USA > Pennsylvania > A true history of the charge of the Eighth Pennsylvania cavlary at Chancellorsville > Part 4
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APPENDIX.
2, 1863) our regiment was ordered from the left of the field to the right of General Sick- les' corps, about a mile on the other side of the Chancellorsville House. Our regiment was drawn up in squadron fronts and dismounted in a large open field, waiting orders. This place was called Hazel Grove. After we had been there over two hours everything seemed so quiet that I proposed a game of cards to some of the officers, who at once agreed. An empty cracker-box was procured and a blanket put over it, I furnishing the cards. The card- party was composed of Major Keenan, Captain Dailey, Adjutant Haddock, and myself. How little did we think that in one short hour two out of the four would be dead ! . . . While playing our game a mounted officer dashed up and asked who was in command. On be- ing told, he went on and met some officers who were coming toward us from the direction of General Sickles' front, among them Major Huey, the commanding officer of our regi- ment, who immediately rode over to where we were playing our game and gave the order to mount our commands. This was at twenty minutes past six in the evening. I remember it, for I looked at my watch to see how long we had been playing cards. When mounted
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
the regiment moved at once in the direction of the plank road in rear of General Howard's corps. Majors Huey and Keenan rode at the head of the regiment.
We had not gone far when we discovered that we were inside of the enemy's skirmish- line. I was at the head of the second squad- ron, and distinctly remember hearing the com- mands, " Draw sabre and charge." We were in column, the first squadron taking the gallop, we of the second following with drawn sabres, Captain Corrie giving the command and tell- ing the men to "close up." When the com- mand "Charge " was given fron the head of the regiment, it had just turned the corner of a wood-road, and as we came dashing around I saw at once the trouble.
There was Jackson's corps in complete bat- tle-line, and we had accidentally run into it in obeying orders to report to Howard. Or, in other words, from the time Major Huey had received the orders to report to Howard the Eleventh Corps had been driven back and Jackson occupied the ground over which we were to pass, and while obeying our orders the enemy had got between us and Howard. The commanding officer, who was in front, seeing and grasping the situation at once, and knowing
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APPENDIX.
full well, as any soldier would, that there was only one thing that could be done, gave the command to charge. And charge we did, three hundred men against thirty-five thou- sand! The regiment lost three officers and a number of men in this terrible affair, but it held the enemy in check by the great and daring surprise it gave them ; and I may add that it was a surprise that was mutual.
As we broke through their lines those who had empty guns would throw them at us with the bayonets on or charge on us with fixed bayonets. After the charge the regiment re- formed in rear of the artillery as, best it could, and threw out a line of pickets across the country to stop the stragglers of the Eleventh Corps.
On May 3, 1863, we were ordered to recross the river and do picket-duty on the road lead- ing from Hartwood Church to Kelly's Ford, and, finding no enemy, we retured to United States Ford, where we remained all night. On the morning of the 4th of May we were or- dered to report to General Sedgwick, which we did after crossing again to the south side. By General Sedgwick we were ordered to re- port to General Howe, and were by him or- dered to cover Sedgwick's rear in the retreat 5
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
across Banks' Ford. Lieutenants Garrett and Baker, with companies "C" and "I," brought up the rear, and swam their companies across the river, the pontoons having been removed. These two companies were the last of the Union army left on that side of the river. With reference to the oft-disputed question as to who led this charge, I would say that Ma- jor Huey, the commander of the regiment, who started with it from our halting-place, rode in front. In closing my letter I also wish to say that the report made by General Alfred Pleasonton to the War Department on the battle of Chancellorsville, in which he states that he gave Major Keenan the order to charge, is not only not borne out by facts, but is grossly untrue, and he knows it! Gen- eral Pleasonton was not within three-quarters of a mile of us when the order was given to charge. Our meeting with the enemy was purely accidental, and all officers and men who were there will bear me out in my statement.
[Signed] A. B. WELLS, Late Captain Co. "F" Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
No. 404 Walnut St., Phila.
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APPENDIX.
Note from Captain William A. Dailey, late Captain "H" Company, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
" I was one of the card-party at Hazel Grove (alluded to in the preceding letter and in Gen- eral Huey's history of the charge), May 2, 1863, and hereby certify that Captain A. B. Wells's statement of the circumstances is thoroughly correct. I also fully endorse his account of the battle of Chancellorsville.
[Signed] " Wy. A. DAILEY,
"Late Captain 'H' Co., Eighth Cavalry, P. V."
Note from Captain William A. Corrie, late Cap- tain commanding Second Squadron Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
" I have read Captain A. B. Wells's account of the battle of Chancellorsville, and, being one of the officers who were present, I agree with his description in every point.
[Signed] " WM. A. CORRIE,
"Late Captain comdg. Second Squadron Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry."
Letter from Brevet Major J. E. Carpenter, late Captain Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
GENERAL :
Following is a statement of my observations
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
concerning what took place before the charge was made by the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry at the battle of Chancellorsville, what happened during the action itself, and the events which immediately followed the charge.
The regiment, having acted as an advance- guard to the Fifth Corps, crossed the Rapidan River at Ely's Ford on the evening of the 29th of April, 1863. Early in the morning of the 30th it resumed the advance toward Chancel- lorsville. Skirmishing at the intersection of the road to United States Ford, where it cap- tured a company of infantry with its officers, and uncovering United States Ford for the passage of the Second Corps, it became engaged with the enemy near Chancellorsville, and after a sharp contest succeeded in occupying that place, and pushed the enemy some distance beyond. This ground was held, and on the morning of the 1st of May, Captain Wicker- sham's squadron, which had been left to hold the line, was attacked by the enemy's infantry. The regiment was brought to his support, and Lieutenant Dailey with a company made a brilliant charge to the relief of Wickersham. The regiment was sharply engaged here un- til it was relieved by the division of General Sykes, who, attempting to advance, soon found
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APPENDIX. 69
his hands full. The Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry stood to horse for the remainder of the day at the cross-roads at Chancellorsville, at General Hooker's head-quarters, and at night bivouacked about a mile from Chancel- lorsville, on the Ely's Ford road. On the morn- ing of May 2d the regiment rejoined the brigade and marched to Hazel Grove, where it was form- ed in column of squadrons. Shortly afterward the brigade was moved to the front, following the small road which crosses Scott's Run and, continuing through the woods, finally reaches the Furnace. Out this road the regiment was pressed until it was close in rear of General Sickles' skirmishers, near the Furnace. After remaining in this position for a short time, the brigade (excepting the Sixth New York, which was left to protect General Sickles' right) was countermarched out of the range of the fire to which it had been exposed, and again took position at Hazel Grove. The men were dis- mounted, and were standing to horse; Major Keenan, Adjutant Haddock, Lieutenant Wells, and Lieutenant Dailey gathered beneath a con- venient tree and engaged in a game of cards. Suddenly an officer dashed up, and, learning where General Sickles and General Pleasonton were, immediately went to them; and soon after
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
another staff officer joined the party, who were now some distance to the left of the regiment, at the point where Scott's Run crosses the road, at the edge of the clearing. Major Huey, who had been with General Pleasonton for some time, now rode toward the regiment, and the game of cards was abandoned; the order to mount was given, and the regiment moved off to the right. At this time there was not the slightest disorder at Hazel Grove, and there was no indication of the presence of the en- emy. Taking the prolongation of the same small road over which it had returned from General Sickles front near the Furnace, in the opposite direction, the regiment moved to- ward the plank road. It was now about half- past six o'clock in the evening. Before reach- ing the plank road the head of the column pen- etrated a line of the enemy's skirmishers, which, moving in the direction of the plank road to- ward Chancellorsville, had advanced its left flank beyond the point of junetion of the small road upon which we were moving and the plank road, and, its right flank being refused, crossed the small road in a diagonal direction, where the regiment struck it. Brushing this skirmish- line away, the regiment turned to the left when it reached the plank road, and, taking the charge,
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APPENDIX.
was precipitated full upon the line of battle of the enemy, which crossed the plank road in the neighborhood of Dowdall's Tavern, and was ad- vancing toward Chancellorsville.
This charge was led by five officers, who rode at the head of the column-Major Pennock Huey, who commanded the regiment; Adju- tant J. Hazeltine Haddock; Major Peter Kee- nan, who commanded the first battalion; Cap- tain Charles Arrowsmith, who commanded the first squadron; and Lieutenant J. Edward Carpenter, who commanded the second com- pany of the first squadron, and who was riding beside Captain Arrowsmith at the head of the squadron. Of these officers, Major Keenan, Adjutant Haddock, and Captain Arrowsmith were killed; nearly one-half of the enlisted men of the first squadron were killed or wound- ed, and a large number of horses were killed or disabled. But the effect of the charge was immediate : it scattered that portion of the en- emy's line and made great confusion-so much so that their advance was checked and the reg- iment was not followed when it retired to rally. Ample time was thus secured to form not only the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was immediately formed on the left of the plank road . (looking toward the enemy), but also .
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
some of the reserve artillery, which took po- sition on our left ; and later our infantry force formed on the same line and on a prolongation thereof on the right of the plank road. These troops, I believe, were those of General Berry. The artillery, which took position on our left, immediately went into action, and opened fire before the artillery which had been stationed at Hazel Grove, the guns of which were heard soon after. It was now at the last glimmering of twilight, and the enemy not having made his appearance in our front in force, and other infantry having relieved the cavalry on the line-which, fronting the woods, was not on ground adapted to cavalry operations-the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry deployed across the country in the rear, in the vicinity of the Chancellorsville House, for the purpose of col- lecting stragglers from the Eleventh Corps and returning them to their commands. By the
time that the regiment had been deployed for this duty it was dark. After remaining in this position until about midnight, it was withdrawn, and bivouacked for the remainder of the night at the Chancellorsville House, General Hook- er's head-quarters.
It may interest you to know that while I have written above my distinct recollections of
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APPENDIX.
the events which I have attempted to describe, my memory is corroborated in almost every instance by letters, a diary, and other docu- ments written at the time or within a few days after the occurrence. I have not attempted to detail the movements of the regiment before crossing the Rapidan River or after recrossing on May 3d, nor have I mentioned the part taken by the regiment on May 4th, when the Rappahannock was again crossed at Banks' Ford and the regiment went to the assistance of Sedgwick.
Very truly and respectfullĂ˝, Your obedient servant, J. E. CARPENTER,
Late Captain Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Brevet Major of Volunteers.
To GENERAL PENNOCK HUEY.
Extract from Letter of Governor Andrew G. Curtin of Pennsylvania to President Lincoln.
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23, 1863.
I have the honor to recommend to you Col- onel Pennock Huey, of the Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, for promotion to the rank of brigadier-general. . . Ile received most distinguished testimonials to his conduct at Chancellorsville from General Hooker. . .
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Letter from Ex- Governor Andrew G. Curtin of Pennsylvania to General Huey.
BELLEFONTE, Oct. 8, 1883.
MY DEAR SIR: I have your letter of the 1st October, and am glad to say in reply that after the battle of Chancellorsville, General Hooker earnestly recommended you for promotion as a reward for gallant and meritorious conduct in that battle.
Vy. respy., Yr. obt. servt., A. G. CURTIN.
GEN. PENNOCK HUEY.
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CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
(Organization of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major-General Joseph Hooker.) MAY 1-5, 1863. CAVALRY CORPS. BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE STONEMAN.
FIRST DIVISION. BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALFRED PLEASONTON.
First Brigade.
Second Brigade.
Colonel Benjamin F. Davis.
Colonel Thomas C. Devin.
8th Illinois.
Ist Michigan, Co. "L."
3d Indiana.
6th New York.
8th New York.
8th Pennsylvania.
9th New York.
17th Pennsylvania.
Artillery.
New York Light Artillery, 6th Battery.
SECOND DIVISION.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM W. AVERILL.
First Brigade.
Second Brigade.
Colonel Hurace B. Sargent.
Colonel John B. MeIntosh.
1st Massachusetts.
3d Pennsylvania.
4th New York.
4th Pennsylvania.
€th Ohio.
16th Pennsylvania.
Ist Rhode Island.
Artillery. 2.1 U. S. Artillery, Battery " A."
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THE CHARGE AT CHANCELLORSVILLE.
THIRD DIVISION.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL DAVID McM. GREGG.
First Brigade.
Second Brigade.
Colonel Judson Kilpatrick.
Colonel Percy Wyndham.
1st Maine.
12th Illinois.
2d New York.
1st Maryland.
10th New York.
1st New Jersey.
1st Pennsylvania.
Reg. Reserve Cavalry Brigade.
Brigadier-General John Buford.
6th Pennsylvania.
1st United States.
2d United States.
5th United States.
6th United States.
ARTILLERY.
CAPTAIN JOHN M. ROBERTSON.
2d U. S. Artillery, Batteries " B" and "L."
2d U. S. Artillery, Battery " M."
4th U. S. Artillery, Battery "E."
R. C. DRUM, Adjutant-General.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, June 5, 1882.
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