USA > New York > Boots and saddles. A history of the first volunteer cavalry of the war, known as the First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, and also as the Sabre regiment. Its organization, campaigns and battles > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
There were but three or four officers of us, and about the same number of troopers; two of whom were my orderlies. Captain Alexander of our battery, and Liet- tenant E. A. New, of our regiment, andlo-de-camp to Colo- nel Me Reynolds, were of the party.
We saw a body of the enemy's cavalry coming to- wards us, and we started for the Opequon River, in order to turn the left flank of the enemy, and get to Harper's Ferry if possible. Their cavalry gave chase, and we had to do some " tall" running, and " heavy" jumping. Fortunately we were all well mounted, and, having sev- eral hundred yards the start of them, we managed to keep out of reach of their fire.
At one point in the chase we came to a gate in a lane. near to a farm house. The occupant was at the gate. but on seeing us he slammed it shut and ran into the house. We called to him to leave it open, but he was either deaf or scared too badly to pay any attention.
195
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
This delayed us somewhat, but as we closed it behind us our pursuers met with a similar delay.
Finally we lost sight of the enemy, and then we pulled up to give our jaded horses a breathing spell. They had been kept on a run for several miles, and had leaped several fences and ditches by the way, as we were fol- lowing by-ways to avoid being caught by the enemy's cavalry, who were watching every high-way leading to the rear.
We had been marching through the wools for some time when we suddenly saw a body of Confederate cav- alry passing along a road at right angles to ours. and only a few hundred yards in front of us. We were not observed, and when they passed we pursued our course. reaching Charlestown about noon. As we entered the town we saw Colonel Me Reynolds coming in on another road, followed by about fifty men, soldiers and teamsters. and at first we took them for the enemy. It appears that they also took us for the enemy, and we came near having a collision. We passed on down to Halltown. where we stopped to get something to eat. and while thus engaged General Milroy and his staff arrived. We then proceedled to Harper's Ferry together.
Our regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Col- onel Adams, formed the extreme rear guard that morn- ing, which was supposed to be the post of danger, and therefore the post of honor, but it turned out that there was still more danger in front: as we found out to our sorrow.
When the battle opened in front. Lieutenant-Colonel Adams was ordered to come up at a gallop, and he arrived upon the field just as the enemy had charged and driven back our advance infantry, capturing all who could not
196
HISTORY OF THE
escape. The enemy then opened fire upon our regiment, bursting a perfect shower of shells around them ; wound- ing Captain Bailey slightly in the shoulder, and kill- ing and wounding a number of our horses, whose riders they captured.
At this juncture Lieutenant-Colonel Adams received orders from one of General Milroy's staff officers, to charge up the turnpike, and, if possible, rescue the gen- eral, who seemed to be entirely surrounded by the enemy. The charge was made in gallant style, under a tremen- dous fire from the enemy's guns, but General Milroy could not be found. Our regiment was then in the very midst of the enemy, and in great danger of being cut to pieces by their infantry, who were swarming through the woods on both sides of the road ; and, seeing that the day was lost, Lieutenant-Colonel Adams ordered them to charge, and they ent their way through, bringing Mitroy's staff officers with them to Hancock, Maryland.
While we were fighting the enemy at Winchester. on Sunday, a portion of their forces was making an attack on Martinsburg in our rear. General Tyler was at that place, with some infantry and a few guns, and he sent Major Boyd. Captain Martindale and Lieutenant Boyd, with their men to meet the enemy. They did some good fighting there, and enabled Tyler to get his guns and stores away before the enemy came in.
Lieutenant Boyd, with a handful of men, held the town of Martinsburg for half an hour, against the enemy's cavalry, and might have held it longer had he not been severely wounded and compelled to retire.
General Tyler marched to Harper's Ferry. and Cap- tain Martindale, carrying Lieutenant Boyd along, fol-
197
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
lowed him; but Major Boyd, having sent our wagon train towards Williamsport proceeded in that direction.
On Monday morning. while we were struggling to break through the rebel lines at Winchester, their cav- alry under General Jenkins, which we kad fought at the Opequon on Saturday, crossed the Potomac at Wil- liamsport in pursuit of our wagon train.
Major Boyd had started the train early in the moru- ing, and remained to give Jenkins a suitable reception on the classic shores of " Maryland, my Maryland." After a sharp skirmish he followed the train, to keep it on the go, and accompanied it all the way to Harris- burg, Pennsylvania; arriving there on the 17th, after skirmishing with Jenkins' men at every turn in the road : but once in Harrisburg our train was safe.
Much has been said and written about the affair. at Winchester, and some have blamed General Milroy, while others have commended him : but. I think. hal not General Milroy and his brave troops defended their po- sition so stubbornly. General Lee's army would have sacked Harrisburg, and possibly Philadelphia and New York city also. General Milroy, in his report, has re- flected upon Colonel MeReynolds, but I think any one reading the foregoing facts will be puzzled to discover wherein Colonel Me Reynolds failed in the performance of any duty. I was his adjutant-general, and I can testify to his zeal and faithfulness in executing every order re- ceived from General Milroy's headquarters, as well as to his genuine patriotism and staunch courage.
The disaster at Winchester was not so great as was at first supposed : not more than one-third of the troops being captured. The artillery was the greatest loss. The greater part of the wagons were at Martinsburg for
198
HISTORY OF THE
the purpose of bringing up supplies, and thus escaped. Those taken at Winchester were empty.
General Milroy's loss, when compared with the amount of property captured, destroyed or abandoned on many other occasions during the war, was truly insignificant ; and especially so when we consider what the enemy might have done had they not been delayed so long at Winchester. On this point I refer to the testimony of General Joseph Hooker, before the court of inquiry at Washington convened at General Milroy's request. It is due to Colonel Ware, that noble citizen of the Shenan- doah Valley, of whom I have spoken in a previous chap- ter, to say that his solicitude for the welfare of our officers and men led him to visit Winchester, imme- diately after our retreat, to see if he could be of any service to those who might have been wounded or cap- tured. He found Lieutenant F. A. Nims, of our regi- ment, a prisoner, and succeeded in rendering him valu- able assistance. Nims was aide-de-camp to General Elli- ott; but. being sick at the time. he was left behind and fell into the hands of the enemy.
Colonel Ware heard at Winchester that the private pro- perty of some of our officers had been captured on the re- treat from Berryville, and he mounted his horse and fol- lowed General Lee to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and obtained a letter from him requiring those having the property to deliver it to Colonel Ware to be returned to the proper owners; which was done. This speaks volumes for both Colonel Ware and General Lee ; and it were well had the same spirit animated more of the officers on both sides, during our late " unpleasantness."
199
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Milroy relieved-Maryland Heights-Lee's Army again in Maryland- Frederick City-Destruction of Lee's Pontoons-General Buford hangs a supposed Spy-The First New York ( Lincoln Cavalry dur- ing the Gettysburg Campaign-Major Boyd made Colonel ; Lieuten- ant Knowles, Major: Lieutenant Boyd, Captain; and Sergeant Knowles, Adjutant of a Pennsylvania Regiment-Our Wagons join us at Hagerstown-" Buck," the Wagon-Master.
N' arriving at Harper's Ferry, after the retreat from Winchester. General Milroy asked for a court of inquiry, and then proceeded to join the remnant of his division in Pennsylvania. General Tyler then took command of the troops at Harper's Ferry , and had every- thing removed to Maryland Heights, Maryland.
The infantry at Maryland Heights were divided into three brigades, under Generals Elliott, Morris, and Kenly, and the cavalry were formed into a brigade un- der Colonel MeReynolds, of which I was 1. 1. 1. G. Elliott's troops soon afterwards proceeded to Wash- ington.
Lieutenant O. B. Knowles, of our regiment, who had obtained a short leave of absence, just before the enemy attacked us at Berryville and Winchester, it being the first leave He had had since entering the service, in July. 1861. joined us at Maryland Heights: having read in the papers the acesunt of our misfortunes. When in- formed that hi- troop was somewhere in Pennsylvania. in front of the enemy, he at once set out for Harrisburg to hunt it up.
While on Maryland Heights, we were one amped in Kar of battle, and alarm- were of nightly occurrence. f"
200
IHISTORY OF THE
Confederate army was crossing the Potomac above and below us, and we could almost count them through our field glasses. The guns of Pleasonton and Stuart were distinctly heard by us, during the cavalry fight between those commanders. at Aldie, Upperville and Middleburg. on the 17th. 19th and 21st of June. On the Bad, we --- sent fifty of the cavalry at the Heights, under Captain Martindale, on a seout, and they brought in fifteen prisoners; one whom was the son of the Confederate General Wright. He had a wooden leg. His father came near falling into our hands also, having had a lock of his hair shot away in the chase.
On the 27th. General Hooker paid us a visit. and Gen- eral Tyler was superceded by General French. Hooker ordered the heavy guns to be spiked or bursted, and the Heights abandoned, but before he left we captured a courier, with dispatches from General Lee to General Hill, which caused him to countermand the order.
We captured forty other prisoners, and a train of ambulances, at the time we took the courier; also a large flock of sheep which the enemy had collected in Mary- land.
On the 30th of June. we evacuated Maryland Heights, and moved up to Frederick City, where French's Corps was held in reserve, while the Army of the Potomac was pursuing Lee's army through Pennsylvania.
" The days of June were nearly done : The fields, with plenty over- ruin. Were ripening 'neath the harvest st. In fruittul Pennsylvania ! ยท Sang bird- and children : " AH is well!". When sudden. over hill and doll The gloom of coming battle foll
201
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
" Through Maryland's historic land. With boastful tongue, and spoiling hand. They burst-a fierce and famished band- Right into Pennsylvania !
" With taunt and jeer, and shout and song. Through rustic towns they passed along- A confident and braggart throng- Through frightened Pennsylvania !"
Knowing that a great battle must shortly be fought between the two armies, and remembering the escape of Lee's army after the battle of Antietam, we determined to prevent their escape this time if possible. Accord- ingly we sent out a scouting party of cavalry on the Ist of July, to examine the Potomac River as far up as they possibly could, in order to find out what artificial means Lee had of crossing that river, and how guarded.
On the 2d the dead body of General John F. Rey- nolds arrived at Frederick City, and we learned that the two armies had " clinched" at Gettysburg on the day preceding.
That night our scouting party returned with the infor- mation that there was a pontoon bridge at Falling Waters, with a guard of about two hundred cavalry, and that about the same number of cavalry were watch- ing the ford at Williamsport.
Upon receipt of this intelligence Colonel MeReynolds sent the following note to General French :
HEADQUARTERS. CAVALRY BRIGADE. FRENCH'S CORPS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. FREDERICK. MD. JulyB. T.
LIEUTENANT :- I bor to submit. for the consideration of the Major- General commanding, that I have information, which I deem reliable. that the rebel three in the vicinity of Williamsport is very small ; that: a forer of cavalry about one hundred and fifty strong could. in my opinion. successfully approach to the point, and, by a prompt move. ment, at break of day to-morrow, destroy the portoor badget that place, which is the only reliance of the rebels for a retreat for their it-
202
HISTORY OF THE
fantry. artillery and wagons in that direction. I sincerely hope the General will permit me to make this movement, as I deem it not only quite practicable, but of vast importance.
I have the honor to be, lieutenant. Your obedient servant. ANDREW T. MCREYNOLDS. Col. 1st N. Y. Che'u. Convty Cary Brigale.
To Lieutenant W. F. A. TORBUT.
A. A. G., Frente's Corps Army Po'ont".
This paper was returned with the following endorse- ment :
HEADQUARTERS, July 3, 1863.
COLONEL :- I am directed by General French to say that he approves of the within. and that you will use discretion in effecting the purpose.
Respectfully your obedient servant. W. F. A. TORBUT. Lieu !. A. D. C. und A. A. A. G.
To Colonel MeREYNOLDS.
Commanding Bright le.
Upon the receipt of the above we dispatched Major Shadrack Foley of the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cav- alry, with about three hundred men, composed of de- tachments from his own regiment, and from the Sixth Michigan, Thirteenth Pennsylvania, and First New York ( Lincoln) Cavalry, to destroy the pontoon bridge at Falling Waters. They were furnished with axes and combustible material for its destruction. and set out on their important mission during the night of the 3d.
On arriving at the river bank. at Falling Waters. they found that the bridge was lying along the Virginia shore, made fast at both ends, and for a time they were nonplussed. At length a bugler of the Sixth Michi- gan Cavalry, named John Hetz. volunteered to swim across and out the upper fastenings, while the troops covered him with their carbines. He accomplished his mission successfully, and clang to the bridge while the stream swept it to the Maryland side, where it was made fast by the troops.
203
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
Major Foley and his men then dashed across and at- tacked the guard, dispersing them, and capturing seven- teen of their number, including the officer in command ; a Lieutenant Stuart, who, it is said, afterwards killed himself by jumping from a window of the old Capital Prison at Washington.
The prisoners were sent under guard to Frederick City, and the major, after destroying the bridge, made a dash at the guard at Williamsport, dispersing it in like manner, and capturing several more prisoners. On his return he was recommended for a "brevet " on account of his gallantry and the valuable services he had per- formed.
While we were thus engaged. the two armies had been contending for the mastery, in a life and death struggle. on the heights of Gettysburg. The tidal wave of rebel- lion had swept triumphantly up the southern limb of the union arch. to the Keystone; but there the fiat went forth : " Hitherto shalt thou come, but no farther. and here shall thy proud waves he stayed."
" It was the Janguid hour of noo !. When all the birds were out of tune. And nature in a sultry swoon. In pleasant Pennsylvania !
" When sudden. o'er the slumbering plain. Red flashed the battle's fiery rain ; And volleying cannon shook amain. The hills of Pennsylvania !
. We felt the old ancestral thrill. From siro to son transmitted still. And fought for freedom with a will. In bloody Pennsylvania !
" The breathless shock-the maddonal toil- The sudden chinch the sharp peroti- And we were masters of the In ransomet Pennsylvania !'
204
HISTORY OF THE
On the 4th of July. a small force of the enemy's cav- alry dashed into the suburbs of Frederick City, captur- ing several of the citizens, known to be Union men, and several fine horses. Our cavalry were soon upon their track, and succeeded in re-capturing the prisoners and horses, besides killing two and capturing several of the raiders.
We had had a very heavy rain storm, caused, no doubt, by the three days' terrifie cannonading at Gettysburg. and the Potomac was full to over-flowing, and running like a mountain torrent. We had sent a courier to Gen- eral Meade's headquarters to inform him of this fact, and that the pontoon bridge had been destroyed ; and it is said he leaped from his couch, when he heard the news. exclaiming : " This is the best news of the war!" But after all it did not avail us much, as the army of the Potomac was not permitted to pursue and attack its ad- versary until he had repaired the damages, and the river had fallen sufficiently for him to cross in safety.
On the afternoon of the 5th, General Buford arrived at Frederick City with two divisions of cavalry, and en- vamped for the night just outside of the town.
In the evening. Colonel Me Reynold's and I rode out to the camp, to invite the general and some of his prin- cipal officers to occupy part of our quarters. While in camp a man was brought in by the pickets who was ac- cused of being a spy. It was said by those who brought him to the general, that he had passes on his person from General Lee, and had just returned from the enemy's lines. Others present thought they could identify him as a man who had been selling articles to the soldiers in our camps. The man himself' said. in answer to some query from the general, that he was a Baltimorian, and
1
205
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
had a wife and family in that city; that two of his sons were with General Lee's army ; that his wife had impor- tuned him to visit them, which he had very reluctantly consented to do, and was then returning to his home. He said he had never aided nor abetted the Confede- rates, and asked to be permitted to produce evidence of the truth of his statements; but General Buford ordered him to be hung up to a tree at once : remarking that if sent to Washington he would probably be given an of- fice under the Government. (!)
The poor fellow pleaded piteously for his life, or for the privilige of having his wife and children sent for, so that he might bid them farewell; but he was dragged off to execution.
They placed him in a wagon, with a rope around his neck, and took him to an old tree close by, to the limb of which they fastened a rope, and then drove the wagon from under him, leaving him suspended by the neck.
The swollen and putrid corpse of this man hung there for days after Buford left. as he had directed a card to be pinned to the body, stating that he would hang any person who attempted to cut it down.
On the morning of the 6th, General Buford's cavalry set out for Williamsport, to try to head Lee's army off: but on approaching that place they found thirty-two heavy guns, well posted on the circling hills, and some three thousand Confederates. under General Imboden. ready to receive them.
Imboden had arrived there the day before with Lee's wagon trains, after having lost part of the train and many prisoners, besides two guns, in a skirmish with our regiment. near Mercersburg. Pennsylvania, to be noticed shortly.
206
HISTORY OF THE
After Buford left us at Frederick, General French sent a force to destroy the railroad bridge at Harper's Ferry, which was succesfully accomplished; but it had better been left undone, as subsequent events proved. This force then re-occupied Maryland Heights, while another was sent to occupy Crampton's Gap, in South Mountain.
On the 9th of July Colonel Me Reynolds was ordered to take command of his old brigade, consisting of the First New York ( Lincoln) Cavalry, and the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which were supposed to be near Greencastle. Pennsylvania. We set out for that place the same day, and in two days reached Chambersburg, where we found Major Boyd with his company. The brigade was ordered to join the Second Cavalry Division, under General D. MeM. Gregg, which was then near Boonsboro, Maryland. When at Chambersburg I met Captain W. P. C. Tricchel, of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, who had been captured at Gettysburg, but had got away again. Ialso saw Lieutenant-Colonel William Rotch Wister there, with his regiment, the Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
On the 18th of July we left Chambersburg and marched to Greencastle, where we found our regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Adams commanding, with many of the other troops that had been with Milroy at Winches- ter : and Colonel MeReynol is being the senior officer, assumed command of the forces; General Milroy hav- ing gone to Washington.
I will now narrate the services of our regiment dur- ing the Gettysburg campaign.
As already stated, it haf out its way through the enemy's lines at Winchester, and had reached Hancock.
207
FIRST NEW YORK (LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
Maryland. It then proceeded to Bloody Run, Pennsylva- nia. The enemy were then pouring into that State in great numbers, and the citizens were in a terrible state of excitement and alarm. The militia soon began to arrive from Harrisburg and New York, and there was "confusion worse confounded," as they were neither drilled nor disciplined for efficient service in the field.
Captain Jones was sent on a scout, with thirty-five men, towards McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of June, and there he fell in with a squadron of Imboden's Rangers, under Captain Irwin. A very sharp fight ensued, between these two parties, which resulted in the " Rangers" being put to flight; two of their number being killed, and thirty of them, together with Captain Irwin and Lieutenant Jordan, being captured by our men. In this fight Captain Jones was slightly wounded, and had his uniform coat pierced with several bullets. One of our men had been cap- tured, and, after surrendering up his arms, his das- tardly captor shot him. In the chase that followed, one of our boys overtook this scoundrel and clove his head open with his sabre. killing him instantly.
Shortly afterwards Captain Bailey was sent out on a reconnoisance, with about thirty men, and fell in with a foraging party of the enemy, near Hancock, Maryland. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which several of our horses and one of the men were wounded, and several of the enemy placed hors de combat : but Bailey put them to flight and succeed in capturing a lieutenant and ten men. This officer was a jovial fellow, and when asked what General Lee's intentions were. he replied that he .in- tended to sack Philadelphia and New York, and then divide his army between Newport and Long Branch for
208
HISTORY OF THE
the rest of the summer. (!)" "And where do you ex- pect to pass the summer ?" said Bailey. "Well," said he, " I'm not so particular, Coney Island will do for me, as I am fond of clams. (!)"
On the 2d of July Major Quinn was sent out with a battalion on a scout, and he fell in with General Im- boden's forces near McConnelsburg, Pennsylvania, on their way to join Lee at Gettysburg, and pitched into their rear guard, capturing quite a number of prisoners. The major said it would never do to let Imbodon pass without paying toll. His forces had been on a raid to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, to prevent reinforcements from reaching Meade from the West.
The regiment had moved from Bloody Run to Bedford Springs; but on hearing of the fight at Gettysburg they quickly movel down to MeConnelsburg. On the 5th of July Captain Jones was sent out, in command of two hundred men, part from our regiment and part from the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and he fell in with Lee's wagon train on its retreat from Gettysburg. The train was about seventeen miles in length, including the ambulances with the wounded, and was escorted by three thousand troops-cavalry, infantry and artillery- under our old frien l General Imb xen : as he has stated over his own signature in Annals of the War. The troops were posted along the whole length of the train, in strong detachments. each detachment having with it several cannon. They were making for Williamsport, Maryland, via Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and had crossed the mountains during the night.
It was in the vicinity of Mercersburg, at a place called Cunningham's Cross Roads, that Jones first spied the wagons, and he took in the situation at a glance.
P
CAPTURE OF LEE'S WAGON TRAINS-July 5, 1863.
11
V
209
FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY.
Sending part of his force to dash in and out the train in two, at a weak point, he took the remainder of his men to attack the rear guard, which was the strongest and best armed force. On hearing the firing in front he charged upon the rear guard, with startling yells, "stam- peding" them in short order, killing several of the enemy and capturing their two pieces of artillery. He then gave chase until he came to the point where his de- tached force had struck the train and turned it off to- wards Loudon, Pennsylvania.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.