USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 22
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Going into bivouac in the open field on the south side, the men cooked breakfasts and fed and watered the animals. At 8 A. M. the Tenth, with Gregg's division, moved out on the Richmond road. Rations had been issued for four hundred and forty men prior to leaving Chesterfield Station, but the issue included dismounted and train men, sick, etc., so that the probable strength of the Regiment at this time did not exceed three hundred and eighty men present for duty. At ten o'clock the Regiment halted at Hawes's shop, and formed on the right of the road. In its front was a large white house surrounded by trees, under which General Davies established temporary headquarters. Captain Blynn, who had been sent for- ward with his squadron on a reconnaissance, had halted and sent Lieutenant T. C. White, about half a mile farther on, with Com- pany D. White passed beyond the woods with his detachment, and
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NO REST AFTER THE RICHMOND RAID.
Sergeant Edson had barely posted pickets, when they were driven in and the reserve was viciously attacked by a large force of mounted and dismounted Confederate cavalry. White formed his few men across the road and gave them a warm reception, checking their ad- vance by well-directed and rapid volleys; but the largely superior numbers were too much for continued resistance, and White fell back, closely followed by the mounted force. The stroke of lightning which killed Corporal Bolles, of the Pioneer Corps, on the 24th, de- prived his horse of its eyesight. This horse was being ridden by Warren Irish in the race for liberty which Blynn's squadron were making on this occasion. The horse becoming wedged in between a tree and the fence, Irish was forced to take to the fields to escape capture. He made good time, however, and reached the reserve, after passing through a storm of bullets, though pretty badly winded. As the little squad came flying up the road, closely pursued by a force which filled the road and extended a considerable distance back, the First Pennsylvania, with Colonel Taylor at its head, arrived in front of General Davies's headquarters. The rebel yell found an echo in Colonel Taylor's prompt command to "draw saber !" followed by the " charge !" The rebels suddenly found themselves in a dilemma. HIemmed in on either side by a high rail fence and pressed from the rear by their own comrades, they were mercilessly sabered by the Penn- sylvania boys. The First Pennsylvania never wielded the saber with better effect. The Confederates finally extricated themselves, and, falling back, their dismounted troopers began a rapid fire from the woods. The brigade was ordered forward, the Tenth taking position, mounted, at the edge of the wood, the left resting on the road, near a little church. The battery had taken position a few rods in rear of the Regiment, and were dispensing shot and shell in generous quanti- ties, firing over the Regiment into the woods. A little lull in the action soon after the arrival of the Regiment was followed by a most terrific outburst from the Confederate line, denoting heavy re-enforce- ments. General Davies, who chanced to be near the Tenth at the moment, directed Major Avery to dismount the Regiment and move it into the woods immediately, and connect with the Fourth Pennsyl- vania on the right and the First Pennsylvania on the left. This was done in perfect order, although it was extremely hot, with no chance of replying until the line was formed in the wood. No sooner had the Tenth taken position, as directed, than they encountered and re- turned a most galling fire. It was clearly an unequal contest, so far as numbers were concerned, but never did the Regiment display better
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1864
staying qualities or exhibit more gallantry than on this occasion. While repeated attempts to drive the enemy from their position proved futile, the determined resistance offered rendered the efforts of the enemy to do the same thing with our line ineffectual. As the fight progressed the Confederates appeared to throw in fresh troops, but none came to our assistance. It was the hardest fight the Regi- ment was ever engaged in. An aide from General Gregg came to the line, urging an advance. It was only necessary for the men to know that it was General Gregg's desire that the line should be advanced, for them to attempt it. But that was all they could do, and that they did do with great determination and spirit on several occasions. But it was of no avail. Against such a fire as was brought against them it was impossible to move forward. Much of the ground occupied by the Regiment was covered with underbrush, while in its front between the two lines was a ravine, across which the murderous missiles flew so thick and fast that it did not appear possible for any one to survive. Unceasingly the desperate conflict continued until about 4 P. M., when a cheer was heard away to the right. Yes, it was a cheer; a real Yankee cheer ! Then the line in our front began to give way ; and the cheer was re-echoed as the Tenth went forward, down through the ravine and up the opposite hillside, in close pursuit of the fleeing rebels. Over the open beyond, and clear up to the wood on the opposite side, the pursuit was continued. The ground was strewn with the enemy's dead, but their wounded had been removed. The line was recalled, and then it was learned that Custer had charged on our right with his brigade, dismounted, and turned the enemy's left, and our brigade pressing forward at the same time, the entire Confederate line gave way. The Union victory was complete. It was fairly earned by superior endurance, bravery, and determination. The battle of Hawes's shop has been very properly recorded as the hardest cavalry fight of the war. There was at no time during the engagement the slightest evidence of weakness or disposition to yield an inch of ground on the Union side. The losses in the Tenth were heavy, the number of killed being nearly double that of any other regiment engaged, while the number of wounded was exceeded only by the First New Jersey and Sixteenth Pennsyl- vania.
The Confederate force greatly outnumbered the Union troops in this engagement. General Humphreys says : *
* Campaigns of the Civil War, vol. xii, p. 164.
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ACCOUNT BY THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
1864
On the morning of the 28th General Sheridan was directed to make a demon- stration on the road from Hanover Town to Richmond to ascertain where the enemy was posted, and about a mile beyond Hawes's shop Gregg's division en- countered the enemy's cavalry dismounted and occupying temporary breastworks of rails. This force, General Sheridan says, appeared to be the Confederate Cav- alry Corps and a brigade of South Carolina troops armed with long-range rifles, reported to be four thousand strong and commanded by Colonel Butler .*
But I learn from Fitzhugh Lee that the Confederate cavalry force there on the 28th consisted of his own division, of two brigades, Hampton's division, of two brigades, and a brigade under command of Colonel (afterward General) Butler, which had recently arrived from South Carolina. Fitzhugh Lee was on the right of their line, Hampton on the left.
A long, hard contest ensued and continued until late in the evening, when Custer's brigade (of Torbert's division) and Gregg's division carried the intrench- ments and drove back the enemy.
The Richmond Enquirer of May 30th had the following :
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
May 29, 1864.
About twelve o'clock yesterday a severe cavalry fight occurred near Hawes's shop between detachments of several brigades of Fitzhugh Lee and Hampton's divisions and a corps of Yankee cavalry, supported by a large body of infantry, estimated at two corps. The enemy were guarding the road leading from that point to the Peninsula. Their cavalry were dismounted during the fight and com- menced firing on us at a distance. Both parties advanced, and the enemy repeat- edly charged our line and were handsomely repulsed in every effort. Their center was driven in or fell back, and, being in imminent danger of being surrounded on both flanks by the largely superior and combined forces of both cavalry and in- fantry, we were compelled to retire a short distance to avoid it, the enemy's artil- lery playing on our ranks continually. The musketry-fire was very heavy and as incessant for a time as the volleys between infantry in regular line of battle. The loss on both sides was heavy and a few prisoners were taken, but it is impossible now to give even an approximate estimate of our own or that of the enemy. Among the casualties were Colonel Millen, of Georgia, killed, and Colonel Dun- novant, of South Carolina, wounded by a pistol-shot through the left hand. Most of our loss is attributed to the fact that nearly all the force engaged on our part were new men, whose only idea was to go in and fight, which they did do most gallantly and creditably. The fight continued at intervals until nearly 5 P. M. without decisive result save the ascertaining of the enemy's position and strength of that part of his line.
Major Avery's wish, frequently expressed, that he might receive a slight wound, came near being gratified in the early part of this en- gagement. A bullet penetrated the right stirrup, opposite the side of his foot, and was deflected, passing through the bottom of the stir-
* Colonel Butler lost his right leg at Brandy Station, June 9, 1863.
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
rup, directly beneath the hollow of his foot, without touching the boot.
Surgeon Clarke says of the Hawes's shop engagement :
Hawes's shop was one of the most fiercely contested battles of the war. The wounds of all that came under my observation were very severe, While I was engaged in amputating the leg of Sergeant Reynolds, of our regiment, in a log- house, a shell from the enemy's battery knocked the chimney off the house, an- other took off the leg of an officer standing in front of the building, and still another entered the open door of the house, struck a beam overhead, and rolled down under the operating table. Every face present was ghastly white, expect- ing the shell would explode, but no one deserted his post. To the fact that the fuse had gone out may be attributed my recording the incident.
Of the Hawes's shop fight General Gregg says :
In the shortest possible time both of my brigades were hotly engaged. Every available man was put into the fight, which had lasted some hours. Neither party would yield an inch. Through a staff-officer of General Sheridan I sent him word as to how we stood, and stated that with some additional force I could destroy the equilibrium and go forward. Soon General Custer reported with his brigade. This he dismounted and formed on a road leading to the front and through the center of my line. In columns of platoons, with band playing, he advanced. As arranged, when the head of his column reached my line, all went forward with a tremendous yell, and the contest was of short duration. We went right over the rebels, who resisted with courage and desperation unsurpassed. Our success cost the Second Division two hundred and fifty-six men and officers. killed and wounded. This fight has always been regarded by the Second Division as one of its severest. .
The bias of commanders of troops during these eventful days is illustrated by General Lee's report of the Hawes's shop engagement, made at 6 P. M. on the day of the fight, in which he says : .
General Fitzhugh Lee's division of cavalry engaged the enemy's cavalry near Hawes's shop about noon to-day and drove them back upon their infantry, etc.
Probably no one would doubt General Lee's sincerity or question his statement of facts, and yet every trooper in Gregg's division knows that not one foot of ground was yielded by them at Hawes's shop, but that, on the contrary, the Confederate cavalry was driven pell-mell for a considerable distance.
After driving the Confederates, as related, the line was recalled to Hawes's shop, where the advance of the army was found.
The Regiment remained in camp near the river on the 29th, and on the 30th moved to Old Church Tavern, and commenced skirmish- ing on the road leading to Cold Harbor. Toward evening the skir-
CAPTAIN LUTHER L. BARNEY, Co. C.
193
FIGHTING AT COLD HARBOR.
1864
mishing became very brisk. The command bivouacked near Old Church Tavern at 8 p. M.
The march was taken up again on the Cold Harbor road at 6 P. M. on the 31st, and after some standing to horse, and mounting and dismounting, the boys finally planted a few rheumatic seeds by courting a little sleep on the damp ground.
Up and moving again at daylight on the 1st of June, the Regi- ment commenced skirmishing. The Confederates were driven to Cold Harbor, the fighting at 9 A. M. being severe. General Sheri- dan dismounted in rear of the position held by the Tenth, and walk- ing along the line, encouraged the men to hold the place for a few minutes, saying the infantry was close by and would soon relieve them. This was thonght to be a dernier ressort to maintain the line. But a half-hour later, sure enough, there appeared over the brow of the hill the standards of the advancing army that was to contend for the possession of this apparently worthless place in one of the blood- iest battles of the war. The dismounted troopers of the Cavalry Corps did excellent service here in holding the rebel infantry until the army came up. General Meade had sent word to General Sheri- dan to hold the place at all hazards, and he held it, the Tenth con- tributing its full share in the necessary fighting.
General Humphreys says : *
On the morning of the 1st of June Hoke did not become engaged, but took position on the right. Kershaw, however, attacked Sheridan with two of his brigades, one of them his own, but was repulsed by the fire of repeating carbines and artillery. He repeated the attack, with the same result, Colonel Keitt's regiment, the Twentieth South Carolina,t giving way, and Colonel Keitt himself Wwing mortally wounded in the effort to rally it. The attack was not renewed, atal at nine o'clock General Wright arrived, the head of his column near at hand. A, won as it was up, the cavalry were relieved, and moved toward the Chicka- honsiuy, covering the left of the army.
The dancing banners of the Sixth Corps were seen by the boys over the hill-tops, before the infantry appeared in view, and the cheers that followed must have convinced the Confederate infantry that re-en- forcements had arrived for the Yankees. The fire slackened and the infantry moved down and took the position held by the dismounted cavalrymen, who at about 2 p. M., mounted and moved to the left, and two hours later a part of the Tenth was sent still farther to the
" Campaigns of the Civil War, vol. xii, p. 173.
{ This is called a big regiment in the Official Diary, First (Confederate) Corps. It was apparently a newly raised regiment.
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1864
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
left on picket, while the Pioneer Corps was sent out on the road lead- ing to Summer's Upper Bridge'to fell trees and barricade the road. This duty kept the pioneers at work till next morning, when, just as they were about to return to camp, they received orders to clear the barricade away as soon as possible, to permit the cavalry to pass. The cannonading and musketry at Cold Harbor continued during the night, and increased with the approaching light of the 2d. At 9 A. M. the Tenth moved out with the brigade to Summer's Upper Bridge (or Barker's Mills). The clouds of dust which arose gave notice to the enemy on the opposite side of the wood of the move- ment, and the batteries in their works rained shot and shell into the open field through which the column was marching. The Regiment was brought into company fronts, and a skirmish-line advanced through the swamp, the men being compelled to jump from bog to log, and, sometimes missing their footing, went floundering into the mire, which would call for the use of a little imported language, kept in stock for such occasions. Reaching the opposite shore, & sandy field with the Confederate breastworks on the higher ground, a little further advanced, was in front of the skirmishers. After exchanging a few shots the Confederate skirmishers fell back be- hind the works, and our line was ordered to rejoin the Regiment, which remained in the field before mentioned, where they had been subjected to a brisk artillery-fire, the solid shot, shells, etc., plunging into the sand all around and in the very midst of the Regiment, throw- ing sand in showers over the boys. About 5 P. M. the infantry took the place of the cavalry, and the latter moved to Bottom's Bridge, the Tenth going into camp about a mile from the bridge, on the hill. On the afternoon of the 4th the Confederates shelled the camp of the First Brigade from the opposite side of the Chickahominy, distant about three miles. The Whitworth bolts tumbled around among the men and horses rather carelessly, but did no harm. This diversion was repeated on the 6th, with the same result.
The pickets of the Tenth were called in, and at 11 A. M. of the same day the entire command marched to Newcastle, where the Pamunkey was crossed at 5 p. M., and the command bivouacked. Torbert's and Gregg's divisions were present, Wilson's having taken Gregg's place in picketing along the Chickahominy. The march was resumed on the 7th, and at 2.30 p. M., the Tenth encamped two miles west of Aylett's. An early start was made on the 8th. It was warm and dusty, and the march was already beginning to tell on the horses. During the day Lieutenant-Colonel Sceva was sent with a detachment from the Tenth
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195
THE TREVILLIAN RAID.
1864
to capture a Confederate mail, which was reported moving on a parallel road. There was a small escort with the mail, which Sceva promptly charged, losing his hat in the mêlée. The mail escaped, and Colonel Sceva returned to the Regiment, after foraging a little to get a hat. He finally secured an ancient specimen of a tall silk hat, which he donned as a protection from the sun's rays. In hastening after the Regiment with his little command, he passed General Davies, who seemed disgusted with his appearance. Sceva was surprised and mor- tified a little later at being placed in arrest for breach of discipline. He had never thought of the ridiculous appearance he made under the shade of the ancient head-gear. An explanation and apology from him were followed by release from arrest. The Tenth was sent on picket in the evening of this day.
General Sheridan evidently intended to get as much of the march- ing in the cool of the day as possible. The Regiment was on the move at 5 A. M. and encamped at 4 P. M., passing through Childs- burg in the forenoon. The morning of the 10th was cool and pleas- ant. The march was continued at 8 A. M., and at 3 P. M. crossed the North Anna at Carpenter's Ford. Soon after reaching the south side of the river a halt was made, and Lieutenant Preston was directed to take a detachment and go into the country in.search of food, with instructions to join the Regiment some miles in advance, where they were expected to go into camp. With about twenty men the Lieutenant started out upon the left flank and, after a march of two or three miles, an old colored man was met, from whom it was learned that there was a store two or three miles farther on, with plenty of bacon and grain. After proceeding a short distance farther a halt was made at a house by the roadside, and a full-blooded man was found, whether Anglo-Saxon or African could have been determined only by a vigorous application of soap and water. He claimed to be a Union man-he was no doubt a " Free-Soiler." An old rifle was found in his mansion, which he said he kept for use in defending himself from the conscription officers. One of the men struck the barrel over a rock, after which it looked well suited for shooting curved balls. After a march of about a mile from this house the store was found. It contained a fair aggregation of almost every- thing not needed by the men, such as old faded calicoes, a few shop- worn shoes too large or too small for ordinary people, hoop-skirts, beeswax, and shirt-buttons, etc. Some of the calicoes were distrib- uted with a generous hand to the women along the route after leav- ing. King Richard would never have offered a warranty deed of his
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1864
kingdom for a horse had he been confronted with the quadruped of questionable genus which one of 'the men brought forth and called a horse at this place. It was too dilapidated an equine for even a Yankee forager to insist on trying to get away with, and that was proof that it was a pretty bad case.
Just as the shades of evening and the indignant protestations of the woman shopkeeper were falling, the return march was taken up. It was a little after dark when the command passed the abode of the " Union man " whose rifle had been given a "curved line of beauty " by one of the men. He had evidently got some more Union men to assist him in celebrating the return of the Yankee soldiers in a be- coming manner. They fired a volley into the rear of the column from the wood by the roadside, wounding Sergeant Miller, of Com- pany L. In the darkness which followed the road was lost, and the detachment marched into a dense jungle, where the road abruptly terminated, and a return became necessary. Finally, the main road was gained, and about ten o'clock the point where the detachment had left the Regiment was reached. Then, on the broad, well-trod- den road the speed of the caravan was increased, in the belief that the command was near at hand. After a couple of miles' march the unsteady movement of the horses gave evidence that they were not "pursuing the straight and narrow path " that would lead them to the Cavalry Corps. An examination of the ground by dismounting and feeling with the hands failed to discover the beaten paths that were always left by a heavy column of cavalry moving by fours. No road had been observed leading off the one the detachment was on, and so the march was resumed, when suddenly " Halt! Who comes there ?" rang out clear and distinct in front. The response of ques- tionable veracity of " Friends" was followed by an expressed desire to interview one individual from our party, who was invited to ad- vance. " One will advance to meet one from your party," was an- swered. " All right!" came back, and Lieutenant Preston rode forward with many misgivings and a cocked revolver, after giving instructions for a charge in case of a prearranged signal. The two individuals on whom such great responsibilities had suddenly fallen approached each other in the gloom very cautiously. Bringing their horses alongside, the riders bent forward and endeavored to discover the true character of each other, bobbing their heads from side to side like owls, but uttering not a word. Finally, the silence was broken with "Is that you, Preston ?" and the voice was instantly recognized as that of Lieutenant Cutler, of the First Maine Cavalry.
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SPECIAL SERVICE WITH GREGG'S BRIGADE.
He, too, had passed over the road with a foraging party, and reported having had a brush with some of the enemy a short distance ahead, who fired upon his party from houses. On returning to his com- mand Lieutenant Preston was advised by one of the men that he had found the road taken by the corps some ways back, they having thrown down the fence and moved through the woods to the right. The command was countermarched to the place, and, following the trail through woods and fields, finally found the Regiment about mid- night. It was learned then that every foraging party sent out that afternoon had been attacked, showing the presence of a Confederate force hovering on the flanks of Sheridan's command.
The next morning, the 11th of June, 1864, the Tenth moved out of camp with the brigade at 6.30 A. M., going in the direction of Louisa Court-House, the First Division in advance, Custer's brigade leading. The sound of artillery came from the direction of Trevil- lian Station about 8.30 A. M., and an hour later the Tenth was assigned to guard the trains. Hardly had the Regiment left the road for the purpose, when Major Avery was directed to hurry forward, and report with it to General Torbert. After passing through the wood where Torbert was expected to be found in the open field beyond, an aide galloped to the head of the Tenth with orders for the Major to take the Regiment to Colonel Gregg for spe- cial service. Leading the way, the command moved to the left through more woods and scrub-oaks. As the Tenth came into the open, Colonel Gregg approached, and, after giving Major Avery in- structions as to the part he wanted the Regiment to take in a charge he was about to make, he returned to his brigade, which was in the wood in front. The Tenth was immediately dismounted, and ad- vanced along a fence to the left of and at right angles with the road on which it had moved up. In front of the right of the Regi- ment and distant about twenty rods were the Confederates in a piece of wood, with plowed ground intervening. In front of the left was a more extended open country. Colonel Gregg's brigade was on the right, with the road intervening. When all was in readiness, the bugles in the Second Brigade sounded the charge. Then followed an incessant rattle of carbines and the cheers of the charging column. The men were hidden from view by the timber and scrub-oaks. After a moment the cheering and firing slackened somewhat. The force of the charge appeared to have been broken. In the mean time the Tenth did not leave its place behind the fence, but kept up a rapid fire on the enemy in its front. Major Avery did not appear to
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