never shall the former be said of me and in all probability not the latter, not the Here but to stand any chance of being killed with that many that are risking every day. Corps could of held their position, I think we should being nearer Richmond today then we are now. Could not hold three times his number, therefore was obliged to fall back, but his (Sedgewick's) men fought like tigers, but were obliged to give back what they had once gained.I think much of Sedgwick and he used to command our Brigade, also Howard of the 11. Howard rode through our Regt and as he was once our Colonel, we cheered him but he looked dreadful dejected but said don't cheer me boys.
I don't deserve it for my Dutchman did not fight. I think Howard felt worse that day than the day he lost his arm at Fair Oaks for he is very ambitious and his men have always done big fighting and to have this Corps run from the enemy when so much depended on them holding the position was to him a death blow. I think by the time you receive this we shall be again on the move across the river for Josey will ot give up in this manner.
But the troops had rather go to any place on the globe than to again cross the Rappahannock for twice we have been driven back. Has not Stoneman done a big thing.
He was our division Genl for quite a while and therefore take quite an interest in is raids & c. Our old Division has had some good Commanders. Heintzelman, Hamilton, Kearney, Stoneman and Birne, and with such Generals it is no wonder we lose many men for they are all fighting Genls and never in the background when there is work to be done and I think upon honor they will keep u to the front as long as there is a man left. & 4th Maine are so small that they think of consolidating the 2 Regts into one much against our wishes for when a Regt gets so small by hard fighting that they are to lose their organization and it is time that we were sent to the rear to recruit, not to the front to have what few we have left but they ride a free horse to death no matter whether just or not. I wish Ambrose had been Co.
Me during the know nothing of it where he is posted and he may bless his good luck and being just where he is for he can serve three years where he is easier than one year in the field... Last page has been trimmed but the letter is complete.
The letter is somewhat light, but readable and provides extraordinary details from a Union soldier's perspective. Our goal is to please every customer.