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- Jan 16, 2015
After reviewing the following sources, the narrative appears to be fairly consistent that the small 23rd Virginia, assisted by the left companies of the 1st Maryland Battalion, turned the right of the 137th New York posted in the breastworks, and (with or without help) soon drove the 137th New York back toward the extension built previously (as shown on the attached map).
The second, or fall-back, position of the 71st Pennsylvania in Spangler's lane also appears rather clear. The real mystery and essential question posed to readers is the first position of the 71st Pennsylvania, when it was supporting the 137th New York. It was not in the works, because the 37th Virginia encountered no opposition there. It also does not appear to have connected (at right angles) with the right of the 137th. Therefore, to me, the only plausible solution is along the wall. First, the wall was initially an easy path to follow, leading near the right of the 137th. Second, the 71st would be facing toward the enemy and its skirmishers sent forward would be gobbled up by the advancing 37th Virginia, which would soon make an appearance directly in front of the 71st and subsequently could threaten its right and rear as described by Col. R. Penn Smith. Finally, the 71st could quickly fall back to Spangler’s lane without further loss, using the wall as a guide.
Source Accounts:
The 71st Pa. Vols. reported to Captain Huston [Horton?], who placed the regiment at the works on right of the [137th] New York Vols. It remained in that position but a few minutes, but moved off without orders from General Greene. (John B. Bachelder, Statement of Capt. Charles P. Horton, General Greene’s A. A. [Assistant Adjutant] General, Bachelder Papers, III:1989)
Having arrived on the ground, I could find no general to report to who had command of any one portion of the troops. An adjutant-general directed me to proceed to the front, assuring me that all was safe on either flank. Arriving at the front I became engaged with the enemy on my front. At the same time he attacked me on my right and rear. I immediately ordered my command to retire to the road in my rear, when I returned to camp against orders. I lost 3 officers and 11 enlisted men. (Official Report of Col. R. Penn Smith, 71st Pennsylvania) [Commentary: As Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. Charles P. Horton was a key staff officer under Brig. Gen. Greene. Note that, according to Smith, Horton did not personally place the 71st into position. The road in his rear was likely Spangler's lane – see Col. Fowler’s comment below. The three officers and most, if not all, of the 11 enlisted men were captured while deploying as skirmishers.]
On reaching the [Baltimore] Pike was met by a staff officer, representing himself as coming from General Greene, with orders to advance over the rugged grounds towards Rock Creek. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the regiment advanced cautiously, when suddenly a shot disclosed the fact that it was in the presence of a strong force of the enemy. Lieutenants [Byron C.] Davis [Company F] and [Stiles H.] Boughton [Company I], and Adjutant Hutchinson, in charge of the skirmishers, 19 in number, fell into the enemy’s hands. The command was at once withdrawn to a position parallel to the pike, and dispositions made to meet an attack. But the enemy failing to advance, and believing that the order which had been received was unauthorized by the officer from whom it purported to come, Colonel Smith led his men back to the ground which he had vacated. (History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, by Samuel P. Bates, vol. 2, p. 797) [Commentary: The command was probably withdrawn to Spangler's lane. The remark questioning Horton’s authority appears to be a gratuitous excuse, but it is conceded that the 71st was on unfamiliar ground and directed by an unknown staff officer who apparently failed to provide specific instructions or personal guidance.]
At this time the California Regiment, Colonel Smith, reported to assist me. He was ordered into position on the right of Ireland’s regiment. They soon fell back and were withdrawn – the commanding officer saying that he had received orders from his commanding general to retire – leaving our right in a very critical position. (Official Report of Brig. Gen. George S. Greene) [Commentary: There is no corroborating evidence that Col. Smith received orders to retire from either Brig. Gen. Webb or Maj. Gen. Hancock.]
A regiment from Howard’s corps [actually 71st Pennsylvania from Hancock’s corps] was placed on Ireland’s right. This regiment, without specially being attacked, was marched to the rear by its colonel, when an attack upon it was imminently probable, much to the disgust of his men, it is reported. (George S. Greene, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, III:317)
Baker’s [71st] Pennsylvania regiment formed on our right and remained a short time, but left without my knowledge. (Col. Edward Fowler, 14th Brooklyn, Bachelder Papers, III:1638)
The heroic [Lt. Col. Simeon T.] Walton approached [a staff? officer in the 1st Maryland Battalion] and … [said] “Well, I shan’t wait for orders any longer, but will charge the works if I lose every man in my regiment. Take the responsibility and charge with your left at the same time.” … [We] dashed at the breastworks, cleared them in a moment … and instantly wheeling to the right opened a destructive enfilading fire upon the enemy who still remained in the breastworks, which compelled them to fall back.” (Civil War Memoirs of Washington Hands, 1st Maryland, Special Collections, University of Virginia, Charlottesville) [Commentary: While the 1st Maryland Battalion was pinned down for several minutes, the 50 or so men comprising the 23rd Virginia at that time came up and joined their left.]
Seeing that a portion of the [works] was not occupied in force, my regiment charged it and scattered the force behind it, and then filed up to the right until it reached the portion which was at right angles to the part first captured. Forming in line on the flank and almost in rear of the enemy in possession, here we soon succeeded in driving them off, killing, wounding and capturing a goodly number. (Lt. Col. Simeon T. Walton, 23rd Virginia, Supplement to the Official Records.)
About 7:30 p.m. the enemy advanced on our right flank. At this time I ordered Company A, the right-flank company, to form at right angles to the breastworks, and check the advance of the enemy, and they did for some time, but, being sorely pressed, they fell back a short distance to a better position. (Official Report of Col. David Ireland, 137th New York)
After crossing the works we attempted to form right angles, when looking back over the route we came I saw a solid line of Yankees. “Let’s charge them,” I said to Major Clint Wood. “Why, they are our men,” he said, and being nearly night it was hard to tell … further investigation assured us they were Yankees and Wood gave the order to fire. They retreated. We pursued them on a swift run. (The War Story of a Confederate Soldier Boy, by Oliver Taylor, account of George C. Pile, Company A, 37th Virginia, box 14, item 9, MS Division Conf. Collection, Tenn. State Library and Archives, Brake Collection, U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA) [Commentary: The “solid line of Yankees” may refer to the 71st Pennsylvania rather than the 137th New York, which was spread out in a thin line.]
The second, or fall-back, position of the 71st Pennsylvania in Spangler's lane also appears rather clear. The real mystery and essential question posed to readers is the first position of the 71st Pennsylvania, when it was supporting the 137th New York. It was not in the works, because the 37th Virginia encountered no opposition there. It also does not appear to have connected (at right angles) with the right of the 137th. Therefore, to me, the only plausible solution is along the wall. First, the wall was initially an easy path to follow, leading near the right of the 137th. Second, the 71st would be facing toward the enemy and its skirmishers sent forward would be gobbled up by the advancing 37th Virginia, which would soon make an appearance directly in front of the 71st and subsequently could threaten its right and rear as described by Col. R. Penn Smith. Finally, the 71st could quickly fall back to Spangler’s lane without further loss, using the wall as a guide.
Source Accounts:
The 71st Pa. Vols. reported to Captain Huston [Horton?], who placed the regiment at the works on right of the [137th] New York Vols. It remained in that position but a few minutes, but moved off without orders from General Greene. (John B. Bachelder, Statement of Capt. Charles P. Horton, General Greene’s A. A. [Assistant Adjutant] General, Bachelder Papers, III:1989)
Having arrived on the ground, I could find no general to report to who had command of any one portion of the troops. An adjutant-general directed me to proceed to the front, assuring me that all was safe on either flank. Arriving at the front I became engaged with the enemy on my front. At the same time he attacked me on my right and rear. I immediately ordered my command to retire to the road in my rear, when I returned to camp against orders. I lost 3 officers and 11 enlisted men. (Official Report of Col. R. Penn Smith, 71st Pennsylvania) [Commentary: As Assistant Adjutant General, Capt. Charles P. Horton was a key staff officer under Brig. Gen. Greene. Note that, according to Smith, Horton did not personally place the 71st into position. The road in his rear was likely Spangler's lane – see Col. Fowler’s comment below. The three officers and most, if not all, of the 11 enlisted men were captured while deploying as skirmishers.]
On reaching the [Baltimore] Pike was met by a staff officer, representing himself as coming from General Greene, with orders to advance over the rugged grounds towards Rock Creek. Skirmishers were thrown out, and the regiment advanced cautiously, when suddenly a shot disclosed the fact that it was in the presence of a strong force of the enemy. Lieutenants [Byron C.] Davis [Company F] and [Stiles H.] Boughton [Company I], and Adjutant Hutchinson, in charge of the skirmishers, 19 in number, fell into the enemy’s hands. The command was at once withdrawn to a position parallel to the pike, and dispositions made to meet an attack. But the enemy failing to advance, and believing that the order which had been received was unauthorized by the officer from whom it purported to come, Colonel Smith led his men back to the ground which he had vacated. (History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, by Samuel P. Bates, vol. 2, p. 797) [Commentary: The command was probably withdrawn to Spangler's lane. The remark questioning Horton’s authority appears to be a gratuitous excuse, but it is conceded that the 71st was on unfamiliar ground and directed by an unknown staff officer who apparently failed to provide specific instructions or personal guidance.]
At this time the California Regiment, Colonel Smith, reported to assist me. He was ordered into position on the right of Ireland’s regiment. They soon fell back and were withdrawn – the commanding officer saying that he had received orders from his commanding general to retire – leaving our right in a very critical position. (Official Report of Brig. Gen. George S. Greene) [Commentary: There is no corroborating evidence that Col. Smith received orders to retire from either Brig. Gen. Webb or Maj. Gen. Hancock.]
A regiment from Howard’s corps [actually 71st Pennsylvania from Hancock’s corps] was placed on Ireland’s right. This regiment, without specially being attacked, was marched to the rear by its colonel, when an attack upon it was imminently probable, much to the disgust of his men, it is reported. (George S. Greene, Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, III:317)
Baker’s [71st] Pennsylvania regiment formed on our right and remained a short time, but left without my knowledge. (Col. Edward Fowler, 14th Brooklyn, Bachelder Papers, III:1638)
The heroic [Lt. Col. Simeon T.] Walton approached [a staff? officer in the 1st Maryland Battalion] and … [said] “Well, I shan’t wait for orders any longer, but will charge the works if I lose every man in my regiment. Take the responsibility and charge with your left at the same time.” … [We] dashed at the breastworks, cleared them in a moment … and instantly wheeling to the right opened a destructive enfilading fire upon the enemy who still remained in the breastworks, which compelled them to fall back.” (Civil War Memoirs of Washington Hands, 1st Maryland, Special Collections, University of Virginia, Charlottesville) [Commentary: While the 1st Maryland Battalion was pinned down for several minutes, the 50 or so men comprising the 23rd Virginia at that time came up and joined their left.]
Seeing that a portion of the [works] was not occupied in force, my regiment charged it and scattered the force behind it, and then filed up to the right until it reached the portion which was at right angles to the part first captured. Forming in line on the flank and almost in rear of the enemy in possession, here we soon succeeded in driving them off, killing, wounding and capturing a goodly number. (Lt. Col. Simeon T. Walton, 23rd Virginia, Supplement to the Official Records.)
About 7:30 p.m. the enemy advanced on our right flank. At this time I ordered Company A, the right-flank company, to form at right angles to the breastworks, and check the advance of the enemy, and they did for some time, but, being sorely pressed, they fell back a short distance to a better position. (Official Report of Col. David Ireland, 137th New York)
After crossing the works we attempted to form right angles, when looking back over the route we came I saw a solid line of Yankees. “Let’s charge them,” I said to Major Clint Wood. “Why, they are our men,” he said, and being nearly night it was hard to tell … further investigation assured us they were Yankees and Wood gave the order to fire. They retreated. We pursued them on a swift run. (The War Story of a Confederate Soldier Boy, by Oliver Taylor, account of George C. Pile, Company A, 37th Virginia, box 14, item 9, MS Division Conf. Collection, Tenn. State Library and Archives, Brake Collection, U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA) [Commentary: The “solid line of Yankees” may refer to the 71st Pennsylvania rather than the 137th New York, which was spread out in a thin line.]
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