USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 14
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done. Colonel Stratton was slightly wounded, and the twenty- seven who were reported missing were probably captured here. The cause of so little damage was perhaps due to the wounding of Colonel Haskell, who was left for dead on the field.
The officers and men of Colonel Griffin's Second Georgia, which was one of Gary's regiments, were exceedingly jubilant, because for the first time they had turned the tables on the Eleventh, and had evened up old scores. The troops that op- posed the cavalry division on the 7th, were Field's division, at least 5,000 strong, and Gary's cavalry, 1,100 strong, making a total of 6,000 men-the difference in numbers was five to one. General Kautz gives the following reason for the disaster which befell his command on the 7th of October: "I very soon realized that I was in a dangerous position. The Johnson House was located in the fork of Four-mile Creek, both branches of which were swamps on my right and left, and there'was but one narrow country road that crossed the north branch of the main stream near their junction. This road was our only route to our main force. for whose safety we were on guard; being badly cut up and leading through the woods, it was unfit for the rapid move- ment of artillery. We had two batteries; one of six guns, and the other of four, temporarily attached to the cavalry division. which we would be unable to withdraw by that road without plenty of time. I reported these facts to General Butler, and told him that, if attacked in force, it would be impossible to get the artillery out. He did not question my representations, but said it was necessary for me to remain there. I added that I would like some entrenching tools, so that I might strengthen my position as much as possible. He replied that the infantry had all the en- trenching tools, that he had none to give me. I then asked him what he expected his cavalry to do under such circumstances. He replied that the cavalry had legs and could run away. By this time, we realized that we were to be attacked in force; it was too late to get out of the pocket in which we were placed by the commanders of the Army of the James. I gave no orders to retire, but trusted that the Tenth Corps would come to our relief-a portion of General Birney's line was visible, half a mile distant from the Johnson House, and there he sat on his horse and watched the development of the enemy's forces. I kept my superiors informed of the situation, but I received neither orders to withdraw nor assurances of help. By 8 o'clock, the over- whelming force was upon us, and those who did not wish to be
CAPTAIN BENJAMIN B. MITCHELL.
BENJAMIN B. MITCHELL. Bradford County, was born on his father's farm in Tioga county, Pa., Jan. 14, 1839: educated in the schools of his native county and at Lewisburg and Buffalo; established a mercantile business in Troy, Bradford county, in 1860; in 1861 helped to recruit and organize the first cavalry company in the county : was in active service until Oct., 1864, as Lieuten- ant and Captain in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry : was justice of the peace, member of the borough council, clerk of the borough, and has been for many years secretary of the board of educa- tion ; is a member of the firm of Pomeroy & Mitchell, bankers, Troy, Pa. ; also engaged in the real estate and live stock business ; was a member of the House of Representatives from 1882 to 1884 ; elected Senator in Nov., 1892: re-elected in Nov., 1896.
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captured, had to flee. I never learned just what part General Butler played in the events of that day: he claimed that the two refugees I had sent him did not arrive until the day after the battle. The Rebellion Records show that General Birney and myself re- ported the facts in regard to the refugees, and the information they brought ; that we gave orders to be in readiness for the ex- pected attack. I learned later in the day that General Birney was so sick, that it was only with difficulty he could stay upon his horse. He went to Philadelphia next day on a sick leave, and died a week later. General Birney's illness on that day was the chief cause of our misfortune." This was the last attempt of the enemy to dislodge the main force on the north side of the James.
After its flight from the battlefield, the cavalry division was rallied behind the infantry, and went into bivouac between the Darbytown and New Market Roads. The division returned to the battlefield next day, buried our dead, eighteen in number, and re-established our picket line. General Kautz says: "The next day, while resuming the picket line from which we had been driven, I was allowed to make my own disposition of the division. We held this line until the following spring. Although the enemy reconnoitered in force frequently, during the winter, and drove us back to the main line, we were not again caught in any such trap."
Major Ackerly was discharged for disability arising from his wound, received on the 25th of September. The official notice of his and Major Wetherill's discharge was received at regimental headquarters on the afternoon before the battle of the 7th. Captains Cassels and Titus were promoted. Major Titus had few hours to serve in his new rank, being captured next morning.
On the 13th, General Butler ordered a reconnaisance in force of the enemy's lines between Charter City Road and Darby- town ; the Eleventh led the way. There was some fighting, re- sulting in a Union repulse, but the Eleventh was not actually engaged to any extent ; yet it was placed in an unpleasant posi- tion, where the enemy's sharpshooters could practice on it at long range; the bullets fell uncomfortably near and the order to withdraw was heartily welcomed. On the 27th another re- connaisance was made, this time to the extreme left of the enemy's line in the vicinity of Fair Oaks battlefield. The Eleventh had little to do on this move, which ended in a repulse. A cold rain fell during the day, and the spirits of the men were
IO
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in keeping with the weather. With this move, ended the cam- paign of 1864, so far as the Army of the James was concerned. Soon afterward it went into winter quarters. In November the regiment went into camp in the rear of the lines, two miles north of the James River, where it remained during the winter organ- izing, refitting, drilling. The vacancies caused by the expira- tion of the term of service of so many men were filled. At this camp stables and quarters were again built. During the winter the command was thoroughly drilled, and became more pro- ficient in regimental evolutions than probably any other regiment in the army. Large details for picket were furnished for the right of the line, and several expeditions of minor importance were sent out.
The Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania had been amended, authorizing her citizen soldiers to vote in the field. Polls were opened in each company. The Republican candi- dates had large majorities at both State and National elections. Tidings were received of Sherman's start from "Atlanta to the sea."
In addition to its picket duty, the Eleventh made frequent scouts to the front of its picket line, which took it over the battlefields of Glendale, Frazier's Farm, or Malvern Hill. Bleaching bones of the unburied dead were strewn over the field of Glendale ; some singly, some in groups, showing where the scenes of strife had been fiercest-friend and foe lay side by side -scenes of strife were over-for a principle each had died. Death settles all differences ; principles live when their defenders are dead, and the world's true heroes are those who fight the battles where principles are at stake. There lay the uncovered dead, to lie in graves marked "Unknown"-a nation's honored sons. One wearing the blue-the other, the gray. Out of the sacrifice of life springs a great nationality.
In February, 1865, from the 11th to the 15th, the Eleventh, under Lieutenant-colonel Stratton, made an expedition into Sur- rey and Isle of Wight Counties to intercept a Confederate force which was expected there, but no enemy appearing, the expedi- tion returned after three days of hard marching.
During the expedition the cold was intense, and much suffering was felt. First Sergeant Jones, of Company C: Cor- porals Crawl and Jones. of Company M ; Private Bear, of Com- pany A, and Saylor, of Company M, were killed by guerrillas on the expedition.
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War brings its privation; its tread is heavy; its voice is thunder. Nearly the whole length of the picket line of the cav- alry division had been a field of operation during the summer and fall of 1864, destroying the scanty crops and reducing the people to want. During the winter months it was not uncom- mon to see women patiently gathering scattered grains of corn where the pickets had fed their horses ; pride must have kept them from asking relief from the military authorities, which would have been granted to feed hungry women and children. On the the other hand, while scouting beyond our picket line, occasion- ally cart loads of provision were captured while being sent by the women to their soldier husbands and sons. Frequently copies of Grant's promised reward to Confederate soldiers who entered the Union ranks were concealed among the victuals in the cart.
During the next five or six weeks, active preparations were made for what all felt to be the last campaign. In March, notice was received of the discharge of Major Titus for disability, and the resignation of Major Cassels. and the vacancies were filled by the promotion of Captains McFarlan and Monroe. On the 20th, General Kautz, who had incurred the displeasure of General Ord (General Ord had taken the place of General Butler), was replaced by Brigadier-general R. E. Mckenzie, much to the re- gret of the regiment. General Kautz held their confidence. The new commander had won his star at Cedar Creek. On the 25th and 26th, the division was at Charles City Roads, picketing and scouting the roads leading to Richmond, while General Sheri- dan's command crossed the Chickahominy on its way to join the armies operating against Petersburg and Richmond. The 27th and 28th were spent in preparing for the final start. All the sup- plies, baggage, and military stores were sent to Norfolk in charge of an officer. Ammunition and rations were issued, and on the evening of the 28th the Eleventh bade farewell to its last set of winter quarters, and started with the division for the extreme left of the army, southwest of Petersburg. The cavalry division did not really number more than an ordinary brigade in men and organization. The First Brigade, 629 strong, consisted of the Fifth Pennsylvania, and Company G, of the Twentieth New York ; the-Second Brigade, numbering about 925 men, con- sisted of the Eleventh, First District of Columbia Battalion, and the First Maryland, and the rest of the 1683 men belonged to Battery M. First United States Artillery, which was attached to
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the division.' The command marched all night, halted for break- fact the next morning near the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, after which it moved to Humphrey's Station, where it remained until evening. The next two days were spent near Ream's Sta- tion, guarding the trains of the Army of the Potomac which were massed there. During this time there was a heavy rainfall, making it generally uncomfortable for all. On the Ist of April, General Mckenzie was ordered to report to Sheridan, and then marched at 3.30 A. M. for Five Forks, by way of Monk's Neck Bridge and Dinwiddie's Court House. When near the latter place, the command passed Crook's division of the cavalry corps which had been engaged the previous day with serious loss. The men of the First Maine who had been transferred from the first District of Columbia cheered their old comrades of the Second Brigade as they passed, assuring them that they would find plenty of fighting at the front. Two or three miles beyond the Court House, a by-road was taken which leads into the White Oaks Road, three miles east of Five Forks.
At I P. M., about half a mile from the White Oak Road, we struck the enemy's pickets, and, pushing on, soon developed a considerable force strongly posted in rifle pits in the edge of a wood along the road named, with an open field in their front. Major McFarlan, commanding the advance battalion, deployed Menzies' squadron (Companies G and H) on the right and leit of the road, mounted; and Captain Elliott's squadron (Com- "panies F and B) farther to the right and left, in the woods, dis- mounted. The remaining six companies were then ordered up under Major Skelley, temporarily in command of the regiment, to support the advance battalion. As soon as formed, about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's line, Major Monroe, with two squadrons (Companies A, E, K, and C), was directed to charge the enemy's position, which was promptly done, the general commanding the division charging at the head of the column. The squadron moved at first on the left of the road. and then crossing it obliquely, struck the left of the enemy's position, charging over the works into the road and driving the enemy out in confusion; meantime Lieutenant Meekins, with Company L, had dislodged the left of the enemy's line ; and Cap- tain Ring, with part of his company, gallantly charged the enemy for a considerable distance along the White Oak Road to the left. Captain Elliott pushed his dismounted men rapidly across the road into the wood, driving the enemy for some dis-
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tance. Major Skelly supported the attack with Captain Nim- mon's squadron (Companies D and M), moving up at a gallop on the right of the line. The rebels were completely dispersed at every point. Their number, as afterwards ascertained, was 600, - double the number of the Eleventh Regiment.
We had to mourn the loss in this charge of Major Monroe and Lieutenant Matthews, mortally wounded, and Captain Lan- caster killed, all brave and gallant officers, who fell gloriously while leading their men to attack. Lieutenant Wolfe was taken prisoner, having pushed out too far on the left. Our loss, other- wise, was not heavy.
As soon as the enemy had been dispersed, General Mc- Kenzie recalled his victorious troops, and marched towards Five Forks, and reported to General Sheridan just as the Fifth Corps advanced to attack the enemy's works. Sheridan ordered Mc- Kenzie to swing around with the right of the advance infantry, and gain possession of the Ford Road where it crosses Hatcher's Run. He did not reach the Road until after the enemy had been dislodged, but was in time to capture a large number of prisoners. After nightfall, the pursuit was abandoned, and the tired troopers of the Eleventh bivouaced with the rest of the division some distance north of the five forks on the Ford Road. Later in the evening, Captain Ring, with Companies A and K, was sent to cross Hatcher's Run by a ford east of our bivouac, to gain the Southside Railroad and destroy as much as possible, but the ford was too strongly guarded to venture an attack, so the captain was compelled to return without accomplishing anything. The scene after darkness set in is described by A. D. Richardson, in his life of Grant: "After dark, Sheridan's camp was a scene for a painter. Blazing camp fires showed where the wounded of both armies were being borne to hospitals; huge piles of cap- tured small arms, cannons, and wagons; thousands of sad-eyed prisoners huddled together, and our own men cooking their sup- pers, while the air rang with their jubilant shouts. It had been a great day, and every one on the victors' side felt the inspiration of the hour, and felt the end was near." General Sheridan was the idol of the cavalry, and General Mckenzie had, in the esti- mation of the men, "won his spurs."
During the day, Major Monroe, Captain Lancaster, Lieu- tenant Matthews, and four enlisted men were killed. Colonel Spear was severely wounded .. Lieutenant Wolf and several other men were taken prisoners.
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About daylight on the 2d, Sheridan's command was aroused by the terrific artillery and musketry firing, which accompanied the successful assault in front of Petersburg. When daylight came, evidences of the battle on the day before were seen-muskets" thrown away, a captured wagon train, and other battle wreckage. Several of the wagons were loaded with rations, largely bacon and corn bread. The men appropriated the captured rations. using the bacon themselves, and feeding the corn bread to the horses. The captured Johnnies were given a good meal of Uncle Sam's providing in exchange for the loss of their own.
The battle of Five Forks ended Colonel Spear's military service. After the campaign ended, General Mckenzie informed the colonel his resignation would be accepted. Colonel Evans, of the First Maryland, graduated from West Point in 1853 along with Sheridan, McPherson, Kautz, and others; a brave and capable officer, exceedingly modest and unassuming.
After breakfast, General Mckenzie's command marched to Gravelly Ford on Hatcher's Run, where the enemy was found to be strongly posted on the opposite bank. The enemy was flanked out of his position by General Merritt's cavalry, and Mc- Kenzie marched to Namozine Road, where his command bivouaced for the night. On the 3d, the command marched to Leonard's Mill on the Appomattox; during the day news of the fall of Petersburg and Richmond, also, that Lee's army was in full retreat, was joyfully received. The Eleventh picked up large numbers of stragglers during the day. The First District of Columbia was more fortunate, capturing a four-gun battery, in addition to the stragglers.
"Sheridan's scouts were anomalous creatures, pre-eminently useful, organized as a small battalion under the command of Major Young, composed of soldiers of different regiments, selected for their fitness for this particular duty-a body of men without the slightest air of military appearance, but whose services in this and other campaigns, though not conspicuous, were most constant and valuable. They were known everywhere as 'Sheridan's scouts.' Spreading themselves over the country in groups of two, three, or half a dozen, they covered the flanks and preceded the advance of every column. They learned every road, bridge, house, church, camp, and every stable. Not a beast within three miles of Sheridan's cavalry escaped their inspection. and, if useful, their appropriation. 'Constant riding made their change of horses frequently necessary, or their usefulness in re-
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porting tidings had been seriously impaired. In disguise, they visited everybody ; were at home in every house, and enjoyed at all hours of the day or night that unreserved hospitality that they knew well how to engender. Their personal attach- ment to Sheridan was strong and reliable. On the march or in action, scarcely an hour passed that they did not bring him a report from distant and important quarters. They visited the enemy's outposts, rode upon his wagon trains, spied out his camps, and encircled the cavalry corps with a network of eyes and ears."
On the morning of the 4th, the Eleventh led the advance of the division; at Deep Creek, the advance battalion found the enemy's rear guard strongly posted on the opposite bank. A sharp skirmish ensued, but Corporal Elliot took his men some distance down the river, and flanked the enemy out of his posi- tion. The bridge, which had been torn up, was hastily repaired, and in the afternoon the march was resumed toward Amelia Court House. The cavalry division went into bivouac, and re- mained until the 6th, watching the enemy's movements. General Mckenzie's orders were to be watchful and demonstrate, not push the enemy, involving nothing more than an occasional skirmish.
The delay of Lee's army at Amelia Court House was caused by failure to find rations and forage there which General Dix had been ordered to send from Danville when Lee found the abandonment of his lines at Richmond and Petersburg to be inevitable. The provisions had been sent, but the Confederate authorities at Richmond, in their haste to get away, ordered the trains carrying prisoners to proceed to General Dix without stopping to unload at the Court House; hence, Lee was com- pelled to halt twenty-four hours to collect provisions and forage from the surrounding country. This delay, he says, was fatal and could not be retrieved ; it also gave Grant time to occupy Burkeville, and so prevent Lee from following his fleeing govern- ment to Danville. On the morning of the 6th, Mckenzie's com- mand marched to Burkeville. It was evident from the numbers of stragglers picked up that day that Lee's army was becoming demoralized. Most of the Virginians fell out when they came to their homes; others were lagging behind, due to extreme ex- haustion caused by hunger ; some fell out because they saw that further resistance would be useless.
CHAPTER XI.
APPOMATTOX.
THERE was one route to Danville yet open to Lee, through Prince Edward Court House, but Grant also had it in mind, and on the morning of the 7th sent Mckenzie's command to the Court House to watch the enemy at that point. The First Dis- trict of Columbia and the Eleventh led the way. The following description, though written by another commander, yet describes well the day's march :
"It rained a little, just to keep the soil soft, make things pleasant, and keep the crops. Our march took us over hill and dale, through all sorts of by-ways and wood roads for the first ten miles or more, until we gained a decided thoroughfare lead- ing to Prince Edward's Court House. When we arrived at the Court House, we found that Mckenzie had arrived from the Army of the James. It is a neat little town of one broad street, with two or more stores; twenty or thirty houses smuggled in behind hedges of evergreen and nestling under shadows of over- hanging boughs. We arrived there at about 3 P. M., and massed the command for lunch and rest, as twenty miles had been trav- eled since morning with that long, swinging walk the horses had acquired in their numerous campaigns. Early in the war a cavalry column was a sight as it straggled along in uneven paces. keeping none for more than a minute, when from a decorous walk, which was easy to man and beast, they would break into a furious gallop, while the officers shouted 'Close up!' 'Close up!' Tin pans rattled, sabres swung dangerously to and fro; blankets slipped from backs galled into shocking sores; tied bags split open, and oats were strewn on the trampled highway. But times had changed: ten thousand cavalry could march on one road from daylight to dark, and never change the gait in a single regiment ; never turn a single hair."
When the advance of Mckenzie's command arrived in the vicinity of the Court House, a considerable force of the enemy's cavalry was encountered, promptly charged, and driven through the town. leaving behind thirty-eight prisoners. Our command halted about two hours at the Court House, during which time the Fifth Corps came up. During the halt, a lady informed some
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of the Eleventh that her husband was the executioner of John Brown, and was anxious to know what would be done should he fall into our hands. She was afraid that her husband would be burned, and begged protection. When assured that no harm would befall her husband ; that the man who hanged John Brown was of no more importance to our authorities than any other soldier or citizen of Virginia; that he would fare the same if captured, she thanked the men and went away.
While here, General Sheridan dismounted at the fence of an old gentleman who was sitting on his piazza, scowling severely as we rode up. He was a typical Southerner, and bowed stiffly to the general, who nodded carelessly, sat down on a step, drew out his map, lighted a fresh cigar, and asked the old gentleman if any of Lee's men had been there to-day. "Sir," he answered, "as I can truly say that none have been seen by me. I will say so; but if I had seen any, I should feel it my duty to refuse to reply to your question. I cannot give you any information which might work to the disadvantage of Gen- eral Lee." This neat little speech, clothed in exceptional dic- tion, which had, no doubt, been awaiting us from the moment we tied our horses at his gate, missed fire badly. It was very patriotic, and all that ; but the general was in no humor to chop patriotism just then, so he only gave a little whistle of surprise, and returned to the attack quite unscathed. "How far is it to Buffalo River?" "Sir, I don't know." "The devil you don't know ! How long have you lived here?" "All my life." "Very well, sir; it is time you do know. Captain, put this gentleman in charge of a guard, and when we move, walk him down to Buffalo River, and show it to him." And so he was marched off, leaving us a savage glance at parting, and that evening tramped five miles away from home to look at a river which was as familiar to him as his own name.
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