USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 29
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While the Tenth was marching, with the rest of the cavalry, to secure the South Side Railroad, the President of the Confederacy was attending church in Richmond, all unconscious of the net that was being thrown around his capital, leaving but the one avenue of escape open, the Danville road.
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.24S
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1865
·
President Davis says : *
In the forenoon of Sunday, the 2d, I received, when in church, a telegram announcing that the army would retire from Petersburg at night, and I went to my office to give needful directions for the evacuation of Richmond. ... The event had come before Lee had expected it, and the announcement was received by us in Richmond with sorrow and surprise.
Already the radiant morn of a conquered peace was beginning to dawn on the minds of the patient and faithful defenders of the Union. The dissolution of the Confederacy was at hand. The aggressive spirit of the commander of the cavalry, which he knew so well how to im- part to others, was already producing "handsome results." Under his inspiration the men well understood that the end was near at hand, and they would soon receive leaves of absence without limit of time.
" Boots and Saddles " brought the Regiment into line early on the morning of the 3d. Moving out it crossed the railroad at Suther- land's Station, and marched nearly to Appomattox, then counter- marched, passed the Second Corps, and finally bivouacked in an open field. Here information was received of the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond. Great rejoicing and good feeling resulted.
At night the Tenth started with the brigade and marched rapidly in a northwesterly direction, passing the infantry, and encamped at midnight between Sutherland Station and Burkesville. Here the horses were unsaddled and groomed. Company A guarded prisoners during the day. On the march during this day the Regiment passed over a road which had been corduroyed with captured rebel muskets, on which General Merritt had hauled some of the cannon taken in action.
Two days' rations, including fresh beef, were issued to the Tenth at 4 A. M. on the 4th. Starting out of camp early, a rapid march was maintained all day, when the Danville Railroad was struck at 4 P. M., and followed for several miles. Going into bivouac near Jetersville, a part of the Regiment went on picket.
Then, up and in line again at 4.30 A. M. on the 5th. It was hard work, but the boys responded to every call with alacrity and cheerful- ness. This was a star-day for Davies's brigade. It moved out at 6 A. M., and fell upon General Lee's wagon-trains at Paine's Cross-roads. The escort was dispersed, and the dingy vehicles consigned to the flames. Five pieces of artillery and several battle-flags, besides some prisoners,
* Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, vol. ii, pp. 655, 656.
ADJUTANT FRANK J. SHAVER.
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249
BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK
1863
were the substantial rewards of the enterprise and gallantry of General Davies and his followers. After sending the plunder on the road to Jetersville, the boys were reminded that there was some of the Con- federacy still alive, as a vigorous attack was made in their rear .* The return march was being made over the same route on which the brigade had advanced. The Tenth, having in charge the captured guns and prisoners, was leading, with Companies A and L, under Captain Perry, in advance. When near Jetersville, Captain Perry reported the enemy in great numbers in his front. In the retrograde movement, with the captured property to care for, General Davies had his hands full. The brigades of Gregg and Smith had been sent to his assistance, and they came with ready blades and knightly valor. The First New Jersey was sent forward, and made a gallant charge, in which its brave young commander, already decorated with more than a dozen honorable scars, went down, with a bullet through his brain. And here, too, Major Thomas, of the First Pennsylvania, lost a leg. Rosser's and Munford's divisions of cavalry, under General Fitzhugh Lee, were the troops with which the Second Division was contending. They fought with a determination born of despair.
Captain John J. Van Tuyl, of Company K, who was guarding prisoners with his squadron, writes as follows :
After marching about two miles, I heard firing in front. As we were marching, Colonel Avery, coming up, ordered me to clear the road. As I went forward, I came upon Major J. M. Reynolds, of our Regiment, who was in command of one company from the Tenth and one from the Second New York Mounted Rifles. United we charged and drove the rebels for a mile or more, when, the road being cleared, I resumed the journey with my charge. I had just passed the point where we had driven the enemy back, when they in turn forced us to retire. Colonel Avery was on hand with one battalion of the Tenth, and the united force succeeded in holding the position until the arrival of the First New Jersey and First Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiments, both distinguishing themselves in the en- gagement which followed.
Every soldier in the Army of the Potomac was alive to the impor- tance of the situation-all were filled with ardor and excitement. The cavalry partook of the zeal and enterprise of their leader, and were ready to do, or attempt to do, anything he might direct, having in view the capture or destruction of Lee's army.
At daybreak on the 6th the Tenth was on the march with the
* General Thomas T. Munford, Confederate cavalry, says in the Philadelphia Weekly Times of May 17, 1884, " We drove off General Davies, who had gotten in- to our wagon-trains and burned up all we had left after the 'Valley races.'"
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
*1865
. rest of the division for the enemy's left-if he had any left. The story of this memorable day's action at Sailor's Creek, on the part of the Tenth, is best told in the words of prominent participants.
Captain John J. Van Tuyl was assigned to a peculiar duty, viz., to ascertain whether or no the enemy's works could be scaled-by horses. Here is what he says :
I was placed in charge of about one hundred men, with instructions to see if Ewell's works could be jumped. I deployed the men and advanced. When I considered the approach sufficiently near, I ordered a charge to the works. All who had not been placed hors de combat responded with a will. Some of the men had already been killed or wounded ; others had lost their horses, so that my force had become considerably reduced. I remember two lieutenants who were near me were both shot; not more than twenty-five of the force I started from our lines with reached the rebel works and returned with me, mounted. My little pacer was shot within twenty feet of the rebel works, and at the same time Dave Fleet, of Company G, was shot and fell from his horse, and I mounted his horse and rode back, reporting that the works could be jumped, as they were only about two feet high. I was complimented for my action, General Sheridan remarking that he had never seen a bolder advance under so heavy a fire. Inside of ten minutes our line was formed and the charge made, in which the infantry joined, bagging Ewell's corps, including generals, cannon, flags, etc., in great numbers.
Captain W. R. Perry, of Company A, furnishes the following account of the Sailor's Creek engagement :
On the morning of the 6th of April, 1865, I was ordered with my squadron to guard the ammunition-wagons, a duty never before assigned me, and in fact the first time my squadron had ever been absent from the Regiment for any duty whatever. The Regiment moved forward, leaving us with the wagons, which we followed leisurely, congratulating ourselves that if there was to be a circus we would be lookers-on instead of being in the ring. In the afternoon we could hear the firing in front, which seemed to be scattered over a large section of territory. We knew the performance had commenced and that to make it a success the am- munition we had in charge would be needed. I therefore made no halt, but moved forward, found the Regiment and reported for duty, and was assigned a position. As the Regiment was formed by squadrons, mine being the first, it brought me in front. Part of Lee's wagon-train had fallen into the hands of our troops before our arrival, and the wagons were on fire. Just as we had taken our position the shells in the burning wagons began to explode. The train was made up of ammunition, commissary and quartermasters' stores, gen- cral merchandise, and plunder from Richmond. The bursting shells from the ordnance-wagons were somewhat unpleasant ; but we didn't mind them much, well knowing that the shell of the Confederacy was about to explode, which would bring joy to all our hearts. The wagon-train was on the left of our Regiment, with some Union troops intervening, while the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, under the command of Major Suyder of the Tenth, was on our right. In front of us and not more than thirty rods away was the Confederate line in the edge of
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251
CAPTAIN DAVID PLETCHER'S ACCOUNT.
1865
a piece of timber, on ground about level with us, with a small knoll between. In front of the Twenty-fourth New York was a hill also crowned with timber. The enemy had thrown together rails, logs, etc., making a fair breastwork. We held our position for some time, awaiting orders, and while there the Twenty-fourth New York made a most gallant charge up the hill in the face of the enemy's line. As the Regiment made the charge alone and unsupported, in the face of a greatly superior force protected by trees and breastworks, it was repulsed and fell back. On the right of our line, but by reason of the formation of the country out of our sight, was General Custer's division. Presently we received orders to advance, and from the racket and rumpus on our right we felt that the whole line was ad- vancing. It was an ugly place to charge. The enemy had all the time been strengthening their position, but our boys went gallantly forward under a wither- ing fire and drove them from the works. As they broke they lost all forma- tion and went across the country, scattering like children just out from school, our boys chasing up and gathering them in. It reminded me of the Brandy Sta- tion fight of June 9, 1863 ; but in this fight the Confederates were just in sight of the " last ditch," and after being driven from their works they became an easy prey, hardly making a stand except when in large numbers. A squad of our Regiment came upon a considerable force of them trying to get across Sailor's Creek, and in the fight which ensued some of our boys were wounded, but we gathered in a large number of prisoners. Night put an end to the fighting and we bivouacked on the battle-field, our boys jubilant, and such of our erring brethren as had not come into our " praise-meeting " were " scattered the country all around."
Captain David Pletcher gives his recollections of the Sailor's Creek engagement as follows :
On the morning of April 6, 1865, we came upon the enemy in breastworks. General Custer's division was on our right. General Davies's brigade went into position about as follows : The Twenty-fourth New York on the right, joined on the left in the order named: Tenth New York, First Pennsylvania, another Pennsylvania regiment (the designation I do not recollect), with the First Maine on the extreme left. This brought our Regiment in front of Kershaw's division of Confederate infantry. Custer's attempts to break the enemy's line had been unsuccessful, although he had made several charges. The wagon-trains of the rebel army were on the left front of the brigade. The First Maine was ordered forward, and responded in the face of a terrible shower of lead from the rebel line. Then the order came for the entire brigade to advance. The battalion commanded by Major Reynolds, composed of the squadrons of Captains Perry and Pletcher, started without waiting for orders from Colonel Avery. The line was compelled to halt at a high fence, beyond which was General Kershaw with his headquarters colors. Before we had finished tearing down the fence the rebels commenced throwing up their hands in token of surrender. We were shut off from view of the right of our Regiment by trees and underbrush. Orders came to cease firing, as Custer's men were in our front. This caused a temporary lull : but Custer's line was sweeping across the field to the right and we could plainly see them. An explanation of the situation was followed by an order from Colonel
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252
1865
HISTORY. OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
Avery to go ahead. We sprang forward, but, before we could reach the spot, Custer's men, sweeping down, took General Kershaw with his staff prisoners and captured the colors, all of which should have been to the credit of our Regiment ; but the Tenth reaped a rich harvest in prisoners, capturing several hundred, to- gether with one piece of artillery, Harris Daniels and Andrew Bringle, of Com- pany F, being first to lay hands on the piece .* They were with the gun when Major Snyder, of our Regiment, who was commanding the Twenty-fourth New York, came up and claimed the capture. Captains Perry, Van Tuyl, and myself, had passed by the piece before the Twenty-fourth came up. Just before the close of this fight Captain Perry was wounded while trying to "surround " the fleeing Confederacy. The advance of Major Reynolds's battalion, mounted, under the concentrated fire of so large a body of the enemy was one of the grandest of the many grand events of the closing scenes of the great war.
Of the Sailor's Creek engagement Captain John P. White writes :
At the Sailor's Creek fight, on the 6th of April, Captain Walter Perry's squad- ron-Companies A and L-were sent out as " feelers " across an open field, with the rebs behind works in the edge of the woods. Well, we felt of them ; and they felt of us, too. Captain Perry and I had mounted several of our men on mules, which we had captured the day before at Amelia Court-House, and when we went on that charge, to feel the enemy, the Johnnies allowed us to get close up to their works, and then they opened on us hot. Well, those mules just stood still and flapped their ears, and the boys had to jump from their backs to save their lives. Seven of the mules were killed. Captain Perry got a shot in the leg. The brigade then joined in the charge, Devin's brigade on the left and -Custer's on our right. We captured nearly the whole of Ewell's corps. After the main fight was over, and the smoke and dust had cleared away, there was what appeared to be about a regiment beyond a swamp and fence. General Davies ordered me with my squad- ron through the woods, to get on their flank and start them out. As we were filing through the thick undergrowth, I discovered six or eight rebs coming to- ward me, and, supposing it to be a party that did not know they were whipped, and were advancing as skirmishers, I gave the word of caution to my command. As my men were raising their carbines to fire, I heard a voice from the rebs call- ing out : "Don't shoot, Captain ; I've got 'em !" It was Ed Kinney, of Company L, who had gone out and made the whole squad surrender. He was driving them in as one would drive turkeys. I got on the flank of the rebs; they gave us a very hot reception, but we started them on the run.
Hugo Mulertt, Company C, furnishes the following, descriptive of the Sailors' Creek fight :
It was the memorable 6th of April, 1865. After several changes in our posi- tion, during which we built breastworks and rifle-pits, to leave them again when completed, we entered another piece of woods to our right. Here we met a large force of our cavalry preparing for an attack. The enemy had found us out, how- ever, and shelled the woods to such a degree that we were compelled to leave it. Our own battery of four pieces came into action also.
* Andrew Bringle was awarded a medal of honor for this act.
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FROM DINWIDDIE C. H. TO APPOMATTOX C. H .- ROUTE AND OPERATIONS OF THE IOTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. The route of the 10th new York Cavalry is marked thus :-*-**
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253
HUGO MULERTT'S ACCOUNT.
1865
Before us was a large field. The enemy occupied the woods bordering it on the opposite side, and had breastworks all along the edge of it. About midway between us and the enemy, not much more than a hundred yards from us, was an' oak fence. This fence kept us out of sight of the enemy, but it likewise hindered us from making a successful charge on them.
We dismounted and led our horses into a lower piece of the field, where the latter were out of reach of the bullets. My company was ordered to pull down that fence, and use the rails to barricade a road on the right of us.
We advanced, crawling on our hands and knees, to the fence, and taking the rails down one by one we passed them along toward the right, where they were used to build the barricade. I was about the third or fourth man from the road. It is hardly necessary to state that we were sharply watched by the enemy, and . the least exposure on . our part was fatal. In one rail that I was passing, three bullets hit at once while I held it. All this time the charges of eight cannon crossed both ways immediately over our heads.
Opposite to where we were barricading the road the enemy's infantry prepared for a charge on us. At this moment our bugle called us back.
We had barely reached our horses when Colonel Avery put his case around ' his pipe, drew his saber, and thundered in his stentorian voice :
" Tenth New York-atten-cho-a-o-n! Dra-w-sa-ber! Forward- tro-ott!"
Then the bugler sounded the charge. The bands began to play in our rear. Cannon roared and shells screeched all around us. On the spot where the fence had been we encountered the rebel cavalry face to face, horse to horse, in open field-a fair trial ! What a terrible mass we were, cutting to right and left . against each other and our horses as well! Some took hold of their antagonists with their hands to pull them out of their saddles. Even our horses appeared to make it an individual affair among themselves, for they kicked up in front and bit at each other. How long we were such a solid mass, almost wedged together and pressed against from all sides by the horses that one could almost have broken his legs, I do not know. Riderless horses with bloody saddles became more and more frequent. One man after another disappeared, and the line of battle became so mixed with empty horses that one could not reach his antagonist with the saber, and revolvers and carbines were used.
"Stoop down as much as possible in a saber-fight " was our golden rule; and so, with as little exposure as possible, we got in our work.
There ! that bearded fellow who just takes aim ; you make a motion to fire at him, but before your carbine is on your cheek he drops his piece, his body falls forward, then to the right, from his horse, which takes fright, turns around and runs away, dragging its helpless rider, whose foot is caught in the stirrup, along on the ground. Somebody else served him before you could. You look now for another target, but, as soon as your shooting "tells," you are served the same way.
Re-enforcements reached the enemy from the right, coming out of the woods. They made a fierce attack to break our line, but we resisted the strain. Now they wavered ; their ranks became weaker. They looked toward the right, then to the left, and at this critical moment our reserve came up. This decided the day. The rebels broke, their bugles sounded the retreat, and we answered it with a hurrah !
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
We followed them closely, but nearing their breastworks on the edge of the woods we received a volley from the infantry behind it, that, no doubt, injured many in rear of us, but with us there was no stop. We jumped clear over the works, and many of the men behind it were killed by the hoofs of our horses.
Following another road, we met some of the enemy's wagons, broken down and on fire. They were surrounded by several of our men, who hastily searched them and prigged things out of them. We imagined that they were money- wagons, and hastened to assist them. But we were agreeably surprised when we discovered that they contained something far more valuable to us then than gold -their contents were potatoes, some already baked. We filled our haversacks with them and went on again.
It was evening, but it was by no means dark yet. Some of the boys directed our attention to the beautiful red sunset. We all looked in that direction, but soon discovered that the red shine over us was not caused by the departing sun. It was the reflex of the numberless wagons, with the supplies of the enemy and the forest, that were on fire. It was terribly beautiful; the firmament in the direction in which the enemy retreated was one immense glow.
We stopped for the night at about eight or nine o'clock. We fed our horses on corn-meal, of which large quantities had fallen into our hands, and soon fell asleep.
About 2 A. M. the bugles awoke us. In such cases we used to touch one another for the purpose of awakening. I took hold of the leg of my neighbor, but oh, horror ! it was stiff ; he was dead. The next to me, whose head was joining mine from the opposite direction, was asleep yet, too. I touched him ; he was also cold and stiff. I jumped to my feet with a spring at this discovery, and stepped to the fire, where I was asked whether I had also slept upon some dead Johnny.
"Not on one, but side by side of two," I replied.
Our Regiment had camped on the battle-field. These bodies we had noticed the night before, but we took them for sleeping soldiers-which, indeed, they were-and were careful not to awaken them in their needed slumber. We had finally laid ourselves beside them for the sake of warmth and company.
At daybreak we passed the headquarters of General Sheridan. Here we saw the Confederate battle-flags that we had helped to capture the afternoon before, planted in the ground in a long row in front of his tent. We counted them as we passed ; they were twenty-eight in number.
After this we passed a camp containing the prisoners; their number was thousands, including General Ewell himself. In addition we had captured many pieces of artillery, the greater part of Lee's wagon-train, and an immense number of mules and horses. The latter came handy for those of our comrades who had lost theirs; they could now be remounted and stay with us.
W. W. Williams, of Company D, orderly to General Crook, con- tributed the following to the Rockland (Maine) Courier of May 7, 1889 :
A few days before Lee's surrender, at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, I got pretty well in the advance and ran on the rebel wagon-train. I rode back and re- ported to General Crook where it was. I heard him tell one of his aides to go and tell a brigade commander to charge the train. When I. heard that, I rode to the
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GENERAL SHERIDAN'S ESTIMATE OF IT.
1865
Sergeant in command of the General's escort and told him where the train was, and I told him that the General had given orders to charge the train. Said I, " Form the escort, and let us be the first ones at the train." He did. We charged, but did not stop at the wagons, but passed between them, across the road into an . open field. The Johnnies were going across the fields like a flock of sheep. I stopped a rebel General and two staff-officers. I finally rode back to General Crook and told him how the situation looked to me. I said to him, " If I had a regiment, I could get all I wanted of them fellers." He said, "If you can find one, take it." I did find the First Maine, who were in the charge but farther to the right, and they went with me; but the rebs had reached the woods, and we only got about a dozen. On the way back the boys found some forage and in a small building a cask of wine.
The Sergeant of the escort, James M. Hall, Company A, First Maine Cavalry, was found dead on the hill to the right.
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