USA > Pennsylvania > The Seventh Pennsylvania veteran volunteer cavalry; its record, reminiscences and roster; with an appendix > Part 3
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
Camp North, as the Regiment Headquarters was named, was an ideal location. A grove of large oak, maple and other trees, among which were some magnolias, gave ample space and shade for two Bat- talions and the Regimental trains. On three sides cul- tivated fields enclosed it, and the fourth was skirted by a lane leading to distant plantations. A little rivu- let of pure water babbled through it. A number of planters' residences-houses of the slave-holding aris- tocracy-were in the near neighborhood, all of whom were avowed secessionists and haters of "Yankees", the only title given to a Union soldier. In one corner of the grove was a school house, where "school was kept" during the spring and early summer. This school was attended by sons of the neighboring plant- ers, boys of about ten years, who had all the frank- ness and inquisitivenes of their kind, and it was amusing to hear their comments on the war, and their opinion of "Yankee soldiers" in general. After several weeks of rather strained intercourse, origin- ated by a visit of admiration to the Shetland pony one of the boys rode to school, the youngster shyly remarked to the officer in command :
20
IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE
"I want to tell you something. When you Yanks came here I was a bitter Secesh, but I think it's working out of me a little now."
During the spring and summer, General Mor- gan, the Kentucky Cavalry leader, was the most act- ive Confederate raider in Middle Tennessee. His command was made up principally of young Ken- tuekians, anxious to fight for the Confederacy, while their fathers, who supplied them with everything, posed as Unionists and remained at home to protect their property. Morgan's men possessed all the qual- ities requisite for dashing raiders, but Morgan him- self was undoubtedly vastly overrated by contempor- ary and recent chroniclers. Colonel Duke was Mor- gan's Adjutant, and the general opinion of Union officers, who had the honor of meeting this command in battle, was that Prentice, of the Louisville Jour- nal, told the truth when he said: "Someone might hit Duke on the head and knock Morgan's brains out." His career is singularly barren of results, and his re- putation was soon dimmed by the development of For- rest's military genius. His most stupendous enter. prise-the invasion of Indiana and Ohio-was a fool. ish conception, and the cell of a penitentiary its fit- ting end.
Captain Newlin, with his company-F, of the Seventh-encountered this redoubtable raider while scouting near Pulaski, on the first of May, and being greatly outnumbered, retired to Columbia, with the loss of two men captured. On the morning of the 2nd, Major Wynkoop took his battalion to Pulaski, but Morgan had evacuated the place early in the day, marching toward Murfreesboro, where he met the Third Battalion, and diverged in the direction of Lebanon. General Dumont prepared to meet the raiders by concentrating the Second and Third Battalions of the Seventh, and some Ken- tucky troops, and followed Morgan to Leba-
JOSEPH H. DENNING,
HEBER S. THOMPSON, JOHN A. OPP, JOHN MAGUIRE, WILLIAM MCQUADE, SAMUEL WAGNER, COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION
21
IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE
non. Ascertaining at day dawn on the 5th, that the Confederate troops were quartered in the town, Dumont determined to attack. Moving forward qui- etly, the Second Battalion of the Seventh in the ad- vance, the rebel pickets were encountered and the charge sounded. Morgan was completely surprised, but succeeded in rallying his command. Placing his men in buildings surrounding the Public Square, he made what resistance he could to the repeated charges of the Union troops. Broken and disordered, he soon retreated, leaving one hundred and seventy of his men prisoners. His loss in killed and wounded was not ascertained. The Seventh lost three killed, thirteen wounded, and three taken prisoners. Adjutant Mo- son, Lieutenant Taylor and Lieutenant Greeno were among the wounded, and Major Given one of the prisoners.
An incident of this fight demonstrated the fact that pure nerve could animate a man with a black skin. A rebel soldier had taken possession of a sec- ond story front room in a little white cottage facing the main street, and keeping himself concealed as much as possible, fired from a window at the Union soldiers as they charged past. He had succeeded in hitting one or two, while he himself remained in safe- ty. His tactics attracted attention and cansed some hot remarks. Hearing these, and ascertaining their cause, a young negro servant of Adjutant Moson re- marked :
"Boss, if you'll give me a gun, I'll git that fel- low."
A carbine was furnished, the negro deliberately took his stand opposite the dangerous window, and when the soldier exposed himself in the act of firing, the cool colored servant shot him dead.
Following is General Dumont's account of this fight, published at the time in the Nashville Union :
"I surprised and attacked the enemy under Col- onels Morgan and Wood, this morning ( May 5th,
22
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER
'1862), at four o'clock, at this place ( Lebanon), and after a hard fought battle of one hour and a half, and a running fight of eighteen miles, in pursuit, achieved a complete and substantial victory. My force was about six hundred, composed of Colonel Wynkoop's Seventh Pennsylvania, and detachments of the First and Fourth Kentucky Cavalry. That of the enemy, as stated by himself, was upwards of eight hundred; besides which the disloyal inhabitants, not in the army, opened a murderous fire upon our soldiers from their houses, and kept it up until all the organized forces of the enemy had fled or were captured. The forces on either side were exclusively mounted. I captured about two hundred prisoners, among whom is Lieutenant Colonel Wood, late of the United States Army, three Captains, four Lieutenants, one hundred and fifty horses and one hundred stands of arms. Our killed will not exceed six, and our wounded twenty- five. Colonels Smith and Wolford were slightly wounded. Major Given, of the Seventh Pennsylva- nia, fell into the hands of the enemy during the street fight, by mistaking them for our troops. In this lit- tle affair, intrepidity and personal daring were con- spicnous throughout."
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER.
With the view of preventing guerilla outrages and demonstrating the alertness of the Union sol- diers, frequent scouts were made through the coun- try. Four companies, C, D, E, and K, were sent from Camp Worth, under Captain Dartt, on the 15th of May, and visited Clarksville and Gallatin with- out discovering an enemy. Thence they proceeded to Lebanon, arriving there on the 25th, and remained until the 6th of July.
While in Lebanon Captain Dartt sent Sergeant Charles F. Powell, of C Company, and two men of K, disguised as citizens, to Forrest's command in the vicinity of Sparta, as spies. This imprudent act at
23
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER
the outset appeared to succeed, as the spies were un- molested while mixing freely, under pretense of be- ing recruits for a Confederate regiment from Ken- tucky, with Forrest's soldiers. But they were only being trapped, and one day the three were arrested. tried by drum-beat Court Martial, and sentenced to be shot. While under guard, awaiting execution, they were enabled to mix with a number of prisoners captured from the Third Battalion of the Seventh, and, by changing clothing, and other disguises, man- aged to be parolled with their companions, and were ultimately exchanged and rejoined the regiment.
On the 1st of June, the First Battalion, under Major Wynkoop, led the advance of Negley's com- mand in a movement against Chattanooga. The brigade marched from Columbia by way of Shelby- ville and Winchester, crossed the Cumberland moun- tains near Bridgeport, and advanced on Chattanoo- ga from the North, through Sweden's Cove. De- scending into this cove in the evening of the 6th, the Seventh ran suddenly on the Eighth Texas and Helm's Kentucky Cavalry. "Being considerably in advance of the infantry supports," says Vale, "Major Wynkoop determined, as the best way to secure the saftey of his command, to attack and rout the ene- my. He, accordingly, late as it was, ordered the bugles to sound the charge, and, drawing sabres, dashed into the hostile ranks, routing them from their camp, and sending them in the wildest confu- sion down the cove, and pursuing them to the river, drove them panie-stricken into Chattanooga. Seven of the enemy were killed by the sabres of the Seventh, a large number-more than half the rebel command -were wounded, and twenty-nine captured. The wounded, who were unhorsed, generally escaped by hiding in the darkness in the thick undergrowth which lined the road. Over two hundred stand of arms were picked up the next day, which the enemy had thrown away in their flight. One of the results flowing from this defeat of the enemy is thus put by
24
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER
the historian in "Forrest and his Cavalry," page 161. Speaking of Helm's regiment he says, "It had recent- ly undergone a surprise and night attack in the Se- quatchie Valley * * (was) * * * disinclined to re- main in the service *
* and in a few days there only remained of it two companies. It had before muimbered ten companies and over eight hundred men." Major Wynkoop and his cavalry were highly commended in the official reports of the expedition, and Gen. Negley says Maj. Wynkoop deserves special notice and that his troops acted with admirable effi- ciency.
The same day that the First Battalion won its victory near Chattanooga, the Third Battalion met some of Forrest's command near MeMinnville and drove them into the mountains. These gigantic mountains were the refuge of moving bands of Con- federates until they were finally driven out of Mid- dle Tennessee in 1864. Their magnitude furnished many secure fastnesses and the pure streams flowing through and from them, were delightful retreats from the almost tropical heat of the limestone valleys at their western base. Besides, it was a pleasure for the rebels to plunder the loyal people who had their homes among them.
A memorable movement, planned by General Dumont, and intended to assist Negley's operations against Chattanooga, was started from Nashville on the 17th of June. This was no less than the first ad- vance of Union soldiers into loyal East Tennessee, and in some respects it proved to be one of the most memorable events in the history of the Seventh. The details which follow are taken principally from the accounts of Vale and Dornblazer.
On the morning of the 18th, Lieutenant Colonel Sipes, with the Second and Third Battalions of the Seventh, moved, at the head of the column command- ed by General Dumont, towards MeMinnville. The expedition consisted of two regiments of infantry,
.
25
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER
two battalions of artillery, and, at Murfreesboro, was increased by two additional infantry regiments, a battery of artillery, and the First and Fourth Ken- tucky Cavalry. The entire force was estimated at four thousand. The Seventh led the advance, and charged into MeMinnville, capturing a few of the enemy's rear guard. The next objective was Pike- ville, distant thirty miles across the Cumberland mountains. The advance over the mountains, as or- dered by General Dumont, consisted of the two bat- talions of the Seventh, an infantry regiment, and a section of artillery. These were ordered to cross that night; to be followed closely by the Kentucky caval- ry, and they started from McMinnville in the late afternoon. The trail over the mountain at this point was impassable for wagons, and it was said had not been traversed by a horse for many years. These facts stated, the task of getting a thousand horses and two heavy guns, with their tenders, over the stupendous barrier, in darkness, may possibly be imagined. Dornblazer, describing it, says, "That night in the mountains we shall never forget. It was the most tedious and vexatious march we had in all the four years. The column would move a few hun- dred vards and then halt. The boys would dismount. and in less than a minute would lie on the ground sound asleep. The next minute the bugle would sound "to horse." This tormenting and jerking movement was kept np the livelong night. Many of the boys would gladly have given a month's wages for one solid hour of uninterrupted sleep. It was the third night we had spent almost wholly in the saddle. In the morning a goodly number were bare- headed, having lost their hats in napping and nod- ding on their horses."
Soon after the close of darkness over the great mountain had intensified th difficulties to be over- come, the infantry colonel, who was the ranking offi- cer, made his way to the front of the column and requested the commander of the Seventh to take en-
26
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER
tire charge of the expedition. There was but one thing to do, and that was to push on. Buglers were distributed along the column, and instructions given to sound "halt," when any portion of the command was 'stuck,' and "advance" when again able to move. These were the calls that, as Dornblazer complains, "murdered sleep." Cavalrymen scrambled over rocks, sometimes mounted and sometimes on foot, urging their horses to the performance of feats riv- aling General Putnam's. The guns and their caissons were pulled, pushed and lifted; thus moving, weary, thirsty and hungry, the broad plateau of the summit was reached after midnight. Here a hunter's cabin was found. the numerous family inhabiting it all on the alert to discover the utterly unknown cause of the sounds which had alarmed them. Naturally the first demand was for water, and a well was soon dis- covered. from the ponderous scoop of which the "moss covered bucket" depended. In a brief time this was exhausted, and the constantly arriving soldiers cried for more.
"I can hear water tumbling down the west side of the mountain," said an officer. "Why can't we go there for it?"
"Heavens, man!" exclaimed the hunter, "you dassent go to that stream after dark; it's lined with rattlesnakes."
Needless to say, the stream was unvisited. and the men went thirsty until daylight.
Vale's account continues : "Moving forward at a good marching gait, he (Colonel Sipes) descen led the mountain in the early dawn, arriving in the Se- quatchie Valley about eight a. m. After securing the roads in front and flanks, he rested until about ten o'clock for the infantry and artillery to close up. General Dumont now directed him to push forward with the cavalry, drive the enemy out of Pikeville. and occupy the town.
"About two miles in advance of our piekets, the
27
MOVEMENTS DURING THE SUMMER
advance guard, Company E, under Captain Sheaffer, met a reconnoiting party of the enemy-a battalion of the Eighth Texas, under Major Starnes-and, drawing sabres, charged them at sight. Colonel Sipes quickly closed the column, and followed at a gallop. Arriving within a mile of Pikeville, the remainder of the enemy's force, the Eighth Texas and Second Georgia, were met, drawn up in line of battle. The enemy numbered about six hundred cavalry, while the only Union force in sight was the two battalions of the Seventh and two companies of the Fourth Kentucky, in all about five hundred troopers. Colo- nel Sipes formed his command in column of platoons and charged the center of the rebel position with drawn sabres. After firing a straggling volley, which did no damage, the rebels broke in confusion, scat- tered in every direction, and were pursued through the town into Waldron's Ridge, and the whole valley was, by three p. m. cleared of the rebel forces.
The infantry and artillery entered Pikeville at five p. m. This was the first Union command which entered East Tennessee, and the loyal people of that sorely oppressed region, hailed its advent with every possible demonstration of joy and expression of glad- ness. General Dumont was earnestly urged by the citizens to remain, at least for one week, they declar- ing that a full regiment of loyal Tennessee Mountain- eers would be raised in that time for the Union cause. but finding that General Negley was not in front of Chattanooga. as expected. and being under orders to conform his movements to that column, he reluctant- ly informed them of the impossibility of complying with their request. About two hundred of them therefore determined to accompany the column on its return. Seven gallant young men, Franklin Knight. John Knight. William Monaghan. Alexan- der Simmons, James Simmons, William T. Simmons. and John Thomas, enlisted in Company K. Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. They became excellent sol- diers, served faithfully with the company until De-
28
RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
cember 20th, when, by orders of the War Depart- ment, they were transferred to the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. On the 24th the command left Pikeville and returned, by way of MeMinnville, to Murfreesboro and to Nashville.
This Sequatchie Valley is a charming bit of isola- tion, in many of its aspects answering to Dr. John- son's description of the Happy Valley in "Rasselas." Gigantic mountains hem it in, and the river, which gives it its name, is as pure as the fountain of youth. The soil is fertile, the forest grand, and the air in- toxicating. Visiting it in early summer, when all its charms are at their best, one is not surprised that the author of "Tom Brown at Oxford," located in the vicinity his colony in search of nature's beauties and blessings.
General Dumont had been on this raid longer than he expected, and fearing that rations might run short, he put the town of MeMinnville under contri- bution. The result was a room in the courthouse filled with "cornpone" when the little army came down from the mountain. This provender, hard as bricks, was liberally issued, but the boys did not take kindly to it as a substitute for "hard tack and sow belly," and the principal use to which it was put was pitching quoits.
RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS.
Constant activity characterized the mounted forces, on both sides, during the summer, and detach- ments of the Seventh met with some serious reverses. On the 2nd of July Captain Davis of Company I, and nine of his men, were captured while on picket duty near Manchester. Soon after. Lieutenant Thomp- son. in command of Company F. on detached duty. was fired upon near Tullahoma, and Blacksmith Jones mortally wounded, and several horses were struck. About the same time two more men of the regiment were taken, and from these prisoners For-
29
RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
rest was able to obtain considerable information as to the strength and condition of Union posts scat- tered through the section. He was too good a soldier not to profit by this knowledge, and being familiar with the country-knowing its people and its roads well-he was able to put his avowed principle of ac- tion : "get there first with the most men," into some successful practice.
On July 13th he made a dash into Murfreesboro, completely surprised the garrison, and compelled its surrender. He captured there the Ninth Michigan and Second Minnesota Infantry; Companies B, G, L, and M, of the Seventh, and the Fourth Kentucky Battery. A large amount of provisions and supplies were destroyed by burning the buildings in which they were stored. Captain McCormick, Lieutenant Garrett, Lieutenant Newcomer, and about seventy men of the Seventh, escaped to Nashville. A Court of Inquiry decided that the surprise was the result of negligence, and the surrender unjustifiable. The cavalry, however, was exonerated ; the Court re- porting that the detachment of the Seventh Pennsyl- vania was immediately overcome; "officers and men who were able to reach the infantry, joined and fought in the ranks." Included in the surrender were Major Seibert, Captain Essington, Lieutenants Rhoads, Dixon. Einstein, and Brandt, and over a hundred men. Vale says the immediate loss was the capture of one thousand five hundred and sixty-five officers and soldiers, two hundred teamsters and clerks, six hundred horses, forty wagons, five ambu- lances, four pieces of artillery, twelve hundred rifles, and thirty thousand suits of clothing, aggregating in value nine hundred thousand dollars. The moral ef- fect of this reverse was great. and, for a time, demor- alized the Union cause in Middle Tennessee. The Seventh felt the consequences in the depresion that always follows defeat.
The disaster was reported in Nashville on the
30
RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
night of the 13th, says Vale, and next morning Lieu- tenant Colonel Sipes, with the Second, and so much of the Third Battalion as had escaped, moved on Murfreesboro, arriving there about one p. m. That evening General Nelson with his division, reached the place from the direction of Franklin. On the 16th Colonel Sipes was ordered to Nashville, from which place he moved on the 20th, with three hun- dred men of the Second and Third Battalions, to Lebanon. A scout reported there that a large force of the enemy was in the vicinity, and the Colonel sent one of the refugees, who had accompanied the regiment from Pikeville, to investigate. Returning, this man reported that Forrest, with three thousand men and four pieces of artillery, was resting, within two miles of Lebanon, evidently intending to make a night attack on the place. Acting on the discretion allowed him, Colonel Sipes determined to evacuate the place and withdraw to Murfreesboro. Ordering the occupants of a hospital to be removed, and all stores that could not be transported destroyed, the command marched in the evening. Six men of K Company on picket duty could not be recalled, and were captured by the enemy.
Bragg having by this time commenced his back- ward movement toward Louisville, and Buell moving in pursuit, General Nelson was placed in command of the forces left for the defense of Middle Tennes- see.
A man so striking-a character so singular-as General Nelson, merits more than a passing glance. The first contact of the Seventh with him was char- acteristic. The regiment being ordered to report at Murfreesboro, arrived there in the early afternoon. and Lieutenant Colonel Sipes went to headquarters for orders. Entering the building occupied by the General, and making his business known to the offi- cers on view, General Nelson was notified, and in a few minutes appeared. The presence of the cavalry was stated and orders requested.
31
RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
"How long have you been in this section," asked Nelson.
"Since last April."
"Then you ought to know something of the roads. Come and look at this map," and he led the way to a large military map spread on a table. Look- ing over this, the Colonel pointed out several roads considered of strategical importance, and designating one skirting the Cumberland mountains, said: "This is the road generally used by rebel raiders in their attacks on our communications, and the people along it favor them all they can."
"That's a d-d lie!" exclaimed the General. "That road runs through Kentucky, and the Ken- tuckians are loyal to the Union."
The Lieutenant Colonel was about to mention Buckner, Breckenridge, Marshall, Morgan, and some others, but concluded it would be useles to disturb the General's conviction of Kentucky loyalty. There were no more comments on roads, and after a mo- ment's silence, Nelson suddenly asked, "Do you ever drink?"
"Occasionally, when opportunity offers," was the reply.
A negro servant was called, who brought in a demijohn and placed it on the mantle-shelf, where glasses stood, and picking up a pitcher. left the room. The General poured out a portion of whiskey, and so did the Colonel, who stood holding the glass.
"Well, 'n what in hell are you waiting for?" shouted Nelson.
"For the water."
"How long have you been in the army?"
"Since the war began."
"Well. you had better resign and go home. A man who has been more than a year in the service. and can't drink whiskey without water, will never make a soldier."
The water came, the dilution was effected, and the ceremony ended. Receiving his orders, the Lieu-
32
RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
tenant Colonel was about to depart, when the Gen- eral placed his hand on his shoulder and remarked :
"Young man, we will probably meet often, and sometimes I may speak roughly, but you must re- member that I don't always mean what I say, and not take offense."
The regiment was directed to proceed to a point about six miles from town, relieve an infantry regi- ment there, and guard the adjacent roads. This was done; the regiment relieved marched away, and the Seventh pitched their tents. Soon after a soldier reported the finding of a box of papers, evidently quartermaster's accounts, belonging to the infantry regiment, and wanted to know what was to be done with them. They were placed in the ambulance, with instructions to return them to the owner when found.
The sun was about setting when an order came for the Seventh to return immediately to Murfrees- boro. Preparations were soon made and the come mand marched. About half the distance was cov- ered when a sentinel, hearing the tread of many horses in the darkness, and feeling sure that the enemy were upon him, fired his rifle and fied. The next post, hearing the alarm, repeated it, and so it went, until the entire army was roused. The Lieu- tenant Colonel hastened on alone to try and explain the cause of the panic and arrest it. But not a sen- tinel could be communicated with, and he went on until at the outskirts of the town he met the advance- ing infantry. While explaining to the commanding officer, General Nelson was heard working his way to the front through the ranks, roaring like a bull of Bashin. "what in hell is the column halting far? What is the cause of the alarm?" allowing no time for answer, plied question on question, garnishing each one like the army did in Flanders. At last the officer commanding the infantry was able to explain. and orders were given for the army to return to
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.