USA > Pennsylvania > The Seventh Pennsylvania veteran volunteer cavalry; its record, reminiscences and roster; with an appendix > Part 16
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Anderson's (late Allen's) brigade on the right of Williams, and the Tennessee (late Humes') brigade moving well to the right of Anderson's. Two battal- ions of the Fourth Michigan formed line to meet Anderson's brigade, and I sent two battalions of the Fourth Regulars to meet the Tennessee brigade. An- derson advanced in good style, the Confederates with sabers, supported by the Fifth Georgia with pistols, Three times these two regiments charged the two battalions of Fourth Michigan, but each time they were driven back in confusion. A fresh force now appeared on my right. Those in front advanced steadily, though slowly. One of my pieces of artil- lery was rendered temporarily unserviceable by the miserably defective ammunition lately issued. 1
was, therefore, compelled to fall back, although mo- mentarily expecting re-enforcements. Major Vail with the Seventeenth Indiana ( dismounted ) now re- ported to me. I formed the regiment facing north- east, but had scarcely done so when Allen's (late J. T. Morgan's) brigade advanced directly on its right flank. I ordered an immediate change of front to meet this new force, which was held in check for about ten minutes by a battalion of the Fourth Reg- ulars under Lieutenants Fitzgerald and Davis. Colo- nel Miller reported to me with two more regiments from his brigade. I placed one of them on a wooded hill to the right, and the other in the woods to the left of Major Vail. My position was now in the shape of a horseshoe, with the bridge across Noon- day Creek in my rear. Most of our horses were still southeast of the creek, which is perfectly impassable for either man or horse except on the bridge, and even there, the bottom, about half a mile in width, was in such a condition that horses were up to their girths in the mud and floating rails, of which the road (?) is formed. This morning the road is so much worse that it is impassable for ambulances, and our dead had to be brought over on pack-mules. I dismounted the Seventh Pennsylvania and a part
CHARLES M. KANTNER, Co. F.
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of the Fourth Michigan to fill the gaps between Colonel Miller's regiments, and sent the Fourth Reg- ulars and the remainder of the Fourth Michigan to form line at the base of the hill northwest of the creek, and the two pieces of artillery to take position on the rising ground back of them. Before these ar- rangements could be completed the general attack was made, Kelly's division and Williams' brigade on my left, and Martin's division, supported by Di. brell's brigade, on my right. The left was quickly driven back, but rallied behind a fence where a bat- talion of the Fourth Regulars had formed, about 100 yards south of the creek. Lieutenant-Colonel Biggs, with the One hundred and twenty-third Illinois and a part of the Seventeenth Indiana, on the right of the line, was completely surrounded, but repulsed the enemy handsomely. By this time the rebels had got within range of the artillery on the hill north of the creek, which, together with Lieutenants Robin- son's and Bennett's sections, opened on them with good effect, and night closing around us the enemy withdrew, leaving us in possession of the field.
I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry dis- played by the Seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth Michigan when attacked by such overwhelming num. bers in the early part of the engagement, nor of the splendid manner in which Colonel Biggs, with the One hundred and twenty-third Illinois and part of the Seventeenth Indiana, repulsed the enemy when they were completely surrounded and cut off from the remainder of our small force.
Inclosed I hand you report of casualties, which I regret to have so heavy.
The rebel loss is undoubtedly very severe; their ambulances were busy all last evening and this morning carrying off their dead and wounded from the position where the first fighting took place, while many of their dead lie nearer to us. One scouting party reports 7 lying on the road, one of them a cap- tain. One of our wounded men, who was a prisoner
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during the night, states that he saw over 100 of their dead taken away, and that a lieutenant, who took him prisoner, stated that their loss was heavier than they had ever experienced before. I have sent in 3 lieutenants and 10 enlisted men prisoners.
The force of rebel cavalry now in front of us is as follows:
Martin's division : Iverson's brigade, First, See- ond, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Georgia; Allen's (late Morgan's) brigade, First, Third, Fourth, Seventh, and Fifty-first Alabama. Kelly's division : Ander- son's (late Allen's) brigade, First, Third, Fifth, Eighth, and Tenth Confederate, and Fifth Georgia; , (late Humes') brigade, First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Tennessee. Humes' division : Har- rison's and a Texas and Arkansas brigade. Inde, pendent brigades: Dibrell's, five Tennessee regi- ments; Williams', five Kentucky regiments.
I am, respectfully your obedient servant,
ROBT. H. G. MINTY, Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Captain KENNEDY,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Caralry Di- rision.
( Inclosure. )
Report of casualties in the First aud part of the Third Brigades, Second Caralry Dirision, on 20th June. 1864.
Killed
Wounded
Missing
Total
Command
Officers
Men
Officers
Men
Officers
Men
Officers
Men
4th U. S. Cavalry ..
7th Pennsylvania Cavalry
I
8
a1
5
1
1.4
4th Michigan Cavalry.
bī
9
23
8
1
40
Third Brigade
2
7
I
10
Total
I
12
38
I
15
2
65
a Captain Newlin.
b Lieutenant Sutton. ROBT. H. G. MINTY, Colonel, Comdg. First Brig., Second Car. Dir.
I
1
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HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND CAV. DIV., DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND. Noonday Creek, Ga., June 21, 1864. ( Indorsement. ) HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION,
In the Field, Near Kenesar Mountain, Ga., June 21, 1864.
Respectfully forwarded.
Colonel Long had one regiment on picket guard- ing the crossing of Noonday Creek on the Bell's Fer- ry road, and two regiments dismounted to meet any emergency. The fight lasted until after dark. From all information received it is just to conclude that the loss of the enemy was very severe, and that two divisions attacked me, supported by other troops.
K. GARRARD, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION. Camp near Salem, Tenn., July 29, 1863.
Captain CURTIS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Cavalry Di- rision.
SIR: Referring to my report of July 8, I hand you the following list of officers and men deserving of special mention for gallant conduct at Shelby- ville, on the 27th of June, ultimo: First Lieutenant Heber S. Thompson, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, led the first charge of that regiment in his usual style. Captain C. C. Davis, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, led the grand charge on the rebel battery. He rode into the very teeth of the guns in most gal- lant and fearless manner and captured the entire battery. ( Observation : He personally captured one piece, and with Lieutenant Jos. G. Vale, of the same regiment, captured another piece near the railroad station after a personal encounter with the officer
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commanding battery. ) Lieutenant McCafferty, Fourth U. S. Cavalry, took part in the charge and acted most gallantly. First Sergeant McMaster, I Company, Fourth U. S. Cavalry, was conspicuous for his gallant conduct in the charge on the battery, and is honorably mentioned by Captain Davis. Cap- tain Robert Burns, acting assistant adjutant-general of the brigade, who is always at his post of duty, had his horse shot under him while amongst the fore- most in the charge on the battery. ( Lieutenant Jos. G. Vale, Seventh Pennsylvania, brigade inspector, brought up the artillery, and, obtaining permission to join his regiment in the charge, assisted in tho capture of the piece of artillery at the station. ) Lieu- tenant Callahan, Third Indiana, exhibited great gal- lantry in the charge the battalion of his regiment made near Skull Camp Bridge. Lieutenant Young, Third Indiana Cavalry, was conspicuous in same charge. He received two slight saber wounds. Sergt. Thomas Sheaffer, Third Indiana Cavalry, in same charge, after being wounded in the face with a saber, continued to hew his way through the rebel ranks. First Lieutenant Hudson, acting adjutant, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, acted with great gallantry throughout the entire action. He was severely wounded by a musket ball through the shoulder. Regimental commanders made honorable mention of the following: Fourth Michigan-Captains Pritch- ard, Hathaway, Robbins, and Grant; Corporal Hof- master, L Company ( most gallant conduct ), and Private Mason Brown, I Company. Fourth United States-First Lieutenants Ingerton and O'Connell; Second Lieutenants Rendlebrock, MeCafferty, and Davis; First Sergeants McMaster, Callehan, and Egan; Sergeants Bates and Riker; Corporals Tud- hope and Rankin, and Private Sommers. Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry-Captain C. C. Davis; Lieu- tenants Perey H. White, Heber S. Thompson, Geo. F. Steahlen, and Jos. G. Vale; Sergeants Peck, Keen- an, Somers, Wilson, Quaid, Snyder, Shutt, and En-
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niss; Corporals Devers, Lane, Williams, and Was- son; Privates Andress, John, Watkins, Williams, Benson, Longwell, Heller, and Wilcox. All the regi- mental commanders, viz, Lieutenant-Colonel Gal- braith, First Middle Tennessee; Captain MeIntyre, Fourth United States; Major Mix, Fourth Michigan; Colonel Klein, Third Indiana, and Lieutenant-Colo- nel Sipes, Seventh Pennsylvania, are deserving of special mention for their promptness and manner in which they handled their respective commands.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, R. H. G. MINTY, Colonel, Commanding.
Reports of Maj. William H. JJennings, Seventh Penn- sylvania Caralry.
HDQRS. SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOL. CAV .. Near Blake's Mill, Ga., September 13, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that the Sev- enth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Cavalry start- ed on the 30th day of April, with 919 horses fresh from the corral at Nashville, Tenn., and unused to military duty; the majority were young horses, not aged. Three hundred of the enlisted men were raw recruits. Some had never been on a horse before they entered the service, and were without drill. We traveled along the line of the Nashville and Chatta- nooga Railroad for forty-eight consecutive hours. The horses were without feed, and traveled forty- three miles, passing a depot from which forage was carried at least eight miles.
May 5, we marched twenty-three miles without feed. At Mound City received twenty-eight pounds corn for three days, to be carried upon the horses, in addition to five days' rations, and traveled thirty- three miles, crossing the Raccoon, Sand, and spur of Lookout Mountains. The young horses com- menced to fag; a few were abandoned, and the hearty
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and strong horses were fatigued. The colonel (Wil- liam B. Sipes, then commanding) instituted morn- ing inspections, compelling every man to groom his horse and graze whenever an opportunity occurred.
From the 16th of May to the 19th the horses were without feed, except the leaves and short grass to be found on the hills around Adairsville, Ga. During this time we traveled thirty-five miles; the last five, from Kingston to the Free Bridge, was traveled at a gallop, causing the horses to give out by the dozens (as figures will prove). That night we received the first forage the horses had for three days. Out of seventy-two hours the horses were un- der saddle for sixty hours, and receiving all the at- tention the men were able to give. On the morning of May 22 the commanding officers of companies re- ported a loss of 76 horses, which had died of starva- tion and abandoned. Upon investigation the veter- inary surgeon corroborated the statement, and pro- nonnced forty-three more unserviceable and unfit to travel. Up to this period the horses were groomed as regularly as circumstances would permit. Out of the forty-three horses left to recuperate fifteen were returned to the command Angust 5.
From May 26 to June 2 (seven days) the horses were without feed, and actually starved. One bat- talion (the Third) lost in action, trying to procuro forage, 33 horses, and 101 were starved to death and compelled to be abandoned. A detail. commanded by Captain Garrett, traveled thirty miles, returning withont forage. June 11 and 12, no forage. A de- tachment, commanded by Capt. Cyrus Newlin, tray- eled twenty-six miles, returning with one quart for a horse. From June 13 to 18 received half forage. From June 19 to 22 no forage, but stubble-field to graze in. June 20, lost in action 26 horses. From June 23 to July 17 received half rations. July 18 to. 19, no forage. From July 27 to 30 foraged on the country for twenty miles around Stone Mountain. All was packed upon the withers of the horses, do-
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ing as much harm to the horses as the feed did good, cansing sore backs.
From August 1 to August 15 the command was five miles away from the horses. Four horses were groomed by one man; consequently they were not as well taken care of as the rider would give them, and for forty-eight hours the stock was without feed. August 15 and 16, received one quart per head, and marched twenty-four miles over a country devastated by the army. August 17 and 18, received one pint of feed from Third Division. August 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24, traveled 120 miles, feeding but once, upon green corn. Half ration of forage was issued to September 9. September 9, 10, and 11, no feed and no grazing. The stock received no salt or hay dur- ing the campaign.
Lost in action August 20, 112 horses.
Horses.
Started with
919
Captured 42
Total .961
Abandoned and died 230
Killed and captured 171
Total loss 401
Present in the field 560
The regiment traveled 902 miles, not including picket duty and company scouting.
The horses were without feed twenty-six days and scant feed twenty-seven days. For seven con- secutive days the horses were without feed of any kind. The majority of the horses died and aban- doned were literally starved. The seven days at Pumpkin Vine Church reduced the horses beyond recuperation.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. JENNINGS,
Major, Comdg. Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry.
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APPENDIX
Capt. R. BURNS,
.1. A. A. G., First Brigade, Second Cavalry Di- rision.
JONESBORO, GA., LOVEJOY, GA., KILPAT- RICK'S RAID.
HDORS. SEVENTH PENNSYLVANIA VET. VOL. CAVALRY.
Pace's Ferry. Ga., August 27, 1864.
I have the honor to report that my regiment left camp on Peach Tree road, at 12 p. m. on the 17th in- stant, as rear guard of the brigade. Arrived at Sandtown at 8 a. m. on the 18th instant. Left Sand- town at sundown, as rear guard to the expedition, until, daybreak on the 19th, the order of march was changed. At & a. m. my command was fired into from an ambush. My Third Battalion, commanded by Major Andress, was cut off. With two battalions (First and Second) I proceeded down the road about 300 yards, dismounted, and formed a line, and de- ployed Company E as skirmishers. My Third Bat- talion rejoined regiment in about an hour, by mak, ing a circuit through the woods; barricaded the road, and remained until the entire command had passed. Received an order from Colonel Minty to rejoin the brigade at a cross-roads (name unknown). The brigade moved with the Second Battalion of my regiment, commanded by Capt. B. S. Dartt, in the advance. With the remainder of the command I picketed the cross-roads until the entire command had passed. Two miles west of Jonesborough my Second Battalion was halted, with instructions to rejoin the brigade upon my arrival at Jonesborongh, which I did about dusk. Here we rested for three hours; received an order from Colonel Minty to picket along the east side of the Atlanta and Macon Railroad. The pickets and vedettes were scarcely established before I received an order to draw the pickets in and rejoin the brigade at the rallying post
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of the brigade. After a half hour's halt, the brigade moved out on the Lovejoy's road, my regiment in the centre. Four miles from Jonesborough we halted about two hours. My Regiment moved in the ad- vance. One mile and a quarter from the railroad we met the enemy, turned to the left, advanced some 300 yards, and found the enemy in force; dismounted and deployed the First and Third Battalions to the right to cover the front of the brigade. We held our position until Long's (Second) brigade was formed in our rear. The enemy pressed us with a heavy force of infantry, pouring volleys of musketry as they advanced.
We succeeded in checking them twice. They ad- vanced with renewed vigor compelling us to retire in some disorder, owing to the loss of 3 officers and sey- eral sergeants commanding the companies. They were soon rallied, and I attempted to form the regiment on the right of the Second Brigade, which was only partially successful, owing to a part of my right being cut off by an ( unexpected ) move of the enemy. The centre and left remained intact, until orderd to our horses, leaving the line of skirmishers out. After mounting, I drew in the skirmishers of my regiment and replenished our ammunition. Was ordered to form on the right of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, in a corn-field, which was complied with. Upon the completion of the lines I received the second order, to form in column of fours for a charge, which was done at once. At the command "forward," my regi- ment moved with alacrity, driving the enemy over gullies, fences, swamps, and through dense thickets, for 2 miles. As the rally was sounded by Colonel Min- ty, who led the charge, I halted, and found my regi. ment in very good order, considering the nature of the ground we charged over.
Colonel Minty ordered me to move to the left, in the direction of the main road; found nothing but a few stragglers of the enemy. At the main road I met the Second Brigade endeavoring to form. Halt-
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ed and formed a line; received an order to rejoin the brigade; then moved about a mile; received another order to protect the rear; dismounted and deployed a company as skirmishers, and remained in line, un- til ordered to move as rear guard until we passed the first barricade. I was relieved. Camped about five miles south of Cotton River. Entered our lines on the left wing on the 22d instant.
My loss is as follows: Captains, 2; lieutenant, 1. Enlisted men-killed, 5; wounded and missing, 21; captured, 15. Total, 44. Horses lost, 112.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. II. JENNINGS, Major, Commanding Regiment.
Capt. R. BURNS,
A. A. A. G., First Brig., Second Cavalry Dicision.
KENESAW, NOONDAY, JONESBORO, LOVE- JOY, GA.
Reports of Col. Robert H. G. Minty. Fourth Michi- gan Caralry, commanding First Brigade.
HDORS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION.
Near Blake's Mill, Ga., September 13, 1864.
CAPTAIN : In accordance with orders from head- quarters Military Division of the Mississippi, I have the honor to hand you the following report of the operations of this brigade during the campaign end- ing in the occupation of Atlanta.
I have from time to time forwarded to head- quarters Second Cavalry Division reports of the vari. ous battles, skirmishes, and raids in which the bri- gade has been engaged during the campaign. This report will therefore be to a great extent a summary of those already made.
On the 30th of April, 1864, I marched from Co- lumbia, Tenn., with over 2,200 men, 1,994 being in- cluded in the class mounted and equipped.
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May 10, arrived at Villanow, Ga., having crossed the Cumberland, Raccoon, Lookout, and Pigeon Mountains and Taylor's Ridge, and having been on about half forage of grain and entirely without long forage during the march. May 15, I was ordered by Gereral Garrard to make a demonstration on Rome to cover an attempted crossing of the Oostenaula by the Third Brigade. 1 met the enemy strongly posted at Farmer's Bridge (Armuchee Creek), and after a sharp skirmish the Fourth Michigan carried the po- sition by a charge, killing 1 captain and 9 men, and capturing 6 men. I drove them to within two miles of Rome, where I found Jackson's division of cavalry in position supported by a division of infantry. A sharp fire was opened on me by their artillery. 1 fell back to Farmer's Bridge and rejoined General Garrard, who had failed to make the crossing. May 16, crossed Oostenaula at Lay's Ferry. May 17, moved on right flank of General McPherson's army. May 18, at Woodland, northwest of Kingston, Gen- eral Garrard ordered one battalion Fourth Michigan to move down the Kingston road, and as the enemy was in full retreat, to charge whatever they found. Lieutenant-Colonel Park met the enemy within one mile of Woodland, and drove them sharply to within two miles of Kingston, where he ran into a force of infantry, and at same time was attacked in rear and on both flanks by the whole of Ferguson's brigade of cavalry. Colonel Park fought his way back to Wood- land, losing 4 officers and 24 enlisted men. May 19, marched to Kingston, where I received orders from General Garrard to move to Gillem's Bridge (five miles) at the gallop and to hold the bridge at all hazards. Arriving at the bridge I threw up barri- cades and rail breast-works, which were handed over to Third Brigade on their arrival. This five-mile gal- lop rendered about 300 horses totally unserviceable.
May 20 to 22, picketed and scouted on the Etowah River. May 23, marched to Van Wert. May 24, marched to near Dallas, and had a sharp skirmish
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with the enemy, Fourth Michigan losing 1 officer and 2 men. May 25 and 26, picketed on right of the Army of the Tennessee. On evening of 26th had a sharp skirmish with Ferguson's brigade, Fourth Michigan and Seventh Pennsylvania charging and driving them three miles. The Fourth Regulars on special duty with General MePherson. May 27, with Fourth Michigan, Seventh Pennsylvania, and Seven- ty-second Indiana, I attacked and drove Ferguson's and Armstrong's brigades. Leaving Seventy-second Indiana and Seventh Pennsylvania to hold the ground, with the Fourth Michigan and one section of artillery 1 moved in rear of rebel lines and shelled their works. Same evening I received from division headquarters an extract from a letter written by General McPherson, which is as follows: "Colonel Minty with his brigade did good service to-day. He drew four regiments of infantry from in front of our right to fight him."
May 28 to June 1, picketed close into flank of Army of the Tennessee. On the night of 1st of June the First with Third Brigade covered the withdrawal of Army of the Tennessee from intrenchments in front of Dallas. June 2, marched to west end of Al- latoona Pass. June 3 to 7, picketed Allatoona, Car- tersville, &c. JJune 8, marched to Acworth. June 9, in connection with Third Brigade, made reconnois- sance on Kenesaw Mountain, and drove Martin's di- vision of cavalry and one brigade of infantry from three lines of breast-works at and near Big Shanty, inflicting on them heavy loss. JJune 10, moved to- ward Me Afee's Cross-Roads. June 11, attacked Mar- tin's division at Me Afee's Cross-Roads; drove it one mile, carrying one line of breast-works. Toward night received an order from General Garrard to fall back on Third Brigade, west of Noonday Creek. June 12 to 14, picketing and scouting. June 15, moved south on Bell's Ferry and Marietta road, skirmishing with the enemy all day. June 16 to 19, picketing, scouting, and slight skirmishing. June 20, received
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orders from General Garrard to cross Noonday Creek and go into camp. Was attacked by Wheeler with six brigades, viz : Allen's, Iverson's, Anderson's, Han- non's, Williams', and Dibrell's. About 500 men of Seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth Michigan, with Lieutenant Griffin's section of Chicago Board of Trade Battery, fought Williams', Hannon's, and An- derson's brigades for over two hours. The Seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth Michigan each made one saber charge, and two battalions of Fourth Michigan repulsed three saber charges made by Anderson's bri- gade of regular cavalry. Colonel Miller reported to me with three regiments from his brigade. I direct- ed him to form on the hills around the bridge over Noonday. One battalion Fourth U. S. Regulars checked the advance of Allen's and Iverson's brigades on my right flank and enabled me to fall back on Colonel Miller. The six brigades of rebels dismount- ed and charged my new line. The artillery, which 1 had placed in position across the creek, opened on them and they were repulsed. I withdrew across the creek and reported to General Garrard. My loss was heavy, being in the Fourth Michigan and Seventh Pennsylvania 55, and Third Brigade 10. The rebel papers acknowledge a loss of 75 killed. June 21 and 22, picketing and scouting. June 23, in connection with Second and Third Brigades made demonstra. tions across Noonday; slight skirmishing. June 24 to 26, picketing and scouting. June 27, the division (dismounted ) made a demonstration across Noon- day. The position occupied by First Brigade was shelled by three rebel batteries. The fire was sharply replied to by Lieutenants Griffin and Robinson, with two sections of Chicago Board of Trade Battery. June 28 to July 2, picketing and scouting. Night of July 2 the left of the army moved from in front of Kenesaw, Second Cavalry Division covering the movement.
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