USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 5
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Mc Clellan's Official Report .- "At 6 o'clock the enemy fuddenly opened upon Couch and Porter, with the whole ftrength of his artillery, and began at once to pufh forward his columns of attack to carry the hill. Brigade after brigade, formed under cover of the woods, ftarted at a run to crofs the open fpace and charge our batteries, but the heavy fire of our guns, with the cool and fteady volleys of our infantry, in every cafe fent them reeling back to fhelter."
Rebel Account .- "The fire was now appalling, and to add to the horrors of the fcene, the gunboats of the enemy in the river began to throw the moft tremendous projectiles into the field." . . "A third column in the centre moved upon the Yankee guns. The dark mafs foon difappeared in the cloud which enveloped all objects, and though it loft ftrength and folidity at every ftep, it ftill gained the flope where ftood the enemy's batteries, but only to be driven back as had been their comrades before them."
75
MALVERN HILL.
Until dark, the enemy perfifted in his efforts to take 1862. the pofitions fo tenacioufly held, but all his attempts July Ift. were foiled, and with heavy lofs. Long after funfet, and even until 9 o'clock at night, the artillery fire con- tinued from both fides. With lighted fufe, the courfe of the fhells could be marked as they fped, meteor-like, through the heavens, and, as a pyrotechnical difplay, would have been regarded as very grand; but thefe were fwift-winged meffengers of death, carrying deftruction to friends and foes.
During the day, our troops had but little occafion to go beyond their ftrong pofition. It was eafy to mow down the enemy with artillery and mufket-ball as they advanced. The rebels were repulfed fearfully ; and had McClellan followed up his fuccefs, it would have been difaftrous to the foe.
The regiment, during thefe engagements, was con- ftantly expofed : ferving by detachments in all parts of the field,-fome with Sumner, one fquadron with Kear- ney, others with Porter, Keyes, and McCall's Pennfyl- vania Referves.
At Malvern Hill, the day after the battle, both armies had pickets ftationed upon the field, and the enemy were permitted to remove their wounded, but they fired upon our men when they approached for the fame purpofe. The pofition now occupied by our army, was a line of heights fome three miles long, and about two miles from the James, both flanks refting upon the river. A morafs extended between the heights and the river, from our centre to the right. At Harrifon's Landing, and on thefe heights, were collected the army ftores, fhipping, &c.
76
MCCLELLAN'S ADDRESS.
1862.
The anniverfary of our Nation's Birthday occurred a July 4th. day or two after our arrival at Harrifon's Landing, and was duly celebrated by parades, difplay of flags, firing falutes, &c., &c.
On drefs parade, the following addrefs was read to each regiment of the army, and caufed great rejoicing :
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR HARRISON'S LANDING, July 4th, 1862.
"SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC:
"Your achievements of the laft ten days have illuftrated the valor and endurance of the American foldier. Attacked by fuperior forces, and with- out hope of reinforcements, you have fucceeded in changing your bafe of operations by a flank movement, always regarded as the moft hazardous of military expedients. You have faved all your material, all your trains, and all your guns, except a few loft in battle, taking in return guns and colors from the enemy. Upon your march, you have been affailed day after day with defperate fury, by men of the fame race and nation, fkilfully maffed and led. Under every difadvantage of number, and neceffarily of pofition, alfo, you have, in every conflict, beaten back your foes with enormous flaughter. Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of hiftory. No one will now queftion that each of you may always with pride fay, 'I BELONG TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.' You have reached the new bafe complete in organization, and unimpaired in fpirit. The enemy may, at any moment, attack you. We are prepared to meet them. I have per- fonally eftablifhed your lines. Let them come, and we will convert their repulfe into a final defeat. Your Government is ftrengthening you with the refources of a great people. On this, our Nation's Birthday, we declare to our foes, who are rebels againft the beft interefts of mankind, that this army fhall enter the capital of the fo-called Confederacy, that our National Conftitution fhall prevail, and that the Union, which can alone infure in- ternal peace and external fecurity to each State, 'muft and fhall be pre- ferved,' coft what it may in time, treafure, and blood.
" GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN."
During the feven days' fight, Companies "C" and "H" were on duty with General Kearney, and received
77
CAPTURE OF HOSPITALS.
great praife from him for the difficult and arduous duties 1862. performed. They formed his rear guard, covering his July. retreat from White Oak Swamp to Malvern Hill.
From the diary of private Thomas L. J. Ruffell, of Company "A," who fell into the hands of the enemy when our hofpital was captured near Cold Harbor, I make the following extracts :
"Rumors were circulated at the hofpital on the morn- ing of the 27th of June, that our army was falling back, and that the rebels were following clofely. All patients that were able to leave the hofpital were fent away. About 10 o'clock in the morning, we were ftartled by a fierce yell of what proved to be rebel cavalry, charging upon the hofpital. They made a vaft deal of noife around the houfe, when Dr. Ellis went out and told them no refiftance could be made, as the houfe con- tained nothing but fick and wounded men. They then gained courage and came into the houfe, each man with his revolver in his hand. After finding nothing to op- pofe them, they commenced a fearch for whifky, and found fome that had been ftored in the cellar. Several bottles of wine were buried in the garden, which were not difcovered by them. While this fearch was going on in the houfe, a party outfide affaulted the cook-houfe, carrying off all the rations that had been drawn the day previous for the hofpital, not leaving a fingle article of food of any kind. They took even the meat that was boiling for our dinners, carrying it off in a half-cooked condition. Soon the main body of the cavalry came up, under the command of General Stuart, who ordered
78
PRISONERS.
1862. us to be paroled, and left a guard on the hofpital, when June. in a few minutes they paffed on. In a fhort time the infantry of General Jackfon's corps began to pafs ; they were very dirty, ragged, and weary. Some of them fay they have been marching conftantly for a week. They feemed very much worn out, and were fcrutinized with wondering eyes by our prifon-bound company. The rebel furgeons took the hofpital by ftorm, taking away all the medicines they could poffibly carry. There feemed to be a fpecial demand for quinine, and Dr. Ellis had great trouble in retaining a fingle bottle for his own fick. About the middle of the afternoon, the roar of artillery and mufketry commenced in the direc- tion of Gaines's Mill, and towards dark, the rebel wounded were borne to the rear in great numbers, and continued to pour in all night. We remained here until the 15th of July. In the evening a train of empty wagons came up for the purpofe of taking us to Rich- mond. We were foon ready, and moved off, leaving Dr. Ellis behind, with a few nurfes, to attend to fome of our men that could not bear moving. We had a beautiful night for a trip, but as our wagons were with- out fprings, and the roads exceedingly rough, we found it very fatiguing for the fick, and painful to the wounded. We arrived in Richmond about I o'clock on the morn- ing of the 16th. We were halted in front of an old tobacco warehoufe, defignated as Prifon No. 4, where we were called in one by one, our names, regiments, place of capture, &c., recorded, and after being care- fully fearched, and duly robbed, were paffed up ftairs into an exceedingly dirty room, very confined and dif-
79
IN LIBBY.
gufting, and at night had barely room for the men to lie 1862. down, by being packed clofe againft each other. In a June. day or two, all who were able to walk were ordered to prepare to go to Belle Ifland. They made up a party, and ftarted off with them ; the reft of us were taken down ftairs into a back room a little cleaner than the one above. This contained a double row of tobacco preffes. A door at one end led into a courtyard, which led to another fac- tory. The room was lighted through a row of windows opening upon this yard, but the glafs was fo obfcured by dirt, cobwebs, &c., that but little light gained admiffion. About two hundred men were confined in this room, all fick or wounded. We were fed upon what purported to be beef tea, but very little ftronger than water, and without falt, accompanied with a very fmall piece of bread, being barely enough to fuftain life.
"A large number of wounded arrived during the night of the 17th, and the fight prefented in the morn- ing was moft painful. In the yard was a hydrant, fur- rounded by a large tub, around which were collected a great crowd of men, with every defcription of wounds, calling upon and affifting each other to wafh and drefs their wounds. No doctors vifited them or us, and nothing was adminiftered to alleviate their fufferings. Many muft die from fheer neglect of their wounds. Rebel citizens are allowed to vifit the prifon, and this morning they ftood by, with hands in their pockets, gaping on thefe poor fellows fuffering fo greatly, and with perfect unconcern and indifference. Thus are we in their power, and cannot help ourfelves.
"A young man, about twenty years of age, was led
80
HARRISON'S LANDING.
1862. out into the yard this morning, at his requeft, being very July. weak. He was affifted about the crowded yard by his companions, and at length feated himfelf upon the ground, ftarved, fick, difpirited, and exhaufted, from want of nourifhment. After being feated on the ground a little while, his head fell upon his breaft, and fome thought he flept, and coming to aroufe him, found he 'flept the fleep that knows no waking.' He had died there, furrounded by fuffering fellow-men, with no phy- fician to adminifter anything for his relief, and no friend or mother's hand to bring him aught to revive or nourifh him, and no loving acts or words to make his death eafy. His name or regiment could not be afcertained."
The men of our regiment remained here until the 24th of July, when thofe who were then able to walk were exchanged.
The fquadrons under Lieutenant-Colonel C. Rofs Smith, that had accompanied General Stoneman, were encamped at Yorktown the early part of July. About the 4th of the month, an alarm was created by fome wild rumors brought to General Emory, and he hurried the little force there under his command down to For- trefs Monroe, where they remained until the 10th, when thefe fquadrons were ordered to rejoin the regiment. Taking tranfports in the morning, they arrived at Harri- fon's Landing, and reported to the regiment about 8 o'clock in the evening.
At Harrifon's Landing, the regiment was encamped about two hundred yards from the river, on the high bluff which rifes a little back from the ftream, and on a
8 1
HARRISON'S LANDING.
bare level plain. We were compelled to drink the foul 1862. water of the James River, improved a little by being filtered, by the men who would take the trouble, through the river fand. The heat was intenfe, and rendered lefs endurable to the men, from the fact that their fhelters were made of black water-proof cloth. We were an- noyed by fwarms of ftinging flies, and almoft perpetual clouds of duft and fand. With thefe annoying circum- ftances attending our ftay at the Landing, it is referred to with any other than pleafing recollections. The "Chickahominy Fever," as it has ever fince been called, made fad work with us. Notwithftanding all our dif- comfort, fever, and dyfentery, but few deaths occurred in the regiment, owing to the untiring efforts of the fur- geons, who were unceafing in their attentions, and called to their affiftance all the aid to be derived from the "Sanitary" and "Chriftian Commiffions." Thefe active benevolent organizations furnifhed many comforts and delicacies for the fick; and it affords us pleafure to bear teftimony to the faithfulnefs of the agents at the front, and to fpeak with unlimited praife of the fpirit in- fpiring the people throughout our entire land, who fo heartily engaged in this great work.
While encamped at the Landing, the regiment fur- nifhed five detachments daily for guide and fcout duty ; with this exception, our ftay here was devoid of all fer- vice, and the monotony of camp life in midfummer un- interrupted.
About the 15th of the month, General Birney took a July 15th. fquadron of "Lancers" on a reconnoiffance and foraging expedition. They returned at night with about thirty
11
1
82
HOOKER'S RECONNOISSANCE.
1862. milch-cows, which were diftributed among the feveral hofpitals, and their milk furnifhed the patients.
July 31ft. On the night of the 3Ift of July, about half-paft I o'clock, our encampment was fubjected to a terrible fire of fhell and folid fhot from a rebel battery on the fouth bank of the river, having been brought there under cover of the darknefs of the night. A field battery, on this occafion, fent its miffiles on their fiery path juft over our camp; and though very many burft over us, and a great many fragments of fhell were afterward picked up in the camp, we loft but one man killed. He was found lying dead in a clear fpace in the camp, without the flighteft apparent wound or mark upon his perfon. A fpent round fhot lay near him.
Although the night was very dark, the pofition of the enemy and their guns could be difcerned; and at every difcharge from each piece, the men could be feen ftand- ing by it in their regular pofitions. Some of our beft gunners foon fighted their fineft pieces, and the midnight compliment of the rebels was returned "in kind." In about thirty minutes our guns filenced their fire, and the next morning a force of the Pennfylvania Referves croffed the river and deftroyed the "Coles Houfe," which had been a rendezvous for the enemy. They found three of the enemy's dead, a fhattered caiffon, and a battle flag. The immenfe fhipping in the river re- ceived no harm, though much effort was apparently made to fire the veffels.
Auguft 2d. About the 2d of Auguft, a reconnoiffance in force was made by General Hooker, commanding his divifion, and General Pleafanton, with part of the cavalry. They
83
CHANGE OF BASE.
paffed out towards Malvern Hill, drove the enemy's pickets back feveral miles, and on the 5th, were joined by General Sedgwick's divifion, when they paffed be- yond Malvern Hill, driving the enemy back towards Richmond. The enemy oppofed our advance with in- fantry and artillery in about equal numbers, and it was thought the larger part of the rebel army had paffed fouth of the James River. Colonel Averill pufhed out as far as Savage's Station, and near White Oak Bridge his advance was checked by the 18th Virginia cavalry. After ftrong refiftance on the part of the enemy, he drove them, and captured twenty-eight mounted men, whom he brought in as prifoners, leaving many killed and wounded on the field. This force returned in a few days. It was fuppofed that a general advance was contemplated by General McClellan at this time, and that he only changed his plans through meffages re- ceived from the War Department, ordering the fpeedy abandonment of the Peninfula, and the James River, as a bafe of operations. Acquia Creek was felected as the bafe of offenfive operations, and great activity at once prevailed in camp, hofpitals, and tranfports. The fick
were hurried away in hofpital boats, and the grand army was foon on the march for Fortrefs Monroe, Yorktown, . and other points, from which to take tranfports for their new field. The gunboats were on the river at proper diftances to cover the march of the army. A portion of our regiment formed part of the rear guard of the army, and were the laft to leave the Landing. It was melancholy enough to fee the change which, in a day, had come over the fcene, though we were heartily glad
1862. Auguft.
84
THE RETREAT.
1862. to get away from the place. On the 13th, the enemy, anticipating an advance of our forces on Richmond, burnt the wharves at City Point.
On the 14th, Porter's corps marched by way of Charles City Court-houfe to Barrett's Ferry, near the mouth of the Chickahominy, where a fplendid pontoon bridge, of nearly a third of a mile in length, had been conftructed acrofs the river by the engineer brigade. This "long bridge of the Chickahominy" was protected by two gunboats, the Delaware and the Yankee, lying in the James River. Here the moft of the army bivouacked during the night. Other divifions, including McCall's Pennfylvania Referves, did not arrive at this point until near noon of the 15th. On the morning of the 18th, the rear guard croffed the river, and on the 20th, the entire army was lying near Yorktown, For- trefs Monroe, and Newport News.
On the 8th, one fquadron was ordered to General Franklin, for provoft and efcort duty, and made the march to Fortrefs Monroe with his command, leaving Harrifon's Landing Auguft 16th.
Aug. 11th.
"C" and "H" companies, being on duty at the head- quarters of Major General Fitz John Porter, marched with the Fifth Corps from the Landing on the 11th, and arrived at Newport News on the 18th. This fquadron was embarked on tranfports, to accompany that corps to the affiftance, or non-affiftance, of General Pope, then refifting the rebel advance at Cedar Moun- tain. When about to fail, orders were received to re- join the regiment; they were immediately difembarked, and found the headquarters of the command at Hamp-
85
THE RETREAT.
ton, Virginia, and in a few days accompanied the regi- ment to Wafhington.
On the 26th, Company "F," under command of Captain Milligan, was attached to General Heintzel- man's corps as headquarters guard, marched with that corps to Fortrefs Monroe on the Ift of September, and on the 2d embarked for Wafhington, where they arrived on the 9th, and foon after rejoined the regiment.
The headquarters of the regiment, with all the com- Sept. 3d. panies then undetached, took tranfports on the 3d of September for Wafhington. The paffage up the bay was very dangerous, on account of the crowded condi- tion of the veffels, and the prevalence of a very fevere ftorm. The forward deck of the fteamer conveying companies "C" and "H," was almoft entirely deftroyed by the violence of the waves and ftorm breaking upon it. The regiment rendezvoufed at Giefboro' Point, and on the 6th, encamped out Seventh Street, Wafhington.
Captain Whelan's fquadron landed at Alexandria, was ordered and marched to Falls Church, where they had a fkirmifh with the enemy, and was foon after ordered to the regiment on Seventh Street, Wafhington.
On the 13th of Auguft, Firft Lieutenant G. Irvine Whitehead was appointed aide-de-camp to Major-Gen- eral Keyes, commanding the Fourth corps. He re- mained on that duty until he was commiffioned by the Prefident Judge Advocate of that corps, with the rank of Major, from March 17th, 1863. This pofition he refigned near the clofe of the year, and returned to his regiment, and in a very fhort time was again called to detached duty, and was appointed an Acting Affiftant In-
1862.
,
86
POPE'S DEFEAT.
1862. fpector General, on General Pleafanton's ftaff of the September. Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, which pofi- tion he retained until failing health compelled him to refign, July 26th, 1864.
While thefe events were tranfpiring with us, General Pope, with the "Army of Virginia," had been heavily engaged with the enemy at "Cedar," or "Slaughter Mountain," where his force, led by General Banks, ad- vanced on the enemy on the afternoon of the 9th of Auguft. Both fides fuffered feverely, our lofs being efti- mated at one thoufand eight hundred in killed, wounded, and prifoners. Before daylight next morning, Jackfon withdrew his rebel force, and a grand flank movement was attempted by the enemy, an effort being made to gain the heights of Centreville, in the rear of General Pope. On the 26th, the Union army marched from Warrenton towards Wafhington, in three columns. The enemy was met and fought on the 27th, by Gen- eral Hooker, at Kettle Run, and by McDowell, who drove Longftreet's corps, through Thoroughfare Gap, back over the mountains. Fighting enfued on the 29th and 30th, on the old Bull Run battle-field. On the 30th, one of the heavieft engagements of the war oc- curred; but as one fquadron only of our regiment was within range of its influence, and no cafualties occurred to the regiment, we leave others to record its misfor- tunes, and tell of "Pope's defeat."
CHAPTER SEVENTH.
Through Washington- Into Maryland- Frederick-South Mountain-Antietam-The Great Battle of the Fall of 1862-Ordered to Frederick, Maryland.
T HE army fell back through Fairfax Court-houfe, 1862. and by evening of the 2d, were all within the de- September. fences of Wafhington, fouth of the Potomac, and be- yond Alexandria, except three corps on the Vienna and Chain Bridge Roads. Herculean efforts were put forth by all departments for the immediate reorganization and refitting of the army. Though much confufion exifted, {till the work went on wonderfully night and day. Wafhington City was never in fuch a whirl of excite- ment. The wounded came pouring in from the front with their ftories of the battle-field, and their wounds ftill undreffed. Ambulances, carriages, and vehicles of every defcription, were rufhing in all directions: vifitors by thoufands ready to pay any price to get to the front, all anxioufly inquiring for news from the army. Long lines of lumbering wagons, carrying quartermafter's and commiffary ftores to the needy men; the conftant roll of drums and mufic of bands, leading marching troops ; the fhouting of newfboys; the fpreading of rumors, how- ever vague and unreliable; thefe, with the uncertainty
88
THROUGH WASHINGTON.
1862. of the movements of the enemy, all combined to keep September. the city in perfect excitement, and make confufion worfe confounded. The fcenes on the ftreets, and at the hotels and depots, were beyond all defcription. From earlieft dawn until midnight, the whole population feemed poured into the ftreets, while every train from the North fent its ftream of humanity into this boiling fea of ex- citement, and increafed the commotion. Thoufands of vifitors paffed out to the battle-fields a few days fince, and when there, their carriages were feized and filled with wounded men, and ftarted back to Wafhington, the curiofity feekers and more worthy vifitors of thefe fcenes compelled to walk the twenty-one miles back to the city.
But in a few days the army was again in motion. About the 5th, it was afcertained that the enemy in- tended croffing the Upper Potomac into Maryland, and were moving towards Leefboro and Harper's Ferry. On the 6th, portions of the Army of the Potomac were on the march again, all under the direction of their favorite leader of the Peninfula. The feveral corps and divifions marched through the city, and were enthufiaftically cheered by the vaft crowds of people who, by thoufands, had flocked there in the laft few days. The troops moved out fteadily and proudly, though with decimated ranks.
Many friends from the North entirely failed to recog- nize intimate acquaintances and neighbors, who had paffed through the long campaigns and hard battle-fields, under the broiling fun of Virginia. Their faces were bronzed, and their clothes foiled and dufty, but they
89
INTO MARYLAND.
were proud of their military connections, and were not 1862. afhamed of clothes foiled in fuch noble fervice. The September. army moved through Maryland in five columns, between the Potomac River and the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road, covering both Wafhington and Baltimore, and converging near Frederick, Maryland. During the march, the work of reorganization continued rapidly, and the troops were in excellent fpirits, having great confidence in their leaders, and anxious to meet the in- vading foe. The advance of our army entered Fred- erick from the fouth, as the rear guard of the enemy were leaving from the weft and north. As foon as our column was recognized, flags were difplayed in great numbers, ladies crowded the windows, and waved their handkerchiefs, while the men came out into the ftreets, and, with great fhouting and rejoicing, we were wel- comed to the city. The citizens were thoroughly dif- gufted with rebel rule and plunder, though the foldiers were reftrained from depredations by their commanders.
On the 7th of September, Major Clymer, with com- panies "B" and "G,"-ordered to report for duty to Major-General Franklin, then commanding the Sixth Corps,-reported to him near Rockville, Maryland. Company "I" was added to this detachment on the following day, and joined Major Clymer at Hagerftown, Maryland. Thefe companies remained with General Franklin during the Antietam campaign, and partici- pated in the battles of Crampton Gap and Antietam, being expofed to a very heavy fire on both occafions.
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