The Camp-Fires of General Lee, from the Peninsula to Appomattox Court-House

THE

CAMP-FIRES OF GENERAL LEE,

FROM THE PENISULA TO APPOMATOX COURT-HOUSE. WITH REMINISCENCES OF THE MARCH, THE CAMP, THE BIVOUAC AND OF PERSONAL ADVENTURE.

EDWARD S. ELLIS,

AUTHOR OF “THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES,” “THE LOG CABIN SERIES,” ETC.

PHILADELPHIA: HENRY HARRISON & CO.

Copyrighted Feb., 1886.

LEE AND JACKSON AT THE BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR.

INTRODUCTION.

“THE CAMP-FIRES OF GENERAL LEE” aims to be a truthful narrative of the great part played by the Army of Northern Virginia under its illustrious commander in the most terrific campaigns of modern times. When the wounding of General Johnston, early in the war, compelled him to turn over his command to General Lee, the latter entered upon such a display of generalship that he speedily proved himself one of the foremost military leaders of the century. His campaigns represented the highest development of the science of war, and will command admiration for ages to come.

The history of those brilliant manœuvres, grand combinations and tremendous battles cannot be studied too closely by American youth. The incense wafted upward from Manassas, the Wilderness, Chancellorsville and Appomattox was the same, in truth, as that which was borne aloft from the fields of Bunker Hill, Monmouth, Trenton, Valley Forge and Yorktown, where Jerseymen and Virginians, South Carolinians and Green Mountain Boys, stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggle for liberty. The passions of the later days have departed, and those who arrayed themselves under the Stars and Bars are now among the most ardent defenders of the Union. None is quicker to give recognition of the valor of the Boy in Blue than he who wore the Gray. Brave men mutually respect each other, and no stronger ties of friendship can be formed than those that now bind together the different sections of the Union. We can, therefore, enjoy the fighting of the battles over again, each former opponent conceding the full meed of praise to the other and uttering nothing in malice. We have sought to give, so far as possible, a realistic narrative of those days by presenting pictures of the bivouac, the camp-fire and some of the numerous personal reminiscences of those engaged in the conflict.

In the preparation of these pages much assistance has been received from other histories and parties. Recognition is specially due Rev. J. William Jones, D.D., of Richmond, secretary of the Southern Historical Society, who placed many documents and papers at the author's disposal.

CONTENTS.

I. THE CAMP-FIRES IN THE PENINSULA.

CHAPTER I.
ON THE CHICKAHOMINY
CHAPTER II.
MCCLELLAN'S RETREAT
CHAPTER III.
THE LINE OF BATTLE
CHAPTER IV.
THE LAST BATTLE
CHAPTER V.
ROBERT E. LEE
II. THE CAMP-FIRES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
CHAPTER VI.
ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK
CHAPTER VII.
MANŒUVRING FOR POSITION
CHAPTER VIII.
GENERAL POPE'S MOVEMENTS
CHAPTER IX.
THE MARCH OF THE CONQUEROR
III. THE CAMP-FIRE OF ANTIETAM.
CHAPTER X.
FACING NORTHWARD
CHAPTER XI.
HARPER'S FERRY
CHAPTER XII.
“SPECIAL ORDERS No. 191”
CHAPTER XIII.
AT BAY
CHAPTER XIV.
ANTIETAM
CHAPTER XV.
ANTIETAM (Concluded)
IV. THE CAMP-FIRES OF FREDERICKSBURG AND CHANCELLOESVILLE.
CHAPTER XVI.
RESTING ON THEIR ARMS
CHAPTER XVII.
STUART'S RAID INTO PENNSYLVANIA
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE UNION ADVANCE
CHAPTER XIX.
THE ATTACK ON THE CONFEDERATE RIGHT
CHAPTER XX
THE DECISIVE STRUGGLE
CHAPTER XXI.
BURNSIDE'S MUD-MARCH.—IN WINTER QUARTERS
V. THE CAMP-FIRE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
CHAPTER XXII.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS
CHAPTER XXIII.
JACKSON'S FLANK MOVEMENT
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE FALL OF STONEWALL JACKSON
CHAPTER XXV.
THE LAST STRUGGLE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE
VI. THE CAMP-FIRE OF GETTYSBURG.
CHAPTER XXVI.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS
CHAPTER XXVII.
MANŒUVRING FOR BATTLE
CHAPTER XXVIII.
GETTYSBURG: FIRST DAY
CHAPTER XXIX.
GETTYSBURG: SECOND DAY
CHAPTER XXX.
GETTYSBURG: THIRD AND LAST DAY
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE CONFEDERATE RETREAT
VII. THE SECOND CAMP-FIRE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A SERIES OF MANŒUVRES
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE CAMP-FIRE OF MINE RUN
VIII. THE LAST CAMP-FIRE.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE WILDERNESS
CHAPTER XXXV
FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO THE CHICKAHOMINY
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864
CHAPTER XXXVII.
CLOSING IN
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE LAST CAMP-FIRE [Advertisements]