USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 27
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* I regret being unable to recall the name of the Sixth Ohio captain.
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1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
landed him clear over our works, which proved our salvation, the burning ques- tion of the hour being who should have them. The enemy seemed settled in their purpose to pre-empt the opposite side 'of them. As we had never had a square fight behind works before, we esteemed them too highly to share with a foe, at- testing it by the fiercest fighting I ever saw done by equal numbers. No pen or words can picture it or light up a shadow of the facts. Out of the din and rattle of small-arms, the roaring of cannon, the screaming of shells, out of the fire and smoke, I can still hear the cheering of our men, see our officers riding up and down the line with hat or saber in hand, calling, "Stand firm!" while on the other side pleadings, urgings, and curses were interlarded with their bullets as they tired themselves out charging, rallying, and charging again and again against our solid wall of fire; and thus we won the day. One poor "reb," shot through the head back of the eyes so they both protruded, fell into our works. I saw him sitting by the fire our boys had kindly built for him. His patient despair so im- pressed me I record the incident. Try as we will we can not shut out these ter- rible events from memory. At this distance they suggest the question, not if we were brothers, but if we were human.
The New York Herald gave a full account of our fight. General Davies is- sued a general order thanking and complimenting his brigade for their gallant fighting .*
Captain W. R. Perry writes :
There was a Confederate officer of high rank killed in front of our Regiment on the Vaughn road on the 1st of October. His horse jumped the light breast- work of logs behind which we were lying. Our position was on a road which ran through the woods. The Johnnies had driven us back about a quarter of a mile, and the boys were blazing away at them all along the line. Sergeant N. A. Reynolds and myself had just dropped behind the logs, when the horse leaped over us into our works. We held our position there against the most desperate efforts of the Johnnies to dislodge us, and afterward passed over the ground we had been driven from. Seventy thousand rounds of ammunition were issued to our brigade that day, and they used it all to good advantage, too! It was a very warm place.
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Lieutenant (afterward Captain) David Pletcher, of Company F, says :
Our cavalry moved out on the Vaughn road; the infantry marching on the Black Oak road some distance to our right. Just west of a swamp we reached a cross-road ; here we struck the Black Oak road and the infantry. At the same time we were attacked in the rear by a small force of rebel cavalry, which had crossed from the west side of the swamp, and followed our column. The brigade was countermarched, the rebels scampering away before a squadron under com- mand of a sergeant. On reaching the Vaughn road the rebels turned to the west, and crossed the swamp by a corduroy road. After passing through the woods, &
* I was doing staff duty at the time and in position to know that the record the old Tenth made in this fight could not be outdone .- J. M. R.
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LIEUTENANT DAVID PLETCHER'S ACCOUNT.
1864
small plantation lay on the right, with a strip of woods on the left, while near the west side of the plantation was an old house. Just beyond the house was a ra- vine crossing the road, and a little farther on the enemy lay behind intrenchments. Our skirmishers had passed beyond the house when they encountered a fire from the earth works, which wounded several, and caused the line to fall back. As the brigade came up, the Tenth, under command of Major Snyder, took position in the woods, to the left of the road. I was ordered to dismount my squadron and advance, under directions of Adjutant-General Tremain, to dislodge the enemy. Crossing the swamp I kept my men under cover of the woods, on the left of the road, until an advanced position was secured; then, forming them across the road, we charged on the rebel line. We met with a galling fire from a large force, and were compelled to fall back behind the buildings, fences, etc. Captain Van Tuyl with his squadron came to my assistance, and assuming command, extended the line preparatory to another forward movement, but was wounded, and compelled to retire from the field. Finally, as the fight developed, the entire Regiment was put into line, and a squadron of the Sixth Ohio was stationed in a clump of trees to our right and rear, near the swamp. At this time the Regiment was armed with three different kinds of carbines, and the difficulty in obtaining ammunition caused us to rely considerably on our revolvers, which the men were instructed to use in case we were charged. The rebels had a battery on each flank, and were making it decidedly uncomfortable for us. Major Snyder was wounded soon after coming on the line. Then I received orders from General Davies to hold the line as long as possible, and, when compelled to fall back, to join the First Massachusetts, which was intrenching on the east side of the swamp. We held the place from 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., when, at a given signal, the enemy, with their familiar yell, charged, their line extending far beyond my flanks. It looked as if they had expected to cut the Regiment off from the corduroy road and bag it entire, but after a brief resistance my men fell back. Being crowded upon the narrow corduroy, the rebels pressed hard upon us, killing and wounding a num- ber of our boys. After uniting with the First Massachusetts, the enemy were re- pulsed in three desperate attempts to carry the works. In the third assault an officer of high rank-a general, I think-led his men gallantly to the attack. He was killed within a few feet of our line, and his horse leaped our works and disap- peared in the woods. The enemy having crossed the swamp on our left, our line was withdrawn to the edge of the woods, where we joined in line with the First New Jersey, the balance of the brigade in our rear, behind a line of light breast- works. The rebels, having gained possession of the wood, the fight became very hot. They finally began falling back, and we were beginning an advance, when a brigade was discovered coming in upon our left rear. The First New Jersey and our battery met and drove back this force, however, in short order. We held the field until after dark, when we fell back to the main line.
Rain commenced falling early, and continued through the day. Taken all together it was one of the hardest of the many hard days' service of the Regi- ment.
Next day, about noon, the Regiment was withdrawn from the works (the enemy having fallen back), and, mounting their horses, moved to the right and relieved the First Maine on picket. In the
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1864
evening the Second Brigade moved up, and the Tenth returned to near the scene of its day's fighting, and went into bivouac.
A. D. Waters, who had formerly been the junior major in the Tenth, visited camp on the 16th in the capacity of agent for the State of New York in supervising the voting of the soldiers from that State.
The Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, which had been serving for some time dismounted, received horses and was assigned to the First Brigade on the 24th.
The infantry commenced moving toward the left on the 26th, and at 4 P. M. the Tenth with the rest of the division marched in the same direction and encamped soon after dark. At early dawn the movement around the enemy's right flank via the Boydton plank- road commenced by the Second and Fifth Army Corps and Gregg's cavalry.
General Humphreys says :
Gregg in the mean time crossed Hatcher's Run, below the infantry, moved along the Vaughn and then the Quaker road, encountering part of Hampton's troops, and united with the infantry on the Boydton road soon after they en- tered it .*
And again he says :
. . . Gregg's cavalry were sharply engaged. . .. The attack on Gregg, Gen- eral Hancock says, was made by five brigades of Hampton's cavalry and was pressed vigorously until after dark, but that General Gregg held his own. . .. General Hancock mentions in high terms the conduct of General Egan, General Mott, General Gregg, and several other officers.t
The Second Brigade was more seriously engaged than the First, although the Tenth was pretty actively occupied all day. In the evening the Regiment was sent out to open and maintain connection between the two brigades, in the accomplishment of which some brisk skirmishing ensued. It rained nearly all night, but the morning of the 28th was pleasant and warm. A little after midnight the cavalry began falling back, the Tenth bringing up the rear near daylight.
Reaching Prince George Court-House the division went into camp, the Tenth on picket.
Picketing, inspections, etc., kept the men employed in the vicinity of Prince George Court-House until the 7th of November, when the
* Campaigns of the Civil War, vol. xii, p. 298.
t Ibid., pp. 302, 303.
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GENERAL GREGG AND STAFF.
1. Captain Harper. Provost. Marshal.
2. Asst. Surgeon Tuft, Executive Medical Officer.
3. Asst. Surgeon Marsh, Acting Surgeon-in-Chief, 2d Div.
4. Captain Adams, Signal Officer.
5. Captain Charles Treichel, Asst. Com. of Musters.
6. Captain H. C. Weir, Asst. Adjutant-General.
7. Major C. Taylor, Asst. Inspector-General.
8. General D. MeM. Gregg.
9. Lieutenant Thomas Gregg, Aide-de-Camp.
10. Captain Edward Fobes. Com. of Subsistence.
233
STONY CREEK AGAIN.
1804
division went on a reconnaissance to Nottoway Creek, the Tenth hav- ing the advance. It rained hard all day, and the command returned to camp at 11 P. M., thoroughly irrigated and irritated.
Colonel Avery returned with the detail from recruiting service in New York on the 13th, and on the 17th Adjutant Kennedy with twenty-five men made a reconnaissance about six miles from camp and returned with two yoke of oxen, one wagon, two carts, a sulky, two contrabands, and a live goose, reaching camp about 5 P. M.
A detachment from the Regiment, under command of Lieutenant Hartwell, was attacked while on a reconnaissance and lost three men killed and one captured. The command returned to camp at dark, bringing in one of the dead. It rained hard on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, and on the 22d the weather turned very cold. General Meade reviewed the brigade on this day.
Thanksgiving-day, November 24th, Captain Blynn took a small party out on a reconnaissance, but returned empty-handed, having encountered neither rebels nor turkeys.
Stony Creek Station was the objective point of Gregg's cavalry on the first day of December. The men felt in the proper state of mind for a fight at being aroused at two o'clock in the morning and started off without breakfast. There were the usual mumbling and grum- bling while the boys packed up and led out, but they were finally lost in the jingle of the sabers and the confusion in getting into line. The march was via Lee's Mills to the Jerusalem plank-road. Passing down this road the Tenth with the First Brigade arrived at Stony Creek Station about noon. The Second Brigade, farther to the left, had already had severe fighting and had captured quite a large num- ber of prisoners. At 1 P. M. the Tenth, crossing the railroad, moved about a mile and established pickets. At 2.30 P. M. it was attacked by a large force, but held its position until the work of destroying the railroad had been accomplished. In this a part of the Regiment par- ticipated. While falling back across the railroad the rear of the Regiment was attacked, but the battery opening on the rebels, soon sent them to cover again. The station at Stony Creek with the sur- rounding buildings was incinerated, together with some Confederate workshops and commissary stores. A few wagons also fell into the hands of the captors.
At three o'clock the return march was taken up, and at sunset the Nottoway River was crossed.
Of the Stony Creek engagement Corporal H. G. Hicks, of Com- pany L, writes :
234
1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
In the fight at Stony Creek Station, December 1, 1864, Captain W. R. Perry and his squadron-Companies A and L-took an active part. Perry was sent with his squadron out on the main road leading to the station from the south, and formed line in a field near where the road forked, and sent out pickets on the road to the right. After a time these pickets were attacked and what seemed to be about a brigade of rebel cavalry came out into the field adjoining the one we occupied, and began forming line of battle. Perry immediately ordered a charge, and away we went straight for that crowd of rebels, with the little bald-headed Captain in the lead. Reaching a high rail fence which separated us from the enemy, the command was dismounted, unslung carbines and were deployed along the fence as skirmishers. We peppered the enemy good. They appeared stag- gered by Perry's boldness, and could not get men forward to the fence to throw it down while we were there. But another force of rebels, coming in on the road to our left, with the evident intention of cutting us off, compelled a hasty retreat. I was in the rear, and was caught by the limb of a tree and unhorsed. By the time I was again in the saddle the rebs were close upon me, calling to me to sur- render. Of course I declined, and plying the spurs vigorously my horse made a "spurt," that I believe was seldom, if ever, beaten on Virginia war-time roads. We reached the station and found the rest of the Regiment, and with the aid of a couple of field-pieces gave the rebs a warm reception. That was where I came to grief. I had not fired to exceed two shots, when a rebel bullet struck my left arm, crushing the bone, and knocking me out for all time to come. The twenty- mile ride back to camp on horseback that night was a terrible one to me. The action of Perry, in engaging several thousand rebels with one small squadron I thought quite strange at the time, but, in thinking of it afterward, concluded that the short delay he caused them doubtless gave the rest of the brigade time to prepare for the action which followed. Captain Walt Perry was a brave officer, whom I would be pleased to have honored as he deserves.
Captain John J. Van Tuyl says of the Stony Creek Station fight :
Captain T. C. White and I were together at the time he was wounded, at Stony Creek Station. Three squadrons of our Regiment were picketing three roads, while the rest were tearing up track, burning station and buildings, etc., when one of the squadrons was attacked by a heavy force, and the other squad- rons were called in. I think I was the ranking officer present. A stand was made at the cross-roads. Finally, the enemy came down upon us in overwhelin- ing numbers; we held our position for some time, but at last were compelled to give way. When the start was made I noticed White reel on his horse, and knew he was wounded. I attempted to hold him on his horse, but my own horse bolted, and reared and plunged, until I found myself surrounded by the rebels, many of whom had passed me in pursuit of our boys. I suppose they considered me a pris- oner. I thought I was, anyway; but, when my horse finally settled down, he made a break for the woods, which were filled with a dense undergrowth. I could neither hold nor guide the animal, but clasping my arms about his neck stuck to him like a leech. The limbs and brush nearly tore the clothing off me. but the horse brought me safely out right at General Davies's headquarters. The General remarked that I looked scared. I told him I was.
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235
ENGAGEMENT AT THREE CREEKS.
1864
The Tenth moved back at 3 P. M., crossed the Nottoway River at sunset, and established a line of, pickets on nearly the former grounds, on the Lee's Mills road. The following day, at 2 P. M., the Eighth Pennsylvania relieved the Regiment on the picket-line, and it re- turned to camp.
Wednesday, December 7th, the Second Cavalry Division started out at an early hour on the Lee's Mills road again, to the plank-road, and thence down to the Nottoway River, which was crossed by the Tenth at Jones Neck, by fording, leaving the plank-road to the left. After crossing, the Regiment halted at 2 P. M., and, then resuming the march, arrived at Sussex Court-House at sunset and encamped. The enemy's pickets were driven in during the day at various points. Starting out next morning, at 4 A. M., the Weldon Railroad was reached before noon, and the work of demolition vigorously begun. Later, the Tenth moved down the railroad with the brigade, to Jar- rett's Station, and at 8 p. M. encamped.
The Fifth Corps, and Mott's division of the Second Corps, were associated with Gregg's division of cavalry in this manipulation of railroad stocks, placing the Weldon in the "non-dividend-paying " list.
Again the Regiment moved out before sunrise on the cold, disa- greeable 9th of December, and drove the enemy, while the infantry followed, destroying the railroad. The Tenth, finally meeting with a somewhat determined resistance, charged, mounted, down to Three Creeks, when it was found the enemy had destroyed the bridge. Here it was dismounted, crossed the river, and charged up the hill, and to the line of earthworks held by the Confederates, which, prov- ing too strong to be taken, it fell back. Meantime the enemy had maintained a steady artillery-fire, which had been continued all the afternoon. When the Regiment was about to charge across the river the enemy opened fire from a little Fourth-of-July cannon, which was only about two and a half feet in length. It threw a missile not much larger than a deacon's oath. It was a veritable little son of a gun, but it was as spiteful as a mother-in-law. At dark the Regi- ment fell back, and the station at Bellefield was burned.
During this engagement, which was known as Three Creeks, Major Sargeant, of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, was killed, while gallantly leading his regiment in a charge. Major Snyder had his horse shot from under him at the head of the Tenth, while making a charge. At 1 P. M. the Regiment went on picket in a storm, the rain freezing as it fell.
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236
1864
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
At an early hour on the 10th the command moved out, recrossed the Meherrin River, closely followed by the enemy, who charged about noon, but were repulsed. Then they were charged in turn and driven back.
When the command took up the march, on the morning of the 10th, the slender pine-trees were so heavily laden with sleet and ice that the tops were bent nearly to the ground, and in some places obstructed the road.
The action of this day is known as Jarrett's Station.
C. W. Wiles, of Company L, furnishes the following account of this expedition :
Before daylight on the 7th of December, 1864, the stirring music of " Boots and Saddles " rang through the cold mist and rain, and at four o'clock Gregg's division of cavalry moved out of winter quarters for the extreme left flank of the Union army. The Thirteenth Pennsylvania and Sixth Ohio Cavalry Regi- ments and one battery of artillery were left in camp. Of the original leaders in the Cavalry Corps General Gregg was the only one remaining. Bayard and Bu- ford were in soldiers' graves ; Stoneman, Pleasanton, Averill, and Kilpatrick had gone to other fields; but Gregg retained his old command. His men had followed him through many tedious campaigns and hard-fought battles. He possessed their confidence and affection to the fullest extent. His division followed him out of camp on this occasion with the full consciousness that, whatever the desti- nation or work before them, he would guide them wisely and care for them well.
The attention of the infantry boys was attracted as the column passed by their camps, and the cavalrymen were greeted with such good-natured sallies as, " Don't go out and get into a fight, now, for us fellows to settle for you," " Don't go out and stir up the Johnnies in such weather," etc.
We had hardly passed their camps, however, before the drums were calling them out to follow us. Moving south on the Jerusalem plank-road we struck the Nottoway at Freeman's bridge. The bridge was gone, and we crossed the river, which was about three feet deep, by fording, the enemy making a show of dis- puting the passage. They were quickly driven away, however. Pontoons were in readiness for the infantry to cross next morning early. The cavalry pushed on to Sussex Court-House, five miles farther. Here we found a long building sur- rounded by a piazza used as a hotel. There were numbers of ladies from Rich- mond stopping there. There were plenty of fences, and, remembering the orders to "take only the top rails," the boys were soon surrounding cheerful, crackling fires, over which chickens, hams, potatoes, etc .. were cooking.
The march was resumed at 4 A. M. on the 8th, the First Brigade leading. The Halifax road was reached near Nottoway bridge at 9 A. M. The Third Brigade was sent to destroy the bridge. As we turned on the Halifax road an attack was made by the enemy's cavalry, which was handsomely repulsed by the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry. About the same time the pickets on the flank were driven in after the passage of the First Brigade, and for a brief period the column severed. The Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry was sent back and cleared the road
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237
ACCOUNT OF THE RAID BY C. W. WILES.
1864
in short order. The infantry followed a little later and completed the destruction of the railroad. The cavalry marched slowly along the flanks as a protection to the working parties of the infantry The destruction of the road for about five miles brought the force to Jarrett's Station, where the depot, etc., was destroyed, and the command bivouacked.
Early on the morning of the 10th the march was resumed, the Tenth in the advance, skirmishing frequently. The weather was cold and the progress slow. Just after noon we reached a small deep stream called Three Creeks. The rail- road bridge was burning, the highway bridge, with the exception of one timber, gone, and the fords obstructed by fallen trees. Beyond the stream a force of dis- mounted cavalry were supporting two field-pieces behind breastworks.
Colonel Avery ordered Major Snyder, with Companies A and L, to charge across the field and cross the stream if possible. Away the boys went, some of them wounded and some horses killed by the fire opened on them as they neared the creek, Major Snyder's horse being killed under him near the railroad bridge. The squadron dismounted and soon after charged across, the balance of the Regi- ment coming up as they made a dash to get across the creek. Captain Perry, followed by a number of the boys, crossed on the only remaining timber of the railroad bridge. The enemy abandoned their works and ran for the woods, leav- ing several of their dead and wounded behind. Then the balance of the Regi- ment came up, followed a little later by the First New Jersey and the First and Third Brigades.
As some of our dismounted boys were passing a house in the edge of the woods they stopped and found several large bottles of whisky. As they came up the stairs they encountered the proprietor, a physician. in his office, in dressing- gown and slippers. He expressed indignation at the treatment, which turned to violent demonstrations of anger when he saw through the window some of the boys attacking his innocent and defenseless chickens. The Tenth, acting as sup- port to the First New Jersey, occupied a timber, upon which the enemy concen- trated the fire of their artillery, rendering the place quite warm. After dark the Regiment was recalled. Soon after dark a cold rain set in, and before midnight it turned to sleet and ice. There was little sleep obtained by the boys that night. They shivered over the fires through the night, and when morning came men, horses, and saddles were coated with ice.
At break of day on the 10th the Regiment recrossed Three Creeks and started on the return. As the column passed over a hill at sunrise, a most beautiful sight was presented to view. As far as the vision extended the landscape was like shining crystal, suggestive of the home of fairies-in the rear the long column of cavalry and artillery, the brightness of their arms and trappings being reflected by the morning's sun.
On leaving Three Creeks the Third Brigade was attacked in rear by a large force of mounted and dismounted cavalry; but they were finally repulsed, and the march was resumed.
On the return march the Tenth had the advance, with Companies A and L leading. A mounted Confederate in the front fell back as the column advanced. He was finally joined by another, when some of the advance-guard gave chase. On reaching the station they turned to the left. A Confederate officer rode into the highway, took off his hat and made a low bow, and remained there. A few mo-
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