With the Regulars at Chancellorsville

 In the aftermath of the Battle of Chancellorsville, Private Joseph Groff of the 12th U.S. Infantry penned the following letter describing the campaign to his hometown newspaper the Weekly Lancaster Gazette in Ohio. 

Private Joseph Groff described Chancellorsville as consisting of "one large brick house resembling some of the noble edifices of the west. The only occupants visible were a few members of the weaker sex who were standing at the windows looking with scorn at the Yankees as we passed."  Francis Chancellor, a widow, and her seven children lived in the house up to the time of the battle and ended up sheltering in the cellar after General Hooker took charge of the house and nearby tavern as headquarters. Eventually the house was burned and the Chancellor family forced to flee. "I can see the blazing woods, the house in flames, the flying shot and shell, and the terror-stricken women and children pushing their way over the dead and wounded," 16-year-old Susan Chancellor recalled. 

Camp near Falmouth, Virginia

May 12, 1863

          I have no doubt but you would like to hear of the brave deeds of your sons and brothers who belong to the 12th U.S. Infantry during the seven days of fighting on the Rappahannock. With your permission, I will endeavor to give you a description of the proceedings that are such which the best of writers cannot do justice.

          We left our camp on the 27th of April and after a long and tiresome march we reached the Rappahannock River at about midday on the 29th, which we crossed at Kelley’s Ford. We also crossed the Rapidan on the same banks we bivouacked for the night. On the 30th we left camp at 7 a.m. and marched about four miles in a southeast direction then left the main road and went through the woods to U.S. Ford for the purpose of opening the ford for our troops to cross. When we reached there the first and second divisions of the Second Corps were crossing.

When then returned to the main road leading to Chancellorsville. This place is comprised of one large brick house resembling some of the noble edifices of the west. The only occupants visible in this place were a few members of the weaker sex who were standing at the windows looking with scorn at the Yankees as we passed, little dreaming that the beautiful meadow in front of their dwelling was the spot where thousands of brave heroes were to contend with an armed horde of traitors.

Corps badges made their combat debut at Chancellorsville and proved a popular innovation with the troops. The Fifth Army Corps adopted a Maltese Cross and each division had a designated color: first division (red), second division (white), and third division (blue). The above forage cap belonged to a soldier in the 44th New York which served in the Third Brigade of the First Division alongside the famous 20th Maine among others. The 12th U.S. would have utilized a white Maltese Cross. (James Mountain Antiques)


At the crossroads we took the road leading to Fredericksburg and marched about one mile. After stationing our pickets, we rested on our arms for the night. May 1st will always be remembered by the Second Division of the 5th Corps, known as Sykes’ Regulars. About 10 a.m. we encountered the enemy’s pickets. Our skirmishers were thrown out and our boys had the fun of opening the ball of a May party in the lofty pines of the Old Dominion. We drove in their pickets, then came their skirmish line supported by a battery, but Captain Stephen Weed of our division soon brought his battery to play on them and drove them from their position and occupied it himself.

We drove them about a mile into their works when we received orders to fall back for reasons best known to our brave officers. It would have done you good to see our brave boys fall back; they did it as cool as if they were on brigade drill. After we reached the woods, the Rebels thought we were on a skedaddle so they followed us with a yell but they caught a tartar. Our gallant Third Brigade [Colonel Patrick O'Rourke] happened to be lying down resting in close column when the Rebs came up. The first column raised and fired which stopped their hallowing. The second volley made them break and the third sent them back in a hurry.

Everything remained quiet until 5 o’clock when they thought to break our center with a large force, but here they met the regular pickets and the artillery of our division which sent them back howling with a much smaller number than they brought for the woods was covered with their dead and dying. This continued until night drew its sable curtain around the scene of action.

Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayres commanded First Brigade of Sykes' Regular Division, his command consisting of the 3rd, 4th, 12th, and 14th U.S. Infantry regiments. His brigade formed the left flank of Sykes' drive against General Lafayette McLaws' division on May 1st. 

With the exception of occasional picket firing, everything remained quiet until about 5 o’clock on May 2nd when the firing became very heavy on our right, the position held by the 11th Corps formerly commanded by General Sigel. This corps, after facing the music for about two hours, broke and scattered through the woods which I was sorry to see for there were five or six Ohio regiments in that corps. I did not believe it until I saw some of the 61st Ohio boys. Our division and part of the Second Corps were ordered to take their places, which our boys did with a good heart. We then threw up breastworks and remained in that position that evening.

Our pickets brought in a prisoner who some of the boys spoke with. Sergeant Fields asked him how they were off for grub on their side of the house. He said they had been short for a few days, then the Rebel asked Fields who had command. When Fields replied Hooker, the Rebel said he thought so “for God damn him he was hooking them all around.”

After they had lost about one fourth of their army in killed, wounded, and prisoners and could not break our lines, they threw their main force back to recapture Fredericksburg heights which the 6th Corps had taken a few days before with a large number of prisoners and the famous Washington battery, the flower of the enemy’s artillery. I suppose that will account for our falling back on this side of the river, but the noble Hooker is again across the river on his way to Richmond where he will no doubt celebrate the Fourth of July.

The Fairfield County boys all got through safe with the exception of Kitty Linn who was slightly wounded in the hand. The loss in our division was not very large, only 146 killed, wounded, and missing. Well, I suppose I must close by adding a word of sympathy for the Butternuts of the North as the rebellion has received a blow which is sure to crush it. I suppose the barbers will be cruel enough to raise the price of these poor, deluded wretches on account of their long faces. The report is current here that Stonewall Jackson is dead. Would to God that it is true.


Yours truly,

Joseph B. Groff

Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 12th U.S. Infantry

 

Source:

Letter from Private Joseph B. Groff, Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 12th U.S. Infantry, Weekly Lancaster Gazette (Ohio), May 28, 1863, pg. 1

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