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The Passing of Armies: An Account Of The Final Campaign Of The Army Of The Potomac (Eyewitness to the Civil War)
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About The Passing Of Armies: An Account Of The Final
Product Description A member of the Fifth Corps recounts the dramatic final acts of the Civil War, describing Sheridan's rise, Warren's fall, and the slow, inexorable stalking of Lee's forces across the battle-scarred countryside. About the Author Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions at the battle of Gettysburg, where he commanded the 20th Maine. A professor at Bowdoin College, Chamberlain volunteered for service in the Union army in 1862 but declined the colonelcy of a regiment, "preferring to start a little lower and learn the business first." Chamberlain also took part in many other important battles, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Petersburg, during which he received his fourth serious wound of the war. He later took part in the Appomattox Campaign, and commanded the troops that formally accepted the surrender of the Confederate army. Following his military service, he served as governor of Maine and president of Bowdoin College. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. INTRODUCTORY HISTORY is written for the most part from the outside. Truth often suffers distortion by reason of the point of view of the narrator, some pre-occupation of his judgment or fancy not only as to relative merits but even as to facts in their real relations. An interior view may not be without some personal coloring. But it must be of interest, especially in important transactions, to know how things appeared to those actually engaged in them. Action and passion on such a scale must bear some thoughts “that run before and after.” It has been deemed a useful observance “to see ourselves as others see us,” but it may sometimes be conducive to a just comprehension of the truth to let others see us as we see ourselves. The view here presented is of things as they appeared to us who were concerned with them as subordinate commanders,—having knowledge, however, of the general plan, and a share in the responsibility for its execution. This is a chapter of experiences,—including in this term not only what was done, but what was known and said and thought and felt,—not to say, suffered; and in its darkest passages showing a steadfast purpose, patience, and spirit of obedience deserving of record even if too often without recompense, until the momentous consummation. These memoirs are based on notes made nearly at the time of the events which they describe. They give what may be called an interior view of occurrences on the front of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the last essay in Grant’s Virginia campaign. This was so distinctive in character, conditions, and consequences, that I have ventured to entitle it “The Last Campaign of the Armies.” I trust this narrative may not seem to arrogate too much for the merits of the Fifth Corps. No eminence is claimed for it beyond others in that campaign. But the circumstance that this Corps was assigned to an active part with Sheridan during the period chiefly in view—the envelopment and final out-flanking of Lee’s army—warrants the prominence given in this review. It may be permitted to hope that this simple recital may throw some light on a passage of the history of this Corps, the record of which has been obscured in consequence of the summary change of commanders early in the campaign. The Fifth Corps had a certain severity of reputation quite distinctive in the comradeship of the army. Early in its history, Porter’s Division—the nucleus of it—had drawn the especial praise of General McClellan for its soldierly bearing and proficiency, being unfortunately referred to in orders as a model for the rest of the army. This had the effect of creating on the part of others a feeling of jealousy towards that Division or an opposition to apparent favoritism shown its commander, which was extended to the whole Corps on its formation in the summer of 1862, when the
