USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 15
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There was no indication of Lee at Prince Edward, and at 5 P. M., Sheridan sent Mckenzie toward Prospect Station on the Lynchburg Railroad, to see if the enemy was moving in that direction. Mckenzie marched to Buffalo River and bivouaced for the night ; here, an order was received, reducing his division to a brigade, and temporarily attaching it to Crook's division.
Greeley says it was a miscalculation to send troops to Prince Edward on the 7th. for if Lee had any intention of trying to reach Danville by that route. he had abandoned it, and was strain- ing to the utmost to reach Lynchburg by way of Appomattox
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Court House. But, if a miscalculation, it was a fortunate one. for, at nightfall, Sheridan was ready to make the splendid march of the 8th, which placed his squadrons across Lee's line of re- treat at Appomattox Station, and held his advance in check. Next morning, Ord's and Griffin's infantry came up. On the Sth, at 4 A. M., McKenzie took up the line of march for Appomattox Court House, where it was to play its part on the morrow. Colonel Newhall says of the day's march: "As the general (Sheridan) gained the head of the column a short distance from Prospect Station, one of Young's scouts met us, and reported that already there were four trains of cars at Appomattox awaiting General Lee, which the general heard joyfully. The roads were not so bad as usual ; the soil was sandy, and we made good time. It was a day of uneventful marching, and we hardly saw a human being all the way. The country had not been withered by war's blast, and the fields had been plowed for coming crops, fences were up, and the woods had their growth ; the spare farm-houses seemed to be inhabited, and the farms to be tilled. If it was not the garden spot of the world, it was a home of rude plenty.
"Toward sunset, lively cannonading was heard in the distant front, and as the march continued, the noise of rapidly approach- ing railroad trains accompanied the continuous whistling of locomotives, now rapidly approaching us, then as rapidly re- ceding from us in the distance. Of course, all were anxious to know the meaning of such unusual proceedings; the mystery was explained, however. soon after nightfall. when the command arrived at Evergreen Station, six miles south of Appomattox Court House, and found three of the four trains (one had been burned) which Custer's command had captured a few hours be- fore at Appomattox Station. The captured locomotives had been placed in charge of engineers from the ranks of Custer's command, with orders to run them back to Farmville during the fight which followed. The engineers were running the engines back and forth, whistling like demons, to give vent to their joy. General Sheridan happened to be passing just as they came to Evergreen on one of their wild rides, and, not liking their racket, ordered Mckenzie to take charge of the trains, which were placed in charge of Captain Tripp, with Companies E and K: The Eleventh, with the rest of the brigade. moved to a point on Plain Run, one and a half miles from the Court House, and went into bivouac for the night. Here the after- noon's operations were learned. In addition to the capture of
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the trains, Custer's command had captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, an ambulance train, a large pack of army wagons, a large number of prisoners; and. better still, it was squarely across Lee's line of retreat. With the exception of Captain - Elliot's squadron, which was sent to the front at 2 A. M., Mc- Kenzie's command did not move until nearly 7 A. M. on the 9th. The part taken by the Eleventh is described in Colonel Stratton's report of the campaign :
"The next day, I supported the First Maryland Cavalry in the attack on the enemy at the railroad, to the left of the Court House. Two or three men were slightly wounded in the affair. Moving, via Burkeville, to Prince Edward Court House, on the 7th, we there, in conjunction with Major Baker's battalion, captured a considerable number of rebels, including two or three officers. The following day we marched to the vicinity of Ap- pomattox Station, on the Southside Railroad, and on the morning of the 9th moved out to the main road from Appomattox Court House to Lynchburg, about a mile westerly from the Court House, this regiment having the advance. Captain Nimmon's squadron was delayed, dismounted, and pushed across the road to develop the enemy's position. I moved the remainder of the regiments into the wood on the left, dismounting four com- panies, under Major Skelley, holding Captain Ring's squadron in reserve, mounted, sending Captain Tripp with his squad- ron to watch our left. About twenty minutes after Captain Nimmon commenced skirmishing, I discovered the enemy push- ing out about a brigade of infantry from the woods on our right. and moving down the slope at right angles to our line. Chang- ing front to the right, I opened fire with some effect. but receiving orders in a few minutes to fall back, retired slowly toward the main road. Before reaching it, however, I was directed to deploy again, about 200 yards in front of the road, to protect the left flank. which I did. Captain Ring's squadron, and one squad- ron under Lieutenant Cook, were formed in line on the main road to repel the enemy, who were following closely our dis- mounted men, retiring under their orders to fall back. The enemy's cavalry being reported moving to our left and rear, I sent Major McFarlan to move the led horses as his judgment might direct for their safety. This duty he creditably performed, and afterward had the horses ready for mounting as soon as wanted by me. While affairs were in this position. Davies' brigade, dismounted, aided by our dismounted men, repelled the
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attack of the enemy on this road. At this moment. some of the rebel cavalry dashed in upon our rear, and were met and checked by such men as could be brought up in line. Almost at the same time, our infantry, a part of the Twenty-fourth - Corps, advanced in line from the woods in our rear, sweeping back the head of the column of the rebel cavalry, and pushing beyond us toward the Court House, soon left us in the rear. During the cavalry attack, Captain Ring made a dashing charge on a superior force of cavalry in our rear with some effect, al- though I had no mounted men at hand to support him. Receiving orders to mount the regiment, I did so without delay, and. under orders, moved down the road about a mile westerly to meet the rebel cavalry, there posted across the road. Before any decisive operations were commenced at this point, orders to suspend hostilities were received. Although a portion of the engagement was quite sharp this morning, I lost but one man killed and three or four wounded.
"From this place, on the evening of the 9th, I detached Cap- tain Elliott's squadron to search for artillery supposed to be abandoned by the enemy in the vicinity of Red Cross Church."
The operations which took place on the morning previous to the suspension of hostilities are least understood of any that took place during the entire war ; for all were so elated over the termination of the war and speedy return home, that they gave the details of the engagement no thought until later years, when it was too late to definitely put the matter. All the official re- ports of the Appomattox campaign are meagre in their account of this crowning event.
To the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry alone belongs the opening of the closing engagement of the war. Sergeant J. Q. Rathburn, of Company M, and a detail of 20 men, was sent for- ward to develop the enemy. When past the Court House one- half mile he encountered the rear of Lee's command and was forced back to our lines, gradually leading the enemy on until he was near our lines, there the last man was. wounded in the war, as directly after this happened the flag of truce appeared, and the fighting was at a close.
Sergeant Rathburn was wounded on May 9th. 1863. and taken prisoner in the Dismal Swamp, near South Mills, and was confined in Libby Prison for a time, and, after exchange, re- turned to his company and continued to fight until he assisted
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in the closing engagement of the war, and was discharged with the regiment at Camp Cadwalader.
Mckenzie' troops were astir early on the morning of the 9th, preparing for the coming fight, which they hoped would end the war. This last morning, practically, of the war was an ideal one; the sun was clear and bright, the air was cool and fresh; evidences of an early spring abounded on every side. General Crook did not seem to be in any hurry to put Mckenzie's brigade in position, for it was after 6 o'clock when it moved to the front. The Eleventh led the way. The command crossed Plain Run, and marched across the open fields in a northerly direction to the Lynchburg Pike, about one mile west of the Court House, where Lee had halted for the night. Some distance beyond the pike, the enemy's infantry was seen advancing in force. Mc- Kenzie immediately dismounted the greater part of his troops, and formed them across the pike : but he had not fully completed his arrangements by conecting his right flank with General Smith's left (Crook's Third Brigade commander) before the enemy was upon him in superior numbers. Hoping to escape the snare of General Grant's troops, they were redoubling every effort to break through our lines, and escape to Lynchburg, eighteen miles distant. Notwithstanding the stormy resistance they made, Smith and Mckenzie were fairly swept off the field. While this was going on, General Fitz Lee, with the greater part of the enemy's cavalry, passed around our left flank, and at- tempted to turn Crook's left by a vigorous attack upon his left rear, but the contingency had been provided for. General Davies' brigade was on hand and held Fitz in check until help came. Mckenzie and Smith were driven back upon Colonel Young's supporting brigade (about a mile from where Mckenzie first formed his line). Doubleday's colored brigade of the Army of the Potomac now came upon the field, and relieved the re- treating cavalry, which was sent to help Davies. But hostilities came to an end before either of the brigades could participate in the struggle, and Fitz at once departed for Lynchburg. Our cavalry bivouaced on nearly the same ground it occupied at the close of the engagement. Captain Elliot's squadron was de- tailed from the regiment about 2 A. M. on the 7th, and had an engagement, which Elliot describes.
Captain Elliot's account of the battle :
"On the night of the 8th, after the capture of, and near Appomattox Station, received orders from regimental head-
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quarters to be in readiness to move with squadron promptly at 2 o'clock, A. M. At the appointed hour, moved out, under the guidance of a staff officer, in connection with two guns of Bat- tery M, First Regulars, to take an advanced position on our front, for the coming day's action. Our course was apparently northward, and passing the bivouac of no other troops while en route to our post.
"We were assigned a position on the south side of the Lynch- burg Road, approximately one-half mile west of Appomattox Court House, on a high east-and-west ridge, whose northern face was very abrupt, and partially covered with low brush. By the officer in charge, the enemy's camp fires were pointed out on our immediate front-north and east. I was asked if my 'squadron would handle by bugle,' and giving an affirmative reply, was directed to deploy along the brow of the hill, and cover as much front as possible, and to contest every foot of ground. No mention was made of other forces, and we pre- sumed we were an advanced outpost or picket; and, except the battery, which had gone into position along the ridge further to the right, presumed we were alone, and which is now believed to be correct. Noting the absence of other troops, and the isolated position of the battery, made inquiry as to its support, and was answered, 'Pay no attention to the battery, but keep up your front and retard the enemy.' After which, this officer left us.
"Our position not admitting the use of mounted men, the led horses were ordered to the rear, and directed to keep in touch with the command. Company B was deployed along the crest of the ridge, with Company I upon its immediate right, and both companies some distance to the left of the battery, and all facing northward. At 4 o'clock, A. M., with not more than 60 carbines, with seven cartridges to each, we were in readiness and con- templating the possibilities of the coming day. There was the enemy-this, his line of retreat-a fight was inevitable.
"The dawn disclosed to us on our front a small valley, with a gradually rising ground covered with low pines on the opposite side, and from these pines emerging a compact body of troops, in close order, apparently in battle line, as distinguished by seven battle flags, the light hardly sufficient to disclose their order, and moving southward at right angles with the Lynchburg Road. and direct toward our front. The troops moved steadily forward' and took up the charge. without musketry, as soon as our two-
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gun battery opened upon them. Our carbineers, under orders to hold their fire on account of the scarcity of ammunition, opened a little later at close range, but with no apparent effect upon the enemy. There being a depression in the ridge to the right of the battery, the charging column slightly obliqued, to more easily gain the ridge at this point. There being nothing to op- pose, the ridge was soon gained, our flank turned, and our guns captured. No assistance, under our orders, could have been rendered, even had our force been adequate. To have reached the enemy, aiter gaining the ridge, from our position, it would have been necessary to have fired through the ranks of our friends; to have charged with but a handful of men would have been utter folly. The battery was ably and gallantly handled, their misfortune having been their position. To save our horses, we immediately fell back, part of the time moving on a parallel with, and almost side by side with the Confederates. our course a little west of south. We rallied on a small clearing, in which was a temporary structure, and reformed.
"At this point. Major Skelly, of our regiment, came up from the rear, and hastily pointed out a rapidly moving column of Confederate cavalry, coming down a road running north and south, and close upon our right flank. The squadron was quickly faced to meet their charge, and gallantly repulsed them. A battle flag that fell with its trooper, and which had been charged over by our men in the pursuit, and now to the rear, was picked up by one of the First New York Mounted Rifles, --- an orderly of some surgeon, -- which had just come upon the field from the rear, while its captains were reforming for another assault. This squadron lost the honor of this trophy, but with an aggressive enemy in front, that greater honor of duty first- the mark of the true soldier-was theirs.
"At this time. probably near 8 o'clock, and not later than 9. the infantry in line of battle, the first troops of our own we had encountered during the morning, came up from our rear. The commanding officer of one of its regiments. possibly of General Foster's command. Twenty-fourth Corps, called out: 'Fall in with us. and go in, and we'll give them hell.' It was a grand charge. and a long one. The batteries of the Confederates immediately opened, but we moved on and up, sweeping everything before 11s, until the crest of the hill was reached and the end came. A few moments later, a flag of truce. carried by a horseman. passed along our front from east to west. crying: 'Cease
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hostilities !' No explanation was necessary, for there, before us, lay the shattered Army of Northern Virginia, and beyond and a little to the right, its wagon train.
"No attempt will be made to portray the grandeur of the scene, or describe the unutterable joy of either captor or captive -it was home to both.
"A negro sergeant, at the head of his column that had just come up, hot and dusty from hard marching, and looking a veritable Ajax, stood speechless, his gun fell from his hand, and unconscious of the act or the presence of his colonel, pulled from his haversack a piece of pork, and, with an indescribable joy upon his face, threw it with all his force into the air, to catch and repeat. To him heaven was very close-it was freedom!
"In conclusion, it may not be out of place here to state that the courage and soldierly bearing of this squadron throughout the day was above praise. Few in numbers, confronted by an enemy made desperate by his condition. without food or rest, little or no ammunition, and, notwithstanding these, performed every duty that devolved upon it with promptness and alacrity. Real- izing that the blood of their fathers had given them a govern- ment, they willingly tendered their own to preserve it."
The captain errs in saying that the orderly who got the Confederate flag belongs to the First New York Mounted Rifle- men, as that regiment was not in the Appomattox campaign; the orderly probably belonged to the Second New York Mounted Riflemen, which was stationed not far from Elliot.
Toward night, Lieutenant Wolfe, of Company E, who had been captured at Five Forks, and a number of enlisted men who were captured during the campaign, returned to the regiment well nigh starved, having subsisted on a meagre supply of parched corn during their captivity. A few of our late enemies came to our bivouac during the afternoon who were cordially welcomed and well fed. The war was over: Confederate and Union were henceforth to live under one flag ; though for a while one would feel the pain of defeat. The Confederates had been brave soldiers. and were so treated ; they had fought against the flag they would one day fight under. Four years of bloody war. with its desolation, pain and death-its memories all would gladly forget; at last they met in common when began the era of a new national sentiment. Many years would pass be- fore the gulf would be bridged. all feeling buried. Great tragedies would be enacted before the words. "Come, let us have
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peace" would be felt in their deep significance ; as the shedding of blood had separated, so, the shedding of blood would unite. Both had their heroes, their idols, and would keep them; as soldiers, they had fought; as brave men, they would become friends, with no North, no South, but one people.
On the morning of the 12th the cavalry brigade set out for Lynchburg, and when the advance arrived near the city, the mayor and a number of influential citizens met it, surrendering the town to General Mckenzie. The brigade and the Eleventh, preceded by its band, made a triumphal entry into the city ; in a few instances the national flag was displayed, which was greeted with ringing cheers. Upon entering the town, Major Stratton was placed in command with orders to take possession of the property of the late Confederacy. During the stay at Lynch- burg, particular care was taken to assure the inhabitants that we came as friends. Strict order was maintained; pillaging was repressed by an order directing that any person caught in the act would be immediately shot. Our stay was too brief to make very much of an impression upon the people, for on the 16th the entire command took up the line of march for Richmond, which was one of the most pleasant marches . made by the Eleventh. The weather was pleasant-no war alarms-no haste -an excursion trip.
The first night out, news of Lincoln's assassination was re- ceived-for several days regarded as a mere rumor. It seemed impossible to believe there was any one so depraved as to de- liberately kill the great-hearted Lincoln.
After the evening duties were attended to, the regiment's band gave a concert, which brought out the people in large numbers, who showed little bitterness over their defeat-in fact, nearly all said they were glad that war was at an end. Perhaps, they were like an old lady who attended one of the concerts ; in a conversation with Colonel Stratton she remarked that she al- ways knew that whatever side the Lord favored would win, but she wished the Lord had been on their side.
Much of the march was over the ground of the campaign just closed. But there was another phase to be seen: those who had met us in battle were busy repairing the damage wrought by war; in fields over which armies had trod, plows were turning up the soil for spring crops. Four long years had worked harm; fields had been deserted; they had worn the gray through bloody fields; hands that had carried arms now were more peace-
II
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fully engaged. We bivouaced at Burkeville, but under different scenes than a year before. At Amelia Court House, where the command skirmished with Lee's pickets, several hundred cais- sons, partly destroyed, stood as silent witnesses of the stern ne- cessity that had faced their leader when he failed to find sup- plies for his hungry men and animals. At Flat Creek Bridge and Chula Station, the men could look upon the field of their operations on Kautz's second raid of the preceding year. No longer were these lands alive with armed hosts. No longer were the bridges watched with zealous eyes. No longer were men marching to death. No longer did foes vie for supremacy. The very lands had been made the altars of Union. Richmond was reached on the 24th.
The dismounted men who had been left at the winter camp joined their regiment ; they had entered Richmond on the morn- ing of the 3d, and had an experience of their own to relate. The people of Richmond did not at once fall in love with their new- masters ; the rougher element abounded, and encounters with our own men were common. Some even were robbed of life. usually by poisoning. The Eleventh lost one man.
Sherman's army passed through Richmond on its way to the grand review.
Colonel Stratton was sent to Staunton to parole General Rosser's command and take possession of all property which had belonged to the late Confederacy. Arriving there on the roth, he found General Duval, with a force of infantry and cavalry from the army of the Shenandoah in possession of the place, and attending to the duties which had been assigned to Colonel Stratton. The colonel returned as far as Charlottesville, and on the 16th was given charge of the adjacent country.
In the meantime Colonel Spear had resigned and Lieuten- ant-colonel Stratton was commissioned to fill th . vacancy. The new rank imposed no new duties upon the col nel, for he had been in command of the regiment for some tim .. except a brief interval after the battle of Darbytown Road. where
After Colonel Stratton assumed his new command until late in July, several companies of the Eleventh were detached for duty in the adjacent towns and counties : the rest were sta- tioned at Charlottesville, the headquarters of the sub-district. The duties of the various commands were as follows : to acquaint themselves as rapidly as possible with the conditions and neces- sities of the country under their charge; to keep the negroes
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with their old masters where satisfactory arrangements could be made ; to make arrangements for keeping and employing all for whom employment could not be found ; to repress all disorder, and to prevent pillage ; to look properly after the interests of the people, and in every way possible add to the security, com- fort, and prosperity of the country.
However, the men wished to go home; they had enlisted to put down the rebellion ; now, that their work was done, they wanted to return. A few left without getting a discharge, and were obliged to abide by the outcome incident to desertion, until . Congress came to their relief, a few years later, granting them an honorable discharge from the date of their leaving the service.
Towards the last of July, the regiment was ordered to Rich- mond for muster out, where it arrived on the 3d of August, going into camp near Manchester. On the 13th, the regiment was mustered for discharge, and the next day embarked for Balti- more. At Fortress Monroe, Company L, from the eastern shores of Virginia, rejoined it. On the 17th, the regiment ar- rived in Philadelphia, encamped at Camp Cadwalader; on the 19th, was discharged, and the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry became historic.
It was a common slur among the infantry that you never saw a dead cavalryman. Theirs was a different task ; their sphere was the raid; the infantry, the hard campaign. Both did their duty. The roster of the regiment shows that 1,800 officers and men performed their four years of service in the field. The bodies of 120 men were left in Southern lands, 130 died of wounds in Union and Confederate hospitals ; 12 of its officers had fallen in battle. Major Stewart Monroe, of Mckenzie's staff. and an officer of the regiment, led the last cavalry charge on the 9th of April. near Appomattox Court House, and was one of the last men killed in battle.
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