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 24
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The rich valleys on both sides of the Blue Ridge had thus been swept by the besom of destruction, and ren- dered untenable for the enemy. and Sheridan's troops spent the rest of the winter at Winchester in compara- tive quietness.
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GUNWALE
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BATTLE OF NINEVEH .--- Driving the Enemy Across the Shenandoah River.
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CHAPTER XXVI
Winter of 164-5 at Winchester-The First New York Cavalry in Cus- ter's Division-Sheridan off to join Grant-Fights at Mount Craw. ford and Waynesboro'-March to the White House-Results of the raid-March to Petersburg.
BOUT the Ist of January, 1865, the cavalry of Sheri- dan's Army were permitted to go into winter quar-
ters. Powell's Division, then under General Chapman. were encamped at Taylor's Fulling Mill, on the Opequon. about five miles from Winchester. During the winter the officers of Capehart's Brigade gave a ball at the Mill, and nearly all the officers of the Cavalry Corps were in attendance, besides many of the officers of the other arms of the service. - General Sheridan graced the oc- casion with his presence, and there was a gay time gen- erally.
Very little occurred that winter, except an occasional scott, and the usual picketing, which is never omitted.
General Sheridan had organized a fine body of scouts. under Major Young. a bold. brave and efficient officer. and they were continually on the move. They were dressed in Confederate uniform. and frequently entered the enemy's lines, obtaining valuable information. That winter they learned of the whereabouts of Major Gil- more and his men, and set out to capture that bold partisan, which they succeeded in doing near Moorfield. West Virginia.
Capehart's Brigade, to which our regiment belonged. had attracted the special notice of General Sheridan. their splendid fighting qualities having won for them the
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sobriquet of " the fighting brigade," and they were trans- ferred from Chapman's (late Powell's) Division to the division of the gallant General Custer.
Many changes had taken place in our regiment dur- ing the extremely hard work through which it had passed in 1864.
Every one of the company officers, at that time, ex- cept three, had been promoted from the ranks, for gal- lantry on the many hard fought fields in which the regiment had participated; and were therefore well qualified to lead the gallant boys of that veteran regi- ment, under the gallant General Custer.
By their services they had earned the right to lead the van, and, recognizing this fact, General Custer usually placed them there; and their bright sabres con- tributed largely towards the well merited glory which surrounds the name of the " Commander of the Third Division."
It was known that the cavalry were soon to set out on a big raid. and Colonel Adams, whose foot was still very troublesome, requested Colonel Capehart to allow him to accompany the troops, on this raid. in an ambu- lance, promising to mount and take command of his regiment in case of a battle ; but no one was permitted to accompany the troops under Sheridan, who was unable to ride and perform all active duties in the field, so Colonel Adams had to remain behind at Winchester until his recovery, which soon took place, and he re- joined the regiment near Appomattox Court House.
Towards the close of February, General Sheridan turned over the command of the Middle Military Di- vision to tieneral Hancock, and placed himself at the head of his famous Cavalry Corps. and prepared to join
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Grant at Petersburg; thus making his personal inter- ests subservient to those of his country-Glorious Phil Sheridan !
On the 27th of February, Sheridan's Cavalry, con- sisting of the First Division, under General Wesley Merritt. and the Third Division, under General George A. Custer, broke camp and started up the Valley en route for Petersburg. With Sheridan for a head, Mer- ritt and Custer for right and left arms, and two such divisions of cavalry for a body, it would be hard to find a better organization. It was this living, moving, splen- did organism that was destined to give the quietus to Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, and bring about a speedy termination of the war.
During the first two days' march from Winchester. nothing more serious than a slight skirmish at the front disturbed the even tenor of the march. The roads were awful, however, and soon began to tell upon the legs of the horses, scalding them and cansing the hair to peel off.
On the night of the 25th, the corps bivouacked at Laey's Springs, near Harrisonburg. and our regiment went out on picket, so that when the march was re- sumed at 3 a m., next day, they were in the rear of the column.
The corps had scarcely got straightened out on the road that morning when the advance found themselves confronted by the cavalry of the enemy, in pretty strong force, and a lively skirmish was the result.
The Confederates were pushed back pretty rapidly till they reached the bridge over North River, at Mt. Crawford, where they made a stubborn resistance.
General Custer, with two of his brigades, was in
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front, and when he found that the enemy was intrenched on the high ground beyond the river, their guns cover- ing the bridge, he ordered the First New York (Lin- coln) Cavalry to come quickly to the front. As they galloped up, with Lieutenant-Colonel Battersby at their head. Custer met them and ordered them to make a de- tour and swim the river about a mile above the bridge. and charge the enemy in flank and rear and drive them out of their works.
Custer engaged the enemy at the bridge. and our reg- iment, most gallantly supported by the First Virginia Cavalry, set out at a gallop to perform their task. The river was deep and the water very cold. but the boys took to it like ducks, and were soon on the south side ready for work. They dismounted for a moment under the bank, to get rid of some of the water from their boots and clothing, and then formed line on the heights and began their advance.
The enemy had not discovered the movement, and when our boys, with drawn sabres and ringing cheers. dashed upon them from the rear, they broke in confu- sion. and fled in wild disorder towards Staunton and Waynesboro:
Battersby pursued them pell-mell for nearly ten miles. capturing seven wagons, loaded with supplies, and about five hundred prisoners, and saved the bridge over Mid- dle River.
The other troops had not been slow in crossing the river, and were close behind our regiment as it reached Middle River, and the corps bivouacked that night within five miles of Staunton.
On the 24 of March. Custer's Division passed through that place, and moved upon Waynesboro', where Early's
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CHARGE AT WAYNESBORO, VA .--- March 2, 1805.
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forces were intrenched. The roads were perfectly awful, and many of the horses gave out and were left sticking in the mud.
After some severe fighting, Custer's bugles sounded the charge, and the whole division dashed forward- Custer's gleaming sabre and scarlet cravat being con- spicuous among the foremost.
The enemy seemed perfectly demoralized, and fled in great disorder towards Rockfish Gap, in the Blue Ridge, hotly pursued by Colonel Henry Capehart's Brigade; killing, wounding, and capturing great numbers of the fleeing Confederates. Capehart and the officers of his brigade were complimented on the field for their gal- lantry.
We took over one thousand prisoners, eleven guns. nine battie flags, (three of which were captured by our regiment.) and one hundred and fifty wagons; one of which was the headquarters wagon, containing a boat for crossing rivers, and all of General Early's papers and baggage. This was Early's last appearance on the " stage of war."
That night the Second and Third Virginia Cavalry were sent to Greenwood Station. at the eastern entrance to Rocktish Gap, and there they captured a long train of cars, which they destroyed, together with the depot containing an immense quantity of supplies, and brought in over one hundred prisoners.
On the 3d of March, Custer's Division entered Char- lottesville, without opposition, and here Captain John J. O'Brien, of our regiment, who was provost marshal of the division. now a first lieutenant in the United States Army, found among the captured papers some very spicy
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correspondence which had taken place between Generals Lee. Early and Anderson of the Confederate army.
From this place Sheridan sent his prisoners back to Winchester, under guard, so that he might not be troubled with them on his march.
About this time M. C. Dunn, of our regiment, who was serving as a " Jessie Scout." at Sheridan's head. quarters, under Major Young, chief of scouts, was sent back to Winchester with dispatches. He had with him three other scouts, all dressed in gray. They were pre- vided with the best horses in the corps, as their business was important, and their journey perilous.
They passed Staunton safely, but soon afterwards met two of Gilmore's men, who had been prisoners in our hands. and knew Dunn, notwithstanding his disguise. Our boys allowed them to pass, although they feared some mischief would come of it : and sure enough their fears were soon realized.
While they were taking breakfast at a house.on their way. they were suddenly surrounded by about twenty men, some of whom were soldiers and some citizens. and were forced to surrender. Gilmore's men were among their captors, and told them that they had man- aged the surprise.
On arriving at Staunton they were placed in the yard of the jail. where they found about two hundred soldiers of General Sheridan's command, who, by falling behind. had been picked up by the enemy at various points along the line of march.
That night some of our cavalry made a raid in the " inity of Staunton, which so alermed the people of that place that the prisoners succeeded in making their escape. Before leaving the jail, however, the scouts dis-
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covered that preparations had been made for hanging them as spies, which was not a very agrecable discovery.
The night was dark, and the scouts made good time on the road towards Winchester; never thinking of fol- lowing Sheridan's column. About daylight they neared a house, and, as they did so, they discovered several horses tied to the fence. saddled and brilled ready for the road.
They stole up quietly, and each man untied a horse, and mounted in hot haste, and were off at speed before their unwelcome visit had been discovered.
To their infinite delight they found a brace of revol- vers in the holsters of every saddle. and once more felt that ". Richard was himself again."
The horses were good ones, and quite fresh, and the scouts put them through their paces that day without regard to consequences : never slackening rein till they reached Mount Jackson.
Here they stopped to get something to eat, and to rest their horses. As they came out of the house they spied a squad of horseman coming over Rhude's Hill, about a inile or so in their rear. The bridge across the North Fork of the Shenandoah had been destroyed, and the scouts had to swim the river. The water was very deep, and running like a mill-race. and one of the horses was drowned in crossing : but the others succeeded in getting over safely. and saved their comrade's life when his horse went down.
They shortly afterwards secure I a horse for their dis- mounted comrade. and the whole party succeeded in reaching Winchester in safety.
While at Charlottesville, Lieutenant Colonel Batter -- by was entertained very hospitably by Judge Watson;
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and, when leaving, Battersby inquired of the judge whether there was anything he could do for him.
The judge replied that he didn't know of anything. except, that in case his son, who was adjutant of the Fifty-second Virginia Infantry, should fall into his hands. he should treat him kindly. The colonel agreed to do so, and rode away with his regiment, little think- ing that such a circumstance would occur; but the se- quel will show that "truth is often stranger than fic- tion."
Nothing of great importance transpired on the march from Charlottesville to the Pamunkey River, except the destruction of railroads, canals, bridges, culverts and telegraph lines, as the forces advaneed to within five miles of Lynchburg and twelve miles of Richmond, laying everything waste as they triumphantly marched along.
The corps crossed the Pamunkey River at the White House, our base of supplies while on the Peninsula under Mcclellan. and went into camp for a few days to allow the jaded animals to rest and recuperate.
On nearing the Pamunkey, Lieutenant-Colonel Bat- torsby was directed to proceed with our regiment to- wards Taylor's Ford, and watch it till the column had passed, and then to fall in as rear guard. It was sup- posed to be only four miles distant. but Battersby found it was twice that distance. so his arrangements were somewhat disordered. Besides, he found that there was a force of the enemy's cavalry lying in wait to attack him should he return by the route he came; so he made a wide circuit to avoid this force. and never got into camp till late in the night.
For this he was placel in arrest. and tried by court
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martial at the White House; but before the proceedings were published the troops set out for Petersburg, and in the battles that quickly followed, nearly every one of the members of the court was killed, and nothing ever came of the affair. This had the effect of putting Captain Samuel Stevens in temporary command of the regiment.
The following account of this raid, up to this point, which was taken from a New York paper of that day, will no doubt prove interesting :
FROM GENERAL SHERIDAN'S ARMY.
The United States steamer Shawmut, eight guns, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander John G. Walker, arrived at this port on Mon- day from Pamunkes River. Virginia, where she has been stationed as flag-ship of the York River Motilla.
On the evening of the 3d, while lying at anchor off Indian Town. in the above river, the officers of this vessel were surprised-not by the Rebels-but by the officers of General Sheridan's statt, who came alongside in a small steamer, bringing with them a fine band of music from the Third Division of Sheridan's Army. After playing several air- the party came on board and proceeded to Captain Walker . cabin. where they enjoyed themselves with music and singing until 11 p. m. when they embarked on their steamer amid three hearty cheers and a tiger from the jolly tars of this vessel, who manned the rigging for tha! purpose.
The members of General Sheridan's staff who participated in this affair. were Colonel Sherman, Chief of Staff, Colonel Moore. Major Gillespie, Captain Holman, Captain Allen, Lieutenant Dubois, Lda- testa it Allen, and Colonel Kapahardt.
WHITE HOUSE LANDING, PAMUNREY RIVER. VA .. March 21. 1865.
General Sheridan was serenaded at his headquarters on board of the Metamora last evening by the batals of the First Virginia and the Twenty-fifth New York Cavalry. Being exclusively a fighting man. he made no speech on the occasion; but the blue jackets on the neigh- boring gunboats responded to the stirring maisle by tripping the light Irrita stie toe and the bristling cannon on their warlike deeks, After- ward a general serenade was given to the sunboat flotilla by the basis passing up and down the river on a 'nf.
We learned tolddeserters and refugees, just over that peleos lave come up biger Ban ever in Riental since sherdan's le red Flour has raised to -1 30 bble and everything else in production. . general onder has been issued requiring country people visiting Rich-
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mond on business, to bring their vietuals with them. Probably an un- necessary precaution, as the country people are no doubt sharp enough for that already.
From the same source we learn that General Early has taken a self- imposed pledge to not drink any more until he shall have whipped Sheridan. This is considered by Sheridan's officers as equivalent to the rebel general's having taken the temperance pledge for life. to the no small damage of the Confederate distillers, and a corresponding fall in the price of corn.
AN ARMY OF BOYS.
Whatever may be said of the " playing out" of the pick-nickian style with which the war was commenced on the part of the North, it must be admitted that Sheridan's command still partakes. in a large degree, of this order of warfare. His army is literally an army of boys-not exactly the spoils of the cradle, a be the Confederacy, but made up of the youth and vigor of the land. He himself, one of the oldest and gravest b'hoys in it, is only thirty-two years of age, while nearly all hisofficers and men are his juniors. There is not one of them but that, at this very moment, is anxious to get away from here on another grand expedition, narrowing down the limits of the Confed- eraey. We constantly hear the questions, among both officers and men : " When are we going to get away from this place?" . Wonder when we are going to start on another march ; I'm getting tired of this plac ." Ke .. dr.
General Franklin is said to have remarked to General Mcclellan just . after the Peninsular campaign: " Weare not the men that will have the closing up of this war. The youngsters just coming into it. profiting by our mistakes, will be the men finally called upon to finish up what we have commeneed." And so it has proved. Most of the gray-haired veterans who were called upon to take part in the initiation of the war have been retired from the field. in one way and another, and the " machine" is now emphatically in the hands of . Young America."
WHAT GENERAL SHERIDAN ACCOMPLISHED.
LISTS OF PROPERTY DESTROYED AND CAPTURED.
The following are complete official lists of the property destroyed and captured on the late raid. They tell the whole story of what was in the country and what the raidersaccomplished:
BY FIRST DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS. BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS DEVIN. COMMANDING :
Du Bist Rangel, Con ! Per Sepa. Com Bing -Here's raptured. in; mules. 20. Property destroyed-5 grist mills. I cotton mill. 2 saw mills, 2 flour mills a bridge . 5 vann! boats, Beets canal locks. 12 ware-
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houses, 1 lumber yard, 1 boat house. 1 aqueduet, + railroad cars, 7 miles telegraph lines, 500 bushels wheat. woo barrels four. i tons cotton, 1.500 pounds wool, $5 hogsheads tobacco. 1 railroad depot. 5 water tanks and outbuildings, & miles railroad track effectually destroyed, the Lynchburg and Richmond Canal out in three places, allowing the water to run off, effectually destroying the canal. Prisoners of war captured, N.
By Spread Briga le. First Division, Colonel Fitz Hugh, Commanding- Horses captured, 250; mules. 145. Property destroyed-65 miles (f railroad, is canal locks, 6 flat boats loaded with tobacco and flour, 12 canal boats. 5 canal boat loads of tobacco, four and hospital supplies. 2 large buildings containing 300 hogsheads of tobacco. 1 jail at Gooch- land Court House. 500 cords of railroad wood, Idepot, 4 barns, 3,000 pairs boots. 200000 pairs pants, jackets, blankets and drawers, 50,000 pounds wheat, 1,000 pounds tobacco. 15 wagons containing corn, wheat. Hour and tobacco, 1 tannery with 1,000 hides, 2 naval camps with imple- ments, 1 steam engine and a quantity of dressed timber. 4 hogsheads of leaf tobacco. 1 boat load of corn. I large warehouse and a quantity of blacksmiths' tools, i saw mill and machinery. 3 wagons loaded with quartermaster'sand C. S. stores, f hales cotton, s boxes tobacco, 4 Rogs- heads tobacco. 15 barrels potash. s bales hay, 1 canal dredge. 1.000 grain sacks, 1,000 shelter tents. 336 sacks salt. Prisoners of war. 33.
By Reverte Brigade, General Alfred Gibbs, Commanding-Horses cap- tured. 35: mules, 40. Property destroyed-100 wagons. ambulances. forges, caissons, &c., captured by Third Division at Waynesboro. Virginia, L iron bridgeon Virginia Central Railroad at Waynesboro: Virginia, 1 wooden aqueduet on James River Canal at Tye River. Virginia. en canal bridges over James River Canal. 10 sots canal lucky on James River Canal, I woolen factory, Scottsville, Virginia. I can. die factory. Scottsville, Virginia. 3 warehouses. Scottsville, Virginia 1.(%) pounds candles am bushels wheat. 1 plow and wagon manufactory. Howardsville, Virginia, I machine shop. Howardsville, Virginia. 1 Forge. Howardsville, Virginia.3 mills. Albemarle and Nelson counties. Virginia; fax) pounds tobacco. 3 miles Virginia Central Railroad. Louisa county. Virginia
In addition to above. it is estimated that the command consumed on the march, 200,000 pounds corn and oats. 20,000 pounds hay. 20.po pounds Hour. 10,000 pounds bacon. all found in the enemy's country.
By Fifth Called Succes Card'ry, d'acled to Huelquarters-Horse- cap- tured. 75; mules captured. 10. Property destroyed-3 pieces of artillery captured and destroyed at South Anna Bridge. For shell, 16 musket- and accoutrements. 2 canal boats loaded with ammunition and spin - torce. I cotton factory at Scottsville. Virginia, & iron foundry at sati place. I canal rock at some place, men shell at sante place. I canal in a. load Hour, sugar, de , a' same place . I matiron bridge across South Anna, Em feet long. 2 miles railroad track at Tabersville. Captured 1; prisoners of war.
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BY THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, GENERAL CUSTER, COM- MANDING.
By First Briga te .- Captured-12 officers, IH men ; pieces of artillery with limbers. s; caissons, 1; stands of arms, 250 ; ambulances, "; horses. 126 ; mules, 32 : sets of harness. 24; United States guidon, 1. Destroyed- + iniles railroad track. 6 railroad bridges, 6 railroad culverts, 3 railroad depots.
By Second Briga le. Third Division .- Captured-$1 officers and 1.017 en- listed men. 6 pieces artillery with 6 caissons. 9 portable forges, 200 wa- gons and ambulances, 899 horses and mules, No single sets harness. 1.000 stands small arms. 13 battle tlags. Property destroyed-150 stands small arms, 9 railroad bridges, 11 miles railroad track. zo miles tele- graph. 7 water tanks. I station house, too cords wood, i steam saw mill in complete rum.ing order. 100,000 feet sawed bridge timi er. 1 "County" bridge, Sem bushels salt, 20 hogsheads tobacco, I commissary store house.
By Fair Beigu to Third Division,-Captured-March 1, at Mt. Craw- ford. Virginia, ; wagons of stores and ammunition, sent to rear : I bat- the flag. At Waynesboro'. March 2. 8 three-inch guns, sent to the rear ; 2 brass field pieces. I wagons loaded with ammunition and commissary Stores sent to the rear and destroyed; 1 battle flag. At Brookville. March 2. En wazons of stores and ammunition. At Greenwood, March 2. depot of supplies containing 3,000 ronads of fixed ammunition, 30,000 rounds rifle cartridges, Jo kers powder. 1,000 stand of rifles and muskets. 1500 sets harness, 2 cords harness leather, am wall tents, 50 euvalry saules, and pack salles, Il cation quilts, 1,00 pounds bacon, 50 barrels flour, and numerous other articles of value destroyed. Between Charlottesville and Gordonville, March 5.8 wagons loaded with stores, destroye 1: 12 horses and mules, captured : Storehouse near Blue Ridge Gap, containing 15 hossheads tobacco, burnel : battle flag captured ; destroyed the railroad all along the route. March &, de- stroyed the James River Canal at New Market. March B, burned tobacco factors and several other public buildings at Frederic. Hall Depot. on Virginia Central Railroad ; tobacco burned. estimated to be worth 20um, March 1. destroye ! railroad towards Richmond, and barned bridges, culverts are, east of Beaver Dam Station ; about 250 horses captured by command, and appropriated to dismounted men, and went to division headquarters for pontoon and wagon train.
CAPTURE OF GENERAL EARLY'S PAPERS. &C.
General Early's papers, and some of his other effeess, were captured by Captain O'Brien. First New York ( Lincoln) Cavalry, of the Head- quarters Provost Guard, a few miles out of Wayneshor' on their way after the retreating general. One of the most interesting papers in the lot is the following :
GENERAL :- Thave received your noty of Ham. Iamglad that you are able to make the disposition of the troops you propose as It meets
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iny views as expressed in a former note to you. Now that you have your troops in line. I hope you will strengthen it as much as possible and hold it. I have little fear of your position, if our men do as they generally do. The time has arrived, in my opinion, when something more is necessery than adhering to lines and defensive positions.
We shall be obliged to go out and prevent the enemy from selecting such positions as he chowes. If he is allowed to continue that course. we shall at last be obliged to take refuge behind the works at Rich- mond and stand a siege, which would be work of time. You must be prepared to fight him in the field, to prevent his taking positions such as he desires, and I expect the co-operation of all the corps commanders in the course which necessity now will oblige us to pursue. It is for this purpose that I desire the corps to be kept together and as strong as possible, and that our absentee- should be brought forward, and every attention given to refreshing an [ preparing the mon for battle. Their arms and ammunition should be looked to, and cooked provisions pro- vided ahead.
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