So many times, in writing about battles, the sources with
which I have to work are very vague. We attacked here, or charged, or were
fired upon, etc. We get the skeleton version or outline of what happened. While
working on the role of Lane's brigade during the battle of the Wilderness, I
came upon two accounts that give us a little more.
To lay our scene:
 |
| Wilderness battlefield |
May 5, 1864 - It's dark and smoke hangs in the air. Lane's
brigade has been ordered forward to try and stabilize the Confederate line near
the Orange Plank Road. The 7th North Carolina, on Lane's left, has been
cautioned that there are Confederate troops in their front. Capt. James G.
Harris, writing on September 8, 1864, fills us in on the details of what
happens next: "At this time owing to the darkness, smoke and density of
the swamp, it was impossible to distinguish friend from foe. After remaining
here for some time, it was discovered that a column was moving towards the
plank road on our left, but supposing it to be McGowan's brigade little attention
was paid it until our left wing having arrived within a few paces of it was
ordered to surrender, and almost at the same instant, a destructive volley was
poured into the regiment, which created some confusion." Harris goes on,
in his 1893 account, to tell us that it was the 66th New York Volunteers that
fired into the 7th North Carolina.
Lt. Simon Pincus wrote the official report of the 66th New
York on September 10, 1864, two days after Harris drafted his. Pincus tells us
that his regiment was "deployed in line of battle in the woods on the
right of the Third brigade. The line was scarcely formed when the rebels came
marching by the flank in front of my regiment, distant about 10 paces. It being
dark, they were at first mistaken for friends, but the illusion was soon
dispelled, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hammell gave the order to fire, which was
promptly executed with fatal effect. It proved to be the Seventh North
Carolina, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Davidson, who was captured..."
Two points of view, one Confederate and the other Federal,
of the same dark moments in the Wilderness.
2 comments:
Thank you for this. It's an interesting snippet of a man's life - a man I never met. LT. Simon Pincus was my great-great-uncle. My mother was 6 when he died, but she told her children all about Uncle Sime.
I wish I could have met him.
Thanks for the comment!
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