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 7
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One of our men was mortally wounded, Martin L. Hill, of Company F, being shot through the temples. He was a bright,
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
talented young man, and was a student at Washington and Jeffer- son College, leaving there to join our Regiment. He was the first of our boys killed after we went West. H. C. Fry, of Company B, and some others moved him into the blacksmith shop and placed him on a quilt borrowed from a colored family near by. The . wagons having gone on toward Nashville, he was left there in the shop. Later, I think a detail, under Lieutenant Musselman, went out and buried the brave soldier boy beside the road.
The command lost two wagons, but brought off all the rest, loaded with corn, fodder, etc.
Shortly after noon a man in citizen's clothes had been to Cor- poral Kirk's post and asked to pass through the lines to see a sick daughter. He was refused and wandered off, getting out to one of the videttes and telling him he had the Corporal's permission. The green cavalryman passed him, although against orders. In less than an hour the attack came, and no doubt that man carried the information to the enemy.
DEATH OF MARTIN L HILL.
CORPORAL H. C. FRY, COMPANY B, ROCHESTER, PA. .
I WAS one of the train guards on Christmas afternoon of 1862, and was posted at a point near the woods (with Comrades John
M. Davis and Wm. Wassell, of Company F), about a thou- sand yards beyond the blacksmith shop on the pike. M. Hill and two other Comrades, also of Company F, were at a point farther soutlı, I think near a turnip patch.
Just as the larger number of loaded wagons had pulled out into the road from a corn field nearly opposite to where I was posted, the alarm was given that rebel cavalry was approaching and the wagons were hurried off with all possible speed, and all succeeded in getting out. The infantry guard took refuge on the wagons. Our pickets remained with carbines ready. In an incredibly short time after the last wagon had entered the road, rebel cavalry ap- peared on a run, coming through the woods directly toward us, not five hundred feet distant. We emptied our carbines as fast as we could fire and reload ; two or three others of our Regiment com- ing up at the same time began firing. One rebel was unhorsed, coming to the ground less than one hundred feet in our front. I think his horse was wounded or killed.
John M. Davis was on my left and urged his horse forward to the rebel, yelling, "Surrender !" He held up his hands at once. Davis started with his prisoner down the pike after the wagons, which were by this time several hundred yards away, going at a gallop. The rebels had suddenly pulled up and turned, and we imagined for a moment they were scared away. Just at this in- stant one of our men came galloping back, shouting, "Hurry! you are being surrounded." Then we also started on a gallop down the pike in the direction the wagons had taken. I happened to be the last of our picket, and when down the hill nearing the blacksmith shop I noticed the rebels half way through a narrow corn field on my right nearly opposite the blacksmith shop, 300 or 400 feet
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away, rushing for the road. I was loading and firing at them beyond a narrow strip of woods which appeared to be full of them; the rebels in sight firing at every horseman as he passed the open. Just before reaching the blacksmith shop my horse reared and fell to his knees, shot in the neck, I think. I went off head foremost, falling on the side of the road at least five or six feet below the pike level, but was unhurt. I held on to all my arms, but expected in a minute to be in the hands of the rebels, who were galloping, shooting at us, through the low corn. Springing to my feet I went as fast as possible to the shop. I stepped behind the large door, on the timber sill, where I could see the road. My horse had regained his feet and followed up the road before I was on my feet. Just as I looked out from my perch I saw M. L. Hill coming down the road on a run, his carbine held up in his right hand. I also noticed at this moment that several rebel horsemen had reached the fence at the road and were deliberately aiming at him. A rebel riding a white horse fired after a deliberate aim, hitting Hill in the right temple, the bullet passing through his head. He raised both arms and fell from his horse. He was quickly surrounded by the rebels, who dismounted, and cutting his belt took all his arms and joined perhaps thirty or forty others who had come into the road.
The majority remained in the field, going in the direction of the wagons. Two rode into the blacksmith shop, one saying, "Where is the 'feller' we knocked off the other horse?" The other said, "Not here ; hurry !" They were gone in a moment, and in less than half a minute came on a fast gallop past the shop again, and with them I recognized the prisoner John M. Davis had taken, but who it appears had been rescued by his comrades in the confusion. One or two stopped and caught Hill's horse, which the escaped prisoner mounted.
In probably less than five minutes from the time Hill fell they had disappeared. I ran out to where he lay, and found a death wound. I tried to get him to drink from my canteen, but his jaws were firmly set and he seemed unconscious, but struggled and moaned. From the little cottage nearby, inhabited by negroes, who were standing in the door like a lot of frightened sheep, I ordered some hot water. I thought that I could perhaps get his jaws relaxed so that he could open his mouth and speak. At first the negroes refused, saying the Confederates would shortly return
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Death of Martin L. Hill.
and kill them if they helped. Taking my revolver, I said: "Very well ; you either help me with this man or you will die before they return." This had the desired effect, and both men and women came quickly, bringing water, a quilt, and offering anything they possessed. I moved him into the blacksmith shop and laid him comfortably on a quilt and again tried to revive him. Finding it useless I gave instructions to the negroes to remain on pain of death and not leave him a moment, and started on foot with all my arms toward Nashville, a distance of ten miles, if I rightly remember.
After going less than half a mile, however, it being nearly dark, I was halted by a returning squad of our Regiment, who I think were acting as rear guard to the teams, returning to find us. One of my comrades very kindly insisted upon my mount- ing his horse, relieving me every few minutes, until our camp at Nashville was reached. Martin L. Hill died a few hours later with- out regaining consciousness, and was buried near there. His body was afterward removed to his home at Miamisburg, Ohio. He had been a student at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., when he enlisted. The few little trinkets in his pockets I re- moved and sent to his home with the sad news as to how he died. I received a letter of thanks from his sister, who stated that an- other brother had been killed on a gunboat on one of the lower rivers, and the sad news of both deaths was received on the same day. Comrade Hill was the first man killed in the Regiment after reaching the Army of the Cumberland.
There were close calls for a number of our men that afternoon. Comrade H. W. Esbenshade, who was Sergeant of Company C, was on one of the outposts, and after all but four wagons were loaded with corn saw the rebels come pouring down; the wagons got out and he put spurs to his horse. One rebel on a white horse pursued him so closely that the nose of the pursuer's horse was almost touching his horse's tail. Notwithstanding the closeness of pursuer and pursued, none of the shots which the rebel fired took effect. Comrade Esbenshade's horse on reaching the reserve began to bleed at the nose as a result of the fierce ride and died a few days after.
FIFTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA (ANDERSON) CAVALRY AT STONE RIVER.
ADJUTANT J. C. REIFF, NEW YORK.
W E received our first mount at Louisville, Ky., and marched thence to Nashville, Tenn., reaching there on the even- ing of Wednesday, December 24, 1862. Thursday, De- cember 25th (Christmas) the Regiment remained in camp about one and a half miles from the city, but details were sent out as escort to a forage train and had a fight with the rebels. Friday, the 26th, was cold and dreary with a drizzling rain. The whole army was in motion for the Stone River campaign. About II A.M. a detachment of the Regiment started, in all about 300 men. A portion was detailed to escort a wagon train. The balance, some 200 men, reached General Rosecrans' headquarters at night on the Nolansville pike, but without the wagons. The detach- ment was in command of Major Adolph Rosengarten, the Senior Major, with Junior Major Frank B. Ward second in command. Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer was too ill to take the saddle, but occupied an ambulance, while Colonel Palmer was still a prisoner of war, having been captured in the Antietam campaign in Sep- tember, 1862, while on a special mission, seeking to get information for General McClellan. The detachment reported directly to General D. S. Stanley, Chief of Cavalry, on the staff of General Rosecrans.
We were ordered to be ready to move at daylight. There was active skirmishing all day Friday, the cavalry being well in ad- vance, with some artillery. The enemy gradually fell back and we bivouacked at night near the pike beyond. The detachment was highly complimented for its conduct during the day, fighting both mounted and on foot.
The special incident of the day was an extremely exciting and well-nigh mortal combat engaged in by a six-foot rebel and Major Rosengarten. I had been riding with the Major, but had
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MAJOR ADOLPH G. ROSENGARTEN Killed at Stone River. December 29. 1862
Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 81
become separated from him. When I found him I was astonished to see him pale, exhausted and bleeding. After leaving me he had hurried into the woods to reconnoiter, meeting a single rebel, who fired at him but missed at twenty yards, to which fire the Major replied with his pistol, and ordered him to surrender. This the rebel, who was dismounted, promised to do, and the Major rode up to receive his arms. When in the act of sur- rendering the rebel suddenly struck the Major a tremendous blow over the left shoulder with his gun. The man was six feet high and strongly built. The Major was also a very muscular man and a scientific boxer. He sprang from his horse, at the same time aiming another shot at the fellow, but the pistol snapped. He then clutched and struck out with his fist. They grappled, and in the tussle the rebel, being the heavier, got on top, the Major, however, still retaining a good grip on the fellow's throat. Both were becoming somewhat weakened, when the rebel put his knee on the Major's breast, and seizing his saber aimed for his throat. The blow was turned aside by the Major, who at the same time dealt the rebel a couple of good blows on the temple with the butt of his pistol, crying out as lustily as possible for "Anderson! Anderson! Help! help!" Washington Airey, our Sergeant-Major, hearing the cry thought Lieutenant Anderson was being called, therefore, he paid no attention to the noise. Airey had been on the hill and was going toward the left near the turnpike, when looking through the woods, he saw a man on the ground and another apparently helping him. Thinking that a rebel had been wounded and another was getting him off the field, he hurried forward to capture both, when to his surprise he recognized the Major on the ground. He seized the fellow, who was not inclined to loose his hold, by the back of the neck and pulled him off. He was then about to fight both, but on Airey's threatening to shoot, he surrendered.
The rebel said : "I have had hold of some good men, but that one (the Major) is a little bit the best man I have ever had hold of." I neglected to say what caused the flow of blood. When this chap found things were growing tight, he undertook to bite the Major's finger off, and he well-nigh accomplished it; so the Major turned to help himself to a steak from the enemy's cheek, consequently it was a "stand-off."
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Owing to the excitement and exertion following the hand-to- hand conflict the Major was compelled to go to the rear for a rest, and we did not see him until the next morning.
Notwithstanding the fact that our chief officer did go to the rear, we skirmishers were for some time still ordered to advance. The artillery now felt their way by shelling the front of the enemy at each good position. The Regiment pushed forward, but we saw nothing of the enemy until we arrived in sight of Triune. We were here ordered to halt, and, after some reconnoitering, found the enemy-infantry, artillery and cavalry-posted at right angles to the turnpike on the right of the town, and fully three-quarters of a mile distant. The enemy noticing our halt, took courage and threw a few shells at us, all of which fell short.
When Major Rosengarten went to the rear we had seen noth- ing of our flanking parties either on the right or left, and being so near the enemy, who appeared in force, we naturally felt anx- ious for them. Seeing some cavalry posted on our immediate right and apparently resting, I was sent toward them to find out who they were, and discovered that fortunately our right flanking party was among the number. Looking to the front from that position we saw a large force in line behind a stone fence, which could be commanded by artillery from the woods. I was sent to the pike to communicate with the Lieutenant commanding the battery there, who asked for any information I might have. I acquainted him as near as possible with the enemy's position, and others coming up corroborated my statement. A section of artillery thereupon was sent to the right to await orders.
Meanwhile, the General had reached an eminence on the left to reconnoiter. Some eight pieces of artillery were on the ascent, commencing at the pike to the left. Shortly afterward all our guns opened fire and the range was splendid, forcing the enemy's infantry back. Under the artillery fire our infantry advanced, and suddenly out of ambush sprang the Third Ohio Infantry and charged the rebel battery. There being no cavalry near enough to aid them, however, the rebels succeeded in limbering up and getting away. We now moved forward, and passing through the town, which was situated on a hill, found it completely deserted. At the bottom of the hill ran a stream, crossed by a bridge which the enemy had destroyed but an hour before. It was now raining
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Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River.
very heavily. We had not gone more than a mile, with General Johnson in front of us, when the enemy suddenly turned their battery upon us at about 600 or 700 yards. This, however, did not accomplish anything, as they quickly limbered up again and continued their retreat.
We moved forward about three-quarters of a mile and took up a position in face of another hill. Scouting parties were sent down the road, but could see nothing of the enemy, although they had crossed the hill not more than twenty minutes before we ar- rived. There was a heavy wood covering the road on the right, on which side the hill was the most rugged, and in which it was thought the enemy had concealed themselves. We now learned that it was not intended on our part to institute any big or thorough search for them further that day. It was now about half-past three or four o'clock, dull and rainy, and considering everything we had covered a good deal of ground since morning, and men and horses were both tired and hungry.
We reported to General Stanley, Commander-in-Chief of Rose- crans' Cavalry, who ordered us to feed our horses as near as pos- sible to where we then were, and to be on the alert for an immedi- ate move. He said: "Tell the officers and men of the Anderson Cavalry that I am more than pleased with them; that they have been during the entire day and are now just where I wanted and want them." He repeated : "Tell the Anderson Cavalry I am extremely pleased with their behavior to-day."
It is needless to say that we felt proud that we had been enabled to so demean ourselves in the face of the enemy as to merit from such high authority repeated compliments. We bivouacked that night in a field nearby, where we found plenty of excellent forage for our horses, but nothing for ourselves. The only thing we could do was to capture a few pigs and some stray sheep, that would not keep out of our way .. So we had a little toast pork and mutton for supper.
Sunday morning found us still resting there, having been un- disturbed, but enveloped in a dense fog through which we could not see more than fifteen or twenty yards. About half-past 8 A.M., we received orders to move on, and in less than half an hour the mist suddenly disappeared, driven away by a pleasant breeze, leaving us in a spring-like atmosphere. After proceeding
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
about three miles we came up to the force in our advance, which was turning to the left toward Murfreesboro. Here we met Major Rosengarten, who had sufficiently recovered to accom- pany us, and not knowing where we had encamped, had pushed on down the road with these troops, expecting to meet us. We were glad to see him so much improved. We were ordered to keep to the pike, and a few miles further found us on the ground where Hardee's entire corps (the rebel left wing) had encamped the day before. This was at a place called College Grove, and they had told the people they intended making a stand, but Hardee and his men had gone toward Murfreesboro.
After scouting the country for six to nine miles our force was collected where we had first halted. Our own men were alone; no other Union troops were in sight. We halted until about 3 P.M., when we were to meet our wagon train and the guard that had come up from Nolansville. Pushing back we found our encampment already selected and some tents up in the woods on the right of the pike near Harpeth Creek, and here we spent the most happy evening of the campaign. During the evening the woods resounded with sweet sounds from glad voices. The principal party was one which had furnished us frequently with splendid selections. It was a quartette made up of Major F. B. Ward, who sang his last song; Captain A. Vezin, Sergeant Oscar Vezin and H. P. Riehle. Everyone looked forward with bright anticipations to the future of our little band, prompted somewhat by the success of the day previous. We turned in before 9 P.M., as we had already received orders to march at earliest dawn on the following morning.
Monday, December 29, found our line formed and the wagons loaded. After proceeding a short distance, General Stanley ordered us to send our entire train, excepting the ammunition wagon and one ambulance, back to Nolansville, to be parked with other extra wagons that were not allowed to follow us at present lest they should interfere with the rapid movements of the army. Turning to the right, this side of Triune, out of which we had driven the enemy two days before, we found ourselves in company with the division and train of General Jeff. C. Davis, the whole of which we passed by about 10 or II o'clock A.M. The road exceeded anything I have ever seen for roughness. It was a per-
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Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River.
fect stone fence-on an enlarged scale, of course-with rocks piled in huge masses, winding first through a deep ravine, then through dense cedar woods, and ever and anon we were climbing steep hills, over which it seemed artillery could not be hauled. Notwithstanding every difficulty, the rumbling of those heavy guns was heard at the front at dusk that evening as we were fall- ing back.
Leaving the infantry and artillery in the morning we joined the cavalry force, consisting of some 3000 or 4000 Ohio, In- diana and Michigan men. On arriving near where the enemy was known to be posted, the force was assigned to different positions from right to left, stretching over about a mile of ground. We were to take the center, supported by Colonel Stokes, of the First Middle Tennessee Regiment. We were ordered to advance, throwing out skirmishers to carefully feel our way. Major Ward commanded the skirmishers and Major Rosengarten the reserve of our little band of 300. After about an hour's movement, on foot and mounted, without finding the enemy, the brigade on our right commenced firing, which told us they had at last met those whom we were seeking. In the center we could see nothing as yet.
Shortly, however, an orderly arrived from the right, telling us to halt and when we again moved to incline to the right, as two regiments of the enemy were said to be waiting in our front to take us in ambuscade. Consequently our skirmishers were called in, we remounted, and after a time moved on. Soon we saw, at about 800 yards distance, the rebel cavalry drawn up in line of battle. Our line moved forward and the enemy retired. We hurried on, although they halted in a wood some distance off. Our left coming up with a little boldness, they again retreated ; but as it afterward proved, it was only to draw us on. We were soon on their pickets and captured some prison- ers, including a Brigade Surgeon and a Major, who was Assist- ant-Adjutant General on General Cheatham's staff. The name of the Surgeon was Lackey and he gave his home as Memphis, Tenn., so he told his captor, John F. Conaway, who took him to the rear. One of his first questions was what Regiment had cap- tured him, and when told and also that his guard was a Phila- delphian, he seemed delighted; told of his having gone to the
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
University here and named a whole lot of citizens he knew, and asked: "Is that big yellow house still standing at Broad and Walnut ? and added, "I've had many a good time in it."
Meanwhile the detachment, under Major Ward, pushed rapidly forward, and soon engaged with the enemy. They advanced about 600 yards-to where the pike passes through the woods -and halted. Some of our flanking parties, following up the retreating cavalry through the woods, came to the fence, and Samuel Jamison, Warren Caldwell and John K. Marshall jumped their horses through a gap, and immediately were in the midst of Company A, Tenth South Carolina Infantry, who had been advanced from their division, but whose attention had been directed toward their right, where the movements of Ward's detachment could be heard but not seen.
It was a surprise, but from which the rebels soon recovered, fired on Caldwell and Marshall, who escaped through the gap in the fence. Jamison was knocked off his horse by the butt of a musket and taken prisoner, but five minutes later, in the confu- sion of the rebel infantry coming up, he escaped. Marshall had picked up a prisoner soon after his escape, and with him hurried over to where Ward and his detachment were halting on the pike. The first officer he saw was Lieut. John W. Jackson, and to him he yelled : "Come on, Lieutenant ! there's plenty more in there," and then the whole detachment, at a gallop, went quickly up to the fence, behind which the rebels were.
The first shots that had been fired had alarmed the rebel in- fantry in the rear, who reinforced their advance; so that by the time Major Ward and his men reached the point it was to meet a long line of infantry securely posted, with a high stake-and- rider fence protecting them from being run over by our men. So sudden had been our appearance that it confused them, and although their musketry fire was heavy, it was not destructive, even when our men were up to the fence, firing carbines and re- volvers at the enemy not over ten feet away.
Major Ward was the first man hit on our side. He wore that day the ordinary blouse of a private soldier, and carried a car- bine. The fatal ball pierced his left breast near the heart, coming out below his shoulder blade. His horse was shot at the same time, and, supported by two of the men, he walked to the rear,
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Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River.
out of the line of fire, and then sank to the ground. Our As- sistant Surgeon, Dr. Mish, bathed his wound and tried to lessen the excruciating pain he suffered. Even the pain could not quench his martial spirit, for he still cheered on the men in a weak and feeble voice, which a few moments before had been so strong and lusty.
Back at the fence the battle still continued. From the close range it is a wonder that so few were hit, but the rebels had not yet recovered and most of their shooting was too high; so grad- ually we concluded that it was not possible to drive our foe, sit- uated as they were, and our line fell back further in the woods, but still kept up the firing.
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