USA > Maryland > The Maryland line in the Confederate Army, 1861-1865 > Part 19
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These facts were all carefully traced out, and verified by the statement of the citizen at whose house the two young men were first attacked, and near which they fought and were captured ; by the statement of the citizen, some two miles to the rear, near whose house they were buried, not by the men who killed them, but by the pitying farmer, and by the evidence rendered by the opened graves of the poor men.
Henceforward General Powell's name was familiar to the ears and memories of the men of the First Maryland Cavalry, and many were the vows there uttered over the dead bodies of their comrades to avenge their death - and they were avenged, though Powell escaped.
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CHAPTER XI.
In November, 1864, the First Maryland, now in General Davidson's Brigade of Lomax's Division, crossed the mountain and encamped near Washington, in Rappahannock County, in order to obtain supplies, which were now exceedingly scarce. For days at a time the only food was apples and bread made of corn meal of such miserable quality as to be utterly inedible except under pressure of the direst necessity. Coffee and sugar had long before disappeared - so long that it was a real effort of memory to recall their flavor - and the taste of meat was now a matter of rare occurrence, and then often obtained by the capture of a bewil- dered squirrel or rabbit, or the accidental falling of a tree on some luckless hog, which happened oftener than people would suppose or believe who are unac- quainted with the pertinacity with which that animal will haunt a cavalry camp to steal from the horses, and at which they have often been known to be killed by a kick. Apples were, however, in abundance and excellent, and assisted greatly in keeping up the commissariat. Supplies of all kinds, however, were exhausted in two or three weeks, and the battalion moved back to the neighborhood of Madison Court House. Here it remained until December, when General Davidson was relieved by General Jackson, the former General having been only temporarily in command during the absence, while wounded, of the latter, the proper commander of the brigade.
At this time the enemy made a simultaneous advance upon Madison Court House, Staunton and Charlottesville, at which latter place Custer's division of cavalry was fought by Breathed's battery of horse artillery, composed mainly of Marylanders, without support of any kind, and so bold and vigorous was their defense that Custer retired with loss, under the impression that a large force confronted him.
The column advancing upon Madison Court House, consisting of two divisions, was engaged and held in check nearly a day by Jackson's Brigade, the fight having begun in the morning and lasting until 9 P. M. The battle was closed by a charge of the First Maryland upon the left flank of the enemy, which flank was most advanced. The charge was made less effective by reason of the leading squadron's stumbling into a deep and wide ditch, which, owing to the darkness, could not be seen until too late to prevent the horses from falling. But, although not damaging the enemy to the extent hoped for. it had the effect to break and scatter his line in confusion, and keep him quiet for the balance of the night.
After waiting for some time for further demonstrations from the enemy, and there being none, General Jackson quietly withdrew his brigade a few miles,
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and the men lay down in the snow, which covered the ground to the depth of ten inches, to get a little rest. In the meantime General Lomax, who had been notified in the beginning of the enemy's advance, was assembling at Liberty Mills his different brigades, which had necessarily been scattered in order to subsist.
By daylight General Jackson was moving to that point, where, after partaking of some food, the troops were directed to throw up rude breastworks, which was done by piling fence-rails along the banks of the stream. This had scarcely been accomplished when the enemy made his appearance and deployed most beautifully on the opposite hills, when a brisk skirmish began, which continued all day and until night, when the exhausted troops were ordered to unsaddle and seek some rest, but they had barely dismounted when a courier dashed up and reported that the enemy had crossed the stream, and that they were to be charged at once.
In an instant the gallant troopers sprang to their horses, and Jackson's Brigade dashed at the enemy's advance. For some time the ground was stubbornly contested, when Jackson's column to the right and left of the First Maryland broke, which compelled the whole to fall back. They were quickly rallied, however, when a desperate charge was made, and the enemy in turn compelled to retire. Lomax then withdrew his division to Gordonsville, where it rested that night, and at daylight it was again drawn up in line of battle to meet the enemy, who had made his appearance. A sharp but brief conflict ensued, in which the enemy was repulsed, when he withdrew, and finally retired by the road he came to Winchester.
After this last encounter with the enemy, Jackson's Brigade retired to within twelve or fifteen miles of Orange Court House, where it remained until about the Ist of March, 1865, when Sheridan moved down the Valley in heavy force, and captured the little that remained of Early's command near Waynesboro'. The First Maryland was ordered to hang upon his flank, which it did with great tenacity, first striking him on James River, beyond Charlottesville, and following him to the White House, on York River. So small a force could accomplish nothing by a direct attack, and it therefore confined its operations to cutting off scouting and marauding parties, which amounted in the aggregate to more than their own number three times over.
The battalion rested for some days near Richmond after it had returned from following Sheridan, when it was ordered to join Lomax in West Virginia. It accordingly marched to join that officer, and when about two days advanced on the journey was ordered back with all speed to report to General Fitzhugh Lee at Stony Creck, twenty miles from Petersburg.
Reaching Richmond on the evening of April 2, 1865, it went into camp on its suburbs. Early next morning (Sunday) the battalion moved through the city, and had the pleasure of greeting many of their comrades, prisoners on parole, awaiting exchange. The day had nothing of Sabbath quiet ; churches were unattended,
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and the streets filled with anxious crowds of soldiers and citizens eagerly seeking and discussing the army news. Already many painful rumors were rife betokening disaster, but resolutely refusing to doubt the success of the cause in which their very souls were embarked, the little band of Marylanders - now reduced to less than one hundred in the saddle - pushed on, followed by the regrets and blessings of their paroled brothers, whose obligations forbade them, as yet, to take part in the stirring events then occurring. As the lines at Petersburg were approached, it was inexpressibly cheering to see everything calm, and the army apparently as confident and defiant as ever.
It was well known that the odds against General Lee were immense, but all Confederate victories had been won against such advantages, and an abiding faith in the justice of their cause and genius of their great chief kept up the spirits of Colonel Dorsey's command, in spite of all drawbacks. When, therefore, bodies of troops of greater or less force were seen in motion on or near the Petersburg road, in perfect order, and advancing toward the sound of the firing, which had all day been heard in their front, the Maryland boys took these facts as perfect confirma- tion of their pre-entertained opinion that all the news which had given rise to such listressing rumors were, instead of a retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia, only a strategic device on the part of General Lee to bring Grant out from behind his breastworks in order to attack and destroy him. Nor was this idea weakened at all when, after reaching Petersburg about dark, they found everything prepared for motion, and heard that General Lee's lines had been broken. The heavy batteries in front were in full action, and it naturally seemed that so much firing must indicate stout resistance.
Failing to find any orders from General Fitz Lee at this point, who had before this left Stony Creek. for some point to him unknown, Colonel Dorsey availed himself of such shelter as the ground afforded to rest and feed man and horse, and to await information or orders.
Here there was abundance of food and forage, for which there was not transportation, and orders had been issued for its destruction. Colonel Dorsey was therefore permitted to take as much of both for his command as could be carried. which was not much, as the horses were too weak, on account of long marches and insufficient food, to bear any considerable increase of burden. Horses and men, however, had one full meal, and it being the soldier's philosophy to let each day take care of itself, all were soon stretched upon the ground to catch such repose as might be vouchsafed them.
The enemy's fire seemed to increase in violence, and shot and shell soon began to pass over the encampment, and far in its rear, but did no damage, as the intervening hill gave full protection. In this situation, heedless of all the noises. exhausted nature demanded rest, and the First Maryland slept.
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A couple of hours passed, when the command was aroused, saddled up, and prepared to move, Colonel Dorsey having at last received orders to follow in the rear of Mahone's Division, which formed the rear of the Confederate Army. This division had not yet come up, and while awaiting its appearance the command looked on and grieved over the destruction of ordnance and quartermasters' stores, which were now being fired in every direction to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.
These fires had evidently aroused the enemy into increased action, and his batteries were now in a constant blaze, while the explosion of his shells and the Confederate ammunition wagons made the night hideous with war's most infernal din. Fortunately, the enemy directed his guns at the fires, and as everybody kept away from them, no damage was done.
The First Maryland was drawn up along the roadside waiting to march, and coaxing their horses to eat as much oats as possible. Near by was a train of cars loaded with ammunition, and word was passed to look out, as it was about to be set on fire. For awhile every man stood to horse, but the explosion not ensuing as soon as expected, attention was called off, and the caution forgotten. Bridles were let go, and some of the men walked toward the quartermaster's stores, near the ammunition train, to make further selections. Suddenly a tremendous shock was felt, which threw many to the ground, whilst the horses reared and plunged and broke from their riders, and for a time all was the wildest confusion. When matters had become a little calm, two men belonging to the quartermaster's department were found dead, and twenty horses of the First Maryland had run off at full speed toward Richmond, though fortunately none of the men were hurt beyond a few bruises. The runaway horses must have been terribly frightened, for in their poor condition they ran twenty miles without halting, and only thirteen of the twenty were recovered ; and thus the battalion lost the services of seven men, who, being dismounted, had to remain with the wagons. The explosion took place two hundred yards distant, but the force was great enough to knock down those nearest to it, and greatly shock the others.
Soon after this occurrence Mahone's Division came up at the quickstep and in fine order and spirits, which cheered the hearts of the little cavalry band beyond expression. Day had dawned before the rear passed, and just at that time, in the very gray light of morning, was seen a brilliant flash, and for a few moments the earth trembled under foot, and a tremendous explosion plainly told that the fortifi- cations at Drury's Bluff were no more. In ten minutes another flash, shock and explosion ensued, and the Confederate gunboats on the James had shared the fate of the batteries on shore. Other similar explosions followed as smaller magazines were destroyed, filling the whole atmosphere with sulphurous smoke, while the flames licked the sky from many a conflagration, and it was with sad hearts that
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the little battalion turned and followed in the footsteps of the infantry. Thus commenced the retreat that ended in the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. The roads were muddy and wretchedly cut up by the passage of the artillery and heavy wagons, and the army, though in constant motion, made slow progress. By the next afternoon ( Monday, April 3.) Amelia Court House was reached. when the enemy made a slight demonstration, but did not seriously attack. Early on the morning of the 4th Colonel Dorsey, ascertaining the whereabouts of General Fitz Lee, joined his division, in pursuance of his original order, and was assigned to Payne's Brigade.
Before this the small supply of provisions and forage brought from Peters- burg had been exhausted, and as none had been issued, men and horses were almost starving.
The enemy's cavalry now became exceedingly active, and Payne's Brigade was daily engaged from daylight to dark, and often the struggle lasted all night. Grant's immense cavalry force enabled him to make simultaneous attacks at several points, and thus he succeeded in destroying a large portion of General Lee's wagon train, as it was impossible for the small force of Confederate cavalry to guard all points. The only thing to be done was to attack the enemy wherever he struck the train, and most vigorously was this plan followed.
In all these affairs, without exception, the Confederate cavalry was successful ; and in one, when General Robert E. Lee was personally present and observing, repulsed a sudden and determined charge of Gregg's Division with great loss, and captured General Gregg himself.
Fate seemed to have determined that the Confederate sun should set in halo worthy of its noonday splendor, and gave a series of unbroken successes to the cavalry, and crowned all by the magnificent charge of Gordon's corps of infantry on the very morning of the surrender, when that gallant General swept away the enemy's lines and captured his batteries in a style that showed that nothing of his old vigor was lost.
There was a serious embarrassment, however, attending the cavalry victories- the capture of so many prisoners, which toward the last became nearly as numerous as General Lee's whole army, and presented a difficult question both as to feeding and guarding. No rations having been issued, men and horses had been subsisting from the 4th of April on a scanty supply of hard corn, which the troops had not ven time to parch, and ate raw from the cob as they marched. On one occasion someone of the battalion got hold of a raw ham, and generously divided it as far as h will go. Raw ham, and raw corn from the cob may not be very palatable to (ne tinfasted, but to Colonel Dorsey and his men it seemed a luxury.
At Amelia Springs there was a severe cavalry fight, in which the enemy was defeated and pursued some miles. llere a small portion of flour was issued to
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each man, but which there was no time to cook, and the flour was tied up in bags, handkerchiefs, stockings, or anything else at hand that might serve the purpose ; and so it remained for two days before opportunity to cook it offered, the battalion being in the meantime constantly engaged.
At last it was impossible for human nature to hold out longer, and the second night after the fight at Amelia Springs it was determined to cook the flour. As soon, therefore, as night came on - which rendered the enemy's fire less accurate, and induced his cavalry to become less aggressive - the brigade, leaving a strong picket force still actively skirmishing, withdrew behind a neighboring hill and prepared to cook. There were no cooking utensils nor any convenience to bake, but soldiers who had gone through a four years' war had many devices at hand to meet exigencies. A detail with canteens was sent to the stream near by for water, and oil cloths were substituted for kneading trays. In this way the flour was hastily moistened into a paste, and as hastily parched in the embers of the very spare fires which proximity to the enemy reduced to the smallest possible dimen- sions that could be dignified with the name of fire. The skirmishers were then relieved by some who had eaten, to make similar provisions for their wants.
From this time until Lynchburg was reached, on the night of the ninth of April, when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, tlie First Maryland subsisted on corn and some rations taken from the captured enemy. It was hard to take food from prisoners, perhaps, but necessity knows no law, and between starving men the weakest must yield.
Every day's history was much the same, a constant night and day struggle with the enemy's cavalry, who would scarcely be repulsed at one point before they had to be met at another, perhaps five or ten miles distant.
When the army reached the vicinity of High Bridge it was ascertained that a force of the enemy was directly in front, having by a forced march, and being unencumbered, passed around General Lee's left and thrown themselves directly in his path. The brigade, which was now commanded by General Munford, General Payne having been disabled by wounds at Amelia Springs, was at once ordered to attack them, which it did with much gallantry, all being dismounted except the First Maryland, which was sent to the left to cut off the enemy's retreat. The enemy, which proved to be a brigade of infantry and about two hundred cavalry, behaved very gallantly, and at once met General Munford vigorously. His cavalry charged several times, but were repulsed with heavy loss, while their infantry and Munford's dismounted cavalry kopt up a heavy fire, both sides suffering severely, without material advantage to either. At length Deering's Brigade came up and dismounted, and joining Munford, a general charge was made by the dismounted men in front and the First Maryland, mounted, in the rear and right flank of the enemy, which resulted in the defeat and capture of his
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entre fece. Nearly all the field officers on both sides were killed or badly wounded.
It will be remembered, in this connection, that although the Confederates had the brigades engaged here against the one of the enemy's infantry and the force of two hundred cavalry, yet he had greatly the advantage in numbers as well as of a deliberately selected position. Confederate brigades at this period of the war frequently did not number five hundred men, and on this occasion General Mun- ford took into action (including Deering's men) a considerably smaller force than was captured.
For a short time Munford rested his command, when, after turning over his prisoners, he again sought the enemy toward the rear of General Lee's army. He here found Fitz Lee closely pressed, and joined his forees to impede as much as possible their advance.
A narrow and deep stream crossed the road over which the retreat was being conducted, and at the crossing place the mud was much worked up by the passage of the army. As this stream was neared, the enemy, from the crest of the range of hills about a mile distant, had a close view of the retreating forces. He hurried up his batteries and opened furiously, while his cavalry pressed hard upon the rear. Crossing the stream, a portion of the division, including Munford's Brigade, was deployed along its banks to dispute the passage. A slight and hastily constructed breastwork of fence-rails, thrown up under the fire of the opposing artillery, was all that Munford had to aid him against the immense force advancing.
The whole face of the country beyond the stream now seemed a mass of troops. Artillery erowned every available point, while cavalry and infantry in column advanced rapidly upon the handful of men that stood in their path.
It was necessary that a stand should be made to give time for the wagon and ordnance trains to pass a small bridge near Farmville. The enemy's skirmishers soon lined the banks of the little stream and poured in a rapid fire upon Munford, which was vigorously returned. In a few minutes a heavy column of cavalry charged at the ford, when they were received with a murderous fire at a range of not over forty yards. The ford was narrow, deep and marshy : the dead and dying men and horses encumbered their advance. and the enemy were forced to fall back defeated, after many of them had actually crossed the stream.
Several batteries were then opened upon Munford, but the firing was too will. and everything having been accomplished that was desired, and the train safthy over the bridge. the Confederate cavalry retired rapidly, but in excellent order, toward Farmville, moving in several different columns in order to present smaller marks to the artillery, which was firing with much increased accuracy, owing to the clear view which the open fields afforded.
The enemy then crossed the stream where he had been repulsed, and also at
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several other points lower down, and followed in rapid pursuit, and were soon charging Mumford's rear furiously through Farmville. One column charged a piece of woods in which lay a force of infantry in ambush, and was literally cut to pieces.
The streams about Farmville were much swollen, and in order to save time General Fitz Lee's Division, still in several different columns, crossed at as many different points, in most cases swimming their horses. At nightfall the fighting ceased, but was resumed in the morning with increased fury.
All this time a large force of the enemy, both infantry and cavalry, had marched rapidly by parallel roads, and had gotten between General Lee and Lynchburg, then his only depot of supplies, had captured all the trains with provisions sent out from that city to meet his army, then on the verge of starvation, and on the morning of April 8th, near Appomattox Court House, suddenly attacked his ordnance train, which, in advance of the whole army, was pressing on toward Lynchburg, guarded only by one small brigade of cavalry. But notwith- standing the great disparity of forces a severe fight was kept up nearly an hour, the artillery particularly being well and effectually served, and drove back the enemy in front.
The infantry and dismounted cavalry, however, now completely surrounded and drove the men from their guns, and captured all the artillery and wagons, which left General Lee almost destitute of both. Some few artillerists escaped on their horses, and fled down the road toward the infantry, followed by a column of cavalry. But the infantry was prepared for their approach, and permitting the flying artillerists to pass, they poured in a most deadly volley, which scattered the pursuers in all directions.
For the balance of the night all remained quiet, and the two armies anxiously awaited the coming of the morrow, which must decide the fate of the Army of Northern Virginia. Further retreat was impossible, as the enemy held the roads on all sides, and without cannon or ammunition, or rations to supply even the wants of twelve thousand men now left of the once grand army, General Lee, on the morning of April 9th, confronted Grant's mighty hosts. All the difficulties of the position were well known and appreciated by the Confederate Army, but the men who formed that army then, who had followed their flag through all the gloom and trials of the retreat - a retreat which needs only the pen of a Xenophon to make as famous as that of the " Ten Thousand "- those men, though not of numbers, but of country, in the dawn of that April morning, advanced to meet their persistent foe with all the calm and lofty courage that would have made Appomattox Court House a Thermopyla. Those men, had their leader so willed it, would have laid down their arms and lives together. They were men, indeed, and worthy to close the record of the Army of Northern Virginia.
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As soon as the day gave sufficient light, the battle opened fiercely, and all thought an engagement had commenced which was to prove the most desperate and terrible of the war.
General Fitz Lee's Division of cavalry, now under command of Brigadier- General Munford (General Fitz Lee being at the headquarters of the army), moved through Appomattox Court House, and formed in line of battle on the right of the road about half a mile beyond that place. The halt was brief, and it moved in column obliquely to the right and entered a heavy wood, where it soon came in contact with the enemy.
Throwing out skirmishers to engage them, General Munford moved again to the right oblique until they were again struck, when more skirmishers were ¡brown out, the first having fallen to the rear, and these movements were continued until he found a weaker place in the enemy's line, and made good his passage to the Lynchburg road.
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