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 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
W D Iisani
2
83
GUARDING AGAINST SURPRISES.
"The beech is bare, and bare the ash, The thickets white below ; The fir-tree scowls with hoar moustache, He cannot sing for snow. .
"The body-guard of veteran pines, A grim battalion, stands ; They ground their arms, in ordered lines, For winter so commands.
" The waves are dumb along the shore, The rivers' pulse is still ; The north-wind's bugle blows no more Reveillé from the hill.
"The rustling sift of falling snow, The muffled crush of leaves,
These are the sounds suppressed, that show How much the forest grieves ;
" But as the blind and vacant day Crawls to his ashy bed,
I hear dull echoes far away, Like drums above the dead.
"Sigh with me, Pine, that never changed ! Thou wear'st the Summer's hue ; Her other loves are all estranged, But thou and I art true !"
Notwithstanding our earnest endeavors to guard against surprises from the enemy, they did occasion- ally pounce unexpectedly upon our outposts, as we also did upon theirs. On one occasion, the 25th of February, 1863, they suddenly dashed on our cavalry pickets at Hartwood Church, with a mounted force
84
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
under the afterwards renowned Fitz Hugh Lee. Driving in our guards quickly, they almost instan- taneously appeared at picket reserves' head quarters, which was got out in good order. The enemy did not succeed in accomplishing their designs, which were to capture our entire picket force around Hart- wood. But we lost a considerable number of priso- ners. Private Galligher of the company was captured, and was, after a short term of imprisonment in Rich- mond, paroled. The command deserved credit for their promptness in rallying for such a sudden emer- gency, and their conduct was favorably noticed in orders from Hooker.
It might be here stated that since the memorable "stick-in-the-mud" movement, Gen. Hooker had superseded Burnside in the command of the Army of the Potomac.
We will now revert a little to that occasion. On the 19th of January, 1863, being ordered to hold our- selves in readiness to march with bag and baggage, Gen. Burnside issued a flaming order, informing us, in the Old Bony style, that we were once more about to meet the enemies of our country, etc.
But we did not sweep down upon them this time with any undue suddenness, nor in fact meet them at all. About the moment we were put in motion a severe rain-storm set in, and turned the sacred soil of Virginia, into a bottomless morass, a vast stretch of mire and mud, through which it was impossible to drag artillery and heavy caissons, except by mon- strous and exhausting efforts. It was almost impos-
85
GUARDING AGAINST SURPRISES.
sible too, to move the ponderous wagons. In fact the army became so rigidly imbedded in mud, along the whole line of march, extending as it did nearly from Falmouth to United States' Ford, that it was a most novel spectacle to behold-exhibiting, indeed, less of the Napoleonic excellencies than any yet re- corded-less adroitness of movement and celerity of action. In fact the cavalry had to be called into requisition to carry rations, and distribute them to the army along the line of march ! This created much merriment and not a little profanity. In due course of time, the original movement becoming known to the enemy, it was abandoned, and the army returned, discomfited and discouraged, to their encampments, almost completely encased in mud, like the mail-clad knights of the olden time. They had not had even a taste of war. It was a laughable sequel to the pompous and ominous order of Burnside's, whose patriotism and fidelity to the cause, however, no one can doubt. Throughout the war he yielded modest yet important aid to the Federal arms. On the army being safely quartered again, Gen. Burnside tendered his resignation. It was accepted, and "fighting Joe" succeeded to the command. He immediately went to work to re-organize the army. By the time the roads had become passable, he had a splendidly-armed and equipped army in the field-in fact the largest and best-drilled and disciplined force that had ever marched and countermarched on the American con- tinent. The cavalry had never even approached to so perfect an organization, having been formed into a 8
86
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
cavalry corps, with brigades and divisions, the whole under the command of Maj. Gen. Stoneman. A grand review transpired shortly before the army moved in the spring, at which President Lincoln was present. The scene was imposing, impressive, sublime ! !! It took one entire day to review the cavalry, two or three days to review the infantry, and a day for the artillery. Miles and acres of polished steel bayonet blades glitttered in the sunlight, held bristling by ranks, as regular and firm, as if the whole army had been possessed of but one spirit, and moving and manœuvering in the drill and discipline, as though it were an individual, and not a vast mass of separate men. The orders of the commander moved down along the line and developed into action with rare promptness and perfection. President Lincoln's appearance on horseback, riding in citizen's dress and under a high, silk hat, among so many uniformed soldiers, was a very conspicuous figure, and elicited much good-natured raillery and comment. Yet he was nowhere more beloved than by the army, who appreciated his humanity of heart, and his honest endeavors to restore the Union. He was regarded as a truly great and good man.
On the 28th of February, 1863, we were mustered for pay for the months of January and February. On these rolls appear a few more changes. Private Tilghman Ash, promoted to corporal, rice Bloss, de- ceased, Nicholas Garvy, promoted corporal, vice Miller H. Brown, killed, Private Joseph Snyder, dis- charged for disabilities occasioned by wounds re-
87
GUARDING AGAINST SURPRISES.
ceived at Harrison's Landing. In the spring, Col. Kerr resigning his position in our regiment, Lieut. Col. Doster was called from Washington to take command.
This was his first appearance with the regiment in the field. On the 16th of March, the division was hurried out in light marching order, and proceeded to Morrisville, Va., and encamped there for the night. They then started early the next morning, and marched to the Rappahannock, at Kelley's Ford. Here we found the enemy opposite ready to dispute our passage of the river and the ford. Below the surface of the water they had placed wires, fallen trees, etc., to obstruct our progress. But, after a short fight and most gallant charge, by the First Rhode Island Cavalry, under Col. Chamberlin, of the First Maine Cavalry, the enemy were routed, the crossing effected, and all the rebels in the works on the opposite side captured-consisting of 75 prisoners. This was not accomplished, though, without consider- able loss to the charging party, as they advanced under very adverse circumstances, the ford being small and narrow. Col. Chamberlin was very scri- ously wounded, and his life was despaired of for a long time. The division then crossed the river 1800 strong, Gen. Averill in command. They were soon met by Gen. Stuart's and Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee's rebel cavalry. We fought very desperately all day, making several fierce charges, one of which our regi- ment made singly, routing the enemy and driving him in the direction of Culpepper. This engagement
88
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
called into play only the cavalry forces of the two armies. £ It was the first collision, on a large scale, of the mounted forces of the two armies in Virginia, and the first time in which the rebel cavalry had been successfully met and defeated by inferior numbers. This reconnoissance in force was made under orders from Gen. Hooker, to discover what movements the enemy were about making. The regiment suffered pretty severely in this engagement, the company losing Corp. Thomas Connor, his father, a fellow-soldier, also being present at the time. We condoled with him on our common loss. As a cavalry-man he was wild and daring. After this encounter we returned to camp at Potomac Creek, and there did the neces- sary picket duty until April, 1863, when camp was again broken, and the cavalry corps was marched to, and concentrated at, Bealton Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, under Gen. Stoneman. ' After concentrating the corps here, he took two divi- sions, and started off on a raid into the enemy's country, in the rear of the rebel army, leaving our division under Gen. Averill in the vicinity of Beal- ton, where we remained until the 29th of April.
The Army of the Potomac was again put in motion by Maj. Gen. Hooker, and crossing the Rappahan- nock at United States Ford, Kelley's Ford, and other fords along the river, all concentrated in the vicinity of Chancellorsville. Our cavalry division under Averill crossed at Kelley's Ford on the night of the 29th, and on the 30th of March, in regular line of battle, on Culpepper Court House, making demon-
89
GUARDING AGAINST SURPRISES.
strations in the direction of Gordonsville. From . Kelley's Ford to Culpepper Court House, a beautiful open country lies before you, and our advance along this, was one one of the grandest sights I have ever beheld in the army. For miles over the face of a perfectly level country, stretched our line of mounted skirmishers, steadily advancing in most excellent order, and driving back the enemy's skirmishers. Immediately behind them marched their support of squadrons, in place, about one-eighth of a mile apart. Then came the main body of the division, proceeding in columns of regiments with squadrons in front- the batteries of light artillery moving on between the regiments. It was a really grand and imposing spectacle. The enemy did not appear in sufficient force to break the order of march.
" With rushing winds and gloomy skies The dark and stubborn winter dies. Far off, unseen, Spring faintly cries, Bidding her earliest child arise: March !
" By streams still held in icy snare, On southern hillsides, melting bare, O'er fields that motley colors wear, That summons fills the changeful air : March !
" What though conflicting seasons make Thy days their field, they woo or shake The sleeping lids of Life awake, And hope is stronger for thy sake. March !
8*
90
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
"Then from thy mountains ribbed with snow, Once more thy rousing bugle blow, And East and West and to and fro, Announce thy coming to the foe, March !
"Say to the picket, chilled and numb : Say to the camp's impatient hum ; Say to the trumpet and the drum ; 'Lift up your hearts, I come ! I come!' March !
"Then down the long Potomac's line Shout like a storm on hills of pine, Till ramrods ring and bayonets shine ;
' Advance! The chieftain's call is mine,- " March !' "
91
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE.
CHAPTER IX.
-
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE.
W E advanced on Culpepper in the order speci- fied, drove out Fitz Hugh Lee's and Wm. H. Lee's brigades of regular cavalry, and pur- sued them to Rapidan Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Here they were re-enforced by infantry, and took up a strong position on the south bank of the Rapidan. We found it then im- possible to dislodge them, our intention being, how- ever, only to make demonstrations, as if an army movement were about to be made in that direction. We captured at Culpepper a large quantity of flour, meat, etc., belonging to the rebel government. This we destroyed, not having any means of transporting it away. We remained in the vicinity of Rapidan Station until May 2d, when we marched from there via Ely's Ford, on the Rapidan, encamping over night on the banks of the Rapidan. Here through some neglect on the part of those having this duty in charge, no pickets were thrown out on the oppo- site side of the river, and, as may be well surmised, a rather panic-stricken surprise seized our forces about midnight, on heavy volleys of musketry being poured
92
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
into our camps from the opposite side of the river. This caused terrible confusion and consternation in our command. Finally, however, a few squadrons were mounted under Capt. Duncan of our regiment, and ordered to cross the river. They at once at- tacked the enemy, and soon found them retiring. Capturing several of them, it was discovered that the force was a brigade of Stonewall Jackson's rebel
army corps. It is, however, a wonderful and never- theless true fact, that only one man was killed in our whole division, by the terrific series of musketry vol- lies. This was probably attributable to the darkness of the night, and to the rebels not having a correct idea of the ground on which we lay-they evidently supposing the bank of the river to be as high on our side as on theirs. This was not the case, luckily for us. On the morning of the 3d of May, we all crossed the Rapidan, and marched to United States Ford on the Rappahannock, where we again rejoined the Army of the Potomac-striking it at a point, where important issues had been lately contested, between Stonewall Jackson's troops and the 11th and 12th corps of our army. In fact the principal movement of Jackson had been made that very night, when a brigade of his troops fired on our camp. This demonstration on his part was a flank move- ment on our army. History, however, bears the record of this advance, and of the repulse and confu- sion of the 11th corps, and of the timely aid ren- dered by the 12th. It almost caused a complete defeat of the army. Suffice it to remark, that it
1
T
٤
93
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE.
was, after this action, deemed necessary by the Gen- eral commanding our army, to again recross the Potomac River, which now was fast rising from the effects of recent rain storms, and placing our pon- toon bridges in a precarious condition. Accord- ingly on the night of the 4th, our army was again withdrawn from contested ground on the south of the Rappahannock. We were forced to leave all of our dead, and many of our wounded on the field, to the tender mercies of the enemy and of the raging elements. The latter were especially formida- ble at this time. The woods had taken fire from shot and shell during the engagement, and there being much dry timber and underbrush in the forest of Chancellorsville and of the Wilderness, dense flames shot up on all sides and spread with fearful rapidity. From the green timbers and the charred remains of the trees, a thick fumy smoke arose in columns, and whirled about the scene, at the caprice of the winds. On this a rain falling, dampening the coals of fire and the still unburnt wood, the fumes became black and heavy, rolling down along the ground with sooty thickness, almost suffocating the wounded and those who were forced to remain behind. Day and night these shafts of smoke rose and fell on the field of carnage, and like a wand which death might wield, each time it lowered and lingered among the wounded and dying some life was destroyed by its fatal touch. But they were heroes who had fought for liberty, and whose dust is consecrated forever. Even from out the ashes and
·
94
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
silence of death, their noble spirits call by the trumpet-voice of dangers braved and victories accom- plished.
"And hail once more to the banner of battle unrolled ! Tho' many a light shall darken, and many shall weep, For those that are crushed in the clash of jarring claims,
Yet God's just wrath shall be wreaked" on the Southern Traitors,
" And many a darkness into the light shall leap, And shine in the sudden making of splendid names And noble thought be freer under the sun,
And the heart of a people beat with one desire.
Let it flame or fade, and the war roll down like a wind, We have proved we have hearts in a cause, we are noble still, And myself have awaked as it seems, to a better mind ; It is better to fight for the good, than to rail at the ill ; I have felt with my native land I am one with my kind, I embrace the purpose of God, and the doom assigned."
Our loss in these battles was supposed to have been in the neighborhood of 15,000, and that of the enemy a like number. It was well known that here Stonewall Jackson received his death wounds. His single loss was the greatest, perhaps, the rebels had suffered-his personal presence alone on the field of battle being considered equivalent to 10,000 rebels.
Our native valley had mournful occasion to bear this memorable battle in mind. It was here that Col. Chapman, along with many of our private sol- diers, fell, while leading a charge. Thus perished a true patriot, a most noble life-yielded willingly as a sacrifice to the Union cause. At home and in the ranks, there was no offering on the altar of freedom, no demand by the grand holocaust of war, which,
95
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE.
however just, wrung the hearts with more poignant grief, or claimed a fuller tribute of our tears. His elegant personnel, and noble bearing are still fresh and clear in the remembrance of our citizens, and bis grave within the borders of our own Cemetery, will be garlanded and wreathed with flowers, with violets, begonias and immortelles, each "Decoration Day," of countless Springs to come. The grand exertions of such a man a grateful country will never forget, and his name, perpetuated by the historian, will stand resplendent among the list of our country's martyrs. While rapt in thought, beside the grave of such a gallant soldier, and amid the tombs of so many of our dead patriots, how opportune are the sentiments which Collins has embodied in immortal verse :-
" How sleep the brave, who sink to rest ! By all their country's wishes blest ! When Spring with dewy fingers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mould, She there shall dress a sweeter sod, Than fancy's feet have ever trod.
" By fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung, There honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To deck the turf that wraps their clay, And freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell a weeping hermit there."
Immediately after recrossing the Rappahannock. to return now to our narrative, the army re-occupied their old camps again, in the vicinity of Falmouth. We also went to our encampment, at Potomac Creek
96
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
Station, having been absent twenty-four days. Most of this time we had been in disputed territory, and without any rations or forage except what we had levied on the enemy. When we left here, at Potomac Station, April 16th, a portion of the regi- ment and company were left in camp on account of sickness, want of horses, etc. These were placed under the command of Lieut. Freeby. During our absence and the battle of Chancellorsville they were sent to Dumfries, Virginia, one of the oldest settlements in .* the United States. Here they did picket duty for their own protection, and guarded the approaches to Acquia Creek landing-the base of our army's sup- plies. On the 17th of May, the afterwards notorious Moseby, with his then small band of guerillas, was discovered to be in the vicinity of the pickets of these men. A small force was at once organized to go out and engage these guerillas. They were met, and a short fight ensued. A scouting party of our troops fell into an ambuscade of the wily Moseby, and were repulsed in a dashing little sabre charge, with a loss of several men. Among these was George Miller, from Summit Hill, who was killed on the spot. A faithful little soldier, and son of a widowed mother, his death was much regretted. Henry Miller, also of our force, was wounded. He, being a recent recruit, had only seen service for a few days. Moseby's men took him prisoner, and sent him to Richmond, Va., from which place he was soon after- wards paroled. On the 8th of May, Gen. Stoneman, with the main body of the cavalry corps returned to
L
97
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE.
the Army of the Potomac, having made a most com- plete and destructive raid on the enemy's lines of communication, between his army and Richmond. These and similar facts, however, have become the staple of history, and they afford no distinctive in- terest for a work of this nature.
On or about the 25th of May, 1863, our camp at Potomac Creek Station, becoming unhealthy from long occupation, by reason of the accumulated offal, refuse and excrement from horses, etc., was moved off a short distance, to new ground, under the instructions of Col. Doster. While here the rolls were made out, and we were mustered for pay for the months of March and April, 1863. On these we find the fol- lowing changes. Richard Tiful, bugler, died while encamped at Dumfries, Va., and Cornelius Dempster, discharged for disability. The other killed and wounded we have already noticed.
Early in May, our cavalry corps broke camp, and entered the field for the Summer campaign. We first concentrated again at Bealton's Station. Gen. Averill, having been removed from the command of our division and given a command in Western Vir- ginia, Col. Duffyer, of the First Rhode Island Cav- alry, succeeded to the post. Our brigade was com- manded by J. Irvin Gregg, Colonel of the 16th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under whom the brigade con- tinued to gain fresh laurels until the close of the war.
On the 9th of June, our cavalry corps, Gen. l'leasanton in command, crossed the Rappahannock, between Beverly's and Kelley's Fords, 9000 strong, 0
98
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
meeting the cavalry forces of the enemy under Stuart, Fitz Hugh Lee, Hampton and others. After fight- ing all day we succeeded in forcing back their im- mense horde of cavalry, numbering as it did 12,000 horsemen. By the capture, too, of important dis- patches, and discovering certain demonstrations, we became aware of their progressing plan, of their contemplated second northward movement, or inva- sion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Several terrific sabre charges were made during the day, mostly by Buford's division of Cavalry, whose loss was very heavy. Our division being on the left, and rather in reserve during the height of the contest, was not brought into action until the close of the day, when we had our turn at the enemy. In the evening the corps was withdrawn to the north side of the Rappahannock, and during the next few days it marched in advance, and on the flanks of the Army of the Potomac, north, on the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to Manassas Junction. Our division was here detached, and re-organized under Gen. D. McGregg, formerly Colonel of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The division, as re-organ- ized, was composed of two brigades, and each brigade, of five regiments. Ours was denominated the Second Brigade, under command of J. Irvin Gregg-thie division being denominated the Second Cavalry Di- vision, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The following regiments composed our brigade : Fourth, Eighth, and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Tenth New York and First Maine. On the 18th of June,
1
99
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE.
having completed the re-organization and necessary movements, the army being under way, we marched in the direction of Aldie, Va., where General Kilpat- rick was found, with his division, hotly engaged with the enemy's cavalry. After a successful charge he succeeded in routing and driving them in confusion . from the town. The First Maine, or advance of our brigade, also became engaged, and Col. Dougherty, of this regiment, was killed. We here captured 100 prisoners from the enemy's cavalry, and many small arms-the rebels making a panic-stricken retreat, and throwing everything away in their flight. Our com- pany, having been detailed in the evening, to gather up the arms and material left on the field, learned exactly what appearance the ground presented every- where. It was filled with old tattered arms of all descriptions, home made haversacks. such as the re- bels began to carry at that time, and the loose debris generally which was detachable from the person, in a state of rapid ambulation from the enemy. These were so characteristic, that they gave reliable indices of the exhausted condition to which the South had been reduced, and to what straits it was driven in order to accoutre and equip its armies-the cavalry branch in particular.
100
HISTORY OF A CAVALRY COMPANY.
CHAPTER X.
" THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC! BY THUNDER!"
1 -
IN the morning, we proceeded on the line of march, our brigade in advance, through Aldie on to
Middleburg, our regiment charging into that town, and driving from it the advance force of the rebel cavalry. We then retired to a more secure position, between Aldie and Middleburg, in the evening, and the next day advanced again, but found that the enemy, having been re-enforced, had taken up a very good position about one mile from Middleburg. Attacking him again, a skirmish ensued, which lasted all day, on the 20th. Lying in line of battle through- out the night, on the morning of the 21st, we again began the attack. On this occasion we succeeded, by the most desperate and gallant fighting of our whole cavalry corps, in forcing the enemy's numbers back through Upperville and Ashby Gap, a distance of eight miles, capturing from him in a very decisive charge, two pieces of artillery, four caissons and many prisoners. By this movement we obtained a more definite idea of the rebels' intentions. We had struck his army in the flank.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.