USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 13
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When the main column came to the highway, a detachment of infantry was coming down the road, another of cavalry was going out of sight. Company A, under Captain Ringland. charged the cavalry, and the railroad was crossed without any serious trouble. At 5.30 P. M., Procter's Tavern on the Jerusalem Plank Road was reached ; here a halt was made, and the division. which had become considerably scattered, was reunited, after which the march was resumed, arriving at the headquarters of Captain C. Shield at 11.30 P. M.
After Kautz slipped away from the enemy, Wilson got the blow intended for both divisions, but while the enemy paused
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to plunder the wounded and to kill the negroes who had followed the command, the men got a fair start. About 500 of Kautz's men, who were cut off from their command, joined Wilson's retreat. At Stony Creek, Major Ackerly was ordered by Gen- eral Wilson to take command of Kautz's men and to cover the crossing. The enemy continued the pursuit to Sappory Creek Bridge, three miles beyond Stony Creek, after which there was little annoyance from them. Wilson's command marched all night, arriving at Jarrett's Station about daylight, where a small picket of the enemy was dispersed. and the march continued east- ward to Peter's Bridge over the Nottoway; from thence to Blunt's Bridge over the Blackwater, which was reached about midnight. Finding the bridge destroyed, all hands set to work, and the bridge was repaired after an hour's work; all the com- mand was across by daylight, and after burning the bridge, marched to Calm Point on the James River. In his report, General Wilson says: "During the expedition, the command marched 335 miles, 135 between 3 P. M. of the 28th and 2 P. M. of the Ist of July. During this interval, of 81 hours, the com- mand rested from the marching not over six hours." This ap- plies to Wilson's division only. For forty-eight hours, Kautz's men and animals had fasted. When near to Appomattox, Gen- eral Kautz received orders to join General Sheridan with his division to go to the rescue of General Wilson ; but the general succeeded in explaining to General Meade the exact situation, and was permitted to proceed to Bermuda Hundred without de- lay. the command going into camp at Jones Landing. Major Ackerly with a large number of the missing men arrived at camp on the 2d of July, while many of the dismounted men continued to arrive for several days.
The raid was over, and what were the results? Did it pay, or not? Public opinion in the Eleventh said "No." The loss of both divisions in killed, wounded, and missing was 1,000 men, all the artillery of both divisions, together with the ambulances and wagons. The Eleventh had lost heavily. General Wilson, in his report, says: "Every railroad station, water tank, wood pile, bridge. trestle, sawmill, from fifteen miles of Petersburg to the Roanoke River had been destroyed : also. most of the track of the Southside Railroad north of Burkeville; all the track of the Danville. from the Junction to the Roanoke." General St. John, who was in charge of the military roads of the Confederate service at the time of the raid, told General Wilson that the
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THE WILSON RAID.
damage done to the Danville and Southside Railroads was the heaviest blow the Confederacy had received up to that time ; be- cause it cut off all communication by rail for nine weeks, and taxed to the utmost the resources of the Confederacy to repair them. In addition to the destruction of the railroad, nearly all the horses and mules along the line of march had been taken. The Eleventh did not regret the loss of the howitzers, for the whole regiment felt their presence to be a nuisance.
The disaster at Ream's Camp rumor laid to General Wil- son, who disregarded the advice of General Kautz when they met on the afternoon of the 28th, for had the Jarrett route been taken, the outcome would have been averted; many men of his own division, and of Kautz's, found fault with him for his con- duct during the retreat, which was not of the kind likely to inspire confidence. But, evidently being desirous to reach the main army because of the exhausted condition of his men, he took the shorter route. However, General Kautz has forcibly stated the cause of the disaster: "General Meade's failure to come to our assistance, as we had a right to expect, for he had turned us loose on the Confederacy and should have done all he could for us, I regard as the principal cause of the disaster. He failed to extend his left as he promised, and neglected to utilize his cavalry under Sheridan, so as to prevent Lee from con- centrating his cavalry to intercept us just outside his lines. He seemed to have forgotten us, and the noise of our guns at Stony Creek failed to recall our existence to his memory. Not until Captain Whitaker reported our situation to him did we receive attention. When his troops arrived on the ground, they were more than six hours too late."
Colonel Stratton says of this raid: "For rapidity of march and endurance of the men, this raid has not been excelled during the war, nearly 500 miles having been marched in ten days, in- cluding the time engaged in fighting."
When Wilson gave the order to abandon the wounded, Major Ackerly, who had been wounded, climbed out of the ambulance, gathered all the stragglers of Kautz's division, and deiended the rear of Wilson's column. Dr. Haney, of the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was detailed to accompany our wounded to Libby. He refused to obey the order. Dr. Harlan volun- teered, and remained with the boys at Libby.
CHAPTER X.
BATTLE OF DARBYTOWN ROAD-FIVE FORKS.
On the 14th, Company L was sent to the eastern shore of Virginia to relieve Company G, which rejoined the regiment a few days later.
The personal relations between Colonel Spear and Lieu- tenant-colonel Stetzel, which had been strained since the court- martial of the latter the previous year, now terminated in open rupture. About the middle of the month, Colonel Spear issued an order assuming command of his regiment ; also, for a brigade review, directing Major Stratton to command the regiment. and Lieutenant-colonel Stetzel to go on the review stand by himself.
This and other minor matters caused Lieutenant-colonel Stetzel to appeal to General Kautz, who ended the trouble by placing him in command of the dismounted camp, which was established about this time. This terminated Colonel Stetzel's relations with the regiment; on the 18th of the following Sep- tember he resigned.
On the 27th, the cavalry division constituted a part of Gen- eral Sheridan's troops, which crossed the James River and en- gaged the enemy at Malvern Hill. The Eleventh took no part in this engagement.
From the major's notes:
"July 29th. At Jones Landing, Va. We have been saddled up all night. awaiting the arrival of Sheridan's divisions.
"July 30th. Two days ago we had quite a fight with Ker- shaw's division, Longstreet's corps. We were directly in the rear of Gregg's division, and passed to our position on Malvern Hill. The enemy left on the field about 170 dead and wounded. I was standing under a tree at the forks of the road. with Gen- erals Kautz and Gregg, as our division came on the field. Both brigades had arrived, but Spear could not be seen. I volun- teered to find him, and, leaving the general, went down the road at a gallop. About 200 yards below, a body of the enemy rushed to the fence and demanded my surrender. My old horse. . Tom." got scared and ran away with me. I escaped unhurt through three volleys. I reached a spot in the road where General Alfred Gibbs' line had been pressed back. His lead horses blocked the
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way, many of which were falling at each volley. I had not seen General Gibbs for a year, and, on recognition, helped him to clear the road into the woods.
"Presently I met Colonel Spear, upbraiding one of Sheridan's - aides for putting him, without orders, into a gap at the left of Torbert's division.' We hastened to close up, but on swinging into the Malvern Hill Road, Davis' Seventh Massachusetts Bat- tery lost the horses of one of his caissons, which he abandoned. Kautz promptly placed him under arrest. Taking 80 men of the division provost guard, I went back and brought off the caisson. That night the command was withdrawn to the south bank of the James, as our forces had lapped over on the extreme left, capturing the railroad and securing Yellow Tavern. Spear's brigade had the honor of guarding the rear of the withdrawal, and was much praised for the way they resisted the advance of the enemy, drawing them within range of the gunboats.
"August 3d. Crossed the pontoons and were added to the Army of the Potomac, being placed on picket in the rear of the right wing of Meade's army to relieve the First and Third Divi- sions of Sheridan's cavalry, which was about to leave for the Shenandoah Valley. The duty here was two-fold-to keep the enemy from surprising the rear. to arrest stragglers and de- serters from the Union army, a duty not hard but hazardous. The enemy's cavalry was getting low, and to keep it mounted, General Lee issued an order giving his dismounted cavalrymen the choice either to procure horses or enter the infantry. As a result. these dismounted cavalrymen would prowl around the picket lines. causing considerable annoyance. Captain Titus, with a small party turned the tables somewhat. General Kautz directed that any Confederate caught in the act of horse-stealing should be immediately shot. This lessened the nuisance.
"The Burnside mine failed to explode in time, and when it did go off no one was ready to take advantage of its results. The army knew how to dig. They say: ' Tis hard to find a dead cavalryman ; 'tis rare to find a rusty spade.' They suddenly arrive, they dig, they stay.
"August 7th. The enemy tried to mine and blow up one of our forts, in front of the Fifth and Eighteenth Corps, but were detected by the construction of whispering galleries. Only a part of the fort was injured. but when the enemy attempted to follow up the explosion. they were severely cut by flank fires from secreted artillery. A second time they advanced to receive
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a baptism of fire, losing more men than had been lost at Burn- side's failure.
"August 15th. General Gregg left with his division, along with Hancock's corps, for the other side of the James. This stretches out fourteen miles. Our regiment is dwindling; the time of 285 men expires this month, 200 more next month ; the rest are veterans and raw recruits. By a recent order of the Department, officers are continued in service dating three years from their last promoted muster-in; and, by the same order, those who served three years in one grade must be mustered out at the expiration of their grade term, and if they remain, be re- mustered in the same grade for three years. Rather hard ruling.
"August 21st. On Friday, the Second Corps had a heavy fight five miles from Petersburg, Spear's detachment picketing their left. Through these movements and battles, our forces gained possession of the Weldon and Petersburg Railroad, one of the greatest feeders for the Army of Virginia, at a loss of 2.000 killed, wounded, and missing-a success that augurs well for the future.
"August 27th. On this day the mangled body of Lieutenant Harry C. Neilson was sent in. He was killed on the 23d, during a heavy fight at Ream's Station. He was ever conspicuously brave. His body was embalmed and sent home to his aged parents. Harry's was a sad case. His time had expired, but as as his company was fighting, he refused to be mustered out on the field. Spear's brigade was on outpost for General Warren five miles from Ream's ; Hills and Longstreet's corps attacked in force, driving them slowly back. It was in this falling back young Neilson was killed by a piece of shell."
On the 22d, 23d, and 24th, the divisions of Generals Gibbon and Miles, of the Second Corps, were engaged in destroying the Weldon Railroad behind General Warren's lines. On the 24th, Colonel Spear's brigade was sent five miles below Ream's Station to watch the enemy. Next morning. four brigades of Hampton's cavalry, after considerable fighting, made an attack upon the brigade and forced it back to Ream's Station. Here, the carbineers of the Eleventh were dismounted, and with the dismounted men of the First District of Columbia were placed in position with General Gregg's dismounted troopers on the left of our position. About 5 P. M., the enemy opened fire with all their artillery, continuing it for fifteen minutes. when an attack was made by their infantry on General Miles' front. which was
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partly successful. In his first official report of the battle, General Hancock says: "The enemy's dismounted cavalry now made an attack upon the left, driving General Gibbon's division from its breastworks. The division offered very little resistance, though the attack was feeble compared with the enemy's infantry. The enemy, elated with their success at this point, were pressing on with loud cheers, when they were met by a heavy flank fire from the dismounted cavalry occupying the extreme left, checking their advance. General Gregg, with his own command, and a squadron from Colonel Spear's, rendered invaluable service at this point ; the steadiness of his men contrasted more than favor- ably with the conduct of some of the infantry commanders."
After Gibbon's division was out of the way, the enemy at- tacked the cavalry, and being unable to hold its position, with- drew and formed on the left a new line. It was now dark, and although the enemy had had some success, yet did not pursue.
The next morning the Second Brigade returned to its old position at the Mt. Sinai Church. Except the discharge of 400 men whose term of enlistment had expired, nothing of any import- ance occurred until the morning of the 16th of September, when General Hampton with three divisions of his cavalry swooped down upon the beef herd of the army, numbering 2.500, which were collected near Sycamore Church. The greatest part of the First District of Columbia were encamped near the Sycamore Church, but there is no record that they had any special over- sight of the cattle. At 5 A. M. on the 16th, Rosser's brigade of four regiments attacked the camp at the church, which was strongly barricaded. The First District of Columbia made a stout resistance, but were overwhelmed by numbers, losing their commander, Major Baker ; also, Major Clindman, one captain, six lieutenants, and 203 enlisted men as prisoners. The only part taken by the Eleventh in the morning's operation was by Captain McFarlan's squadron, which was on the extreme left of the line located at Hite's House and picketed the Sawyer and Stage Roads. Hearing firing at Sycamore Church, Captain McFarlan mounted his squadron and moved to the ford of the above-mentioned roads ; but. arriving there. the enemy compelled him to fall back toward Prince George Court House. Several times the captain formed his men and checked the oncoming enemy, but the danger of being surrounded compelled him to fall back in every instance. This was continued until the camp of the Third New York was reached.
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It was to o'clock before General Kautz could get together enough of his men to pursue the bold raiders, by which time the cattle were journeying towards the enemy's lines with four hours' start, and the main body of Hampton's cavalry had been gone two hours. As it was, General Kantz was only able to get together 500 men, half of whom were without carbines. The enemy retreated by way of Cook's Bridges over the Blackwater : these were torn down and guarded by a small force. The bridges were repaired, and the pursuit continued. coming up with the main body near Hawkinsville ; and a small skirmish took place, but General Kautz decided not to press the enemy, so fell back a short distance and bivouaced until morning. At daylight, a reconnaisance showed that the enemy had gone .. General Gregg, who had come down the Plank road to intercept the enemy, had also returned to his camp: accordingly, there being no further use for General Kautz, he returned to camp.
We give Major Wetherill's account of the cattle raid. since he was directly involved :
"It was evident that the cattle corral was too near the picket line behind Sycamore Church, and was the cause of the nightly murders committed by scouts. I protested against it in my picket-guard reports. There were 4.500 cattle, in charge of a squadron of the First New Jersey Cavalry, a rare temptation, and daily I continued these protests. Our line was quiet in day-
light, but much disturbed at night.
"Early in the morning of the 16th, we were awakened by heavy firing at Sycamore Church. At the first alarm. I loaded the wagons with Spear's headquarters stuff. I sent an orderly with a report to General Kautz, and note to Colonel Lewis. Third New York, who were at Prince George Court House, not to wait for orders from headquarters, but to fill the rifle pits covering the road. Lee's cavalry drove Companies B and D, Eleventh Penn- sylvania Cavalry, up the parallel road to the Third New York Cavalry, who from the rifle pits emptied many saddles, and pre- vented a cut right through our lines and Meade's headquarters. I gathered orderlies and pushed for Sinai Church, where the Eleventh was stationed. The First District of Columbia was cut off at Sycamore Church. Moving down to the forks of the road. I sent the pickets to Major Stratton, commanding the Eleventh. Gathering up the pickets, we advanced towards Syca- more Church. An order from General Kautz recalled me to Prince George Court House to support the Third New York.
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BATTLE OF DARBYTOWN ROAD-FIVE FORKS.
On arriving there, I found that the general had followed with the Third and a battery of artillery. Three hundred of the First Dis- trict of Columbia were captured. The enemy carried off 2,500 beef cattle, whose nearness to our line had been protested against _ for two weeks. We followed across the Blackwater at McCook's Bridge to near the Holloway at Farmer's Bridge; here the enemy made a stand and we attacked them at night. General Kautz, coming to me, said: 'Major, you are fighting General Davis' command. Davis came down the Jerusalem Road to head off the enemy, and you are fighting his men.' I sent Lieutenant Titus, with Company M, to learn the truth. After an hour, we found that Davis had been driven back about 5 P. M. At day- light we marched to the bridge, and reached it just as the last files of the enemy were taking it up. We turned back to camp with 65 recovered cattle.
"General Kautz said that on Meade's return, he stopped at City Point and in conversation with General Grant, asked how long it would be before we could continue our left flank move- ment. General Grant replied: 'Since you have supplied the enemy with beef, I cannot tell you.' Grant knew that Meade's headquarters were responsible for the loss of the cattle, as suffi- cient warning had been given. Meade desired Kautz to say that the corral was sufficiently guarded and safe, but in face of the constant protests General Kautz declined to do so."
The day after the raid, a ration of fresh beef, the first for a long time, was served in Lee's army, which was announced to our army by loud cries of "Beef!" This was met by a counter- cry of "Atlanta !" the news of the city's capture having been re- ceived a few days before. The cattle raid was well planned and executed.
On the 17th. the quarters of the Eleventh were changed to the Stage Road on the left of Mount Sinai Church. Lieutenant- colonel Stetzel's resignation at this time advanced Major Strat- ton and Captain Skelly a grade. On the 29th, a general move against the enemy took place all along the line. the Army of the Potomac striking the extreme left. General Butler's com- mand-the Army of the James-crossed the James River and attacked the works on the Richmond front. The Eleventh re- turned to its old camp near Jones Landing on the 28th, and during the day Company A joined the regiment. While here, the long-looked-for Spencer repeating carbines arrived. Colonel Stratton says of them: "The carbines arrived at the camp at 2
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A. M. of the 29th of September. The command was under orders to march at daylight on an important expedition, and the men were entirely unused to the complicated repeating carbine. Yet. with confidence in that pre-eminent skill the American soldier has so often shown, the arms were issued, the men briefly in- structed in their use, and the command was on the march at daylight." The Second Brigade was rather small at this time: eight companies of the First District of Columbia had been trans- ferred to the First Maine Cavalry; the Eleventh had lost 400 men, leaving but little more than 600 men present for duty in the brigade. General Butler entertained strong hopes of taking Richmond, and to incite his men to supreme effort, offered liberal rewards, such as promotion and medals of honor to all who dis- tinguished themselves in the coming assault. After the Eleventh crossed the James, Major Wetherill, who was about to leave the service, rode along the column, bidding the officers and men good-bye. There was a general feeling of regret felt all over for the loss of the old man who was esteemed by the entire regi- ment. The cavalry division moved by plantation roads to Wil- liamsburg Road and made preparations for an assault upon the enemy's works at that point. but was met by the heavy guns from the numerous forts and batteries in the vicinity. General Kautz, seeing that it was useless to attempt an assault, moved to Nine Miles Road, where he made preparations for a night assault ; but the assault was not made, probably wisely so, for had the cavalry succeeded in effecting a lodgment, it would have been driven back with loss in the morning.
On the Ist of October, the division, in conjunction with the Tenth Army Corps, made a reconnaisance towards Richmond. The rain was falling hard. and the dismounted men found tramp- ing through plowed fields rather heavy work. On the 3d. the enemy's cavalry made a reconnaisance and drove in our videttes on the Charles City Road. but were driven back. On the 7th. the battle of Darbytown Road occurred. Historians say that General Kautz was surprised on the morning of that day, basing their authority on newspaper accounts at the time of the battle. This, however, is an error, for at 10 o'clock P. M. two refugees from Richmond arrived at General Kautz's headquarters and re- ported that a large force of cavalry, accompanied by artillery, was moving toward our position. coming from their entrenchment near the Charles City Road. Knowing that this meant an attack, General Kautz sent the refugees to General Birney, command-
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ing the Tenth Corps, with the request that they be sent at once to General Butler. General Kautz then gave orders a little be- fore 4 A. M. for his command to prepare for action. The enemy drove in the videttes of the Eleventh a little before daylight. . Colonel Spear with a detachment of the regiment immediately re-enforced the picket line and delayed the enemy until 7 A. M. The dismounted men of the Eleventh, 350 strong, held an en- trenched position in the rear of McKensy House, east of the Darbytown Road. A wood road from Gordons on the Charles City Road emerged from the timber directly in front of our posi- tion, and a similar road from White Tavern, several hundred yards to the right of the line. There was a long growth of scrub pine between the two roads, which screened the enemy's opera- tions on our front and right. The enemy drove Colonel Spear's detachment through the timber, and placed a battery and strong. skirmish line in position on the far edge of the field in our front. Their battery opened on Hall's Regular Battery, posted on elevated ground several hundred yards to our rear, and a lively artillery duel ensued. While this was going on, the enemy's. skirmish line was advanced far enough to attract our attention. but no disposition was shown to advance further. This state of things continued for half an hour, when one of Gary's cavalry regiments, from the White Horse Tavern Road, charged our right, but was easily repulsed.
The officers and men were scarcely done congratulating themselves upon this easy victory, when a line of infantry ap- peared from the scrub pine, almost perpendicular to our right. leaving but one course open-flight. Away went the flying troopers past Lieutenant Hall's batteries, who begged them to stay and support his guns, but the appeal was useless. Gary's. cavalry was already among the led horses in our rear, and the First Brigade, flanked out of its position by overwhelming num- bers, was in full retreat. Lieutenant Hall received the enemy as best he could. firing case-shot and canister, scattering them badly; still they continued to advance, and when within thirty yards of him, the lieutenant limbered to the rear. When he arrived at the creek, the road was full of guns and caissons of the Fourth Wisconsin Battery; spiking his guns, he abandoned them. While the enemy's infantry was chasing the dismounted troopers of the Eleventh off the field, Colonel Haskell. with a regiment of Gary's cavalry, passed around our right, but very little damage was done compared with what might have been
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