USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 23
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198
1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
understand that the Tenth was to unite in the charge. Finally, the order was given, however, and the fence was scaled in a gallant man- ner, and the Confederates driven rapidly from the timber and across the open to the railroad beyond, losing many prisoners. It was one of the most enterprising and gallant charges ever made by the Regi- ment, and called forth warm words of commendation from both the brigade and division commanders, as well as from General Sheridan.
Of this action Adjutant Kennedy writes :
When the Tenth was dismounted it was ordered to form on the left of the Second Brigade and to charge with it. In our front was a rail fence, behind which the regiment formed a line. This fence ran nearly the whole length of the brigade. On the other side of the fence was a level field about thirty rods across. After crossing this field we came to the railroad, which here ran through a cut from six to eight feet deep. In this cut the enemy were posted in heavy force. Just back of this cut, on a knoll, was the rebel battery. All this in our immediate front to our right, and in front of the Second Brigade was the station-house and several box-cars, and still farther on the right was a cut similar to the one in our front. The enemy was in force all along this line-they retreated down the rail- road to our left, and after making the charge we changed front and followed them, moving to the left, and covering a part of the ground over which we had previously charged.
Major Avery was in command, and at this time was on the right of the Regi- ment. When the bugle sounded the charge, the Second Brigade started, but for some reason unknown to the writer, the old Tenth New York remained station- ary. Captain Weir, of General Gregg's staff, came running out of the woods to the right, swinging his saber and shouting for us to charge. We jumped the fence and started. By the time that the Tenth started, the Second Brigade had reached the second fence and dropped down behind it. having drawn the enemy's fire from our front, as well as the fire of the artillery ; and as they were now hidden from the enemy, we were receiving a most terrific fire, not only from our front, but from the cut which was filled with Johnnies. As our line reached the second fence, we were forced to take refuge behind it for a short time. While lying here several of our men were killed, and Lieutenant Van Tuyl called out to me, saying : " For God's sake, Adjutant, what are you going to do ? We can't lie here much longer !" I ran down to the right of the line to see what Major Avery was going to do, and meeting Captain Blynn was informed that just as we got over the first fence Lieutenant Preston was either killed or wounded; and that Major Avery had remained with him where he had fallen, to have him carried off the field. Another charge was ordered, and away we went. this time with the Second Brigade. Although we were obliged to cross a plowed field in full view of the enemy, and subject to their murderous fire, the line never faltered, and in a very few moments the Tenth New York Cavalry jumped down in that railroad cut to find that the enemy, not thinking it possible for us to dislodge them, had remained too long to safely retreat, and we reaped a rich harvest in prisoners. The battery meanwhile had limbered up and galloped off the field, taking the road leading down the railroad to our left.
199
CAPTAIN VANDERBILT'S ACCOUNT.
1864
Captain Vanderbilt writes as follows of the Trevillian fight :
The battle of Trevillian Station was in many respects one of the severest cav- alry combats of the war; but to the Tenth New York not so disastrous as Brandy Station, St. Mary's Church, or Little Auburn. Yet it was a hot fight, so hot in- deed for our regiment as to deserve a place in the history of a long line of splen- did achievements that made the name of the Tenth New York a synonym for good work on the field. The history of the Trevillian Station fight is not easily told ; but here are my views of the engagement :
Shortly after noon, June 11, 1864, our regiment was drawn up behind a piece of wood, in column of squadrons, mounted ; soon we were listening to a fight raging on our right front. We rather enjoyed hearing the rattle of carbines and the banging of our battery, being on the reserve out of harm's way. Our en- joyment was of short duration, however ; for while our commander, Major Avery, Adjutant Kennedy, and myself were sitting on our horses whiling away our time in conversation, Colonel Gregg approached and ordered Major Avery to dismount his regiment and form it on the left of the line of battle preparatory to a general -
charge.
The enemy's line of breastworks was on the brow of a small hill in our front.
The Major, wheeling his horse, gave the order to dismount, for we were to go in on foot. The Regiment was speedily formed for a charge under cover of woods. The men were told by the Major what was expected of them in a very few choice words. An open plowed field lay before us, say, a distance of three hundred yards, in full view of the enemy's works, which were about five hundred distant. Soon an order came to charge, and we started. We did not attempt to fire a shot, but the way they peppered us was a caution. It was about as severe Aring as I ever saw. From the second the charge started, we ran with all our might, stopping such bullets as we could not miss-no man anxious to stop more than one-until we came to the foot of the rise. There we struck a ditch and fence, along which grew a few bushes. This position was about two hundred yards from the enemy's works, which were situated on the crest of a small hill. We halted and reformed, while the fence was being torn down, preparatory to the final charge on the rebel breastworks. Brisk firing was kept up on both sides-they at the bushes, and we at anything that looked like a head above their works.
It was here that Captain John Ordner, of Company A, of my squadron, was killed. and Corporal Kimball Persons, of my company L, was shot through the body at my side. After he was stricken, he turned to me and said: " Captain, here is my diary : send it to my sister, and tell her that I am not sorry that I en- listed." It was all he said, as he sank down and died. Noble boy. Peter Rourke, also of my Company, was struck down by a ball that hit his belt-plate. In an instant he was up again and said he was all right. Although severely bruised, he went in with the rest of us.
Suddenly a cheer started along the line, announcing the renewal of the con- test. Onward we pushed, with cheers and yells perfectly demoniacal, as we marched over into their works, which they fought desperately to hold. The tried veterans of Wade Hampton's gallant squadrons were not able to withstand the impetuous charge of the " Bloody Tenth New York." The combat became hand
200
1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
to hand, and men were clubbed with the butts of carbines, and struck down with- in arm's length of each other. It was a hot place, and terrible fighting ; but they finally gave way and such as could scampered to the rear in wild disorder. It was then " every man for himself," and the Tenth New York take the hindmost.
We captured a number of the enemy in their works, and many others while we were chasing them a mile or so, until we came on other works with artillery. Then we halted, and lay down against the face of a slight hill till dark, and after- ward fell back. We picketed that night, and next day started on our return march to the White House.
During the charge over the plowed field, Lieutenant Preston was struck down by a bullet, causing a very dangerous wound. 'The Surgeon, believing him to be mortally hurt, decided to leave him behind, telling him he could not sur- vive a day's march, but the Lieutenant responded :
" I had rather die with the boys than live with the rebs."
The striking manner in which our boys acquitted themselves was gracefully acknowledged by our brigade commander.
Major J. M. Reynolds, at the time lieutenant of Company G, fur- nishes the following beautiful word-painting descriptive of the en- gagement :
How distinctly I recall our starting out on that hot Southern morning for something of "the unknown" away from the main army ! No doubt a jump from the frying-pan into the fire, but a free breath after the every-day hard marching and fighting we had had since breaking camp from winter quarters. All the novelty had departed, even patriotism was worn threadbare, our fighting appetites sur- feited, and the end not yet. Two thoughts of that morning I shall always re- member: First, the dread of being wounded on one of those detached expeditions and falling into the hands of the enemy; second, that if Horace Greeley and Jeff Davis could be forced to represent sides and fight the thing to a finish I should feel happier.
After two or three days of hot, dusty marching the inevitable was at hand; the sound of the "opening gun " struck the car and the heart simultaneously, and our line of march was always unerringly in its direction. After a forenoon of momentary readiness, partly under artillery-fire, the order came: "Prepare to fight on foot !" Now for it! "Fall in in front ! forward !" We go through a piece of timber. As we emerge into the clearing we are met by a volley that comes from the enemy behind yonder fence. We give them a return. A charge to the fence is ordered ; it looms up to us like a refuge of defense even with an enemy behind it. The latter gives way as we near it-an easy victory, we say ; but the fence gained only reveals the main line of the enemy behind the railroad, and ourselves in position to receive the fire from small-arms in front and artillery on the flank. The fence proved delusive, serving to even up our line, however. The bullets cut the rails with a death-dealing savagery that was terrorizing. "Forward ! come on !" comes the order, the advance following quickly the brave, plucky little officer giving it as he scaled the fence defiantly, yes, eagerly. We felt a sense of pride and manliness in our leadership. It was our commissary, Lieutenant Preston, who would have been thought doing full duty if back with
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201
1864
EXPERIENCE OF COMMISSARY PRESTON.
the train, out of harm's way. Ye who set a price on liberty and the war, tell me why was he there ? What have you to offer in payment for the voluntary offering of this human life ? True heroism, thank God, is priceless! Over the fence 'twas sultry hot and deadly with lead and dust. A volley half checekd our advance, when I heard that indescribable sound of bullet striking human flesh and bones! Our gallant leader had received a ball, swinging him around almost into my arms. Never shall I forget the look of mingled pain and disap- pointment his colorless face revealed. It was an inspiration to "go on!" which we did until the enemy broke again, uncovering in their stampede several regi- ments of led horses compactly formed. How intently we wished we were mounted ! Nothing could have kept us from capturing and scattering their whole mount ; but we dropped down at the railroad bank from complete exhaus- tion, like dead men. The enemy had reserves up and a battery playing upon us by the time we had reformed. I chanced to be on the extreme right, next the railroad. Four of us were "condensed " behind a small bush, when "bang !" came a solid shot, taking off the arm of the man on my right. I concluded that my "position was untenable," and undertook to cross the little plot, where I would be behind the hill with the Regiment. There was such a shower of lead I knew it was an impossibility, so dropped flat and feigned dead. The enemy's line was just on the edge of a piece of wood, about one hundred and fifty yards distant. They were climbing trees to get dead shots. I lay directly in line of one of their guns, the distance being such that I could hear the friction-primer, then the shell, but could not hear the report of the gun. I tried it faithfully all the after- noon. It's a fact I leave for science to determine. It is with no small sense of gratitude and thanksgiving that I contemplate at this date the cheapness with which any scientifically inclined gentleman could have bought me out during that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon ; but, enough of personal experience, each had one, thrilling and vital to himself. I can not do the brave men of the gallant Tenth full justice for their valor on that day.
Commissary Preston gives his experience, after being wounded, in these words :
How the recollections of that glorious charge at Trevillian rekindles the fire of youth and sends the hot blood coursing through the veins! How the memory of the gallant action of the men who swept over the field of death that day comes vividly to mind ! It was a grand exhibition of heroism. Here, as on other fields equally as bloody, the Tenth did nobly. The writer saw but little of the grand charge-only the first part; but the gallant manner in which the men went for- ward in that storm of lead has always caused him to feel proud of his associa- tion with the Tenth New York Cavalry. Just after clearing the fence, in the beginning of the action, I was struck in the right hip by a Minie ball, and was carried back to the shade of some trees. Here an examination of the wound was made. In the mean time the wounded men rapidly accumulated about me. As shells from a Confederate battery were falling in the midst of the wounded. they were removed to a safer place. In the transfer I was left in the wood, with no one near but my faithful colored boy. Aaron. Here I remained till evening. The great loss of blood had produced unconsciousness for a part of the time.
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HISTORY OF THE TENTHI REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864
Just after dark I was carried into an old house and placed on a filthy bed of straw. In this place I was visited later by Adjutant Kennedy, from whom I received the first information of the glorious results of the charge. After the Adjutant's departure, Surgeon Pease came to see me. From him I learned that General Sheridan had determined to commence the return march in the morning, and as there were but eight ambulances and nearly five hundred wounded to be provided for, a number of the most serious cases of wounded were to be left behind. Assistant Surgeon Sickler, of the Tenth, was to be left in charge of them. My name was among the number to be left. I insisted that I would not volun- tarily surrender myself to a lingering death in rebel prisons. If I was to die, I was determined it should be in an attempt to get away. Although expressing his belief that I could not withstand two hours' ride, Surgeon Pease promised to have me provided with transportation, and after dressing the wound left me.
When the Surgeon had gone, I was left alone, to contemplate what my future would be. There were a number of Union and Confederate wounded and dead soldiers lying about the room. A pine knot in the broad, open fireplace blazed up occasionally and then smoldered down. Its flickering light gave a weird appearance to the scene, which was rendered more dreary and impressive by the moanings of the poor sufferers, whose lives, like the burning fagot, were grad- ually going out. A handsome young Confederate major was brought in late at night and placed by my side. His name was Russell .* He was very weak and pale. A bullet had entered his right side and fractured the spine. He was a bright, intelligent appearing man, who bore his sufferings with soldierly forti- tude. He made mention of his family, and also spoke of the disastrous result of the day's fighting to his regiment.
.
In an account of the Trevillian Station engagement written by me and pub- lished in the Philadelphia Weekly Times, in 1880, mention was made of Major Russell's death, etc. A few days after its publication I received the following beautiful tribute of a sister's love, from a far-off Tennesee home :
. OAKLAWN, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, September 1, 1880.
Captain N. D. PRESTON :
MY DEAR SIR: I received this morning a copy of the Times of the 28th of August, containing your account of the battle of Trevillian Station. You will know how full of deep and painful interest your communication is to me and to my family when I tell you that the Major Russell who died by your side "on a' straw mattress in an old log-house " was my brother, Major Whiteford Doughty Russell, oldest son of Hon. H. F. Russell, of Augusta, Ga. Ile was wounded on the 11th of June, 1864, and died on the 14th. Your account creates a discrepancy which may be caused by a confusion of days in your mind.
You misunderstood my brother in reference to his marriage. He had been married five years, and was the father of two children, girls. He had returned
* General Hampton, in his report of the Trevillian engagement, says : " My loss in my own division was 59 killed, 258 wounded, and 295 missing ; total, 612. Among the former I have to regret the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel McAllister, Seventh Georgia, who behaved with great gallantry, and Captain Russell, of the same regiment, who was acting as major."
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1864
203
A SISTER'S BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE.
from a visit to his family but a day or two before he was killed. The Times of the 28th was sent me by the gentleman who has recently married his elder daugh- ter, Dr. Paul Fitzsimons, U. S. N., now stationed in Philadelphia. My brother's widow and younger daughter are visiting me at my summer home on Lookout Mountain. More than sixteen years have gone slowly and wearily by to us since the day you were carried into that log-hut and laid by the side of the dying man who had filled so many lives with happiness, so many hearts with pride. To-day your hand has lifted the tear-besprinkled veil which separated us from the terrible hour when the news of his death came.
We have often longed for more definite information of his last hours than we have heretofore been able to obtain ; and are grateful that an appreciative soul was near him in that final struggle, which found him worthy of the name he bore, and still unchanged in the mastery of his great will. You speak of the evidences of a noble character which my brother gave in the few moments you knew him ; I had lived face to face and heart to heart with him for eighteen years; the judg- ment of my maturer years confirms the impression made upon a youthful heart, that he was physically, mentally, and morally the noblest man I ever knew. Life has brought no greater blessing to me than to have known and loved him. Such being my feelings, you will, I am sure, pardon the trespass upon your time when I ask you to give me as faithful and detailed an account of the hours passed with my brother as the lapse of time will allow. What is to you merely one among many painful incidents is to me of the deepest and most reverential importance.
Very truly yours,
ANNA RUSSELL COLE.
At an early hour on the morning of the 12th I was suddenly seized by two men, taken to the door, and thrown into an ambulance; an officer, standing by, meantime urging the men to "hurry up; get these wounded out, quick !" As soon as I was landed inside the ambulance, the whip was applied to the horses, and away we went, at a fearful pace, over the rough roads. I was jolted from side to side, my wound starting to bleed afresh. Although weak and suffering, I experienced a feeling of positive cheerfulness in the knowledge that I was not to be abandoned to the enemy. It was a fair example of the triumph of mind over matter.
General Sheridan had given his private ambulance for the use of Lieutenant. P. D. Mason, a young artillery officer, and myself. Every effort had been made to provide transportation for the wounded. The heavy supply - wagons werc utilized, and the surrounding country made to contribute in the way of "private equipages."
The efforts of General Sheridan to take the wounded with him were appre- ciated. Men who were clinging to the sides of the grave gratefully accepted the chances of a place in the hard, uncomfortable government wagons in which they were in some cases packed in crosswise. The march was continued from day to day, through the oppressive heat and stifling dust, with scarcely a murmur from these noble fellows. On the completion of a day's march, after the train had parked, a detail passed along and removed those who had died during the day. But they met their fates bravely. In his report of the Trevillian Station affair General Sheridan says :
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1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
"On my return from Trevillian to this point (White House), we halted at inter- vals, during each day, to dress the wounded and refresh them as much as possible. Nothing could exceed the cheerfulness exhibited by them, hauled as they were in old buggies, carts. ammunition-wagons, etc. ; no word of complaint was heard. I saw on the line of march men with wounded legs driving, while those with one disabled arm were using the other to whip up the animals."
On the evening of the 18th I learned that the wounded and contrabands, over four hundred of the former and about two thousand of the latter, were to be sent to West Point on the York River, in the morning, for shipment to Washington. The same evening Surgeon Pease took the bullet from my left side near the spine. It had entered the right hip just in front of the seam on the trowsers.
After the Regiment had reached the railroad in the charge at Tre- villian, and was under a severe fire from the enemy in front and flank, our battery, away to the rear, with the intent of shelling the enemy over the heads of our men, were firing short and sending the shells into our lines. Major Avery called for a volunteer to go back and advise General Gregg or the commander of the battery to cease firing or to elevate their pieces. It was a perilous undertaking, but Ser- geant Farnsworth immediately offered to go. A ridge swept by the Confederate fire intervened, but Farnsworth walked rapidly across the open space to the wood beyond, where he found and mounted his horse and hastened on his errand, and delivered his message to Gen- eral Gregg. The commander of the battery was notified, and ceased firing. It required great courage to perform such an act-an expos- ure to the concentrated fire from the enemy's line with none to divide the chances-and the Sergeant was complimented by Major Avery for it, and not long afterward was promoted to a lieutenancy.
Robert Trotter, formerly of Company D, of the Tenth, serving at this time with Battery M, Second United States Artillery, gives the following version of the action of the artillery in the early part of the engagement :
The circumstances, as I remember them, are these : General Custer was ordered to join another brigade at the station at 8 A. M. I remember seeing the rebel vi- dettes as we passed between them and their reserve-picket post. The Fifth Michi- gan Cavalry had the advance of the brigade. When near the station they charged the rebel reserve and captured two caissons and thirty-five wagons and ambu- lances and about seventy-five prisoners. We had been in position and fired a few shots in support of the charge, when an order came for us to limber to the front and advance, which we did, the road running through the woods until we came opposite the station-or, rather, where it had been, for only the side-tracks, etc., remained. We halted just opposite the station. In the mean time they had got one or two pieces of artillery in position to our right, and opened fire on us. We were ordered by General Custer to reply. While in the act of unlimbering the
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CAPTAIN WALTER R. PERRY, Co. A.
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ROBERT TROTTER'S ACCOUNT.
1864
piece, Custer's aide, superintending it, happened to see on the other side of the track a regiment of rebel infantry lying quietly behind the fence. He gave instructions to the Lieutenant in charge to get that piece out of there as quickly as possible ; but, instead of that, the Lieutenant, who had a stentorian voice, sang out : "Can- noneers, prepare to mount! Mount !" whereupon the rebels rose up and fired a volley, and with a yell made for the battery, the rest of which-three guns and six caissons-were standing limbered up in the road. It so happened that there were two gaps let down in the rail fence on the side opposite from the rebels. Lieutenant Pennington gave the command, " By the left flank," which took us through the fence. We went at a gallop for about two hundred yards, when he gave the command, "In battery-fire to the rear! Double-shot with canister!" which order was very quickly obeyed. That volley checked the rebels at this time; and from that time until 1.30 P. M. we were continually firing. I don't know just how many rounds my piece fired, but we had fired perhaps fifteen rounds when we received orders from General Custer to refill our limber-chest, as the enemy was pressing him so hard he feared they would capture his wagons and caissons; and, as on one part of the field no enemy had yet been seen, he directed that they be sent there for safety. They had scarcely reached the place before a regiment of rebel cavalry charged upon and took the whole lot. They were so hotly pursued, however, and one of the caissons becoming stuck in a ditch, that it and the battery-wagon were recaptured ; but they got away with all the rest of the wagons and led-horses belonging to the battery, excepting one other caisson that had one of its drivers and one horse killed in the beginning, and consequently was not with the rest. As to the gun that was captured, it had no support, and when the drivers saw that capture was inevitable they ran away with the limber, and before it could be run off by hand some of our cavalry charged and took it back.
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