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 9
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Of course, in attacking a train, it is immaterial to the enemy whether they kill any men or even horses. Their first idea is to present a show of force, excite your fears and the fears of the
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ..
teamsters, who are almost uncontrollable, and thereby produce a panic, when the wagons become blocked up two or three abreast across the road, each driver endeavoring to get ahead of his pre- ceding friend. If they do not immediately become disentangled they abandon their charge. The main train being of the first importance, the guard pushes on regardless of wagons, ambu- lances, caissons, ammunition wagons, etc., which are left almost without cause on the road. Therefore, unless a train expecting to be attacked, or which is attacked, is in charge of a cool and judicious man, the loss of property is generally enormous. Our train on this occasion was well managed, so that not more than six or eight wagons were lost, while at one time it appeared that a large portion of it must be destroyed by the enemy.
We hurried forward for perhaps two miles, not knowing ex- actly where the enemy would next appear as they were all along the road covered with woods, until we approached a descent where the road lies right through a wood of cedar and other small trees. Here they came upon our rear guard of two Companies, who held them in check a short time until word could be sent forward. The train was going along at a trot and making pretty good time, when the yell of the stragglers and negroes -- "the rebels are coming !"-startled the teamsters again, and it was here that two small guns and caissons and a wagonload of Sharp's carbines came near being lost. Our force was imme- diately halted and also a portion of the Third Ohio, the balance hurrying forward with the wagons, while we should check the enemy and then retreat. The enemy came out on the road and charged on our rear, but a line of battle had already been formed, and we advanced and drove them. They rallied and came again. Our advance fell back a little, while a portion of the force forward formed their lines on either side of the road covered by low cedars, and when the rebels were within thirty or forty yards poured into them a galling cross fire, which again halted them. A column now went forward as reserve to a detachment which had charged down the road. They came up in the hollow, when finally the rebels went back to the top of the hill, where they remained, not without some loss, however. We also lost two of our men killed and the Third Ohio lost slightly.
Geo. J. French, of my mess, was ordered to surrender by a
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Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River.
rebel, he having been cut off from us, but as he was not able to see it in that light and knowing there was only one thing to do, he shot the rebel and retired. By hard work while the rebels were being held in check here, some of the men succeeded in fixing harness that had been cut, getting horses that had been turned loose and rigging up broken gun carriages sufficiently well to secure all of value that was threatened with abandonment.
Although in continual fear of being again attacked, we finally reached Nashville just after dark on New Year's night, 1863, a beautiful, clear and moonlight night, hungry and tired and with horses ready to drop. We had been absent from Nashville just one week, but our little party had suffered its full share.
Our losses in the battle were as follows :
Killed and died of wounds .- Maj. A. G. Rosengarten, Maj. Frank B. Ward. Company B : Private Robert Edge ; Company C: First Serg. W. A. Kimber, Private Orlando Weikel; Com- pany E: Private Rich. W. Chase ; Company H : Private Anthony R. Kintigh; Company K: Serg. A. S. Drake, Private Wm. Brooks; Company L: Private W. Harry Powell, Private Frank Eaton, Private J. Weiler, Serg. S. Fred. Herring ; Company F : Private M. L. Hill.
Wounded .- Company C: Saml. Jamison, Edw. C. Smith, Serg. Wm. P. Rockhill, Jr., J. R. Steinmetz ; Company H: Jos. Hilty, Serg. J. B. Garber, Jr .; Company I: Capt. J. R. Hewitt, Serg. Jno. Richards ; Company L: C. Lewis Diehl, W. T. Nieman.
Captured .- Asst. Surg. Geo. F. Mish, Hospital Steward Chas. P. Sellers. Company B: A. H. Craig, Jno. C. Fleming, Jos. D. Little, Chas. L. Hayden, Wm. K. Rile, Jno. C. Sullivan, Wm. Wagner, Geo. P. Yocum; Company C: Geo. Fisher, H. W. Arnold, M. Baldwin Colton, Fred. Spang; Company D: Frank T. Adams, Horatio G. Snyder ; Company E : Jas. H. Cornwell, Harry Paschall, A. J. Buchanan, W. Beverly Chase, Wm. Conard, Rich. Pancoast, Wm. Tarr, M. A. Williamson; Company F: Robt. W. Brownlee, Robt. R. Taylor ; Company G : D. Spencer Bates, A. T. Clark, Ed. Pattison, Jr., Alex. Ramsey, D. E. Bigler ; Company H: Saml. Trimbel, Josiah Warg, Geo. Fisher, W. S. Moore, Jno. Pinkerton ; Company I: W. H. Baldwin, G. P. Dennis, Francis P. Drinker, J. W. Hall, E. E. Lynch, Abraham Horn; Company K: W. F. Jamison; Company L: Byron O. Camp, Johnson
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Hubbell, Samuel G. Curtis, Benjamin Bartram, W. B. Ecky, Henry H. Jacobs, Jno. G. Marshall, M. Olister, Alex. Robinson, Wilbur Watts, M. L. Jones, Chas. E. Scheide, C. M. Wilson, E. L. Mills.
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THE HALT AT OVERALLS CREEK.
A. D. FRANKENBERRY, CO. K, POINT MARION, PA.
S UNDAY evening, December 28, 1862, about 300 of the Anderson Cavalry were in camp near Triune, Tenn. Major Rosengarten was in command of the Regiment. On this Sunday evening I was detailed as orderly to Major Rosen- garten, and on reporting to him was sent to the headquarters of Major-General Stanley, then in command of all the cavalry of the Army of the Cumberland, for orders for the movement next day. General Stanley directed the Major to move with his command in advance of the infantry toward Murfreesboro, on the road via Wilkinson's crossroads. I was sent during the night to each of the company commanders, directing them to be ready to move at daylight. Monday, December 29th, all the Regiment there was in the saddle at an early hour and moved forward. I went with the Major to General McCook and to Gen. Jeff C. Davis; the latter commanded the advance of the infantry. The orders given to the Major were to strike the rebels, push them to the bridge across Overalls Creek, hold the bridge, but not to cross over. Company K had the advance, and the column moved at a rapid rate, and about 2 P.M. we struck the rebel pickets and drove them toward Murfreesboro. The column soon reached the bridge and halted. Up to this moment I rode constantly by the side of the Major. I had on my cavalry jacket; the Major told me to take it off and put on my blouse. I did so while in the saddle.
When we halted the column was not closed up, and the Major directed me to inform each company commander to close up in columns of four. I rode back and so informed each company commander and then reported to the Major that the column was closed up.
What orders, if any, were given to the Major while I was absent I do not know; but in a very short time the command was given by the Major, and we crossed over the bridge and moved
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about three-fourths of mile down the pike toward Murfreesboro, when the command halted. Major Rosengarten rode back to Major Ward, and had a few words with him. Major Ward's battalion turned into a field on the right, formed a line at right angle with the pike, advanced and soon opened fire on the enemy.
Major Rosengarten moved to the head of the column in the pike and ordered it to advance.
We soon saw the rebels in force, with barricades across the pike. They were also to the left of us, and we again halted opposite a heavy woods, on the right of the pike. The Major gave the com- mand "fours right !" which brought us in line facing the woods. Numbers one and three were then ordered to dismount and open the rail fence. This done, the men remounted and the Major gave the command "forward, gallop, march !" and when partly through the woods the command "charge !" and in a moment afterward we received a volley of musketry from the rebels, who were behind a fence which ran parallel with the pike. This volley killed Major Rosengarten and many others. I was within five or ten feet of the Major when he was struck, and saw him throw up his arms and fall backward from his horse. He was on the extreme right of the line, next to the enemy. My duty placed me close to his right. Sergeant Drake was close to me on my right and was killed by same volley. Seeing the hopelessness of doing anything, and also seeing a rebel force moving to cut us off, someone gave the order to fall back to the bridge at the creek. Major Ward had led his part of the command through a field and into the woods in which Rosengarten fell, his line being at right angles to ours, when he, Ward, was mortally wounded and died a few days days after.
These were the last acts and words of Major Rosengarten as they were impressed on my memory that afternoon, and I can never forget the day and events.
That night we encamped and all our hearts were full of sadness, because so many of our comrades were not with us. They, with thousands of others, had rendered up their lives in defense of Liberty and Union, Right and Truth, and that our country should have but one flag and be but one nation.
MAJOR ROSENGARTEN'S LAST ORDER TO MAJOR WARD.
SERG. SIMEON LORD, COMPANY E, PHILADELPHI.1.
D URING our march, in the formation of two squadrons, to the battlefield of Stone River, Major Rosengarten halted the one under his immediate command at Overalls Creck, resting there to hear from Major Ward's squadron that had charged over the creek ford to develop the enemy.
We had not long to wait before we heard heavy firing that indicated that the Confederates were hotly contesting Major Ward's advance. A comrade and I had been riding on the left of our squadron as flankers. On our rejoining it the command halted.
Major Rosengarten gave me a verbal order to Major Ward to "fall back this side of Overalls Creek." Hastily crossing the creek bridge, thence into the timber on the right, I met our men falling back. I inquired for Major Ward, and the reply was, "He is killed."
I hurriedly returned to Major Rosengarten and so reported.
After recalling Major Ward, it comes within our privilege to ask if Major Rosengarten had known the rebel infantry were in position behind the highest kind of a worm fence waiting to repel cavalry, should he have led in a second charge over the same ground, there to lose his own life, so soon after the mortal wounding of Major Ward in the first forlorn assault? The fence itself was an obstacle that would halt any cavalry charge, enemy or no enemy behind it.
In the last charge a trooper, pistol in hand, dashed up to the fence, riding abreast of it, firing into the very faces of the enemy. If he lived to return to his command it was luck and a marvelous escape.
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INCIDENT OF STONE RIVER BATTLE.
WM. L. BRATTON, COMPANY A, NEW YORK.
T HE Sergeant of old Company H had reported at roll call "all accounted for but two" on the morning that we left Nashville to join the forces that were now moving, with General Rosecrans as their Commander, toward Murfreesboro. The air was chilly, and after marching "by fours" a short distance we swung into a dirt road, and a few of the boys, including Billy Brown, Billy Moore and the writer, getting in a lively mood that was symbolical of our youth, struck up the song, at that time so dear to a Philadelphia boy, "We're All Bound for New York." As we had come from the same school and had practiced it to- gether many times it sounded quite well. The "dough boys" that we passed on the road cheered us. At the same time Major Ward rode down toward us from the head of the column, looking like a youthful General, sitting his horse so proudly. He being a singer himself, joined in the choruses for at least an hour, singing with us various songs that we used to sing round camp fires.
The next day we had another tale to tell, and Company H did its full share. An incident happened which serves to show the spirit of one of our boys. We had skirmished with some cavalry- men who carried the Lone Star flag. We raced them up and down the different hills. Major Ward stayed at the head of the column of Company H. In charging around the top of one of the hills a ball struck the carbine which "Billy" Brown carried. It twirled over out of Brown's hands and struck the Major's horse. When we formed the line on the top of the hill, the Major said : "Brown, you lost your carbine, didn't you?" Brown said : "Yes, I couldn't help it." The Major replied : "I saw you couldn't ; but it's all right ; come and be my orderly." Brown replied: "Never mind, Major, we will soon be within pistol shot." Brown died shortly after in the field hospital at Murfreesboro, having con- tracted a bad fever.
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I at that time had a very large, awkward horse, which while strong was hard to manage, and while taking a dispatch from Major Ward to the Captain of Company L, the horse was hurt in such a way in one of the charges that it lamed him very badly. I was ordered to go with the wagon train as one of the guards. When Wheeler captured the wagon train I was one of the fortunate ones who got away, but not on that animal. In the confusion and excitement on the little dirt road where our wagons were attacked I secured a very handsome gray horse, upon which was only a citizen's saddle. On this horse and leading my own I kept up with the few who did escape.
Several of the leading pursuers annoyed us considerably, but we returned shot for shot without any damage being done to us. I think we hit several horses, as the rebels came within a hundred yards of us, but would come no nearer. I rode with several strangers belonging to different regiments into Nashville, and went out to our first camp in that city, where we met and talked with several of the boys who had been left in camp. Among them was Bob Geddes. Bob got excited at the story of our adventures, and we agreed to go out and hunt up the rest of the Regiment.
We started out and rode a long distance, when we found we were lost. Traveling on until about 8 o'clock at night we came across a large cottage. We knocked at the door and asked who lived there, and were surprised to find a gentleman by the name of Ben Johnson. He told us that he was a British subject, and a British flag was flying over his house, but if we were lost he would take care of us until morning. He advised us to hide our saddles and accouterments and put our horses in the barn. We were given something to eat and a very comfortable bed to sleep in. Not knowing what was going to happen, we put our revolvers and carbines where we could easily get hold of them. We slept very soundly until morning and we breakfasted there.
Imagine our surprise when our host told us that in the night a body of Confederate cavalry was there, but knowing that he was protected by the British flag they did nothing but inquire, asking him if he had seen any Yankees. Of course, he was guarded in his answers. We found that we had been inside the enemy's lines without knowing it. We started out, after getting directions as to where we would probably meet our forces. Making quite a wide
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detour toward Nashville, bearing toward the left, we soon found ourselves among Union forces again, but were not challenged by any picket. We gained a road, and to our surprise met some of our boys, with a wagonload of our dead, going toward Nashville.
As my Company was supposed to be in the cavalry division, I decided to try and find it. Geddes thought it best, as some of his Company was in the escort, to go back to Nashville. Every place that I inquired I was told to hunt up General Stanley, but as his operations were in different parts of the field and the line of battle was very wide, and as I did not know the country, 1 stayed all that day with various bodies of troops, making very diligent inquiry for my Regiment. At last I found that it had been so reduced in numbers, the head officers being killed, that it had been ordered from the field, no one could say where, except "prob- ably" Nashville.
I started for Nashville, and when I reached there our camp had been deserted, and I did not know what to do. The horse that I had, had to be taken care of, so, having some money, I left him in a livery stable and stayed at a hotel. The next day I started out to where the camp was and made some inquiries, but did not suc- ceed in finding out anything that was of advantage. As I passed through one of the streets I saw a large cottage-built house, on the wall of which was a painted sign, with "Major Thurston, Surgeon General," marked on it.
I thought there was an opportunity for me to get something to do, and walking into his office told who I was and the circumn- stances in which I was placed, and asked if he "needed anyone to be of any service to him." He looked me all over and said: "Yes, I do. I haven't a single orderly or courier here. You take this telegram immediately to the office." I think it was at the Com- mercial Hotel, or near there. I took the message, and in return- ing passed through the Market Square, and there I saw some 2000 rebel prisoners marching under guard. They seemed very much elated over the prospect that they would soon be free, for they shouted at everybody that "Bragg would take his New Year's dinner in Nashville."
My horse was on a nice gallop, and a double-team ambulance was driving in the same direction. I was looking to the left, and
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Incident of Stone River Battle.
for some reason or other the driver of the ambulance, who was driving at a rapid rate, turned his team so that the tongue of the wagon was pushed under my horse, and I was thrown with the horse very heavily, the horse's shoulder striking me with force, crushing my left arm, disjointing it and also hurting my hand so that blood was running from every finger nail. As there was mud in the street I looked considerably demoralized, and as I gained my feet the rebel prisoners, who saw the incident, jeered, hooted and made many nasty remarks.
My horse got up and was apparently unhurt, and mounting again I galloped off, returning to Major Thurston. I told him what had occurred, and he examined my arms and made me take off my boots, then my stockings. He made a ball of the stockings and put it under my armpit, and jerked the arm in place. I felt very much relieved at that, but he told me I "was a fit candidate for a hospital," and it "would come in very opportunely," as he wanted someone to "go to the Methodist Church and make a hospital there." He gave me a requisition for everything that would go to fix up a hospital, and I had my arm put in a sling. I went out to the Methodist Church and commenced operations.
Of course, I was the first patient on the hospital list, and the same time I was appointed Hospital Commissary Steward. We had a Surgeon named Sennett, of some Ohio regiment, as Chief Surgeon. I stayed there some two months, when I received a letter from "Billy" Brown, of our Regiment, who had been transferred to Company L in the reorganization. He told me that out "of the boys that constituted our first mess he was the only one that was left." Stockton, Burr, Henderson and Chadwick had been killed, wounded or taken prisoners, and he asked me when I thought I would be able to get back. I made application to be returned to my Regiment, and the request being granted, I re- joined it at Murfreesboro
WHAT I SAW OF STONE RIVER.
JOHN G. MARSHALL, COMPANY A, PHILADELPHIA, PA. -
I N narrating what I saw on our Stone River campaign, I am reminded of the fact that no two soldiers will see the same incidents exactly alike, owing to the excitement of a fight. He only sees that which transpires in his immediate vicinity, but he sees that in a way he cannot forget.
The first battle of any magnitude in which I was engaged was Stone River, on December 29, 1862, while a member of Company L. The scenes I witnessed on that memorable day are as plain to me now as they were then, and I can recall the faces and posi- tions as distinctly as though they happened yesterday.
The first day's march, from Nashville on the Nolansville pike, was in company with the trains of the army, and it was not until night that we reached the advance. But the next day early we met the enemy's cavalry, and it was a day of enjoyment. While we were under fire, no one was hurt. The bullets came thick and fast and there were some close shaves; but there is not much danger from a mounted man. It is the infantryman, who has the chance to rest his gun and take good aim, who does the mis- chief. Our enemy would make a stand at every good position, fire one or two volleys and then retreat. Our boys enjoyed the run- ning fight, comparing it to a fox hunt when at home; but this experience of being shot at so much without getting hit gave us the presumption to feel that a special Providence guarded us and that we could not be hit, which led to disaster to us a few days after.
We were nearing the Confederate army, which was at Murfrees- boro, and the enemy was showing in larger numbers. A force of their cavalry appeared in our front, and without waiting for orders we charged. Down the road we raced, yelling in the highest glee ; we went through a wood and up to a fence, behind which was their infantry, and then came disaster. In a few minutes
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What I Saw of Stone River.
there was distress in a score of Northern homes, owing to our impetuosity. I saw their rifles belch forth, and our leader, Major Rosengarten, and his horse, "Zollicoffer." both fall, pierced by fourteen bullets. Then came a volley right into the faces of our boys, as only the fence separated us from the enemy. It was then I witnessed a sight that can never be effaced from my memory. Men seemed to fade away like frost before the morning sun, and many empty saddles was the sad result. Here I lost one of my dearest friends, a boy without a fault, kind and generous and a friend to every man in the Regiment. I speak of our Sergeant, Frederick Herring. I was next to him when he received a bullet through his head. He lingered in the saddle a moment, then fell with a thud to the ground, and his blood saturated my shoulder. At that instant my gray horse was shot and fell on my leg, and while trying to extricate it I saw J. Weiler, of our Company, dis- mounted and bareheaded, acting like a raving maniac. He must have been hit on the head, so that his reason was dethroned. Poor fellow ! the rebels were around him thick, and I never heard what became of him. I noticed a brave deed done by Al. Coleman right in the midst of the slaughter. He deliberately reached through a gap in the fence and brought out an officer, who proved to be the Adjutant General of the Confederate General Cheatham. We came off the field together, and a more surly man than he was I have never seen.
We went back that night and slept in the woods near Wilkin- son's crossroads. Our Lieutenant-Colonel, Wm. Spencer, was there in an ambulance, sick almost unto death. He was worried because of not being able to be in the fight. I tried to console him by telling him that it was lucky that he was not there, as in all probability we would have had one more soldier to bury, and that we did not have enough men in the Regiment to whip Bragg's whole army.
On December 30th General Wheeler got in the rear of our army, among the trains, and burnt up several hundred wagons, near Lavergne. Our Regiment, with the Fourth Regulars, Seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth Ohio, all under Gen. David S. Stanley, were sent to find Wheeler and drive him off, and the next day, while our army at the front was in the fiercest kind of a battle, we were scouting the rear. We had just passed through a cedar
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History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
forest, with dense undergrowth, when one of our batteries, posted on a hill over to our left, opened on us by mistake. The error was soon corrected, but one of their shots struck Robt. Edge, of Company B, and took off his arm. Serg. Wm. Wagner, afterward Major, ordered four of us to carry Edge to a hut some hundred yards away, surrounded by a high fence. We carried him there and laid him down and left him.
The Regiment by this time had passed on over the hill, where we heard heavy firing, and as we came out of the hut Wagner asked, "What is all that hallooing?" and just then it appeared to me that all of Wheeler's cavalry was on us. We started to run to the woods, but they sent a volley after us and soon had us cap- tured, but having plenty of uncaptured Yankees to look after, they paroled us on the field, the parole being written on paper from a diary which one of the boys had. All we had to do now was to enjoy what was going on, but there was so much of it that one man could not see it all. Our battery quickly got their range and began to knock them off their horses like apples from a tree. Wheeler got his artillery in position, but for some reason did not fire. Then he got his men in line for a charge, but before they got started our line charged and Wheeler was driven from the field badly whipped. I don't think this took twenty minutes. It was in this charge we captured the flag of the Third Alabama Cavalry.
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