USA > New York > A brief history of the Twenty-Eighth Regiment New York State Volunteers, First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Corps, Army of the Potomac, from the author's diary and official reports. With the muster-roll of the regiment, and many pictures, articles and letters > Part 14
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August 19th, the pickets along the river . were all called in and the regiment was once more together.
CAPTURE OF A COMPANY OF ASHBY'S CAVALRY AT HUDSON'S CORNERS, NEAR COLUMBIA FURNACE, VA.
By MAJOR T. FITZGERALD.
IN MAKING up the history of the war of the rebellion many incidents were lost sight of, which, while not of import- ance in determining the final result, and which, owing to the number of such, necessarily received but casual mention, or no mention at all, yet illustrate that go- ahead-and-do-something spirit-that spirit of adventure which pervaded the rank and file of our armies, and which became man- ifest whenever an opportunity presented itself, the parties engaged acting without orders, and "on their own hook," so to speak ; and it was this spirit which made our forces as a rule ever ready to endure with cheerfulness the heavier labors of a campaign : the long and toilsome marches by day and by night, through heat and cold ; ever ready to meet the enemy in skir- mish or battle, ever ready for whatever the exigences of the service seemed to demand, only so that something might be accom- plished or seem to be in the way of accom- plishment, and which brought about the final downfall of as courageous, energetic and determined a foe as the annals of war- fare, ancient or modern, can show.
A detailed account of such minor and outside affairs naturally pertains to the records of individuals, companies or regi- ments, and are of interest more especially
to those, and to the friends of those, who were participants.
An account of the following little affair may very properly find a place in the rec- ords of the service of the Twenty-eighth New York, and the credit, whatever it may be, should of right go principally to that regiment.
As commanding officer of Company F., at that time, and as one of the participants, I will endeavor to give the facts and cor- rect some errors that appear in connection with the accounts of this affair as they ap- pear in the published records
It was on or about April 12, 1862, while the regiment was near Woodstock, Va .. that I received orders to proceed with my company to Columbia Furnace for out- post duty.
Columbia Furnace was on Stony Creek some eight miles from the main pike through the Shenandoah Valley and on a general parallel line. It was the princi- pal road by which a movement might be made around our right, and it was neces- sary to guard it to prevent or give notice of such action on the part of the enemy.
The furnace, the store, and, in fact, the principal part of this hamlet, was owned by a Mr. Wisler, a Canadian, who had bought the property several years before,
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CAPTURE OF ASHBY'S CAVALRY.
and who carried on quite an extensive busi- ness in mining and reducing the iron ore found in the neighboring mountain range.
He was not a citizen of the United States, and was not therefore liable to mili- tary duty, but he was known as a man of Union sentiments, and himself and family, especially his two sons, Frank and John, young men of about twenty and twenty- two years, were regarded by their rebel- lious neighbors with suspicion, and were under constant surveillance.
The family gave our men a kindly wel- come, and the officers were invited to par- take of the hospitalities of their home, which most of them did. The men were quartered in the lofts of the barns, while the horses of the cavalry occupied the furnace.
The various roads were picketed, and quiet reigned generally. The rebel cav- alry were about, and occasional shots were exchanged between them and our pickets, but without especial results. Two men of Company E captured one of them, and that was about all we had to show for our work until the night of the 15th. On that day two men, who lived some miles up the valley, came in and gave information that a company of Ashby's cavalry were stationed at Hudson's Corners, or the cross-roads, as they called it, about eight miles up, and opposite to and some seven miles from Mount Jackson, where General Jackson had his headquarters. They told us they knew a mountain road leading to the cor- ners, which was not picketed by Ashby's men, and that if we were agreeable, they would pilot us over that road, and that we could surprise and capture them.
Mr. Wisler assured us that our proposed guides were entirely trustworthy : that they knew the roads well, and that we might implicitly rely upon their integrity and their capacity to fulfill their promises.
This was a tempting opportunity for an adventure, but there were obstacles. We . Were there for a specific purpose, and that purpose was to guard our right, and not to go off on a night hunt for Ashby's men whom we might or might not find.
If all went well, all would be well, prob- ably, but if mishap befel us or those we left behind from any unexpected move- ment on the part of the enemy, the pros- Perts of a court martial were extremely flattering and not especially inviting.
A consultation was held by the officers, some favoring and some opposing, and I
think I can truthfully say that but for the earnest and persistent arguments and ap- peals of Lieutenant Padelford and myself no action would have been taken.
However, it was finally decided that the attempt be made, all acquiescing with the exception of Captain Eisenbisen of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, who said he would be - something - if he took his men out on such a - something - wild goose chase, or words to that effect.
Our force then consisted of Company E, Twenty-eighth New York, Companies E and F of the Fifth Connecticut, Captain Eisenbisen's Company of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, and a squadron of the Wash- ton and Ringold cavalry, commanded by Captain A. J. Greenfield.
Nothing was said to the men, and at the usual hour taps were sounded and all was still. About eleven o'clock such of the men as we selected were quietly aroused and formed in line. Those left in charge at the furnace were cautioned to be ex- tremely vigilant, and we started out. After going a short distance, we took a road to the right, which soon brought us on to the mountain road leading to the corners.
The night was dark, the roads not very passable and the band didn't play. We had a ten-mile march ahead of us, and a prospect of a scrimmage at the end of it. On the whole it was somewhat interesting.
Silently we proceeded on our way. It was a quiet night, and scarce a sound was heard except the occasional barking of a dog.
After proceeding several miles a halt was made, and I took Lieutenant Padel- ford and a squad of selected men and went ahead with one of the guides, think- ing we might the more quietly surprise and capture the picket if any had been posted on this road. We were to halt at a certain point in the woods about half a mile from the corners, and await the com- ing of the rest of the force.
Our aim was to make the dash about or a little before sunrise, and before the men were fully astir. We were anxious to make the capture complete, for the reason that Jackson's army was but seven miles away and, more than that, nearer our main force than we were.
The dawn was breaking when I halted at the point indicated, and we congratu- lated ourselves upon the good time we had made and expected to be soon joined by
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TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT N. Y. S. VOLUNTEERS.
those behind. In this we were disap- pointed. After waiting until it was fully light, I determined to ride back (I was mounted for this trip) to meet and hurry them along. After riding a short distance I met a native making his way through the wood in the direction of the corners. He seemed somewhat surprised at meeting a blue coat in that place and at that time in the. morning. However, we exchanged salutations, and at my request he accom- panied me back to the squad, where he re- mained for the time being. I then turned again, and shortly after met our men com- ing up. It seems that through some mis- take of the guide they had got off the right road and had lost considerable time.
It was now sunrise, and Captain Green- field suggested that we forego the attack and return. I demurred strongly and in- sisted that we proceed. This was finally agreed to, and we moved forward as rapidly as possible. When we finally came to a halt at the edge of the timber we found ourselves at the top of a slight rise of ground, probably 150 yards from the churches, standing on opposite corners, in which the rebs were quartered. Some were still in quarters ; others were moving about attending to their horses, etc., etc., little thinking that they were so soon to make a forced march down the valley.
The halt was but for a moment. A quiet command of attention, ready, and then, forward, charge! and down the grade the boys went, howling like a legion of Comanches. If that Company of Vir- ginia cavalry didn't think a brigade, at least, of Banks' army were down upon them that sunny spring morning it was because they had little conception of . sound.
In a few brief moments it was over and done with. A rattle of musketry ; a skur- rying of some to the fields and brush, and their pursuit and capture ; the quiet sur- render of others : the hurried assembling of the men and the prisoners ; the forma- tion into line, and we were ready for our return trip.
The first to enter the nearest church were little Pat Sennett, of Company E, and myself, Pat calling at the top of his voice on those in the church to surrender. The lieutenant commanding came forward and, handing me his sword, asked by what road we came. When I informed him. he said he had told the captain that if he didn't picket that road we would be over there
some morning, and, further, that he would be entirely satisfied if he, the captain, was only there then. His diction was to a con- siderable degree more forcible and direct than I have given it, but its general tenor was the same.
The surprise was complete, and the en- tire company, with possibly one exception. were captured, and this without the loss of a man. We secured about 60 men, in- cluding three officers, and about the same number of horses, and the arms and equip- ment mostly.
The company wagon, with its contents. we failed to bring in. We could not de- termine what horses they had used, and those we attached to the wagon became unmanageable and plunged off the road into the field, where the wagon sunk half- way to the hubs in the soft ground.
There we were compelled to leave it, after piling in what combustibles we could find and firing it. The company were mostly native Virginians, who furnished their own horses and arms. They were well uniformed, and armed with sabers, Colt's revolvers, Sharp's and Enfield rifles.
The return march was made in good time, and we reached the "Furnace " tired, but well satisfied with the success of the tramp.
There was some little surprise when we learned from the newspapers a few days afterward that Captain Eisenbisen with his company of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania had made this capture. His company had been detailed to escort the pris- oners to headquarters and the captain was probably too modest to refuse to accept the credit.
The Reb. Rec., vol. 12, pt. I, page 427, in the record of events of the Cavalry Brigade says : "On the 15th inst. this squadron (First Squadron Pennsylvania Cavalry) under command of Junior Cap- tain Greenfield, assisted by detachments from the Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth Con- necticut, Twenty-eighth New York and Forty-sixth Pennsylvania made a dash upon a company of the enemy's cavalry, quar- tered in a church near Columbia Furnace, and succeeded in capturing the entire force of three officers and about fifty men, with all their horses, arms and baggage." It will be noted that there were no Four- teenth Indiana, or Forty-sixth Pennsyl- vania men present, nor was it very near Columbia Furnace.
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OUR FLAG AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
General Banks' report reads :
WOODSTOCK, April 16, 1862, 7 P. M.
An entire company, more than 60 men, and horses were captured this morning at Columbia Furnace, about seven miles from Mount Jackson, by our cavalry and infantry. The capture includes all the officers but the captain. They will be sent' to Baltimore to-morrow.
N. P. BANKS, Major- General Commanding. HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
More nearly correct is the report in Allan's " Jackson's Valley Campaign," page 61. This is Confederate authority, and is as follows : " A company of Ash- by's cavalry on outpost duty between Mount Jackson and Columbia Furnace was surprised by the advance and captured. This was Captain Harper's company of cavalry. They were captured by four companies of Donnelly's Brigade in con- junction with the Ringold and Washington cavalry.
OUR FLAG AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
By WM. LEWIS, Color Bearer, Twenty-eighth N. Y. Volunteers, Oklahoma City, Ok. Ter.
I have thought each and every year since our discharge at Lockport, now when the next reunion time comes round I will be present ; but the distance is too great for me, more than 1,000 miles separates nie from my old stamping ground and the place where the reunion is held. How- ever, though great the distance you can rest assured my heart is with you. Phys- ically, I am not the same man I was at the time when I used to step three paces in front of the line with the old flag. I am now 60 years old and broken in health, and still were I one of your number am in- clined to think you might rely on me as "one of the boys " again. We, Western people, when we want to do something ex -. traordinary, talk about "painting the town red," and if I were there you might count on my assistance. During our campaigns in the Valley of Virginia, when we were under the command of Major-General John Pope, headquarters in the saddle, it became my lot to be color-bearer of the regiment, a very pleasant position on dress parade or in camp, but when on the battle- field it was a horse of another color. For instance, when those bullets began to fly past your ears, like so many lightning bugs on a summer's evening, or when those "comets " (or shells) caine flying over our heads - rather lively screaming, " Whar is yeh ? Whar is yeh ?" and one occasion- ally dropping among us, singing, here " I find you!" Well, I have seen things more pleasing ! I could fill a volume re- ferring to army episodes and incidents, but time and space forbid. I will refer to one very important event that occurred in
the history of the Twenty-eighth New York at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, near Culpeper Court-House. We had been lying in the woods all night, and in the morning of the 9th of August, 1862, first we were covering a battery, then we were ordered out in the field to form line of battle. Those shells were singing their same old song over head and dropping around us, when I heard the clear, ringing voice of Col. Brown command -forward ! I stepped three paces in front, to my place, standing nearly in front of Company D, when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. It was Pat Geary, addressing me (as brave a boy as ever wore a soldier's uniform), saying, "Serg't, and how wud yez loike to be back to Medina, instid of out here wid those colors now ?" But I had no time to reply, and Medina was the last place I was thinking of at that time. Things were looking rather squally about then, rather indicating that somebody was liable to be hurt. We pushed on through the field, and a piece of timber - to the edge of a large wheatfield, wheat having been cut and standing in shocks (where were the shocks when we got through ?) The enemy were in force on the other side of the field, we were satisfied, but as we gazed over the quietude of that wheatfield, not a thing could be seen stirring. What mind could think or conjecture at this time that that quiet field should be the scene of such strife and struggle as was enacted during that sultry afternoon, the mercury ranging at that time from 100° to 109" in the shade. After waiting a short time we were ordered to charge the enemy in the
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TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT N. Y. S VOLUNTEERS.
woods on the other side of the field. We hardly struck the first edge of the wheat- field till we were made aware that the enemy were there in full force. Oh, how the bullets flew around and about us, but our boys pushed on at a double-quick across the field. Now, you will excuse an · old soldier, who has a spark of fun in his make up, if he stops here and tells a joke. Ordinarily people would say this was no place for fun. Comrades falling all around us, both dead and wounded ; but even under such circumstances funny things occur, which remain in memory, causing laughter years afterwards. We had a fellow in our company named Ziba Roberts, six feet tall, and broad according. A soldier that could stand behind him was pretty safe from rebel bullets. As we were charging across that field under an extremely heavy fire from the enemy, all standing as close to the ground as possible, I must confess, Ziba calls out, "By gorry, boys, I feel too tall to-day." But Ziba was an excellent soldier, and never known to shirk his duty. We went on, drove the rebels from their hiding place and through the woods. We re-formed and went back through them again, and then our trouble began ; the rebs had swung around in our rear, and it seemed next to the impossible to recross that field. At this time I had two out of the eight corporals that were detailed to guard my left. Oscar Bayne was one, the other, I can't recall his name, he was from Company H. I learned afterwards he died at the hospital from wounds received at Cedar Mountain, and I understand that Comrade Bayne has heard his last roll call and gone to a better land to join comrades gone on before.
Well, I succeeded in getting two-thirds of the way back across that field when I was compelled to drop from the wounds I had received some time before. I could struggle on no further. I turned the colors over to that corporal of Com- pany H, and the last I saw of him he was within a few yards of the woods that we left when we made our first charge. But some thing came between myself and him, and I could not say whether he reached the woods or not That is the last I saw of
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our flag. I laid there on that field two nights and one day before I could get off and was gone from my regiment three months before my leg could travel. Now, comrades, I have already made this let- ter too long, and I have only one parting injunction to give you, always revere the old flag. Other emblems has our nation, but none of them have waded through the seas of blood the flag has. Educate your children to love and -re- vere it. Tell them of the dear comrades we have buried on many a battlefield, who gave their lives in defense of it. Teach them in the words of the venerable John A. Dix, who gave the order, " If any man attempt to pull down the American Flag shoot him on the spot." Teach them to love this great country of ours that you gave the best years of your life to defend and save.
Long may it wave " Over the land of the free And the home of the brave."
CEDAR MOUNTAIN REVISITED IN 1892.
Sweet grasses clothe the valley where they fell ; Of that dark time Nature has naught to tell ;
The tender flowers nod where breathed their last A thousand soldiers in the bloody past.
You would not dream that once this tranquil spot Had felt the burning hail of rifle shot ; Or heard the screaming of the deadly shell, Or the wild triumph of the Rebel yell.
Hark ! Is not that the marshalling of men ? Does not a war-like bugle wake the glen ? Is not the trampling of ten thousand feet Heard, keeping rhythm to the drummer's beat ?
No ; not an infant in its mother's arms Breathes freer than this scene from war alarms ; The record of that awful day is writ In human hearts. Here is no trace of it.
It should be haunted. Phantom host should rise And cloud with battle-smoke the smiling skies ; The clash of meeting bayonets we should hear ; And booming cannon shock the listening ear.
We stand in awe and list with bated breath To catch some echo of their tragic death. It does not seem that time could banish quite The pain, the horror, or the dread affriglit.
But earth is not in sympathy with war ; How speedily she covers every scar !
Is not the screen she waves o'er graves forgot A mute denial of the battle fought ?
THE STORY OF OUR FLAG.
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BATTLE FLAG OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH NEW YORK.
THE STORY OF OUR FLAG.
HOW IT WAS RESTORED TO THE REGIMENT AFTER A SCORE OF YEARS.
By C. W. BOYCE.
T HE torn and tattered flag, pictured at the head of this page, is the idol of the surviving veterans of the Twenty- eighth Regiment New York Volunteers. It has such a remarkable record, and stands so unique as the bond of union be- tween hundreds of Virginians from the lovely Shenandoah Valley, and citizens as well as veterans of Western New York, that a sketch of it is given here, as no history of the Twenty-eighth Regiment would be complete without it. Would it could speak for itself, and tell of its years of absence from the regiment, and the strange manner of its return, and tell of the many hearts which it was the means of drawing together in a beautiful bond of friendship that only death can sever.
It is not the purpose of this sketch to give the history of this flag previous to Cedar Mountain, as it was carried at the head of the regiment during the many marches the first year of the War. On drills, reviews, parades, skirmishes, and in the smoke of battle the men followed it, guarding it with great care, learning to love it as the emblem of that Union for which they fought. But not until the eventful 9th of August, at Cedar Moun- tain, when they saw its silken folds for the last time for many years, did they really appreciate how dear the old flag was.
The regiment, occupying its position in the First Brigade of the First Division of the Twelfth Corps, moved forward out of the woods at "double quick," across the
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TWENTY-EIGIITH REGIMENT N. Y. S. VOLUNTEERS.
wheatfield, on its immortal charge, proudly following this flag borne by Color-Sergeant William Lewis of Company D, surrounded by the corporals composing the color guard.
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As stated in the history, the little brigade was overpowered by thrice its force, and under fire from front, flank, and rear, "melted away like snow placed in a July sun." Sergeant Lewis was wounded and fell on the field, giving the flag to one of the color guard, who grasped it, with the hope of carrying it back into the Union lines ; but he, too, fell, with scarcely a dozen men unharmed around him. Other members of the color guard tried to save the flag, but in vain. All were either prisoners, or went down in that awful fire of death that Stonewall Jackson's brigade delivered as they swung around the flank and captured the few who remained.
The last member of the color guard was wounded, and, cut off from all hope of escape, tore the flag from the staff which had been twice shot in two, and tried to conceal it under his coat, in his manly effort to save it, but it was discovered and taken from him by a member of the Fifth Virginia Regiment - some of their mem. bers say by Sergeant Peter Bell ; others give to J. M. McManoway, of Augusta county, Va, the credit of first capturing the flag.
The night after the battle, as the prison- ers were being taken to the rear, while waiting at Orange Court-House for the cars to carry them to Richmond, the Twenty-eighth flag was discovered among other trophies of the battle. One of the men of the regiment secretly cut out a small piece and carried it with him during all the months of his imprisonment in Libby Prison. His motive was simply to secure a memento of the old flag, little thinking that this missing piece would be the means of identifying it many years after the War was ended. But such proved to be the case.
1865, he discovered one that looked singularly familiar to him. Upon investi- gation he found it to be indeed the old flag, lost so long but found at last, and identified beyond a doubt by the piece which he had kept all these years
He at once wrote to the Secretary of War in behalf of the surviving members, asking that the flag be restored to the regiment. The request was granted, and by order of Adjutant-General Drum it was turned over to Colonel Brown.
A special meeting of the members of the regiment was called to make arrangements for the formal return of the flag in a man- ner fitting the interesting event. It was learned that Stonewall Jackson's brigade were the Confederate forces opposed to us at Cedar Mountain, and the Fifth Vir- ginia, of that brigade, was the regiment that came in on the flank and rear and captured the colors. It was thought that the Virginians might be induced to unite with the regiment in the ceremonies of the return of the flag, and to be the guests of the Twenty-eighth for the occasion, to meet as brothers and friends, when they had only met before as enemies in battle. Nothing of the kind had ever been at- tempted. A correspondence was opened, and it was found that they heartily recip- rocated the sentiment and the invitation was accepted in the same good faith in which it was given.
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