| � "And now...the rest of the Story!" By Bill Skillman "History is written by the Winners"... an ancient truism. It is sometimes amusing to discover which 'truths' make it into history books and are uncritically accepted by 20th Century authors and their readers. Sometimes erroneous "history" is fairly transparent and can be easily repudiated because of an abundance of evidence to the contrary. Unfortunately other accounts are much more difficult to expose to the "light of truth". The following is a case in point. Probably the most (in)famous case of bombast is Hiram Berdan's assertion that the 300 man (USSS/3rd Maine) reconnaissance he led into Pitzer's Wood had unmasked "the 30,000 man" assault force of Gen. Jas. Longstreet, as it poised to "pounce upon the unprotected Union left flank". Berdan went so far to assert he had delayed Longstreet's troops for thirty minutes and subsequently helped to win the battle of Gettysburg. In reality, Berdan engaged 3 Alabama regiments (8th, (9th-not engaged), 10th, and the 11th of Cademus Wilcox's brigade, of A.P. Hill's Corps), which did not exceed 1800 men. However, to the inexperienced Berdan, those three regiments must have looked like legions. Unfortunately Gen. Longstreet didn't help matters by publicly agreeing with Berdan during an 1888 reunion at Gettysburg. Longstreet was a persona-non-grata in the South for (a) becoming a Republican during Grant's administration, and (b) criticizing the deceased General Lee's strategy at Gettysburg. Longstreet had been engaged in a bitter war of words with his former lieutenants over his own tactical failings at Gettysburg, which may explain why he so heatedly agreed with Berdan. Any offerings of respect and sympathy, even by former enemies, must have been a welcome respite for the beleaguered Longstreet. 1888 was a pivotal time for Civil War veterans, as former 3rd Corps commander, Daniel Sickles was trying to cement his "legacy" by justifying his independent decision (while others assert: court-martial offense) to advance his 12,000 troops out to the exposed and unsupported salient along the Peach Orchard /Emmitsburg road. Supporters of General Meade (who died in 1876) had been publicly feuding with Sickles in the various post War journals and reunions for years. Hiram Berdan's revisionist account of the Pitzer's Wood action served as the perfect justification for Sickle's decision, and the old general was quick to rally around his former (and equally controversial) Chief of Sharpshooters. Why is all this important to us historian-reenactors? Regrettably, it reminds us to read the accounts left by the men who fought the War with a much greater sense of skepticism and caution. The human failings of vanity, impaired memory due to age/wounds/"feel good" revisionism, unspoken political allegiances, unit pride (when have you ever read "our regiment broke and ran like rabbits" ?), and outright skullduggery all found their way into the post-War regimental histories and individual memoirs. Why is all this important to us historian-reenactors? Regrettably, it reminds us to read the accounts left by the men who fought the War with a much greater sense of skepticism and caution. The human failings of vanity, impaired memory due to age/wounds/"feel good" revisionism, unspoken political allegiances, unit pride (when have you ever read "our regiment broke and ran like rabbits" ?), and outright skullduggery all found their way into the post-War regimental histories and individual memoirs. While many current Berdan reenactor-historians ridicule Charles A. Stevens for printing Berdan's self-serving account of the Pitzer's Wood action, it is equally important to note that Berdans United States Sharpshooters in the Army of the Potomac might have become a truly abysmal work without his stewardship. I have an letter by Lewis Allen (Co. F. 1st USSS) that was printed in the Hudson Gazette dated July 13, 1887. Allen invited the USSS vets to attend a Reunion Association of the Soldiers and Sailors of South Western Michigan reunion in Grand Rapids at the request of one of the keynote attendees, Hiram Berdan. Berdan requested of Hudson men "...I wish you and your comrades would write me fully as to any special details or little incidents connected with our corps that may be of interest, as they will be of great use to me in writing the history of the corps, and I assure you will be highly appreciated by me." Somehow, Stevens (editor of the Shakopee Courier (MN) was pressed into service as author/compiler instead. Having been 'humbugged' by Berdan since 1861 the wiser heads among the surviving veterans prevailed. It was not until 1893, the year of Berdan's death, that the regimental (mostly 1st USSS exploits), history would finally be published. It is here that I would like to introduce one of those fascinating accounts that has been heretofore overlooked, if not altogether forgotten. Let's start out with one version of "history". The Michigan "Brown Books" records the following: Guest, Adolpus, A. New York City. Entered service in Company B Second U.S. Sharpshooters, as Second Lieutenant. Commissioned April 2, 1862. Commissioned First Lieutenant April 2, 1862, Commissioned Captain Oct. 14, 1862. Mustered Oct. 10, 1864. Pretty cut and dried, hunh? But here is where "the rest of the story" comes in. The observations are provided by our old friend Wyman S. White in his diary during the bloodletting near Cold Harbor in June 1864. "...Captain Guest of Company B., (Michigan) was in command of the men of our regiment and he always braced up his courage with whiskey. The night we were in the swamp he had on a whiskey courage. Along in the night firing from both sides was at times very light. Although we were comparatively near the rebel's picket, the captain would stand out from any protection and at the report of a rifle shot sing out, "Flam-flam-flam-flam, flam, flam." We all expected that he would be hit, but like all drunken men, he was lucky." So much for tarnished first impressions. But the good Captain's feet would turn into (red Virginia) clay in another account that White entitled "Captain Guest a Slacker". The episode occurs during a nighttime assault and capture of rebel picket posts outside Petersburg in September 1864. "...Here is a story of satisfied revenge. Captain Guest of...the Michigan Company, was in command of our regiment, he being the senior officer present for duty at that time. While we were waiting for the bugle call in our picket line, the captain seemed to have lost his courage if he ever had any. One of the staff of General de Trobirand, our brigade commander, came to our regiment about an hour after the charge and inquired for the commanding officer. No one had seen him since we left our picket line." "...Well, (said the brigade officer), "I saw an officer in one of the pits and I thought he was one of your captains". White records, "Corporal Cummings * heard that and jumped up and said to the officer, "I will go back with you and see if the officer you saw is Captain Guest." The two men made their way back to the Union rifle pits and sure enough they discovered Captain Guest curled up "all alone". "..on being questioned he said he was sick". The staff officer reported the incident to headquarters and Captain Guest was promptly arrested, court-martialed, and dishonorably discharged from the service. But why was Cpl. Cummings so quick to volunteer for the task? "...(Corporal) Cummings and the Captain had a spat over a woman when they were on their veteran furlough the winter before. Cummings felt that he was ill treated and abused by the Captain and told him he would get square with him before he died." The incident of cowardice had given the Corporal the opportunity he needed to exact his revenge. Unfortunately, Corporal Cumming's final justice would prove illusive, (as only someone who works in a government agency, police/military organizations, or big corporations can fully appreciate). "...Through the management of Captain Wright (of the Minnesota company) ...put Guest's name on the payroll when the regiment was mustered for pay and Guest got his pay in full. I do not think Captain Wright would have dared to do as he did but his term of service was out just at that time and he had gone when the fraud was discovered. I have been informed that Guest was afterwards re-instated and honorably discharged". Okay, let your blood pressure return to normal and then we must pose some vexing questions. How come Wright "covered" for Captain Guest? Were they drinking buddies? Wyman only mentions: "...Co. A had only one man vote for McClellan*he was the captain (Wright)...we now know that he was not right". Politics aside, this was not the first episode when "drinking buddies" among the USSS officer corps attempted to 'cover' for one another. Major Charles Mattocks, the newly assigned commander of the 1st USSS, was shocked to discover Adjutant Rowell inebriated at brigade inspection. Mattocks cited that he "was unable to form the 10 companies into 8 of equal size". Considering most were from different states or had hard-won reputations, it is no wonder that Rowell had a near mutiny on his hands. But when the Adjutant tumbled from his horse, Major Mattocks promptly began court-marital proceedings against him. That evening Mattocks received an unsigned petition from the company officers asking for leniency. Mattocks snorted that they were quick to rescue "one of their own (drinking buddies)" and curtly returned the petition with a written reproach. Mattocks had no tolerance for drunken officers and successfully cashiered Rowell. When the Overland Campaign began Rowell rode with the baggage train awaiting discharge. Meanwhile, Mattocks was captured trying to round up some USSS 'front line stragglers' who were skirmishing with rebels in the Wilderness. He became a POW and made two escape attempts, finally reaching freedom after a month-long trek through Rebel-dom. Mattocks won the Medal of Honor while leading his beloved 17th Maine at the battle of Saylor's Creek. What I find so appealing by the Wyman White stories is that they ring of the unvarnished truth. If you read his book extensively White emerges as a plainspoken but earnest man. He didn't drink liquor, smoke or resort to "low stories or jokes". He was duty bound and not afraid to confront superiors when they were negligent or derelict in their duties, (recall the Guard Duty episode at Falmouth). Civil War history is filled with the exploits of heroes, goats, and thousands of other men whose conduct covers the entire range and breadth of human behavior. In the white heat of combat or the dreary camps the men were forced to confront their most basic instincts of survival and sanity. For most it was the personal sense of pride/honor, bond with comrades and loyalty to his regiment/ state that all combined to keep a soldier at his post. At the same time he was buffeted with feelings of homesickness/loneliness, hunger, illness (from drink or microbe) or wounds, and disillusionment which would gnaw at his resolve. As reenactors it is important for us to learn about the various foibles (physical, social/cultural/political, and psychological) that dogged each and every Sharp Shooter, and whenever possible, seek to incorporate them into our own impressions. It is one more way for us to greater appreciate the sacrifices made by these remarkable men of 135 years ago. � Cummings, William J. (Veteran) Ingham County. Enlisted in Company B Second U.S. Sharpshooters, Sept 17, 1861, at Detroit, for 3 years, at 24. Mustered Oct. 4, 1861. Wounded in action at Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 1863. Re-enlisted at Brandy Station, Va. Jan.5, 1864. Mustered Jan. 5, 1864. Corporal. Transferred to Company K, Fifth Infantry, Feb. 18, 1865. Discharged for disability at Philadelphia, Pa., May 23, 1865. |
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