USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 3
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April 13th.
On the 13th, we moved about four miles to New- market Bridge, where we eftablifhed our camp, and while here, we were brigaded with the 8th Pennfylvania Cavalry.
CHAPTER FOURTH.
On the Peninsula-Newmarket-Yorktown-Morris's Farm -Ruffin's Farm-Reconnoifance-Hanover Court-boufe- Report of Colonel Rufb-Fair Oaks-Tunftall's Station- Stuart's Raid-Report by Colonel Rufh.
M ARCHED to Yorktown, where we went into 1862. camp. On the 5th, one fquadron was fent, under Major Morris, to Mulberry Point, on the James River, on a reconnoiffance. On the evening of the 6th, tidings were received of difafter to General Hooker's command at Williamfburg, and orders to hold the regi- ment in readinefs to move at a moment's notice. We faddled up and "ftood to horfe," all night, in a drench- ing rain. At daylight we unfaddled, picketed the horfes, and re-eftablifhed our camp. We remained in this vicinity, engaged in picket and fcout duty, until the 9th, when we left for Yorktown, to join General Emory's brigade, of which we had formed part fince March 29th. This was the fecond brigade of the Cavalry Divifion commanded by Brigadier General Philip St. George Cooke, and was known as the "Referve Brigade," compofed of the 5th and 6th United States, and 6th Pennfylvania Cavalry Regiments.
Our march on the IIth was impeded by wagon trains,
May 4th. May 5th.
44
ON THE PENINSULA.
1862. which completely filled the roads, and after moving a fhort diftance, we halted, and bivouacked for the night. Reveille founded at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 12th, and we again ftarted; the roads being clear, we made a good march, and near night joined the brigade at Barnfville.
May 13th.
Moved to near Cumberland, where we halted until the 15th, when we marched all day, and encamped at night upon a farm belonging to Captain Morris, of the rebel army. On the 17th, we left Morris's farm, and marched to within two miles of the White Houfe, and encamped in a field belonging to the Wafhington eftate.
May 18th.
Moved to the Richmond and York River Railroad. On the 20th, we marched about fix miles, and en- camped on Ruffin's farm, near the Pamunkey River, and five miles from Tunftall's Station. On the day follow- ing, after marching fome ten miles, we received inftruc- tions to make a reconnoiffance towards Richmond, with a view of capturing a body of rebel cavalry, faid to be hovering about the right flank of our army. We found no indication of their prefence in that direction, and we returned to the brigade after a march of twenty miles.
May 22d.
To-day, by order of General McClellan, we were de- tached from the Referve Brigade. Marched feven miles, and encamped near Old Church. Companies "A," "B," "E," "F," "G," and "K," were placed on picket duty near Newcaftle and Piping Tree Ferry.
May 23d.
Made a reconnoiffance with the Ift Connecticut Heavy Artillery and 5th New York Infantry (Colonel Dur- yea's Zouaves), all under command of Colonel Warren. We found indications of the prefence of the enemy, and
-
45
ON THE PENINSULA.
according to orders deftroyed the bridges on the Pamun- 1862. key. On the 24th, we moved cautioufly forward toward Hanover Court-houfe, where we difcovered the enemy in force, which we reported to General Fitz John Por- ter, and awaited orders.
On the 25th, the Fifth Corps advanced to Hanover May 25th. Court-houfe, our regiment accompanying. Lieutenant Leiper, in command of Company "C," charged the ad- vance cavalry picket of the enemy with the lance, and drove them precipitately upon their infantry fupport, when the company was withdrawn without being fol- lowed or attacked.
The battle of Hanover Court-houfe occurred on the May 27th. 27th. It had been learned by reconnoiffance, that the enemy were in ftrong force near the Court-houfe, threat- ening the right of our army, and General Fitz John Porter was fent out to clear the way in that direction for the further advance of our army. General Emory firft became engaged with the enemy about noon; reinforce- ments arrived promptly upon the field, and our whole line fteadily advanced upon the enemy, driving them from one pofition to another, until they were totally de- feated. Their camps fell into our hands, with one piece of artillery, caiffons, a large number of arms, and two trains of cars filled with ftores and quartermafter's property.
The lofs of the enemy was eftimated in killed, 200; wounded and prifoners, 730. Our lofs did not exceed 50 killed, and 300 wounded and miffing.
This expedition diflodged the enemy from our right,
46
THE SIXTH.
1862. and cut off direct communication from the rebel capital, by railroad, with Frederickfburg and Gordonfville, and was regarded as ably conducted, and reflecting great credit upon the officers commanding.
This was the firft engagement in which any part of our regiment was recognized as being a participant, and is fo mentioned in the report of Colonel Rufh to Gover- nor Curtin.
May 27th.
The 6th regiment was fent on the extreme right of the advance, and by its active demonftrations in that quarter, ferved to diftract the attention of the enemy from our main infantry column. We were under fire much of the day, but no opportunity offered for the regi- ment to be ufed in the charge. We moved forward to Hanover Court-houfe, thence to a bridge croffing the Pamunkey River, which we completely deftroyed. On this purfuit we captured a large number of prifoners. Reports were received of heavy reinforcements to the enemy, and a fevere engagement going on, and at 6 o'clock P.M. orders were received to return. We re- joined our infantry late in the evening, and bivouacked in a large wheat field, two miles from Hanover Court- houfe. During the day Lieutenant J. N. Dickfon, com- manding the advance guard, confifting of Company "A," fucceeded in capturing a company of North Carolina infantry of fixty men, with their officers. Private Brady, of Company "A," captured a rebel officer in a bold and daring manner.
The following report was made to Governor Curtin, of the operations of the regiment about this date:
47
REPORT OF COLONEL RUSH.
"HEADQUARTERS SIXTH PENN'A CAVALRY, NEW BRIDGE, VA., May 31st, 1862.
" To his Excellency A. G. Curtin, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania :
"I have the honor to report to you, as Governor of the State of Pennfyl- vania, the active duty my regiment has been doing, knowing you would like to learn what all your Pennfylvania regiments, in the Army of the Potomac, are doing in the way of active fervice.
" We were detached from the Referve Brigade of Cavalry on the 22d of May, by order of General McClellan, to make a reconnoiffance along the Pamunkey River, from Piping Tree Ferry to Hanover Town Ferry. We had three fquadrons on picket at thefe ferries, the balance of the regiment was ufed for fcouting. We found on the 23d inftant, the enemy were very ftrong at Hanover Court-houfe, and immediately fent word to General Por- ter, upon which information General Porter ordered us to deftroy the ferries and bridges along the Pamunkey, which the fquadrons picketed along the river inftantly did. On the morning of the 24th, the fquadrons that were on picket were ordered to move towards Hanover Court-houfe, and feel the enemy, which we did at daybreak, and found their firft pickets about five miles from the Court-houfe, which our advance guard drove in, as well as their other pickets, to within three miles of Hanover Court-houfe, where they found the enemy were in fuch ftrong numbers they halted, and finally returned to the regiment. This information was immediately conveyed to General Porter, who concluded to fend a force to capture them, if poffible.
"On the morning of the 27th, we marched towards Hanover Court- houfe on the right to attract the enemy's attention, while General Porter brought up his force on the left and rear, the fuccefs of which you, of courfe, know.
"The regiment was under fire here for the first time, and all the officers and men behaved moft gallantly. We followed up the retreat of the enemy, and captured eighty men and two commiffioned officers, and alfo burned the bridge on the Pamunkey to the rear of Hanover Court-houfe.
"On the morning of the 30th, we were ordered to fend three fquadrons to make a reconnoiffance towards Afhland, and burn the railroad bridge at that place, if the enemy were not too ftrong. We found feveral of their cavalry pickets on the road, which retired before us. We captured eight men and horfes belonging to the 4th Virginia Cavalry, and entered Afhland without any refiftance, the enemy having left for Richmond by railroad the night
1862. May.
48
FAIR OAKS.
1862. before. We burned the railroad bridge here as directed, and returned to our camp, where we found orders to move to New Bridge, and join the Referve Brigade of Cavalry. This ten days' fcout was a very hard one, though we loft no men. Thirty-four horfes were killed or maimed.
"R. H. RUSH, "Colonel Commanding Lancers."
May 30th. Our force was pufhed forward to Fair Oaks, and the fouth fide of the Chickahominy was held as follows: Cafey's Divifion was on the right of the Williamfburg road, at right angles to it, the centre at Fair Oaks; Couch's Divifion at the Seven Pines; Kearney's Di- vifion on the railroad from near Savage Station to- wards the river; Hooker's Divifion was on the borders of the White Oak Swamp. The rivers being greatly fwollen by heavy rains, and the roads being very muddy and difficult to traverfe, it was regarded by the enemy as a favorable period for attack, and they hoped to be able to capture or deftroy that part of the army thus appa- rently cut off from the main force by the rapidly rifing ftreams. They attacked Cafey's Divifion with an over- whelming force: he was driven back, and his pofition taken by the enemy. A very heavy engagement was brought on, and our whole force fought moft defperately. Though Cafey fuffered difaftroufly, other troops, in other parts of the field, were engaged with better fuccefs; and under cover of the night, the enemy fell back to their pofition of the morning. The rebels advanced early the next morning, and after a very fevere conteft, were de- feated and driven back beyond their firft pofition of the previous day. Our troops pufhed rapidly forward until they gained the whole field, and the camps of the enemy
June Ift.
49
JOHNSON'S FARM.
in part, recovering our own wounded, and capturing 1862. thofe of the enemy.
On the Ift day of June, we were fent on the extreme right of the army, and were flightly engaged during the day. Early on the following morning, June 2d, the regi- ment was fent on picket and fcout duty to Old Church, and Newcaftle, Baffett's, and Piping Tree Ferries. Heard heavy mufketry firing on the left of our line all day. Our pickets were withdrawn during the night, and the next morning reveille founded at 3 o'clock. We prepared breakfaft, fed our horfes, faddled up, and moved by daylight. Marched about four miles, when we re- joined the brigade. The whole force was foon drawn up in line of battle, in which pofition we remained un- difturbed until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when we bivouacked for the night.
On the 4th, we eftablifhed camp on Johnfon's Farm, June 4th. where we remained in quietnefs, and enjoying reft, until the 10th, when two fquadrons, confifting of Companies "A" and "K," "H" and "I," under command of Major Morris, were fent out on a reconnoiffance. They moved toward Hanover Court-houfe, and halted at night, after a fatiguing march, at the Richmond and Hanover Crofs-Roads. They were on the road again at daylight on the morning of the 11th, fcouring the country as far as Hanover Court-houfe, but finding nothing of importance, and capturing a few prifoners, they began the march back, and rejoined the command near morning. The regiment took its regular tour of picket duty, although not armed for that fervice. On the morning of the 13th, rumors were circulated of an
7
50
STUART'S RAID.
1862. attack upon "Tunftall's Station," in our rear. Two fquadrons of 5th United States Cavalry, under command of Captain Royal, ftationed near Old Church, were at- tacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy, num- bering about fifteen hundred men, with four pieces of artillery. They were reported as moving toward the White Houfe, where we had large quantities of ftores
and fhipping. The regiment, fave one fquadron that re- June 13th. mained on picket, was fent in purfuit of this force of rebel cavalry, now making the firft great raid of the war, and being conducted by General J. E. B. Stuart, to the rear of, and, eventually, entirely around our army. We were in the faddle about noon, and marched all the after- noon and night, not halting but for a few minutes until daylight of the 14th, when we arrived at Tunftall's Sta- tion. Here we found evidences of his prefence, in a general deftruction of cars, wagon trains, futler's, and commiffary ftores, and all Government property accu- mulated at the ftation. We here learned that when the enemy arrived at Tunftall's Station, a portion of them difmounted, and awaited the arrival of an up train, upon which they fired, killing one man, and wounding feveral others. The engineer, inftead of halting on fuch a pe- remptory and unufual fummons, crowded on all fteam, and ran rapidly beyond range, thus efcaping with many men, and a large train of valuable ftores. The rebels then being greatly incenfed at their failure, burned the ftation houfe, and feveral cars loaded with grain, &c .; tore up a portion of the track, and fecreting themfelves, awaited the arrival of another train. The Third Bri- gade of the Pennfylvania Referve Corps arrived at the
51
STUART'S RAID.
ftation in time to prevent the accomplifhment of their 1862. defign, as they fled at the approach of the Referves. June. The purfuit was continued from this point by the cavalry only, being conducted by Generals Cook and Emory, and was not regarded as being very well managed. A general fearch for the enemy followed, mounted troops being fent in all directions. Major Morris, in charge of the advance of our regiment, under Captains Whelan and Starr, preffed clofely upon the enemy as they ap- proached the Chickahominy, and were the only troops that enjoyed the fatisfaction of firing upon the retreating foe. We were prevented following them farther by the deftruction of the bridge over which they had juft croffed. In a very interefting account of this raid, pub- lifhed in the "Edinburgh Review," and written by Baron Van Brock, chief of ftaff for General Stuart, who accom- panied him on the expedition, occurs, near its clofe, this allufion to the fhare our regiment took in the purfuit :
"The rear guard, under Colonel W. H. F. Lee, had meanwhile moved down fteadily from the high ground, and defiled acrofs the bridge. The hoofs clattered on the hafty ftructure ; the head of the column was turned toward the ford beyond; the laft fquadron had juft paffed, and the bridge was being deftroyed, when fhots refounded on the oppofite bank of the ftream, and Colo- nel Rufh thundered down with his 'Lancers' to the bank. He was exactly ten minutes too late. Stuart was over with his artillery, and the fwollen ftream barred the way, even if Colonel Rufh had thought it prudent to ' knock up againft' the one thoufand five hundred crack
52
REPORT OF COLONEL RUSH.
1862. cavalry of Stuart. His men banged away at Colonel
June. Lee, and a parting falute whizzed through the trees as the gray column flowly difappeared. A lady of New Kent afterwards told me that Colonel Rufh ftopped at her houfe on his return, looking weary, broken down, and mad. When the afked him if he had 'caught Stu- art,' he replied, 'No: he has gone in at the back door ; I only faw his rear guard as it paffed the fwamp.'"
We returned to our camp at Johnfon's Farm on the 15th, when the following report was fubmitted to Gen- eral Porter :
"HEADQUARTERS SIXTH PENNA. CAVALRY, CAMP OF THE CAVALRY RESERVE, June 15th, 1862-10 P.M. "CAPTAIN :
"In obedience to the letter of Captain Locke, A. A. G. of General F. J. Porter's Divifion, of this date, I have the honor to report, that on the 13th inftant, about 34 o'clock, 'boots and faddles' was founded from the head- quarters of the Cavalry Referve Brigade, and I immediately got my regiment in the faddle, and followed the 5th and 6th United States Cavalry regiments, which were moving out of their camp-grounds in the direction of Bethefda Church. At that point orders from General Emory, who was in the ad- vance, came to me to remain where I was, near Bethefda Church, and to detach a fquadron to guard and patrol the two roads leading weftward, one above, and the other below Bethefda Church. The remaining four fquad- rons of my regiment were then moved further down the Old Church Road, and halted in a field, where we met General Cook. We remained here fome time,-until near funfet,-the Ift United States Cavalry, General Cook, and General Emory, being all prefent. Hearing we were probably to be gone for a day or more, I obtained permiffion to return with my regi- ment to camp, which was not half a mile diftant, to get rations and forage, and return, to march with Colonel Warren's command toward Old Church. As we entered our camp-ground, we met Colonel Warren there, near fun- fet. Whilft in camp, about funfet, I received an order from General F. J.
6
53
REPORT OF COLONEL RUSH.
Porter, to fend a fquadron to patrol and picket the road from Cold Harbor to Old Church, and before I had time to even give the order, I received another order from General Porter to report with my regiment to General Sykes. I immediately ftarted with my remaining fquadrons,-one having been left at Bethefda Church,-and reached General Sykes's headquarters at about 9 o'clock, and there detached the fquadron to patrol and picket the road to Old Church from Cold Harbor. I there waited the return of Gen- eral Sykes, who was not prefent when I arrived. At a little before 10, General Emory arrived with orders for me to report to him with what was left of my regiment; and at 10 o'clock General Emory affumed the com- mand, and we were fent to Tunftall's Station. At funrife on the 14th, General Emory directed me to fend a fquadron to patrol the ground eaft of the railroad. I detached Major Morris with one fquadron for this purpofe, and in the courfe of a few hours, received information that he had got on the trail of the enemy, feveral hundred ftrong. This was the firft informa- tion I had of the enemy fince the attack on Old Church.
"General Emory gave me permiffion to reinforce Major Morris at once, and other reports foon coming, confirming his firft information of the direc- tion, force, and movement of the enemy, I fent the remaining fquadrons of my regiment, and followed with a platoon of the 11th Pennfylvania Cavalry, that had come in from the White Houfe, General Reynolds promifing to reinforce me with what cavalry he could get at the White Houfe. It was now about 10 o'clock A.M., and I pufhed on to overtake Major Morris, which I did between 1 and 2 o'clock. Various and conflicting reports were obtained of the time, place, and ftrength of the enemy; but from careful fift- ing of all, I am fatisfied that the enemy, with not lefs than fifteen hundred cavalry, and two iron guns, drawn by fix horfes each, reached the fection of country between Garlick's Landing, Tunftall's, and White Houfe, during the evening of the 13th, and in feveral detachments; that during the night they had united into one general column, with many captured and led animals and wagons, and that all had marched down, between 12 and 33 A.M. of the 14th, on the road from Baltimore Hofpital towards Jones's Bridge, paffing Olivet Church; that they had ftopped at the Sycamore Farm, near to the Forge Mill, until about 8 A.M., when they left Sycamore Farm, and went to the Chickahominy to crofs. They repaired an old broken bridge juft below the 'Forge Mills,' ufing the rafters and girders of an old houfe for that purpofe : by 2 o'clock they had paffed over nearly all their column. At a quarter of 3, I reached the Sycamore Farm, and feeing fmoke through the
1862. June.
54
REPORT OF COLONEL RUSH.
1862. June.
woods ahead, fent forward Major Morris, with a fquadron and eight carbi- neers. They foon returned, reporting that a mile beyond the woods he had come to the Chickahominy, and that the bridge was burning, and men at work on its deftruction. His carbineers fired upon the difmounted troops on the other fide of the ftream, when they mounted and ran. I fcouted the woods' for an hour, and in all the vicinity of the Sycamore Farm and Mill, but getting no new trail of the rebels, and being fatisfied, from all the tefti- mony I could get, that all had croffed the river, I returned with my com- mand to Tunftall's Station. Three fquadrons of the IIth Pennfylvania Cav- alry, from White Houfe, joined me juft as I ftarted to return. I had but four fquadrons of my regiment on this chafe. Great credit is due to Major Morris for the prompt manner in which he found and followed the trail of the retreating rebels in the morning.
(Signed) "R. H. RUSH."
CHAPTER FIFTH.
Cold Harbor-Fair Oaks-Beaver Dam Creek-Mechanicf- ville-Gaines's Mill-The Change of Bafe to James River- The Retreat-Robinson's Battery-Savage Station-White Oak Swamp-Charles City Cross-Roads-Glendale-Fra- zier's Farm:
O N the morning of the 16th of June, the regiment marched to Cold Harbor, and went regularly into camp: wagons were overhauled, tents put up, and arrangements made for reft. About noon, Company "A" was fent on picket beyond Old Church, where they remained until after midnight, when they were re- lieved, and ordered back to the regiment, arriving in camp at daylight on the 17th.
On the 18th, Major Clymer, with two fquadrons, June 18th Companies "B," "G," "C," and "H," was detached from the regiment, and ordered to report to General McCall, commanding Divifion of the Pennfylvania Re- ferve Corps, on the extreme right of the army in front of Richmond, near Mechanicfville. He reported to General J. F. Reynolds, and picketed and patrolled the roads and approaches to the Chickahominy, from Me- chanicfville northward to Atlee's Station. The detach- ment was encamped on the edge of a wood near Beaver
1862.
56
COLD HARBOR.
1862. Creek, about one and a half miles from Ellerfon's Mills. The 2d Pennfylvania Referves were encamped in an oat-field near us. In the afternoon we were entertained by balloon afcenfions, made by Mr. Hall, in one of Pro- feffor Low's balloons, from near our camp. The bal- loon reconnoiffance was cut fhort by being too clofe to the enemy, and within range of their artillery. Several fhots were fired at the aeronaut.
On the fame day the above fquadrons were detached, the two fquadrons under Lieutenant-Colonel C. Rofs Smith, commanded by Captains Treichel and Starr, confifting of Companies "A," "D," and "I," "K," were on picket near Hanover Court-houfe, and were driven in by Jackfon's rapid advance. They fell back to Old Church, where they were ordered to report to General Stoneman, who was fent with a light column to the White Houfe, to protect it until the removal of ftores, wagon trains, &c., there accumulated. They accompanied him to the White Houfe, and thence on his fkilful retreat, moving large wagon trains in fafety. This movement was alfo defigned as a feint, with a view of deceiving the enemy into the belief that the main body of the army was moving in that direction. Thefe fquadrons accompanied General Stoneman to Williamf- burg and Fortrefs Monroe, and rejoined the regiment July 10th.
June 23d.
On the 23d, the regular brigade of Cavalry, under General P. St. George Cook, moved to Cold Harbor, and participated in all the active movements of the army that followed. Our regiment, by detachments, was ferving in all parts of the eventful fields, and a general
57
FAIR OAKS.
fketch of the whole operations will beft prefent, to thofe 1862. participating and to their friends, this part of our fervice. The regiment was reprefented in every engagement of the Peninfula from this date until it found its new bafe at Harrifon's Landing: though in fome much more ac- tively than in others.
On Wednefday, June 25th, an engagement occurred June 25th. between about fix thoufand Union troops and two divi- fions of the rebel army, a fhort diftance beyond Fair Oaks. The enemy, though of fuperior ftrength, were driven back a mile or more, but from fome unexplained caufe, the advantage thus gained was myfteriously aban- doned, when the enemy again poured back over the field. Another advance was ordered, and though ftub- bornly contefted, they were again forced back over all the ground we originally won, and we held the pofition during the night, throwing out our pickets to an ad- vanced pofition. Three fquadrons of the Sixth partici- pated in thefe engagements.
Thurfday, June 26th, had been fixed upon by the June 26th. commanders of both armies as the day when each fhould commence aggreffive operations, neither General know- ing of the intention, or exact pofition or force of his op- ponent. General McClellan had received information of a contemplated early advance of the enemy, from fpies, contrabands, and deferters. Early this morning, both armies were in the excitement of preparation for fevere work to be done ere nightfall. General Jackfon was reported as threatening our right and rear. A. P. Hill had moved northward, concentrating his divifion near Meadow Bridge. General Branch advanced down
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