USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 11
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172
BEVERLY FORD.
1863. gren, of Major-General Hooker's ftaff, a model of cool June 9th. and dauntlefs bravery, charged with the regiment, and his horfe was fhot in two places. He defcribes the charge as one of the fineft of the war.
"The enemy was now being reinforced very rapidly, and in a fhort time General Pleafanton found that Bu- ford's fmall divifion was oppofed by three ftrong brigades of cavalry with artillery to match. After the repulfe of the Sixth Pennfylvania, the enemy made two attempts to gain our rear, and the approaches to the ford, both on our right and on our left, but particularly on the right ; but they were handfomely foiled by Buford, and for two hours there was very fharp fighting, rapid fhell- ing, and admirable manœuvring on both fides, in the open and undulating fields on our extreme right. A brigade of the enemy came down the road which branches off to the right from Beverly, and made a dafh for the ford, but they were too late. A regiment and a fection of artillery interpofed. They never got nearer than a mile to that point, and during thefe two hours fuffered feverely from our fhell and fkirmifhers. At this ftage of the engagement, General Pleafanton plainly faw that the divifion under General Buford was far out- numbered, and much anxiety was expreffed to hear from Gregg, whofe column was confiderably ftronger than Buford's. Word had been received from him at 8 o'clock, faying that he had croffed with fcarcely any op- pofition, and that he was driving the enemy before him, but his guns had not yet been heard. Matters thus re- mained until 2 o'clock, nothing being done fave fome artillery practice, which was pretty accurate on both
173
BRANDY STATION.
fides. We difmounted one gun of a fection that the 1863. enemy had on the extreme right, and compelled the June 9th. enemy to move the other. General Ames formed his fkirmifh line, and they picked off the rebel officers with- out mercy. The enemy were very profufe of their fhell and canifter, and opened upon our troops whenever they approached within range. Many of the men were wounded by canifter fhot, a thing heretofore almoft unknown in the cavalry fighting. At one time, on the left of General Ames's brigade, the rebel cavalry fkir- mifhers had advanced and concealed themfelves in fome bufhes, where they were annoying a body of the 9th New York. Major Martin, of that regiment, was finally ordered to take a fquadron and drive them out. This he moft gallantly did, though it was right in the teeth of the enemy's artillery, and he was met by a perfect ftorm of canifter. He captured fifty prifoners. The gallant Major was wounded in the fhoulder. About I o'clock Buford again began to prefs the enemy, and this time he fhowed evident figns of uneafinefs, and foon withdrew his force from our right flank, as though he was attacked in rear. About the fame time we heard Gregg's guns ; and fome prifoners, taken from Robinfon's North Caro- lina brigade juft then, reported General Ruffell's infantry advancing through the woods on their right and rear. General Gregg, from the found of the firing, was evi- dently in the vicinity of Brandy Station. Pleafanton now pufhed forward, and the rebels foon gave way, and fell back rapidly. They were, indeed, in a bad predica- ment, for Gregg was almoft directly in their rear, Ruf- fell on the right, and Buford preffing them in front ; they
174
BRANDY STATION.
1863. therefore made a hafty retreat, abandoning their old June 9th. camp entirely, part of which we had already occupied. Two of their regiments were very near being cut off as Kilpatrick moved off towards the right to make con- nection with Buford; they had but a narrow ftrip not covered by our force through which to efcape. Gen- eral Pleafanton's headquarters were moved forward to where the rebel commander's had been, and the lines of the two columns were foon joined.
"General Gregg reported that his two brigades, under Kilpatrick and Wyndham, had been hotly engaged all the morning, but had driven the enemy uniformly from the river back to Brandy Station. Our troops under Gregg, efpecially the Ift New York, Ift Maine, and Ioth New York, fought moft gallantly, and repulfed the enemy in repeated charges, though lofing heavily themfelves. The 6th New York battery was almoft totally difabled; it did excellent fervice. In the charges by General Gregg's command, a ftand of colors and over two hundred and fifty prifoners were taken. Col- onel Wyndham captured the heights commanding Brandy Station, and there difcovered rebel infantry being brought up by the cars. A fpirited engagement here took place for fome hours, in which the Ift Pennfylva- nia Cavalry, Colonel Taylor commanding, did gallant fervice. Colonel Wyndham was wounded in the leg, and foon after the command devolved upon Colonel Taylor, of the Ift Pennfylvania Referve Cavalry. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Broderick and Major Shelmire, of the Ift New York Cavalry, were wounded and captured ; Major W. T. McEwen, Ift Pennfylvania, wounded ;
175
BRANDY STATION.
Captain Sawyer, Ift New York, captured; Captain 1863. Creager, Ift Maryland, killed.
June 9th.
"While a junction was being effected with Gregg's column on the left, Generals Buford and Ames were pufhing out on their right, and with Vincent's battery, Buford had, by 2 o'clock, carried all the crefts occupied by the enemy during the forenoon, and had forced him back over three miles from the river. In thefe exploits the Regulars, efpecially the 2d and 5th, diftinguifhed themfelves by their intrepidity. The 3d Wifconfin and 8th Illinois alfo won high praife.
"The fact that the enemy were now falling back upon ftrong infantry fupports, and we being already nu- merically inferior to them, induced the commanders to decide upon a return, and by 4 o'clock our forces began to fall back. On the return we were not molefted. General John Buford's divifion fell back to Beverly Ford, and General Gregg's to Rappahannock Ford, where they croffed. We brought off all our dead and wounded, and alfo many of the wounded of the enemy. By dark our forces were all on the north fide of the river, and the wounded, loaded in box cars, on their way to Wafhington."
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH.
Thoroughfare Gap-Aldie-Upperville-March into Mary- land-Battle of Gettysburg-Forced March to the Potomac -Rebel Spy-Engagement at Williamsport-Boonsboro.
1863. T HE brigade returned to its previous camping ground, near Warrenton Junction and Catlett's June roth. Station, on the 10th. We remained here until the June 13th. 13th, when we broke camp in hafte, and moved off to- ward the Bull Run mountains. The night was very dark, and the roads in wretched condition; and the march being a forced one to gain the paffes in the moun- tains, was urged with unufual rapidity. Several men of the command were ferioufly injured by falling with their horfes, or being jammed againft pofts, fences, &c. It was a frightfully wild ride, indeed.
Three regiments, including the 6th Pennfylvania, led by Major Starr, of the 6th United States Cavalry, were delayed by the overturning of a piece of artillery in a narrow road, and when the gun was righted, we pufhed on rapidly to overtake the column. We did not halt during the entire night, and the dawning day found us on the Bull Run battle-field, near Centreville. We here difcovered that we had marched feveral miles out of our way. We retraced our fteps to the proper turn-
ALDIE. 177
ing point on our road, and marched to Thoroughfare
1863. Gap, where we arrived about 10 o'clock on the morn- June 14th. ing of the 14th. Having gained poffeffion of the Gap, and being thoroughly exhaufted, the moft of our com- mand were foon at reft, while Captain Treichel, with his fquadron, was fent on a reconnoiffance to Afhby's Gap. They marched fteadily all day, returning near evening, and throwing themfelves upon the ground per- fectly exhaufted, fettled themfelves for the night, but in a few minutes orders were received to prepare to move, and we ftarted on an all night's wearifome march.
At daylight on the 15th, we forded Bull Run at Rail- road Bridge, marched to the eaft, then to the fouth, then back again to the northweft, halting at intervals during the day, and near night going into bivouac near Blackburn's Ford, at an abandoned rebel camp of nicely made huts.
The movements this day were perfectly inexplicable, and at night we were utterly exhaufted. We remained here until the 17th, when we marched to Aldie, and after a fharp engagement, gained the pafs in the moun- tains, driving the enemy back into Loudon Valley.
On the 20th, the regiment was fent as a guard to our June 20th. fupply train to Fairfax Station, returning on the follow- ing day. Our brigade was heavily engaged on the 21ft, at Middleburg, and on the 22d, at Upperville. The Sixth was held in referve near Aldie, uniting with the divifion on the afternoon of the 23d. We remained in this vicinity, patrolling and reconnoitring the coun- try, and carefully watching the movements of the enemy beyond the Blue Ridge, until the evening of the 26th,
23
178
MARCH TO GETTYSBURG.
1863.
when we ftarted to rejoin the army, already acrofs the Potomac.
While at Aldie, Captain Wefley Merritt, of the Reg- ulars, was commiffioned Brigadier-General of Volun- teers, and placed in command of the "Referve Brigade," confifting of the Ift, 2d, 5th and 6th United States, and 6th Pennfylvania Cavalry regiments.
June 26th.
At 10 o'clock P.M. of the 26th, we arrived at Leef- burg, where we bivouacked for the night, and on the following morning marched by way of Ball's Bluff bat- tle-field to the Potomac, which we croffed at Edward's Ferry. We continued our march all night, halting near morning at Jefferfon, Maryland.
June 28th.
On the 28th, marched to Middletown, Maryland, June 29th, and on the 29th, to Frederick City. Our paffage through the latter place was a perfect ovation, the offi- cers being welcomed by many friends made during our encampment near the city in the fall of 1862. We halted but for two hours near the city, when we re- fumed the march, halting near morning at Mechanicf- town, after a long and wearifome march.
June 30th.
July 2d.
July 3d.
We remained encamped here, guarding trains, and patrolling to Harman's Gap, in the Catoctin range, and on the direct road through the mountains from Hagerf- town to Baltimore. On the 2d of July we moved to Emmettfburg, and patrolled and picketed through the mountains. The whole brigade was on duty here, pro- tecting the left flank of our advancing army. On the morning of the 3d the brigade was confolidated, and marched to the left of the Army of the Potomac, and took pofition in line of battle on the Emmettfburg Road,
179
GETTYSBURG.
near the Round Top Mountain, connecting with the 1863. Second Corps (General Hancock's) on our right, we July 3d. holding the extreme left of our line. The Sixth Penn- fylvania, having the advance of our brigade, was the firft of the cavalry to become engaged. The men were dif- mounted, led horfes taken to the rear, when we were pufhed forward to meet the infantry line of the enemy. The men deployed as fkirmifhers, and went up boldly over ground interfected by ftone walls and fences, but on rifing the creft of a hill, they were faluted by a ftorm of balls that checked their advance. A ftone houfe within range of our men was filled with the fharp- fhooters of the enemy, doing great mifchief to our ad- vancing lines. A fection of artillery was immediately brought into pofition, and opened on the building, cauf- ing hafty evacuation of the premifes by the enemy. A brifk fkirmifh was kept up until about I o'clock in the afternoon, when the enemy fuddenly opened with heavy fire of artillery, and preffed forward upon the left of our line. Firft, one great gun fpoke; and then, as though it had been the fignal for the commencement of an ar- tillery converfation, the whole hundred and twenty or more opened their mouths at once, and poured out their thunder. A perfect ftorm of fhot, fhell, and ball, rained upon and about us. Every poffible fhelter was gained behind barricade and ftone wall, while the movements of the enemy were carefully watched, and every ordi- nary advance promptly checked. Our own batteries were fplendidly ferved in reply to the enemy, while the earth trembled beneath the unearthly roar and tumult. The air feemed full of fragments of burfting fhell and
180
GETTYSBURG.
1863. ball, while the founds peculiar to the feveral projec- July 3d. tiles told of the determination of the attack. There was the heavy whoo! whoo !- who-oo! of the round fhot. The "which-one? which-one?" of the fiend- ifh Whitworth gun, the demoniac fhriek of "what-you- doing-here?" of the fhells, and the buzzing Minie, all combined to give it the character of a high carnival of powers infernal.
About 3 o'clock the artillery fire flackened, and the fmoke lifted to difclofe a corps of the rebel army ad- vancing acrofs the long level plain in front of the Second Corps, and extending to our centre, in three magnificent lines of battle, with the troops maffed in clofe column by divifion on both flanks. Our fkirmifhers gave them volley after volley as they came on, until they were drawn in to their fupports. On came the rebels, with colors flying, and bayonets gleaming in the funlight, keeping their line as ftraight as if on parade. Our fire is referved until they are within a hundred yards of our line. Now our army fprings to its feet, and while our artillery pours its form of death upon the advancing lines, our brave men fire and charge, hurling the firft back upon the fecond line; here they are again rallied, and again prefs upon our pofition with determined brav- ery. Line after line of rebels come up, deliver their fire, and are mown down like the grafs before the fcythe. They fall back, rally, form, and come up again and again, and are as often met and driven back. By and by the rebel lines come up fmaller and thinner, break fooner, and are longer in reforming. Our advantage is preffed, and hundreds of prifoners are captured. At one
181
GETTYSBURG.
time in the afternoon, great effort was made on the part 1863. of the enemy to turn our extreme left. Our force, which was at firft to the weft of the Emmettfburg Road, was forced back a confiderable diftance, but our thin line was extended, and every foot of ground fought for defperately.
The 5th United States Cavalry made a mounted charge, driving the enemy from an advanced pofition, and giving us great advantage. Gradually the firing ceafed near night; our forces were confolidated; held their advanced pofition, but made no attack on the enemy. They were not routed, and can fcarcely be faid to have been driven; they had made attack after attack and been repulfed, and finding that it was ufelefs to continue the affault, they retreated to a ftrong pofi- tion on the mountain flope. The night was fpent in unceafing attendance upon the wounded; the dead in the ftreets of Gettyfburg were removed and buried.
On Saturday morning, July 4th, congratulatory orders July 4th. were iffued to the victorious Union Army, and the day was one of unprecedented rejoicings. Never before was the anniverfary of the Nation's Independence cele- brated amidft fuch fcenes of blood; and no men felt they had half the right to rejoice on this National anni- verfary, as did the faithful furviving foldiers of the Army of the Potomac, after hurling back the folid ranks of the invading rebel army, and accomplifhing the deliverance of the country at Gettyfburg.
Through the night of the 3d we ftood to horfe, and although we were worn out, by long marches and hard fighting on lefs than half rations, we were ftarted by 5
182
ON THE MARCH.
1863. o'clock on the morning of the 4th, on a forced march of over feventy miles.
We paffed through Emmettfburg early in the after- noon, our march being neceffarily very flow. Both men and horfes were tired and jaded. For five days we had been without forage for our horfes, and in almoft conftant motion. Hundreds of horfes dropped down on this march, and were left on the road with their faddles, blankets, and bridles upon them. Men, whofe horfes "played out," trudged along on foot through muddy roads and fwollen ftreams without food; the night com- ing on rapidly, and no fhelter from the mercilefs ftorm that beat upon us the entire day and night.
During the evening we arrived at Mechanicftown, feven miles fouth of Emmettfburg, where a halt was or- dered for four hours. As foon as the column halted, the men difmounted, and lay down in the muddy roads or fields, with bridle tied to wrift, and utterly exhauft- ed, were foon afleep, and were aroufed with great diffi- culty to purfue the march twelve miles further in denfe darknefs and heavy rain, halting at 3 o'clock, A.M., after being eighteen hours in the faddle. The ground, though thoroughly faturated, was not more fo than the troops, and without tents, fire, or food, we threw ourfelves upon the ground to reft.
July 5th.
At 7 o'clock the following morning we were again on the road, and about noon arrived at Frederick City. Paffing through the town, we bivouacked about a mile to the weft, on the Hagerftown Road. Here we were fupplied with rations and forage, and took a new leafe of life.
183
BATTLE AT WILLIAMSPORT.
The fun fhone out clear and warm during the after- 1863. noon, the night was a fine one, and our fleep found and refrefhing in a ten acre bed.
During the night a rebel fpy was arrefted by the outer pickets of General Buford. Many papers were found upon his perfon conveying much valuable information for the enemy. He was recognized as being often feen in our camps peddling ftationery. After an examination before General Buford, he was handed over to Company "G," of the Sixth Pennfylvania, then acting as Provoft Guard, with inftructions to hang him before morning. The order was executed fo quietly, that very few of the troops knew of the occurrence until the day dawned, when his lifelefs body was feen hanging from a limb of a large tree within a few yards of our bivouac.
At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, we were July 6th. again in the faddle. Croffing the mountain, and paffing through Middletown and Boonfboro, we arrived about 4 o'clock on the creft of the hill overlooking Williamf- port, on the Potomac. A part of our force, confifting of Colonel Gamble's brigade, was thrown off to the left, ftriking the river at Falling Waters. The 3d In- diana Cavalry charged into the town, and captured fev- enteen wagons and about a hundred rebel infantry. A confiderable force of the enemy appearing, the 8th Illi- nois Cavalry was deployed as fkirmifhers to meet them. Three regiments of infantry advanced in line of battle upon our troops. Colonel Gamble's brigade was joined by Colonel Devins's, and every advance of the enemy was met by determined refiftance. Captain Tidball's battery was fplendidly ferved during the fight. Major
184
BATTLE AT WILLIAMSPORT.
.
1863. Medill, of the 8th Illinois, fell mortally wounded. July 6th. Colonel Devins's brigade captured twenty wagons, with full teams, between Williamfport and Falling Waters, and deftroyed one of the bridges ufed by the enemy at the latter place.
Looking down upon Williamfport from our pofition, thoufands of wagons and ambulances, fome parked and others moving in long lines, could be difcerned; while at the fame time we difcovered that Lee had not left his line of retreat unprotected. A large force of infantry and artillery attacked us promptly on our appearance, ferving their guns with remarkable rapidity and accu- racy. A few minutes fufficed to affure us that our cav- alry force was largely outnumbered by the infantry of the enemy. They moved upon our thin fkirmifh line in folid line of battle; and it was only by the determined bravery of our troops, the excellent handling of our bat- teries, and our advantage in pofition, that we were able to refift their attacks.
General Kilpatrick paffed through Hagerftown, and . foon after came upon the enemy. He was forced back upon our right, and came in upon us fomewhat demoral- ized. About 6 o'clock our lines were fhortened, our whole force difmounted, and all engaged. We were greatly outnumbered, and that by infantry. We had no fupport, no referve, no reinforcements; every man was under fire, and to us it became a defperate fight for exiftence, and we looked anxioufly for night to clofe upon the fcene. Had the daylight lafted another hour, we would have fuffered the moft difaftrous defeat.
About 8 o'clock all firing ceafed. Our wounded
185
BOONSBORO.
were placed in ambulances, and, with our prifoners, 1863. captured wagons, and animals, we moved back to the July 6th. Sharpfburg and Hagerftown road, where, after throwing out ftrong picket lines, we bivouacked for the night.
During the fight on the centre of our line, the Sixth Pennfylvania had the advance of the brigade, and was the firft regiment engaged on the heights of Williamf- port.
We were under a heavy artillery and mufketry fire, having Captain Graham's battery committed to our de- fence. We deployed the entire regiment in advance of the battery, and for four hours returned the fteady fire of the enemy. More than one determined charge of the rebels would have broken our line but for the timely ufe of "canifter" by Graham's guns.
The regiment and battery fuffered feverely in killed and wounded.
On Tuefday morning we moved back to Boonfboro, July 7th. the enemy following and attacking our rear-guard. As we were now far away from the fupport of our army it became neceffary that we fhould gain and hold the paffes of the mountain. A ftrong force was ftationed on every road, while the main portion of the cavalry was drawn up in line of battle about a mile in front of Boonfboro, acrofs the Hagerftown road. At 4 o'clock P. M., the Ift United States Cavalry was ordered on a reconnoiffance toward Hagerftown. After proceeding about two miles they came upon a regiment of cavalry, which they im- mediately charged and routed, killing and wounding fev- eral of the enemy and taking ten prifoners. Lieutenant Burns was wounded, while three enlifted men were
24
I86
BOONSBORO.
1863. killed in the charge, and buried by the roadfide near July 7th. Boonfboro.
The 6th United States made a reconnoiffance in the evening, met the enemy and had a brifk fight, in which they loft nine men wounded. The night was fpent dif- mounted in a ploughed field in line of battle, in a heavy ftorm of rain, without fires and with clothes thoroughly faturated; without either noonday or evening meal; ftanding in mud to our knees, every horfe remaining faddled and in pofition, and every man at his horfe's head, the profpect of reft for our exhaufted cavalry force was very unpromifing.
This was one of the moft wretched nights of all our experience in the cavalry fervice. It feems inexplicable how human nature could endure fuch continued hard- fhip and expofure ; but we were yet far from the end.
CHAPTER FIFTEENTH.
Engagements at Boonsboro-Funkftown, near Hagerstown- Our Cavalry Batteries-Operations of our Noble 100- Falling Waters-Again in " Dixie"-Wapping Heights- Brandy Station and Culpepper-Camp Buford.
A T Io o'clock on the morning of the 8th of July 1863. the enemy again advanced in force in an effort July 8th. to gain poffeffion of Turner's Gap in the mountain back of Boonfboro. They opened with artillery and muf- ketry, and at one time during the afternoon forced us back to within one mile of the town. Shells from the enemy's guns fell in the ftreets of Boonfboro, creating great confternation among the citizens. The fight lafted until dark, and the enemy withdrew during the night.
We lay in line of battle all the night and following morning. During the afternoon of the 9th, our divilion July 9th. was reinforced by General Kilpatrick's, and near fun- down our whole line was advanced. We came upon the enemy fome two miles out, and forced him back over Beaver Creek and beyond it fome two miles, the fight continuing for an hour after dark.
188
FUNKSTOWN-OUR BATTERIES.
1863. We refted on our arms, and early on the morning of July roth. the 10th renewed the attack, driving the enemy through Funkftown, acrofs the Antietam Creek, to within fight of Hagerftown.
We had a very fevere fight all day, the enemy making ftubborn refiftance near Funkftown, and having great advantage in pofition.
In thefe engagements we loft heavily ; our wounded being fent back to Boonfboro.
During the afternoon, and juft as we had about ex- haufted our ammunition, we were cheered by the ap- pearance upon the field of the Eleventh Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Great was the rejoicing of our exhaufted cavalry force when they faw the infantry lines moving up to take their places in line of battle. In the laft fixteen days we had engaged the enemy in ten bat- tles, had marched over two hundred miles, with but lit- tle fleep and on half rations, and in every engagement fighting againft fuperior numbers of infantry.
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