USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 18
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" Very refpectfully,
"P. H. SHERIDAN, " Major-General Commanding."
Our regiment avoided the detail for this unpleafant duty, and marched in rear of the deftroyers, who, ftretched in long line acrofs the Valley, did their work thoroughly. We reached Berryville by 6 o'clock P. M., and went into camp about two miles out of the town, on the Snicker's Gap Pike.
The day had been an unpleafant one; the weather was hot and the roads very dufty, and the grief of the inhabitants, as they faw their harvefts difappearing in flame and fmoke, and their ftock being driven off, was
·
287
SAD SCENES IN BERRYVILLE.
a fad fight. It was a phafe of warfare we had not feen 1864. , before, and though we admitted its neceffity, we could not but fympathize with the fufferers.
For feveral days, now, we had not feen any of our infantry ; but, on the 18th, on our march to Berryville, Aug. 18th. we met the Sixth Corps coming through the town, with a quick fwinging ftep and their ranks clofed, which denoted work in fome quarter. The army was falling back.
We moved through Berryville and took up a pofition on the Winchefter Pike, where we ftood to horfe all day, anxioufly awaiting developments. It was a dull and rainy day, and it feemed almoft endlefs. The ruins of our burnt train were the only objects of intereft near us, and they were not very agreeable ones, as they only re- minded us that if they had not been fo burnt, we fhould not have been, as we were, out of rations.
The following day brought little change for us until Aug. 19th. the evening, when we received fupplies for man and horfe, and a mail, which was very acceptable: There were fad «fcenes in Berryville this day and the next. Mofeby and his men, in retaliation for our deftruction of the crops, had killed a number of his prifoners, and had given us to underftand he would continue fo to do. To ftop this work, all the males of age in Berryville had been taken as hoftages, to the great diftrefs of their families.
At 3 o'clock P. M. on the 20th, we ftarted to run a Aug. 20th picket line, to join Cufter at Berryville, with the in- fantry on our left, and remained on picket until noon of the day following, when we fell back toward Charlef- Aug. 21ft
r
288
WITHDRAWAL TO HALLTOWN.
1864. town. The enemy, who had been marching almoft parallel with us on the weft fide of the Opequan, now : threw a heavy force acrofs that ftream at Smithfield, drove in our cavalry pickets, and advanced as far as the picket line of the Sixth Corps near Flowing Springs, which being a heavy one, fuccefsfully refifted the attack after a very fevere fkirmifh. In found of this fighting, and anxious as to its refults, our divifion retired by bri- gades in echelon on the Berryville and Charleftown Pike, and reached Charleftown about 9 o'clock P. M., going into line of battle on the plain northeaft of the town, and remaining faddled all night. The infantry during the night fell back to Halltown.
Aug. 22d.
The morning of the 22d opened with a fkirmifh be- tween our cavalry pickets and the enemy, who had pufhed up to our pofition, but they made no attack.
At 5 o'clock A. M. we ftarted for Shepherdftown, and arrived at 9 o'clock A. M. without meeting any oppofi- tion. There we remained faddled all day in line, on a limeftone ridge outfide of the town, waiting the ap- proach of the enemy, who did not make his appearance.
Company " A," of our regiment, which had been on duty at General Torbert's headquarters, was muftered Aug. 24th. out on the 24th, and thofe of its members whofe term of fervice had not yet expired, rejoined the regiment.
Aug. 25th. On the morning of the 25th, General Merritt's and General Wilfon's divifions of cavalry were ordered to attack the enemy's cavalry at Kearneyfville, on the Balti- more and Ohio Railroad. We left camp at 6 A. M., and marched unoppofed acrofs the railroad weft of the fta- tion. About II o'clock A. M., Cufter's brigade in the
289
SKIRMISH AT KEARNEYSVILLE.
advance came, very unexpectedly to both fides, upon the 1864. rebel infantry in large force, marching toward Shepherdf- town ; a fevere fkirmifh followed, and proved the enemy to be too ftrong for us, and we withdrew flowly toward the Potomac. The enemy followed us ftep by ftep with great tenacity as far as Shepherdftown, and there fucceeded in ifolating Cufter's brigade, and forcing him acrofs the ford to the north fide of the Potomac. We continued falling back from Shepherdftown towards our infantry lines at Halltown, the enemy marching acrofs the country and haraffing our flanks until night ended this hard day's work, and we went into camp a few miles from Harper's Ferry on the river road to Shepherdf- town.
On the night of the 26th, the enemy left our front Aug. 26th. and removed his infantry back to Bunker Hill, leaving his cavalry at Smithfield and Leetown, fo that the two armies were, on the 27th, in almoft the fame pofition they were in when this campaign opened on the 10th.
37
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH.
Engagements at Leetown and Smithfield-Regiment ordered to Pleasant Valley to be muftered out-Death of Surgeon John B. Coover.
1864. Aug. 28th. O N the morning of the 28th, a new advance was begun by the whole army. The infantry was moved in front of Charleftown, while our cavalry divifion was ordered to attack the rebel cavalry at Leetown, on the Winchefter and Shepherdftown pike. Before leav- ing camp the men of " B" company, whofe term of fer- vice had expired, were fent to Harper's Ferry to be muf- tered out.
We marched without oppofition paft Duffield Station to within a fhort diftance of Leetown, where the 2d U. S. Cavalry, which had the advance, came upon the en- emy. They were too ftrong for the 2d to handle alone, and they fent to General Merritt for affiftance. Major Starr was then ordered with the 6th Pennfylvania to fup- port the 2d, and taking command of the advance to pufh on up the pike towards Smithfield. As foon as we had joined the 2d Cavalry, Major Starr fent Captain Mor- row, of the 6th Pennfylvania, with his fquadron to the left acrofs the country in hopes of getting in rear of the rebels, and then ordered the 2d and 6th forward. The enemy did not wait for us, but retreated precipitately up
291
ENGAGEMENT AT SMITHFIELD.
the pike, we following for a mile or more. A halt was 1864. then made and word fent to General Merritt, who at once came up to our pofition.
The divifion then advanced fteadily up the turnpike, General Cufter's brigade on the right ; Colonel Devins' brigade, temporarily commanded by Colonel De Cefnola, on the left, and the Referve brigade, under Colonel Gibbs, in the centre, on the pike. We pufhed the en- emy, who offered no real refiftance, until we came within two miles of Smithfield, when the 5th U. S. Cavalry, now leading the Referve brigade on the road, charged them with the fabre, and drove them in confu- fion, capturing a number of prifoners of Bradley John- fon's command. In this charge Lieutenant Hoyer of the 5th was killed.
The character of the country prevented us from reap- ing the full advantage of this charge. The ftone wall fences delayed our movements through the fields, fo that the troops on the flanks could not keep up with thofe in the road, and thus the enemy got away from us for a while.
This charge fomewhat diforganized our advance, and that no time fhould be loft our regiment again took the lead.
The rebels made their laft ftand on the hills between Smithfield and the Opequan, leaving their fkirmifhers in the town and fweeping the road with their artillery, which was admirably well ferved. But their attention was foon taken from the road by one of our batteries, which was promptly put into pofition, and which was intended to keep them bufy until Cufter, who had gone,
292
SKIRMISH ON THE OPEQUAN.
1864. under cover of the woods, to the right, could ftrike them in flank and cut off their retreat acrofs the Opequan. The firft fhot from Cufter's fkirmifh line warned them of their danger, and they retreated in hafte to the weft fide of the ftream at the very moment we were about to charge them, leaving us in poffeffion of the town and the heights, upon which the divifion was now formed to await further developments. But the fun was fetting, and darknefs coming on, we bivouacked for the night without change of pofition.
Aug. 29th. At dawn we faddled up and foon after opened the day's work by a reconnoiffance by Cufter's brigade on the weft fide of the Opequan. His column marched over the bridge and difappeared in the woods beyond.
We had not to wait long before we heard the founds of a brifk fkirmifh apparently favorable to us, for a few prifoners came in and the founds became fainter. An hour or more paffed when Cufter's column appeared coming back, and before we could learn the refults of the reconnoiffance, the enemy opened on us with feveral pieces of artillery, throwing canifter in a moft recklefs manner among our horfes and men, who being entirely expofed on the hills furnifhed a fair target. The mo- mentary confufion was foon brought into order, the horfes were led behind the hills, and part of each brigade was deployed on foot to meet the expected attack, which foon came.
Cufter, as had been invariably the cafe for the laft year, had driven the rebel cavalry to the cover of his infantry, and now the infantry had come out to offer battle. They advanced fteadily to a ford not far below the bridge over
293
SMITHFIELD.
the Opequan, and attacked the 19th New York and our 1864. regiment holding that part of the line. They were too Aug. 29th, ftrong for us, and driving us from the ford, croffed in large force, endeavouring to turn our left. A fevere fkir- mifh now began, which lafted all of that long day. Inch by inch we difputed the advance, taking advantage of every tree, fence, or elevation to make a ftand, but we could not hold them in check. Before noon our cart- ridges were exhaufted, and frefh ammunition was fent for, which was diftributed by mounted men with great
difficulty and danger. Driven into Smithfield, we held the town for a time, but here De Cefnola unaccount- ably withdrew his brigade from our left, leaving a fair opening for the enemy, who at once took advantage of it, and attacking us in flank, forced us to retire. Once out of the town the enemy opened his artillery on us with moft uncomfortable accuracy. The ammunition was now again exhaufted, and we were retiring over an open field, partly ploughed, eagerly preffed by the en- emy, when General Merritt and ftaff rode up to Major Starr. "Is this your regiment ?" faid the General. " Yes, fir," was the reply ; " my men are out of ammu- nition, and well-nigh exhaufted ; our left is entirely ex- pofed; you can fee the rebels clofing on us through that cornfield." "Turn about," faid the General, "you muft make a ftand ; ufe your piftols, if you have no car- bine ammunition." The command was at once faced to the front again, and with a cheer advanced to a ftone wall and fence between us and the enemy. But we could not ftay there. Cufter on our right was falling back, and we had either to do the fame or be captured.
294
DEATH OF DR. RULISON.
1864. Word was fent to Colonel Gibbs, commanding the bri- Aug. 29th. gade, that our men were exhaufted and if not relieved would be made prifoners, and the 2d Cavalry was de- ployed mounted to keep the enemy occupied while we difmounted, paffed through their files to the rear, to our horfes. This was no eafy matter, for the enemy was fhelling us vigoroufly and preffing on their infantry lines. Twice the 2d Cavalry was driven back, but the third time we fucceeded in getting infide of their line, and reaching our horfes, mounted them, with the feeling of intenfe relief and comparative fecurity. It was in this laft ftruggle that Ift Sergeant Staley, of "M" company, a moft gallant foldier, was mortally wounded ; his com- rades tried their beft to carry him with them to the rear, but they were forced to leave him, and he fell into the hands of the enemy. The whole divifion now fell back about half a mile, where we met the head of General Rickett's Divifion of the 6th Corps of infantry coming to our affiftance, and with them General Sheridan and ftaff, all of whom were welcomed moft heartily.
The generals at once met in council, but did not take into account the near prefence of the enemy, who fired into the group and killed Dr. Rulifon, Medical Director of the Cavalry.
The new difpofitions were promptly made. The in- fantry took the left of the road leading from Charlef- town to Smithfield, on which we had been retreating, our brigade the right, fkirmifhers and fupports being in line, and the generals in the centre, on the road, with their ftaffs and efcorts. The 2d U. S. Cavalry formed the fkirmifh line, the 19th U. S. Dragoons and the 6th Pennfylvania the
295
SERGEANT STALEY.
line of battle of the cavalry. Thus we advanced through 1864. the woods, the enemy retiring with little oppofition, which Aug. 29th. difappointed us, for we felt ready to cope with them now, and confident that we could return with intereft what we had been receiving all day. The men manœuvred ad- mirably in forming column to get through breaches in the ftone walls, and reforming line when the obftructions were paffed. They were in fine fpirits, for they had re- ceived unqualified praife from General Merritt for the day's work, and were confcious that it had been well done. Near Smithfield a body of rebel cavalry made a fhow of refiftance, but being charged by the 2d U. S., quickly retired to the weft fide of the Opequan. Thus we recovered all the ground we had loft during the day. The body of Sergeant Staley was found where his com- rades had left him ; it was lifelefs, and had been ftripped of all but the underclothing. Pickets of our divifion were left at the Smithfield bridge, and we marched feve- ral miles towards Charleftown, and went into camp. Our lofs in this engagement was two killed and fixteen wounded.
This day is one of the moft memorable in our hiftory, for it was the laft time that the original regiment met and fought the enemy.
As our men and officers had been muftered individu- ally, we had no date of regimental mufter, and claimed to be difcharged at the expiration of individual terms of fervice. This was practically impoffible in the front, while active operations were going on ; and as we were lofing, by killed and wounded in every fight, men who had already ferved their terms well and faithfully, we now applied to
296
PLEASANT VALLEY.
1864. be fent to Pleafant Valley, to mufter out thofe entitled to discharge, and reorganize the regiment upon the nucleus compofed of thofe who had re-enlifted, the '62 men, and fuch few recruits as we had received from time to time.
Aug. 30th. On the 30th, Major Starr was ordered to Wafhington, to replace, as far as practicable, from copies, the papers deftroyed by Mofeby's attack on our train, leaving the command of the regiment to Captain C. L. Leiper. In the afternoon of the 30th, the regiment moved with the divifion to Berryville, and from then to the 8th of September was employed on picket duty or on fcout and reconnoiffance, firft on the left of the army toward White Poft, and then on the right toward the Opequan.
Our army was now holding a line from Clifton to Berryville, the enemy being in pofition on the weft bank of the Opequan, about fix miles from Clifton. The object of thefe frequent fcouts was to hold all the coun- try between our lines and the creek.
Sept. 6th. On the 6th, Captain C. L. Leiper was muftered as Major.
Sept. 8th. On the 8th, our application to be fent to Pleafant Val- ley was returned granted, and at 2 P. M. we ftarted in company with the 2d Maryland Cavalry, and arrived Sept. 9th. that night. The following day Major Leiper, by Gen- eral Sheridan's orders, took command of the Remount Camp, turning over the regiment to Captain Clarke. Several days were paffed in turning over our horfes, arms, and equipments to the feveral depots, and in drawing the camp equipage neceffary for a permanent camp. We had hardly eftablifhed ourfelves on a beautiful hillfide, on the weftern flope of the Valley, when Major Starrreturned
297
A REMOUNT CAMP.
from Wafhington and took command of the Remount Camp, relieving Major Leiper, who rejoined the regiment.
1864.
A remount camp is a rendezvous for all ftraggling cavalrymen, whether coming from the front with worn- out horfes, or returning to duty from hofpitals, or arriv- ing as recruits. Every cavalry foldier looking for a reft- ing-place goes to Remount Camp ; there he knows that if he wants to go he will be fent to his regiment, and if he wants to fkulk he has a better chance there than any- where elfe ; if a recruit, he goes there fimply becaufe he is fent. Connected with this camp was a large cor- ral of horfes, an ordnance and a clothing depot, and a commiffariat of courfe. There were always from 1000 to 1500 men in the camp, made up of fquads and indi- viduals from every cavalry regiment in the Eaftern army. And though in the month that Major Starr commanded it, over 1500 men were fent to the front, well mounted and completely equipped and re-clothed, new-comers filled their places. The command of fuch a camp was no finecure. To preferve in it fuch difcipline as our regiment was accuftomed to, was an impoffibility with the means at hand. Fearing the ef- fects of its evil example on our men, Major Starr moved our camp a mile further up the Valley, where it re- mained until the 15th of November, the officers and men being muftered out as their feveral terms expired, and a ftrong recruiting party being fent to Philadelphia.
The news of the fplendid victories of General Sheri- dan came promptly to our camp and was received with the greateft enthufiafm. But our joy was moderated when the lift of cafualties was reported, and efpecially
38
298
DEATH OF SURGEON COOVER.
1864. when we heard that Dr. Coover, who had been our fur- geon, was lying mortally wounded at Sandy Hook Hof- pital, two miles below us.
SURGEON JOHN B. COOVER was born in Cumberland County, Pennfylvania, January 20th, 1834. In his medical ftudies he entered the office of Dr. Ira Day, of Mechanicfburg, and graduated from the . Jefferfon Medical College in Philadelphia, in March, 1857. In the fpring of 1862 he entered the fervice as affiftant fur- geon in the 46th Pennfylvania Infantry. In confequence of faithfulnefs in field fervice and attention to our fick and wounded while a prifoner in Libby, he was promo- ted to furgeon, and in December was transferred to the 6th Pennfylvania Cavalry, which then had a vacancy in that pofition. During his connection with the Referve Cavalry Brigade, compofed of the Ift, 2d, 5th, and 6th U. S., and the 6th Pennfylvania and 19th New York Cavalry regiments, he acted as chief medical officer of the brigade for more than a year.
A fhort time previous to his death, he had been ap- pointed Medical Infpector of the Middle Military Divi- fion, under General Sheridan. The term of fervice of the regiment having expired, he had expected to be muf- tered out alfo, and to accept an appointment in the Sur- geon-General's Office of Pennfylvania ; with orders on his perfon for mufter out, he generoufly ftayed at Win- chefter when the regiment was ordered to the rear, that he might affift in taking care of the wounded in Sheri- dan's brilliant fight.
When the prefs of work was over, he left for Har-
299
DEATH OF SURGEON COOVER.
per's Ferry, on the 26th of September, in company with 1864. Surgeon-General Phillips of Pennfylvania. Between. Charleftown and Halltown they were attacked by guer- illas, who fired upon them from both fides of the road. The fmall guard that was fent with them for protection being recruits, were fo frightened that they did not re- turn a fingle fhot. The entire company attempted to efcape by flight, and when nearly beyond range of the enemy, and by the laft fhot fired, Dr. Coover received a mortal wound in the abdomen, the ball paffing through his body ; he kept his feat in the faddle, clinging to his horfe, until the purfuit ceafed, and the party came to our infantry picket lines, when an ambulance was fent for, and he was taken to Harper's Ferry, where his in- juries received attention at the hands of Dr. Phillips. The next morning he was removed to the hofpital at Sandy Hook.
From noon until the evening he had moments of con- fcioufnefs, in which he recognized Major Starr and Ma- jor Leiper, who were at his bedfide, but after funfet his mind wandered, his breathing became lefs regular, and about midnight he died, as peacefully as if paffing into fleep. He was buried at Cheftnut Hill Cemetery, near Mechanicfburg, Pennfylvania. Dr. Coover was always remarkable among us for his cheerful and buoyant fpirits,. which never feemed to fail him ; he was enthufiaftic in the caufe for which he gave up his life, and energetic and faithful in the performance of all the duties his dif- ferent pofitions prefented to him. His memory will ever be cherifhed by his fellow-officers of the 6th Pennfylva- nia Cavalry.
CHAPTER. TWENTY-SIXTH.
Record of Officers muftered out in 1864, and of Promotions and Changes omitted in the Narrative.
1864.
I N clofing this portion of our annals, which completes the ftory of the original regiment, there remains only to mention the fervices of thofe officers who were detached at different times from the regiment, and to fupply the omiffions in the military records of others, which have been made in the courfe of the narrative.
John H. McArthur, Captain 5th U. S. Cavalry, af- fifted in organizing the regiment, and was muftered as Lieutenant-Colonel, September 11th, 1861. He moved the firft detachment to Wafhington, and remained with the regiment until the end of March, 1862, when he was ordered back to the 5th U. S.
Charles Rofs Smith ferved in the three months' cam- paign of 1861, as Firft Lieutenant of "A" company (Wafhington Grays of Philadelphia), 17th Pennfylvania Infantry, Colonel F. E. Patterson. Joined the regiment as Captain of "A" company, which he recruited and or- ganized, and was muftered as its Captain, Auguft 27th, 1861. Promoted to Firft Major and muftered October Ift, 1861. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel vice Mc- Arthur, and muftered March 29th, 1862. Commanded the regiment at Harrifon's Landing, and during General
301
RECORD OF OFFICERS.
McClellan's retreat in 1862. Served with the regiment until the organization of the Cavalry Corps, when he was appointed Provoft Marfhal on the ftaff of General Stoneman, commanding the cavalry, February 15th, 1863. July 29th, 1863, was appointed Chief of Staff to General Pleafanton, who was put in General Stone- man's place. Served in that pofition until April 28th, 1864, when he was appointed Provoft Marfhal to Gen- eral Sheridan, then put in command of the cavalry, and filled the fame office in the Middle Military Divifion un- der the fame General until he was muftered out at the expiration of his term of fervice, October 2d, 1864, holding at the time the commiffion of Colonel of 6th Pennfylvania Cavalry, dated September 30th, 1863.
Henry C. Whelan ferved in the three months' campaign of 1861, as Firft Lieutenant of "F" company (Wafh- ington Grays of Philadelphia), 17th Pennfylvania Infan- try. Joined the regiment as Captain of "C" company, which he recruited and organized, and of which he was muftered Captain, September 10th, 1861. Promoted and muftered Major, February 10th, 1863. Major Whelan was with his command in moft of the engagements, raids, and marches, during the firft two years of the war. The expofure of the campaign of 1863 proved too great for his conftitution, which was never ftrong, and he was obliged to leave the field in the winter, foon after the Mine Run campaign. He never rejoined the regiment, but died of a pulmonary difeafe in Philadelphia, on the 2d of March, 1864. Major Whelan was diftinguifhed in the regiment for his foldierly qualities, his manly pref- ence, and courteous manners ; he was a ftrict difciplina-
1864.
302
RECORD OF OFFICERS.
1864. rian in camp and a brave and judicious leader in the field, a man in whom the war developed great thoughtfulnefs of character and earneftnefs of purpofe. He had before been obliged to take leave of abfence on account of ill health, and had returned to duty againft the advice of his phyfician and friends. His death was fincerely and deeply felt throughout the regiment, where he had won the efteem and refpect of all, and to which he left a con- fpicuous example of felf-facrifice and devotion to duty.
Benoni Lockwood, a graduate of the Univerfity of Pennfylvania, recruited and organized "H" company, and was muftered as its Captain, October 12th, 1861. He ferved faithfully with the regiment with this rank, commanding in feveral engagements, as has been before mentioned, until March 15th, 1864, when private rea- fons compelled him to refign. At the time of his refig- nation he held a Major's commiffion, bearing date Sep- tember 30th, 1863.
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