USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 2
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The morning opened quietly. The day was fair. While the major was seated on a boat in front of the house a man rode up rapidly from the polls and inquired what his object was in coming there. Major Wetherill replied, "I am not aware of the fact that the matter concerns you individually, but I will ask you a few questions. What is your name?" He answered, "Basil Duke." Looking over his list of names and finding the stranger's name among the suspected persons, the major said: "Mr. Bake, have you voted?" "Yes, sir:" at which the major said: "I think you had better go home and give me your parole of honor that you won't leave it during the time the polls are
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ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
open." He asked, "Why?" "I' find your name among those reported to the Government. I do not see that you have done anything yet that would warrant your arrest, but I think it would be better for you to give me your parole of honor and go home." He demurred a little at this. The major said: "I don't want to arrest vou and take you to Washington, but should any disturbances arise during the progress of this election, I shall be obliged to do so. I advise you to take the caution." He ·did so. At sunset, after the close of the election, many citizens, including the judges of the courts, said there had never been so quiet and sober an election at St. Leonards. The command re- turned to Lower Marlboro, where General Howard was anxiously awaiting it. He expressed his unqualified approval of the man- ner in which the matter had been conducted. The good con- duct of the men had met his expectation.
The associations at Camp Palmer were pleasant, though the weather was inclement; yet by this time the regiment had become accustomed to the rudiments of soldiering.
There was considerable foot and mounted drill, also any amount of camp and stable guard duty to perform. The officers were well instructed, both concerning their duties, and in foot and mounted drill. But the sanitary conditions soon became worse than at Camp Harlan, for the measles broke out, fever became prevalent, and, worst of all, homesickness began to be felt. Many a soldier, loyal to his country, moistened his sleep with tears, as home and all it holds dear came before his vision. And we would have it so, for when the fires of such feelings die, and only their white ashes are left, soldiering becomes brutal, and the inspirations of true soldiery are dead. In the heat of chivalrous ardor, many had parted from their friends and kin, unconscious of the hardships and loneliness it entailed. These things,-the march, the camp, its sickness .- impressed them and they wept as they remembered happier days, for they had as yet, no victories to give them cheer. A sntler came to Camp Palmer, but his stay was short. A chaplain also put in an appearance, but he failed to win the men. An attempt was made to enforce church attendance, but after a few attempts, the idea was aban- doned, and the clergyman soon resigned, since not enough at- tended to read the responses.
It had been known for several weeks that the organization of the regiment as "Harlan's Independent Light Cavalry" was irregular, as Congress had only authorized the raising of the regi-
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ORGANIZATION.
ments by States. On the 13th of November it was attached to the Pennsylvania State organization, and received the official designation "Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry," though many thought it would have been the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The men were not a little disappointed at receiving so high a number, for soldiers like to be considered veterans as soon as possible, and low numbered regiments savor of long service. But the feeling of disappointment soon wore away, and the men of the Eleventh became proud of their number; for a name or number made honorable by gallant service, though the re- ceiving of such may be contrary to wish, is worn with honor- valor has given it distinction, its members become heroes.
CHAPTER II.
ON THE MARCH AND CAMP HAMILTON.
ON the 17th of November the regiment broke camp and recrossed the Potomac. The Long Bridge was undergoing re- pairs and the men were compelled to ride by file over planks temporarily laid down, which caused a long delay, and they sat shivering in a cold wind which swept down the river. All the convalescents from the regimental hospital had been ordered to join their companies when the regiment broke camp. Many had been suffering from measles and the exposure caused them to contract colds, so that many were discharged before the winter was over.
When the river had been crossed the regiment marched down Pennsylvania Avenue out to the dilapidated village of Bladensburg where the night was spent. Bladensburg was fa- mous in the early years of the century as a duelling ground, when such was the method of avenging personal affronts or in- justice.
The regiment broke camp on the morning of the 18th, con- tinting its march, and made an impressive appearance as it ' marched over the hills and through the woods of Maryland. The roads were not fenced on either side as in the North, and as the line of march led across plantations, the darkies turned out to get their first sight of "de sojers." They lined the way with dusky faces, some had probably never seen so many people together at one time, and as they looked on in amazement at the novel sight they asked each other if "dem's all de people in de wuld?" Towards evening the regiment went into camp near an old convent. the sole occupants of which appeared to be two sisters. An aged priest dwelt in a house near by.
The sisters began to give the men something to eat, but soon found that rather taxing upon their resources. and com- menced to charge for supplies, but money being very scarce. the old ladies were soon without visitors. The soldiers could eat, but not buy.
Sergeant Cruikshank thus speaks of breaking camp the next morning: "I was much interested the next morning watch- ing the breaking up of our camp: at one moment the sun was
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ON THE MARCH AND CAMP HAMILTON.
shining on the array of tents, the next, at the sound of the bugle, they had all disappeared." After a pleasant march of twelve miles, Annapolis was reached in the afternoon. Quite a body of Massachusetts troops had been collected there, who afterward composed the Burnside expedition, and they turned out to wel- come our regiment. Camp was pitched near St. John's Hos- pital, the only new building in the place; the rest were some- what of an older type. Owing to the non-arrival of transports, the regiment remained in Annapolis several days, during which there was daily drill on the college campus.
Amid the sounds of martial music and tread of armed hosts hymeneal bells sometimes are heard, while soldiers pause for marriage vows. On the Sunday prior to the arrival of transports, at officers' call, Colonel Spear broke the news that he was to be married by the chaplain, Dr. Stewart, after service at the Episcopal Church, and would be very glad if the officers of the regiment would attend the ceremony. All spruced up and went to the church, and after service waited for the nuptial ceremony,-which did not take place. Mrs. R. Penn Smith had become excited over the difficulty of finding the clerk of the court and getting the license. After the license had been gotten by the colonel the lady declined having a public wedding. They were married in the evening at the hotel. At mess Chaplain Stewart was telling the reasons why Mrs. Smith would not be married after service, when Lieutenant Rice, sitting on a mess chest at the table, remarked: "Yes, yes, he had better not mar- ried her at all, for she's a nervous old woman."
The stay at Annapolis was a pleasant one. The men were given considerable freedom; whoever desired could explore the old town to their heart's content. Fish and oysters were abun- dant and cheap: those with money could buy; those without- beg, catch, or steal-no one (of the regiment) suffered from want. The Naval Academy was closed for the reason that it had been moved to Newport. R. I .. the previous spring. It was in the Capitol building General Washington resigned his commission to Congress at the close of the Revolution, and local tradition still held dear the times Washington had shared its hospitality.
The regiment was then transferred to Fortress Monroe and encamped on the road to Hampton. Camp Hamilton was destined to be the home of the regiment for several months. It seemed like a new world to the men, for most of them had lived among the hills and mountains of Pennsylvania, but were now
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ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
in a country of plains, though the woods were dense and beauti- ful, and full of a new species of trees.
The change from the vicinity of Washington to Fortress Mon- roe was a good one for the Eleventh. General Wood was an old "regular" who understood the handling of troops. The first thing done was the building of stables for the horses. The regiment had several carpenters in its ranks, most of whom were detailed, and under the superintendence of Lieutenant Rice, six double stables were built, each of which had room for two hun- dred and six horses. The wedge tents which had previously been used were turned over to the quartermasters, and Sibley tents were issued in their place-a tent which greatly added to comfort. While the building was going on the men took enough lumber to floor their tents and to build doorways ..
Soon after the arrival of the regiment at Fortress Monroe, it was fully armed with sabers and pistols, also ten carbines to each company. All the companies except Company A were uniformed before leaving Camp Harlan, and by the time Camp Hamilton was reached, the men of that company were rather unusual in their dress; the company was excused from parade and inspections, but one day it was ordered out in full uniform. The weather was pleasant, and Captain Stratton obeyed the order, so far as possible, to the very letter. He requested the men to appear on parade in their stable jackets. The effect was rather startling, since there were several ladies in camp. but it accomplished its end, and hastened the long needed Gov- ernment clothing.
The equipment of the volunteer army by the Government was rather grotesque. since a lot of useless equipments were is- sued. Each cavalryman received a lariat rope and pin-all right. perhaps, out on the Western plains, but rather out of place in a cavalry regiment, unless they were expected to capture the Con- federacy. Each artilleryman had a saber of no use whatever. except on occasions of ceremony; and to the non-commissioned officers in the infantry. long, slender swords were given, which were on a par with the sabers. If a premium had been offered for an odd, unsightly, ungainly uniform, especially along the line of ornamental headgear. the board of army officers which concocted the uniforms worn by the enlisted men during '61 would have carried off first prize. The dress coat of the in- fantry, together with the brass shoulder scales worn by all en- listed men, made a decided impression : the forage caps and the
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ON THE MARCH AND CAMP HAMILTON.
big dress hat, with its wide brim star gazing, its big feather streaming, its brass trimmings gleaming, were a sight-a circus number.
The army dress was not. at first, tailor fashion, and many a slender man, when rigged out in full regalia, made a startling effect-on the birds. But these useless equipments and append- ages were practically eliminated from the army during the cam- paigns of 1862. The lariat ropes and pins of the cavalry were gotten rid of, the brass shoulder scales were thrown away,-the roads up the peninsula from Fortress Monroe to Williamsburg were filled with them,-more practical equipments and wearing apparel were given to all.
The commanding officer of Camp Hamilton was Colonel Max Weber, of the Twentieth New York Volunteers. Colonel Weber was a native of Germany, and had received a military education in his native country. He served with distinction in the unsuccessful uprising in 1848-49, and with other leaders of the Revolutionary party, emigrated to the United States. The other infantry regiments at Camp Hamilton were the First Dela- ware, Colonel Andrews; the Sixteenth Massachusetts, Colonel Wyman; and the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania, Colonel Jones- all of which returned their battle flags to the adjutant-general of their respective States, marked with the names of the battle fields upon which they had waved amid shot and shell, where their possessors had won imperishable renown.
There was another infantry organization at Camp Hamilton, the Ninety-ninth New York, Colonel Wardrope, recruited for coast service, and it was frequently called the "Naval Brigade" and "Coast Guard." During the war a large number of the offi- cers and men of the Ninety-ninth served on the army gunboats in the tide-water region of Virginia and North Carolina. The crew of the "Congress" at the time of the naval battle in Hampton Roads were from the Ninety-ninth.
The mounted troops besides the Eleventh at Camp Hamil- ton, was the battalion of New York Mounted Riflemen, Major Dodge, which was afterwards increased to a regiment, with the major as its colonel. The light artillery was batteries D and L. of the Fourth United States, commanded by Captains Fallett and Howard.
General Wood was wont to look after the mounted detail of his command, instead of trusting to his staff officers, as the army regulations contemplated. He made frequent visits to the
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ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
regimental camps of his command, and nothing escaped his no- tice. His discipline was severe but just; the men were made to feel they had rights as well as duties, and the faithful perform- ance of duties was the best way to ensure the former, with privi- leges added. Instead of being restricted to a single railroad track for supplies, which was the case at Washington, General Wood had both the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean, and an abundance of supplies was received for man and beast; vegetables and milk could be obtained from the farmers living in the vicinity of the camp, and soon a new status of affairs was felt in the entire camp. The horses were soon in good condition and mounted drill was the order of the day. ' At first the regiment was taught the double rank drill, which was continued until after the Ist of January, 1862, when General Cook's single rank tactics were adopted and used until the following spring, an order then being received to return to the original tactics, an order which was gladly obeyed by Colonel Spear. After the war, double rank formation was abolished and the single rank, with some modification. was adopted in its place.
A regimental band was organized at Camp Hamilton by detailing men who had. or who fancied they had. musical ability. During the winter they made a fair degree of progress. Its in- tentions were well meant. but it had the usual objections that ac- company a new band -- something out of harmony. We have all enjoyed (?) such practice. The band was mounted on dun- colored horses which became proficient in tactics long before their riders did in music. But Orpheus by-and-by breathed upon them and they could play. The band was involuntarily disbanded on the 20th of June, 1864, at Reams Station.
The first picket duty done by the Eleventh was after the middle of January, 1862. and the nearest rebel picket was at Big Bethel (about eight miles from Camp Hamilton) with cavalry videttes about two miles nearer, on the Black River and Sawyer Swamp Roads. The Union picket line was on the west side of the village of Hampton with a vidette at the forks of the New Market Bridge and New Bridge Roads. The only use made of the cavalry for picket duty was to send, four times every twenty-four hours, a sergeant with a squad of men to the New Market Bridge, a duty which was relieving to the men, as it broke the monotony of camp life. But few of the enemy were seen during the winter.
. The village of Hampton was the western limit of the camp,
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ON THE MARCH AND CAMP HAMILTON.
and is located on both sides of Hampton Creek. All of the town on the west side of the creek was burned in August of '61, by order of the Confederate General Magruder, to prevent the Northern troops from using the place for quarters the ensuing winter. Among the ruins at Hampton was the Episcopal Church, one of the oldest in the United States, being built of brick imported from England, early in the eighteenth century. In the graveyard which surrounded the old church was a neat modern monument, made distinct by the old types of tombstones, which had been erected at the grave of a sergeant of artillery who had been accidentally killed at the Fortress a year or two previous-the monument had been placed there by his com- rades. Earth had been thrown up against the brick wall sur- rounding the graveyard converting it into a breastwork. Spring flowers came up in the openings amid the ruins, as if nature was endeavoring to hide the ravages of man, to add something of beauty to the scene of ruin. There were only two small frame houses left standing on the west side.
On the 14th of February the Eleventh, under Colonel Spear, made a reconnaissance toward Big Bethel. When the advance guard arrived at Little Bethel, they found the abandoned quar- ters of the enemy's reserve picket, which had evidently beat a hasty retreat. The regiment marched to the vicinity of Big Bethel, when it countermarched and returned to camp. This was the first time the whole regiment had advanced into the enemy's country.
The following is Major Wetherill's story of the regimental cat: "On arriving March Ist at the camp allotted to us by General Palmer, while my servant was busy putting up my tent, being thirsty, I walked over to a somewhat demolished house a couple of hundred yards away to get water from the well. As I sat on the porch a half-starved cat ilew hastily out of the cellar window, and, seeing a stranger, at once flew back. I returned to camp after satisfying my thirst, and getting some cold meat went back again. When I stepped out upon the porch the cat sprang out again, and before she could get back I threw a small piece of meat before her, which she ate. I then set down the plate of meat, which was greedily devoured. After she had emptied it, I started to go back to camp and the cat followed. She re- mained in my tent until we had orders to march to Annapolis, when my servant put her in a basket and carried her over to the commissary department.
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ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
"The cat remained with the regiment all through the war, visiting around when camps were established, the headquarters of the officers and men. She became a favorite in the regiment, and whenever the order was given to move the men would say, 'Where is puss? Send her to the commissary wagon.' The cat learned to know that the commissary wagon was her home when the regiment was on the march, and as soon as the regiment was in camp would begin again her visits. When the regiment was mustered out in 1865 at Philadelphia, the cat was drawn for by the orderly sergeants of the twelve companies and was taken home by one of them."
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CHAPTER III.
HAMPTON ROADS.
DURING the winter refugees, deserters, and contrabands from the enemy's country brought word from time to time that the Confederates were constructing an iron-clad marine mon- ster at the Norfolk Navy Yard, which would devour all on land and sea. Little attention was given to this report, regarding it as a wild rumor intended to create alarm. After the destruction of the Norfolk Navy Yards, the Confederates raised the sunken "Merrimac" and lined her sides with steel plates and rails. On the afternoon of the 8th of March a heavy black smoke was seen approaching from the direction of Norfolk, which proved to be the craft of which so much had been heard during the winter. She steamed directly toward the frigate "Cumberland," which was anchored near Newport News. The two days' naval battle then began, when the reign of wooden vessels ended and the era of iron vessels began. The "Merrimac" wrought terrific de- struction that afternoon; like a demon she poured forth fire and death, an irresistible monster, something like the fabled terrors of the sea. By nightfall the "Cumberland" had been sunk, the "Congress" had run up the white flag, and the "Merrimac" appar- ently had the rest of the Union fleet at her mercy, only waiting for the dawn of another day to complete lier victory.
During the afternoon the Eleventh was ordered to proceed to Newport News where an attack was expected to be made by the enemy under General Magruder. Never was the call "boots and saddles" more readily responded to than on this occasion. Real war was in the air; the thundering of guns had shaken the air and the regiment was soon on its way to the scene of con- flict. As Newport News was neared, a number of the crew of the "Congress" were met, all of whom bore marks of the battle-their faces were blackened with powder and some were covered with blood-the first blood the men of the Eleventh had seen shed by the enemy.
It was nearly night when Newport News was reached and the fighting for the day had about closed. Company A was left at Newmarket Bridge on picket and a company was sent out from Newport News for the same purpose upon the arrival
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ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
of the regiment at that place. The men were supposed to "stand to horse" all night, but they had not yet learned strict obedience, and many stole away after dark to learn the news. The reports were far from cheering-two war vessels had been destroyed, and what the morrow would bring forth, save destruc- tion, none dared to guess. All felt that after destroying the fleet, the "Merrimac" and her consorts would turn their fire upon the . land forces, so that with a fleet in front and an army in our rear, surrender would soon be the final issue. Not an inspiring situation, except to arouse grim resolution. Still the men of the Eleventh did not lose heart; there were many things to divert their thoughts from the gravity of their surroundings, chief of these, the magnificent scene produced by the firing. The commanding officer of the "Congress," seeing that a con- tinuance of the fighting would end in the complete destruction of his ship and crew, and that the result of resistance would merit nothing save personal bravery, ran up the white flag. The
enemy then attempted to board their prize, but the forces on shore, regarding the ship as rebel property, opened a heavy fire of artillery and musketry on those attempting to take pos- session of her, killing and wounding several of the enemy. The commander of the rebel fleet. since it was impracticable to seize the ship, ordered her to be set on fire by hot shot. The scene which followed is described by the Confederate General Col- ston in the Century Magasine, writing on the battle between the "Merrimac" and the "Monitor": "And now followed one of the grandest episodes of the splendid yet sombre drama. Night had come. mild and calin, refulgent with the beauty of Southern skies in early spring. The moon in her second quarter was just rising over the rippling waters, but her silvery light was soon paled by the conflagration of the 'Congress' whose lurid glare was reflected on the river. The burning frigate four miles away seemed much nearer. As the flames crept up the rigging, every mast. spar, and rope glittered against the sky in dazzling lines of fire. The hull, aground upon the shore, was plainly visible, and upon its black surface each porthole seemed the mouth of a fiery furnace. For hours the flames raged with hardly a per- ceptible change in the wondrous picture. At irregular inter- vals loaded guns and shells, exploding as the fire reached them. sent forth their deep reverberations, re-echoed over and over again from every headland of the bay. The masts and rigging were still standing, apparently almost intact, when about two
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HAMPTON ROADS.
o'clock in the morning a monstrous sheet of flame leaped from the vessel to an immense height. The sky was rent in twain by the tremendous flash. Blazing fragments seemed to fill the air, and after a long interval, a deep, deafening report an- nounced the explosion of the ship's powder magazine. When the blinding glare had subsided, one supposed every vestige of the vessel would have disappeared, but apparently all the force of the explosion had been upward. The rigging had vanished en- tirely, but the hull seemed hardly shattered, the only apparent change was the blowing of two or three port-holes into a great gap. It continued to blaze until the brightness of its glare was eclipsed by the morning sun."
We quote from Colonel Wetherill's diary: "On December 12th, I was taken ill with typhoid fever and was transferred to the hospital at Hygeia Hotel, remaining there until the 29th of the same month, when I went home and did not return to the regiment until the 3d of February, 1862. A rumor would oc- casionally circulate of the great results that would come from a new iron-clad rebel vessel, and on Sunday morning, March 9th, 1862, cannonading was heard in the direction of Newport News. The infantry under Major-general Weber leit before dinner, one squadron of the Eleventh under Lieutenant-colonel Spear taking the advance. After dinner our regiment received orders to move, which Colonel Harlan delayed so that we did not get off until after 3 P. M.
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