123

"We could count the buttons on Reb's coat."

[Frank T. Leach.]

Valley Campaign diary of the captain who led the skirmishers against the VMI cadets at New Market.

Various places, 1 May to 15 August 1864
[98] manuscript diary pages, 16mo, original ¼ sheep, moderate wear, joints starting; minimal wear to contents, all entries in pencil.

We sometimes see diaries of soldiers who participated in the great battles of the Civil War. Only rarely do we find a diary by somebody who played a key role in the battle. 

Frank Taylor Leach (1835-1884) of Northborough, MA was captain of Company G in the 34th Massachusetts Infantry. On leave in Massachusetts, he married Sarah Smith on 9 April 1864, and then rushed back to his regiment to participate in the grueling Valley Campaign. 

The diary begins with the author resuming command of his company, part of Franz Sigel's Army of the Shenandoah as they marched on Staunton. The regiment had been in service for almost two years but had seen little combat. On the march, he notes "Johnny Reb tried to blow up Stone Bridge but did not succeed. . . . Rained in torrents all day. This is soldiering in earnest. No ‘white glove' about it now" (11 May).

Most importantly, Leach describes the Union defeat at the Battle of New Market on 15 May, in which he and his company played a heroic role: "Oh what a Sunday. A day ever to be remembered by the 34th. . . . We were sadly whipped and retreated to near Woodstock. . . . My company ordered to skirmish directly in front, while the enemy were advancing upon us in force. Deployed and advanced about 200 yds but the enemy firing so rapidly compelled us to lie down. Remained until we could count the buttons on Reb's coat. Noise so terrific, was obliged to touch each man to order them to fall back upon regiment. Did so just in time to escape being shot by our own friends. Regiment made a splendid charge but were repulsed." 

This action was described in the official post-action report by the regiment's Colonel Wells (which is how we can identify Leach as the author): "I was ordered to deploy one company across my front as skirmishers, and Captain Leach, with Company G, went forward, and his groups halted and deployed in the tumult about 200 yards in advance, each man taking his exact interval and dressing to the right as steadily as on drill. The officers in the line were giving their orders in low tones, and every man stood, his gun at the ready, his finger on the trigger waiting to see the face of his foe. It was a marvel to me then and is now how men who almost never before had heard the rebel yell and the terrible din of the battle-field could be so entirely calm and self-possessed" (Official Records of the Rebellion, Volume 37). 

At New Market, the 34th faced the famous Virginia Military Institute cadets—the only American student unit was ever pressed into service in battle. The cadets' repulse of the brave 34th Massachusetts has been regarded as the turning point of the battle. See Turner, "The New Market Campaign," page 83. 

After two days of retreating, Leach wrote: "How different the brave 34th looks than it did three days ago. That terrible charge came near being the death of all." On 19 May, with the army safely encamped at Strasburg, "Gen. Sigel made a speech in which he said the ‘34th was the best regiment and Col. Mills the best commander he ever saw,' a very high compliment." 

Sigel's role in the defeat led to his rapid replacement, noted by Captain Leach on 22 May: "Gen. Hunter relieved Gen'l Sigel and took command today. . . . He certainly talks as though he intended to do something soon. He certainly cannot do anything less than Gen. Sigel has." 

On 30 May, Leach poignantly recalls William Bacon, another 34th captain who had died at New Market: "Visited the battlefield, found the body of Capt. Bacon and had it buried again in a nice little grove on the left of the pike, the band playing a dirge. Poor Bill, we all loved you. I could not see you buried without shedding tears upon the grave so far away from your own dear friends. But you shall be avenged in the next battle we fight." 

Leach describes a Union victory on 5 June: "The Battle of Piedmont. Splendid victory, scattered the Johnnys in all directions. Captured about 900. Our brig. made a splendid charge, the 34th Mass & 54th Pa doing the work." On 12 June, Leach must have been gratified by this sight: "Gen'l Hunter burned the Military Institute, Gov. Letcher's residence and several mills." The next day, with the Union advance, "contrabands are flocking in in great numbers." 

In the wake of a defeat at Lynchburg, the army was on the march with no supplies: "Are only kept alive by eating black birch bark. Sure death for any man to fall behind, either by bushwhackers or starvation" (23 June). They did not connect with the Union supply lines for four more days. They stopped briefly at Harper's Ferry on 14 July, and passed through the famed Quaker abolitionist village of Waterford, VA on 16 July: "Any quantity of pretty girls here, and the best Union town within 500 miles." The battle of Cool Spring on 18 July is described briefly: "Regiment did splendidly as usual. Retreated across the river in perfect order with the Rebs yelling behind us." On 31 July they went off in pursuit of Jubal Early's raid on Chambersburg, PA. On 5 August, "Lt. Gen'l Grant came out this evening. Didn't like the management of things, so report says." General Sheridan was appointed to replace Hunter the next day. The closing words of this diary, on 15 August: "Suppose Gen'l Sheridan knows what he is doing. We all have confidence in him." 


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