Stories from the Civil War

Letter from Brigadier General Lawrence O'Bryan Branch Describing the Fighting at Second Manassas, August 29, 1862

We have done so much hard fighting since crossing the Rappahannock that I cannot undertake to give particulars. In the fight of Friday near Manassas . . . the enemy made six distinct attacks . . . with as many fresh columns, but did not succeed . . . and . . . the fiercest battle of the war took place. During the two last attacks, I had not a round of ammunition in my brigade, and all I could do was to stand in line of battle with bayonets fixed, determined to receive them in that way if they should break the line before me. . . . When I wanted to throw out pickets, I had all the cartridge boxes examined and could only find 24 cartridges in the brigade. I placed a regiment on picket with orders to give the 24 cartridges to twelve picked men, and the balance of the regiment should stand guard with fixed bayonets. Ask your father if he stood on picket in the war of 1812 with fixed bayonets and no powder, within four hundred yards of the enemy. The expedition of Jackson's Corps from the Rappahannock to Manassas and thence to this place is the most daring and extraordinary in the history of wars.

Letter from Lieutenant Colonel John Thomas Jones, Twenty-sixth Regiment North Carolina Troops, Describing the Fighting at Falling Waters, Maryland, July 14, 1863

Dear Father,

I am again on this side of the Potomac. Again in the land of Dixie. We crossed last Tuesday. My Brigade was the last to leave and the last to give the Yankees a round. They attacked us about two miles from the river. . . . We had traveled all night through the mud and at about eight o'clock stopped on a hill in open ground. We stacked arms and lay down on the ground and were all soon asleep feeling secure as there was a force of cavalry between us and the enemy. I neglected to state that few of our guns were loaded and few that were would fire. I was aroused in about an hour and jumping up I saw the Yankee cavalry all among us cutting and sabering. The men jumped for their guns and then commenced a hand to hand fight as seldom seen in this war. The men clutched their guns and knocked the Yankees off their horses. One man knocked one off with a fence rail and another killed a Yankee with an ax. We soon routed them or killed them as I saw only two of the whole number that made their escape. I was then informed that Gen Pettigrew was wounded and I was in command of the brigade. I then received orders to fall back gradually to the river which I did. After going about a hundred yards the Yankees again charged us but we turned and gave them a volley which sent them back. I fell back slowly in order to protect the troops on my left but after a while I found that they were gone and left me entirely unsupported. I then fell back as fast as I could but not before I was flanked in the left and several of my men taken.

My love to all my friends.

Lieutenant Robert E. Ballard's Description of the Death of Brigadier General Junius Daniel, May 13, 1864

On Friday the 13th on dressing his wound, whatever hope I may have entertained of his recovery, vanished. I knew he would be dead very soon. He was reading my thoughts, although I was not aware he was looking at me. Reciting me by name he said, "Do you think I will certainly die-tell me truly." "Genl," I replied, "I will not deceive you. I do not think there is a shadow of hope." He had the surgeon called in and inquired how long he was likely to live, and if his wife would have time to reach him before he died. He was informed that it would be impossible for her to reach him. . . . He now abandoned all hope and his mind turned to home and his wife, for where he seemed to be more concerned than for himself. . . .

"You can," he said, "do me no good now-it is nearly all over." The Doctor told him soon after this that he was fast dying, and asked him if he might call in a minister of the gospel. The Genl assented, a minister was brought in, spoke a few words and knelt down in prayer. . . . Shortly thereafter he asked us to raise him in bed, we did so, and then said, "Now lay me down." When we had done so he quietly folded his hands across his bosom, and closing his eyes immediately expired. Thus died one of the best and bravest men that ever lived.

Diary Entry by Brigadier General Bryan Grimes Describing the Defeat at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864

Our left wing shamefully gave way, which necessitated the drawing in of our lines, which was done with considerable confusion. At that time the Yankee cavalry charged and completely routed our men. It was impossible to check the flight, officers and men behaving shamefully. Twice the Yankees got between me and the route I had to travel, which rendered it necessary for me to take to the woods to avoid capture. . . . It was the hardest day's work I ever engaged in trying to rally the men. [I] took our flag at different times, begging, commanding, entreating the men to rally; would ride up and down the lines beseeching them by all they held sacred and dear, to stop and fight, but without success. I don't mean my brigade, but all. The demoralization was too great. . . .