ROBESON COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - Brief War Record of Major Thomas Jones Wooten ============================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Brady Wooten Kerr JBK6397@aol.com ============================================================================ Brief War Record of Major Thomas Jones Wooten 1861-1865 Selections from War Correspondence published during and since Civil War. General Lee Compliments the Sharpshooters of Lane's Brigade It is due the corps of sharp-shooter of my brigade to state that after the flank movement on the 12 of May, General Lee sent for me and told me that he had witnessed the gallantry of these brave men, as well as the cheerfulness with which they had endured the hardships of the day, and that he had such a high appreciation of their services as to make him unwilling to order them forward again, but as they had thoroughly tried and wished to make another very important reconnaissance on the Fredericksburg road, he would be glad if they would make it for him. I at once told him that however tired they might be I knew they would go wherever he wished them. To which he replied, " I will not send them unless they are willing to go." I went for Capt. W. T. Nicholson, at that time commanding them, and introduced him to General Lee, who repeated what he had just said to me. In a few minutes afterwards our sharpshooters passed General Lee with cheers, and again pushed vigorously to the front." After the last interview Captain Nicholson and I went back to the corps, and the captain told his officers and men all that had occurred between General Lee and ourselves, and I added that I knew in complying with General Lee's request, they would not forget that they had already covered themselves with glory and had an enviable reputation to sustain. General Lee presented a magnificent appearance as he sat on "Traveler, " just where the works crossed the road immediately in front of the courthouse. As the crops of sharpshooters passed that grand old chieftain your brother, who was at the head of the column, raised his cap as the signal and the whole command wildly yelled-yelled as only brave men can under such circumstances. General Lee simply but gracefully removed his hat and remained uncovered until the whole command was well to the front. The brave fellows who were holding the lines witnessed it all, and they, too rent the air with shouts and continued their cheers until the corps had rapidly deployed to the right of the road and was lost to view. It was a grand sight and made my heart swell with love and pride. At that time General A. P. Hill was sick and General Early was in command of his corps. On the 18th of the month your brave brother and his sharpshooters were resting in the inner line and the re-entrant angle, where we had a battery plated. As soon as the Yankees espied us they opened upon us with the artillery in front of that memorable salient, and forced all of us to seek shelter behind the inner line. As we were doing so I saw them taking some one to the rear, and on asking who it was, I was told that it was Captain Nicholson, who had been wounded with a fragment of one of the many shells that were flying over us. After your brother was thus wounded, I put Major Thomas J. Wooten, of the 18th North Carolina-another brave hero, but as modest as a blushing girl in charge of our corps of sharpshooters, and he continued in command until the surrender at Appomattox Court House. Under him the corps continued to add to its already splendid reputation, especially in its first dash at the enemy's picket line at the Davis House in front of Petersburg, which called forth complimentary official communications from superior headquarters; in its double-quick deployment, advance and captures in the battle of Jones Farm in the presence of a large number of general officers; in its sudden dash into the works at the Pegram House, after Brander's Artillery had thrown the enemy into confusion, and where its captures exceeded its own strength; an in the part it bore in the recapture of the hill in front of our quarters which had been taken from us on the day of Gordon's attack on Fort Stedman. It also behaved with conspicuous gallantry when Grant broke our lines at Petersburg, and on the retreat to Appomattox Court House, as it was frequently thrown forward and fought the enemy when the brigade was not engaged. On the 20th of May General Earley, (who was in command of A.P. Hill's Corps) General Lane and Wilcox and a number of staff officers were standing talking in the field near the brick kiln and not far from the right of the corps of sharpshooters. The enemy espied them through the opening in front of the salient, and honored them with a short but rapid artillery salute. The group was scattered but no one was struck. Nicholson, however, who was on the right of his line was badly wounded and was borne from the field. Major Thomas J. Wooten, of the Eighteenth Regiment was then ordered to take charge of the corps, and he continued in command until the surrender at Appomattox Court House. Young, cool, brave, but modest as a girl, Wooten was worthy to succeed two such dashing, fearless and efficient commanders as Knox and Nicholson. He soon won the confidence and affection of those brave sharpshooters. This corps rendered splendid service from Spottsylvania to Petersburg. It began its brilliant career around Petersburg by surprising and capturing the enemy's videttes and reserves at the Davis House without losing a man. In recognition of its gallantry on this occasion, the following complimentary letters addressed to Wooten, were embodied in a general order and read on parade to all the regiments in the brigade: Headquarters Lane's Brigade September 9, 1864 General Order No. 21 The following communications are published to the brigade, not only as an act due the distinguished merit of this gallant recipient, but whit "the hope that it may encourage officers and men to emulate this noble example: Headquarters Wilcox's Light Div. September 7, 1864 Major:-The major-general commanding desires me to express his gratitude in transmitting the enclosed letter from Maj. Starke, A.A. G. Third Army Corps, conveying the congratulations of Lieutenant General Hill to you upon your handsome capture of the enemy's videttes at the Davis Home, and also to acknowledge his own appreciation, not only of this affair, but of the valuable service rendered by you and the gallant officers and men under your command during the arduous campaign of the last four months. I am, Major, yours respectfully, Jos. A. Englehard, A.A. G. Headquarters Cane's Brigade September 9, 1864 Major Thomas J. Wooten, Commander Sharpshooters Major: The Brigadier General commanding feels a proud pleasure in transmitting to you the congratulatory notes of Lieutenant General Hill and Major General Wilcox. And while he added to these well-earned compliments his own hearty congratulations upon the brilliant accomplishment of your well- conceived purpose, he rejoices that you have furnished him this fitting opportunity of formally thanking you and your gallant command for the steady performance of every duty- whether of dangerous enterprise or laborious watching-which has distinguished your actions since the campaign began. With great respect, your obedient servant, E.J. Hale, Jr., A.A.T. Wooten adopted a tactics of his own which was known as "Wooten's Seine Hauling." With the whole or a part of his command, he would move by the flank in double ranks toward the enemy's line, taking advantage of all natural features; and sometimes the command would crawl until within running distance. Then they would quietly rush forward. Wooten would halt on the lines of pits, and when the rear of his command reached him, he would order both ranks to fact outward and wheel. Wheeling on Wooten as the pivot they would return at a run in single rank, empty every pit before them, and never fire a gun. The major was never so happy as when engaged in "seine hauling." After prowling around the enemy's line, he would repair to brigade headquarters for permission to make another "catch." Whenever the general reminded him that nothing definite was to be accomplished by such attacks, that he was endangering the lives of his men, and that he (the general) would not give one of those noble fellows for a hundred Yankees. Wooten would assure him that no one could love his men more than he did, and he would promise not to let any of them get hurt. It was always on this condition that permission was granted, with the further understanding that his exploits would cease just as soon as he lost a man, killed, wounded or captured. Not a man was ever lost. On the morning of the 30th of September, troops were ordered from the right of Petersburg by General Lee to the south side of the James to re-enforce those already engaged there, and the new works at the Pegram House were left to be defended by a weak skirmish line of dismounted cavalry. After crossing the Appomattox and marching beyond Ettricks the order was countermanded as the right was threatened. That afternoon Lane's Brigade was ordered to form line on right of the road leading to the Jones House. The enemy was forcing the cavalry skirmishers back so rapidly that Wooten was compelled to deploy his sharpshooters at double quick and push hurriedly forward. He did it so dexterously- so quickly, and with the capture of so many prisoners, it elicited the out shaken administration of a group of general officers who witnessed the movements and brilliant dash. One of the group remarked to General Lee that it was the handsomest thing of the kind he had seen during the war. Next day, the first of October, Brander's Artillery infiladed the works at the Pegram House while a demoralizing and destructive fire, and as the enemy sought shelter in a depression, the Watchful Wooten rushed over the works with his brave sharpshooters and captured twice as many prisoners as he had men. Brander's Artillery, seeing dimly through the smoke, to many prisoners going to the rear, thought the enemy were advancing and turning their guns on them fired several times before they discovered their mistake. Some of the prisoners were wounded, and a few were killed, but strange to say all the sharpshooters escaped. General Wilcox, who was near, also made a narrow escape. After Gordon's attack on Fort Stedman, the enemy swept the whole Confederate picket line from Hatcher's Run to Lieutenant Run, and got possession of a hill from which they could fire into the winter quarters of Lane's Brigade. General Wilcox was sick at the time and Lane was in command of the division. Early next day General Lee, sent for General Lane to inquire whether he had re-established that part of the line. When he told that he had, except the hill, the old Confederate asked if he could take that. "Yes sir! I will take it tonight if you say so, " was the reply. General Lee then ordered him to reconnoiter the line and determine when and how to make the attack. As General Land and Major Wooten inspected the line that beautiful Sunday morning, and were pointing out and discussing how best to accomplish the work before them, some of the observant men were heard to remark: "Look yonder, fellows, at the General and the Major_____." The hill was taken next morning without losing a single man. Later in the day a squad of Yankees were seen pulling something through the bushes, and when one of the men yelled to them to know what they were doing, he received the ready answer:"Your Major Hooten is so fond of running up the hollows and breaking our lines, we are putting a gun here to give him warmer welcome next time he comes." The major had used that ravine or hollow in making the attack. This brave officer was generally known on the enemy's skirmish line as "Major Hooten." On two or more occasions when there was a real flag of truce between the contending armies, some of the Federal officers asked for "Major Hooten." And requested an introduction to him. During that winter General Lane received a note from General Wilcox asking if he would "catch a Yankee" that night for General Lee, as some of the enemy were in motion, and General Lee had not been able to get the desired information through his scouts. Wooten was sent for at his hands. After sitting in silence for sometime, with his eyes upon the floor, he looked up with a bright face and said: " I can get him." The whole corps wanted to go "seine hauling" that night but it was thought best to take only part of the command. It was a moonlight night, the woods proved to be further from the enemy's line than was expected, and the men had to crawl some distance through the grass and weeds. When Wooten, at the head of the small crawling column, sprang to his feet, he excitedly uttered a questionable ejaculation, a most unusual thing for him. The men laughed and said: "Listen at our Major." And away they all rushed for that promised Yankee. Early next morning Wooten, followed by a crowd of laughing ragged rebels, marched seven prisoners to the brigade headquarters. With a merry good morning he remarked: " I couldn't get that promised Yankee, General Lee, but I caught seven Dutchmen." Not one of the seven could speak a word of English. They were at once sent to division headquarters with a note from the brigade giving the credit of the capture to Wooten and his men, and stating that if General Lee could make anything out of their "foreign gibberish" it was more than he could. After the line had been broken by Grant in the spring of 1865, and the Brigade driven from the works, this corps fought in the regular line, and helped clear the works as far as the Jones Farm road where the brigade was confronted by two lines of battle, and a strong line of skirmishers. To escape destruction or capture, the brigade retired under order to Battery Gregg and Howard's Damn. In the retreat to Appomattox court House the crew was necessarily kept very busy, and on several occasions it bravely encountered the enemy when not a single shot was fired by any of the regiments. Where is Major Wooten for whom his old commander has the greatest admiration? He ought to let North Carolina in peace know what he and his brave and well- drilled corps of sharpshooters did for her in war. As already stated, a finer body of soldiers the world never saw. James H. Lane