Freedom (Gone For Soldiers)

by Jeffry S. Hepple

  Porter thought about it. “Yes, sir. That’s possible.” He nodded. “Yes. Very possible. The boy had a dirty face but delicate, effeminate features and no facial hair. Not even peach-fuzz.”

  “Urilla’s a very pretty girl,” Grant said.

  “The boy was pretty,” Porter said. “If one allows oneself to think in those terms,” he corrected quickly.

  “Pass the word to all commanders that, if they come into our lines again, Johnny and Urilla Van Buskirk are to be arrested on suspicion of espionage.”

  “Yes, sir.” Porter began to write.

  “Hell.” Grant chewed his cigar. “Lee probably knows exactly where we are and exactly how many we are.” He looked around at the dense forest that encroached on the road from both sides. “He could be anywhere in this wilderness.”

  ~

  Paul Van Buskirk saluted the newly appointed commander of the V Corps, General Gouverneur K. Warren. “Ewell’s fortifying a clearing up ahead of you, sir.” He pointed.

  “Can you show me on a map?” Warren asked. “General Meade’s ordered me to attack, but I don’t know what I’m up against.”

  Paul unfolded his map. “Is this the same map that you have, sir?”

  Warren looked it over. “No. But show me and I’ll find it on mine.”

  Paul pointed to a spot on the map. “It’s a field that belongs to a farmer named Saunders. It may be labeled differently on your map. Ewell’s entrenched on the west side.”

  Warren nodded. “I have enough maneuvering room there to get on line, but I don’t know if I have enough troops.”

  “I can’t help you with that, sir,” Paul said. “I was taking fire and couldn’t stay long enough to count guidons.”

  “Do you know how far Ewell’s line extends to his left?”

  “Half way to the thicket – about here.” Paul pointed.

  Warren cursed under his breath. “That means his left’s going to be beyond my right.”

  “Who’ll be on your right, sir?”

  “Griffin. If I obey Meade’s order and attack Ewell, Griffin’s flank is going to be exposed to enfilade fire.”

  “Sedgwick’s Six-Corps could be moved into position to extend your right,” Paul suggested. “He’s here. Not that far away.”

  Warren signaled a courier. “My compliments to General Meade. I request a delay in the attack in order to extend and protect my right flank.”

  ~

  General Robert E. Lee had established his headquarters about a mile from the intersection of the Orange Plank Road and the Brock Road at the Widow Tapp’s farm. At the moment, he was standing outside the farm house, listening to the sounds of battle. “It would seem that General Hill has not enjoyed the element of surprise as did General Ewell.”

  General J.E.B. Stuart took off his hat to listen. “That sounds close, General. Perhaps you should move.”

  “I cannot,” Lee replied. “I sent word to General Hill that I would meet him here.” He pointed. “And here he comes now.”

  General A. P. Hill rode into the clearing, dismounted and saluted.

  “Thank you for coming.” Lee returned the salute. “General Stuart was just saying that the sounds of battle seem close at hand.”

  Hill nodded. “We were detected by a brigade positioned at Chewning farm. After a fairly hot exchange we withdrew a few hundred yards west of the intersection.”

  “Whoops!” Stuart pointed to a number of blue clad troops who were coming through the heavy woods. “Time to go, gentlemen.”

  Supported by the gunfire of their combined staffs, the three Confederate Generals mounted their horses and raced away.

  ~

  It was after dark when the last of Grant’s commanders arrived at his headquarters. “Gentlemen,” Grant called above the buzz of conversation. “If you’ll give your attention to General Van Buskirk, he’ll recapitulate today’s action for us.”

  Paul stepped into the firelight and consulted his notes. “Early this morning, General Meade ordered General Warren to attack Ewell’s position to the west of Plank Road. General Warren approached the eastern end of Ewell’s line with General Griffin on his right and General Wadsworth on his left. However, when it was reported to him that the Confederate position extended beyond General Griffin’s right, General Warren requested a delay from General Meade so that General Sedgwick could bring Six-Corps in to extend General Griffin’s right.”

  “I was late because I had to hack my way through the wilderness,” Sedgwick said defensively. “What looks like a short distance on the map is really…” He stopped abruptly as Grant stepped forward with his hand raised.

  “Let’s not get into a debate or a critique here,” Grant suggested. “Please hold your comments until General Van Buskirk’s finished.” He nodded to Paul.

  Paul looked at Sedgwick. “Because his route was impeded by heavy forest with dense undergrowth, General Sedgwick was unable to join the battle until about 3:00 PM. However, while General Sedgwick was trying to move forward, General Meade issued new orders to General Warren for an immediate attack. General Warren launched at about 1:00 PM.” Paul waited a moment, expecting a complaint from Meade, then continued when Meade said nothing.

  “General Ayres’s brigade, on the far right of General Griffin’s division, almost immediately began taking enfilading fire and had to seek cover in a gully. General Bartlett, on General Ayres’s left, moved forward against the brigade of John M. Jones and overran his position.”

  “Jones was killed,” Bartlett said. “But with Ayers pinned down, our right flank was exposed and I had to withdraw. My horse was shot out from under me and I was damn near captured.”

  “Thank you,” Grant said. “Once again, because the hour is late and we have some extensive planning to do, I’d like to limit the discussion.”

  “Sorry, sir.” Bartlett said, raising a hand over his head. “I’ll shut up now.”

  Paul waited a moment before continuing. “General Cutler, who was on General Bartlett’s left, pushed back an Alabama brigade but then got pushed back himself when a second Confederate brigade joined the Alabamians in a counterattack.”

  General Cutler raised his hand. “I’ll have it said that the Iron Brigade has never before retreated under fire and it will never happen again.”

  Paul glanced at Grant and Grant shrugged. Paul referred back to his notes. “Okay. To the left of the Iron Brigade, Colonel Stone and General Rice crossed Higgerson’s farm, but they were called back when the enemy strength showed itself too strong.” Paul looked at the other officers. “At dusk, a small Confederate force tried to capture our guns in Saunders Field. During the fighting the field caught fire and many men burned to death.”

  “Could I say something now?” Sedgwick asked Grant.

  Grant shrugged. “If it’s important and brief.”

  “As General Van Buskirk said, we finally reached Saunders Field at about 3:00 PM and we immediately hit Ewell’s line in the woods north of the Turnpike. I’m not sure exactly who we were facing, but the fight lasted about an hour. When the Reb commander was mortally wounded, they retreated to their earthworks. We were building our own defenses across from them when the fire broke out behind us in Saunders Field. There was nothing we could do.”

  Grant nodded. “There was nothing that anyone could do except look on in horror. Are you finished, General Van Buskirk?”

  “Not quite, sir,” Paul replied. “We still need to discuss A.P. Hill’s approach.”

  “Then please continue,” Grant said. “As briefly as possible.”

  “General Wilson’s cavalry engaged Hill and delayed him back to Chewing Farm where General Crawford joined the fight,” Paul said. “General Meade sent General Getty’s corps to the intersection of the Orange Plank Road and the Brock Road to intercept. Hill tried to push on to capture the intersection but he was forced to withdraw.

  “At about 4:00 PM, elements of General Hancock’s began arriving to reinforce General Getty. The fighting conti
nued until it was too dark to see a target.” Paul nodded to Grant. “That’s all I have, sir.”

  “Very good,” Grant said. “So let’s discuss our plans for tomorrow.” He looked around the room. “To save time, let me just lay out the basics. General Meade can add the fine points and issue the pertinent orders.” He looked at Meade to see how the general was reacting and saw no disagreement. “At dawn, or as soon after as possible, we need to drive down the Orange Plank Road.”

  “Two-Corps plus General Getty’s division,” Meade said.

  “Who’s going to move Ewell off the Turnpike and keep him from coming to help A.P. Hill?” Grant asked.

  “Five and Six-Corps are in place,” Meade said. “With your approval, General Burnside will move between the Turnpike and the Plank Road to attack Hill from his rear.”

  Grant nodded. “If A. P. Hill can be broken and destroyed tomorrow we can turn our full attention on Ewell.”

  ~

  “Your men can rest tomorrow, General Hill,” Robert E. Lee announced to A.P. Hill. “General Longstreet is only ten miles away and he should arrive well before dawn.”

  May 6, 1864

  The Wilderness

  Spotsylvania County, Virginia

  Ewell struck before sunrise, but Union Generals Warren and Sedgwick held him where he was. Thirty minutes later, Hancock attacked A.P. Hill. During the night, Longstreet had gotten lost and his Texas Brigade didn’t begin moving into position until Hill’s men were beginning to flee the battlefield.

  Robert E. Lee, who had been near panic, was so relieved to see Longstreet that he rode forward with the Texas Brigade until Longstreet was able to convince him that it was a foolish risk.

  Longstreet’s counterattack drove the Union forces back along the Brock Road, mortally wounding General Wadsworth, but the cost to the Texas Brigade was seventy percent casualties.

  About midmorning, Longstreet was told of an unfinished railroad bed south of the Plank Road that opened onto the Union left flank. In response to this intelligence, he sent four brigades through the railroad bed, caught Hancock completely by surprise and rolled up his flank inflicting massive casualties.

  One of Hancock’s brigade commanders, fearing that the end was near, rode to Grant’s headquarters and slid his lathered horse to a stop. “General Grant, our flank has been turned,” the man shouted.

  Grant, who was sitting in a camp chair with his legs crossed, lit a cigar. “Has it?”

  “This is a crisis that cannot be looked upon too seriously,” the man insisted. “I know Lee’s methods well by past experience. He will throw his whole army between us and the Rapidan to cut us off completely from our communications.”

  “I’m heartily weary of hearing about what miracle that Lee’s about to perform,” Grant replied through a cloud of cigar smoke. “Some of you always seem to think he’s suddenly gonna turn a double somersault, land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time.”

  “But sir…”

  “Go back to your command and try to think what we’re gonna do instead of what Lee’s gonna do.” Grant waved his hand. “Shoo.”

  The man turned his horse and nearly ran into Paul Van Buskirk who was also riding a lathered horse.

  “If you came to tell me that Hancock’s flank’s been turned, you’re too late,” Grant grumbled.

  Paul dismounted and gave the reins to a groom. “No, sir. I came to tell that Longstreet’s been shot by his own men.” Paul walked to the fire, found a cup and poured coffee into it. “Micah Jenkins too. Jenkins’s dead.”

  “How bad’s Longstreet?”

  “I’m not sure, sir. He was hit in the neck so I’d guess he’s out for the rest of this battle, at the very least.”

  “Who’s got his command?”

  “Charles Field, at the moment. But he made a poor showing of rallying the troops. They’re in complete disarray. Lee will surely take command himself for now and replace Longstreet before the day’s over.”

  “How’s Hancock faring?”

  “He’s taken up a strong position behind earthworks at the Brock Road.”

  “Do we know the butcher’s bill yet?”

  “Best guess is seventeen thousand.”

  Grant’s face drained of color.

  “The Rebs lost nearly as many and three senior officers,” Paul said. “That’s gonna hurt them worse.”

  Grant didn’t reply for a few seconds. “I don’t want to lose another ten thousand men by throwing them against those earthworks. At dark we’ll march south on the Brock Road to Spotsylvania Court House and block Lee from Richmond. He’ll have no choice but to attack us there, on the ground that we pick.”

  “Makes sense to me, sir,” Paul replied. “The men will certainly like it. They’re accustomed to their commanders running home to Washington after a costly battle.”

  “Colonel Porter,” Grant called out.

  “Sir.” Porter, who had been hovering just within hailing distance, came closer.

  “Did you hear what I just said?” Grant asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then, will you write out the necessary orders?”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “Thank you.”

  Paul watched the younger officer walk away. “Is something wrong between Porter and me, sir?”

  Grant shrugged. “If there is, he’s said nothing to me.”

  “It must be my imagination.”

  “Or maybe he’s expecting you to be angry about that arrest order he wrote for Johnny and Urilla.”

  “Oh, that could be.”

  “How do you feel about it?” Grant asked.

  Paul shook his head. “I don’t know. When I saw Johnny at Christmas, he was a broken man. I’m glad he’s come back to life, but I deeply regret that he’s chosen to spy on his country.”

  “He doesn’t see the United States as his country,” Grant said.

  “Well he better start seeing things differently, because the days of the Confederate States of America are numbered.”

  “Maybe. But the number of days is still large.” Grant looked at a message, then at Paul. “James Wadsworth was shot off his horse and captured by the enemy.”

  “I’d heard that, but no one seems to know how badly he was wounded.”

  “Bad,” Grant replied. “Head wound. He won’t make it.”

  “That’s a shame. He’s a fine man.”

  “I’m going to take one of Sheridan’s brigade commanders for the 4th Division in Five-Corps. If you want it, you can have the cavalry brigade.”

  “Of course I want it, sir. The cavalry’s my home. Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

  ~

  Philip Sheridan remained seated behind his camp desk as he answered Paul’s salute. “Welcome back to the cavalry.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be back.”

  “I remember you from West Point,” Sheridan said. “They called you Pea.”

  Paul nodded. “I was a year behind you, sir.”

  “I was called ‘Little Phil’,” Sheridan said.

  “And, as I recall, you didn’t like it.”

  “You and Beauty Stuart were roommates, weren’t you?” Sheridan said, ignoring the comment.

  “Yes, sir. And we served together with Robert E. Lee until the war started. But I’m loyal to the Union.”

  Sheridan shrugged. “I wasn’t implying anything.”

  “A lot of people have been since the order to have my brother arrested as a Confederate spy was issued.”

  “I’m pretty good at spotting troublemakers,” Sheridan replied.

  Paul couldn’t think of an appropriate reply.

  “You had best go find your brigade,” Sheridan suggested. “Our orders from General Meade are to move out immediately and clear Brock Road from here to Spotsylvania Court House for Warren and Hancock’s infantry. Sedgwick and Burnside will march out on the Orange Plank Road toward Chancellorsville, then turn south.”

  ~

/>   Paul rode forward toward the Confederate barricade with a white flag tied to his sword.

  “That’s far enough, Pea,” a voice called out.

  “Good afternoon, Fitz,” Paul replied. “I was wondering if we could call a ceasefire long enough to retrieve our dead and wounded.”

  “It’s almost dark.”

  “Then making your decision sooner rather than later would be prudent.”

  “You always did have a smart mouth.” General Fitzhugh Lee climbed onto the barricade and jumped down into the road. “Go ahead. Gather your casualties and we’ll pick up ours.”

  Paul turned in his saddle and signaled the Union brigade that was dismounted in the forest.

  Fitz Lee sniffed the air. “God, I hate this place. It stinks of burning trees and dead men.”

  “Lots of ghosts too. The woods are full of skeletons from the last time we met here.” Paul dismounted and led his horse closer to the barricade as a detail of Confederate soldiers began moving onto the road.

  “My Uncle Robert said that you were on Grant’s staff,” Fitz Lee said. “But here you are, back in the cavalry.”

  “How is Marse Robert?”

  “The same. Maybe a little older than the good old days, when we were all together.”

  “I’m a lot older than when we were all together,” Paul said. “Have you seen my brother lately?”

  “No,” Fitz Lee said.

  “Well, the next time you do, tell him that Grant’s issued a warrant for his arrest as a spy. Urilla too.”

  Fitz Lee nodded. “I’ll tell them tomorrow, Pea.”

  “Thanks.” Paul looked over his shoulder. “Unless you need me as a hostage during the ceasefire, I’d like to get back to my men.”

  “Go. And take care.”

  “You too, Fitz. Godspeed. And ruffle Jeb’s ostrich feather for me too, please.”

  ~

  General Robert E. Lee examined the map for several more seconds. “I cannot be certain of Grant’s plan, but we know that the river crossing equipment has been removed from Germanna Ford. That tells me that he will not be withdrawing back to Washington, as all his predecessors have done in the past.” He tapped the map. “He could be heading east to Fredericksburg or perhaps he’s moving south toward Richmond. In either event, the crossroads at Spotsylvania Court House will play an important role in stopping him.” Lee traced a line on the map with his finger. “General Pendleton, I want a road here, from our present position, through the wilderness to the Catharpin Road.”