USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 15
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1863
REFUGEES RETURNING TO TOWN.
123
this particular point. It was an indescribable scene. The vivid flashes of lightning gave occasional glimpses of the caravan, which was made up of men, women, and children, horses, cows, and pigs, from which there arose a confusion of voices and noises like unto the roaring of the ocean in a storm.
The following morning the party started on the return to the Regiment, going via the Baltimore pike. Just after starting out quite a number of infantrymen were observed under an old shed by the roadside. Mistaking the cavalrymen for a mounted patrol gathering up stragglers, some of these infantry boys started for the fields, but discovering their error, returned to their rendezvous, which presented the appearance of a tramps' headquarters. Some of the men were evidently members of the Eleventh Corps, as they displayed an im- ported dialect and the crescent badge. They claimed that their term of enlistment had expired ; they were ex-crescents of the army, as it were. They appeared to have lost their esprit de corps, and were not making a very vigorous search for it.
Soon after passing them a party of refugees were overtaken re- turning to their homes in the village, from whom it. was learned that the Confederate army had fallen back, leaving the village in possession of the Union forces. Among the refugees was Charles J. Tyson, the photographer, well known to many of the men of the Tenth. On reaching the village it was found that the Regiment had just passed through, going on the Chambersburg road. Lieutenant Preston ac- companied Mr. Tyson to his residence and afterward visited the pho- tograph gallery with him. Underneath one of the windows of the gallery a shell, which must have been fired from a Confederate battery northwest of the town, was partly imbedded in the brick wall. Other familiar scenes and friends were visited, and many of the members of the Regiment had embraced the opportunity for doing the same.
" Are you a Porter Guard ?" asked a small boy of a bronzed car- alryman who was passing by. An affirmative answer was followed by an invitation to dinner.
With all the trouble and turmoil with which the good people had been environed they had kept green the memory of the "Porter Guards," and welcomed them again to their homes.
Many interesting reminiscences are related by the citizens of the town of the eventful days of June and July, 1863. In the former month General Early passed through the village with his division on his way to York. This is mentioned by the citizens as " Early's raid."
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1863
124 HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
The quiet of the little village was disturbed by repeated rumors of the near approach of the Confederate army for several days prior to its arrival. Indeed, the cry of " Wolf ! wolf !" had been heard so frequently that it had lost much of its terror; but on Friday, June 26th, the oft-repeated story that the rebels were coming was renewed with an emphasis and earnestness that threw the citizens into an un- usual state of excitement. Not only were the rebels reported coming, but the locality and direction were indicated. They were surely approaching on the Chambersburg road. The citizens crowded to that part of the borough which would afford an opportunity for a verification of the rumors. Presently the head of a column of troops marching in regular order appeared above the crest of Semina- ry Ridge. Then anxiety was gradually displaced by curiosity. It was a question in the minds of the gathered throng of citizens whether they were really rebels or Union troops. Soon, however, a large flag-the stars and bars-came into view. This was the sig- nal for a general scamper of the men, women, and children to their various homes to prepare for the reception by secreting valua- bles, etc.
The on-coming cavalry soon filled the principal streets of the vil- lage, preserving good order and discipline. Their soldierly conduct was reassuring, and soon the people came from their houses and' mingled with them in conversation.
Soon after General Early reached the borough he made a formal demand on the village authorities for sixty barrels of flour, seven thousand pounds of pork and bacon, twelve hundred pounds of sugar, six hundred pounds of coffee, one thousand pounds of salt, forty bushels of onions, one thousand pairs of shoes, five hundred hats, or, in lieu of the foregoing, five thousand dollars in money. Mr. David Kendlehart, as president of town councils and acting burgess, returned a written refusal to comply with the demand, and sent it by John Burns, who by his subsequent brave action in taking up arms in defense of his country and home at the time of the battle became known as the " hero of Gettysburg." Burns was at the time town constable, and the giving of the document to him to deliver to General Early invested the transaction with something of an official . character. Burns found General Early sitting on his horse near a pump on Baltimore Street, not far from the Diamond, around which was a crowd of thirsty soldiers. The paper was promptly served on the General, who carefully looked it over from under his slouch hat, and handing it back, he said: " All right; I'll see my commissary
1863
INCIDENT OF THE "HERO OF GETTYSBURG."
125
about it."* This was the last heard of the matter until General Early's return from York to participate in the great battle, when Mr. David Ziegler, one of the substantial citizens, meeting him, spoke of the demand and the physical impossibility of complying with its terms at that time. The General smiled grimly as he replied : " I suppose so ; but if I had not been in such a hurry the next morning I would have found a way of getting what I wanted." But it never- theless stands to the credit of Mr. Kendlehart that by his prompt and decisive stand the town was saved from an onerous tax.
During the time the Tenth was stationed in Gettysburg, old John Burns was daily at his work making and mending shoes in Mr. Ken- dlehart's building, opposite the court-house and adjoining the post- office. Many of the boys resorted to the old man for a better " under- standing," and those acquainted with his character were not surprised at his course when the hour arrived for decisive action. Indeed, the old man's patriotism had early manifested itself in an attempt to enter the Union army in the regular way, but his age prevented. Age, however, did not prevent his going out with a musket as an "irregular," and joining a Union regiment when the rebel army approached his native town in hostile array. There he fought until wounded, when, giving the rebels a " last" shot, he threw his gun from him, and escaped capture by assuming the role of a citizen caught between two fires.
In 1884 the historian addressed a letter to Mr. Tyson, recounting some incidents of the battle, and received the following in reply :
FLORA DALE, PA., January 16, 1881.
N. D. PRESTON, Esq., Bradford, Pa.
DEAR FRIEND NOBLE: Yours of the 9th instant came duly to hand while I was in Baltimore and reached me on Saturday last, and, to make amends for the long time I kept you waiting before. I shall answer this at once. You certainly have a very good memory, though I shall have to correct it a little bit, and, it this epistle should seem to you disconnected, never mind that, but pick out of it any- thing of value to you and let the balance go. I shall only write what I know to be fact.
About three o'clock on Friday afternoon, June 26th, my wife and I were put- ting down the last carpet in the front second-story room in our little house on Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg (we had just commenced housekeeping-were married April 30, 1863), when we heard an unusual noise. Upon looking out the turnpike toward Chambersburg, we saw the advance of Ewell's corps, consisting of numerous mounted men, some with hats, some without ; some in blue and some
* Both General Early's order and the message refusing compliance are in the possession of Mr. Kendlehart, who retains them as souvenirs of the " Early raid."
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1863
HISTORY OF THE TENTHI REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
in gray. On, on they came, and as they dashed past the house and up into the town they rent the air with yells, at the same time discharging their carbines and pistols into the air. Following them came the mass of infantry, which filled the road from side to side, and when they reached our house and passed on the solid mass extended to the top of Seminary Ridge, and still on they came. Presently the word " Halt!" was given. "Stack arms !" next. So they halted and they stacked.
We had taken the precaution to lock the front door and yard gate, and were looking out through the Venetian shutters-seeing but unseen. We heard fem trying the door, and heard one fellow spell out from the door-plate "Ters-o-n ; wonder who the devil he is?" and at the same time began chopping on the step or door, and I said to my wife: "There's no use trying to keep them out if they want to get in ; I will go down and open the gate." I did so, and said to them : " You look warm and dry; we have a well of good cool water in here; come in and refresh yourselves." They came right along without a second invitation, and then they wanted bread and butter, but we told them we did not have enough to commence on, and they were satisfied far more easily than I expected ; were very polite and gentlemanly. One, a German, asked where Joe Hooker was ; said they were after him, and would have him if they had to go to Philadelphia for him. ] would like to have seen him a week later. This gang passed on to York, and next day the town was clear again. One straggler came in and was promptly captured.
On the following Wednesday morning, July 1st, I arose to find Gettysburg swarming with Union soldiers, and the stores all open and doing business. I opened the gallery and went to work. and was kept very busy till near ten o'clock. I had made an exposure, and the room was full. I went into the work-room to fin- ish the picture. When I returned the room was empty, excepting the one person. He offered me in pay a note I could not change. I ran down-stairs to get change, when, to my surprise, all the stores were closed and no one to be seen. I gave the man his money, and he disappeared. Judge Russell turned the corner just then and I asked, " What does this mean ?" He answered, " It means that all citizens are requested to retire into their houses as quietly and as quickly as possible," and off he went, and off I went up-stairs and gathered. up a few valuables and started for home. By the time I reached the opposite side of the square I met my wife, who was coming to see what had become of me. It was then between ten and eleven o'clock. I returned with her to our house. She had a small trunk packed. which contained our wedding suits and some valuables.
The cannonading was then going on in good earnest, and the people living on Chambersburg Street were advised to go farther up town. We looked up the house and I put the trunk on a wheelbarrow and started. Going a short distance I met our neighbor, Mr. Boyer, who had a spring wagon, covered, and in it his mother- in-law, who sat upon some trunks. He very kindly permitted me to put my trunk on, which I did and tumbled my barrow over into Mr. Chritzman's yard. We all went up on Baltimore Street and remained there until about two o'clock. In the mean time the churches were being filled with wounded men and the pavements were lined with those slightly wounded. Several blocks of captured rebels passed out Baltimore Street and I concluded to go down home and bring up a basket of fresh bread to distribute to the soldiers ony wife had baked a large quantity the day before or that morning; but when I got nearly down to the square I met one
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OSCAR WOODRUFF, Commissary-Sergeant. N. C. S. Afterward First Lientenant, Co. F.)
JOHN E. COWLES, Hospital Steward. N. C. S. (Afterward First Lientenant, Co. A.)
SERGT. BELA BURZETTE and SERGT. JOHN VAIL, Co. B.
W. W. TACKABURY, Hospital Steward. N. C. S.
HERBERT E. FARNSWORTH, Sergeant Major, .N. C. S. (Afterward Captain, Co. B.)
1863
LETTER FROM C. J. TYSON.
127
of our officers riding up the street, warning all women, children, and non-com- batants to leave the town, as General Lee intended to shell it.
This caused quite a stir, and the streets were full of people hurrying to and fro preparing to leave. Suffice it to say, I did not go for the bread, but I did go for my wife. We kept in company of our neighbors, the Boyer family, and went out the Hanover road, crossed the bridge over Rock Creek and went on to Daniel Benner's on the hill. Before we got there it rained in torrents, but having an umbrella we did not get very wet. We remained there till the rain was over, when I proposed to Mr. Boyer that we leave our trunks in the cellar and put our wives in the wagon. This he consented to do, and on we went to Littlestown, ten miles south of Gettysburg. Mr. Boyer's son and I walked. Next day we went out the pike toward Gettysburg as close as we could go safely. Next day, Friday, I met Moody (I think). He said he had passed the gallery the day before, and it was, to use his language, " gutted !" and my house, he said, still stood, but every- thing was destroyed. My all was there, and you can perhaps imagine my feelings better than I can describe them. In the mean time I learned that the house at which our trunks were left was within rebel lines, so that all (so far as I could learn) was gone, except the well-worn suit on my back.
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Therefore it was not strange that I should feel very good upon entering my house to find nothing wantonly destroyed. My secretary was ransacked and the contents scattered over the room. In the parlor we found a small heap of ashes, the residue of burned letters and papers, the forms of the envelopes still preserved on the top of the pile. Upon removing the ashes we found the carpet uninjured, and after the carpet was swept no trace of the fire could be found. The carpet, which was Brussels, remained on the floor in constant use until we sold the property, in 1867, and I presume still longer, as we sold it with the house. We found several bundles put up ready to be carried off, but which were left behind. All my cloth- ing was taken and several rebel suits left in place. With this exception we missed very little, indeed, outside of the cellar and pantry, which was pretty well cleaned up. Your recollection of the barrel of flour is correct to a fraction. You remem- ber we entered the house in the rear-the front door being locked just as I left it. Or did I unlock it and enter from the front ? Indeed, I would not be sure about that. But the door was locked and the front parlor windows open. Yes, we found the gallery undisturbed. The wife of Lawyer Wills claimed to have pre- vented the men from going into the gallery by telling them it was dangerous. They, however, entered the cellar and emptied a barrel of ninety-five per cent alcohol. I had a gross of eight-ounce bottles there also, and they were seen carry- ing these bottles out filled with alcohol.
The shell has never been removed-is still there just as it was, ready to blow somebody up perhaps some time or other .* A minié-ball passed through the back window, which was raised, passing through both panes of glass, cutting a round hole through the first pane, without cracking the glass. In the next pane the hole
* The barrel of flour referred to had been placed behind the cellar-door by Mr. Tyson, on leaving his house. To look behind this door a person would be com- pelled to go down the steps to close it; which, it appears, no one thought of doing. The shell alluded to may be seen, partly imbedded in the brick wall of the building on the south side of York Street, near the public square.
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1863
HISTORY OF THE TENTII REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
was much larger and the glass cracked. The ball then passed through an inch- pine partition and lodged on its side on the opposite side of the room, half im- bedded in another partition. I covered this with a glass case. It was still there when we left the place a few years ago. We found our trunks safe and sound. Mr. Benner and his wife retreated to the cellar when the rebels took possession of the house, and made their beds on our trunks and in that way saved them for us. In its proper place I omitted to say that on Saturday morning, July 4th, a rebel, who had evidently overslept himself, was seen coming out of my house with an overcoat on his arm. He was very promptly arrested and the overcoat afterward returned to me. It proved to belong to my brother, who lived with us at that time.
C. J. TYso.
The night of the 3d of July the Confederates were gloomy and crestfallen. Every effort to break the Union lines or turn the flanks had been unsuccessful. Their losses were enormous; their ammuni- tion and supplies well-nigh exhausted. The Union-loving people of the village noted their dejection and were not slow in guessing the reason. The spirit of the Confederate army was broken ; that the contest would not be renewed on their part was plainly evident. It was not, therefore, a great surprise to the observing, intelligent citi- zens to find the village comparatively deserted by Confederates on the morning of Independence day. It was desirable that General Meade should be informed of the situation of affairs, and Mr. David Kendle- hart, who had left home early in the morning with his sons, John L. and J. William, aged twelve and nine respectively, on a tour of ob- servation, decided to seek the commander of the Union army after having satisfied himself that the Confederate army had really fallen back. Going out upon Baltimore Street toward the cemetery, they were stopped by Mr. George Arnold, an officer of one of the banks, who informed Mr. Kendlehart that it would be impossible to get through to the Federal lines, as he as well as all others who had attempted it had been turned back. Mr. Kendlehart, however, mani- fested a determination to make the attempt, and Mr. Arnold accom- panied them. Unchallenged, they passed inside the Union lines, and were beset with inquiries from the anxious officers and soldiers. When Mr. Kendlehart announced that the Confederate army had fallen back, the news was received with every demonstration of delight. An officer who was present requested them to go with him to General Meade's headquarters, in a grove south of the cemetery, near the Taneytown road, which they did. A number of officers were in the General's headquarters at the time of their arrival, evidently discuss- ing the problem which Mr. Kendlehart was prepared to solve for them. General Meade gave the gentlemen immediate audience, and
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1863
SUFFERING FROM HUNGER.
129
exhibited great surprise and pleasure when informed that the Con- federate army had certainly fallen back, thanking them again and again. It was the first definite information he had received of the important event.
Passing through the village, the Third Brigade marched out upon the Chambersburg road, passing over the battle-field of July 1st, strewn with the dead Union soldiers. The road was littered with broken and abandoned wagons, caissons, muskets, clothing, etc. War's devastation was more clearly shown on this route than any upon which the Tenth had ever marched. Squads of Confederate soldiers were met with, plodding dejectedly along toward the place where their valiant conduct had challenged the admiration and re- spect of their adversaries. Some were under guard, others marched without. They were, generally speaking, a surly, uncommunicative lót. Every building that would afford shelter from the storm or pro- tection from the burning rays of the sun was filled with Confederate wounded and stragglers. Late at night the Tenth went into camp at Graefenburg Springs. The greater part of the Regiment had been sent back to Gettysburg during the day as guards to rebel prisoners.
Corporal E. G. Fish relates that Company K had but four men present for duty, and when the commanding officer of the Regiment gave the order, " By fours, march," Sergeant Torry would command, " Company K, forward march !"
Of this day's march Lieutenant B. B. Porter says :
Our advance-guard commenced bringing in rebel prisoners as soon as we reached Seminary Ridge. With every squad of fifty prisoners two men were sent back as guards. When the Regiment reached Cashtown, I think Avery, Graves, Preston, and myself were the only commissioned officers with the Regiment. I had the management of the prisoners. I think over three thousand were sent back under guards furnished from the Tenth. At Cashtown I was kept busy for a long time searching rebel prisoners. I had quite a stock of knives, pistols, re- volvers, etc. As soon as the men sent as guards rejoined the Regiment we fol- lowed after, and soon came up with the rest of the brigade.
The suffering from hunger was probably never greater in the Regiment than while on this march. Men ate corn from the ear, birch-bark, anything that would appease the gnawings of hunger. Finally, the commissary, taking a few men, started out in search of food. It was an almost hopeless task, as the rebels had made a pretty clean sweep of everything in the line of grain and provisions. Forag- ing parties and stragglers were to be seen in every direction; but, nothing dismayed, the commissary brought his small command to a 9
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1863
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
halt in the yard of a cozy farm-house and was about to institute an investigation when the lord of the manor, a bright-appcaring young fellow, made his appearance, and smiling said, " Want something for the horses to eat ? "
" Yes, we would like something to fill the vacancy in both man and beast," was the reply.
" See anything in there you want?" he asked, as he swung open the door of a large empty corn-crib. The commissary shook his head dubiously.
" The rebels didn't, either; but what you want is up there," he said, pointing to a scaffolding, on which was some straw. "You see, I put that straw up there as a blind," he continued, "and on the straw I spread some sheets and put my oats on them. Those rebels were too dumb to think of such a thing or too lazy to get a ladder to investigate."
He brought a ladder, and there, sure enough, was something to " make a horse laugh "-a great pile of bright oats, which the young farmer insisted the commissary should clean up, refusing to keep enough to supply even his immediate wants. As the detachment did not have forage-sacks enough to hold all the oats, the loyal fellow brought out sufficient bags for the purpose; and just as the party were about to start off, one of the men came running from the house bearing a loaf of bread of immense proportions. The commissary hastened to the house and secured a duplicate loaf, together with a liberal supply of cheese, for none of which the ladies would accept payment. This relieved the commissary from an embarrassing posi- tion ; he had but twenty-five cents. It was quite late when the Regi- ment was overtaken, but the horses of no regiment in the brigade had a better feed that night. The bread and cheese was distributed in dainty parcels, the small number of men in the Regiment at the time making it possible for each to receive a ration. Some cherries were found along the line of march during the day. A well-loaded cherry-tree would break up the column more effectively than a well- loaded battery, and would prove equally effective in placing the men hors de combat. Reaching Chambersburg on the evening of the 6th, the Regiment was marched through the town and into a meadow of clover and encamped. Jenkins's brigade had found it convenient to vacate just before our arrival.
Resuming the march on the 7th, Quincy was reached in the even- ing, where the Regiment went into camp during a hard rain-storm, which prevailed all night; then again on the 8th to Waynesboro,
DEDICATION OF THE BATTLE MONUMENT OF THE TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY.
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1863
131
FIRST UNION TROOPS TO CROSS THE POTOMAC.
going into camp in the mountains at 8 P. M., and to Middletown on the 9th, encamping late in the evening. Here the Regiment re- mained, doing picket duty until the 11th, when it was again set in motion at noon, and settled down at Boonesboro the same night. The severe strain and lack of forage to which the animals had been sub- jected in the forced marches over the mountains told seriously on them. A large number were condemned in the Tenth on the 12th.
Rain fell again from the 12th to the 14th in sufficient quantities to make the roads soft and pliable. On the latter date the brigade broke camp at Boonesboro and marched to Harper's Ferry, where it crossed at 5 P. M. on a pontoon bridge and established camp on Boli- var Heights, the first troops from the Army of the Potomac to reach . Virginia soil after the battle of Gettysburg.
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