History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 63

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 63

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I " The Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry (One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers) was recruited by officers of the Anderson Troop, a company named after General Robert Anderson, the hero of Fort Sumter, which had been in service under General Buell.

" In the summer of 1862, Captain William 1. Palmer, assisted by Ward, Verzin, Seeger and others of the old Anderson Troop, opened recruiting offices at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other points throughout the State.

"A peculiar feature at the recruiting station in Philadelphia (corner Third and Willing's Alley) was the requirement that recrnite for the Fifteenth shouldl furnish recommendations as to character, etc.

" It was stated at headquarters that the regiment was intended for special duty under General Buell, who was then in command of the gal- laut and successful Army of the Southwest.

" Applicants were numerous, and some of the best material of the State was thus secured.

"The men were measured for their uniforms at Rockhill & Wilson's Chestnut Street clothing-house, and purchased their heavy cavalry boots of Dickerman, Philadelphia.

" It was originally intended to increase the old troop to a battalion only, and it has been frequently urged that no sufficient authority was given for a greater number, but a full regiment was enlisted and placed in active service.

" The men were taken in detachments to Carlisle Barracks, in Cumber- lund County, Pennsylvania, and were drilled there by officers of the reg- ular army, on duty at the barracks.

"It is asserted that there was some conflict as to the regiment between the War Department and the State authorities.

"At all events, there was some hitch or hindrance at some important point which resulted in trouble to officers and men, and occasioned con- siderable irregularity in the organization and equipment of the regi- ment.

" Acting Colonel Palmer was captured at Antietam, and was afterward succeeded in temporary command by Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer.

"The officers, however, were only temporary, and orders were issued as mere 'temporary arrangements.' Men not above the grade of ser- geants were in command of companies, while the men of the regiment had uo voice in the selection of their non-commissioned or other officers.

" In this unfortunate condition, without equipment, without commis- sioned officers, and apparently without remedy, all efforts to secure a

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in the autumn of 1862, by order of the Secretary of War, and was designed for special service. Captain William J. Palmer, who had previously organized an independent company known in history as the An- -- derson Troop, departed from the usual rule of per- mitting the enlisted men to elect the line and field officers, the recruits "having by their terms of enlist- ment waived their right to choose their own officers." The duty of selecting line, field and staff officers for a new regiment imposed a task of more than ordinary responsibility, and the men who patriotically waived the privilege, universally accorded to all Pennsylvania troops, subsequently learned by a painful experience that the selection of subordinate officers is attended with a measure of dissatisfaction not less marked than that which prevails where they are made the subject of popular choice. Home associations were not rec- ognized in the organization of this regiment, nor in the appointment and assignment of line officers to duty. The promotion of line officers was not by company, as was the custom among Pennsylvania Volunteers. It was thought judicious to adopt the rule prevailing in the regular army, and promote by seniority throughout the regiment, the senior captain always being in command of Company A and the junior captain in command of Company ME, and the same of lieutenants. The recruits were mustered into the service at Carlisle, Pa. Officers were assigned them who, by the aid of the post-officers of the regular army then stationed at Carlisle, com- menced instruction and drill. The incursion of Lee into Maryland in the month of September, threaten- ing Western Pennsylvania, induced great activity among all the troops then in process of organization, and this regiment, with those in eamp at Harrisburg,

change proving ineffectual,-a condition which naturally tends to pro- duce demoralization and frequently leads to insubordination in any service, military or civil, -the regiment was, on short notice, hurried out of the grand old commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Acting Lieutenant- Colonel Spencer, to Louisville, Kentucky, and from thence, wretchedly monuted and inefficiently equipped, to Nashville, Tennessee, whence, in a day or two, they were marched to the front, and under General Stanley, chief of cavalry of General Rosecrans, had the extreme advance at the battle of Murfreesboro'.

" The loss to the regiment in that battle was houvy. After the death of the gallant Majors Ward and Rosengarten and of the hervic Kimbes, General Stanley said, in a voice that rang like a trumpet :

"' I will take command of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania.' With that he drew his sword, shouted the command, ' Draw sabre ! Charge ! Follow me !' It was gallantly done and the regiment marched upon the fue.

" But alas ! many of the brave and brilliant men of the Fifteenth, whose genius, dash and courage gave promise of distinguished and emi- nent service to the government were slain or crippled for life on that bloody field in the memorable Christmas holidays of 1862.

" The great delays in properly organizing the regiment and the lack of snitable supplies and equipments had culminated in widespread dissatis- faction, and troubles arose which for a time seriously threatened the or- ganization.

" These, however, were afterwards happily adjusted.

" After the resorganization Orderly Sergeant Charles M. Betts rose rapidly to the colonelcy of the regiment, and its subsequent fine career under his efficient command was due in a great measure to his nobls qualities asan officer and gentleman.

"ALEXANDER R. CUTLER,

" Late Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry."

were put in marching orders, and their first experience in the hardships of active service was realized in their native State. Their historian says, "The regiment was ordered to remain in the Cumberland Valley, and two hundred and fifty picked men, with three days' rations and thirty-six rounds of ammunition per man, were ordered to the front. They proceeded by rail to Greencastle, where the detachment procured horses for one hundred and fifty of their number, and with these they pieketed all the public roads leading sonth, the enemy being in force at or near Hagerstown. The outposts came in conflict with the enemy on the 12th and 13th of September and acquitted themselves with credit. These troops were on duty during the battle of Antietam, and subsequently, on the 18th of September, Captain Palmer, who was to be commis- sioned colonel of the regiment, while in discharge of hazardons and difficult duty within the enemy's lines, was captured and sent to Richmond. Upon the re- treat of Lee south of the Potomac the entire detach- ment returned to their camp at Carlisle, having re- turned to the good people in the neighborhood of Greencastle the horses used in their first campaign.

The capture of Captain Palmer at this critical june- ture proved a great misfortune, as the command was left without a head. On the 1st of October, Willian Spencer, first lieutenant of the troop, was commis- sioned lieutenant-colonel, Adolph C. Rosengarten and Frank B. Ward, majors, and the regiment was organ- ized in ten companies. A full list of company officers was presented to the proper authorities for appoint- ment, but only eleven of these were commissioned. On the 7th of November the regiment moved by rail to Louisville, Ky., where, upon its arrival, it went into camp, and was mounted. A month later it was ordered forward to Nashville, where the main army, now under command of General Rosecrans, was assem- bled. At this time the command had seven field and staff officers, twelve line and about two-thirds of its complement of non-commissioned officers. On the 25th a detachment of two hundred and fifty men was . sent ont as guard to a foraging train, and while beyond the lines, on the Hillsboro' pike, was attacked, and one man killed; but the enemy was beaten back, and the laden train brought safely in.

The army was now upon the eve of advancing to meet Bragg in the battle of Stone River. On the 26th an order was issued for the regiment to advance with General Stanley's division of cavalry. Much dissatisfaction had prevailed previous to leaving Louisville on account of the want of officers and the lack of efficiency in the organization; but the men had determined to march to Nashville, and there lay their grievances before General Rosecrans, all appeals to Governor Curtin and to the Secretary of War having proved fruitless. Rosecrans was now busy with the movement of his forces, and could not be seen. With only a single commissioned officer to the company, the command was really in no condition to

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

move; but the order for it was peremptory. The offi- eers, with about three hundred of the men, under the leadership of Majors Rosengarten and Ward, rendered prompt obedience. The remainder, to the number of about six hundred, stacked arms and refused to go. Stanley covered the right flank of the advancing army, and on the 27th came up with the enemy, when brisk skirmishing opened, and the enemy was driven back nearly five miles. On the 29th the command marched by a circnitous route to Wilkinson's Cross- Roads, where it encountered a body of rebel cavalry. Deploying skirmishers, the enemy was driven a mile, when a charge was ordered, and was led by Majors Rosengarten and Ward. Gallantly the command went forward, but soon encountered the enemy's in- fantry in overpowering numbers. The struggle was maintained with desperate valor, and at close quarters, the men using their pistols and clubbing their car- bines. At the height of the encounter Major Rosen- garten was killed, and Major Ward mortally wounded. The battalion was finally forced to retire. Major Ward, who had been helped to the rear, insisted upon another charge, though bleeding from several wounds. The attempt was made, but the command was again repulsed. The loss was thirteen killed or mortally wounded and sixty-nine wounded and missing. The command now devolved on Captain Vezin, and, with the First Tennessee Cavalry, it moved in pursuit of the enemy's horse, which had destroyed a Union wagon-train. All night long the march continued, bnt without avail. On the afternoon of the 31st it joined General Minty's brigade in a charge on Wheeler's cavalry, led by General Stanley in person, in which the enemy was driven in upon his supports. In this charge, Private Holt, of Company H, captured and brought off the colors of the Tenth Tennessee (rebel) Cavalry, on which was inscribed: "Death before Subjugation." At night the command was ad- vanced and deployed in line of skirmishers, where it remained until the morning of the New Year. The enemy, who had gained a signal advantage in the morning of the 31st, routing and driving back the right wing of Rosecrans' army, had been stopped and signally repulsed at evening. There was little more hard fighting, the enemy retreating rapidly on the 3d, and leaving the field in the hands of the Union army. On the morning of the Ist the battalion, with the Third Ohio, was detailed to guard a train on its way back to Nashville, and was twice attacked, losing four killed and three wounded.

In the mean time General Mitchell, in command at Nashville, determined to compel the men who re- mained in camp to go to the front, and accordingly sent General Morgan, on the 30th, to execute his purpose. Upon the offer of General Morgan to take them to General Rosecrans they were soon in saddle, and all, save a detachment left in charge of the camp and the siek, were upon the march, under command of Colonel Woods, of an Illinois regiment, who had been

detailed by General Morgan to command them. At Lavergne they were stopped by a powerful body of the enemy's cavalry, under command of Wheeler. Unable to cope with him, Colonel Woods was com- pelled to fall back. Famishing with hunger, neither men nor horses having had regular supplies for many days, one hundred of the number went into eamp six miles from Nashville, and on the following day made their way to the front, but the remainder returned to their old camp near the city, from which they refused again to move, and on the evening of the 31st were sent by General Mitchell to the work-house. On the 20th of January, 1863, General Rosecrans sent them a proposition that if they would return to duty he would have them speedily reorganized and fully offi- cered. As this was all that they were elamoring for, they accepted it. On the 7th of February, Colonel Palmer returned from captivity and resumed command, when everything began again to wear a cheerful aspect. Horses and a full complement of equipments were re- ceived, and the regiment was organized in twelve companies, with the following field officers: William J. Palmer, colonel ; Charles B. Lamborn, lieutenant- colonel.

Much abuse was heaped upon the men who refused to march, and the wildest rumors prevailed concerning their motives. The rebel organs thronghout the South proclaimed that the Yankee soldiers at Nashville were laying down their arms by regiments, in conse- quence of the issue of the President's emancipation pro- clamation; whereas, it is probable that not a thought of this proclamation ever entered their counsels. Charges of cowardice and disappointment at not being taken to duty at the headquarters of the commanding general were made, but the lack of organization and of offi- cers, and want of efficient leadership, seems to have been the simple and only cause of their conduet. While the unfortunate situation in which they were placed must ever be deplored, and their refusal to march condemned, the conduct of the men who fol- lowed the gallant Rosengarten and Ward, even under the most discouraging circumstances, and met death in the face of the foe, will never cease to be regarded with admiration and gratitude.

Active operations commenced soon after its reor- ganization. On the 4th of April a detachment of three hundred, with infantry and artillery, all under command of General I. N. Palmer, scouted in the di- rection of Woodbury, the detachment having a brisk skirmish four miles beyond the town, and on the fol- lowing day took some prisoners and released some Union conscripts near MeMinnville. On the 7th it charged a body of the enemy near the Barrens, cap- turing eighteen of his men. Returning to camp near Murfreesboro', the regiment was reviewed on the 10th by General Rosecrans.

On the 24th of June the army moved forward on the Chickamauga campaign, when Companies B, H and K were detailed as escort to the general com-

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manding, and the remainder of the regiment was em- ployed for courier duty between the right and left wings of the army, under Generals McCook and Crit- tenden. The latter was required to obtain a knowl- edge of the topography of the country in advance of the army, requiring much activity. On the 24th, Companies E and L. while bearing dispatches to General Mitchell, at Rover, encountered a party of the enemy and dispersed it, killing two and capturing several, delivering the dispatches in safety. Again, on the 29th, nearly the entire regiment, under the com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Lamborn, encountered a body of rebel cavalry north of Tullahoma, driving them in npon their intrenchments, and capturing fif- teen. It soon after advanced with Thomas to Tulla- homa, the enemy retreating. About the middle of August the army again moved forward, and until the opening of the bottle of Chickamauga the regiment was kept busy in scouting the country and preparing maps for the use of the general commanding. During the first day of the battle, September 19th, the regi- ment was on duty at General Rosecrans' headquarters, guarding flank-roads, watching the movements of the enemy and carrying dispatches. When the right gave way, on the second day, Colonel Palmer was ordered by General Rosecrans to form the regiment so as to stop stragglers. The line was formed near the foot of Mission Ridge, west of the Crawfish road, and had stopped a larger number, when the regiment was ordered to the rear by General Sheridan, moving by the top of the ridge to the left. Following the rear of the wagon-trains and batteries to a point twelve miles south of Chattanooga, Colonel Palmer turued to the left, and formed his regiment across the valley, a mile south of where the trains debouched to- wards Chattanooga, and sent out scouting-parties in the direction of Pond Spring and Stevens' Gap. The smoke of Colonel Watkins' wagons, which the rebel cavalry were burning at Stevens' Gap, was here visible. Remaining until the cavalry of General Mitchel had come up, the regiment moved on with the rear of the train to Chattanooga. Company L, sent ten miles out on Lookout Mountain to watch the movements of the enemy, was cut off, but succeeded in making its way through his lines, and rejoining the regiment in Chattanooga.

Bragg closed in upon the army of Rosecrans, send- ing out his cavalry to operate upon his communica- tions. The animals were soon reduced to a starving condition. Colonel Palmer was, accordingly, sent with his calvary into the Seqnatchie Valley, thirty miles away, and encamped on Robinson's plantation, where corn and provisions were found in abundance, and from which supplies were sent to Chattanooga.

Soon after the battle of the 25th of November, which swept Bragg from his strongholds around the city, and gave light and life to the starving army of Thomas, Colonel Palmer was ordered to move to Kingston with his regiment, and join Sherman, now

on his way to Knoxville to relieve the beleaguered army of Burnside. Sherman did not cross at King- ston, but kept up the left bank of the Tennessee, and Palmer, consequently, moved forward on the right bank, and was the first to report at Knoxville. On the day following its arrival General Burnside ordered it to Sevierville to meet a body of the enemy, in part Indians, from North Carolina, under Colonel Thomas. Sending a squadron under Lieutenant-Colonel Lam- born to demonstrate in front, Colonel Palmer led the main body, by night, across the mountains by a cir- cuitons route, coming in upon the rear of the rebel force, and by a well-concerted action, attacking at daylight in front and flank, completely routed it, wounding seven and capturing two of the enemy, fif- teen horses and twenty stands of arms, and burning the camp. Captains Charles M. Betts and George S. Clark were among the wounded in the engagement. Captain McAllister, with two companies, F and G, was sent in pursuit of the fugitives, but failed to over- take them. The regiment was now engaged in scout- ing on the left flank, and in rear of Longstreet's army, which was leisurely pursuing its way towards Vir- ginia, extending along the French Broad River as far as Newport, having frequent skirmishes with rebel cavalry, and capturing prisoners from whom import- ant information was gained. On the night of the 23d of December the command crossed the French Broad, and pushing up under cover of darknesss to the rear of the enemy's cavalry corps, captured a number of his pickets, thirteen horses and twenty-six head of cattle, and brought them safely into camp, though closely pursued. On the 24th the regiment partici- pated in the battle of Dandridge, which was fought by the brigades of Sturgis and Elliott. After a sharp skirmish the enemy was driven, and in full retreat, but was timely reinforced by a brigade from Morris- town, and was thus enabled to make a stand, before which the Union force was obliged to retire. In the fight a spirited dash was made by Colonel Palmer, with ninety of his men, before whom the euemy fled in confusion ; but returning, he was fired on by a party in concealment, and ten of his men were dis- mounted and fell into the hands of the foe. Captain Washington Airey was among these, and for fourteen months endured the hardships and privations of im- prisonment, being finally released to die of disease contracted thereby. The entire loss was seventy-five in killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 29th a sharp engagement occurred at Mossy Creek, and af- ter a contest lasting six hours the enemy was hand- somely repulsed. Two spirited charges were made by the Fifteenth, gaining and holding an important position on the field, for which it was complimented by General Sturgis. It lost one officer, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant Harvey S. Lingle, killed. and five men wounded.

Longstreet having put his army in winter-quarters near Russellville, was sending his cavalry back to the

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

rich corn-fields of the French Broad Valley for sup- plies. The Fifteenth had become expert in scouting to ascertain the movements of the enemy and to harass his foraging-parties. It was, accordingly, posted at Dandridge, and charged especially with this duty. For two weeks it scouted the whole country on the enemy's flank, coming down upon him at the most unexpected moments, marching day and night, pick- ing up prisoners and gathering stock almost within the limits of rebel encampments. On the 13th of January, 1863, while in camp opposite Dandridge, Colonel Palmer learned that Brigadier-General Vance, with a force of three hundred cavalry and dismounted Indians, with two pieces of artillery, had advanced from North Carolina, and entered Sevier- ville, twelve miles in Colonel Palmer's rear, captur- ing twenty wagons loaded with wheat, belonging to the army at Knoxville, and twenty prisoners. Though a brigade of rebel cavalry was in his front, threatenening an attack, Colonel Palmer determined to go in pursuit of Vance. Accordingly, heading a party of one hundred and twenty-five men, and leav- ing his piekets out to deceive the enemy in his front, he started on his daring mission. On the way he learned that Vance's forces had been divided, one party, including . the Indians, going toward North Carolina, the other, headed by Vance himself, with the captured train, taking a back mountain-road to- wards Newport. After a march of thirty miles Pal- mer come up with the latter party at a point about eight miles from Newport, and by a bold charge with the sabre captured the general, two of his staff offi- cers, a lieutenant, fifty men, one hundred and fifty horses, the general's ambulance filled with captured medical stores, recaptured the entire wagon-train and prisoners, and brought all back safely to Sevierville. For his gallantry in this affair, Colonel Palmer was strongly recommended by General Foster, in com- mand at Knoxville, seconded by Generals Sturgis and Elliott, for promotion.

On the 24th, Colonel Palmer's command, temporarily reinforced by Colonel Brownlow's First Tennessee Cavalry, made an expedition into the enemy's foraging- ground, near the mouth of the Big Pigeon River, and captured a train of eighteen wagons, ninety mules and seventy-two of the enemy, including a captain and three lieutenants, losing one man killed. The country around had become very familiar to the men of Colonel Palmer's command, and full reliance was placed in them for information by which the move- ments of heavy bodies of troops were guided. They were kept constantly upon the move. The plan of the considerable engagement at Fair Garden, on the 28th, in which three steel guns and one hundred prisoners were taken, was based upon information of the enemy's position and strength furnished by scouting-parties of the Fifteenth. On the following day Colonel Palmer, by taking a flank trail in follow- ing the retreating rebels, discovered that they had

been reinforced, and by timely warning to the main Union force saved it from disaster. The campaign having now ended, the regiment returned by easy marches to Chattanooga, where it arrived on the 11th of February, and was joined by a part of the regiment which had been left at the camp in Sequatchie Val- ley. During the three succeeding months the com- mand was kept busy in scouting on the flank of the enemy holding position on Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost and Dalton. In reconnoissances to Lafayette, Summerville, Alpine and Lookout Valley it gained important information and captured some prisoners.

By the hard service during the fall and winter the horses had become completely worn out, and on the 4th of May, as the army was about breaking camp for the spring campaign, the regiment was ordered to Nashville to remount and refit. It was August be- fore the requisite horses, arms and equipments were obtained and the command was in readiness for the field. In the mean time the men had been kept busy in drill and target practice. Captain Betts had been previously promoted to major. On the 8th of August the regiment started for the front, but in consequence of the raid of Wheeler on Sherman's lines of supply, was stopped at Chattanooga, and scouted to Red Clay, Parker's Gap and Spring Place, and upon the movement of Wheeler north, followed him in force, returning finally to Calhoun, where it was employed protecting the railroad. On the 5th of September the regiment, about four hundred strong, was ordered to move north to prevent the return of a force of Wheeler's cavalry, which had been cut off'at MeMinn- ville, and was making its way, under Dibberel, to the Tennessee River, below Kingston. It accordingly moved to Sevierville, the enemy keeping up on the opposite side of the river, and finally joining Vaughan near Bristol, Va. From Sevierville, the regiment marched to Bull's Gap, and joined General Gil- lem in a movement towards Virginia. At Jones- boro', on the 3d of October, where the enemy was en- countered, Colonel Palmer, who had the advance, was ordered to develop the enemy's strength and position. Heaccordingly charged the rebel rear guard, driving it ten miles to the Wautauga River, killing one and capturing eight, where he found Duke in force. On the 4th and 5th there was some skirmish- ing. But Burbridge was now in the enemy's rear, and he retreated rapidly towards Abingdon. Gillem did not pursue, as Forest was raiding into Tennessee, but returned to Knoxville. Colonel Palmer was, however, permitted, at his own suggestion; to make diversion in favor of Burbridge, and advanced, via Bristol, to Kingsport. Here a party of nine, with dispatches for Burbridge, who had withdrawn to Kentucky, was met. Taking seventy-five picked men, Colonel Palmer started to carry them through, and after five days' severe marching came up with Bur- bridge at Prestonburg, successfully eluding Prentiss' rebel cavalry, lying in wait for his capture, and at-

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 63

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534