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 61
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The officers and men are deserving of praise for the manner in which they performed their duties, and, without complaint enduring the hard- ships and fatigues of the march.
Hoping this report is satisfactory, and that it will meeet with your ap- proval, I am, Colonel, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WM. WAGNER,
Major Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS 2D BATT., FIFTEENTH PENNA. CAVALRY (Conrad's Ferry, Yadkin Co., N. C., April 13, 1865).
COLONEL.
I have the honor to report that in obedience to instructions the bridge across the Reedy Ford was burnt and destroyed at noon on IIth inst. There was some skirmishing with our rear guard on approaching the railroad and were obliged to drive off a force of cavalry, about our equal in number, after finishing the work. I have also burnt one ambulance and nine wagons belonging to the Confederate States of America, capturing between forty and fifty mules. Colonel Wheeler's force, and another party sent out from Greensboro, have been around us, but have given little trouble. The Yadkin was crossed last night, at one o'clock, at Glenn's Ferry; pretty reliable information of a force closely following the Tenth Michigan, to Shallow Ford, caused me to use the Ferry. My stock is much exhausted, having had but six hours' rest since starting.
If I pass Shallow Ford safely I will not march rapidly to-day, owing to the condition of the animals; but will try to join you to-morrow. No casualties.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. B. GARNER, Major Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
LIEUT .- COL. CHAS. M. BETTS,
Commanding Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS 3D BATT., FIFTEENTH PENNA. CAVALRY, LINCOLNTON, N. C., April 22d, 1865.
LIEUT .- COL. CHAS. M. BETTS,
Commanding Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Sir,-I have the honor to report that in accordance with orders re- ceived on the evening of April 10th, I marched my Battalion consisting of eighty-six officers and men from Salem, N. C., at 9.30 P.M., and leav- ing the regimental column on the Kennersville Road took the road to Jamestown at II P.M. and traveling steadily all night arrived at Florence at daylight, on the morning of the 11th. While at Florence heard the scream of a locomotive whistle and I pushed my little column on at a trot, arriving at Jamestown a few minutes past 5 A.M. Captain Remont, in charge of the advance of twelve men, rode on to the depot three-quar- ters of a mile from town and captured the depot and contents and seven cars on a siding, four of which were loaded, meeting no opposition from a small party of Rebels of whom two officers and four men were captured. The main party, under my command, turned off to the right and pro- ceeded to destroy the railroad bridge across Deep River, which was a Howe truss bridge, weather boarded and shingled and between eighty-
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five and 100 feet in length. The guard, of two men, was captured, and fire applied and the bridge being constructed of yellow pitch pine and very inflammable, was in a blaze in ten minutes and in less than thirty minutes was a total wreck. The morning was very favorable for our operations, a heavy fog prevailing, which obscured our movements and numbers from the enemy who, in force equal to, if not exceeding ours, began to cluster on the neighboring hills and prepare to attack us. I after- wards learned they numbered about 100 men. I sent a courier to Captain Remont recalling him from the depot and with orders to Florence, two miles on our return, where Captain Remont joined the column with about sixty horses and mules and thirty-five prisoners, three of whom were officers; then returning through Jamestown, our advance drove a party of Rebel Cavalry, who were watching our movements. At Flor- ence, Lieutenant Smith, with five men, was sent to destroy a large fac- tory for the manufacture of small arms for the Rebel Government. The building, with its contents, consisting of about 800 stand of arms, fin- ished, and about 2500 stand in process of completion, together with a large and valuable amount of machinery, some of which cannot be re- placed, and a small quantity of ammunition, was destroyed. There was also in the factory an apparatus for assaying and coining gold and silver, which was also destroyed, together with an inconsiderable amount of gold and silver. Captain Remont, having now arrived from the depot with the advance guard, reported that he had destroyed the depot and cars and the following amount of stores found therein, viz: 1000 stand of arms ; fifty barrels of flour; two barrels of molasses; twelve sacks of salt ; five bales of cotton cloth (jean), a large quantity of bacon (sides), and two carloads of cotton, all belonging to the Confederate Govern- ment. While these stores were being destroyed, Private Alexander, of company I, who was on vedette duty, captured and brought in an entire courier post of one officer and twelve men, mounted and armed. Private Wampler, of the same company, captured and brought in three mounted and armed men. Collecting all his men together he found he had made prisoners of three officers and thirty-two men and taken sixty horses and mules, all of which were brought in. I was now within five miles of Greensboro, in which place, from the best obtainable information, there was a considerable force under General Beauregard, and having accom- plished the object of my expedition, I returned to Kennersville Road and halted until noon, when I rejoined your command, not having lost a man and marched a distance of fifty-two miles in twelve hours, be- sides almost entirely remounting my command. The behavior of both men and officers was in the highest degree commendable. I have par- ticularly to mention Privates Alexander and Wampler, of company I, for their conspicuous gallantry in effecting their several captures single handed and by the exercise of that coolness and brave demeanor which characterizes the true soldier. Corporal Stone and Corporal French of
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company I, are hereby also honorably mentioned for having, with five men, successfully brought in all the prisoners and horses in the face of the enemy, a most trying and difficult operation.
I am, Colonel, with respect, your obedient servant,
ADAM KRAMER, Captain Commanding 3d Batt., Fifteenth Pa. Cav.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIV., DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE. ATHENS, GA., May 5, 1865, 4 P.M.
GENERAL WILSON,
Commanding Cavalry Corps, Macon.
My division (Stoneham's cavalry) has marched here from North Carolina under orders from the Secretary of War to intercept Jefferson Davis and Cabinet, who, with six millions of Confederate specie, are en- deavoring to get to the Trans-Mississippi Department. My orders are if I can hear of Davis to follow him up to the ends of the earth if possible and never give him up. General Stoneman states in his order that the cavalry under him, as well as the other forces in the Department of the Cumberland, will, by direction of the Secretary of War, obey no orders unless emanating from General Grant or General Thomas. Also that hostilities will not cease until the President of the United States so pro- claims to the world. I was informed of your whereabouts in order that I might communicate if possible. I have had track of Davis and his party all the way from Yorkville, S. C., where I was two days in his rear. By reaching Athens I have thrown my division in front of his cavalry escort, which consisted of Dibrell's two brigades, Ferguson's brigade, Duke's brigade, and a portion of Butler's division of Hampton's cavalry ; in all, from 2000 to 3000 men. These forces are all evading the terms of Johnston's surrender, and endeavoring as armed organizations to reach the Trans-Mississippi Department, but their men are dropping off every day, and at Abbeville, S. C., on -- - last, Davis decided to drop his cav- alry escort and push on to Washington, Ga., there to take train by rail- road to Atlanta or La Grange. I have positive information to-day from one of his escort that he was at Washington on Wednesday at 9 A.M. and was about to take train for Atlanta with his Cabinet and some gen- erals. The specie was coming on to Washington to go by the same route. I have sent a battalion of the Tenth Michigan to Madison, with directions to cut the railroad without destroying any bridge, so as to in- tercept the specie and Davis, if possible, and to communicate by courier with you at Macon. I would suggest that your forces in Alabama en- deavor to intercept or pursue. I am sending by courier a cipher dispatch to you from General Thomas. Please let me hear from you.
WM. J. PALMER,
Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
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Addenda.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIV., DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE. ATHENS, GA., May 6, 1865, 9 A. M.
MAJOR-GENERAL WILSON.
General-Jefferson Davis parted with the four brigades (Dibrell's two brigades, Duke's and Ferguson's) that were escorting him at Wash- ington on Wednesday or possibly as late as Thursday morning and went on mounted with a party of about forty men. I have not yet been able to learn which road he took from Washington, but I think his object is to get around to the southward of Macon, although he may possibly have got between your command and mine. The Tenth Michigan Regiment, which is at Madison and Eatonton, should be able to ascertain this, and it is ordered to send parties in pursuit, in the event of its being necessary. The four brigades were disbanded or have surrendered at Washington to one of my regiments, excepting one organized party of 500 men under Colonel Breckinridge, of Dibrell's command, who left Washington yes- terday morning, saying they were going to Macon to surrender. This I think doubtful, since they were each paid thirty-five dollars in specie be- fore leaving Macon, and their object is undoubtedly to get off with it. What they have done with the balance of the specie I have not yet ascer- tained, but expect to know to-day which route it has taken. I have di- rected Colonel Stacy, who was marching on Washington at the time, to pursue Colonel Breckinridge's party and the specie. General Brown's brigade is guarding the crossroads, fords, etc., from this point to Knox's Bridge, on the Tugaloo River, via Danielsville and Carnesville. The Fif- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry is here, and I will move with it at any mo- ment in the direction that my information may warrant. The Twelfth Ohio Cavalry (Colonel Bentley) is starting for Monroe, with one battal- ion en route to Covington and anothe to Lawrenceville. He will be di- rected to communicate with Colonel Eggleston at Atlanta if anything im- portant is ascertained. I would respectfully suggest that small parties be at once sent out from your command to guard the fords, ferries, bridges and crossroads along the Ocmulgee south from Macon, as far, if possi- ble, as Jacksonville. Also that the same be done along Flint River, if pos- sible, from Jonesborough south to Albany. And your force at Columbus, if there is any there, might do the same along the Chattahoochee. Since writing the above I have received a dispatch from Colonel Stacy stating that Dibrell's command, etc., excepting those who made off with Breck- ir.ridge and by themselves, is marching here to be paroled. Also, that Davis went by railroad from Washington to Union Point, and from there he believes he went south toward Macon or to the south of it. I sent you a dispatch and a cipher dispatch from General Thomas last evening.
I am, General, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER,
Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIV., DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE. ATHENS, GA., May 6, 1865, II P.M.
BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL UPTON,
Augusta.
General,-I have the honor to send to you my Acting Assistant Ad- jutant General, Captain McAllister, with a verbal communication from myself in regard to the status of Dibrell's division of cavalry, which is now lying at or near the pontoon bridge over the Savannah River at Petersburg, having escorted Jefferson Davis with the Confederate specie from Greensboro to that point. On reaching there, finding that my command had intercepted them on their way to the Trans-Mississippi Department, Dibrell concluded to surrender. His command, with some detachments of Duke's and Vaughn's brigades left with them, had first been paid from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars per private soldier in specie. I hardly know what to do with them under the circumstances, and should like to have the advice of General Wilson and yourself. What shall be done with the armory at this point; a battalion of 250 workmen (mustered into the Confederate service and having their arms concealed) ; also with the large number of Confederate officers here, including sev- eral generals ?
I am, General, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER, Brevet Brigadier-General Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIV., DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE. ATHENS, GA., May 6, 1865.
Major,-I had reached the vicinity of Cowpens battlefield, S. C., on April 29, when I received the order to endeavor to intercept Jefferson Davis, his Cabinet, and the Confederate specie. I had already ascertained that Davis and the money, with an escort of four brigades of cavalry, under Duke, Ferguson, and Dibrell, with scattered detachments of Vaughn's, Humes' and Butler's commands, all of which had evaded the terms of surrender of Johnston to Sherman, were moving from York- ville, S. C., and had crossed Smith's Ford, as was alleged, of Broad River, toward Unionville and Abbeville, S. C., with the intention of going through to the Trans-Mississippi Department, Secretaries Breckinridge and Benjamin and most of the Cabinet, with a large number of generals, also Governor Harris, of Tennessee, accompanied Davis. Vice-President Stephens was not along, and is believed to be now at Crawfordsville. Ga., where he resides and where he declares his intention of remaining, no matter what may be his fate. Jefferson Davis and his escort had re- mained at Charlotte during the armistice, but left there immediately on its termination and passed through Yorkville on the morning of the 28th. Davis, himself, with a small party, crossed Broad River at Pickneyville Ferry, but the cavalry went around by Smith's Ford. One of my regi- ments (the Twelfth Ohio) ran into the rear guard of his escort at that
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ford and captured ten prisoners, from whom definite information was ob- tained. The specie was in wagons and was contained in about 100 boxes of gold, and sixty kegs of silver. Prisoners thought there was about $10,- 000,000 of specie in all. The cavalry escort, numbering in all at that time from 3000 to 4000 men, had been promised their back pay in specie on ar- riving at the Mississippi River, as an inducement for them to remain true to their chief; but in spite of this bribe as soon as they found we were on their track their men dropped out rapidly. Finding that the advance of Davis' escort had two days the start of us and were well mounted, and having but one brigade with me, and there being several considerable rivers to cross on the way to Georgia, at which small parties could suc- cessfully hold the fords and ferries and destroy bridges while the main body of the enemy was pushing on westward, I determined not to pursue on the direct line, but to strike by way of Spartanburg and Golden Grove for the head of the Savannah River, near Anderson, which would enable me to effect a junction with the other two brigades of the division which had marched from Asheville, N. C., toward Anderson, and also to cross the headwaters of the Savannah River at Hatton's Ford. Below this point there was no crossing of the Savannah except by ferries, and the pon- toon bridge at Petersburg, at the mouth of the Broad River of Georgia. I felt satisfied that Davis and his party would cross at this pontoon, and I hoped to intercept them at Athens, Ga. The Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which I had pushed toward Abbeville from Spartanburg on May I to reconnoiter and ascertain whether the enemy was aiming for Augusta or not, captured some of Davis' escort near the Saluda River, and ascertained from them and the citizens that the enemy was concen- trating at Abbeville, that Davis was with them and that all would proba- bly march via the pontoon bridge for Athens, Ga.
I reached Athens, Ga., on the afternoon of the 4th with my entire division, and found that I had succeeded in throwing the command en- tirely in front of the enemy, all of whom were between Athens and the Savannah River. I immediately pushed out a force to guard the fords and ferries of Broad River, and sent the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry to Lexington, with directions to send a detachment to Elberton and another to Washington, Ga., to guard the roads leading northwest and southwest from the pontoon bridge at the mouth of Broad River. Fear- ing that Davis would abandon his escort and endeavor to make time by taking the railroad train at Washington for Atlanta or West Point, I sent a party to cut the railroad between Atlanta and Augusta at Madi- son, and also to communicate with General Wilson, commanding the Cavalry Corps, at Macon. This party carried General Thomas' cipher dispatches to General Wilson. I also sent a small party by railroad to Augusta to communicate with General Upton, of Wilson's Cavalry, who had just reached that point with his staff, but without troops. Yesterday afternoon I got reliable information of deserters from Davis' escort, just from Washington, confirmed by dispatches from Colonel Stacy, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and also from parties sent to Augusta,
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that Jefferson Davis had given over at Abbeville, S. C., on ascertaining that our force was moving to intercept him, the idea of cutting his way through to the Mississippi, and that he had abandoned his large cavalry escort near the Savannah River, and had pushed rapidly on with General Duke and about thirty-five men to Washington, which he reached on the morning of the 3d instant, intending thence to travel incognito. Also that some time during the 3d, or early the next morning, Davis had left Washington with a small party by railroad for Atlanta, but had aban- doned the railroad at Union Point and gone southwestward on horse- back. The specie had not yet reached Washington, as far as I can learn, when Davis left that place. A detachment of my troops entered Washing- ton yesterday morning and ascertained that a large portion of the cavalry escort under Dibrell, was still back toward the Savannah River, where it was waiting to surrender on demand. Colonel Breckinridge, with about 500 men, had just left for Washington, taking the road to Macon, where he said he was going to surrender. The remainder of the four brigades had been disbanded, either at Abbeville, S. C., at the Savannah River, or at Washington, Ga. Before leaving Washington they distributed specie among the men at the rate of thirty-five dollars to each private soldier, and I presume more to the officers. I have not yet been able to ascertain what has become of the balance of the specie, but presume it has either been concealed or shipped by railroad westward, in which latter event it will be stopped either by my party on the railroad at Madison, or by Col- onel Eggleston of Wilson's Cavalry, who reached Atlanta on the morning of the 4th. I have ordered Colonel Stacy to pursue Colonel Breckinridge's party (as it is evident they only wish to get off with their specie pay) ; also to find out if possible what has become of the balance of the money. I have also sent Colonel Trowbridge with the Tenth Michigan Cavalry to Madison and Eatonton with directions to guard the ferries and bridges of the Oconee River south to Milledgeville and to intercept or pursue Davis or the party of Breckinridge, if he can gain the slightest clue. I have also sent the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry (Colonel Bentley) to Monroe, Covington, and Lawrenceville, to prevent anything slipping through in that direction, in case it should get between Athens and General Trow- bridge.
The Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry I hold here to move in any direc- tion that the information received from the different quarters may war- rant. I have also communicated the latest information to General Wil- son at Macon, and have suggested that small parties from his command should guard the fords and ferries and bridges on the Ocmulgee south to Jacksonville, and on Flint River from Jonesborough to Albany, and also if practicable on the Chattahoochee and elsewhere in Alabama. I think it is the intention of Jefferson Davis to get around to the southward of Ma- con. I have sent General Brown's brigade to hold the crossroads, fords, etc., from Athens northward to the head of the Savannah River, and Col- onel Miller is doing the same from Lexington to Danielsville. This is for
Addenda. 705
the purpose of intercepting the disbanded officers and soldiers of Davis' escort, depriving them of their arms and horses and making prisoners of the officers. The privates are so numerous we are obliged to informally parole them. I shall send General Brown's and General Miller's brigades after this duty is over to Greenville, S. C., from which place I recommend that they be recalled to Knoxville. Forage being scarce here, and Gen- eral Wilson having a large cavalry force throughout this State, I would request authority, after the pursuit of Davis is over, to move with our own brigade to some point or points in South Carolina where forage can be obtained. I believe there is no United States cavalry in that State. I would use one regiment to guard the fords and ferries of the Savannah River from Rabun Gap to Petersburg pontoon bridge for the purpose of arresting straggling parties of disbanded officers and soldiers who are going home, or to the Trans-Mississippi Department with arms in their hands and without paroles. If any of our troops be at Augusta they could do the same thing from Petersburg southward. I would recommend that Colonel Kirk be directed to blockade effectually all the gaps in the Blue Ridge from Rabun Gap eastward to Swannanoa Gap, and that he then be recalled to East Tennessee to prevent his men from pillaging and committing excesses, now that hostilities have ceased. There is evi- dently no further necessity for General Tillson's Infantry remaining in the mountains. He requested me to send word whether there was or not. I have communicated directly with him, but send this by way of Dalton, which is the nearest railroad point. The reason I recommend that Brown's and Miller's brigades be immediately recalled to East Ten- nessee is because their officers for the most part have lost all control over their men. A large number of the men and some of the officers devote themselves exclusively to pillaging and destroying property. General Brown appears to have given them carte blanche in South Carolina, and they are now so entirely destitute of discipline that it cannot be restored in the field and while the command is living on the country.
I am, Major, your obedient servant,
WM. J. PALMER,
Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. MAJOR BASCOM,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters General Stoneman.
GREENEVILLE, May 12, 1865, 5.30 P.M. MAJ. G. M. BASCOM.
The following dispatch was just received :
HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION, DEPT. OF EAST TENNESSEE, ATHENS, GA., May 7, 1865, 12 noon.
Major,-Will you please forward the inclosed dispatch without delay to General Stoneman. It refers chiefly to the movements of Jefferson Davis, who abandoned his cavalry escort at the Savannah River on find- ing that we had intercepted it, and passed through Washington, Ga., in
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disguise with sixty men on the night of the same day (May 4th) that I reached Athens with my division. Colonel Stacy was at Lexington the same night, and his advance but a short distance from Davis' party. Secretary Breckinridge came very near being captured, and would have been had he been recognized. I have two regiments guarding the fords, ferries, etc., on the Oconee and Ulcofauhatchee Rivers, and have com- municated with General Wilson at Macon, Ga., who is on the alert and has a force at Atlanta. I would recommend that Colonel Kirk be directed to blockade all the gaps from Rabun Gap to Swannanoa merely to pre- vent straggling parties of disbanded soldiers from getting west to their homes or the Trans-Mississippi Department with arms in their hands. These would be apt to turn up as guerillas. I am guarding all the roads, fords, etc., south from Rabun Gap as far as Milledgeville. I should sup- pose there would be no further necessity for your force remaining in the mountains. Everything has surrendered here, including 2000 of Davis' escort under Dibrell, who we intercepted at Petersburg, on the Savannah River.
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