USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, together with a complete roster of the regiment and regimental officers > Part 6
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"About 3 A. M. I was sent to the rear with the regiment to rally the stragglers of the Sixty-ninth New York, One Hun- dred and Sixty-fifth, and One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Penn- sylvania-new recruits.
"About daylight the Eleventh was ordered to charge, sup- ported by the Thirteenth Indiana and One Hundred and Thir- tieth New York. When we reached the enemy's camp and the woods beliind it. they had retreated. Following promptly, we found them on the heights overlooking Kinsdale Swamp, and as they retreated, we followed. The two infantry regiments de- ployed on each side of the road and across the swamp. We followed them to the third position and captured about forty prisoners from whom it was learned that the enemy had lost
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heavily in the fight and were badly demoralized. Our regi- mental loss was slight, two killed and twelve wounded. The entire command lost thirty killed and forty wounded.
"We were proud of our victory since General Pryor had selected his ground in daylight. Some dispute occurred, at the second stand of the enemy, between General Corcoran and Colonel Gibbs. General Corcoran demanded his arms and or- dered him to consider himself in arrest. He refused to surren- der his arms as he had won them in Mexico, but gallantly seizing the colors of his regiment, carried them through the two stands made by the enemy. Our regiment gave pursuit as far as Carrs- ville, where it was learned the enemy had retreated in bad order to Franklin."
CHAPTER VI.
LONGSTREET'S SIEGE. SOUTH ANNA RIVER. COLONEL SPEAR'S PROMOTION.
THE month of February was spent in the usual routine. Frequent scouting trips were made, sometimes amid snow and rain. On the 12th of March as Company K was returning from a scout to Carrsville, the advance guard under Corporal Lewis was fired upon from the pine thicket east of the Deserted House, and the corporal was killed. On the evening of the 16th Colonel Spear, with six companies of the Eleventh and two sections of Captain Davis' Battery (Seventh Massachusetts ), left Suffolk for another reconnaissance to Franklin. The command found the enemy's outer picket at Hebron Church, four and a half miles from Franklin; these were promptly charged, but they escaped in the darkness. The command came in sight of the enemy's position east of the river just after daylight, which consisted of a strong redoubt mounting two heavy guns. These con- . manded the road, and this was supplemented by a breastwork on either flank. Colonel Spear immediately ordered Major Strat- ton to charge these works with his battalion composed of Com- panies B, D, and G. The order was promptly obeyed by the major, who charged close up to the works; but seeing that cav- alry could not get through the obstruction used for defence, he retired, Lieutenant Mowbray, of Company B, having been mor- tally wounded. The major himself was also wounded and his horse killed. General Jenkins, of the Confederate service, is said to have mounted the works and to have cheered the boys for their gallant charge. The colonel may not have been in proper ยท mental condition when he ordered these charges which caused the loss of twenty-eight men killed and wounded, proving that the enemy were determined to resist the passage of the Black- water at this point and to prevent the interruption of the Weldon Railroad.
As soon as Major Stratton's men had withdrawn, Colonel Spear commanded Captain Davis to open fire upon the enemy's works with his artillery, but after throwing a few shells the com- mand "Cease firing" was given, and Major Cornog, with his battalion, consisting of companies H, I, K, was ordered to make
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another charge, but the same result followed as in the previous charge.
There was a singular occurrence during the second charge. When the battalion was near the enemy's works the command "Fire!" was given by the officer in charge of the artillery, a com- mand distinctly heard by the men of Company K; both friction primers exploded but neither piece went off. Sometime after- ward a deserter who was present during this event, came to Suffolk, and said the cannoneers made an error in loading, hav- ing put in the canister first-a very fortunate fact which kept the scrapnel in the guns rather than in the face of the charging company. At the time, however, some deemed this other than a mere accident. The courage displayed by the Eleventh was very commendable, and though no direct result followed the sacrifice and heroism here evinced, yet they evidenced the pos- session of soldier qualities. Camp-fire talk condemned the sec- ond charge, since Major Stratton had examined the enemy's defense before retiring.
On the 23d of March Lieutenant Mowday was buried.
Late in March Major Stratton, with companies A, E, G, and I, went to Urnifield on the Chowan River in North Carolina to relieve a company of Union North Carolinians who were be- sieged by a force of the rebels; but when he arrived there, the enemy retired unto an impenetrable swamp, where cavalry could not follow. Major Stratton returned to camp, bringing a large amount of captured rebel meat.
The next important move at Suffolk was Longstreet's cele- brated siege of that place, which opened on the IIth of April and closed on the 2d of May. On the afternoon of the 11th, the picket reserve of the Eleventh, commanded by Lieutenant Nimmon, was surprised; the lieutenant and three of his men were captured; the rest escaped, leaving their horses and arms with the enemy. The Confederates made inquiry of Lieutenant Nimmon about Major Stratton, who was in North Carolina, but the lieutenant could give no information. Major Stratton had been apprised of Longstreet's move by General Peck, and had been ordered to take post at South Mills, N. C., that the ap- proach to Norfolk from that direction might be guarded.
Sergeant Cruikshank, in a letter written at this time, speak- ing of the siege. Sunday, April 12th: "Yesterday the alarm was given about 3 P. M., that our pickets were attacked. 'Boots and saddles' sounded, and in a few minutes we were going through
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the town on a gallop. At the infantry picket station we found that the rebels had surprised the cavalry picket and had cap- tured most of the arms, all the horses, the lieutenant, and three of the men. We were drawn up behind the railroad embank- ment, but were soon ordered out on the Carrsville Road, only to be recalled before proceeding far. We captured two prisoners, however. The colonel questioned them as to the force in our front, and they said the force was small. The colonel did not believe them and called for a rope which was put around the neck of one of the men, and the end was thrown over the limb of a persimmon tree. He was again asked concerning the enemy's forces; this time he confessed they belonged to the ad- vance of Longstreet's army. The halter was then taken from his neck and the man chided for telling under a threat.
"Our pickets in front were fired upon. We shelled the woods with our howitzers. We were ordered to return to our breastworks, where the regiment remained for the night. At 8 P. M. Lieutenant Barclay and eight men of Company A were or- dered to reconnoitre. They proceeded but a short distance from the railroad when they were fired upon. One man had a ball through his coat sleeve. Dunn had his horse shot through the neck; both fell. A rebel ran out calling, 'Surrender, you d- Yankee!' Dunn managed to regain his feet and ran back. "April 13th. All quiet except an occasional shot from the gunboats. We are now behind the works on the Somerton Road; left camp at 9.30 .A. M. The rebels came in sight once this morning. Our guns opened fire upon them and they retired. Most of the officers are at the front reconnoitering. The gun- boats fire at intervals. There goes a shot! The boys are lying on the ground, some eating, some sleeping, others laughing and talking, as if nothing were the matter. Skirmishes have been going on all the afternoon on the Somerton and South Quay Roads. The gunboats are shelling the Petersburg Road.
"April 14th. All quiet except the gunboats which have fired at intervals all through the night. Near sundown yester- day ten of our men attempted to charge across an open field and capture some rebels who were in advance of their lines, but they found it too hot for them and started back. On their return three fell after reaching the shelter of the wood. Evans and a man of the Thirteenth Indiana went back and carried in one of the wounded amid a shower of bullets; the others they were compelled to leave.
MAJOR A. J. ACKERLEY.
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"April 15th. Three companies under Colonel Spear went out on the Somerton Road. There were two pieces of ar- tillery, and some infantry out. It rained hard nearly all the after- noon. The artillery shelled a house which some rebel sharp- shooters had occupied. While firing, lightning struck a tree behind the battery and all the horses, which had paid no atten- tion to the firing, crouched almost. to the ground.
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"April 17. Companies A and E were out on the Edenton Road. A detail of seven men was made from Company A to act as orderly for the officer of the day. Returned to camp at 5 P. M. After supper we had quite a pleasant time jumping the rope. The band was playing in front of the headquarters. To have seen our camp, one would hardly have supposed we were besieged, unless reminded by the heavy thunder of cannon on the 'Nansemond.' The situation did not vary much from day to day. The usual amount of picket firing was kept up; sometimes the big guns at the forts would open up for a while."
The chief duty of the Eleventh during Longstreet's opera- tions was acting as videttes in front of the infantry pickets on the Edenton and Somerton Roads. The cavalry videttes managed to find big trees for protection and ran for their reserves when- ever the infantry pickets began firing at each other-the in- fantry pickets of both armies were within gunshot of each other. Soon, however, the pickets of both armies agreed not to open fire at each other except in case of an advance from either side; this agreement was adhered to during the rest of the siege.
On the 21st, Generals Halleck and Dix arrived at Suffolk, and spent several hours looking over affairs. Companies A, E, and I acted as escorts for the generals during their brief stay.
On the 24th a reconnaissance was made in force on the Edenton Roads: the operations on the former were conducted by Colonel Foster, of the Thirteenth Indiana, and the latter by Colonel Buhler. of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Pennsyl- vania. The Eleventh acted on both roads, but nothing was accomplished beyond developing the enemy's position. There was very little fighting done on these two roads during the siege, but on the South Quay front the skirmishing was incessant, and a number of gunboats were active throwing shells day and night into the enemy's trenches. On the evening of the 19th detachments of the Eighth Connecticut and the Eighty-ninth New York, numbering 270 officers and men, were sent across the river below Suffolk, and captured a battery of five guns, together 5
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with seven officers and 130 men. This brilliant move liberated five gunboats up the river, and General Getty, in his official report, makes special mention of this success.
Early in the siege General Corcoran killed Lieutenant- colonel Kimball, of the Ninth New York. Chaplain Hanson says of this sad affair: "A melancholy episode occurred one night at the beginning of the siege. Hawkins' Zouaves, whose time had nearly expired, arrived at Suffolk to reinforce the garri- son. Lieutenant-colonel Kimball, a brave officer, attempted to stop General Corcoran, who with his staff, was riding to in- spect the disposition of the forces. The general immediately drew his pistol and shot him. Colonel Kimball was evidently not himself, but under the influence of liquor. A court of in- quiry exonerated General Corcoran in this matter."
There was another incident occurred during the siege which was seen by many of the Eleventh. A family whose house was burned just outside our works, attempted to seek safety by fleeing to our lines, and while doing so the wife was killed. It was particularly sad to see the little boy running on before, waving a flag of truce, while his father followed, driving a team in which lay the body of his wife. The rebels accused the Union troops of the deed-the Union, the rebels. Evidently, the sad affair was accidental, for no one would be intentionally guilty of such an act. The facts in the case were these: a skirmish was in progress, and the house where the family lived was be- tween the lines. Being badly frightened. the woman rushed out of doors, probably not aware of what she was doing, and was hit by a bullet; but by which side, who knows? Not mortals ..
On the Ist of May the Ninety-ninth New York under Colonel Nixon, crossed the bridge on the South Quay Road, and advanced toward the enemy's rifle pits. When within short range of the pits the enemy opened a terrific fire which forced the advancing party to retreat, leaving its dead and wounded on the field.
At midnight on the 3d a deserter came over to our lines and reported the enemy to be retiring. Detachments, preceded by cavalry, were sent out along the various roads. Many strag- glers were picked up by Companies A and E on the Somerton Road. Company K went out on the Edenton Road as far as Cypress Chapel, ten miles beyond Suffolk, finding but three stragglers-a captain, sergeant, and corporal of a Georgia regi- ment, detained by the maids of Dismal Swamp. They felt quite
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chagrined when they found the Yankees instead of their own troops occupying the country, for they had left camp on the previous evening without leave.
Major Wetherill kept in his note book an almost daily ac- count of the siege which may be well to note :
"April II. Lieutenant Simmons, commanding the pickets on the South Quay Road was surprised and captured, also fifteen meni, twenty-two horses, and arms. This was caused by the neglect of Pat Everett, of Company D, who failed to shoot or notify on the approach of the enemy. We were soon out in line on the South Quay Road. Roberts, of Company D, made a dash at the pickets and captured three men. These were brought to Colonel Spear who intended to hang them. Knowing his condition, I rode forward to the tree and cautioned him. He turned over the prisoners to me and I apologized for the col- onel's hasty temper. They said, 'Major, you have saved our lives. We knew old Spear in Indianola when sergeant-major of the Second Dragoons. He was just full enough to hang us.' From them we learned they were of the Eleventh Texas, Hood's Division, and they stated that General Prentiss was advancing with 10,000 men; that General Longstreet with 6,000 men; Hood's Division with 6,000 men was approaching Suffolk by the Franklin Road; General Anderson was coming by the Edenton and Somerton Road. Thus Suffolk was invested.
"The 'Secesh' women were out on the streets dressed in their very best, their faces smiling. A reconnaissance was made and the enemy found in force beyond the railroad. A skirmish took place. Pat Houfer, of Company L, had his horse killed. A Confederate pounced out of the woods crying, 'I've got you!' Houfer looked up, and, covering him with a pistol, replied, 'The h- you have!' and shot him; then made his way back to the regiment. We fell back to the railroad and, using the em- bankment as a breastwork, dismounted and fought the enemy with our Spencer's and howitzers until recalled by dispatches from headquarters. Dismounted, we reported to General Ferry within the entrenchments. Our entire pickets were driven in about 10 P. M. We were uneasy about Major Stratton, who, with Companies G. E, and I, was at White Oak Swamp on the Eden- ton Road ... A captured negro reported the enemy as 30.000 strong, with 30.000 following.
"After passing a quiet night, on the morning of April 13th we were ordered out on the Somerton Road to resist the ad-
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ELEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
vance on that road, skirmishing and capturing a few pickets. At 1.30 A. M. the enemy advanced in force, opening fire on Forts Union, McClellan, and Nansemond with twelve-pound howitzers. We promptly replied and in five rounds spoiled one Confederate howitzer. The enemy soon retreated and fell back to their first position at Brother's house.
"Companies G. E, and I, under Major Stratton, went around the swamp destroying bridges and came back to camp by way of Deep Creek and Portsmouth. They were cut off by the en- veloping of Suffolk. The gunboats on the Nansemond River did good service.
"April 14. The day has passed without our regiment being called to the front. About II A. M. our forces on the Edenton Road advanced with one battery and drove the enemy back to their position near Washington's Ditch, Dismal Swamp. This was the original outlet for canoes from the Dismal Swamp which had been surveyed and cut by Washington. On the South Quay Roads the sharpshooters carried on a duel at long range. The most important action was between the gunboats and the Confederate Hill Point batteries.
"April 15th. About 4 A. M. the enemy was driven back on the Edenton Road, about four miles, and our pickets re-estab- lished. During the morning a force moved out, deploying at the picket line, finding the Confederate outposts at Brother's farm. A sharp engagement followed, driving in the enemy's outposts to their main line, where four regiments of infantry with artillery and cavalry were drawn up in line. Our men were ordered to dash up the road as far as Brother's house. One of the best men of the Ohio Company, M, fell. There was skirmishing up to within ten yards of him, but the firing was too hot. while it was evident that the enemy was using him as a decoy. Companies D and L, of the One Hundred and Sixty- fifth Pennsylvania, with a yell charged to within five or six feet of our comrade, but the firing was too heavy for them.
"Quite a lively time on the Nansemond to-day, in which Follett's battery silenced an enemy's battery that was annoying the gunboats.
"April 17th. A heavy demonstration was made by the enemy to-day to cross the Nansemond. They sunk one of our wooden boats, but were unsuccessful. Large reinforcements are arriving: 6,000 reached us to-day.
"April 20th. General Getty crossed the Nansemond with a
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picked brigade and captured Hill's Point Battery, taking five pieces of artillery, nine commissioned officers, and 190 men.
"April 22d. The enemy are quite friendly to-day. Pickets are chatting on both sides. The adjutant of the Twentieth Vir- ginia, Lieutenant Painter, sent word that the man of Company M whom we fought so hard to recover on the Edenton Road, had had his leg amputated and was doing well, while a Company L man had been buried in front of Brother's house. I sent Lieutenant Painter a bottle of Catawba and two boxes of sardines for his kind attention.
"April 25th. Ordered to lead a reconnaissance in force out on the Edenton Road as far as possible with Company K, one company of the Mounted Rifles, and one howitzer. We drove in the pickets from Everett's Lane to the edge of the woods, where their rifle pits ranged-say three-quarters of a mile. I deployed as ordered; our carbineers kept up the fight. The Eleventh Connecticut came on splendidly. I moved to the right to Elisha Everett's house and kept our howitzer going. I was surprised to find Mrs. Everett, the children, and an old slave, Zack, in the house. Mr. Everett was a prisoner at Suffolk. I ordered the family to the cellar ; made old Zack throw ience rails and rack them against the cellar wall toward the enemy; then bring all the beds to the cellar and made a shelter for the family. This saved them, as several shells exploded in the house. When the order to fall back and protect the rear was given. I received General Corcoran's order to burn the house. I wrote to him by the orderly explaining that since the husband and father was our prisoner we were bound to protect the family, especially since he had done no harm to our forces and his ar- rest had simply been as a precaution. This saved his house.
"April 26th. All quiet along our front except the duel be- tween sharpshooters. I learn that the management of the how- itzer was very effective and much admired at headquarters. The fact is, Zack, Everett's old slave, told me exactly where the enemy were in the woods. Lieutenant Prudhomme served it with his usual vim which saved the right flank of our infantry from being turned.
"Dick Hardin, of Company D, asked permission, being dis- mounted, to go with the Thirteenth Indiana on one of the trips. Skirmishing in front with them he was severely wounded in the leg. When the retreat sounded an Indiana man lay down along- side of him, feigning death until dark, when he took him on his
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back and carried the wounded man to our pickets. Poor Hardin! He died from his wound.
"April 28th. All quiet along the lines, except on the Nanse- mond front. Two wooden tug gunboats safely ran the blockade and developed new batteries.
"May 2d. At 4 P. M. the Ninety-ninth New York crossed Nansemond Mill Bridge. The Confederate rifle pits were much closer than usual. A reserve, massed in columns of divisions near the signal station with a large line behind the Petersburg Railroad embankment, was in readiness. The Ninety-ninth fell. back and recrossed the bridge, leaving six killed and 40 wounded.
"Colonel Gibbs had another attack of angina pectoris to-day. Dr. Harlan and myself rushed to his quarters. He was gasping and purple. Harlan got a half newspaper, bared his chest, wet him with whiskey and lit a match to produce a sudden blister over the heart. It would not burn. The colonel glanced down at it and gasped 'Commissary.' A good canteen was brought, the paper relit, a blister produced, and his life saved.
"May 3d. General Getty, with 10,000 men, Davis and Howard's batteries, also 500 New York Mounted Rifles, crossed the Nansemond at the draw-bridge, and drove the rebels from their rifle pits. The Thirteenth New Hampshire and One Hun- dred and Third New York (Germans) suffered considerably. Seventy-five were killed and wounded. The artillery duel was terrific. Lieutenant Beecher, son of Henry Ward Beecher, dis- tinguished himself by his fine and close shooting. At nightfall the troops were withdrawn, leaving one regiment of infantry on picket to hold the ground gained. On the Confederate's side Hood's Brigade was supported by Pickett's Division.
"May 4th. About 1.30 P. M. I was ordered to report to Colonel Foster, of the Thirteenth Indiana, with Companies A and E. It appears that Lieutenant Butts, of Company I, was on picket on the Somerton Road. He and a sergeant had crept forward and had climbed a trec. They noticed that the Con- federate guard had been relieved by men with knapsacks, while those relieved had none. Supposing an evacuation, mounting his horse he rode in and reported the fact to Colonel Foster, who was commanding the brigade at that point. We dashed out along Somerton road to Leesville, thence to Quaker Church and Holly Neck Chapel, capturing 150 footsore Johnnies. When we reached Holly Neck Chapel, Pickett's Division was felling
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trees and obstructing roads, and we skirmished with them until recalled to Holland's Corner.
"Longstreet's and Hill's troops affected a juncture at Carrs- ville and took cars for Richmond to unite with the forces con- tending with General Hooker; they stole away. General Peck commanded at Suffolk and was too far from the advance to be consulted in time to take advantge of circumstances.
"Such was the siege of Suffolk, Va., one of the best fortified and best defended earthworks at that time. The incessant digging and building of redoubts, gave rise to a funny story of Peck's fortifications. Reviewing Corcoran's Irish Brigade one day, he called an Irishman with a fearfully dirty musket to the front and reprimanded him. Pat, standing at a 'present arms,' with his filthy piece, replied : 'General, you should see my spade. You could shave with it.' The general rode on, followed by loud laughter.
"May 5th. Our regiment was complimented by Generals Peck, Foster, and Corcoran for pursuing the Confederates, and Butts was praised for his vigilance. The siege of Suffolk lasted through twenty-three days of hard fighting without result."
The move against Suffolk, which at the time was supposed to be for the capture of the town and the occupying of the sur- rounding country, proved to be nothing but an immense foraging expedition; nearly all the provisions were seized in that region of Virginia and North Carolina, east of the Blackwater, and Chowan Rivers and south of Dismal Swamp, leaving little for the war-stricken people until another crop could be raised. All the inhabitants of the region, subject to military duty, had been conscripted.
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