USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 13
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106
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1863
1
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CHAPTER VI.
GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN CONTINUED-ON THE RIGHT FLANK AT GETTYSBURG-TO HARPER'S FERRY.
HIE intervening timber veiled the regiment- - al parade-grounds of 1861-'62 from view, as it also screened the manœuvering of the Con- federate cavalry, when preparing for the 10Th NEW YORK CAVALRY movement to the Union right flank on the CORLEY CEFAS succeeding day. But the men of the First and Second Battalions of the Tenth were confident that just over the hill and beyond the wood lay the parade-grounds where ver- dant officers had endeavored to manœuvre the Regiment of verdant soldiers many months before. The efforts to " form close column on fifth squadron " generally resulted in forming close columns of confusion, to get out of which the men were com- pelled to " pass defile to the rear." The grounds were now inside the enemy's lines. It seemed almost like a dream to the boys that they should find themselves back again near the old parade-grounds after an absence of eighteen months, replete with hard service. When the Tenth halted and dismounted, as already stated, it was on the south side of the Hanover road, near the Reever house. Major Avery and the regimental staff availed themselves of the very economical shade afforded by a superannuated peach-tree. Here they lay upon the ground speculating on the possibilities of meeting old acquaint- ances in the village, who were " so near and yet so far," and also of meeting other friends (?) who had come so far and were quite too near.
Soon after the arrival of the command near the Reever house the squadron composed of Companies H and I were ordered forward to relieve the Union infantry line of skirmishers on Brinkerhoff's Ridge. During the afternoon this force, together with a mounted squadron in the road, under command of Major Kemper, were driven back,
10TH NEW YORK CAVALRY 30. BR.3 CAVALRY CORPS JULY 2N1 :353 3 10 AM
BATTLE MONUMENT OF THE TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, GETTYSBURG, PA.
1863
ON THE RIGHT FLANK AT GETTYSBURG.
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and two more squadrons were advanced on the right and the balance of the Regiment on the left of the Hanover road.
Colonel William Brooke-Rawle, formerly of the Third Pennsylva- nia Cavalry, in his admirable address, delivered on the occasion of the unveiling of the shaft marking the scene of the cavalry engage- ment on the right flank on July 3, 1863, says in regard to the opera- tions of July 2d :
Gregg's column closed up near the intersection of the Hanover and Low Dutch roads about noon of July 2d. Two regiments of infantry belonging to the Eleventh Corps were found in the advance, deployed as skirmishers along Brinkerhoff's Ridge, which crosses the Hanover Road nearly at right angles, about two miles or more east of Gettysburg. In their front there was a consid- erable force of Confederate infantry. About three o'clock the Union infantry line was relieved by the Tenth New York Cavalry regiment of Irvin Gregg's brigade, and Rank's two guns were unlimbered and loaded in the middle of the Hanover road on a hill near the Reever house. The officers and men of the command sought what rest and shelter from the scorching heat they could, while from the hills they watched the conflict between the infantry and artillery of the opposing armies. Some of the men groomed their horses to freshen them up; some allowed theirs to nibble the rich clover; while others, thoroughly worn out, tried to obtain a little sleep.
The same writer also states * that the section of Rank's battery, which did such excellent service on this occasion, joined General Gregg's command on the 29th of June. While en route from Fred- erick to Baltimore, its march was intercepted by Stuart's column, moving northward between the Army of the Potomac and Washing- ton, and Rank, with his section and escort-Captain Duvall's troop of Maryland cavalry-barely escaped capture by falling back and uniting with McIntosh's brigade, near Poplar Springs.
Without question the Tenth was the first regiment from the Second Cavalry Division to engage the enemy on the right flank at Gettysburg. This is recorded by Colonel Brooke-Rawle, in his ad- dress already referred to :
During the afternoon there was some skirmish firing between the opposing lines, and about six o'clock Colonel Irvin Gregg ordered fifty men of the Tenth New York Cavalry to advance .dismounted and clear the front. A regiment of Confederate infantry was at once sent out to meet them, and drove back the small party of cavalrymen. Suddenly a party of the enemy appeared on the top of Brinkerhoff's Ridge where it crosses the Hanover road. In a second Rank's men were at their guns, and put two shells into the midst of the party, causing the Confederates to fall back instantly under cover of the ridge. "To horse !"
* In Philadelphia Weekly Times, February 2, 1884.
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1863
108 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
sounded at once, and the Third Pennsylvania, advancing at a trot along the road toward Gettysburg, formed close column of squadrons in an orchard back of the Cress house. The first two squadrons were quickly dismounted to fight on foot, advanced at a run, and in a few minutes were deployed at close intervals as skir- mishers on the summit of the eastern spur of Brinkerhoff's Ridge north of the road. The Purnell Troop and two battalions of the First New Jersey, under Major Janeway and Captain Boyd. followed, and deployed dismounted on the left of the road on the prolongation of the same line, with the Third Battalion under Major Beaumont in reserve. A strong, well-built stone wall ran along the top of the ridge on the right of the road, with a field of tall wheat just ripe for cutting on the other side of the wall. This wall was the key of the position, as each of the contending parties at once perceived, and by the time our men reached it a line of Confederate infantry was seen making for it at full speed. The fire of Rank's guns had delayed the enemy's advance for a sufficient length of time to enable us to get there first, and give a withering reception with our breech-loading carbines to the infantrymen, who were not more than twenty feet off from the wall when we reached it.
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After vainly attempting to drive our men back, the enemy retired to a more sheltered position, along the edge of a piece of woods some two hundred yards distant, where he remained until after dark, the opposing forces and Rank's two guns meanwhile keeping up a brisk firing. Later in the evening the Confeder- ates, taking advantage of the darkness, turned our right unobserved, and dis- lodged a portion of our line, which, however, was re-established after some trouble. . . .
About ten o'clock in the evening the line was withdrawn, and the two brigades moved over to the Baltimore Turnpike, where it crosses White Run, near the position of the Reserve Artillery, and there went into bivouac, in accordance with orders from Cavalry Corps headquarters, to be available for whatever duty they might be called upon to perform on the morrow.
Sergeant B. W. Bonnell, of Company H, writes as follows :
When we arrived on the field, July 2d, P. M., our squadron, Companies H and L, were placed on the right of the Ilanover road on skirmish-line with our left resting on the road, the line extending northerly to a piece of woods. The reserve was quartered in a door-yard. There was an orchard at the rear of the house. About 4 p. M. our line was broken by an attack from the rebel infantry, and we fell back across the road to our left. During this movement William Potter, of Company HI, was wounded. As we came into the road I saw some of our men, who had taken refuge behind some rocks on the left side of the road, surrounded by a party of rebels and taken prisoners. We fell back a short distance and formed line again on a road running south from the Hanover road. That night we retired to the rear of our infantry line.
As we were going into position that afternoon we met the family vacating the house I have referred to, the women carrying articles of bedding, etc. The man had a bag full of bread, meat, etc., while the children were laden down with hats bonnets, shawls, boots, shoes, and other wearing apparel. We found some mackerel which they had left in a tub of water at the well. The boys took some of these, but would not take the chickens that were running about. I believe
109
CAPTAIN LOWNSBURY ACCOUNT.
1863
there was nothing taken by the boys excepting the mackerel. They did not feel like disturbing anything the poor people had left.
The detachment sent forward by Major Avery in the afternoon, in obedience to General Gregg's orders, consisted of the squadron composed of Companies E and K, commanded by Captain Benjamin F. Lownsbury. Another squadron-Companies B and D-were sent to the support of Captain Lownsbury's squadron later, taking position on his right. In the advance of the first squadron the men bore so far to the right that the line became thinned out, the left resting on the Hanover road. This threw Companies B and D far to the right, on Brinkerhoff's Ridge.
Captain Lownsbury mentions the part taken by his squadron as follows:
Soon after noon we arrived near the battle-field of Gettysburg, via the Han- over pike. We had been sitting on our horses and lying on the ground on the left of the turnpike all the afternoon, until near sundown, when an aide galloped up with orders for Major Avery to send a detachment from the Regiment to Brinkerhoff's Ridge to drive back some advancing infantry skirmishers. I was near Major Avery at the time. I was cleaning my revolver. I heard the order to the major to " send a force to drive back those sharpshooters up there " (the aide pointing to the ridge). The squadron of which Company A was one was commanded by Sergeant Mitchell. Major Avery directed him to move out with his squadron, but on Mitchell's statement that there was no commissioned officer in his squadron, the major turned and ordered me to go with my squadron-Com- panies E and K, commanded respectively by Sergeants Morey and Torrey. I immediately dismounted the men, leaving every fourth man to hold horses, and started forward with twenty-seven men. When we reached the summit of the ridge we came to a rail fence. The sun shone directly in our eyes, rendering it difficult to observe anything going on in front. I ordered the men to lie down for a few moments, until the woods in our front might shade the sun; but just then I noticed some of the mounted men from our regiment going back in the road pretty lively, and I concluded they had found something they didn't want.
Two regiments of the Stonewall Brigade, under General Walker, then charged upon us, and I gave the command to fall back. Company E was on the right and K on' the left of my line. The firing was very rapid, and as we fell back through a small piece of woods, closely followed by the rebels, we attempted to clear a fence in our line of retreat. Just as we got over, a corporal of Company E was killed, and I was slightly wounded in the leg. I was immediately surrounded by a numerous crowd of rebels, who escorted me just over the hill to a barn on the right of the Hanover pike, which proved to be General Walker's headquarters. He asked me what the force was over the ridge, and I replied that I hadn't the remotest idea. E. G. Dow, of Company K, was captured at the same time I was. We were moved from place to place, ofttimes under fire, but were finally taken to the rear of the Confederate army.
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1863
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
Sergeant E. G. Dow, who was taken prisoner with Captain Lowns- bury, furnishes the following version of the affair :
It was perhaps four or five o'clock when we were ordered forward to drive the rebel sharpshooters out of the trees along Brinkerhoff's Ridge. The woods, our objective, were somewhat to the right, and, as we obliqued, the men on our left appeared to maintain the direct march to the front, so that our line became quite attenuated. Captain Lownsbury was on the right of the line. As we reached the brow of the hill we encountered a fence, the left of the line striking it first, and we began jumping over. As we rose up in clearing the fence we disclosed ourselves to the rebels, who were lying just over the hill, and they opened a rapid fire on us and immediately advanced in greatly superior numbers. As we at- tempted to fall back we were suddenly surrounded by the rebels and inade pris- oners. We were taken back to General Walker, commanding the Stonewall Brigade. I remember his being seated on a rail fence, in rear of his command. His language and bearing were dignified and gentlemanly. He asked the Captain about our forces, which the Captain declined to answer. The General expressed his belief that they would win in the impending battle, as our troops were tired out from forced marches and discouraged by repeated reverses. We were marched back a short distance, where we remained until after sunset.
Sergeant (afterward Lieutenant) A. J. Edson, of Company D, writes as follows of this engagement :
Our squadron, composed of Companies B and D, was ordered forward to assist Captain Lownsbury. We were placed on the right of his line, Company D join- ing his right and B on the right of D. Both these companies were small and did not extend the line very far. Our squadron had a very lively skirmish on this occasion. We were in the open field, and the enemy occupied an old building in our front. It was early evening. The only way we could protect ourselves at all was to lie flat on the ground as possible, and every shot from the enemy had the effect of making us flatten ourselves, in imagination, at least, a little more. There was an incident which occurred near me, however, that made me forget for the moment my peril. Hiram Hadden lay on the line near me. He wore a large white hat, which attracted the attention of the Confederates, and he was receiving more than his share of lead. He finally got mad, and jerking the hat from off his head he jumped to his feet and fired every cartridge he had at the enemy. Their fire was concentrated on him, but he finally walked off unharmed. His example had a salutary effect on the others. Jimmy Van Allen, seeing Hadden, sprang to his feet also and began blazing away, but became vexed and impatient because his carbine wouldn't go off, after snapping several caps. I suggested to him to try another cartridge, and on removing the one in the carbine, he found only the shell. The carbine had responded to the first fall of the hammer. Jim said, with. a disgusted look, " What a d-d fool I am : spoiled six caps and haven't hurt a cussed reb !"
There was one poor fellow in the company who was a constitutional coward. I resolved to make him stand up to the work, and stationed Bob Evans on one side of him and Joe MeKeeghan behind him, with instructions to see that he kept in his place. No sooner did the firing commence on the line than off went this fel-
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LIEUTENANT JAMES MATTHEWS WRITES.
1863
low's carbine, straight up in the air! " Hold on, there!" shouted Evans, "there ain't any rebs up there ; you'll kill an angel !" I finally sent him to the rear, as I was afraid he would shoot some of our own men.
Joe McKeeghan was badly wounded there soon after. Lieutenant Truman C. White, who commanded our squadron, was entitled to great credit for his coolness and judgment in handling the squadron on that as he did on all occasions.
Sergeant (afterward Captain) David Pletcher relates his expe- rience on the 2d of July in the following way :
On the march from Hanover my horse gave out, and I left him with a farmer. When I reached the Regiment it was lying on the left of the Hanover road, near the cross roads. I obtained permission from Major Avery to go to the front, where I hoped to pick up a horse.
I took my bridłe and started across the fields south of the road and soon passed some cavalry pickets. When I reached the hills, about a quarter of a mile south of the Hanover road and in front of our division, I heard picket-firing to my right and rear. I did not think for a moment that my position was unsafe. I crossed the summit of the hill to the west side and, in company with a civilian, was looking out upon the battle in the valley below. Suddenly some one called out, " Halt, you d-d Yank !" and looking up was surprised to see a line of . rebels within a few rods of me. Jumping from the rock, I ran southward, giving the alarm. After helping to gather some wounded and played-out infantrymen and get them to places of safety, I pushed out for the Regiment, which I found near a bridge. That night I went foraging, and returning at 2 A. M. on the 3d, called up Companies F and M and fed them.
Lieutenant James Matthews writes :
I was in command of Company F at the battle of Gettysburg. I was sent by Major Avery to support Captain Lownsbury with Company F, mounted, about 4 or 5 p. M., on the 2d of July. When we reached the top of the ridge the bullets flew very thick, and I ordered the company to fall back under the brow of the hill. A little later Major Avery came riding up in a rage, and demanded to know who ordered the company back. I told him I did. Just then we received a volley, and the Major commenced to dodge, and he said to me, " You ought to have done it before."
Lieutenant (afterward Captain) B. B. Porter writes from San Fran- cisco in regard to the Gettysburg engagement of July 2d :
I was acting as adjutant of the Regiment at the time of the battle of Gettys- burg. I was with General and Colonel Gregg, on the south side of the Hanover road, on the evening of July 2d, when I received orders to post pickets on the north side of the road. Who posted them on the south side I do not know. As soon as I had established the pickets they were driven in. The regiment at the time I put the pickets out, at dark, was on the south side of the Hanover road.
Companies C and G formed the line on the south side of the Hanover Road, during the afternoon and evening of the 2d, the first named joining the right of the Twelfth Corps near the base of Wolff's
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1863
Ilill, and the latter forming the prolongation, with its right resting on the Hanover Road. Companies A and M were held in reserve.
Of the operations south of the Hanover road, on the 2d of July, Sergeant John .A. Freer, of Company M, says :
After Major Waters had taken his command into the field, on the south side of the Hanover road, near Brinkerhoff's Ridge, he called for five volunteers to go with him. Secord, of Company M, and three other men besides myself, started off. After going a few rods toward our right, the Major said that General Gregg de- sired to find out whether the enemy were in our front, in force. I told the Major if he would wait I would go through the woods and find out. Secord volunteered to go with me. We passed through the timber and came to a seven-rail fence, beyond which was an open field. We had been there perhaps five minutes when the rebels came into the open field before us and formed in line. I told Secord to keep a watch on them, while I reported to the Major, who asked me how many I thought there were. I replied that I thought there was a division, at least. He told me to watch them, but not to fire, unless attacked, as the orders were not to bring on an engagement if it could be avoided. I rejoined Secord, with the other three men, while the Major started off to report to General Gregg. We had just settled down behind the fence when twenty-five or thirty rebs came almost straight for the place we occupied, I think, intending to tear down the fence; an- other party, of about the same number, going toward the cross-fence to our left. The boys were restless and wanted to open the ball, but I ordered them to hold their fire. When the rebs were within eight or ten rods I gave the order to fire. Secord said, afterward, that I gave the order to " Give 'em h-l!" Anyway, from the manner in which the riderless horses dashed about, and the whole lot scam- pered off, they must have thought they had struck the open door to sheol and found everybody at home. About the same time the party to the left had torn down the fence, and the dismounted cavalry or infantry were marching through. The sharp crack of the carbines on the left satisfied me that there was going to be music by the full band. There was considerable tumult among the troops on the opposite side of the field, following the repulse. Then a line of battle was formed, and with their celebrated " Ki-yi!" they charged on us. All our carbine ammu- nition was gone. so I ordered the boys to give them the contents of their revolvers and fall back. When we started it fairly rained lead. I was never in such a shower of bullets before nor since. As we went out of the timber a shell came whizzing over our heads, crashing through the trees, among the rebs. The gun- ners had the range perfectly. I have always wondered why our battery did not continue the shelling. The race was kept up until we reached the creek, into which we tumbled. pretty thoroughly exhausted. We found our clothing riddled with bullets. One had just grazed the inside of my right leg and lodged in my boot, another struck me on the inside of my left arm, which bled profusely. Se- cord bound it up with his handkerchief and poured water on it, which soon stopped the flow. It was getting dark ; we did not know where the Regiment was, so we lay down and remained till morning, when we rejoined it on the south side of the Hanover road.
And W. E. Phelps, of Company M, furnishes the following :
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SOME INTERESTING INCIDENTS.
1803
It was about 4 p. M. when we mounted and went down the Hanover road, crossed a small stream,* and turned into a field on the left. There we formed, squadron front, and a call was made for one hundred men for special service. There was a ready response of, I think, ninety men. Captain John G. Pierce was in command. We moved to the left in an oblique direction until we reached a narrow piece of woods, when we were halted to await the coming of Major Waters, who was in command. After a few moments Captain Pierce told us to sit down and remain quiet while he went to find the Major. Soon after the Captain left, the skirmishers in our front began to be hard pressed, the bullets whizzing around us, until the boys became impatient, and they were advanced to the skirmish-line. There we found Lieutenant McKevitt, of Company G, in charge of the line. I spoke to him, as I was personally acquainted with him, and heard him order the line forward just before the rebels charged us.
Here these two squadrons continued on duty until the line was called in late at night preparatory to the movement to the rear of the right of the army.
Hospital steward (afterward Lieutenant) Walter Kempster men- tions some interesting incidents in a private letter to the historian, among them the following, which is published by permission :
You know, at Gettysburg I had not yet received my commission, and I was, so to speak, free-footed, and, having an inquiring turn of mind, gathered in all I could of the fight.
Roaming about as usual, I went up to our picket-line, which was actively en- gaged, on the afternoon of July 2d. It now seems to me as though our regi- mental skirmish-line extended south of the Hanover road a short distance. My reasons for thinking so are these : I rode up to the skirmish-line on horseback ; our men were dismounted and their horses were in the rear. They were posted on the crest of a ridge and on the edge of a piece of woods (left of the road) and on the right of the road they were protected only by bowlders, etc. While I was watching some of our boys on the left who were drawing fine beads on the Confederates in front, a long line of rebel infantry came out of the woods on our right flank ; they were not skirmishers, but were in line of battle. They delivered a volley and started down the hill. So did I; but they outflanked me and I presume thought I was somebody of importance. and they kept blazing away at me in a desultory way. I was hanging on to my horse, my left arm and leg thrown over his neck and back, my body sheltered by his body. As I drew near the little creek a section of our battery opened on the line of Johnnies and they flew to cover. I was by the side of the section at the second or third shot, and the officer in command congratulated me on my escape. Some of our men on the right were hurt, but the men on the left fell back to their horses, when, seeing the enemy driven back by the battery, they returned to their first position. After the fighting ceased, on the evening of the 2d, I went out with ambulances to get the wounded and was fired upon. The firing was continued until I was com- pelled to leave the field.
* Cress's Run.
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1863
114 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
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