USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 5
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Regimental, company, and squad drill was resumed; the discipline of the regiment improved so that the Eleventh soon became one of the best fighting regiments in the service. On the 3d of October Colonel Spear, with the Eleventh, a section of Captain Howard's regular battery, and one or two infantry regiments, made a reconnaissance to Franklin on the Black- water. Arriving at the river Colonel Spear immediately opened fire on the enemy's position across the river, and kept up a vigorous fire for over an hour. The enemy replied with ar- tillery and a rocket battery which had been captured from our forces during the Seven Days' battle on the peninsula. The Eleventh took no active part in this affair. The regiment was formed in columns by squadrons to the right and rear of the artillery under fire from the rocket battery. This was the first time that the regiment as a whole had been under fire. No one was wounded, but the fearful noise and hissing of the rocket shells was rather disquieting. After developing the enemy's position at Franklin. Colonel Spear withdrew. Two infantrymen had been killed and five wounded.
On the 5th of October Colonel Spear with the Eleventh
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made another trip to Blackwater, this time to South Quay and vicinity, but no enemy was encountered. On the return to camp the regiment bivouaced for the night near the residence of one of that class, peaceable during the day but a bushwhacker at night. Some time previous to this a muster-roll of a guerilla company had been found in this neighborhood, and the name of this man was there as captain. When the regiment was set- tled for the night Colonel Spear gave permission to loot the man's estate, which was readily done. A large amount of wine, brandy, and apple jack was found-the captain's barrels were not so full next morning.
During the fall of 1862 the Masons of the Thirteenth Indiana were granted a dispensation by the Grand Lodge of their State to hold a military lodge while in the service. Meet- ings were held in the hall at Suffolk and members of the fra- ternity in the Eleventh as well as in the other regiments fre- quently attended their meetings.
About this time the regiment was called upon to witness the ceremony of drumming out of camp one of its members. The culprit was Lewis Hickox, an ex-regular, with all the vices and but few of the virtues of his class. He was a hard char- acter, especially so when under the influence of liquor. It was said that his double teeth were nearly all worn out from chew- ing the bayonet while undergoing numerous "buck and gag- gings" in the regular army. Hickox was court-martialed for attempting to kill a storekeeper near Camp Hamilton the previous spring, and was sentenced to a dishonorable discharge and to be drummed out of camp. Hickox was brought under guard before a special parade of the regiment; the charges, findings, and sentence of the court were read by the adjutant; then all his Government clothing was taken off except his underwear by the guard and he was given a dishonorable dis- charge. The guard consisted of a corporal and four men (two in front of the prisoner with sabers at a rear point, two at the rear with sabers at a carte point), accompanied by two drummers and a fifer. Thus they marched the culprit out of camp to the lively quickstep of the "Rogue's March." Hardened as he was Hickox seemed to have a keen realization of his disgrace.
Thomas- Jackson passed through a similar experience at Suffolk the following spring, but when he was stripped of Gov- ernment clothing he was found to be clad in a full suit of citi- zen's clothes, including a pair of slippers. He went dancing out
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of camp. Jackson was not looked upon as a vicious man, but on account of his singular conduct he received less sympathy than did Hickox. There was more manhood in the one who seemed to sense his disgrace than the other who seemed to find pleasure in escaping service.
During the next eight months numerous excursions were made to the Blackwater. The country between the Blackwater and Suffolk was decidedly of one character-wide tracts of forest, and at long intervals plantations, on which lone scat- tered stalks of corn were standing on a thin and famished soil; roads of the most wretched make; houses, for the most part in a tumble-down condition, occupied by old men, women, and children,-everywhere there appeared signs of direst poverty. It may be that the raising and selling of "niggers," the distill- ing and drinking of apple jack had undermined the self-respect and industry of these parts -- it may be so. The long-continued practice of a pernicious principle will demoralize any people, until the very land itself assumes an evil-stricken, God-forsaken appearance.
Apple jack was one of the soldiers' enemies, though he might not so have regarded it. A small drink would set a soldier's brain on fire with the worst frenzy of spirit-drinking.
On one of the Blackwater expeditions a member of a West- ern regiment in a dispute with a comrade received a blow on the head that broke his skull and drove the hammer into the brain. The surgeon left him for dead, leaving him in another's care. When the regiment arrived in camp preparations were made for his funeral, and his grave was dug. But when the rear guard of cavalry came along, not clearly understanding the case, he was made to mount a horse and ride to the camp. He did so. and in addition walked a half mile from the cavalry camp to his own, passing by the grave which had been dug for him prematurely.
Picket duty here as elsewhere was considered a favored duty because it relieved men from the drudgery of camp life. giving to them more liberty than fell to their lot when under the vigilance of field officers. Then, too, it gave them an op- portunity of securing better eating-always an essential-either by purchase or otherwise. The Edenton. Somerton, and South Quay Roads were picketed by the Eleventh, leaving the rest to the New York Mounted Riflemen. One company picketed the three roads for a week at a time. and the reserves were di-
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vided into four, instead of the usual three reliefs, which made duty less arduous to the men on post.
On October 24th a reconnaissance, consisting of 8,000 in- fantry, artillery, and cavalry. started for Blackwater. The car- alry succeeded in crossing after many ludicrous scenes of swim- ming horses, and penetrated some distance into the enemy's country. The object of the expedition was to intercept the enemy at Ivor, but failed because Colonel Dodge, of the New York Mounted Rifles, led the column fifteen miles out of the way, and time was lost in counter-marching the command.
The weather had continued delightful all through the fall, but on waking one morning all were surprised to see several inches of "snow, beautiful snow," on the ground. All were wont to think of the South as the land of roses and summer, but Boreas had decided to change the programme, adorning the trees with snow wreaths instead of bloom. Great exertion was necessary to keep comfortable, for the change was unexpected, hence, un- prepared for. The older people in the vicinity styled it the coldest winter for sixty years. The contrabands said the Yankees made it so.
On November 19th General Wessel's expedition started out, consisting of two brigades of infantry, six pieces of artillery, and the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. In the morning two hun- dred. Confederates were met on the Carsville Road. The regi- ment proceeded to Beaver Dam and reached Lawrence's Ford next morning. Three companies of the Eleventh, Companies A. H, G, crossed the ford and drove the enemy back into the country. A swamp prevented the troops from following them up. Orders were received recalling the expedition. Thus ended the big Blackwater raid, a failure because, after crossing the river, the ground was too swampy for the artillery.
.The data at hand concerning the affair of the Rocket Battery being so confused, but a bare note can be made of this im- portant happening.
.On December Ist a body of infantry moved out in the direction of Blackwater. On the afternoon of the same day the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was sent out in the same di- rection. At four o'clock in the morning of the next day they halted near Beaver Dam Church for breakfast. The cavalry were on the road north of the church. Pickets were stationed south where the road crossed the railroad, and also on the road west of the church. Breakfast was being served when sud-
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denly it was announced by a scout that a body of Confederate cavalry was advancing on the road leading from Franklin. The morning repast was hastily disposed of and a battalion under Major Franklin A. Stratton was ordered to proceed in the di- rection of the reported advance of the enemy, and this reconnais- sance resulted in the capture of the famous Rocket Battery by the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. Company A, in command of George S. Ringland, had the right of the advance column, Lieutenant John L. Roper having command of the advance guard which was made up of a detail from the several com- panies of the regiment, and upon meeting the enemy was some distance in advance of the command under Major Stratton. Lieutenant Roper, upon coming in sight of the Confederate column, ordered and led the charge, and was nobly supported by the gallant little force under his command, and was soon joined by the no less gallant men of the battalion. The enemy at once turned and commenced a hasty retreat. A running fight was kept up for quite a distance until the heroic men of the Eleventh were recalled. Two sections of the battery were captured and some thirty or more Confederates taken prisoners. The Rocket Battery was taken charge of, and upon the return of the regiment to camp it was placed in front of the colonel's quarters, and some of the boys have cause to remember it well. for it was one of the colonel's favorite punishments for an offense to require them to march around the battery under the charge of the sentinel at headquarters. It is to be regretted that we are unable to give the names of all of the companies and officers par- ticipating in this brilliant affair.
The chaplain of the Sixth Massachusetts has tendered a few words of hearty praise relative to the action of the Eleventh at this time which bears quoting: "The expedition was under the command of Colonel Spear, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. We marched without a halt till after sunrise next morning, when we encamped around Beaver Dam Church, three miles from Franklin. We were comfortably cooking our break- fast when the mounted picket brought our commander news which sent all available men to their saddles, and we soon saw that finest of military sights-a cavalry charge. Mounted. on splendid horses, bold riders and brave officers led by Major Stratton, the advance by Lieutenant John L. Roper, this crack corps swept like a tornado through our ranks. Soon we heard firing and knew that fighting was in progress, and ere long the
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bespattered squadrons returned with prisoners and spoils. We learned that they encountered a force equal to their own four companies, aided by two pieces of the famous Rocket Battery. This gun throws a rocket with great force. accompanied by a fearful noise, which caused the utmost confusion among the horses, and for a long time had been the terror of our cavalry. Our cavalry charged with the utmost impetuosity upon the ioe, who made no resistance but sought escape over the Blackwater, but were overtaken about a mile out of Franklin. Thirty cav- alry and battery men were captured, most of whom were more or less sabered."
On the 24th a ball was held at headquarters at which twenty-five ladies and one hundred and twenty officers were present.
Christmas Day at Camp Suffolk: "At officers' call it was proposed that we should mount and pay our respects to the general commanding and brigade commander, with the band. Our march was an ovation. Regiment after regiment paraded on both sides, and the officers of the Eleventh were cheered lustily. After spending a couple of hours with Colonel Dodge, First New York Mounted Rifles, thence to General Spinola. Colonel Mckibben, General A. Gibbs, then colonel of the One Hundred and Thirtieth New York, and Colonel Dyers, a special train took to Norfolk all the officers who wished to attend the theatre."
Major Wetherill's battalion of cavalry did not accompany Colonel Spear on the Blackwater expedition, which was made the early part of January, having just returned from a four days' reconnaissance with Generals Ferry and Wingfield. But before daylight of January 7th they were off on a reconnaissance to Somerton to guard Colonel Spear's left flank.
After the Beaver Dam Church affair. the Eleventh resumed the old routine of duty, scouting and picketing. On the 28th the greater part of the Eleventh accompanied General Spinola's New York Brigade to Chowan River, via Gatesville, where it embarked for New Berne. N. C. Early in January of 1863, Gen- eral Terry's Brigade left for New Berne by the same route General Spinola had taken. More risk being involved than at the departure of General Spinola, Colonel Spear, with a force consisting of 600 of the Eleventh, Captain Howard's Battery, and four companies of infantry, was sent toward the Blackwater to cover General Terry's right flank in case the enemy under
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General Pryor should try to interfere with his line of march. Colonel Spear's command marched to Holland's Corner on the South Quay Road and there bivouaced for the night. The colonel's instructions were to proceed from Holland to Somerton, but much was left to his own discretion relative to the approach of the enemy from any quarter. Acting under these instructions Colonel Spear marched to Carrsville next morning where he learned that General Pryor was at Barbour's Cross Roads, about fifteen miles northwest of Suffolk, and that he had a good-sized force of infantry and cavalry, and fourteen pieces of artillery. General Terry was thirty-seven miles south of that place. Know- ing that if General Pryor intended to move against General Terry, this would be his probable route. Colonel Spear moved a short distance beyond Carrsville and positioned his command to intercept the enemy if it came that way; but before he had completed the arranging of his command, a dispatch was re- ceived from General Peck ordering Colonel Spear to march at once to Somerton, according to the original instructions. The colonel immediately obeyed, marched to Quaker Church, and there bivouaced for the night. Before morning Colonel Spear received another dispatch ordering him to march to Windsor, as General Peck had learned that the information received by the colonel at Carrsville on the previous day was correct. During the night Colonel Spear's command was reinforced by a regiment of cavalry and three companies of the Eleventh (the remainder of the regiment) under Major Wetherill. Early on the morn- ing of the 10th, Colonel Spear took up the line of march for Windsor via Blanchard's deserted house and Western Branch Church, arriving there in the afternoon.
When our advance guard under Lieutenant John L. Roper arrived at Windsor, two couriers with a dispatch to General Pryor were captured. Upon arriving at Windsor Colonel Spear sent out scouts, and it was soon learned that General Pryor had returned to Franklin, passing over the ground occupied by the colonel on the previous day, and doubtless had the colonel been allowed to proceed as he first intended. General Terry's flank would have been protected, many miles of marching through sleet and rain spared, a battle fought, and the colonel would have had the golden opportunity of his military career, for a successful engagement would have insured his promotion.
But General Pryor failed to appear, and orders were given next day to return to Suffolk, which promised a night march.
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During the previous night a storm of rain and sleet had set in. The mud was exceptionally deep and a strong northeast wind drove the rain in the face of the moving regiment. The night was dark, halts were frequent, the infantry could be heard, but not seen, as they splashed along. At one time an hour's delay was made, the artillery ahead being stuck in the mud. The delay being unpleasant, and the men losing patience. they began to yell, some imitating the officers giving orders-a perfect bedlam. But there comes to all things an end; so did the toil- some and dreary night march.
The battle of the Deserted House was the next important move, which was fought during the early morning hours by the commands of General Corcoran and the Confederates under General Pryor. From General Pryor's official statement, his troops consisted of three infantry regiments, 150 cavalry, and 16 pieces of artillery,-all told. 1,800 men, evidently far from the actual number engaged. The battle was principally an artillery duel, with the advantage of size of guns and a full knowledge of the country on his side. There was no disposition made of the cavalry during this fight. It was left in columns of four at the rear of the Union batteries, under fire of the enemy's ar- tillery. Lieutenant Roper's charges upon the enemy's pickets were executed with creditable dash. During the artillery duel, one of the enemy's shells struck a lumber chest of Battery D. Fourth United States, and blew it up. One of the artillerymen was sitting astride of the caisson delivering ammunition. He. went up with it. When he came down he scrambled to his feet and commenced putting out the fire.
It was reported at the time of the battle that Colonel Spear killed a sergeant of one of the Pennsylvania regiments during the fight. It was reported that the sergeant said to the colonel, "D-n you, you have drafted us, but you can't make us fight." But no one appears to have seen the affair. In 1864 the Lu- serne Union, of Wilkes-Barre, published an account of the affair. charging Colonel Spear with the killing. When the colonel was shown the paper. he was a sphinx.
The following is Lieutenant Roper's account of the battle:
"The reconnaissance was under the command of General Corcoran .. The force consisted of the Thirteenth Indiana, Sixty- ninth, One Hundred and Twelfth. One Hundred and Thirtieth, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth, and One Hundred and Sixty- fourth New York, Sixth Massachusetts, One Hundred and
-
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Sixty-fifth and One Hundred and Sixty-Seventh Pennsylvania Regiments (drafted men). Battery D Fourth United States Ar- tillery, and the Seventh Massachusetts Battery, and the Elev- enth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
"I was ordered to report to General Corcoran with a detail of (I think) forty men from the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. and upon reporting was ordered to take the advance in the march.
"We left Suffolk in the evening, moved in the direction of Carrsville. Nothing of interest transpired during the first several miles of the march. As near as I can remember, the order of the march was as follows: First, the advance guard under my charge; then a detachment of the Eleventh Pennsyl- vania Cavalry; then the infantry, followed by the artillery, and the remainder of the Pennsylvania Cavalry bringing up the rear. After passing the crossing of the Norfolk and Western Railroad and the Seaboard Railroad, we entered a stretch of timberland that continued almost unbroken until the Deserted House was reached. About half a mile before reaching the Deserted House there was a field on one side of the road. When within about two hundred yards of it we were fired upon by a picket stationed at the edge of the woods. unseen by us, as it was exceedingly dark. Riding at the head of my men, I gave the command to charge, hoping to capture the picket station. Upon arriving opposite to the field referred to, a fire was opened upon us from the woods, disabling two of our men. If I remember correctly, one of them died from two wounds.
"I narrowly escaped being captured myself, owing to my horse going into the ditch, but fortunately escaped. After rally- ing my men. I dispatched a courier to the general informing hint that we had encountered the enemy. In the meantime the Con- federates' pickets had fallen back into the woods, and made their way to their command. A squadron of cavalry was or- dered up to sustain us, and I was ordered to charge through to the Deserted House, which was promptly obeyed.
"After crossing the deep branch, and while ascending the hill to where the house stood, a heavy fire opened upon us from the enemy's reserve picket station. consisting of a regiment (as we were afterward informed), which was stationed on the upper side of the road, in the woods, but the road being several feet lower than the bank where the enemy was stationed and from which the firing was done, they shot over our heads. After
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gaining the top of the hill, a magnificent sight opened up to us. So sudden was our appearance, that the enemy did not have time to extinguish their camp fires, so that their whole position was revealed to us. They extinguished the fires, however, as hurriedly as possible, and before the main column of our com- mand came up, all was darkness. The main body of their command was stationed a third to a halt mile distant, forming a semicircle, the right and left resting on the swamp through which we had charged in our advance. Upon the arrival of General Corcoran on the ground, and being made acquainted with the situation, he made such disposition of his troops as he thought best, ordering the batteries of artillery to the front, stationing them at the top of the hill near the wood, and opening fire upon what was supposed to be the enemy's position. There is where he made the mistake and lost the golden opportunity. Our unexpected charge through their reserve picket station had thrown them into confusion, and had the advantage gained been followed up by a charge of the whole cavalry, supported by the infantry, without doubt, a great victory would have been gained, but, like too many occasions of the kind during the war, the prize was lost by delay. The enemy, recovering from their confusion, and doubtless having located their guns before night, with a view to commanding the approaches, opened fire upon us, and so accurately had they the range of our battery's position, and the road over which the troops had to pass in ap- proaching them, that they dealt death and destruction in that locality. Men and horses were shot down as fast as they could be replaced until the position of the battery was changed. The firing was kept up at intervals until daylight, both sides preparing for a retreat as day approached; indeed, the retreat had com- menced, but fortunately for us we made the discovery first that the enemy was retreating, when our retrograde movement was stopped, and a forward movement in pursuit was ordered, which really amounted to following them as they made good their re- treat, holding our forces in check by turning a gun on us when we approached too near. A determined charge on the part of our cavalry would soon have over-hauled and captured their guns, but our commanding general did not see it in that light, and the result was a fruitless victory; while we drove the enemy back over Blackwater, we made no captures and lost more men by far than they did.
"You are right in saying that there was great demoralization
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among the Pennsylvania militia (drafted men). They, in many cases, threw their guns away and stampeded toward Suffolk. a fleeing mob. Altogether it was a badly managed affair. We had sufficient force to have captured General Pryor's command if our commanding general had been the man for the occasion.'
The following is Major Wetherill's story of the battle of the Deserted House:
"January 29th we were ordered to get ready and report to General Corcoran for an expedition against General R. A. Pryor. We reported at 10 P. M., and halted at the signal sta- tion. Our force consisted of Corcoran's Brigade. Thirteenth Indiana, One Hundred and Thirtieth New York, Sixth Massa- chusetts, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania, Davis' Battery of Massachusetts, Fred Follett's Regulars. artillery and the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. We drove in the enemy's advance pickets about a mile and a half this side of Deserted House or Kelly's Cross Roads. The Thirteenth Indiana, One Hundred and Thirtieth New York, and the batteries developed the action while our regiment was in line on the right flank. As soon as we reached the cleared ground, the long line of Confed- erate camp fires were seen stretching out from near the railroad to the rear of Josh Simmon's farm. Our batteries immediately opened fire and were responded to by their eighteen guns. The two guns on the right were heavy ones. The air was filled with shot, shell. grape, and canister. It seems that this was but the rear guard of Pryor's command. The officer who commanded the artillery had chosen his ground in the daylight with skill and accuracy or we would have been among them with the saber.
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