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 55
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regarding the advance of squads in various directions, but these have lacked confirmation. The roads are well guarded, our fleetest horses being placed at the most exposed points. The Anderson cavalrymen have behaved admirably, though almost without arms and mounted on green horses, but are as cool as veterans. They are splendid material. No news yet from Captain P.
R. H. LAMBORN.
HEADQUARTERS, HARRISBURG, PA., September 12, 1862. To CAPT. WM. J. PALMER, Greencastle, Pa.
You will act as Provost Marshal for the borough of Greencastle and immediate vicinity, and will be respected accordingly.
By order of A. G. CURTIN, Commander-in-Chief,
A. K. MCCLURE, Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 13, 1862:
CAPT. D. H. HASTINGS,
Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
I have just received an order from Governor Curtin, through Major McClure, to report to Captain Palmer. Shall I do so? I await your orders.
E. W. TARLETON, First Lieut. Third Cav., Commanding Company.
CARLISLE, PA., September 13, 1862.
LIEUTENANT TARLETON.
Try and get along quietly. I have telegraphed Governor Curtin, requesting him not to interfere with you or I would be compelled to withdraw you, which I do not wish to do.
D. H. HASTINGS, Captain First Cavalry.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 12, 1862.
MAJOR MCCLURE,
Assistant Adjutant General, U. S. A., Chambersburg, Pa.
One of my men, captured by the enemy on picket this morning and paroled, reports 500 rebel cavalry across the State line under Colonel Brinn.
E. W. TARLETON, First Lieut. Third Cavalry.
STATE LINE, PA., September 13, 1862. MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE,
Assistant Adjutant General.
The rebel pickets have been drawn back on the main roads; they are meditating a movement either backward, in consequence of something that may have occurred in their rear, or for the purpose of arranging for a dash to-night. I think the latter, as a body of them went over this afternoon to the farm of Colonel Brinn, who commands the rebel cavalry. My pickets now occupy the ground they reached this morning, and will be advanced in the morning to State Line, if we can get some more cavalry here to act as reserve. At present, as hitherto, all our men are
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
at the front, which has given the enemy a very decent opinion of our numbers. Rev. Mr. Stine says they told him in Hagerstown yesterday that all the scouts had returned reporting that the Yankees were as thick as grasshoppers at the State Line. It will be well to keep up the impres- sion, and as Colonel Campbell's force comes up to-night, it should come with considerable ostentation-the locomotives whistling, men cheering, etc. The rebel infantry cannot reach here to-night, and if a dash is made it will be with their cavalry alone. We can take care of them with 500 infantry and our cavalry. They should come up immediately and encamp on their arms in line of battle at a point which I will consult Captain Lane about. As much as possible of the rest of the infantry force ought to be moved to Marion. How soon can the 550 be here? Tarleton has not yet reported.
WM. J. PALMER.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 13, 1862.
COL. THOS. A. SCOTT, Harrisburg, Pa.
It is of the utmost importance that the newspapers should give no in- formation whatever of the number of our forces sent up the Cumberland Valley. At present, the rebels have a favorable opinion of our numbers, which is an impression that should be kept up by all means in our power for the next week. Cannot you effect this?
WM. J. PALMER.
September 13, 1862.
MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE,
Assistant Adjutant General.
All quiet this morning so far. I have sent the regulars to intercept the wagon train on Mercersburg road, if possible. Our pickets on Wil- liamsport pike report three Roman candles sent up-at 12 midnight, one at 12.15 and another rocket at 2.30 A.M. Cannot General Reynolds come here this morning?
WM. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding Cavalry.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 13, 1862.
MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE.
Please state the number, and name of commanding officer, on after- noon train. Rebel infantry are at Middleburg, where I was driven from this morning. To what extent do you propose reinforcing us here ? Send a messenger to Lieutenant Spencer, who ought to be at Marion, ordering him up immediately. I have not a man to spare. Our men cannot stand this work much longer ; it will kill both man and horse. Captain Palmer is now out Williamsport road with twenty men. Answer soon.
FRANK B. WARD, Captain Commanding.
STATE LINE, PA., September 14, 1862, 6 A.M.
MAJOR MCCLURE.
Lieutenant Tarleton has reported to me this morning. All right now. The paroled regular says he saw five full companies of rebel cavalry drawn up at Colonel Brinn's farm, one mile from State Line, whither they took him yesterday. Our picket on Williamsport pike at State Line yesterday P.M. reported he saw a large wagon train of what he thought was 200 wagons with a guard of 150 cavalry passing along road from
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Hagerstown road toward Mercersburg. If we had more men, that road could be guarded. I presume the rebels foraged there yesterday. If all the organized men at Mercersburg could be mounted and provided with pistols and sabers immediately, they could attend to that road and those running in the direction of State Line east as far as Upton.
WM. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding Cavalry.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 14, 1862.
MAJOR MCCLURE.
If the Marion force could come here to-night, it would answer all purposes and perhaps save Greencastle. I do not think they would have anything to do but let the fact of their arrival be known, which we would have circulated on the other side of the line. If the raw men have made up their minds to fight, they will answer here as well as at Marion. It is important for the moral effect that Greencastle and the country to the Line should not be given up. Our pickets at Upton have just sent in two deserters from Jackson's army, undoubtedly reliable. One of them is very intelligent and knows the composition of most of their army corps. I am taking down his statements. He thinks the cannonading this morning was at Martinsburg, and says the guns were too heavy to be theirs-they have nothing heavier than twelve pounders in the Virginia army since leaving Richmond. He confirmed the report that Longstreet's Army Corps was in Hagerstown. It consists of four divi- sions under General Anderson, of South Carolina, Generals Jones and Whiting, of Texas, and one other. The white-haired General I referred to as being there, he thinks was General Lee, who was still riding in an ambulance, from his wounded arm, one week ago, when the deserter saw him. He says the whole of Longstreet's division was drawn up in line of battle with artillery posted-this was two miles back of Hagerstown.
WM. J. PALMER,
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 14, 1862, 9 P.M. MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE,
Assistant Adjutant General.
My scout reached Hagerstown at 3 P.M. to-day, at which time he says Longstreet's Corps, excepting Tombs' brigade, was leaving Hagerstown. They commenced leaving at about II A.M., and he saw rear of Long- street's army go over the hill near Funkstown, say two miles from Hagerstown, on Boonsboro road, at 3.30 P.M. The impression of the spectators was that they were going into camp then and there ; but it may have been only their wagons which stopped-these he saw in five rows, parked in a field on both sides of the road at point named. The citizens said there had been fighting at or near Middletown this morning; that McClellan had been driven back two miles, and that the final issue was so critical as to make it necessary to order back Longstreet's Corps to reinforce the rebels. He could not see any troops but Colonel Brinn's Cavalry and a few infantry sentinels anywhere in or about Hagerstown. but was informed that Tombs' brigade was still there, encamped two miles this side of town, on Greencastle road. They also thought there was fighting to-day at Harper's Ferry, from the direction of the cannonad- ing. My scout also reports that the division of the rebel army which was encamped one and a half miles east of Hagerstown, on Boonsboro road, and which he thinks was Loring's, commenced leaving for Boonsboro this morning. This would give Loring seventeen and Longstreet
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
nineteen miles to march to Middletown-the latter having been encamped one mile south of town on the Williamsport road.
Two more deserters have come in this evening from whom I learn the following, which is somewhat confirmed by the scout's statements. One says the rebel Virginia army consists now of the following divisions : Jackson's, Ewell's and A. P. Hill's, forming Jackson's Corps and number- ing 30,000. All these turned off at Boonsboro and crossed the river into Virginia at Williamsport on Thursday, September IIth. Longstreet's Corps-the best fighting corps, and with the best artillery in their army- consists of Anderson's, Jones', Whiting's and old Longstreet's divisions, with several battalions of artillery, including the Washington and Don- aldson artillery, etc., in all 30,000-this turned off at Boonsboro and marched to Hagerstown. The wagons of A. P. Hill's division, after crossing the river at Williamsport, were returned again and sent up by Williamsport pike to Hagerstown, where they went into camp with Longstreet. The next is Loring's division, a weak one, say 6000 to 8000 men, which followed Longstreet and encamped one mile east of Hagers- town, on Boonsboro pike. This may possibly have been Wilcox's divi- sion, however; if not, the remaining divisions in Maryland are Walker's, Wilcox's, Loring's and D. H. Hill's-the last containing about 10,000 men, who entered Boonsboro on Friday and were still there (when the deserter left at 9 A.M. yesterday, Saturday), encamped on a hill a quarter of a mile east of Boonsboro. He belongs to Second North Carolina regiment, of Geo. B. Anderson's brigade, D. H. Hill's division. 'At that time he heard that Walker's division was five miles back. An officer told him it only contained three brigades, and that two regiments had been detached before they reached Frederick. The strength of these four divisions, which with Jackson's and Longstreet's Corps includes every- thing they have in Maryland, our intelligent deserter (the New Yorker whom I referred to last evening) estimates at 40,000, making 100,000 in all in Maryland. The only divisions he knows of are Gustavus Smith's and Jos. E. Johnston's, both now probably under the former, as he does not believe Johnston is well yet, and numbering 40,000. . These he thinks are near Centreville. This man is a gentlemanly fellow from New Orleans and seems to be acquainted with every man in Washington artil- lery. If the above facts be correct, neither Jackson's, Longstreet's or Loring's (perhaps Wilcox's, instead of Loring's) men could have been in the battle this morning-and they will be in the fight if it is renewed, if they can get there in time. Our cavalry reserves are at State Line, pickets in Maryland. Infantry here.
WM. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding Anderson Cavalry. GREENCASTLE, PA., September 14, 1862.
MAJ. A. K. MCCLURE,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Lieutenant Tarleton informs my messenger he was not instructed to report to me, but is willing to assist. Better recall him and detail Spencer to command them. My men have had no sleep for three nights, and I must use all fresh men immediately to relieve them. Tarleton says his instructions are to report to the Garrison.
WM. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding Cavalry.
GREENCASTLE, PA., September 14, 1862.
A. K. MCCLURE.
I do not think it is time, as I have reliable information that there is but one body between here and Hagerstown and that is on Berry farm,
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Addenda.
500 strong. It may have been some of my men, as my pickets are a good ways out the Waynesboro road. I sent two messengers there to-night. Do everything in your power to reinforce us before morning, as we will need them then, I think.
FRANK B. WARD.
CHAMBERSBURG, September 15, 1862.
CAPT. W. J. PALMER,
I send you now Captain Byers' cavalry, fifty men. Expect Philadel- phia City Troop here to-night or morning. Have telegraphed Scott to send them on to Greencastle by cars. Have ordered Captain of Meyers- burg cavalry and Captain of Waynesburg cavalry to report here at once for sabres and ammunition. This will probably give you four hundred (400) mounted. Expect a cavalry company from Shippenburg to- morrow some time. Will see what can be done towards impressing horses, or could you make use of the balance of Colonel Brawn's regi- ment of infantry ? I will relieve Byers at once, and order him to Green- castle to Captain Love. The Scott company will go on to-night.
JOHN A. WRIGHT,
Col. and Asst. Adjt. Gen. on Gov. Curtin's Staff.
HARRISBURG, September 15, 1862. CAPT. W. J. PALMER,
General Halleck undoubtedly means all the cavalry at Greencastle, including those which arrived from Harper's Ferry battlefield, and is believed to be in Middletown Valley. Longstreet's, division on the way from Boonsboro to join the rebel forces engaged with McClellan. Con- sult immediately with Colonel commanding United States cavalry that arrived this morning. Much good may be done by harassing the rear of the rebel army, perhaps capture a General or two.
THOS. A. SCOTT, Asst. Secretary of War.
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
General Order No. 3. }
HARRISBURG, September 9, 1862.
The War Department has ordered us to remain for the present in Pennsylvania to aid in repelling the invaders from our own homes. This order I have no doubt accords directly with your warmest wishes, as it does with mine. To carry it out, carbines and horse equipment have been ordered to be sent to us immediately, and the Governor has made arrangements to provide us with horses. For the present we are to act in the Cumberland Valley as scouts, etc., to gain and carry information of the enemy's movements, and as a rear guard to impede and harass his march. Temporary appointments will at once be made of acting Cap- tains, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Corporals for each company to answer for the emergency. Each man in the command will endeavor to learn how to handle his saber and carbine in the shortest time. And remem-
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
ber that good discipline, a prompt and immediate obedience to all orders, is more important than drill, and that the only certain and ultimate maxim of war is that brave men will conquer cowards.
No further furloughs will be granted and men now absent on iur- lough will be immediately recalled.
By order of
W. J. PALMER, Captain Commanding Anderson Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, MURFREESBORO, TENN., May 10. 1863.
Special Field Order No. 127 EXTRACTS.
XI. The Governor of Penna., having placed the appointment of the Officers of the 15th Penna. Cav'y in the hands of the Major-General Cmdg. the Department, he announces the following officers, to wit,-
Ist Lieut. Wm. P. Rockhill-to be Captain of Co. "C" to date from Apr. 30, 1863.
Ist Sergt. Wm. Thompson-to be Captain Co. "D" to date from
Apr. 30, 1863. Apr. 30, 1863. Q. M. S. of Regt. Geo. S. Clark-to be Captain Co. "E" to date from Ist Lieut. Henry McAllister, Jr .- to be Captain Co. "G" to date from Apr. 30, 1863.
Sgt. Maj. of Regt. Edward Sellers-to be Captain Co. "H" to date Ist Lieut. Wm. W. DeWitt-to be Captain Co. "I" to date from
from Apr. 30, 1863.
Apr. 30, 1863.
Apr. 30, 1863. Ist Lieut. Apr. 30, 1863.
Apr. 30, 1863.
from Apr. 30, 1863.
Ist Sergt. Abram B. Garner-to be Captain Co. "K" to date from Adam Kramer-to be Captain Co. "M" to date from Ist Sergt. Anthony Taylor-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "A" to date from Ist Sergt. Geo. W. Hildebrand-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "B" to date Ist Sergt. James H. Lloyd-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "C" to date from
Apr. 30, 1863.
Apr. 30, 1863. Ist Sergt. Chas. F. Blight-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "D" to date from Ist Sergt. Chas. H. Kirk-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "E" to date fromn Apr. 30, 1863. Ist Sergt. Harvey S. Lingle-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "G" to date from Apr. 30, 1863. Com. Sgt. of Regt. Wm. M. Field-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "H" to date from Apr. 30, 1863.
Apr. 30, 1863.
Ist Sergt. Stuart Logan-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "I" to date from
Sergt. Frank E. Remont-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "K" to date from Apr. 30, 1863. Ist Sergt. Annesley N. Morton-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "L" to date from Apr. 30, 1863.
Ist Sergt. Harry K. Weand-to be Ist Lieut. Co. "M" to date from Apr. 30, 1863.
Addenda. 649
The remaining officers will be hereafter appointed for meritorious conduct.
By command of
MAJOR GENERAL ROSECRANS. H. THRALL, Capt. & A. A. Genl.
COL. WM. J. PALMER, Comdg. 15th Pa. Cav'y.
WINCHESTER, TENN., August 12, 1863. COL. WILLIAM J. PALMER,
Commanding Anderson Cavalry.
Colonel,-In obedience to your order, I herewith transmit a sketch of the country lying adjacent to the road leading from this place to Larkin's Fork via Salem.
As your chief object, according to my interpretation of the order, seemed to be to ascertain the character of the road beyond Salem, it will be unnecessary to speak at length concerning the road to that place. I beg leave to remark, however, that it is now in excellent condition ; good roads are cut through the fields wherever standing pools of water render the main highway impassable. The facilities for watering stock are poor, as there are no streams of running water in the vicinity of the road. At Salem the road leading to Larkin's Fork, and thence to Bellefonte and Larkinsville, strikes off nearly at right angles with the former road, running generally in a direction somewhat east of south to the base of the mountains, nearly five miles from Salem. The land in this valley is extremely fertile and well watered, the road crossing both branches of Bean's Creek. There is also near the base of the mountain, to the right of the road, an artificial water basin, filled at the present time with good, pure water. From this road, leading in a northeasterly direction, to the Salem road, are several settlement roads and bridle paths, which, if passable, would be much the nearer way from this place (Winchester) to the mountain base; but the recent heavy rains have washed these paths so badly that it is doubtful whether they could be used to advantage for military purposes. The prevailing opin- ions among the residents were that time and trouble would be saved by adhering to the main road, by way of Salem.
At the foot of the mountain the road makes a turn to the right. and after running for a short distance in a southwesterly course, makes, by a long curve, a turn to the left (as you will perceive by the map), and the ascent of the mountain commences. Immediately after making the second turn, the road for a hundred yards, probably, is steep, and a very heavily laden wagon could scarcely be drawn up it. I think, however, that this hill could be easily avoided by cutting a road through the field to the left for a short distance. The balance of the road to the summit of the mountain is by no means steep, and, althoughi in many places quite rough and stony, there is no obstacle that can seriously impede the passage of either artillery or baggage wagons.
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Near the mountain top, to the right of the road, there is a second water basin, containing good water. From this point there is no water, excepting in wells, until the mountain is entirely crossed. The mountain top at this crossing is quite narrow, probably not more than a mile in width. On it are several spots of cultivated ground and some few scattered dwellings, most of which are deserted. The timber on the mountain is quite fine, and consists mostly of chestnut and the several species of oak.
The descent of the mountain is quite gradual. The road, which is very good, winds over a high ridge or spur, upon each side of which is a deep ravine. These ravines unite at Larkin's Fork, the roads at this place turning suddenly to the left and running for more than a mile in an easterly direction, thence in a southeasterly course toward Bellefonte. The road for some distance beyond Larkin's Fork follows a deep ravine. It is, although stony, quite level.
I failed to ascertain anything reliable concerning the roads running in a northeasterly direction from Bellefonte. I have not attempted, therefore, to delineate them on my sketch. I was informed that water was very plentiful beyond the mountains. Altogether, this road over the mountain is good. None of the curves (which are few in number) are too short to allow a team to draw to advantage. There are no places over the whole route where wagons could be readily overturned, or where careful and skilled driving would be an indispensable requisite to their safety.
I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY MCALLISTER, JR., Captain Commanding Company G, Anderson Cavalry.
COLONEL CLOUD'S STORE, (On road from Ringgold to Lafayette, along east foot of Missionary Ridge, five miles from Gor- don's Mills and three miles from Rossville) September II, 1863, 2.40 P.M.
COLONEL GODDARD,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Colonel,-I have not yet reached Colonel Harker's brigade, of Wood's division, which is close to Gordon's Mills. I find at this store a wounded prisoner of the Third Arkansas cavalry, Armstrong's brigade, of For- rest's division of cavalry, who was shot through the body by a minie ball and will hardly live. On being interrogated he told me, with every appearance of entire sincerity, that two brigades of cavalry-his own and one, he thinks, of Pegram's-encamped one and one-half miles south of this, on Lafayette road, last night. He says positively that at the same time two divisions of infantry-Cheatham's and, he thinks, Hindman's-encamped at Gordon's Mills; whether they were there this morning or not he does not know, but the cavalry, he says, has not left,
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except to fall back as Colonel Harker's brigade advanced this morning. He is so weak that I cannot get many details from him.
His brigade left Kingston and went through Ringgold to Summerville, thence to Lafayette, and thence, evening before last or yesterday morn- ing, to Gordon's Mills; their pickets were one-quarter mile north of this last night, at the point where two of General Crittenden's escorts were captured early this A.M. Another road to Ringgold turns off one mile north of this; distance from there to Ringgold, ten miles. It is better than the direct road from Rossville, but there is no bridge across the creek ; fording poor for wagons.
I would say, in conclusion, that I am very strongly inclined to believe the statements of this wounded prisoner.
His brigade passed through Gordon's Mills last evening, and he says he actually saw the two divisions of infantry at the Mills. He says he did not see any other infantry between Lafayette and the Mills; although there might have been some, he did not notice any. His brigade has been in the saddle, except to feed, since leaving Kingston. I go on to Colonel Harker's brigade. Colonel Harker left one regiment, under Colonel Opdycke, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio, and one battery near Rossville.
Respectfully, WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Commanding Anderson Cavalry.
GORDON'S MILLS, (Thirteen miles from Chattanooga, and at intersection of Rossville and Lafayette road with Chickamauga Creek) September II, 1863, 5.15 P.M.
COLONEL GODDARD,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Colonel,-Colonel Harker's brigade has driven the rebel cavalry to this point, and his skirmishers are just on the opposite side of the Chick- amauga Creek. The rebel cavalry can be seen beyond. From the statements of half a dozen deserters whom our flankers brought out from the woods as my detachment came along, as well as from the millers here and a negro, there is in my mind no doubt that the, state- ments of the wounded prisoner are correct as far as they went. Cheat- ham's and one other division were no doubt here last evening, but all the infantry left the Mills a little after dark, and the rear of their column left at one A.M. Nearly all the deserters agree with the report of the wounded man in regard to the amount of cavalry-two brigades.
We have as a deserter one of General Forrest's escort, who left them about dark. He says Armstrong's brigade and several battalions from Pegram and others constitute the cavalry force. He also says General
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Forrest was here personally until early this morning, when he left. He heard that Hindman was here, but did not see him.
The enemy have three guns. Colonel Harker is disposed to wait here until General Wood's or other forces come up.
A moment ago tolerably heavy cannonading began in the direction of Stevens' Gap. 'About thirty guns have been fired so far in the time it has taken me to write this. It now continues at irregular intervals. I have sixty-five men with me.
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