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A TRUE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE OF THE EIGHTH
PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY AT CHANCELLORSVILLE HUEY
Gc 973.74 P38hu 1758139
M. L.,
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Gc
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 0877 E
A TRUE HISTORY
OF
THE CHARGE
OF THE
1
Eighth Dennsplbania Cabalry
AT
CHANCELLORSVILLE.
BY
PENNOCK HUEY,
FORMERLY COLONEL OF THE EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY, AND BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS (COMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE SECOND DIVISION CAVALRY CORPS, GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN).
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
PHILADELPHIA: PORTER & COATES.
1758139
..
F 8349 . 836.
Huey, Pennock.
A true history of the charge of the Eighth Pennsylvania cavalry at Chancellorsville. By Pennock Huey ... Phila- delphia, Porter & Coates (1883]
Dawes F
76 p. plans. 193em.
- another copy.
8347 . 245 1. Chancellorsville, Battle of, 1863. 2. Pennsylvania cavalry. 8th regt., 1861-1965. 3. U. S .-- Ifist .- Civil war-Regimental histories-Pa. cav .- 8th. J. Title. 2-10069
Library of Congress
E475.35.1188
--- - Copy 2.
56527.6.8thII
....
....
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F8340.836 1
1
Copyright, 1888, BY PORTER & COATES.
10453 kc
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE 5
MAP-Position of Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry at SIX P. M., May 2, 1863.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF
THE EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY . . 18 MAP-Position of Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry at SEVEN P. M., May 2, 1863.
THE EVIDENCE OF GENERAL SICKLES 23 THE EVIDENCE OF GENERAL ALFRED PLEASON- TON ( Reviewed ) . 24
MAP-Position of Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry at EIGHIT P. M., May 2, 1863.
CONCLUDING REMARKS . 51
Containing- APPENDIX.
LETTER FROM J. F. HUNTINGTON. LATE CAPTAIN FIRST
OHIO LIGHT BATTERY
. 55
LETTER FROM ANDREW B. WELLS, LATE CAPTAIN CO.
"F," EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY . 62
3
4
CONTENTS.
NOTE FROM WILLIAM A. DAILEY, LATE CAPTAIN CO.
PAGE "H," EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY . 67
NOTE FROM WILLIAM A. CORRIE, LATE CAPTAIN COM- MANDING SECOND SQUADRON EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY 67
LETTER FROM J. E. CARPENTER, LATE CAPTAIN EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY 67
EXTRACT FROM LETTER OF GOVERNOR CURTIN OF PENN-
SYLVANIA TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN . 73 LETTER FROM EX-GOVERNOR CURTIN OF PENNSYLVANIA TO GENERAL HUEY . 74
ORGANIZATION OF THE CAVALRY CORPS, CAMPAIGN OF
CHANCELLORSVILLE
75
:
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
IT is probable that there has been more said and written about the battle of Chancellorsville than any other engagement that took place during the war. Not that the result of this particular action was of more vital importance than that of many others, but because there have been at times so many conflicting state- ments made with reference to it. Some of these, made by persons who were not even present, yet who undertook to "make history " for future generations, are in the highest de- gree unreliable and ridiculous. Especially so are portions of the evidence given before a Committee of Congress called " The Committee on the Conduct of the War." This Committee, composed of three Senators and four members of the House of Representatives, took the testi- mony of only sixteen* officers out of the great
* General Doubleday in his Campaign of Chancellorsville, page 32,
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6 THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
number present at the engagement, without making the slightest effort either to prove or disprove the evidence given by them; thus allowing the unscrupulous ones the oppor- tunity of making false statements (at the ex- pense of others who had done their duty equally well) for their own glorification, with a view to future promotion in the army.
Most historians of the Civil War, in speak- ing of this battle, seem to have ignored not only the official report of the Eighth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry and of Col. Devin, commander of the Cavalry Brigade, and the reliable evi- dence of General Sickles, but to have adopted almost invariably the egotistical and unreliable romances of General Alfred Pleasonton.
Though twenty years have now passed since the battle of Chancellorsville was fought, the only officer (with the exception of myself) who knows what the orders really were, and all the particulars with reference to the operations of says: "The subsequent investigation of this sad business by the 'Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War' was very much of a farce and necessarily unreliable."
As he was one of the identical sixteen officers who testified be- fore that Committee, he certainly ought to know whereof he speaks. Set be appears to have drawn largely from that very source for his information in relation to the cavalry and artillery operations on the second of May at Chancellorsville.
Position of S"Pe. Cavalry,
.
at 6. P. M.
PIKE.
Howard,
MEADE
Wilderness Church
Fairview
=
Chancellorsville
HANCOCK ===
Sichles Helasavoir ====
Scott's R.
l'in Per Mile:
umr -
Confederate Unions
Furnace
Sk Cavalry
at.S.
11
--
11
Don dall'
PLANK R.
Wilderness HaljetGrave S'a l'avalry Artillery
BROOK \ROAD
1
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THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry on the se- cond of May, 1863, has not had the courage and independence to come out and correct his sworn statements, although earnestly requested to do so, in order that the country may be given the true history of his part in that great engagement. He excuses himself to me on the weak plea that he was called upon to testify without having been previously notified, and hence the " inaccuracies" in his testimony.
After years of reflection on the subject, with a desire to do full justice to all, and finding all appeals to General Pleasonton to correct his misstatements, or to give the true account of the operations of the above-mentioned cavalry regiment at that time, ineffectual, I now con- sider it my duty to correct those errors and misstatements to the best of my ability. Had General Pleasonton made even an effort to show that these errors were caused by a defec- tive memory, much could have been condoned ; but by refusing officially to correct them he certainly gives us the impression of a studied purpose.
It becomes me, therefore, to give a true, unvarnished, and detailed account (from the notes, reports, etc., etc. made at the time, and now in my possession) of some of the most im-
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8 THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
portant movements made by the cavalry dur- ing that day, and the incidents which led to and caused the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry to charge on the head of Jackson's column of Confederate infantry on the plank road near Fairview.
It has been truthfully asserted by many who were present that the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry did not make its charge at Hazel Grove on the 2d of May, 1863 (as the enemy did not appear there, in fact, till after the reg- iment had left), the charge having been ac- tually made some time before on the plank road, about one mile distant from that place.
Colonel Devin's brigade, composed of the Eighth and Seventeenth Pennsylvania and Sixth New York Cavalry, together with Mar- tin's battery of horse artillery, left the large open space surrounding the Chancellorsville House about four o'clock in the afternoon of May 2, 1863, for the purpose of reporting to Major-General Sickles (commanding Third Corps) for a reconnoissance or for a flank movement on a column of Confederate infan- try then passing across his front. (This, by the way, was the only time that the whole command was operated together as a brigade,
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THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
and also the only time that it was under the direct command of General Pleasonton during the campaign of Chancellorsville.)
By direction of General Pleasonton the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry was placed in advance, and passed out across Hazel Grove through a wood-road, reaching a point in the rear of General Sickles' line near Catharine Furnace, where General Pleasonton reported to General Sickles. There they remained but a short time, when the Sixth New York Cay- alry was ordered to the front and the balance of the brigade sent back to Hazel Grove, with directions to dismount and stand to horse till further orders. By direction of General Pleas- onton I remained with him for the purpose of being posted as to what my duties would be in leading the advance of the brigade against the Confederate column, then passing across General Sickles' front.
General Pleasonton had already given me some directions while on our way to the front. He said : " The impression was, that the enemy were retreating, and that we were going to charge through their lines, open communica- tion with General Sedgwick, and harass the rear of the enemy's column. That my reg- iment would take the advance, and he would
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
follow with the balance of the brigade, includ- ing Martin's battery."
Generals Sickles and Pleasonton remained together, waiting reports from the front, a long time after the cavalry had been sent back, when an aide from General Howard rode up and reported to General Sickles, whereupon both he and Pleasonton started to go back to- ward Hazel Grove, accompanied by several officers, myself included. Just as we reached Hazel Grove, at Scott's Run crossing, another staff officer rode up in a state of great excite- ment, and reported to General Sickles that the enemy had flanked General Howard's corps, and that he had been sent for a regiment of General Pleasonton's cavalry. General Sickles immediately ordered General Pleasonton to send a regiment. This occurred at half-past six o'clock P. M .- not later.
It was then that I was ordered by General Pleasonton to report with my regiment as quickly as possible to General Howard. On inquiring where he was, General Pleasonton said, "I suppose you will find him at or near the Old Wilderness Church; there is where he was."
There were no other orders given to me or to any other officer of the regiment. I found
.
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THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
the regiment, standing to horse, on the oppo- site or north side of Hazel Grove, near the road over which we had passed in coming out. The wood in front was so thick with under- growth that a bird could scarcely fly through it, much less could a cavalry charge have been made, as some writers have stated, and as Gen- eral Pleasonton stated in his evidence.
On inquiring for the adjutant of the reg- iment, and being informed by some of the men where he was, I rode to the point desig- nated. I there found Major Peter Keenan, Captain William A. Dailey, Adjutant J. Has- eltine Haddock, and Lieutenant Andrew B. Wells, playing cards under a tree near the head of the regiment, and on the opposite side of it, and also at a considerable distance from where I had left Generals Sickles and Pleason- ton when I received my orders. When I or- dered them to mount their commands they were all in very high spirits about the game, Keenan remarking, "Major, you have spoiled a d-d good game!"
Up to this time General Pleasonton had not been near the regiment or any of its officers except myself since it was ordered back from Sickles's front. There was no firing on Gen- eral Howard's line at this time, that we could
.
12
THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
hear, it being a long distance away through the Wilderness. All was perfectly quiet here, and no one at Hazel Grove had the slightest idea that General Howard was in trouble or that the Eleventh Corps had given way, ex- cept those officers who were with Sickles and Pleasonton when the aide reported, and he even had a very meagre idea as to the real extent of the disaster on that line.
. After mounting the regiment I rode off at its head in my proper place, followed by four other officers, all of whom belonged in front except Lieutenant Carpenter. The latter offi- cer commanded the second company of the first squadron, and might properly have been in the rear of the first company, where he undoubted- ly would have been ha. ' I supposed there was danger ahead. The offices in front were Major Pennock Huey, commander of the regiment; Major Peter Keenan, commander of the first battalion ; Captain Charles Arrowsmith, com- mander of the first squadron; Lieutenant J. Edward Carpenter, commander of the second company ; and Adjutant J. Haseltine Had- dock, whose place was with me unless other- wise ordered.
We marched through the wood toward the plank road, part of which we had already
1
13
THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
passed in coming out. There was no unusual stir or excitement among the men and officers of the regiment, the impression being that the enemy were retreating, and all who had not heard of General Howard's disaster felt happy with the thought that the battle was almost over. No one in the regiment, with the ex- ception of myself, knew where we were going or for what purpose.
From the information I had received from General Pleasonton, and from hearing the aide make his report before I started, I had no idea that we would meet the enemy till after I had reported to General Howard. Therefore the . surprise was as great to us as to the enemy, as we were entirely unprepared, our sabres being in the scabbards.
When we arrived almost at the plank road, we discovered that we had ridden right into the enemy, the plank road in our front being occupied by them in great foree, and that we were completely surrounded, the woods at that point being filled with the flankers of Jackson's column, who were thoroughly hidden from our view by the thick undergrowth. It was here that I gave the command to " Draw sabre and charge," which order was repeated by Major Keenan and other officers. The charge was
TWV
,
.
14
THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
led by the five officers, already named, who were riding at the head of the regiment when we left Hazel Grove. On reaching the plank road, it appeared to be packed about as closely with the enemy as it possibly could be.
We turned to the left, facing the Confederate column, the regiment crowding on, both men and horses in a perfect frenzy of excitement, which nothing but death could stop .* We cut our way through, trampling down all who could
* The scene at this point was one which can never be effaced from the memory of those present. The order to charge, followed by its instant execution, had such an overwhelming and paralyzing effect upon the enemy that for the space of a few seconds those nearest to us seemed utterly to lose the power of motion. Many throwing down their arms, raising their hands, and pleading for merey and surrender, they doubtless thinking they had unawares run into the main part of the Union army. But in such a moment merey shuns the path of war. We, deaf to their cries, dashed madly through and over them, trampling them under our horses' feet, and using our sabres right and left on all within our reach. Surrounded and cut off, every man of us, thinking it was his last minute on earth, resolved to sell his life as dearly as possible. Arriving at the plank road, we found it filled with men unable to retreat or escape, the road behind being so closely packed with their comrades. Scores were trampled to death beneath our horses' feet as we went plunging and dashing over them. It was not till we had faced to the left on the plank road that the head of our column received any check. Although the flank of the regiment was suffering severely from the enemy, who were so close as to be able to use their bayonets with terrible effect on our men and horses as they came dashing past them, the charge on the plank road had the fortunate effect of opening a possible means of retreat for our men.
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15
THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
not escape us, and using our sabres on all with- in reach, for a distance of about one hundred yards, when we received a volley from the en- - emy, killing Major Keenan, Captain Arrow- smith, and Adjutant Haddock, three of the noblest and most gallant officers of the war, besides a large number of men; all of whom are entitled to equal honor from a grateful na- tion in whose service they lost their lives. All three of the above-named officers fell at the same time and from the same volley, Major Keenan falling against me and lighting on the ground under my horse. His body was found on the spot where he fell a few days after.
As the regiment was forced to march in col- umn on account of the thick undergrowth on either side of the road, it is quite possible that the rear had scarcely got well into the wood when the order was given to " Draw sabre and charge." The whole regiment therefore did not get all the way through, as the narrow road was completely filled with our dead, both men and horses, we having left thirty men and eighty horses dead on or near the plank road where this most memorable charge was made.
The rear squadron, under the command of Captain Joseph W. Wistar, was completely cut off just before reaching the plank road, and had
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1
16
THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
to cut its way through in another direction, coming out into the open space which sur- rounds the Chancellorsville House, between the plank road and Hazel Grove, over tem- porary earthworks. Most of the regiment came out of the wood on the north or opposite side of the plank road. I immediately re-formed as much of it as I could get together (which included almost every mounted man and officer left) in rear of the artillery that was then going into line on the left of the plank road, and just in the rear of the thick wood which had com- pletely obscured us from their view while we were making our charge. The object in re- forming there was to support the artillery, and also to prevent them from opening . fire till after our men had come out of the wood.
Our charge had such a telling effect on the enemy that they did not advance farther on the plank road than the point where we struck them, and very few of them crossed the narrow road over which we had passed (that road being parallel with the two lines of battle).
Our artillery opened fire first at the plank road, not at Hazel Grove, as soon as they knew that we were out and were re-forming in their rear.
Dusk was now coming on. As we could be
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THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
of no further service there, we fell back a short distance to the Chancellorsville House, where we arrived before the artillery at Hazel Grove opened fire, we having left that point about one hour previously. General Howard not being in that part of the field, and circum- stances having so changed since I was ordered to report to him, I made no effort to find him, but formed the regiment across the plain, cov- ering the road that led toward the river and fords, where the regiment did service all night in stopping the stampeded and scattered sol- diers, and assisted in re-forming them. Here we remained all night, as above stated.
About four o'clock on the morning of the 3d I went to General Hooker's head-quarters to report and to receive orders, as the stamped- ing had entirely ceased and there were very few stragglers to be seen. Just as I arrived there General Pleasonton rode up, and I re- ported to him. He expressed great surprise and pleasure on seeing me, and said "that he was afraid we had all been captured or killed," and " that it was almost miraculous that we had been able to extricate ourselves from the peril- ous position ;" it being very evident that he thought we had been surrounded and captured, and that he had lost a regiment from his small
2
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1
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
command. Nor was he aware that we had made a charge on the enemy, or that the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry had done any- thing toward stopping the advance of Stonewall Jackson's column as it came rushing up the plank road flushed with victory, till he learned it from me at that time and place. My verbal report to him seemed to change the whole tenor of his thoughts, and to quicken his idea of mak- ing a glowing report redounding to his own glory. The imaginative orders to the regiment and his own after-conceived heroic exploits (as reported by him) were after-thoughts, when he learned from me that the regiment was not only not captured, but that it had made a noble fight, worthy of the men who composed it.
About six o'clock A. M. I was ordered by him to take the regiment back to the camp we had left the day before. Soon after I received an- other order, directing me to make requisitions for rations and forage, to have the horses unsad- dled and groomed, and to draw a full supply of ammunition preparatory to crossing the river.
Official Report.
HEAD-QUARTERS EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY. ? Near Potomac Bridge, Va., May 9, 1863. COLONEL :
I have the honor to submit the following
Position of 8" Pa. C at j. T.M.
==
=
11
11
MEADE
= =
Domdails Javeria
Amillyky
L'airvicu
BROOK ROAD.
Sirlies 11
= = = HANCOCK
=
Scouts R
13 ou Per Mile.
1:011
Furnace
-
vw Confederate ·
uniw
Union a. S" Y'a Cavalry
Chancelasville 11
2 Wildernis. Hagel Grove
2
PLANK ROAD
. Jackson Mi owildern's Church,
PIKE
19
THE HISTORY OF THIE CHARGE.
report of the operations of the Eighth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, under my command, from the 29th day of April, when we broke camp at Grove Church and crossed the Rappahannock, until we recrossed on the 4th day of May :
On . the 29th of April, I crossed the Rappa- hannock River with my command at Kelly's Ford, taking the advance to Richardsville, driving the enemy's videttes before me. At Richardsville, Major Keenan was sent to the left, to Richards' Ford, with two squadrons; he surprised the enemy's picket, capturing twenty-eight prisoners, including a commis- sioned officer. With the balance of the regi- ment and one company of the First Michi- gan I advanced to Ely's Ford on the Rapidan River, crossed and charged the enemy's pick- ets, driving them about two miles ; after pick- eting the approaches to the ford I went into camp on the south side of the stream.
The next morning, April 30, I moved at 4 A. M., with orders to proceed to United States Ford. I found the enemy in force at the june- tion of the roads leading to United States and Richards' Fords, near Chancellorsville. My advance, under command of Lieutenant Car- penter, charged, capturing one company of the Twelfth Virginia regiment, with all its officers,
20
THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
after a severe skirmish of about two hours with Mahone's brigade of the enemy, who were be- hind breastworks. We succeeded in driving · them, after repeated charges, to a wood in the rear, where another sharp skirmish ensued, ending in the retreat of the enemy on the Fredericksburg pike, and the occupation of Chancellorsville by my command.
We remained at Chancellorsville until Gen- eral Griffin's division of infantry came up, when I moved down the Fredericksburg pike, find- ing the enemy in force behind breastworks. After a severe skirmish for about four hours, taking several prisoners, I retired about one and a half miles and went into camp, pieketing the roads. The same day two squadrons of my regiment were sent to United States Ford as an advance-guard to General Sykes' division, opening communication with General Couch, who occupied the opposite shore.
On the morning of May 1st the enemy drove in our pickets. The regiment was immediately sent to their support, and in a severe skirmish several charges were made, and the enemy held in check until the arrival of General Sykes with his division. A small detachment was sent to the left, and succeeded in capturing seventeen prisoners.
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21
THE HISTORY OF THE CHARGE.
The next morning, May 2, 1863, my regi- ment, with the balance of the brigade, under command of General Pleasonton, was moved to the front and right of General Sickles' division, about a mile from Chancellorsville. Shortly after I was ordered to report to Gen- eral Howard, who was on Sickles' right. We
moved off briskly to the right, and found that General Howard had fallen back, and that the enemy had formed their line of battle across the road on which I was to move, throwing us between the skirmishers and the battle-line. The regiment made a desperate charge, com- pletely checking the enemy. In the charge we lost Major Keenan, Captain Arrowsmith, and Adjutant Haddock, with about thirty men and eighty horses. I moved the regiment back and formed across the road to stop stragglers from the Eleventh Corps.
On the morning of May 3d I was ordered by General Pleasonton to cross the river and picket the road from Hartwood Church toward Kelly's Ford. The same night I was ordered to return, and bivouacked for the night near United States Ford.
At daybreak on the 4th instant our reveille was sounded by the rebels shelling the camp ; two horses were killed.
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
The same day I reported to General Sedg- wick at Banks' Ford, and was by him ordered to report to General Howe, on his left, whose forces were being severely pressed. Only two horses were lost, although the fire was very severe.
Lieutenants Garrett and Baker, with com- panies C and I of my regiment, brought up the rear, and swam their horses across the river, the pontoons having been removed.
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