USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania volunteer cavalry which was recruited and known as the Anderson cavalry in the rebellion of 1861-1865; > Part 10
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Edge did not die for several days, but lay all alone and un- attended. Sergeant Anderson made a visit to the battlefield a few years after the war, and got from Dr. Manson, at whose house our wounded Major Ward died, information of him. Our Surgeon, Dr. Alexander, had been attending Major Ward, and after the fighting was over Manson told him that one of our boys was badly wounded in a house not far off, and suggested they go and see if he had received any attention. When they got there Edge said to Dr. Alexander, whom he recognized, "Oh, doctor, I'm much better. I don't feel any pain at all." Alexander examined his arm and found it all mortified and the stamp of death already on him, and then told him that he had only a short time to live, and that if he had any messages to send home he would see them at- tended to. The poor fellow broke down at this, but quickly re- gained his composure, spoke of all those he was leaving, and sent them loving messages.
THE CHARGE ON INFANTRY AT STONE RIVER.
--- GENERAL WILMON W. BLACKMAR, FIRST SERGEANT COMPANY K. BOSTON, MASS.
T HE Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry arrived in Nashville,- Tenn., on Christmas eve, 1862, having marched from Louis- ville, Ky.
We had a dreary Christmas, and the next morning, Friday, December 26, 1862, about 300 of us, under command of Majors Adolph G. Rosengarten and Frank B. Ward, started for the front. A cold rain was falling, and we were soon wet, chilled and quite miserable. We marched all day through the mud, the rain falling steadily, and long after dark reached a small village, which proved to be Nolansville, where General Johnson, with a division of our infantry, was in camp. We here turned into a field and went into camp. We were so utterly exhausted that we slept, notwithstand- ing we were so wet, hungry and cold.
Long before daylight on the morning of Saturday, the 27th, we were roused by whispered words of command, as we were too near the enemy to allow of a bugle call. The rain had ceased, but a dense fog hung over everything. As soon as it was light enough to see a little way ahead we rode out through the town, and were soon beyond our infantry pickets and before long were in contact with the enemy. We had a sharp fight with whom we were told were some Texan Rangers, but as someone else may have been assigned a description of this fight I will pass it by without com- ment.
After another uncomfortable night, for the cold rain had been falling again during a part of the day and we were still wet and unhappy, the morning, Sunday, December 28th, dawned bright and clear, a lovely Sabbath morning. The sun began to dry and thaw us out, and we made coffee and enjoyed a breakfast of pork and hard-tack, after which we marched several miles toward the front and halted on the grounds of a Mr. Pett. I think I could tell
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
a good story of our experiences here, but fear again that I may be trespassing upon some comrade's assignment. Suffice it to say that two very pert and impudent rebel girls, one of them flourish- ing a pistol, stood on the porch of the mansion and called us names and wished us all sorts of misfortune, including our death at the hands of their friends, the Confederates in our front. Here we found several freshly slaughtered hogs hanging in an outbuilding, and the negro servants were soon frying for us choice bits of very fresh pork under our orders and persuasion. In another small building, covering a pit filled with light earth, we found buried many bushels of delicious sweet potatoes. We all had our appe- tites with us and enjoyed a feast.
Monday, December 29th .- Started out early with orders to re- connoiter as far as a certain bridge over a little stream. Our Majors, Rosengarten and Ward, were ambitious, and did not con- tent themselves with going only as far as ordered, but pushed on and the result was that we followed a small body of the enemy too far and ran into a large force. We charged into a piece of woods, on two sides of which lay concealed, in a corn field, a brigade of Confederate infantry. We were at once exposed to a deadly cross fire, both our Majors were killed-Rosengarten instantly and Ward mortally wounded, dying in a day or two. Eleven were killed, twenty-five wounded and nine missing out of about 250 of us who charged the enemy. My personal experience in this charge was peculiar. When right upon the enemy and after men had fallen all around me, from the terrible cross fire at short range, my horse, charging on the dead run, got his front feet in a hole and turned a somersault. I was under him, freed from my saddle and lying on my back, protected from his full weight by an arch formed by my saddle with my blanket strapped on the cantle and my overcoat on the pommel. I was partially stunned, but remem- ber perfectly looking up and seeing my horse's feet in the air and Jack Horn's horse making a flying leap right over me. Horn was riding right behind me in the charge, and was wounded in the foot while jumping over me. Horn and the other boys behind me sup- posed that both my horse and myself were killed, but when my horse rolled over, jumped to his feet and started toward the enemy, O. T. McConnell lay down on his horse's neck, rode between the enemy and my horse, grabbed his bridle and brought him to me,
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The Charge of Infantry at Stone River.
for I had regained my feet and was looking around in a dazed manner upon the dead and wounded men and horses lying in all directions. McConnell is now living in Fullerton, Neb. Seeing my name as Commander-in-Chief, G. A. R., he wrote to me in December, 1904, renewing our old friendship. Major Ward was still standing with his back against a tree, his clothing torn open, revealing a spot on his breast where a bullet had given him his mortal wound. Why I was not shot or captured I never could tell, for I could have tossed a biscuit into the enemy's ranks. I sup- pose they looked upon me as a sure prisoner or thought our fool- hardy charge must be merely a dash to be immediately followed by a charge of a more formidable force of cavalry or infantry.
As my devoted Comrade, McConnell, threw me my horse's bridle, he said, "Get on, quick !" but seeing I did not heed him, he cried. "Well, I can't stay here," and putting spurs to his horse rode out of the woods in the direction the rest of our boys, who were able, had retreated. I deliberately picked up a canteen, seeing mine was gone, and tied it to my saddle, tested my straps, looked around and mounted, just as some of my Regiment came charg- ing back into the grove again with the purpose of getting our dead and wounded, as they declared. Just at this moment a staff officer of Gen. D. S. Stanley dashed in among us and ordered us, in no gentle terms, to retreat, and I quietly rode out with my comrades. In the excitement I did not realize that I was hurt, and if I could have had rest and some care might have escaped serious consequences, but that night I was on picket, got no rest and was chilled through.
The remnant left of our Regiment was pretty well used up, tired, cold, hungry and orphaned ; our Colonel, Wm. J. Palmer, a pris- oner, captured at Antietam; our Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer was sick in an ambulance; our two Majors just killed in action and Capt. Alfred Vezin in command.
On December 31st, together with the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and portions of the Third Tennessee Cavalry and Second Kentucky Cavalry, making a small brigade, we started out under command of General Stanley, commanding the Cavalry of the Army. A battery soon opened on us, and one shot took off the arm of a soldier not far from me. It was then discovered that it was one of our own batteries, which made it all
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
the worse. Pushing on through woods and over byroads we struck a dirt road about 4 P.M. We left this road, throwing down a rail fence near the house of a Mrs. Barrows, and formed in line of battle in a beautiful field. Before long a few horsemen rode out of the woods, our skirmishers fell back, and then appeared a column of rebel cavalry and then another. They formed in line of battle in our front, with some artillery on their left. General Stanley rode along in front of our line, and said to the officer commanding the Seventh, "Major, we'll charge them now." He dashed past us, who were the center of the line, to the Tennessee boys on our right, and said a few words to them, then rode back to the center and called out in a loud, clear voice, "I will take command of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania. Follow me, boys! charge!" and in we went with a cheer. The enemy opened on us with artillery, but on we rode and fired no shot, depending on our sabers. We rode over their skirmish line, but before we reached their line of battle they broke and ran, and we had a horse race. A few were killed, and we captured a stand of colors and over 100 prisoners. Darkness put an end to this fight, but not to our trials, for we had to stand all night as mounted pickets.
We were so cold, sleepy and hungry, having had nothing to eat since early morning, and little then, that we did not know which sensation was the worst.
I remember that I dismounted and led my horse around, trying to get warm by exercise and to keep awake. Three different times I got to sleep and was aroused by falling on the frozen ground. Just before daylight we were relieved by infantry and led our horses back a few rods, and dropped down with the bridles over our arms to get a little sleep. When I awoke it was broad daylight and I was cuddling up to one of my comrades. On attempting to arouse him I found he was not a comrade but a dead rebel. The dead lay all around us, covered with frost.
This was January Ist. We were about used up. We were ordered back to Nashville in charge of an empty ammunition train. On our way we were attacked by Wheeler's cavalry, and some of our wagons were taken and burned, but we got most of them back to Nashville. The drivers on a piece of our artillery, in attempting to cross a field, got their gun carriage stuck in an old stone wall, cut their horses loose and abandoned it. My chum, E. E. Griffith,
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The Charge of Infantry at Stone River.
and myself tried to dislodge the piece and take it into Nashville with us, after Wheeler had been driven off, but it was too much for us, and finally we had to abandon it, much to our regret. We reached Nashville the afternoon of January 1, 1863. Griffith and I, dead beat out, lay down on the porch of a little house in the outskirts, which sheltered us somewhat from the cold rain which was falling, and thankful for the dry boards and partial shelter, slept like logs, well into the next day.
I began to feel the effects of my injury received in the charge of the 29th ult., and was compelled to give up and go into a church, which was being used as a hospital, and there lay for several days in a pew, getting some sleep, but little else. As soon as I could get strength enough I joined my Regiment, but was taken down with fever, and lay for several weeks in a deserted house in Murfrees- boro, in charge of a good-natured, shiftless negro man. Again, I joined my Regiment before I was strong, and had a serious re- lapse, from which I never should have recovered but for the devotion of my comrade and friend, Harry M. Francis, of the Anderson Troop, who secured permission to take me, in an ambu- lance, back to the railroad and thence, via Nashville, to Louisville, Ky., where I was taken into the home of Mrs. James Thompson, and tenderly nursed back to life and health.
A homeopathic physician, an Italian patriot (possessed of great skill and a loyal Union man), Dr. Caspari, by name, took an especial interest in my case and tended me faithfully. I was sick and a stranger, but Mrs. Thompson and her family took me in, and from that day to this our friendship has been close and inti- mate.
As soon as the doctor consented I rejoined my Regiment, then at Winchester, Tenn., and went with it through the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and remained with the Regiment until I was commissioned and transferred to the First West Vir- ginia Cavalry, in the command of Sheridan and Custer.
CAPTURE OF OUR WAGON TRAIN BY WHEELER'S CAVALRY.
ARTHUR O. GRANGER, COMPANY C, CARTERSVILLE, GA.
I WAS detailed with a party of forty-two to guard our wagon train on December 29, 1862. We marched along all that day, without any particularly exciting incident, crossing over from the Nolansville pike to the Murfreesboro pike, on a rather narrow dirt road.
We were well in the rear of the main army and could hear the cannonading and musketry at the front, and thought we were per- fectly safe. To relieve us of the weight, we put our carbines and sabers in the wagons, and were thus in light marching order. On the 30th we were going along a hollow in the road at a point about four miles from the village of Lavergne, and saw, just ahead on the left, a rather large farmhouse, with pigs and chickens straggling around over the place, and the boys at once made a break for them.
I was near the rear end of the wagon train. I threw my bridle over a fence rail sticking up from an old-fashioned snake fence, and was chasing a pig, and had driven him into one of the corners of the fence and had my knife drawn, expecting to have some good fresh pork for the next meal, when suddenly there was a rifle volley from the top of the hill and rebel bullets were flying around thick. I looked up and saw a large body of cavalry that far outnumbered us and that we afterward learned was Wheeler's entire brigade. Fortunately I was right where my horse was, and, again fortunately, he was not tied, so I quickly mounted and galloped back down the road, firing off all the loads in my pistol at the rebels, who were getting very close. I had a good horse, and escaped with a few others. One or two of our men were killed and the rest captured and afterward paroled.
We made our way back to Nashville, where the Regiment ar- rived the day after we did, and we learned that it had also been
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Capture of our Wagon Train by Wheeler's Cavalry. 117
detailed to guard a wagon train, which was similarly attacked and burned.
I especially regretted losing my saber, as it was a particularly small one that had been secured for me because I was the young- est man in the Regiment. If either we or our officers had been more experienced, we would have retained personal possession of our carbines and sabers.
WITH ROSENGARTEN'S BATTALION AT STONE. RIVER.
SERG. WM. MCGEE, REGIMENTAL SADDLER, TOLLGATE, W. VA.
I AM writing this on the forty-second anniversary of that des- perate charge we made, under the command of Major Rosengarten, at the battle of Stone River. The other bat- talion, under Major Ward, was acting independently of us, but both met disaster at the same fence, behind which stood a line of rebel infantry. It was the bloodiest situation I was ever in, but my head was clear through it all, and my recollection of it is as vivid now as it was the next day after it was all over.
Our advance halted for a few moments at the bridge over Overalls Creek, probably because that was as far as we were ordered to go ; but over to our left Major Ward's battalion started after some of the enemy's cavalry, and then we were ordered forward "by fours" down the pike toward Murfreesboro. Soon the order came to trot, and when heavy firing took place from Ward's party it became a very fast trot. Then Sergeant-Major Washington Airey came running through the woods from our right and hailed Major Rosengarten, when the command came to a halt. Airey told the Major that Ward was badly wounded and liable to fall into the hands of the enemy, and "would he charge up and get him away." The next command was "fours, right wheel!" and the next "charge!" and away we went at "advance carbine, "yelling like madmen, and thus we went until we reached a high stake-and-rider fence, on the other side of which were swarms of rebel infantry. I halted about thirty steps from the fence, and luckily my horse was standing in a depression, and so the bullets all went over my head.
Sergeant Alexander Drake, who had ridden beside me all day, then a few feet from me on higher ground, was shot and fell from his horse dead. I fired two shots at the men behind the fence, but all the time looking to the left and right to see what was to be
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With Rosengarten's Battalion at Stone River.
done next. Over to the left I saw Major Rosengarten going at full speed a few feet from the fence, and my thought was that he was hunting a gap through it, so as to lead us into the field. I saw him fire one shot down a ravine that ran across his path and turn his horse to the left, when a volley was fired from the ravine. The horse turned a half somersault and fell on his back, with the Major underneath. We all then turned, without orders, and got out as fast as we could.
On going back we came to where Sergeant Rockhill was lying on the ground, shot in the thigh. There was one comrade with him, who begged for help to carry him out of danger, as we were still under fire. I dismounted and turned my horse over to some- one to lead out, and soon got two others, and the four of us car- ried him in a blanket, each man holding a corner, back to within a short distance of the bridge, and then laid him down beside the road where the ambulance could come and get him. I did not get my horse till noon of the next day, although I started on the hunt for him at once.
If a Frenchman had been there he would doubtless have said: "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre" (the charge was magnificent, but it was not war). The mistakes we made were, first, in attempting to charge at "advance carbine." To do it a soldier should have three hands, one to manage his horse and the other two to fire and load his carbine. The other was in making the charge. If we had followed Sergeant Airey to the right oblique, instead of going straight up through the woods, we would have come to where Major Ward was lying, com- paratively out of danger, and the only excuse I heard of for making our charge was to save him. But it is easy after the thing is over to discover reasons why we should not have done what we did. We had had such an easy time with the enemy, up to this time, that our heads were swelled with the idea that we could do anything we wanted to, and the result was a lot of dead and mangled comrades.
During the afternoon of the following day our command, which was only a small part of the Regiment, was posted in a field to the left of the above-mentioned bridge, facing the enemy. I had a strong desire to get back to the woods where we had charged, it being only half a mile away. I explained to my company com-
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
mander, Captain Hewitt, that I had not been able to water my horse, as I had just found him, and asked permission to take him to the creek and do so, which he granted. I went across the field and down the steep bank into the water, and, after my horse had all of it he wanted, I continued to ride down the bed of the creek and under the high bank till I was out of sight of Captain Hewitt, and then crossed the pike and up to our fighting ground. Several regiments of infantry occupied the ground, and some artillery was in the open ground, throwing shells into a woods about half a mile further on. Our boys lay where they fell, but the rebels had stripped them of part of their clothing, and I don't think any of them had boots on. Some of our boys, under Lieu- tenant DeCoursey, with whom was Corporal Kirk, Al. Coleman, and John Gulden, were there to take charge of the bodies, and before I left the wagon they had waited for arrived, and they started for Nashville and I to join my Company.
STORY OF A TYPICAL CAPTURE, IMPRISONMENT AND EXCHANGE.
M. B. COLTON, COMPANY H, PASSAIC, N. J.
I T was New Year's day, Thursday, January 1, 1863. The battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River was raging, and our Regi- ment had taken part in the battle for several days, losing Majors Ward and Rosengarten and a number of men.
On that morning part of our Regiment was detailed to escort a wagon train to Nashville. Thirteen rounds of ammunition were issued, and with a part of the Third Ohio Cavalry we set out. It was the expectation that we would be attacked by the rebel cav- alry, as they were known to be operating in the rear of our army, and we were not disappointed. One company was scattered along among the wagons, with orders, if attacked, to prevent a panic among the teamsters and mules.
About noon the rebel cavalry, Wharton's brigade, made their appearance from the west side of the pike. They had been in hiding in the woods, and had allowed the head of the column to pass and get some distance ahead, when they charged on the train. As they came down we commenced firing, but did not check them in the least, as they were twenty to one. We were placed in squads of four or five among the wagons.
Only those who have been in dangerous positions at such a time can realize the difficulties in which we were placed, hemmed in by ditches and fences on each side of the road, mules and wagons inextricably mixed up, and the enemy firing into us, a hundred against a squad.
Many of the teamsters, seized with panic, abandoned their wagons, and the mules, left to themselves, turned off and some were soon in the ditch. All was in confusion, and nothing could be done to prevent it. The road being blocked up, there was no chance to join the main column ahead.
The enemy were among us in a moment, and as we were doing
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
what we could to prevent a general stampede of the train, several of us were captured, and as our men at the head of the column were giving the rebels volleys; the latter retreated, carrying with them a few wagons and some of us who were prisoners.
We were hurried away, and our men opened with a gun on the retreating column and shelled us as we disappeared in the woods.
As we left the road I saw Weikel, of our Company, old Com- pany C, lying with his head hanging over a small bridge, and just gasping, evidently shot through the heart.
We were rushed up rapidly through the woods and were soon out of gunshot. We found they had with them 150 prisoners whom they had picked up in other places, most of them infantry.
We were well treated during the night march of some sixteen miles. Some of the rebels during the night gave us their horses to ride while they rested themselves walking.
We halted about I A.M., pretty well exhausted, and lay on the ground until near daylight, when we footed it into Murfreesboro.
The enemy were burying their dead in trenches, and we passed General Cheatham's brigade marching through the woods to com- mence the day's battle; the men cheering as they caught sight of us.
We soon arrived at Murfreesboro and were placed in the town jail, where we could distinctly hear the volleys of musketry. From the windows we could see the body of our General Sill, lying on a piazza of a house opposite the prison, stripped of trousers, coat and boots.
We had flour and sugar issued, and we cooked the mess the best we could.
More prisoners were brought in during the morning, their faces covered with powder from biting cartridges. They were jubilant, and reported that our army were driving the rebels in great shape, and we were in strong hopes of being recaptured before night, as the sound of the musketry became more distinct ; but such was not to be our luck.
On Saturday, January 3d, we were loaded on open flat cars and started for Chattanooga. It rained hard all day and night, and was miserably cold. We had no cover, and traveling very slowly, we were all well soaked and nearly frozen. How we stood it I do not know, but we were young then.
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A Typical Capture, Imprisonment and Exchange.
The locomotive was evidently in need of repairs. Frequently the train would stop for an hour, and shivering all over and soaked to the skin, we would try to make a fire out of the wet wood, picked up by the side of the road. We were a miserable lot and longed for daylight, which came at last, and with it the blessed sun, distributing its warmth where it was greatly needed. There was probably more real suffering that night than we ex- perienced during the whole war.
We arrived at Chattanooga at midnight and were marched through the town to the prisoners' camp, where we dried our clothing and slept soundly until morning.
Sunday, the following day, was a beautiful one, a great con- trast to the preceding day and night.
Rations were issued of meal and sugar. It was a regular grab game. I secured two cups of meal, but no sugar.
Flour here was $50 per barrel, sugar $1 per pound, corn meal $4 per bushel, and coffee $4 per pound.
On January 6th we left Chattanooga and arrived at Atlanta early in the morning, and marched out to camp in a heavy rain. Here rations were issued ; a loaf of good bread and pork.
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