USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 8
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D URING the early part of January, a part of the 1863. regiment was placed on fafeguard duty along the Rappahannock, below Falmouth. On the 11th, Com- Jan. 11th panies "A" and "D" were ordered to report to Gen- eral Reynolds, commanding the First Corps, for provoft duty, Captain Treichel being appointed Provoft Marfhal of the corps.
The rebels can be feen daily at work, fortifying at every point available for croffing, by throwing up earth- works, and digging rifle pits, near the feveral fords of the river. They have alfo eftablifhed a double line of pickets, and a corps of obfervation, from the upper fords of the Rappahannock to Port Royal, nearly twenty-five miles below Frederickfburg.
An advance movement was determined upon by General Burnfide late in December, the croffing to be effected at the Sedden Houfe, a fhort diftance below Hayfield; while two thoufand five hundred cavalry, with
124
A GENERAL ADVANCE.
1863. a battery of artillery, were to crofs the river above at Kelley's Ford, march to the rear of the rebel army, deftroy the feveral railroads leading to Richmond, and paffing beyond the rebel capital, join General Peck at Suffolk. This plan was abandoned after orders had been iffued for the movement, and the cavalry had al- ready marched to Kelley's Ford, in confequence of the following telegram, received by General Burnfide, from the Prefident :
" I have good reafon for faying that you muft not make a general move- ment without letting me know of it."
General Burnfide went to Wafhington, and there learned that the Prefident had been called upon by fome general officers of the Army of the Potomac, who were diffatisfied with the movement contemplated, and feared difafter. General Burnfide then ftated his plan to the Prefident, General Halleck, and Secretary Stanton, and an advance was decided upon in accordance with his propofitions.
On his return to the army, General Burnfide became fatisfied that by this time his contemplated movement had been communicated to the enemy, and a different plan of advance was decided upon. It was determined to crofs the army at Banks's and United States Fords. Jan. 19th. A general order was iffued, announcing that the Army of the Potomac was "about to meet the enemy once more," and that the "aufpicious moment had arrived to ftrike a great and mortal blow to the rebellion, and to gain that decided victory which is due to the country." Jan. 20th. Early on Monday the troops were fet in motion,-
125
MUD MARCH.
General Hooker's command moving in column by one road, General Franklin's grand divifion by another,- and marched to the feveral fords of the Upper Rappa- hannock. We were permitted to remain undifturbed in camp, with orders to move at daylight on the 21ft. During the afternoon, the indications of rain became very decided, and before midnight a heavy ftorm was raging. With great difappointment at the probable delay that might be occafioned by a fevere rain, we waited anxioufly for the morrow, hoping for more favor- able weather.
Wednesday morning the ftorm continued with great Jan. 21ft. violence. Tents were ftruck about 6 o'clock; at 9, the bugles founded "to horfe," and we moved flowly out of the woods on to the road, which was by this time in an indefcribably bad condition. Mud was in the afcend- ency, and the great army defeated by impaffable roads. Guns, caiffons, pontoons, wagons, all find it impoffible to move with their ufual horfe-power ; teams are doubled, and even tripled, while men are at the wheels of the gun-carriages, ftraining every mufcle to move them for- ward. The utmoft effort was put forth to get pontoons enough into pofition to conftruet a bridge ; heavy double teams were harneffed to each pontoon boat, but every effort was futile. Long ropes were then attached, and a hundred and fifty men added their united effort, with but little more fuccefs ; they would flounder through the mire for a few feet, and then give up exhaufted. Night came on, but no pontoons had reached the river. The rebels had difcovered what was going on, and the pick- ets on the oppofite bank called over to ours, that they
1863.
I26
MUD MARCH.
January.
1863. "would come over in the morning, and help us build that bridge." Horfes, wagons, and troops, wear one uni- verfal coat of mud. Men march in it to their knees, and are fplafhed with it to their heads. The mounted troops, marching in column, prefent even a worfe ap- pearance than the infantry ; horfes, riders, and their ac- coutrements, are all fpattered with mud by their com- panions as the column moves on.
On reaching a point near Banks's Ford, we were drawn off the road into a woods, where we bivouacked for the night. The cold ftorm of fnow and rain con- tinued all the night through, while the foft fpongy foil was thoroughly faturated by the two days' rain. The wind howled difmally through the trees; and we found that a cold, bluftery, ftormy night in midwinter, was not one of the moft inviting occafions on which to fpend a night in a bleak foreft, with but flight fhelter or food. Many of the men had brought their fhelter tents, and making a flooring of hemlock, fpruce, or pine boughs, are foon fettled for the night, wearinefs of body render- ing their beds inviting. Huge fires are kindled by others, who, lefs fortunate or thoughtful in reference to fhelter tents, are now driven to the neceffity of keeping up a good fire. Rails, logs, &c., are gathered in great quan- tities, and are piled near the fires ready for ufe. Around each fire is gathered a circle of men, who are either feated near it, fmoking their pipes as a fort of folace in their extremity; or, wrapped in their blankets, with a friendly ftone or log for a pillow, are lying with feet to the fire, in total forgetfulnefs of fnow, rain, or cold, in deep fleep, the pelting rain upon their gum blankets not
127
MUD MARCH.
difturbing them in the leaft. With many, the night was 1863. one of reftlefs, weary, waiting for the dawn.
Thurfday morning came with unabated ftorm of rain Jan. 22d. and fnow. Over the moft fmoky fires imaginable, from green wood and eddying winds, we prepared our cups of coffee, and partook of breakfaft, fo called; after which, with ftamping around the fires in wet boots, and unfuc- cefsful efforts to keep near the fire and yet efcape the fmoke, which feemed this day more than ever determ- ined to defeat our plans; with counter fmoking from a multitude of friendly pipes, and cheerful chatting and fpeculating as to movements, the time wore on until noon, when we were rejoiced to receive an order to re- turn to our camp, near White Oak Church, which we promptly prepared to do. It was no longer a queftion by what lines the army fhould advance, but by what poffible means it could return to its bafe of fupplies, as provifions could not be conveyed through thefe all but bottomlefs roads, to the troops. A writer in the New York Times fays:
"It was a curious fight prefented by the army, as we rode over the ground occupied by it. One might fancy fome new geologic cataclyfm had overtaken the world, and that he faw around him the elemental wrecks left by another deluge. An indefcribable chaos of pontoons, wagons, and artillery, incumbered the roads; fupply wagons upfet by the roadfide; artillery ftalled in the mud; ammunition trains mired by the way. Horfes and mules dropped down dead, exhaufted with the effort to move their loads through the hideous medium. A
I28
BURNSIDE'S FAREWELL TO THE ARMY.
1863. hundred and fifty dead animals, many of them buried in the liquid muck, were counted in the courfe of a morn- ing's ride."
We plodded our weary nine miles back again to the friendly grove called our camp, where we arrived near nightfall. Tents were hurriedly put up, and though the ground, tents, clothing, and everything about us were as wet and uncomfortable as could be, we flept foundly.
Thus ended a campaign which prefented, at its open- ing, every human promife of fuccefs. The odd expe- riences of "Burnfide's Mud March" will never be for- gotten by thofe who participated in it.
Jan. 26th
On the 26th, General Burnfide was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac, at his own re- queft, and was fucceeded by Major-General Hooker. Major-Generals W. B. Franklin and E. V. Sumner were likewife relieved of command. There was much about General Burnfide to make him beloved and hon- ored. He poffeffed fuch high fenfe of honor, fo much felf-facrificing magnanimity, and fo much bravery, that he will always be remembered with affection and efteem. His farewell to the army was made in General Orders, No. 9, viz. :
"By direction of the Prefident of the United States, the Commanding General this day transfers the com- mand of this army to Major-General Jofeph Hooker. The fhort time that he has directed your movements has not been fruitful of victory, or any confiderable ad- vancement of our lines, but it has again demonftrated
ENCAMPMENT AT BELLE PLAIN. 129
an amount of courage, patience, and endurance that, 1863. under more favorable circumftances, would have accom- plifhed great refults. Continue to exercife thefe virtues ; be true in your devotion to your country, and the prin- ciples you have fworn to maintain; give to the brave and fkilful General, who has long been identified with your organization, and who is now to command you, your full and cordial fupport, and you will deferve fuccefs. His prayers are that God may be with you, and grant you continued fuccefs, until the rebellion is crufhed."
The army went again into winter quarters, in the valleys and on the fouthern flopes of the hills along the railroad, from Acquia Creek to Falmouth; northweft from Falmouth along the river, and back to Stafford Court-houfe; fouth and eaft to White Oak Church and Belle Plain Landing on the Potomac.
On the Ift of March, we changed camp from White March Ift. Oak Church to Belle Plain Landing. Here a large camp was laid out, in a denfe woods, fitted up in the moft beautiful camp ftyle. The company ftreets were each a hundred feet in width, with officers' quarters at the head of each, and about thirty feet from the firft company quarters. Huts were built of hewn logs, the roof being formed of fhelter tents. They were very comfortable, and attractive in appearance. No troops were encamped within a mile or two of us, which faved us from much annoyance, and allowed us to occupy all the ground we defired. This camp was facetioufly called by fome, the "Camp of Magnificent Diftances."
February.
17
130
REVIEW BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
1863. While encamped here, Companies "I" and "E," under Captains Starr and Carpenter, were fent to gen- eral headquarters, as efcort to Major-General Hooker.
Mar. 5th. On the 5th of March, Companies "L" and "M," in charge of Major Robert Morris, Jr., ftarted from Fred- erick, Maryland, and marched to Wafhington, D. C., where they took tranfports for Belle Plain Landing.
Mar. 17th.
On the 17th of March, the firft real cavalry battle of the war was fought at Kelley's Ford, by troops under Gen- eral Averill. The regiments engaged were the ift and 5th United States, under Captains Reno and Leib; the 3d and 16th Pennfylvania cavalry, under Colonel McIn- tofh; the Ift Rhode Ifland, 4th New York, and 6th Ohio, Colonel Duffie; and the 6th New York horfe artillery, of fix guns. The 5th regulars behaved with fpecial gallantry. Led by Captain Leib, they charged upon the enemy in fine ftyle, broke their line, and fcat- tered the force in their front. Captain Hunt, with three fquadrons Ift United States, did good fervice in fupporting the battery. The 3d and 16th Pennfylvania alfo drove the enemy by a determined charge. Our forces held the field at the clofe of the day. The 6th Pennfylvania was not on this expedition, being encamped at Belle Plain.
April 2d.
Private Howard Haines, Company "F," was buried to-day with military honors.
April 6th.
On the 6th, the cavalry corps was reviewed by Prefi- dent Lincoln. The Philadelphia Inquirer contained the following report :
"The fineft cavalry difplay ever witneffed in the
131
. ORDERS TO MOVE.
United States, was that of the review of the cavalry of 1863. this army to-day by the Prefident. Every regiment turned out in its largeft poffible numbers, and the difplay was moft impofing.'
After an account of the infpection by the Prefident, and the paffing in review of the troops before him, oc- curs this allufion to the Sixth Pennfylvania Cavalry :
"One of the moft beautiful movements of the whole day, was that near the clofe of the review, when the Sixth Pennfylvania Cavalry, familiarly known as 'Rufh's Lancers,' were brought around the houfe, into the field, at full gallop, with company fronts, and at that gait exe- cuted moft perfectly one of the moft difficult cavalry movements, that of wheeling by companies into regi- mental line, facing the immenfe company of military authorities there gathered, and forming a moft perfectly dreffed line on the inftant, every horfe fteady, and halted juft in his right place, the men looking proud that they were able to accomplifh fo eafily this moft difficult ma- nœuvre while at full gallop, the diftances between the feveral fquadrons being moft accurately preferved. I have really heard more praife given to this regiment in this fingle movement, than of any other occurrence of the day. It certainly exhibited the great proficiency of drill that has been attained by one of the beft of Phila- delphia regiments."
On Saturday, April 12th, orders were received for April 12th. the regiment to prepare for the fpring campaign, and to
I32
SPRING CAMPAIGN.
1863. be in readinefs to abandon their winter quarters, and April IIth. move on Monday. This order was conveyed in the following circular :
. "HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
April 11th, 1863.
" Firft. The effective force of this corps will be in readinefs to move at daylight on Monday, April 13th.
" Second. Each trooper will carry on his horfe not lefs than three days' rations for himfelf and horfe, and as much more as fhall be judged practica- ble for him to take on fhort marches ; and he will carry as much ammuni- tion for the arms he bears as he can conveniently on his perfon, the amount not to be lefs in any cafe than forty rounds of carbine, and twenty rounds of piftol cartridge.
" Third. The pack trains will be loaded with five days' rations for the men. The fupply trains will be loaded with rations of grain and fubfiftence in fuch proportion, that men and animals will be fupplied to the fame date.
" Fourth. Some convenient point will be felected in each divifion and Buford's · brigade, at which camp and garrifon equipage, quartermafter's and fubfiftence ftores, with private property, will be left in charge of an officer and the difmounted men, who will conftitute the depot guards for this prop- erty. All fuperfluous articles of clothing, camp and garrifon equipage, and, in fact, of every kind, will be left with the regimental baggage at thefe depots.
" Fifth. The fick of each divifion will be affembled at the divifion hofpi- tals. Rufh's Lancers will fend their fick to the hofpital of Gregg's di- vifion, &c.
" Sixtb. The headquarters of the corps will be defignated at night, during the campaign, either in bivouac or on the march, by a red lantern.
"By command of
"MAJOR-GENERAL STONEMAN."
The remainder of the day, and the Sabbath following, were fpent in preparations for active fervice. Early on the morning of the 13th, the familiar notes of the "general" founded through the camp; it was followed
I33
SPRING CAMPAIGN.
by "boots and faddle," and we were foon mounted, and 1863. on the line of march.
A farewell cheer was given to our old camping-ground April 13th as the regiment moved out. The entire corps rendez- voufed at General Stoneman's headquarters, and ftarted from there about 10 o'clock, being divided into three divifions, under Generals Buford, Gregg, and Averill, with the 6th Pennfylvania, Colonel Rufh, forming an independent command, all under General Stoneman. We marched all day to the northweft, and bivouacked at night near the "Spotted Tavern," and Hartwood Church.
Our breakfast was eaten haftily on the following morn- April 14th. ing, and at an early hour we were again in the faddle. Marched flowly all day, and by a circuitous route reached Bealton Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road early in the evening, where we bivouacked for the night on low ground in the edge of a wood. The evening was magnificent, and all were in fine fpirits. Our regiment had been felected for fpecial duty, on which it was to ftart early the next morning. After croffing the Rappahannock with the main command, we were to proceed rapidly to the vicinity of Richmond, deftroy railroads, canals, telegraph lines, and by forced march, to join our forces either at Suffolk or Fortrefs Monroe. With minds ftirred at the refponfibility and honor of this felection, we were wakeful, and fat around our camp fires until after midnight, difcuffing the import- ant work before us, its dangers and rewards.
A little after 2 o'clock in the morning, a heavy ftorm fet in, and the rain fell in torrents. Morning found us
I34
WARRENTON JUNCTION.
1863.
in a great fwamp, with feveral inches of water over all the ground. We were marched towards the river, but on examination, it was found to be fo fwollen that it was impoffible to crofs it at the ufual fords. After being in the faddle fome four hours, we returned, and again went into camp, in the fame fwampy field we had left in the morning. The remainder of the day, until dark, was fpent in collecting rails, and making arrangements for the night. Rails were placed together on the ground, and covered with boughs, by which comparatively dry though very angular beds were fecured.
We remained in this vicinity from the 15th to the April 20th. 20th, changing camp twice. Heavy rains continued nearly every day, and we had very limited protection from the ftorm, and fcanty allowance of food.
We left camp on the morning of the 20th, and marched all day through wretched roads, and heavy fhowers, and halted at night two miles foutheaft of War- renton, tired, wet, and hungry. Captain Treichel, with Company "A," was fent on a reconnoiffance to War- renton. He made a dafh into the town, which was re- ported as being occupied by a fmall force of the enemy, but meeting none, he ftationed his pickets on the roads approaching the town, and remained in charge of the April 22d. place until the morning of the 22d, when he joined the regiment as we paffed through, and marched to War- renton Junction, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road. At night we were again expofed to a very heavy rain, which continued for three days, much to our dif- comfort.
April 27th. On the 27th, the rain abated, the fun fhone out clear
135
FAREWELL OF COLONEL RUSH.
and warm, the ftreams were falling, roads improving, 1863. and an early movement expected. April.
At drefs parade this evening, Colonel Rufh, in an af- fecting fpeech, took leave of the regiment, deeming it very doubtful that he fhould be able to rejoin the com- mand this campaign. He expreffed great regret at being compelled to leave juft at this juncture, but the fevere expofure of the laft three weeks had revived a chronic difeafe contracted while ferving in Mexico. On the earneft recommendation of Surgeon Coover, he applied for, and received, a fick-leave on furgeon's certificate of difability, and on the following morning left for Wafh- ington. The honorable pofition attained by the regi- ment in its later campaigns, is doubtlefs due to the mili- tary fkill and knowledge, and the fuperior qualities of Colonel Rufh as an organizer and difciplinarian.
The command of the regiment now devolved on Major Robert Morris Jr., Lieutenant-Colonel C. Rofs Smith being on detached duty on the ftaff of General Stoneman.
CHAPTER ELEVENTH.
Stoneman's Raid-Croffing the Rappahannock-Orange Springs -Louifa Court-House-A Skirmish -- Colonel Percy Wynd- ham-Columbia on the James-General Gregg's Expedition -Captain Lord and the First United States-The Fifth United States Cavalry-Thompson's Cross-Roads-The Re- turn-Difmal Night Rides.
1863. April 28th. A BOUT 5 o'clock in the evening of the 28th, five days' rations and three days' forage were iffued, and orders to hold the regiment in readinefs to move at a moment's notice. Tents were immediately ftruck, wagons loaded, horfes faddled, and the whole command ordered to ftand to horfe, and await orders. Hour after hour paffed, finding us in the fame pofition : midnight, and we are ftill impatiently waiting, and wondering why we do not move. Near midnight rain began to fall, and continued with increafed feverity as the day dawned.
April 29th.
On the 29th, we marched to Kelley's Ford, on the Rappahannock, where we forded the ftream about 3 o'clock, P.M. The croffing was quite hazardous, in confequence of the river being high and running very fwiftly. The Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps, croffed on pontoons at the fame time, a fhort diftance below the ford.
I37
STONEMAN'S RAID.
Soon after we had effected the croffing, artillery firing 1863. was heard towards the right, and we were hurried off in April 29th that direction. It proved to be from a fmall force of the enemy, who oppofed the croffing of Colonel Averill near the railroad bridge, the enemy retreating after a fhort fkirmifh. General Buford went to the left, and exchanged a few fhots with a force found there. They fcattered before our advancing column, and we moved forward to near Flefhman's River, where we halted in a newly ploughed field, and without fire, or fhelter from a cold mercilefs ftorm, we fpent the night.
It was dark and dreary in the extreme: no bugle calls were founded, and ftrict filence was obferved, as we were fuppofed to be in proximity to the rebels. The vivid flafhes of lightning alone illuminated the fcene. Our pickets were charged during the night by ftraggling bands of rebel cavalry, but the troops were not gener- ally alarmed.
Up to this time no one but the generals in command were aware of our deftination; but at 12 o'clock that night, the commanders of the feveral regiments were affembled, and informed by General Stoneman of his plans and inftructions. They were ordered to fend to the rear every defcription of wagon, the pack mules, led horfes, and all animals that would not be able to march fifty miles a day ; to provide themfelves with eight days' rations, and as much grain as each man could carry upon his horfe, and to be in readinefs to move at 4 o'clock in the morning.
At 2 o'clock, all were bufily engaged in thefe prepa- rations, and the hours until daylight confumed in draw
18
138
CROSSING THE RAPIDAN.
1863. ing and diftributing rations, and fpeculations upon the probable refult of the expedition. Nearly all were jubi- lant at the profpect before them, while vifions of Libby prifon, or Belle Ifle, weakened the nerves of fome. It was daylight when the train to the rear was in readinefs to move, and the laft mule with extra baggage was dif- patched, and our forward march was refumed. We were obliged to move cautioufly, being ignorant of the exact locality of the enemy; and it was II o'clock before we reached the Rapidan.
April 30th.
The advance of General Buford's column arrived at Morton's Ford, on the Rapidan, about noon, and Cap- tain Leiper was fent acrofs on a reconnoiffance. He came upon and fcattered a rebel force, charging them with the lance, and returned with eleven prifoners, having loft Lieutenant Lennig, captured by the enemy. The prifoners brought in all belonged to the Fauquier County Artillery, and formed part of a force fome fix- teen hundred ftrong, commanded by General W. H. Lee, that had been encamped between this and Raccoon Ford the night previous. The condition of the country was reported to General Buford, and his command croffed as rapidly as the fwollen condition of the ftream would permit, and marched to Raccoon Ford, where the balance of the force was croffing. We there biv- ouacked for the night. Hungry, wet, and fatigued, we were illy prepared to fpend a night in ftanding to horfe, but fuch were our orders; and without unfad- dling, the regiment was drawn up in clofe column of companies, the men difmounted, and ordered to ftand at their horfes' heads all night. No fires could be kindled ;
139
ORANGE SPRINGS.
and as a denfe fog fettled down in the valley during the 1863. night, it became very cold, and our clothing being wet, we fuffered greatly before morning. Many fank ex- haufted at their horfes' heads, and with reins faftened to wrift, flept for hours defpite the difcomfort.
Our courfe the next day was in a foutheafterly direc- May Ift. tion, General Buford marching towards Orange Court- houfe, while General Gregg paffed on to Orange Springs. The advance, under Major Beaumont, of the Ift New Jerfey Cavalry, reached Orange Spring's at I o'clock in the afternoon, where they encountered a fmall force of the enemy. The major at once charged them, capturing a major and feveral men, and difperfing the reft. He was informed that a large fupply train paffed there in the morning in great hafte, throwing away large quantities of forage and provifions; and that the rebels were falling back from Culpepper towards Spottfylvania Court-houfe, taking with them as much of their movable effects as poffible, and driving a great number of negroes before them. In hopes of over- hauling this company, General Gregg fent Colonel Wyndham, who commanded the fecond brigade of his divifion, after them, with inftructions to follow them for five miles, and if he faw nothing of them, to return, as time was too valuable to wafte in further purfuit. The Colonel went the five miles on a trot, but faw nothing of the enemy. In the mean time our men, to amufe them- felves, inftituted a fearch through the different houfes in the vicinity, and fucceeded in bringing to light a great quantity of contraband goods. In one houfe they found feveral dozen pairs of valuable high top-boots and fol-
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