History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 65

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

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The reason for this is found in the order of assign- ment in the formation of squadrons and battalions. The twelve companies of a regiment of cavalry are formed into six squadrons of two companies each, and these six squadrons are consolidated into three battalions. As the right of each squadron and battal- ion is deemed the position of honor, it is sought after and is assigned by the commanding officer, first, with reference to senority of captains, and second, with reference to fitness to command. As the company organizations are complete when the regiment is formed, there are at least four promotions from the captains of the line, viz .: lieutenant-colonel and three majors. The companies from which these captains are promoted are therefore junior, and must go to the left of their squadrons.

The field officers were taken in the organization of this regiment from the following companies: Lieutenant- Colonel McAllister, Perry County ; First Major Hart- ranft, Montgomery County; Second Major Reinhold, first lieutenant, Lebanon County (this was exceptional because of the service he had previously experienced in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry); Third Major Durland, Wayne County. The letters given are from

but seriously effected fully fifty per cent. of the field and line officers, who were brave men and willing to serve their country, but disinclined to apply themselves to study. The tasks were distasteful, recitations unsatis- factory and the commamling officer uncompromising. Resignationa followed ; the young and bright men of the regiment were promoted. At this time a vacancy occurred on the staff of the colonel. Lieutenant Henry M. Donehoo, commissary, was promoted to captain Company B, and it was learned the colonel had recommended for the office a sergeant from his old command, First United States Cavalry, and that the recom- mendatiou was then in the hands of Governor Curtin for commission. Jobn 1'. Ross was at the time regimental commissary sergeant, and by rank entitled to the promotion. He at once presented his case to Governor Curtin, supported by a majority of commissioned officers of the regiment. The Governor, upon receipt of the sergeant's application, recalled the appointment recommended by Colonel Kellogg, and forwarded the com- mission of first lieutenant and commissary to John P. Ross, No further efforts were made by the commanding officer to import a foreign ele ment into the staff, field or line of the regiment.

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THE GREAT REBELLION.

A to M inclusive, the letter J not being used because of the similarity in its form to letter I, and therefore liable to be confused with it in time of confusion or battle. The reader will therefore perceive that letters are assigned to companies not only as a convenient manner of denoting them, but also to give them their relative position in line. While it is of manifest advantage to have the company represented in the field and staff formation, it is generally attended with a sacrifice of position on the line. The first six letters designate the right of squadrons, and the remaining six the left, as follows :

1st Battalion : 1st Squadron, A, G ; 2d Squadron, B, I]. 2nd Battalion : 3d Squadron, C, I; 4th Squadron, D, K. 3d Battalion : 5th Squadron, E, L ; 6th Squadron, F, M.

LIST OF FIELD OFFICERS AND BREVETS.1

Colonel James D. Anderson, Brevet Colonel Durland, Brevet Lieutenant_ Colonel William Thompson, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore W. Bean.

On the 25th of November the regiment moved to Washington, and was encamped for several days on East Capitol Hill, after which it was ordered to the front. On the 22d of December it reached the town of Oecoquan, where Hampton's Legion was encoun- tered, and after a sharp skirmish, was driven and pur- sued for some distance across the Occoquan Creek. Here three companies,-C, D and 1,-under Major Reinhold, were detained to picket the creek from Occoquan to Wolf Run Shoals. They were much harassed by roving parties of partisan rangers, and on the 25th and 26th the right of the line was attacked by a superior force, which was repulsed and some prisoners taken. On the 27th the detachment was ordered to rejoin the regiment, which had, in the mean time, advanced to near Stafford Court-House, and moved early ; but when nearing Neabsco Creek word was brought that the enemy had attacked at Dumfries, and that a column of cavalry and artillery was moving on the Telegraph road to Occoquan. Major Reinhold immediately countermarched, and taking position on the heights on the north bank, successfully foiled every attempt of the enemy to cross. On the following morning, having been reinforced by a detachment of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, it crossed the stream to reconnoitre, and fell in with

1 JOSIAH HI. KELLOGG, appointed cadet at the United States Military Academy from Pennsylvania, July 1, 1855; graduated July 1, 1860 ; assigned to duty as brevet second lieutenant of dragoons July 1, 1860 ; served at the cavalry school for practice, Carlisle, Pa., 1860-G1 ; promoted second lieutenant First Dragoons January 8, 1861 ; first lieutenant May 13, 1861 ; captain First Cavalry May 20, 1862; served through the Peninsular campaign and the Maryland campaign, and was appointed colonel Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers, November 19, 1862 ; breveted major July 3, 1863, for gallant and meri- torions services at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa. ; resigned volunteer commission December 27, 1864 ; on duty at the United States Military Academy as assistant professor of national and experimental philosophy, February 22, 1865, to August 23, 1866 ; "retired from active service February 6, 1865, for disability resulting from long and faithful service and disease contracted in the line of duty ;" professor of civil engineering and military tactics at Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., August 30, 1866, by the authority of the law of July 28, 1866.

General Stuart's command, which immediately at- tacked. Being overpowered, it was obliged to retire, and reerossed the ereek. On the 5th of January, 1863, it rejoined the regiment near Stafford Court- House. The Seventeenth was here assigned to the Second Brigade of the First Cavalry Division, where it was associated with the Sixth New York, Sixth United States and Eighth Pennsylvania, commanded hy Colonel Thomas C. Devin, in which it served throughout its entire term. On the 18th of February Companies C and I, Captain Spera, were ordered to escort duty with General Meade, commanding the Fifth Corps, where they remained until after the battle of Chancellorsville, and during the engagement were kept busy in the transmission of orders.

Only three regiments of cavalry, of which the Seventeenth was one, moved with the columns of Hooker on the Chancellorsville campaign, the major part having been dispatched under Averell and Stone- man to eut the enemy's communications and harass his rear. When, on the evening of the 2d of May, the enemy under Jackson had driven the entire Eleventh Corps, and was pushing on victorious to sever the Union army, and gain its only line of retreat, few troops were in position to stay his course. At this juncture General Pleasanton, who had been out in advance of the line on the centre, in support of General Siekles, then demonstrating upon Jackson's flank and rear, happened to be returning with the Eighth and Seventeenth Pennsylvania Regiments towards the centre, and had reached the breast-works just as hordes of Jackson's men, who were pursuing the routed Eleventh Corps troops, were approaching that part of the field. Divining the condition of affairs by the evidences of rout in the Union columns, Pleas- anton ordered Major Keenan, of the Eighth to charge with all his force and with impetuosity, which he knew was an element of the major's nature, full upon the head of the rebel advancing column, though he knew that the execution of the order would involve the sacrifice of that gallant regiment. This he did in order that, by checking for a moment the rebel on- slanght, he might gain time to bring his horse artillery into position, and thus interpose some more effectual barrier. "I immediately ran up," says General Pleasanton, "this battery of mine at a gallop, put it into position, ordered it unlimbered and double- shotted with canister, and directed the men to aim at the ground-line of the parapet that the Eleventh Corps had thrown up, about two-hundred yards off. Our artillery, as a general rule, overshoots, and I ordered them to fire low, because the shot would rico- chet. I then set to work with two squadrons of the remaining regiment (the Seventeenth Pennsylvania) to clear this field of fugitives, and to stop what eannon and ammunition we could, and put them in position ; and I managed to get twenty-two guns loaded, double shotted, and aiming on this space in front of us for about a quarter or half a mile, when the whole woods

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

appeared alive with large bodies of men. This was just at dusk. I was going to give the word 'fire.' I had ordered those pieces not to fire unless I gave the word, because I wanted the effect of an immense shock. There was an immense body of men, and I wanted the whole weight of the metal to check them. I was about to give the word 'fire,' when one of the soldiers at a piece said : 'General, that is our flag.' I said to one of my aids, 'Mr. Thompson, ride forward there at once, and let me know what flag that is.' He then went to within one hundred yards, and those people cried out : 'Come on, we are friends.' Ile then started to move on, when the whole line of woods blazed with musketry, and they immediately commeneed leaping over this parapet, and charged on the guns; and at the same time I saw from eight to ten rebel battle-flags run up along the whole line. 1 immediately gave the order, 'fire,' and the fire actually swept the men away ; and it seemed to blow those men in front elear over the parapet.

We had this fight between musketry and artillery there for nearly an hour. At one time they got within fifty yards of the guns. . . There were two squadrons of the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry left. This remaining regiment I had was composed of raw men, new troops, and all I could do with them was to make a show. I had them formed in single line, with sabres drawn, with orders to charge in case the enemy came to the guns. They sat in rear of the guns, and I have no doubt that the rebels took them for the head of a heavy column, as the country sloped back behind them, and they could not see what was back of them."1 And thus was the mad onset of Stonewall Jackson's army checked by artil- lery, supported by a single line of raw cavalry. It was a trying position for the regiment, but the firm front presented saved the day, and enabled Hooker to reform his shattered columns, and once more pre- sent an unbroken line. Early in the evening Sickles' troops came up and took position in support of the guns, and the regiment was relieved. In a general order, issued immediately after the battle, General Pleasanton says: "The coolness displayed by the Seventeenth Pennsylvania Regiment in rallying fugitives and supporting the batteries (including Martin's) which repulsed the enemy's attack under Jackson, on the evening of the 2d instant, has excited the highest admiration."

Under Buford and Gregg, the cavalry, on the 9th of June, crossed the Rappahannock at Beverly and Kelly's Fords, and bokHy attacked the enemy's cavalry, supported by his infantry. The battle raged during most of the day. At length, finding that the rebels were moving up an overpowering force, the Union cavalry retired. In this engagement the Seventeenth participated, and in the retreat was of the rear guard, where it was subjected to a heavy

artillery fire. Two days after the battle the regi- ment was posted to pieket the line of the river from Beverly Ford to Sulphur Springs, while the main body of the army was marching northward. It was not withdrawn until the 15th, when it rejoined the division. Early on the morning of the 21st it was formed in line half a mile west of Middleburg, and met the enemy, repulsing his attack, and driving him in the direction of Upperville. When arrived near the town it was ordered to charge the left flank of the foe, and in executing it was brought under a heavy fire of his artillery. He was finally driven in confusion.

As General Buford, who commanded the division, moved northward through Maryland and Pennsyl- vania, he was hailed with demonstrations of rejoic- ing, and as he entered Gettysburg was saluted with shouts and patriotie songs. On the night of the 30th he encamped near the grounds of Pennsylvania Col- lege, and on the morning of the Ist of July moved out by the Cashtown road. At a distance of a mile and a half from town he met the enemy in force. Dispositions were immediately made to resist his further advance, and for four hours, and until the arrival of the First Corps, Buford hell at bay a third of the entire rebel army. "Buford, with his four thousand cavalry," says General Pleasanton, "at- tacked Hill, and for four hours splendidly resisted his advance, until Reynolds and Howard were able to hurry to the field and give their assistance. To the intrepidity, courage and fidelity of General Bu- ford and his brave division the country and the army owe the field of Gettysburg." ? As soon as the infantry in force had come up, the cavalry moved upon its flanks, and during the remaining part of the battle was active in preventing the movement of flanking columns of the enemy and in protecting the lines of communication with the base of supply. Buford's division retired to Taneytown on the even- ing of the 2d, Westminster on the 3d and Frederick on the 5th. On the 6th it encountered the enemy west of Boonsboro', and after a sharp fight drove him from his position. On the following morning he renewed the attack, but was again driven, the Seven- teenth Pennsylvania and Ninth New York having a severe encounter while upon the skirmish line. Skirmishing continued daily until the enemy retired across the river, and the campaign was at an end.

The fall campaign was one of great activity for the cavalry. The part taken by the Seventeenth is re- flected by the following extract from Captain Theo- dore W. Bean's manual of the regiment : " At Rac- coon Ford," he says, "you left your horses under shelter, and rushed to the support of your brother comrades in arms (Fourth New York), who were gallantly struggling against fearful odds, and under a murderous fire of grape and canister from the

1 "Conduct of the War," 1865, vol. i. pp. 28, 29.

2 "Conduct of the War, " Supplement, part 2, p. 9., Pleasanton's Report_

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enemy saved them from capture, re-established the line, and held it until relieved by the Twelfth Army Corps, for which you received the special commenda- tion of the division commander. In the subsequent movements of the same year, when the wily rebel chief proposed to flank the army of the Potomac, and thus gain possession of the capital, history will ac- cord to the regiment an honorable association with the commands that beat back his advance at Morton's Ford, Stevensburg, Brandy Station and Oak Hill, where, holding the extreme left of the line, you skil- fully changed front as a distinctive organization, by direction of your immediate commander, anticipating a well-intended surprise, and repulsing, with heavy loss, a reckless charge of cavalry, for which the enemy at that time were notorious. In the counter- movements of the campaign, closing with the battles of Bealton Station and Rickseyville, the occupation of the line on the Rapidan, and the indecisive en- gagement at Mine Run, the regiment was present, bearing its share of the toils, and sustained its pro- portion of losses, and, with the command, went into winter-quarters on the battle-beaten plains of Cul- pepper."

The regiment was engaged during the winter in picket duty, holding a long line in the direction of James City. On the 27th of February, 1864, a de- tachment of two hundred men, under command of Captain Spera, was ordered to report to General Kil- patrick, who, with a force of five thousand cavalry, was about to start on a raid upon Richmond. The command moved on the following day, and at Beaver Dam Station, on the Virginia Central Railroad, the work of destruction was commenced. Here Hall's brigade, to which Spera's detachment belonged, was sent to operate on the Fredericksburg Railroad, and at Taylorsville met a superior force of the enemy, which it failed to dislodge; but near Yellow Tay- ern, on the Virginia Central, effected the destruction of rolling stock, and there rejoined the main column. Kilpatrick approached to within two or three miles of Richmond, carrying the outer works and throwing shells into the city, but found the forces opposing him too great to overcome, and retired by Meadow Bridge, where a sharp skirmish occurred. At New Kent Court-House the infantry of Butler was met, whence, some days later, the command returned by transports to Alexandria, and thence to its old camp near Cul- pepper.

At the opening of the spring campaign the brigade moved to Chancellorsville, and on the 6th of May was sent to the Furnace, on the left of the line, where it met the enemy and fought dismounted, foiling numerous attempts of the rebels to turn that flank, being heavily engaged during the entire day. On the following morning it relieved Gregg's division on the Spottsylvania road, where the enemy was driven with heavy loss, and at night encamped at Todd's Tavern. On the 8th the fighting was renewed, in

which the Seventeenth, holding the Spottsylvania road, suffered severely. Repeated charges of the enemy were repulsed and the position held until re- lieved by the Fifth Corps. On the 9th, Sheridan led the cavalry on his grand raid towards Richmond. At Beaver Dam Station many Union prisoners were rescued and large amounts of rebel stores were de- stroyed. At Yellow House serious fighting ensued. in which the Seventeenth, dismounted, was of the charging column, and drove the enemy. At night the regiment was put upon the picket line stretching out towards Richmond, reaching near to the rebel fortifi- cations. Meadow Bridge, which had been destroyed. was repaired by the First Division, and in the face of the enemy, with infantry and artillery, on the opposite side, the Seventeenth took the lead in crossing, and delivering a most determined charge, drove him from his works in confusion. While the battle was raging a severe thunder-storm set in, adding to the terror of the scene. Lieutenant Joseph E. Shultz was killed in the charge. He was shot through the heart, ex- piring almost instantly. Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac near Chesterfield Station on the 25th.

Resting but for a day, the cavalry again moved forward, and crossing the Pamunky at New Castle Ferry, engaged the enemy; and after several charges drove him from his position. On the 28th two squad- rons of the regiment were sent towards Hanover. encountering the enemy's skirmishers and driving them in, and on the 30th, while reaching out to open communication with the left of the army, brought on the battle of Bethesda Church. On the same day the regiment was engaged near Old Church Tavern, where Lieutenant John Anglun, regimental quartermaster, was killed, and Captain William Tice wounded. At Cold Harbor the regiment moved, dismounted, and in the charge there delivered held the left of the line. In its first advance it was repulsed and suffered severe loss, but renewing the charge, the enemy was routed and driven. He subsequently made repeated attempts to recapture his lost works, but was as often driven back with loss. At daylight of the 1st of June he made a desperate assault, determined upon victory. He was allowed to come within short range, when the artillery and repeating carbines were opened on him with terrible effect, the ground being covered with his slain. When relieved by the infantry, Sheridan led his cavalry in the direction of Lynchburg. On the 10th the regiment was sent to the Spottsylvania battle- ground, where, in a field hospital, thirty-five wounded Union soldiers were found in a famishing condition and brought away. On rejoining the column near Trevilian Station, Sheridan was found hotly engaged. The Seventeenth was immediately sent to the front, and during the 11th and the following day was hotly engaged, sustaining heavy losses. Finding the enemy in superior numbers, Sheridan returned. The Seven- teenth was again engaged near White House Land- ing on the 21st, at Jones' Bridge on the 23d, and at

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Charles City Court-House on the 24th, in each engage- ment sustaining considerable losses. On the 26th, Sheri- dan crossed the James, but a month later returned to the left bank and moved up towards Richmond. At Ruffin's House the enemy's videttes were found and driven upon his infantry supports. On the morning of the 28th the brigade, dismounted, was sent to dis- lodge the enemy's infantry from a strong position on commanding ground in front of Ruffin's. Difficult ditches had to be crossed, but pushing resolutely for- ward, it opened fire from the repeating carbines, and though losing heavily, drove him out and occupied his ground. On the following day Sheridan recrossed the James, and soon after retraced his steps for . the purpose of misleading the enemy as to hisreal strength on the Richmond side. On the 30th he returned to the lines before Petersburg.

Early in August, Sheridan was ordered to the com- mand of the army in the Shenandoah Valley, and two divisions of cavalry, the First and Third, were sent to his aid. Upon the arrival of the Seventeenth in the valley, Major Reinhold resigned and was honorably discharged, whereupon Captain Weidner H. Spera was promoted to succeed him. On the 11th of August the cavalry moved towards Newtown, driving the enemy, but at six in the evening found him in position, determined to dispute further ad- vance. The Seventeenthi was at the front and was immediately ordered to charge. The enemy offered obstinate resistance, but was finally dislodged and retreated rapidly up the valley. On the 16th the enemy attacked the pickets of the brigade near Front Royal, the Seventeenth holding the centre of the brigade line. The division was immediately put in motion and repulsed the over-confident foe, capturing two battle-flags and three hundred prisoners. Gen- eral Devin, commanding the brigade, was wounded in this engagement. On the 25th the command moved forward to Kearnysville, where it came upon the enemy's intantry. Of the battle which ensued, General Sheridan says : "This attack was handsomely made, but instead of finding cavalry his (enemy's) infantry was encountered, and for a time doubled up and thrown into the utmost confusion . . . . This en- gagement was a mutual surprise, our cavalry expect- ing to meet the enemy's cavalry, and his infantry expecting no opposition whatever." The Union forces retired in the direction of Shepherdstown, and when near that place the enemy attacked Custer's division. For the purpose of diverting attention from Custer the Seventeenth was ordered to charge upon the enemy's flank. In column of fours it dashed down a narrow road, and drove a body of his infantry from a wood, creating consternation in his ranks. In this charge Lieutenant James Potter was killed. For three weeks almost constant skirmishing was kept up, the Seventeenth participating in the actions at Smithfield on the 29th, at White Post on the Ist of September, at the Berryville and Buncetown cross-

ing of the Opequan on the 7th, in which Captain Martin R. Reinhold was killed, and at Bunker Hill on the 13th.

Sheridan was now about to assume the offensive. At noon of the 18th the cavalry at Bunker Hill was ordered to break camp and move quietly without sound of bugle, and at a mile east of Summit Point encamped for the night, drawing sixty rounds of am- munition per man and sending all regimental baggage and supply trains to Harper's Ferry. At one o'clock on the morning of the 19th reveille was sounded, and at two the cavalry moved towards the Opequan. Before daylight heavy firing was heard. The First Division moved on the road towards Stevenson Sta- tion, crossing the Opequan, and driving the enemy from his position at the ford. The fighting was now general along the entire line, Sheridan having moved to the attack with his entire army. Step by step the ground was disputed. When within half a mile of the Valley pike, near the station, the enemy was discovered massing his cavalry to dispute the advance of Averell. At this junction General Devin was ordered to charge with his brigade. With the Seven- teenth in advance, the charge was made, and the enemy driven in great confusion towards Winchester, opening the way for a junction of Torber's and Averell's commands. Moving in line up the pike towards Winchester, the enemy's line was again charged and driven from its position. The fighting was very severe. General Sheridan says, in his report : "I attacked the forces of General Early over the Berryville pike, at the crossing of the Opequan Creek, and after a most desperate engagement, which lasted from early in the morning until five o'clock in the evening, completely defeated him, driving him through Winchester and capturing about two thousand five hundred prisoners, five pieces of artillery, nine battle- flags and most of their wounded."

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 65

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