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 16
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At Hatcher's Run, the rebels took up a position on the South side. We attacked them in the after- noon, and heavy fighting ensued. Our force was ordered to make a regimental charge up the road, and over the Run. Just before reaching the latter " place, the ground is rolling. These rising fields served to conceal our preparations for the charge, and enabled us the better to take the enemy by sur- prise. At this time our squadron had the right of the regiment, and was consequently in the advance, for the undertaking. This charge was ordered by Gen. Gregg. I being the senior lieutenant of the squadron, was consequently destined to lead the first platoon. The position was an exposed and perilous one, and demanded a firm nerve. Capt. Grant, com- manding the squadron, had taken position on the flank of the platoons, which formed our squadron. The order was now given to charge. Iled off neces- sarily, making a few encouraging remarks to my men. We reached the brow of the hill, before the column was fully in motion. The moment we caught sight of the enemy, we dashed forward in gallant style-a full mounted charge at a gallop. The re- bels being taken by surprise, did not promptly secure range of the head of our column, as we mounted the hill. When they fired their first volley, therefore, of mus- ketry and artillery, fortunately for us, it took effect entirely in the platoons immediately behind us. We, consequently, escaped, and were not thrown into much confusion. We dashed forward to the enemy's lines along the road, on the south side of the creek.
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We found the road strongly barricaded with timber and fence rails. It was utterly impassible. The rebels, however, fled from the barricade, when they saw us thundering along, apparently imagining that we would sweep everything before us. But the enemy on our flanks, consisting of Mahone's entire division of rebel infantry, with batteries-in position, poured a continu- ous volley into our columns, creating confusion among the platoons in our rear, and checking the further advance of the whole regiment. Our first platoon was now nearly isolated, and at once beat a hasty retreat, having effected nothing more than a discovery that the rebels were present in great force. Our regi- ment suffered very heavily in this engagement, but the Company did not lose proportionately to the balance of the command. Private John Weaver was shot dead, and his body was lost in the confusion. Several of the men were wounded. In the regiment we had one officer and ten men killed, and thirty wounded. The officer was Capt. Harper, who had been wounded three times previously in the war, and at one time in four different places. On the repulse of our charge, the Fifth Army Corps was brought up, and formed on this ground, attacking the cnemy. It was commanded by Warren. After a hard battle which occupied the whole afternoon, they gradually forced the enemy to retire, and with desperate strug- gling succeeded at last, in effecting, what our regi- ment singly had vainly attempted. While I was leading on my men in this charge, with pistol in one hand and drawn sabre in the other, a ball from the
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rebel musketry struck the ramrod of the revolver and knocked it off. My cap and clothing were pierced in several places with bullets. I escaped unhurt, however, after having been in one of the most desper- ate positions that I had yet occupied in actual battle.
On the 7th, we still remained on the line near Hatcher's Run, skirmishing with the enemy. The weather was cold and sleety, and the command suf- fered greatly. No wood could be found that would burn, and no fires at any rate were allowed. along the lines.
On the following day we retired and returned to camp. Our lines were established and occupied .by the infantry of the army. We marched by way of Gurley House, and on arriving there wore ordered to countermarch, and go down the Weldon Railroad, as the rebels were reported to be advancing in that direction. We remained in the vicinity of Reams' Station during the night, finding only a few scouting parties of the enemy. The next day we withdrew, and returned to camp. Then did picket duty until the 16th inst.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
CAUGHT IN AN AMBUSCADE.
0 N the 22d, a salute was fired at 12 M. in honor of the anniversary of Washington's birth-day.
On the 23d-a wet and rainy day-we were hurried out to go on picket at midnight, to relieve the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, who were or- dered to Wilmington, N. C. I was sent with a bat- talion on the Wells' House Road, and after much trouble in the darkness, found and relieved the main reserve of the Thirteenth. We remained on picket until the 27th, when we were relieved and re- turned to camp, having had a fearfully wet, muddy, and disagreeable time.
On the 28th, the regiment was mustered for pay, for the months of January and February. On these rolls we find the following promotions and changes in the Company: Sergt. George W. Mickle, pro- moted to Orderly Sergeant ; George E. Smith, pro- mnoted to Corporal, and Alexander Campsie ap- pointed Bugler. Private Samuel Mickle, died in
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Harewood U. S. General Hospital. Private George W. Stallman, died in the U. S. General Hospital, at City Point, and private John Welsh, was discharged for disability, he having lost a leg, at White Oak Swamp, August 18th, 1864. These, with the death of Private John Weaver, killed at Hatcher's Run, are all the changes that appear.
During the winter, leaves of absence and furloughs, had been and still were being granted to officers and men. A great many reached home during the season, for periods of fifteen and twenty days. Lieut. Moss having been home, and again returned to camp, I made application myself for a leave, which was granted for fifteen days, from March the 5th. I ac- cordingly went home, via City Point and Baltimore, and duly returned on the expiration of my leave. I had a pleasant time among old friends and ac- quaintances.
On my return to the Company, I was agreeably surprised to find a commission awaiting me as Cap- tain of " Company A." At the same time Lieut. Moss was commissioned as Captain of "Company "F," and Second Lieut. Atwell of "Company K," was commissioned to fill the vacant First Lieutenancy of my Company, thus offsetting Moss's transfer to " Company F." We were all duly mustered, and assumed at once the new duties of our respective posts. I recommended here, Orderly Sergeant Mickle, for the Second Lieutenancy of the Company. On the 22d of March the regiment made reconnois- sances to Proctor's Hill, Va., and found a few of the
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enemy in that vicinity. We returned to camp in the evening, where we remained until the 25th.
The enemy, on the night of the 24th, made a fierce assault upon our lines in the vicinity of Fort Stead- man, and succeeded in capturing a portion of the lines with the Fort. They also captured the General commanding at that Point-McGlaughlin-with many of his men.
On the morning of the 25th, our whole division having been encamped only a few miles from this point, was routed out early, dismounted, and armed with carbines only. We moved up on double-quick to near Fort Steadman, and formed in dismounted line of battle, preparatory to a charge. At this time Gen. Hartranft's new division of troops had just ar- rived, and joined the Ninth Army Corps. They were in position in this vicinity, and were at once ordered out and formed. With a breathless suspense we watched their movements, and awaited the success of their efforts-knowing full well what was in store for us, in case they were repulsed. It is enough to say, however, that our services were not called for, as the gallant Hartranft, with his noble division of recruits, faithfully and well performed their arduous duty. It is not for me to attempt here to characterize their conduct on this occasion, in due terms of commendation. We were saved by their success. They recaptured the fort, drove the enemy · from his position, and re-established all the lines. After the engagement, we returned to camp.
On the evening of the 24th, a large number of re-
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cruits joined our regiment, embracing chiefly the one year men. There were sixteen for my command, whose names will be found in the appendix. These recruits arrived in charge of Sergeant Balentine, - who now returned to duty from the hospital. They were all armed, but none were mounted.
On the 26th of March, the regiment was sent on picket, on the McCann Road, relieving the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Major Mays commanded our force.
About this time, having effectually acccomplished his mission in the valley-that of scouring it clear of rebels and destroying all temptations for their re- turn-Sheridan made his appearance, after having scattered ruin amidst the enemy on the Canal west of Richmond and along the whole line of his march. He now rejoined the Army of the Potomac. Grant at the same time having become about ready to re- new his assaults on the enemy's works, was in fact carrying out his programme of "fighting it out on this line." Sheridan's forces now began to appear in the vicinity of our camps. The second cavalry division beheld with pride and admiration their old friends of the first and third divisions, from whom they had been separated for so long a time, and whose duties had since been so arduous and severe. But the career of the whole corps, during the past six months, both in the Shenandoah valley and around Petersburg, redounded to the common credit of the entire cavalry branch of our army. We no longer heard of the proffered reward "for a dead
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cavalry-man." Indeed, the most splendid and illus- trious accomplishments of the war, had been achieved by the mounted soldiery, and now, as the legions of treason were staggering and reeling to the dust, like the Imperial Guard of the old Napoleon, our dashing cavalry were ready for that final charge, which should thrill the rebel ranks with consterna- tion and dismay, and follow them up and batter them to the bloody end of the rebellion.
Sheridan at this time moved out in the direction of the left of our army, while our regiment was on picket. He took command of the whole cavalry corps again, and on the 27th ordered out scouting parties to scour the country for twenty or thirty miles outside the picket lines. I was sent out with forty men on the Lee's Mills Road, in compliance with this order. These reconnoisances by scouting detachments, afterwards proved to be preparatory to the movement of Sheridan on Five Forks, the fol- lowing day. Proceeding to Lee's Mills, I scouted the country thoroughly in that vicinity, and in the afternoon was returning to camp, when one of those fatal and disagreeable affairs transpired, which re- dound with no credit to either party-namely, an ambush. I had been very cautious all along, to guard against anything of this kind, never having before fallen into one, during the whole course of the war.
As we were returning to camp, I had one-third of the command deployed as skirmishers in advance, and on the flanks of my column, with the view of
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guarding against anything of this kind. The Lieu- tenant accompanying me, who had charge of the ad- vance, was Welton, who had lately been promoted, and who had escaped from prison with me. When we had got within a mile of our lines, he came to me and requested permission to withdraw the flankers, as he thought having arrived so near our camp, there was no longer any more danger. I promptly and imperatively commanded him not to withdraw a man, but on the contrary to keep a sharp lookout. He again advanced with his flankers, and in less than five minutes afterwards, we were ambushed, the ex- treme flankers passing around the guerillas, who were lying concealed in a very thick underbrush, in Warwick Swamp. They did not molest the flankers or skirmishers, until I came up with the main body of the scout. Then all at once the chief of the band, whom I afterwards discovered to be the infamous Dr. Reeves, advanced and demanded our surrender, with the usual Virginia slang, and some profanity. In reply, I drew my revolver, and gave him the con- tents of one of its chambers. At this, we instanta- neously received a volley from forty or fifty bush- whackers, who were armed with shot guns and rifles. The buck-shot and balls went whistling by us at a lively rate. As a natural consequence, this created intense confusion and consternation among my com- mand, a great majority of whom were the one year recruits who had just come out. Dr. Reeves at once shot me, the ball entering the groin. I man- aged to keep my horse, however. One of my men
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was instantly killed, and seven were wounded. Amid the confusion and dispersal of my party, the rebels stripped the dead man, and pinning a notice on him, scampered off through the woods. They did not at- tempt to make a stand. The label attached to our dead comrade, read, as follows : " When Gen. Gregg learns to keep his foraging and scouting parties in- side of his own lines, they will cease to be fired on." Signed-" A Rebel Scout." The names of my own comrades in arms, who were wounded with me, were as follows: Corporal Bower, privates Richards, Thomas and Moore. The balance of the killed and wounded, were members of another company. Lieut. Welton was very much chagrined at the circum- stance, but such incidents are sometimes inevitable, where armed villains violate the most ordinary usages of civilized war, and imitate the savages of a long past century. This misfortune is especially probable, too, in a country so favorable to such de- monstrations, as the swamps in the vicinity of Pe- tersburg.
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CHAPTER XXX.
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I FOUND that I had been pretty severely wounded, and on arriving at picket reserve, a surgeon was sent for. We were all promptly attended to and cared for. On the same night we were conveyed to Cavalry Corps Hospital, at City Point. It was the first time I had entered a hospital, as a patient, since the war began, although having been wounded sev- eral times before.
We remained in the hospital here until the suc- cessful advance of our armies, and the surrender of the rebel Commander-in-chief, with all his forces, at Appomattox Court House. We were then removed to make way, for the large numbers of wounded who were coming in from the front.
I received a thirty days, leave from Gen. Grant on April 15th, and went home, where my wound gradu- ally healed up. I returned to my Company at the expiration of my furlough, finding it on Provost Duty at Lynchburg, Virginia.
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While being removed on the hospital boat Con- necticut, from City Point to Washington, we met a gun-boat coming down the Chesapeake Bay, carry- ing its flag at half-mast. As it passed along, some parties on board of our boat hailed her, and inquired why the symbol of mourning was carried, and the reply was returned, that President Lincoln was as- sassinated. We all considered it an awkward attempt at a joke. We had only a few days before, met the Presilent in hospital at City Point, where he had gone through all the wards, taking each inmate by the hand, officer and private, white and colored, speak- ing kind words to them, and inquiring feelingly con- cerning their wounds. I myself was favored in this manner, by the great-hearted emancipator. Conse- quently we considered the answer a heartless and witless joke. Yet, at the same time, we had vague and indefinite forecastings of its probability and truth. The subject, at any rate, was dwelt on, and talked about considerably on our boat. We were soon doomed to the anguish of finding it only too true.
On arriving in Washington that evening, being Sun- day night, there were myriads of evidencesto corrobo- rate the sad news. Through the long avenues of the city, hung the sable mementos of death, the flags at half-mast everywhere mingling their idle folds with the black tissues of mourning. A leaden pall seemed to darken the sky even, and the air was silent and still, pervaded as it seemed by the very spirit of melan- choly. A great depression possessed everybody and
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everything. Gravity and gloom were pictured in the faces of pedestrians, knots of people were clustered on corners and in front of hotels, earnestly carrying on low-toned conversation, with no variance, such as a smile or a laugh would give, but with the ever present aspect of quiet thoughtfulness and profound sorrow. Women and children were running about with tearful eyes, and the nurses who carried us to the hospitals were deeply affected. A pause as of suspense, from very revulsion at the horror, possessed the capital. This too was but a type of all the loyal cities at the North. Flags draped in mourning flaunted from spars and mast-heads, everywhere; crape decorated many a loyal door, and hundreds of thousands of people attired themselves in mourning habiliments as from the death of a parent. In the foul assassin what a mistaken mission ! Sic Semper Tyrannis ! applied to such a man ! to such illus- trious virtue !
" O swift to spare and slow to smite ! The kind, the merciful, the good !"
to be cut off from the happy vision of a Union restored and complete victory achieved, after four years of yearnings of soul, such heart-throbs of anxiety, and such restless exertion in the good cause ! Never was greater mistake made by treason, even considering it from a selfish point of view. Doubt- less he would have been an eloquent and powerful in- tercessor for perfect mercy and forgiveness to the South. Glad at the time, however, before many
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months the rebels saw the error. From a poem on the death of Lincoln, by James Ristine, A. M., a Correspondent of the New York Herald, we quote the closing lines, which are as follows :
" And Springs shall come and go with flowers, And blossoms in the lucent air, To deck the shrine of Wintry showers, And forests moaning like despair :
" And the dread gloom of conflict part, And come the happy smile of peace, And discord leave the rankling heart, And reason the shut mind release.
" And then shall they who hail his doom, With gladness, bless the honored name,
And drop repentant at his tomb, The tears that seal his patriot fame."
We are confident that in the future, the name of Lincoln will be hardly less exalted than that of Washington-for illustrious patriotism and virtuous statesmanship.
The foul deed was perpetrated by an unprincipled, vain young man, named John Wilkes Booth, who as an actor, finding that he was totally destitute of any genius for the stage, and unable to gratify a morbid desire for fame by histrionic endeavors, thought by one fell stroke to immortalize himself. This he has indeed done, as effectually as did Judas Iscariot, Benedict Arnold, Anton Probst, the Dead Boxer, or Hod Annis, perpetrator of the famous Lord Bond 25
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Robbery. He seemed to be thirsting after a notorie- ty, which he could not attain by honorable effort, and so sought to harpoon his dark name on great virtue and true immortality, if the point even entered the heart of its possessor. His motto confessedly, was, accordant with his favorite lines :
" The ambitious youth who fired the Ephesian dome, Outlives in fame the pious fool who reared it."
But suffice it to say his memory will be scorned and exccrated forever.
After the expiration of my leave of absence, I procceded to rejoin my command. On arriving at Washington, I met Gen. Gregg, who had lately been brevetted Major General. He had been captured the day preceding Lee's surrender at Appomattox, and had been paroled by the enemy. Hence his presence on this occasion at the Capital. He, too, was about proceeding to rejoin the command at Lynchburg. He was starting from Washington under orders, and at once organized a temporary staff. He appointed me on this staff, as Acting Assistant Adju- tant General-until we should arrive at the command. We proceeded to Richmond direct from Washington by steamer-a trip that several hundred thousand had attempted during the last four or five years, but had failed in accomplishing, although furnished with passes by the President of the United States. Wc passed up the James River, moving silently by all the celebrated points of the war-Harrison's Landing,
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Malvern Hill, City Point, Dutch Gap, the Famous Canal, and Fort Darling. They were all deserted now, the clustered hearts hot with treason and hatred, that had throbbed behind their " death-full grinning mouths," being dispersed forever, and agitated now all over the South with mingled emotions of remorse and despair.
We arrived in Richmond, on the evening of Satur- day, May the 13th, and I accompanied Gen. Gregg on a visit to Gen. Ord, then in command in that city. Ord occupied Jefferson Davis' private residence as his headquarters, and entertained us in true Vir- ginia style. We partook of some of Old Jeff's best liquors, that had been left in the cellar, in his hurried flight, and drank the excelsior liquid from cut-glass, of the most ornate and recherche model.
On Sunday morning, I accompanied Gen. Gregg to the Presbyterian Church on Sixth street near Main. On entering this temple of worship, and proceeding to occupy a seat in the body of it, the sex- ton stopped the General, and directed him to the gallery. He made no remarks, but quietly pocketed the insult, and listened to the sermon throughout. In the afternoon, we visited various portions of the city. I saw once more the gloomy and grimy walls of my old prison, the notorious Libby, No. 4, whose presence now evoked many sad and revolting remi- niscences of the past. It still looked sombre and forbidding.
On the 15th, we left Richmond for Petersburg, and registered at the Jarrett House, on Washington
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Street. We were now in that renowned city, before whose frowning fortifications, and within less than a mile of whose business centre, we had operated for nine long, and weary months. On the following day we made preparations to proceed to, and join the command at Lynchburg. I accompanied the Gen- eral again, on visits to Generals Hartsuff and Farrero, who were at this time located in Petersburg. After making all necessary arrangements, to have ambu- lances ready to convey us from Burkville Junction to Farmville, and securing all things in readiness, we started from Petersburg on the morning of the 17th. We arrived at Burkville Junction, having travelled by rail, and proceeded thence to Farmville by ambulance. This was rendered necessary on ac- count of the bridges having been burned between the two points. We travelled thence by rail to Pamplin, where we remained over night. This journey was very slow and tedious, the road being in very bad order, and the locomotive a miserable one. It was hardly fit for use, and the train did not move much faster than a brisk walking pace. The cars were stopped occasionally, while the track was being re- paired. At Pamplin, we remained at a farmer's house over night, the same as though we were trav- elling by stage or wagon. In the morning we started again, proceeding by rail to within six miles of Lynchburg, where we found more bridges burned. Thence we went to Lynchburg on a canal boat. At this place we found our command stationed in and around the city. I found our regiment quartered in
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a large house in the eastern part of the city. All hands were glad to see me. Very few of the Com- pany and regiment, however, were present-most of them being in hospitals and dismounted camps.
On Friday, the 19th, the whole command was moved to the Fair Grounds, near Lynchburg, where they were permanently encamped.
We will now retrace our steps, and review the his- tory of the Company, during my absence.
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CHAPTER XXXI.
THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
0 N the 29th of March, the cavalry corps, under command of Sheridan, broke camp in the vicinity of Petersburg, and marched up through the left of the army, by way of Reams' Station to Stony Creek. Our regiment was ordered on picket- duty, at Ramsey's Mills, where it remained until Friday, the 31st, and then with the division marched to Dinwiddie Court House, meeting the enemy at that point in force. After a very heavy and severe fight, they were compelled to retire from the rebels, on the afternoon of that day. The regimental loss was one lieutenant, and two men killed and ten wounded. In our Company Corporal Cunning and private Nafts were wounded.
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