Speech of Captain Husted regarding the battle of the Wilderness
On the night of May 3, 1864, the "Army of the Potomac" for the fourth time crossed the
river which separated it from the Confederate "Army of Northern Virginia," commanded by
General Robert E. Lee. The first crossing was at Fredericksburg in December, 1862. Our
recollections of that ill-advised and disastrous campaign were not inspiring. Conditions were so
unfavorable for the Union Army that defeat was inevitable. The second crossing gave us the
battle of Chancellorsville, May, 1863 - a battle which should have been a great Union victory, but
like its predecessor was a great Union defeat. We were not outfought but outgeneraled.
But little need be said of our third crossing in November of the same year. This, the Mine Run campaign, was a fine illustration of the aphorism, "Discretion is the better part of valor." Without striking a blow we retired "between two days."
The Union victory at Gettysburg, the capture of Vicksburg, the opening of the Mississippi from that city to the Gulf, the successful campaigns of Grant, Sherman and Thomas in the west had been very discouraging to the Confederates and correspondingly inspiring to all friends of the Union, soldier or civilian; the spirit of the free States was high and hopeful. The name, U.S. Grant, had become a tower of strength and confidence. When in February, 1864, he was placed in command of all the Union Armies, the Army of the Potomac felt, profoundly, that the days of its defeats and humiliations were ended. When it was known that he would accompany and thus virtually command this army we had the assurance that this fourth crossing would eventuate in victory and peace.
It is hardly an exaggeration to say, the Battle of the Wilderness was of eleven months' duration. Form May 5, 1864, when the battle opened on the south bank of the Rapidan, until June 16th, when the Army of the Potomac crossed the James at City Point, the battle raged almost continuously. Then began the siege of Petersburg, and from June 16, 1864, until Lee's surrender at Appomatox, April 9, 1865, the two armies were in close contact. But my "marching orders" restrict me, in a great part, to the first three days of this prolonged struggle which took to itself new appellations as it progressed.
Great preparations had been made for this, the longest and greatest battle of the fratricidal contest. The giant North inspired with fresh courage, was more than ever determined that our glorious Union, - the great hope of the world's oppressed millions, should be restored and perpetuated. The Army of the Potomac was now an army, largely composed of veteran volunteers, and in command of the invincible Grant. Reinforcements of men and material of all kinds were ample. The resources of the Confederacy were approaching exhaustion. With courageous step and confident hope we again crossed the river. Well do I recall our last day on its northern bank. A brigade drill was ordered and, who but my inexperienced self, - inexperienced in that capacity, - should be Acting Adjutant! The "drill" was but fairly started, when (somewhat to my relief) a fierce gale came sweeping across the plain and we "double-quicked" back to camp just in time to save our tents from destruction. We were early to rest, but not for the night. From the soundest and sweetest slumber I was awakened by loud bugle calls all about us. Consulting my watch, I was able, by the light of a nearly full moon, to see that it was eleven o'clock. The command "Up and at them" sounded in our ears. For a few moments I hesitated; - in those few moments a vision of the near future filled my mind, - a vision of long weary marches, by day and by night; of thousands slain on the field of battle; of tens of thousands suffering from wounds that might, or not prove fatal. But the soldier's duty is not to "see visions and dream dreams;" his "But to do die," if need be.
Of the next twenty-four hours my diary says: - Before one A.M. we got fairly in motion; at daylight reach Stevensburg; 8 A.M. cross the Rapidan at Germania Ford; get breakfast and rest two hours; 1.30 P.M. reach Wilderness Tavern and bivouac. Weather fine and prospects fair.
Our fighting was mainly on May 5th. My only distinct recollections of the three days' work are of that day. Our brigade was in the front line with no intrenchments and near the edge of a somewhat open wood. A very slight depression in the ground afforded partial protection and we hugged good Mother earth as our best friend. A Rebel line of battle emerged from the woods on the farther side of the clearing in our front. They stood in the open field, "blazed away" at us but did not closely approach. Anticipating a "charge" Captain Johnson, myself, and probably other officers also rose to our feet that we might better take in the situation. The Captain, facing me, stood directly between myself and the enemy. I said to him, "Captain, we must get our men into better shape or we shall be beaten sure as thunder!" Just at that moment a Rebel bullet pierced him; he fell to the ground, was assisted a little to the rear and died the next day. He was one of our best and bravest officers; we greatly mourned his loss.
Permit me to close with an extract from one of my letters to Captain Kimball, written May 13th: - "Yesterday - the eighth of the battle - there was a continuous roar and thunder f musketry and artillery from dawn till dark. It rained nearly all day. We are in good spirits but dirty, worn and weary. Our previous campaigns have been but play to this. Since the night of the third, our regiment has had but one night of undisturbed rest; three we have not slept at all. Every day we have been "under fire" and lost more or less. Of nineteen officers who left Alexandria with us, but four are fit for duty this morning; eleven are killed, wounded or missing, the other four "played out." I am unhurt and strong. One bullet missed my right shin by the thickness of my drawers; another left its mark on my hat."
The Battle of the Wilderness was a Union victory only to this extent; We had fought our way through the "Wilderness" and were afterwards in more open country where we could meet the enemy on more equal terms and use to advantage our superior numbers. General Grant expressed his determination to "Fight it out on that line if it took all summer." It did take all summer and all the following winter, but when the campaign ended at Appomatox, April 9, 1865, the questions at issue were permanently settled - slavery had been destroyed, the Union had been saved.