USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 1 > Part 7
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We next heard of him at Rappahannock Station. While there he and a fel-
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1862
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
low-officer came to see us one day, and I invited both to lunch with us, which they did, and this friend may have been the Mr. Irvine of whom you inquire, for I do not remember his name.
As they bade us good-by, Colonel Avery said, " Mrs. James, we are going to get to Richmond this time, sure," and I said, laughingly, " Nerer, unless you are capt- ured and taken there!" This was the last we ever saw or heard of him, and we would be greatly obliged if you would write us whatever became of him, for we often, even now, talk of him, and bear him in kindest remembrance.
Very truly yours, JULIA C. JAMES.
The Regiment was encamped just east of Rappahannock Station the 15th of November, 1862, when Captain Peck was ordered to re- port with his company, consisting of sixteen men, to Major Harhans, of the Second New York Cavalry, at Morrisville, for picket duty. Upon arriving there he was sent to United States Ford, on the Rap- pahannock River, where he was directed to remain on picket. He reached the Gold Mines, a small settlement a short distance from the ford, just at sundown, and established his reserve about a half-mile from the little hamlet, in the direction of the river, sending a ser- geant and two or three men to the river, scouting. Sergeant W. N. Harrison and Private John Hicks were sent at the same time some distance in the opposite direction on picket. On the morning of the 16th Captain Peck stationed Sergeant Guy Wynkoop with a corporal and three men at United States Ford, leaving but nine men on the reserve, including Orderly Sergeant Bonnell and Sergeant John C. Reynolds. During the forenoon the Captain, with Sergeant Bonnell, started in the direction of Fredericksburg on a reconnaissance, taking Harrison and Hicks along as they came to the point where they were stationed. The party returned about noon, Harrison and Hicks re- suming their places on picket. From the time of the arrival of Cap- tain Peck and his little party on the ground there had been a feeling of uneasiness, and although this reconnaissance developed nothing new, it did not in the least allay the anxiety of the men. They were about twelve miles from the main reserve at Morrisville, and their small numbers and the condition of the country invited a visit from the enemy, who were fully informed by the citizens of the exact con- dition of affairs. Every precaution was taken against surprise, but with so few men it was impossible to successfully resist any sudden attack of a superior force.
About noon a body of forty or fifty rebels came charging down upon Harrison and Hicks. As they were clothed in blue, Harrison at first sight supposed they were a party sent from Morrisville to relieve Captain
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CAPTAIN, Co. I.
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1-63
SKIRMISH AT THE GOLD MINES.
Pock ; but the " yoll " admonished him of his error, and springing to his horse he mounted just as a Southern Goliath in stature rushed upon lin with a demand to surrender. Harrison declined the invi- usion, tickled his horse in the ribs with his spurs, and started for the Torve. A scrub race followed between him and his would-be inter- viewer, but Harrison's nag came under the wire several lengths ahead. Hicks was unable to get to his horse, and was taken prisoner.
As soon as Captain Peck heard the firing, he ordered the men on rrorve to fall back to an open field close by, taking a bridle-path through the thicket. Reaching a gateway a stand was made, and as the rebels came charging down, closely pursuing Harrison, the Com- Fany H boys discharged their carbines into their ranks, causing a short halt. The little band contested the ground across the open ; bat soon another party of thirty or forty rebels opened fire from the opprbite direction, forcing them to abandon their.position around an old house. Captain Peck then called out to the men to take care of themselves as best they could, and he himself made an attempt to reach the woods, to accomplish which his horse would be compelled to leap a fence ; this he obstinately refused to do, and the Captain elid from his back, over the fence, just in time to avoid capture. In the scramble from the house six of our brave fellows were made pris- opera, among the number being Lansing Bonnell, who received a frightful saber-cut across the right side of his face and head, and Joe Brearley, who had a slight bullet-wound. Chet Wilcox gained the woods in safety and hastoned to the ford to warn Sergeant Wynkoop of his danger. Sergeants Bonnell and Reynolds, and Privates Loren- zo Allen and Lemuel Barker ran the gantlet safely, passing through the gate where several rebels were stationed, while close behind them followed their pursuers, " too numerous to mention," calling on them to surrender and applying to them vile names. Corporal Harrison's horse became unmanageable and carried him into a dense under- growth, where three or four rebels followed, demanding his surrender at the point of their fusees. He was marched to Fredericksburg that night, arriving just after dark, and was lodged in the guard-house with ten others of Company H. Next morning they were taken to Richmond and placed in Libby Prison, and three or four days later exchanged and sent to Annapolis.
After safely passing the rebels stationed at the gate, Sergeant Bonnell and his three companions went flying through the little set- tlement of the Gold Mines, the rebels " ki-yi-ing " close behind them. Reaching the junction of the roads where our picket had been posted, 4
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
they encountered another force of the altogether too-numerous enemy, but the only course open to them was to " go through " or die trying. It was hot work, but through they went, the bullets flying fast, the boys doing their best to outrun them. About twenty of the numerous throng continued the pursuing business as the boys sped on, with Morrisville only ten miles away ; but one by one the horses of their pursuers gave out and they abandoned the chase. Reaching Morris- ville, Bonnell and his party found the place deserted. Continuing, they arrived at Rappahannock Station about dusk and reported to General Bayard. Captain Peck, Sergeant Wynkoop, and others came in early the next morning just as camp was being broken preparatory to a move. Captain Peck was placed in arrest at once by order of the General, and was not released till about the 1st of January at Camp Bayard.
The following is the report of General Bayard :
RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, VA., . November 16, 1862.
The rebel cavalry from Falmouth surprised Captain Peck and his company, who were sent to picket Richards and United States Fords. A sergeant and four men have returned ; the Captain also escaped. I will arrest him for gross care- lessness when he comes in. Probably some eighteen or twenty men are captured with their arms and everything.
GEORGE D. BAYARD, Brigadier-General.
Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine's report :
HEADQUARTERS TENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY, RAPPAHANNOCK, November 16, 1862.
GENERAL : Sergeant Reynolds, of Captain Peck's Company, H, last night sent to Morrisville to report to Major Harhaus for picket duty, has just come into camp, and reports that Captain Peck, with fourteen men posted at the Gold Mines, was attacked about 1 P. M. to-day by about one hundred men in their rear. Captain Peck rallied his men after being fired on and made a stand, fired his car- bines, then fell back a few rods. On the rebels advancing. emptied his revolvers. By that time the party were nearly surrounded, the Captain's horse shot under him, and they undertook to cut their way through to the rear. Five of the men succeeded in doing so and brought away seven horses. Captain Peek escaped into the woods, and, the Sergeant thinks, succeeded in escaping. The Sergeant and four men were chased and fired on for two miles toward Morrisville, when the rebels gave up the chase. Nine men are missing and seven horses. Two horses were shot, including the Captain's. Whether any men were killed the Sergeant can not tell. He has no idea where the rebs came from, but knows that they did not cross at the ford. Captain Peck's rear-guard was but a little way off and the attack was a surprise. Your obedient servant.
WILLIAM IRVINE,
Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Tenth New York Cavalry. GENERAL BAYARD.
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INCIDENTS BY SERGEANT COLBURN.
1863
The same day this affair took place the Left Grand Division of the Army of the Potomac-Burnside having succeeded Mcclellan in the command of the army-commenced breaking camp for the pur- prise of moving to Fredericksburg. From this time to the battle of Fredericksburg the cavalry was engaged in scouting, picketing, guard- ing wagon-trains, etc., in broken and isolated detachments.
While on one of these foraging expeditions, an old farmer, from whom the boys had taken a few hams, etc., demanded payment, and Lieutenant Robb quieted him with a receipt signed "Q. K. Jones, commanding squad," on the presentation of which to some " general " the contiding tiller of the soil expected to receive full compensation for his supplies.
Sergeant L. A. Colburn, of Company A, relates some amusing in- cidents, among them the following :
Soon after the Regiment reached the front I was sent out with a detail to forage for the officers. Chickens were plentiful at the time, and we soon secured a good supply and started on the return trip, when we came to a place where there were quite a number of fowls and we stopped to increase our stock on hand. While the boys were gathering in the chickens, I went to the well to get a drink. In lifting the bucket I spilled some water on the platform near the door to the house, which made it rather slippery. The lady of the house, hearing the appeal for help from her chickens, came flying out, seized an axe, and with it raised in the air came for me, exclaiming with an oath, "I'll kill one Yankee, anyhow!" As she struck the slippery platform I raised my arm to ward off the fatal battle- ax- and at the same time shied one of my feet in the direct line of her march. In an instant there was considerable female spattered over that platform, the ugly- hoking axe being transferred to my hands in the acrobatic manœuvre. By the time she had recovered herself and assumed an upright position she concluded Yankees must bear a charmed life and retired within her fort, leaving the vicious chkkens to defend themselves as best they could.
And here is another from the same source :
Sergeant "Tip" McWethy and I were rather privileged characters, presum- nldly because we never forgot the officers when we were successful in getting any- thing in our " outings." It was hinted in our presence by some of the officers on one occasion, just as we were about to go into camp, that milk would be a mighty tre thing for the coffee that they were anticipating the enjoyment of soon. Tip stal I gathered up some spare canteens and started cow-ward, over the hills and far away. Arriving at a farm-house where there were some cows, we found the tady and asked her if we could have some milk, to which she modestly replied. " Not a cussed drop!" and proceeded to deliver an eloquent lecture on the subject «! vandalisin, subjugation, etc. We assured her that the text was sufficient for 64; we hadn't time to remain for the sermon. We complimented her cows, told her they were very pretty. etc. ; but none of these things seemed to placate her. She
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
refused us a dish into which we might pump the lacteal fluid, so I, holding the canteen in one hand, essayed with the other to guide the precious fluid from the cow into the canteen. The woman threw sticks and stones at the quadruped, which frustrated my endeavors. I told Tip I thought we would be compelled to go into the cellar and get some old milk. "No," said Tip, "we must have fresh milk. You go and milk that cow, and if she don't stand still I'll shoot her," say- ing which Tip produced his revolver and aimed at the cow's head. " Madam,". said Tip, "if you ever want to milk that cow again don't throw any clubs at her now ; if she stirs, I'll shoot her!" All the old lady dared throw was furious glances, but, as these didn't interfere with the flow of milk, we didn't mind them.
The Tenth was again assigned to Bayard's brigade carly in De- cember, made up as follows : First Maine, First New Jersey, Second New York, Tenth New York, and First Pennsylvania cavalry regi- ments, and Independent Company First District of Columbia Cav- alry, and Battery C, Third United States Artillery.
At noon on the 6th of December boots and saddles resounded through the camp, and soon after the entire command was on the move northward. Reports of the presence of large bodies of rebel cavalry in the vicinity of Fairfax and Thoroughfare Gap was the cause of our sudden departure for that section. A snow-storm had set in the day before and was still prevailing, and it was bitter cold when the command set out on the march. The suffering was very great, in many cases the men being compelled to dismount and march on foot to prevent their feet from freezing. Little or no sleep was obtained during the march, and but scanty opportunity was af- forded for preparing a cup of coffee. The country was thoroughly patrolled but nothing of a hostile nature was encountered. The brigade returned to camp on the 9th, the men having been in the saddle the greater part of the time for three days.
While on this march General Bavard had established his head- quarters one very disagreeable night, near a house, close by which was a crib containing a little corn which the men were not slow in discovering, for the enterprising cavalryman was always on the alert for food for the faithful animal that had borne him patiently during the day. The General was a strict disciplinarian. He would tolerate no pilfering or unwarranted appropriations or destruction of prop- erty. A guard had been placed on the crib by request of the lady of the house; but the boys made a "rush " on him, knocking him down, and each man proceeded to issue to himself all the corn he could get away with. Meantime the guard had hastened to the General and reported the state of affairs. Seizing the saber from his informant, the General, in a great state of excitement, rushed to the
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ON PICKET AGAIN.
1863
relief of the besieged crib. The men scattered in every direction, while the young commander of the brigade paced rapidly up and down in front of the crib, muttering vengeance on any one who dared molest the corn. The deposed sentinel stood quietly by, dazed at the vigorous manner in which a general stood guard. Taking advantage of the excited condition the General was in, the audacious men crept up to the back of the crib, took off a bottom board, and in a few mo- ments every ear of corn had vanished. A staff officer passing in- quired of his chief the cause of his excitement, and on being told, ventured to look at the corn that was so valuable as to require a brigadier-general to guard it. He saw no corn, but did see the hole through which it had gone, and reported the fact to the General, who was for a moment dumfounded ; then handing the guard his saber again, with injunctions to allow no one to approach the crib, he hastened to his quarters.
On the evening of the 10th of December the Regiment was or- dered to the rear of the army for picket and scouting service. The location was dismal and forlorn-a more than usually hard-looking spot on the badly scratched and scarred face of " Ole Virginny." Sergeant Mortimer Spring, of Company D, gives his experience at this time as follows :
It was on the night of the 11th of December, 1862, when the Union army, un- der General Burnside, was preparing to cross the Rappahannock and give battle to the rebel army under General Lee. A part of the Tenth was doing duty on the right and rear of the army, on what was known, I think, as the Dumfries road. The reserve was about a half-mile back from the picket-line, on a cross-road, which led to the Dumfries road. Midnight was the time for my relief to go on duty, and as there had been firing on the right of the line all the early part of the night, the Lieutenant and Sergeant took seven or eight men and went in that direction, sending me with the remainder of the relief to the left. I had posted all but two of my men, and was going with them down a hill, the road at that place being through a dug-out. The bank on either side was as high as my horse's back, and on each side was a rail fence. An open field was on the left and dense timber on the right, with a heavy growth of underbrush. We were march- ing quail-fashion-single file-when, of a sudden, there came from the under- brush a gruff demand to " surrender." I knew from the noise and rustling that we were outnumbered by at least two or three to one. I reached for my revolver, as each particular hair seemed to stand on end. Instantly came the com- mand, " Hands off that, or I'll blow your d-d brains out!" They had the drop on me, and so, turning to the man nearest me I said, in a low tone, " Follow me." I drove the spurs into my horse's side, and I think he jumped fully twenty feet as he flew down the road. They fired a volley at us, but neither I nor my horse was hit, but the horse behind me was shot through the neck. That changed ends with him, and the other horse of course followed, leaving me alone. The
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1862
HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
boys on reaching camp reported me killed, while I, in turn, supposed they were killed. By the time I reached the outpost the boys were scrambling for their horses lively. At the outpost was a building which before the war had been used as a grocery-store. In this building the Corporal and one man sat before the fire while the third watched, the trio relieving each other at stated times. We formed in the road and awaited the approach of the enemy, but they did not come. Sup- posing my comrades to have been killed, I proposed to the Corporal to let me take one of his men and go to camp for a relief party, but he objected to remaining, so I proposed that he should take one and go, and I would remain. To this he consented, as he could reach camp by going across the open fields. Posting my one man to prevent being cut off from the open field, I took position in the road. where it seemed to me I remained three or four hours, when I espied a man ap- proaching from the direction where the rebels had fired on us. I got the drop on the fellow, and allowed him to approach within about ten paces, then it was my turn to make the cold chills creep over the other fellow, as I shouted, " Halt ! who comes there?" A very complacent, almost meek, " Friend," was responded. " Advance, friend," I commanded, never losing my advantage, but having him constantly covered. . Approaching almost to the nuzzle of my gun, with all the assurance of an old acquaintance, he said, " Where are the other boys ?" I said, " What other boys ?" " Why, the Company B boys." " What do you know about the Company B boys ?" I queried, still keeping him covered. " Why, weren't they on this post ?" "Who are you, and what brought you here ?" I continued. He replied that he came with some others, under Lieutenant Jones, from camp, supposing when they heard the firing that we were all captured, and the Lieuten- ant had halted his command and sent him to reconnoitre: so that instead of a reb, as I supposed, he was one of the coolest Yanks I ever met.
The Regiment remained in this locality during the battle of Fredericksburg, scouring the country for marauding and raiding parties, and picketing the roads in every direction.
The morning of the 10th, Companies L and K were detached and ordered -- the first named to General Smith. of the Left Grand Divis- ion, whose headquarters were near White-Oak Church at the time; and the latter to General Reynolds, commanding the First Army Corps. Captain Vanderbilt describes in graphic terms his first expe- rience in escort duty, which is here given in his own words from a letter to the historian some years ago :
I just want to say a word about our march to the river. Please remember that my company had been mustered into the service only about six weeks before, and had received horses less than a month prior to this march : and in the issue we drew everything on the list-watering-bridles, lariat ropes and pins-in fact there was nothing on the printed list of supplies that we did not get. Many men had extra blankets, nice large quilts presented by some fond mother or maiden aunt (dear souls 5; sabers and bolts, together with the straps that pass over the shoulder; carbines and slings; pockets full of cartridges; nose-bags and extra little bags for carrying oats; haversseks, canteens, and spurs, some of them of
F
Melvin Douglass.
I'm. B. Kinney. Morgan Hall. David Weatherby. Ord. S'gt. Nelson Mitchell. Alfred Bruce. John P. Mc W'ethey. Jacob C. Rogers.
55
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
1862
the Mexican pattern, as large as small windmills, and more in the way than the spurs on a young rooster, catching in the grass when they walked, gathering up briers, vines, and weeds, and catching their pants, and in the way generally ; curry-combs, brushes, ponchos, button-tents, overcoats, frying-pans, cups, coffee- pots, etc. Now, the old companies had become used to these things and had got down to light marching condition gradually, had learned how to wear the uni- form, saber, carbines, etc. ; but my company had hardly time to get into proper shape when " the general " was sounded, " boots and saddles" blown, and Major Falls commanded :
"'SHOUN ! 'AIR T'- OUNT ! A-O-U-N-T!"
Such a rattling, jingling, jerking, scrabbling, cursing, I never before heard. Green horses-some of them never had been ridden-turned round and round, backed against each other, jumped up or stood up like trained circus-horses. Some of the boys had a pile in front, on their saddles, and one in the rear, so high and heavy it took two men to saddle one horse and two men to help the fellow into his place. The horses sheered out, going sidewise, pushing the well-disposed animals out of position, etc. Some of the boys had never rode anything since they galloped on a hobby-horse, and clasped their legs close together, thus uncon- sciously sticking the spurs into their horses' sides.
Well, this was the crowd I commanded to mount on the morning I was or- dered by General Smith to follow him. We got in line near headquarters, and when he got ready to start he started all over. He left no doubt about his start- ing! He went like greased lightning! As soon as I could get my breath I shouted, " BY FOURS, FOR-D, 'A-R-C-H !" then immediately, " G-A-L-L-O-P, 'A-R-C-H !" and away we went over the hard-frozen ground toward Fredericksburg. In less than ten minutes Tenth New York Cavalrymen might have been seen on every hill for two miles rearward. Poor fellows! I wanted to help them, but the Gen- eral was " On to Richmond !" and I hardly dare look back for fear of losing him. I didn't have the remotest idea where he was going, and didn't know but he was going to keep it up all day. It was my first Virginia ride as a warrior in the field. My uneasiness may be imagined. I was wondering what in the mischief I should say to the General when we halted and none of the company there but me. He was the first real live general I had seen who was going out to fight. Talk about the Flying Dutchman ! Blankets slipped from under saddles and hung by one corner; saddles slid back until they were on the rumps of the horses; others turned and were on the under side of the animals; horses running and kicking; tin pans, mess-kettles, patent sheet-iron camp-stoves, the boys had seen advertised in the illustrated papers and sold by the sutlers at Alexandria-about as useful as a piano or folding bed-flying through the air ; and all I could do was to give a hasty glance to the rear and sing out at the top of my voice :
" C-L-O-S-E U-P!"
But they couldn't "close." Poor boys! Their eyes stuck out like those of maniacs. We went only a few miles, but the boys didn't all get up till noon.
My company was used as orderlies to infantry generals. Pitt Morse was or- derly for General Russell. One day the General was sitting on his horse with Morse just behind, when he (Morse) spied a nice round ball (percussion shell) lying : on the ground. He jumped off and got it. Had no other place to put it, so laid it on his oats-bag in front, intending to take it home when he went ! (Wasn't that
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
1862
innocence ?) The General suddenly turned to give him an order, when his aston- ished gaze fell upon Morse's shell.
" What in the world have you got there ?" shouted the General, laying his hand threateningly on his revolver. "Get down off that horse and don't you drop that shell! Be careful, now. Go and lay it in that water, and then report to your commanding officer ; I don't need you any longer."
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