USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
222 RECONNOISSANCE TO ROBERTSON'S RIVER.
1864.
A ftring band was organized by the enlifted men, which furnifhed entertainment during many of the long winter evenings; as there were alfo three good brafs bands in the brigade, and as the regiments were en- camped within a fhort diftance of each other, we had the advantage of the entire army in this refpect.
While here the offer was made to pay a bounty and give a furlough of at leaft thirty days to thofe who would re-enlift for three years ; about one hundred and forty men re-enlifted and were fent home on furlough.
Captain W. P. C. Treichel was muftered as Major ; Lieutenant Frank Furnefs as Captain, and 2d Lieu- Jan. IIth. tenant William White as Ift Lieutenant, on the IIth of January. A few evenings afterward a ferenade was tendered them by the band of the Ift United States Cavalry, and feveral officers of the regular regiments called to congratulate the Major.
Feb. 6th.
The Referve Brigade, Colonel Gibbs commanding, left camp at daylight ; marched to, and croffed Robert- fon's River, and proceeded to within a mile of Barnett's Ford on the Rapidan, when we turned into a fine grove of pines and ftood to horfe all night. The defign of the reconnoiffance was to afcertain the pofition of the enemy towards Orange Court-houfe, and create a diver- fion in favor of the advance of a portion of the Ift and 2d Corps towards Raccoon and Morton's Fords. Gen- eral Sedgwick commanded the infantry force on this occafion.
The 2d and 3d divifions of the 2d Corps under Gen- eral Warren croffed the river at Morton's Ford; they foon encountered a pretty ftrong line of the enemy,
223
GENERAL CUSTER'S RAID.
when a confiderable fkirmifh followed, in which we loft 1864. between two and three hundred killed and wounded. General Kilpatrick croffed with his divifion at Culpep- per Ford and fcoured the country to the left as far as Frederickfburg, but found no traces of the enemy in that direction.
On the morning of the 7th, our brigade advanced a Feb. 7th. fhort diftance, the Sixth Pennfylvania being thrown out to the left to eftablifh videttes. We had feveral fkir- mifhes during the day, our artillery being ufed effectively. Near night, having accomplifhed all that was defigned by the expedition, we ftarted on our return to camp, and by 9 o'clock that evening we were again in our comfortable quarters. The infantry returned to their former camps on the 7th and 8th.
On the 15th, a complimentary dinner was given by Feb. 15th. the officers of the regiment to General Merritt ; a large number of the officers of the brigade being prefent.
On the 27th, a detail of one hundred men from each Feb. 27th. regiment of the brigade, under Major Treichel, were ordered to prepare for a raid on the Virginia Central Railroad at Charlottefville, to be conducted by General Cufter. On the fame day General Kilpatrick ftarted on his raid towards Richmond.
The detail from our regiment was commanded by Cap- tain B. Lockwood. We moved at 7 o'clock in the even- ing to Pony Mountain, where we went into bivouac about 9 o'clock, the night being very bluftery and cold. As we had no tents and but little fire, we fuffered much from the keen northeaft winds. Near noon on the 28th we Feb. 28th. marched to Robertfon's River near Madifon Court-houfe,
.
224
GENERAL CUSTER'S RAID.
1864. and found the 6th Corps there in bivouac under fhelter tents, having come out thus far from their winter quar- ters to cover our expedition. Reveille founded at mid- night, and after breakfaft on " hard tack " and good hot coffee, we ftarted on the march beyond our lines . at 2 o'clock in the morning of the 29th.
Feb. 29th.
We left the 6th Corps quietly fleeping, and paffing through Madifon Court-houfe, and beyond our infantry picket lines, were once more loofe in "Dixie."
Our regiment had the advance of the brigade, being led by an advance guard under Captain Clark. We pufhed rapidly forward in the ftill night through a coun- try alternately open and wooded, toward the Rapidan. All went quietly until we reached Wolftown, where a picket fire was obferved, and Captain Clark immediately charged upon the ftartled enemy. A few fhots were exchanged, but in the darknefs of the night all efcaped, and we pufhed on rapidly towards Charlottefville.
Near Stannardfville, Captain Clark captured a fmall party of rebels with wagons loaded with flour, hams, and potatoes. As we proceeded we found a tolerably well-cultivated and high-rail-fenced country, the farmers ploughing in the fields ; when the horfes were worth it they were taken from plough, cart, or ftable, in the name of the United States. Frequently, fome of the men would make a defcent upon the poultry yards along our line of march. A fine horfe was found tied in front of a houfe on the roadfide, and as fome of our men were about claiming him by authority in them vefted, they difcovered a lady's faddle upon him, and the fair owner came from the houfe to remonftrate againft the capture,
225
GENERAL CUSTER'S RAID.
faying fhe was there from a neighboring farm on a fhort 1864. vifit, and the "hoped her horfe would not be taken;" Feb. 29th. of courfe, there was no foldier of the command proof againft her eloquent pleadings, and fhe was allowed to return unmolefted to her own home. Nearly all the male citizens along our route were taken along as prif- oners, as a precaution againft bufhwhacking and to pre- vent information being conveyed to the enemy.
In the town of Stannardfville the people came out to fee the troops, looking on with great curiofity, as we were the firft reprefentatives of the Union Army that had ever been in their vicinity. The poft-office was ranfacked, and all public buildings in the town fearched, though nothing was difturbed but public property. The men were exceedingly difgufted when they found they had to accompany the column as temporary prifoners. We picked up feveral rebel foldiers who were enjoying furloughs from military fervice. The female relatives of one Confederate thus captured clung to him, and, with diftreffing outcries and fhrieks, protefted againft his being regarded as a fpy, affuring us that he had only been home from the army for a few days, and begging that he fhould not be hung ; he was captured as we went out, and on our return was allowed to ftop and fee his family again, to affure them that no harm fhould come to him.
In the afternoon we croffed the Rivanna River and found the enemy in force near Charlottefville. On ap- proaching the town we were oppofed by a ftrong in- fantry force in line of battle, and a brifk fhelling imme- diately began. After fkirmifhing for an hour, we were
29
226
GENERAL CUSTER'S RAID.
1864. fatisfied that an overwhelming force of the enemy op- Feb. 29th. pofed our advance, and that our fafety demanded a rapid retreat. A fquadron of the 5th United States, under Captain Afh, fcouting on our left, came fo fuddenly upon an artillery camp that the gunners had barely time to run off their guns by hand, and before they had recovered from their furprife, the camp was fired in feveral places, a number of caiffons were blown up; harnefs, forges, and battery-wagons deftroyed. Captain Afh, with his handful of men, being attacked by a heavy force, retreated in great hafte, lofing fome prifoners. Train after train of cars, in the mean time, had arrived from Gordonfville, all loaded with troops, and, forming in line, advanced upon our weak force; we were then withdrawn acrofs the Rivanna, our pioneers foon had the bridge in flames, and our two pieces of artillery brought to bear upon the only ford of the ftream.
A large mill, near the bridge, filled with corn-meal and flour for the rebel army, was deftroyed by fire.
We marched five miles towards Stannardfville, the Sixth Pennfylvania forming the rear-guard, and were followed and fired upon all the way back. We then halted for four hours, fed our horfes, and had rather a poor meal for ourfelves, having eaten nothing fince leaving Madifon Court-houfe on the night previous.
About IO o'clock we again took up the line of march through a very heavy rain that began to fall about dark. After fpending two hours in marching one mile, General Cufter determined to halt until daylight ; rain mingled with fnow fell during the entire night ; we all had to lie upon the wet ground and were unprotected from the
227
GENERAL CUSTER'S RAID.
pelting ftorm. The only wood acceffible was green 1864 and wet, and it was impoffible to have even a good fire ; the rain froze upon our clothes and the limbs of the trees, fo that by morning everything appeared to be cafed in cryftal, and when, during the fucceeding morn- ing, the forces of the enemy got in our way to conteft our return, the cannon-fhot made a wonderful crafhing among the froft-bound limbs of the foreft.
We ftarted out at daylight on the morning of the Ift March Ift. of March, through very muddy roads, and a heavy ftorm of rain and fleet. Captains Starr and Clark, with the rear-guard, fkirmifhed with the enemy all day. Ser- geant Wright, of Company "I," was badly wounded. After paffing Stannardfville we were oppofed by a large force of the enemy when attempting to crofs one of the branches of the Rapidan. The 5th United States, and a fection of artillery, the latter commanded by Lieu- tenant Effex Porter, engaged them; fome excellent fhots were made by the battery, and a portion of the rebel force driven by the 5th Cavalry.
We then made a detour to the right toward Orange Court-houfe, where General Lee's headquarters were eftablifhed ; when within five miles of that place we turned, and riding rapidly back to the road on which we were previoufly marching, croffed the ftream without oppofition and haftened on, as rapidly as the wretched condition of the roads would admit, to Madifon Court- houfe, the 6th Corps having fent out a force to meet us near Wolftown. Like loft children, the command was welcomed back into the lines by General Sedgwick and the officers of his corps. After a halt of three
228
FLIGHT OF THE CONTRABANDS.
1864. hours, during which time our prifoners were turned over March Ift. to the Provoft-Marfhal of the 6th Corps, and men and horfes fed and warmed, the night being wet and cold, Major Treichel determined to march the command to their comfortable quarters near Mitchell's Station. A heavy ftorm of fnow continued all night, and we fuffered greatly with cold, our clothing being thoroughly foaked fince the night previous.
We arrived at our winter home about I o'clock in the night, having marched over fifty miles through wretched roads and heavy wintry weather.
In the rear of our column, and only protected by the rear-guard, there followed hundreds of contrabands, of all fhades, fexes, ages, &c. Who that has not feen a flight of the contrabands can have any conception of fuch a fcene? It was impoffible to keep them from joining the column, and our appearance in their neigh- borhood was the fignal for their hafty preparation for flight from homes of bondage, and perhaps oppreffion, to liberty. Old and young, male and female, in wagons and carts, on mules, horfes, or oxen, trudging along on foot, any way and every way, hurrying on after the column, encouraging each other and enduring unimag- inable hardfhips. As the advance of the enemy would prefs our rear-guard, the officers would urge them on, and their frantic efforts to keep up with the column were both pitiful and ludicrous in the extreme. Here are men yelling and fwearing; women fcreaming and weeping ; children crying ; horfes, mules, and oxen running, kick- ing, and jumping, while fome obftinately ftand ftill, and others lie down in the mud in exhauftion and defpair.
229
FLIGHT OF THE CONTRABANDS.
Juft imagine a man, frightened half out of his wits, 1864. riding a refractory mule ftubbornly refufing to move March. forward one ftep, while the fhots of the enemy came nearer and nearer, then again ftarting forward as though an incarnation of all modern ideas of progreffion, run- ning, kicking, and braying hideoufly, to the difcomfort of all the mafs of fugitives and amufement of the troops.
Men were riding that day from the tail to the ears of their animals, and fome holding on to both ends. On others, there were man and wife riding together, the latter clinging to the former, and their rapid bouncing on rough horfes, the flogging of mules, and amufing ex- preffions, awoke irrepreffible laughter.
One fcreams out, "Git up here!" another, "De Lord have mercy on dis nigger !" "Stop dat mule !" " Git out de way dar !" " De rebels will git dis nigger, fure." "I'fe bound for de happy land of Canaan !" A mule lies down in the mud with man and wife; after vain efforts to get him up, the difgufted contraband fays : "Go, you ftubborn mule, I'fe gwan on foot ; de rebels don't cotch dis child." Then, men in wagons waling away at their horfes or mules, with their wives and all her relations of the "female perfuafion," jumping and clapping their hands, and fhouting to frighten the jaded animals into running away. The pedeftrians trudge on, through mud, rain, and cold, towards the great Union Army, the reprefentative to them of the great idea of' freedom. One large and very dilapidated family car- riage was particularly noticeable: it was crowded to burfting with women and little pickaninnies ; the ani- mals drawing it were one lean, lank horfe and a dwarf-
230
FLIGHT OF THE CONTRABANDS.
March.
1864. ifh mule ; the harnefs, old and fubjected to conftant ftrain, broke frequently, when the male members of the families being benefited would fall to work to mend it up, or putting their fhoulders to the wheel would lift it out of mud-holes and pufh up the hills ; thus, they managed to keep up with the command until near noon on the fecond day, when it became immovably fixed in deep clay foil ; the enemy were clofe upon us ; there was a fudden abandoning of carriage and everything but its living freight ; three women were mounted on each animal, and each with a little child in her arms, while a child was alfo borne by each of the men. We fkir- mifhed with the enemy a confiderable time to give them a chance to gain the main column, and their gratitude fully repaid for the rifk and trouble. Nearly all arrived at Madifon Court-houfe in fafety, and there reported to the Provoft-Marfhal, and were fent to Wafhington.
CHAPTER NINETEENTH.
Reorganization - Spring Campaign - In the Wilderness - Great Flank Movement of the Army of the Potomac- Todd's Tavern-First and Second Day-The Wounded- Sheridan's Raid.
T HE Ift and 3d Corps of Infantry, and the ift Di- 1864. vifion of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Poto- Mar. 29th. mac, were reviewed to-day near Culpepper by Lieu- tenant-General Grant, accompanied by Generals Meade, Warren, and Merritt.
Nothing of fpecial intereft tranfpired in our army during the month of April, and it was not until the early part of May that the army was called upon to re- fume the offenfive. In the meantime it had been re- organized, recruited, and otherwife increafed in efficiency, and now numbered, in all, about one hundred and fifty thoufand men. The five corps had been reduced to three; the Ift and 3d having been diftributed between the 5th and 6th. The 9th Corps, General Burnfide commanding, had alfo been affociated with the Army of the Potomac, and a new power added to it by the imme- diate prefence of the ranking officer of the armies of the United States,-Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant.
232 REORGANIZATION-SPRING CAMPAIGN.
On the 4th of May, we, moved from . our camp near Culpepper to Stevenfburg, where we halted for two hours, and then continued our march to Stevens' Mills by night, and encamped until funrife on the 5th, when the regiment croffed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, and marched by way of the old Chancellorfville battle- ground to Aldrick's houfe, where we ftood to horfe until night fet in.
General Gregg's and Merritt's divifions advanced to Ely's Ford on the 4th, and General Wilfon moved to Germania Ford, each being provided with pontoons.
At midnight, the 2d Corps, under General Hancock, which had been encamped near Culpepper, marched out towards Germania Ford, and at daylight on the morning of the 4th, the 5th Corps under Warren, the 6th under Sedgwick, and the referve artillery, began a forward movement on the fame road. The fupply train, fixty miles long, compofed of 8000 wagons, followed the 2d Corps.
The enemy was encamped near Orange Court-houfe, watching from his elevated lookout at Clark's Moun- tain for the firft fign of change. On obferving our movements, General Lee put his army in inftant mo- tion to ftrike the advancing column as they croffed the Rapidan.
Burnfide was ftill lying on the north bank of the Rappahannock. It was underftood that the 9th Corps was to be a referve to protect the Capital, but at night- fall on the 4th, the fhelter-tents were folded, and the men of the 9th were on the march along the foreft road, lighted only by the ftars, to join the main army
1864. May 4th.
233
IN THE WILDERNESS.
at Germania Ford, where they arrived on the morning 1864. of the 5th.
May 5th.
Early on Thurfday morning the Union forces had taken up the march, their location being as follows : Sedgwick's Corps extended from Germania Ford fouth- eaft to the Wildernefs Tavern ; Warren's Corps was at Belmont Farm; Hancock's Corps at the old Chan- cellorfville battle-ground. Hancock began his march to- ward Spottfylvania, but was fhortly recalled and ordered to advance his line to the fouthweft from Chancellorf- ville toward Shady Grove Church.
The Union Army was formed on a line running north- weft and foutheaft, with Hancock on the left, Sedg- wick on the right, and Warren in the centre. This difpofition was not perfected before the enemy ap- proached in ftrong force. The country was very un- favorable as a battle-field. Its furface covered with denfe forefts of low pines and fcrub oaks, with impene- trable growth of hazel; the roads were narrow and eafily choked up with troops, and there was no oppor- tunity for ufing artillery ; a few guns were interfperfed here and there in any open fpace by the roadfide, but the great artillery trains of both armies were filent in the rear. The engagements that enfued were ftrictly in- fantry battles. About noon, General Griffin, command- ing the Ift Divifion of Warren's Corps, advanced his lines and became engaged with Ewell's Corps. A fharp fight of one hour's continuance followed, when our troops were drawn back to the main column ; the enemy continued their attack and heavy fighting enfued. Thus were opened the great battles of the Wildernefs, and for
30
234
IN THE WILDERNESS.
1864.
eight confecutive days the armies fought face to face ; fome portions of the ground between the lines were fought over four or five times.
May 6th.
The battle of the 6th was a feries of fierce attacks by both combatants, and almoft entirely by mufketry ; this terrific infantry conteft clofed on a difputed field, neither army having gained great advantage.
General Meade had about the fame pofition as on Thurfday. During Friday night the right was ftrength- ened by earthworks, and the armies refted behind their rifle-pits and breaftworks, while the broad fpace between them was occupied by the dead and wounded of both.
May 7th.
The battle was renewed at daybreak by the Union Army, and a feries of fharp conflicts enfued, in which our troops were generally victorious ; but it became evident by noon that General Lee was retreating with his main army towards Spottfylvania Court-houfe. Our army was immediately put in motion, marching fouthward by a road nearly parallel with the enemy's.
At the opening of the fpring campaign, our divifion, the firft, was commanded by General Torbett, the Re- ferve Brigade by General Merritt, and the Sixth Penn- fylvania by Major James Starr.
On the 6th we marched to the Furnace, in the Wil- dernefs, to fupport General Cufter. That General had been fkirmifhing during the morning with the enemy's cavalry, and in the afternoon had a fevere fight, in which he was fuccefsful without our active affiftance.
So far we had only heard the diftant thunders of the infantry battle in the Wildernefs, and the rapid fharp firing of the other brigades of the divifion in our imme-
235
TODD'S TAVERN.
diate front ; but, about 4 P.M. on the 7th, our turn came. The Ift and 2d Cavalry Divifion had concen- trated at Todd's Tavern, from whence, now taking the lead, the Sixth Pennfylvania ftarted on the road to Spott- fylvania Court-houfe. We foon came upon the enemy, found afterwards to be Hampton's and Lee's cavalry. They had a heavy line of fkirmifhers, well covered by the character of the ground. Captain C. L. Leiper with his fquadron was deployed mounted on the left of the road; Captain Clark with his was deployed dif- mounted on the right, where the woods were impaffa- ble for horfes, and Captain Carpenter with the third and remaining fquadron was held in referve in the road. We advanced promptly, driving the enemy fome diftance, when they made a ftand. The remainder of the bri- gade now came up; Captain Carpenter was fent in with his men on the left, while Colonel Gibbs and the 19th New York Cavalry went in on the right with Captain Clark, and the line was preffed forward. We were now at clofe quarters; the enemy fought ftubbornly, and taking advantage of a weak place in our line made a dafh through it. It was here that moft of the cafual- ties of the day occurred. Lieutenant William Kirk, acting adjutant, received a ball in his thigh, which broke the bone and difmounted him, and from which he died
in hofpital at Alexandria, June 24th, 1864.
Major
James Starr, whofe horfe had already been hit, was wounded in the face by a piftol-ball, making him fpeech- lefs, and forcing him to go to the rear, and Captain E. M. Carpenter and Lieutenant E. Hazel, while gallantly attempting to fave Lieutenant Kirk from falling into
1864. May 7th.
236
TODD'S TAVERN.
1864. the hands of the enemy, were themfelves captured, and May 7th. remained prifoners until Sherman "opened wide their iron doors." The wounded man was left on the field, minus boots and what could be quickly ftripped from him, according to rebel cuftom. But this damage to our advance was more quickly repaired than it takes time to narrate it. The command of the regiment was at once turned over to Captain Charles L. Leiper, frefh troops thrown into the break, and another attack made, before which the enemy gave way, and retired fighting for about a mile and a half, when night came on and ended the battle, leaving the dead and wounded of both fides in our hands, befides 'a number of prifoners.
Our loffes were, in addition to thofe mentioned, Firft Lieutenant Charles B. Coxe, wounded in the arm; Ser- geants Golden, Kirk, Scott, and Booz, wounded ; Cor- porals Keyfer and McCord, killed; Corporal Gilbert, wounded ; and Privates Lyndford Bowers, Prefton A. Saxton, E. B. Strong, Hackett, Miller, Scypes, Hen- derfon, Harden, Caffiday, Finney, Boon, Heckler, Mar- tin, Richardfon, and Burk, wounded.
May 8th
On the 8th, we were again engaged at daylight, and after fevere fighting for about two hours, we drove the enemy from their breaftworks, and they retired to their intrenchments fome diftance to the rear. We were then relieved by the 5th Corps, and marched back to Todd's Tavern, where we halted for about two hours, groomed and fed our horfes, and after eating our own fpare meal we were again mounted, and marched to Aldrich's houfe, where the Cavalry Corps was concentrating.
On this day, the brigade loft one of its moft brave
237
TODD'S TAVERN.
and dafhing officers, Captain Afh, of the 5th Cavalry, 1864. who was killed while gallantly leading into the fight May 8th. fome of the infantry who had relieved us.
A portion of our army occupied Frederickfburg on the morning of the 6th, and made, arrangements for the reception of the wounded from the fields of battle.
(Correfpondence of the " Inquirer.") " TODD'S TAVERN, May 8th, 1864.
" By noon yefterday it was whifpered around that the enemy were falling back. Soon there was great buftle and moving about of wagon-trains, and thefe, with am- bulances containing wounded, followed by droves of cattle, with artillery wagons, and everything not availa- ble for fervice at the front, were, before dark, in mo- tion, down the Frederickfburg Pike. Many of the uninitiated fuppofed they were on another fkedaddle, as one could perceive by the remarks heard in paffing along the crowded road ; but on arriving a few miles beyond Chancellorfville, and finding themfelves turned to the right up the Catharpan Road, they were fuddenly unde- ceived. It was no retreat, but an advance ftill deeper into the heart of Seceffia. The troops were withdrawn from their pofition during the night and early morning, and were now within a few miles of Spottfylvania Court- houfe. Arriving in this vicinity about 10 o'clock this morning, we found a portion of our cavalry engaged in fkirmifhing with the enemy between Piney Branch Church and Spottfylvania Court-houfe, and alfo in front of Todd's Tavern.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.