Eye Witness Accounts of the Battle of Aiken
I find the battle itself to be interesting because it was fought in 1865 on the streets that we travel every day in downtown Aiken. For you history buffs, since this battle was fought at the end of the war in the midst of the Confederate defeat, the Battle of Aiken makes few history books. But the victory here was crucial to the local history of the region because the victory prevented the destruction of the local economy and enabled Aiken and Augusta to withstand the Reconstruction period better than other more devastated areas of the South.
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Here's one accounting of the events of the day, 141 years ago on February 12, 1865:
As Kilpatrick's men moved towards Aiken, residents of the county realized that their worst fears were coming true. Mr. James Courtney determinedly extinguished three fires that Union Cavalry had started to destroy his home. Each time Courtney extinguished the fire, the cavalry would restart it. After the third time, the cavalry shot him in the leg to prevent him from saving his house. Mr. Courtney sent a request for a Union surgeon to come stop the flow of blood, but the surgeon refused to come and Mr. James Courtney slowly bled to death while his home burned in front of him. Courtney was possibly the first casualty in Aiken County.
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A lady reported on the destruction and pillage of personal property: "It may have been an hour after their arrival when Pauline came rushing to me saying the Yankees had come - our first floor was specially filled with armed men. At first I very politely unlocked several trunks assuring them that they only contained ladies apparel, but this band of 150 men ransacked every nook and corner, breaking open trunks and boxes, singing, whistling, swearing. One young villain come in, fastened the doors, demanded our watches, and using the most profane language and terrible threats ordered us to confess where our gold and silver was buried. The entreaties of our faithful servants alone saved the house from conflagration. They began digging and found all the concealed provisions but gave us a few hams and some rice. We have lost all our silver, china, and glass. All our blankets, quilts, shawls and all the pillow cases were used as bags to remove provisions."
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One of the oldest families in Aiken is the Toole family:
"Ramsey and Kelly Toole, brothers at home because they were too young to fight, had ropes placed around their necks and were threatened with hanging if they didn't reveal where their horses were hidden in the swamps. Their mother was forced to prepare dinner for the officers, only to see her dishes thrown against a tree when they were through. Even after this, a fire was started under the Toole house as they left, although Mrs. Toole was able to extinguish the blaze."
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Wheeler, the Confederate Major General, consolidated his troops in Aiken where he devised a plan to surprise and trap Kilpatrick, the Union Brigadier. The Aiken Home Guards scouted and advised Wheeler as to Kilpatrick's movements. Wheeler formed his cavalry in the shape of a V, with the bottom of the V pointed west towards Augusta. The railroad and Park Avenue ran down the center of the V. A thin line of skirmishers was deployed between the top tips of the V which paralleled Williamsburg Street. The plan was for Kilpatrick's line to charge the retreating Confederates into the V. Wheeler would then collapse the tops of the V around Kilpatrick and surround him.
Although civilians had warned Kilpatrick that Wheeler was in Aiken, the officer leisurely marched toward the town. On February 11, the Union troops marched up Park, Richland, and Barnwell Avenues. Wheeler's advanced picket line on Williamsburg Street fell back as planned toward York Street. But here the plan fell apart. An Alabama trooper fired his gun prematurely, thus springing the trap too soon. Wheeler ordered all units to attack. The engagement occurred on Richland Avenue in front of the Baptist Church amidst yells and shouted commands in hand to hand battle. Scattered fights occurred in other parts of the town including a desperate fight around the Williams house off South Boundary. To add to the confusion, a Federal battery of the 10th Wisconsin lobbed 59 shells into the town.
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The best description of the battle is from John Reed of the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry:
"We were within a half mile of the town of Aiken, when we discovered long lines of rebel cavalry. The column halted - Kilpatrick came dashing up the head of the column and desired to know the reason of the halt. Just then a locomotive ran out in plain view near Aiken and whistled and whistled. Kilpatrick brought up the artillery and sent a few rifled shells toward the locomotive and into the town. Kilptrick also called on the 92nd Silver Cornet Band to play Yankee Doodle. The next thing in order was for the 92nd Illinois to charge into the town.
"Now we felt we were going into a trap, but Kilpatrick took the lead. The ladies of the town waved their handkerchiefs in welcome and smilingly invited the officers and men into their houses. But that kind of a welcome was unusual in South Carolina. It was an additional evidence of danger. In the farther edge of the town the enemy was in the line of battle. After the accidental shot, the officers quickly formed the regiment to charge back again to the brigade, the rebels having formed a line in our rear.
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Here's one accounting of the events of the day, 141 years ago on February 12, 1865:
As Kilpatrick's men moved towards Aiken, residents of the county realized that their worst fears were coming true. Mr. James Courtney determinedly extinguished three fires that Union Cavalry had started to destroy his home. Each time Courtney extinguished the fire, the cavalry would restart it. After the third time, the cavalry shot him in the leg to prevent him from saving his house. Mr. Courtney sent a request for a Union surgeon to come stop the flow of blood, but the surgeon refused to come and Mr. James Courtney slowly bled to death while his home burned in front of him. Courtney was possibly the first casualty in Aiken County.
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A lady reported on the destruction and pillage of personal property: "It may have been an hour after their arrival when Pauline came rushing to me saying the Yankees had come - our first floor was specially filled with armed men. At first I very politely unlocked several trunks assuring them that they only contained ladies apparel, but this band of 150 men ransacked every nook and corner, breaking open trunks and boxes, singing, whistling, swearing. One young villain come in, fastened the doors, demanded our watches, and using the most profane language and terrible threats ordered us to confess where our gold and silver was buried. The entreaties of our faithful servants alone saved the house from conflagration. They began digging and found all the concealed provisions but gave us a few hams and some rice. We have lost all our silver, china, and glass. All our blankets, quilts, shawls and all the pillow cases were used as bags to remove provisions."
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One of the oldest families in Aiken is the Toole family:
"Ramsey and Kelly Toole, brothers at home because they were too young to fight, had ropes placed around their necks and were threatened with hanging if they didn't reveal where their horses were hidden in the swamps. Their mother was forced to prepare dinner for the officers, only to see her dishes thrown against a tree when they were through. Even after this, a fire was started under the Toole house as they left, although Mrs. Toole was able to extinguish the blaze."
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Wheeler, the Confederate Major General, consolidated his troops in Aiken where he devised a plan to surprise and trap Kilpatrick, the Union Brigadier. The Aiken Home Guards scouted and advised Wheeler as to Kilpatrick's movements. Wheeler formed his cavalry in the shape of a V, with the bottom of the V pointed west towards Augusta. The railroad and Park Avenue ran down the center of the V. A thin line of skirmishers was deployed between the top tips of the V which paralleled Williamsburg Street. The plan was for Kilpatrick's line to charge the retreating Confederates into the V. Wheeler would then collapse the tops of the V around Kilpatrick and surround him.
Although civilians had warned Kilpatrick that Wheeler was in Aiken, the officer leisurely marched toward the town. On February 11, the Union troops marched up Park, Richland, and Barnwell Avenues. Wheeler's advanced picket line on Williamsburg Street fell back as planned toward York Street. But here the plan fell apart. An Alabama trooper fired his gun prematurely, thus springing the trap too soon. Wheeler ordered all units to attack. The engagement occurred on Richland Avenue in front of the Baptist Church amidst yells and shouted commands in hand to hand battle. Scattered fights occurred in other parts of the town including a desperate fight around the Williams house off South Boundary. To add to the confusion, a Federal battery of the 10th Wisconsin lobbed 59 shells into the town.
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The best description of the battle is from John Reed of the 92nd Illinois Mounted Infantry:
"We were within a half mile of the town of Aiken, when we discovered long lines of rebel cavalry. The column halted - Kilpatrick came dashing up the head of the column and desired to know the reason of the halt. Just then a locomotive ran out in plain view near Aiken and whistled and whistled. Kilpatrick brought up the artillery and sent a few rifled shells toward the locomotive and into the town. Kilptrick also called on the 92nd Silver Cornet Band to play Yankee Doodle. The next thing in order was for the 92nd Illinois to charge into the town.
"Now we felt we were going into a trap, but Kilpatrick took the lead. The ladies of the town waved their handkerchiefs in welcome and smilingly invited the officers and men into their houses. But that kind of a welcome was unusual in South Carolina. It was an additional evidence of danger. In the farther edge of the town the enemy was in the line of battle. After the accidental shot, the officers quickly formed the regiment to charge back again to the brigade, the rebels having formed a line in our rear.
"Every man in the regiment appeared to be conscious that the only way to get out was to assault the rebel line and cut a hole in it. We rode forward to the charge. The rebels awaited our approach until within close range, when they demanded a halt and surrender, and were answered by every man in the regiment pumping into them the eight Spenser bullets in his trusty repeating rifle. It was a desperate charge, and the men fought face to face and hand to hand.
"Now the brigade bugle sounded the charge and with a yell the 9th Ohio and the 9th Michigan charged into the town of Aiken, recapturing a great many of the boys who had been held prisoners. We were five miles from camp where the balance of the division lay behind their rail barracks. The rebels of Aiken came thundering down upon our four little regiments, and the five miles back to camp was a battle field all the way!"
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Private D.B. Morgan of the 5th Georgia Cavalry, gives a Confederate account of the battle:
"General Wheeler was trying to entrap Kilpatrick and capture his whole force. This ruse, no doubt, would have worked well but for the extra enthusiasm of an Alabama regiment who opened fire and thus precipitated a general engagement. Our regiment had just been issued sabers with wooden scabbards, which were awkwardly attached to our saddles. I was mounted on a very fine mule. We charged the enemy through scrub oak forest and an open peach orchard through the village, driving them back. It was an all-day fight.
"As we halted in one of the charges, my mule was shot from under me, the ball passing immediately under my left leg and entering the poor creature's heart. With an unearthly yell, she bounded into the air and in falling, caught me half dismounted, with my left leg under her body. The soft plowed ground on which I fell prevented its being broken."
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The Rev. John Henry Cornish of St. Thaddeau Church (a church we drive by all the time, built in 1842) would write:
"Several shells came whizzing by us from a battery on Railroad Avenue. Two shells went through the house at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Laurens Street (our main downtown street). One struck in the yard of the old parsonage. The enemy came nearly to the street passing the west end of the Aiken Hotel (we were just in the hotel a week ago). The bugles sounded a charge. It is marvelous what a different aspect was thrown over the scene in an instant. The horses started and came tearing down Richland Street, the men rising in their stirrups, with their pistols in their hands, yelling and screaming, each one looking as if he could devour a dozen Yankees. The enemy was driven back. Five of our wounded were brought to my house where the surgeons attended to them. Two of the killed were taken to the St. Thaddeus church yard, where they were put in coffins and buried."
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The Union troops skirmished with Wheeler for the rest of the day and the following day, February 12. Kilpatrick sent out a flag of truce that evening to exchange and recover the dead and wounded. On February 13, Kilpatrick moved out of Aiken to rejoin Sherman in the march towards Columbia (which was ultimately devastated).
Twenty Union soldiers lie buried in the First Baptist Church graveyard (we drive by on our way downtown), while two Tennessee cavalrymen lie in the St. Thaddeus graveyard. It is presumed that the rest of the Confederate dead were shipped to their homes.
Wheeler was hailed as savior by the citizens of Aiken and the Governor of South Carolina. If not defended against, Kilpatrick would have undoubtedly destroyed Aiken.
posted by Marti at 9:35 AM
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