USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 16
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The war was over, the Southland covered with battlefields and the ravages of war; the Northland had passed under dark skies. Brave sons from the flower lands of the South and the fir lands of the North had fallen together in deadly combat. The South had its sorrows ; the North had its sorrows. Not for glory had they fought : many a brave man slept in a lonely grave or crowded trench, bearing one mark: "Unknown." From field and shop, from factory and office, from lowly walks and honored paths, they had assembled to die with no title to their name save "the country's brave." They fought not for gold, not for
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spoil, not for fame-perhaps, all were not so moved. In com- mon cause for one great principle they stood, showing to the world how volunteers can dare and die. Fields were wet with blood, that Union and Liberty might stand unchallenged.
Those four years of strife belong to the annals of the world -greater than the wars of Cæsar, or the conquests of Alexander ; more glorious than the triumphs of an ambitious Napoleon ; more lasting than the victories of Cromwell. The world will read and wonder at the shock which dyed the rivers of this land with blood, and filled the land with national cemeteries. Some will study it from the standpoint of military strategy, and will pronounce it the climax of plays and counterplays, advances and retreats, that ever surged back and forth on the world's broad acres. Some will turn back its record pages to find deeds of valor ; nor will they be disappointed-its heroes are legion. The glory of this strife was in the simple devotion of its citizen soldiery, in the spontaneous response of a patriotism that feared no danger, that counted not the cost. Though they went forth from happy homes, whose thresholds they never again would cross, by whose hearthstones they never again would while away the winter's evening, they found a higher sphere, they crossed a greater doorway-the way of duty.
Long years have passed since the scenes of this short sketch were enacted. Many of the comrades have answered to the last roll-call, have entered those tents whose curtains never outward swing. The ranks are thinner than when, in '65, the members of the Eleventh were mustered out. The fields that once groaned beneath the dead and dying are now boasting their fruitage. The mountains that once frowned upon discordant States, now stand the serene guardians of the the people's liberties. The flag that once was fired upon by rebellious subjects is the flag of a nation's heart. Petersburg and Appomattox are memories, but the principles decided on those fields of strife are the eternal monuments of their fame. All honor to the men who fought the nation's battles and stood in the breach-honor for the men who led, honor for the men who fought.
"These shall resist the empire of decay, When time is o'er, and worlds have passed away: Cold in the dust, the perished heart may lie.
But that which warmed it once can never die."
SKETCHES AND OTHERWISE.
Colonel Josiah Harlan was born in 1808, and was educated for the medical profession. He was a native of Delaware. Colonel Harlan had served under the ruler of Afghanistan, or- ganizing a body of 20,000 horsemen. He overran Beloochistan, whose ruler was a man of no mean ability. On one of these raids he carried a small mountain howitzer up into the Himalaya moun- tains, drawing a small American flag from his bosom, saluted it with the howitzer, which involved him in trouble with the Afghanistan chief. Colonel Harlan's idea was to overrun the South with cavalry, and had it not been for his age and lack of means, perhaps he had organized a mounted force which would have proved a terror to the South.
Lieutenant-Colonel Spear was a native of Boston, Mass. In 1839 he enlisted in the Second United States Dragoons, and served as private, corporal, sergeant, and first sergeant of Com- pany A up to 1844. During his enlistment he served in the war against the Florida Indians which resulted in their being removed to the Indian Territory. Sergeant Spear re-enlisted in 1848 and served until 1858, when he was discharged, having attained the rank of major sergeant. During this time he was engaged in the numerous wars with the Indians, and was with the Utah expedition under General Albert S. Johnson. From June IIth to December 15th he served as private in the ordnance de- partment. He enlisted in the Second United States Cavalry and was discharged as first sergeant of Troop F, August 5th. 1861, to enter Colonel Harlan's regiment. Inducements had been made to Colonel Spear drawing him into the Confederate sery- ice, but they were unheeded. When Colonel Harlan was mus- tered out in 1862, Lieutenant-Colonel Spear succeeded him. His long service in the old army, especially at regimental head- quarters, gave him a thorough knowledge of the administration of a regiment and mounted tactics. Spear was throughout the war the regiment's instructor, commander, hero. Individually one of the bravest men of the war, he was beloved by his men who at any time would have followed him to death. He had his faults, but was always a good fighter. The name of Colonel
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Spear and the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry will ever be linked together. He was breveted for conspicuous gallantry at Darby- town, October 7tli, 1864.
Colonel Spear and the Eleventhi Cavalry were probably better known among the rebels than any other colonel and regiment in our army. As evidence of this, when, after the fight at Ream's Station, June 29th, 1864, Captain Roberts was wounded and cap- tured, the Rebel War Department sent a committee to Peters- burg to find out if the party by the name of Roberts was not Colonel Spear, as they felt sure they had captured Spear, and were overjoyed in this belief. When they arrived Roberts had died and they were very much downcast, as they fully believed they had the Spear that had caused them so much trouble and expense.
Lieutenant Barclay was wounded and captured in. the same fight. While in the hospital at Columbus, S. C., a rebel chaplain asked, "To what command do you belong?" "I belonged to Colonel Spear's regiment, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry." "Oh, no, it is not possible that you belonged to those devils." So it appears that their knowledge and dread of Spear and his men were better known than any other regiment in the whole army.
Lieutenant-Colonel George Stetzel was a Pennsylvanian from near Carlisle. He had served an enlistment in the regi- ment of mounted riflemen, reaching the rank of corporal.
Major Samuel P. Wetherill was a fighting Quaker from Bethlehem, a thorough gentleman in every particular. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and assigned as chief or staff to General Kautz.
Little is known of Major Runyon. His service with the regiment ended in March, 1862, when he was detached and resigned in September of that year.
Company F was organized at Troy, Pa., August 24th. 1861 : mustered into United States service at Philadelphia on the 26th : marched with the regiment to Washington, D. C., thence across the Potomac to Ball's Cross Roads : was among the first cont- panies equipped, and were sent with one other company. under Major Wetlierill, to report to General O. O. Howard at or near Bloomsburg, preparatory to marching down through Maryland :
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this being the first expedition in which any companies of the regiment participated.
Company F was one of the five companies sent up the Pen- insula in the spring of 1862 to co-operate with General McClel- lan's army in the campaign against Richmond, Va. ; constituted the advance guard during a reconnaisance from Suffolk, Va., to the Blackwater in the fall of 1862, and was the first company in the regiment to be under artillery fire ; took an active part in the first engagement with the enemy at Deserted House. Va .. January, 1863. In January, 1863, by request of General Veile, commanding at Norfolk, Va., Company F was detailed for special or detached service and ordered to report to him. Were sta- tioned on the Elizabeth River and at Deep Creek on special duty for about five months. Had the honor of capturing General Wm. H. Fitz-Hugh Lee near Richmond, June 25th, 1863, who was held as a prisoner, and afterwards as a hostage, preventing there- by the enemy from shooting Union prisoners under the plea of retaliation, etc. March 4th, 1864, captured, near Six-mile Ordinary (on the Peninsula) the noted guerrilla, Frank Cotton, who was shot as an outlaw, having killed many Union pickets. Privates Joe Allen and James Van Buskirk had a hand-to-hand battle with this desperado, who refused to surrender until shot down. About this time General Kilpatrick asked Colonel Spear for a squadron of picked men to march to King and Queen Court House and punish the enemy there for a reported capture and murder of Union soldiers. Colonel Spear replied: "My men are all picked men, and could be relied on to do anything re- quired." Companies F and M were detailed for this special service, Captain Loomis in command. They met the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, charged, and drove them from the field, cap- turing eight prisoners, etc.
In Grant's campaign, beginning May, 1864, Company F took an active part ; were in the engagement at Jarrett's Station. under General Kautz ; assisted in destroying railroads and other property, and, about May 10th, joined General Butler's command at City Point. Va .. where they continued to operate with Butler's army. June 8th, 1864. Company F was selected by Colonel Spear to charge the breastworks on the Jerusalem Plank Road. near Petersburg. Va. Sergeant Lamb was killed and six men wounded in this charge. Company F took an active part in the celebrated Wilson raid. Held the left of the line during the en- gagement at Stanton River, June 25th, from morning until
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late at night ; Private Swimlas was mortally wounded and died soon after. Again, on the 29th, at Ream's Station, they were engaged or under fire the greater part of the day. Their loss was heavy, including the gallant Lieutenant D. O. Tears, who fell, as did many other brave officers and men, during the first charge. After the morning engagement, owing to the absence of superior officers, the command of the right devolved upon Captain Mitchell, who led the last and final charge ordered by General Kautz for the purpose of checking the enemy's advance. The charge was complimented by the general commanding, and resulted in stopping the advancing columns of General Hampton for a sufficient length of time to permit the escape of the Union force in large part.
The three years' enlistment expired August 24th, 1864; many of the old boys, however, re-enlisted and remained in active service until the close of the war. Captain Mitchell remained with the company until October, 1864, or some two months after his three years' enlistment had expired, when, being in poor health, he left the service and was succeeded by Captain T. T. Elliott, who remained with the boys to the end, and proved a most gallant and popular officer.
There was no better regiment in the Union Army than the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and in drill, discipline, courage, and patriotism, Company F was second to nor in that famous regiment.
BRAVE COLONEL WETHERILL.
A WAR-TIME COMRADE SKETCHES HIS CAREER
His Wise Leadership at the Chickahominy River. Memorable Achieve- ments at Jackson. A Glowing Eulogy of a Sol- dier Lately Gone to Rest. .
Colonel Samuel P. Wetherill was commissioned as major in the Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, on Oc- tober 9th, 1861, and was mustered out of the service on the first day of October, 1864, by reason of expiration of term. He will be recognized in our history as one of the great and good men of this country, and a wreath of immortal glory will crown his name for his dazzling achievements in the war. He possessed in an eminent degree two qualities, either of which is a sufficient equipment for a hero, and which are so rarely the attributes of the same man that the few who have possessed them have the foremost places on the roll of fame. He was at once a fighter and a strategist. He possessed a genius for the science of war and the hardy spirit of a ready leader. Not even Colonel Spear, the famous cavalryman, nor Colonel Mix, nor Colonel Dodge was his equal in the ready determination to stake any chance on a battle. He could do what none of the three could do,- fight a battle with perfect tactical skill, while he had as good a head for planning a campaign as any of his superiors.
A better officer, a more thorough gentleman, never drew a sword or commanded a regiment. He engaged in the war from patriotic reasons and from love of adventure and daring, and he never let an opportunity pass when he could enjoy a hazardous dash upon an enemy. He has passed over to the other side, but he has left behind him a spotless name, both as a soldier and citizen, of which his family may be justly proud. No regiment during the war had a brighter or more glorious record. None of its men were wounded in the back, for their faces were ever to the foe. Where great danger was to be encountered or important points were to be held, this regiment was always selected, and always met the expectations of its friends. It never faltered or flinched in the discharge of its duty, but was always at the post of danger until the lurid fire of the most wicked and causeless rebellion ever concocted by
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malice or machinations of treason burned themselves out amid the black ashes of overthrow and defeat.
Beloved flag! Shot from its staff at Sumter by the enemies of the Union, caught as it fell upon the bayonets of millions of patriots, borne aloft through the fearful storm of war, and at last, upon the very spot where it had been at first insulted, flung once more in triumph to the breeze by the same gallant officer who had defended the fort in 1861! What American then alive can ever forget that fearful April day? In the South the rising tide of revolt was carrying with it all classes of people; bonfires blazing, cannon saluting, troops marching to and fro. "By the first of May our flag will float over the dome of the Capitol at Washington," said the Confederate Secretary of War. Nor did it seem an idle boast. At Washington were a few com- panies of regulars; many of the best officers in sympathy with the South, which in that day of illusions counted on the lieutenant- general commanding as their friend. The fleet scattered all over the world; the great arsenals and navy yards in the Con- federate hands; low tide in the treasury. It had long been preached by Toombs, Davis, and the rest, and it began to be believed that the Yankees wouldn't fight. Finally at Charleston the gauntlet was thrown down. At the North the feeling among the people was very different. Sorrow was mingled with in- dignation. The situation had long been thought serious, but the conviction was general that somehow, in some way, the crisis would be averted. But. alas! clouds began to overcast the whole sky; the deep muttering of distant thunder was heard. and far away on the horizon the heavens were already lit up by flashes of lightning. Even yet the people hoped for the best. Now, suddenly, on April 14th, 1861, the storm burst with tre- mendous fury. At this juncture the people of the North became aroused, and all was excitement. They began seriously and earnestly to discuss the condition of our country, wondering what the end might be. Recruiting was going on to meet the emergencies of the war. There was but one thought and line of action : "The rebellion must be put down. and the loyal citizens of the republic will do it, must do it, let it cost what it may," was the cry.
Few towns, if any, furnished as many troops for the sup- pression of the Rebellion, in proportion to the population, as did the town of Bethlehem. The thrilling scenes of that eventful period in our country's history are now so far back in the past
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that our young people know nothing about them, except what they derive from history, or are told by the old, grizzly partici- pants in that terrible and bloody struggle. The valor of our troops was such, and they reflected so much credit upon our- town, that the names of those who molded them into such splendid soldiers and did such gallant service with them, deserve to be referred to occasionally in order that those who enjoy the blessings of a restored Union may know to whom they are in- debted for this great privilege. Great honor is due to such gal- lant men as Colonel Wetherill, and scores of others, who, when the war began, buckled on their swords, organized companies of men and offered their services to the Government to help put down the Rebellion, and, surrounded as they were by all the comforts and pleasures of life, from pure love of country and hatred toward treason, they left their prosperous places of busi- ness, their comfortable homes, and marched to the front in defence of their country.
In August, 1861. Captain Doster and Major Samuel Wetherill began raising a squadron of cavalry at Bethlehem. Doster's company being full first, he proceeded to Washington, D. C., where they were consigned to the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Wetherill's company was filled the latter part of Sep- tember, and shortly after they went to Philadelphia and were consigned to the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry as Company "H." The Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, the regiment in which the late Colonel Wetherill figured so prominently, was originally organized under the official designation of Harlan's Light Cavalry. It was raised as an independent regiment during the months of August and September. 1861, by Colonel Josiah Harlan, of Philadelphia. under the special authority of the Secre- tary of War. Under this authority companies were raised in different states. Company A being from Iowa, portions of Com- panies E and F from New York, a part of Company I from New Jersey. Company M from Ohio, and the remainder of the regi- ment from Pennsylvania. The organization of the regiment was completed on the fifth of October, 1861. by the muster in of the field and staff at Washington, the place of general rendezvous. Its strength consisted of 41 officers and 1089 enlisted men. The regiment." having been assigned to Brigadier-General I. N. Palmer's brigade, marched on the sixteenth of October from Camp Harlan, on Seventh Street. to Camp Palmer, near Ball's Cross Roads, where it went into camp for instruction and drills.
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On the seventeenth of November, the regiment broke up camp and marched for Annapolis, from which point it proceeded by transports to Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe. Here stables and quarters were built. At the conimencement of the spring campaign the regiment was as efficient in squadron drill, general instruction and condition of men and horses as any regiment in the service. In March, Companies M and C. under Major Runyan, were detached and ordered to Newport News for duty under General Mansfield. On the fifteenth of May, Companies A, E, G, H, and L, under Lieutenant-Colonel Spear, were detached and sent to Portsmouth, Va., and a few weeks afterwards to Suffolk, being replaced at Portsmouth by Company M, under Captain Reynolds, from Newport News. The re- maining five companies of the regiment, under Colonel Harlan, were ordered to the Army of the Potomac, at the White House, and after the seven days' battle remained in the vicinity of Wil- liamsburg until August, when they were ordered to Suffolk, and Colonel Spear assumed the command of the regiment, Colonel Harlan having been mustered out of the service on August 20. The five companies at Suffolk, at first under command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Spear, and afterwards of Major Wetherill, were constantly scouting and fighting. These five companies under Major Wetherill performed some of the most daring acts to drive the enemy from their forts and works on the Blackwater ever made by any mounted men of the same number during the war. In one instance, at Beaver Dam Church, where they had many a fight, Major Wetherill, with three companies, made a sabre charge against a superior force, four to one, of the enemy's cavalry, completely routing it. and capturing many prisoners.
On the thirteenth of July, 1863, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was encamped at Bower's Hill, near Suffolk. On the sixteenth, Colonel Spear having been placed in command of the brigade, the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Wetherill. On the twenty-fifth, the regiment, in connection with the First New York Mounted Rifles, made a raid into North Carolina, by way of Winton, for the purpose of destroying the railroad bridge at Weldon. Finding the enemy strongly posted in superior force at Jackson, an attack was made, but. failing to dislodge them, the command retired after a brisk engagement. In this engagement Major Wetherill led his regiment in a charge upon the enemy which resulted in the capture of forty prisoners and one hundred horses. The failure of this raid was caused
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by the slowness of the march, which did not exceed twenty-five miles per day, and gave the enemy time to concentrate. The delay was mainly owing to the neglect to provide horse artillery instead of the mounted battery which accompanied the expedi- tion.
Early in February, 1864, Brigadier-General Wistar's cele- brated expedition for the surprise and capture of Richmond was made. The Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry composed part of the forces. The expedition proceeded no further than Bottom's Bridge, on Chickahominy River, where it was defeated by a superior force which was stationed, artillery and infantry, in solid line on the opposite side of the river. After we were driven back from the river some distance, General Wistar ordered Col- onel Wetherill, with two companies, I and K, to move down to the river to the left of the rebels and find out if it were possible to ford the river. It was a very dangerous undertaking. Wetherill gave the command to forward, and all went well until we reached a point within seven hundred feet of the rebel bat- teries. Then they opened. Fortunately we had but a short dis- tance to go to reach shelter. With the Colonel ahead and our spurs driven deep into the flanks of our horses we lost no time in gaining the shelter. Here we found we could proceed no farther, for it was swamp all in front of us, and mud up to the horses' flanks. While we were waiting a few moments before running the batteries again, we discovered that a regiment of rebels had crossed the bridge and were hurrying up the hill to cut us off. Colonel Wetherill grasped the situation in a second, and cried: "Hold on, boys, and let them come pretty well up; we can very easily get away from their infantry, and while their infantry is so close they will keep their batteries silent." As soon as the rebel infantry came up near where we had to pass, the Colonel ordered, "Forward! Make every horse do his best."
The rebel infantry were rather taken by surprise, for they had no idea that we were hidden so near in the brush. In fact we got nearly out of musket range before they could fire. But when we nearly reached the top of the hill their batteries opened and one of our men had his head blown clear from his body. He had a death grip on his saddle, and rode four hundred feet headless, when his lifeless body fell from his horse.
In 1864 Major-general A. V. Kautz took command of our cavalry division, composed of the Eleventh Pennsylvania, First District of Columbia, Third New York, and Fifth Pennsylvania
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regiments. About this time Major Wetherill was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, and served as chief of staff to General Kautz, and I think remained in that capacity until mustered out.
A nation mourns for our departed comrades. Their sur- viving comrades will cherish their memory with sad yet fond remembrance, and the great republic will proudly honor those who happily have been permitted to return to their homes, wit- nessing the fruits of their toils and damages. Brave fallen, rest in your glory! Honored survivors, a grateful country greets you!
CAPTAIN JAMES E. FLEMING.
HE left a mercantile position in Philadelphia immediately at the outbreak of the war. Belonging to an old and well known family on the west branch of the Susquehanna River, Pennsyl- vania, he proceeded there, and in Clinton and adjoining counties recruited forty men for Harlan's Independent Brigade, and at the expense of relatives and friends took them to Washington, D. C., where he expected to join Colonel Harlan, but on arrival found he was not there. After several days he exhausted his funds maintaining his men. An effort was made to force his men into a New York regiment, which he resisted; as they were not mustered in he gave them their liberty to select their own com- mands, which they did, joining different regiments.
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