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 15
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HEADQUARTERS 2D BRIG. 2D DIV. C. C. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
GEN. ORDERS, No. 14.
Before Petersburg, Va. Nov. 23d, 1864.
Soldiers of the Second Brig., Second Div. Cavalry Corps, Your fellow-citizens of Pennsylvania have presented to you through me, as a testimonial of their appreciation of your services to your country, a Battle Flag.
It was my desire that the flag should have been
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presented direct to you, but the exigencies of the service required your services, and you could not be assembled as a brigade. The flag has been presented to your officers for you, and I feel confident that you will recognize the necessity, which forbade its pre- sentation to you direct.
The history written upon its standard, is your his- tory. All the honor or glory that may attach to the names inscribed upon the standard is your glory, for you have made these names memorable by your en- durance and your chivalric courage.
Confidently then is it committed to your care, with the proud assurance, that whilst your strong arms can strike, it will be carried from victory to victory until the hideous monster of rebellion is anni- hilated, and peace again reigns supreme over our once happy land.
(Signed)
J. I. GREGG, Col. Com'g Brigade, and Brevet Brig. General.
(Official.)
[ s. ] JOHN B. MAITLAND, Capt. & A. A. G.
It could not be presented direct to the command, because some of the troops were on picket, while the others were in camp.
Upon arriving in camp we found there, our old captain, Jos. Andrews, formerly of our own Company, who had come down to the army to pay the Company a visit. He was gladly welcomed by the troops, who
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indulged now in some pleasant reminiscences of battles fought and won, " long ago." He had served with the company all through the three years, and was associ- ated with its war record, and was participant in those battles which had won the freshest and brightest lau- rels of the command.
Early on the morning of December 1st, 1864, our brigade was again ordered out for a tramp in light marching order. We proceeded, by way of Lee's Mills and Proctor's Hill, and thence to Stony Creek Station, on the Weldon Railroad, arriving there early in the day. We drove in the enemy's pickets, and quickly attacked him in his works at Stony Creek Station. These works consisted of two small forts, with several pieces of artillery in position on the South side of Stony Creek, on both sides of the Rail- road, with lines of earth work extending on the flanks of the forts. Our regiment was ordered to cross the creek below the fortifications without delay, and at- tack the rebels in the rear.
It did so, in most gallant style, under the heavy fire of the enemy, who had perfect range of the ford. The troops marched forward into the very teeth of the guns, "into the very jaws of death." Luckily, however, for us, the principal cannon commanding the ford became disabled after the first round or two. We then organized on the South side of the creek. After forming and charging under command of Major May, in the rear of the forts to the railroad, we then charged directly down the railroad to, and between, the forts. All this time we were under a very de-
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structive fire of artillery and musketry. Upon ar- riving at the forts, our men immediately almost, and without orders, dismounted, and actually charged with pistol and sabre in hand over the works, forcing the enemy to surrender unconditionally and at once. Capt. Erving, of our regiment, received the surrender, after having been severely wounded and disabled for life. Our regiment alone captured over 200 prison- ers, more than it numbered themselves.
This was the most gallant and dashing charge that I had ever yet witnessed, in all the vivid, varied and daring experiences of the war. We at once destroyed all the rebel stores, which were numerous, and which consisted of enormous quantities of pitch and tar from North Carolina. There were besides lots of Quartermaster's and Commissary's stores captured. We then burned the station and the high bridge over Stony Creek. The heavens, and the fields for long distances were blackened with huge columns of dark smoke, that whirled, arose and lowered again with majestic and slow motion, from the fierce, wild flames of the conflagration. We remained there only about twenty minutes, and thence proceeded to retire with our prisoners, having accomplished more than ever before in the same period. We had now made more than an equivalent offset, to Hampton's raid and cap- ture of our cattle. This had before been a "joke" on our cavalry, and had afforded amusement to many of the army at our expense. It created in us a burn- ing sense of injured pride, until we had retaliated in this fine style. The rebels no longer held up as they
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had been doing along the line, "chunks of beef," and exclaimed : "Pretty good beef! Yanks!" They had been making more out of it, however, than the facts warranted, for they did not obtain as many cattle as they would have it believed. This dashing engagement was the more remarkable, too, from the fact of its having taken place almost in the suburbs of Hampton's Cavalry camp. His headquarters were only four miles from the station, while we were de- stroying it. This accounts for our haste, in moving off with our prisoners, after the losses and fatigues of the day. The event had brought out some of the
latent gallantry of our officers, who heretofore had not had an ample opportunity of displaying it fully, although they were almost constantly in battle. Major Mays had been in command of the regiment for the first time in its history. He had only lately been promoted from a first lieutenancy to his then rank. He manifested all the ardor and. courage of a true cavalry-man, and displayed marked spirit in the charge, and a firm confidence and self-possession as a military commander. In this famous encounter two of his brothers, who were under his command, were killed. Only a little while afterwards, he suf- fered himself a like fate, before the fire of the enemy.
While we were retiring, we became aware of the fact, that the rebels had been routed out of their camps, by our bold operations, in such close neigh- borhood to their quarters. They pursued us hotly, and endeavored to force our homeward march. We succeeded, however, in arriving safely at our own
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camps, long before night, without any losses other than had been entailed by the battle. While our regiment had been making this perilous charge, the rest of the brigade had been deployed, dismounted, as if an attack in front had been anticipated. To our regiment alone belongs the honor of the achievement. We lost in this engagement, five men, and one officer killed, and eleven men wounded. John B. Yost, of our Company, was severely injured in the shoulder, and his horse was killed at the same moment. He was compelled to be discharged from the service, on account of this wound, and is now, in consequence of it, disabled for life. I promoted him to Sergeant, for gallant conduct on this, and many other occasions. Our regiment was highly compli- mented for its behaviour in this affair, by General Gregg, who issued a general order, congratulating the whole brigade-he not wishing to discriminate against those, who had not had the opportunity of meeting the brunt of the conflict, at the points de- manding the most dash and courage. The order reads as follows :
HEADQUARTERS, 2D BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Before Petersburg, Va., December 3d, 1864.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 16.
The Colonel commanding takes this opportunity to congratulate and compliment the officers and men
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of the 2d Brigade, on their conduct in the brilliant affair at Stony Creek Station. The rapidity of your advance, and the impetuosity of your attack, called forth remarks of approbation from all who witnessed your assault upon the enemy's works, and places the capture of Stony Creek Station amongst the most brilliant achievements of the war. You have demon- strated to the world your ability to successfully as- sault well constructed earth works, with artillery in position, and fully manned, even when situated be- tween a deep and wide creek.
Your previous history has won for you the name of the Fighting Brigade. Stony Creek will add to that, the name of the Dashing Brigade.
(Signed)
J. I. GREGG, Col. and Brevet Brig. Gen. Commanding Brigade.
[Official.]
JOHN B. MAITLAND, Captain and A. A. G.
On the 2d of December, I was detailed, with thirty men, to go on picket duty, with the Eight Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, along the Jerusalem Plank Road. On the night of December 4th, a force of the rebels entered our lines suddenly, and attacked the reserve of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, taking it by sur- prise. They wounded and killed every man, even after they had surrendered. It was a most brutal and savage affair-the enemy proving to be a body of guerillas, who hovered around our lines in the
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vicinity of Lee's Mills, commanded by a most villain- ous and beastly scoundrel, known as Dr. Reeves-a notorious bushwhacker of that region, and who had been somewhat prominent in the politics of the Old Dominion. He had once been a member of the Vir- ginia Legislature, and was doubtless considered one of the chivalry, although there was not half the moral merit in his nature, that is exhibited by an ordinary dog. These skulking villains secured the horses of the men they had so inhumanly butchered. It was a most horrible affair, and showed what crime and villainy, could be produced even out of the self- styled, self-lauded F. F. V's.
On the 5th of December, we were relieved from picket duty, and returned to camp. On the follow- ing day we received orders to be ready to march the next morning with four days' rations, and thirty pounds of forage.on each horse-with the expectation that it would all last six days. On the morning of the 7th, we accordingly proceeded in advance of the 5th Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Warren, to Sussex Court House, crossing the Nottaway River, and en- camping for the night.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
CHRISTMAS IN CAMP.
0 N the 8th, we took up the line of march South, passing through a town called Cornan's Well. We met the enemy about five miles from that place, at High Bridge, on the Weldon Railroad, and engaged him for two hours, when we forced him to retire. We resumed our line of march, striking upon the Weldon Railroad near this place. The 5th Army Corps went to work destroying it, tearing up the rails and burning the cross-ties, for a distance of some miles. On the 9th, our regiment marched as rear guard to the 5th Army Corps-the remainder of the division being in advance.
A heavy and disagreeable rain-storm now set in, and guerillas in great numbers hovered around our flanks. We sent out foraging parties, who brought in large numbers of contrabands, with wagons, horses, mules, etc., to say nothing of great quanti- ties of Virginia Apple Jack, upon which some of the men became slightly exhilarated. They even wilted under its effects-their spines refusing the accus- tomed office. Through this inadvertence many lost
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their lives-having been caught and slaughtered by the bushwhackers. We now proceeded with diffi- culty. Many straggled from the column, and were afterwards found with their throats cut and labelled. Two of our Company wandered out on the 9th, and were captured by the enemy. Their names were Herman Tiller and Thomas Mckeever. Tiller had been wounded in the leg. Both were fortunate in not having been murdered. They were sent to Richmond, and soon afterwards paroled. In the fight on the 8th, two men were killed and twelve wounded, in our regiment. Corp. Heenan of the Company was severely hurt by a ball. The column moved on South, as far as Bellefield, destroying the railroad to that point, and then beginning the back- ward march. We encamped on the 10th, near Cor- nan's Well. During the night the weather was rainy and disagreeable in the extreme, and the roads were in an almost impassible condition. On the 11th, we marched in advance of the column, through Sussex County, and encamped on Proctor's Hill for the night. During this day, we discovered many of our men dead along the road, having been murdered by the guerillas. Our troops burned all the houses along the line of march in retaliation, but contrary to Gen. Warren's orders.
The night we passed on Proctor's Hill was' a memorable one, on account of the bitter coldness of the weather. The keen, swift winds rolled and howled along the summits, through the bare trees and woodland stubble, giving a bleak sense of winter
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desolation. The skies were dark, and the ground covered here and there with remnants of snow, glassed over by frozen rains, or ribbed here and there by icy pools, whose muddy liquid had been frozen in wave- lets. Our clothes had been drenched in the cold showers, which now began to freeze upon our bodies ; and a more dreary or uncomfortable night we generaliy never passed.
But we survived its long, weary, bitter terrors, and early on the morning of December 12th, the column resumed its march. We finally reached our camps, worn-out with fatigue, and almost perishing from the cold, to which we had been subjected.
On arriving in camp, a number of us were agreea- bly surprised, to find our commissions awaiting us. Among the delighted ones was myself, who had, at last, the honor of receiving a First Lieutenant's com- mission in Company " A," and was immediately and duly mustered accordingly. I promptly appointed George W. Moss, Orderly Sergeant, and had him soon recommended for Second Licutenant of the Company. On the 21st of December his commission arrived, and he was regularly mustered as such.
Three years had already elapsed since he had tem- porarily occupied this position before, but now he held it firmly. Ile had evinced by fortitude and daring courage throughout the war, that the honor was richly deserved. IIe had never been absent from duty, during the entire history of the Company, and had been my own mess-mate in active service, through all the different campaigns. We had been associated
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together in " enterprises of great pith and moment," and we had learned to feel for each other that mutual regard, which grows out of sorrows and trials endured together. We had together subsisted on hard-tack alone, and sometimes on coffee alone, without the hard-tack. At other times we had feasted together on various delicacies, from green corn to fried tur- key and chickens. We had discussed the culinary art, side by side, and often called into requisition canteen and tin-cup, when frying-pan and coffee-pot were invisible. We have gone stick-picking in the forest, and together have bent low, to guard the only match from winds that roguishly tried to quench the tapering flame; foraged pigs and poultry, side by side ; burnt pork over the blazing faggots, until it grew granulated with salt, and seemingly had caught the measles ; and finally on improvised spit had roasted a favorite gobbler, until the flesh became ruddily brown, like the cheek of a ripened peach or apple.
In short, our knowledge of each other's character was complete and familiar-verging down on all sides to the very fundamental, first principles of our mu- tual psychology.
Time and again have we been detailed on the same scouting service, and compelled to repose many con- fidences in each other. He was ever fond of sport, and altogether a pleasant, cheerful companion.
We remained in camp doing the necessary duty of such occasions, until the 17th of December, when we were sent on picket to relieve the Thirteenth Penn- sylvania Cavalry. We continued at this work for three days, having had a very quiet time, and were
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then relieved by the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and returned to camp. In the mean time, having received news of Thomas' great victory over Hood in the West, there was much exultation and rejoicing at this triumph of the Union arms. The enemy in front of Petersburg were now benefited with the customary hundred gun salute in honor of the occasion.
On the 24th of December, our regiment, with the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was ordered out in light marching order, and proceeded as a guard to a wagon train along the Lee's Mills Road, to the vicini- ty of Proctor's Hill, where the wagons were loaded with lumber and carried to camp for the purpose of making comfortable quarters. I was in charge of a detachment, on the right flank of the train, with fifteen men. While scouting here, we discovered a party of guerillas, and pursued them to Warwick Swamp, where they effectually concealed themselves, after having wounded several of our horses. We re- turned to camp in the evening, the weather being excessively cold, sleety and disagreeable.
The next day was Christmas-to the world at peace, that joyous occasion which commemorates the birth of the Saviour of mankind. Among all civil- ized nations it is a brief season, observed and honored, by interesting ceremonies, which embody the best feelings of our human nature. Friends and relatives, who have been long parted, now reassemble -- the old hearth-stone is bright again, as it was in the days of merry childhood, and the halls and chambers of the
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venerable homestead, once more resound with famil- iar voices, but with vocal sounds that are deepened, strengthened, and sobered by sorrows endured, labors achieved, and by experiences, sad and joyful, which have usurped the places of their prototypes in the past romantic fancy. A beautiful time this, which evokes the sweetest, purest sentiments and emotions of the heart, assuages all grief, tempers even glad- ness with a serious tone, and fans into yet brighter flames the sacred fires of affection, which glow on immaculate altars, through all the sanctuaries of the human breast. Delightful day! that casts the mel- low splendor of a hopeful Christianity on even the dreariness of outward nature, tipping the cloud, that we know is freighted with frost and snow, in silver light, and blending with the sunbeams on the deso- late forest, and the piercing winds of the frozen glens, a delicate internal tint and tone, that harbin- ger the returning spring, as emblematic of the soul's ascent, from the sorrows and the bodily death of this inexorable world. It is a happy scason-a sapphire set athwart the storms that are gone, and the tran- sient tempests that are yet to come-a season full of all kindly thoughts and impulses, and fresh with well-remembered incidents of the past. Once more we think of forms and faces, that are gone from earth forever, but that we know we shall see yet again.
" They have not perished, no !
Kind words, remembered voices once so sweet,
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Smiles radiant long ago,
And features, the great soul's apparent seat, All shall come back-
Each tie of pure affection, shall be knit again,
Alone, shall evil die, and sorrow dwell a prisoner in thy reign."
Tennyson has written a few verses, which though* far from being the best in that immortal poem, from which they are taken, " In Memoriam," are yet elo- quent with the spirit of that day, or eve, rather, whose glory they celebrate. We quote them here :
"The time draws near, the birth of Christ ; The moon is hid, the night is still ; A single church below the hill Is pealing, folded in the mist.
" A single peal of bells below, That wakens at this hour of rest ; . A single murmur in the breast, That these are not the bells I know.
"Like strangers' voices here they sound, In lands where not a memory strays, Nor landmark breathes of other days, But all is new, unhallowed ground.
"'This holly by the cottage-eave, To-night, ungathered, shall it stand ; We live within the stranger's land, And strangely falls our Christmas eve.
"Our fathers' dust is left alone, And silent under other snows, There in due time, the woodbine blows, The violet comes, but we are gone.
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" No more shall wayward grief abuse The genial hour with mask and mime; For change of place, like growth of time, Has broke the bond of dying use.
"Let cares that petty shadows cast, By which our lives are chiefly proved, A little spare the night I loved, And hold it solemn to the past."
Throughout all the civilized world, the perennial nature of our affections, is symbolized on this day, when they are revived and invigorated, by the beau- tiful verdure which yet lingers near the funeral pall of winter. The shamrock, thistle, holly and ivy and the spruce bough, laurel and cedar, are then gath- ered, and moulded into garlands, wreaths and fes- toons, for the decoration of church, chapel, school, and homestead. They symbolize the immortal past of our humanity, amid so much, that " flies as a va- por, perishes as a flower !"
To us in camp, however, there was very little dis- tinctive character about the day, except what was given to it by the unseen reveries of memory and imagination. It was Sunday, and the ordinary in- spection took place. Our Christmas was altogether quite dull. Our mail facilities being good, however, we occupied much of the time in writing letters to friends at home.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
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" INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH !"
W E remained in camp until January 4th. In the mean time the pay and muster rolls for November and December were made out. The following changes and promotions appear on these: Corpl. Keefaber, promoted to Sergeant, and privates Zeigenfuss, Cunning and Bower, promoted to corporals.
On the 21st of December, Corporal Everhard died in Ladies' Home, U. S. General Hospital, at New York City, from the effects of wounds received in action at Gravel Hill Farm, August 16th, 1864. During the month of December Sergeant B. S. Yonker, and private Robert Walter, who were in the hospital, were transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. Corporal T. Blakely was transferred to the Army of the North-west, under general orders from the War Department, concerning rebel deserters, he having been one of that class.
On the 3d of January, I went to City Point, to visit and look after in person the wants of members of my Company, who were confined sick and wounded
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in the hospital. I found them all very well provided for, especially by the Christian and Sanitary Com- missions, and doing well. None had yet died in any of these hospitals.
On the 4th of January, 1865, we were sent on picket at Mount Sinai Church, near Prince George's Court House, and remained out three days, having had a very quiet time. While there, one squadron was sent to Sycamore Church on a scout, but meeting no enemy they returned to camp. They brought back with them some luxuries, which they had foraged from the enemy.
January 8th, being Sunday, we had the customary inspection by Col. Young, who had lately been com- missioned Colonel of the regiment, vice Col. Covode, killed at St. Mary's Church. Major Duncan was commissioned Lieut. Colonel. We remained in camp until January 22d, undergoing a regular course of drills and parades every day, with recitations by the officers, in tactics and regulations at evening schools. On Sunday, the 15th, we were inspected by Gen. Gregg, commanding the brigade, who pronounced the discipline and police of the regiment very excel- lent .. The military etiquette, and efficiency of offi- cers and men, were nearly perfect. The camp had now been fenced in and laid out in neat order, with arches of evergreen over the entrance to each com- pany, bearing as the keystone, the letter of the com- mand. We prided ourselves in having as fine, if not the finest camp in the whole army, during the winter of 1864 and '65.
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On the 17th inst., the customary monthly inspec- tion and condemnation of useless property took place by Brigade Inspector. At this time, the regular daily dress parades and guard mounts occurred, mounted, instead of dismounted as heretofore. All orders in reference to this were strictly carried out, and much pomp and parade were displayed. Large numbers came from all parts of the army, to view our parades, which took place daily at 10 A. M. On the 22d of January, we were sent on picket near Mount Zion Church. The roads were in horrible condition, the weather wet and sloppy. We remained on guard duty three days, and on being relieved, returned to camp, having had a hard and disagree- able time while out. On the 4th of February, we received orders to march early on the morning of the 5th with five days' rations. Accordingly before day- light in the morning, our division broke camp, and marched via Reams' Station to Rowanta Creek, where we found the enemy posted to dispute the pas- sage of the stream. But after a short fight and a charge by the Thirteenth Penna. Cavalry, we drove them from their position, and crossing the stream marched to Dinwiddie Court House, in which vicini- ty many wagons with supplies were captured. We met small parties of the rebels occasionally, and re- turned to Rowanta Creek and encamped for the night. Early on the ensuing morning, we proceeded on the Old Stage Road, to the Vaughan Road, down that to Hatcher's Run-the enemy closely pursuing us with infantry and cavalry.
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