USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 15
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TODD'S TAVERN.
1864. " At the latter point the enemy had a battery, the May 8th. fhells from which reached near to the road along which the infantry of the 2d Corps was marching in clofe column ; but our cavalry held their ground firmly, keep- ing the enemy far enough back to fecure the troops on the road from moleftation. This afternoon they were relieved by infantry, and retired towards the rear to re- new their fupply of fubfiftence and forage.
" The poffeffion of Todd's Tavern has been the fub- ject of frequent fkirmithing for two or three days, and yefterday that point was the fcene of a pretty fevere conteft. The enemy, with Fitzhugh Lee's divifion, held poffeffion of it on Saturday morning up to nearly noon, our cavalry having retired on Friday along the Catharpan Road to the neighborhood of Piney Branch Church, and as that pofition commanded the road along which our infantry, coming down from the left of our lines at the Wildernefs, would have to pafs, it was ne- ceffary to regain poffeffion of it, and of the Spottfylvania Road as far as poffible. Our line was formed with Cufter's brigade of Torbett's divifion on the right ; Colonel Gregg's brigade of General Gregg's divifion next ; then General Merritt's brigade of the Ift divifion, and, on the extreme left, Davies' brigade of Gregg's divifion, and extended acrofs the Catharpan Road be- tween Todd's Tavern and Piney Branch Church, nearly parallel with the Brock and Spottfylvania Court-houfe Roads. We advanced fhortly before noon, and after confiderable hard fighting, drove the enemy back upon the Catharpan Road about four miles to Corbin's Bridge. At that point Stuart had maffed his entire force, and
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SHERIDAN'S RAID.
while his centre was retiring, it was obferved that he was 1864. throwing his troops forward on our flanks, with the evi- dent intention of entrapping us. We, therefore, retired again to a good pofition, a little in front of Todd's Tavern, fo as to keep control of the road, which was our only object.
" A fection of Martin's battery was pofted on a hill near the Tavern, and a fection of King's battery further to the left, when we awaited further demonftrations on the part of the enemy.
" General Merritt had the right, where the fire was the hotteft. The Referve Brigade fuffered the moft, as it was moft hardly preffed, and moft nobly did they meet the defperate onflaught. Our cavalry were all dif- mounted, for the conteft occurred moftly in thick woods, where horfes could not be ufed to advantage."
On the 9th, Sheridan ftarted on his raid to the rear May 9th. of the rebel army, to cut off their fupplies and com- munications, and otherwife cripple him to as great an extent as poffible. Three days' rations were iffued to the men, as all the wagons were to be left behind, ex- cept the ammunition wagons and two ambulances to each brigade. Thus unincumbered, the command moved at daylight on the 9th, taking the Telegraph Road between Richmond and Frederickfburg, marching fteadily all day. We croffed the North Anna at Reed's Mills, paffing the enemy's right flank, to the fouth of Spottfylvania Court-houfe towards Childfburg. General Cufter, who had the advance during the day, preffed forward rapidly to Beaver Dam Station on the Virginia
240
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
1864. Central Railroad, where he captured and deftroyed two May 9th. trains of cars and a large ftorehoufe filled with govern- ment ftores. Here, our force alfo furprifed a rebel pro- voft-guard with three hundred and feventy-eight Union prifoners, who had been captured the day previous at Spottfylvania Court-houfe. Our own foldiers were re- leafed, and the captors were themfelves led captive. A detachment was alfo fent to Afhland, on the Frederickf- burg Railroad, where they deftroyed the ftation, a large warehoufe filled with ftores, and eight miles of railroad ; after a fharp fkirmifh with the enemy they rejoined the main column. The divifion went into camp at night, half a mile fouth of the river. The Sixth Pennfylvania was fent during the evening to Beaver Dam Station to deftroy the railroad ; we moved out rapidly and without oppofition, worked on the road until 2 o'clock, tearing up and deftroying the track, culverts, &c., and returned to the divifion near morning.
CHAPTER TWENTIETH.
Sheridan's Raid-Captain Miller-Engagement at Yellow Tavern-Meadow Bridge-New Market-White House- Mechanicfville-White Chimneys-Aylette-Hawes's Shop -Battle at Bethesda Church.
A T dawn on the 10th, while we were preparing or 1864. eating our breakfaft, we were ftartled by the May 10th. familiar "whir-r-r-bomb," of fhell, and there came fcreaming through the air the compliments of the en- raged enemy in the fhape of 12-pound fhot and fpherical cafe. Our breakfaft was left unfinifhed, and the echo of the guns had fcarcely died away ere we were mounted and in line ready for action. The attack was from the rear, and General Gregg, not having croffed the river the night previous, led the 2d divifion upon the enemy, our regiment being fent to co-operate with him. After a fhort engagement the enemy were driven off, and our march was refumed.
General Gregg, with the 2d divifion, had the advance of the column ; the 3d divifion, General Wilfon, being in the centre, and the Ift divifion, temporarily com- manded by General Merritt, in the rear. During the day we had occafional fkirmifhing with the enemy.
Captain Arnold, of the 5th Cavalry, was fent off to
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242
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
1864. deftroy Davenport's Bridge, and, meeting a large force, came near being captured with all his men. Lieutenant Emmons, A. A. G. of Colonel Gibbs' ftaff, went out to his affiftance with Sergeant Miller, of Company "L," Sixth Pennfylvania Cavalry, and a fquad of five men. Captain Arnold fucceeded in deftroying the bridge, al- though he loft heavily ; he alfo captured an officer of the engineer corps, with his implements of fervice. Lieutenant Wilfon, of the 5th United States, and Ser- geant Miller, with part of his men, were captured.
On the banks of the South Anna we felled trees in our rear, thoroughly blocking up the road, and had a flight fkirmifh near night. Went into camp after dark near Ground Squirrel Bridge, the foe continuing their moleftation all through the night.
May IIth.
At 3 o'clock A.M., on the 11th, General Davies' brigade was difpatched to Afhland Station, feven miles to the eaft, on the Richmond and Frederickfburg Rail- road ; they fired the warehoufe and deftroyed large quantities of ftores ; tore up fix miles of railroad, three culverts, two treftle bridges, and deftroyed a locomotive and three trains of cars. On their return to the main column they were attacked, and loft about thirty men.
At 5 A.M., the Ift divifion moved down the turnpike towards Richmond, the Sixth Pennfylvania Cavalry having the advance. One-half of the regiment was de- ployed in front as fkirmifhers on both fides of the road, whilft Captain Leiper marched with the other half on the turnpike. A long line of flankers on each flank connected with the advance, the whole of the Referve Brigade thus acting as the advance-guard of the cavalry
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SHERIDAN'S RAID.
corps. It was well fo careful a formation was obferved, 1864. for after having pufhed on fome ten miles, and having May 11th. croffed the Richmond and Frederickfburg Railroad at Allen's Station, the advance fkirmifhers flufhed the rebels, and after reconnoitring them for half an hour, about noon developed nearly the whole of the rebel cavalry corps under General J. E. B. Stuart. We learned of their prefence in an odd way. The fkirmifhers were fpread acrofs the country, and moved ftraight ahead, defpite of fences, barn-yards, woods, or anything elfe. It proved that one of Stuart's captains took advantage of his being in the neighborhood of his home to ride over and fee his family, and whilft enjoying his vifit the cry was fuddenly raifed that the Yankee cavalry were coming. To avoid capture he rufhed into the thick pine woods near the houfe and climbed a tree, feeling fure that we would ride by and never fee him. A bright-eyed youth of the Sixth happening to direct his glances that way, he was ordered to withdraw from his undignified and unwarlike pofition. A more fullen, uncommunicative rebel was never gobbled. We were approaching Yel- low Tavern, the interfection of the plank road from Hanover and the turnpike.
When, on the evening of May 9th, General Lee dif- covered that Sheridan was off for a raid in his rear with a powerful force, he at once difpatched General Stuart in purfuit, to take care of us as beft he might. By dint of forced marches he overtook us here; but no fooner was Sheridan well affured of the pofition of affairs than he ordered up Cufter's and Davies' brigades to fupport the advance, and then at the word of command the divi-
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SHERIDAN'S RAID.
1864. fion charged, capturing two guns, numerous prifoners, May 11th. and killing General Stuart, Colonel Piatt, and others of lefs note,-thus opening the road to Richmond, and warning the rebels to be careful how they placed them- felves acrofs the path of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
The command remained near Yellow Tavern until midnight, and then moved on towards Richmond. A reg- iment of Davies' brigade pufhed down to the very gates of the city, but, finding them well guarded, waited for day- light. The night was very wet and dark, the road choked with the column, and the march flow and painful. Sud- denly we heard three explofions in front, and fuppofed that the artillery of the Richmond fortifications had opened upon the advance ; but it turned out that the rebels had planted torpedoes in the road, with wires ingenioufly at- tached, for the horfes to trip over. Three had been thus exploded, killing feveral horfes of Sheridan's efcort, the General himfelf, and fome of his ftaff, narrowly efcaping. The rebel prifoners in our hands were forth- with fet to work to dig them up, and thefe particular reprefentatives of the chivalry agreed with us that it was an ignoble fyftem of warfare.
Daylight came at laft, and an examination proved that though we were within the outer line of fortifica- tions, Richmond was too ftrong for us, fo the column was turned off to the left towards Mechanicfville. Gen- eral Wilfon with the 3d divifion had the advance, and pufhed boldly on towards the Chickahominy, having been affured by the guide he had picked up that the road led outfide the rebel line of works.
245
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
He found to his coft that it did not, for his advance 1864. came fuddenly upon the fortifications of Richmond, and the enemy opened upon them with artillery, throwing his command into confufion. Gregg, with the 2d divifion, was ordered to fupport Wilfon, whilft the Ift was maffed to await developments. The rebels feemed to think they had us where they wanted us, for about 10 o'clock there fallied out a divifion of infantry, with the amiable intention of bagging us all. With them came a newf- boy from Richmond, who fneaked into our lines and fold us the morning papers, in which we read that Prefident Davis in perfon, and General Bragg, then General-in- chief of the Confederacy, had taken the field againft us ; that we were furrounded, cornered ; that not a man of us fhould efcape. The occafion was certainly full of intereft ; and there may have been, that wet, muddy, cheerlefs morning of the 12th of May, fome of Sheri- May 12th. dan's bold riders who did not fee their way very clearly out of the fcrape. The General did not feem to be of the number, however, for finding, after a fpirited, ftub- born fight, that Gregg and Wilfon could hold their lines againft the attack of the rebel infantry, the Ift divifion was ordered to open the road acrofs Meadow Bridge, a little more to our left. This was an exceedingly awk- ward thing to do, for the enemy had deftroyed the bridge, and were in ftrong force acrofs the road on the other fide. General Merritt promptly difmounted all of the divifion but three regiments, and the men toiled painfully acrofs the broken bridge, forming in line of battle in the fwamp be- yond, whilft the pioneers repaired the bridge as well as they could with fence-rails and fuch means as were at hand.
246
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
1864.
All being prepared, the charge was founded, and the difmounted regiments rufhed on the rebels, whilft a mounted column, led by Colonel Gibbs, confifting of the Ift New York Dragoons, 5th United States Cavalry, and 6th Pennfylvania Cavalry, croffed the bridge and charged along the caufeway beyond. This was a fear- ful moment, for the road was but twelve feet wide, bor- dered on both fides by deep fwamps, and nearly a mile long, and could have been fwept by the enemy's artillery. Had they fought with any fpirit our lofs muft have been frightful. But we found we were fighting our opponents of the IIth, and they had not forgotten Yellow Tavern. After a moderate refiftance, which inflicted confiderable lofs upon us, however, for the ground was greatly againft us, they took to their horfes and difappeared.
The Referve Brigade was now ordered ahead to Me- chanicfville, which they held until the reft of the com- mand came up, when they pufhed out again and ftruck the rebel cavalry. The enemy was at once driven half a mile or more, when the column turned to the right, and made for Cold Harbor. All three divifions of the cavalry corps had thus been engaged at once, but after beating off the enemy in rear, and brufhing away the obftacles in front, we moved fteadily along, and went into camp near Cold Harbor at 9 o'clock P.M., in a drenching rain, as wet, tired, and uncomfortable as it is permitted man to be.
May 13th, Friday, 13th, we moved without moleftation to Bot- tom's Bridge, where, finding the bridge deftroyed, we went into camp until it could be repaired. We had now quite exhaufted our rations and forage, and fent off foraging parties into the adjoining country. They re-
247
SHERIDAN'S RAID.
turned empty-handed, for the moft part, for it is a 1864. wretched country, and had not been improved by the campaign in 1862. Neither his excellency the Prefident of the Confederacy, nor his General-in-chief, difturbed us, and the command was quite as much at home within twelve miles of Richmond as we ever found ourfelves on the "facred foil."
The following morning, May 14th, we croffed the May 14th.' Chickahominy and moved down through White Oak Swamp to Malvern Hill and Hackfall's. Never were tired men and horfes more delighted to leave the doubt- ful regions of the hated Chickahominy and reach terra firma. As the head of the column approached the James River the gunboats fent a few fhells after them, but our fignal officers foon made it apparent who we were, to our mutual fatisfaction. How the hungry jaded horfes did fort as we went into camp in a clover field on Malvern Hill, and fhake themfelves when their fad- dles were removed for the first time in feveral days.
That night, the Sixth Pennfylvania Cavalry was fent on picket, to keep their hands in. The regiment ftarted at 9 o'clock that black fummer night (black as tar, as Sergeant Wagner very properly faid), to find a road that no one in the command knew anything of. This road led to Carter's Mill, where we arrived about midnight. From here the commanding officer was ordered to run a line of videttes acrofs the country to a houfe three miles off, where fomebody elfe's pickets were to be found. To march acrofs a well-wooded, well-watered, well- ditched rolling new country, as the crow flies, on a night when the men could not fee their file-leaders, was flow
248
NEWMARKET-WHITE HOUSE.
1864. work, and it was long after daylight when the line was eftablifhed.
We returned to camp at Malvern Hill on the evening May 15th. of May 15th, and were awakened from our fleep at May 16th. daylight of the 16th by the found of diftant artillery. This was Beauregard pitching into Butler, on the fouth fide of the James, which ended in the thrafhing of the. latter, and his being bottled up in Bermuda Hundred.
That afternoon our brigade went out with an enter- prifing ftaff-officer of Butler's on a reconnoiffance to- wards Richmond, to look up fome imaginary works of the enemy near Newmarket, but finding none we re- turned to camp.
May 17th.
At 10 o'clock P.M. of the 17th, we broke camp and marched all night. At daylight a halt was ordered at Pleafant Hill for two hours, when we again moved for- ward to within three miles of the White Houfe, where we halted for feveral hours, to feed and reft both men and horfes. In the afternoon we marched to Baltimore Store, and at 5 o'clock P.M. went into camp.
May 19th.
On the 19th, Captain Leiper was fent out with the regiment on a reconnoiffance. He proceeded to within four miles of Cold Harbor, where he encountered the pickets of the enemy. After a fharp fkirmifh with a rebel brigade, and developing a fuperior force of the enemy, he returned to the main command and reported the prefence and force of the enemy.
May 20th. On the 20th, General Cufter was fent on a recon- noiffance towards Afhland Station; General Gregg being fent at the fame time towards Hanover Station.
May 2 Ift. On the 21ft, we marched to the White Houfe and
WHITE CHIMNEYS. 249
encamped on the Pamunkey. We were engaged in re- 1864. pairing the bridge over the river at this point until near night on the 22d, when we croffed and went into camp. May 22d.
We left camp at daybreak on the fucceeding morning and marched fteadily all day, paffing through King Wil- liam's Court-houfe, halting at 5 o'clock P.M. at Aylette's, on the Mattapony, oppofite Dunkirk.
We refumed the march early the next morning, moving May 24th. flowly all day ; halted at night near White Chimneys. Our regiment picketed that night between our column and the army under General Meade, the latter being within a few miles of us without our knowledge.
We moved early on the 25th, and near Chefterfield May 25th. Station paffed within the lines of the army, and were re- joiced to receive our mails and full rations, having been abfent from army headquarters and our mail communi- cations for three weeks.
On Friday, May 20th, began another grand flank . movement by the Army of the Potomac. About noon, a portion of our cavalry force advanced to Downer's Bridge, about a mile fouthweft of Guinea Station, where their further progrefs was oppofed by rebel cavalry. The 5th New York Cavalry charged the enemy, who fled before them. They pufhed on fouth to Bowling Green. At Milford Station they fcattered a force of the enemy, capturing feventy cavalrymen.
At midnight on the fame day the 2d Corps followed on the road opened by the cavalry, and arrived at Mil- ford Station at 3 P.M. on Saturday.
On the 2 1ft, General Hancock croffed the Mattapony at Milford Bridge, and, forming in line of battle, ad-
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250
NORTH AND SOUTH ANNA RIVERS.
1864. vanced a fhort diftance, when a terrific fire was opened upon him from fome twenty pieces of artillery. The troops were drawn under fhelter, and after a harmlefs fhelling of about two hours, the enemy withdrew.
On the 23d, they croffed the North Anna at Jericho Ford about 5 o'clock in the evening ; foon after croffing they were attacked, and a fevere battle raged until dark, when the enemy withdrew.
Our entire army was now between the North and South Anna Rivers, and within twenty-five miles of Richmond.
May 26th. Our divifion left camp at noon on the 26th, and marched rapidly until dark, making a march of twenty- five miles. We then halted for two hours, prepared our fupper, fed our horfes, and then moved on to the Pamunkey, going into bivouac at Edwards' Ferry, throwing out our pickets along the river and to the rear. May 27th. As foon as it was light, we difcovered the pickets of the enemy on the oppofite fhore. General Cufter was foon ordered to crofs the river, which he did, under a heavy fire. He drove the enemy back from the river about three miles, where they made a ftand, and a fevere fight enfued, refulting in their being driven from their pofition and again forced to retreat. Cufter captured about fixty prifoners. We bivouacked for the night on the field of the morning's engagement, the killed and wounded of the enemy falling into our hands ; the dead were properly buried and the wounded cared for.
May 28th.
On the 28th, we were relieved at Hanovertown Ford on the Pamunkey, by the 2d and 5th Corps, when we moved to the left toward Hanover Court-houfe. Near
251
HAWES'S SHOP.
Hawes's Shop we ftruck the rebel lines, and immediately 1864. an engagement opened with great vigor.
Generals Gregg and Cufter, on the right and centre, fought defperately, and fuffered more heavily than did our divifion on the left. General Gregg found the ene- my ftrongly entrenched in a thick woods, and having heavy guns mounted in pofition, and with every advan- tage on their fide. The fight raged with great fury, Gen- eral Gregg continuing the unequal conteft bravely from noon until near 2 o'clock, when General Cufter came up to his affiftance ; he formed his fquadrons in line, and a general charge was ordered upon the enemy's works. Moft nobly did they rufh upon the enemy's guns through a ftorm of grape and canifter and mufket-balls, and many a brave fellow fell in this daring affault ; but the enemy yielded, and were forced to abandon the field, and fled in great confufion, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands, befides over one hundred prifoners.
Our regiment was fent to operate upon the left flank of the enemy ; as we advanced and preffed clofe upon their lines, they opened upon us with canifter from two guns, which checked us. About 5 o'clock we were joined by the 19th New York Cavalry, when we again charged difmounted, and drove the enemy back about a mile and a half.
Late that night we returned to Hanovertown Ferry, paffing through our own infantry camps.
We left camp at noon on the 29th, marching until 6 May 29th. P.M., when we halted on Colonel Ruffin's farm and went into bivouac in a magnificent clover-field, the headquarters of the regiment being eftablifhed under a
250
BATTLE AT BETHESDA CHURCH.
1864.
very large and beautiful oak tree in the centre of the field.
At this time, the entire army was fuccefsfully acrofs the Pamunkey, and formed in a line fronting to the fouthweft and extending about three miles from the river. The lines were moved cautioufly forward, as an attack was momentarily expected from General Lee ; but in this they were miftaken, for no enemy appeared, and the only firing during the day was by a reconnoitring party towards Hawes's Shop.
May 30th.
On Monday, the 30th, Lee's army was afcertained to be on the Mechanicfville Road fouth of the Tolopa- tomy Creek Road, between that ftream and Hawes's Shop, their right refting on Shady Grove Church.
General Warren's Corps was the firft to meet the enemy ; he reached Shady Grove Church about 2 o'clock P.M., and began fkirmifhing, but was foon after with- drawn to the Mechanicfville Road, where the men threw up long earthworks. Near fundown the whole of Ewell's rebel corps emerged from the woods, formed in three lines, and advanced to the charge. Scarcely had they ftarted before a fevere crofs-fire was opened upon them, which changed their courfe fomewhat; but ftill they preffed on towards a fence and fome bufhes that concealed our rifle-pits and men from their view. They came up to that line in excellent order, when our whole line opened upon them a crufhing fire of mufketry, while the artillery poured in canifter and one-fecond fufe fhells. Their repulfe was inftantaneous and complete ; thofe who were not killed or wounded of the firft line
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BATTLE AT BETHESDA CHURCH.
threw themfelves upon the ground and furrendered, the 1864. other lines precipitately fled.
May 30th.
General Hancock made an attack juft before dark, in which he was fuccefsful in capturing the rifle-pits of the enemy, which he held all night, notwithftanding the many efforts made to diflodge him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST.
Battles at Old Church and Cold Harbor-Bottom Bridge- Raid on the Virginia Central Railroad-Battles at Trevil- lian Station-Return March to the White House.
1864. May 30th.
G T ENERAL TORBETT, commanding the Ift Divifion of Cavalry, met the enemy near Old Church on the 30th, about noon. Colonel Devin's pickets were attacked and driven in by a heavy force. General Merritt was fent forward with the Referve Brigade, and a battery of Napoleon guns, when the ad- vance of the enemy was checked. A fevere battle en- fued, continuing until after dark. The Sixth Pennfyl- vania was fent in on the left of the line, and charged the rebel flank ; a hand to hand encounter followed, in which our brave boys fought with defperation, though lofing heavily. Captain Charles L. Leiper, commanding the regiment, was feverely wounded, and Lieutenant Martin inftantly killed. Captain Clark affumed command, and being joined by General Cufter on the right, a general charge was ordered, when the rebels were fwept before our refiftlefs fquadrons. They fled precipitately on all parts of the field, leaving a large number of dead and wounded and prifoners in our hands. Charles W. Hor- ner and Thomas Whalley of the Sixth Pennfylvania,
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