USA > Pennsylvania > The Seventh Pennsylvania veteran volunteer cavalry; its record, reminiscences and roster; with an appendix > Part 4
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RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
quarters; the Seventh to remain where it was until morning; the whole winding up with instructions to "find the - sentinels and shoot them." Of course the condemned sentinels were never found.
Next day the regiment that had been relieved by the Seventh was found; and the carefully cared for papers returned to the quartermaster. "This beats hell," he exclaimed. "I've lost them papers all over Middle Tennessee, and some d-d fool always finds them and returns them."
Dornblazer, who for a time served as Orderly to Nelson, tells some incidents illustrating his very peculiar character. "General Nelson was the Go- liath of our army," he says. "He towered head and shoulders above his fellows. His average weight was about three hundred pounds. * * * He was as bitrary and dictatorial as a Mogul chief. His breast was a magazine of passion, ready to be touched off by the slightest provocation. When thor- oughly enraged he stormed like a tornado on legs."
On an expedition to Sparta the roads proved bad for the artillery and trains. Nelson rode to the ear one day to see how the artillery was getting up steep hill. "He ordered me," says Dornblazer, "to bring him a rocking chair from a house near by; ind there, on the brow of the hill, he sat, watching the novel performance of the teamsters. * * * Finally he took command himself. He forbid any of the driv- rs to open their mouth-he proposed to do the velling himself. After resting the horses, he gave lirections to each teamster to lay on the whip when e, ( the General ), gave the yell. No sooner was the clarion voice of Nelson heard than the horses laid n their traces and galloped to the top of the hill without stopping. A little further on we came to a vagon in the middle of the road with a broken ongue. The teamster was sitting in a fence corner hear at hand drinking his coffee. The General in- mired how he came to break the tongue. The team-
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RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
ster wished to drink his coffee before it would cool, and therefore seemed to be in no particular hurry to make reply. The General swore furiously, and, turning his flashing eyes upon the Orderly, said- "You draw your sword and cut that scoundrel's head off."
Many similar incidents might be related of this loyal and brave officer, whose temper seemed entirely beyond his control, but they would be superfluous in the face of the historical fact that his violent lan- guage soon after caused him to be shot and killed by a brother officer.
It is only in brief summary that the minor events, in which detachments of the Seventh partici- pated, during the remainder of the Summer, can be recorded. On the 21st of July the available portions of the regiment-being the Second and Third Bat- talions-now greatly reduced by casualties that have been stated-were ordered by Nelson to scout all the roads leading into Murfreesboro. In the per- formance of this duty Companies E and C, under Captain Sheaffer, had a sharp skirmish near Ready- ville, in which two men of E were killed. Sheaffer routed the enemy handsomely.
Lieutenant Vale made an extended and effective scout to Lebanon and its vicinity, during which, as he reports it, "he ran on seven rebels who were in the act of hanging Knight and Simmons, two of his men they had just captured. Knight was strung up by the neck and struggling, while a halter was around Simmons' neck. Two of the rebels were killed, and the other five captured. They were not, however, brought into camp, as the guard placed over them reported them 'lost in the woods.' Knight and Simmons were natives of Tennessee, and had been enlisted at Pikeville about a month before; and the guard who 'lost' the prisoners were the men enlisted at Pikeville at the same time."
"On the 9th of August General Nelson marched, with his Division, six pieces of artillery, and the
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RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
Second and Third Battalions of the Seventh Penn- sylvania, under Lieutenant Colonel Sipes, with two companies of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry under Captain Chilson, to attack the enemy at MeMinn- ville. * Colonel Sipes, commanding all the cay- alry, reached the vicinity of McMinnville about eleven a. m., of the 10th, being two hours in advance of the infantry. Halting about three miles from the town, he sent forward two companies, K and M, un- * * der Leutenant Vale, to reconnoiter the place. *
The Lieutenant learned that there were not more than two or three hundred of the enemy in the place, and sent a courier to Colonel Sipes with the infor- mation and suggestion that with two companies ad- ditional, the place could be taken. In a few mo- ments Captain Chilson, with two companies of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, joined him, and Captain Chilson taking command, formed in columns of fours, drew sabres, and ordered a charge. The town was entered with a rush. The provost guard of one hundred and sixty-five men, who formed in the cen- ter of the town and attempted to repel the attack, were soon overpowered, ten killed, many wounded, and the remainder captured.
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"After disposing of this force, Captain Chilson reformed his command and moved to the Sparta road. At the outskirts of the town he met two com. panies of the Eighth Texas, charged and routed them, capturing seventeen men and twenty-four horses. Captain Chilson then directed Lieutenant Vale to continue the pursuit with the two companies of the Seventh, while he collected the prisoners and held the town. Advancing rapidly out the Sparta road, the boys of the Seventh struck the rebel rear, about two miles from MeMinnville, and drove it at a gallop on the main body, who were in full retreat. About five miles out, the rebels met a battalion of the Eighth Texas, advancing rapidly from Sparta. The meeting of the two bodies on a dusty, narrow
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RAIDS OF FORREST AND OTHERS
road,-the one moving at a gallop and the other at a trot,-produced a confused jam in the crowded way. Men and horses were overthrown and tram- pled, while oaths, shrieks and yells filled the dusty air. In the height of this confusion, the two com. panies of the Seventh burst upon them with their vengeful sabres, hewing their way into the midst of the struggling crowd. The rebels extricated them- selves as best they could, leaving at this point twen- ty-seven horses and thirty-four men in the hands of our boys."
Sending the prisoners and captured horses back to MeMinnville, Vale continued the pursuit. He again struck the enemy, and in the fight that fol- lowed he had a single-handed combat with a Texas captain, first with swords, and then the Texan with a double-barreled shot-gun, Vale with a revolver. The result was Vale wounded in the hand, and a Texas captain found dead next day. The cavalry alone participated in this affair, and captured two hundred and sixteen prisoners, a large number of horses, and other property. One officer and twenty men of the enemy were killed. The loss sustained was in the Seventh, one officer and three men wound- ed; three horses killed and five wounded. In the Fourth Kentucky, three men killed and six wounded.
Next day Nelson continued his advance toward Sparta, Colonel Sipes commanding the advance. Slight skirmishing commenced about five miles from Sparta, and continued until the advance reached the C'alfkiller River, where Forrest was found strongly posted, holding the bridge, and covering the ap- proaches and practicable fords.
Nelson deployed and opened artillery fire about five o'clock. This was responded to, and much noise with little damage continued until darkness set in. During the night, Forrest withdrew into the moun- tains. Next day Nelson returned to MeMinnville and from there to Murfreesboro.
COL. WM. B. SIPES.
37
THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN
The last ten days of July and the first fifteen of August were full of anxiety for Union officers and soldiers. Bragg's first intention was to attack Nash- ville, but about the middle of August it became evi. dent that the objective of his retrogade movement was the invasion of Kentucky. Forrest, Wheeler and Morgan were loose in Middle Tennessee, and were making hostile demonstrations in every direc- tion. The First Battalion of the Seventh had an en- counter with some of Wheeler's force, near Manches- ter, and defeated them. But there was not much serious fighting, both sides seemed content with marching and counter marching; with movements which meant nothing, and for the present accom- plished nothing. On the 18th of August Morgan had captured Gallatin and interrupted the Louisville and Nashville Railroad,-the principal channel for supplying Buell's army, and it was necessary that this road be reopened.
THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN.
To reopen this road, and to secure his left flank from molestation by the marauding band under Mor- gan, Buell organized a provisional Brigade of Cav- alry, consisting of the Second and Third Battalions of the Seventh, under Colonel Wynkoop; the Third Indiana, under Lieutenant Colonel Kline; and the Fourth Kentucky, under Lieutenant Colonel G. C. Smith, the whole being placed in command of Briga- dier General Richard JJohnson, with instructions to drive the enemy from the Louisvile and Nashville Railroad. The Brigade moved from Nashville on the night of the 17th of August, and marched to Leba- non, where it arrived the next morning. Not finding the enemy, Johnson moved through the country in search of him, guided by information gathered on the way, and on the 21st encountered his pickets near Gallatin, about eight a. m. The Seventh was in the advance, with Company K, under Captain
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THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN
May, as advance guard. The enemy's pickets were driven in, and his main force developed in line at the junction of the Hartsville and Nashville roads. Colonel Wynkoop threw his command into line and at once attacked. For two hours he was unsupport- ed; then the Third Indiana came up, followed by the Fourth Kentucky, and the engagement contin- med. Fighting in line, the Union soldiers drove back the Confederates some distance, when, seeing a fair opportunity. Colonel Wynkoop ordered Lieutenants Greeno and Vale to charge their center at the june- tion of the roads mentioned. Preparations were be, ing made for this, when General Johnson ordered the entire force to fall back to a new position.
By this time the enemy were showing signs of confusion, and movements among them indicating an intention to retreat. Johnson's retrograde move- ment put an end to all this.
The order to fall back was received by the men with surprise, and the feeling, Vale says, was pretty forcibly voiced by Bugler Will Shettle, of Company K, who, being near Lieutenant Greeno, when the aid delivered it, turned to the latter and blurted out: "Captain, this is a hell of a way to do; follow Mor- gan two weeks all over the country, only to run away from him." Vale's report continues :
"The rebels were now plainly seen re-forming their lines, and resuming their positions, from which they advanced, about noon, on our second line. Offi- cers and men now with one voice besought the Gen- oral to give the order for a sabre charge along the whole line, but instead he directed the Fourth Ken- tueky to move to the right and form a line of dis- mounted men ; held the Third Indiana in line mount- ed! and, breaking the Seventh Pennsylvania, sent the companies, detached, in little lines to the front and left in different parts of the field. In one of these detached movements Captain Darit with his and Com-
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THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN
pany K, moved directly on the center of the rebel left on the Louisville pike. The companies were pretty badly raked, but would have broken the op- posing ranks, when, just before reaching effective striking distance, the sharp blasts of the General's bugle sounded the recall. At another phase of the fight, the General ordered the Seventh Pennsylvania and Third Indiana to dismount, and, leading their horses, to advance and engage the enemy with their revolvers. The movement was attempted but failed, as its folly demanded it should.
"This faltering fighting emboldened the rebels, who, about half past one o'clock, moved two regi- ments rapidly around our right, threatening to take us in the rear. Even at this stage a vigorous attack by General Johnson with his whole force, either on the position at the Louisville pike, or directly in the front on Gallatin, would undoubtedly have given us the victory and routed the enemy. This was pointed out and urged upon him by Colonel Wynkoop. IIe, however, insisted that the flanking force would strike his rear before he could rout the enemy in front, al- though the former was over a mile away, while our lines were within half a mile of the latter, and per- emptorily ordered a retreat. In falling back our wounded, dead, and most of our dismounted men, were abandoned and captured.
"He fell back two miles under a heavy direct and flanking fire, and being sharply pursued, formed another line on a range of hills. * * In this retreat Lieutenant N. A. Wynkoop, the only son of the Colo- nel, Adjutant of the Second Battalion, and at the time Aid-de-camp to General R. W. Johnson, was killed instantly, being shot through the head, and his body left in the road. At this third position the same tactics and kind of fighting which had so suc- cessfully driven us from the first and second, were repeated, with like result, except that the contest lasted only about an hour, when, being pressed in
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THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN
front and flanked on the right, Johnson again or- dered a retreat, and fell back until opposite the Car- thage ford of the Cumberland River. In the official report of Gen. Johnson, of August 21, 1862: "Lieut. N. A. Wynkoop was killed at my side rallying his troops, his gallantry and courage were conspicuous."
"The rebels moved up promptly and assailed this last position about 5 :30 p. m. In a few minutes Duke's Brigade was thrown around our left, and seized the hills covering the ford in our rear. Gen- eral Johnson now sounded a parley and asked for terms of surrender. Before the flag was sent, how- ever. Colonel Wynkoop and Lieutenant Colonel Kline, ascertaining from Johnson his intention, drew their regiments together and formed, facing rearward, opposite the left of Duke's Brigade, and when the terms of surrender wore agreed upon, tersely and in writing notified both Johnson and Morgan that they would not surrender, and were not to be included. Johnson insisted on his right to, and that he had surrendered the whole force, where- upon Wynkoop and Kline drew sabres, ordered the bugles to sound the charge, and dashed upon Duke's Brigade, scattering the rebels like chaff before them. and literally cut their way out. They crossed the river with but the loss of two additional men, march- ed to Lebanon that night, and next day arrived in Nashville. In this unfortunate affray the Seventh lost Lieutenant Wynkoop and five men killed ; Lieu- tenant Vale and sixteen men wounded and captured.
Soon after Morgan sent, under flag of truce, to General Buell a demand that Colonel Wynkoop and Colonel Kline, with their respective commands, be delivered up to him. General Johnson concurred in this demand, claiming that he had included them in his surrender. The demand was refused, the Union Commander remarking that the best evidence that these regiments were not prisoners was the fact that
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THE FIGHT AT GALLATIN
they were then doing full duty in his army. The case at issue caused slight complications in the ex- change of prisoners-Morgan gratifying his vanity by reporting the officers and men among his captures.
The wounded on both sides were cared for by citizens of Gallatin. Lieutenant Vale says he "was taken to the house of a prominent citizen, carefully nursed, and treated with as much consideration as could have been shown had he been a near relative. This generous man and his estimable lady housed, fed and cared for two of the Union and two of the rebel wounded for more than two weeks; then, when he was able to be moved, hauled the writer (Vale) nearly fifteen miles in his carriage to our nearest out- post in the direction of Nashville, and would not ac- cept a dollar in compensation." The dead were properly buried, with the exception of Lieutenant Wynkoop, whose body was sent to Nashville and thence to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, for final inter- ment.
The necessity for opening and protecting the railroad being imperative, in view of the strenuous Confederate movements in Kentucky at this time, Buell placed his army along it from Bowling Green to Nashville, and held himself in readiness to meet and check Bragg whenever and wherever he could. The First Battalion was with this army. During most of its movements the cavalry had but little to do, but at Bears' Wallow, Company D had a lively skir- mish with the enemy, on the 20th of September, driving their antagonists from the field, losing two men killed. One of these men was Lewis Cartman. one of the bravest and best loved man in the regi- ment. On the 21st Lieutenant Thompson, in com- mand of Company F, attacked and destroyed a por, tion of Bragg's headquarters' train, near Dripping Spring, Kentucky, and captured a number of prison- ers, among them being Colonel Forsyth, of Bragg's staff, and Major Wycks, of Hardee's staff. The bat-
12
PERRYVILLE AND NASHVILLE
talion led Bnell's advance until the enemy were en- countered in position at Perryville. It soon became hotly engaged and lost, in thus opening the combat, two men killed, two wounded, and four captured.
PERRYVILLE AND NAASIIVILLE.
The battle of Perryville ( October 8th, 1862) was important though indecisive. It left Buell in pos- session of the field, but with his forces scattered, and very far north of where they should have been. It enabled Bragg to retire with large accumulations of supplies gathered in the rich country he had travers- ed and held. Both armies moved southward, each taking the route it pleased and there was apparently no danger of a clash between them for some time.
It was very evident at the time that General Buell had lost the confidence of the Union authori- ties, and soon after he had moved his army to Bowl- ing Green he was superseded by Major General W. S. Rosecrans. Many causes combined to undermine Buell's popularity. By some it was thought Bragg had ontgeneralled him in the campaign; by others that he lacked energy. Among his enemies he had the misfortune to number Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee, who openly protested against his continuance in any capacity in that State. John- son's anger originated in the fact that Buell wanted to evacuate Nashville when he moved northward af- ter Bragg, and the Military Governor was determin- ed it should be held. Dornblazer says, "While this decision was pending, the Governor asked the fight. ing parson, Colonel Moody of the Seventy-Fourth Ohio, if he believed in prayer. When the Colonel re- plied in the affirmative; "then get down on your knees," said Johnson, "and pray that Nashville may not be given over to the enemy." Both knelt togeth- er; Moody prayed with all the fervor that a Metho. dist preacher can command, and Johnson responded "Amen."
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PERRYVILLE AND NASHVILLE
General Rosecrans, who was certainly an accom- plished soldier, and had, during the summer, won distinction in Mississippi, moved without delay from Bowling Green, and, repairing the railroad as he went, reached Nashville on the 10th of November. Here the three battalions of the Seventh were reunit- ed for the first time since the preceding April.
When it was decided to hold Nashville, General Negley was assigned to the command of the defens- ive garrison, which consisted, according to Vale, of two effective regiments of infantry, the Second and Third Battalions of the Seventh, a regiment of Ten- nessee cavalry, two batteries of artillery, and about four thousand sick of various commands. Bragg left Breckenridge's corps to invest the city, and if possi- ble, compel its surrender.
The garrison went to work at once to place the city in a thoroughly defensive condition. Fortifica. tions were constructed in all commanding positions ; all the roads were barricaded, and the beautiful white marble capitol was converted into an inside citadel by cordons of cotton bales. So formidable were these defenses made that the Confederate force, left for the purpose, never dared attack the city, but contented themselves by attacking Union foragers. As the city was not provisioned for a siege, and as both the railroad and the river were closed to the Unionists, foraging was a necessity, imposing on the cavalry both hard work and danger. The garrison also had plenty to do, and altogether what was called the "Siege of Nashville" was rather a serious matter for those defending the city.
An account of a foraging raid is condensed from Dornblazer. On the 20th of September a detail of thirty men was made from the Seventh, to guard a forage train. The train, consisting of twelve wagons and the escort, were under command of Lieutenant Garrett. The guard was very carelessly armed, and
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PERRYVILLE AND NASHVILLE
moved with little caution. Advancing about twelve miles into the "enemy's country," they found corn and hay; loaded their wagons, gave the proprietor a conditional voucher (one that was to be paid on proof of loyalty), filled their pockets with apples. and started toward Nashville, well satisfied with the expedition as far as they had got. The wagons were strung out for half a mile, and away in the rear was a squad driving some captured cattle. In an instant, as the advance entered a village, a hundred and fifty guerillas, with a yell, dashed into the road in front of the advance guard of four men. "We held them in check for a moment," says Dornblazer, "by empty- ing our revolvers into the head of the enemy's col- umn. Harvey was mortally wounded and was oblig- ed to dismount. The rest of us fell back to the rear of the wagon train, where we expected to meet the rest of the command, and there make a determined stand. The enemy's advance followed close upon our heels, and when I wheeled my horse at the rear of the train, a rebel had his gun leveled upon me. We both fired about the same time. Whether my shot took effect, I do not know, but one thing I know, that abont that time I felt the sting of four "buck- shot" in my thigh.
"There was no time to be lost, one minute more. and I must be a prisoner or a dead man. I did not choose to be either. Putting spur to my horse with my left foot, I dashed to the brow of the hill, where a squad of our men were halting between two opin- ions. Eight men were rallied at this point; with sa- bers drawn they determined to charge the enemy and recapture the wagons, but after receiving a voller from the enemy, ontnumbering us five to one, we quickly decided that discretion was the better part of valor. We retreated, not to say in good order, but with the utmost speed. The enemy was between ns and Nashville, and how to make our escape was the burning question." After many turns into by.
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PERRYVILLE AND NASHVILLE
roads and much hard riding, this little squad reached Nashville. "From the time we had the fight," says Dornblazer, "we rode seventeen miles. Only four out of the thirty escaped with their horses. A few of the teamsters got back by hunting their way through the woods on foot. The rest were captured and run off to Columbia, where they were paroled." Dorn- blazer spent a month in hospital, when he was dis- charged cured, and at the same time promoted to the rank of Eighth Corporal; the honor being conferred "for gallantry in running away from and not fight- ing the enemy," as he explains it.
As the autumn drew on the Confederate pressure around Nashville increased, and the General deter- mined to drive back the encroaching enemy. For this purpose General Palmer, acting on orders from Neg- ley, moved with two thousand infantry, two batteries of artillery, and the two battalions of the Seventh, on Lavergne, where General Anderson, with seven- teen hundred infantry, three regiments of cavalry. and four guns, was posted. Arriving at Lavergne. Palmer, early in the morning, attacked the enemy, direting Captain May, in command of the Sveventh, to move rapidly to the right and gain the rebel rear. This movement was promptly made, and simultane. ous with the first shots in front, May and his troop- ers entered the camp, captured their battery, and forced them to retreat in wild disorder. The Sev- enth captured one hundred and seventy-five officers and men. The rout of the Confederates was complete according to their own admissions. General Palmer destroyed all the arms, camp equipage, clothing-in fact everything captured, except the guns and forage -as he lacked means of transportation, and return- ed to Nashville. The Seventh lost in this affair three men killed and two wounded.
Forrest, with a force estimated at above eight thousand, attacked the outworks at Nashville on the
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