USA > New York > History of the one hundred and twenty-eighth regiment : New York volunteers (U.S. infantry) ; in the late civil war > Part 14
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AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
the fleeing enemy to Kernstown and then halted in front of Ram- seur, who finding but a small force in pursuit, faced about and made a stand. The infantry of our division passed through Winchester by the main street, by the flank, and took a large number of prisoners, and then pushed on two miles beyond the town. That evening as Sheridan, in company with his corps commanders, Wright, Emory and Crook rode along the front of the lines, the men were wild with excitement and enthusiasm, and sent up a cheer that rang out for miles.
But those lines had paid severely for their heroic work and hard earned victory. The report to the War department gave the Union loss of that day at 5,018, including 697 killed, 3,983 wounded and 338 missing. The nineteenth corps, though in numbers smaller than the sixth, suffered the heaviest loss, the aggregate being 2,074. Of this latter corps, Grover's division reported 1,527, Grover had four brigades in the action. Of these Birge had the largest loss, "yet" says Irwin, " in proportion Sharpe fared the worst, for his brigade, though but half as strong as Birge's, lost thirty-nine killed, 222 wounded, seventeen missing-together 278. The 128th had seven killed and seventy severely wounded. A very large number received slight wounds and were not reported. Exultant as we all were that night over our victory, sad were our feelings as we looked over our shattered ranks. Every man who gathered could tell of some one or more comrades falling by his side. Many of our brave boys had we left on the field ; many more were suffering with shattered limbs and severe wounds. But twenty-five answered the roll as it was called in the writer's company, and half of these had received slight wounds. One had been struck with a piece of an exploded shell, another had lost a finger; the writer had been scratched by a spent ball so as to draw blood. A somewhat comical report came from one of the company. Upon the first advance he supposed himself severely wounded in the side by a musket ball and started for the rear. Finding the wound did not hurt him, he returned to the battle line and continued his fighting through the day. That evening the ball was found in the bottom of his cart- ridge-box, having destroyed some of his ammunition, but inflicting no more serious wound. Early's loss was about 4,000 in killed and wounded, he leaving the most of these on the field.
The report sent by Sheridan to Grant that evening, was as follows :
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HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED
WINCHESTER, VA. 7:30 P. M.
Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT,
I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces of General Early over the Berryville pike at the crossing of Opequan Creek, and after a most stubborn and sanguinary engagement which lasted from early in the morning until five o'clock in the evening, com- pletely defeating him, driving him through Winchester, capturing about two thousand five hundred prisoners, five pieces of artillery, nine army flags and most of their wounded. The rebel Generals, Rodes and Gordon were killed, and three other General officers were wounded, most of the enemy's wounded and all of their killed fell into our hands.
Our losses are severe, among them is General D. A. Russell, commanding a division of the sixth corps, who was killed by a cannon ball, Generals Upton, McIntosh and Chapman were wounded. I cannot tell our losses. The conduct of the officers and men was superb. They charged and carried every position taken up by the enemy, from Opequan Creek to Winchester. The rebels were strong in numbers, and very obstinate in their fighting. I desire to mention to the Lieut .- General commanding the army, the gallant conduct of Generals Wright, Crook, Emory, Torbert, and the officers and men under their commands. To them the country is indebted for this handsome victory. A more detailed report will be forwarded.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-Gen .- Commanding.
When President Lincoln heard the glad news, his first act was to write, with his own hand, a warm message of congratulation. New hope now took possession of the president. Soon he made Sheridan a Brigadier-General in the regular army, and placed him in permanent command of the department over which he had previously been temporarily assigned. Congratulatory orders were read to all the regiments, commending them for their bravery and their success. One hundred guns were directed to be fired at Washington, and by each corps about Petersburg. Grant says this decisive victory of the Shenandoah, was the most effective argument made in the political canvass of 1864. More than this, it strength- ened the Union sentiment, and the determination to close the war only with a complete suppression of the rebellion. " The country
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AND TWENTY-EIGHTII REGIMENT.
was electrified," says a writer, "and the shadow of gloom which had hung over it was dispelled as if by magic. Gold took such a tumble as it had not received since the outbreak of the rebellion, and thenceforth no man of sense doubted the ultimate triumph of our arms, or the re-establishment of the Union."
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HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED
SECTION XVIII. FISHER'S HILL.
On the evening of September 19th, from his headquarters in Loyd Logan's house, Sheridan sent this despatch to Secretary Stanton :
" We have just sent the rebels whirling through Winchester, and are after them to-morrow."
This promise was fully kept. At day-break the next morning our cavalry was moving. Reveille sounded in our camp at four o'clock. Passing through Newtown, the people reported that the enemy had been hurrying by all night, the rear guard leaving about 3 A. M. Filled with the fervor of victory, we marched on through Middletown, across Cedar Creek, and, after making twenty miles, encamped near Strasburg in line of battle.
General John B. Gordon, in writing of this occasion, says : "our army was shattered and demoralized by the Winchester battle," and describes the charge of the nineteenth corps on that field as "especially confident and impetuous." He then continues : "De- jected and broken, we moved down the valley to Fisher's Hill, where we had a very strong position. There we stopped and recruited, and tried to repair the damages which had been done. Our soldiers were very much disheartened, however. The transformation from a hopeful and advancing army to a beaten and retreating one was too great."
Early had continued his flight as described by Gordon, until he reached Fisher's Hill, where already had been thrown up by his army, some earthworks. The natural strength of this position was in that between the peaks of Massanutten and the North Mountain, the valley was contracted to a width of not more than four miles. This narrow pass was also greatly obstructed by rocks, steep cliffs, and a broad stream called Tumbling Run. . Above this were the rugged crags of Fisher's Hill. The position was strong only from the front, and Early, fearing a flank movement through the Luray Valley, sent out a cavalry force to guard this pass. He also set to work at once strengthening his defenses.
But Sheridan did not give him much time to increase their strength, or to rest his weary soldiers. On the night of the zoth
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AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Sheridan had drawn up his line of attack near Strasburg, the sixth corps on the right, and the nineteenth on the left. The eighth remained in support behind Cedar Creek. On the morning of the 21st, he pushed ahead his skirmishers and drove Early's forces wholly behind their defenses, and planted his own lines in a still stronger position. Sheridan was now determined, if possible, to capture Early's army, and made his plans accordingly. Torbert, with two divisions of cavalry, was to go by way of the Luray Valley and take New Market, thirty miles in Early's rear. The eighth corps was sent by a sweep to the right, on the left flank and rear of the enemy, while the sixth and nineteenth corps were to do the work in front.
The camp of the nineteenth corps was roused at 3 A. M. on the 22d. At day-break our line was moved further to the left. Three lines of earthworks were formed, the third, or Sharpe's brigade, being in the advance. The forenoon was spent in strengthening our entrenchments. At noon the 128th, with the 176th New York as a support, was ordered to drive in the rebel pickets, sharpshooters and skirmishers, from the rifle-pits in front of Fisher's Hill. The regi- ment was deployed as skirmishers at close intervals. In a gallant style they advanced on a double-quick and drove the rebs from their rifle. pits on the summit of a hill and in front of their main works. The support coming up a once, we held the ground while a fatigue detail with tools and rails hurried forward and entrenched the posi- tion. Then a battery was run up and opened fire, driving the enemy to the heights of Fisher's Hill, distant about five hundred yards. Barely had the regiment gained this hazardous position before General Sheridan, attended by a single aid, joined us, and in his characteristic way, freely exposed himself to the fire of the enemy. Our forces held this position and kept up a continuous fire until the final assault was begun. The handsome style of the work done by the 128th in the early part of this battle is fully attested by the reports of the officers in command.
Brig-General Grover, commanding the second division, says :
"To strengthen and shorten our line it became necessary to drive the enemy and to occupy their lines. This was handsomely done by the 128th New York, Lieut .- Col. James Foster commanding, under a vigorous fire of musketry and most terrific shelling, when the order to advance was received along the whole line."
An extract from the report of Colonel E. L. Molineux, com- Inanding the second brigade, makes reference to the same gallant charge :
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HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED
"Our working party and the battery were much annoyed by the enemy's sharpshooters in a line of rifle-pits directly in our front * * and Colonel Dan. McCauley, commanding the third brigade, ordered the 128th New York to deploy as skirmishes and capture the advanced position. The attack was entirely successful."
Nor did the regiment fail to receive the commendation of General Wm. H. Emory, the corps commander, as in his report he says :
"I moved two pieces of artillery forward and to the left unseen by the enemy, and ordered them to enfilade the rifle-pits and shell them vigorously for twenty minutes, at the end of which time, which was 12:15 P. M., the 128th New York, supported by the 176th New York, deployed out of sight of the enemy as skirmishers, was ordered to rush upon the riffe-pits and seize them. * * * The charge of the regiment was made in fine style, and the pits were carried with but little loss. * * * One or two attempts were made by the enemy to drive them away ; but they were repulsed by the brave regiments just noted."
Colonel Alfred Neafie, of the 156th New York, in a report of this battle says :
" The left wing of my regiment (156th N. Y.) * * advanced to the hill occupied by the 128th New York and fortified the hill under a severe fire." This was the entrenching party or added support.
About 5 P. M., Sheridan rode along our lines with his hat in his hand and was heralded by deafening cheers given by each regiment as he proceeded. Now was heard the noise of battle far away on the right. This was the signal that Crook had succeeded and was sweeping everything before him. Almost instantly the nineteenth and sixth took the double-quick and moved to the assault. Down the steep side of the ravine, over Tumbling Run, and then up the scraggly and almost inaccessible sides of Fisher's Hill, our men rush. The 128th and the 176th being on the advance line had the advan- tage when this scramble began and first gained the heights. Here we quote from the report of Colonel McCauley, in charge of our brigade :
" At noon the 128th New York, Lieut .- Col .- Foster, was deployed as skirmishers, and participated in a general advance on the enemy's rifle-pits carrying those in front of General Grover's division in fine style. # * * Toward 5 P. M. a general advance on the enemy's works was ordered. As the line advanced those regiments
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AND TWENTY . EIGHTH REGIMENT.
in front ( the 128th N. Y. and the 176th N. Y. ) charged and entered the enemy's works on our left in advance of any other troops."
" It is a difficult matter where commands are so mixed to render justice to all during a general and glorious victory. The charge of the 128th New York was gallantly done." It is evident from the reports of those officers that the 128th, by their advanced position and brave service, became conspicuous before all the nineteenth corps on that day. So confident were the rebels of the safety of their position, that they had taken the ammunition boxes from the caissons and boasted that at that place they would show the Yanks a specimen of their fighting qualities. It proved, however, to our advancing forces, little more than a rush over, as our men swarmed over their strong entrenchments, line after line, and put the whole of Early's army to flight, capturing twenty pieces of artillery, and 1,100 prisoners.
We halted on the heights, expecting to bivouac as darkness had set in, and we were worn out and hungry, not having food since morning. Grover's division was ordered to follow the routed and fleeing enemy. This was to move in the darkness over strange ground, and against a foe we could not see. The division broke into column, our brigade in the advance. We had made about five miles when crash came a volley from an ambuscade to the left of the road At the same time a shell came sweeping down the road. An irregular volley was instantly fired into the woods, to the left from where the fire came. We went into line of battle and halted. The halt was brief, when on we rushed at double quick and captured the gun. It was while meeting the concealed enemy under darkness that words of commendation again came from the Commanding-General. Colonel Foster says that Sheridan here rode up to him and exclaimed "Colonel, halt your command, You're plenty near enough to the enemy. Damnation, you arn't afraid." We continued the march, passing through the wreckage of the retreating army-abandoned and burning wagons, caissons, broken gun-carriages, blankets, guns and equipments. We were so exhausted that when the bugles sounded for a halt about every mile, we dropped in our tracks and were fast asleep in a minute. At the end of five minutes, the bugles would again call forward. Vet so rapidly did the weary men of the nineteenth corps march, that no horsemen passed our lines before broad daylight, though Devin was trying to do this with his cavalry. We marched into Woodstock, fourteen miles distant, at 4 A. M. of the 23d, after marching and fighting for thirty hours.
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HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED
Crook had been left at Fisher's Hill, to care for the dead, and wounded and prisoners, while Wright and Emory had pressed for- warded to this place. Torbert, who had tried to cut off the rear of Early, had met with too strong a force in the Luray Valley, and had been held in check by two brigades of confederate cavalry until it was too late to accomplish his purpose.
MOUNT JACKSON.
We rested until about noon, during which time rations of flour were issued and cooked, and then started forward again, making eight or nine miles. We halted for the night beyond Edinburg. Early had continued to retreat and was preparing to make a stand at Mount Jackson. Our cavalry soon, however, convinced him that it was wiser to keep on running. . He took the advice and retreated to Rude's Hill, which stands between Mount Jackson and New Market.
On the night of the 22d, Sheridan had forwarded the following despatch :
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, ) SIX MILES FROM WOODSTOCK, II:30 P. M. Sept. 22d, 1864. )
Lieutenant-General GRANT, Commanding Armies of the U. S., City Point :
I have the honor to announce that I achieved a signal victory over the army of General Early at Fisher's Hill to-day. I found the rebel ariny posted with its right resting on the north fork of the Shenandoah, and extending across the Strasburg Valley west- ward to North Mountain, occupying a position which appeared almost impregnable. After a great deal of maneuvering during the day, General Crook's command was transferred to the extreme right of the line on North Mountain, and he furiously attacked the left of the enemy's line, carrying everything before him. While Crook was driving the enemy in the greatest confusion and down behind their breastworks, the sixth and nineteenth army corps attacked the rebel works in front and the whole army appeared to be broken up. They fled in the utmost confusion. Sixteen pieces of artillery were cap- tured, also a great many caissons, artillery horses, etc., etc. I am to- night pushing down the valley. I cannot say how many prisioners I have captured, nor do I know either my own or the enemy's casualties. Only darkness has saved the whole of Early's army from destruction. My attack could not be made till four o'clock in the evening, which left but little daylight to operate in. The first
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AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
and third cavalry divisions went down the Luray valley to-day, and if they push on vigorously to the main valley, the result of this day's engagement will be still more signal. The victory was ours complete. A more detailed report will be made as soon as I can obtain the necessary data.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding.
It will be remembered that Early's command embraced the "Stonewall Brigade " and the troops constituting " Stonewall " Jack- son's corps, and were the elite of the rebel army.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
Roused at four o'clock on the morning of the 24th, we were ready to start at six. After making about ten miles, we came up with the enemy, who occupied an excellent position in a range of hills near Mount Jackson. This time, it was the turn of the nine- teenth corps to do the flanking, and one division was ordered to the right of the town. But the Johnnies were on the alert for " Phil's" flank movements. We were moved off to the right, and as the bridges were burned, we waded the river up to our knees, and various other streams in advancing. A heavy artillery fire, and our skirmish line drove the rebs about I P. M., when our lines again moved forward by brigade front. Being on a side hill, we could see the whole army and also the confederates retreating in line of battle, and their skirmish line in their rear. At times the enemy would make a short stand when our artillery and skirmishers would drive them onward again. At Mount Jackson, a rebel barracks was burned, quite an amount of ammunition and many wounded rebels captured. On the way quite a large number of prisoners were gobbled. Pass- ing New Market at 4 P. M., we continued to drive the enemy six niiles further until about sunset, when a halt was called. About twenty miles had been made during the day. But Early only halted his men until the cover of darkness allowed him to move on in more safety, when he fell back five miles on the Port Republic road. Quitting the main valley road, he continued to retreat on the 25th through Port Republic toward Brown's Gap, where he might collect his scattered forces of cavalry and infantry, and receive the re- enforcements which were being hurried forward under Kershaw from Richmond.
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HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED
Sheridan left the eighth corps to hold the forks of the roads where Early had turned off. With the sixth and nineteenth, he con- tinued to advance on the main road. Marching at 7 A. M. we continued to move forward, no enemy being in our front, with quite long halts, until 5 P. M., having made some eighteen miles. During the day many men came from the mountains and surrendered themselves. We bivouacked south of Harrisburg for the night. At this place was found a rebel hospital containing 500 wounded and sick.
MOUNT CRAWFORD.
On the 26th, Sheridan awaited the arrival of Torbert, Merritt and Wilson, with their cavalry. About forty prisoners were brought in by the pickets and small scouting parties. Several wagon loads of tobacco, which had been captured, were dealt out to the men. The next two days we spent in resting, washing, mending and cleaning equipments. On the 29th, the nineteenth corps and a part of the sixth moved forward, as a support for the cavalry, eight miles, to Mount Crawford. We marched on the right of the road over fields, hills, vales, fences, rocks and streams. But even this tramp over a rough country had its compensation in the fields of green corn, apple-orchards loaded with fruit, and coops stocked with poultry. As we went into camp about 2 P. M., every man had a well-filled haversack, besides more or less swung on his gun or under his arm.
Sheridan had sent forward his calvalry on the 27th to Staunton with the express order of Grant, to lay waste this garden of the con- federates. Grant says in his Memoirs, "Now one of the main objects of the expedition began to be accomplished, Sheridan went to work with his command, gathering in the crops, cattle and every- thing in the upper part of the valley required by our troops, and especially taking what might be of use to the enemy. What he could not take away he destroyed, so that the enemy would not be invited to come back there." Pushing their way to Staunton, a large quantity of army stores was destroyed, a train of 100 wagons was burned ; then moving onward to Waynesboro, the Virginia Central railroad was destroyed for several miles. Having accom- plished this work of destruction, we fell back to our old camp at Harrisonburg on the 30th. Here we remained quiet in camp while the cavalry kept on with their work of destruction in the vicinity and in meeting the slight attacks made upon our picket lines by the enemy who was trying to feel our position and strength, until the 6th of October.
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AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Sheridan had finished his work in this portion of the valley, and the enemy was supposed to have left the Shenandoah for good. It was now proposed to keep the eighth corps in the valley as a pro- tection and to move the rest of the forces to the James in order to assist Grant.
Sheridan began the retreat with his whole army on the 6th. Breaking camp at 6 A. M., the third brigade covered the rear as a support for some artillery, the cavalry acting as our skirmishers. We made eighteen miles and bivouacked . at 4 P. M. near New Market. The next night we were back to Woodstock, and in the evening of the 8th, we were again behind the rifle-pits of Flint Hill, which were built by our brigade previous to the battle of Fisher's Hill.
When Early found Sheridan was marching down the valley, he summoned his whole force, including Kershaw's division, and Rosser's brigade of cavalry, which had been hastily sent by Lee from Petersburg, and began, like a puppet, to bite our heels. Sheridan finding quite a strong force of cavalry in his rear, halted on the 9th, and as he reported to Grant, "directed Torbert to attack them and finish this new 'Saviour of the valley.'" After a sharp fight, Rosser was completely overwhelmed, and sent flying up the country, pursued by Torbert for more than twenty miles. Three hundred prisoners, eleven guns, nine ambulances, forty-seven wagons, mostly loaded with ammunition and provisions, fell into our hands, or as Sheridan expressed it, "almost everything on wheels" fell into the hands of the captors. More important than even the trophies was the fact that the boasted glory of Rosser's cavalry and the confi- dence placed in them was forever destroyed, "and Rosser," says Burr, "has ever since been explaining why he was so thoroughly thrashed." As the official report was read to the different regiments in their camps, loud hurrahs rent the air, and still greater enthusi- asm took posession of the already exultant troops.
CEDAR CREEK.
In the afternoon of the roth of October, the army moved back of Cedar Creek in the line of rifle-pits, and here pitched their tents. The eighth corps was on the left or east side of the pike, while the nineteenth held the right or west side. The left of our division Tested on the pike. The sixth corps was to the right of the nine- teenth and further to the rear.
The state of this country as left by Sheridan on this retiring
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HISTORY OF THE ONE HUNDRED
down the valley, is shown by the report of the Commanding- General :
" In moving back to this point the whole country from the Blue Ridge, to the North Mountain has been made untenable for the rebel army. I have destroyed over two thousand barns filled with wheat, hay and farming implements, and over seventy mills filled with flour and wheat, have driven in front of this army, over four thousand head of stock, and have killed and issued to the troops over three thousand sheep. Since I entered the valley from Harper's Ferry, every train, every small party, and every straggler has been bushwhacked by the people, many of whom have protec- tion papers. Lieutenant Meigs and his engineer officer were murdered near Dayton. For this atrocious act, all the houses with- in an area of five miles were burned."
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