History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 112

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 553

USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 112

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THE FOURTH CAVALRY.

This regiment, to which pertained the honor of the capture of the rebel president in his inglorious flight and disgraceful disguise, had a few representatives of Oak- land's valor in its ranks, among whom, Thomas Riley, John Brown, and James H. Place assisted in the arch-conspirator's capture.

The Fourth was constantly engaged with the enemy almost from its first skirmish until its final achievement, and among its numerous battles and skirmishes the

following were the most important : Stanford, Kentucky, September 26, 1862; Lebanon, Kentucky, November 9, 1862; Franklin, Tennessee, December 11, 1862; Stone River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; Middletown, Tennessee, May 22, 1863; Sparta, Tennessee, August 9, 1863; Sperry's Mill, August 17, 1863; Reed's Bridge, Georgia, September 18, 1863; Chickamauga, Tennessee, September 19, 20, and 21, 1863; Mission Ridge, Tennessee, November 25, 1863; Shelbyville, Tennessee, June 27, 1863 ; Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, August 20, 1864; Latimer's Mills, Georgia, June 20, 1864; Flat Rock, Georgia, July 27, 28, 1864; Siege of Atlanta, Georgia, August 1 to 14, 1864; Rome, Georgia, October 12, 1864; Blue Pond, Georgia, October 21, 1864; Selma, Alabama, April 2, 1865; Double Bridges, Georgia, April 18, 1865; Macon, Georgia, April 20, 1865; Capture of Jeff. Davis, Georgia, May 10, 1865.

During the whole term of its service the Fourth proved a most reliable and gallant regiment, deservedly proud of its fighting reputation, and accomplishing an uncom- mon amount of duty.

The colonel, in response to a letter of inquiry from the adjutant-general of the State, says, " The Fourth Michigan Cavalry has so often distinguished itself, both by the brilliancy of its charges and the stubbornness of its fighting, that I doubt if you will find two men agree on the two engagements in which it was most distinguished. Some would claim Stone River, where it charged three times, each time driving a brigade of rebel cavalry from the field; others, some of the many raids around Murfreesboro', where the sabre-charges of the Fourth Michigan and Seventh Pennsylvania were the admiration of the entire army of the Cumberland ; others, the fight with Dibrell's brigade at Sparta and Sperry's Mills, on the 9th and 17th August, 1863, or the hard day's fighting at Reed's Bridge, near Chickamauga, on the 18th September, where the Fourth Michigan, Seventh Pennsylvania, and Fourth Regular Cavalry (nine hundred and seventy-three of all ranks) fought the entire of Hood's corps from seven o'clock in the morning until five o'clock in the evening ; leaving one hundred and two rebel dead within one hundred yards of the eastern end of the bridge, and preventing the carrying out of Bragg's order of battle of that date, the first part of which reads, 'Johnson's column (Hood's) on crossing at or near Reed's Bridge will turn to the left by the most practical route, and sweep up the Chickamauga towards Lee and Gordon's Mills.' Some, again, would claim Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, on the 20th August, 1864, where the same little brigade, then numbering less than eight hundred men, scattered Ross' Texan brigade, sabreing over five hundred of them. After considering the subject fully, I have selected Shelbyville, Tennessee, on the 27th June, 1863, and Latimer's Mills, Georgia, on June 20, 1864. At both of these places the success of my brigade was mainly attributable to the brilliancy and tenacity of the fighting of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, then under command of Major F. W. Mix." Its first colonel, R. H. G. Minty, was promoted to the rank of a brigadier-general while in the field.

THE FIFTH CAVALRY.

This regiment, which went into the field December 4, 1862, formed a part of the " Michigan Cavalry Brigade." Colonel John T. Copeland, of the First Cavalry, organized the Fifth, but on November 29, 1862, being promoted to the rank of a brigadier, he was succeeded in the command of the regiment by Colonel Freeman Norvell, the lieutenant-colonel under Colonel Copeland. He served in command of the regiment until February 27 following, when he resigned. Major R. A. Alger, of the Second Cavalry, was commissioned as colonel of the Fifth on the 28th of the same month, and served in that capacity until September 20, 1864, when ill health compelled him to resign.

General Custer, in his official report of the battle of Gettysburg and the opera- tions of the cavalry brigade therein, says of the Fifth Cavalry :

" The enemy was soon after reported to be advancing on my front. The detach- ment of fifty men sent on the Oxford road were driven in, and at the same time the enemy's line of skirmishers, consisting of dismounted cavalry, appeared on the crest of the ridge of hills on my front. The line extended beyond my left. To repel their advance I ordered the Fifth Michigan Cavalry to a more advanced position, with instructions to hold the ground at all hazards. (The Fifth was dismounted and in the centre of Custer's line.) Colonel Alger, commanding the Fifth, assisted by Majors Trowbridge and Ferry, of the same regiment, made such admirable dispo- sition of their men behind fences and other defenses as enabled them to successfully repel the repeated advance of a greatly superior force. Colonel Alger held his position until his men had exhausted their ammunition, when he was compelled to fall back on the main body." Colonel Alger then mounted his men and went to the relief of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, who were retiring also before a superior force of rebel cavalry, and the Fifth checked the pursuit. Among the killed in this engagement was Major N. H. Ferry, of the Fifth, who fell while gallantly leading his men to the charge. Of Major Ferry, Colonel Alger, in his report, says, "The Fifth has won an enviable reputation. Every moment brings a sad gloom over all our hearts for the noble Ferry. He was shot through the head and instantly killed while leading his battalion at Gettysburg. He was a brave officer. I cannot supply his place." At James City, October 12, and Brandy Station, October 13, 1863, the Fifth was hotly engaged with the rebels, and gathered new laurels under the eye of their brave brigade commander, Custer, who himself took the Fifth and First Michi- gan Cavalry and cut his way through a heavy mass of rebel cavalry, and opened the way for the entire division to the river. General Custer thus reports the movement : "Leaving the Sixth and Seventh Michigan Cavalry to hold the force pressing the rear in check, I formed the Fifth Michigan Cavalry on my right in column of bat- talions ; on my left I formed the First Michigan in column of squadrons. After ordering them to draw sabres, I informed them we were surrounded, and all we had to do was to open a way with our sabres. They showed their determination and purpose by three hearty cheers. At this moment the band struck up the inspiring

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

strains of Yankee Doodle, which excited the enthusiasm of the command to the highest pitch, and made each individual member feel as if he was a host in himself Simultaneously both regiments moved forward to the attack. It required but a glance at the countenances of the men to enable me to read the settled determination with which they undertook the work before them. The enemy, without waiting to receive the onset, broke in disorder and fled. After a series of brilliant charges, during which the enemy suffered heavily, we succeeded in reaching the river, which we crossed in good order." Major Clark, with a small portion of his battalion (of the Fifth), was captured at Broad Run by the enemy. At Buckland's Mills, Vir- ginia, the Fifth, with the rest of the brigade, was heavily engaged, November 19, with J. E. B. Stuart's rebel cavalry, and defeated a desperate attempt to capture Pennington's battery. The Fifth was engaged in the Kilpatrick raid around Rich- mond, in which a detachment of the regiment became separated from the main com- mand, and were forced to cut their way through the swarming rebels to the regiment, near White House, which they did successfully. The Fifth covered itself anew with glory in General Grant's campaign against Richmond, being in nearly all the battles of that famous campaign. At the battle of the Wilderness, it was, with other regiments of the cavalry brigade, heavily engaged nearly all day on the fifth of May.

At Yellow Tavern, May 10 and 11, the brigade was again in a heavy engagement with J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry, where the famed rebel met his death from the bullet of one of the crack shots of the Fifth, John A. Huff. The incident is related as follows :

" The regiment had charged through and driven the enemy out of the first line of woods near ' Yellow Tavern,' and had reached an open space, when the command was given to cease firing ; just at that instant a rebel officer, who afterwards proved to be General J. E. B. Stuart, rode up with his staff to within eighty rods of our line, when a shot was fired by a man of the Fifth. John A. Huff, of Company E, remarked to him, 'Tom, you shot too low, and to the left ;' then turning to Colonel Alger, who was near, he said, ' Colonel, I can fetch that man.' The colonel replied, 'Try him.' He took deliberate aim across a fence, and fired-the officer fell. Huff turned round to the colonel, and coolly said, 'There's a spread-eagle for you.' "

Huff was subsequently wounded at Hawes' Shop, and died from the wound. At Meadow Bridge, May 12, the Fifth was again victoriously engaged against an intrenched foe, but the brigade drove him out, and he fled precipitately, leaving his dead and wounded in the victor's hands. At Milford, May 27, another sharp engagement was had, victory again perching on the pennons of the brigade; but only after the most desperate fighting and the entailment of heavy losses on both sides. Cold Harbor, Virginia, is also one of the "red letter" engagements of the Fifth, where the brigade again drove the enemy from his intrenchments. At Trevillian Station, Custer captured the enemy's wagon-train and about eight hundred led horses, the steeds of the dismounted rebel cavalry who were engaging at the time General Merritt and Colonel Devin's commands ; but during the prolonged and obstinate fighting of the brigade against the vastly superior forces of the rebels, the officer in charge of the captured property, acting on his responsibility (fears ?), endeavored to take the same to a place of safety, and per consequence restored it to its owners, unwittingly. He was dismissed from the service for cowardice and treachery. On the next day another heavy engagement was brought on. On the 28th May, 1864, the battle of Hawes' Shop was fought, where the enemy was posted in heavy timber on high ground, and behind formidable breastworks of logs, but from which he was dislodged and driven, in a hand-to-hand fight, leaving the ground strewn with his dead and wounded. Of eleven officers and one hundred and forty men of the Fifth in this engagement, five officers and fifty men were killed or wounded. Of the action at Trevillian Station, General Sheridan said, " The cavalry engagement of the 12th June, 1864, was by far the most brilliant one of the present campaign. The enemy's loss was very heavy. My loss in captured will not exceed one hundred and sixty. They were principally from the Fifth Michigan Cavalry. This regiment gallantly charged down the Gordonsville road, capturing fifteen hundred horses and about eight hundred men, but were finally surrounded and obliged to give them up." At Shepherdstown, Virginia, August 25, 1864, and again at Winchester, September 19, the Fifth distinguished itself, and especially so at the latter engagement, where five brigades of cavalry of the Union army were in active participation. Custer's command, which entered the final charge about five hundred strong, including thirty-six officers, captured seven hundred prisoners, in- cluding fifty-two officers, seven battle-flags, two caissons, and a large number of small arms. He says, in his report, " It is confidently believed that, considering the relative numbers engaged, and the comparative advantages held on each side, the charge just described (the final one above referred to) stands unequaled, valued according to its daring and success, in the history of this war." Captain North, of the Fifth, was killed in this action. The last great day's fighting of the war, at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, was the last engagement of the cavalry brigade, at which the confederate General Ewell himself and four of his generals were taken prisoners, together with six thousand other demoralized rebels.

The complete list of the engagements of the Fifth Cavalry is as follows : Hanover, Virginia, June 30, 1863 ; Hunterstown, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863 ; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863; Monterey, Maryland, July 4, 1863 ; Cavetown, Mary- land, July 5, 1863; Smithtown, Maryland, July 6, 1863; Boonsboro', Maryland, July 6, 1863; Hagerstown, Maryland, July 6, 1863; Williamsport, Maryland, July 6, 1863; Boonsboro', Maryland, July 8, 1863 ; Hagerstown, Maryland, July 10, 1863 ; Williamsport, Maryland, July 10, 1863 ; Falling Waters, Virginia, July 14, 1863 ; Snicker's Gap, Virginia, July 19, 1863; Kelly's Ford, Virginia, September 13, 1863; Culpepper Court-House, Virginia, September 14, 1863 ; Raccoon Ford, Vir- ginia, September 16, 1863; White's Ford, Virginia, September 21, 1863 ; Jack's Shop, Virginia, September 26, 1863; James City, Virginia, October 12, 1863; Brandy

Station, Virginia, October 13, 1863 ; Buckland's Mills, Virginia, October 19, 1863 ; Stevensburg, Virginia, November 19, 1863; Morton's Ford, Virginia, November 26, 1863; Richmond, Virginia, March 1, 1864; Wilderness, Virginia, May 6 and 7, 1864; Beaver Dam Station, Virginia, May 9, 1864 ; Yellow Tavern, Virginia, May 10 and 11, 1864 ; Meadow Bridge, Virginia, May 12, 1864 ; Milford, Virginia, May 27, 1864; Hawes' Shop, Virginia, May 28, 1864; Baltimore Cross-Roads, Virginia, May 29, 1864 ; Cold Harbor, Virginia, May 30 and June 1, 1864; Trevillian Station, Vir- ginia, June 11 and 12, 1864; Cold Harbor, Virginia, July 21, 1864; Winchester, Virginia, August 11, 1864; Front Royal, Virginia, August 16, 1864; Leetown, Virginia, August 25, 1864 ; Shepherdstown, Virginia, August 25, 1864; Smithfield, Virginia, August 29, 1864; Berryville, Virginia, September 3, 1864; Summit, Vir- ginia, September 4, 1864; Opequan, Virginia, September 19, 1864; Winchester, Virginia, September 19, 1864; Luray, Virginia, September 24, 1864 ; Port Republic, Virginia, July 26, 27, 28, 1864; Mount Crawford, Virginia, October 2, 1864 ; Wood- stock, Virginia, October 9, 1864; Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864; Newton, Virginia, November 12, 1864; Madison Court-House, Virginia, December 24, 1864; Louisa Court-House, Virginia, March 18, 1865; Five Forks, Virginia, March 30 and 31, and April 1, 1865; South Side Railroad, Virginia, April 2, 1865; Duck Pond Mills, Virginia, April 4, 1865; Ridge's, or Sailor's Creek, Virginia, April 6, 1865; Appomattox Court-House, Virginia, April 8, 1865.

THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CAVALRY

had but few men from Oakland County in their ranks, many of whom were trans- ferred to the First Michigan Cavalry. These regiments constituted a part of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, whose history has been recounted somewhat at length in the history of the First and Fifth Cavalries.

THE EIGHTH CAVALRY.

The Eighth Cavalry, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. Wormer, com- menced its honorable career in the field of war in Kentucky, and afterwards pursued Morgan on his memorable raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in 1863, which pursuit lasted sixteen days, running the raider to earth at Buffington's Island, in the Ohio River, July 19, where he was routed by the pursuing forces, who captured five hundred and seventy-three prisoners, four hundred and eighty-seven horses and mules, and a large quantity of arms. A detachment of the regiment in charge of Lieutenant Boynton led a force commanded by Major Rue, Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, which pur- sued and captured Morgan near New Lisbon, Ohio, July 26, 1863, Lieutenant Boynton holding the right of the line at the time of the capture. The regiment was raised by Colonel John Stockton, who commanded it till his health failed him. It proved a brave and efficient body of men, accomplishing much hard service, and passing through many desperate encounters with western rebel troops, and always acquiting itself gloriously, whether in partial defeat or in complete and substantial victory. " While the record of the Eighth is bright and dazzling, and numbers many success- ful and brilliant battles, none of them, perhaps, appear to more advantage than the severe fights at Athens and Calhoun, East Tennessee, September 26 and 27, 1863, in which its brigade, being the First of the Fourth division, Fourth army corps, became engaged with Forrest's and Wheeler's Cavalry, estimated at fifteen thousand, and where the regiment in command of Colonel Wormer occupied a prominent position, fought stubbornly, losing forty-three men in killed, wounded, and missing." On the 28th of October following, while on a reconnaissance from Loudon, it became engaged in a severe action, losing nine wounded. Its gallant achievements are conspicuous while checking the advance of Longstreet's army, when the regiment, in command of Major Edgerly, participated in covering the retreat of the Union forces, then fall- ing back before the rebel army from Lenoir Station on Knoxville. From November 12 to the 19th the regiment was constantly engaged with the enemy, and afterwards participated in the glorious and successful defense of Knoxville till the siege was raised, December 5, when it joined in the pursuit of the rebel army, skirmishing with its rear-guard, and driving them at every point until Bean's Station was reached, where it became heavily engaged December 14, but succeeding in pushing the enemy from every position. The regiment was specially complimented for its work by General Burnside. The regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Mix, formed a portion of Stoneman's Cavalry, which covered Sherman's right on his advance upon Atlanta, and on July 4, 1864, became conspicuously distinguished at the Chat- tahoochee river, where, after a hard fight with Armstrong's brigade of rebel cavalry with an artillery support, the regiment charged and drove the brigade across the river. The Eighth also took part in the fruitless raid of Stoneman on Macon in July, and even in that fearfully disastrous undertaking won glorious distinction as a fighting regiment. "When Stoneman was entirely surrounded and surrender became evident, the Eighth Michigan, then in command of Colonel Mix, unwilling to lay down their arms to rebels, and bearing in mind the honor of their State as well as their own, obtained permission from the commanding general to cut their way out, and, dashing forward, commenced their desperate undertaking surrounded by the enemy entirely, engaging him hand to hand. Colonel Mix being captured, owing to the loss of his horse, Major Buck assumed command and succeeded in forcing through the enemy by persistent and stubborn fighting; he undertook to reach the Union line, near Atlanta, but failed. After a hard march, much fatigue and exposure, having been seven days and eight nights in the saddle, pursued and harassed, he was overtaken, and after a severe engagement a large number were made prisoners; yet a portion of the regiment reached the Union lines." At Henryville, Tennessee, on November 23, 1864, the regiment covered its record with additional lustre by its heroic defense against overwhelming odds, in which a detachment of one officer and twenty-five men held a whole regiment in check until Company B could come to its relief. A battalion of the Eighth, cut off from its regiment, and being entirely sur- rounded, cut its way through to its support and joined the brigade. Another day of

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

desperate fighting in which the Eighth participated with great distinction was November 28, at Duck Creek, when the Eighth Michigan and the Fourteenth and Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry dismounted, fixed bayonets, and charged through the surrounding enemy, driving one hundred of the rebels into the river.

The complete list of the battles and skirmishes of the Eighth Cavalry is as follows : Triplet Bridge, Kentucky, June 19, 1863; Lebanon, Kentucky, July 5, 1863; Lau- renceburg, Kentucky, July 9, 1863; Salvica, Kentucky, July 10, 1863; Buffington's Island, Ohio, July 19, 1863; Winchester, Kentucky, July 25, 1863; Salineville, Ohio, July 26, 1863 ; Lancaster, Kentucky, July 30, 1863; Stanford, Kentucky, July 81, 1863 ; Kingston, Tennessee, September 1, 1863; Cleveland, Tennessee, September 18, 1863; Calhoun, Tennessee, September 26, 1863; Athens, Tennessee, September 27, 1863; Loudon, Tennessee, September 29, 1863 ; Philadelphia, Tennessee, October 23, 1863; Sweet Water, Tennessee, October 26, 1863; Lenoir Station, Tennessee, November 12, 1863 ; Campbell's Station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863 ; Knoxville, Tennessee, November 18, 1863; Rutledge, Tennessee, December 10, 1863; Reams' Station, Tennessee, December 14, 1863; New Market, Tennessee, December 25, 1863 ; Mossy Creek, Tennessee, January 10, 1864; Dandridge, Tennessee, January 17, 1864 ; Fair Garden, Tennessee, January 24, 1864; Sevierville, Tennessee, January 27, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, July 1, 1864; Sweet Water, Georgia, July 3, 1864; Chattahoochee, Georgia, July 4, 1864; Moore's Ridge, Georgia, July 12, 1864; Cov- ington, Georgia, July 28, 1864; Macon, Georgia, July 30, 1864; Sunshine Church, Georgia, July 31, 1864; Eatonton, Georgia, August 1, 1864; Mulberry Creek, Georgia, August 3, 1864; Henryville, Tennessee, November 23, 1864; Mount Pleasant, Ten- nessee, November 24, 1864; Duck River, Tennessee, November 24, 1864; Nashville, Tennessee, December 14 to 22, 1864.

THE NINTH CAVALRY

had but a very few men from Oakland County in its command, and it was the only Michigan cavalry regiment having the honor of marching with General Sherman " from Atlanta to the sea," and composed the escort of General Kilpatrick when he opened communication between that army and the Atlantic coast. The Ninth Michi- gan Cavalry also bore a most important part in the pursuit and capture of the rebel General Morgan on his raid through Indiana and Ohio.

THE TENTH CAVALRY

first encountered the rebels at House Mountain, Tennessee, in January, 1864, having left its rendezvous at Grand Rapids under the command of Colonel Thaddeus Foote in December, 1863. The regiment had an important engagement at Carter's Station, near Jonesboro', Tennessee, when, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel L. G. Trow- bridge, it, with the Third Indiana Cavalry, was sent to destroy the large railroad bridge over the Watauga river, which was defended by " Mudwall" Jackson and a strong force, occupying a redoubt with well-constructed and extensive rifle-pits. The commander of the cavalry dismounted one-third of his men, charged the works on the double-quick, the rebels fleeing in disorder from them and taking shelter in a large mill near by, from which they could not be dislodged, Captain Weatherwax being shot dead in the attempt. "The fight was a brilliant success, though obtained at a loss of seventeen killed and wounded, and must be recognized as an uncommon victory, considering it was gained by dismounted cavalry, new and undisciplined, over a much superior force of well-trained infantry, holding strong defensive works." At Strawberry Plains, East Tennessee, August 24, 1864, Major Standish, with one hundred and twenty-five men of the Tenth and Colvin's Illinois battery, repulsed in gallant style an attack of Wheeler's cavalry corps, six thousand strong with nine pieces of artillery. The following incident of that repulse is related by Colonel Trowbridge, then commanding the regiment: " Eight men were sent to Guard Mc- William's Ford on the Holston ; one of them went off ' on his own hook,' so that seven were left ; one of the seven was a large powerful fellow, the farrier of Company B, by the name of Alexander H. Griggs, supposed to belong to Greenfield, Wayne county. These seven men actually kept back a rebel brigade from crossing the ford for three and a half hours by desperate fighting, killing forty or fifty of them. During the fight the big farrier was badly wounded in the shoulder, and the rebels, by swimming the river above and below the ford, succeeded in capturing the whole party !" (?) General Wheeler was much astonished at the valor of these men, and at once paroled a man to stay and take care of his wounded comrade, between whom and the rebel general the following conversation is said to have taken place :

General Wheeler. " Well, my man, how many men had you at the ford ?" Griggs. "Seven, sir."

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History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 112

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 553

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 553