USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 2 > Part 28
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On the 1st and 2d of April the brigade remained in camp near Dinwiddie Court- House, guarding the trains of the corps. On the night of the 2d I moved from Din- widdie Court-House, in the rear of the train, to the point where the Claiborne road crosses Hatcher's run, and went into camp. On the 3d of April the brigade moved via Sutherland Station across Namozine Creek to Wilson's plantation. Here the command camped for the night.
On the 4th of April the brigade moved to Jetersville and there took position, expecting an engagement, and encamped for the night at that point. On the morning of the 5th of April I moved out from camp under instructions to make reconnaissance on the enemy's rear and ascertain the position of his trains pass- ing through Amelia Springs. I moved to Painsville, and there learned that Gen- eral Lee's wagon-trains were passing a point about four miles from that town, I immediately moved down at a trot, sending the First Pennsylvania Veteran Cav- alry (my advanced guard) at a gallop, and they succeeded in striking the train just as a piece of artillery had been placed in position to repel my advance. Be- fore the piece could be loaded, my men charged through a deep swamp, were
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
upon them, and at once captured the artillery and the men belonging to the bat- tery, and scattered the train-guard at that point (of about four hundred men) in all directions. I sent two regimenfts-the First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry and Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry-at once to the right along the length of the train, directing them to capture all animals and prisoners and destroy all wagons, as, owing to the condition of the roads and the exhausted state of the teams, I did not deem it practicable to bring off the wagons. The First New Jersey Cavalry I kept near the point where the train was first attacked, to act as a reserve and support and to reconnoitre to the left ; and to the Tenth New York Cavalry I gave the charge of the prisoners, guns, etc., captured by the First Penn- sylvania Veteran Cavalry, with directions to return with them to Jetersville as soon as they were collected. The commanding officers of these regiments each executed the orders given them with fidelity and zeal, and in a short time I was on my way to Jetersville with five guns, eleven flags, three hundred and twenty white prisoners, an equal number of colored teamsters, and over four hundred animals, captured from the enemy, leaving behind me two hundred blazing am- munition and headquarters wagons, caissons, and ambulances.
Shortly after leaving Painsville on my return, Gary's brigade of rebel cavalry, acting as escort to the train, attacked my rear-guard and kept a running fight with my command as far as Amelia Springs, where I formed my brigade and held them (the enemy) in check until relieved by the Second Brigade of this division. I then rode to the head of my column and found that bolted, and that the enemy had obtained possession of the cross-roads, in my front, where the road from Amelia Springs to Jetersville joins that to Amelia Court-House. A regiment of the Third Brigade at that point, with the First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry and a part of the Tenth New York Cavalry, handsomely repulsed the enemy and drove him from the cross-roads; and I had the satisfaction of bringing safely into camp the whole of the captured property, not losing one prisoner, animal, or gun, in spite of the desperate efforts made by the enemy to retake them. In the after- noon my brigade again went into action to repel an attempt made by the enemy to reach Jetersville from Amelia Springs, and, though much reduced in strength .by the large number of men required to guard prisoners and take charge of the captured property, successfully resisted every attack made by the enemy, and made several mounted charges with great gallantry.
On the 6th of April the brigade moved with the division and took part in the attack made on the enemy's infantry and train at Sailor's Creek. A very splen- did and dashing reconnaissance of the position was made by the First New Jersey Cavalry, which was of great assistance in the attack. When the order for attack was given, the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, Tenth New York Cavalry, and First New Jersey Cavalry charged in line, mounted, and with great gallantry under a heavy fire, followed by the First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry as sup- port. The charging regiments behaved admirably, keeping their line perfectly, and, capturing the breastworks, drove the enemy in confusion, capturing many prisoners. Then, charging right on up the hill, they came upon the enemy's wagon-train, which they followed up for some distance, destroying many wagons and capturing many prisoners. In this engagement, seven hundred and fifty pris- oners, two guns, and two flags were captured and turned over to Captain Harper. division provost-marshal. Some three hundred prisoners were inadvertently
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OFFICIAL, REPORTS.
turned over to another command by the officers in charge; and two guns captured by the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, which they were unable to bring off at that time, were taken by some other command. On the 7th of April the brigade moved through Farmville, and, after crossing the Appomattox in the rear of the Second Brigade, formed and checked the enemy advancing. After having driven that command, and night coming on, the brigade was withdrawn from the front and marched to Prospect Station, on the Lynchburg Railroad. On the 8th the brigade moved to the vicinity of Appomattox Court-House, and there encamped for the night. On the 9th the brigade moved out on a reconnaissance around the enemy's right flank ; but while on the road, hearing that the rest of the division · had been attacked in heavy force, I made a demonstration in that direction and repulsed a cavalry force moving toward the left and rear of our army. After- ward, having been joined by the Second Brigade, I attacked the enemy's cavalry in my front, and was driving them rapidly, when orders directing a suspension of hostilities were received.
From that time there is nothing of interest to report, the command having moved from Appomattox Court-House to the present camp by easy marches and unopposed. I have to regret the loss of many brave and gallant officers of rank in the brigade. Colonel Janeway, of the First New Jersey Cavalry, fell while gal- lantly charging at the head of his Regiment in the action of April 5, 1865, near Jetersville. No better or braver officer has ever fallen on the field of battle. Colonel Newbury, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, fell severely wounded in the thickest of the fight near Dinwiddie Court-House, March 31, 1865, while leading his regiment, displaying signal courage and gallantry in action.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richards, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, was mortally wounded while in command near Amelia Springs, April 5. 1865. Lieutenant- Colonel Sceva, Tenth New York Cavalry, was seriously wounded in action at Din- widdie Court-House, March 31st, and fully deserves honorable mention for good conduct.
Major Hart. First New Jersey, and Major Doran, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, both fell in the same action-the former killed, the latter mortally wounded. Brave and truc soldiers, they did their duty to the last, and fell as they had lived, honorably and with distinction.
Major Thomas, commanding First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry, was severely wounded while leading his command in a charge at Jetersville, April 5, 1865, and has lost a leg from the injury he received. Of this officer I can not speak too highly. Foremost in every fight, brave and daring, yet possessed of most excel- lent judgment, his loss to the service is irreparable. In every action he was dis- tinguished. The success of the attack on the train at Painsville is greatly due to him, and in the subsequent movements of that day his services were most valu- able ; and I respectfully ask that the brevets of lieutenant-colonel and colonel may be granted to him, dating from April 5th, as a slight recognition of his merit and deserving conduct.
Of all the officers and men serving with the command I am able to speak in the highest terms. Among so many who have done well it is difficult to dis- criminate.
The enlisted men distinguished by capturing flags have already received the reward of their valor, and a list has been forwarded of those otherwise particu-
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
larly remarkable for good conduct. I desire to mention Colonel Avery, Tenth New York Cavalry, who has ably commanded his Regiment in every action, and rendered most important service in guarding and bringing into camp the prison- ers and property captured on the 5th of April by the First Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry ; and Major Snyder, Tenth New York Cavalry, temporarily in command of the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, for leading his Regiment not only gal- Jantly but in good order, in the charge on the enemy's works at Sailor's Creek, April 6th ; and Captain Craig, First New Jersey Cavalry, for good conduct in all the campaigns, and for valuable services rendered in several reconnaissances he has commanded.
The officers of my staff have rendered most valuable service, and are all de- serving of highest praise for their courage, zeal, and efficiency. The reports of casualties have been already rendered. I annex a copy of receipt from Captain Harper, provost-marshal, of prisoners, and property turned over to him from this command :
HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, OFFICE OF PROVOST-MARSHAL, IN THE FIELD, April 14, 1865.
Received from provost-marshal, First Brigade, Second Division, Cavalry Corps, during the campaign from March 29th to April 14, 1865:
April 5th, 320 prisoners of war at Jetersville, Va., by 1st Pa. Vet. Cav.
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66 310 colored team drivers 66 66
66 11 battle-flags
66 5 guns and teams 66
66
1 caisson 60 66
" 310 mules 66 66
April 6th, 750 prisoners of war at Farmville and Sailor's Creek by the brigade.
2 battle-flags
1st N. J.
2 guns 66 24th N. Y. Cav.
(Signed) WILLIAM HARPER,
Captain and Assistant Provost-Marshal, Second Division, Cavalry Corps. Respectfully submitted :
(Signed) H. E. DAVIES, JR., Brigadier-General Commanding Brigade.
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APPENDIX.
PRISON AND ESCAPE EXPERIENCES.
A
LTHOUGH the following narra- tives form no part of the history of the Tenth New York Cav- alry, their publication as an ad- dendum has been thought quite appropriate, since all save one were members of the Regiment, and that one closely allied to it, as a member of the Second New York Cavalry, serving in the brigade band.
The stories of suffering and wrong; of physical waste and mental exhaustion ; of revolting scenes of cruelty and pathetic sepa- ration from friends; of the devotion and loyalty of the negroes; of the sad recapture after many weary and painful night marches, or the joyful embrace of friends beneath the folds of the Stars and Stripes, are all varied, yet of thrilling interest, and well worthy of record.
PRISON AND ESCAPE-CAPTAIN B. B. PORTER, CO. G.
On the morning of the 24th of June, 1864, General Gregg's division of cavalry was ordered to move up the Charles City road to protect the rear of the Cavalry Corps wagon-train on its way from the White House, Virginia, to the James River. Near St. Mary's Church the head of the column met with the rebel cavalry pickets, and skirmished with them until three o'clock in the afternoon, when the whole rebel Cavalry Corps came down upon us in three lines of battle -dismounted in front and mounted on both flanks-intending to make a clean sweep of the Second Division of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac.
During this fight, and under the worst fire I ever experienced, I was captured by a dozen rebels of Wickham's brigade of Virginia Cavalry. I was immediately
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
robbed of everything in my pockets, my hat and boots, and would have been stripped naked except through the interference of one of the party, who ordered me to follow him toward the rear.' Reaching the edge of a piece of woods, I was ordered to sit down by the side of a lean, lank, slab-sided six-footer, who was firing away from behind a small tree at our boys as fast as he could. I had no sooner placed myself beside him than I had the pleasure of seeing him shot through the body and fall back dead. Another took charge of me and I was started for the rear again, continually meeting bloodthirsty ragamuffins, who wished to put an end to my existence by shooting me down like a dog; but the remonstrances of my guard prevailed, and I was safely conducted to the rear
Never before had I wished for death. As I saw the rebels swept down by our shell, grape and canister, I wished for some missile to hurl me into eternity, which I considered preferable to life in Southern prisons. After being marched about, insulted, and abused for a couple of hours, my feet already swollen and very sore, we reached Captain Butler's headquarters, Provost Marshal of Butler's brigade of South Carolinians. Here I found half a dozen of our officers and en- listed men huddled together around a few coals, with a strong guard placed over them. Hungry, tired, and sleepy, we passed the night. In the morning we were a miserable, dilapidated-looking set of Yanks. Captain Butler said he had nothing to eat himself, or he would give us something. He seemed very much elated by reading to us in one of their seven-by-nine newspapers an account of fifty of our officers-prisoners of war-being placed under fire at Charleston, S. C., by the rebels.
Early in the morning (June 25th) we were marched to General Butler's head- quarters, and said General sent one of his aides out for the best hat worn by the Yankee officers The aide could find none suitable for his generalship.
After collecting all of their prisoners together-they had 107 men and 11 officers-Captain Butler remained in charge of us and we were started for Rich- mond at a brisk pace. One of the guards found me an old hat, which served to protect my head a little from the burning sun. . The sand soon became so hot that it burned my feet to a blister, when one of the rebels got me an old pair of boots, which were little better than none, and did me some service in taking the skin off my feet in a dozen new places. Long before night I was unable to go at. all, and they allowed me to ride a horse for a mile or two, then get off and hob- ble along again while some other prisoner in as bad a condition took a ride.
We were marched to Savage Station, on the York River Railroad, making twenty-five miles from our point of starting in the morning. No sooner had we dropped on the ground than all were fast asleep, tired completely out and ex- hausted for want of food and water. In the morning we were promised some- thing to eat, but we got nothing. About ten o'clock we were placed on board a train of cars and taken to Richmond. At eleven we were drawn up in line in front of Libby Prison, then marched in, one at a time, and thoroughly searched by the notorious Dick Turner. All the money and everything of value were taken. I managed to preserve my pocket-knife, which, for some reason, was overlooked when I was taken.
A full description of "Libby " has been given so many times that it is needless for me to give one. We found about 100 officers, mostly from the Second Corps,
PRISON AND ESCAPE-CAPTAIN B. B. PORTER, CO. G. 545
and about 2,400 men, confined there. Having been fifty-four hours without any- thing to eat, we were very anxious to get something. Between twelve and one o'clock rations were brought in-bean soup in tubs that were hardly fit to put hogs' feed in ; meat that emitted an odor almost sickening. My ration consisted of a piece of corn bread three inches long by two and a half wide and almost the same thickness, a piece of spoiled pork half an inch thick and two inches square, one half gill of bean soup, mostly water-twenty beans in it, perhaps, and rotten at that. This dose, I was informed, would be repeated the next day at the same hour, and not before. Starvation began to stare me in the face at once.
We were confined in Libby until the 29th of June, when we were started for Lynchburg, Va., which place we reached the morning of June 30th in a very poor condition, having been cramped up in the cars and nearly starved, with but a slight prospect of getting anything very soon. Some of the officers traded their shirts for a small loaf of corn bread apiece. About noon we received four days' cooked rations, consisting of nearly a pound of bacon and one dozen crackers, something similar to our hard bread used in the army.
Lynchburg is situated on the James River, and mostly built on a side-hill. At the time we were there it was one vast hospital. During the afternoon we took up our line of march across the country for Danville, Va., distant seventy- two miles. More prisoners were added to our column, swelling our number to 125 officers and 2,500 men. We were marched three or four miles and camped- that is, we were allowed to lie on the ground and eat our rations. What rations we had were of good material, and I ate half of mine the first night without being satisfied. Early next morning (July 1st) we were gathered up like a flock of sheep and started on the road. The weather was very hot, and we were allowed to rest only once in three or four miles, and then only a few moments. I think I never suffered so much on any trip as on this. My feet were covered with sores, and the bottoms were almost one complete blister, making each step but little less than the horrors of the Inquisition. To straggle in the rear was certain death. All the cavalrymen and officers suffered incredibly, but the infantry were more used to marching and stood it much better, except those who were barefoot. One poor fellow who was sick and left by the roadside in an old to- bacco house was found by the rear-guard and coolly shot and his body rifled of everything just because he could go no farther. A number were used in the same manner each day.
After marching twenty-five miles we reached the Staunton River, where we camped the same as the night before, with the privilege of washing in the river, which was quite a luxury. That night I thought I never should be able to march another mile, but, with a full determination to live it through, I summoned all the perseverance, energy, and fortitude that I was possessed of and managed to keep up with the column the next day. . Not being in good health made it much worse for me than it would have been otherwise. We were a perfect curiosity to the citizens. Scarcely any of them ever saw a live Yankee before. Every male above ten years of age and under seventy was out to help guard us with their shot-guns and pistols, but they all felt rather dubious in regard to their prospects for the future. Women and children composed nine tenths of the population through the country we passed.
On the 4th of July we arrived at Danville, Va., on the Dan River, worn out
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
and half starved, our rations having given out the day before. On Sunday, the 3d, in passing through the little village of Pittsylvania Court-House the full con- gregation of one of the churches lined both sides of the street. With true Yankee spirit the column sang "The Star-spangled Banner " in good style, as well as one or two other patriotic songs. I noticed two or three very good-look- ing young ladies shedding tears. The whole congregation listened and looked on in solemn silence, never having seen so many Yankees before. Upon our arrival at Danville we were marched into a miserable, dirty brick building, and packed so tight that there was not room for all to lie down at once. The floor was covered with vermin, the weather very hot, and a miserable stench arising from the débris of former occupants made a gloomy prospect for the future, supposing that here we were to stay for some time. In a couple of hours we were furnished with a tolerably fair meal of corn-bread and very good boiled fresh pork, which was by far the best meal I had received since I was taken prisoner. Near the close of the day we were marched to the railroad, and about midnight packed into box-cars used for transporting cattle and prisoners. Fifty men were packed in each car and the doors closed. The heat being intense, we came near being suffocated, and, not being allowed any water, our sufferings were almost intoler. able before morning.
In the morning (July 5th) we arrived at Greensboro, N. C., where we were taken out to change cars and receive rations. Here the rations were hard bread and bacon, very poor and scanty. After receiving our morsel we were packed as be- fore and started South again. Cramped, crowded, and choking for water, we finally reached Salisbury, N. C., where one of the boys of my regiment was knocked down and kicked by one of the guards for speaking to me as he was passing by the car. The guard informed me, as well as the poor boy who was so badly abused, that he would shoot us both if we said another word. We stopped but a short time at this place, and before night were unloaded at Charlotte, N. C., marched into an open field, and a strong guard placed around us. This was certainly a treat once more to be allowed to stretch ourselves at full length on Mother Earth, which, in comparison with our previous night's rest, was a per- fect Godsend. The next day it was not quite so pleasant, in the hot sun all day, without any kind of shelter or shade. The next night was passed on the same ground and in the same manner. No rations were given us, and we were in- formed that we would receive none until we arrived at Columbia, S. C. On the morning of the 7th we left Charlotte, packed as before, suffering all day with heat, hunger, and thirst. Early in the evening we reached Columbia, where we were allowed the privilege of lying on the ground in the open air again, but we received nothing to eat.
On the Sth we left Columbia for Augusta, Ga., a cursing, starving, miserable set of beings, packed in the usual manner. No person that has never experienced the want of food or water can form a correct idea of the feeling one has to undergo during a trial of this kind. Late at night we arrived at Augusta, Ga., almost exhausted. Two or three of the prisoners were carried off dying from the effects of our treatment thus far. On the morning of the 9th, before leaving Augusta, a miserable pittance was doled out to us, which was devoured instantly, scarcely removing our hunger at all. Here we were counted and packed in the usual method, only more so, fifty-five being placed in a single car. This time we
PRISON AND ESCAPE-CAPTAIN B. B. PORTER, CO. G. 547
were boxed for twenty-four hours, or until our arrival at Macon, Ga., where we were turned into a prison-pen with fourteen hundred officers, who were already confined there.
This pen, like many others that have been described, had its dead-line inside the stockade, and cannon mounted on each side, with the full complement of guards ready to shoot down any unsuspecting prisoner that might even touch the picket fence which served as a dead-line. This picket fence, before the war, inclosed the fair grounds belonging to the city of Macon, and the fair-buildings were now used for a prisoners' hospital. Lumber was furnished for making sheds for about two thirds of the prisoners. The water in the pen was abundant and very good for that country. Our rations for five days were five pints of an inferior quality of corn-meal; between one half and three fourths of a pound of rancid bacon, full of maggots and many times almost rotten; one tablespoonful of rice ; a gill of beans, or what they call cow peas ; a tablespoonful of salt, and one half pint of sorghum molasses. This completed our full ration for five days, with the exception of a very small piece of soap, enough, probably, to wash a pair of socks. These rations were just enough to keep a man hungry constantly and yet not quite starve him to death.
Our occupation was "skirmishing," or, in other words, hunting lice, cooking, playing chess, cards, etc., talking of exchange, and something good to eat. Our camp was full of rumors all the while, and a fight now and then enlivened the monotony of this miserable life. Every means of escape was devised and many tried. One man managed to make his blankets into a suit of rebel clothes and walked out with a load of garbage that was being carted out. Another crawled under a large box that was on the prison sutler's wagon, with the consent of the negro driver, who sat on the box as he was driving out; but this man, after traveling for some days, was caught with dogs and brought back again. Many tunnels were started and discovered. We had preaching every Sunday, and sometimes two or three times a week; also prayer-meetings. A few debates were started, but debaters were generally too hungry to get up a good argument, and debating was banished.
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