USA > Maryland > The Maryland line in the Confederate Army, 1861-1865 > Part 17
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Accordingly, he at once advanced upon the enemy's pickets and drove them back, when they were reinforced, but again driven back several times in succession, until Sheridan pushed forward heavy reinforcements, when Colonel Brown deemed it advisable to retire a short distance, the enemy manifesting no disposition to pursue. Thus for some time the opposing forces watched each other in silence, when Brown moved his men some distance to the rear to feed the horses, but leaving a force of twenty men, under command of Lieutenant C. Irving Ditty, to observe their movements.
But a few minutes elapsed before the enemy became restive, and could be seen forming a strong column in the road, with heavy masses on each side of it, and clouds of mounted and dismounted skirmishers taking position in front. The fact was at once communicated to Colonel Brown. A bugle sound next announced the eneny's approach, and the heavy columns moved forward in imposing array upon Ditty's little force of twenty men. At this instant Brown came up at a gallop, and a spirited fight ensued. A dozen times did the column of mounted men attack, but a dozen times they were driven back in confusion, until the dismounted men moved through the woods on Brown's flank and compelled him to retire ; and at last, about midday, they forced him back beyond the woods into the clear country, where Sheridan could see the insignificant force that had so many precious hours kept him in check. Then, and not until then, could his cavalry be brought to a charge, which
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the First Maryland, from its better knowledge of the country, easily avoided, not, however, without a parting volley, which emptied several saddles, two riderless horses running into their ranks. Colonel Johnson here returned and assumed command. The battalion then hurried on to Hanover Junction, whither it was supposed Sheridan was moving, where they united with the Second Maryland Infantry and Baltimore Light Artillery, when all prepared to give a good account of themselves should the enemy make his appearance. It was but a little band of brave men opposing an overwhelming force, and their destruction seemed iney- itable, for General Lee had dispatched to them to hold the point to the last, and that he had no reinforcements to give them. Quietly as they stood in line of battle they discussed the matter, and determined that the Maryland Line of '64 should reflect no disgrace upon their hereditary name. But they were saved the sacrifice, for Sheridan, passing six or eight miles in their rear, marched directly upon Richmond.
In this affair at Beaver Dam Captain A. F. Schwartz, of Company F, and Lieutenant J. A. V. Pue, of Company A, were painfully, but not dangerously wounded, almost at the first fire. During the lull of hostilities, and before daylight, they were removed to the house of Mr. Redd, a kind Virginia gentleman, living about five miles from the scene of conflict. Here they were kindly cared for and rapidly improved, when General Lee fell back in the direction of Richmond, and they fell into the enemy's lines, who immediately sent a force of cavalry to capture them. Upon an examination of their condition by the surgeon with the party he declared it his belief that they would die if removed ; but the officer in command, who seemed really ashamed of his brutal mission, said those were his orders, and he must obey them. However, he at last yielded to the entreaties of the ladies of the family, and reported the facts to his superior officer, who at once made the order for their removal imperative. This was done, and the two poor, suffering men were placed in an ambulance and started off, the guard stealing the covering thrown over them by the ladies of Mr. Redd's family before they had gone five miles. Being taken across the country to Fredericksburg. they were there placed on board a transport and conveyed to a Washington hospital, where, soon after their arrival, the gallant. whole-souled Captain Schwartz died in great agony, and Lieutenant Pne suffered months of excruciating pain.
On the day after the fight at Beaver Dam General J. E. B. Stuart came up and ordered Colonel Johnson to watch General Lee's flank with the First Maryland Cavalry, whilst he, with twenty-five hundred horse, threw himself between Sheridan and Richmond.
Stuart met the enemy at Yellow Tavern. and, after one of the most sanguinary cavalry fights of the war, he saved Richmond, but lost his own valuable life .*
* For an account of Stuart's death, see Company K, First Maryland Cavalry.
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In the latter part of May, Lee fell back before Grant, and made Hanover Junction a point of defense. Sending for Colonel Johnson, he directed him to take Brown's battalion and pass around Grant and see what he was doing, and especially his base of supplies. The little command crossed the North Anna below Lee's right and pursued its way to Penola Station, on the Fredericksburg Rail road, where Colonel Johnson discovered a heavy column moving down from Bowling Green, and at the same time ascertained that the enemy drew his supplies from Tappahannock. Turning to retrace his steps, he found the whole of Sheridan's cavalry moving up through King William, in his rear, and all the fords on the lower Anna in his possession. This compelled him to cross higher up. which was effected by throwing the horses into the stream from a high bank. Johnson finally reached the main body in safety, having captured several couriers, from whom it was ascertained that Sheridan was coming up and Burnside moving down from Bowling Green.
For the signal service rendered upon this occasion, Colonel Johnson and his command were highly complimented by General Lee.
On the 27th of May, Colonel Johnson was ordered to report with his cavalry to General Fitz Lee, who was then at Hanover Court House. A short time after his arrival the enemy crossed at Dabney's Ferry, when by order of General Lomax he was ordered to go down and drive them back. Upon his arrival he found Colonel Baker, of the Fifth North Carolina, in command of Gordon's old brigade, skirmishing with a force not far from the ferry. Believing it to be a small body, it was arranged that Baker should hold them where they were whilst Johnson passed around to their flank, by which movement it was hoped they would capture the whole of them. Taking a side road, he had not gone more than a mile before he encountered Baker's pickets retiring in good order, followed by the enemy. Before he could deploy his men on some open ground on the side of the road, a stand was made for some twenty minutes under a fierce fire, when the enemy moved upon him in overwhelming force, and Johnson was forced to retire. His horse was killed. The greater part of the battalion had unfortunately just passed through a gate in to a field when the enemy charged. A dreadful hand-to-hand fight ensued, and before the gate could be opened for them to 1ctreat many were killed and wounded, among the latter the gallant Brown by several sabre cuts over the head. It was soon perceived that the enemy were Wrapping around the little battalion, and threatening it with destruction, when the order was given to retreat. This was conducted for a time in an orderly wanner, but the enemy pressed them so hard that command was given for every man to look out for himself.
The First Maryland lost in this unfortunate affair at Pollard's farm between fifty and sixty men in killed, wounded and prisoners, among the latter Captain
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George Howard, of Company C. Colonel Johnson and Lieutenant-Colonel Brown made narrow escapes, the former having his horse killed under him and his sabre shot away, whilst the latter received several severe sabre cuts on the head while gallantly endeavoring to pass his men through the gate which obstructed their retreat. If unfortunate for the Maryland battalion, however, it was fortunate for Baker, whose brigade of North Carolinians would most assuredly have been cut to pieces had the enemy not been held in check for a full half hour, thereby enabling them to escape.' The force encountered turned out to be Custer's Brigade of four thousand men, supported by the rest of Merritt's division of cavalry.
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CHAPTER VII.
For the next few days the battalion was engaged in skirmishing about Hanover Court House, the enemy occupying them there whilst his columns were crossing at Dabney's Ferry, and pressing on toward Richmond.
On the Ist of June, 1864, the enemy moved on the South Anna bridges, Johnson's small command of one hundred and fifty sabres and Griffin's Baltimore Light Artillery contesting every foot of ground in a fight lasting from daylight until 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when they were driven back by a brigade of the enemy's cavalry.
In this encounter the First Maryland Cavalry suffered an irreparable loss in the death of the noble Lieutenant-Colonel Ridgely Brown, who was killed by a stray bullet when all was comparatively calm, and no fighting going on. In many respects Ridgely Brown reminded one of the heroic and lamented Turner Ashby. A Christian gentleman, quiet, unassuming, dashing, brave, and, like all brave men, generous to a fault, Colonel Brown was the idol of his command, and his men never hesitated to follow his lead, it made no difference how desperate the undertaking. Like Ashby, after having survived a hundred fierce fights, though wounded time and again, he lost his life in a comparatively insignificant skirmish. In the death of Colonel Brown, Colonel Johnson lost an officer who had been invaluable to him, for to his sound judgment and advice that officer attributed mich of his success in thwarting Kilpatrick and Dahlgren in their designs against Richmond.
In a general order issued on the 6th of June Colonel Johnson thus speaks of his death :
HEADQUARTERS MARYLAND LINE, June 6, 1864.
General Order No. 26.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ridgely Brown, commanding First Maryland Cavalry, fell in battle up the Ist instant, near the South Anna. He died, as a soldier prefers to die, leading his men We victorious charge. As an officer, kind and careful ; as a soldier, brave and true ; as a gul njan, chivalrous ; as a Christian, gentle and modest ; no one in the Confederate Army sofa bed him in the hold he had on the hearts of his men, and the place in the estcem of his apenors. Of the rich blood that Maryland has lavished on every battle-field, none is more prenons than his, and that of our other brave comrades in arms who fell during the four days previos- on the hillsides of Hanover. His command has lost a friend most steadfast, but his Ciprofdny officer is deprived of an assistant invaluable. To the first he was ever as careful o Stin . on the latter as true as a brother.
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In token of respect to his memory, the colors of the different regiments of this command will be draped, and the officers wear the usual badge of military mourning for thirty days.
BY ORDER OF COLONEL BRADLEY T. JOHNSON.
GEORGE W. BOOTH, A. A. G.
A correspondent in the Richmond Sentinel, who signs himself "A VIRGINIAN," pays the following handsome tribute to his memory :
Of the many brave and noble men who have fought the invaders of Southern soil, and have died in defense of Southern homes and Southern rights, none deserve a higher tribute of praise, or a larger measure of thanks from the Southern people than Colonel Brown. A native of Montgomery County, Maryland, and a citizen of that State, at the commencement of the present war, it would have been but natural for him to have taken the passive attitude which was assumed by his State, where he would now in all probability be gladdening by his presence a large circle of relatives and friends, instead of throwing dark shadows around their hearts from his lowly grave in Virginia. But, like many other noble sons of Maryland, he left his quiet and secure home to give his services to the Southern Confederacy, threatened with subjugation, and even extermination. He labored day and night in its service, and has poured ont his life's blood upon its altar.
He came to Virginia on the first day of June, 1861, and was mortally wounded on the first day of June, 1864, just three years after. Ile entered the army in the capacity of a private. In less than a year he was raised to the position of a Lieutenant ; he soon reached the rank of Captain, and was then promoted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy. To each of those positions he was lifted by merit alone, and would probably have soon reached much higher rank, had not envious death closed his career.
Never was there an officer more beloved by his command, and never was there one who more deserved it. As brave as a lion in time of danger, he was as careful of his men as a mother of her children. His men say that when thrown upon his own responsibility he never led them into a position of peril without first examining it himself ; nor ordered them to go where he was not ready to lead ; and they felt perfectly secure under his leadership. After his promotion to the command of a regiment of cavalry, it was remarked that he was much more silent than before. A friend asked him the reason. He replied that so many lives committed to his charge involved a responsibility which pressed heavily upon him.
He was a Christian man, and death has been his gain. The loss is all to those who remain behind - to his parents, who have lost a devoted son ; to his acquaintances, who have lost one of friendship's greatest treasures ; to the Confederacy, which has lost one of its most valuable defenders. But more than this - morality has lost one of its best exemplars. and chivalry one of her noblest sons. His influence for good in his command who can supply.
Many soldiers and many citizens will mingle their tears on his grave, to water the flowers
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which friendslup and affection will plant there ; and when flowers shall wither, his memory w.l' continue to bloom in many hearts
After the death of the lamented General J. E. B. Stuart, General Wade Hampton was assigned to the command of the cavalry. On the 12th of June Hampton, with four thousand five hundred sabres, met Sheridan at Trevillian Station with eight thousand. The First Maryland was posted on Hampton's extreme left to support General Rosser. The dashing Custer opened the fight with a charge of his brigade, and he went through Hampton's centre, creating terrible confusion among the led horses and ordnance wagons ; but the daring and intrepid Rosser was in his way, and charging him in turn with his brigade and Johnson with the First Maryland, lie cut him in two, and pursued him to his very wagon train, capturing his headquarters' wagon, and breaking up his brigade. This charge of Rosser's is pronounced one of the most brilliant of the many made during the war.
The battle of Trevillian raged for two days, and during that time charge after charge was made, with varying success. For two days sabres flashed in a hand- to-hand conflict, and the carbine and pistol did their deadly work, strewing the plain with hundreds of dead and dying men. In those two dreadful days the little First Maryland was ever in the van, and their gallant bearing elicited the admira- tion of all. They fought as though to avenge the fall of their comrades at Pollard's farm, and their sabres drank deeply of the blood of the foemen. But Sheridan had met his match in Hampton, and suffered an unmistakable defeat.
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CHAPTER VIII.
During the winter of 1863-4 Colonel Johnson originated a plan for capturing President Lincoln, which he suggested to General Hampton, who, after several conversations with Johnson upon the subject, gave it his approval, and entered heartily into the undertaking.
Confederate spies in Washington had kept General Lee thoroughly posted as to the disposition and force of every command of the enemy in and around his Capital. To carry out this daring enterprise, then, Colonel Johnson was to take the Maryland battalion, numbering two hundred and fifty sabres, and cross the Potomac above Georgetown, make a dash at a battalion of cavalry known to be stationed there, and push on to the Soldiers' Home, where it was well known President Lincoln lived, and after capturing him to send him across the river in charge of a body of picked men, whilst the main body was to cut the wires and roads between Washington and Baltimore, and then move back through Western Maryland to the Valley of Virginia ; or, if that means of retreat was cut off, Johnson was to go up into Pennsylvania, and on west to West Virginia beyond Grafton. It seemed, indeed, a most desperate undertaking, but everything promised its successful accomplishment. Indeed, so sanguine was Hampton that the plan of Johnson would succeed that he wanted to undertake it himself at the head of four thousand horse, and was only prevented by Sheridan's advance upon the Confederate Capital.
After the fight at Trevillians, then, he gave Johnson orders to prepare for his trip. The best horses in the eavalry command were selected, and the best men in the battalion picked out, but whilst shoeing his horses and recruiting his men he was prevented from carrying out his much-cherished plans by an order from General Early to join him at once with his battalion in the Valley of Virginia, and cover his rear whilst that General went after Hunter, who had marched upon Lynchburg.
In a week General Early returned to Staunton, and it was then that Colonel Johnson received his long-delayed commission as Brigadier-General of cavalry, and was at once assigned to the command of the brigade formerly commanded by General William E. Jones, who had been killed at the battle fought near New Hope.
Mueh to his gratification, he was given permission, on the third day of July. 1864, to attach the First Maryland to his brigade, and then ordered to take the advance of Early's army, moving on Martinsburg. At Leetown the brigade encountered Mulligan's advance, and after a severe engagement the enemy was
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Iriven back with loss. In this affair the First Maryland surprised their new dllies by their dashing style of fighting.
On the 5th of July General Johnson crossed the Potomac near Sharpsburg, where he met a small force of the enemy's cavalry, which Lieutenant George M. E. Shearer, with a detachment of the First Maryland pursued into Hagerstown, when coming suddenly upon a superior force he was compelled to retreat upon the main body. In the pursuit which ensued Shearer was taken prisoner, along with several of his men.
On the night of the 8th General Johnson was directed to report to General Early in person, near Middletown, Maryland. General Early at that meeting directed General Johnson to move early on the morning of the 9th and take position north of Frederick City and watch his (Early's) left during the battle that was to ensue next day at the Monocacy River. Being assured of Early's success, Johnson was then to strike across the country, destroying railroads and telegraphis north of Baltimore, then to sweep rapidly around the city and cut the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between Baltimore and Washington. This accom- plished, Johnson was to push on for Point Lookont and reach that place if possible on the night of the 12th of July, so as to co-operate with Captain John Taylor Wood, who was to be there at that time with an armed Confederate steamer. The ten or twelve thousand prisoners there released, Johnson was to march them to Washington, where Early was to wait for him. Should Early be successful in his contemplated attack upon the Federal Capital, these prisoners were to be armed from the several arsenals of that city.
It seemed utterly impossible for General Johnson to reach Point Lookout by the time specified, and he so expressed himself, but was perfectly willing to lead the expedition. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th, he started from the vicinity of Frederick, and moving through Liberty, New Windsor, Westminster and Reisterstown, reached Cockeysville on the morning of the 10th, and burned the railroad bridge there. Colonel Harry Gilmor was here detached with his own and part of the First Maryland battalion, and ordered to raid the Philadelphia. Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad near the Gunpowder River, and if possible burn the bridge. In this Gilmor was successful. He not only burned the bridge, but he captured two trains, on one of which Major-General Franklin was a Passenger. Franklin was captured, but subsequently made his escape.
From Cockeysville General Johnson shaped his course across Green Spring Valley, in Baltimore County, and after burning the residence of Governor Brad- fol. in retaliation for the burning of the home of Governor Letcher, in Virginia. which had been destroyed by firebrand Hunter under circumstances of peculiar Tri luty, General Johnson went into camp for the night at the " Caves." the home De John Carroll. Fsq. Here General Johnson learned from a trusty scout, now
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president of a great railroad, he had previously sent into Baltimore that all the available transportation of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was concentrated at Locust Point, and that the Nineteenth Corps and part of the Sixth Corps were on transports from Grant's army, and expected every hour on their way to Washington. *
This information General Johnson immediately forwarded to General Early, and then moved in the direction of Washington on his way to fulfill his hazardous mission of releasing the prisoners at Point Lookout.
In the meantime, after defeating Wallace at the Monocacy River, General Early marched direct to Washington, and appeared before the outer defenses of that city on the morning of the 11th, but owing to the extreme heat and the broken-down condition of the men the column was not closed up and the troops in position before late in the evening of that day. It was then impossible to put the men in, and the attack was postponed until the next morning for that reason, and because General Early had seen as he rode forward large bodies of troops filing into the fortifications.
In his " Last Year of the War " General Early thus speaks of his appearance before Washington :
" Under these circumstances, to have rushed my men blindly against the fortifications, without understanding the state of things, would have been more than folly."
After a consultation with Generals Breckinridge, Rodes, Gordon and Ramseur, General Early determined to make the assault next morning, unless some unfore- seen circumstance should arise. And the unexpected did arise. General Early says :
" During the night a dispatch was received from General Bradley T. Johnson, from near Baltimore, informing me that he had received information from a reliable source that two corps had arrived from General Grant's army, and that his whole army was probably in motion. This caused me to delay the attack until I could examine the works again, and, as soon as it was light enough to see, I rode to the front and found the parapets lined with troops. I had, therefore, reluctantly to give up all hopes of capturing Washington, after I had arrived in sight of the dome of the Capitol and given the Federal authorities a dreadful fright."
While these events were transpiring, General Jolinson was moving rapidly through Howard and Montgomery Counties. After passing Triadelphia. Johnson struck the Washington Branch near Beltsville, and after halting a short time to feed he turned the head of his column toward Upper Marlboro, on his way to Point Lookout, but had not proceeded far before he was overtaken by a courier from General Early, with orders to report at once to him at Silver Spring, on the Seventh Street (Washington) road. After driving back toward Washington a strong force of Federal cavalry, Johnson moved in the direction of Silver Spring,
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where he found the whole army in retreat. He was directed by General Early to close up the rear, with Jackson's cavalry brigade behind him. The rear passed through Rockville that day, where Jackson was hard pressed by the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, who made it very warm and uncomfortable. Getting tired of this General Johnson ordered Captain Wilson C. Nicholas and Lieutenant Thomas Green to take a squad of the First Maryland and charge into Rockville. This they did, scattering the pursuers in all directions, but the dismounted men took refuge in the houses and poured in a galling fire. The horses of Nicholas and Green were killed, and their riders wounded and taken prisoners. As soon as Johnson discovered the condition of affairs he led another charge, and Lieutenant Green was recaptured, but Captain Nicholas had been put on a horse and run off the field.
During the rest of that day the pursuers kept at a respectful distance, and on the next day (the 14th ) the command reached Poolsville. There General Johnson effectually held the enemy in check with his cavalry until everything had crossed the Potomac to the Virginia side, when he withdrew, closely pressed by cavalry and infantry.
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