Blowing His Own Horn: Chancellorsville as Explained by the 12th Alabama

                                                                                              Five Days at Chancellorsville

We'll likely never know the author of the following account of the Battle of Chancellorsville, but his eloquent and detailed account of the fighting as viewed from the ranks of the 12th Alabama speaks to the hard fighting Jackson's Corps endured during the campaign. But he also wanted to set the record straight with the homefolks, pointing out that many of the claims they saw in the newspapers were puffed up all out of proportion to reality. 

    "You cannot pick up a paper immediately after a battle without having your eyes greeted with the glorious news that such a regiment of volunteers captured so many batteries, one, two, or three," he complained. "The last number is the largest number we ever saw affected on paper by any one regiment. Take the newspaper accounts of guns captured and divide by ten and you will get a true number. It is a very difficult feat for one regiment to capture even a section of artillery, especially when it is as well served as the Yankee artillery generally is served. It is a feat we have never had the pleasure of witnessing yet."

    The 12th Alabama served as part of Brigadier General Robert Rodes’ all-Alabama brigade (commanded by Colonel Edward A. O’Neal) of General Daniel H. Hill’s division (commanded by Rodes) of Jackson’s Second Corps. The brigade consisted of the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 12th, and 26th Alabama regiments. The following account of the 12th Alabama's experiences at Chancellorsville was written by a soldier using the nom-de-plume of Nequis, and was originally published in the June 10, 1863, edition of the Montgomery Weekly Advertiser. 

 

Corporal John Herrington Phillips served in the Coosa Volunteers, Co. B of the 12th Alabama Infantry from the beginning all the way to the surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. Phillips was wounded four times during the war: Harper's Ferry, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and near Richmond. Phillips returned home to Alabama and passed away Wetumpka, Alabama in 1935 at the age of 92.
(Image and details courtesy of Stan Hutson)

Camp of Rodes’ division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia

May 28, 1863

Deeming that the friends of the 12th Alabama may be pleased to hear something of the conduct of the regiment and the part it took in the recent engagements, I write to you, hoping I will be pardoned for thus thrusting a modest regiment before the public. True, we are not fighting for glory, but all of us like (and who does not) that what we do should be appreciated, or at least not quite ignored by those in our far Southern homes who form the awful tribunal “public opinion.” And as it is becoming the habit for regiments to “blow their own trumpet,” why here goes for the 12th Alabama though we are afraid that we will be compelled to “sing small” beside some communications which we have seen which almost made us blush with shame.

The 12th Alabama reported the morning it marched from camp 400 men present, including officers, details, the sick, etc., and moved to their first position near Hamilton’s Crossing with 350 men, a better turn out in proportion to numbers than any other regiment in the brigade or division. During the tedious march in the hot sun to turn the enemy’s right there were very few stragglers from the regiment. I saw not one. Not one of the regiment fainted, not one gave up from exhaustion, being made of sterner stuff but all pressed on to the fight with the determination which had characterized them on every field.

The regiment participated in the glorious victory of May 2, 1863, resulting in the captured of three sections, or six pieces, of artillery and not three batteries as some would have it, and the total rout and discomfiture of General Howard’s 11th Army Corps. I say participated in for to the whole division (and there is not a finer one in the army) belongs the glory of their capture, though a lion’s share certainly belongs to Rodes’ brigade. Nor are we so arrogant as to claim for our regiment, or any regiment, the honor of the capture, as we are pained to see others doing for their favorite regiment. [Colonel Pickens reported that the 12th Alabama suffered 6 killed and 32 wounded during the fighting on May 2nd.]

The fighting of Sunday, May 3, 1863 swirled near the Chancellor House where General Joseph Hooker made his headquarters. The 12th Alabama attacked along the north side of the Orange Turnpike driving eastwards but suffered far heavier casualties on May 3rd than on the previous day, losing 10 men killed and 72 wounded. Overall casualties for the battle totaled approximately a third of the regiment. 

In fact, if we are to listen to and believe every statement we hear made, we would be inclined to the belief that there were some eight or ten batteries taken instead of a battery and a section. It is a great wonder to me that the people at home don’t make out the number of pieces taken in every battle as ten times as many as they really are. You cannot pick up a paper immediately after a battle without having your eyes greeted with the glorious news that such a regiment of volunteers captured so many batteries, one, two, or three. The last number is the largest number we ever saw affected on paper by any one regiment. Take the newspaper accounts of guns captured and divide by ten and you will get a true number. It is a very difficult feat for one regiment to capture even a section of artillery, especially when it is as well served as the Yankee artillery generally is served. It is a feat we have never had the pleasure of witnessing yet.

On Sunday, May 3, 1863, the regiment was ordered forward and early formed in line with the other troops of the division. We moved forward under a most terrific cannonade and discharge of canister, grape, and shrapnel upon the enemy’s well-posted battery, crossing in our advance over the lines of troops who were lying under the shelling. From the position thus gained, we were forced to retire, the enemy attempting a flank movement on our extreme left. The brigade at this juncture became divided by the movement of other troops by the flank to fill up the gap in the line. The portion of the brigade on the left, consisting chiefly of the 6th and 12th Alabama regiments, formed into line under the command of Colonel Sam Pickens of the 12th Alabama, thus devolving the command of the regiment upon Captain John J. Nicholson of Mobile.

Detail from the American Battlefield Trust's map depicting the May 3rd fighting to secure to crucial intersection of the Orange Turnpike and Orange Plank Road. The 12th Alabama advanced along the north side of the Orange Turnpike at upper left, holding their ground against a determined Federal counterattack that cost the regiment 82 casualties. General Alfred Colquitt's brigade relieved the Alabamians. "Never did relief come more opportunely," our writer confessed, adding that after firing off its full load of ammunition, the regiment was "thinned and worn with fatigue." The regiment soon received its first ration issue in 5 days along with a fresh supply of ammunition, but their fighting at Chancellorsville was over.
(Map courtesy of American Battlefield Trust)

Forming in line nearly perpendicular to the general line of the division, the regiment fought with unexampled bravery during the space of an hour and a half, killing and wounding a great number of the enemy as I know by a careful inspection of the field afterwards. We were supported on the left by General Nicholls’ Louisiana brigade then under the command of Colonel Jesse M. Williams, who fought as Louisianans always do, with great gallantry.

General Robert Rodes

The 12th Alabama held its ground till nearly every round of ammunition had been expended when just in the nick of time, General Rodes ordered General Alfred Colquitt with his Georgians to relieve us. Never did relief come more opportunely. The regiment, thinned and worn with fatigue, was ordered to the rear for rations and ammunition. We had not drawn rations except from the enemy’s haversacks since April 30th. I never saw men cooler in battle in all my life, nor half so cool. After firing off their last round, they would lie in their places in ranks, perfectly cool and collected, the wounded in many instances doing the same. All this amid such a storm of storm of bullets as the experience of six battles has not been sufficient to furnish me with before. I have understood we were complimented highly, but not wishing to say anything which the generals may disclaim, I forebear mentioning it. I know the regiment and all the troops who fought with us fought gloriously and deserve compliments, whether they get them or not. [Colonel Pickens reported that the regiment lost 10 men killed and 72 wounded during the fighting on May 3rd.]

After this musketry fight on the left, the part borne by Rodes’ brigade, and in fact by Jackson’s corps in the battle was over, as then the fight transferred to the right and Hooker got away in time to prevent our again assailing him. At about noon on May 6, we marched from Chancellorsville to our camp in the midst of an awful rainstorm attended with hail over roads so rough and muddy as to be nearly impassable on horseback. Right glad were we when we saw our camp and a home feeling came over us as we entered our log cabins, rejoicing in the victory God vouchsafed to our arms, mourning the loss of our brave comrades in the army, and musing on the mutability of human fortune as exemplified in the person of Joe Hooker.

The conscripts fought remarkably well as I learn, rivaling in some regiments the old soldiers in their daring and fearless courage. There being no conscripts in the 12th Alabama, I cannot speak from personal observation. The battle’s fought, the victory won, and it may not be long ere you hear from us again on the now sacred banks of the Rappahannock.

Nequis 


To learn more about the Confederate Army at Chancellorsville, please check out these posts:

A Conversation with Stonewall Jackson 

The Greatest Move of the War: A Virginian Remembers Chancellorsville

Source:

Letter from Nequis, 12th Alabama Infantry, Montgomery Weekly Advertiser (Alabama), June 10, 1863, pg. 2


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