History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 47

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046

USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 47

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On the 5th of March the regiment was ordered into Tennessee, the First Battalion to Springfield, the Second to Clarksville, and the Third to Nashville. Soon after reaching Nashville the Third Battalion was moved to Gallatin, and on the 4th of May it first met the enemy under Morgan at Lebanon, where. | igan, it took the advance to Perryville, and by its with the Seventh Pennsylvania and the Third Ken- tucky Cavalry, it most signally defeated that daring . sanguinary battle fought there, sustaining the fire of

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GENERAL HISTORY.

his infantry until relieved by MeCook's corps. It then formed on the right of the line, and by it- stead- iness foiled every attempt of the enemy's cavalry to turn its flank. In this action it had ten killed and twenty-seven wounded. In general orders issued after the action Gen. Buell -ay>, "The Ninth Penn- sylvania Cavalry behaved most bravely, being at one time compelled to stand for three-quarters of an hour under the concentrated tire of three batteries of the enemy's artillery, and only retiring when ordered to do so."

By hard service the regiment had by this time be- come much weakened, and about one-half of the men were dismounted. It was accordingly ordered to Louisville for fresh horses and equipments. After receiving these, in company with the Second Michi- gan, it marched to Nicholasville to prepare for a raid into East Tenne -- ee upon the railroad- communi- cating with the rebel capital. by which suecor should be prevented from reaching Gen. Bragg before the advance of Rosecrans to Stone River. On the 22d of December the expedition, under command of Gen. Carter, left Nicholasville, and on reaching Big Hill all the commissary stores and one hundred rounds of ammunition per man were distributed, roads and civ- ilization were left behind, and the command took to the deer-paths of Pine, Cumberland, and Clinch Mountains. To one unacquainted with the way it is difficult to form any adequate conception of the bard- ships which the troops encountered on this march. These mountains, cheerless and dark, and >avage as when Boone first -aw them, are at this point one hun- dred miles wide. and can only be crossed by following the paths worn by the deer and the Indian age- be- fore. Over these paths. in single file, marched the regiments, traveling day and night, swimming the Cumberland and Clinch Rivers, and fording the nu- merous creeks on the route, until the 1st of January, 1863, when it reached the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at the bridge spanning the Watauga. This was defended by a company of about one hundred strong from the command of Gen. Humphrey Mar- shall, well intrenched. As time was all important, the cavalry was dismounted, the place carried by as- sault, and the bridge, a structure of two long spans, was burned. As it was deemed unwise to cumber the column with prisoners, the captured party was at once paroled, and the command moved down the railroad ten or twelve miles to the point where it ero -- es the Holston River. The bridge here was defended by a force of two hundred and fifty men, having stockades and intrenchments skillfully con- structed for its defense. Without delay there were stormed, and the entire rebel force taken prisoner -. In this action the Ninth lost six killed and twenty- five wounded. Among the latter was Sergt. Elli- T. Hamersly, who was shot through the thigh, the mis- sile inflicting a painful and dangerous wound. All the bally wounded were left with the paroled enemy, the

command being without ambulances, with the excep- tion of Sergt. Hamersly, who resolutely refused to re- main, and succeeded in keeping his horse and moving with the column until it reached Kentucky. After leaving the Hol-ton bridge, and destroying a trestle- work of nearly a mile across a swamp, the command faced for Kentucky, and by skillful strategy, joined with signal enterprise and rapidity of movement, succeeded in cluding the enemy, eight thousand strong, under Marshall, and recrossed the Cumber- land Mountains, returning by the same paths by which it advanced. The success of this raid, in the face of a greatly superior force of the enemy, was the cause of so much chagrin to the rebel chieftains, that Marshall. the commander, was relieved and never afterwards restored to his command.

The regiment reached Nicholasville from this raid on the night of the 13th of January, with two-thirds of its men dismounted, the animals for more than one hundred miles while crossing the mountains being without food. In the mean time, Col. Williams, for some cause of difficulty involving a question of rank, had resigned, and Lieut .- Col. James on the 13th of January died. Maj. Jordan was accordingly pro- moted to colonel. After a few day-' rest, the regiment marched to Louisville, where it was remounted, and thence by rail to Nashville. On the 8th of February, two days after it- arrival. it proceeded, by order of Gen. Rosecrans, to Franklin, where, after a sharp skirmish, Gen. Forrest's brigade of the enemy was driven from the town. Col. Jordan's command here formned the right wing of the Army of the Cumber- land, which was now confronting the enemy at Lib- erty on the left, Shelbyville and Tullahoma in the centre, and Triune and Franklin on its extreme right. At Spring Hill, fourteen mile, in front of Franklin, was the extreme of the left wing of the enemy, com- manded by Gen. Van Dorn, Wheeler and Forrest com- manding division- under him, with a force of twelve thousand cavalry. The advance brigade of this force was at Thompson's Station, nine miles out on the Columbia pike, the Eighth Mississippi doing picket duty three miles nearer Franklin, and the Fourth Mississippi performing the -ame duty five mile- to the right, on the Carter's Creek pike. For eighteen day- the Ninth, aided by three hundred men from the Second Michigan Cavalry, without other support, confronted this strong rebel force, and daily, to de- ceive the enemy, made -trong attacks upon his ad- vance position -. Thi- bold strategy was entirely suc- ces-ful, and the weakness of the post was not dis- covered by Van Doro until the morning of the 4th of March, when he advanced in force to storm the place ; but a division of infantry, under Col. John Coburn, of Indiana, having reached Franklin during the night of the 3d. the whole command marched out on the morning of the 4th, and four miles front Franklin met the enemy. After a hotly-contested engagement, which lasted from nine in the morning

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

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until three in the afternoon, the enemy was finally driven back to his position at Thompson's Station. In this action the regiment suffere i severely, having twelve killed and fifty-one wounded. On the follow- ing morning, Col. Coburn, who had assumed com- mand, determined to pursue and drive the enemy from the station, his chosen ground. Immediately after daylight, Col. Jordan was ordered to advance with his regiment and drive the enemy into position. As Jordan moved out -kirmi-hing opened. and every moment became heavier. At the hill- in front of the station the enemy made a determined stand, but the First Battalion, under Lient .- Col. Savage, and the Second, under Maj. Detweiler, by a most gallant charge, drove him from his position and held the ground until the infantry had formed and advanced to their relief. This action provedl disastrous to the Union arms, and Col. Coburn, with three thousand eight hundred infantry, was captured. Col. Jordan, with the cavalry, fought his way back to Franklin, bringing off two hundred and twenty prisoners, to- gether with the entire artillery and baggage-train of the army and all the wounded that the ambulances could bear. For the heroic part borne by the regi- ment in this action it was mentioned honorably in special orders by Gen. Rosecrans.

der of the battle. For its conduct in this desperate encounter it received from Gen. Thomas a compli- mentary notice, and Col. Jordan was commended for his gallantry in the most Hattering terms.

During the winter of 1863 and spring of 1864 it was in East Tennessee, and fought in the battles of Dandridge, New Market, Mossy Creek, and Fair Gar- den, capturing at the latter place the artillery of the enemy. The regiment having re-enlisted was given a furlough of thirty days, and returned to Pennsyl- vania early in April. By the latter part of May it was again in the field at Louisville, having recruited its thinned ranks in the mean time to twelve hundred men. While at Louisville receiving arms and horses, Gen. John II. Morgan made his last raid into Ken- twoky, and was pushing for Frankfort, at which place he designed erossing the Kentucky River, and then by - overpowering the detachments seattered along the Louisville and Nashville Railroad as guard, breaking up the track and burning the bridges, ent off Sherman, who was then far on his march to At- lanta, from his base of supplies, and compel him to fall back to Chattanooga. Col. Jordan at onee vol- unteered to defend Frankfort, and seizing all the horses necessary to mount his command, and arming his men with common innskets, he marehed by night to the capital, fifty-four miles, and successfully held the place, compelling Morgan to abandon his well- laid -cheme, and fall back towards Pound Gap, near which place he was badly defeated by General Bur- bridge, who had a division of cavalry in his rear.

In the campaign against Bragg in Tennessee, which culminated in the battle of Chickamauga, the regi- ment took part, and with the First Brigade, Fir-t Di- vision of the cavalry, under Gen. Stanley, led the advance of our army. In the initial movements it fought in the battles of Rover. Middletown. and The regiment -oon atter marched to Nashville, and thence to Chattanooga, arriving on the 2d of Septem- ber. Here it was ascertained that the rebel Gen. Wheeler was crossing the mountains into Middle Tennessee, with all his cavalry. By order of Gen. J. B. Steedman, then in command at Chattanooga, the regiment at onee started in pursuit, crossing the mountains direct to MeMinnville, thence to Mur- freesboroughi, where it arrived on the 5th. On the morning of the 6th it marched out twelve miles on the Woodbury and MeMinnville Road to Readyville, where it attacked and utterly defeated Gen. Dibber- ell's brigade of Wheeler's command, taking two hun- dred and ninety-four prisoners, a large proportion of whom were wounded with sabre cuts. The charge in this action was led by Maj. D. II. Kimmel, in a most gallant manner. The next day by order received by telegraph from Gen. Thomas, Col. Jordan was placed in command of all the cavalry in Tennessee, and di- reeted to pur-ne the retreating enemy. He marched the same afternoon, and at Woodbury, just at dusk. met and defeated a part of the rebel Gen. William-' division, under Col. Anderson. On the following morning he continued the pursuit to Me Minnville. and the day following to Sparta, Gen. Williams con- stantly avoidling an action, though he had more than Shelbyville, and at the latter place charged the left flank of the enemy, while the Seventh Pennsyl- vania Cavalry charged the centre, and in a most stub- born hand-to-hand encounter succeeded in capturing nearly a thousand prisoners, with the enemy's battery, breaking up entirely his cavalry organization, and driving the few who escaped as mere fugitives upon the main force at Tullahoma. Among the killed was Capt. Gilbert Water -. It also participated in the- action at Elk River, and by passing the stream above the right flank of the enemy and boldly attacking him, forced him from his position at the ford- in front of Gen. Turchin, enabling his command to pa -- the river and follow the retreating columns. At Cowan, a few days later, near the foot of the Cumberland Mountains, the regiment captured two hundred of the rear-guard of Bragg as he was passing. A few days previon- to the battle of Chickamauga it pene- trated to a point near Lafayette, Ga., and captured by a gallant charge a part of the advance guaru of Gen. Longstreet, then marching from the army of Lee in Virginia to reinforce Bragg, and was thus enabled to give Rosecrains the first positive informa- tion of Longstreet's presence. At Chickamauga the regiment held the right of our line, and after the defeat of MeCook's corps closed on the right of Gen. . double the force under Col. Jordan. At Sparta the Thomas, and detended hi- flank during the remain- I enemy took to the mountains and passed into East

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GENERAL HISTORY.

Tennessee. For his conduct in refusing to fight. Gen. Williams was placed under arrest by Gen. Wheeler, from which he was not released until the end of the war. In acknowledgment of the good conduct of Col. Jordan and the troops under his command, of which the Ninth Pennsylvania constituted two-thirds. com- plimentary orders were issued by Gen. Van Cleve, at Murfreesborough, Gen. Milroy, at Tullahoma, and Gen. Steedman, at Chattanooga.

The regiment then marched to join Gen. Sherman at Marietta, Ga., and on the 14th of November started on its march with that great chieftain to the sea. Previous to moving it was assigned to the First Bri- gade, Third Division of Cavalry, the whole under command of Gen. Jud-on Kilpatrick, and was as- signed to the right wing of the army under Gen. Howard, leading his advance to Macon and Milledge- ville. On the 16th, the first day out from Atlanta, it encountered Gen. Wheeler, who with his cavalry occupied the old works of the enemy at Lovejoy sta- tion, on the Macon Railroad. The position was a formidable one, having been well intrenched by Gen. Hood. A> the brigade moved to the attack the enemy opened a galling fire from four guu-, but after a short and sharp encounter, by a most gallant charge, the regiment gained a lodgment in the work-, driving the enemy from his gun- and capturing them with more than three hundred prisoners. The guns were at once manned by the regiment, and were retained by it until the end of the war. They were the same guns that had been surrendered to the superior forces of the enemy near Macon by Gen. Stoneman some months previous.

Early in December, while marching on Macon, it skirmished heavily with the enemy, and with the brigade pushed the cavalry of Wheeler within the defen-es of the city. On the day following, in con- junction with Walcott'- brigade of Wood's division, Fifteenth Corps, it fought in the battle of Bear Creek or Griswoldville, defeating Wheeler, but not without severe loss, having ninety-five men killed and wounded. Moving through Milledgeville to the left ilank of our army, it demonstrated in the direction of Augusta, and after crossing the Ogeechee at the falls turned southeast towards Millen. one of the prison-pens for Union soldiers. When within one day's march of Waynesborough, Wheeler made a sudden night attack, but was defeated, though he followed up the com- mand closely to Wayne-borough, where he again made a fruitless night attack. On the day following, it hav- ing been discovered that the Union prisoners had been removed from Millen, and the necessity for pro- ceeding farther in this direction obviated. the com- mand turned toward Louisville, Ga., to forin a june- tion with Gen. Baird's division of infantry, which would cross the Ogeechee at that point. During the day Wheeler followed closely, and at Buckhead Creek wade a heavy attack upon the Ninth, which was in the rear, in the hope of cutting it off from the rest of

the column already across the stream. By a bold charge the enemy was beaten off, and the regiment was enabled to join the remainder of the command, now in line of battle and awaiting attack. It had scarcely gained its position when the enemy ad- vanced, but was met with such a galling fire that he was compelled to draw off, and the brigade marched on unmolested to Louisville. In all these engage- ments Wheeler's cavalry outnumbered that opposed to him.

Two days later, the infantry having come up, it again moved on Waynesborough. Gen. Dibberel's di- vision of Wheeler's cavalry was found in line of battle at Buckhead Church and defeated. Pushing forward from it- camp at Waynesborough, where it remained one day, the command on the following morning again attacked Wheeler, who had barricaded himself within cannon-shot of our front. The Ninth Pennsylvania had the centre, while the Ninth Ohio was on the right and the Fifth Ohio on the left, with the Third and Fifth Kentucky and Eighth Indiana in reserve. In this order the command moved over a beautifully undulating plain, and in twenty minutes the barri- cades were stormed and Wheeler was in full retreat. At Wayne-borough he again made a stand. and after a severe action he was driven from the town, and re- treated across Brier Creck, on the road leading to Augusta. On the same day the command faced to- wards Savannah, where it arrived with the whole army on the 21st of December.

After a month's delay the regiment again took the field, and entering South Carolina at Sister's Ferry marched through Robert-ville and Barnwell to Black- ville, on the Charleston and Augusta Railroad, where it encountered and defeated a portion of Wheeler's command, and following the railroad towards Au- gusta, two days later, developed the strength and position of the enemy at Polecat Pond-, near Aiken, where he had been reinforced by Hampton's division. On the day following Wheeler and Hampton attacked with their whole force, but were signally defeated. Without pausing, the brigade moved towards Column- bia, the capital of the State, and after taking Lex- ingtor. and capturing a portion of Wheeler's rear- guard, moved in the direction of Charlotte. N. C .. as far as Black Stake's Station. on the Columbia and Charlotte Railroad, where it met and defeated a force of the enemy. Crossing the Catawba at Rocky Mount, and marching thence by Lancaster and Ches- terfield Court-House, it entered North Carolina, cross- ing the Gresit Peder River near the southern line of the State, and occupied Rockingham. On the morning of the 11th of March the command reached Fayette- ville, the enemy retiring, skirmishing slightly. After a few days of rest it moved towards Gold-borough, and on the 16th, at Averyborough, was engaged in a most determined action, lasting from six in the morning until two in the afternoon, again-t a division of the rubel army led by MeLaw-, which resulted in the

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

capture of a large number of prisoners, with Gen. Rhett of the First Brigade South Carolina Heavy Artillery. In this action Capt. E. A. Hancock of the Ninth lost a leg, and Capt. John Boal was killed, and in the brigade every twelfth man was killed or. wounded. The infantry coming up took up the fighting and carried the rebel breastworks, capturing the artillery and a large number of prisoners. In February Col. Jordan was promoted to brigadier- general, the command of the regiment still resting with Lieut .- Col. Kimmel, who had been promoted to that rank in September previous.

On the 17th the command marched toward Benton- ville, on the left flank of the Twentieth Corps, and with it participated in the battle which ensued on the 19th, the cavalry assisting materially in securing a triumph on that hotly-contested feld. After relitting and resting near Goldsborough, the cavalry on the 9th of April again took the field, and while the intantry moved directly on Johnston's position at Smithfield, it moved by a more circuitous route by the old battle- field of Bentonville. to reach the rear of the enemy and capture Raleigh. To accomplish this purpose required constant marching day and night. On the morning of the second day the cavalry struck the head of the enemy's retreating columns, and after a fierce and sanguinary confliet compelled the enemy to march by the flank, between Raleigh and Neuce River, towards Hillsborough. In this action Ist .- Surg. James Moore was wounded in the left lung while gallantly assisting by his presence in urging on the men.

On the morning of the 13th the First Brigade, under Gen. Jordan, entered Raleigh, the city having been surrendered promptly by the civil authorities on his approach. Passing through the city the enemy under Wheeler and Hampton was found in position on the Hillsborough road, and was immediately attacked. In the engagement which ensued the Ninth bore the brunt of the action. The enemy fell back, hotly purstted by the cavalry for ten miles, to Morrisville, where he again made a stand. The line was quickly formed, the charge sonuded, and the position carried, the enemy retreating in the wildest eonfn-ion over the plain, broken into fragments by the plunging fire of the artillery from the heights overlooking the valley. The columns being again formed, started in pursuit, when a flag of truce was discovered approaching. It was received by the Ninth, under which was deliv- ered the letter of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, directed to Gen. Sherman, asking for a meeting to determine the terms of surrender of the army under his com- mand. This was the last fighting done, and the last guns fired in Sherman's comumand were from the battery of the Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry. From Morrisville the command marched to Durham, and the escort to Gen. Sherman when he proceeded to the Burnett House to meet Gen. Johnston, and again upon the occasion of agreeing to the terms of sur-

render, was furnished by this regiment, Maj. John M. Porter being in command. After the surrender the command moved through Greenville to Lexington, where it remained until the 13th of July, when it was mustered out of service. Returning to Harris- burg, it was finally disbanded, and the war-worn vet- erans retired to their homes and the peaceful avoca- tions of life.

ROLL OF COMPANY B, MINTH CAVALRY (THREE YEARS' SERVICE).

Recruited in Dauphin County.

Captains.

Edward G. Savage, Oct. 7, 1861 ; pro, to mij. March 19, 1563.

Elisha A. Hancock, Oct. 29, ISG1; pro. from Ist lient. Co. HI May 25. 1863; com. maj. Jan. 11, 1865; not mustered; wounded at Averys- borongh, N. C., March 16, 1865; must. out with company July Is, 1865.

First Lieutenants.

Lewis A. Gratz, Oct. 7, 1961 ; pro, to mij. 6th Regt. Ky. Cav. Aug. 10,

Romeo It. Bacon, Aug. 1, 1862; res. Feb, 11, 1863.

John O'Grady, Oct. 23, 1861; pro. Irom 2d lieut. Co. K May 23, 1x63; Tes. Sepr. 1, 1863.

William H. Bangher, Oct. 26, 1>61 ; pro. from sergt. Co I to 2d lieut. Co. B May 31, 1863; to Ist lient. May 30, 1864; must. out with company July 18, 1865.

Second Lieutenants.

J. Frank Miller, Oct. 7, 1861 ; pro. to Ist lieut. Co. C Ang. 4, 1862.

Q. B. MacKnight, Oct. 19, 1sol; pro. from seigt. Co. F Aug. 7, 1862; to 1st lieut. Co. M May 22, 1:63.

George W. Leamy, Oct. 17, 1801; pro. from private Co. E Hay 30, 1sGt; disch. by 8. 0. Ina+ 2, 1805; veteran.

First Sergeants.

Cyrua S. Spangler, Oct. 7, 1861 : pro. from sergt. Ang. 31. 1-64; must. ont with company July 18, Isto ; veteran. Thomas D. Griffith, Oct. , 1861; pro. to 2d lieut. Co. A May 22, 1855.

Quartermaster-Sergeants.

Frederick Pick, Oct. 31, 1861 ; pro. to corp. Sept. 1. 1862; to q.m -erzt. Jan. 1, 1864; must. out with company July 18, 1:65: veteran.

Henry Deitrich, Oct. 7, Iso1; pro. from private Oct. 10, 1561; not on muster-out roll.

Sergeants.

Romanns Bohney, Oct. 7, 1861 ; pro. from corp. Jan. 1, 1864; must. out with company July Is, 1:65 ; veteran.

Samuel S. Harper, Oct. 7, 1861 ; pro. frour private Jan. 1, 1864; must. out with compriny JJuly 1-, 1565; veterin.

Sylvester Erb, Oct. 7, 1861; pro, from corp. Jan. 1, 1x6+: must. out with company July Is, Is65 ; veteran.

George Shultz, Oct. 7, le61 ; pro. from private Jan. 1, 1864; must. out with company July 18, 18r5; veteran.

Thomas E. Deitrich, Oct. 7, Isol: pro. from corp. Ang. 31, 1864; Diist. ont with company July 18, 1865; veteran.

Jacob F. Bassler, Oct. 7, 1>61 ; pro. from corp. Sept. 1, 1862 : to 2d lieut. Co. I May 22, 1863.

William Keiser, Oct. 7, 1861; pro. from musician, date unknown ; to 2d lieut. Co. " Ang. 23, 1564; veteran.

Richard F. Martz, Oct. 7, 1461 ; pro. to regt. com .- sergt. May 20, 1865 ; vetcian.

Corporals.

Jamey Witman, Oct. 7, lab1; pro. to corp. Jan. 1, 1964: must. out with company July IS, Isb5 ; vetorau. John L. Matter, Oct. 7. 1-51; pre. to corp. Jan 1, lett ; must, out with company July Is, Is65; veteran.

Henry N. Mccurtin, Nov, bi, 1sil ; pro, to corp. Jan. 1. Isof; tuist. Jut with company July Is, Isis, veteran.

Emanuel Klinger, Oct. 11, Iso1; pra to corp. Jan. 1, lett; must. ont with company Inly 18, 2963; veteran. William Krag-z, Oct. 7, Tank ; pro. to corp. Jan. 1, lett, brust, out with company July Is, Isti ; veteran.

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GENERAL HISTORY.

William Thomas, Oct. 7. INGt ; pro. to corp. Jan. 1, 1564; most. out with company July 15, 1-65 ; veteran.

Louis Gondy, Oct. 5, Iso1 ; pro. to corp. Frb. 15, IN65 ; must. out with company July ts, ist5; veteran.

Elias R. Tobias, Oct. 7, 1-61; pro. to corp. March 1, 1-65; must. out with company July 1, 1su3; veteran.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 47

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1046

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046