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 16
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At the time I was sent out to fix the road the Captain loaned me one of his favorite horses, a fine animal. I found one morning, when I went to clean her, that she had a cut on her back right under where the saddle pressed. I found, on further examination, that a tack in the seat was what had done the mischief. I decided to take her in at once before the wound became inflamed. I started in that evening. The Captain received me kindly and gave me another horse. He also furnished me with a lot of provisions and two Irishmen, armed with guns, to help boss the work and watch the darkies. He also sent a man with a light wagon to haul the two men and the provisions, our camp being then about five miles outside the pickets. It was a beautiful moonlight night. The weather was perfect.
We got along without incident until within about one-half mile of our destination, when one of the men, who had been walking ahead a little distance, came back terribly excited. He had got out of the wagon and was walking a short distance in front when, happening to look down into the ravine, he saw a man dodging from tree to tree. He called to me, "Look there! look there!" I
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could see the man plainly, as the moonlight made objects quite distinct. I said, "Try him a shot." He fired, but the skulker got behind a large tree. We paid no more attention to him and con- tinued on our way. I was satisfied that he was a bushwhacker. Almost immediately after three shots were heard in the direction of camp. The man who had charge of the wagon had become very much frightened by this time, so much so as to be of little use to us, and I concluded it was best to send him back with the team and the provisions. After distributing them around we found we could manage, so I told him he might go. He didn't wait for a second bidding. We could hear the rattle of the wagon far in the distance. One of the pickets who had been on post that night said they could hear him coming long before he arrived, and thought something serious had happened. They thought he was the worse scared man they had seen for quite a while.
We were within about half a mile of camp; the road led down into a dark ravine, where the cedars grew thickly, and after hear- ing the three shots I felt certain we would be attacked in the hollow. The two Irishmen behaved like old soldiers. We started ahead and were unmolested, arriving in camp in good time. I was curious to know what caused the firing we had heard, and was told that three mounted men had ridden up almost to the picket, posted on the ridge back of the camp, and fired three shots into the house occupied by the Colonel as his quarters. The picket snapped his gun at one of them twice, but it failed to go off, much to his chagrin. He said he couldn't possibly have missed, as they were so close. He was satisfied, by the way they acted, that they heard the snapping of his gun, and that was what caused them to leave in such a hurry.
Comrade Pinney was anxious to join me, so I wrote a note to the Captain, asking him if he would let Pinney come out. I was much pleased the next day to see Pinney coming into camp, mounted on a good horse. We were glad to meet once more and it helped to pass the time.
About a week after this the following incident occurred: Not far from where we were at work there stood a small cottage, set back from the roadside, with a clump of cedars close up to the rear. There were also a few trees standing around the front. We never saw anyone around or about this house excepting one man,
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who seemed to be the sole occupant. Pinney was always quick at picking up acquaintances, and it was not long after his arrival that he and the proprietor were on speaking terms, which finally led to an invitation being extended to Pinney and myself to come over the next day and have dinner. At the same time the gentle- man said he would like to treat us nice while in his neighborhood, and that he would have a couple of young lady friends on hand to help make the time pass pleasantly. Pinney informed me of all this, and, after thinking the matter over, we finally concluded to go, although with many misgivings.
I couldn't quite see how that fellow could have much love for us, engaged as we were every day tearing down his fences, con- verting his splendid cedar rails into roadbed and cutting down what little timber he had on his place, but we concluded to take the chances. We took the precaution of fully arming ourselves before going. We were not long getting to the residence of our friend, after mounting our horses, as the distance from the camp was short. We rode into the yard and tied our horses to one of the trees, and then proceeded to the door and knocked. The man appeared at once and invited us in.
My suspicions were aroused, the moment we entered the room, at finding seated there what I took to be a rebel Captain. He had a paper and pretended to be engaged in reading. He looked up and nodded. He was dressed in a smart-fitting butternut-brown suit, with pants inside his boots, and was rather goodlooking and well built. I forgot to notice whether or not he wore spurs, but he filled completely the bill for a regulation rebel officer. I felt satisfied that we were in a bad box. Our host didn't offer to introduce us, but led the way into the next room, where we found a table capable of seating about fifteen. There were at least that many plates on it. I was seated with my back to the door by which we had entered, Pinney was placed at my right, near the end of the table, while the man took his seat at the end. On a line with us was a door opening onto a small porch that led, as I sup- posed, to the kitchen and back part of the house. It was from this direction that I expected the attack would be made.
A girl took her seat directly opposite me and commenced wait- ing on us. She was black-eyed, cross-eyed and homely. She seemed slightly nervous, while at the same time trying to appear
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calm. The man and the girl with Pinney and myself were all that sat down at the table. As soon as we were seated the girl commenced handing things to us. She seemed to want to keep us as busy as possible, and no sooner had she served us with one thing than she followed it quickly with another. All at once, Pinney, who could see the road from where he sat, through a small window, exclaimed, "Oh, look at the big drove of cattle!" Our host had his head down, seemingly very busy eating, but when Pinney spoke he seemed startled, jumped right up, at the same time saying, "A drove of cattle coming ? excuse me, gentlemen, a moment," and started right out of the house over the little porch and in the direction of the kitchen or the cedars which grew close up. Pinney and I, seeing our chance, arose immediately, and leaving the lovely lady alone at the table went through the room by which we had entered. There was no rebel Captain there; he had vanished. We mounted our horses and away for camp. As soon as we reached there we called on the Colonel and told him of our adven- ture. He was angry with us for not having let him know, "for," said he, "there isn't a particle of doubt that the rebels were there, and I could easily have thrown a detachment around to the rear and captured the whole gang. You have had a narrow escape, young men ; a narrow escape."
If they had attacked us, as they certainly intended, we would have given them as good a fight as possible. We had no intention of allowing them to capture us alive. The coming of the cattle undoubtedly saved us, as they always had a heavy guard with them, and any disturbance at the house would have attracted at- tention at once. Our being heavily armed was also a surprise they were not looking for. I have no recollection of seeing our friend or anyone else about the house after that. I think it had been used by bushwhackers as a sort of rendezvous for watching the road. It was but a short time afterward that we were recalled to the Regiment, the Colonel having sent word for all of us to rejoin him at Murfreesboro, where he had established a camp.
REORGANIZATION AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN.
LIEUT .- COL. CHAS. M. BETTS, PHILADELPHIA.
C OLONEL PALMER returned from captivity February 7, 1863, and at once commenced a reorganization of the Regiment. On the 14th a portion of the command was sent forward from Nashville to the new camp on Lebanon pike, near Murfreesboro. It was named Camp Garesche. Instead of the former organization of ten companies, twelve were now formed, the members of the old companies being scattered throughout the new organization. Those in Nashville were sent forward in detachments of about seventy during March and assigned to various companies.
March Ist .- Colonel Palmer had the command drawn up in line after tattoo, and announced the appointment of officers for the various companies made by General Rosecrans, under authority of Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania. These officers were mainly from the old Troop (as we called it), and several of them had been serving in the same capacity since our enlistment. Captain Betts, Company F, was the senior Captain of those appointed from the Regiment proper. On the 3d, Company organizations were completed by the appointment of the non-commissioned officers, and on the 7th Lieut .- Col. Chas. B. Lamborn, having been com- missioned, reported for duty. On the IIth of the month cavalry equipments were issued and 194 good horses arrived from Nash- ville for our use. Soon afterward mounted drill was taken up. On the 13th the command was paid up to December 31, 1862. The balance of March was taken up with drills (mounted and dis- mounted ).
All the available mounted force of the Regiment, about 300 in number, left camp about noon on April 3d for a five days' scout with Gen. John M. Palmer's division of infantry and artillery, in the direction of Woodbury. We arrived at Readyville at 4 P.M., and encamped there for the night.
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The next morning at sunrise we marched in rear of infantry and artillery until Woodbury was reached, where our command was put in advance. About four miles beyond the command encoun- tered a body of some 300 rebel cavalry, driving them four miles, when they made a stand, and a brisk skirmish was kept up for half an hour. The enemy fell back, and we were not allowed to follow them up, but remained in line as skirmishers until 4 P.M., when we returned to Woodbury and bivouacked about a mile beyond the town.
On the 5th we took up the line of march, at sunrise, toward Mc- Minnville, on a byroad through the Short Mountains. The scenery en route was grand. After a twelve-mile march we neared a small town called Half Acre, where we captured an enrolling officer and eight or ten rebel soldiers, besides twenty-six boxes of tobacco and a number of horses. Stone River was followed to its source in the mountains. We returned to Woodbury about dark and occu- pied the same place as night previous.
April 6, 1863 .- Colonel Palmer with Captain Lashell's bat- talion went on a scout, and the balance of our command accom- panied General Palmer with two infantry regiments to the moun- tains-Companies E and F-under Captain Betts in advance. The command rescued four conscripts who had been in concealment for five months. About 8 P.M. we returned to our previous bivouac. The following morning at 9 started for Bradyville, marched six miles, when we came across some rebel pickets, charg- ing them for two miles, capturing four. Then marched to the mountains, on top of which was an extensive tract of table-land, known as the "Barrens." At this place met a company of rebel cavalry, and, after a chase of three miles on the full run, captured eight. Returning, captured two more. We arrived at Bradyville soon after, marching over roads almost impassable, by single file, thence to Readyville, where we found our wagons, with blankets and provisions. The next day returned to our camp at Mur- freesboro, where we found that over 300 new horses had arrived from Nashville. Private Woodwell, of Company F, was shot through the leg by a bullet from Hunter's carbine, which was dis- charged when the latter was thrown from his horse.
On Sunday afternoon, April 10th, our command was reviewed by Major-General Rosecrans, and everything passed off very
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Reorganization and Middle Tennessee Campaign.
creditably. The General remarked, "Boys, I have been waiting for you for some time, and I see you are nearly ready for me." When opposite Company F he remarked to Colonel Palmer, "Colonel, these fellows don't appear to have much white in their eyes." When passing in the rear of Company I he made the remark, "I have heard that with a Pennsylvania-Dutchman it is first his horse and then his wife; but I never believed it until now." On the IIth Private W. A. Heffley, of Company F, died of typhoid fever. He was on the last scout, fell sick on the second day out, and was buried on the 13th, at Union Cemetery, Murfreesboro, with mili- tary honors. Private Saml. Gass, saddler, Company F, died on the same date, and his remains were sent to his family, accom- panied by Private A. L. Hawkins, of Company I. This is the same soldier who, in the war with Spain in 1898, took the Regiment he commanded, the Tenth Pennsylvania, to Manila, and participated in many of the engagements there. When taken sick and ordered home he refused to go, and said, "He would go home with the boys." He did go home with the boys, but they took him there in his coffin.
On the 20th, with a brigade of infantry and section of artillery, our command went on a scout toward Stone River, Jefferson, Las Casas and Fall Creek. Considerable picket firing occurred on the night of the 22d. April 23d one battalion of our regiment scouted in the direction of Milton, and in the afternoon reported to Gen- eral Granger, who had command of a force which left Murfrees- boro the day previous with rations for General Reynolds' com- mand. We met them the following day, near Liberty, on their return from a scout to McMinnville, where they had captured 200 rebels, among them Maj. Richard McCann. They had also de- stroyed two factories, train of cars, depot and bridges.
Colonel Palmer with the other two battalions scouted to Cains- ville and Statesville on the 24th, capturing some prisoners, and was joined by the other battalion on the 25th, on the way back to Murfreesboro. The following day we marched to Milton, Cains- ville, Beard's Mill, and bivouacked at Stone River, returning to our camp on the 27th.
The command was busily engaged in drilling, target practice, etc., when not on other duty. There was much dissatisfaction among the line officers, mainly owing to their not having received
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their commissions from Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and it culminated in the most of those appointed from the old Troop re- signing in a body. They were relieved from their commands on the 7th of May, by order of the Commanding General. Other officers were appointed to fill the vacancies, ranking as follows- as confirmed by orders issued June 22, 1863 :
Captains.
I. Chas. M. Betts.
2. Washington Airey.
3. Adam Kramer.
4. Wm. W. Dewitt.
5. Wm. P. Rockhill, Jr.
6. Henry McAllister, Jr.
7. William Thompson.
8. Abram B. Garner.
9. Edward Sellers.
IO. Geo. S. Clark.
II. William Wagner.
Lieutenants.
I. Geo. S. Fobes, Q. M.
2. Chas. S. Hinchman, Com'y.
3. Comly J. Mather.
4. Wm. F. Colton, Adjutant.
5. Annesley N. Morton.
6. Harvey S. Lingle.
7. James H. Lloyd.
8. Charles F. Blight.
9. Harry K. Weand.
IO. Charles H. Kirk.
II. George W. Hildebrand.
12. Stuart Logan.
13. Frank E. Remont.
14. William M. Field.
15. Anthony Taylor.
On the 21st of May the Regiment was ordered out on a scout, making a circuit of some twelve miles in front of the outer lines of our army, returning the same evening; and the next day all extra clothing was packed in boxes for storage at Nashville until the return of cold weather.
The command moved to a new camping ground on the 26th, called Camp Pennsylvania, on the Salem pike, one and a half miles south of Murfreesboro, where new shelter tents were re- ceived.
Orders were received on the evening of June 3d to prepare three days' rations and be ready to move at a moment's notice. Heavy cannonading was heard toward Shelbyville at intervals the next day. The day following the Regiment made a reconnoissance, about five miles to the left of Salem, without meeting the enemy.
On June 7th the officers were mustered into the service, after taking the oath of allegiance, and the following day Companies
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Reorganisation and Middle Tennessee Campaign.
E and F established a courier line between Murfreesboro and Readville, Company F being relieved the next day by Company D.
Orders were received from department headquarters on the 13th for an escort to a flag of truce under Colonel Mckibbin, and Captain Betts' battalion, of four companies, was detailed for this duty. On arrival at our army's outer picket they were halted, and Captain Betts and Lieutenant Kirk, with twenty men, escorted Colonel Mckibbin with the flag of truce to the enemy's vedette, two miles beyond, and were allowed to continue one mile farther, where they awaited the arrival of the Confederate detail sent to meet them. This detail consisted of Colonel Webb, Major Dye, Lieutenant Street and two other Lieutenants, with escort, all from the Fifty-first Alabama. The object of this meeting was to deliver the personal effects of Colonel Williams (Confederate), who had been captured inside our lines, tried and shot as a spy at Franklin two days before. After two hours' pleasant chat with "our friends, the enemy," the command returned to camp.
On the afternoon of the 14th we received hurried orders, and in fifteen minutes the Regiment was in the saddle. After ten miles' march toward Nashville, scouted all night through the woods to the left, by lanes and bypaths, looking for a party of seventy guerrillas reported to be in the vicinity, without success, and re- turned to camp about 5 o'clock next morning.
A forward movement of the army was commenced early on the morning of June 24th. General McCook's corps, on the right, took the Shelbyville pike; General Thomas' corps, in the center, the Manchester pike, and the left, under General Crittenden, moved via Bradyville. Companies B, H and K were detailed at department headquarters as escort to General Rosecrans, com- manding, and the remainder of the Regiment was employed for courier duty between the wings of the army, reporting the general topography of the country in advance of the army. This required untiring energy and constant activity both night and day. Com- panies E and L, under Captain Airey, while carrying dispatches to General Mitchell, at Rover, encountered a large force of the enemy, and by a vigorous charge drove in their pickets, killing two and capturing several, and got safely away-delivering the dispatches to General Mitchell at Versailles. They had only one man wounded in the fight.
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
As an evidence of the activity displayed on this campaign of six days from Murfreesboro to Tullahoma, the writer finds by his diary that he rode thirty-six miles on the 25th, twenty-eight on the 26th, thirty on the 27th, eighteen on the 29th-an average of twenty-eight miles daily, which probably represents the distances covered by most of the command during the same time.
Heavy skirmishing by the army with artillery occurred at Beech Grove, and Manchester was occupied on the 28th by our forces. Early on the following morning, at 1.30, orders were received from the department headquarters for a reconnoissance on the enemy's left, and Companies D, E, F, G, H and L, under Lieuten- ant-Colonel Lamborn, with one of Rosecrans' staff officers moved forward. After marching eight miles the advance guard, con- sisting of Adjutant Colton and five men from Company F, struck the enemy's cavalry picket, and according to instructions imme- diately charged, driving them back on their reserve picket of about fifty mounted men, who were drawn up in line on a slight elevation on the bank of a small stream. Company F, being in the advance, rushed forward with a yell on the reserves, who fired a scattered volley and fled.
Seven prisoners were overtaken and captured by our advance before striking their reserve. The case was kept up to within two miles of Tullahoma by Company F. The commanding officer, being mounted on a gray Kentucky bred, after discharging his two pistols without effect at the fleeing column gave rein to his horse, and when a few were overtaken with an empty pistol he compelled their surrender and turned them over as prisoners to the first of his men who came up. Twice this was done, the distance being greater each time between the pursuer and pursued. On the third heat, after riding on a run for about a mile on a level, wooded road without fences, he noticed a disposition on the part of the rebels to slacken their pace and feel for their guns. Looking back he was surprised to find none of his men in sight. His horse, entering into the spirit of the chase, was only halted by running him into a bank on the roadside. The first man to come up was Pri- vate Thos. B. Tucker, with pistol in hand, fully cocked, and while drawing in his reins Tucker involuntarily discharged his piece, the bullet whizzing in very close proximity to the officer's head.
When Companies E and G came up, a line was formed, on the
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edge of a clearing, which extended over to the earthiworks of the enemy at Tullahoma, and we waited for the attack we knew would come. The "long roll" sounded in the enemy's camps, and soon after a long line of rebel infantry, with one or two guns, came over the breastworks and advanced toward us. On the flanks of this force came a small force of cavalry. A few shots only had been fired, when positive orders were received to fall back and join the balance of the command, which was done, and the whole force returned to Manchester, in a great downpour of rain.
[Several years ago, at a meeting of the Pennsylvania Com- mandery M. O. L. L. at the Union League, Philadelphia, Lieuten- ant Conaway and the writer met Col. A. C. Ducat, of Chicago, who was on the staff of General Rosecrans during this campaign. He told us he had been awakened about I o'clock in the night by the General, who said he was anxious to get information of the enemy's position at Tullahoma. The General ordered him to send the Anderson Cavalry, saying, "That is as many men as I can afford to lose ;" so it is possible the command performed a work which was considered more hazardous than any of the officers or men knew of at the time.]
On June 30th Lieutenant Mather, Company F, with twenty men was detailed as guard to a wagon train to Murfreesboro, re- turning July 7th.
Tullahoma was occupied by our forces about 4 P.M., July Ist, it having been evacuated by the enemy early on the morning of that day. Three large siege guns had been abandoned, two being in the fortifications. There were also tents pitched that were sufficient to accommodate 3000 men. Captain Clark with his company (E) went to Shelbyville that day with dispatches to General Baird, and Company F had established a courier line from General McCook to headquarters of General Rosecrans at Tullahoma. On the 2d, a quantity of rebel shells caught fire and exploded, killing two men and wounding two. Private Biggert. Company D, of our Regiment, was badly wounded in the leg. On the 4th a national salute was fired by two battalions in honor of the day and for the victory at Gettysburg, Pa. Our . command was on half rations from July 5th until the 8th, when trains arrived with supplies. On the 14th Company F was de- tailed at General Johnston's headquarters, and posted vedettes on
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all the roads leading out of Tullahoma, and on the 16th Companies I and M arrived in camp from courier duty between Manchester and Murfreesboro.
Company C rejoined the command the following day, and on the 20th Colonel Palmer with Companies C and L, with wagons, moved on to Winchester with department headquarters, being · followed the same day by Companies E, I and M, who had re- turned from Wartrace. About 8 P.M., private Isaac C. Davis, , Company F, while a vedette, was shot by bushwhackers, neces- sitating the amputation of two fingers of his left hand. The com- mand was paid off early in August, and the Company left at Tulla- homa rejoined the Regiment on the 9th at Winchester. Several scouts had been made by that portion of the command, on one of which Private Requa, Company L, was killed by guerrillas, August 3d; and a few days after, in an attempt to capture the assassin, we captured a Captain Bean and six others.
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