USA > Pennsylvania > History of a cavalry company. A complete record of Company "A," 4th Penn'a cavalry, as identified with that regiment in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, during the late civil war > Part 11
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the enemy following, with a quickly gathered force, mostly of mounted men. Several times they attacked our rear, but with little effect. On two occasions we wheeled round, and formed in line of battle- making a small sortie which drove them back in dis- order. During the first night out of Richmond, . after our attack on that city, we, being very much fatigued and worn-out, and being still in a country that had as yet been exposed very little to the inroads of our forces, we looked about for a temporary rest. We found ourselves on the plantation of the notori- ous Governor Wise, with abundance of corn and almost everything we could desire. Naturally enough, we here rested and feastcd awhile.
It was a most palatial residence, with fine farms, laid out and richly cultivated, beautiful groves of evergreen trees in the far perspective, gorgeous barns and adjacent buildings, roads elegantly lined on both sides with brown hedge-rows of thorn and brier, thick clusters of orchard trees and . finely arbored gardens and walks. From the embow- ered porch of this noble mansion, a most delightful stretch of country was discernible. It was, too, only typical of many others, visible at long intervals -the lordly homesteads of the slaveocracy, the aris- tocratic structures which had been founded and built by the exacted toil of the poor negro. Here gath- ered these proud land-holders and masters, living a life of elegance and luxury. Often by starry night. when flower-enamelled walk and green foliage were stirred by Summer winds, the fresh airs of heaven
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have been shaken by sweet music from parlors, through the laced curtains of which, the gay youth and complacent age of " Chivalry," were visible in the mellow light, smiling, chatting, flirting or moving with measured step in the enlivening circles of a waltz. Not far away, in some hovel, at the same time perhaps, a few poor wretches were huddled to- gether, late from the slave-market, where husband and wife, parent and child had been rudely torn asunder, in all probability, forever. To the mind which could eject such thoughts, or more expediently still conscientiously believe in the moral right of hu- man chattels, such a life was the very perfection of ease and luxurious enjoyment. The beautiful, happy homesteads, the genial climate, the profuse and gra- · tuitous profits, the gay social circles of wealth and refinement, the horse-race, gaming-table and import- ed wines, comprise a repertoire of pleasure, from which, with only hygienic prudence, nearly all the delights that this world can yield were to be obtained. But not all entirely, because there is a serene, eleva- ted, pervading contentment, if not positive enjoyment, in that sense of useful labor performed, deeds of beneficence achieved, conviction of duty accomplished to our fellow-man and to the Father and Master of us all, to which, in its best embodiment, I believe the slave-holder must have been a stranger. Outwardly, however, there was everything to excite admiration and stimulate desire.
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CHAPTER XIX.
STRUCK AN OYSTER-MINE.
THE neighborhood was, at this time, a kind of oyster depot for the city of Richmond. We found here huge hogsheads of the recently opened shell-fish, which probably should have been considered sacred, as having been the property of Governor Wise. Not recognizing his authority, though, and not admiring particularly his antecedents or present posture of loyalty, we set to work and devoured the luscious morsels with acute relish. The whole force looked like Fulton Market or Se- cond Street on set days, a busy, bustling scene where- in appetite, in all phases, went eagerly catering and procuring for the next meal. Our men could be seen running across the fields with hats full of the succulent and delicious bits, and even the horses' noose-bags were called into requisition, and filled with oysters to overflowing. Every haversack was "chock-full," and some even tried to gorge their canteens with the unshelled bivalves. Mouths were bulged out and mineingly active, and pyloric valves were strained to their utmost tension, in a laudable
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effort to detain the crunched morsels, and afford a chance for chymi-chylification. The brain and spine of Kilpatrick's corps, were veritably invigorated and phosphorized on that occasion. The spectacle was most ludicrous! I doubt if the discovery of a gold- mine, with the precious metal already purified and formed into ingots with handles on, would have ex- cited a more general and indiscriminate scramble. The whole force went, pell-mell, into the oyster tanks. In gloating eagerness and activity, it must have resembled a scene enacted on a neighboring spot, over two centuries before, when the colonists of John Smith, " dug gold, refined gold, loaded gold " -but, unlike our hearty veterans, came to grief and disappointment by their greediness.
On the ensuing morning we proceeded in the di- rection of White-House Landing, near which place we met a force of men, that had been sent by order of General Butler from Yorktown, to meet and unite with us in our raid. They were mostly colored troops, and the first that we had yet seen. Their appearance created much merriment, but we did not disdain to accept of the re-enforcement, as the enemy were begining to hover about our little band in over- whelming numbers. On meeting the colored troops, therefore, cheer after cheer were given, to which the happy re-enforcement responded with heartiness- their eyes restless and their teeth visible from a joy which laughed outright and characteristically-dis- playing white rings and marble-like rows in a sprinkled and comical confusion, on the dark but patriotic back-
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ground. They then filed aside, and stood crowding the road, as we moved forward. They followed us, marching in excellent order, and evincing good disci- pline. After entering the lines of the colored troops, we were relieved from duty. We proceeded quietly to Yorktown, Va., where we arrived, on March 3d, 1864, encamping in the vicinity. We were pretty thoroughly tired out, and exhausted, having marched nearly 200 miles in four days, with occasional skir- mishing on the route. Remaining here several days, a portion of the command was put on board of trans- ports and taken to Norfolk and Portsmouth, where an attack at that time was anticipated from the enemy.
At the time we started from Culpepper, another column, under the command of Col. Ulrich Dahlgren, also marched forth on a raid. He was to have pro- ceeded by another route to join Kilpatrick near Richmond, but having been misled by a guide, whom he afterwards hung without ceremony, he could not effect the connection intended. He, therefore, tried to go down through King and Queen's counties, north of the York River, to Gloucester Point, opposite York- town, but his forces were ambushed in the night by a band of rebel guerillas, and Col. Dahlgren was killed while riding at the head of his troops. Many of his command were also killed, wounded, and cap- tured by the enemy. Col. Dahlgren's body was stripped, and his fingers cut off from his hands, in order to secure the rings he had worn. His body was otherwise horribly mutilated, and then secretly
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buried-the rebels wreaking an insane vengeance on the lifeless corpse. They reported that they had · found papers on his body, in which the purpose of the raid was set forth to have been, the release of Union prisoners, the assassination of Davis and his cabinet, and the burning of the city. It had been calculated, after we got possession of the rebel capital, that Butler should march in from below. But our plans were now all frustrated. The expedi- tion to Norfolk returning, after remaining at York- town about a week, we were there put on board of transports, and taken to Alexandria, Va. Here we disembarked, and marched by the way of Fairfax Court House, Manassas and Cattlett's Station, to Turkey Run, and again rejoined the regiment, having been absent seventeen days and nights. We expe- rienced some pretty rough times, and had a great deal of very poor fare, with some that was delightful. Our horses, however, presented a worn appearance. We were all now, in tough health and excellent spirits- ready for any exploit, however daring or hazardous. The main object of our expedition, had not been ac- complished, but we had succeeded in effecting con- siderable damage to the enemy's lines, and in giving them somewhat of a scare. When we appeared before the inner wall of defence-before the rebel capital, a frenzy of alarm seized the populace, and chivalric valor, shot confusedly to and fro, " like sparks in burnt-up paper." We had injured their lines of communication, and destroyed much of their
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property. On these exploits we contented ourselves for the time.
During our absence, the pay-rolls for the months of January and February, 1864, were made out. On these we find the following promotions, changes, etc. Private James Smith, promoted to Corporal, and private Joseph Shivelhuth, discharged for disa- bility. Two days afterwards, arriving at, and rejoin- ing our regiment, the veteran furloughs for thirty days, to each man, arrived. We proceeded at once to enjoy them, turning in our horses without delay, We went to Alexandria, and thence to Harrisburg, via Washington and Baltimore. On leaving the Keystone State Capital, for our different homes, on the 25th of March, 1864, we carried with us all our arms. After thirty swift, happy days of visitations and pleasures, during which we often boisterously fought our battles over again, on a small scale, we again reassembled at Harrisburg, on the 25th of April, 1864, and two days after, proceeded to Wash- ington. Thence we went to camp on Turkey Run, near Warrenton. Upon arriving here late in the evening, our horses having, in the meantime, been turned over to other regiments in the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, who were again prepar- ing for the march, we, being dismounted, were or- dered back to Washington, and quartered in Camp Stoneman, a dismounted cavalry camp, at Gieseboro Point, opposite the National Capital. Here we re- mained until May 12th, when being again mounted and equipped, we procceded on transports to Bell
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Plaine Landing, on the Potomac. While in Camp Stoneman, however, we received a large number of recruits, which helped to fill up our now thinned-out ranks. The names of these recruits will be found in a table annexed. I was appointed to act as Ser- geant Major, of that portion of the regiment in Camp Stoneman. The pay and muster rolls, were also made out here, for the months of March and April. The following changes appear on them : Private Wm. T. Hess, promoted to Corporal, and private Joseph Hand, died, while at home on a veteran furlough. After disembarking at Belle Plaine, we remained in that vicinity, until the 14th of May, doing picket duty on the line of communications between Belle Plaine and Falmouth. The former was then the base of supplies of our army. The whole Union lines were in motion under Grant, who had lately assumed the command of all the armies, and of the Army of the Potomac in person, making his head- quarters with that force. The cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac had been re-organized under an entire stranger to it-one Phil. Sheridan, from the West. With him, it at first, made some rather awkward movements, but of its after career it is not for us to speak, in terms of praise, commensurate with its deserts. Suffice it to say, that Sheridan manifested, on many occasions, the highest military qualities, and his name will ever be one of the most resplendent on the pages of history. The army being now in motion, and heavily engaged with the enemy in the Wilderness, and at Chancellorsville,
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many wounded were momentarily arriving from the front, on their way to hospitals in the North. The army had fought several of the most terrific battles of the war during the past week, in which we, being ab- sent, had taken no part. Many thousands of prisoners, also; arrived at Belle Plaine, being detachments of rebel corps. Prominent among those now captured, was Johnson's entire division, with its commander, which was captured by Hancock, in his memorable charge at Spottsylvania. A force of cavalry having collected at Belle Plaine, detachments of various regiments-all were consolidated, and placed under command of Lieut. Col. Chamberlain, of the 1st Mas- sachusetts Cavalry.
On the 18th of May, we marched along with this force to Fredericksburg, crossing the Rappahannock on pontoons. We found the town full of wounded, with fresh arrivals from the front continually pour- ing in. From this we inferred that the work in front was no play, but that the fighting must be terrific. The town of Fredericksburg, at this time, presented a sad picture of the realities of war. The dead and the dying, the mutilated and wounded, lay in confusion all over the city, in the streets, the alleys and everywhere. The town itself had been completely riddled with shot and shell, during the great battle in its environs. There was not a house in the city, which was not perforated through and through, and in fact many of them were completely shattered and demolished. It presented a frightful picture of the havoc of war. During the engagement
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in Fredericksburg, a shower of fire and lurid smoke had encircled and enveloped the town, through which, thick and fast, fell shot and shell, piercing great walls, bursting in dwellings, bounding from stone fronts to street again, firing houses, here and there, and making it close and hot quarters for the rebel sharp- shooters, who were concealed in the town, and along the river. The spectacle was fearful and revolting in its terrific grandeur.
Every attention that possibly could be afforded, was paid to our wounded; the Christian and Sanitary Commissions, those noble outgrowths of the war, and the embodiment especially of female beneficence and patriotism in the North, being active and efficient in the good work. Many an unfortunate soldier was cared for by them, and will ever have cause to bless these merciful institutions for timely assistance. Numbers of the rebel wounded were also brought in and well cared for. Some of these had been cap- tured during the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. They were treated the same as our own troops.
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CHAPTER XX.
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0 N the 19th of May, we marched to the head- quarters of the Army of the Potomac, near . Spottsylvania Court House, and were ordered to a position on the left of Grant's lines, near Mas- saponix Church. There we joined the provisional brigade of cavalry, under Gen. Torbett, the main body of the cavalry corps having gone off under Sheridan, on a raid on the enemy's lines of communi- cation. Grant was now on the memorable ground, on which his famous dispatch was written to the Sec- retary of War: "I propose to fight it out. on this line, if it takes all summer !" The cavalry corps, under Sheridan, on the 8th of May, cut the rebel lines at Beaver Dam Station, on the Virginia Cen- tral Railroad, captured and destroyed several trains of cars, and the identical depot, that under Kilpat- rick we had destroyed before, and which had since been rebuilt. It was now stored with the supposed amount of 1.500.000 rations. all of which were reduced to ashes. A large number of our prisoners were also recaptured. The enemy were about hurrying them
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to Richmond. Sheridan then marched South to Ashland Station, and destroyed the buildings and depot at that place, tore up the track, and demol- ished six railroad culverts, and two bridges. March- ing still onward, he encountered Gen. Stuart's cavalry, and a fight ensued, in which the famous J. E. B. Stuart, was killed, May 11th, 1864. After defeating the enemy's cavalry, he marched on to Richmond, to find the works around that city strongly manned, and too well prepared for him. He then crossed the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, where the enemy pursuing him a fight ensued. The rebels were here checked and driven back. He pur- sued them to Turkey Bend, on the James River, making a junction with Butler's forces, May 14th, 1864.
Early on the morning of May 21st, our provis- ional cavalry brigade marched, in advance of the Army of the Potomac, by way of Guinea Station, to Bowling Green and Milford Station, on the Freder- icksburg, Richmond and Acquia Creek Railroad, making a flank movement on the enemy and forcing him to vacate his position, around Spottsylvania Court House. The rebels then fell back to a posi- tion on the south side of the North Anna. Our army again took position, when a fight ensued, lasting during the succeeding three days. Our army, on arriving at Milford Station, repulsed a small force of the enemy there, and the infantry coming up, our Company was detached to Bowling Green to do provost duty. On the 23d of May, we
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again took up the line of march in advance of the army, and found the rebels, where they had located, on the North Anna. Notwithstanding the army fought three days, it was found difficult or impossible to dislodge them. Another flank movement was, there- . fore, concluded upon. The cavalry corps, under Sheridan, again rejoined the army on the 26th of May, and ours and all the other regiments were again consolidated. The cavalry corps marched in advance of the army on a flank movement, arriving carly on the morning of the 27th at Pamunkey River, seven- teen miles west of White House Landing. We crossed on pontoon bridges, and encamped on the south side of the army, following after. On the 28th we marched to Hawes' Shop, found the enemy in force, and immediately attacked him. Our division fought hard all day, and finally, in the evening, by the as- sistance of Custer's Michigan cavalry brigade, suc- ceeded in defeating and routing the enemy, under Breckinridge-driving their whole forces of infant- ry and cavalry, in utter confusion. Our cavalry loss, however, was considerable, there being 400 killed and wounded in our division. In our regiment 1 officer and 3 men were killed, and S men wounded. This was as hardly a contested cavalry fight as any that had occurred. In the evening, after having es- tablished a secure line of pickets, the main body of the corps retired and went into camp. About this time the forage gave out, and the horses of the whole corps had to subsist on the poorest kind of grazing. On the 30th of May, the enemy drove in our pickets, at
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Old Church Tavern, and a sharp and decisive fight ensued. The enemy were driven back, with a loss of 100, by our own regiment. On the day following, the Second Cavalry Brigade, marched to White House Landing, and drew rations and forage. While we were absent this day from the corps, it had a heavy fight with the enemy's cavalry and infantry at Cold Harbor. On June 1st we marched to Cold Harbor, and rejoined our division, finding the army hotly engaged with the rebels, whom it continued to attack, and endeavored to drive from their position for several days. But the enemy having obstructed the country around, by slashing the timber, and filling the roads with all manner of obstacles, it was found almost impossible to cross these. After a terrible sacrifice of life, finding it almost annihila- tion to continue the assaults on the rebel lines, Gen. Grant concluded to desist. The enemy had also made several heavy attacks on our lines, but were likewise repulsed with great slaughter, their loss, however, not comparing with ours. It has been es- timated by many responsible parties, that we lost, at Cold Harbor, twenty to one compared with what the enemy lost. This great disparity was occasioned by the advantageous and protected position of the rebels, and our repeated and fruitless efforts to dis- lodge them, through tangled brush and almost insur- mountable obstacles. When our troops once entered these, they were picked off by the enemy, to a man almost. The second cavalry division, had a position on the left of the army, near Gaines' Ilill, June 2d,
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when a considerable amount of skirmishing was kept up all along our front. Finally, we established a line from Gaines' IIill to Bottom's Bridge. The enemy, finding range of our positions, shelled us with considerable effect, and we were forced to remove our camps. The battle fields of Cold Harbor and Gaines' Hill, will ever be remembered, as among the saddest episodes recorded in the history of the war. Many-very many homes, in the North, were deso- lated by the events which transpired on these bloody fields. Thousands of hopeful patriots, were here, vainly sacrificed, in the laudable effort, however, at meeting and defeating the country's foes, wherever they could be found. Their remains still lie bleach- ing on southern plains, and in the low swamps of Virginia-a part of that great host of unknown mar- tyrs, who have gone nameless to a soldier's grave. Their deeds are unheralded here by the trump of fame, but are glorified and rewarded, among the shining throngs of a just heaven.
On the 6th of June, we broke camp, marched to New Castle Ferry, on the Pamunkey, crossed the river at that place, and encamped on the north side. The next morning, after relieving the command of all unserviceable horses, and of the men also, who had become hors-du-combat, we took up a line of march north-the command consisting of the 1st and 2dl divisions of cavalry, under the personal charge of Gen. Sheridan. We had not the least idea, however, where we were bound, receiving orders not to waste any of our rations or forage, but to pursue our way
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quietly through the country. We encamped the first night at Ellis's Mills, sixteen miles from New Castle Ferry, marching the next day to Polecat Sta- tion, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Acquia Creek Railroad. This line not being called into re- quisition now, for any of the army movements, no damage was done to it. Our slender supply of forage and rations giving out, we were now compelled to begin to subsist on the country, through which we were passing. On the night of June 9th, we en- camped west of Mount Pleasant, passing through that town during the day. Owing to the excessive lieat and sultriness of the weather, and the exhausted condition of our horses from the scarcity of forage, two hundred and fifty of them gave out in our com- mand during the day, many of them dying from ac- tual coups-de-soleil. Not wishing to have the horses recaptured for the enemy's usc, they were shot as soon as they gave out. A guard was detailed with" instructions to perform this duty, in case any were found moping along in a peculiarly distressed condi- tion. The saddles and equipments, were, of course, brought with us, and carried in wagons. There being no horses, scarcely, in the country through which we were passing, those who in this manner be- came dismounted, had to walk, thereby causing our march to be slower than it would otherwise have been.
On the 10th inst., we marched to within eight miles of Louisa Court Ilouse, many more of the men be- coming dismounted from the cause specified. Our
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rations having been entirely exhausted, foraging parties were now sent out on the flanks of the column, who literally " cleaned out" the section of every- thing edible for man or beast, operating over strips of country for miles wide, all along the line of march, both right and left. There were rather rough deeds perpetrated by us in Virginia, at this time, out of sheer necessity. The people being very poor, at best, were made now entirely destitute of provisions, and we thus gave them fair prospects of a famine. We were obliged to appropriate to our own uses, all they had. We came down upon them like swarms of locusts, eating up the very seed for their next harvests. On account of this, maddened by the in- trusion, what few men were left in the country, hovered around in the shape of guerillas, picking up any stray foragers they found, and making summary examples of them. In consequence, it was no un- common sight to see our dead comrades suspended conspicuously from the limbs of trees along our line of march, and labelled "Such will be the fate of every forager caught !" But the promptings of necessity were not to be checked by any such measures, As well might they have attempted to dam up the James River with bulrushes or bales of straw, as to check the iron will of a large army. These scare-crows, horrible and revolting as they were, only whetted the operations of our men, giving to their movements sometimes a slight coloring of vengeance. Several of the bodies I saw suspended in this manner, I rc-
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