USA > Indiana > History of the Third Indiana cavalry > Part 12
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from the general commanding the division, by one of his staff officers, to retire with my command hastily to Hanover Court House. I should have mentioned that upon reaching the Fred- ricksburg railroad, at the point where the Telegraph road crosses the railroad, which is about a mile from the South Anna bridge, I had sent a battalion of the First Vermont, under Major Wells, down the Telegraph road towards Ashland; this battalion had be- come engaged with a force of the enemy which had attacked the rear of the First Brigade at that point. Upon receiving the order above mentioned to retire to Hanover Court House, and being en- joined to use much haste, I ordered this battalion to retire. Soon after, the commanding general of the division having arrived upon the ground, a courier sent by myself to Colonel McIntosh, com- manding the First Brigade, having returned with information that he was hard pressed and needed relief, I was ordered to send the Third Indiana Cavalry with the battery to Hanover Court House, and with the First Vermont to push down the Telegraph road as far as Ashland to the assistance of the First Brigade. Near Ashland we came upon the enemy; the road being lined on either side by a dense forest, the command was dismounted and formed in line of battle, the center on the road. Efforts to form a con- nection on our right with the First Brigade proved fruitless. The line was advanced cautiously and with some difficulty, but had pro- ceeded only a short distance when the enemy attacked us in large force in front and flank. The line soon gave back, retreating with considerable loss and closely pressed. Colonel McIntosh had suc- ceeded in retiring his force from Ashland, and, coming up soon after, the regiment received the full attention of the enemy. A regiment of his brigade was drawn up on the Telegraph road and checked the advance of the enemy. The First Vermont was re- mounted and retired, by way of Hanover Court House, to near Winston's House and bivouacked with the remainder of the
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brigade. The service of the First Vermont Cavalry this day was arduous and severe and its loss heavy. The command is worthy of the highest praise.
"Remained in camp on the 2d of June until an hour after dark, when the brigade marched in the rear of the First Brigade, taking the road to Hanoverton. Marched all night, halting at Linney's, south of Totopotomoy creek, at daylight. At 10 a. m. on the 3d the brigade recrossed the Totopotomoy (advance of division), with the Eighth New York in advance, and took the road to Salem Church, near which we came upon the enemy (cavalry dismounted in the woods and occupying some breastworks vacated by our troops). Feeling the enemy with the Eighth New York and find- ing them too strong in numbers and position for that command, I directed the Third Indiana and First Vermont to be dismounted to fight on foot, and formed line of battle with the Eighth New York on the right and the First Vermont on the left. While these dispositions were being made, and previous to the arrival of the First Vermont on the line, the enemy made a spirited attack, but were repulsed with loss, leaving a number of their killed upon the ground. As soon as my line was formed I ordered an advance, and, moving forward under a heavy fire, my men drove the rebels from their position and they fell back to another line of breast- works. While re-forming my line and awaiting the arrival of a regiment from the First Brigade, the enemy retired from my front. The force here engaged was that formerly commanded by the rebel General Gordon, and must have lost heavily. The vic- tory was not bought without cost. Lieutenant-Colonel Preston of the First Vermont, a zealous and faithful commander, and Capt. Cushman of the same regiment, a most valuable and gallant officer, both fell mortally wounded and expired on the field of battle; Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin, commanding the Eighth New York, was severely though not dangerously wounded.
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"Late in the afternoon, in pursuance of orders from General Wilson, I sent a regiment, the Third Indiana Cavalry, Major Patton commanding, in conjunction with the Second New York, across the Totopotomoy to demonstrate upon the left of the enemy's main line. The command dashed across in good style, driving the enemy's skirmishers hastily back to their lines and capturing several. Position was held on the south side of the creek until sundown, when, owing to the movements of the enemy, it was deemed prudent to retire across the creek and join the main body of the division, which was effected without loss. The crossing and recrossing were covered by a section of Ransom's battery. Shortly after dark I moved my command to the Hanoverton road and encamped. Held the approaches to Hanoverton from the south and west.
"June 4 and 5 passed without movement or event of impor- tance. On the 5th the Twenty-second New York joined the brigade. On the 6th moved to Bottom Bridge and relieved the Second Cavalry Division doing picket duty from left of infantry to Jones Bridge on the Chickahominy, the left of the infantry resting at railroad bridge. The brigade continued the perform- ance of this duty until the 12th of June without anything oc- curring on the line except a little firing between the pickets. I caused all the crossings to be made defensible by constructing breastworks under cover of the night, and having succeeded in doing this the enemy ceased to fire upon my pickets.
"On the 9th the First New Hampshire Cavalry joined the brigade. At dark on June 12th, in pursuance of orders directing a general movement of the army, I moved my command to Long Bridge, on the Chickahominy. Finding the bridge destroyed and the stream not fordable, I dismounted the Twenty-second New York and Third Indiana. The first named command was mainly crossed on a log a short distance above the bridge, and, making their way with much difficulty and considerable delay through the
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swamp, succeeded in crossing the second branch of the stream as they had crossed the first, on logs, joining the brigade on the south bank of the river or swamp. In the meantime a pontoon boat having been launched into the first branch of the stream, the Third Indiana were hastily crossed over under fire from a small force of the enemy who occupied a rifle-pit on the south bank of the second branch of the stream. These were soon driven back and the Third Indiana crossed the second branch on limbs and logs of trees and formed in line of battle, with skirmishers well to the front. Owing to the difficulties to be overcome, considerable time was consumed in laying the pontoon bridges and it was midnight when my com- mand was entirely over. The command then moved forward to White Oak Swamp, the advance skirmishing with a small body of the enemy's cavalry, who fell back across the swamp. At this point we found the enemy prepared to make resistance to our further advance, with a battery in position, from which they opened fire. Lieutenant Fitzhue's battery, then serving with this brigade, was ordered into position, and a lively artillery duel ensued in which one section of our battery suffered considerable in men and horses (Vol. XL, page 643).
"Holding this position on White Oak Swamp until the arrival of a part of General Crawford's division of the Fifth Corps, by which I was relieved, I was directed to move my command on the main road to Richmond. As near as I can now recollect this was about noon of the 13th (June). Proceeding about a mile my advance came upon the enemy strongly posted in a belt of timber in front of Riddell's Shop. After some skirmishing, finding enemy disposed to contest the position with obstinacy, I directed Third Indiana and Eighth New York to prepare to fight on foot, and forming them in line of battle advanced into the woods at a double quick. A brigade of rebel cavalry, dismounted and armed mainly with rifled muskets, held the position, but they soon gave way before the impetuosity of my men, leaving many of their dead
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and wounded on the field. By this advance I was enabled to cover the road to Malvern Hill (Quaker road), and was directed by the general commanding not to advance farther.
"Patrols sent out on the roads to my front developed the fact that the enemy had fallen back from my front some distance. Being ordered to hold this position until otherwise ordered, I formed the line of battle with the First Vermont, Third Indiana and Eighth New York, the left of the line resting on the Quaker road, the right extending well across the road from Bottoms Bridge. The First New Hampshire, Twenty-second New York and Fitzhue's bat- tery were formed as a supporting line in the fields in rear. Three hours passed without any appearance of the enemy, and during this time a slight breastwork was thrown up on some parts of the line. At about 6 p. m. the enemy were discovered advancing in strong line of battle and heavy column down the Bottoms Bridge road, the entire force, so far as it was developed, being infantry. Soon the entire line became engaged. My ammunition being nearly ex- hausted and the enemy showing vastly superior numbers, I deemed it prudent to retire to the position held by my second line, which was done in good order. Having reported that I needed re- enforcements in order to hold the enemy in check, two or three regi- ments of infantry came up and were disposed without any direc- tion from me. Until after dark nothing of importance transpired save a good deal of desultory skirmishing along the lines. At near dark the enemy advanced from the cover of the timber in strong line of infantry, and a regiment of our infantry which had been posted on the right of my line gave way rapidly with scarcely a show of resistance, throwing the right of my line in considerable confusion. The left, however, retired in good order, and Fitzhue's battery was moved off at a walk. Some difficulty, occasioned by getting the horses through a line of battle formed in our rear by General Crawford's division, created a show of confusion and a scare upon the part of the cavalry which in reality did not pre-
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vail. The command passed to the rear of the infantry and was massed in a field nearby until about 10 p. m., when the brigade moved in the rear of infantry in the direction of Charles City Court House. At 2 p. m. bivouacked near Nancy's Shop.
"The brigade moved soon after daylight on the morning of the 14th and proceeded to Harrison Landing, where supplies were re- ceived and issued to the command. While here the enemy attacked the pickets on the road to Saint Mary's Church, but were driven off by the Eighth New York. Moved to Phillips and held the approaches. A reconnoitering party sent out three miles toward Malvern Hill returned without meeting the enemy. On the 15th, with the First Vermont and Eighth and Twenty-second New York and a section of Fitzhue's battery, I made a reconnoissance to Malvern Hill, where we had a sharp skirmish and developed the enemy near that position in very considerable force. In the vicinity of Phillips there was no manifestation of the presence of the enemy during the day.
"At dark on the 16th, in compliance with instructions, moved my command via Charles City Court House to James river, near pontoon bridge, and encamped until the morning of the following day, when we crossed the James river on the pontoon bridge and, proceeding to a mile beyond Prince George Court House on the road to Petersburg, encamped for the night.
"On the 18th moved to near Mount Zion Church on the Black- water, where the brigade remained in camp until the morning of the 22d without incident of importance. On the morning of the 22d of June at early dawn the brigade left camp upon the Black- water, bringing up the rear of the column, and marching across the Suffolk railroad and the Jerusalem plank road, reached the Weldon railroad at Reams Station. At this point I detached a squadron of the Eighth New York Cavalry to effect such damage to the road as would be possible during the passage of my brigade, and about the same time the enemy began to manifest his presence
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upon my right flank and opened with artillery upon the column, but without effect. From this point the enemy (W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry) followed the rear of the column closely, keeping up a continual skirmish until a couple of hours after nightfall. Until near sundown the rear of my column was covered by the First Vermont Cavalry, Major Wells commanding, when, being exhausted by the work, I relieved them with the Twenty- second New York Cavalry. About 11 p. m. I bivouacked my command near Fords Station on the South Side railroad.
"On the morning of the 23d I moved my command from bivou- ack about an hour before daylight, and proceeding by the Cox road moved along the railroad, detaching regiments at different points to destroy the track, until we reached Blacks and Whites, where we made an hour's halt.
"At this point a considerable quantity of cotton was destroyed. Again resuming the march, proceeded towards Nottoway Court House. By following the road taken by General Kautz's division we were carried several miles out of the more direct route, and upon reaching a point near Nottoway Court House, where the road crosses the railroad, the head of the column came upon the enemy. Soon ascertaining that it was the same force that had fol- lowed the rear the day previous, I made disposition to meet the enemy, who advanced to the attack, checked his advance and drove him back a considerable distance. The enemy bringing up strong re-enforcements, my line again retired to its original position along the railroad, from which repeated attempts of the enemy failed to dislodge them. In answer to my request for re-enforce- ments, the Fifth New York Cavalry was sent to me at a late hour in the afternoon, but another advance of the line not being deter- mined upon only a small fraction of that command became en- gaged and towards morning I relieved them from the line.
"This engagement lasted from 1 p. m. until dark and at times was quite severe. My loss in killed, wounded and missing was
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, while that of the enemy was fully equal, and I am in- clined to think exceeded my own. Here fell Captain McNair of the Eighth New York Cavalry, a noble officer, whose cool in- trepidity and noble daring had endeared him to all who knew him. Among the missing is Captain Sayres of the same regiment, distinguished alike for his gallantry and dash.
"My command remained in line of battle until near daylight, when in accordance with instructions, I quietly withdrew, taking the Hungarytown road to the Danville railroad near Meherin Station, and thence to Keysville, where I bivouacked for the night.
"Early on the morning of the 25th instant again took up the line of march, my brigade bringing up the rear of column, and proceeding slowly up the Danville road, making several details for the work of destruction of the railroad, until near sundown; when near the crossing of the Little Roanoke river the enemy again came up with my rear and some light skirmishing ensued. I made disposition to meet the attack, but the enemy showed little disposition to fight and contented himself with opening fire at long range from a section of rifled pieces, by which one piece of Maynadier's battery, serving with my brigade, was disabled, but brought off.
"My forces remained in position until 2 a. m. on the morning of the 26th, when, in compliance with orders, I withdrew and pro- ceeded up the railroad to Roanoke Station, where the direction of march was changed, and following the First Brigade, we passed through Christianville and encamped at Buckhorn Creek. On the 27th crossed the Meherin river at Saffolds Bridge, my brigade leading the advance of the column. After several hours halt on the north bank of the stream we turned from the main road at Columbia Grove, and securing guides along the way proceeded by cross roads across the country through a well settled district to the Boydton plank road, bivouacked for the night on Great Creek.
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Marching early the next morning, following the First Brigade, proceeded via Smoky Ordinary to Poplar Mountain, or the Double Bridges, over the Nottoway river, which we reached about noon. Here the command halted to water, and one of the regiments of my brigade (the Third Indiana Cavalry) was ordered to proceed out on the road leading to Stony Creek Depot as far as Sappony Cross Roads, near that station ; at which point the enemy was met. The column following shortly after, I was ordered to send another regiment to assist the First Brigade in an attack upon the enemy's position, it being then after dark. Subsequently I placed the Eighth New York and Twenty-second New York Cavalry in re- serve line of battle.
"Just previous to daylight on the morning of the 29th I was ordered by Colonel McIntosh, commanding division, to place my command in position along the face of a piece of timber in the rear of the first position held by our forces, and to hold the position as long as possible, or until I received word that the road was clear, so that I could retire with my command. I formed line of battle dismounted, with the First Vermont on the left, Eighth New York, Third Indiana and Twenty-second New York on the right, and hastily threw up a small work of rails. At full daylight the enemy advanced upon my front in strong line of battle, dis- mounted, and simultaneously made a strong attack upon the left flank and upon my led horses with mounted and dismounted men. My line gave back hurriedly, and many of the men were unable to reach their horses on the road upon which the column had moved off. Being myself dismounted and cut off from the road, I gath- ered together some 300 of my command and proceeding by a cir- cuitous route I succeeded in reaching the main body about noon near Reams Station. In the retrograde movement from this last point my command was assigned the advance, and moving back across the Double Bridges over the Nottoway took the road to Jarretts Station. About two miles from the last named point the
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command halted a couple of hours in the road, and soon after day- light on the morning of the 30th crossed the railroad at Jarretts Station without any opposition of consequence. Proceeding by plantation roads to Peters Bridge, on the Nottoway, and fording the river (the bridge being destroyed) about noon, halted the com- mand until 6 p. m. Again resuming the march at the hour named, my brigade in advance, proceeded through Waverly to Blunts Bridge on the Blackwater, arriving there about midnight. Found the bridge destroyed and the river not fordable; constructed a bridge and commenced crossing my command, but before quite a squadron had passed over the bridge gave way, precipitating sev- eral horses and men into the stream, but without injury or loss. Again repaired the bridge and commenced crossing the command. At daylight my brigade was all over. Moved to near Cabin Point and encamped for the night. On the 2d instant moved to present camp on James river, near Light House Point.
"During the entire campaign the loss in commissioned officers has been six killed, thirteen wounded and seventeen missing, and in enlisted men twenty-four killed, 217 wounded and 428 missing. I have constantly received from the officers and men of the com- mand the most cordial co-operation, and at all times they have dis- charged the arduous duties required of them cheerfully and with vigor. When all have done so well it may not be exactly just to discriminate, but I can not close my report without making men- tion of Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin, Major Pope and Major Moore of the Eighth New York, Major Wells and Major Bennett of the First Vermont and Major Patton of the Third Indiana, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hutchins of the First New Hampshire, who have at all times been active and efficient in the discharge of their duties. The members of my staff-Capt. J. J. McVean, acting assistant inspector-general; Lieut. G. S. Taylor, acting assistant adjutant-general; Licut. G. M. Gilchrist, acting aide-de- camp, and Lieut. T. C. Farr, provost marshal-have performed
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constant and active duties night and day, rendering me most effi- cient service, and are entitled to special mention.
"Officers and men have borne the hardships and fatigues of the march with patience and willingness. In battle they have been brave and gallant, never faltering or giving way except before greatly superior numbers.
"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"GEORGE H. CHAPMAN,
"Colonel Third Indiana Cavalry, Commanding Brigade. "Capt. LOUIS SIEBERT,
"Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Cavalry Division."
This was the last service performed by the Eastern battalion of the Third Indiana Cavalry-under the organization as it had en- tered the field in September, 1861-prior to its muster out of service. In its last active work, from June 22 to July 2, it was commanded by Capt. T. W. Moffitt of Company F, who, on July 2, 1864, from the headquarters of the regiment made the following report (Vol. XL, Part 1, page 647) :
."Adjutant-I have the honor to report the action of the com- mand on the late raid as follows :
"I started out on the 22d ultimo near the rear of the command. Nothing occurred to attract my attention until the evening of the 23d, when my regiment was in advance, when we came on the enemy in force stationed on the railroad near Dinwiddie Court House. Fought them until dark, when we withdrew and marched to Meherin Station on the Danville railroad. From here we marched down the railroad, destroying it as we went, until the night of the 26th, when we were in the rear. The enemy coming on us, we made a stand, supported by the Eighth New York, held them until daylight, when we withdrew and brought up the rear to Roanoke Station. From here we marched unmolested to Flat Rock, when we took the advance and came in contact with the enemy at Stony Creek. Fought them all night, and in the morn-
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ing withdrew from their front and marched to Reams Station, the regiment being somewhat scattered as the brigade was cut off. Nothing more of importance occurred on our part during the raid, which ended on the 2d of July.
"I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant,
"T. W. MOFFITT,
"Captain Commanding Third Indiana Cavalry. "Lieut. G. S. TAYLOR,
"Acting Assistant Adjutant-General Second Brigade, Third Cav- alry Division."
At page 482, Vol. XL, Part 3, appears the following record : "Headquarters Third Division, Cavalry Corps, "July 26, 1864, 11:30 p. m.
"Major-General Humphrey, Chief of Staff :
"The Third Indiana, now on picket, will be relieved at daylight in the morning, and sent away as soon as possible thereafter.
"JAMES H. WILSON, Brigadier-General."
Pursuant to this dispatch, the men of the Third Indiana Cav- alry whose term of service had expired were sent home by way of Washington, for muster out of service. One hundred and eighty- nine men who had been recruited for the Eastern battalion were retained and organized into two companies known as Companies A and B reorganized. The old brigade with its old commanders (Colonel Chapman having been made Brigadier-General of U. S. Volunteers) on the 31st of August, 1864, was transferred to the Middle Military Division, commanded by Gen. Philip H. Sheri- dan, and the detachment of the Third Indiana was under the com- mand of Lieut. Benjamin F. Gilbert (Vol. XLIII, Part 1, page 987).
CHAPTER VI.
The history of the Eastern wing of the Third Indiana Cavalry, after the expiration of the term of service of the main body of the men who had served with it, and until the close of the war, is so well told in the diary of William W. Watlington, a former member of Company E, and who became a member of Company B in the reorganization, that we adopt it almost as it was written forty years ago. This comrade says :
"In the latter part of July, 1864, the Third Indiana underwent a radical change. Heretofore it had been the only regiment in the field mounted on private horses, but while in camp near Light House Point the horses of the regiment were appraised and bought by the government.
"On the 29th of July, 1864, the men who had first enlisted were sent home for muster out of service, and all that remained, 189 men, including recruits and men who had veteraned, were organ- ized into two companies, those enlisting in 1862 into Company B and those enlisting in 1863 into Company A. This detachment was still attached to the Third Division of Cavalry, commanded by Gen. J. H. Wilson, which on August 8, 1864, embarked on board the transport John H. Warren for Geisburg Landing, near Washington City, where it landed on the 9th of August, and un- loading went into camp at Camp Stoneman. It remained until the night of August 12, when General Wilson's command moved out on its way to join General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Val- ley, where he had begun an active campaign against General Early, who had been having things his own way. The division camped near Chain Bridge for the night, and on the morning of August 13 Company B of the Third Indiana was ordered to report
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