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 14
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He told us that in the midst of the sultry days of the past Summer, they had all been suffering in the prison pens of Andersonville, with no shelter but the skies above and no couch but the carth beneath, ex- posed to winds, rains and storms, the searching, scorching suns, and the drenching dews of a far Southern latitude.
I will now go back to the time when we uncere- moniously left the rebel guard and our own prison detail, at the corner of Nineteenth and Main streets, in Richmond. From Galligher we learned, that the fact of our escape was whispered around among the men while they were yet marching to the bake-house. Immediately after their return to prison, the rebel guard, suspecting that something was wrong, imme- diately set to work at making inquiries. The number of prisoners being generally counted every morning, they were summoned for the second time on this oc- casion and recounted, when the fact of our escape became apparent. Active measures for our re-arrest were promptly instituted, but luckily for us, without success. There was much speculation as to our fate
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among the men, a great majority of the prisoners believing that our recapture was certain, and that there were no hopes for our success. They deemed it a perilous and foolish undertaking. A report was subsequently circulated by the rebel guards, that we had been retaken and confined in Castle Thunder, which seemed so probable, that it obtained ready credence, and tended to check further attempts at escape.
But the men who remained behind still continued to suffer a living death. No more endeavored to release themselves from this horrible sepulture, with one ex- ception, one Kennedy, a member of Co. D., who made the attempt shortly after we did and succeeded.
Several days after our sudden departure, two of our company from Libby, were detailed by the rebel authorities to attend the hospitals in the city, in order to assist in taking charge of our wounded, whom the enemy had captured. By this lucky ac- cident, they were subsequently paroled, just before the downfall of Richmond, and escaped besides, all the fatal horrors of Andersonville. But the balance, numbering eleven in all, perished to a man, while prisoners of war.
About a month or two after our escape, in Novem- ber, 1863, the prisons becoming crowded with new victims to almost suffocation, a great many were re- moved to the more terrible and ghastly exposures of Belle Isle, the cutting winds, and cold, dreary winter days, wreaking their sharpest strokes of pain, on the poor emaciated and miserable wretches. 'They were
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ESCAPED FROM ANDERSONVILLE PRISON.
huddled together here in deathly chilliness, during the winters of 1863 and '64, awaiting in intense suffering of mind and body, the release by inevitable death. Here the first of our men died, being Martin Arm- bruster.
Some time after this, in the spring, about the time the Andersonville prison pen was built, they were removed from the present horrors of Belle Isle to the hideous, prospective terrors of that fearful place. While on their way to Andersonville by rail, the de- tachment that our companions were with, was disem- barked from the cars at Charlotte, N. C., for some reason or other, over night, and was encamped in close proximity to the depot. On this occasion, a number of our Company resolved to make the attempt to escape. Seven of them came to this determination. Among them were Walton, McGlaughlin, Galligher, McCarron, Stahler, and Fritz. They determined to run the guard, as soon as it became dark enough, and by this means to effect their deliverance, trusting to the darkness of the night to elude pursuit. They accordingly embarked on the perilous venture, and succeeded in evading the guard, and in dashing into some underbrush close by. Being unexpectedly dis- covered, they were regaled with a few stray shots from the rebel guards. They rushed onward, how- ever, and soon found themselves far away, with a tolerably good prospect of success. As soon as these prisoners had made their escape, the guards ordered all the rest, who were not lying down, to remain prostrate on the earth, or that if they attempted to
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rise without orders, they would be instantly shot. A great many at this time being asleep from exhaus- tion, did not become aware of this order. Among the number, was the youthful, but manly Ward, who awaking, shortly afterwards, at once arose to his feet to look around. He had no sooner assumed an erect posture, than he was shot dead by the rebel guards.
Galligher, in narrating the circumstances of this attempted escape, did not keep account of dates. Neither did he remember many of the details, so that our account is rather meagre, but sufficient to give the main outlines. We are consequently unable to follow them through all the particulars of their hazardous journey, for the next thirty long and weary days.
Suffice it to say, that they proceeded cautiously through the enemy's country, in North Carolina, taking a westerly direction towards the mountains of East Tennessee. They travelled altogether by night, being guided in the main, by those who have always proved themselves the refugees and Union soldiers' friends-the contraband slaves of the South. They had moved successfully through the country, for thirty wearisome nights, subsisting all the time, how- ever, much better than they had done in prison, un- der rebel protection. After passing far towards the limits or western boundary of North Carolina, they became rather incautious, having, for so long a time, met with no enemies whatever. They took it for granted, that they could pass themselves off, among
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the inhabitants, in case they were questioned, as rebel soldiers, returning to their homes on furlough, or something else. They did not observe that amount of caution which their venture demanded, or even that prudence, which they had been before ex- hibiting.
Accordingly one day while sitting alongside a stream, on one side of the road, washing some of their clothes, and roasting chickens, they were sur- prised by a small detachment of North Carolina militia, and re-captured. Their stories did not satisfy the troops, and they were promptly arrested. They were conveyed to the nearest Railroad station, and sent back to Charlotte, N. C., where they were re- cognized. Immediately afterward, they were sent to rejoin their fellow-sufferers in misery, at Anderson- ville. This was a very calamitous termination to all their weary, weary marches, and tremulous anticipa- tions of safety and success. It would be impossible to describe the sinking of heart, the deep, dark, ter- rible agony of despair, the stinging, poignant, bitter sense of misery and wretchedness, which now usurped the place of a mild, gentle and pleasing hope, which had all along, with some flutterings of doubt, pervaded them, and which had even strengthened and bright- ened as their heavy feet had trudged further, yet further from the horrid pen of death.
In this prison enclosure they eventually all per- ished, except Galligher, who, as above mentioned, in a very remarkable manner, and from one of the most strictly guarded prisons of the Confederacy, effected,
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at last, a successful escape. The dates of the deaths of these prisoners will be found in the appendix. Suffice it to say, that they perished one by one of loathsome diseases, and of exhaustion occasioned by incredible sufferings, privations and exposures. One by one, our gallant little Orderly Sergeant, Alfred Walton, saw his brave comrades drop before him, and their bodies rudely dragged away to unknown graves. One by one, until all were gone, they per- ished, he alone remaining even after Galligher had gone. But Galligher left him in such a famished condition that he did not expect that he would sur- vive many hours-so debilitated and sickly had he grown. But sorrowful to relate, he suffered the ghastly terrors of that notorious imprisonment, until the very last moment, until the war was over, and our armies crowned with success, were returning to their joyful homes in the North. When the few survivors of Andersonville and Milan were being placed on board of the cars to be conveyed to Savan- nah, there to meet the humane ministrations of the Christian or Sanitary Commissions, and thence to be conveyed to their homes, Walton expired. Just as he saw home and friends in the near future, death came and shut out the earthly prospect forever. He was so far gone that he was scarcely conscious when placed upon the cars, although his constitution had been one of iron. Hle expired on his way to Savan- nah. Thus perished the last of the unfortunate heroes of Andersonville. He was a most honorable,
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gallant, and courageous man-respected by all his comrades.
Galligher's term of service having long since ex- pired, he was at once discharged. We will now re- turn to the details of our Company's service in the field.
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CHAPTER XXV.
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THE WOLF AT THE DOOR.
0 N the 18th of October, our battalion and regi- ment went on picket on the Lee's Mill Road. Through this circumstance, we were away when one of thoserather disgraceful occurrences transpired, to which we have already alluded, the sacking of a sut- ler's establishment. This was perpetrated by the bal- ance of our regiment, along with two other regiments. A sutler had just received an enormous supply of goods, and was displaying them temptingly, and at the same time asking exorbitant prices for his ar- ticles. In this manner, he unfortunately for himself excited the appetites and cupidity of the troops be- yond endurance. His own ruin and dismay ensued. Having occasion with Capt. Erving to visit camp from the picket line, I arrived shortly after the scenes had been enacted. Everything was conse- quently in confusion and uproar - the provost guard endeavoring to make some arrests, but not succeeding entirely in singling out all the perpetra- tors. A few of the ring-leaders, however, were
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arrested, and severely punished, after a trial and sen- tence by Court Martial.
On Oct. 21st, we were relieved from picket duty, and returned to camp. The following day Major Duncan of our regiment arrived, and assumed com- mand. He was a very efficient officer, and strict dis- · ciplinarian. He soon re-organized the regiment, and brought it to a high standard of efficiency.
On the 26th of October, we again broke camp, and marched with the division to Fort Du Chesne, en- camping there for the night. On the next morning we proceeded in advance of the Second and Fifth Army Corps, at the left of the army, on the Boyd- town Plank Road, to Hatcher's Run. On this road we met the enemy, and heavy fighting ensued-the rebels attacking our division, which became rather isolated during the day, on three sides with infantry, cavalry and artillery. But, by the most desperate resistance, we managed to hold our ground, notwith- standing the odds that were opposed to us. We withdrew in the evening, the object of the advance having been accomplished, which was apparently a reconnaissance in force. Our regiment, during the contest, had thirteen men killed and ten wounded. We captured a large number of prisoners. This fight was afterwards termed the Bull Ring Fight. None of us knew where the enemy was, or rather was not, for the rebels were all around us, on all sides. We were actually fighting in a ring. We immediate- ly returned to camp, and the next day resumed our usual picket duty on the Jerusalem Plank Road.
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During this time considerable disturbance was caused along our lines, by guerillas who were picking off our men. Two of our guards were wounded by them the first night out. It is a curious circumstance- this being immediately prior to the presidential elec- tion-that two of our pickets were captured by these same guerillas, and on being asked who they would- vote for, replying that they were Mcclellan men, they were promptly released by the rebel scoundrels, and allowed to poll their votes at liberty.
On the 30th of October, with Lieut. Grant, of Co. K, I was sent out to visit the families along the lines, and report their condition. We found them all very badly off. In fact they were nearly famished, with the wolf already howling and importunate at the door. They were all rebellious at heart, but they were nevertheless human beings. The war had pressed sorely around them. In almost every home there was some dead friend to mourn, amid the desolations and terrors of battle which surrounded them. There was many a vacant chair around the meagre tables, where famine began to hover, in dreary threatenings, and where affection, in sable habiliments, sat silently mourning. The hearth-stones were still bright with blazing logs, or ruddy with embers in "solid cores of heat," but the fantastic light they emitted, played wildly on floor and ceiling, emblematic of the flutter- ing of hope, amid the sombre forecastings of despair. The fields were without stock or living thing, a wide stretch of waste, scattered with bleaching bones, and visited alone by the crow, or carrion bird. The forests afar, were indeed gay and beautiful, dressed
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in all the original glory of autumnal seasons, but their soothing, gentle melancholy, had now no power to heal, amid the poignant griefs, the recent misfor- tunes, the aching void of heart, and almost utter destitution which encumbered these, once opulent, but now sad, famishing, deserted families. Ah! bright indeed was the past, with all its comforts, its refinements, its social interchanges ! Ah! happy the days of yore, and not very long ago either, when peace came down with the blessed sunlight and dews, and smiled in the ripening grain, laughed out in the gaudy woods, sang silvery and clear and cheerily in the cricket's chirp on the bright hearth-stone, and settled within the innermost sanctuaries of the heart, and glowed there and warmed, and pervaded the whole frame with its delicious sense of quiet enjoy- ment ! Ah! sad was the war, foolish the fratricidal effort of treason, when pangs of anguish like these were exchanged for such sunny, such happy pleasures in the hours of Union and of peace ! There was no sense of wrong in the past, no sense of right in the present, and no sense of hope for the future, to gladden the broken-hearted inmates of these gloomy abodes. Their husbands and brothers, who still sur- vived, were skulking outside of our lines in the char- acter of bushwhackers-hid in the day-time, but murderously active at night.
After discovering the condition of these poor and wretched families, their names were taken down by us, and rations were issued to them. The oath was required, as a matter of course, but this appeared to
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be no consideration at all, as they did not deem it binding under the circumstances, and notwithstand- ing our charity toward them, they actually notified us of this fact. But we could not see them starve, outright, in our midst, even if we had not been in- clined to exercise some humanity toward them.
On the 31st of October, we were relieved from picket duty, and returned to camp, when the pay and muster rolls were promptly made out, for Sep- tember and October. On these rolls appear many promotions and changes, many non-commissioned officers having been discharged, on the expiration of their term of service, and others having died in prison. It became necessary to fill all these vacant positions. I made therefore the following promo-
tions : Corporal Wm. Kain, promoted to Duty Ser- geant; Corpl. Wm. McClure, to Quartermaster's Sergeant ; Corp. James Smith, to Duty Sergeant ; Private John Balentine, to Duty Sergeant; Privates Philip Keefaber, John Heenan, Tilghman Blakely, Andrew Everhard, Archibald McMichael, George Schlager, and George B. Kent, to Corporals ; John Fiddler, formerly Quartermaster's Sergeant, was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major, and Mart- zell Naftz, formerly Company Saddler, was pro- moted to Regimental Saddler. I was carried over on the rolls myself, as Orderly Sergeant, not having yet received my commission.
During the month of August, in response to Pres- ident Lincoln's proclamation, calling for volunteers, for one, two, and three years, many enlistments
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were effected, and we received many recruits, in con- sequence ; they came principally during the months of September and October, and their names will be found in the Appendix. These were all mounted and equipped at Camp Stoneman, and arrived at our regimental quarters, fully prepared to enter active service. By this means the regiment was pretty well filled up again, its numbers having been deci- mated during the hardships of the summer campaign. Considering it now over, we settled down contentedly in all the amplitude of our original proportions, around Petersburg, and commenced building winter quarters.
On the 2d of November, the officers of our regi- ment presented to Capt. John B. Maitland, assistant Adjutant General of our Brigade, and formerly reg- mental Adjutant, a beautiful sabre, in testimony of their esteem and regard for him. We had a very merry time on this pleasant occasion, everything pass- ing off agreeably.
On November 3d, we again resumed picket duty on the Jerusalem Plank Road, and had a quiet spell. We were relieved on the 6th, and returned to camp. The weather was now becoming cold, and we found it necessary to complete the quarters we had begun, build fire-places, chimneys, etc., and make ready for "Chill November's surly blasts !"
On the 7th of this month our division made a re- connoissance in force, to the vicinity of Stony Creek Station, drove in the rebel pickets at that place,
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captured nine of them, and returned to camp with- out attempting to take the Station.
On the 8th, our squadron made a scout to Proc- tor's Hill, and thence returned to camp. On this day we held an election as citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, for President of the United States. No electioneering was done or allowed, and every man walked up to the polls, and voted as he desired. On the following day, the result of the election in our regiment was announced as follows :- Lincoln and Johnson received 286 votes, McClellan and Pen- dleton, 122. There was thus, more than a two- thirds vote in favor of the Republican candidates. The vote, however, showed that by the addition of new recruits from the Northern States, and gradual fluctuations in public sentiment, the Democratic feel- ing had grown slightly in the regiment. But our balloting compared favorably, with the two-thirds vote of the army. This, indeed, was decisive enough.
On the 10th of November, Maj. Duncan being in command of the regiment, and finding that on ac- count of so many recruits having joined it, that its efficiency had been somewhat impaired, instituted a very strict system of discipline, and brought the regiment to a better standard of excellence, in this respect, than it had ever attained to before. IIe issued a lengthy order, changing the positions of the squadrons in camp, and commanded that all the quarters of the men should be built precisely alike. IIe instituted a series of drills, and schools for offi- cers and men, in fact reorganizing the whole regi-
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ment. For this he deserved much credit. In fact he had always been an excellent officer. He was the most dashing cavalry leader, that the troops had per- sonally witnessed. He proved himself to be a very active and energetic cavalry commander. Under more favorable auspices, and beginning with a higher command, than that of junior Captain of the regi- ment, to which he had been originally consigned, he would doubtless have achieved a brilliant career in the struggles of the war. The intelligence and dash were his, for high enterprises. He ordered that the quar- ters of the men were to be built of the following pro- portions : pine timber huts, 12 feet long, 9 wide, and 5 high, to the eaves of the roofs, which were covered with shelter tents, with doors in the centre of the end, and chimneys in the middle of one side. Four men were to occupy each hut, and all were to be in perfect line, with good wide streets in front, be- tween houses, and also between the picket line. The horses were to be stabled, on timber flooring, and with troughs, made of huge pine logs dug out, sad- dle racks put up in order immediately in front of the stables, and every thing to correspond with each other. An inspecting officer, in passing through, would in this manner, find no difference, whatever, in the quarters of the men, nor in the stable arrange- ments. They had all been built, on the model spe- cified, and prescribed by Maj. Duncan. There was to be no difference in anything, except the unavoida- ble color and build of the horses, and the equally intractable variance of capacity, among the men, in
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the use of tobacco, coffee, and hard-tack. The most perfect system that could be devised, and to which we had yet been subjected, regulated our encamp- ment. All bugle-calls were to be promptly and strictly attended, and all officers were to be person- ally present. They were also to be held strictly ac- countable, for the prompt performance of each and every duty, and for the soldierly bearing of all the men composing their respective commands. Seasons of drill were appointed, which occupied most of the hours of the day, when off duty-in sabre exercises and manual of arms, mounted and dismounted. These orders, with others of importance, were all strictly enforced, and carried out. It was nothing new to find Duncan prowling about, at any unex- pected hour of the day or night, or at any portion of the quarters, observing if everything had been dis- posed of, and conducted according to his orders. In a short time, all this redounded to the credit of the regiment, as will be seen by the following extract from an order issued by General Gregg, commanding the Brigade, concerning a Sunday morning inspec- tion :
HEADQUARTERS, 2D BRIGADE, 2D CAVALRY DIVISION,
CAVALRY CORPS.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, November 20th, 1864.
G. O. No. 109. * * * (Extract.)
At the Sunday inspection of Quarters, the camp of the 4th Pa. Cavalry, exhibited so marked a superi-
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THE WOLF AT THE DOOR.
ority in the arrangement of company quarters, gen- eral police of the camp, neatness and cleanliness of the men, as to indicate a commendable attention to the details of the service on the part of the officers. (Signed) J. I. GREGG, Brevet Brig. Gen. Com'g. the Brigade. JOHN B. MAITLAND, Captain and A. A. G.
This we considered a high compliment, and appre- ciated accordingly.
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CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CHARGE AT STONY CREEK STATION.
0 N the 12th of November, we were again sent on picket, on the Jerusalem Plank Road. The next day, a patrol having been ordered out from our regiment, it was ambushed at Woods' Shop, and two men were wounded and one captured by the rebel bushwackers. These infamous villains immediately fled, but were hotly pursued ; they succeeding, how- ever, in effecting their escape.
On the 15th, we were relieved, and returned to camp. On the 16th, monthly inspection by the brigade inspector, took place, the Company and regi- ment presenting an appearance of which we were all proud. On the 18th of November, we were again ordered on picket duty, and were in turn relieved in three days' time. On the 22d of November, our brigade was reviewed by Major General Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac. It pre- sented a creditable appearance. On this day, Brevet Brig. General Gregg, also arrived, he having lately been brevetted a brigadier general. He had not been present with his command, since August 16th,
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1864, when he had been badly wounded. He brought with him, from his home in Pennsylvania, a beautiful flag, a battle ensign, presented to our brigade by the ladies of Pennsylvania. Its staff was completely covered with silver plates, on which were engraved the names of all the engagements the brigade had taken part in, since the war began. On the afternoon of the same day, invitations were extended to such of the officers as could attend without neglecting duty. They assembled at his headquarters, in the evening, to receive the flag through him, from the ladies of the Keystone State. The majority of the officers of the different regiments were in attendance, and the flag was presented with appropriate and eloquent remarks. It was received by the officers in the name of the brigade. Many graceful and patriotic speeches were made on this interesting occasion, and we became aware of the fact, that the people saw and appreciated the ser- vices of our little band. General Gregg then issued the following order to the command :-
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