USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 12
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After the engagement the Regiment commenced burying the dead. David Davis, a member of Company D, had dug a grave by the side of a reb, and then sat down by the side of it. General Gregg, in passing, said, " Why don't you bury that man ?" Davis, who spoke quite broken Welsh, replied, " I jes wait'n a few minutes fer 'im to die!"
From this point to Upperville it was one continuons skirmish. These engage- ments appeared to me to show that the spirit of Stuart's cavalry was broken. They fought well afterward, but I never knew them to stand one of our charges unless they were backed by infantry,
Corporal David L. Wallace, of Company A, who was wounded in this engagement, and afterward suffered the amputation of a leg, writes as follows :
On the night of the 18th of June we encamped in the woods on the right side of the turnpike, about half-way between Aldie and Middleburg. Just before day-
* In The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, page 308, Major Mcclellan says: " In leaving his (Stuart's) first position a Blakely gun belonging to Hart's battery was abandoned. The axle had been broken by a shot from the enemy, and no means were at hand for its removal."
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LIEUTENANT HENRY WERRICK, Co. C.
WILLIAM LENOX, Co. D.
Bris
JOHN A. FREER, REGIMENTAL COMMISSARY SERGEANT.
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CORPORAL DAVID L. WALLACE'S ACCOUNT.
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light a thunder-shower came up. We commenced marching toward Middleburg about 6 A. M., on the 19th, the First Battalion on the right and the Second Battalion on the left of the road. The artillery followed in the road. When near Middle- burg one of the caissons blew up, but I believe no one was hurt. We passed through the village, and about a mile beyond we were dismounted and double- quicked about a mile and deployed as skirmishers in the edge of a wheat-field. The right of the skirmish-line was behind a stone wall that inclosed a small ceme- tery. A few of the skirmishers entered an old stone house, but the Johnnies sent a shell through it, and the boys vacated it on the double quick. The rebel skir- mishers were behind large bowlders in a ravine, and their artillery in the woods several rods to the rear. We relieved the First Maine skirmishers about 8 or 9 A. M., and just after noon we drove the rebel line back into and part way through the woods. They made a mounted charge and gobbled quite a number of our boys. About this time two companies of our regiment, I think F and I, made a mounted charge up the road, and fired a volley, one of the balls striking me in the left leg, about half-way between the ankle and knee, shattering the bones. I fell and was left there for perhaps ten minutes, the rebels having retreated meantime.' Presently they returned, I should think fully five hundred strong, .. nd took position behind the trees, and companies F and I again charged them, when Lieutenant Boyd was instantly killed and Lieutenant Hawes mor- tally wounded, dying that afternoon in the same room in which I was placed in Middleburg. John Ford, of Company A, was shot just below the ribs, the bullet coming out at the back. He died in Lincoln Hospital, in Washington, about two months after. Gustave Lanninger was wounded in the wrist, and Ab Hayes, Frank Brownell, and John King, all of Company A, were taken prisoners.
As I lay behind a little hickory-tree, the bullets and shells came so thick and fast I crawled down behind a big cottonwood. The dead lieutenant lay near me, and the rebels were anxious to strip and plunder the body. Two of them went forward for the purpose, but our boys were vigilant, and one of the rebels was killed and the other so badly wounded he was compelled to lie down. Then another one started from behind the same tree I was occupying, and he was shot through the arm above the elbow, which laid him up. As I lay there I saw about one hundred of our boys advancing. It looked like murder to send so few against at least five times their number, and protected, too, by the trees. Finally, our biyx were flanked and fell back, and I was left alone. I crawled about forty rods, when two boys from another regiment took me behind some rocks that had shel- teruel the rebel sharpshooters in the morning. Soon after Sergeant Mitchell rame with a horse and took me back to the toll-gate, where I was put in an am- balance with Lieutenant Hawes, and taken to Middleburg, and placed in an old "pre. This was about 2 p. M. My leg was amputated about three inches below the knee, and I was taken to Aldie that night, and on Sunday, the 21st, was sent 1. Washington. That ended my soldiering.
Lieutenant John B. Buffum, at the time sergeant of Company B, winters the following :
It was at the time of the Middleburg engagement, June 19. 1863. Kilpatrick ful met Stuart face to face at Aldie just before this, and there the First Maine Eskiantly charged the enemy, who had taken position dismounted behind stone
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walls and hay-stacks, while our regiment was held in reserve until dark and then pushed out on picket. It was a very dark night. Newt Nelson and I were sit- ting on our horses side by side, and we could hear the rebels talking but could see nothing-could scarce see each other, although side by side.
Next morning we drove the rebels through Middleburg, our regiment follow- ing the pike leading to Upperville, while the First Maine took the fields to our left. On the 19th the Tenth was ordered to drive the enemy from a position which they had taken on a rise of ground which was covered with timber. Colonel Avery sent Major Kemper with Companies F and I into the woods on a charge. Both the company commanders were killed, and in falling back Major Kemper met our squadron-Companies B and D-going forward. Major Kemper said : "Don't go into those woods, Waters; it's a slaughter-pen." Major Waters replied, " I have orders to go, and I am going"; and away we went. We found the slaughter-pen on entering the woods. The rebels were sheltered by the trees and a stone wall, and back of the dismounted men was a mounted regiment with drawn sabers. I shall never forget the impression that terrible sight made on me. The dismounted rebels poured the bullets into us like rain, while back of them was an unbroken line with flashing sabers. To go forward meant death to every one of our little band, and so we wheeled into the open field.
At this time my horse was shot, the bullet passing through my haversack, just back of my leg. going through the hard-tack in the haversack and into the horse's side; but he took me out of the woods, and we wheeled into line again and faced the music on the skirts of the timber. Here Colonel Avery came up with the balance of the Regiment. Then and there we had a lively game of ball with the rebs. It was a hot place; but we were equal to the occasion, though the rebels were sheltered. Just at this critical moment one of the boys came riding up to me, pale as death, and, seeing my wounded horse, said : "Johnny, a reb struck me across the stomach with his musket, in the charge we just made, and I can scarce- ly sit on my horse. Your horse is badly hurt. If you say so, I'll take him and go back to the wagon-train and you can have mine." I saw at once my. oppor- tunity to obtain a good remount, and I replied, "All right, if you mean for keeps." He jumped to the ground and quickly changed the saddles, and in an in- stant was on his way to the rear, leaving me with my new horse, with which I wheeled into line again and joined in the fight.
I challenge the records for another such horse-trade under like circum- stances .*
The Second New York Cavalry came up to our aid, dismounted, and the rebels broke from the cover across the open fields beyond. We occupied the woods un- til dark, and then had orders to " stand to horse." We, who had been on picket the night before, didn't relish it, so my tent-mate, Johnny Farrell, and I, arranged for a little snooze. I tied my newly-acquired little mare to Johnny's saddle, and he held his horse. By the way, Johnny Farrell was an associate I always felt it an honor and a pleasure to have. He afterward lost an arm at Lee's Mills. Well, we were high privates in the rear rank that night. We spread our rubber blank- ets in rear of the front rank of horses and went to sleep. It was a very dark,
* George Hines, of Company A, swapped horses with a rebel while in a skirmish at Little Washington, August 5, 1863. 1
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ALDIE WAS REACHED IN SAFETY.
rainy night, but I think I never enjoyed a night of sweeter sleep in my life. When I stuck my head out from beneath the steaming blankets in the morning, 1 heard the boys discussing the terrible stampede among the horses during the night, of which I was wholly unconscious. Johnny said the horses pulled away from him, but he caught them and crawled back under the blankets. It was a wonder we were not trampled to death. I was greatly refreshed by my night's rest, and with my new horse was ready for business again, but we had no fighting that day. I have always wondered why; but next day, the 21st, we were at it again, and drove the rebels through Upperville to Ashby's Gap. Here Kilpatrick was heard to say, "Give me the Tenth New York and the First Maine and I'll charge the gap!" The following day we fell back, the rebels following us at a safe distance, the Tenth covering the retreat.
Then followed the march to Gettysburg. My little mare carried me through that terrible march and battle and over the mountains after the retreating rebels, but the tedious service with no rest was too much for her. Her back becoming sore, I was compelled to part with her.
Commissary Preston, who had gone to Aldie on the morning of the 19th for rations for the Regiment, returned with a wagon-load and came up with the command just after the engagement had taken place and while some skirmishing was yet in progress. His ardor and enterprise received a check from Captain Weir, of General Gregg's staff, who administered a slight censure for the presumption in bringing a wagon upon the skirmish-line; but the rations were issued to the men while in line, and as the wagon was about to re- turn the driver was halted and Commissary Preston sent for. Hc was directed to take the wagon to Middleburg and report to Surgeon Phillips. There the wagon was filled with wounded, and with about fifty prisoners and a guard of a dozen men the commissary set out for Aldie late in the afternoon. It was extremely warm, and before half the distance had been covered a heavy thunder-shower came up just before sundown. A halt was made in a beautiful grove, sur- rounding a large mansion, prior to the thunder-shower. The fact that the guard was light and the night that was just before us would be dark and stormy, justified the belief that there might be an at- tempt on the part of the prisoners to escape. The guard was in- structed to exercise the keenest vigilance, and not to allow the prison- ers to remain long together, but to keep changing their positions as much as possible to prevent any concerted action looking to an escape. The march was resumed before the storm set in, but the rain soon after descended in torrents, accompanied by vivid flashes of light- ning and heavy peals of thunder. The silent march was continued through woods and marshes, the impenetrable gloom being dispelled anon by the flashes of lightning, which would disclose the presence
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of our charge plodding sulkily along, flanked on either side by a vigilant but weak guard. Aldie was finally reached in safety, how- ever, the wounded and prisoners turned over to the proper officers, and after a little rest, the return to the Regiment followed next morning.
Sergeant W. W. Williams, who was at the time orderly to General Gregg, gives his experience as follows :
After the battle of June 19th, General Gregg sent for me about eight or nine o'clock P. M. to come to his quarters. He handed me a message, saying he was going to send me to Thoroughfare Gap to bring up Colonel Taylor with his brigade. " Read that message until you can remember it," said the General, "and then hide it in the lining of your jacket or some other place, and if the rebels get after you and are liable to capture you, be sure you destroy that message, then if you get through you will know what the orders are and deliver them." He also said I had better take a man with me. With Parker G. Lunt, of the First Maine, as a companion, I started. We made as rapid progress as possible, but it was after midnight before we found Colonel Taylor's command. I asked the Colonel at what time he proposed to move, and he replied, " As soon as daylight." Being fatigued, I employed the intervening time in sleep.
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As I did not return until morning, General Gregg concluded that I must have been captured, and he gave orders for a sergeant and twelve men to proceed to the Gap, but before going half-way they encountered a force of the enemy and were compelled to return.
When Colonel Taylor, at the head of his command, neared Aldie, he met the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, which had just been started to go through for him.
The Regiment was employed in picketing the front on the 20th, and on the morning of the 21st commenced skirmishing and ad- vanced steadily toward the Blue Ridge. There was considerable artillery practice of a desultory character during the day. About 4 p. M. the Regiment was formed in the open field above Upper- ville, while the First and Second Brigades advanced to engage the rebel line drawn up in plain view near the village. The beautiful landscape spread out before the Regiment was a subject of general remark. In the background was the Blue Ridge Mountains, seem- ingly but two or three miles distant, with undulating fields of green intervening, while the little village of Upperville lay nestled in the . valley below, like a babe on its mother's bosom. The broad expanse of open country was dotted with horsemen, singly and in bodies, moving hither and thither. The long lines of stone walls seemed the only barriers to the free manœuvring of large bodies of troops. A depression in the long line of mountains immediately in front,
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SCENE OF KILPATRICK'S FIGHT.
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with the village on the line, marked the location of Ashby's Gap, where Longstreet's guns were posted, behind whose friendly cover the Confederate horsemen were forced to retire later in the day. Away to the right Buford's troops could be seen pursuing the retreating Confederate cavalry. Kilpatrick was moving with his brigade to at- tack Hampton's division, drawn up in front of Upperville. Taken altogether, the panorama was one of the finest and most animating ever beheld by the men of the Regiment. And now action is to follow admiration. Kilpatrick has struck the line drawn up to re- ceive him. The opposing forces appear merged in each other. Sabers flashed in the sunlight and riderless horses galloped aimlessly away out of the struggling mass ; the curling smoke from the rapidly discharged carbine and revolver partially obscured a portion of the lines, when the Third Brigade was ordered forward. When the Tenth reached the scene the Confederate line was already broken, but the Regiment united in the chase, and gathered in many prisoners. A line was formed through the village, a part of the Tenth occupying the position across the main road, while the balance joined in the pursuit of the enemy toward Ashby's Gap. Then, late in the after- noon, having driven Stuart's forces to the Gap, our cavalry began falling back, followed at a respectful distance by the Confederates, they meantime keeping up an artillery-fire.
Of the Upperville fight General Gregg says :
. . Through Upperville the pursuit was continued at a run, the enemy flying in the greatest confusion; nor were they permitted to reform until night put a stop to further pursuit at the mouth of the Gap .*
Major McClellan, of General Stuart's staff, after recounting the operations in front of Buford's troops, says :
While these events were occurring on the north of the Upperville pike, Gen- eral Gregg was handsomely pushing his advance upon the town.t
The same officer gives Stuart's losses in the battles of the 17th, 19th, and 21st at 65 killed, 279 wounded, and 166 missing-a total of 510; and he figures the loss in General Pleasonton's command in the same engagements at 820.
Fresh from Brandy's well-fought field, the troopers of Buford's and Gregg's divisions gained additional renown by the series of en- gagements terminating before Longstreet's corps at Ashby's Gap,
* Annals of the War. p. 377.
· t The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 311.
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and the Tenth was authorized to inscribe on its banners the additional name of Middleburg to swell the constellation of its glorious achieve- ments. .
The retrograde movement commenced on the morning of the 22d. The Regiment retired to a point near a mill, between Upper- ville and Middleburg, and formed in line on the east bank of Goose Creek. The rebels, following at a safe distance, brought a battery to play on it, and the boys were compelled to remain stationary while the shells whizzed over their heads in uncomfortable proximity, or struck in the ground about them, until, just about as their patience was beginning to give out at being set up as targets for the rebel ar- tillery, an order was received changing location.
The Regiment was kept in readiness for action during the night of the 22d, on the road between Upperville and Middleburg. The horses were unsaddled on the 23d, and obtained the much-needed grooming-the first in five days. Having received orders to report to General Slocum, commanding the Twelfth Corps, the Regiment started on the morning of the 24th for Leesburg, where they arrived about noon. The men felt ill at ease with the infantry. The life was so unlike that with their own corps, they longed to return, even before they had fairly arrived at their destination. On the 25th Sergeant Landers, with fifteen men, was sent to Aldie to bring up the regimental wagons and mail.
The march northward was commenced on Friday the 26th. The Tenth moved out with the Twelfth Corps, leaving the little village, through whose streets some of the boys had charged nearly a year before, in a more quiet and orderly manner than on that occasion. Crossing the Potomac at Edward's Ferry in the afternoon, the Regi- ment went into camp at Point of Rocks. The march was continued on the 27th, and camp was made in the evening at Keatorsville, Md. The following day, Sunday, June 28th, the Regiment entered Fred- erick, Md., and encamped on the outskirts of the city, where the boys cooked their suppers over fires made from good, dry loyal rails. The Union troops were swarming in and around Frederick on the arrival of the cavalry, and many familiar forms and faces were met by members of the Regiment. The chief topic of conversation was the change in commanders of the army, which took place on the day of the arrival at Frederick, General Hooker having been relieved, and General Meade appointed in his place.
While here, on the 28th, Stahle's division of cavalry, which had been operating about Washington, was assigned to the Army of the
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Potomac, as the Third Cavalry Division, and General Kilpatrick placed in command of it.
And here, too, on the same day, the Tenth was reunited with the Cavalry Corps, taking its former place in the Third Brigade of the Second Division, to the great joy and satisfaction of the members of the Regiment.
The Army of Northern Virginia had wandered north and got lost. The Federal cavalry was started in search of it. Gregg's division left Frederick on the afternoon of the 28th of June, the Tenth en- camping near New Market late that night. Then on to New Wind- sor, where the Regiment bivouacked, after a hot, dusty march. The 30th, Westminster was reached about 10 A. M. Here our First Bri- gade, under Colonel McIntosh, had driven a small force of Confederate cavalry through the town early in the morning. There yet appeared some evidence of the presence of rebels about the place, and the bat- tery was brought into position in the road above the town, and the Tenth was ordered forward to support it. Before any shooting was done, it was discovered that the enemy had decamped. The boys received a cordial reception from the inhabitants of the beautiful village, numbers of the pretty maidens tendering the hospitalities of their homes, and offering the bronzed and dirt-begrimed veterans such delicacies as they could procure. A detail under command of Sergeant Mitchell secured a good supply of corn, oats, and flour from a mill near the village. After a halt of a couple of hours here, the march was continued.
After a time Major Avery said, " I think we must be in Pennsyl- vania." The means for ascertaining were at hand. A blooming little miss, from a farm-house situated away back from the main road, had ventured down to the gate to look at the passing troops.
" Miss, will you please tell us whether we are in Maryland or Pennsylvania ?" was asked.
" You are in Maryland yet, but the edge of the woods, just ahead, is the State line," she replied.
" We will cross the line singing John Brown," said Major Avery. Everybody sang, or attempted singing. It was a grand swelling of loyal voices in spontaneous accord-a sublime crossing of the thresh- oldt into the grand old Commonwealth whose sons formed so large a part of the command.
Reaching Hanover Junction, a halt was made about noon on Wednesday, July 1st. Some of the men, fearing that when the march was resumed it would be in the direction of York, started out
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on the road to Gettysburg, and were gathered in by the provost-guard when the column overtook them later on.
The march was resumed through clouds of dust and the burning rays of a July sun, and the command reached Hanover village at mid- night. The inhabitants loyally brought forth such provisions as they had, and gave to the weary soldiers. It was learned from them that Kilpatrick had met Stuart's cavalry the day before, just outside the village, and had a severe fight. This was verified by the leveled fences, dead horses, etc., seen when the Regiment resumed the march early next morning.
Sleepy and tired the command started toward Gettysburg at 3 A. M., July 2d. Reaching the heights, some three miles east of the village, about noon, the Regiment halted and dismounted on the south side of the Hanover road. A rail fence on the opposite side of the road was leveled to give free passage for mounted troops. This had an ominous look, and chilled the ardor of some of the men, who were expecting to visit friends in Gettysburg.
Surgeon Lyman W. Bliss, of the Tenth, was in charge of the field- hospital at Hanover at the time the fight between Kilpatrick and Stu- art took place. During the engagement the Doctor noticed a regiment or detachment give way, and then he saw that they appeared to be without an officer to lead them, and, turning to a fellow-surgeon, he said : " Those fellows have no officer with them; let's go and lead them," and, discarding all insignia of the medical staff, they each ob- tained a saber and sailed in, urging the men forward to renew the ac- tion, but they appeared somewhat demoralized and refused to stand when another charge was made, but broke, leaving the gallant quinine- dispensers in the hands of the enemy. After making the acquaint- ance of some of the Confederate leaders, who undertook the useless task of drawing some valuable information from them, they were pa- roled after being retained two or three days. The old adage was peculiarly applicable in this case, " where ignorance is Bliss," etc.
The reports of the conflict raging in the direction of the town ad- monished the impatient ones that it would be necessary to defer the visit to their Gettysburg friends to a more convenient season. The men therefore threw themselves upon the ground under the burning rays of the sun and patiently awaited orders, while they discussed the situation, etc.
John Madole, of Company L, was perhaps the first man from the Regiment to enter Gettysburg. As he was a member of one of the new companies, and therefore not with the command during its stay
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in the town in 1861-'62, it must have been love of adventure rather than woman that took him there. He was in the town when Buford's cavalry passed through its streets out to Seminary Ridge on the 1st of July. He made a very complete survey of the quaint little village, about which he had heard his comrades say so much. On leaving the borough he was arrested as a spy and taken before General Kilpatrick. The General questioned him closely for a few moments, when, con- vinced that he was a member of the Tenth, he ordered his release. He gave much valuable information, which the General afterward acknowledged to Major Avery.
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