USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > History of Warren County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and Pioneers > Part 28
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rains and swollen streams. The rebels believed that the capture of the entire command was sure, and were already debating among themselves upon the kind of punishment that should be meted out to the bold "Yankees." By skillful demonstrations, however, the route of the column was concealed, and Averell succeeded in eluding the hostile forces. " I was obliged " says Aver- ell in his report, "to swim my command, and drag my artillery with ropes across Craig's Creek, seven times in twenty-four hours." The creek was deep, the current strong, and filled with drifting ice. On the 20th, at Jackson River, the Fourteenth, while in rear struggling with the wagon trains, which could with difficulty be moved, the horses and mules being worn out with inces- sant marching, was cut off from the main column by the destruction of the bridge, and was supposed at headquarters to have been captured. General Early had demanded its surrender under a flag of truce; but, setting fire to the train which was completely destroyed, it forded the stream and made good its escape, rejoining the column between Callahan's and White Sulphur Springs. That night the command swam the Greenbrier, now swollen to a perfect torrent, and, crossing the Allegheny Mountains by an old bridle-path, moving the artillery by hand, it finally reached Hillsboro, at the foot of Droop Mountain, at midnight, and encamped. The roads were now icy, the horses were smooth shod, and to ride was impossible. From this point to Beverly, where the troops arrived on the 25th, the cavalrymen walked, leading their horses. Here much-needed supplies were received, and proceeding on to Web- ster they were moved by rail to Martinsburg, where winter quarters were estab- lished. The loss to the regiment in this raid in killed, wounded, and missing, was about fifty. Its members, as well as those of other commands, returned with shoes worn out and clothing in tatters; hence, in recognition of the great service which these troops had performed, the war department ordered the issue of a complete suit of clothing to each member, as a gift from the govern- ment ; the only instance, it is believed, of the kind during the war.
On the 12th of April, 1864, the entire command - a full cavalry division under General Averell, of which the Fourteenth formed part of the First Brig- ade, Colonel Schoonmaker in command - was moved by rail to Parkersburg on the Ohio River, from whence it started on the 2d of May on a separate but co-operative movement with General Crook's forces through West Virginia, to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. As the command moved forward, ob- structed roads and bushwhackers, lying in ambush, were met at every step; but the enemy usually received the worst of it when it came to fighting. It was General Averell's purpose to destroy the salt works at Saltville; but, anticipat- ing his designs, the enemy had posted a strong force for its defense, who were found well fortified and supplied with artillery. Averell had no guns, and hence,, deeming it imprudent to attack, moved on to form a junction with Crook. But the enemy had now concentrated a heavy force in his front, and at Cove Gap, 16
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on the morning of the roth, attacked him. After four hours of hard fighting, in which the advantage was on the Union side, the enemy brought up artillery and Averell was obliged to withdraw. The loss of the Fourteenth in this engagement was twelve killed and thirty-seven wounded. Avercell then pushed on to Blacksburg, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, destroying bridges and stores on the way, and finally came up with Crook at Union, the united forces moving on to Lewisburg. Here the two commands remained until the 3d of June, when they were ordered to Staunton to join the army of General Hunter, then moving on the Lynchburg campaign.
The combined forces moved forward on the 9th and, after several skirmishes by the way, appeared in front of Lynchburg on the 15th. The enemy's cavalry made a stout resistance, but were driven back within the fortifications defend- ing the town. During the following night, however, General Early, with an entire corps from Lee's army, came up. On the next day considerable fight- ing took place, the enemy maintaining his position within the works, and pre- pared with ample artillery to make a successful defense. Accordingly, at night Hunter gave the order to retire, Schoonmaker's brigade forming the rear guard. At Liberty the enemy's advance came up and attacked. For four hours this single brigade maintained the contest, holding him in check until the main column was well on its way towards the Kanawha Valley. The loss in the regiment in the engagement was six killed and eighteen wounded, the loss in other regiments of the brigade being much more severe. Subse- quently, at a gap in the mountains north of Salem, Rosser's rebel cavalry sud- denly attacked and captured thirteen pieces of artillery. Schoonmaker's Brig- ade, happening to be just at hand, was ordered in and retook the guns, with some prisoners, sustaining a loss in the Fourteenth of two killed and six wounded. Hastening forward over mountains and through valleys, parched by a summer's sun, the army, after enduring untold sufferings, finally reached Parkersburg, whence it returned by rail to Martinsburg. Portions of the con- mand, while upon the march to Parkersburg, were five days without food, and many died from the combined effects of fatigue and hunger.
Meanwhile the rebel General Early had advanced down the Shenandoah Valley unopposed, crossed into Maryland, and was now thundering at the gates of the national capital. Worn down with fighting, marching, and untold sufferings and privations by the way, Hunter's troops were in no condition for hard marching or fighting. But Averell was not the leader to avoid an en- counter when an enemy was near, and accordingly attacked the rebel troops at Winchester on the 20th of July, and routed them, capturing one general, one colonel, and two hundred men, killing and wounding three hundred, and taking four guns and several hundred small arms. The Fourteenth was an active participant in this brilliant affair, but only lost three men wounded. Four days later, however, the commands of Averell and Crook were attacked
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by Early's combined forces and driven with severe loss, Colonel Mulligan (of the Chicago Irish Brigade-otherwise known as the Twenty-third Illinois In- fantry, and the hero of the battle of Lexington, Mo., fought in 1861), com- manding a brigade, being killed. The command fell back slowly towards the Potomac, contesting the ground stubbornly, and finally withdrew to Hagers- town. The enemy followed up, swarmed across the Potomac, and a raiding party under McCausland burned the town of Chambersburg, Pa. Meanwhile Averell had retired to Greencastle. However, as soon as the line of march of McCausland from Chambersburg was ascertained, Averell gave chase. Through McConnellsburg and Hancock-where it was reinforced-Berkley Springs and Romney, the command pushed forward at headlong speed, and at Moore- field, on the south branch of the Potomac, came up with the enemy. The charge was sounded and "Chambersburg" was the battle-cry. The Four- teenth had the right of the first line. With a wild shout the command dashed forward, driving the enemy in confusion, and capturing two of his guns. Following up the advantage, the command rushed across the stream, captured two more guns, four hundred and twenty prisoners, four hundred horses, kill- ing and wounding one hundred men, and completely routing and dispersing the combined commands of McCausland, Johnson, Gillmore, and McNeill. The loss in the Fourteenth was ten killed and twenty-five wounded. Captain Kerr, in command of the regiment, was among the severely wounded.
The command returned to Martinsburg, and soon after was placed under the orders of General Sheridan. On the 19th of September opened that series of brilliant engagements under Sheridan, in the Shenandoah Valley, which will ever render his name illustrious. In the battle which was fought on that day the enemy was driven at all points. The Fourteenth, under command of Cap- tain Duncan, was posted on the extreme right of the cavalry division, and charged, with great heroism and daring, an earthwork, which it captured. The loss was very severe, Captain Duncan being among the killed. Three days later it assisted in routing the rebels at Fisher's Hill. On the 27th it was prom- inent in the defeat of Fitz Hugh Lee, at Wier's Cave. Again, at Cedar Creek on the 19th of October, the men of the Fourteenth, particularly those under Captains Miles and Duff, rendered valiant service. Still later, or on the 12th of November, the regiment participated in a severe engagment at Front Royal, with the rebel General McCausland, defeated him, and captured all of his guns and supply trains. The Fourteenth here sustained a loss of fifteen in killed and wounded.
During the following winter, which was passed near Winchester, two ex- peditions undertaken by detachments from the regiment, one under Captain William W. Miles, on the 11th of December, to Millwood, and a second under Major Gibson, on the 19th of February, 1865, to Ashby's Gap, resulted disas- trously, the commands losing heavily in killed, wounded, and prisoners, Cap-
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tain Miles, who commanded the company (I) in which the Warren county men were serving, being among the killed. Its fighting, however, ceased with these expeditions. The hostiles had deserted the valley. Lee surrendered on the 9th of April, Mosby on the 18th, and on the 20th of the same month the reg- iment was ordered to Washington, D. C., where it remained nearly two months. On the IIth of June it was ordered to Louisville, Ky., but while en route its destination was changed to Fort Leavenworth, Kans. Soon after its arrival at its destination it was consolidated into a battalion of six companies, all surplus officers being mustered out. Company A, of the new organization, under Cap- tain H. N. Harrison, was detailed as escort to General Dodge, commanding the department, and accompanied him on a tour of inspection which extended to the Gunpowder River. On the 24th of August the companies remaining at the Fort were mustered out of service, and returned in a body to Pittsburgh, where they were disbanded. Company A was mustered out on November 2, soon after the return from its tour. We will add that Captain George R. Wet- more was promoted from first lieutenant to captain of Company I, upon the death of Captain Miles, and commanded that company until the consolidation mentioned above took place, when he was assigned to the command of Com- pany C, of the battalion. He was honorably mustered out with the latter com- pany August 24, 1865.
CHAPTER XXIII.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGIITY-SECOND REGIMENT AND OTHER COMMANDS.
One Hundred and Eighty-second of the Line, Otherwise the Twenty-first Cavalry - Its Warren County Contingent - Serves a Six Months' Term - Reorganized to Serve for Three Years - For Four Months Renders Gallant Service as an Infantry Regiment of the Fifth Corps - Its Battles - Remounted and Assigned to Gregg's Division - Subsequent Marches and Engagements - Names, etc., of the Warren County Men - One Hundred and Ninety-third Regiment -- Part of Company I Recruited in Warren County - Regiment Serves One Hun- dred Days- Two Hundred and Eleventh Regiment - Term One Year - Contains a Full Warren County Company - In Virginia - Makes a Brilliant Record - Roster of Company G - Captain James's Independent Company - An Account of Its Services - Names of Members - Captain Baldwin's Company of Militia of 1862 -- List of members.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT-TWENTY-FIRST CAVALRY.
A BOUT the Ist of July, 1863, a small detachment of volunteers, who had enlisted for a term of six months in the cavalry service, left the town of Warren for the regimental rendezvous under the command of Captain Jacob J.
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Dennison. These men subsequently composed the greater portion of Com- pany M, of the Twenty-first Cavalry, of which Captain Dennison became the commander. The companies of the regiment were equipped and mounted at Camp Couch, near Harrisburg, and were thence sent to camp of instruction near Chambersburg. On the 23d of August the regiment was ordered to Har- risburg, whence a detachment, consisting of Companies C, E, K, H, L, and M, was sent for duty to Pottsville and Scranton, and Company B to Gettys- burg. The remaining five companies, under command of Colonel Boyd, pro- ceeded to Harper's Ferry, and during the fall and winter were engaged in arduous duty in the department of the Shenandoah.
In January, 1864, authority was given to reorganize the regiment for three years' service, and about the Ist of February its scattered ranks were concen- trated at camp, near Chambersburg, where the troops who did not choose to re-enlist were mustered out of service; the remainder were mustered for the long term, and its depleted ranks were filled with new recruits. About the middle of May the regiment was ordered to Washington, where, upon its arrival, it was dismounted, armed and equipped as infantry, and sent by transport to join the Army of the Potomac. It arrived at the front on the Ist of June, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division of the Fifth Corps, where it was associated with the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, and Twenty- second and Twenty-third Massachusetts, commanded by Colonel Sweitzer. The army was then in front of Cold Harbor, and at noon of the 2d the regi- ment was sent to the left of the Fifth Corps, where it was ordered to throw up breastworks. These were hardly completed before the enemy opened upon it by a flank fire from his artillery, from which Lieutenant Richard Waters was instantly killed. On the following morning it was ordered a half mile to the right, to the support of a battery, and at seven A. M. the enemy brought his twenty-four pounders into play, killing two men and three horses belonging to the battery. The regiment was subsequently ordered to the front line, and in reaching it was obliged to pass over a grain field, which was raked by the enemy's infantry and artillery fire. The advance across this was gallantly made, but with a loss of eight killed and nineteen wounded. A galling fire was kept up during the entire day from behind the breastworks, and, notwith- standing it had this protection, it suffered considerable additional loss, the entire number being eleven killed and forty-six wounded.
On the 18th of June the regiment was again engaged in front of Petersburg. " We were marched," says a member of the regiment, "over the field where the Second Corps had been engaged the day before, and the ground was cov- ered with dead. We came to a halt in a woods, where we were ordered to lie down. The rebels then commenced to shell us. We lost a great many men, killed and wounded. We were ordered to go forward and charge across a large field, and came to the Petersburg and Suffolk Railroad. Here we halted
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
and kept up a brisk fire with the rebels, who were behind their works in front of us about half a mile. In the evening we were ordered to charge a large rebel fort. We fixed bayonets and went up the hill on a yell, while the rebels opened upon us a perfect hail-storm of iron and lead from their muskets and from six- teen pieces of artillery. If Cold Harbor was hard, the fight of the 18th was harder. We charged to the brow of the second hill, and the rebel fort lay di- rectly in front of us, at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards. Here we found that we could go no further. He who went beyond this went to his grave. Four times were our colors shot down, and four times were they raised again. Finding that we could do no more we halted and formed, and while some carried rails and built works, others kept up a heavy fire on the fort, which effectually silenced their artillery. After forming a line of works we lay behind them, keeping up a fire with the rebels until morning, when we were relieved and taken to the rear." In this engagement the loss was eleven killed, seventy-nine wounded, and one missing, among the wounded being many offi- cers; and the command of the regiment consequently devolved upon Major Knowles.
On the 22d the regiment was again engaged on the Jerusalem plank road, losing two killed and three wounded. Early in July the Sixty-second Regi- ment was mustered out of service by reason of expiration of its term, and the Ninety-first Pennsylvania was assigned to the brigade, to the command of which Colonel E. M. Gregory succeeded. The regiment remained for some time in heavy works near the Ninth Corps line, where it was subjected to a vigorous shelling. On the 30th of July, upon the occasion of exploding the mine, it was under fire and sustained some loss; but no advantage was gained, and the routine of duty behind the works was resumed. On the 18th of August a descent was made upon the Weldon Railroad, in which the Twenty-first par- ticipated, and was engaged in destroying the track when the enemy attacked ; but by the timely arrival of a portion of the Ninth Corps he was repulsed, and the portion of the road possessed was held. The loss in the regiment was one killed and twenty-seven wounded.
Early in September the Twenty-first was brigaded with the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, Major Knowles commanding. About the middle of the month, upon the withdrawal of the last-named regiment from the front, the Twenty-first was transferred to the First Brigade, General Sick- el in command, where it was associated with the One Hundred and Ninety- eighth l'ennsylvania. On the 30th the brigade joined in a movement to the left, and at l'oplar Spring Church came upon the enemy's works, which were triumphantly carried, with a loss in the Twenty-first of sixteen killed and wounded. On the following day the regiment was attacked while lying upon the ground, in a large open field, but held its position without serious loss. For its gallantry in this engagement it received a complimentary order
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ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
from General Griffin, in command of the division. With this battle closed the connection of the regiment with the infantry arm of the service.
On the 5th of October the Twenty-first was sent to City Point, where it was equipped and mounted, and ordered to the division commanded by Gen- eral D. McM. Gregg, in which it was assigned to the First Brigade, composed of the First Maine, Sixth and Thirteenth Ohio, Second New York, and Twen- ty-first Pennsylvania, commanded by Colonel C. H. Smith. On the 27th of October the regiment was in a sharp engagement at the Boydton Plank Road, where the division went to the support of the Second Corps, which was hard pressed. The fighting was severe, and the Union forces were obliged to retire, the cavalry holding the line until the infantry and artillery were well out of the way, and then cutting its way out after nightfall. The Twenty-first lost three killed, thirty-three wounded, and eighteen missing, among the wounded being Captain George F. Cooke, of Warren county. On the Ist of December the division proceeded to Stony Creek Station, destroying the sta- tion and rebel supplies. The regiment was of the rear guard on the return march, and sustained some loss. On the 4th, Company E was detailed for duty at headquarters of the Sixth Corps, with which it remained until near the close of its service. On the 6th the regiment was again in motion upon the Bellefield raid, and on the roth was engaged, losing two killed, five wounded, and one lieutenant, John A. Devers, a prisoner. In the mean time Major Knowles was promoted to colonel, and Captain Richard Ryckman to major.
On the 5th of February, 1865, a heavy force of the Union army moved across Hatcher's Run, for the purpose of opening the way to the left, and ex- tending the lines towards the South Side Railroad. It was met by the enemy, and heavy fighting ensued, but the Union forces held the ground. Gregg's Cavalry co-operated, and moved on to Dinwiddie Court House, meeting some opposition, but having no serious fighting. Colonel Knowles had command of the brigade in this expedition. During the winter the Twenty-first was re- cruited to the full maximum strength, and on the Ist of March was transferred to the Second Brigade of the Second Division, which was composed of the Sec- ond, Fourth, Eighth, Sixteenth and Twenty-first Pennsylvania Regiments, com- manded by General J. Irvin Gregg. The dismounted men of the Twenty-first, comprising nearly half its entire strength, were ordered to City Point, under command of Captain James Mickley, and with the dismounted men of the brig- ade, participated, under command of Major Oldham, of the Eighth Pennsyl- vania, in the final assault upon the defenses of Petersburg.
" On the 29th of March " says Major Bell, " the cavalry corps moved out on the left flank of the army, the Eighth Pennsylvania having the advance. By some mistake this regiment mistook the road, which left the Twenty-first in advance, and gave it the honor of making the first charge in the campaign, striking the rebels near Dinwiddie Court House, carrying their barricades and
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capturing some prisoners, from whom important information, pertaining to the rebel cavalry under Fitz Hugh Lee, was obtained. The Twenty-first was not in the fight of the 31st, which well-nigh proved a disaster, it having been de- tailed to hold a bridge over Stony Creek. When it was discovered that the cavalry line was unable to hold its ground, Colonel Forsythe, of Sheridan's staff, ordered the Twenty-first to throw up a line of works across the road, in rear of the court-house, and said, with emphasis, ' This must be held at all has- ards until morning, when the Fifth Corps will be up.' Fortunately the rebels did not follow up their advantage, and the regiment was undisturbed during the night. The Second Brigade was only partially engaged at Five Forks, it being posted to prevent any flanking attacks on the left. On the 5th of April the Second Division struck the rebel wagon train and captured a battery, destroyed two hundred wagons, and brought in some nine hundred mules. The First Brigade made the captures, while the Second and Third did most of the fight- ing. Out of two hundred and thirty-four engaged, the Twenty-first lost ninety- eight in killed, wounded, and missing in less than half an hour. On the next day the regiment was in the fight at Sailor's Creek, capturing a number of prisoners. On the 7th the brigade had a sharp, and in a measure disastrous, fight at Farmville, in which General Gregg was captured, and the regiment sustained some loss, mostly prisoners. At daylight on the 9th the brigade, under Colonel Young, of the Fourth, was thrown across the main road to Lynch- burg, upon which the rebel army was retreating, and had some sharp work, contesting the ground in front while Rosser's Rebel Cavalry hung upon its rear. Finally, the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth corps came up, and the division turned upon Rosser, who was driven nearly a mile, when he made a determined stand, and preparations were made to charge him in force. The Third Brigade had the center, and the Twenty-first led on the main Lynch- burg road. At the sound of the bugle the regiment dashed forward, driving in the rebel skirmish line ; but by the time his main force was reached, it was discovered that the regiment was entirely unsupported, and fearfully exposed to capture. A precipitate retreat was made, in which some prisoners were lost. On its way back it was greeted with the glad tidings that Lee had sur- rendered, the other brigades having received the intelligence just as the Twen- ty-first went forward."
From Appomattox Court House the command marched back to Burkesville, and shortly after to Petersburg. It had been but a few days in camp when Sheridan moved with his entire cavalry corps for North Carolina. Upon his arrival at the Dan River, learning that General Johnston had surrendered, he turned back, and retired again to Petersburg. Thereafter the brigade of which the regiment formed part was sent to Lynchburg, and a detachment to Danville, where provost duty was performed until about the middle of June, when the Twenty-first was concentrated at Lynchburg. Here on the 8th day of July it was mustered out of service.
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ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
As will be noticed, the active duty of the regiment really commenced on the first day of June, 1864, at Cold Harbor, and virtually ended on the 9th of April, 1865, at Appomattox Court House, a period of a little more than ten months. In that time it had three field officers severely wounded, one staff officer slightly wounded ; one died of disease, and one was discharged to accept promotion in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania. Of the line offi- cers, four were killed in battle or mortally wounded, ten were wounded, and four were captured. Of the enlisted men, one hundred and forty-seven were killed in battle or died of disease, and two hundred and fifty-three were wounded.
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