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 8
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CHORUS.
MeClellan's in our hearts, we cheer Mcclellan's name. Then woe to all his enemies, and slanderers of his fame: MeClellan plans our movements, 'tis sure to be all right. Relying on his genius, we're sure to win the fight.
CHORUS.
We'll plant our glorious banner. where the orange blossoms grow, We'll follow " Little Mac, " to the Gulf of Mexico ; MeClellan plans our movements, 'tis sure to be all right, Relying on his genius, were bound to win the fight.
CHORUS.
And when to home and loved ones, we all come marching back. 'Twill be our our chiefes glory. that we followed - Little Mac;" MeClellan plans our movements, 'tis sure to be all right. Relying on his genius, we're bound to win the fight.
CHORUS.
" How is that for high." row ?
On returning to Alexandria. General Franklin has- tened preparations to embark his division.
On the 16th of April. Company "A," of our regiment. with Captain Jones and Lieutenants Leavitt and Thomp- son, reported to Captain Boyd for duty at General Franklin's headquarters, and the next day we put our wagons and teams on board the transports at Alexandria. On the Isth the men and horses went on board. and the whole fleet, containing Franklin's Division, set out to join the Army of the Potomac in front of Yorktown. General Franklin and staff were on board the little
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steamer " Mystic," and the schooners with our squadron on board, were towed by the steamer Elm City. The bands played and the troops cheered, while the " stars and stripes" floated from every mast-head, making a very imposing display as we moved majestically down the Potomac, past Mount Vernon, and cast anchor for the night.
We set out at 5:00 a. m. on the 19th, and soon entered the Chesapeake Bay, where we had some good sport shoot- ing at the flocks of wild fowl that were flying in all directions.
At 5:00 p. m. we entered Poquosin Bay, and our ears were greeted with the sound of cannonading at the front. We were kept on board nearly a week, expecting every day to be sent up the Severn River to make a demonstra- tion in rear of Magruder's army. We felt very uneasy, lying idly on board the vessels, the sounds of battle ringing in our ears, without being able to tell what was transpiring. Our horses suffered terribly; not being able to lie down-so closely were they packed-and not having proper forage, several of them died before we got on shore, and all of them were more or less injured. The officers and men had good sport however fishing for oysters. The whole bay was at times, covered with little boats, called "coonas," or "dug-outs," hollowed out of the trunks of trees, each with a negro to row, and several officers or soldiers, with oyster-tongs, grappling for the luscious bivalves.
On the 24th we debarked, amid general rejoicing, and our poor horses showed their joy by rolling over and over on the sand, and galloping about to stretch their cramped and swollen limbs.
We found the whole Peninsula a vast swamp, and no
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progress could be made without laying a solid founda- tion for the teams and artillery to pass over. This pro- cess was called "corduroying." and consisted of laying trunks of trees along the road-bed, parallel with it, and then laying poles across these at right angles ; the whole being covered with brush and earth, so as to make a firm footing for the animals, and to keep the wheels from sinking into the spongy ground. It answered the latter purpose better than the former; for the horses and mules frequently went through with their feet, caus- ing serious accidents and much delay. Several thousand men were kept constantly at work making and repair- ing these roads.
On the 26th Lieutenant Thompson and myself set out to visit our outposts, and after riding for several miles over those infernal roads we arrived at the camp of the First United States Dragoons, in which I had been a sergeant. The regiment was out at drill, and Major Grier, who was in command, invited us into his tent until drill was over.
My old comrades in arms were delighted to see me; and especially to see me an officer on the right side of the contest. We next visited the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and took dinner with my Chestnut Hill friends. Lieutenants Newhall and Treichel. After dinner we rode out to take a look at the enemy's works. From a ladder placed gainst a tree at the headquarters of Gen- e al Porter, we had a fine view of the York River and our gun boats. The enemy's works and ours were only about eight hundred yards apart, and the sharp -shooters were in rifle pits at closer quarters still.
On approaching out lines we had to dismount and leave our horses in the woods, with our orderlies. until
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we returned. Our infantry outposts, under General Grover, were lying in a deep ravine, running parallel with the enemy's lines, and no one dared to show his head on the bank next to the enemy, for fear of drawing their fire. Shells and rifle bullets were screeching and whizzing all the time. As we were about to leave, the enemy spied us through an opening in the woods. and sent several shells howling through the tops of the trees, frightening our horses terribly. We then rode over to the right of our lines, on the banks of the York River, where we found General Birney in command of the trenches. He was trying to build a fort there, while the enemy were trying to prevent him, and it was a very dangerous place. The general permitted us to take a peep over the parapet, through his glass, and while doing so a shell burst right over our heads, wound- ing several men in the trenches, immediately in our rear. I thought my head would split when the infernal thing burst, and for a few moments I was not sure that I had not been wounded. I have still got a piece of that shell weighing several pounds, which I picked up while yet hot from the explosion, and which came near putting an end to General Birney.
On the 28th, I was agreeably surprised at receiving a visit from the band of my old regiment, the First Dra- goons, mounted upon black horses, with the chief bugler. William Peasner, at their head. I gave them a "set out" and they all got pretty "boozy;" but gave us some good music before riding away.
On the night of May 1st, our siege guns opened on the enemy's works, and the noise was terrific. On the morning of the 2d the enemy threw solid shot all around General MeClellan's headquarters; having obtained
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their locality from some deserters; no harm was done however. On the night of May 3d, there was very heavy firing, and the next morning we heard that Ma- gruder had abandoned his works at Yorktown and Gloucester, and retreated towards Richmond. Some cavalry and horse artillery were sent in pursuit, and the whole army moved forward. Our regiment got into Yorktown about midnight of the 4th, and turned into an old Confederate camp till morning. Several of our men and horses were hurt by the explosion of small torpedos, concealed under board walks, and buried beneath the surface along the roads.
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CHAPTER XI.
Embark at Yorktown -- Battle of West Point-March to Cumberland- Scenes and Incidents-March to White House-The Chickahominy -- Battles of Hanover Court House and Fair Oaks -- We cross the Chick- ahominy.
0 N the 5th of May, 1862, it began to rain, and we were ordered to put the horses all saddled up, on board of transports at Yorktown. We were at it all night, and many a curse was pronounced upon the enemy for getting us into such trouble. Franklin's whole di- vision were going on board with the intention of head- ing the enemy off. We left Yorktown at 7 a. m., of the 6th, and arrived at West Point, at the head of York River, at 4 p. m., the same day. The infantry had got there before us, and on landing were attacked by the enemy, who had been routed at Williamsburg by our army, and were retreating upon their Capital. They had sent a strong force under General Whiting to cover their flank, fearing such a movement as we were then making, and we had just got up in time to meet them. The skirmish did not amount to much that day, however, as the enemy had not yet arrived in very strong force. Our cavalry began to debark on the 7th; and just as we got to shore with the first barge load of horses the ball opened. This was about 11 a. m .. and the battle raged from that until darkness put an end to the conflict. When the battle began the enemy commenced to shell the transports in the river, and it was a mighty hot place. The captains and the crews of the vessels got over the sides, into small boats, and pulled for the op- 9
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posite shore with might and main ; while our men hooted and jeered them for their cowardice. The shells burst all around us, cutting away the rigging and spars of several of the vessels; and the masts of several were splintered to pieces. Our gun boats were very slow in getting into action, bat when they did open, the enemy limbered up their guns and " skedaddled" instanter, Our infantry fought gallantly, but they suffered terribly; several hundred being killed and wounded. The of- ficers of the Thirty-first and Thirty-second New York Volunteers fought like Turks, and many of them were killed and wounded. Lieutenant Babcock of the Thirty- first died in my arms, on a corn bin, in an old barn near the river. As I walked around that night I felt sick at heart, and the tears rolled down in spite of me at the sight of so many of our brave fellows lying in rows with army blankets for winding-sheets : their pale faces turned heavenward, as the moon arose in her sil- very beauty, only to make the sight more ghastly. The next morning we rode through the woods, and every- where found evidences of the fiereeness of the struggle. The trees were riddled with bullets, and the ground in many places covered with blood. Many dead bodies were lying along the road side, having been brought out of the woods by the stretcher parties, so that the ambu- lances might find them as they passed along. We had succeeded in driving the enemy off, but at fearful cost.
Captain Montgomery of General Newton's staff, was surrounded, and tried stratagem to effect his escape. He lay down among the dead, as though he had been killed; but, when the enemy began to "go through " his pockets, the tickling caused him to wince, and finally to laugh right out, upon which he was taken prisoner.
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During the night he succeeded in getting away, and sur- prised us all by walking into camp next morning, while we were bewailing him as killed or captured.
This is called the battle of West Point, although fought on the opposite side of the Pamunkey river from that place. On the 9th we marched to Eltham, and on the 13th reached Cumberland, on the Pamunkey, near New Kent Court House, where we met the main army under General MeClellan. . Our regiment had landed a little below Cumberland. and we found them with the main body. Hore two provisional corps were formed; one under General Fitz Jolin Porter, and the other under General Franklin. It was very laughable to hear the slaves tell how their " Massas" ran away when they saw our gun boats coming up "de riber; " and to hear their extravagant expressions of thankfulness at their deliverance from bondage by " Massa Linkum's sodgers." They all seemed to take it for granted that they were free the moment they got within our lines, and said they had been praying and looking for the delicerer for many years. We smiled at their credulity then, but it would seem to have been a well founded hope. I have not the least doubt myself but that the prayers of these simple people had a good deal to do with bringing about the war, and its results.
On the 15th we arrived at the "White House." on the south bank of the Pamunkey, where the railroad from West Point to Richmond crosses that river. This was formerly the property of Mrs. General Washington. but at the time of which I write. it had become vested in General Lee. of the Confederate army. This was our base of supplies while operating against Richmond, along the banks of the Chickahominy. The supplies
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for the army were brought up the York River to West Point, at the junction of the Pamunkey and Mattapony Rivers; thence sent by rail to the "White House," whence our long lines of wagon trains distributed them to the army.
On the 19th we marched to Tunstall's Station, and and on the 21st. to Cold Harbor. On the 22d our squadron made a reconnoisance to Bottom Bridge, on the Chickahominy, and found it had been destroyed by the enemy. That same day, part of our regiment made a reconnoisance in the direction of Mechanicsville, and Sergeant Cummings, of Company K. was killed, and Corporal Anderson, of the same company, wounded and captured. When we found the sergeant's body, it had been stripped of everything ; he had received a bayonet thrust in the breast, after falling from his horse, and one of his ears had been cut off in the most brutal manner.(!)
Our regiment went into camp behind a clump of woods bordering on the banks of the Chickahominy. Low's balloon ascended next day to observe the enemy, was fired upon by a battery on the opposite side of the river, only a short distance from where the regiment was encamped, and the shells burst right over the camp. causing considerable excitement. On the 25th we moved camp to Dr. Curtis' farm, three miles from Me- chaniesville. and General Fitz John Porter was sent to Hanover Court House, on the railroad. north of Rich- mond, for the purpose of effecting a junction with Me- Dowell's Corps, which was expected to be in that vi- einity ; but instead of finding MeDowell, he found the enviny in strong force, and a sharp engagement was fought on the 27th, in which Porter whipped the enemy completely, capturing over a thousand prisoners, Gen-
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DEATH OF SERGEANT CUMMINGS.
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eral Keys' Corps had crossed the Chickahominy at Bot- tom Bridge, and, on the 31st, the enemy attacked him in great force. The river had overflowed its banks, turn- ing the whole swamp into a river, and the means of crossing not being completed. we could not reinforce him. The battle raged, with varying fortune, for two days, but on the morning of the 2d of June, General Sumner having got part of his troops across, we were masters of the field, the enemy having retired to his in- trenchments around Richmond. We suffered severely in this engagement, but we took several thousand pri- soners from the enemy, and punished him severely in killed and wounded. This is known as the battle of " Seven Pines." or " Fair Oaks."
On the 13th of June we had a little excitement in camp, caused by the report that General J. E. B. Stuart. of the Confederate army, with fifteen hundred cavalry and a battery of horse artillery, had got in rear of our lines and was " smashing things" This bold raid gave the Confederate cavalry some prestige, and made our horsemen feel a little ashamed: but it was no fault of ours that such a raid proved successful. It General MeClellan had had his cavalry properly organiz- ed and employed, such a thing could not have happened ; but instead thereof we might have got in rear of Lee. and broken up his lines of communication. just as Sheri- dan afterwards did at Appomattox.
On the ISth. having repaired all the old bridges and built a number of new ones, we crossed the Chickahom- iny. and one unped about a mile from Alexander's bridge. within easy cannon shot of the enemy's work- in front of Ricinnond. The whole army was now on the south side, except General Porter's Corps.
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CHAPTER XII.
The - Seven Days' Battles"-Oak Grove-Mechanicsville-Gaines' Mill-Savages' Station-White Oak Swamp-Malvern Hill-Harri- son's banding-Evaenation of the Peninsula-Some Reminiscences- Bailey at White Oak Swamp.
A FTER crossing the Chickahominy, in June, 1862. we rode over the battle field of Fair Oaks. and found it a vast grave yard. The trees were shattered and torn, as if by a mighty tempest. The graves had been sprinkled with chloride of lime, but the stench was horrible. The ground was very swampy, and the graves were shallow-some of the bodies being partly and others wholly exposed-and the sun's rays had turned everything to putrefaction.
On the 25th of June, 1862. General Hooker opened the ball at Oak Grove, on our left, driving the enemy back and occupying their ground. Our regiment was occupied in supporting the artillery during the engage- ment, and was complimented by General Mcclellan for their coolness under a heavy shelling.
Threatening demonstrations were made that day upon General Porter's position, on the north side of the Chickahominy, near Mechanicsville; and the enemy under Stonewall Jackson, attacked him on the 26th; but he succeeded in holding his ground, punishing them severely.
At the close of the day he fell back, however. and formed a new line, covering the bridges on the river in his rear; as Stonewall Jackson had succeeded in cloud- ing MeDowell, and in turning our right flank, cutting off
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our communications with the White House, and it be- came necessary to fall back upon the James River for a new base of supplies. To facilitate this movement Por- ter had to fight nearly the whole Confederate army on the 27th, and he was prettly roughly handled. Our regi- ment was with General MeClellan nearly all that day, riding from point to point at a gallop. In the afternoon Captain Harkins, with one squadron, was sent to report to General Slocum, and did good service in stopping the stragglers, which at one point in the battle were quite numerous. The enemy outnumbered Porter three to one, and at night he crossed the river, destroying all the bridges behind him. This was the battle of Gaines' Mill.
Everything was in confusion that night, and the men felt sullen because they were about to retreat. On the 28th. the paymaster appeared among us, to pay the regi- ment. and while he was thus engaged the Confederates burst several shells in the camp, which caused him to pick up and drive off in his attbalance in a hurry. Our corps, under Franklin, was left to cover the retreat. and we had to fight the enemy all day of the 25th. We slept on our arms that night, and at 3 a. m. on the 29th set out to follow the army. Hearing that the enemy were crossing the Chickahominy. the corps formed in line of battle at Savages' Station, and Boyd's squadron was sent to reconnoitre. We went to the river and found some of our artillery guarding the crossing at Bottoms Bridge and the railroad bridge just above: both of which had been destroyed.
No enemy appearing we returned, and were placed on picket behind the woods, between Savages Station and the river. to watch for the enemy. About noon the
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work of destruction began at the Station, in our rear, when thousands of dollars worth of provisions were consigned to the flames.
Boxes of ammunition were thrown into the blazing pile, and explosion followed explosion, until we began to think the enemy had attacked in force. In the midst of the din we heard a rushing noise in the woods, like the sound of a train passing, and the next moment an engine went plunging down the track at fearful velocity, with a train of blazing cars attached. It looked like some frightful monster just escaped from the infernal re- gions, as it rushed along in wildest fury, causing the hills to tremble. On it sped, till it reached the broken bridge, and, so great was the momentum, the engine leaped across the first span and. with a crash like mighty thunderings, fell over the second pier into the creek below, while far up into the heavens were thrown the burning fragments of the train.
This train had been loaded with ammunition and other stores, to be sent to the White House, in order to lessen the work of the teams. when we received word that the enemy had possession of the railroad. Our wagons had all gone, and we took this method of dis- posing of the train and its contents to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy.
Opposite to the Station, as you look south, was a largo clearing of several hundred acres in extent. on the furthest fine of which ran the Williamsburg road ; while beyond was a dark pine forest. This field grad- ually ascends, from the station to the road, and in it were assembled 20,000 Union soldiers under Franklin and Summer, forming the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac.
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In their faces could be read the stern determination to save the army, or perish in the attempt. For hours they had stood there, waiting the approach of the enemy, still and motionless as statues, presenting one of the most sublime spectacles that the mind can con- template.
At 5 p. m., we on picket could see columns of dust rising on the road between us and the Chickahominy. and in a few minutes our videttes were driven in by the skirmishers of the advancing enemy. Captain Boyd then deployed the squadron in front of the woods, and sent a courier to report to General Franklin. The enemy. upon seeing us, supposed he had come upon the main body, and began to deploy, upon which we fell back to join our troops at the station. When we got through the woods we had to run the gauntlet of the enemy's batteries, which opened at that time from behind the hospital. I was sent to find General Franklin, and re- ceive his instructions. I found him at the front, where shells and riffe bullets were falling thick and fast, giving his orders as coolly as if on parade. He thanked me for the information, ordered a battery to shell the woods, and sent a brigade of infantry in to meet the enemy. This saved our right flank, and prevented disa ;- ter. The fight now began to rage at all points in front. and the firing was furious. The field was soon covered with the pall of battle. and we could see nothing but vivid flashes from the cannon, like lightning darting out of a cloud, while the long lines of muskets poured forth streams of liquid fire. Then a lull of a few mo- ments, to be succeeded by the instantaneous discharge of ten thousand muskets. and the roar of the " red ar- tillery." Then we could distinguish the cheers of our
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gallant boys. as they charged the enemy, whose answer- ing yells seemed like the scream of the panther, or the yell of the savage. But language fails me to describe the conflict, or the fierce frenzy of the contending hosts.
I was standing with the other officers of our squad- ron, talking to General Meagher, of the Irish Brigade, when an aid galloped up and ordered the general to charge the battery near the hospital. The brigade had been lying down, to avoid the flying missiles, but instantly-jumped to their feet and fixed bayonets. The word was given, and the whole line started down the in- cline at the double-quick. For a moment they were lost from view in the smoke of the valley, but the next moment they emerged, "with a yell like the shriek of a shell," charging up the opposite slope, on which the battery stood. Now the guns poured destructive volleys into them, opening huge gaps in their ranks, but they wavered not. The supports fired volley after volley into them. bat on they went, driving the enemy before them. capturing a stand of colors and four of the guns_ Oh, it was grand!
It was now dark, the enemy had been driven from every point, and we went to join our squadron, which had been placed under shelter during the engagement.
In a few minutes the general sent for us, and we set out with him for White Oak Swamp. We left the road. to avoid the troops, and pushed boldly on through the tangled forest; while the rain began to come down in torrents, and the darkness was so intense we could not see our file leaders. The lucid lightning lit up the dark pine woods every few moments, but in the inter- vals the darkness seemed only the more impenetrable. At last there was a halt, and it was whispered down the
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column that we were lost! This was a pretty fix ! No one could tell which way we should turn; so completely were we bewildered. At last the column moved, and in a short time we heard the muffled sound of wheels pass- ing rapidly over the soft sandy road. Was it our own men, or was it the enemy ? We moved up as close to the road as possible, and in doing so were discovered by a sergeant, who immediately gave the alarm. In a few moments we could hear them unlimbering to shell the woods, while the infantry were being hurried up to give us a volley. and our position was very critical. At that moment an officer's voice was heard, which General Franklin recognized. and he shouted to him. It was
General Sedgwick.
Explanations were soon made, and
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