USA > Pennsylvania > The Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry and the Ringgold battalion, 1861-1865; > Part 18
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Next day (5th) Colonel Root's force returned and the whole force marched to Greenland Gap, Colonel Root's forces going on to Burlington. Colonel Root had effectually destroyed the saltpetre works, reconnoitered the country about there, finding no force of the enemy other than small scouting parties. He returned without loss, except a six-mule team and wagon that went over a precipice.
We learn from a letter written by General Imboden to General Early, February 22nd, the following: " I also have four companies on the South Fork and South Branch, scouting, foraging and gather- ing up cattle for my own command. McNeill is also over there."
Colonel Root, in his report of this expedition, tells of having sent Lieutenant Gibson of the Ringgold Battalion with ten men as an advance scout on an all-night ride " to ascertain what force of the enemy, if any, was in . front," and that at daylight in the morning, Gibson reported that he had been over the route and found no force in the way. In concluding his report, he pays the follow- ing compliment : "I desire to express my sincere thanks to Lieu- tenants Mckenzie and Nugent, of the staff (Colonel Mulligan's staff), and Lieutenant Gibson, of the Ringgold Cavalry, for the prompt and efficient manner in which they performed all the duties assigned to them."
The foregoing rather thrilling experince of our Ringgold Bat- talion boys during the first few days of March was followed by a month of active but uneventful service. The soldiers' diaries record, day after day, details for scout, details for train guard, details for picket, etc., etc.
Occasionally a body of Confederate cavalry would appear about Moorfield for a day, but would disappear. They were saving their horses for more active service later on. Their pursuit of Averill in his several expeditions of the autumn and early winter, and the raids of Fitzhugh Lee, Early and Rosser, into the Hardy and Hamp- shire mountains in January and February, had been very hard on their cavalry horses as well as ours. The run-down horses in our cavalry regiments were now being condemned and sold at auction, and their places filled with many thousands of fresh horses from the Great West.
170 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
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" AND WE'LL FILL THE VACANT RANKS WITH THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MORE, SHOUTING THE BATTLE-CRY OF FREEDOM."
Vacant places in the ranks were also being filled with new men, volunteers who had heretofore hoped that the Rebellion could be put down without them, but now, when the Nation again called for volunteers, came forward and took their places in the ranks. A soldier of the Ringgold Battalion writes in his diary: "Seven re- cruits from old Washington County came to our company to-day. Our quota is now full."
The most interesting topic of conversation during the last week of March was that which we find recorded in the diary of Sergeant H. B. Hedge, of Company A, as follows :
" March 24, 1864. We received word that the Ringgold Battalion has been increased to a regiment to be known as the 'Twenty- second Pennsylvania Cavalry,' with Colonel Higgins as commander ; Captain Greenfield as Lieutenant Colonel; and Captain Work as Major; other officers to be named later."
The regimental idea did not meet with favor from many of the men, as will appear in the next chapter, but it promised a change from the rather irksome duty of "guarding Kelley's railroad," a taunt thrown at us by our soldier friends in the big armies, and under which we winced; our service had been most laborious and dangerous, and yet we were receiving but little credit for it. Now there was a spirit of expectation in the air; there was a getting ready to do something on a larger scale than before. General Grant was now Commander-in-Chief of all the Union armies ; his record in the West had been a succession of victories from the beginning of the war until he left his victorious army at Chattanooga and came . to Washington as Commander-in-Chief. " He is to have full sway ; there will be no more jealousy and disobedience of orders in time of battle." "You'll see victories now, right along." These and other similar expressions were heard on every side. This optimistic feeling was general, and the future looked more hopeful.
Apropos of this sentiment at the time, we find the following entry in Sergeant Donaldson's diary :
" April 15, 1864. I got a patriotic song to-day, entitled :
"SONG OF A THOUSAND YEARS." " Lift up your eyes desponding freemen, Fling to the winds your needless fears. He who unfurled your beauteous banner, Says it shall wave a thousand years. A thousand years, my own Columbia, 'Tis the glad day, so long foretold,
'Tis the glad morn, whose early twilight, Washington saw in times of old."
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THE REGIMENT.
CHAPTER XII. THE REGIMENT.
By an order of the War Department, issued February 22, 1864, the 22nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, was formed by the union of the seven independent companies known as the Ringgold Battalion, with five new companies of Pennsylvania cavalry, the latter recruited mostly from those counties bordering on the Maryland line. The regiment thus formed consisted of twelve companies, organized as three battalions of four companies each. The men of the seven "old " companies, in ordinary conversation, never recognized this three-battalion organization, but always alluded to the new end of the line as the " New Battalion " and to the seven " old " companies as the "Old Battalion." In speaking of the two elements that were joined to form the regiment, we will use the familiar names .. " New Battalion " and " Old Battalion."
THE OLD BATTALION .- PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE THE SEVEN INDEPENDENT COMPANIES INTO AN INDEPENDENT BATTALION.
It will help the reader to better understand the feelings of the men and officers in the matter of consolidation, if we take a brief glance at their previous civil life and military experience.
The seven cavalry companies forming the "Old Battalion " were recruited as independent companies, enlisting for three years, each company having a special name, as Ringgold, Washington, Keystone, Beallsville, Independent, Patton and Lafayette Cavalry. When they arrived in the enemy's country and began to operate together, the soldiers themselves seldom used the original name, but designated the different companies by the name of the first captain, as "Keys' Company," "Greenfield's Company," "Work's Company," etc. As such independent commands, these companies entered the service; the first two in the summer of 1861, and the other five in the autumn of 1862.
The enlisted men of these companies were mostly farmers' sons who had grown up in the broad freedom of the country life, and to whom such a life is as natural and congenial as that of the wild animal in the unexplored forest. These men had a dislike for the teeming throngs of the city and the regulations and restraints neces- sary for the government of such. They were natural horsemen, trained from early childhood to care for and manage horses and to
172 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
" break in " the untamed colts to saddle and harness. They grew up to have no fear of horses, and could ride and shoot like the cow- boy of the plains. At that time, almost every farmer-boy had his own saddle-horse in which he took great delight, and the horse learned to love his master with an affection almost human. These men were loyal and patriotic, and when impelled to respond to their country's call for volunteers, the independent cavalry company appealed to them as the most congenial service and that in which they could be most efficient. Many of them rode their own horses when they left for the seat of war.
The department of West Virginia in which they had operated almost continually since their enlistment, was just the place for such small bodies of cavalry; the military bases or camps from which they operated during their career as independent companies seldom contained more than a regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery, beside the six or seven cavalry companies. In such small camps, the discipline is not necessarily so strict and the re- straint is not so great as in the camps of a larger army, and so it was that these cavalrymen were given much latitude and subjected to the minimum of red tape. In fact, the kind of military duty they were required to perform, scouting in small bodies, sent on long journeys or raids to destroy the enemy's stores, drive off a raiding force, seize and fortify some mountain pass, etc., such service re- quires not only the highest courage, but great freedom of action.
When the companies recruited in the autumn of 1862, joined those which had gone out the previous year, the lack of more compact organization was realized, and by mutual agreement they formed a union known as the Ringgold Battalion,* the " old " or Ringgold Company thus surrendering its name to the battalion, the other companies dropping their original names, and the several com- panies thereafter taking the names, or being designated as Company A, Company B, etc. Ever afterward, the term " Ringgold Cavalry " applied to the battalion or to detachments or soldiers from any com- many of the battalion.
As these companies were generally stationed at one point or post, the senior captain would command the battalion. In making details for the various operations and duties, the custom was to apportion the number of men wanted. equally among the companies ; thus: if a scout of seventy men was ordered out, the detail would
* The Washington and Lafayette Companies did not enter into this compact, but operated with the other companies just the sante.
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THE REGIMENT.
be ten men, more or less, from each company ; in this way, the new or raw troops were associated with seasoned troops that had seen much active service, and from whom they learned the art of war rap- idly and at the same time gained confidence in themselves and soon became as efficient as their veteran comrades.
The lack of an absolute organization, however, was soon found to be a detriment to the efficiency and discipline of the various com- mands, and to detract from the credit due both officers and men for the gallant service they were doing. Owing to the independent character of the organizations, they were seldom attached to any one of the several armies operating in campaigns against the enemy. Their laborious and dangerous service in the Virginia mountains against the wily partisan rangers and concealed bushwhackers, however heroic the service, " did not count in the news of a battle," nor cover the command with the glory such heroism deserved. The highest rank enjoyed by any officer of the more than 700 men, was that of captain, and there was no opportunity for promotion of any captain to higher rank, and seldom for the promotion of any sub- ordinate officer. An effort was made to have the War Department grant a battalion-organization to be composed of the seven cavalry companies and to be known as the Ringgold Battalion, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, with a Lieutenant Colonel and one Major. This effort was unsuccessful.
About a year later, in December 1863, the matter was taken up again, and this time, General Averill, General Thoburn and other commanders under whom the Ringgold Battalion had done valiant service in a number of expeditions, importuned the War Department and also the Governor of Pennsylvania, to have these independent cavalry companies organized into a battalion with a head officer having the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and with one or two majors. They testified that these troops were excellent soldiers, but that for want of organization under a head commander, they could not be used to the best advantage, and further, that in their present dis- jointed state, there was lack of opportunity for promotion of officers, thereby depriving them of that great stimulus to heroic action.
HEADQUARTERS, FIRST SEPARATE BRIGADE. Cumberland, Md., Dec. 30, 1863.
To His Excellency.
Governor A. G. Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa.
Sir :- I have the honor to recommend to your favorable con- sideration. the name of Captain A. J. Greenfield, Ringgold Bat-
174 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
talion, for promotion to the position of Lieutenant Colonel. It is desirable to fill up the command of Captain Greenfield and make it a regiment; should you be pleased to sanction such an under- taking, I know of no officer more worthy of promotion than Captain Greenfield. I have known him in the field for a year, and know that he possesses the first and most essential qualifications for a feld officer of cavalry.
I have the honor of being your Excellency's obedient servant, WM. W. AVERILL.
HEADQUARTERS, 2D BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION, DEPT. W. VA. Petersburg, W. Va., Dec. 26, 1863.
Governor,
The Ringgold Battalion, the Washington Cavalry and the La- fayette Cavalry, in all seven companies of Pennsylvania Cavalry, are attached to the Brigade and are in a very disorganized condi- tion, without a recognized head with rank commensurate to the command. The good of the service demands a more perfect organi- zation and the commissioning of a good officer to the command. I would respectfully request that this be done and that Captain A. J. Greenfield of the Washington Cavalry be promoted to be a Lieut. Colonel and given the command thereof.
I have the honor to be Very respectfully, Your obed't servant,
HON. A. G. CURTIN, Gov. of Pa.
J. THOBURN, Col. Commanding.
Colonel Greenfield says: "I was urged by General Averill, Colonel Thoburn and many officers of the Battalion to go and see Governor Curtin and request him to organize the seven companies into a battalion with a Lieutenant Colonel, one or two Majors, field and staff. I obtained a leave of absence for this purpose and left Petersburg the last of December. I stopped at home a few days . with my mother, whom I had not seen since entering the service, August 14, 1861, this being my first leave of absence. I visited Harrisburg in January, called on the Governor and presented letters I had received from Generals Averill, Tyler, Colonel Thoburn and others. The Governor expressed himself as pleased to see me and asked if I thought the State was in any way indebted to the com- mand. I took this remark as a joke. It was not so intended, how- ever. but to emphasize the fact that our seven companies went
175
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THE REGIMENT.
directly into Virginia to be mustered into the United States service, thereby, in a way, ignoring the Pennsylvania State authorities. I reminded him that he refused to accept the Ringgold Cavalry when Captain Keys telegraphed him April 16, 1861, offering the company, mounted and equipped for service. How that soon thereafter the Ringgold Company was ordered to Grafton, Va., by the Secretary of War, and there mustered into the United States service as Pennsylvania Volunteers, their officers being commissioned by Gov- ernor Curtin ; that our whole command was mustered in, almost in the presence of the enemy, and went into active service at once ; gave him a brief history of the service the command had per- formed, which was so highly valued by General Kelley that he had always endeavored, and quite successfully, to keep us in his de- partment, saying that we had done more to prevent Confederate raids in Pennsylvania than any other command.
"The Governor admitted he was familiar with the operations of the command and said he knew we had done good service. He then asked me to meet him in the office of the Secretary of the State next morning at ten o'clock. I was on time in the morning and found the Governor waiting; he took me by the hand and greeted me as Lieutenant Colonel. I thanked him, and he then revealed to me what he proposed doing for the command. He had five companies to unite or consolidate with our seven companies to form a regiment ; twelve companies, in all 1,200 enlisted men, one Colonel, one Lieutenant Colonel, three Majors, one surgeon with the rank of Major, two assistant surgeons with the rank of First Lieutenant, one quartermaster and one commissary, each with the rank of Captain, and one adjutant, all to be appointed and commissioned by the Governor. He wanted to appoint the Colonel and one Major not of our com- mand. To the appointment of the Colonel I protested, and con- tended that our seven companies were entitled to the Colonel and assured him that to go back to the battalion with this report would be a great disappointment to the officers of the command. I had never heard of the officer he so highly recommended as Colonel. I left greatly disappointed. I returned via New Creek, where most of our companies were then stationed, consulted with the officers and then conferred with the Governor, communicating to him their wishes, but without avail, as he organized the regiment as first proposed."
176 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
CHAPTER XIII. THE NEW BATTALION. FORMER SERVICE, RE- ENLISTMENT, ETC., ETC.
At the time of the threatened invasion of the North by the Confederate armies in June, 1863, President Lincoln issued a call to the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland for one hundred thousand men to enlist in the United States service for a term of six months in defending these States against the enemy.
A few days later, when the danger of an invasion of Pennsyl- vania became more imminent, Governor Curtin issued a call for sixty thousand State militia to serve the State for ninety days in helping the National forces to repel the invader.
Under these two calls, many thousand loyal Pennsylvanians left their farms, shops and stores and rallied to the defense of the State.
In response to the President's call for the six months' service, many companies of cavalry were recruited in the Southern counties of Pennsylvania. These were formed into regiments, the 20th and 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry being organized at that time. After those organizations were completed, there yet remained four companies of cavalry. At that time, it was thought other cavalry companies would be recruited and added to these in sufficient number to form another regiment to be known as the 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry. With this in view, the four companies were organized as a battalion of the pro- posed regiment and placed in command of Major B. M. Morrow. These four companies were recruited in June and the early part of July. Company A, Captain John D. Fee, was recruited principally in Huntingdon County ; Company B, Captain H. C. Kay, was raised in Bedford County, and Company C, Captain W. H. Jolly, and Company D, Captain W. S. Neff, were from Blair County.
These companies were mustered into the United States service at Harrisburg.
Company A, prior to going to Harrisburg, saw service at Mc- Connellsburg during Lee's invasion, and later, guarded Confederate prisoners and wagon-trains captured at Gettysburg, bringing them from Franklin County to Mount Union, Pa.
July 20, 1863, this battalion left Camp Couch, Harrisburg, and marched to Chambersburg, camping at Camp Ferry. In the latter
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THE REGIMENT.
part of August, Company A was sent to Mercersburg, Pa .; Com- pany B to Bedford; Company C to Waynesboro, and Company D to Greencastle, the troops doing provost duty at these places.
ORDERED TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
The second week in October, the four companies met at Cham- bersburg, from whence they were ordered to Virginia. Camped the first night at Hagerstown, Md. The next morning, were joined by the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanded by Colonel James Boyd, and the entire command marched by way of Sharpsburg, Md., to Harper's Ferry, Va., thence to Charlestown, where a Maryland regiment of infantry had been captured the day before. Pursued the Confederates by way of Berryville as far as Winchester ; then returned to Charlestown and went into camp as an outpost. Soon aiter. made successful raids to Front Royal, Newtown and Stras- burg.
During the autumn and early winter, quite a large number of Confederate troops were camped about Staunton and Harrisonburg in the upper valley, where subsistence was more readily obtained than farther north. From this base, their cavalry roamed down the valley as far as Winchester and Berryville. While General Averill was on his famous Salem raid into Southwestern Virgina from the Sth until the 23rd of December, most of this Confederate force was drawn westward in pursuit. To divert these pursuers from their purpose, General Sullivan in command at Harper's Ferry, sent a strong force under Colonel Wells of the 34th Massachusetts In- fantry, and Colonel Boyd of the First New York Lincoln Cavalry, up the valley as far as Harrisonburg, to threaten Staunton. Mean- while, Moseby was in the rear of Wells and Boyd, picking up strag- glers, capturing small parties, etc. Throughout the month of De- cember, detachments of our Sixth Months' Battalion were constantly scouting the country to the south and west, having occasional col- lisions with the enemy.
December 14, 1863, about 130 men, commanded by Captain Kay, of Company B, were ordered to proceed to Upperville, Va., thence to the Shenandoah River and form a junction with a portion of our brigade that had gone up the Valley of Virginia. S. W. Gehrett, Company A; Samuel Miles and W. H. Porter of Com- pary B, preceded the advance about one-eighth of a mile, and
" Thay narrative of the six months' service is from Sergeant (Rev. Dr.) S. W. "& !! '. " Newspaper Reminiscences of a Boy in Blue."
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178 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
at Snickersville, surprised a small band of Confederates, gave chase and succeeded in capturing a cavalry captain.
The evening of December 15th, we entered Upperville, the ad- vance guard pursuing a number of the enemy at full gallop, but in the darkness, they succeeded in getting away.
A camping place for the night was a necessity, and this we found in a small orchard three-fourths of a mile from Upperville, nearly surrounded by a stone wall. In front and between us was a field, on the right a farm-house, on the left the town. In the rear, the wall was low and broken down in many places. J. A. Corbin, H. M. Pardonner, J. H. Hale, B. F. Barras, of Company A, and others (names not known) were detailed for picket duty and were posted on the pike in a slight depression at the edge of the town. A small stream crossed the pike, and on either side for some distance, a thick scrubby growth of wood covered the ground, making it a capital place for bushwhackers to get in very effective work. Soon after being posted, the pickets were fiercely attacked and compelled to re- treat. They were again posted and were vigorously attacked the second time and were again forced to retreat, after making a bold stand, returning the fire of the enemy successfully. Barras, fearing the capture of the entire detail, called to Corbin to retreat ; he replied, " Wait until I have had one more shot." The enemy charged, Cor- bin's horse was wounded and he was captured, the rest of the pickets making their escape to the camp. Skirmishers were posted around the orchard. The rumbling of wheels was heard; commands were given as though artillery had arrived on the scene of action. This, we learned afterwards, was a ruse, trying to make the impression we were attacked by a large force, and that we would surrender. A brisk fire was opened on our front, left and rear, which we returned as effectively as possible in the darkness. The enemy was quite bold, advancing close to the stone wall, and calling repeatedly for us to surrender ; but knowing we were in close quarters, completely sur- rounded, and that capture by Moseby's men, as a rule, meant cruel murder, we declined to make matters worse. It grew very cold, rained and sleeted, rendering our situation very uncomfortable as well as exciting. Soon after midnight the firing ceased. Taking their killed and wounded with them, they withdrew.
How we longed for daylight! Drenched with rain, half-frozen, not daring to make a fire, having nothing to eat but dry hardtack, and not even cold water to wash it down, we were miserable, indeed.
During the night, a sergeant of Company B was captured.
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THE NEW BATTALION .- FORMER SERVICE.
As soon as it was light enough to see distinctly we moved out of the orchard, expecting to be attacked any moment. As we entered the town, we saw Corbin's horse lying in the street. A citizen in- formed us that the body of Corbin was in his house. After being captured, two Rebels became involved in a dispute and deliberately shot him, also killing his horse. They stripped him of his arms, overcoat and boots, leaving him lying in the streets. After being carried into the house, he informed the inmates who he was and other particulars in reference to himself and regiment.
With a strong advance guard, commanded by Lieutenant W. C. Gayton, of Company D, and composed of Sergeant Major Albert Postlethwaite, Sergeants Israel Stever, Seth Myers, George Patter- son, Corporals Lewis Irvin, George Taylor, H. M. Strausbaugh and Philip Hooper, Company D, we set out on our return.
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