A Necessary Sacrifice to Save the Army: A Regular Recalls Stones River

The Regular Brigade of the Army of the Cumberland was barely a week old when it was called upon at Stones River to save the army's position along the Nashville Pike. All morning, the Confederates battered General Alexander McCook's and General George Thomas's five divisions northward, and by the early afternoon had bent the Union position back like a jackknife until now they stood poised to seize control of the Nashville Pike. General Thomas turned to Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Shepherd and directed him to lead his brigade back into the cedars and buy time for the rest of the army to rally. 

    Captain Henry Haymond, commanding Co. E of the 3rd Battalion, 18th U.S., recalled the terror of that effort in a vivid letter written to his mother back home in Clarksburg, Virginia a week later. "The enemy bore down upon us in three or four lines, their front rank would fire and fall down and load, the rear rank firing over their heads, by this means they poured an incessant fire into us," he noted. "The 18th U.S. met them gallantly, and now commenced one of the most terrific musketry firings that has occurred during the war. They had the advantage of position, and in standing beneath the shadow of the pines enveloped in smoke, while we stood at the edge of the timber in bold relief against the light. They fired very low, and their shot told fearfully upon us."

    From the very beginning, General William S. Rosecrans envisioned the Regular Brigade as a force of shock troops to be thrown into battle at just the precise moment to turn the tide. The 18th U.S. played that role to a tee at Stones River and the cost was heavy. "We lost out of 575 a total 257 killed and wounded and 18 missing during the short time we were in the cedars. It was necessary for a sacrifice to be made to save the army, and we made it," Captain Haymond concluded. 

Captain Henry Haymond of Clarksburg, Virginia attended Northwestern Virginia Academy before being commissioned a captain in the 18th U.S. Infantry in October 1861. Haymond served with the regiment through the war in the west and beyond, earning brevet promotions to major for his gallantry at Stones River and Chickamauga and later to lieutenant colonel. He served in the U.S. Army until 1870, spending a few years on the western frontier fighting against the Sioux. A noted local historian, Haymond later published the History of Harrison County, Virginia and was a member of the board of visitors at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He died at his home in Clarksburg of heart trouble on July 31, 1920 at the age of 83 and is buried at the Odd Fellows Cemetery. 

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

January 7, 1863

Dear Ma,

I have passed through so many wild and horrid scenes, have seen and learned so much since I last wrote you anything like a letter that I scarcely know when nor where to begin. I wrote a hurried note to Mr. Allen to telegraph to Pa that I was safe. I also wrote a few lines yesterday to him to the same effect, but owing to the confusion attending the mail department I fear you have received neither and are doubtless much alarmed as to my safety.

On the evening of December 30th, we encamped about three miles from Murfreesboro on the Nashville Road. Heavy skirmishing had taken place during the day on the right and center. Everyone knew that in all likelihood an engagement would take place the next day. Officers collected in groups and chatted silently over the events of the morrow and gave each other the addresses of their friends and how to dispose of their effects in case they would be killed.

The next morning an order was read to the troops from General Rosecrans announcing that the attack would take place that day. Rousseau's Division being in the reserve was moved forward to the edge of a large open field encircled with cedar forest; we stacked arms and broke ranks about 7 o'clock the battle was opened by the enemy attacking the corps of General McCook on the right of the army. It was very evident that the right was giving away and our brigade was sent to McCook's support.

          We circled the large field and entered a heavy cedar wood. The musketry firing was this time very heavy. Our battery could not progress through the thick wood. It was accordingly ordered back and took up a position on a slight eminence near the railroad, commanding the cedar woods. Our regiment was ordered immediately about face to support our battery. We got out of the timber and formed on the left of the battery as soon as we could. In a few moments the enemy had cleared our troops out of the extreme right of the cedar woods, and now by a flank movement attempted to capture all those to our left. This could only be done by capturing our battery. 

Major Frederick Townsend
2nd and 3rd Battalion, 18th U.S.

    They knew it was a fearful thing to attack a battery in an open field but nevertheless they attempted it. They advanced boldly with columns doubled upon the center, their long grey lines stretching from one side of the field to the other when within fair range the six heavy guns of Guenther's Battery each loaded with 96 cannister shot thundered over the plain. I could distinctly see wide deep gaps cut out of their ranks, but still they advanced. They were playing a deep game but if successful the day was theirs. Two or three more times the battery hurled death into their ranks. No troops in the world could stand such slaughter. They broke and ran in confusion. I saw their battle flag (white ground with a red crop) shot down twice but still some bold spirit bore it aloft. A third time it fell and was not raised again but left upon the field. Foiled in his attempt to take our battery, the enemy turned his attention to the troops upon our left, and in a few moments the face of the country was filled with fugitives from our overpowered army. The fate of the day being upon the balance.

          The Regular Brigade as a last resort was then ordered forward to check the enemy's advance until the army could be reorganized. We entered the cedar woods in the line of battle just as the last of McCook's corps was driven out of it. The enemy bore down upon us in three or four lines, their front rank would fire and fall down and load, the rear rank firing over their heads, by this means they poured an incessant fire into us. The 18th U.S. met them gallantly, and now commenced one of the most terrific musketry firings that has occurred during the war. They had the advantage of position, and in standing beneath the shadow of the pines enveloped in smoke, while we stood at the edge of the timber in bold relief against the light. They fired very low, and their shot told fearfully upon us.

The tangled forest of Stones River National Battlefield where the Regular Brigade fought on December 31, 1862 remains a haunting place. 

I was kept busy in urging my men to load rapidly and fire low, when suddenly I felt a sharp quick pain in my right knee and a momentary fainting came over me. I knew that I was hit, and immediately sat down to examine my wound. I soon found that I was not seriously hurt and at once got up and took my position. The shot of the enemy was fast thinning out my little company and the dead and wounded of other companies lay thick around me. The order to retreat was given, I did not hear it, but happening to look around I saw that the left and center had started out of the wood. I gave the order to fall back. The movement was executed with some little confusion.

The enemy rushed to the edge of the timber, and poured showers of musketry into us, while their artillery tore through our ranks with fearful effect. One of my men was tore to pieces by a shell while crossing the field. The regiment was reformed at the railroad on the left of the battery. Owing to our batteries the enemy did not advance further than the edge of the woods. We lost out of 575 a total 257 killed and wounded and 18 missing during the short time we were in the cedars. It was necessary for a sacrifice to be made to save the army, and we made it ....

To learn more about the 18th U.S. Infantry at Stones River, please read an account from Private William H. Maxwell of Co. B, 2nd Battalion in "The Cost of Gallantry." 

Source:

Letter from Captain Henry Haymond, Co. E, 3rd Battalion, 18th U.S. Infantry, 18th U.S. Infantry newsletter, Jerry Rancourt Collection courtesy of Major Mark Johnson


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