Aware of Lincoln’s mounting frustration over his failure to bring Lee to battle, Meade made plans to turn the Army of Northern Virginia’s eastern flank by crossing the Rapidan downriver from the Confederate lines and then marching west through the scrub woods of the Wilderness. One of his aides in the ensuing campaign was Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Lyman, a wealthy Bostonian who had studied natural history at Harvard under Louis Agassiz. While collecting marine specimens in Florida before the war, Lyman had become friends with Meade, who at the time was a first lieutenant in the corps of engineers supervising lighthouse construction projects. After spending the first two years of the war touring Europe, Lyman joined Meade’s staff as an (unpaid) volunteer aide in September 1863. In the sketch maps Lyman drew in his notebooks, Union cavalry units are indicated with the letter “C,” while corps are indicated by their respective badges: for the First Corps, commanded by Major General John Newton, a disk; for the Second Corps (Major General Gouverneur K. Warren), a three-leaf clover; for the Third Corps (Major General William H. French), a diamond; for the Fifth Corps (Major General George Sykes), a Maltese cross; for the Sixth Corps (Major General John Sedgwick), a Greek cross. The designations “N,” “O,” “P,” and “N’ ” indicate the order in which the maps appear in Lyman’s notebook for the period from August 31, 1863, to March 9, 1864.
November 26, Thursday.
Thanksgiving day, when the fat turkey is served in state. And this was appointed for our flank move on Orange Court House, via our left. At 7¾ A.M. we started. The order of march was 5th followed by 1st Corps to cross by pontoon at Culpeper Mine Ford, advance by a cross road to the Orange C.H. plank road and keep on to “Parker’s Store.” The 3d followed by the 6th, cross at Jacob’s Mills and keep on to form on right of 2d, which crossed at Germanna Mills took a cross road to the Orange Court House turnpike and then keep on to Robertson’s Tavern, or, if possible, to Verdiersville.
The 3d Div. of 1st Corps left to guard railroad. Reserve Artillery to follow 1st Corps. Waggon train park at Richardsville, under guard of Merritt’s (Buford’s) division of cavalry, Custer’s division (Kilpatrick’s) to hold Raccoon & Morton’s Fords. Gregg’s Div. to cross at Ely’s Ford and cover the advance & left of Sykes. Owing, apparently, to some dullness on part of Gen. Prince, this division did not start till say 7.30, which delayed the rest of the 3d Corps; moreover they had not properly reconnoitred the roads or repaired them, so they took the wrong road, this side of the river, and got their artillery stalled into the bargain! At about 10.30 we got within ½ mile of Germanna Ford & there found the troops massed and the batteries placed, ready to run up and shell the crossing. The Rapidan there runs between high, steep banks whereof the northern dominates the southern, the reverse of what happens at the fords above. Officers were sent to French & Sykes, to find whether they had got up; because it was deemed important to force the river, at the same moment. The communications were difficult, and so the officers did not get back till late, so that our troops (2d Corps) began to cross at about 2 P.M., Sykes having begun at 12, and French not till later. The artillery of the 3d & 6th had finally to come to Germanna and was not over till 5 next morning. We camped at the junction of the plank and dirt roads on the north side of the river. It was quite cold and the water froze in the tent.
November 27, Friday.
We were up before daylight, with a magnificent moon glittering on the hoar frost, but the Staff did not move till 8.45 A.M. Then we crossed on the pontoons and kept down the plank road, to a point some 2 or 3 miles from the river where we struck off, more to the S.W. to make a short cut for the Orange court house turnpike. Before this turn-off we got to the artillery of the 6th Corps, to whom the General gave a good blowing up, for not knowing their precise road. On this side of the river, the country is, for some distance, open farming land; then succeeds dense, scrub-oak wood, penetrated only by farm roads, narrow and intricate, at best, and in wet weather, impossible for artillery. Near the river had been made long rifle-pits, with some entrenched epaulements for guns, but they were quite unoccupied. About midday through the woods we came on the rear of the 2d Corps, moving briskly, and we filed past them, with some difficulty. At 9.30 we heard cannon ahead and, at 10.45 struck the turnpike, along which we advanced to within say 1 ¼ miles of Robertson’s Tavern, and there halted by the roadside, at which time (11) there was brisk skirmishing by Warren, who had gained the ridge of Robertson’s Tavern and pushed back the Rebel advance (part of Ewell’s Corps.) And now we found ourselves with a weak centre, on the pike and the strong right not heard from, and inexplicably behindhand! Aides were sent to French, under guidance of natives & niggers. Ludlow, sent to Sykes, reported him well up on the left. About 12.45 we heard cannon off on our right, which seemed from the 3d Corps. McBlair came, but he, honest soul, did display his usual muddleheadedness, as to time & place, and could only make out, that French was going along somewhere in the thick woods. At length Cadwalader returned, who had taken an order to French to attack & smash through to Warren, and reported French’s left some 2 miles from Warren’s right. Meanwhile Gregg, in the left advance, had a sharp fight with the enemy’s infantry, in which the cavalry did excellently and, among them, the 1st Mass. Longfellow and Bowditch were here wounded.
An aide from Custer stated he had made a good diversion at Raccoon & Morton’s Fords, by charging across both, and forcing the enemy to detach a large force to drive him back again. Meanwhile Warren had received orders to attack without French, or not, at his discretion. He concluded it would not be safe; and so we pitched camp where we stood. After dark came a despatch from French that he had had a sharp action, with very heavy musketry (none of which we had heard) and had driven the enemy from the field, taking 900 prisoners (a number which proved greatly exaggerated) and losing some 900 himself in killed, wounded, &c. His fight, also, was with a portion of Ewell’s Corps.
November 28, Saturday.
A pretty place to pass my Wedding-day! Twelve months ago we were in Paris, and enjoying the quiets of the Hotel Wagram. And this morning, behold me, with little Wife hundreds of miles away and a cheery prospect of mud and intermittent rain! At 7.45 we rode to Robertson’s Tavern 1¼ m. which stands on a ridge along which the 2d Corps was in line of battle and just advancing. The enemy had disappeared from our front, and many thought them in full retreat. After some talk with Gen. Warren, Gen. Meade went to the tavern, and sat by the fire. However, say at 10.15 there was a report that we had come on the enemy in entrenchments; and we all rode to the front, slop, slop in the mud, and amid infantry, artillery & ambulances going to the front, also. A little behind the crest of the next ridge, and about 1 m. from the tavern the General halted us, and rode alone to reconnoitre. At 11, a battery opened and fired some time, posted just on the left of the pike. They were in entrenchments, sure enough, and we had only to wait for other troops to come along. The rest of the day was occupied by the corps getting into position, a very laborious thing, midst mud and soft cross-roads. The day previous Meade, anxious for his centre, had brought over both Sykes & Newton, from the plank road; and the 5th Corps was now in reserve at Robertson’s Tavern, while the First Corps took position in line.
November 29, Sunday.
The enemy’s position was found to be a very strong one. Along a bold ridge, running nearly north & south across both turnpike and plank road, rising from Mine Run by a steep slope, which in many parts was quite naked, and in others partially wooded, they had thrown up a heavy and continuous breastwork, supported by batteries, for which they had made epaulements. The corresponding high ground east of the Run, and occupied by us, was at least a mile in average distance, so that artillery would be deprived of much of its strong effect, and canister & spherical case pretty much out of the question. Then, at most points the attacking force would be exposed over nearly the whole stretch, to artillery fire, followed by musketry. It was a bad look out! From our ridge we could see the Rebs in hundreds, standing on top their works, or enlarging some portion of them, with logs and earth. The thing was, if possible, to flank. So Warren, with his own corps & a division of the 6th, marched in the morning and passed towards our left, hoping to get beyond the plank road and attack that afternoon; the rest of the line be ready to support. However, the column was delayed by a report of entrenchments that had no existence, and by some skirmishing, so that they did not get on the enemy’s flank till too late for an attack. As it was they created great excitement & a brigade was brought on the doublequick to resist an attack. Major Ludlow came back with fine accounts of the prospect in the morning. The General, much encouraged, made immediate disposition for the attack and put French’s two flank (left) divisions under Warren (Prince & Carr) greatly to F’s indignation. Sykes had already occupied Warren’s vacant position. At 8, or earlier, a general cannonade was to open, for an hour, and then the assault to take place. The grand attack on the left, and others, according to opportunity, along the whole line. One division of the 5th Corps occupied the extreme right. Gregg had continued skirmishing, on the left. The day Sykes & Newton moved along the plank road (27th) the enemy’s cavalry performed a feat of extraordinary daring. They dashed on the trains, between the tail of the 5th and head of the 1st Corps, cut out a dozen or more waggons and made off with them. They were chiefly ammunition, but one was a Headquarter waggon, so there was Capt. Barnard, quite without blankets or any comfort, poor man; and his general Bartlett, in a similar fix. A brigade from Merritt was sent to reinforce Gregg.
November 30, Monday.
We were up bright & early, for it was necessary to get the trains out of the way about sunrise, as they would be exposed to shell, when the cannonade opened. All was expectation. Yet such is the force of your surroundings that I felt no particular nervousness—to be sure I did not have to lead an assault—which makes a wide difference. The soldiers of the 2d Corps, that morning pinned bits of paper on their clothes, with their names on them! As for Col. Farnum (he of yacht Wanderer fame) he said he considered himself under sentence of death, that morning, for an hour! A little before 8 General Meade mounted & went a little way in search of Gen. Newton; while we rode, at 8.10, a single gun sounded from the right, and then a cannonade, not very heavy, opened along the line, as far as Newton’s part. We returned to Headquarters. At 8.30 came Robling with a note from Gen. Warren, saying the enemy had arrived in great force, during the night, had thrown up more rifle pits, and that, on reexamination of the ground he considered an attack there as hopeless!! The General simply turned to Gen. Humphreys, saying “Read that,” and exclaimed to Robling “My God! Gen. Warren has half my army.” He then issued orders to cease firing; and soon all was still, save an occasional gun. Disappointment was on every face. For about an hour Gen. Meade remained in consultation with Gens. Sedgwick and Humphreys. Then at 9.45, he rode, with Gen. H, Major Biddle, Mitchell & myself, to Gen. Warren’s. We passed along the front, in rear of our batteries, proceeded through a wood and emerged on a bare plateau where was Gen. French’s command, then through another pine wood and came out on the plank road. We stopped at a run (a branch of Mine Run) and Gen. Warren rode up and dismounted to talk with the two other Generals; and there they sadly stood, over a fire the orderlies had made them, for it was sharp, and thin ice was on the pools. It was then 10.15. After a very long talk, at noon we rode back, stopping at Gen. French’s house. He was very mad and talked loudly. He had pushed his skirmishers to within 300 yards of their works, and his troops had counted on success. Warren’s troops were in three lines by the Run; French’s were on the plateau, behind earthworks. It was of no use! We came back; the moment had passed, the assault was countermanded and the 2d Corps might unpin their bits of paper. That night was cold; 5 of our men on picket, who had been obliged to wade the stream to get to their places, were frozen to death, and the same fate, it is said, befell some rebels.
December 1, Tuesday.
As I looked out of my tent, at daylight, there were the 4½ inch big guns going to the rear, which argued we were soon to follow. It came out shortly that the generals were unanimous in thinking the moment for the assault had passed; and the order was out to fall back. The 1st Corps would start that afternoon, proceeding to Germanna Ford, and halt, to cover the crossing. The 5th Corps would withdraw at dark and be followed by the 6th, marching for Germanna Ford via the Turnpike & the cross wood-road. The 3d would march at dark, on the plank road, and cross at Culpeper Ford; the 2d following. The pickets would be withdrawn at 3 in the morning and, assembling at Robertson’s Tavern, march under Col. Hayes (Joe). Some pickets of the 5th Corps had been 3 days on duty without relief! At sunset, went and took a farewell look at Jonny Reb. They were standing in groups on their parapet, while some were walking about in front. At dark we rode as far as Robertson’s Tavern, where we built good fires and kept warm, till the 5th Corps should get past. It was a picturesque sight, so many officers, in their long coats, standing, sitting, or lying on the bare floor. Thereto also enter T. F. Meagher “of the Sword” çi-devant commander of the Irish Brigade; was in mufti and very drunk! He talked thickly with the English officers (who, by the by, established themselves in a seemingly safe place this morning, but got shelled for their pains, whereat Stephenson returned with a bit of spherical case, as a trophy). We started immediately in rear of the corps, but could go but at a snail’s gain; broken bridge ahead and a slough, which kept checking the column. Of the many neglected details in the army none are worse than the repair of essential roads. A slight slough, e.g. makes each rank hesitate as it crosses, and almost stops the column. A working party of 10 men would repair such a place in ½ an hour. A whole corps had preceded, but nothing done! We got mightily cold crawling along this way, but at last got past, and then the General broke into a smart trot and we clattered along the most infernal of pikes, in holes and over rocks till we got to the plank road and turned up, to the left, where we found the holes, if possible worse, among the broken boards. We soon came on a train which had missed the way and we set it right. Then we passed the turn-off to Mine Ford (Culpeper) and, immediately after, came on the head of the 5th Corps, debouching from the woods, on the left and striking the plank road for Germanna Ford, which we reached, crossed by the pontoon bridge, and found our camp pitched at the old spot, at juncture of dirt & plank roads; 2 A.M. of Dec. 2, Wednesday. Gregg had followed the army, covering both columns. The enemy made no attempt to follow, not even attacking the rear cavalry. In the afternoon we returned to our old camp in the woods, not getting tents pitched till late at night.
All corps returned to their positions, except the 1st & 5th which exchanged places. Got a good stock of letters from Deary Mimi and from others.
Mrs. Paige is dead. The firm of Paige & Co. is dissolved, which throws out Arthur. It has been very mild north, moving trees as late as the last of November, which is unheard of, almost.