USA > Pennsylvania > The Seventh Pennsylvania veteran volunteer cavalry; its record, reminiscences and roster; with an appendix > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36
GOING TO LOUISVILLE.
The train carrying the regiment was a heavy one and moved slowly. It did not reach Pittsburg until late in the evening, and was met at the station by a Committee of the Christian Commission, who inform- ed the regiment that at eight o'clock supper wonkl be ready for them in the City Hall. At that hour the entire command was feasted; the kindness and cour- tesy extended being highly appreciated.
Here it may be recored that, while the war con- tinued, the courtesy and kindness of the people of the "Smoky City" to soldiers passing through it knew no abatement, and many a veteran can recall, with feelings of gratitude, the welcome that never
GOING TO LOUISVILLE
failed him there. No matter at what hour his train arrived, the Committee of the Christian Commission was on hand to pilot him to a place where comforts awaited him, and where he was made welcome until he could be speeded on his journey.
One of the most remarkable developments of the great war was this unofficial organization, which ex- tended throughout the Northern States. It was purely benevolent, and the work it performed was unselfishly charitable. Men and women devoted their time and means to the help of the sick and suffering; to the relief of impoverished families whose "bread winners" were in the army; to the rescue and care of the wounded on battlefields; and in every way that charity could devise and devotion prompt, sought to mitigate the hardships, and promote the comfort of those who were endeavoring to save the Union. Mil- lions of dollars were raised and expended by the Christian Commission for this work, and its labors only ceased when peace was restored.
From the hall of entertainment the regiment marched to the levee to embark on steamboats for the rest of the journey. Seven of these were provided ; a boat carrying two companies with their horses and baggage, and one boat being assigned for the regi- mental officers and their impediments. The fleet sailed on the 21st of December, but the water being at a low stage, anchored at night and proceeded the following morning. Dornblazer says that "at each town along the river the Union flag was waving from every pinacle; crowds of people gathered along the shores, cheering and saluting the fleet. At Wheeling the loyal demonstrations were particularly impress- ive ; the levee and the bridge across the Ohio were lin- ed with a solid mass of humanity, over which flutter- ed, like wings of hope, a myriad of white handker- chiefs." On the 24th they passed Cincinnati, and on Christmas morning arrived at Louisville, where they were ordered to disembark.
8
GOING TO LOUISVILLE
"One half of the men," says Dornblazer, "took charge of the baggage, and the other half, of the horses. It was hard to tell which had the biggest elephant to handle. * * * We had neither bit nor bri- dle, nothing but a rope halter with which to hold the horses. * * * The streets of Jeffersonville were too muddy for us to walk and lead the animals, so we mounted and rode through the town on a breakneck charge. It was more amusing to the spectators than Barnum's circus, but no fun to those who did the steering. It was about as easy to stop an engine on a down grade, without brakes, as to stop those spir- ited horses with rope halters. * In a swamp, one mile northeast of Jeffersonville we came to a halt and made preparations to go into camp. It had rained all day, and the ground was thoroughly soak- ed. Late in the evening the wagons came up with the tents, but the pins were forgotten, and no timber in reach to make any from. A few tents only were put up that night. There was no straw in camp, and no boards with which to make a bed. * * # Two sticks of cordwood, with the flat side up, and a haversack at one end for a pillow, constituted the average bed for that night. Taking it all in all, it was anything but a happy Christmas. * * * Before morning our restless steeds stood in the mud and water six inches deep; our out-door beds were covered with a sheet of snow."
Such was the Seventh's introduction to Camp Chittenden, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, opposite Louis- ville. Here it remained, suffering from cold and wet, until the 26th of January, 1862. Some drilling was done, and the men became accustomed to the use and care of their horses-the first essential lesson of a cavalryman. Many of the horses, however, became untit for service, on account of exposure. Recalling the condition of the camp, one is at a loss to under- stand why it was permitted to exist. Hundreds of healthful sites, just as convenient, could have been found, and thousands of dollars might have been
9
MARCH TO NASILVILLE
saved. as well as much suffering, by a little care in making a selection. In this mid-winter camp at JJef. fersonville, horses actually froze fast in the congeal- ing mud, and the men had to dig and cut them loose.
While here, what were known as Belgian rifles were issued to the regiment. These were old fash- ioned muzzle-loading guns, imported from Europe, and were about as worthless as a military weapon could be. They were very soon condemned, and the men provided with a more serviceable arm. Compan- ies A, F, H, G, K, and L were, on the 21st of January armed with the Burnside Carbine. and Companies B, C, D, I, and M, with the Smith Carbine. Of course they retained the saber and pistol received at Har- risburg.
Recrossing the ferry to Louisville on the 26th, the regiment took position on Broad street, where it was inspected, and in marching trim was reviewed by General Buell, who complimented it highly on its appearance. Vale says "it marched in review with nine hundred and sixty-three officers and men in ranks, which, with teamsters and train guards, gave a total present equipped for the field of one thousand and sixty-two officers and men." General Buell, in an official communication to the Secretary of War, of a subsequent date, says: "The Pennsylvanians are the finest troops in this Command. Send more like Negley's Brigade. I am confident the Seventh Caval- ry will be a credit to the State."
MARCH TO NASHVILLE.
The movement of the regiment from Louisville might justly be said to mark the beginning of its service. Hitherto it has been learning the rudiments of soldiering; how to prepare and care for its food; how to use its arms; how to pitch and strike its tents; how to pack clothing and camp equipage. Its travel had been by train, where space was liberal; now the
10
MARCH TO NASHVILLE
departure made men and horse a single machine. The one was required to so arrange matters that the other could carry all the properties essential for both. This was no simple task, and Dornblazer de- scribes the ludicrous figure the Seventh presented when, for the first time, it "took the route" in full cavalry array. The men were anxious to get to the front, where the fighting was to be done, fearing that the war would end without their being in a battle. No time was wasted when the order came to move. Experience had not yet taught them how bed and board, food and forage, man and arms, all were to be carried, securely and comfortably, on a horse. "To leave anything behind," says Dornblazer, "was not once thought of ; the cast away clothing of other regi- iments had to be gathered and Ingged, that nothing be lost. Two woolen blankets and a coverlet brought from home were rolled into a bundle two feet long and a foot thick, which was strapped on the saddle behind ; the rubber dolman overcoat, carpet sack with several suits of underclothing, shaving tools, shoe brush and blacking, and perhaps a sheepskin, had to be packed in front. The side pockets or saddle bags were filled with crackers and forty rounds of ammu- nition. The dragoon then girded himself with a heavy cavalry sword ; on one shoulder hung a mon- strous shooting iron, and on the other a haversack holding three days' rations. Thus equipped the horses were led into line, each with a nose-bag dang- ling on his neck containing a feed of oats. * * * The command is given: "Attention; prepare to mount ; mount!" The command was expected to be promptly obeyed, but it was followed by a ludicrous scramble. How to get over that mighty war bundle was a problem to solve, and "short-legged men had to lead their horses to the nearest fence, and from the top rail drop down amid-ships." As long as the horses were kept at a walk the load carried was safe, but in crossing the ferry the companies became separated. and the order to "close up" necessitated a gallop through the streets of Louisville. It was Sunday,
11
MARCH TO NASHVILLE
and the church-goers were out in force. The cumber- some load would slip in spite of all that could be done by the soldier, and many tumbled to the ground, amid the smiles of the whites and the laughter of the ne- groes. A little experience of this kind taught the boys how to limit and pack their loads, and before Nashville was reached an order to mount could be Very promptly obeyed.
The first night's camp was pitched ten miles south of Louisville, and the wagons being delayed, some of the men spread their blankets without put- ting up tents. Toward morning it snowed, and these chilled sleepers became anxious hunters for shelter. The snow continued through the day, and the march was very uncomfortable. With occasional breaks of sunshine, the weather was extremely bad for several days, and the sufferings the command was compelled to endure told upon it very perceptibly. On the 29th the regiment went into Camp near Bardstown, Ken- tucky. This was called Camp Thomas, in honor of the General, who had recently defeated the Confeder- ates at Mill Spring, and some of the wounded in that battle were in hospitals in Bardstown. The camp was one of instruction, and five other Union Regi- ments were in the neighborhood. Dornblazer says "the last of military discipline was laid on with all the vim and precision of old regulars. The day was literally crowded with calls to duty from reveille to tattoo. The forenoon was occupied in sword exercise and company drill; the afternoon in battalion and regimental drill, under command of Major Wynkoop. Any one failing to turn ont on drill or dress parade without a doctor's permit was, without trial, at once remitted to the guard house."
Much sickness resulted from the exposure and hardships to which the regiment had been and still was subjected, and Vale says, that when it was or- dered to march, on the 17th of February, many of the officers and men were scarcely able to sit on their
12
MARCHI TO NASHVILLE
horses. Five Captains and six Lieutenants were at one time unfit for duty. About two hundred men were left in hospitals in Louisville and Bardstown when the regiment moved. The spring rains made the roads extremely bad, and this condition was in- tensified by the retiring Confederate army, which burnt all the bridges, plowed up the surface, and in every way endeavored to make them impassible for the pursuing Union troops. To some extent they succeeded, and the Seventh was more than once com- pelled to leave the main highway and take to the by- ways. One day the obstacles it encountered were so great that it only advanced two and a half miles.
While yet at Bardstown the regiment witnessed the execution of a private soldier of a Kentucky com- mand for murder. He confessed that he had killed a citizen for revenge, because the citizen had secured his punishment for stealing a hog. He was convicted by a court martial, and hanged in presence of all the soldiers in the camp.
Moving to Mumfordsville, where it arrived on the first of March, some of the Seventh had their first clash with the enemy. A party of foragers ap- proaching a hay stack near the camp was fired upon. Companies K and L were sent to the support of the foragers, but the enemy retired after one volley. Bugler Eyster, of K Company, was thrown from his horse in the encounter, and so badly hurt that he had to be sent to the hospital. He was the first member of the regiment to be injured by collision with the enemy.
As spring advanced the weather became more settled, and the condition of men and horses improved rapidly. On the 13th of March the regiment reached Bowling Green, where Johnston's Confederate army had passed the Winter. Here they saw the great de- fensive works which had been constructed to resist the advance of the Union forces, but which were has- tily abandoned when Grant captured Fort Henry,
13
GUERILLAS AND SLAVES
February 6th, and Fort Donaldson, February 14th. The beauty of the country reminded the soldiers of the fertile valleys and highly cultivated farms at home. It is well worth noting here that no injury to private property was committed by Buell's army on its march through Kentucky and into middle Ten- nessee. . The utmost care was exercised by the Union authorities, to avoid offense to the people of these States, and this policy was always pursued, as a rule, in Kentucky, and marked the conduct of the Union soldiers in Tennessee in 1862. The very reverse of this characterized the conduct of the Confederates. They "lived on the country", and took whatever they required, leaving a trail of ruin and desolation wher- ever they passed or camped.
Fifty days had been consumed in marching and camping on the soil of Kentucky, and the men of the Seventh had, in that time, endured much, seen much, and learned much. Now they were about to enter a State which had cast its lot with those who had de- clared their determination to destroy the Union, and were approaching the beautiful city that had been suggested for the Capital of the Southern Confeder- acy. They felt that they were entering the field where great work was to be performed, and were destined to participate in its performance. Near where they were was the home and grave of Andrew Jackson, who, when Southern traitors threatened the Nation years before, swore, "By the Eternal, the Union shall be preserved!" In their hearts they echoed the old hero's resolve, and thus animated. marched through the streets of Nashville in splendid array, contemptu- ously smiling at childish exhibitions of treason which adults encouraged, but were too cowardly to show.
GUERILLAS AND SLAVES.
The Seventh, being the only regiment of caval- rv permanently on duty in Middle Tennessee, had an abundance of work to perform. As distributed, its
11
GUERILLAS AND SLAVES
field of operations extended from Alabama, on the South, to and beyond the Cumberland River on the North, and from the Cumberland Mountains to the swamps and forests, which separate Middle from West Tennessee. Other cavalry regiments were in the region, attached to Buell's army, but they were moving constantly, while the Seventh remained in a permanent camp throughout the summer. This brought it into intimate contact with the people, and familiarized it with the sentiments controlling them. The regiment, without being at all tainted by poli- ties, was very far from entertaining abolition ideas when it entered the slave-holding States, but contact. with the institution, as exhibited by owners and slaves, soon revolutionized its views. The policy of the United States government, in the early stages of the war, was that of conciliation and soldiers in camp were forbid to harbor fugitive slaves. Notwithstand- ing this, negroes escaping would seek refuge with the Union soldiers, and their owners came there to find and recover them. On one occasion a party of eight mounted men came to Camp Worth early in the morning and presented a letter from the General commanding in Nashville, authorizing them to search the camp for an alleged fugitive said to belong to one of them. The officer of the day reported them and their business to Lieutenant Colonel Sipes, then in command, and was directed to afford them every fa- . cility for carrying out the General's order. The searching party persisted in remaining mounted, and so proceeded, accompanied by the officer of the day, through the company streets. At C Company a ne- gro ran out of the cook tent and started full speed for the woods. The slave hunters galloped after him, calling to him to stop or they would shoot him, firing their revolvers as they dashed along. The officer of the day ordered them to cease firing in camp, but they paid no attention, and he called out the guard. By this time the camp was thoroughly aroused ; the men, without orders, sprang to arms, surrounded and
15
GUERILLAS AND SLAVES
dismounted the intruders, and marched them to the Colonel's quarters as prisoners. They were sent into Nashville under guard, and then investigation show- ed that they were Confederate soldiers, belonging to the First Mississippi Cavalry, who had sought to gain informatinn by visiting Union camps on the lookout for alleged fugitive slaves. Vale says this slave hunt changed entirely the sentiment of the regiment on the slavery question.
Requests to each camp continued to come, how- ever, and as they were generally signed by Andrew Johnson, the well known loyal Military Governor of Tennessee, proper respect was shown the bearers of them, but, strange to tell, no fugitive could ever be found. Soldiers would quietly look on while street after street was visited. Of course the searcher was not permitted to enter the tents, for what white sol- dier would harbor a negro within the canvas walls of his home! Fruitlessly the slave hunt terminated, but in some mysterious way the number of negroes about the camp increased. In a short time most of the officers had colored servants; the Quartermaster had colored teamsters, and when the order came from the War Department authorizing the employment of two cooks for each company, the number required by the Seventh was on hand. The appearance of the regiment, when on march, was not improved by the addition of this dark contingent. Mounted as they all were on mysteriously acquired steeds, with pans and cans dangling in rythmic profusion, the array could have given odds to Falstaff's army and beaten it easily.
Some of these quondam slaves were excellent hostlers, and the care they took of the animals en- trusted to them was highly commendable. There appeared also to be a natural affiliation between a negro raised on a cotton plantation and a mule. On one occasion Quartermaster Rickert had rigged out his train with a new supply of mules. When the
16
GUERILLAS AND SLAVES
train came to move, one team of four absolutely re- fused to do so. Drivers shouted, flogged and swore, but all in vain. Their feet were firmly planted ; their ears assumed different angles, and their eyes rolled, searching for something to kick, but go they would not. The struggle continued for half an hour; the atmosphere became sulphurous, and the case seemed hopeles, when an innocent looking black boy, stand- ing by, remarked to the Quartermaster:
"Boss, I can drive dem mules."
"Then do it, and you can have a job."
Quietly the negro approached the team, adjusted the harness and spoke to each mule, took hold of the line, and gave the signal to go and they moved off as readily and steadily as any wagonmaster could de- sire.
Another development of the war were the gue- rillas. These had no commendable qualities or re- deeming traits, but were despicable to the core. They were treacherous, because ready to betray friends and neighbors for gain; cruel, because they made the war a cover for acts of private revenge; and coward- ly, because they slunk around in darkness to per- petrate their evil deeds. Middle Tennessee was full of them, not all "native to the Manor born," but concentrated from adjacent localities, because the section afforded superior facilities for their kind of marauding. The Seventh had its experience with these bands, and has good reason to remember, with loathing, their murderous career. Several expedi- tions after bands of these free-booters were made by the portion of the Seventh stationed at Nashville, but they were usually fruitless, because the guerillas and their friends had such a faculty for lieing.
One of the expeditions was so picturesque in de- tails as to merit description. General Dumont had received information that a guerilla band had a ren- dezvons in the wooded region north of, and not far from, the Cumberland river, and determined to crush or capture it. For this purpose he marched
17
GUERILLAS AND SLAVES
with the Seventh in the afternoon planning to reach the guerillas and take them by surprise about mid- night. At sunset he selected several of the men and ordered them to put on "Butternut clothes", the usual dress of the poor whites, of which he had a supply, and thus disguised sent them forward, under a guide, as an advance guard. Night descended, and to add to its darkness, a drizzle of rain set in. The country being traversed was densely wooded, through which a narrow wagon-way, it would be an exagger- ation to call a road, meandered. Absolute silence was ordered, and through the more than Egyptian darkness the horses instinctively felt their way, for it was impossible to guide them. Sometime in the night the rendezvous was reached, but the birds had flown, not a guerilla was to be found. A supply of arms, consisting of sawed-off shot guns, antiquated pistols and homemade knives, were captured, and the command was ordered to rest where it was until the dawn of day. It was a miserable rest in the wet brush, drenched, hungry and cold ; but it was the best that could be had. At last day dawned and the homeward march was begun, after the collection of arms had been destroyed. When the turnpike was reached, Dumont ordered the Seventh to proceed leisurely to camp, and he himself hurried to Nash- ville. Men and horses were weary, and the march was not hastened. Suddenly there came up a thun- der shower of terrific force. The lightning flashes were binding, the peals of thunder rolled ceaselessly, and the rain descended in sheets. The regiment at the time was at the foot of a hill-field planted in corn. So paralyzing was the storm that the command vol- untarily stopped and remained stationary in the road. The corn in the field was seen to move, and patches of it, loosened by the tremendous rain, came sliding down the hill. Altogether the experience and the scene were novel and grand. It was soon over, and under a burst of welcome sunshine the command, drenched, hungry and weary, was not long in finding comfort and rest in the familiar home camp.
18
IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE
IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
Buell's army arrived in Nashville about the mid- dle of March. Johnston's had preceded him a few days, and hurried past Nashville to avoid collision with Smith's Division of Grant's victorious army, which had ascended the Cumberland River to that city. Buell paused in Nashville only long enough to provide for garrisoning the city and adjacent coun- try, pushing on then as rapidly as possible to the support of the Union forces on the Tennessee river. The Second and Third Battalions of the Seventh were left for duty in Middle Tennessee; the First Bat- talion, under Major Wynkoop, marching with Nel- son's Division, the advance of Buell's force, to the battlefield of Shiloh. General Nelson told, with evi- dent appreciation, this story about his march to Shi- loh :
"We had to push on as rapidly as possible, and to prevent delay I issued an order that the trains at- tached to my division should, under no circumstan- ces, permit soldiers to ride. One hot day I stopped at a planter's by the roadside to get a drink of water, and, with my staff, sat on the porch for a brief rest. Along came an army wagon, and perched astride on the cover, sat a bit of a boy soldier, belonging to one of Negley's Pennsylvania Regiments, openly defying my order. I was mad clear through, and jumping from my seat, with a revolver in my hand, I called out : "Get down from there, you little whiffet, or I'll put a bullet through you." The boy deliberately raised his rifle, drew a bead on me, and replied : "Try it, d- you!" What could I do?" asked the General, "the little devil would have shot me sure if I had raised my arm, and I had to let him ride on triumphant."
These troops participated in the second day's battle and resultant victory at Shiloh. This was the first great battle of the war, and although the result was a Union victory, it yet was the cause of much
19
IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE
harsh and unjust criticism of several of the Northern Generals. Major Wynkoop's Battalion returned to Middle Tennessee, and accompanied General Negley's Brigade to Columbia, where it remained for some time. The Second and Third Battalions went into camp three miles south of Nashville, where Regimen- tal Headquarters were established. Here the Second Battalion remained, reporting to General Dumont in command at Nashville. The Third Battalion was sent, under Major Given, to Murfreesboro, where Colonel Duffield was in command; two companies of this Battalion were placed on duty in Lebanon, Lieutenant Colonel Sipes, who had been absent on sick leave, joined the regiment early in April, and Colonel Wynkoop going home on leave soon after, he assumed command of the regiment.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.