USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry > Part 9
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140
LOUISA COURT-HOUSE.
1863. diers' fhoes, evidently of Northern manufacture. In almoft every houfe they found mufkets, rifles, and fhot guns; and in one houfe a fine gray uniform belonging to a field officer.
There was confiderable ftraggling to-day, as the men were without rations. Every fmokehoufe and farmyard near the line of our march, was made to contribute to our comfort. Chickens, ducks, and hams, in great numbers, were fecured. During the morning the clouds broke away, and under the genial influence of the bright funfhine, frefh fpirit feemed to poffefs the men. The evening being pleafant, and the moon fhining brightly, we marched until 3 o'clock in the morning, when we forded the North Anna, and halted until daylight. Our horfes were unfaddled, and we were allowed fires for the firft time fince leaving Warrenton Junction. A good meal of warm coffee, chicken, and corn pone, was enjoyed greatly. We here refted for about three hours, and moved at 7 o'clock on the morning of May 2d. the 2d, and about noon came to Louifa Court-houfe. This place we expected to find defended, as the Vir- ginia Central Railroad, connecting Frederickfburg with Gordonfville, paffes through it. We halted about a mile from the town, when Colonel Kilpatrick, with the 7th New York Cavalry (the "Harris Light"), charged through the town, his boys yelling like demons. They fecured a few prifoners, but met no regular force of the enemy. The inhabitants were much terrified at fuch unufual proceedings, doubtlefs expecting that the Yan- kees were about to murder them all, and were greatly furprifed when they faw the poft-office and public build-
141
LOUISA COURT-HOUSE.
ings alone difturbed. The telegraph office was taken 1863. poffeffion of, and an operator feated, who received tele- May 2d grams from the rebel capital. We thus obtained infor- mation of the fuccefsful operations of General Hooker, on the fouth of the Rappahannock, up to that time. For nearly an hour we received rebel intelligence. When the difcovery was made in Richmond that the "Yankees" held the line, fome very decided remarks of difapprobation came over the wires, when they ceafed to communicate.
One fquadron of the 10th New York, under Colonel Irwin, was fent five miles above the town, and another, under Major Avery, of the fame regiment, five miles below, when the work of deftructtion began. The track was torn up, bridges and culverts deftroyed, and ftations and water tanks burned.
While halting in Louifa Court-houfe, intelligence was received that a large force of rebel cavalry was approach- ing on the Gordonfville Road, and was diftant only about an hour's march. General Gregg paffed through the town, and found Colonel Wyndham's brigade in line of battle on the brow of a hill, a fhort diftance beyond the town. After waiting there for an hour or more for the ap- proach of the enemy, he returned, when the march was refumed, leaving as a rear-guard a portion of the Ift Maine Cavalry. Shortly after our departure, the enemy came in fight, and attacking our fmall force, com- pelled it to fall back. The 2d New York was imme- diately fent to their fupport, and after a fharp fkirmifh the enemy withdrew. At 3 o'clock, we were again in line of march on the road. We moved fteadily forward
142
COLONEL PERCY WYNDHAM.
1863. until half-paft II o'clock, paffing through a beautiful diftrict of country, and having a clear moonlight night for the march. We halted at "Thompfon's Crofs- Roads," or "Four Corners," near midnight.
May 3d.
General Stoneman immediately called his command- ers together, and explained his general plan of opera- tions, and by half-paft 2 o'clock on the morning of the 3d, the feveral expeditions had been ftarted on their perilous and important work. On the march thus far, General Buford's command had captured a train of twenty-fix wagons, with four-mule teams to each. We were now in the very heart of the enemy's country, and what was to be done muft be done quickly, as the enemy were known to be concentrating all the force they could get together to prevent the accomplifhment of our defigns.
Colonel Percy Wyndham, of the Ift New Jerfey Cav- alry, with his own and the Ift Maine regiment, in all about fix hundred men, took a foutherly direction, croff- ing Owen's Creek, Licking Hole Creek, and feveral other fmall ftreams, and reached Columbia, on the James River, at about 8 A.M. on the 3d.
The country through which we paffed was inhab- ited moftly by wealthy farmers, who had never before had the pleafure of feeing any of the detefted Yankee army ; and as they were totally ignorant of our prefence in that vicinity, their looks of wonderment and furprife can be better imagined than defcribed. As many of our horfes had given out, and the beft of them were in worn condition, the colonel detailed a fquad of men to fcour the country, and take every horfe fit for fervice. Very
143
COLUMBIA ON THE JAMES.
many valuable horfes were obtained in this way. We 1863. arrived in the vicinity of Columbia at 9 o'clock. As May 3d. we approached the town, horfemen were feen hovering about, watching our movements, and one of our videttes reported a large force of cavalry about a mile ahead. Captain W. R. Robbins, of the Ift New Jerfey, was fent out with fix men to afcertain the facts of the cafe. He fcoured the country for a diftance of fome five or fix miles, capturing fome prifoners, but difcovered no enemy in force.
Colonel Wyndham now made a difpofition of his forces. He ftationed the Ift Maryland outfide of the town, and charged through it with the Ift New Jerfey, under Lieutenant-Colonel Broderick. As we entered the town, the rebels were feen to leave on the oppofite fide, in great hafte. Chafe was immediately given them by Captains Kefter, Lucas, Gray, Boyd, and others, who fucceeded in making a few prifoners.
Parties were at once detailed to cut the canal, deftroy the locks, burn the bridges, tow-boats, canal-boats, &c. In ten minutes from the time we entered the town, flames were iffuing from five bridges, and feveral canal- boats loaded with forage and commiffary ftores; while two parties, under the fupervifion of Major Ruffell, of the Ift Maryland, and Lieutenant-Colonel Broderick, were engaged in cutting down the bank of the canal, and deftroying the locks; and another party, under Cap- tains Thomas and Hicks, of Colonel Wyndham's ftaff, were in the town, deftroying an immenfe ftorehoufe filled with fupplies of every defcription for the rebel army.
I44
GENERAL GREGG'S EXPEDITION.
1863. May.
A large quantity of whifkey, nicely bottled, labelled, and boxed, for the medical purveyor's office, Richmond, was carried off or deftroyed.
The inhabitants were much terrified at our prefence ; and one lady came running out of her houfe, as we paffed up the ftreet, and afked if we would be kind enough not to murder the women and children. She was affured that the only object of the expedition was to deftroy government property. No houfe was en- tered, or citizen infulted, or molefted in any way; and the object of the expedition having been accomplifhed, the troops quietly left the town. The only part of the expedition which they were unable to accomplifh, was the deftruction of the aqueduct, where the canal croffes the Rivanna River. This is built of folid ma- fonry, and is of immenfe ftrength, and we had no means of deftroying it. After leaving the town, Major Beau- mont volunteered to return with a company, and again attempt its deftruction, and was permitted to do fo by Colonel Wyndham. He fucceeded in finding powder and fufe in Columbia, but in confequence of the fhort time he had to work, was unable to accomplifh its de- ftruction.
This canal runs along the James River from Lynch- burg to Richmond, and nearly one half of their fupplies for the army were tranfported over it. Sufficient dam- age was done to render it ufelefs for at leaft three weeks. This command returned to Stoneman's head- quarters in fafety about dufk, having marched over fixty miles.
General Gregg's command moved upon the Fred-
a
I45
RETURN OF GENERAL GREGG.
erickfburg and Richmond Railroad to Afhland. On 1863. the way there a long bridge, over the South Anna River, May 3d. was burned, and a detachment was fent to deftroy the Ground-fquirrel Bridge. The column then marched on the Richmond and Gordonfville Pike to within eight miles of Afhland, where they bivouacked Monday night. On the following morning they entered Afhland, where a train of cars, filled with troops, many of whom were fick, was captured ; the train was deftroyed, and the prifoners paroled. In the rebel government ftables a large number of public horfes and mules were found, with twenty wagons and complete fets of harnefs. The animals were brought away, but the ftables, ftorehoufes, wagons and harnefs, were burned. Juft outfide of the town, eighteen more wagons, each drawn by fix mules, were alfo captured. They ftruck the Virginia Central Railroad, at Hanover Station, at about 8 o'clock, P.M. Here they captured and paroled thirty officers and men, burnt a treftle-work bridge, the railroad depot, ftore- houfes, ftables and cars, all belonging to, or in ufe by, the rebel government. Over a thoufand facks of flour were deftroyed, and a large quantity of clothing, camp, and garrifon equipage. A portion of this command was here detached, under Colonels Kilpatrick and Da- vis, who forced their way through to Yorktown, and there again entered the Union lines.
General Gregg returned to Thompfon's Crofs-roads on the 5th, having accomplifhed more than was expected from his expedition.
While this was in progrefs, another force, under Cap- tain R. S. C. Lord, commanding the Ift United States
19
146
THE FIFTH UNITED STATES CAVALRY.
1863. Cavalry, was fent to Tolerfville, to deftroy the Virginia May 3d. Central Railroad at that point. Tolerfville is fituated about fix miles from Louifa Court-houfe. They tore up the track for miles, burned the ties, deftroyed fwitches, bridges, culverts, &c., rendering the road im- paffable for weeks. A portion of the command, under Captain Eugene Baker, then went fix miles further to Frederick Hall, and cut the railroad at that point. They alfo deftroyed the telegraph inftruments, wires, and a great amount of government property. At funfet, Cap- tain John Feelner, of the fame regiment, with thirty men, proceeded on the road towards Frederickfburg, fome fix miles, where a bridge, over two hundred feet long, croffes the North Anna River. The bridge was guarded by rebel infantry. The captain charged acrofs it, driving the enemy from it, and fucceeded in burning it, without the lofs of a man, and captured five prifoners.
The length of time the regiment was abfent caufed much uneafinefs at headquarters; and General Stone- man, fearing they were in trouble, fent out a fquadron of the 6th Regulars, under Captain Claflin, to commu- nicate with them, which he did, and returned with the command.
Captain Lord was highly complimented, by both Gen- erals Stoneman and Buford, on the fuccefs of the expe- dition, as it was confidered by them one of the moft hazardous and important of the whole expedition.
Captain Harrifon, commanding the 5th Regulars, was fent with the regiment to deftroy a bridge over the James River, at Carterfville, fome twelve miles fouth of Columbia. He ftarted late on Sunday night, and arrived
147
THOMPSON'S CROSS-ROADS.
at "Shannon's," or, as it is here called, "Flemming's," Crofs-roads at 2 o'clock, and bivouacked till daylight. Two hundred picked men were then felected and placed under Captain Drummond, with inftructions to proceed to Carterfville, and deftroy the bridge at all hazards. Captain Harrifon, with the balance of the command, remained at "Flemming's," to protect him from attack from that direction. Shortly after funrife, Lieutenant Haftings, with fifteen men, was patrolling the road in the direction of Gordonfville, when he difcovered the approach of a large body of rebel cavalry. He at once perceived that the fafety of Captain Harrifon depended upon his prompt action. He immediately charged the advance guard, driving them back upon the main column. Lieutenant Haftings only had thirty men, all told, the remainder being ftationed on the feveral roads as pickets. He drew these up in line acrofs the road, and prepared to refift the advance of the enemy as long as poffible. He refifted a charge made by double his number, and efcaped with nearly all his men. The enemy captured fome of the pickets of the 5th Cav- alry, including Captain Owen and Lieutenant Buford. Word was at once fent to General Stoneman of the proximity of the rebels, and he came down with Gen- eral Buford's command and the Lancers at a trot, but they did not arrive in time to meet the enemy. While thefe expeditions were out, our regiment was retained as a provoft and headquarters guard to General Stoneman.
Early on Sunday morning we were drawn up in line of battle, fupporting a fection of artillery, at Thompfon's
1863. May 4th.
148
THE RETURN.
1863. Crofs-roads, and remained in this pofition all day. Nearly the entire command of General Buford was ftationed near Shannon Hill. A detachment of the 5th United States Cavalry, under Captain T. Drummond, fent to deftroy the canal and bridge near Cedar Point, moft effectually accomplifhed their work. During the night of the 3d, it is believed both Hampton's and Lee's brig- ades were encamped within two miles of our pofition. On the morning of the 4th, a picket confifting of fixty men, commanded by Lieutenant Stoddard, of the 5th United States, was attacked, and fifteen of the number captured; on the alarm being given, reinforcements were difpatched, when the rebels were driven off, and the remainder of the day was fpent in quiet watching.
The work of the expedition had been accomplifhed fatisfactorily, and as we had no intelligence from Gen- eral Hooker,-our communication having entirely ceafed through failures on the part of General Averill,-Gen- eral Stoneman called a council of his officers, when it was determined to return by the fame route over which . we had marched in coming out.
May 5th.
On the morning of the 5th, the entire force was con- centrated at Yanceville, and in the afternoon we ftarted on our return trip. The Sixth marched with General Buford's command, and when near Louifa Court-houfe, we made a circuit, taking us near Gordonfville. At Trevillian Station, a large water tank and depot were deftroyed. Here we halted for an hour, fcouting for feveral miles. A rebel battery was difcovered on the road towards Gordonfville, but as we were inftructed not to bring on any engagement with the enemy if it
149
DISMAL NIGHT RIDES.
could be avoided, no attack was made. When our main 1863. column had all paffed on, we were ordered to follow, May 5th. forming the rear-guard for the entire force.
Early in the evening rain began to fall, and increafed in violence until midnight. We were in a ftrange country, and the roads bad beyond defcription. Many of our horfes mired, and were left floundering in the mud, while the difmounted trooper, with "traps" upon his back, trudged on as faft as poffible, until a friendly ftable would furnifh him a remount; or if not fo fortu- nate, or more thoroughly exhaufted, he would wrap him- felf in his horfe-blanket, and fleep by the roadfide until morning. Many of our men thus dropping out by the way, were captured by the enemy.
The night was very dark, and much of the way led us through denfe woods, intenfifying the darknefs; and for feveral hours it was utterly impoffible for one to fee the perfon riding immediately in advance, or even the head of the animal upon which he was himfelf mounted. We marched all night, wet, hungry, and tired, and about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, forded the North Anna. The water was very high, and running very rapidly. Our animals being exhaufted by hard march- ing, great difficulty was found in croffing, feveral of our horfes being carried down by the violence of the ftream. After croffing, we marched until 4 o'clock, when we halted in a denfe wood until daylight. Fires were foon ftarted, coffee prepared, and after a light lunch, we wrapped ourfelves in wet blankets and were foon afleep.
During the night, Captain Treichel's fquadron became feparated from the column, and after marching feveral
150
DISMAL NIGHT RIDES.
1863. miles on a by-road, and experiencing great difficulty in croffing fwollen ftreams, halted until daylight, and by hard marching rejoined the column the next afternoon.
May 6th. At 7 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, we were aroufed to cold, rain, and hunger. The rain continued all day and the fucceeding night.
Our march to-day was made very cautioufly. Halts were ordered every few miles, while the country in our front and flanks was diligently patrolled. Up to this time we were without intelligence from General Hooker, and were in blifsful ignorance of the difafter at Chancellorf- ville. Night clofed upon us early. Being without ra- tions, we had no good meal during the day, and at night, wet, hungry, and exhaufted, we fettled ourfelves again in the faddle for an all-night's march. It was darker, if poffible, than the night previous. To guide one's horfe was fimply impoffible, and our only affurance of keeping with the column, was found in trufting to the more reliable inftincts of our animals.
The mud was deep, and worked into a very foft condi- tion. From the unceafing fplafh of liquid mud, one would fuppofe we were marching in a ftream of water to our horfes' knees. Our clothing being thoroughly fat- urated for more than two days, and a keen wind and cold driving rain in our faces, rendered this night's ride anything but pleafant. We were fo thoroughly ex- haufted, that many flept for hours while their faithful horfes moved on with the column; while occafionally a weary rider and jaded beaft were paffed on the roadfide, having marched to the point of poffible endurance for that night.
15I
BACK AGAIN IN SAFETY.
The long, weary, ftormy night wore on, and near 1863. daylight on the morning of the 7th, we forded the Rapi- May 7th. dan at Raccoon Ford. We here halted until 10 o'clock, when the rear of the column croffed. The country was patrolled to Kelley's Ford, and reported free of the enemy. We marched flowly all the afternoon, and about 9 o'clock P.M., we arrived at Kelley's Ford, but the night being too dark to effect a croffing in fafety, we bivouacked in a low wet field until daylight, every man ferving as hitching-poft for his own horfe. At daylight we moved down to the ford, and as rapidly as poffible croffed to the north bank of the Rappahannock. Great difficulty was experienced in croffing, as the river was very high, and running with great violence. Our horfes, being thoroughly exhaufted, were fcarcely able to ftem the fwift current of the ftream, and in feveral cafes both horfe and rider were carried down the river. The banks at this point are quite high and abrupt, and for feveral hundred yards below the ford, the afcent from the river to the level country above is impoffible, and but very little affiftance could be rendered thofe who failed in the croffing. Out of the many thus carried down by the river, all were refcued but two, who, de- fpite all efforts to fave them, were drowned.
The Sixth croffed early in the morning, and biv- ouacked on the north bank while the entire force croffed. We were allowed large fires, and though the day was damp and our clothing very wet, we ate heart- ily, and flept foundly until near night, when we were marched to Rappahannock Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. We there bivouacked on high
152
CLOSE OF STONEMAN'S RAID.
1863. ground, and collecting great quantities of rails from the fences near by, kept up large fires all night, and enjoyed pofitive reft, feafoned with a fenfe of fecurity and fafety.
Thus clofed the ever-memorable "Stoneman's Raid," leaving as a refult the thorough and fuccefsful accom- plifhment of all anticipated, though of no fpecial benefit to our caufe, becaufe of the failures of Chancellorfville.
CHAPTER TWELFTH.
Encampments near Bealton-Morrifville and Hartwood Church -March to " Brooks's Station"-Dumfries-After Guer- rillas-Encamped at " Catlett's Station"-Great Cavalry Engagement at " Beverly Ford"-Exciting Charge of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
O N the 9th of May we marched to Bealton, on the 1863. Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and during the May 9th. day our indefatigable Quartermafter, Lieutenant Theo- ·dore Sage, came up from Falmouth with our regimental wagons, and we enjoyed the luxuries of tents, blankets, a change of clothing, and an abundance to eat.
During the afternoon of the 10th, we marched about five miles towards Falmouth, and bivouacked for the night. A detail was made from our regiment for picket duty. On the day following we marched to near Hart- wood Church, where we went regularly into camp. For feveral days we enjoyed needed reft, the only inter- ruption thereto being our regular tour of picket duty, and an occafional fcout for guerrillas.
Morrifville and vicinity was the worft region for the operations of murderous guerrilla bands we ever found. Lieutenant A. P. Morrow, of our brigade, was here captured on the 13th, while engaged in vifiting his picket May 13th.
20
·
I54
DUMFRIES.
1863. line. Several other officers of the brigade were cap- tured while within fight of their camps. It was at Elk Run, near here, that Lieutenant Sage was murdered in November of this year.
May 16th.
About 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 16th we broke camp, and after marching three miles, bivouacked for the night. Early the next morning we were again on the road, and marched flowly all day. About 2 o'clock we paffed infide our infantry picket line, and at night went into camp near Brooks's Station, on the Acquia Creek Railroad. Our tents were here pitched on very high ground, with good fhade and water; our camp was well arranged, and prefented a very fine ap- pearance. We remained here in quietnefs, performing no duty but fuch as referred to our own immediate im- provement, until the 24th.
Lieutenant William Sproule, Company "F," died in. Cavalry Corps Hofpital, at Acquia Creek Landing, on May 19th. the 19th of May. He had accompanied us on the raid, and was taken very fick on the third or fourth day; he however continued with the regiment until its return to Kelley's Ford, when he was taken to the hofpital. He was greatly beloved by his comrades, and poffeffed many admirable qualities. His remains were conveyed to Philadelphia by Captain Davis, of the fame company, where he was buried with military honors.
May 24th.
On Sunday, the 24th, the regiment marched to Dum- fries, where we remained for five days engaged in picket duty and refitting. While here, and at our previous camp, we parted with the lance, and the whole com- mand was armed with carbines. The lance had been
155
CATLETT'S STATION.
found to be illy adapted to cavalry fervice, as performed 1863. in the wooded country through which we were called to operate. At this date the regiment had ten companies ferving together, with Captain Starr's fquadron only de- tached, which was ftill with the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.
On the 29th we moved towards Warrenton, making May 29th. a march of twelve miles. On the following day, by a very circuitous route, marched to Bealton, where we arrived about noon. On our arrival there, we learned of depredations committed by a portion of Mofeby's command on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, near Catlett's Station, during the morning, and we were hur- ried off in that direction. The rebels had thrown from the track and deftroyed a train of cars loaded with com- miffary ftores. After completing their work of deftruc- tion, they fled to the mountains ; we purfued, and near evening overtook and captured quite a number of their noted guerrilla band, and with them a fmall mountain howitzer. Late in the evening we returned to Catlett's Station, and bivouacked for the night. The next morn- ing we were ordered to prepare permanent camps. A fine ground was felected on the edge of a wood, near Cedar Run, an excellent ftream of water. We here remained encamped until the 8th of June, engaged in picket and fcout duty to the mountains and the Rappa- hannock, extending towards Warrenton.
On the 30th, Companies "A" and "D" marched to May 30th. White Ridge, pofting relays on the road, to carry dif- patches between the headquarters of Generals Stoneman and Buford, and remained on this duty until June 3d.
156
CATLETT'S STATION.
1863.
While lying at Catlett's Station, we drew from the Quartermafter wagons fufficient to make up our former allowance. The pack-mule fyftem, introduced by Gen- eral Hooker, though proving a fource of great amufe- ment to the troops, and aggravation to the drivers, was not at all practicable for the active campaign.
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