The Campaign of Chancellorsville by Theodore A. Dodge
page 95 of 256 (37%)
page 95 of 256 (37%)
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to engage these latter, deeming it essential to protect Jackson's right.
This was the nucleus of one of the many detached engagements of this day. Several bodies of Union troops thus isolated were captured en masse. The reports of the officers concerned, as a rule, possess the merit of frankness. As an instance, Col. Hartung, of the Seventy-Fourth New York, relates that he had no opportunity to fire a shot until after he arrived behind the Buschbeck intrenchments. The facts would appear to be given in an even-handed way, in all the reports rendered. Little remains to be said. The Eleventh Corps was panic-stricken, and did run, instead of retreating. It was a mere disorganized mass in a half-hour from the beginning of the attack, with but a few isolated regiments, and one brigade, retaining a semblance of orderliness. But was it so much the misbehavior of the troops as the faultiness of the position they occupied? The corps was got together again before Sunday morning, in a condition to do good service. Had it been tested, it would, in all probability, have fought well. The loss of the corps was one-quarter of its effective. Some time after the battle of Chancellorsville, a motion was made to break up the Eleventh Corps, and distribute its regiments among the others; but it was not done. Hooker then remarked that he would yet make that corps fight, and be proud of its name. And it subsequently did sterling service. Gen. Thomas remarked, in congratulating Hooker on |
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