USA > Maine > History of the First Maine cavalry, 1861-1865, V. 1 > Part 30
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that of Maj. Taylor at Luray the December before, for which he has since been accused by Sergt. W. B. Smith of "fighting the busy bee with the sabre." However, the honey was a suc- cess, if the fight was not.
The detachment got back to the field of the day before about noon, and went on picket in the afternoon. During the day other troops had been engaged in destroying the railroad between Trevillian Station and Louisa Court House. There were sounds of fighting on the right along towards night, but this regiment got none of it. At dark the order was received to " unsaddle and go into camp," a very welcome order, and the boys had prepared for a good night's rest, when a second order came which was not so welcome ; viz., " Saddle up, pack up, and be ready to move immediately!" There was no help for it, and those who had been feasting in imagination on the baked beans they were to eat in the morning (confiscated at Louisa Court House) had to take a late supper of parboiled beans, and make the best of it.
Gen. Grant's official report in regard to this expedition says that on the afternoon of this day Gen. Sheridan advanced in the direction of Gordonsville, and after a heavy engagement. during which his reserve brigade carried the enemy's works. five miles from Gordonsville, twice and was twice driven there- from by infantry, night closed the contest, and not having suf- ficient ammunition to continue the engagement. his animals being without forage and the country furnishing but inferior grazing, and hearing nothing from Gen. Hunter, he withdrew his command and commenced his return march. This is the reason given for the abandonnent of the expedition, and accounts for the contradictory orders.
About midnight the command started on the back track and marched till daylight, halting for breakfast near the camp- ground of the night of the tenth. This regiment then took the advance, crossing the North Anna, and went on pieket for the day near Tyman's store. The enemy made no sigu. and picketing was quiet. Indeed, it was too quiet for one of the men posted on an outpost on a road, who was found on his post by the sergeant in charge of the relief, sound asleep. It
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was a bad breach of discipline, and one that would have caused him the severest punishment ; but he was a good soldier, and the sergeant, knowing he had been without sleep for two nights, felt like excusing him, and as none but the two knew of it. the secret was locked in their own breasts. where it remains to this day. And it may be said the sergeant never regretted that action. A foraging party sent out this day was fired on and one man wounded and three horses killed.
The regiment was relieved from picket about dark and went into camp, but was called out in a hurry at three o'clock next morning, and galloped down to support the Fourth Pennsyl- vania regiment in covering the right flank while the column moved by, and then followed after the column on the direct road to Fredericksburg, halting soon after noon on the Cathar- pen road, on the ground occupied by the enemy on May eighth after being driven from their first position near Todd's Tavern. Here the boys got three or four hours' rest, and then the regi- ment moved back a short distance and went into camp.
From the fifteenth to the twenty-first were days of most tiresome marching. The sun was extremely hot, the roads extremely dusty, the men were tired, worn, and, for the most part, hungry (as foraging was hard and not over-profitable), and decidedly cross, and the horses were worn out and half starved, which made riding much harder. Very many of the horses were played entirely out. and the rear guard had a large number of such to shoot before starting each morning, so they might not be recuperated and furnish aid to the enemy. The first day of this tedious march the command passed over the battle-ground of Spottsylvania Court House, where a halt was made to allow the pioneers to bury the Federal and Confed- erate dead, who were lying around in all directions. Camping .tt Guiney's Station that night, the march was continued on the Second day across the Po River. through Madison and Bowling Green, to White Marsh Run; through New Town and Clarks- ville to within four miles of Walkertown, the third day; and through Walkertown and King and Queen's Court House (or. as one diary has it. where King and Queen's Court House was be- fore Kilpatrick's raid), and a few miles beyond, the fourth day.
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The morning of the fifth day the trains, with sick, wounded. and dismounted men, were sent to West Point, for transportation north, and the cavalry took the back track, the First Maine in the rear, reaching Clarksville that night, where the Maine boys went on picket. The morning of the sixth day the regiment was ordered to move before time for breakfast, and soon after starting crossed the Mattapony River on pontoons, near Dun- kirk, finding the corps train on the other side, which gave cheerful promise of something to eat. The command halted just long enough to draw forage and receive the mail, but orders came to move before rations were issued, and the boys. who were prepared to take in a good square meal, suffered severe disappointment. It was noticed that the command moved out with more than usual haste, and that Gen. Sheridan and his staff rode to the front faster than was his custom (for he seemed to make it a point to ride along the whole length of the column each day on the march, as if to let every man in the command see him daily, which calls to mind the same charac- teristic of Napoleon Bonaparte), and the boys began to suspect something was up, a suspicion which was soon verified by the sounds of cannon in the distant front. On went the column. at a rapid walk, through Aylett's and Lanesville to. White House Landing, when the cause of the commotion was discov- ered by learning that the rebels had attacked the force guarding a large wagon train parked there, expecting to make a handsome capture ; but fortunately the gunboats came up in time to pre- vent their success, and the enemy retired before the cavalry arrived. The rations that were almost given out in the morn- ing were issued in the evening, and the boys camped down on full stomachs, and consequently happy.
At three o'clock next morning, twenty-first, the division was sent across the river, the First Maine going mounted and the other regiment dismounted, to find the enemy and drive him back. They found him without difficulty and pressed him back to Black Run, where he made a stand and a stubborn resistance. Skirmishing was kept up until the middle of the afternoon, when the enemy advanced in line of battle, but was repulsed after a sharp fight, the Union forces having the best
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position. The First Maine held the right of the line and re- mained mounted until after noon, when it was dismounted. By a blunder of some staff officer two companies were withdrawn and a gap was left in the line, through which the enemy pene- trated, and a portion of the regiment had a severe fight before driving him back. The loss of the regiment during the day was three wounded. one of whom died from the effects of his wounds.
Capt. A. H. Bibber (then adjutant) had a little experience during this engagement, which is thus told in his own words: -
Our regiment was in line on the right of a brigade or division line of battle. Our left was on the top of a hill facing an open space for some dis- tance. At the foot of the hill, on our front. and possibly eight or nine hundred yards away. was Black Creek. or Black Run. Our regiment's left extended from the top of this hill down its side to the railroad at its base. which crossed the creek on our front. The Johnnies' skirmishers occu- pied the other side of the creek, and fired at us whenever we showed our- selves. Half of the hill to our rear was wooded, and our line. dismounted. lay along the edge of this wood. The clear ground lay between us and the Johnnies. Further to the left the woods grew down to and crossed the creek and extended beyond, hiding the view. I happened to go along the left of our line about noon. and discovered that it was not connected with anything. I immediately reported to Col. Smith. He said: "Ride out there and know the reason." I found the last man on the left. and asked him how long since the man on his left had gone. " About an hour." was the reply. I moved along the face of the wood, with the intention of find- ing that man and the line. but had not gone more than three hundred yards from our line when five JJohnnies " of the deepest dye " stepped out of the woods not more than seventy-five yards in front of me. and bringing their guns up to their faces. said: "Surrender, you d-d Yankee." Holding up my hand I said: " Hold on there! what in thunder are you going to shoot at ?" Down came their guns, and they proceeded to " take me in." I was an object for examination. I had on a pair of corduroy pants and straw hat, and was mounted on a citizen saddle (not exactly a regulation suit). Directly they saw my shoulder straps, and that settled it. Again I was summoned to surrender. Of course I said "yes." I threw the reins on my horse's neck and touched him with my right spur. The horse turned partly round, bringing his side toward them. Disengaging my left foot I left the saddle in a second. I hardly touched the ground before they all fired, my horse falling where it stood. I jumped into the woods. There I saw a skirmish line of them moving to our rear and evidently getting into position to assault our flank. My record for getting towards Col. Smith never was reached by any man in the regiment during the balance of the war. I did not know exactly where to find him, so used my voice. It Was no " still, small voice." He heard me. (He never failed to hear the cry of
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every man in his command.) With what little breath I had I told him the situation. Immediately two companies went to the rescue of our left, and none too soon. Every survivor knows the result. I have no hesitaney in saying that the fast time made on that hot, hot day (I think it was not less than 100° in the shade) saved a number of Co. D, as they were on the left, and would have been the first to suffer.
At the moment this attack occurred Col. Smith, Maj. Cilley. and Capt. Chadbourne were preparing for dinner. A box of sardines, the last one of a lot and one that had been kept with great care through the march to Trevillian Station and back. had just been opened, and they had got a single taste of the delicious bit, when "pop! pop! pop, pop, pop!" and a volley of musketry caused them and the line of men in their immedi- ate front to leave in a hurry ; and instead of eating they found their hands full in re-forming the line and repulsing the enemy. But they never forgot or forgave the loss of that box of sardines.
A curious incident happened in this fight. A bullet struck over the heart of Private Charles W. Jordan, of Co. G. and knocked him down. He supposed at first he was dead. or would be in a moment; but finding he had some life left he got up, and was much surprised to find himself unhurt. The bullet had struck a small pair of scissors in the watch-pocket of his vest, which saved his life, and he kept on with his fight- ing, though he could not help shaking his head now and then. as he thought of his narrow escape.
The regiment remained on picket on the field till midnight. when it was relieved and went into camp. Next morning the horses were unsaddled, and the boys enjoyed the first whole day's rest since crossing the Rapidan, May fourth. The march was resumed on the following day. the brigade being rear guard for the immense train which had been in park at White House Landing, and which the corps was to escort to the James River. The Chickahominy was crossed near Jones' bridge, on pontoons, and the regiment went into camp near Charles City cross-roads, in the driest country it ever camped in. the boys getting water to cook with only after long search and patient. persevering exertion.
The morning of the twenty-fourth the First division took the
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advance, with the train; and the Second division was sent off on a road running to the right rear, -the only road leading to Richmond which would intercept the main column, -to prevent an attack on the train, the main force of the enemy being in that direction. The First Maine had the advance of the Second division, and as it passed by the camp of another regiment. inquires were made, "What regiment?" and on being told, the ery was passed along : "Fight, to-day, boys, the First Maine's got the advance!" This had come to be considered a sure sign throughout the corps, and a careful study of the regiment's history will show that there was reason for it. The regiment advanced in the usual form, Co. G being the advance guard, and after a few miles' march the pickets of the enemy were dis- covered in the road a couple of miles from St. Mary's church. The advance halted. and word was sent back to Col. Smith, and from him to Gen. Gregg, both of whom immediately rode to the front and took a survey of the position. Meantime the advance guard and the enemy's pickets sat quietly on their horses look- ing at each other, as if either were a great curiosity, and passing not a word except the first peremptory " Halt!" of the gray coats, which was of course obeyed. On the left of the road were woods and on the right an 'open field, while in front of the field were more woods, the piekets standing in the road at the edge of these last named woods. A company of the regiment was dismounted, and advancing through the field, out of sight of the pickets, the men entered the woods without the knowledge of the enemy's pickets, and the first warning the latter had of their presence was when they burst from the woods within a few feet of them, looking for all the world like so many boys hunt- ing for partridges, and opened fire. The pickets fired one volley and left, and the advance guard, who sat on their horses and saw this proceeding, made merry over the fact that as the bullets from the rebel rifles whistled down the road, Gen. Gregg, who sat by the side of the road watching events, made as polite a bow to them as did ever a common soldier. The command rapidly followed the piekets until the church was reached. where a stand was made, the regiment and in fact the greater part of the com- mand were dismounted, and a line was formed and breastworks
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thrown up. This was the beginning of the severe fight at St. Mary's church, into which the First Maine led the division. which engagement is thus described by Chaplain Merrill : -
Skirmishing continued through the forenoon. Discovering the enemy's purpose. Gen. Gregg despatched two orderlies, in quick succession, for re-enforcements, both of whom were captured with their despatches. From these despatches the enemy learned the weakness of this part of the line, and at once concentrated his forces to crush these two brigades. At about two o'clock the grand attack was made. It fell on this regiment like a thunder bolt. Our men, struck thus suddenly by a greatly outnumbering force, were falling back rapidly. Col. Smith's horse had been shot under him, and he himself was wounded and bleeding. Still. perceiving that every- thing depended on checking the enemy here. he resolved to retreat no further. Halting, he called on his men to rally. " Like commander. like soldiers." involves a principle as true in military as in moral and religious matters. As by a magnetic influence the sound of his voice seemed to inspire. the men with the same indomitable spirit which animated their commander, and bore him through that terrible fight. As his voice, clear as the sound of a trumpet, rang out over that bloody field. calling on the men to rally, an answering shout came back from the whole line. Above the din of battle rose . the loud " Hurrah for Col. Smith!" Instantly they rallied and turned upon the foe. who, strong in numbers and confident of success, was pressing close upon them. In a moment he was checked, and then came the "tug of war." Backward and forward the tide of battle surged. Capt. Phillips, a splendid officer (on detached duty, commissary of musters on Gen. Gregg's staff), was struck by a shell and killed. Ten offi- cers and fifty-eight men went down. When the order was finally given to fall back. they did so, fighting still. Once, the enemy was so near capturing the artillery as to lay their hands upon the guns. It was the first and last time. Their temerity cost them dear. Three times the Maine boys rallied and fell back, stopping behind every tree. and log, and fence, and hillock. to load and fire. Col. Smith, though severely wounded, still kept the field, and was one of the last to retire. By this desperate resistance the enemy was disappointed of his prey, the train was safe, and the imperilled command of Gregg escaped.
This incident of the fight is from the diary of Maj. Cilley :
In the afternoon, after the line had been in position for some hours, and there were indications in the air that an attack might be expected. I reported to Col. Smith that my battalion, which was on the extreme left of the line occupied by the regiment, did not connect with the next battalion on the right, though drawn out to a thin skirmish line. A squadron of a Pennsyl- vania regiment had reported to Col. Smith by order, and turning to the offi- cer in command of the same. he said: " You may till the gap if the attack comes and the major calls on you." This squadron was then placed some ways in the rear and at the edge of the woods, and in front of quite a clear-
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ing. my battalion being chiefly in the woods some ways in advance, except the left, which faced a large open field.
I then returned to my battalion and walked along the line till I came to its extreme right, where was Co. HI, or a part of it, under the command of Lieut. Andrews. In a few minutes Andrews called my attention, and said : " There they come." And through the trees the rebs could be seen, march- ing in column of fours, on a road a little diagonally across our front and towards St. Mary's church, whence a road at right angles came which crossed our line at nearly right angles.
The boys opened fire most merrily. Telling Andrews to hold on as long as possible, I hastened back to the Pennsylvania squadron, who was to sup- port this weak place. I was surprised and disappointed to find they had moved, but soon saw the dismounted squadron I was seeking appear in line, advancing from the opposite side of the clearing. Shouting for them to come on, and waiting till a few of the leading ones were near me. I started ahead, yelling vigorously with the rest. I noticed the firing was heavier both to the right and left than in front. Soon I saw a soldier coming towards me, and thinking him a straggler making for the rear, I shouted: " For- ward!" He suddenly stopped and looked surprised, as I was then closing on him. He turned, and I noticed his gray uniform. I drew my pistol, sang out " Surrender!" and commenced firing at him : but the circumstances were not conducive to good shooting. We charged through to the former position of Co. H, but found entirely different material in its place. The firing soon lulled, indicating some readjustment of the lines, and I proceeded to find my battalion. They had intuitively concentrated towards the left, and towards the large open field, where the enemy could be seen in considerable force. I was anxious to find the rest of the regiment and connect with it. as the lull presaged a heavier attack. I started back towards the clearing mentioned before, which was quite a knoll or hill, and enabled one to look round. As I approached the summit I was surprised to find that I offered a fair target to the rebel line in the large field, and became vexed, and began to cuss myself for such a foolish, heedless manœuvre, as certain humming's went by my ears and little patches of dust were raising themselves on my right and left. The temptation to run was almost irresistible, but there were the men of my battalion looking at me. On this account I dare not even stoop or how my head. When I reached the other side and the shelter of the woods. I found Maj. Thaxter, who told me Col. Smith had just been wounded, and the command of the regiment was in my hands.
The rest of the line was quite broken at this time, and I decided to re-form the line on this side of the knoll. and moved the battalion I had com- mand of to that position, connecting it with the other two who had fallen back to near that position. We held them there for a time, and then fell back and formed in line near quite a number of buildings, and held them in check again. Near this point Col. Smith was seen riding towards our line with a handkerchief tied round his wounded leg, and ere he reached it down hi- horse went, by a bullet from the enemy. His orderly, or some mounted man near him, immediately dismounted, and Col. Smith took his horse and resumed the command of the regiment. Then followed a series of falling back and re-forming the line to check the enemy, until the enemy interfered
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with the motion of one of my legs, and two men helped me to walk. till I reached Gen. Davies, who dismounted one of his orderhes and put me on the horse. The orderly held me on, and I took a rest by going to the rear, and about sunset enjoyed the hospitalities of Surg. Stevens. Then followed an all night ride in an ambulance with Capt. Montgomery and Capt. Tucker.
Lieut. Blanchard, of Co. G. in his address at the reunion at Augusta, 1878. thus speaks of St. Mary's church: -
How many will remember that summer morning at St. Mary's church, a morning not soon forgotten. St. Mary's church, June twenty-fourth. Did you think of it, you of the mystic tie ? It was good St. John's Day. A day dedicated by masons to their patron saint. Who, as he stood in the little grove which surrounded that quaint old quiet church, with its dark weather- beaten sides and decaying steps, with its quiet hallowing thoughts and soft- ening reflections, so like the little church in many a New England town. whither we on many a Sabbath morning had bent our childish steps - who. as he stood in its shadows on that lovely morning, could have dreamed what a conflict would in a few short hours be raging there ?
But. comrades. I have said I would not dwell upon any of the battle scenes in which our regiment took a part, and I am unwilling to detain you with the details of this encounter. many of you having participated. Yet be it known that here for twelve long hours we contended in the dust and heat. abandoned by our support, driven from position to position. disputing every inch of ground in the face of terrible odds, with the most obstinate and determined resistance: under a terrific fire of shot and shell from the enemy's guns, as their missiles came screaming and tearing through the trees, or ploughing up deep furrows through the ground; charged on front and flank, we are driven, but not routed, beaten. but not conquered or dis- mayed. Slowly and in order we retire from the unequal contest. The dusty. sunburnt cavalry man turns his face backward towards the enemy he is slowly and sullenly leaving behind him: and though overpowered by superior numbers as he has been -at times almost surrounded -crushed and driven from one position to another, set upon by infantry, cavalry, and artillery, yet he mutters his grim defiance to the foe, and hopes to square up that account on another field.
Our object has been attained, and we realize a victory out of our defeat. The one thousand baggage wagons of Grant's army have passed safely over from the Chickahominy to the James, and the rebels have fought and contended in vain for that coveted prize, but have won an empty victory. The casualties to the First Maine were sixty-eight officers and men killed. wounded and captured. Among the many wounded were Col. C. H. Smith. afterwards major general: Lieut. Col. J. P. Cilley, afterwards brigadier general, and now our present honored adjutant general of the state. Among the killed were the brave and impetuous Capt. Phillips and the gallant Capt. Ellis.
Maj. Myrick thus told the story of this engagement, at the reunion at Pittsfield, 1880: -
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The advance guard soon met and drove the enemy's pickets, and charg- ing, routed their reserve and seized the church. Hastily throwing up breast- works in the edge of the woods, the regiment made preparations to hold the position. and before nine o'clock the whole regiment was in, dismounted. They held the road, our lines extending some distance to the right and left of the church. Skirmishing continued, at intervals, throughout the fore- noon. The enemy felt occasionally of our whole line, hoping to find some weak point, and at noon made'a heavy attack on our right. while a large force was hurled against our right flank. The advance line of skirmishers fell back on the second line, behind our rude works. constructed chiefly of stumps and logs. The timber had been slashed in our front, and effectually barricaded the road against any cavalry charge. Two squadrons of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania were put in as support for our right flank, and for half or three-quarters of an hour the fight raged hot and furious all along our right: but an ominous stillness on the left foretold the tempest coming in that quarter. and during a lull in the firing on the right a heavy column suddenly burst through our lines near the right of the Second Pennsylvania. coming stealthily on through the dense underbrush till within a few yards of our position. when they dashed on at double quick, discharging and then clubbing their pieces in a manner familiar to infantry. Our men met them manfully and resolutely, loading and firing their carbines till they could use them no longer, and then using the revolver. The regiment was ordered back, but every few rods Col. Smith, who, although severely wounded, persisted in remaining on the field, would order a stand, when. with cheers for their gallant commander. the regiment would face about. and by their terrible fire again and again they checked the rebel advance. The Sixteenth Pennsylvania, which had been ordered to our support, had been called away to re-enforce a broken and disordered regiment of the First brigade, and the First Maine was left to struggle alone with the overwhelm- ing numbers of the enemy. Then two of our twelve-pounders opened on the rebels, and with three hearty cheers our men struggled on with renewed courage; but the odds were too great, and soon we were pressed back, cover- ing the retreat of the guns. Now we hear a terrific roar of musketry on the left. followed by the roar of our entire battery, as the enemy debouched from the woods and charged our left flank. The gunners poured volley after volley into their ranks till the enemy was close upon them, and then. as their horses and men melted away under the murderous fire of the enemy's musketry, they were compelled to retire to a new position. Then they wheeled again into line and opened their fire. checking the rebel advance for some minutes. A moment later, just as the enemy had massed once more for a desperate charge upon our guns, a rattle of wheels was heard in our rear, and, with horses lashed into foam, the First brigade battery whirled up the hill, and in a twinkling eight guns were hurling shell and canister with murderous effect into the compact columns of the foe. Not a moment too soon came the unexpected aid, for once the rebels had their hands upon the Second's guns. Our artillery. double-shotted with canister, swept them down like a whirlwind, and to crown all. the Eighth Pennsylvania charged down upon their flank with desperate valor. and they were forced to fall back in great disorder, and did not attempt to
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