USA > New York > Reminiscences and record of the 6th New York V.V. cavalry > Part 3
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01 58 SIXTH N. Y. AT TREVILLIAN STATION.
through the woods on foot, remaining under a heavy fire until dark. Our regiment lost 40 in killed, wounded and missing. Cor- poral Milton Bennett was killed, with three others of my Company (F)."
The battle of Cold Harbor was fought on the June 3, 1864. On the 7th a large force of cavalry, consisting of the First and a part of the Second Division, under com- mand of General Sheridan, started on a rapid march around the right of our lines in the direction of Trevillian Station, to the north and west of Richmond, our object being to tear up the track of the Virginia Central Railroad and possibly unite with General Hunter's forces, then operating in the Shenandoah Valley. Reaching Trevil- lian Station on the 12th. the engagement to which allusion is made in my diary took place. Previous to this time our regiment had been under fire many times, scores of times, and had made repeated charges, both mounted and on foot; but here we were under a continuous fire at short range for a long time, and never in all our ex- perience thus far had we been in a position
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more trying or dangerous In the engage- ment of the day before the enemy was badly whipped, and it was our purpose to follow up the advantage and complete the work so well begun on the IIth. As we lay on our blankets during the hot June night, we could hear the trains running in and out from Richmond ; but we were not aware that these trains were loaded with infantry, and that they were being placed in position in our front, and that instead of meeting the cavalry force that we had encountered the day before, we were to engage a force of fresh troops, far superior to our own, in numbers. We were in no hurry to move in the morning, both men and horses being tired and in need of rest. I think the advance began about noon.
Encountering the enemy's pickets they were driven in, and quite a stubborn resistance made by their cavalry ; but they were easily pressed back and seemed to be in no condition to offer any serious opposition to our advance. As we followed them, however, a new element appeared, the rattle of carbine and pistol was suc-
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ceeded by the more rapid and heavy firing of musketry, and we knew then that we were in the presence of a heavy force of infantry, being as we afterward learned a part of Ewell's corps. This explained the running of the trains that we had listened to the night before, for these were the troops that had been hurriedly taken from Lee's army confronting General Grant at Cold Harbor and thrown in our front, hav- ing found that their cavalry was unable to check our advance. Their line over-lapping ours on the right, the Sixth New York was sent to meet the flank movement. We galloped half a mile to the right, and hastily dismounting advanced through a thick wood to meet the enemy who were then advancing without opposition on this part of the field. Our skirmish line was soon engaged. A few minutes later the entire regiment was under a close and heavy fire ; at close range our breech load- ing carbines were always superior to their longer ranged rifles, many of them muzzle loaders. Gradually they fell back before us through the woods, across a field
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partially overgrown with small pines, then into the edge of another wood. Here re- enforcements were stationed, and as our scattered line advanced we were greeted with a perfect shower of bullets, the air seemed to be alive with them. For nearly a half an hour we remained under this fire, returning it as best we could. We were out-numbered two to one, and I have always wondered why they did not charge our line and sweep us from the field. While kneeling beside a low stump, and firing my carbine so rapidly that the barrel was dangerously hot, a bullet passed through the top of my cap cutting the hair from my head close to my scalp. Captain Wales quietly remarked, "A close call, my boy." The cap I still retain as a memento of that day.
The Fourth New York occupied the line on our left: Under the fire of the rebel infantry that regiment gave way and took up a position some distance to the rear, and directly in rear of our regiment. Find- ing ourselves flanked both on the right and left, the order was given to fall slowly
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back. The sun had set, and in the twilight the Fourth New York mistook us for the enemy, and from behind a breast-work, made from a rail fence, opened fire upon us, and it was with much difficulty that we made them understand that we wore blue jackets instead of gray coats. From this point we fell back some distance and took up a second position on a rise of ground skirting a small stream. Our dead and wounded were placed beneath some trees a little to the rear of our line. It was quite late in the evening, and as the moon came up I went to the rear and eagerly scanned the faces of the dead which lay upturned to the light, wondering who of my intimate friends were there. Several of them were missing from Company F and many from the regiment, but those I missed were not there. Late in the night we retired to the point from whence we advanced and where our horses were awaiting us. Some of our missing ones had found their way here; but, when the roll was called in the morn. ing, there were thirty names unanswered. One of these was a comrade especially dear
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to me, Milton Bennett, from Amagansett, one of the bravest and noblest boys I had ever known. He had shared my blanket, my tent, and my confidence for three years, and was ever by my side in camp, on the march or in battle, and I mourned him as sincerely as though he were my brother. Whether he was struck by a bullet in the thick woods as our broken lines fell back, or whether he was taken prisoner and died in a Southern prison, I never knew; but the memory of that bright face and brave, loyal heart, will go with me until I enter the eternal camping ground, where I hope to meet him with many more who an- swered to the roll in the grand old Sixth New York.
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The Sixth New York Cavalry at Beaver Dam.
A soldier's life is made up of the two ex- tremes, intense excitement and dull monotony. While in the active campaign there is little rest for body or mind, on the march, over roads so worn and dusty that the horse sinks to his fetlocks, and the rider becomes at times invisible to his nearest companion ; or what is still worse, through sloughs of mud which would render the roads utterly impassable but for the ever ready engineer corps, and the ever present corduroy road. Then there is the picket duty in presence of the enemy, the reconnaissance, the raid, the skirmish line, the advance and the deadly shock and roar of battle. There is little monotony about this part of a soldier's life ; the other extreme comes when the active campaign is over and the army enters into the trying mo-
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notony of winter quarters. . This, by the soldier, is dreaded more than the dangers of the battlefield. I know of nothing more monotonous than the daily routine of camp life; but in my brief reminiscences I have dealt, only with the stirring incidents of campaign life, as I have seen them while riding in the ranks of the Sixth New York Cavalry.
Referring to my diary of Monday, May 9, 1864, I notice the following entry :
Left "Todd's tavern" this morning at five, and took the road for Beaver Dam Station ; reached there at eight in the even- ing in the midst of a terrific thunderstorm. Burned the depot buildings, and a train of cars loaded with bacon, flour and other stores. Recaptured 400 of our men whom the Confederates had captured, and were marching to Richmond.
This is a brief story, but if it falls under the eyes of any member of the Sixth New York Cavalry it will call up one of the most thrilling chapters in the fruitful history of that organization.
Four days prior to this General Grant had
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crossed the Rapidan with his magnificent army, and engaged the Confederate army under General Lee in a close and deadly struggle which only terminated at Appo- mattox, eleven months later. The smoke from the battle of the Wilderness had scarcely cleared away when the order came for us to move around to the right of Lee's army to Beaver Dam Station, where it was understood a large quantity of Confederate supplies were stored.
Early in the morning our haversacks were filled with three days' rations ; con- sisting of 36 biscuits, or in soldier parlance " hard tack," 9 table-spoonfuls of coffee and a like amount of sugar, and before the sun was up we were mounted and on the line of march The road was dry and dusty, having been traversed by cavalry, artillery and infantry ; and as our brigade moved out in columns of four we soon be- came enveloped in a cloud of dust which transformed our blue uniforms into an ashy gray, giving us the appearance of a body of Confederate, rather than Union cavalry.
About eight o'clock in the evening when
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within a few miles of the station, a heavy thunderstorm came up, the rain falling in torrents, and the thunder and light- ning exceeding anything of the kind I had ever witnessed. Just as the storm began we came upon a squad of 400 Union prisoners who had been captured at the battle of the Wilderness, and were being marched to Richmond in charge of a guard of Confederates. The guards were captured, their arms were taken from them and turned over to our men, and with their late prisoners were " about faced " and marched back to our own lines. On reaching the station we found it guard- ed by a small force of Confederates, who fired upon our advance and then retreated into the woods. In the depot was a large quantity of commissary stores for the Con- federate army, also on the track was an engine attached to a train of cars loaded. with like supplies. These, as well as the buildings, were speedily fired by our men .. The scene here presented was one long to be remembered by those present. A portion of the regiment was in the saddle, drawn
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up in line a few rods from the building, the men were covered with their ponchos, or rubber capes, which protected them from the rain, others were dismounted and. hastily tearing up the track on the right and left of the station, while others with carbine in hand, were posted as pickets, ready to give the alarm in case of an at- tack by the enemy who for aught we knew might be at hand in force. With the blaz- ing buildings in front of us, the drenching rain falling, the thunder pealing overhead, and the blinding flashes of lightning, the situation can be better imagined than de- scribed ; and to give a still stronger color- ing to the picture, just as the flames had enveloped the main building and seemed to be at their height, the rattle of musketry was heard and bullets whizzed in all direc- tions. . For a moment we believed the enemy were upon us, but were quickly un- deceived ; the firing came from the burn- ing building, the flames having reached a quantity of arms stored there, the same having been taken from the battlefield of the Wilderness a few days before. After
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completing the work of destruction, late in the night we went into bivouac in the damp woods not far from the station, and early the following morning resumed our march toward Richmond, of which more anon.
The Sixth New York at Meadow Bridge.
My last article left the Sixth New York in the saddle at 4 o'clock Tuesday morn- ing, May 10, 1864. I will refer to my diary for the account of this, and the suc- ceeding two days.
"Tuesday, May 10, 1864 .- Bivouacked last night in the woods near Beaver Dam Station, were in the saddle at 4 this morn- ing ; marched 25 miles going into camp at the South Ann River.
" Wednesday, May II. - Broke camp this morning before sunrise, and marched toward Richmond. Struck the Central - railroad at noon, and tore up many miles of track. About 3 P. M. we reached the outer line of earthworks around Richmond ; our regiment charged and entered the works; the few Confederates guarding them seemed surprised at seeing our cav- alry here. The Sixth on picket to-night.
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"Thursday, May 12 .- Took up the line of march this morning at 4, raining hard. Marched toward Meadow Bridge on the Chickahominy ; about 8 o'clock the enemy attacked us, coming from the direction of Richmond, they also hold the bridge in our front; our regiment with the Ninth New York, and Seventeenth Pennsylvania was dismounted and sent into the swamp to dislodge them ; after a sharp fight they were driven back, the bridge repaired and our cavalry passed over."
This and the preceeding article, refers to one of General Sheridan's dashing raids, which had already placed him in the fore- most ranks of cavalry leaders. To us who followed him, his name was a synonym of victory, the enemy whom he had met and vanquished on so many battlefields, had learned to regard him with wholesome fear. None but those who have stood upon a battlefield, who under repeated charges, or the pressure of overwhelming numbers, have felt their hearts grow faint, and the sickening chill from disaster and defeat coming over them, can understand what
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power, what magic there is in the sudden appearance upon the field of such a leader as Sheridan. Of him it might be truth- fully said : " One blast upon his bugle horn was worth a thousand men."
After the burning of the railroad station as described in my last article, our regi- ment late in the night, or rather, early in the morning, retired a short distance from the smouldering ruins, and without unsad- dling their horses, threw themselves on the wet ground and snatched a few hours sleep. At 4 o'clock the following morn- ing we were in the saddle, and marched all day in the direction of Richmond. We were now in the rear of General Lee's army, and not many miles from the Con- federate capital. By how large a force Richmond was defended we had no means of knowing; but up to the present time we had met but few of the enemy. Cross- ing the South Ann River we struck the Fredericksburg railroad at Glen Allen, and tore up several miles of track ; we were now less than ten miles from Richmond, and but a short distance from the outer
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defences of that city. While we were en- gaged in the destruction of the railroad the enemy began to show themselves; the Sixth New York was at once formed in line on Brooks Pike ; Captain Heermance's squadron was dismounted and thrown forward as skirmishers, driving the Con- federates back, and entering the outer line of earthworks; later in the day General Custer's brigade became heavily engaged with Stuart's cavalry, and while trying to rally his men to resist Custer's charge the Confederate chieftain was killed ; Gen- eral Stuart was one of their best cavalry officers and his loss to them was what the death of Devin or Custer would have been to us. Passing between the outer and sec- ond line of defence, we marched until late in the evening, and bivouacked for the night on a plantation owned by a Mr. Stewart: we were now but a short dis- tance from Richmond, so near that the lights in the city could be seen and the ringing of bells could be plainly heard ; our appearance there had caused a general alarm, and troops were being hurriedly
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pushed from the front to meet this new danger. Before daylight on the morning of the 12th, we were in motion, with the Sixth New York in advance, but while marching in the darkness, we were for a time thrown into confusion by the explo- sion of torpedoes which had been planted in the road, and exploded when stepped upon by our horses ; the column was halted and the men dismounted, and there in the darkness with a drizzling rain falling, we waited for daylight to come before we could proceed. From this time until late in the forenoon, was to me (and I believe that my feelings were shared by most of the command) the most foreboding ex- perience of my army life.
Soon after daylight while we were clear- ing away the torpedoes, the enemy began to show themselves in force, and shells from one of their nearest forts began bursting over our heads. Turning to the left we took the road which passed over the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge; the bridge was partly destroyed, and a force of rebel infantry was in front of us to pre-
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vent our passage. In our rear the enemy were pressing upon us with artillery, cav- alry and infantry ; in front was the Chicka- hominy with its swamp, a broken bridge as our only means of exit, and that guarded and flanked by rebel infantry. There was but one thing to be done, the infantry in the woods yonder, must be driven away and the bridge repaired in order that we might cross over and place the Chickahominy be- tween us and the rapidly increasing enemy. Halting a short distance from the edge of the swamp, the Sixth New York, the Ninth New York and the Seventeenth Pennsylvania were dismounted and or- dered to clear the woods. The rain was falling, and it was with much difficulty that our ammunition was kept dry ; as we en- tered the swamp-pushing our way through the dense foliage each leaf and bough laden with moisture-the enemy opened a sharp fire upon us, and a number of our men were wounded and taken to the rear ; this, however, did not check our advance ; grad- ually they fell back before the quick, sharp fire of our carbines; the bridge was un-
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covered and hastily repaired, and the sec- ond brigade passed over in safety. In the meantime Sheridan had attacked the forces that had marched out from Richmond and threatened our rear, and after a sharp fight compelled them to retire behind their lines of defence.
From this point we rode unmolested to the old battlefield of '62, where on the Ist of July of that year was fought the mem- orable and bloody battle of Malvern Hill.
As the head of our column came in view of the James River, our gunboats stationed there opened fire upon us, we being mis- taken for a body of Confederate cavalry, several of their shells burst uncomfortably near us before our true character was dis- covered.
Weary and hungry we pitched our shelter tents and rested the remainder of that and the following day.
Our loss on this raid was not great, but the damage inflicted on the enemy was severe, and according to General Sheridan's official report footed up as follows: 1,500,- ooo rations destroyed, cars and locomo-
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tives burned, an immense quantity of med- ical supplies for Lee's army consumed at Beaver Dam, 400 Union prisoners re- captured with their Confederate guard, 15 or 20 miles of railroad track torn up and destroyed, and their best cavalry general killed.
On the 21st we reached White House where rations and forage awaited us.
The Sixth New York at Deep Bottom.
In the previous articles that I have writ- ten it has been my custom to quote a few extracts from my diary by way of refresh- ing the memory of my comrades .who might chance to read them, and who par- ticipated in the events recorded ; and in this, probably my last, I will not depart from my usual custom.
From my last article, giving an account of our engagement at Meadow Bridge, un- til the 28th of July, my diary shows two months of continued activity. Our regi- ment was on the move by day and night, making raids inside the enemy's lines, threat- ening his communications, tearing up rail- road tracks, destroying his supplies, as at Beaver Dam; on the skirmish line, or in the line of battle; wherever there was a blow to be struck or a danger to be en- countered, there the Sixth New York was to be found.
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General Devin knew of what material his old regiment was composed, and he was never backward in giving us an oppor- tunity to vindicate the high opinion that he entertained of us. General Grant had gradually forced the Confederate army from the Rappahannock to the James, and was confronting General Lee at Peters- burgh; here the closing scene in that ter- rible drama was to be enacted, and as us- ual, the cavalry was to play an important part. I quote from my diary :
" Monday, July 25 .- The news comes to us to-night that we are to make an advance to-morrow, where we do not know, but it is to be some how connected with the mine that is being run under the Confederate fort in our front.
" Tuesday, July 26 .- Drew four days' rations, struck our tents and packed our saddles ; left camp at 3 P. M. and marched to the right and rear of our lines; crossed Matoaca Run at 10 P. M. and reached the James at 2 in the morning; rested two hours."
As indicated in my diary of July 25, the
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object of this movement was to work in conjunction with the historic Burnside mines ; our part being carried forward with success, but on the part of General Burn- side a disastrous failure.
When we broke camp, on the afternoon of the 26th, our cavalry, under the direct command of General Sheridan, moved rapidly to the rear of our lines, and con- tinued marching all that night until I P. M , when the south bank of the James was reached. General Hancock, with his fight- ing corps, was in advance of us, and after darkness set in huge bonfires were kindled at intervals along the line of march, cast- ing their ruddy light far into the dark woods on either side of us, and bringing horse and rider into bold and striking re lief.
That, with many similar night marches has been photographed on my memory, and will ever remain there as an imperisha- ble relic of those never to-be-forgotten times.
Before dawn the bugle sounded "to horse," and mounting, we turned our faces
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toward the river, where, stretching away into the darkness, was a pontoon bridge, over which we rode, or rather walked, as each man was obliged to dismount and lead his horse until the opposite side was reached. As we reached the north bank day began to break in the east, and before the last regiment had crossed, the hot July sun was streaming down upon us. We were now on familiar ground; for more than two years we had been riding up and down the Peninsula ; not far from this spot, at Harrison's Landing two years before, General McClellan had led the Army of the Potomac into camp, after that memorable " change of base " culminating in the battle of Malvern Hill, in which our regiment was engaged. A halt was ordered, and men and beasts refreshed themselves with food and.rest ; hard tack and coffee for the men, and a few quarts of oats for the horses ; but the latter fared better than their riders, for there was an abundance of grass and clover in the field where we rested, and on this they feasted, while the men reclined upon the ground near them delighted at
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the manner in which they enjoyed their morning's repast, for the trooper regards his horse as a part of himself, and when forage was scarce and weary marches were being made I have frequently seen him divide his hard tack with his horse, who seemed to understand and appreciate his master's thoughtfulness.
Up to this time the enemy had made no serious demonstration, save that General Hancock's command had been annoyed by a light battery of four guns, and captured it early in the morning. Mounting our horses we took up the line of march with the regular brigade in advance; in the afternoon we reached Malvern Hill and looked over that famous battlefield, many traces of that terrible conflict being visible ; the same field, covered with a rich growth of red clover, sloping away from the crest of the hill on which our artillery was posted ; the same woods to the west out of which came those heavy masses of Con- federate infantry, charging almost to the muzzle of our guns, only to be hurled back with terrific loss, broken and defeated ; all
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this brought the picture of that day vividly before us, and we went into camp that night wondering what the morrow held in store for us. We bivouacked that night in an open field near Deep Bottom, our couch the green sward and a rubber blanket or poncho; our covering the gray army blanket, and our pillow our arms and saddle. Our horses stood and grazed near us while we slept.
Early in the morning we were astir; Generals Sheridan, Hancock, Torbet and Devin rode around our picket line to see if everything was satisfactory. No enemy had shown themselves during the night, and there was no indication of any this side of Richmond-so far as we knew.
The men of the Sixth had not saddled their horses, some were giving them their accustomed morning's grooming, others were taking them to water at a small stream near by ; some were cooking their morning's rations, while others were lying at full length in the long grass with their thoughts turned homeward: it was an ideal picture, but a storm was at hand.
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