USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 21
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Sergeant (afterward Captain) John P. White, writing of this af- fair, says :
Our squadron, A and L, were, I think, about in the center of the Regiment, and preserved their formation quite well until the companies in the rear rushed through it. It soon got very hot, and about a dozen of us were engaged in a hand-to-hand fight. John R. Maybury, of Company E. was one of our number. A rebel thrust his saber through Maybury, puncturing his belt and clothing and striking his spine. Another reb was sabering one of our boys, when Ed Stark rode up, and placing his carbine against his back, pressed the trigger and reduced the effective fighting force of the enemy one. While we were riding about and banging away at every rebel we could see, I noticed Joel Frey, of Company L, take deliberate aim at me and fire. I was so close to him the powder almost burned my face. After the fight I asked him, in no very pleasant mood, what he shot at me for, and he replied that he shot a reb just behind me who had his saber ready to strike. Of course, I knew nothing of it at the time. Well, our battery came down the road and fired a blank cartridge as a warning for our men to clear the road, and we gave way to the right and left and fell back while the guns sent the grape and canister into the rebs. As the enemy came up we gave them all the
* In answer to a letter from the historian. recounting the incident as hero given and asking if they were in accordance with his recollections of the affair, Colonel Treichel answered from the Soldiers' Home at Santa Monica, Cal., of which he is governor, under date of April 9, 1890, as follows :
MY DEAR CAPTAIN : I have delayed answering your letter because it seemed to me I ought to be able to think of something to add to your vivid description of that gallant little affair at Ground Squirrel Bridge, if only as an evidence that I happened along there at about that time and saw you sail in with that handful of brave fellows; but it is no use: you have brought it all back as if it had happened only yesterday. But you have left nothing for me to suggest.
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lead we could from our carbines and revolvers. It was about this time that a charge was made and came up to where we were. I didn't notice who led it, but we retired with them. Sergeant Brown, of Company L, was knocked from his horse, and caught the tail of a passing horse and was dragged out of the mêlée. Sergeant L. P. Norton, of the same company, received a severe saber-cut on the back of the head. The horse of Henry Bodfish, of Company A, was shot, and Bodfish deliberately commenced taking off the saddle and bridle under fire. He was told to get out quick (with the usual emphasis in such cases), which he did.
Lieutenant Preston was slightly wounded in the charge which he led. Joe McCreary, of Company H, was taken prisoner, and his comrades believed it was he who told his captors the Munchausen stories of the vast numbers that were approaching their capital, an account of which was published in the Richmond papers the next day. It was good fighting all around on the 11th. While Gregg's brigade was contending with Gordon's force at Ground Squirrel Bridge, the First brigade, under General Davies, was having a like interesting time at Ashland, where it had gone early in the morning ; and Custer's brigade, of the First division, was doing a smashing business at Yellow Tavern, nearer Richmond. Here General Stuart met his death, while rallying his men in a final stand against the im- petuous Custer. The first information received in the Tenth of the wounding of General Stuart was from an old negro woman, who in- formed Sergeant Joyner, of Company A, that "General Stuart had been shot frew de bowels " that evening. This, if true, meant that he was mortally wounded, which was found to be the case next day, he having died in Richmond, whither he was conveyed in an ambulance.
General Stuart, by his knightly valor, his intrepid dash, and bold adventures, had won and maintained the respect of the Union cavalry- men as no other Confederate cavalry leader had. Various accounts as to how this gallant sabreur met his death have been given. The particular manner in which he received his death-wound is not of so much consequence; it was the lofty spirit of heroism which found him valiantly defending the passage to the Confederate capital, even to the sacrificing of his own life in the personal endeavor to stay the victorious march of our cavalry that challenged the admiration of all.
Major Mcclellan, of his staff, who would be quite as likely to know the truth of the circumstances of General Stuart's death as any one, says that about eighty men had collected on the Telegraph Road, where Captain Dorsey, of the First Virginia Cavalry, had been stationed, and "among these the General threw himself, and by his personal example held them steady, while the enemy charged entirely past
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their position. With these men he fired into their flank and rear as they passed him, in advancing and retreating, for they were met by a mounted charge of the First Virginia Cavalry and driven back some distance. As they retired, one man, who had been dismounted in the charge, and was running out on foot, turned as he passed the General, and, discharging his pistol, inflicted the fatal wound." *
The dying chief was removed in an ambulance to Richmond, being compelled to go by a circuitous route, as our cavalry were in possession of the Brooke road between him and the city. After reaching the city Major Mcclellan paid a hurried visit to his bedside. The spirit of chivalry, always prominent, was manifested in the dying moments of the General, in the following messages, which he delivered to his devoted aide. t
" You will find in my hat a small Confederate flag, which a lady of Columbia, South Carolina, sent me, with a request that I would wear it upon my horse in a battle and return it to her. Send it to her."
And also :
" My spurs which I have always worn in battle I promised to give to Mrs. Lilly Lee, of Shepherdstown, Virginia. My sword I leave to my son."
Stuart's loss was greatly mourned by General Lee, who prized him highly, both as a skillful soldier of splendid courage and energy, and a hearty, joyous, loving friend.#
The force with which Gregg's brigade had fought in the morning was Gordon's brigade, of Fitzhugh Lee's division, numbering about four thousand men. The commander of the brigade, General James B. Gordon, was killed in this fight.
After the establishment of a line in rear, Gregg's brigade resumed the march toward Richmond in clouds of dust. It was oppressively warm, and before reaching the railroad at Glen Allen a thunder- storm came up. The destruction of the railroad was commenced late in the afternoon, and while engaged in this work Gordon's brigade again assumed the offensive and the Tenth retired to a ridge south of the railroad. On another ridge back of the one occupied by the Regi- ment the battery went into position, with the Sixteenth Pennsylvania
* The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry, p. 413. "
t Ibid., p. 416.
# Lieutenant - Colonel C. S. Venable, of General Lee's staff, in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. iv, p. 243.
Lieut. Colonel . BENJ. F. SCEVA.
Major MARTIN M. BLYNN.
ComMIRY H.
LIEUT. W. J. ROB3, Company D.
LIEUT. ED. S. HAYES, Company F.
WHEATOH. ROYD, Camping I.
LIEUT. J. T. MCKEVITT, Company G.
CAPT. THOS. W. JOHNSON, Company M.
Company C.
LIE IT. JAMES F. F.ITS, Battalion Adjutant.
LIEUT. GEO. H. STEVENS; Adjutant.
A GROUP OF FIELD, STAFF AND LINE OFFICERS.
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as support, the balance of the brigade being disposed on either flank. While in this position darkness and rain settled down upon the troops. Vivid flashes of lightning lit up the gloom, while peals of thunder rolled away in the distance, to be lost in fresh reverberations near by, each one seeming to increase the fall of rain. Mingled with all this was the continued crack of the carbine, for we were too near the rebel capital to permit its defenders to remain passive. Along the ridge the boys luy with their rubber blankets drawn about them, banging away at the enemy as the lightning's flash would reveal their position. The horses were in charge of the mounted portion of the Regiment in a slight depression between the two ridges. Word was passed along the line near midnight that Custer had met and vanquished the enemy in front, and the cheers that followed the announcement were taken up by other regiments of the brigade on either flank, and, united with the firing of the carbines and the deep-toned thunder, made an impression on the mind that was not readily effaced. The cheer- ing, no doubt, conveyed impressions to the Confederates that the Yankees were meeting with success in front, and hence the necessity of their creating a diversion. For a time the firing was quite rapid along the line; but finally it languished, the storm abated, the clouds rolled by, and the line was quietly withdrawn, and the march toward the city resumed. A part of the Tenth was moved dismounted until the Brooke turnpike was reached, to be in readiness to repel any charge which might be made.
The morning of Thursday, the 12th of May, was all that Nature in her most generous mood could bestow .. The rain had opened the curling leaves, the fields were resplendent with luxuriant grass, and beautiful gardens by the roadside gave forth a fragrance that was refreshing to the tired and exhausted men of Sheridan's cavalry, who were pressing forward to seize the prize for which the armies had contended so long-the capital of the Confederacy.
The march over the broad and beautiful Brooke road was more like moving out for review than what it proved to be-a day of hard and at times seemingly hopeless fighting. Passing within a line of earthworks that constituted Richmond's outer defenses, a few mounted and dismounted rebel troops appeared on the ridge which hid the city from view. Near a small church the column forsook the main road, making a sharp turn to the left, and passed through the wood over a narrow road. A half-mile brought Sheridan's entire force into the open, where a halt of some time was made. Presently there was rapid firing in front : the Second Division was attacked in rear ; while
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
the Third Division, occupying the center, was fiercely assailed in flank. Soon after the dismounted fine had been sent into the woods on the right-after facing to the rear-the enemy brought a bat- tery from the woods through which the division had just passed and opened fire; but they found Lieutenant King prepared for them with his battery in position. The Tenth was ordered up to the guns as support. One battalion was on the dismounted line in the wood ; the other two battalions sat their horses for moments that seemed like hours, the shot and shell from the rebel guns playing havoc in the ranks. Never did men exhibit more patience or nerve. One of the most trying positions in which troops can be placed-one that demonstrates their steadfastness and reliability-is inaction while un- der an enemy's fire. This was grandly illustrated by the Regiment here. Although shot and shell from the enemy's battery went crash- ·ing through its ranks or plowed the ground beneath the horses' feet, shells burst over and around it in a terrorizing manner, not the least disposition to unsteadiness was manifested. Solid shot striking the ground in front of the Regiment would ricochet over the heads of the men, causing the horses to fairly squat-to use an expressive term- and with extended nostrils tremblingly crowd together awaiting the next visitation.
A solid shot shattered a fore-leg of Sergeant Binkley's horse close to the body, and the poor beast continued to move the shoulder to which the leg dangled in the endeavor to place the foot. One of the artillerymen was holding four horses belonging to the battery when a shot passed through them all.
Twice did Lieutenant King silence the rebel guns, when the men pluckily returned to the place with other pieces. Finally, after ex- changing a section of his rifled pieces with Captain Martin for a section of Napoleons, he put the rebel battery to sleep for good. In the mean time, Gracie's and Bartlett's brigades of infantry had been brought from the city and united with their cavalry against the Second Divis- ion. Not an inch of ground was yielded on Gregg's line. The rapid discharge of the seven-shooters in the woods to the right gave evidence of hot work there, while the booming of cannon on every side and the ceaseless rattle of small-arms told plainly the desperate nature of the conflict. It was indeed a gloomy outlook ; hemmed in on all sides- an impassable stream in front, a heavy line of earthworks on our right, and a force of cavalry and infantry superior in numbers but not in valor to our own on the left flank and rear. None of the troops under Sheridan's command that day behaved better than the Second
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INSIDE THE FORTIFICATIONS AT RICHMOND.
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Division. Their steadiness and gallantry were largely due to the assurance and confident bearing.of their commander, whose presence at different points along the line was productive of good cheer and a firm determination to succeed.
As the gallant men yielded up their lives on the line, their forms were taken back to the open space some distance to the right of the battery and interred with much care, the graves being made on a line, with rude head-boards put up to each. About 3 P. M. the dismounted line repulsed the last attempt made by the rebels to force the posi- tion, and Merritt's men having repaired the bridge over the Chicka- hominy and drawn off the force on the opposite side, the begrimed and tired troopers retired and, mounting their horses, followed the First and Third Divisions across the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge. The citizens of Richmond and the government officials were no doubt much alarmed by Sheridan's near approach, notwith- standing there were about four thousand troops inside the works in addition to those actively engaged with the Union cavalry outside. The Richmond Enquirer of that date said :
It is unknown how long the enemy may be around the city, or at what part they may attempt to enter. Their cavalry, yesterday defeated by Stuart, may to- day rally, and re-enforced, turn the tide of victory, and seek to gallop into the city, and through it to their army at Bermuda Hundred.
Upon reaching the north side of the river it commenced raining. The Tenth was assigned to picket duty, a most unwelcome order, for the men were worn out and hungry. But the line was established in the gloom and rain two or three miles north of Mechanicsville.
Moving out at 8 A. M., on the 13th, the Tenth became the rear- guard of the entire command. About noon it passed the other troops of the corps and resumed its place with the Second Brigade, and en- camped near Bottom Bridge at 5 P. M.
Camp was broken at 7.30 A. M., on the 14th, and the line of march taken up again for the James River; Haxall's Landing was reached at 4 p. M., and the entire command went into camp on the hills back from the river .- When passing over Malvern Hill the officers on the gunboats mistook the column for rebels, and sent some shells of im- mense size at it. The signal officers attempted communication, but the tars evidently did not understand the code, for they turned their guns on the station and caused them to vacate their position. The signals had been seen, however, by General Butler's officers, and word was sent the enterprising naval commander to cease firing. Then the
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
begrimed and battered knights went into camp near the river, laun- dried their long-neglected bodies, drew full-weight rations and forage, and made general preparations for a resumption of hostilities at an early day.
While here on the 16th, some of the men of the Regiment who were serving in Battery A, Fourth United States Artillery, including Robert Trotter and Eli Baird, were transferred to Battery M, Second United States Artillery. Several recruits and officers for the Regi- ment arrived at Fredericksburg this day, including the newly ap- pointed chaplain, Rev. Joseph Bradley. These remained with the wagon-train until the cavalry returned to the army.
The Tenth was transferred to the First Brigade, General Davies's, on the 17th of May, and about 11 p. M. the entire command was put in motion on the return march to the army. Crossing the Chicka- hominy at Jones's Bridge early on the morning of the 18th, a halt was made, the horses groomed, fed, and watered, and breakfast pre- pared and eaten. Then on again to Baltimore Cross-roads, which was reached at 6 P. M., when it commenced raining. The 19th was devoted to foraging. While here, Lieutenant Preston, taking his or- derly, Kelly, and Elias Evans, of Company D, went out in the direc- tion of Richmond, for forage and fun. On emerging from the woods, when some three or four miles from camp, a log-house near the center of the opening came into view. After a few moments, Kelly exclaimed, " There's somebody running from that house, Lieu- tenant ! "
Sure enough, keeping in the line of the house, two men were going with all possible speed for the opposite woods. Putting spurs to their horses the trio overhauled them just before reaching their goal-the fence running along the edge of the woods. They proved to be Confederate soldiers visiting home on a short furlough. The only weapons they possessed, small revolvers and pocket-knives, were taken from them and the return march to camp was begun. In passing the house one of the prisoners asked to be permitted to go inside and get his overcoat. Kelly was instructed to get it for him, which he did. Something which the little orderly saw while in the house excited his suspicions, but he said nothing for some time. Finally, after about a mile had been traversed, he asked for permis- sion to return to the house. Ilis request was reluctantly granted, with admonitions to keep a sharp lookout against surprise and capt- ure. He came into camp in the carly evening, with eighteen hun- dred dollars in Confederate money. When he entered the house to
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POOR EGGS FOR GOOD MONEY.
185
obtain the overcoat, he said his suspicions were aroused by the un- easy manner in which an aged lady kept changing her position in a large arm-chair. He felt that she was " brooding " something for protection, and his suspicions were verified when he returned and found the money beneath the chair cushion. Kelly gave Lieutenant Preston five hundred dollars of the worthless stuff. A few days after- ward the Lieutenant concluded a contract with an old colored woman near camp, whereby she was to furnish one dozen good, merchantable eggs for fifteen dollars. A rigid inspection of the nests failed to reveal but eleven eggs, some of which were overripe; but the Lieu- tenant waived a strict compliance with the terms of the contract on the woman's part, and, as the eleven eggs were produced, he tendered three of the five-dollar Confederate bills in payment.
The ebonized countenance of the female egg merchant assumed a disappointed and disgusted look as her eyes fell upon the evidently familiar face of Jeff Davis on the bills.
In a disdainful manner she withdrew her hands behind her, and delivered herself of the following insult to the financial integrity of the Southern Confederacy : " I don' wan' dat stuff! I want you'ns money."
Fifteen dollars in "you'ns money " for eleven eggs in nearly as bad a state of decay as the Confederacy itself was more than the Lieu- tenant was prepared to pay, and the trade and eggs were both de- clared off.
The uncertainty as to the location of the Army of the Potomac at this time caused General Sheridan some uneasiness. Custer's brigade was sent to Hanover Court-House, while the balance of the corps went on a reconnaissance to Cold Harbor. Breaking camp at 5 A. M. on the 20th, the Second Division, with the Second Brigade leading and the Sixteenth Pennsylvania in advance, moved to Cold Harbor, where it arrived at 2 p. M., driving a small force of the enemy and posting pickets beyond Gaines's Mills. Rations and for- age were becoming very scarce, and foraging parties were sent out on the 21st. These met with but indifferent success and a few rebels. A party under Commissary Preston went in the direction of Rich- mond and secured an abundant supply of flour, sugar, tea, coffee, sweet potatoes, etc., from the residence of one of the F. F's. and escaped with the plunder, reaching camp early in the morning on the 22d, most of the men walking, the horses being loaded down with tribute.
Captain Paige, who had been reinstated in the Regiment, arrived at
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
the cavalry wagon-trains near Fredericksburg with a thousand recruits for various regiments, about noon, on this date.
Marching at daybreak on the 22d, the Tenth, first in order of march, arrived at White House about noon. Gunboats and trans- ports had come up from Fortress Monroe, bringing rations and for- age. The First Division, under General Merritt, had rebuilt the bridge over the Pamunkey, and were already crossing when the Sec- ond Division arrived.
The Tenth crossed at sunrise on the 23d, and with the rest of the command marched to King William Court-House, where it arrived at 1 p. M .; thence to Aylettsville, where the corps went into camp four hours later. From there the Tenth was sent to picket the Han- over road. While posting pickets the men were fired on by the pick- ets of the Seventh Michigan Cavalry by mistake, but no harm re- . sulted.
Marching at 8 A. M., on the 24th, the Regiment bivouacked near White Chimneys at 5 P. M., making a hot, dusty march of about fif- teen miles. After going into camp a heavy thunder-shower came up. The rain fell in torrents, and the angry bursts of lightning carried terror to many brave hearts. Corporal Bolles and private Ireland, of Company K, serving in the Pioneer Corps, were both struck, the former being instantly killed. Several men and horses were pros- trated. D. T. Fields and Stephen Smith were driving tent-stakes, and both were thrown to the ground by a shock. Jumping to his feet, Smith staggered about and exclaimed in a bewildered way, " Where did that shell come from?" One of the, bolts twisted a saber, that was leaning against a tree, into the symbolic pruning-hook. The heavy cannonading and musketry-fire in front during the day indi- cated hard fighting between the two armies.
After the heavy rainfall of the night before, the sun rose bright and warm on the 25th. At 6 A. M. the Regiment led out, and at 1.30 r. M. passed through Chesterfield Station, and a half-hour later came up with the infantry, and were greeted by " The boys we left behind us," besides some of the new acquisitions, among the latter being Chaplain Bradley, who wore a sedate expression and a pair of knee-boots as he approached Major Avery and introduced himself. His manner and appearance created a favorable impression on the men, which increased with closer acquaintance. Here Captain Paige reported with forty recruits. An immense mail was in waiting for the boys, which was at once distributed to their great satisfac- tion The trains came up, but remained but a short time, Quarter-
SERGEANT W. W. CAMERON.
MAJOR JOHN H. KEMPER.
CAPTAIN HERBERT E. FARNSWORTH.
1864
A WORN OUT COMMAND.
187
master Graves having received orders to proceed to Port Royal with his wagons, on the 26th, to bring up supplies.
The raid, replete with incident and excitement, had been severe on the horses and men. But the Yankee cavalry had maintained its supremacy over the Southern horsemen, even when aided by infantry, as was the case in the works of Richmond on the 12th of May. That more property was not destroyed was the fault of the Confederacy in not providing it. We destroyed all we found, and, like Alexander, " sighed for more."
Around the Camp-Fires.
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1864
1
CHAPTER IX.
SUMMER CAMPAIGN, 1864-FROM HAWES'S SHOP TO CROSSING JAMES RIVER.
N the return to the Army of the Potomac the cav- alrymen naturally looked for a short respite, for the purpose of recuperation and reorganization ; but the vigor with which General Grant was con- ducting the war did not permit much time to go to waste. He was going to " fight it out on this line if it took all summer," and all the horses in 10. the army to do it. And the cavalrymen gave a hearty amen to the sentiment, as they gave hearty support to the man. "Boots and saddles". at 11 A. M., on Thurs- day, May 26th, gave notice that the services of the cavalry were wanted in front. Marching back on nearly the same route on which they had advanced from White House, the tramp was con- tinued in a drizzling rain until 9 P. M., when a short halt was made; then on, on, through the long, weary night, until the Pamun- key was crossed at Hanover at sunrise on the 28th.
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