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 4
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
returning reported to headquarters. The next day
we entered Frederick City, Maryland, capturing
450 rebels, most of whom were sick, and routing and driving out the force who were occupying the city. On the 14th, the successful action at South Moun- tain took place, in which, however, we did not par- ticipate any more than as escorts to staff officers. We had, though, opportunities of viewing the action
the victorious Federal army defeat and pursue the extreme left, to Reno on the right. Here we saw from all the different points-from Franklin on the
enemies of our country-steadily driving them from
the soil of Maryland. The gallant Reno, however,
was killed in this action. After the battle, the
enemy retiring to the vicinity of Sharpsburg, we followed close on their trail. They took up a strong
Antietam, where the mettle of both armies was tried September was fought the memorable battle of position on Antietam Creek, and on the 17th day of
to the utmost. The rebels were forced to yield, but succeeded in retiring to the soil of the Old Dominion. This could have been prevented by McClellan, if he had followed up his victory, and
not failed to turn his successes to better advantage. allowed to depart in peace. Their plan for the The enemy escaped during the night-having been
occupation of Maryland having proved a failure,
more debilitated if not enlightened band of traitors. they returned crest-fallen to Virginia-a decidedly
In this engagement our brigade had supported a number of batteries-Col. Childs of our own regi-
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CHECKING REBEL RAIDS.
ment commanding the brigade. While in the act of selecting a position for a battery, this gallant officer and accomplished gentleman was struck with a solid shot from the enemy's guns. He died almost instantly, but not until he had requested that his organization should ever remember his fall, and avenge his death on the enemy. We fortunately lost none in this encounter, but the regimental loss besides that of the colonel, was 3 men killed, and 5 wounded-all by shells from the rebel guns. After
this battle our brigade was marched to the vicinity of Fair Play, Maryland, where they remained in camp a short time, doing provost and patrol duty, temporarily, in behalf of the citizens of a friendly State. Our soldiers, being now in the midst of plenty, and having been used to foraging to an un- limited extent in the enemy's country, had now to be restrained in this spirit of depredation among friends. We were on this duty a few days only. Our little force then marched to St. James' College, six miles from Hagerstown, Maryland, and there formed a permanent camp. Capt. Edward Tombler, becoming sick, left the command and went to Wash- ington to place himself under medical treatment. Many members of our company, from the fatigues of the late campaign and from exposure, grew sick also, and were sent to the hospitals. Among these, were
Corporal Thomas Connor, Martin Bloss, and pri- vates, Driesbach, Miller, Kane, and Galligher. Several of our members were retained in Washington on detached service, while passing through there.
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
Altogether, our numbers were considerably reduced for present duties. About this time Martzel Naftz was appointed saddler, rice Edward Petzel, dis- charged for disability. While in camp in St. James' College, the company had some very arduous scouting duty to perform, through western Mary- land, in the vicinity of Hancock, south into Vir- ginia, around Springfield and towards Romney, suspicions being generally entertained that the enemy would attempt another raid into Maryland
and Pennsylvania. Finally, with a small cavalry force, they did cross the river near Clear Springs, Maryland, and marching thence to Chambersburg, Gen. Stuart, who was in command of the rebels, succeeded in taking possession of that city, and in plundering and destroying much public and private property. After receiving intelligence of the actual fact, our brigade, under the command of Col. Averill, of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, marched from camp at St. James' College in pursuit of Stuart, or rather marched to intercept him if he attempted to pursue a westerly course from Chambersburg.
Leaving camp Oct. 6th, 1862, we marched to Springfield, Virginia, thence, on information that Stuart was still advancing into Pennsylvania, back to Hancock, Md., and directly North into Pennsyl- vania, moving through M'Connellsburg, Mercersburg, and other smaller towns, and returning to camp at St. James' College on the 16th, after a remarkably long and fatiguing march. We did not meet the enemy, they having passed out of Pennsylvania and
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CHECKING REBEL RAIDS.
Maryland, in a more easterly direction, by way of Monocacy Creek. They had been only slightly in- tercepted by a force under Gen. Pleasanton. This was the first invasion of Pennsylvania by an armed force of rebels. Their conduct not having been very amiable or attractive, the people were not inclined to invite them again. When we arrived at M'Con- nellsburg, Pa., our command was entirely destitute of supplies and forage of every description. But, upon this fact becoming known to the citizens of the place, every family at once seemed to interest itself in remedying the evil. Bread was baked and brought into camp; hay, corn and oats were hauled for the horses; hams, meat of all kinds, and cider were brought to us in abundance, often by bright-eyed and rosy-lipped country lassies, whose smiles lent an additional relish to their gifts. The citizens seemed to vic with each other in doing acts of kindness. This was a grateful relief after the hard fare of the few days past-a happy change, a burst of sunlight between the storm-rifts of war. The people had been scared by the rebel Stuart, and relied upon us to protect them. It was pleasant once more to be
in our own country, and among friends.
region was strikingly populous and prosperous, after having just returned from the dreary wastes of Vir- ginia. An air of cheerfulness and of comfort re- posed upon the quiet scene-cach house seemingly the home of intelligence, refinement and happiness, as the smoke curled softly from the chimney tops, and vanished in the still, autumnal atmosphere. The
This
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
fields were regularly laid out and fenced in, and were shocked with corn, and bristling with stubble. The woods, encircling the scene, were now gloriously variegated in color, for the maple had lately turned to crimson and the sassafras to gold. The wild- flower and the violet had already perished, but the grass was yet almost as green as when the orchis and the brier-rose, drank in the summer sunlight. The jay and crow alone, of all the delightful little rustic songsters, were left, and this cawed lustily from a tall and naked tree top, while that plaintively seemed to chirp out the memory of happy hours de- parted. In the forest, strange bars of light came down through the thinning boughs, and the acorns
dropped and the chestnut burs opened. The air was calm and still, lit up in all the weirdly mellow and sweet lustre of autumnal noontide, with only now and then the sound of thumping flail, whistle of quail or drumming of partridge. In this delightful aspect of nature, so suddenly brought to our notice amid the tender offices of friendship, is it strange that the battle-worn soldier should have turned aside to in- dulge in the human emotions it awakened ? Might he not have re-echoed the sentiments of the poet, Bayard Taylor, when he sings :-
" Through the rustling woods I wander, Through the jewels of the year, From the yellow uplands calling, Seeking her that still is dear : She is near me in the autumn, She, the beautiful, is near.
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CHECKING REBEL RAIDS.
"Through the smoke of burning summer, When the weary winds are still, I can see her in the valley, I can hear her on the hill,- In the splendor of the woodlands, In the whisper of the rill.
" For the shores of Earth and Heaven Meet and mingle in the blue : She can wander down the glory To the places that she knew, Where the happy lovers wandered In the days when life was true.
"So I think when days are sweetest, And the world is wholly fair, She may sometimes steal upon me Through the dimness of the air, With the cross upon her bosom And the amaranth in her hair.
" Once to meet her, ah ! to meet her, And to hold her gently fast, Till I blessed her, till she blessed me,- That were happiness, at last ; That were bliss beyond our meetings In the autumns of the Past."
But we only quote this poem, because of its embodi- ment of the pleasing yet sad sensations created by October, in a land of plenty and of happiness. It would be a random shot if it hit the experience of any of our boys, the most of whom were jovial and blithe-hearted fellows, yet susceptible, too, to the genial and pathetic in life and nature.
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THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
CHAPTER VII. -
THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
WE E will, however, return now, and relate a cir- cumstance that took place about the 1st of October. Our battalion, under command of Capt. Duncan, being on duty in the vicinity of Clear Springs, Maryland, attached to Gen. Newton's com- mand on the Potomac, he, desirous of information regarding the enemy's movements in the Shenandoah Valley, of their outposts on North Mountain and of their strength in numbers and position, requested Capt. Duncan to detail several competent scouts to reconnoiter in the night and pass inside the enemy's lines. For this perilous duty, Capt. Duncan detailed Corporal George Wilson, and Private Samuel King of Co. L, and George W. Moss and myself of Co. A. We received all the necessary instructions, and as the shades of evening began to fall, started on our dan- gerous and adventurous trip. We were to proceed on foot from our lines to the enemy's-a distance supposed to be about nine miles. We were to ascer- tain the information designated, and be back to Newton's Headquarters by daylight. With carbines we moved along, entered the 'rebel lines success-
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THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
fully, and began our observations. We crossed his lines without the enemy's knowledge, by taking cir- cuitous routes through the woods, and up the moun- tain-side. Proceeding to the top of North Mountain we beheld the camp-fires of Gen. A. P. Hill's rebel . army in the valley, between Martinsburg and Hedgesville. Being about the hour of taps, we were enabled to form a very good idea from the camp-fires of the force actually in the valley. We discovered also, by a close scout, that the town of Hedgesville was held by a very small force of cavalry. We then began our homeward march. On our return we were sorely tempted to make the capture of a picket or two, to take back with us, but having had no such instructions, and believing that the object of the scout was to have been kept quiet, we resisted the temptation. Accordingly, about daylight, we arrived in camp, reported to Capt. Duncan all we had seen and heard, and also to Gen. Newton, who immediately ordered our battalion to make a reconnoissance to Hedgesville. We at once marched thither, charged on the town and cap- tured all of the enemy's force, numbering 3 commissioned officers and 18 men, with all their horses, equipments, arms, and accoutrements-re- turning to camp at Clear Springs without having lost anything, whatever, or having fired a single shot. This was considered a very brilliant affair for the times, the cavalry branch of the service not having yet been brought up to a creditable standard.
Up to this period the rebel cavalry had always 7
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
carried off the laurels in their own particular en- gagements. In fact it became a by-word in our own army, that a reward would be paid for a dead cav- alry-man! It was also considered a brilliant dash by the general commanding, who issued a very com- plimentary order to our battalion in particular. It was unfortunately, immediately after having with- drawn from this point, that Stuart effected his cross- ing there, while on his raid into Pennsylvania. On about the 20th of October, 1862, we broke camp at St. James' College, and marched in advance of the Army of the Potomac into Virginia, crossing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry. Entering the Old Dominion, we encountered the rebels, in the gaps of the Blue Ridge-first at Snicker's Gap in force, where a brisk fight ensued, and the enemy were handsomely repulsed, with a loss of several prison- ers. During also the latter part of October and early in November, we were engaged in numer- ous skirmishes, while moving South towards Freder- icksburg. On the 3d of November we had a sharp fight at Upperville, Virginia, on the 4th, another at Markham Station ; and on the 7th, one at Jefferson and Little Washington, this day being memorable on
account of the removal of Gen. McClellan. He was superseded by Gen. Burnside, in the command of the Army of the Potomac. This series of skirmishes reflected great credit on our branch of the service- hovering as we did continually along the lines of the enemy, and finally discovering his positions, and as- sisting greatly in the steady, forward movement of the army.
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THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
The removal of McClellan, it might here be men- tioned, did not create much of a sensation among our little force, although it might have done so some time previously, and particularly before the Battle of Antietam. Since, then, however, our men had been educated by palpable events, into regarding him with little interest, and occasionally even with dis- trust, on account of his evident want of confidence in either his own, or the abilities of the army. Our own company was complimented several times by the various officers, and some of them were after- wards remembered in benefits, such as choice details from regimental headquarters. Sergt. Robert Bos- ton, from credit gained, was favored with a detail on recruiting service at home, and was never afterwards present with the company. While absent, he subse-
quently received promotion to the rank of captain in another command. At the time the brigade left St. James' College, the horses generally were in a bad condition, being afflicted with various diseases. Many of the men and several of the officers were left behind in consequence of this calamity. Per-
haps more than one-fourth were left in camp at this time. Capt. Tombler, shortly after becoming con- valescent, rejoined the balance of the company left at St. James' College. He brought with him a com- mission for Orderly Sergt. Christian Freeby, as Sec- ond Lieutenant of the company, vice Joseph Andrews, who was promoted as First Lieutenant, vice Fitz Girls Noble, who had been discharged on account of
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
wounds and disabilities received at Fair Oaks, Vir- ginia, while aide-de-camp to Gen. Palmer. He had been terribly wounded, and had proved himself to be, as we stated before, a very gallant and daring officer. The company pay and muster rolls were now made out under the direction of Capt. Tombler, for the months of September and October, at St. James' College. On them we find the following promotions : Alfred Walton, promoted to Orderly Sergeant ; James McLaughlin, promoted to Duty Sergeant ; private Wm. E. Thomas, promoted to Quartermaster's Sergeant, vice John Slaven, reduced at his own request ; Corporal Wm. Smith, promoted to Duty Sergeant, and Corporal James Gaumer, promoted to Duty Sergeant. Most of these changes were made, in compliance with an order from the War Depart- ment, increasing the non-commissioned staff of cav- alry companies from 6 Corporals to 8, and ditto Sergeants. Privates Wm. J. Boyd, Miller H. Brown and John B. Yost were promoted to Corporals. Private Wm. Kane, Sr., and I. Merkle, were dis- charged for disability, as was also Merrit A. Brown, for the same reason. Private Frederick Grinder was discharged for the same cause. Richard Tiful was appointed bugler, rice Brown, discharged. For the dates of these promotions and discharges see tables in the appendix. Immediately after the rolls were made out, the balance of the command broke camp at St. James' College, and marched under Capt. Tombler to rejoin the regiment at or near Warrenton, Virginia, where after doing duty
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THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
a few days, until the army became located around Falmouth, Virginia, we marched to Potomac Creek Station, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Acquia Creek Railroad. Here we went into perma- nent encampment, building winter quarters, doing picket and scouting duty in the vicinity of Hartwood Church, Montour's Cross Roads, and the outposts of the army generally, from the Rappahannock around to Acquia Creek. During our encampment here, Lieut. Col. James K. Kerr, was promoted to Colonel, and Maj. W. E. Doster, to Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, he being still absent in Washington as Provost Marshall.
On the 11th of December 1862, orders were re- ceived to be ready to march with all supplies, and to break camp at a moment's notice. On the morning of the 12th on marching to the vicinity of Falmouth, we found the army in motion and crossing the river. On the day following the terrible battle of Fredericks- burg was fought. On this point it is useless to dilate here. History records the fact that the traitor le- gions under Lee, well-secured by position, defied the almost superhuman efforts of our troops, on the Heights of Fredericksburg. Witnesses of this engage- ment and of others which preceded it, we were this day amazed at the vast armies engaged and the fear- lessness of the Federal assaults. The slaughter per- petrated was something terrible to behold, and awful to contemplate. Great gaps were cut into our ranks by the enemy's guns, and whole lines were swept down, and disordered, only to be refilled by men, who
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
marched boldly forth over mounds of their dead com- panions and into the very lines of the rebel fire. As far as eye could reach, from East to West, were dense columns of men, marching dauntlessly forward to the fruitless struggle. Black clouds of fiery smoke darkened the heavens, and now and then leaned down, enveloping the men in their sulphurous embrace, only to melt away again and disclose heaps of mangled troops, dead or dying, and the ground red and slippery with a deluge of blood. The list of casualties among natives of our own valley in other regiments, was peculiarly extensive and unfor- tunate. Our home representation from the valley was here almost decimated by rebel bullets. The facts, however, being only too palpable, and generally well known, it is not necessary to enlarge upon them now. It being seen that to longer continue the as- sault on the rebel works, were mere useless slaughter, our forces were withdrawn, recrossing the Rappahan- nock on the night of the 15th and morning of the 16th of December, and returning to their old camps in and around Falmouth. As a cavalry command, we had not crossed the river at all, remaining on the heights of Falmouth, in full view of the whole action. Numerous details, however, were made from our regimental organization, as orderlies, and dispatch- bearers to the different generals and officers in com- mand. Several were made from our own company, which we filled voluntarily. Among the losses of that day, we were called upon to mourn the death of one of our own members-the young, ambitious and
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THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
dashing boy-Miller H. Brown, who was killed by a ball through the head, while carrying dispatches for Gen. Butterfield. Previous to this battle, along with private George W. Moss, Miller H. Brown had been on scouting duty, with the party organized by Gen. Averill. This being the first death which had oc- curred in actual battle, and including the loss of a cherished friend whose remains even, were not re- covered, the event acquired a peculiar significance. After the engagement we returned to our old camp at Potomac Creek Station. While here, furloughs were granted for ten days to five (5) per cent. of the men, and twenty (20) per cent. of the officers at a time. In consequence of this arrangement many of the men and most of the officers got home during the winter. Corp. Martin Bloss died while at home on furlough, and the company had occasion to mourn again the loss of another faithful comrade. During the winter we received three recruits from Mauch Chunk and vicinity, named respectively Charles Keck, Stephen Zeigenfuss and George Schoenberger, who enlisted Sept. 29th, 1862.
All the long, cold winter of 1862 and '63, we did picket duty, almost continually, in the vicinity of Hart- wood Church, a distance of eight miles from camp. We were generally three days out and three in, in the meantime making scouts and reconnoissances. Each was seldom in camp more than a day at a time. We had a long and exposed line to guard, and had to scout the country in the vicinity of our forces, in order to guard against raids and surprises by any large body of the enemy.
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
CHAPTER VIII.
GUARDING AGAINST SURPRISES.
HILE performing this duty on the picket line, which was in many respects a perilous one, we were exposed to the inclemencies of a long, dreary and bitterly cold winter, in a country, which displayed only far stretches of dense pine forests, and bleak, open glades and fields, almost uninhabited and unclaimed. Here lonely and alone, we paced the frozen ground with no companionship but that of our carbine, sabre and pipe-the latter being required to yield its utmost of comfort and delight. How often then, as the sombre, leaden pall of clouds would move up the skies, darkening the chill, though plea- sant sunlight from the scene, and letting fall the first, light sprinkles of the snow. to be thickened and whirled in icy mists about the face and over the whitening woods and meadows, have our thoughts reverted to the happy hearth at home, at which the loved ones were gathered and, perhaps, reflecting in turn upon our own trials and perils on the field of battle. It seemed that by contrast, we were softened to more than usual sensibility of heart, and as the winds came fluttering from the skies, struggling with
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GUARDING AGAINST SURPRISES.
the pine trees, and moaning and sobbing by snowy branch and moorish fen, we could not always re- press the tear of affection, for the cherished friends so far away, and whom the thick dangers of war might not permit us to behold again. Indeed these lonely hours of picket duty were always occasions rife with reminiscences of the past, and with natural yearnings for more sympathetic companionship. With " Miles O'Reilly, " in the "Mystic Countersign, " we could well exclaim :
"Alas! the weary hours pass slow! The night is very dark and drear !"
Often have we thought of that exquisite incarna- tion of sensibility, so to speak, which Tennyson wrote, and which with a slight alteration is very apropos of our emotional phases, at times, while on guard along the picket line. It runs as follows :
"Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, Tears from the depth of some divine despair, Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes, In looking on the dreary winter-fields, And thinking of the days that are no more.
"Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail, That brings our friends up from the underworld, Sad as the last which reddens over one That sinks with all we love below the verge; So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.
"Ah, sad and strange as in dark Summer dawns, The earliest pipe of half awakened birds To dying ears, when unto dying eyes The casement slowly grows a glimmering square; So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.
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HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
"Dear as remembered kisses after death, And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned, On lips that are for others; deep as love, Deep as first love, and wild with all regret ;
O Death in Life, the days that are no more."
Sometimes in these solitary vigils, with only the cold, blue welkin above us, " studded with stars un- utterably bright," and with the dark, sombre shadows of the forest encircling the horizon, we have had thoughts defined upon the disc of consciousness, more clearly than we had yet remarked at any time of our lives. For then, the passions of the past were dead, and our former hatreds and affections were traced in thought with a truly clear and abstract dis- tinctness.
Occasionally we would clear the snow off a portion of the ground and try to make a fire. But this sappy, frozen pine wood would only splutter and hiss in the flames, and would not at all answer the pur - pose. In a few moments, where we expected a blazing fire, we only had a small circle of mud and slush. We have often thought of the sufferings endured by the troops at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary war, how they were beset by a keen, sharp winter ; by deep snows, icy blasts and faithless friends, and how inadequate, often, were their rations and quar- ters. Fortunately we had abundance to subsist on, and moreover were engaged in a struggle, in which we were all but certain to succeed. We regard the following poem, from a distinguished son of the Key- stone State, as appropriately descriptive of the scene near Hartwood Church :-
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