USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 1 > Part 19
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CHAPTER IX.
THE CAMPAIGN UNDER MEADE.
LEE'S ARMY IN NORTHERN STATES. - CHANGE OF COMMANDERS ARMY OF POTOMAC. - VALUABLE SERVICES OF THE CAVALRY. - GETTYS- BURG. - ACROSS THE POTOMAC AGAIN. - SKIRMISH AT CHARLESTOWN. -THE FIGHT AT SHEPARDSTOWN. - AGAIN SOUTHWARD BOUND. - ONCE MORE ON THE BACK TRACK. - COVERING THE RETREAT. - RECONNAISSANCE TO LITTLE WASHINGTON AND SPERRYVILLE. - AN- OTHER FIGHT AT BULL RUN. - SOUTHWARD AGAIN. - SKIRMISH AT RAPPAHANNOCK STATION. - PICKETING THE RAPPAHANNOCK. - PLEAS- ANT CAMPAIGNING. - THE CAMPAIGN IN THE WILDERNESS. - SKIR- MISH WITH THE SECOND CORPS. - ATTACK IN THE REAR. - END OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. - COVERING THE RETREAT. - DUTIES OF ORDERLIES.
G EN. LEE'S army was now in Maryland and Pennsylva- nia, with Washington as the objective point. The rebel troops seized everything they could get hold of, burned bridges, damaged railroads, and destroyed property, both public and private, -in short, gave the inhabitants of a portion of Pennsylvania a realizing sense of what a "raid on the part of the enemy " was, and a taste of the "horrors of war." Gen. Hooker was, at his own request. relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac on the twenty-eighth of June, "impressed with the belief that his usefulness as its commander was impaired," and "with the earnest prayer that the triumphs of its arms may bring success worthy of it and the nation." Gen. George C. Meade was appointed commander, and assumed command the same day, the headquarters of the army being then at Frederick City, Md., where they had been established the day before. The enemy had succeeded in get- ting a foothold in the north without a general engagement. though the Union cavalry had worried him considerably, not only keeping posted as to his movements, but preventing him
176
.
Dr. SHEAHAN, Co. K. Photo.
MONUMENTAL SHAFT.
Marking Site of the Cavalry Engagement on the Right Flink
THIS SHAFT BEARS THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTIONS.
SOUTH-EAST FACE. (EMBLEM"CROSSED SABRES.) THIS SHAFT
MARKS THE FIELD OF THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE UNION CAVALRY COMMANDED BY BRIG .- GEN. D. MCM. GREGG AND THE CONFEDERATE CAVALRY
COMMANDED BY MAJ. - GEN. J. E. B. STUART JULY 3, 1863.
SOUTH-WEST FACE. (EMBLEM CROSSED GUIDONS. ) UNION FORCES.
IST BRIGADE, 2D CAVALRY DIVISION. COL. J. B. MCINTOSH.
3D PENNA. CAVALRY, LT. COL. E. S. JONES.
IST NEW JERSEY " MAJ. M. H. BEAUMONT.
IST MARYLAND " LT. COL. J. M. DEEMS. 3D BRIGADE, 2D CAVALRY DIVISION. COL. J. IRVIN GREGG,
16TH PENNA. CAVALRY, LT. COL. J. K. ROBISON. 66 66 W. E. DOSTER.
4TH
IST MAINE 66
C. H. SMITH.
IOTH NEW YORK
MAJ. M. H. AVERY.
IST MASS. CAVALRY, LT. COL. G. S. CURTIS. PURNELL TROOP A, MD. CAVALRY. CO. A, IST OHIO ..
NORTH-EAST FACE. (EMBLEM-CROSSED CANNONS.) UNION FORCES.
2D BRIGADE, 3D CAVALRY DIVISION. BRIG .- GEN. G. A. CUSTER.
IST MICH. CAVALRY, COL. C. H. TOWN.
5TH 66 R. A. ALGER.
6TH
GEO. GRAY. 7TH
W. D. MANN.
UNION ARTILLERY.
RANDOL'S LIGHT BATTERY E, IST U. S. ARTILLERY.
PENNINGTON'S
M, 20)
2D SECTION
H, 3D PENNA.
NORTH-WEST FACE. (EMBLEM-CROSSED CARBINES. ) CONFEDERATE FORCES.
CAVALRY.
HAMPTON'S BRIGADE, BRIG .- GEN. WADE HAMPTON.
FITZ LEE'S FITZHUGH LEE.
JENKINS' .. COL. M. J. FERGUSON.
W. H. F. LEE'S "
J. R. CHAMBLISS. ARTILLERY. MCGREGOR'S VIRGINIA BATTERY. BREATHED'S MARYLAND GRIFFIN'S 2D
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GETTYSBURG.
from getting any satisfactory information as to the movements of the Union army. It is considered that in this line, a part of which were the engagements at Aldie, Middleburg, and Upper- ville, the cavalry rendered most important service in this cam- paign; and Gen. Lee says, in his official report of the campaign, that "the march toward Gettysburg was conducted more slowly than it would have been had the movements of the Federal army been known," and that no information had been received that the Federal army had crossed the Potomac until the twenty-ninth of June, which was due to the fact that his cavalry had been kept in the mountains of Virginia by the I'nion cavalry. The change of commanders caused no hesita- tion in the movements of the army, which in a few days reached Gettysburg, where was fought the greatest battle of the war, resulting in a most decisive victory for the Union arms, and giving an unimportant town in Pennsylvania a name that shall be known for ages.
This regiment reached the vicinity of the battle-field on the second of July ; and on the next day, the great day of victory, took part in the severe cavalry fight on the right of the Union lines, between Gen. Gregg's division and Gen. Custer's brigade of the Union forces, all under command of Gen. D. McM. Gregg, and Gen. Stuart's cavalry of the enemy's forces, where was frustrated the enemy's attempt to turn the right flank and gain the rear, an attempt which was made at the same time with, and to take advantage of, the famous attack of Gen. Pickett in the front. This engagement goes down to history as "one of the finest cavalry fights of the war, and one most important in its results ; " for, had the enemy succeeded in getting in the rear of the Union forces, "that day would have resulted. differently, and the name of Gettysburg would sug- gest a state of affairs which it is not agreeable to contemplate." This regiment was engaged in the forenoon in supporting a battery, and in the afternoon was sent out with another regi- ment, both under command of Col. Smith, to meet an advanc- ing column of the enemy in the attack on the right flank. One battalion was dismounted and advanced into an orchard with but little difficulty, the advancing column halting and
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
turning back upon meeting this force; and the remainder of this command was arranged for battle, and held this part of the line during this engagement, the brigade occupying the gap of nearly two miles between the left of the forces engaged with Stuart's cavalry and the right of the Union infantry. Col. William Brooke-Rawle, of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, in the historical address delivered at the dedication of the monumental shaft1 on the site of this engagement, October 15, 1884, after giving an excellent description of the contest, says : -
We cavalry men have always held that we saved the day at the most critical moment of the battle of Gettysburg. - the greatest battle, and the turning point of the war of the rebellion. I know that it has not been the custom among historians to give us credit for having done so, nor, except very recently, to give us credit for having done anything. So fierce was the main engagement, of which the infantry bore the brunt. that the fighting on the part of the cavalry passed almost unnoticed; yet this was the only battle of the war in which the three arms of the service fought in combination, and at the same time, each within supporting distance, and within sight of the other, and each in its proper sphere. The turmoil incident to an active campaign allowed us no opportunity to write up our achievements, and no news correspondents were allowed to sojourn with us, to do it for us. But now that the official records of the campaign, both Union and Confederate. ·have been brought together, and, for the first time, been made accessible, and the official map of this field has been prepared, the great historian of the war, as yet unknown, and perhaps unborn, will have at hand materials which have been denied to others. He will see the importance of the fight which I have attempted to describe, and will give it the credit due to it. Had Stuart succeeded in his well-laid plan, and, with his large force of cavalry, struck the Army of the Potomac in the rear of its line of battle simultaneously with Pickett's magnificent and furious assault in its front, when our infantry had all it could do to hold on to the line of Cemetery ridge, and but little more was needed to make the assault a success, -the merest tyro in the art of war can readily tell what the result would have been. Fortunately for us: fortunately for the Army of the Potomac: fortunately for our country and the cause of human liberty, he failed. Thank God that he did fail, and that. with His divine assistance, the good fight fought here brought victory to our arms!
Comrades, before we part, never perhaps, to meet again, let us not forget to pause one moment, and in our inmost thoughts pay a reverent tribute to the memory of those brave men, our companions-in-arms, who here poured
1 A monumental shaft has been erected on the field where this engagement occurred. by the survivors of the different Union regiments which participated in it, and the staff was dedicated with appropriate services October 15, 1884. (See illustration.)
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GETTYSBURG.
forth the full measure of their lives' devotion for the cause they loved. And what shall I say to those who yet survive! That you, my comrades, bore each your share in that good fight, will always be to you a pleasing memory, and when your children and your children's children hear and read of what you did on this historic field, it will ever be to them a source of honorable pride that you fought with Gregg on the right flank at Gettysburg.
Gen. D. McM. Gregg, in an address on the same occasion, said : -
On July 3, 1863, we stood on this field, armed men, to resist the advance of an enemy with whom we had made trials of strength ofttimes before, and of late at Brandy Station, Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville. Our gaze was directed to the northward as we watched the approach of the columns of the enemy. Right gallantly did they come sweeping on, with such well aligned fronts, and with such tremendous pace, that it seemed as though nothing could stand against them. There was a meeting of the blue and the gray, and for a time the issue was held in the balance. The struggle was ended by the retirement of the enemy to his starting-point, discomfitted by failure, with ours in hot pursuit. Severe as was the engage- ment, it could not be asserted that the Union forces that participated were never in a severer. These fought too many battles in that long war for such a comparison. But all will agree they never fought on a fairer field. Neither party asked nor expected aid from the main armies beyond. Our enemy had the advantage in numbers and position; we, the moral advantage of fighting on our own heath. It can be safely said that on no other field did Union cavalry, whether on foot or in the saddle, do more effective and brilliant fighting than on this. Had it fought less well here, the victory would have been with the enemy rather than with us.
Capt. David M. Gilmore, also of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, on the same occasion said : -
Of downright hard fighting, where hard knocks were given and received, the cavalry during the war had its full share. Averell's fight at Kelly's ford; Pleasanton's. Buford's, and Davis' at Beverly ford: Gregg's at Brandy Station; the battles of Middleburg, Upperville, and Aldie-all are instances where cavalry met cavalry in hand to hand encounters. But amidst all these various engagements, few, if any. have equalled, and none excelled, the magnificent fight on the right flank at Gettysburg, where the three brigades of MeIntosh. Irvin Gregg, and Custer, under Gen. D. MeM. Gregg. met and repulsed the four brigades of Confederate cavalry under Gen. Stuart, on July 3. 1863, which attack was simultaneous with and virtually part of Pickett's charge. The purpose was that Pickett should break our centre, and that Stuart should turn our right and strike our rear, in which case the certain defeat of the Army of the Potomac would follow. Both attacks failed, and from that hour, which has been fittingly styled " the high-
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
water mark of the rebellion," the waves of the Confederacy receded, until at Five Forks they were dashed to pieces on that cavalry rock, -Sheridan.
The Fourth of July was celebrated by the boys in reconnoi- tring and in learning that the enemy had drawn back the left flank ; and the next day, the enemy being in full retreat, the regiment marched through Gettysburg toward Chambersburg, stopping that night in the pass near Fayetteville, having cap- tured some two thousand of the enemy's stragglers during the day, as well as taken possession of twenty-eight hundred wounded prisoners and their attendants, at Cash Town. On the sixth the march was continued through Fayetteville to Chambersburg, a large number of rebel stragglers being cap- tured during the march, and the next day the road was retraced to Fayetteville, and six miles beyond, to Quincy. On the eighth the regiment marched over the mountains towards Middletown, Md., which place was reached on the ninth, where it stopped until the eleventh, and then went to Boonesboro', remaining there till the fourteenth, when it marched to Harper's Ferry ; crossed the Potomac on pontoons at five o'clock that afternoon. and again stood on Virginia soil, camping that night at Bolli- var Heights. It is needless to say that the boys enjoyed this · short campaign in Pennsylvania and Maryland very much ; for. beside that supreme joy which soldiers experience at winning a victory, were the pleasures of campaigning in a new country and among friends ; and such pleasing incidents as getting a good square meal at some farm house, and at the same time listening to stories of rebels having applied for food and been refused, were not rare.
The second day after leaving Gettysburg, Surg. Parker and Hospital Steward Emery T. Gatehell discovered four rebel offi- cers, each of whom had lost a limb, in a building to which they had been taken after being wounded in the third days' fight, hay- ing had no care since that time. Their wounds were thoroughly realressed by the medical men from way down east, and they were made comparatively comfortable. During this interview one of the wounded men remarked. " You'uns tried your best to see how many legs and arms you could shoot off ; well. you'uns did the job pretty well."
181
SIIEPARDSTOWN.
The rebel army had escaped across the river after the defeat at Gettysburg, and was now on its own fighting ground. while the Union army was busy looking after it. The next day after crossing the river, July fifteenth, this regiment was sent towards Charlestown from Halltown to " amuse the enemy," while the rest of the division turned off in the direction of Shepardstown. The regiment had a smart little skirmish with the enemy (who had artillery as well as cavalry), driving them a mile or more, losing two men wounded and two (Asst. Surg. Parker and a hospital attendant, who were, however, not actually engaged in the fight, but were in too close proximity to the enemy's force.) missing, and then was relieved by another regiment, and was ordered to return and rejoin the division near Shepardstown, where it remained in quiet that night.
The next day, sixteenth, the Tenth New York Cavalry, which was on picket some two miles out, in the direction of Charles- town, sent in word that there was plenty of forage there, and about noon Col. Smith received orders to send out detachments after forage. Instead of sending out detachments, however, the colonel broke camp and took the whole regiment. His com- mand was only fairly straightened out on the pike when a single horseman was seen coming at full speed over a timber- covered ridge in their front, half or three-fourths of a mile away. In a few seconds he was followed by other horsemen, and the cause of their haste was no longer in doubt. Col. Smith at once decided to seize the crest of that ridge in the timber if he could, and ordered the trot. As the fugitives passed the column they reported the enemy in hot pursuit, and as the column neared the ridge the two leading companies (A and B, Lieuts. Cole and Coleman.) were ordered to dash for- ward and meet the advance of the enemy before they reached the crest: These companies deployed promptly, and repulsed the enemy. killing one or two on the spot. By this time the piekets had all passed to the rear, and Col. Smith at once formed a heavy dismounted skirmish line across the pike, along the crest of the ridge in the timber, which line was in command of Lieut. Col. Boothby. The remainder of the regiment was deployed behind the crest, at the right and left of the pike.
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
with one company still on the pike in columns of fours. The enemy fast gained in numbers in front and on the left flank of the regiment, and the dismounted men were driven back. To cover their retreat, Cos. B and K, under command of Lieut. Coleman, and Co. M, Capt. Brown, were ordered forward, mounted. These companies charged gallantly into the timber, Lieut. Coleman going in from the centre and driving the enemy's artillerists from their guns, while Capt. Brown went in on the right, and the dismounted men were relieved, retiring in good order a short distance to a little elevation in the open field, where they again made a stand. The artillery then opened, from a ridge near the town, upon the enemy in front of the left of the regiment ; but at first their shots fell short, and endangered the men from Maine at their front, and word was sent back to that effect. The enemy then opened with artillery in front, and for a time there was an artillery duel over the heads of the men of the regiment. A little later the Fourth Pennsylvania came to the support of the First Maine, and the latter regiment was soon after relieved by the Sixteenth Penn- sylvania on the front line, and fell back to the next position. Soon afterwards the Sixteenth became hard pushed, and Col. Smith sent forward one battalion to their support; and a little later the whole front line was pushed back upon the First Maine, and both regiments became engaged until darkness put an end to the fighting. The First brigade came up to the left. but did not become involved in the battle very much until near evening. Toward evening the enemy moved around to the right of the regiment, and gave them an enfilading fire. when other regiments were sent to that portion of the field, and a hot fight occurred there. The events of that day cemented a lasting friendship between the men of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania and the First Maine, and ever afterwards the men of either regiment felt safe and happy if the other were near by, either on the line or as support.
Soon after dark a stone barricade was built across the pike. and during the night the whole division was withdrawn to Harper's Ferry. A few of the men at the front who had fallen asleep did not hear the order to retire, and next morning they
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SHEPARDSTOWN.
found that the field had been abandoned by the forces of both sides, and that the rebels had built a barricade across the road just in front of the one built by the Union forces. They went back to the town, visited the hospital and saw some of their wounded comrades who had to be left there, and then followed on to Harper's Ferry and rejoined their commands.
The loss to the regiment in this engagement was fifty-seven killed, wounded and missing, Maj. Boothby and Lieut. Hunton, of Co. G, being among the wounded. Maj. Boothby was at first disposed to make light of his wound, which was in the arm, laughing as Col. Smith rode up to him, but later went back to the surgeons and their care.
Col. Smith's official report of this engagement is as follows : -
HEADQUARTERS FIRST MAINE CAVALRY, August 31, 1863.
LIEUT. JOHN B. MAITLAND,
A. A. A. G. Third brigade, Second division, Coralry corps.
Lieutenant: - I have the honor to report that on the sixteenth of July last, about twelve o'clock M., I was ordered by the colonel commanding the brigade to proceed from Shepardstown with my regiment out about four miles on the Winchester pike, for forage. Having advanced about a mile. I met a courier from the picket (a squadron of the Tenth New York Cavalry). who reported that the piekets had been attacked, and were hotly pursued by the enemy. Looking forward, I observed that about half a mile ahead the pike crossed a ridge covered by a belt of timber, and being desirous of obtaining that position, I ordered the " gallop." and the regiment dashed forward. As we drew near the timber we met the squadron on pieket. com- pletely overwhelmed by a superior force, making every effort to cover its led horses and wounded men. The advance of the enemy reached the crest of the ridge first. But in spite of their steady firing, two companies from my regiment, commanded respectively by Lieut. Coleman and Lieut. Cole. when ordered to take the summit of the hill, charged with such impetu- osity as to drive back the enemy, killing one and wounding three. The enemy thus received a serious check. The position was gained, and the regiment was immediately disposed for still further defence. In that posi- tion we opposed the rapidly increasing numbers of the enemy for more than an hour, strengthening our line from time to time, until the regiment was nearly all deployed and engaged in front. Here it was that Maj. Boothby was wounded while engaged in the very front, urging the men to still more gallant resistance. Subsequently the enemy massed in such numbers on our lett flank as to make longer resistance impossible, and our line of skirmish- ers was driven back about two hundred yards to a favorable position. supported by a portion of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the regiment defended this position against every effort of the enemy to rout it (even
-
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FIRST MAINE CAVALRY.
driving the gunners from a howitzer which the enemy had the rashness to bring within carbine range). till relieved by the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, when it retired and took a position as support. But a short time afterwards, however, the enemy opened with several pieces of artillery, and simultaneously advanced with such overwhelming numbers as to peril the thin line of skirmishers of the Sixteenth. Observing this. I at once ordered four companies to the front, just in season to render timely assistance: and shortly after, the rest of the regiment became actively engaged again. and thus shared the fortunes of the rest of the day, till withdrawn from the field at midnight.
I am very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. H. SMITH, Colonel First Maine Cavalry.
This account of the fight is dated "Camp Sixteenth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, Bolivar Heights, Va., July 17, 1863," and is published in Frank Moore's " Rebellion Record ": -
The next day, the sixteenth inst., as the First Maine regiment was going out on the Winchester road for forage, they met our pickets (from the Tenth New York) running in, pursued by two squadrons of the enemy's cavalry. This truly noble little regiment instantly formed and charged the assailants, driving them back beyond the abandoned picket line. The enemy now appeared in force, bringing up their artillery rapidly and opening fire on our line. The Maine boys held their ground, deploying skirmishers, and made a desperate fight. Our artillery was then advanced and posted in an advanta- geous position on the right and left of the road, supported by the Sixteenth Pennsylvania regiment. The Fourth was soon sent out to the right front. dismounted, and thrown forward as skirmishers. Shortly after, the Six- teenth regiment was sent to relieve the First Maine, which had been engaged about two hours, and had expended all its ammunition. As we moved along the road they got our range very fairly, sending their shells in very disagree- able proximity to us. The tall figure of Col. Gregg, as he and his aid, Lieut. Martin, and his escort rode along with us, attracted their attention. and wherever he moved thereafter, very leisurely over the field, their shell fol- lowed him, the fragments scattering all around: but he appeared to bear a charmed life, and escaped unhurt. Three squadrons of the Sixteenth were dismounted and sent forward, while the fourth remained in reserve. The country in which we were fighting is ill-fitted for cavalry movements. - the ground very rocky and broken, eut up into small fields, with high stone and rail fence, and frequent small patches of timber. This will account for the strange event of a fight between cavalry men where all the fighting was on foot. aided by artillery. Our artillery consisted of four pieces. Soon after the Sixteenth was thrown forward, two of these were sent to secure an important position on our left, and were not brought into play during the fight. so we fought with two pieces of artillery, and these not as effective as they should have been. on account of bad ammu- nition, two of the shells which should have gone over our heads into the
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SHEPARDSTOWN:
enemy's line striking the ground between our reserve and the dismounted men. The rebels had eight guns in position firing at one time, and far letter served than usual for them in the cavalry fights I have noticed. whether Kelly's ford. Aldie. Middleburg. or Upperville. At times their firing was terrific. to be concentrated on so small a line as ours: their shot. shell, grape, and canister coming all around and among us, lopping the branches from the trees, and splintering huge fragments from the rocks they came in contact with. Nothing but the uneven character of the ground preserved our little brigade from annihilation. The Sixteenth took up the fighting for the Maine regiment, which retired: but seeing us pushed at. one time, they came out gallantly, without being asked, and we made ". Johnny " travel. As our men's passions became excited in the contest. having repulsed an attack on the right, they forgot the order of Col. Gregg. " to hold the line, but not to advance," and with a cheer sprang forward after the foe, driving them to their guns, where they, having a fair sweep, opened all their pieces on us at once, with grape and canister. We were driven back. They charged us with exultant shouts, while their artillery hurled shell without cessation. We were driven back a quarter of a mile from our old line - all we were driven that day. Col. Gregg looked anxious, and appeared irritated that his order was not obeyed. A new line is soon formed, strengthened by the squadron that had been held in reserve, a couple of squadrons of the First Pennsylvania regiment from McIntosh's brigade having come up to support us. The fight goes on as wickedly as ever. The rebel battle-flag is shot down three times in a few minutes, and the last color-bearer compelled to crouch behind a wall and hold up the flag from his lurking-place. As night came on the enemy made several des- perate attempts, all of which were steadily repulsed; after the last our men mounted the stone wall behind which the line was formed, cheering and waving their hats, and challenging their opponents to come on. although their ammunition was exhausted. Night put an end to the contest. Thus ended one of the most desperate cavalry fights of the war, considering the number actually engaged, our brigade not numbering over eight hundred men, having become reduced by detachments sent to different points, and men left in the rear dismounted, their animals having become used up by the hard work of the past two months. At different times our fire ceased entirely, from want of ammunition.
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