History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II, Part 141

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1386

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On the 14th of June the regiment arrived at Thoroughfare Gap, which was held, and Captaiu Treichel, with his squadron, was sent on a reconnoissance to Ashby's Gap, returning in the evening. On the 17th it met the enemy at Aldie, and after a short engagement gained the pass, driving the enemy back

* Moore's Rebellion Record, Vol. VII, p. 18, Docs.

747

1863

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

into Loudon Valley. On the 20th it was sent as a guard to a supply train, which it accompanied as far as Fairfax Station. The brigade was engaged on the 21st at Middleburg, and on the following day at Upperville, the Sixth being held in reserve near Aldie until the 23d, when it re-joined the division. The Reserve Brigade was here placed in command of General Wesley Merritt. Crossing the Potomac at Edward's Ferry the regiment was employed in guard- ing trains and patroling the mountain roads leading through the Catoctin range, until the 2d of July, when it arrived at Emmittsburg, and that night pushed forward to Gettysburg. The brigade was posted on the extreme left of our lines near Round Top. The Sixth, which was in the advance of the brigade, was the first to become engaged. The men were dismounted, deployed as skir- mishers, and moved steadily up over ground intersected by stone walls aud fences, until they reached the crest of the hill, where they were saluted by a storm of balls from the enemy's infantry, that checked their advance. A stone house within range of the line, filled with rebel sharp-shooters, proved a serious impediment; but a few shells from a section of artillery soon compelled them to evacuate. At one o'clock the artillery of both armies opened, and the men seeking shelter, held the ground they had gained, watching and promptly checking every movement in their front. "The air," says Chaplain Gracey, "seemed full of fragments of bursting shell and ball, while the sounds peculiar to the several projectiles told of the determination of the attack. There was the heavy 'whoo" 'whoo" 'whoo-oo" of the round shot, the 'which one?' 'which one ? of the fiendish Whitworth gun, the demoniac shriek of 'what- you-doing here ?' of the shells, and the buzzing minnie, all combined to give it the character of a high carnival of powers infernal." At one time in the after- noon, and while the grand charge of Picket's Division was in progress, an effort was made to turn our extreme left. The cavalry, which at first was on the west of the Emmittsburg Road, was forced back; but its thin line was extended and the ground stubbornly contested. Through the night of the 3d the men stood to horse, and although worn out by long marches and hard fighting, with less than half rations, they started at five o'clock on the following morning on a forced march of seventy miles. On the afternoon of the 6th the cavalry arrived upon the crest of the hill overlooking Williamsport. Colonel Gamble's Bri- gade was thrown off to the left, striking the river at Falling Waters. The Third Indiana Cavalry charged into the town, and captured seventeen wagons and about a hundred prisoners. But the enemy's infantry appeared in force and compelled the cavalry to retire. "Looking down," says Chaplain Gra- cey, "upon Williamsport from our position, thousands of ambulances, some parked and others moving in long lines, could be discerned; while at the same time we discovered that Lee had not left his line of retreat unprotected. A large force of infantry and artillery attacked us promptly on our appearance, serving their guns with remarkable rapidity and accuracy. A few minutes sufficed to assure us that our cavalry force was largely outnumbered by the infantry of the enemy. They moved upon our skirmish line in solid line of battle; and it was only by the determined bravery of our troops, the excellent handling of our batteries, and our advantage in position, that we were able to resist their attacks. General Kilpatrick passed through Hagerstown and soon after came upon the enemy. He was forced back upon our right, and came in upon us somewhat demoralized. About six o'clock our lines were shortened, our whole force dismounted, and all engaged. We were greatly outnumbered,

748

SEVENTIETH REGIMENT-SIXTH CAVALRY.

1863

and that by infantry. We had no support, no reserve, no reinforcement s every man was under fire, and to us it became a desperate fight for existence, and we looked anxiously for night to close upon the scene. Had the daylight lasted another hour, we would have suffered the most disastrous defeat. During the fight on the centre of our line, the Sixth Pennsylvania had the ad- vance of the brigade, and was the first regiment engaged on the heights of Williamsport. We were under a heavy artillery and musketry fire, having Captain Graham's Battery committed to our defence. We deployed the entire regiment in front of the battery, and for four hours returned the steady fire of the enemy. More than one determined charge of the rebels would have broken our lines but for the timely use of canister by Graham's guns. The regiment and battery suffered severely in killed and wounded." As the cavalry was now far away from the supports of the army, it was necessary to retire to, and hold the passes of the mountain.

On the morning of the 10th the enemy again advanced to gain possession of Turner's Gap. He was in such force as to drive our line back near the town of Boonsboro', so that his shells fell in the streets of the town. On the fol- lowing day the lines were reinforced by Kilpatrick's Division and pushed the enemy across, and some two miles beyond Beaver Creek. The attack was re- newed on the morning of the 10th, and the rebels driven through Funkstown, across Antietam Creek to within sight of Hagerstown. The wounded of the regiment were sent to Boonsboro', the loss being heavy. In the afternoon and as the ammunition was nearly exhausted, the infantry of the Eleventh Corps appeared upon the field and took their place in line of battle, relieving the cavalry.

On the 2d of July, while the Reserve Brigade was at Emmittsburg, and before starting for Gettysburg, a detachment of one hundred men, under Cap- tain Treichel and Lieutenants Morrow, White, Whiteford, and Herkness, was ordered to report to Captain Ulric Dahlgren, of Meade's Staff, for special duty upon the rear of Lee's army. On the way it was joined by citizens armed with shot guns and axes for the destruction of army wagons. At Greencastle a charge was made upon the enemy's cavalry holding the town, surprising and capturing eighty-four of his men. On the 5th the command discovered one of the enemy's trains on the Williamsport and Chambersburg road. Captain Treichel divided his force into two squadrons, led by Lieutenants Morrow and Herkness, and when three hundred wagons had passed the rear squadron, they charged to front and rear at the same time. With the assistance of citizens · they destroyed one hundred and fifty wagons, and run off the horses to the woods, captured two iron guns, and two hundred prisoners. The infantry guard soon concentrated in force and a severe skirmish ensued, in which the prisoners, and some of the detachment were lost. Lieutenant Herkness was wounded and taken prisoner. Scattering, and betaking themselves to the woods until the enemy had retired, the men rendezvoused on the following day at Waynesboro'. Here a party of Jenkins' Cavalry was surprised in the streets of the town and driven in confusion. Soon afterwards another train of wag- ons was attacked, many destroyed, and some prisoners taken. A rebel pay- master with a guard of fifteen men was also captured, bearing important de- spatches from Richmond, and a considerable amount of rebel money. On the 7th, sixty men, the survivors of the party, re-joined the regiment near Boons- boro'.

749

CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.

1864

In the movement of the army back to the Rappahannock the regiment en- gaged with the cavalry in skirmishing with the enemy at the passes of the Blue Ridge, and upon its arrival at the river on the 1st of August was imme- diately thrown across, encountering the enemy at Brandy Station, and forcing him back to Culpepper, where his infantry supports were met. The Reserve Brigade, under General Merritt, had the advance of the extreme right, and made several charges, the Sixth, led by Captain Lockwood, being heavily en- gaged during the entire day. The cavalry was finally obliged to withdraw before superior forces of infantry, but in good order, and at Brandy Station Meade was found with his lines well established. The Sixth was again en- gaged on the 5th, losing one killed and three wounded. On the 15th the Re- serve Brigade was ordered to Washington to rest and refit.

As the army retired toward Centreville, with a prospect of a third battle ou the old Bull Run ground, the brigade was ordered to the field, and crossed the Potomac at Long Bridge, on the 11th of October. Two days later companies I and E, Captains Starr and Carpenter, which had been on duty at the Head- quarters of the army since March, re-joined the regiment, and from that time to the close of the war the twelve companies served together. In the cam- paigu which followed, the Sixth was slightly engaged on the 18th and 19th, losing five wounded; on the 6th of November, near Sulphur Springs, in which the enemy's cavalry was pushed back to Culpepper, and in which the loss of the brigade was fifty ; on the 18th it was sent on a scout, to James City Road, in which some prisoners were taken, and information of the enemy's position obtained; on the 28th, and in the demonstrations upon Mine Run it was engaged in covering the trains of the army, and scouting and picketing upon the river. On the 4th of November, while at Morrisville, Lientenant Sage was killed by guerrillas. After the return of the army from Mine Run, the regiment went into winter quarters near Culpepper, picketing the Rapidan.

During the winter religious services were held in a comfortable log chapel, on each Sabbath, and on three evenings of each week. One hundred and forty of the men re-enlisted and were given a veteran furlough. The Reserve Brigade, under Colonel Gibbs, made a reconnaissance towards Orange Court House, on the 7th of February, which served to develope the position of the enemy in that direction, and as a diversion in favor of a movement of the infantry under General Sedgwick. On the 27th, one hundred men from each regiment in the brigade, under Major Treichel, were detailed to accompany General Custer on a raid upon the Virginia Central Railroad. Near Charlottsville the enemy was found in force, and, after a sharp skirmish, a retrograde movement was com- menced. Mills and bridges were destroyed, trains captured, and horses se- cured. In the movement back to Stannardsville, the Sixth formed the rear guard, and skirmished with the enemy. Sergeant Wright was severely wounded.

At the opening of the Spring campaign, the First Division, to which the Reserve Brigade belonged, was commanded by General Torbett, the brigade by General Merritt, and the regiment by Major Starr. On the afternoon of the 7th of May, the Sixth took the lead of the First and Second Cavalry Di- visions upon the march towards Spottsylvania Court House. A heavy line of the enemy's skirmishers, well posted, were soon met. Captain Leiper, with his squadron mounted, was deployed on the left of the road; Captain Clark, with his dismounted, on the right, the wood there being impassable for horse ; and Captain Carpenter was held in reserve on the road. Advancing promptly

750

1864

SEVENTIETH REGIMENT- SIXTH CAVALRY.

the enemy was driven, but soon came upon his supports aud made a deter mined stand. The remainder of the brigade came up, Captain Carpenter was sent in on the left, and the whole line pressed on. Discovering a weak point, the enemy made a sudden dash and broke through. Fresh troops were imme diately thrown in, the breach repaired and the enemy again driven. Major Starr and Lientenants Coxe and Kirk were wounded, the latter mortally, and Captain Carpenter and Lieutenant Hazel were taken prisoners. Two men were killed and eighteen wounded. Upon the fall of Major Starr, Captain Charles L. Leiper assumed command.

On the 9th, Sheridan started on his first raid, and upon his arrival upon the Virginia Central Railroad, the Sixth was sent to Beaver Dam Station to destroy the road. Nearly an entire night was spent in tearing up track, and destroying bridges and culverts. Early on the morning of the 11th, the com- mand moved forward towards Richmond, the Reserve Brigade acting as ad- vance guard, one-half of the regiment being deployed as skirmishers on both sides of the road. Before noon the enemy's cavalry was met, which proved to be General Stuart with his entire corps. Pushing on, driving all opposing forces, the command ran against the fortifications of Richmond, from which the enemy's infantry soon sallied, in confident expectation of bagging the en- tire Union force. Leaving Gregg and Wilson to hold the infantry in check, Sheridan ordered Merritt to open the road across Meadow Bridge. Dismount- ing all save three regiments, he ordered a charge, and while the enemy was hotly engaged with the mounted force, embracing the Sixth, led by Colonel Gibbs, crossed the bridge and charged down the narrow causeway beyond, scattering the foe and opening the way. Withdrawing, Sheridan passed on to the James River, and thence returned by White House to Chesterfield Station, where he re-joined the army.

At Old Church, on the 30th of May, the cavalry engaged the enemy, and Merritt's Brigade, with a battery of Napoleon guns, was sent forward to check his further advance. The Sixth was sent in on the left of the line and charged the rebel flank; a hand to hand encounter followed in which the regiment lost heavily, but fought with great valor. Captain Leiper, in command, was se- verely wounded, and Lieutenant Morton and two men were killed. Captain Clark now assumed command. At Cold Harbor, on the following day, it was again hotly engaged, fighting dismounted, and driving the rebels back until: reinforced. Lieutenant Murphy was among the killed. During the night a? barricade was constructed in front of the bivouac, and early on the following: morning the enemy attacked with infantry and artillery ; but the carbineers held their position against repeated assaults, repulsing a whole division. .

Sheridan's second raid, which extended to Trevilian Station, was commenced on the 4th of June. A number of recruits from Philadelphia joined the regi-, ment before starting. Before reaching the station, the enemy was encountered strongly posted in a railway cut. The cavalry fought dismounted, and after a severe struggle was forced back. The loss in the Sixth was forty-one wounded, two mortally. Returning, the corps marched to White House, where the trains of the Army of the Potomac were found and escorted to the James River. After crossing, the cavalry was hastily marched to Ream's Station to the as- sistance of Wilson, but was too late to render him any aid, and on the 3d of July went into camp in front of Petersburg. Here Major Starr re-joined the regiment and resumed command.

751

1865

SHERIDAN'S RAIDS.

On the 26th of July the command, numbering three hundred and twenty- six, moved with a considerable force of infantry and cavalry across the Appo- mattox and the James. A sharp engagement occurred on the Charles City Road, in which the Sixth lost six wounded, Adjutant Lanigan severely, and one mortally. Returning to the south side of the river, it was ordered to pro- ceed with other reinforcements to the army in the Shenandoah Valley. On the 11th of August the cavalry encountered the enemy upon the Opequan, and was hotly engaged with Gordon's Division of infantry. The Sixth, led by Major Starr, moved steadily forward under a severe infantry fire, and held the ground gained until relieved by infantry. On the 24th company A, and four days later company B, were mustered out of service. Near Smithfield, on the 29th, the regiment was again engaged, losing two killed and sixteen wounded.

On the Sth of September the Sixth was ordered to Re-mount Camp in Plea- sant Valley, Maryland. Major Starr was placed in command of the camp. Here, as the terms of service of the men expired, they were mustered ont. Surgeon John B. Coover, who had been appointed Medical Inspector of the Middle Military Department, while on his way from the front to Harper's Fer- ry, was shot and mortally wounded by guerrillas. Abont the middle of No- vember the regiment went into winter-quarters at Hagerstown. In January, its ranks, which had become much reduced, were strengthened by the addition of a hundred recruits, and towards the close of the month broke camp and re- joined the brigade near Winchester. Eight hundred more recruits were here received, and Major Leiper was mustered as Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Morrow as Major.

On the 20th of February Sheridan received the following instructions from General Grant : "As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be of no further use to the rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look after Mosby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information you might get there would justify it, you could strike south, heading the streams in Virginia to the westward of Dauville, and push on to join Sherman." Accordingly on the 27th Sheridan moved from winter-quarters with the First Cavalry Division under General Merritt, the Third under General Custer, one brigade of the old Army of West Virginia under Colonel Koephart, and two sections of ar- tillery, and procceded rapidly over an excellent turnpike to Staunton, meeting little opposition. At Fishersville the enemy's pickets were encountered, and were driven in upon his main line, well posted, with seven pieces of artillery, at Waynesboro'. Deploying two regiments as skirmishers, and following up with his entire line, by one impetuous charge, Sheridan swept the foe before him, capturing nearly the entire force. The work of destruction now com- menced. The iron railroad bridge at South River, depots of military stores, wagon trains, and everything that could yield aid or comfort to the enemy were given to ruin. At Charlottsville the force was divided. Merritt proceeded direct to Scottsville and commenced the destruction of the James River Canal, which he followed to Duguidsville, and Custer proceeded down the line of the Lynchburg Railroad to Amherst Court House, leaving ruin in his track. At New Market, the two columns united, where Sheridan purposed to cross the James, proceed to Farmville, and destroy the Southside Railroad towards Ap- pomattox Court House; but the river being high, and the pontoons insuffi-

752

SEVENTIETH REGIMENT-SIXTH CAVALRY.

1865

cient to span it, he decided to strike a base at the White House. At Rockfish River the bank of the canal was blown up, and at New Canton the guard-lock was destroyed. This let the James River into the canal, changing its sluggish stream to a raging torrent, sweeping away its banks. At White House the infantry, sent out by General Grant in anticipation of his coming, was met, and on the 25th of March Sheridan joined the army before Petersburg. "Here Lieutenant Colonel Leiper re-joined the regiment and resumed command, and was soon after mustered as Colonel, Major Morrow as Lieutenant Colonel, and Captains A. D. Price, Charles B. Coxe, and B. H. Herkness as Majors."

Moving around to the extreme left of the infantry line, General Sheridan stood ready on the 29th for his final ride. The Sixth could muster but a hun- dred mounted men. The meagreness of the number was owing to lack of horses; for at dismounted camp were plenty of men. "A man," says Chap. lain Gracey, "may ride from Winchester to Petersburg, through rain, and mnd, and cold, and get little to eat and little sleep, and yet not suffer in health very much. After one ample dinner and one good night's rest, he will, very likely, be getting uneasy and bored with the quiet life, and be longing for more rides; but the horse that carries him on the trip is apt to reach his journey's end in pitiable plight. Hunger and cold have starved him, the pitiless rain has pelted him, deepening mud has mired and tired him. His back has been galled with pinching saddle or frozen blanket; he is leg weary and foot sore; decrepitude is in his gait and dejection in his eye; great scars are scalded on his weather-beaten front, and on his ribs and rump famine might hang her banner. Some indomitable wills bear up through it all though, and these de- serve to be rewarded of their country, for they rendered possible the deeds of Sheridan's Cavalry."

Sheridan had been ordered to move upon the enemy's right aud rear. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 30th, General Merritt's Division, which had the advance, came upon the enemy at Gravelly Run, near Five Forks. After crossing the run, Colonel Leiper, who was at the head of the column, deployed his men in line, and was soon joined by the Second Massachusetts, First United States, and Seventh Michigan. With this impromptu brigade, he advanced against the enemy lying quietly in the woods, and by a sudden charge scattered his lines, and drove them in upon his infantry supports await- ing in rifle-pits an attack. On the following day the battle was renewed, and the Sixth, dismounted, fought the enemy's infantry, in a thick wood, near the Dinwiddie Road. The ground was stubbornly contested on every part of the line; but, by skillful dispositions, Sheridan was triumphant, successfully hold- ing his position until joined by the infantry, when the enemy sullenly with- drew. The loss in the Sixth, was Lieutenant Magee killed, Lieutenant Colonel Morrow and a considerable number of men wounded. Pursuit was immedi- ately given, and the column soon came upon the rebels sheltered behind his strong fortifications, on the White Oak Road. And here the Sixth Cavalry dismounted to fight in its last battle. There stood in the ranks but forty-eight men bearing carbines. Through the day the position fronting the enemy's works was held, the men keeping up a brisk fire and diverting his attention from other parts of the field, where our infantry was moving for his overthrow. The victory was complete, and the regiment rested that night upon the field.

After this battle, the remnant of the regiment was ordered to General Mer- ritt's headquarters for escort and guard duty. With Sheridan's column it

1865

MUSTER OUT OF SERVICE.

753

moved to Sailor's Creek, thence to Appomattox Station, and finally to Appo- mattox Court House, where, on the 9th, Lee surrendered, General Sheridan having the satisfaction of being a witness to the terms of a surrender, which he had largely contributed to secure.

With Sheridan the Sixth returned to Petersburg, whence it proceeded to Danville, North Carolina, and, after the surrender of Johnston, returned to Washington, where it participated in the Grand Review. Retiring across the Potomac, it was consolidated with the Second and Seventeenth Regiments, under the title of the Second Provisional Cavalry, and subsequently ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where, on the 7th of August, it was mustered out of service.

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.

NAXE.

RANK.

DATE OP MUSTER ISTO SERVICE.

REMARKS.

Richard H. Rush Charles L. Leiper ...

Col ... do

Aug. 27, '61, Sept. 7, '61,

Promoted from Capt. Co. L to Maj., Sept. 1, '64- to Lt. Col., Feb. 1, 1865-to Col., Mar. 20, 1865- to brevet Brig. Gen., Mar. 13, 1865-transferred to 2d Provisional Cavalry, June 17, 1865.

John H. M'Arthur .. C. Ross Smith

.. do ...

Oct. 1, '61,

Transferred to 5th reg. U. S. Cav .. Feb. 3, 1862. Promoted from Major to Lt. Col., Mar. 29, 1862- commissioned Col., Sept. 30, 1863-uot mus .- promoted to brevet Colonel, March 13, 1865- mustered out, Sept. 19, '64-expiration of term.

Albert P. Morrow ..

.. do

Sept. 9, '61,

3 Promoted from Capt. Co. Cto Maj., Feb. 10, '65- to. Bvt. Col., Mar. 13. 1865-to Lt. Col., Mar. 20, '65-transferred to 2d Pro. Cav., June 17, 1866.

Robert Morris, Jr ...

Major ..

.do

Oct. 31, '61, 3 Captured June 9, 1863-died at Richmond, Va., August 13, 1863-buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Sept. 3, '61, Promoted fr. Captain company B, November 20, 1862-resigned February 5, 1863.

Henry C. Whelan

Sept. 10, '61, 3

Promoted fr. Captain company C, March 1, '63- commissioned Lt. Col., Sept. 20, '63-not mus- tered-died at Philadelphia, Pa., March 2, 1864. Promoted fr. Captain company E, March 1, '63- discharged November 12, 1863.

J. Henry Hazletine ... do

Sept. 18, '61, 3

Wm. P. C. Treichel

.. co

Aug. 24, '61, 3

James Starr.

.00

O .t. 14, '61, 3

Abraham D. Price ..

.. do

Sept. 26, '61, 3

Charles B. Coxe.

do do

Nov. 20, '62, Sept. 4, '61,

3 3

Fred'k C. Newhall. W. W. Frazier, Jr.

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History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, Vol. II, Part 141

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn Publication date: 1869 Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer Number of Pages: 1386

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902. cn
Publication date: 1869
Publisher: Harrisburg, B. Singerly, State Printer
Number of Pages: 1386