Conner Albert Z - Seizing destiny: the Army of the Potomacs Valley Forge

2016 by Albert Z. Conner, Jr. and Chris Mackowski

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Conner Jr., Albert Z., 1943

Seizing destiny : the Army of the Potomacs Valley Forge and the Civil War Winter that Saved the Union / Albert Z. Conner Jr. with Chris Mackowski.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN: 978-1-61121-156-6

eISBN: 978-1-61121-157-3

1. United States. Army of the Potomac--History. 2. United States. Army of the PotomacMilitary life. 3. Military moraleUnited StatesHistory19th century. 4. Desertion, MilitaryUnited StatesHistory19th century. 5. United StatesHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Desertions. 6. VirginiaHistoryCivil War, 1861-1865Campaigns. I. Mackowski, Chris. II. Title. III. Title: Army of the Potomacs Valley Forge and the Civil War Winter that Saved the Union.

E470.2.C715 2015

973.73dc23

2013046363

First edition, first printing

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Dedications

To my wife, Janefully equal to the best of the women of the Valley Forge

Al

In memory of my grandfathers, Capt. William D. Mackowski, Sr., and Cpl. James Swingin Jim Cawleycitizen-soldiers, both, and the finest men I have ever known

Chris

Jointly, we dedicate this book to

Rufus Robinson Dawes, Brevet Brigadier General, U. S. Volunteers.

Dawes correlated the 1778 Valley Forge in the Revolution with the 1863 Valley Forge the Union Army of the Potomac faced in Stafford County, Virginia when he wrote, This winter is, indeed, the Valley Forge of the war. At least 1,000 other Federal soldiers made the same connection, but Dawes, more than any single individual, was the most perceptive. In retrospect, his 1890 memoirs, Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, could stand as Exhibit A for this works central thesis.

Rufus Dawes personified the extraordinarily difficult, but ultimately successful struggle to save the Union. He entered the war as a captain and company commander, rose to lieutenant colonel and regimental commander, and was breveted brigadier general. A postwar businessman and congressman, Dawes also fathered a future vice-president of the United States. On the shoulders of such citizen-soldiers in citizen-armies, the fate of the republic has always been secure.

May it always be so: E Pluribus Unum.

Location of Winter Encampments. With more than 100,000 men occupying the north bank of the river, the Federal presence took a strong toll on the areas resources. Most of the Army of the Potomac concentrated along the spur of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad that ran from Falmouth to Aquia Creek. This facilitated the distribution of supplies. The I and VI Corps shifted eastward and the IX Corps was transferred out of the army, freeing up some physical space even as winter hardened.

Table of Contents

Appendix 1:
After the Army of the Potomacs Valley Forge

Appendix 2:
The Union Women of Valley Forge

Appendix 3:
Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac, May 1-6, 1863

List of Maps

Acknowledgments

This book has three direct inspirations: Thomas Flemings Washingtons Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge; Jane Hollenbeck Conners Lincoln in Stafford; and the realization of the powerful and positive attraction of nationally significant local history. The first, Flemings magnificent study, revealed the Revolutionary Valley Forge in deeper and broader contexts. The second revealing book uncovered fascinating political-military dimensions of President Lincolns six wartime visits to Stafford County, and especially his interactions with the Army of the Potomac in April 1863. The third brought the realization that this all happened right here! Additionally, Jane read and discussed every word of this study, while nursing a sick husband back to health.

Both authors have been connected in various capacities to the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. This connection produced a better understanding of the linkage between Americas Revolutionary War, Civil War, and modern times. Chief Historian John Hennessy inspires all connected with the park to learn more and gain new interpretive insights. John was particularly helpful in assisting this project by sharing his research materials and initial skepticism. Cultural resources manager and historian Eric Mink and historian Don Pfanz unfailingly helped with facts, sources, and access to the parks vast research collectiona true national treasure. Volunteers Jim Padgett, Jane Hollenbeck Conner, and the late George Wyant all assisted: Janes contributions have been mentioned; Jim provided invaluable technical assistance and substantive information access without which this research simply couldnt have been finished in less than a decade; George proved an excellent sounding board on research revelations.

Military historian Bob Poirier provided invaluable insights on the Army of the Potomac. Others also substantially aided this project. Charles Siegel of the Rappahannock Valley and Bull Run Civil War Round Tables made a pioneering driving tour brochure, The Army of the Potomac in Stafford County, featuring 39 Union Army historic sites. Stafford historian Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor generously provided information on horses and their care, and insights on Staffords people. Lee Woolf, retired reporter for Fredericksburgs The Free Lance-Star, provided valuable communications insights. Erik F. Nelson, former president of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, supplied thoughtful suggestions and analytical comments.

We would also like to highlight a related public-private partnership of Stafford County Government and the Friends of Stafford Civil War Sites (FSCWS). They developed a Civil War Park that honors the Valley Forge. FSCWSs leadersColonel Glenn Trimmer, USAF (retired), and D. P. Newton, director of the increasingly renowned White Oak Civil War Museum and Research Centerhave documented many surviving Union and Confederate sites in eastern Stafford County. The park is located on a 40-plus acre site and contains pristine artifact fortifications; entrenchments; sections of corduroyed road; logistical positions; and campsites. FSCWS worked with Stafford Countys Board of Supervisors and governmental staff. Stafford County supervisors Paul Milde and Harry Crisp and economic development and tourism officials Tim Baroody and Margaret Clay Moncure assisted the project. Virginia Army and Air National Guard engineer unitsat once a personification of a citizen-army and a reconciled Americaprovided the critical clearing and construction of the park. Vulcan Materials, Inc., donated the basic road materials. All of the principal authors proceeds will be contributed to the Stafford Civil War Park, opened on April 27, 2013, the 150th anniversary of the armys departure for Chancellorsville.