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 11
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The cars we occupied from Chattanooga were filthy hog cars. Upon arrival we found all of the stores in town closed and busi- ness suspended.
We left Atlanta and arrived at Montgomery, Ala., at I A.M., January 8th. The nights were cold and frosty. By the light of the camp fires we found a few more of our Regiment : William T. Niemann, wounded, shot through the shoulder-a bad wound ; Jeff. Denis and Sam Jamison, the latter wounded in the head; Garber, shot in the neck; Alex. Ramsey and Ned Patteson.
The wounded suffered much from exposure, being constantly on the move, but they received good attention from Dr. Mish, who was a prisoner and was with us all through.
We left Montgomery at 9 A.M., going north, and bound for Richmond. At dark we arrived at West Point and changed cars for Atlanta, where we arrived at I A.M., Friday, January 9th.
The guards at this time were quite lax, and we were allowed to wander about town in search of bread, and were brought up at last at the camping place of the prisoners, where were issued corn and beef.
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We left Atlanta at 8 P.M., passing over the ground which was soon to be made historic by the series of battles between Sherman and Joe Johnston for the possession of Atlanta. Every foot of the way from Chattanooga to Atlanta was fought over.
We arrived at Dalton early in the morning of January 10th, and left at 10 A.M. for Knovxille, traveling very slowly.
There was some recompense for our hardships in the magnifi- cent scenery through which we passed, along beautiful rivers like the French Broad and the Watauga, and the majestic Smoky Mountains-the range dividing East Tennessee from North Car- olina. We little thought, then, that in two years' time we would be climbing those same mountains with Stoneman's Cavalry into North Carolina, to form a junction with Sherman's army to operate in the rear of Lee's army.
On January IIth we arrived at Knoxville. Often the men would climb to the top of the cars to get some fresh air, and ride that way in the biting wind.
Of course we had very little to eat. Those of us who had a little money could occasionally buy some corn pone or tough pies from some friendly darkies or poor white trash.
At one point, while passing through Alabama, a couple of girls sold some pies, and every man who had eaten was taken deathly sick. The pies were no doubt poisoned. Evidently too much poison had been administered, and that saved them.
ยท We were held up at Knoxville all day and drew rations-bread, crackers and pork.
All along the road through East Tennessee the people turned out to see the "Yanks" and gazed on us as if we were part of a circus menagerie. We bandied words with them, and really had a pleasant time chaffing them. Many of them were Union men and women, and when the train stopped, which was quite often, we had some quiet talks with them.
A common question with them was : "What did you'uns come down here to fight we'uns for?"
We left Knoxville January 12th, at 4 A.M., traveling slowly all day, and arriving at Owensville at dark. We found the bridge burned, and had to lay over there until morning. At Henry Bashor's some of us had a good breakfast.
The majority crossed the Watauga in a flatboat, and some
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A Typical Capture, Imprisonment and Exchange.
waded the stream. We then marched ten miles to the Goshey River, where we found another bridge had been burned.
We took the cars again and rode ten miles to Bristol, on the Virginia line. Here we built fires, and rations were issued- flour and pork. We passed some fine scenery, and the Paint Mountains with their tops covered with snow.
We arrived at Lynchburg at 7 A.M., Thursday, January 15th, drew rations and started for Richmond at noon with two engines, as there were some heavy grades. We arrived at the junction and changed from freight to passenger cars for the rest of the journey. During the night the writer wandered about the car to find a soft place to sleep, and laid down on the floor, with his head pillowed on one of the men, who was sound asleep. It being dark, he was unable to distinguish who it was, and on awaking at day- light found he was using one of the rebel guards for a pillow. Awaking first he avoided any unpleasant consequences.
On Friday, January 16th, we arrived at Richmond at 7 A.M., crossed the James River by bridge, entered Richmond, and marched through the rain to the quarters assigned to us, a large tobacco factory.
Quite a crowd assembled to inspect the Yankees. One man informed us that the place had been used as a smallpox hospital, and he hoped that we would never come out of the building alive. This was encouraging. The building, however, had been thor- oughly cleaned and whitewashed.
It was very tedious and tiresome to be held there a prisoner. We had rations issued twice a day-half a loaf of fresh bread, very good, mule meat or soup, which was sometimes wormy.
To the south close by ran the James River, and on the opposite side is the town of Manchester.
We fell in to be counted every morning, the roll being called by a little fellow by the name of Ross, and he would yell: "Fall in, Yanks !" Some of the prisoners would mock him and he would get into a terrible rage.
On the morning of January 17th Dr. Mish left us for the flag- of-truce boat, with the understanding that if it appeared at City Point he was to proceed to Fortress Monroe. Many forwarded letters by him, which had to be inspected before they were allowed to go through the lines.
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
About 1000 men were quartered in this building. On our floor were 238 men, who at night slept in rows.
Much of the time of the men was spent in looking over their underclothing. Stripped to the waist they were a ludicrous sight, turning their shirts inside out, and ever and anon, especially ever, picking out some small things, looking like seeds, which were designated graybacks.
Should you put your head out of the window to get a breath of fresh air, the guard below in the street would bring his gun to his shoulder and threaten to shoot.
If any man incurred the displeasure of the officer of the day, he was placed on one of the stair landings and compelled to mark time for an hour or two as a punishment. The guards were gener- ally good-natured, and our men would only mark time when an officer was approaching. And so time passed, the same thing every day. The principal topic of conversation was: "When should we get out of this and be off to God's country." Rumors flew thick and fast, and the wish was often expressed that this would be only a "temporary arrangement."
On January 19th Dr. Mish returned, the flag-of-truce boat not having put in an appearance at City Point. Seven hundred prisoners from Libby Prison we learned had left, and it seemed pretty certain that we would all go soon.
We heard that the flag-of-truce boat was to take 1100 prisoners at once. This news was considered reliable.
The men on the upper floor of the western wing of the building were paroled on this date. This was encouraging.
On January 26th, 800 men from Libby Prison having left to be put through the lines we were transferred to that prison.
We then all left the quarters we had been occupying for the past ten days, blankets and tins being taken from us. We marched through the muddy streets carrying our rations in blankets furnished us for that purpose, one man at each end of the four corners of the blanket-a singular sight, and it attracted a great deal of attention from the citizens. We arrived at Libby Prison and were soon installed in that filthy building.
The walls were smeared with filth that had run down from the upper floors. No attention of any kind evidently had been paid to cleanliness, and our hearts sank within us at the thought that
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A Typical Capture, Imprisonment and Exchange.
we might remain here for months, or perhaps until the war was ended. Some of the men were already ill. But we were agree- ably disappointed, as we remained there only one day.
We were all paroled in the afternoon, and from what we could learn from the guards, were to leave at once and be put through the lines at City Point.
On Tuesday, the 27th, we left Libby at 3 A.M., and walking through the thick mud, took the cars for Petersburg, where we arrived at 8 A.M. Here we waited for the balance to come. We learned that a sad accident had occurred. The footbridge over the canal, over which we had just passed, had fallen in, and sev- eral were drowned and wounded.
We arrived at City Point at II A.M., and were overjoyed at sight of the old flag flying from the flag-of-truce boat "New York." We knew that we would soon be in God's country again. As soon as we went aboard rations were issued, and we filled up for the first time in many days.
We moved down the James River. In the afternoon we passed the blockading fleet, consisting of several large steamers and two of the new monitors. Arriving at Fortress Monroe before dark, we anchored, a tug coming alongside for the report.
On January 28th we weighed anchor at 3 A.M., and after a cold and stormy passage, arrived at Annapolis, remaining on board all night. Two men died on the boat as we came up the Chesapeake, and their bodies were allowed to remain on their cots among the sick all night.
We landed and marched through the town to the parole camp, two miles out.
Our party was assigned to a Sibley tent, floored, and with a stove. We had nothing to do here but cook, eat and keep the fire going.
We drew full new uniforms, and it was amusing to see the men burning their old clothing, cremating all the life there was in them.
Here we remained for some time, leading an idle life, wander- ing about aimlessly and hoping against hope that we would be soon regularly exchanged and rejoin our Regiment at the front, in Tennessee.
There was a company of cavalry patroling the country out-
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
side, picking up men who were wandering away from camp, and every day men were captured and brought before the Command- ant and required to give an account of themselves. The excuse generally was that they were out fishing.
For the next four months our experiences were varied. The usual lot of soldiers whose parole prevented their customary duties until exchanged. About the Ist of June that formality had been gone through with and we rejoined our Regiment again. Since our capture we had traveled 1376 miles, principally on freight and flat cars.
AMONG THE KILLED AND WOUNDED AT STONE RIVER.
C. LEWIS DIEHL, COMPANY L, LOUISVILLE, KY.
F ROM September 12, 1862, the day of my enlistment, to January 26, 1863, the day on which my discharge was handed to me and I departed from our regimental hospital at Nashville, is but a short span of time. Yet it was to me the most momentous and the richest in the experience of my life-so rich and varied that even at this time, after more than forty years, I cannot realize that the few short months passed as a member of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry were not in reality years ; for had I not in that brief time practically experienced all that makes up the sum of a soldier's experience ?- the drill under most favorable conditions and by expert drill masters ; the discipline of the camp, with its attendant duties of guard mount and policing ; the breaking up of camp and the re-establishment of the same, even to the extent of preparing for winter quarters; the march to the front on horseback through Kentucky and Tennessee, with attendant guard and picket duty and reconnoissance in force ; then, at last, joining the army, foraging, advance toward the enemy's lines of defense, skirmishing and battle ; wounded, prisoner, parole, convalescence and discharge. So it is that all subsequent experi- ence would probably only have been a repetition of what had gone before.
It will be remembered that when the Regiment departed from Bowling Green (December 21, 1862), on the march to Nashville, Company L was detailed as escort for General Smith, and there- fore did not leave before noon of the day following the departure of the main body. I have always associated this with the begin- ning of our active service, notwithstanding that I had a foretaste of what cavalry service meant on the occasion of the night recon- noissance to Glascow, in search of Morgan. Rumors of the close
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
proximity of Morgan and of the crossing of the Cumberland by the enemy in force to cut us off were so persistent that we felt sure to be attacked before we could safely join the main army at Nashville; and when, on the early morning of the 24th, before daylight, our bivouac was invaded by a party of troopers unchal- lenged, we thought surely our time had come. They turned out to be some members of our advance who had been sent back to find out the cause of the conflagration-it was the night of the burning of Tyre Springs-and to assure themselves of our safety, and here we were, like the babes in the woods, sound asleep and innocent of all danger, without so much as a sentinel to keep out intruders.
Little wonder that, as we continued our march that day, we felt we were looked upon with derision by the veterans who began to be in evidence all along the pike-now a battery of artillery, then a regiment of infantry, a train of army wagons or a jumble of all sorts, all bound for the one objective point-for in their eyes we had an appearance of newness which they, as veterans, very naturally associated with inexperience, not to say verdancy. As we neared Edgefield the road was so congested that considerable delay was occasioned, and our contingent frequently came to a dead halt in the midst of troopers, teamsters and infan- try, who soon singled us out as proper objects of sympathy, which I need scarcely say was abundantly and gratuitously distributed. "Sorry for that fine uniform you are wearing; it won't stay that way down here." "Sonny, think of me to-morrow, when you are out cornshucking." "Say, Jim, I believe they are all officers. I wonder who is to command them!" and much more to the same effect and not much to our comfort. But by 3 o'clock we reached the pontoon bridge and soon crossed the Cumberland River, marched through the rocky streets of Nashville, and about two miles beyond reached our camp on the side of one of the beautiful hills that surround the capital city of Tennessee. Here, thanks to an advance contingent of our Company, we found the tents up and ready for our reception.
The weather was beautifully clear, mild and pleasant. With the approach of night the lights of the camp fires of the army camps began to appear, and, after darkness had set in, the surrounding hills appeared as though illuminated for some celebration, an effect
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Among the Killed and Wounded at Stone River.
which was the more realistic because of the frequency of signal rockets ascending in various directions. It was the eve of the natal day of the Redeemer, and it required no great stretch of the imagination to conceive that all this was in celebration of the announcement of "Peace and good will among men" rather than an incident of a cruel, fratricidal war.
After more than forty years since the events described and about to be described, it may be interesting to give at this point the ver- batim account of the happenings during the next few days leading up to within an hour or less of the memorable charge into the woods in which Major Ward received his death wound and Major Rosengarten and others were killed outright. I kept a care- ful diary of daily events from November 28, 1862, to the day of my return to Louisville, January 28, 1863, with a few days' interval after I was wounded. This abstract is the more interesting because it gives an absolutely truthful account of the happenings and in- pressions experienced by me. That the trooper who requested us "to think of him when shucking corn on the morrow" had a true insight into what was likely to happen will appear from the fol- lowing :
December 25th, Christmas .- Was detailed with twenty-four others of my Company to forage for corn. Went out on the Hills- boro pike about eight miles, then turned into a side road to the left for a short distance and found plenty of corn in the fields. While the wagons were being loaded, I, with others of the escort, passed the time eating some hackberries, small fruits that at this season were shriveled and tasted like dried cherries. The trees also resembled cherry trees. About 3.30 P.M. the wagons and escort were called in. We had hardly gotten to the pike when we heard sharp firing and shouting, and shortly a party of our men came running in along the pike, followed helter-skelter by the loaded wagons, scattering corn in all directions in their hurry to reach shelter. They reported an attack by about 500 rebel cavalry. Confusion reigned supreme. Our squad of twenty-five remained and formed in line of battle. When the last wagon had passed we were ordered to cover the retreat slowly, but were soon thrown into confusion by those retreating from behind us. Soon the rebels were visible on the brow of the hill and fired volley after volley at us. We rapidly formed in line of battle in a field facing the hill,
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
when the enemy retreated. One man was killed on our side. Arrived in camp by dark.
December 26th .- This morning the Regiment was ordered off without baggage on a three days' march. Companies L'and I started off, followed afterward by the other companies, on the Nolansville pike, bivouacking near Nolansville over night. Dur- ing the day heard firing along the road; there had been slight skirmishing ahead.
December 27th .- Started about 7 o'clock. Shortly thereafter we deployed as skirmishers to attack a party of rebel skirmishers. The rebels came on tolerably heavy, but were driven back by our superior number. Saw one man (rebel) fall. Advanced into a hollow, where we were exposed to a cross fire of cannon and shell. Had to retreat a short distance. When we advanced again, after a half hour's fighting, we drove the enemy from his position. Went about a mile to our left to outflank the enemy. Olin, Curtin, Burchinel and I were ordered on a knob in our front to scout, and on our return, about half way down, we were invited by a sesesh, whose property we had protected from the vandalism of some army bummers, to dinner. We did not dismount, but had hoe- cake, sparerib and buttermilk while on horseback. On our return it began to rain hard, but we again started and scoured the coun- try until nightfall. Captured two rebel stragglers on the way. Major Rosengarten was attacked by a rebel, and would have been killed but for the timely assistance of Serg .- Maj. Wash. Airey. Cannonading was kept up the entire day, with intermissions. En- camped in a field. Night clear.
December 28th, Sunday .- Advanced again about 8 A.M. After marching several miles came to a small stream, which we forded, the bridge having been destroyed by the enemy. After passing some Federal soldiers drawn up in line of battle, we halted at a plantation about a mile from the bridge. A handsome mansion stood on a slight ascent, and seemed to be occupied exclusively by ladies, who amused us, and possibly themselves, with sesesh talk and rebel songs to the music of a piano. They seemed to be particularly excited because one of our men had captured a horse belonging to one of the ladies, but upon her earnest entreaties it was returned to her. One of the ladies went so far as to flourish a pistol (a very small one) in the face of some of the men sur-
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Among the Killed and Wounded at Stone River.
rounding the porch, but she was given to understand that her play was dangerous to herself only. After staying here about half an hour we resumed our march, returning whence we came, but leav- ing a picket near the plantation (Dr. Webb's). Soon some of the pickets came along with the report that some rebels had shown themselves at the house we had just left. Major Ward returned with a portion of the men, but failed to find the rebels. We came to our bivouac for the night, about three miles along the road (the Huntsville pike), early in the afternoon, and rested for the balance of the day and night in a fine grove of trees.
December 29th .- Resumed our march back on the Huntsville pike ; turned off into the same road where we had our skirmishes. On the way we passed through the bivouacs of numerous infantry regiments and the headquarters of several general officers. After marching several hours, much of the time through cedar scrub, we came to an open plain, where we saw our cavalry drawn up. We can now hear the report of rifles of our's and the enemy's skir- mishers. Directly ahead we can see the smoke of some building or bridge which has just been fired. Infantry appear to be ahead.
Within a short hour after the last word of the above was written I was wounded and a prisoner, a number of my comrades, including Major Rosengarten, were dead, Major Ward was mor- tally wounded and others of our Regiment were severely wounded or prisoners. I cannot do better than to let my diary speak again :
January 2, 1863 .- I am now wounded and a prisoner of war. On the 29th of December, shortly after making my last entry in this diary, we moved on until we reached the pike, after having forded a small stream. Going along the pike we met some of our men in charge of some prisoners-among them several officers -- and finally came to a patch of woods on our right, into which we charged after our advance had signaled us to "come on." We dashed into these woods until we came to a rail fence separating the woods from a corn field. Here we were received with a sharp volley, though we could see nothing of the enemy. The horse of. one of our men-not of my Company-was shot before me, and in falling the man was caught under the horse. I dismounted to help him, and when I remounted I found the fence lined with rebels, while most of our men had retreated. I had hardly mounted when I was struck by a ball in the face, the ball entering
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
my left cheek and passed through the nose. I allowed myself to drop from the horse and lay still until the firing ceased, when one of the enemy came up to take my arms. As he came up to me I thought it about time to give signs of life, which I had care- fully avoided up to this time, because I had been shot at when making a movement shortly after I received my wound. On turn- ing around he motioned to shoot me, holding the muzzle of his rifle to my face, but was prevented by the remonstrance of his comrades. Pretty soon one of our regimental surgeons came up under a flag of truce, and I was ordered to go to a neighboring farmhouse. On my way saw poor Fred Herring laid out (among others). There were about nine men killed and probably as many wounded-a great many for one company. Weiler and Eaton, both of my Company, were at the farmhouse when I came there ; both were wounded in the hip; Eaton mortally. He died at 5 o'clock A.M., January 1, 1863. Weiler is doing well. My wound is painful, but not dangerous, I trust. One of my eyes is closed, and I may lose it ; the other is weakened considerably. There has been a battle going on for three days. Our men have been thor- oughly repulsed. The wounded have been coming in numbers into this church (at Murfreesboro) in which I was the first occu- pant. It is a terrible sight.
January 4th, Sunday .- We were visited to-day and yesterday by a lady from Allentown, Mrs. Chandler, which was a great con- fort to us. There was a report that the Union forces would occupy the town to-day, as the rebels have evacuated this place. I hear our forces retreated at the same time. My wound is much more comfortable to-day. We were paroled this morning, but did not get our parol passports. I suppose they wanted to have us ex- changed even if they could not hold us. This evening we received our parol passports. Our men have not yet come, although they are still expected.
January 5th .- Our men took possession of the town to-day. Several have been here to see us. They are passing through in large numbers in pursuit of the enemy. Mrs. Chandler was here again to-day. I gave her a letter for father and one for Lew, which she promised to mail. Suffered severely from colic during the night.
January 6th .- Colonel Tanner, of the Twenty-second Indiana,
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Among the Killed and Wounded at Stone River.
who was wounded on Wednesday and brought to our hospital, called to-day. He manages to get along tolerably well with a cane. Nothing of importance has taken place. The nurses and attend- ants had to go to the courthouse to-day to be paroled. Wound felt tolerably comfortable and the doctor says it is getting along finely.
January 7th .- Had my wound dressed to-day. Spoke with a Federal surgeon, who told me we would probably be sent to Nashville to-morrow. The wounded at this hospital were paroled to-day. Affairs as usual. The United States Commissariat sup- plied this hospital with stores to-day. The weather has been cool, but not nearly as cool as we have it in the North about this time. The railroad to Nashville will be finished probably to-morrow or the day after, when, it is said, the Union soldiers will be sent to Nashville. Have not heard anything from our Regiment. The hospital in which we are is an old Presbyterian Church and might be made very comfortable, but as it is we have nothing except straw ticks to lay on and a thin blanket for cover, with corn fodder for a pillow. The surgeons (rebel) treat us very kindly and are doing as much for us as they do for their own men. The ladies (rebel) who visit this hospital generally slight us. Some few will attend to our wants. There was a general apprehension by the rebels that our men would not treat them kindly; but since they have received our stores, with permission to help themselves to whatever they need, they think differently.
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