USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 26
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
ing five of Company F in the hands of the enemy and several of Company M. Captain Page was seen to fall a few rods from the rail-piles, and we never heard of him after. Just as the advancing rebels reached the edge of the woods at the road and to the right of it, the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was supporting the battery, made a splendid mounted charge against the rebel center to save the guns they were supporting. The charge was successful, but the Regiment suffered heavily. The enemy succeeded in advancing to the center of the plantation, but were again driven back into the woods, thus enabling the led horses, pack-train, and ambulances to get out of the way for Gregg's infantry, for that is what the most of us proved to be the remainder of that hot day. The road on which we retreated was mostly through woods, with now and then a small plantation, where a stand would be made and our pursuers given a warm reception. The cloud of dust that arose from our column served as a guide for the rebel artillerymen and enabled them to shell us effectually until darkness came upon the scene. Soon after, we arrived at Charles City Cross-roads, a distance of eight or ten miles from where the engagement began, very tired, and with our ranks thinned by the heavy losses. None of the men of Company F captured in this engagement ever re- turned to the company. They were starved to death in that horrible place, Andersonville Prison.
In regard to the death of Captain Page, Lieutenant J. A. Edson writes :
During the fight, some of the men of Company D had piled up some rails as a breastwork. I was lying behind the rails near Herman Phillips and John McQueen, and Captain Page was lying on my left. I was impressed with his re- cital of his troubles in the Regiment made at this time, as he had never spoken to me before. While he was still talking to me, the rebels charged and forced us from our place. Captain Dennison's battery was just in rear of us, doing splendid work. Some of our men made a stand in defense of the guns, and succeeded in checking the enemy, but it was only momentary. When the retreat was resumed, Captain Page had proceeded but a short distance, when he sprang into the air
٢
221
CROSSED TO THE SOUTH SIDE.
1864
and fell to the ground. Phillips stopped to help him, but said he was already dead, and he therefore hastened on, and, the enemy being close upon us, Page's body fell into their hands.
At 2 A. M., on the 26th, the trains commenced moving again, fol- lowed by the Second Division, the Tenth, forming the rear-guard, remaining in line by the roadside until 5 A. M., when it marched to Wilcox's Landing on the James River, where it arrived at twelve o'clock.
The trains were crossed to the south side of the James River dur- ing the 26th and 27th, the Tenth following with the Second Cavalry Division, on the 28th; and the cavalry was thus reunited to the Army of the Potomac, with which it was prepared to prosecute the fight to a finish.
222
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY. 1864
7
CHAPTER X.
FALL CAMPAIGN, 1864-FROM PRINCE GEORGE COURT-HOUSE TO RETURN FROM RAID TO WELDON RAILROAD.
FTER crossing the James River, the Tenth went into camp near Fort Powhatan, on the afternoon of June 28th, and later was sent to picket the country below Brandon Church. But the stay there was of short duration, the Second Cavalry Division moving down the Petersburg road next day and night, encamp- ing at daylight on the 30th at Prince George Court-House.
Captain Kemper joined the Regiment. here on the 2d of July. Little of importance transpired the first part of the month, so far as the Tenth was concerned. Some picketing, an occasional skirmish, and frequent changes of camp, were the varying features of this hot month. A skirmish of several hours' duration occurred at Lee's Mills, on the 12th, with no serious results. Dust on the march, flies in camp, and very warm weather prevailed, until the 19th, when the welcome rain brought joy and comfort to the hearts of all.
" Boots and Saddles " at 1.30 p. M., on the 26th, brought the Regi- ment out, and after standing to horse until six o'clock, the command started out on the City Point road. Crossing the Appomattox at Point of Rocks, it moved to Jones Neck, where it arrived, with the rest of the. brigade, at daybreak on the 27th, and, crossing the James River at noon, went into bivouac.
Moving out at 9 A. M. the next morning, the Tenth came upon the enemy on the Charles City road at ten o'clock, and commenced skirmishing. The enemy presented a strong front, with infantry and cavalry. The fight soon became active and determined, and the bri- gade was compelled to abandon its position, losing one gun. Captain Blynn, with one squadron, was cut off, but rejoined the Regiment in
1
MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP SHERIDAN AND STAFF, Jordan's House, "Lighthouse Point," Virginia, August, 1864.
·
223
SKIRMISII AT LEE'S MILLS.
1864
safety after dark. The Second Corps came up, and the cavalry moved back to the place occupied the night before and encamped.
On the morning of July 29th, the Tenth dismounted and prepared to fight on foot ; then, moving to the right of the line, took its place as support to the battery where it remained a short time. At noon the Second and Tenth Corps came into position on the left of the Second Cavalry Division. The Tenth threw up some light breast- works, behind which it remained until midnight, when it recrossed the James again, with the Second Cavalry Division, moving quite rapidly toward the Appomattox. At sunrise on the 30th the com- mand crossed at Point of Rocks, and, marching past General Meade's headquarters, arrived at Lee's Mills, on the Blackwater, at 3 P. M., the Tenth in advance. Lieutenant Hinckley, of Company C, attacked the enemy at the bridge, and in a few moments the entire Regiment was engaged. The First Massachusetts Cavalry got on the enemy's flank, while the Second Pennsylvania, Sixth Ohio, and Tenth charged dismounted, capturing the bridge and taking some prisoners. After repairing the bridge the First New Jersey charged across, mounted, and took more prisoners.
The Tenth moved to near Sinai Church at 2 A. M. on the 31st, tired, sleepy, and worn out. Captain Vanderbilt, with one hundred men from the First New Jersey Cavalry, and the same number from the Tenth, went on picket on the Jerusalem plank-road at 5 P. M., on the 4th of August, and on the 6th the New Jersey men were re- lieved by Lieutenant Charley Pratt's squadron.
On the 7th General Sheridan was assigned to the command of the army in the Shenandoah Valley, and took with him the Sixth Army Corps and the First and Third divisions of Cavalry, leaving the reliable old Second Division, under General Gregg, with the Army of the Potomac, where it did its full share in the flanking movements and hard service in the interim between the departure and return of the two divisions named.
Colonel Avery was assigned to duty on general court-martial on the 7th, when Captain Vanderbilt took command of the Regiment, and Captain Preston of the Second Squadron. Kautz's cavalry relieved the Tenth on picket on the 12th, and next day, at 4 P. M., the Regiment moved out with the brigade to the Appomattox River again, and crossing at Point of Rocks, at 9 p. M., halted for a brief time at Jones Neck. Then crossing the James River before daylight on the 14th, the Regiment advanced on the Charles City road to nearly the same position it had occupied on the 28th of the previous month. The
1864
224
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
skirmishing became very brisk by 10 A. M., the Second and Tenth Corps coming up on the left of the cavalry. The Regiment was sent on picket at night. It was dark and rainy, and the infantry was found after much floundering and marching about in the gloom, and the picket-line established to connect with them. In the march through the forest a pack-train from one of the regiments of the bri- gade cut into the column just in front of Captain Preston's squadron, unnoticed in the darkness. After a long, sleepy march the head of column-i. e., a dozen heavily laden mules-issued into an open field, where the camp-fires were blazing with a brightness betokening late attention. It was the enemy's camp, and had been but recently aban- doned ; perhaps occasioned by the advance of the mule brigade ! Captain Preston at once called a halt, and realizing the awkward position he was in, hastily countermarched and started on the return. On the march the road was lost, and the mules, cavalry-men, cracker- boxes, and profanity became badly mixed in the underbrush; but the road and friends were found about the same time. When the front end of the Regiment halted the tail end didn't halt, because it wasn't there; so Major Avery sent out an exploring expedition, which met the still wagging tail, at the time it had just found the road, and together the united forces marched to the picket reserve of the Regi- ment.
Skirmishing commenced promptly with the advent of daylight on the 15th, and increased with the hours. It proved to be a bang-up day for the fighting business. After a time the Regiment was with- drawn to the right and rear of the infantry and a squadron was sent on a reconnaissance. Captain Vanderbilt was detailed, with his squad- ron, for duty with General Birney, commanding the Tenth Corps. While piloting some of the colored troops through the woods, they fired into troops from the Second Corps, mistaking them for the enemy; the Second Corps men in turn charged the colored boys. Many were killed and wounded on both sides, before the error was discovered. Again the fighting was on with the rising of the sun on the 16th. The Tenth supported a battery in the forenoon, and in the afternoon moved to the left to assist the Second Brigade, which had been heavily engaged, and whose commander, Colonel Gregg, had been wounded during the day.
An occasional picket-shot was the only reminder that the enemy was in front on the morning of the 17th. Later in the day a flag of truce appeared on the picket-line in front of the Tenth, and Major Avery and Captain Vanderbilt went out to meet the bearer, who pre-
225
DEATH OF GENERAL CHAMBLISS.
1864
sented a letter to General Gregg in regard to the remains of General Chambliss, killed in front of the Tenth while leading a charge the day before. The flag was displayed, and courtesies bearing upon the same subject extended three times during the day. The presence of General Gregg at the time of General Chambliss's death, and his rec- ognition of an ante-bellum friend in the dead officer, gave rise to some discussion of the relations existing between them. It was said they were classmates at the Military Academy at West Point, but this is corrected in a letter from General Gregg, in which he says :
General J. R. Chambliss, who was killed in the engagement we had with the enemy's cavalry at Deep Bottom, in August, 1864, was not my classmate at West Point, he having graduated in 1853 and I in 1855. We served together as cadets at the Academy for two years, so that I knew him very well. He was rallying his rear-guard when he fell. When we reached his body I was present and recog- nized him. A Bible containing his name and a request that, should his body fall into the hands of a friend, certain dispositions were to be made, was found in his pocket. A silver cup and some articles of jewelry were recovered from his body and were sent to his widow. I sent the body to General Hancock's headquarters, and by him it was sent through the lines without any particular formalities that I remember. .
Captain Vanderbilt's diary for the 18th says :
Showery in morning and heavy rain at noon. Sent to support detachment of Sixth Ohio in the woods. Quiet until 5 P. M., when the rebs signaled our boys with a handkerchief from their battery in the road, on a hill, to look out, which was immediately followed by solid shot and shrapnel. Captain Blynn had just vacated a position behind a pine-tree when a solid shot penetrated it about waist- high. After about half an hour's shelling, the enemy advanced in force through the woods to scare us away. The boys remained behind the rails and light, breast- works perfectly cool, while the officers ordered them to hold their fire until the command was given. When the enemy had got near enough the order to "fire !" was given, and such a banging, screeching, yelling, hurrahing, and general hub- bub I never heard ; all joined in the familiar chorus of " Give 'em 'ell !" After they got back and found they were not all dead, they came up on a run and cheer again, and we let them get up a little nearer than before, and then we repeated the same tactics. They appeared to have forgotten something and went back for it in a hurry ! They didn't come up again. We were re-enforced by the Sixth Ohio, and at dark the Fourth Pennsylvania relieved our Regiment.
Major Avery was rendered hors de combat by a boil on his neck, and retired to hospital on the 19th, leaving Captain Vanderbilt in command of the Regiment.
Recrossing the James River at sundown and the Appomattox at Point of Rocks about ten o'clock, the Regiment reached General Meade's headquarters, and the men received rations and remained 15
1
226
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1864
there all night in the mist and mud; then on the march again at daylight on the 20th to the Jerusalem plank-road, where it took posi- tion in rear of the Fifth Corps, near the Gurley house, in a heavy rain. At 3 A. M. next day the Regiment advanced on the Weldon Railroad toward Ream's Station, where it arrived with the rest of the Second Division.
The enemy striking our infantry on the left, the brigade, except one battalion of the Tenth, was dismounted and drove the Confeder- ates back. At 2 p. M. the Tenth was ordered to report to Colonel Spear, commanding a brigade in Kautz's cavalry division, and moved with that brigade to Ream's Station and burned tanks and other rail- road property, after which it returned to its proper command. The Regiment was paid during the night by Major Dyer, and then at noon on the 23d of August moved out to Ream's Station late in the afternoon, where the cavalry had been attacked. Under direction of Assistant Adjutant-General Weir, Captain Vanderbilt dismounted the Regiment and charged the Confederates in the woods, driving them out and from a strong position on a hill. Captain Vanderbilt led the charge, which called forth compliments from the division commander. · Captain Blynn with fifty men went on a reconnaissance to the right on the 25th, and returned at 8 A. M. with one prisoner from Cobb's Legion. The boys were in line most of the night prepared for action. In the afternoon the Regiment moved out and commenced skirmish- ing. Companies H and L charged the Confederate line, but failed to dislodge them. A refugee named Barton Slaytor came into our lines with his young child on the 28th and remained with the boys dur- ing the day and night. Colonel Avery assumed command of the Regiment again on the 29th. Seventy more recruits for the Tenth arrived on the 30th. Captain Vanderbilt was tendered the position of Acting Assistant Inspector-General of the brigade on the 31st, but declined.
.
Companies B, C, D, and G left for General Warren's headquar- ters on the 3d of September for special service with the Fifth Corps, returning to the Regiment on the 11th.
Mr. Nilan, the newly elected sutler, arrived on the 15th, with a large stock of goods.
September 16th Hampton's division of Confederate cavalry gained the rear of the Army of the Potomac, and run off a large number of beeves. The Tenth was hurried out at 7 A. M., and went with the brigade down the the Jerusalem plank-road to the Nottoway River. Here Captain Blynn's squadron was assigned as support to the bat-
227
1864
POPLAR SPRINGS CHURCH, OR VAUGHN ROAD.
tery. The boys stood to horse nearly all night. While here Lieuten- ant Charley Pratt's squadron was attacked by flying artillery. A road upon which his detachment was doing picket duty ran through a wood. The outpost reported hearing the rumbling of artillery- wheels coming up the road in the darkness. The challenge was promptly given, but was unheeded. A second command to halt re- ceiving no response, the man on picket discharged his carbine in the direction of the approaching artillery, and, putting spurs to his horse, shouted for the reserve to turn out, as the rebel artillery was coming. Lieutenant Pratt, while getting his men into position, sent word to Colonel Avery that the rebel artillery was approaching, and to pre- pare the Regiment for action ! The Lieutenant then commenced a cautious investigation, which resulted in the discovery that the flying artillery consisted of an old cart, hauled by an emaciated team of mules, the ammunition being a load of happy contrabands bound for the land of freedom !
On Saturday, the 17th, the division marched back and encamped. Assistant-Surgeon Sickler, who was left in charge of the wounded at Trevillian, was exchanged, and joined the Regiment on the 19th.
Special Order No. 254, Army of the Potomac, dated September 20, 1864, ordered Major M. H. Avery, Lieutenant James Matthews, and Sergeants Silas Metcalf, George H. Stevens, G. W. Davis, John P. White, N. W. Torrey, and John A. Freer to New York on recruiting service. This detachment departed on the 23d, leaving Captain Van- derbilt in command of the Regiment.
Rations were issued to the Tenth on the evening of the 28th, and every preparation made for a move. At 2 A. M. of the 29th the Sec- ond Division marched up the Vaughn road, halting at 3 A. M. near the Perkins house. When near Ream's Station, the Tenth was drawn up dismounted, on the left of the Weldon Railroad, and ad- vanced about a mile, skirmishing, and then threw up light breast- works and made slashings in front. This was about 1 p. M. At 5 P. M. the line was advanced, driving the enemy. The Second Brigade, on the left of the line, had a sharp engagement. At ten o'clock the Regiment fell back to near the Wyatt house, where the horses had been left, and bivouacked. Captain Vanderbilt was taken very sick, and turned over the command of the Regiment to Captain Snyder.
A little skirmishing occurred on the 30th, in which the Tenth as usual bore its share, driving the enemy some distance, and at 11 P. M. bivouacked in the breastworks.
Saturday, October 1st, the Tenth moved to the right and made
228
1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
connection with the infantry, then back to near the Davis house and formed in line. At ten o'clock the order to "prepare to fight on foot" came, and the Regiment advanced skirmishing, and drove the enemy some distance. From this till four o'clock the fight continued, with varying fortune. The attack of the enemy was at first repulsed and they were driven back to their works, in charging which our line was repulsed ; then, massing on the right of the Regiment, they charged in heavy force, and compelled a retirement after a hot contest. Fol- lowing up their success, they charged the line again, driving it from its first position, but were repulsed in the attempt to carry the second. The men never displayed better fighting qualities than here. Taking the offensive, the Tenth charged and regained the first line, but afterward voluntarily relinquished it, and took position behind the second line, where they were charged in front and flank by superior numbers, but by stubborn fighting the enemy were again repulsed. A hard rain prevailed during the entire day, and the men were wet, cold, and hungry when they went into bivouac about ten o'clock. In this fight, known as Poplar Springs Church, or Vaughn road, the Regiment lost quite heavily in killed, wounded, and miss- ing. Sergeant Bela Burzette, of Company B, who was acting as sergeant-major at the time, was instantly killed. Captain Snyder, Lieutenant Van Tuyl, and Sergeant N. A. Reynolds were wounded.
Of this engagement, Captain (afterward Major) James M. Rey- nolds writes :
The battle of Vaughn's Road, fought September 30 and October 1, 1864, by the First Brigade of Gregg's division, seems to be my pet fight; but in recalling it many others come " front into line," demanding equal recognition.
On September 30th our brigade received orders to proceed to the Jerusalem plank-road and join our troops, which were to advance and form the left of our army at that point. On nearing the locality late in the day we were satisfied from the sound of battle on our right that the army had failed to advance as antici- pated. General Davies took position on the border of a belt of timber, flanking the road at right angles, ordering the brigade to throw up a line of works (work we had tired of from lack of use). Just before dusk the General detailed the Tenth New York and a squadron of the Sixth Ohio to accompany him to the plank-road, about two miles distant. The darkness soon became so great the en- tire escort was obliged to dismount. Proceeding through the dense forest with its obscure little road, guided by the reflected light of camp-fires ahead of us, which from the space illuminated betokened an innumerable host either of friend or foe, our mission was to solve the problem. Which ? Arriving at the plank- road we found we were just through the timber, on the outskirt of an army whose camp-fires lit up a vast plain. We were sheltered by a darkness so dense we could only tell each other by our voices and sense of feeling. The picture spread out
1864
CAPTAIN JAMES M. REYNOLDS'S ACCOUNT.
229
before us, with the columns of troops marching through the lines of camp-fires was one so weird and striking as never to be forgotten and not often our province to behold. We could hear a large body of mounted troops moving on the plank- road toward us. The General ordered the Tenth New York to cover the road on which we had advanced, the Ohio squadron to cover the plank-road. " Halt the advancing column; if the enemy, give them a volley." They were so unsuspecting of our presence, they had no advance-guard out, but were chatting and joking with the prospect of a camp-fire of their own. The captain of the Sixth Ohio * halted them with the usual formalities, they answering " Friend !', when he ordered " Dismount one and advance with the countersign," which was obeyed by Captain -, adjutant-general on General Granger's staff. This was percussion to our captain, who made a bodily capture of that particular staff- officer, ordering " Fire !" which was responded to on the instant in such a man- ner as to send the column flying down the road in one grand mix-up. I can hear the clatter of hoofs and sabers yet in their stampede. It was thrilling to us, but one of the grim jokes of war to them. We were happy to grope our way back, illuminated by the sulphurous atmosphere emanating from our prize captain's conversation. Next morning the brigade made a reconnaissance to our right, when the heavy firing soon told us our army had not reached the plank-road. We returned to our position of the day before. The boys "falling to " without urging. soon had (for cavalry) quite a respectable line of works. The General, taking a staff-officer, started out up the road in our front to make a reconnaissance on his own account. Arriving where the road was flanked on either side by marsh, we received a volley that was a full volume of revelation, putting every man on the " ready " behind our works ; and none too soon, for immediately they were at us with a savage determination that seemed irresistible. It looked as if by their very numbers they would break through our line and gather us up; but our little brigade was not only full of fire, but rolled one into the enemy with both carbine and pistol that commanded and received respect. On a greater portion of the line the butts of carbines were freely used to cool the ardor of our foes. "It was a glorious sight to him who had no friend or brother there." Soon the field be- came enveloped in one dense cloud of smoke, and only from the continuous rattle of our arms and the spirit within us could we tell that our little band would pre- vail. It was fully an hour before the fierceness of battle ceased, when the enemy withdrew for a renewal. They knew we were isolated and unsupported, so were bent upon our capture. Having made them doubly mad by the usage of the night before and the repulse of their first attack we knew what to expect. In the lull we lined our works with ammunition and planted a "light twelve" in the road on the flank of the old Tenth, which spoke louder than words of the General's es- timate of the Regiment. The rain began to pour in torrents, and with it came another storm of shot and shell from two batteries. Under cover of this fire the enemy moved down and formed several lines beyond the marsh-flanked place be- fore mentioned. Their artillery ceased firing, which seemed to be the signal for their advance, as the noise of their guns was immediately replaced by their de- moniacal yells, which were calculated to strike terror to our hearts. On they came with a mad rush, one staff-officer leading a charge with such vigor that his horse
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.