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 7
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During the winter we visited Mount Vernon, the for- mer home, and now the last resting place of the great Patriot. As I. gazed upon the " narrow house." which holds the mortal remains of the " mighty dead." whose fame fills the world. I was forcibly reminded of the scriptural saying : " It is the spirit that quiekeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing." Even the little spring, from which he slaked his thirst. continued to murmer on, while he. and many others who succeeded him, had passed away.
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CHAPTER IX.
Marching Orders-Burning of the High School-Kearny Leads the Advance-Charge at Sangster's Station-Death of Lieutenant Hid- den-MeClellan's Advance to Fairfax Court House-Visit to Bult Ran, Centreville and Managers-Return to the Seminary-Resolu- tions on the Death of Lieutenant Hidden.
0 N the 26th of February, 1862, we received orders to be ready to march on short notice, each regi- ment taking only four wagons. The men were to carry all their effects on their horses, but the officers were permitted to put a small valise each, in the wagons. If we could have done this later in the war! Eh ?
The weather was very inclement, and the roads in a fearful condition ; but the " powers that ruled" were de- termined that the army should advance, regardless of consequences. Things were unpropitious, but the spirit of the troops was in consonance with that grand old "Army Hymn," by Oliver Wendell Holmes :
O Lord of Hosts. Almighty King. Behold the Sacrifice we bring ; To every arm Thy strength impart. Thy spirit shed through every heart. Wake in our breasts the living fires. The holy faith that warmed our sires ; Thy power has made our Nation free. To die for her is serving Thee.
Be Thou a pillared fame, to show The midnight share, the silent foe ; And when the battle thunders loud. Still guide us in its moving cloud.
On the 28th, the High School, near the Seminary, burned down, making quite an illumination in honor of our intended advance. It was purely accidental, how-
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ever, and much regretted by General Franklin and the whole division.
On the 7th of March, General Kearny set out with his New Jersey brigade in the direction of Manassas, accompanied by a squadron of our regiment, composed of Companies "A" and "H" under Captains Stearns and Jones.
On the 9th, while repairing a bridge near Sangster's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, about three miles from Bull Run, it was discovered that the enemy had an infantry pieket in the woods only a short distance from the Station, and Captain Stearns was or- dered to send a good officer with a detachment of men to dislodge them. Lieutenant Harry B. Hidden was se- lected to perform the task, and with seventeen men he set out to make the attack. The enemy observed the movement and advanced to the edge of the woods to meet him. There was a large cleared space to cross, and Hidden passed over it at a brisk trot. When within three hundred feet of the enemy he received a volley from their muskets, which killed the horses of Corporal Lewis and private Hugh MeSourley, but they dashed on dismounted. When the enemy fired, Hidden turned to his men and said : " Now boys, spurs and sabres !" Charge ! and the next instant Union sabres and Confederate bay- onets were clashing in deadly conflict. The enemy had no time to re-load until pushed back to a fence, which they succeeded in crossing, some of them receiving severe sabre wounds in the attempt, but this gave them a chance to re-load. Some of the boys put their horses at the fence and cleared it nicely ; but the horse Lieu- tenant Hidden was riding, his own being sick, balked at the leap, and he turned to try it again. As he did so he
CHARGE AT SANGSTER'S STATION, VA. -- March 9, 1862.
Death of Liout. Hidden.
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spied the Confederate officers, and "made for them " with uplifted sabre, when he was struck with a rifle ball in the left shoulder, and fell from his horse mortally wounded.
Some of the men dismounted and made a gap in the fence, and the fight was renewed, hand to hand; Corporal Lewis, mounted upon Hidden's horse, leading and distin- guishing himself greatly. The enemy could not resist the onset of the bold troopers when the fence was forced. so they broke through the woods in confusion, hotly pursued by the little band of horsemen, who succeeded in capturing thirteen prisoners, besides placing several of the enemy hors de combat. The two commissioned officers in command of the enemy were captured ; one of whom was a graduate of West Point. Corporal Lewis and private Hugh MeSourley killed three of the enemy and captured five prisoners, while private John R. Wil- son, of Company 1, captured three prisoners himself.
When the impetuous Lieutenant Alexander saw Lieu- tenant Hidden fall, he dashed forward to assist him. and taking him in his arms, while the bullets flew thick and fast around them, brought his body from the fieldl. HLid- den was the first cavalry officer that fell in defence of the Union, and no braver man ever died in defence of law and liberty than Lieutenant Harry Hidden. Gen- eral Kearny recommended Corporal Lewis for promotion, and he received a second lieutenancy in the regiment shortly afterwards. During the engagement the general was wrought up to fever heat, and burst out in applause when the enemy gave way.
When the boys returned from the fray he took each of them by the hand, and declared that their charge was one of the most brilliant he ever witnessed. The
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names of this handful of heroes deserves to be men- tioned ; they are as follows: Corporal Eugene Lewis, Privates Charles P. Ives, Robert C. Clark, Albert H. Van Saun. Michael O'Neal, James Lynch, Cornelius Riley, Hugh MeSourley, Herman Cameron, John Came- ron, John Bogert, Martin Murray, William Simonson, Chester C. Clark, John Nugent, John R. Wilson, Henry Higgins.
General Kearny was fond of such displays of courage, no man would expose himself more recklessly than he, and the soldiers idolized him. Captain Boyd and I were at Franklin's headquarters. on the evening of the 9th. when a courier arrived from Kearny with the news. Generals MeClellan and Franklin had gone to visit General Porter ; but a dispatch was received from Frank- lin telling Kearny to go as far beyond Burk's Station as he could, without too much risk, and he would be sup- ported. The dispatch was read to General Newton by Captain Purdy, A. A. A. G., in our presence, and orders were issued for the troops to get ready to march at once. Our troop was to act as body-guard to General Frank- lin, and the officers were to act as special aids to the general during the campaign.
The troops set out at day-light on the leth, and we left with the general at 9 a. m., amid a shower of rain. As we passed the troops on the road, cheer after cheer was given for General Franklin, and we felt proud of our chief. We arrived at Fairfax at 6 p. m., and drew up on the side of the road to see the division pass. Genc- ral MeClellan passed. at that moment and beckoned Franklin to accompany him. We followed General MeClellan's body guard, and the whole cavalcade entered Fairfax at a gallop, the troops cheering " little Mac" as
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we passed. Our company was quartered in an oldl brick church, each man having a pew to himself, and the of- ficers took possession of a lawyer's office close by. We used the Court House as a guard house, and had quite a number deserters from the enemy, a great many "con- trabands." and some of our own troops confined there.
One of our sergeants, Thomas B. Ostrander, found a document in the Court House signed by George Wash- ington, bearing date the "fifth year of the reign of our sovereign lord king George the third." I tried to pur- chase this document, but the sergeant's figures were too high.
Part of the squadron under Kearny, with Captain Jones in command, had been sent forward, with instruc- tions to go as far as Manassas, unless they should meet with the enemy before reaching that place. They pushed boldly on, passing through Centreville, with its frowning fortifications, and arrived at Manassas on the evening of the 10th: where they found evidences of the recent and very hasty departure of the enemy. Fires were still burning in the huts ; quite a large quantity of provisions were found ; and the boys set to work and soon were feasting upon the good things of the enemy. They re- mained there all night, and next morning set out on their return to Fairfax Court House. They left a large table in the hospital. set with dishes of cooked provisions. and when General Averill's men entered Manassas. shortly afterwards, they found this table, and reported that the enemy had to skedaddle, leaving their hot break- fast for them. But the boys of our own regiment were the first to enter Centreville and Manassas.
On the 11th Captain Boyd and myself set out, in com- pany with some of General Franklin's staff, and an es-
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cort from Boyd's company, to visit Centreville, Manas- sas, and the battle-field of Bull Run.
We found Centreville strongly fortified and the cele- brated " Quaker guns" still frowning over the parapets. We crossed Bull Run at Blackburn's ford : but Lieuten- ant Upton and I getting below the ford, had to swim our horses across. At Manassas Junction we found the winter quarters of the Confederate army. There were log huts enough to shelter sixty thousand men at least. Several dead bodies were found in one of the hospitals, and a great many documents, of less or more value, at Beauregard's headquarters; among them a plan of the battle of Bull Run. with names of commanders and number of troops engaged. We found a statement made by John V. Williams, of Boyd's company, who was sup- posed to have been captured at Pohiek Church, the pre- vious summer, but who had really deserted to the enemy, and had given them some very important information. The battle-field of Bull Run and the plains cf Manassas were strewn with the carcasses of dead horses and mules ; and on the battle-field were many human skele- tons only partially buried. We got back to Fairfax at 7 p. m., having ridden about fifty miles during the day.
The following is a copy of the letter which General Kearny wrote to General Franklin in reference to the affair at Sangster's Station, on his return to Fairfax Court House.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE. FRANKLIN'S DIVISION. March 13h. 1862.
SIE : - In returning from detag' , at service to rejoin my division I have the honor to refer to the previous report by which I male you ac- quainted with our moves. I now respectfully recommend to your cor- sidentin. Colonel Taylor. Simpson, Torbert. Mc Allister and Tucker and their respective regiments, for their high military qualities. I have also most particularly to compliment Captain Stearns and his
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squadron of " Lincoln Horse," with Captain Jones, Lieutenant Alex- ander and all of the officers, one of whom, Lieutenant Hidden, has il- lustrated in the sacrifice of his life, the whole cavalry service, hitherto so deficient.
The duty performed by this squadron was enormous, covering the entire country from near the Oceoquan to the line of the Little River Turnpike, with boldness and address, evineing an alaerity to attack. In this every non-commissioned officer and private rivalled his officer. I now more particularly make this report to urge upon the General-in- Chief the immediate appointment as officer, Corporal Eugene Lewis, Company H. Lincoln Horse ( First New York Cavalry.) He was second in command to Lieutenant Hidden and conducted the men after his fall. His elegant, refined and soldierly appearance are fortunately. with him accompaniments to fill a situation which I rezard but the precursor to further success.
Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant, ( Signed) P. KEARNY, Brigadier-General.
To Major General FRANKLIN.
The following order was issued to the troops while at Fairfax :
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE. VA., March 14. 1962.
Soldiers of the Army of the Po'ontec:
For a long time I have kept you inactive, but not without a purpose. You were to be disciplined, armed and instructed. The formidable ar- tillery you now have had to be created. Other armies were to move and accomplish certain results. I have held you back that you might give the death-blow to the rebellion that has distracted our once happy country. The patience you have shown, and the confidence in your general, are worth a dozen victories. These preliminary results are now accomplished. I feel that the patient labors of many months have produced their fruit. The Army of the Potomac is now a real army, magnificent in material. admirable in discipline and instruction, and excellently equipped and armed. Your commanders are all that I could wish. The moment for action has arrived, and I know that I can trust in you to save our country. As I ride through your ranks. I ser in your faces the sure prestige of victory. I feel that you will do whatever I ask of you. The period of inaction has passed. I will bring you now face to face with the rebels and only pray that God may defend the right. In whatever direction you may move, however Strange my actions may appear to you ever bear in mind that my fuite is linked with yours, and that all I do is to bring you where I know you wish to be. on the decisive battle-field. It is my business to place you there. I am to watch over you as a parent watches over his child-
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ren, and you know that your general loves you from the depth of his heart. It shall be my care-it has ever been-to gain success with the least possible loss. But I know that if it is necessary, you will will- ingly follow me to our graves for our righteous cause. God smiles upon us : victory attends us. Yet I would not have you think that our aim is to be obtained without a manly struggle. I will not disguise it from you, that you have brave foes to encounter-foemen well worthy of the steel you will use so well. I shall demand of you great heroic exertions, rapid and long marches, desperate combats, privations, per- haps. We will share all these togother, and when this sad war is over. we will all return to our homes and feel that we can ask no higher honor than the proud consciousness that we belonged to the Army of the Potomac.
(Signed) GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN. Major-General Commanding.
On the 15th we returned to our old camps at the Sem- inary. It rained all day, and we had an ugly ride.
Immediately after getting into camp, a meeting of the officers of our regiment was called, to take appro- priate notice of the death of the lamented Harry Hid- den, as no opportunity had offered since he fell, gal- lantly leading the charge on the 9th instant. The fol- lowing are copies of the proceedings :
HEADQUARTERS FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY, March 15. 1:62.
At a meeting of the officers of the First New York ( Lincoln) Cavalry, held at Camp Kearny, Virginia. on Saturday evening. March 15. im- mediately on the return of the regiment from the advance upon Ma- hassas, for the purpose of expressing their sentiments regarding the death of Lieutenant H. B. Hadden. of Company H .. Colonel 1. T. Me- Reynold's was called to the chair, and Lieutenant Cliff. Thompson was appointed secretary. Colonel McReynolds explained the object of the meeting. and. in a few eloquent words, paid a most touching tribute to the worth of the deceased.
On motion, a committee, consisting of Majors Ogle and Haurand. and Captains Bennett, Stosch and Stearas was appointed to draft suita- ble resolutions, and after a short consultation. the committee reported the following :
WHEREAS. We are suddenly called upon to contemplate the removal from our midst of Lieutenant H. B. Hidden of Company It. who met a soldier'sdeath.at the inord- of his country'senemies. on sunday. the 9th instant, at Sangster's Station. In his death, we have lost an esteemed friend, a gallant soldier, and a brilliant, social companion. While far
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in advance of the army, attached to a small command for the purpose of ascertaining the location and strength of the enemy, he was called upon to perform extraordinary services, and to undergo unusual hard- ships. He shrank from no emergency, but was only too anxious to be placed where the danger was greatest. When finally, brought face to face with an opposing force far superior to his, as regards numbers, he did not hesitate a moment, but, at the head of seventeen men, charged upon one hundred and fifty well armed infantry, driving them from the field, killing three, capturing thirteen prisoners, and utterly dis- persing the entire force.
While cutting his way to the officers commanding the enemy. his brilliant career was ended forever by a single shot which killed him instantly. In the language of his commanding officer: " Lieutenant Hidden has illustrated, in the sacrifice of his life. the whole cavalry service ; he has introduced for it a new era ;" It is, therefore
RESOLVED, That we, the officers of the First New York ( Lincoln) Car- alry. do most sincerely regret the loss of our esteemed friend and com- panion in arms, Lieutenant H. B. Hidden, whose talents as an officer. and whose superior social qualities, endeared him alike to his brother officers and to his subordinates.
Resolved, That we extend to the friends and relatives of the deceased our warmest sympathies, and sincerely regret that our duty in the field would not permit us to pay to his remains that attention which we should otherwise have claimed as our privilege to do.
Resolved, That a copy of the above proceedings, together with the re- port of General Kearny. be furnished to the friends of the deceased ; that they be published in the New York papers, and that they be pre- served among the records of the regiment.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
On motion. Colonel Me Reynolds was requested to procure a sufficient number of photographs of the deceased to supply each officer with a copy.
On motion the meeting adjourned sine die. (Signed) ANDREW T. MCREYNOLDS Colonel First New York (Lincoln) Cavalry, Chairman.
CLIFFORD THOMPSON. Secretary.
Colonel Me Reynolds forwarded the above proceedings to the father of Lieutenant Hidden, accompanied by the following letter :
HEADQUARTERS FIRST NEW YORK ( LINCOLN) CAVALRY. CAMP KEARNY, VA., March 18th. 1812.
SIR :-- It becomes my painful duty to forward herewith a series of reso- lutions adopted by the commissioned officers of my regiment. expres- sive of their profound griet for the death of your gallant son. First Lieutenant Harry B. Hidden, and in their name to condole with you in this your sad bereavement.
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His family and friends have this consolation, melancholy though it be, that no soldier ever died a braver or nobler death. May a kind Providence, who doeth all things well. assuage your grief.
I am, sincerely. your friend and obedient servant ANDREW T. MCREYNOLDS. Colonel First New York ( Lincoln) Caratry.
To ENOCH HIDDEN, Esq ..
No. 72 St. Mark's place, New York city. N. Y.
Lieutenant Hidden was interred in Greenwood Ceme- tery, New York, with military honors. A battalion of the Twenty-second N. Y. S. M., under Lieutenant-Colo- nel Lloyd Aspinwall, formed the general escort, and Company F, of the Seventy-first Regiment acted as guard of honor. His parents have had a spirited picture paint- ed, representing the charge in which he lost his life, which may be seen at the rooms of the Historical So- ciety in the city of New York.
About the time of the funeral the following lines, by A. Waters, dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Harry B. Hidden, appeared in the New York Erening Post.
"WILL YOU FOLLOW?"
.. Will you follow me now ?" Cried the gallant young chief,
On the eve of a life
That was mournfully brief;
. Will you follow me now. Through a tempest of lead - Through yon thicket of steel. And a wall of the dead.
And prove to yon traitors, Besottel and fell.
That the elink of our sabres Is slavery's kuell?"
. To the death. to the death !" Was the gallant reply;
. What boots a few hours When all men must du
"Then chargehe was the mandate. And coldly and grim,
Through the billowy smoke
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His wild steed seemed to swim.
Twelve heroes they were, By a demi-god led, At each sweep of whose sabre A traitor lay dead. All brief as a storm In the summer's red heat, Was their deadly onslaught, And the rebel retreat ; When the foemen had fed, And each hero had taken A red-handed knave By his comrades forsaken :
While their glad shout of triumph Still shivered the air,
Ere its last echo died It was changed to despair.
" What, tears! my brave fellows, I trust not for me;
Never weep for a soldier Who dies for the free!
Of my blood, hopes and fortune Most freely I give, For 'tis glorious to die That the nation might live?"
No more in the van Shall his bright sabre gleam,
Nor the soldierly grace Of his figure be seen ; But oft at the shrine Where the young hero sleeps, While the sad Whip-poor-will Her lone ministry keeps. Shall the child of the free. And the son of the slave, Yet mingle their tears O'er his idolized grave !
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CHAPTER X.
Advance under MeDowell-Ordered back to MeClellan-Song of Frank- lin's Division-Off' for the Peninsula - In Front of Yorktown -- Retreat of the Confederates.
MMEDIATELY on returning from Fairfax Court House, in March, 1862, MeClellan's army began to embark at Alexandria, for the Peninsula; but MeDow- ell's Corps was detached from the army to operate on the Fredericksburg route to Richmond. Franklin's Division belonged to this corps, and we felt much cha- grined at being separated from MeClellan.
On the 25th of March there was a grand review of McDowell's Corps, preparatory to starting on the expo- dition, and many of the notables, both civil and mili- tary, from Washington and elsewhere, came to witness the spectacle.
On the 4th of April the corps set out towards Fred- ericksburg, with five days' cooked rations in their haver- sacks. I knew we were going to start soon, and had sent for my wife and boy, as I might never have a chance to see them again. They arrived that day, after the troops had started, and Captain Boyd's wife with them. I took them to Washington next morning, and at 5 p. m. returned to Alexandria, where the captain was waiting for me. We set out for Centreville at ; p. m., and arrived there by midnight, after a hard, lone- some ride, not entirely free from danger ; the country being full of bushwhackers and guerrillas. Finding an empty house, we took our horses in, fastened the doors and windows, and slept soundly till after daylight. We
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set out next day at 8 a. m., and by noon overtook the troops at Manasses.
On the 7th, it began to rain and snow, and kept it up all night. On the 8th we set out for Catlett's Station, and I never saw such a march as that. The rain came down in torrents ; the artillery and wagons got stuck in the mud, and the creeks rose so that it was dangerous to ford them. We managed to cross several, but Broad Run stopped us, and some got into an old stone mill for the night, while others had to remain out in the storm. Our poor horses were up to their knees in mud, and ex- posed to the merciless peltings of the storm, which cor- tinued all next day, leaving the roads in a fearful con- dition. We started on the 10th, and Captain Stearns and Lieutenant Granger, of our regiment, were nearly drowned crossing Broad Run, being carried down the stream some distance before they were rescued, notwith- standing the heroie exertions of Lieutenants Bailey and Martindale to save them. On reaching Catlett's. orders arrived for Franklin's Division to return and join Me- Clellan, and I never heard such rejoicing. McDowell was at a discount with the men, while " Little Mac," was their idol.
The following song was composed by an officer of the division upon that occasion :
SONG OF GENERAL FRANKLIN'S DIVISION. Air -- " BENNY HAVENSOH !'
We're going on to Richmond, to meet the rebel for. Our duty calls us to the van : 'tis there we ought to go; Mcclellan plans ofr movements, tis sure to be all right, Relying on his genius, we're bound to win the fight.
CHORUS.
We'll cheer him as he passes, and deal our heavy blows. His friends are sure to be our friends, his foes to be our foe ..
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When Franklin leals us on, who'll fear the smoke and noise.
We'll push them home, and drive them on, and take their towns, my boys;
MeClellan plans our movements, 'tis sure to be all right, Relying on his genius, we're bound to win the fight.
CHORUS.
The boasting foe ha ; slunk away. resistance now is vain. He will not face the firm array, that moves o'er hill and plain ; Mcclellan plaas our movements. 'tis sure to be all right. Relying on his genius, we're bound to win the fight.
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