Maj. Gen. S.P. Heintzelman

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelman (b. 1805, d. 1880) Early in the Civil War, Samuel Peter Heintzelman was a stalwart among Federal commanders. But after the Second Bull Run Campaign, Heintzelman was relegated to commanding portions of the Washington, D.C. defenses and holding other garrison duties for the rest of the war. Born in Manheim, Pennsylvania, Sept. 30, 1805, Heintzelman began his lengthy military career by being appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at the age of 17. He graduated in the Class of 1826 and embarked on an early career of routine military duties. During the Mexican War, Heintzelman got his chance for battlefield service. At the Battle of Huamantla, Heintzelman won a brevet to major for gallantry. In 1851, he won another brevet while serving in the southwest. With the outbreak of the Civil War, officers were needed for the new units being authorized for service. He was selected as lieutenant colonel of the 17th Infantry May 14, 1861. Three days later, May 17, 1861, Heintzelman was named a brigadier general of volunteers. His Civil War career mirrored that of his boss, Gen. George B. McClellan. At First Bull Run, Heintzelman gave his own blood while trying to rally his broken Third Division. He reported: “Such a rout I never witnessed before. No efforts could induce a single regiment to form after the retreat was commenced. Our artillery was served admirably, and did much execution. Some of the volunteer regiments behaved very well, and much excuse can be made for those who fled, as few of the enemy could at any time be seen. Raw troops cannot be expected to stand long against an unseen enemy.” During McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign, Heintzelman was promoted to major general of volunteers May 5, 1862, and commanded the III Corps opposing Gen. John Magruder, who succeeded in fooling the Federal troops that he had far more troops. Heintzelman advised McClellan that an attack on the positions would not work. At the Battle of Seven Pines May 31, 1862, Heintzelman attempted to rally Federal troops retiring from the field, but could not. His misfortune continued during the Seven Days Campaign. During the Second Bull Run Campaign, Heintzelman’s Corps was attached to John Pope’s Army of Virginia. At the Battle of Groveton, Pope ordered two attacks, to be carried out at the same time, on the Confederate center. Gen. Hooker’s division managed to carry through to the second line of Confederate troops under hand-to-hand combat before falling back due to a lack of support. In 20 minutes, the Federal regiments suffered 484 casualties. The delayed second attack, led by Kearny’s division accomplished the same result. With victory within grasp, Confederate troops were able to beat back the Federals in hand-to-hand combat at times. To add to the losses, one of Heintzelman’s division commanders, Philip Kearny, was shot dead during the Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill) near the end of the campaign. The end of the campaign marked the end of Heintzelman’s combat command. One unnamed authority stated, “He somehow just missed being an effective corps commander.” (Bruce Catton, Mr. Lincoln’s Army) Heintzelman took charge of defenses south of the Potomac River Sept. 9, 1862. When III Corps returned to the field, it was under the command of Gen. Dan Sickles. Besides commanding some of the capital city’s defenses (XXII Corps), Heintzelman also was in charge of the Northern Department based in Columbus, Ohio, and served on court-martial duty. After the war, he held a command in Texas as a colonel of the 17th Infantry. He retired from the army with the rank of major general (granted by an act of Congress) in 1869. He engaged in business in New York City before moving back to Washington, D.C. He died there May 1, 1880 and was buried in Buffalo, New York, his wife’s hometown.

As written, this one is just under 3900 characters. Other information could be included, but we would have to take something out first. Was different writing a Federal bio. First time I really had a chance to break out Generals in Blue in months!

[Gil R.]

Thanks. Good to see you've come over to the dark side.

[Gil R.]

Here’s Heintzelman. I especially like the way you used a lengthy quote from him to describe his experiences – it definitely adds flavor. I do need some things answered, though, before I can finish with it.

Maj. Gen. Samuel Peter Heintzelman (b. 1805, d. 1880). Early in the Civil War, Heintzelman was a stalwart among Union commanders. But after the Second Bull Run Campaign, he was relegated to commanding portions of the Washington, D.C. defenses and holding other garrison duties for the rest of the war. Born in Manheim, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1805, Heintzelman began his lengthy military career by being appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at the age of 17. He graduated in the Class of 1826 and embarked on an early career of routine military duties. During the Mexican War, he got his chance for battlefield service. At the Battle of Huamantla, Heintzelman won a brevet to major for gallantry. In 1851, he won another brevet while serving in the southwest. At the outbreak of the Civil War, officers were needed for the new units being authorized for service, and he was selected as lieutenant colonel of the 17th Infantry on May 14, 1861. Three days later, on May 17, Heintzelman was named a brigadier general of volunteers. His Civil War career mirrored that of his commander, Gen. George B. McClellan (I’m thinking of taking this comment out, since I don’t see how it “mirrored” McClellan, and the statement isn’t echoed elsewhere in the bio. Is removing it okay?). At First Bull Run, Heintzelman gave his own blood while trying to rally his broken 3rd Division. He reported: “Such a rout I never witnessed before. No efforts could induce a single regiment to form after the retreat was commenced. Our artillery was served admirably, and did much execution. Some of the volunteer regiments behaved very well, and much excuse can be made for those who fled, as few of the enemy could at any time be seen. Raw troops cannot be expected to stand long against an unseen enemy.” During McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign, Heintzelman was promoted to major general of volunteers May 5, 1862, and commanded the III Corps opposing Gen. John Magruder, who at Yorktown famously succeeded in convincing McClellan that he had far more troops than he actually did. Heintzelman, having surveyed Magruder’s position, advised McClellan that an attack would not work and that a siege was required, which helped convince McClellan to delay for weeks before attacking. At the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31, Heintzelman attempted to rally the troops retiring from the field, but could not. His misfortunes continued during the Seven Days’ Campaign, and during the Second Bull Run Campaign later that summer, when Heintzelman’s corps was attached to Gen. John Pope’s Army of Virginia. At the Battle of Groveton on August 28, Pope ordered two attacks that were to be carried out simultaneously on the Confederate center. Gen. Joseph Hooker’s division managed to carry through to the second line of Confederate troops under hand-to-hand combat before falling back due to a lack of support. In twenty minutes, the attacking Union regiments suffered 484 casualties. The delayed second attack, led by Gen. Philip Kearny’s division, ended similarly. With victory within their grasp, Confederate troops were able to beat back the attackers in hand-to-hand combat at times (I’m confused why this description of Groveton is here – from what I can find, Groveton didn’t involve Heintzelman, or Hooker for that matter. Might you be thinking of fighting that took place on Aug. 29? Also, Heintzelman’s corps was in the thick of things during 2nd Bull Run itself, but there’s no mention of that – thus my uncertainty.). To add to the losses sustained by Heintzelman’s corps during this campaign, Kearny was shot dead during the Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill) three days later. The end of the campaign marked the end of Heintzelman’s career as a field commander, which was summarized by one unnamed authority with the comment, “He somehow just missed being an effective corps commander.” Heintzelman took charge of defenses south of the Potomac River on September 9, and when the III Corps returned to the field, it was under the command of Gen. Dan Sickles. Besides commanding some of the capital city’s defenses (while commanding the XXII Corps), Heintzelman also was in charge of the Northern Department (based in Columbus, Ohio), and served on court-martial duty. After the war, he held a command in Texas as a colonel of the 17th Infantry. He retired from the army with the rank of major general (granted by an act of Congress) in 1869. He engaged in business in New York City before moving back to Washington, D.C. Heintzelman died there on May 1, 1880 and was buried in Buffalo, New York, his wife’s hometown. (Bio by Bill Battle)

[Battleline]

Gil,
You can take out the McClellan reference. I had included it as both overestimated their opposition, both had good qualities, but couldn't bring them out on the battlefield and both were out of field command well before the war ended.
As for the Groveton comments, Warner's "Generals in Blue" cited Groveton as the battle. "His fortunes did not improve during the Seven Days and in the Second Manassas campaign under John Pope, where his attack on Stonewall Jackson at Groveton was repulsed."
Historical Times Encyclopedia states that Groveton took place on the 28th and that the Army of the Potomac veterans arrived on the 29th, which would make that the first day of Second Bull Run.
Warner states that Groveton (Manassas Plains) took place Aug. 29, 1862. That also was the first day of Second Manassas (or Second Bull Run), so it's possible the two are just parts of the same battle.
Heidler states that Heintzelman attacked a "well-position corps under Stonewall Jackson" on Aug. 29, 1862.
Thanks,
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Further search turned up a webpage (http://www.civilwarhome.com/groveton.htm ), the key section of which, describing events of Aug. 29, is:

Accordingly, towards the latter part of the afternoon General Pope ordered Heintzelman to organize two simultaneous attacks, to be made by the divisions of Hooker and Kearny. General Hooker selected Grover's brigade to lead his attack, which was to be directed against the centre of the enemy's line. The brigade consisted of the First, Eleventh, and Sixteenth Massachusetts regiments, the Second New Hampshire, and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania. The charge was one of the most gallant and determined of the war. The men were ordered to load their pieces, fix bayonets, move slowly and steadily until they felt the enemy's fire, then deliver their own fire, and then carry the position by main force, relying on the bayonet only. These orders were literally obeyed. The railroad embankment was carried after a brief but desperate resistance, in which bayonets and clubbed muskets were freely used. Beyond the embankment this gallant brigade pursued, overthrowing a second line of their opponents, until overpowered by superior numbers, when it retired, having lost nearly five hundred men in about twenty minutes. It seems almost certain that if this splendid assault had been properly supported, it would have succeeded in breaking the centre of Jackson's line. Why it was not supported we do not know. If there were not troops enough to sustain it, it ought not to have been ordered.
General Kearny's attack was to have been made simultaneously with that of Grover, but farther on his right, against A. P. Hill's division. For some reason not given, it was not made until Grover had been driven back. It was gallantly led by that gallant soldier General Kearny, and was supported well by the division of the equally gallant Stevens. At first it was successful. Hill's troops had suffered greatly in all the skirmishing and fighting of the day, and had now run short of ammunition. Kearny's attack, so violent and determined, rolled up their line, and it seemed as if their left was really turned. Hill says that the chance of victory trembled in the balance. His own troops could hardly stand this new charge. Gregg's brigade lost 613 officers and men killed and wounded, including all the field-officers in the brigade but two. But Gregg told Hill that he would hold his position with the bayonet. The tenacity of the soldiers could be relied on to the last. Yet the Federals in their impetuous ontset bore them down as it were by main force. Fortunately for Hill, he was able to call in two brigades of Ewell's division on his right, those of Lawton and Early, and these troops, striking ours when exhausted and disorganized, as troops always are, even by a victorious charge, drove us out of the position we had so hardly won.

Based on this, it seems pretty clear that the action in question did not take place during the Battle of Groveton on Aug. 28, but rather fighting at Groveton the next day. I have changed the bio accordingly, and hereby declare it good and ready:

Maj. Gen. Samuel Peter Heintzelman (b. 1805, d. 1880). Early in the Civil War, Heintzelman was a stalwart among Union commanders, but after the Second Bull Run Campaign, he was relegated to commanding portions of the Washington, D.C. defenses and holding other garrison duties for the rest of the war. Born in Manheim, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1805, Heintzelman began his lengthy military career by being appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at the age of 17. He graduated in the Class of 1826 and embarked on an early career of routine military duties. During the Mexican War, he got his chance for battlefield service, winning a brevet to major for gallantry at the Battle of Huamantla. In 1851, he won another brevet while serving in the Southwest. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Heintzelman was selected as Lieutenant Colonel of the 17th Infantry on May 14, 1861; three days later, Heintzelman was named a brigadier general of volunteers. At First Bull Run, Heintzelman gave his own blood while trying to rally his broken 3rd Division. He reported: “Such a rout I never witnessed before. No efforts could induce a single regiment to form after the retreat was commenced. Our artillery was served admirably, and did much execution. Some of the volunteer regiments behaved very well, and much excuse can be made for those who fled, as few of the enemy could at any time be seen. Raw troops cannot be expected to stand long against an unseen enemy.” During McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign, Heintzelman was promoted to major general of volunteers May 5, 1862, and commanded the III Corps opposing Gen. John Magruder, who at Yorktown famously succeeded in convincing McClellan that he had far more troops than he actually did. Heintzelman, having surveyed Magruder’s position, advised McClellan that an attack would not work and that a siege was required, which helped convince McClellan to delay for weeks before attacking. At the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31, Heintzelman attempted to rally the troops retiring from the field, but could not. His misfortunes continued during the Seven Days’ Campaign and then the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 28-30, when Heintzelman’s corps was attached to Gen. John Pope’s Army of Virginia. In the fighting at Groveton on August 29, Pope ordered two attacks that were to be carried out simultaneously on Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson’s corps by Heintzelman. Gen. Cuvier Grover’s brigade in Gen. Joseph Hooker’s division managed to carry through to the second line of Confederate troops under hand-to-hand combat before falling back due to a lack of support, suffering 484 casualties in twenty minutes. The delayed second attack, by Gen. Philip Kearny’s division, ended similarly, with a badly depleted Confederate brigade under Gen. Maxcy Gregg holding back Kearny’s men until reinforcements counter-charged. To add to the losses sustained by Heintzelman’s corps during the battle, Kearny was killed during the Battle of Chantilly on September 1. The end of the campaign marked the end of Heintzelman’s career as a field commander, which was summarized by one unnamed authority with the comment, “He somehow just missed being an effective corps commander.” On September 9, Heintzelman took charge of defenses south of the Potomac River, while Gen. Daniel Sickles gained III Corps. Besides commanding some of the capital’s defenses at the head of XXII Corps, Heintzelman also was in charge of the Northern Department (based in Columbus, Ohio), and served on court-martial duty. After the war, he held a command in Texas as a colonel of the 17th Infantry. He retired from the army with the rank of major general (granted by an act of Congress) in 1869. He engaged in business in New York City before moving back to Washington, D.C. Heintzelman died there on May 1, 1880 and was buried in Buffalo, New York, his wife’s hometown. (Bio by Bill Battle)