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 39
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This rebel regiment was commanded by Colonel Russell, of General Wheeler's command, and it was the same force that cap- tured Capt. Wash Airey and so many of our boys when we made that mistake at Dandridge, about a year before, and charged a rebel brigade.
We took things easy after this, as the bulk of their cavalry was now to the south of us, and only small parties hovered around us, and never tried to do more than fire at our pickets and then run as soon as the reserves put in an appearance. Thus, going along easy for a day or two, giving our horses three good, square meals a day, we arrived at Decatur on the evening of January 6, 1865.
Our captures since leaving there on December 28th amounted to 2 Colonels, 3 Captains, 8 Lieutenants, 187 enlisted men, 78 pontoon boats, 310 wagons and I ambulance ; also 2 six-pounders, over 800 mules and 25 yoke of oxen, besides a large number of muskets, which were destroyed at once, and many revolvers that were kept by the men.
A singular circumstance took place the day after our arrival at Decatur. Hilty, one of our teamsters, had a mule issued to him at Murfreesboro in March, 1863, to which he took a liking. Hilty taught him to rear up on his hind legs when he took hold of the fetlock on his front leg and said, "Up, Jack!" When our wagons were captured in Sequatchie Valley, in October, 1863, Hilty's team was gobbled with the rest, Jack and all. While the captured stock was tied up to the fence at our camp at Decatur, among those who went to look them over was Hilty, and he was attracted to a woe-begone little mule, and remarked to one of his friends : "Don't that look like little Jack? It can't be, though." Here he began to pet him, and was telling his friend of his trick of raising up when he took hold of his front leg-all the time suiting his actions to the words-and when he said, "Up, Jack!" the mule reared up as he had been taught, and Hilty then knew that he had found his mule.
CAPTURE OF COLONEL WARREN AND INCIDENTS OF THE PONTOON RAID.
CORP. JAMES W. OVER, COMPANY G, PITTSBURG, PA.
A FTER Hood's defeat at Nashville in December, 1864. Colonel Palmer with our Regiment and some detachments of Tennessee regiments crossed the Tennessee River at Decatur, in pursuit of his pontoon and other trains. On the night of December 31st we lay shivering at Leighton crossroads, with sleet and a cold rain soaking us through, and without fires, as Hood's pontoon train was supposed to be camped at Lagrange, a town in sight of us on a high ridge.
The next morning early Colonel Palmer placed himself at the head of the advance guard, and led us rapidly and quietly through fields and by a path up the ridge to the right of the town. Here he sent a squad, under Sergeant Sowersby, to observe the main road and cut off the enemy's pickets.
While riding toward the road we saw a rebel cavalryman in the yard of a house some distance away, with a comforter tied around his ears and gun slung over his back, preparing to mount his horse. I was ordered to capture him, and cocking my carbine, jumped my horse over a fence and started for the Johnnie. The cap of my carbine fell off as the jump was made, but I kept on, and was alongside the Johnny, without being seen or heard, as he was adjusting his feet in the stirrups. The look of astonishment on his face when he heard the command to sur- render, and looked around into the muzzle of a carbine close to his face, was very ludicrous. He surrendered, and very consider- ately, at my suggestion, pitched his gun over a high fence. Just then there was great confusion and noise in the house, as if it were filled with the enemy. On looking around I discovered that I was in a squad by himself, that my comrades were out of sight. and thinking that bluff was a very good game to play, yelled vociferously, and apparently very courageously, that they were
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surrounded, and demanded the surrender of every person in the house, under penalty of instant death.
Hearing rapid footsteps toward the kitchen door, I wheeled my horse around and leveled my carbine as the door was thrown open, showing the Confederate Colonel Warren in the act of drawing a revolver from his side pocket. If ever a fellow put in a yell I did when I thrust the muzzle of my uncapped carbine into the Colo- nel's face and demanded his surrender. He surrendered and dropped his hands instantly. I had, alone, under rather embar- rassing circumstances, two prisoners on my hands, and felt very much relieved when after a few minutes Lieutenant Hinchman joined me. While I would have been much easier in my mind if my carbine had been capped, it would not have benefited me, as the cartridge was so water-soaked that it would not explode. Later in the day I exchanged the carbine for a captured one.
Not finding the pontoon train at Lagrange, Colonel Palmer pushed on after it. Our presence was a complete surprise to the enemy, and we picked up rebel soldiers at every house, who were spending the holidays with their friends. The advance struck one house early in the morning, where a party of four or five of them were just sitting down to a very tempting breakfast. They heard us coming, and took to the woods. We soon captured them, and, as we had not had any breakfast, entered the house and emptied the contents of the table-fried chicken, honey, warm cakes, etc .- indiscriminately into our haversacks, much to the disgust of sev- eral good-looking young ladies. We thus had a very satisfactory meal as we rode along.
We stopped to feed at noon, and the advance was stationed at a crossroads, where a rebel cavalry regiment had been ordered to rendezvous. A party of them joined some of us as we were getting forage at a farmhouse, and only discovered we were Yanks when we presented our revolvers and demanded their surrender. While feeding, our vedette reported a large party approaching, which reached us just as we mounted. We instantly charged, capturing most of them and killing one. We then pushed on rapidly and captured the pontoon train at dusk. It was strung along the road for five or six miles, and details were busy all night destroying the wagons and burning the pontoons. They were new and the finest I had ever seen, and most of them had the names of
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Capture of Colonel Warren.
prominent Southern ladies painted upon them, such as Lady Davis, Lady Bragg, etc.
The next night we crossed into Mississippi, marching in sight of a rebel cavalry force, and burnt a supply train bringing up the rear of Hood's army. Our raid thus far had been highly successful, but we were far within the enemy's lines. They had posted troops on the roads leading north to capture us, and it was a very serious question whether we could avoid them or cut our way through.
On the second day's return march we found the enemy posted in some force on the road in our front. Colonel Palmer disposed his troops as if he intended to attack, and at dusk withdrew and traveled rapidly south for some distance, and then taking a trail through the woods marched all night, and early in the morning reached the main road, about ten miles north of the rebel force.
After resting a few hours we were again moving, and the ad- vance soon struck a regiment marching to join the rebel force now in our rear. We charged at once, capturing a number and killing some. On this day's march the enemy followed us, but whenever the rear guard, under the command of Lientenant Kirk, formed to charge them, they retired. We went into camp about 10 o'clock at night, and soon had our horses and selves fed and blankets spread out, and were congratulating ourselves that we would have a good night's rest, when orders were given to saddle instantly, as a large force of the enemy were preparing to make a night attack on our camp. We left very quietly, leaving our fires burning, and it was reported during the night they surrounded the abandoned camp and charged into it. We continued our march all that night and the next day, when we safely arrived inside our lines.
In this raid we were on the march almost continually for six or seven days and nights, and did most of our sleeping in the saddle, and as the nights were very cold, suffered considerably.
Colonel Palmer showed, by his admirable management of this and other raids, that he was a born cavalry leader. He had a remarkable talent for acquiring information about the roads and bypaths of the country. He usually had a half dozen citizens marching with him, under guard, from whom he obtained informa- tion. As they were never released until it was verified by actual observation, and knew the consequences to themselves if it was not accurate, he was never deceived.
AN INCIDENT OF THE RAID.
EDMUND B. JONES, COMPANY C, PITTSBURG, PA., DECEASED.
O N the night of our starting from Decatur I was detailed for advance guard, Sergeant Lyon commanding, and after moving out and passing the picket post of General Stead- man's command, a camp fire of the rebels was seen about a mile ahead of us, and orders were given Sergeant Lyon to charge the enemy just as soon as the vedette was struck.
It was but a few moments afterward when the rebel picket and reserve post were driven back. In a short time we were again ordered to push forward and drive the enemy. How well I re- member, after riding at breakneck speed in the dark for a short distance, coming upon a camp of the rebels, in which were two pieces of artillery, and which the rebels were endeavoring to hitch up and get away! I believe there were only ten of the advance guard who were really present at the time. Instead of the com- mand returning to the camp of our main army or going into camp at the point where we first encountered the rebels, Colonel Palmer decided to bring the Regiment up and 'camp on the ground where the artillery was captured. The next morning the command moved out, and struck the rebels in small squads all day, and kept them moving quite lively. At night we went into camp at Leighton crossroads. I remember very dis- tinctly that it snowed during the night. We were awakened very early the next morning with orders to move about quietly, the rebels being immediately in our front, so that caution had to be used.
I saddled my horse, and tied him to a stake which I had used to secure one corner of the shelter tent under which my messmate and self had slept during the night. I then started to make coffee. While drinking it my horse pulled up the stake and walked away without my observing him. I only knew of his departure by com- rade Geo. C. Laws yelling to me, "E. B., there goes your horse !" I jumped to my feet quickly and said, "Where-where is he?"
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Not being able to see him on account of the camp fires partly blinding me, I started immediately in the direction which I was told he had taken, making every effort to find him, but was unsuc- cessful. In the meantime the command was quietly falling into line and moving out of camp, taking the road back to Leighton crossroads.
All had gone but myself, and I assure you the position I found myself in just then was not one of the most pleasant or assuring.
I walked to the main road, and looking in the opposite direction from that which the Regiment had taken, I saw coming toward me a horse without a rider, and when he was within a few yards of me I threw up my hands, and the animal stopped. I caught him and made all haste to mount, discovering however, that it was not my horse, as the only equipment which he possessed was a halter and strap. Slipping the strap through his mouth to serve as tem- porary bit, I hastened to the crossroads to catch up, if possible, with the Regiment. Daylight not having made its appearance, and not being able to discover which road the Regiment had taken, I paused to listen a moment, and hearing some voices coming from the direction of Decatur I made a dash for the party, and upon catching up with them discovered that it was a detail of the Regi- ment returning to General Steadman with dispatches. Making known my condition to the non-commissioned officer in charge, I remained with the squad, reaching Decatur the same evening. It has always been a mystery to me as to what became of my horse, as I was never able to find him. And another question which always came to my mind and which had an air of mystery about it was, whose horse did comrade Wm. Mullin, of Company F, ride on the morning the command left Leighton crossroads? for the horse I picked up was Mullin's, and had a very sore back.
This is the end of my actual participation in the forward move- ment of the Mississippi campaign. Now comes what happened to me as a result of this campaign. The next day after the squad arrived in Decatur, a detail consisting of eighteen men, under command of Lieut. John Johnston, was ordered out to scout south of Decatur, your humble servant being one of the number. Tak- ing the same road which the Regiment had taken on the night of January Ist, and when about four or five miles out of Decatur, and while stopping at a plantation some little distance from the
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main road, a man riding a white horse was seen by our force, and immediately eight of us started in pursuit. The Confederate, who had evidently been sent out as a decoy, made a dash for the woods a short distance ahead of him, and turning into it was lost from our view.
Six of our squad-Harry and Frank Craig, Joseph Bontemps, George French, O. T. McConnell, myself and two other Com- rades whose names I cannot recall-struck for the woods and scattered in squads. Comrade McConnell and myself followed a road running along the edge of the woods, and before we knew it we were within fifty yards of about twenty-five Confederate cav- alry drawn up in line and ready to receive us. I believe that I was the first to notice this band, and told McConnell of their presence.
The rebels immediately commenced firing at us, and seeing at once that our little band was scattered, I shouted to Lieutenant Johnston, who with ten men had by this time reached the main road, to fire on the Confederates. This would have distracted their attention, allowed all of our force to become united, and we could have made a stand.
The Lieutenant failed to take in the situation, and without making the least resistance turned toward Decatur, leaving us eight men to take care of ourselves. Discretion at this time seemed to be the better part of valor, and after giving the rebels the contents of my revolver I turned my horse toward the main road, McConnell following close behind, with not a few Johnnies very close behind him, shouting at us to surrender. I gained the main road, and after making the turn toward Decatur I felt my horse gradually going slower and slower, finally stopping and falling over, having no doubt been shot by two rebels who were within twenty-five feet of me at the time.
Of course, I surrendered upon the demand to do so, and upon looking around saw that eight of our command had been made prisoners. I was soon placed astride the same horse with com- rade French, and we were marched off to be kept as prisoners of war for a short time, getting as far south as Rock Springs, Ala. I cannot recall the exact number of days we were kept in con- finement, but I think it was about three weeks before we joined our Regiment at Huntsville, Ala., having been exchanged through the exertions of Colonel Palmer.
THE LYON SCOUT.
CAPT. H. K. WEAND, COMPANY H, NORRISTOWN, PA.
B ATES, in his "History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers," in speaking of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, says : "Upon its return the command was ordered to Huntsville to rest, but on the night following its arrival Colonel Palmer was directed to take all his available mounted men and intercept the rebel General Lyon at Fort Deposit. Failing in this, Colonel Palmer crossed the river in pursuit, came up with Lyon on January 16th, surprised his camp before daylight and routed his command, capturing his only piece of artillery and ninety-six prisoners, which were brought off. Lyon himself was taken, but succeeded in making his escape after shooting the Sergeant who had him in charge-the only loss."
To the Regiment the affair was of more interest, excitement and importance than the above brief statement might indicate, and I have been asked to give a detailed account of the scout.
On January II, 1865, we were encamped at Masten's planta- tion, near Huntsville, Ala., to rest and recuperate, but on the next day orders were received from Brigadier-General Wood, com- manding the district, directing Colonel Palmer with all his avail- able mounted men to pursue and capture the rebel General Lyon, who had been raiding in Kentucky. We had just completed a very successful campaign in the rear of General Hood's army and our horses, much worn and tired out, were in no condition for a hard march. An order sent to the First Sergeant of each com- pany to know the number of animals available for a scout resulted in 138 being so reported. In addition to the number of men were those upon the Colonel's staff and the company officers, so that our total force was about 160 officers and men. An immedi- ate start was made. Captain Harris, our scout, with Lieutenant Hinchman and the advance guard, under Serg. Arthur P. Lyon, upon reaching the Tennessee River, signaled the gunboats by building signal fires and waving lighted torches, and were an-
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swered by the gunboat "General Thomas." Upon advice of Cap- tain Morton of the "General Thomas," we marched to Clarksville Landing, where we were ferried across the river on the gunboats "General Thomas" and "General Grant." When near Warrenton we received reliable information that General Lyon with one gun and about 300 men had left the river and marched down Brown's Valley toward Talladega, but were expecting to camp at Red Hill. Now commenced a rapid march, our object being to reach "Summit," in rear of or southwest of Red Hill.
By passing ourselves off as rebels we found that General Lyon and staff were stopping at "Tom Noble's house." We were evidently on the right track, for on the afternoon of the 14th Lieutenant Kirk, in charge of the rear guard, permitting Wm. L. Bratton and John L. Yost, of Company A, to visit a house, they returned shortly after with two captured horses and six of the enemy. Charles Godfrey Leland, in writing his "Hans Breitman Ballads," says that "the type of Breitman as a soldier was a cavalryman in the company of Capt. William F. Colton, named Yost." In selecting Yost as a type he hit on a very worthy man and an excellent soldier.
About 4 A.M. of the 15th, it being then very dark, the command was divided. Colonel Lamborn with Kramer's battalion was sent by the Back Valley road to join Palmer's command by a crossroad. Palmer now came upon the enemy's pickets, but found them asleep, and they were easily captured. One post, of six or eight men, all asleep, was taken by Corp. Geo. Headley and one man. The main column without difficulty now marched directly into the sleeping camp, and our men by details aroused them from their dreams and made them prisoners. In the darkness many escaped, but left their horses and arms. It was a strange sight and a novel experience to find ourselves in their company streets, un- molested, and able to convince them at the point of the carbine that we were the real, genuine Yankees of whom they had heard so much. Colton's men were left to gather up the prisoners and horses, while Palmer with the balance of the command pushed ahead.
Arthur P. Lyon with the advance guard, under orders, reached Noble's house. The General's escort were in the yard, but un- suspicious Sergeant Lyon entered the house and demanded the
The Lyon Scout. 465
surrender of the General, with the result that the Sergeant was killed, and the General and his staff escaped. The noise of this shooting alarmed the escort and the remaining camp, and general firing now took place. The enemy showing a disposition to fight, Palmer ordered a volley and a charge, and those not already captured or who had not previously escaped had to flee. The dark- ness enabled us to surprise the camp, but it also enabled the other party to elude pursuit.
At this time Lamborn's command was marching on a road parallel with Palmer, and also succeeded in picking up a number of men from houses along the road. At one place we observed a white horse tied in the yard. Kramer always had a fondness for a good horse, especially if he belonged to a rebel, so we rode into the yard to investigate and interview the owner. Knocking at the door, a window was opened, and a man inquired "what was wanted." Upon being told that we were seeking General Lyon, with dispatches, he replied, "You can give them to me; I am Colonel Cabanus, of Governor Brown's staff." We told him "our orders were to hand them to General Lyon personally, but we could not locate him." He kindly told us where to find the General, and then, seeing his horse being led away, shouted, "Whoever takes that horse gets shot." He now saw that we were not friendly, and closing the window he took his leave impolitely through the one in the rear. We got his saddlebags, horse and the information.
After proceeding some distance we came in sight of a picket fire on a crossroad. Colonel Lamborn had been led to believe that we were to encounter a large force in this vicinity, and ordered Kramer with his command to charge, which was done in gallant style. Firing was now heard from several quarters, and we knew that it meant a fight. With Kramer away and the rear guard, under Kirk, not yet up, I was the only officer with Lamborn. When we came in sight of another picket post the men composing it were up and acted in an excited manner. By the light of their fire we could see them, while they could not see us in the darkness. Colonel Lamborn, not realizing our position, turned to me and said, "Lieutenant Weand, charge that post!" To which I replied, "Colonel, I have but one man on a lame mule." He again said, "Charge !"
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Fortunately for me and the mule, just then Lieutenant Kirk arrived with eight or ten men, when the Colonel again said, "Lieutenant Kirk, charge! charge!" Kirk and myself at once started with our available force, and once away from Colonel Lamborn, agreed to approach quietly, and give them a surprise by leading them to believe we were their own men. We succeeded, and rode up to them without shot or hail. One of their number approached Kirk and said, "This is a d-d mean kind of busi- ness," and "where in the h-1 are the d-d Yankees?" Another said to me, "Fall in! Don't you hear the firing? The Yankees are on us." Kirk, placing his pistol to the head of the man who had spoken to him, demanded his surrender, but the fellow, laughing, said, "Oh, you can't play that on me ; it has been tried too often." A Sergeant just then joined us and the man was placed in his charge.
We now charged the balance of the party, who fled without resistance. Colonel Lamborn now joined us with a few more men, while coming toward us on a run was a body of the enemy. It was too dark to see their number, but they filled the road and outnumbered us. Bluff was again our game. Colonel Lamborn shouted : "Colonel Weand, take your regiment up the hill and skirmish !" "Colonel Kirk's battalion to the right!" and into them we went with shot and saber, yelling like Indians. They turned and fled without a show of fight. To our left was a bank and woods, and in this direction the majority escaped. A few re- treated on the road, whom we followed until, reaching a cross- road, they disappeared to our left, and here we came upon their artillery, a twelve-pounder, to which was yoked a pair of oxen.
Colonel Lamborn now formed us in line, for a new trouble appeared. Coming on our right we could hear approaching horse- men, cheering and yelling. By the dawn, as they came near, we saw that it was Kramer and his men, who had evidently been pursuing the party that we had just met, and this accounted for their not retreating by the road on which they had come. Kirk, during the charge, had an opportunity of putting into practice his saber exercise after emptying his revolver. As no dead were found, they no doubt were reported as "wounded." Firing had now ceased, and it was daylight. Gathering our command and
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prisoners, Colonel Lamborn marched us over to join Colonel Palmer.
In the darkness this was accompanied with considerable risk. Colonel Palmer's advance guard sent word back to him that they were challenged and asked what reply they should make. The Colonel directed them to answer "Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cav- alry" which at once clarified the situation.
At this late day it seems incredible that our small force could have successfully attacked over twice our numbers and accom- plished so much. The ground covered by our different attacks was large and our little force divided, but just before daybreak it was very dark and the yelling and firing of Lamborn's men, charging the force on the road to our left, which had charge of their artillery, with Wagner's command noisily routing out the rebels in their camps, half a mile to our rear and the shooting and yelling of our advance guard attacking General Lyon's escort, so disconcerted the Confederates that they believed our force greatly outnumbered them and that their only safety was in flight. On the other hand our men were there for a definite purpose, to de- feat them and capture as many as possible, and in the darkness and tumult of the melee, the intelligence and character of the men guided them to victory. Following the general "mix up" of the two commands not much attention was paid to the particulars of Sergeant Lyon's death. The morning was so dark and the events so confused that his movements after he entered the house where General Lyon was sleeping could not be followed. From in- formation given Colonel Palmer at the time, it appeared that after the Sergeant had captured the General and brought him to the front of the house, the latter asked if he could get his clothes, to which the Sergeant replied, "Yes, if you are quick." He then followed the General into the room and stood in front of the open fireplace with his back to it and his pistol in his hand. The Gen- eral went to the bed apparently to get his clothes, and at this moment one of our men opened the door and called out "Sergeant Lyon, be quick! the rebel escort is rallying," and went out again. In an instant the General seized a pistol from under his pillow, fired at and killed Sergeant Lyon and ran back in the darkness to his escort in the barnyard.
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