USA > Pennsylvania > The Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry and the Ringgold battalion, 1861-1865; > Part 29
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General Crook was in command of these troops. General Wright ordered him to move this force through the gap, then down the river a mile and cross at Island Ford, promising to send Rick- etts' Division of the 6th Corps to follow, cross over and support him. Crook's force consisted of three brigades of infantry under command of Colonel Thoburn and about a thousand odds and ends of dismounted cavalry under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Young,* of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Thoburn crossed the river under a sharp fire from the enemy's pickets, a number of whom were cap- ' tured and from whom he learned that a large part of Early's Army was but a short distance away. He immediately sent this informa- tion back across the river and then formed his lines to receive the expected attack, forming his infantry brigades on the left and center and the dismounted cavalry on the right. He was soon fiercely attacked by Breckenridge's and Rodes's Divisions. His infantry brigades made a gallant resistance and held the enemy for a time, but the dismounted cavalry broke in disorder. The overwhelming
* Samuel B. M. Young later Lieutenant-General of the U. S. Army.
283
FIGHTING AT SNICKER'S GAP, JULY, 1864.
numbers of the enemy now obliged Thoburn to retreat across the river under a galling fire. His losses were sixty-five killed, 301 wounded and fifty-six missing. Had the division of the 6th Corps crossed the river and supported Thoburn the enemy could, and would have been checked. General Wright had changed his plan about crossing in force, and bringing on a battle, concluding to cross the river at a point still further down and turn the enemy's position.
The Confederate Captain Hotchkiss' journal record is as fol- lows :
" The 15th was spent in camp, the enemy making demonstra- tions along the river and shelling our cavalry. The trains and prisoners were sent to Ashby's Gap. July 16th, we marched via Leesburg and Purcellville through Snicker's Gap, crossed the Shen- andoah, as did also Gordon's and Wharton's divisions. The others encamped on the east and west slopes of the mountain. July 17th, our cavalry fought the enemy's advance in Snicker's Gap. July 18th, the enemy came across the mountain at Snicker's Gap and at- tacked our lines furiously, getting commanding positions for their artillery on the bluffs east of the Shenandoah. They crossed the river at Cool Springs, where they were met by Rodes, aided by Wharton, and signally repulsed and driven with loss across the river. Gordon engaging them at the same time near Cas- tleman's Ferry. Their loss was heavy. Our cavalry fought them as they advanced across the mountain. July 19th, the enemy at- tempted to cross at Berry's Ferry from Ashby's Gap, but was re- pulsed by Imboden's and McCausland's brigades of cavalry."
THE AFFAIR AT THE ASHBY'S GAP CROSSING OF THE SHENANDOAH. * Our regiment, after passing back through Snicker's Gap, halted in the village of Snickersville to feed our horses, get some dinner and prepare rations for a two days' march. We then started ior Ashby's Gap. We were under the command of General Duffee and numbered 2,500 men, all told. A very sad accident happened on this march. We were moving rapidly over a very rough road - when the shells in a caisson of one of the batteries exploded, throw- ing one man high in the air, killing him instantly. The rear, or wheel horses were killed and the driver wounded. We halted only long enough to replace the horses, and leaving a squad to bury the dead man, moved on. The man killed was a soldier of another bat- tery. He had been home on furlough and on his return had as
* Lieutenant Crago.
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284 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
yet been unable to find his battery. The captain of our battery needed a gunner badly and had just a few minutes before starting offered him a position until he could find his own command, agreeing to stand between him and any misunderstandng that might arise on account of his absence.
During that afternoon we were annoyed continually by men of Moseby's gang, who hung on our flanks, and if a man happened to stray a few hundred yards from the flanking line, he was cap- tured. Quite a number were "gobbled " up that afternoon.
That night (18th) we camped just outside the village of Upperville, and as the enemy were practically all around us, the utmost vigilance was observed. The village and the entire camp were surrounded by a guard of about 100 men. There were four pickets in the village and during the night, some of Moseby's men came near taking charge of all these. Watching until within a few" minutes of the time for the relief to pass around, these " Johnnies " undertook the task of relieving the guard. Quietly approaching Post No. 4, the farthest from headquarters, on being challenged they answered, " Corporal of the guard with third relief." In this man- ner they relieved two posts, but on approaching the third they were suspected, but they made their escape. We heard the few shots that were fired after them and the slight confusion occasioned, but soon all was quiet and we were disturbed no more.
Bright and early on the morning of the 19th we were in the saddle again and moved on through the little village of Paris and to the top of the mountain in view of the Shenandoah River and a fine scope of country beyond. Across the river there was an open bottom, back of which was a belt of timber, extending up and down the river as far as we could see. Here on the mountain, General Duffee halted the command for quite a long wait. the reason for which we have never been able to see. If it was to give the enemy a chance to prevent our crossing, it had the desired effect. If we had moved on without halting, we would have met no serious op- position. About noon, we moved on. Our two brigades had alter- nated at leading the advance and supporting the artillery. Our brigade had led the advance the previous day, while on this day we were supporting the artillery and the other brigade was in the ad- vance. We moved through the gap and then opened out into three columns, one on the pike and one on either flank, our regiment being in the column to the left of the pike. The other brigade had nearly all crossed the river and were moving out into the river bot-
285
REPULSE AT ASHBY'S GAP FORDING.
tom; our brigade with the artillery pushed right down into the river as though we were not in an enemy's country ; as the advance entered the river, they scattered to the right and left to water their thirsty horses, making room for as many as possible to enter. Just as the artillery got well into the river, a battery of the enemy with a heavy support rushed out of the timber and took position on a slight elevation. Lieutenant Crago who had charge of the provost guard that day, thus describes the affair :
" We, the provost guard, had halted in the rear of the regiment, perhaps 400 yards from the river, and we could plainly see the enemy on the opposite side, hastening to an advantageous position on rising ground. I saw them bring forward two pieces of artillery as fast as the horses could run; saw them unlimber, take position, load and fire, all within a few minutes. One shell lit within twenty feet of where we were standing, and another fell so close that when it exploded we all involuntarily ducked our heads, and a piece of the shell struck Corporal E. B. Gregg, cutting a gash in the back of his neck, making a severe but not dangerous wound, and he was absent from the line only long enough to have it dressed."
The enemy got the range of the cavalry and artillery in the river and began to drop shells among them, at the same time opening a heavy musketry fire. Our artillery was turned around quickly amidst a shower of bullets and exploding shell; in the excitement, one piece was overturned, but we hung to it and finally got it away. The 2nd Brigade, which had nearly all crossed the river, suffered severely in recrossing under the fire of the enemy, many being wounded while in the river and some being drowned.
Our artillery attempted to go into position on a knoll near the river, but failed, when we fell back to an elevation where our guns commanded the ford, and a spirited artillery duel took place. We were drawn up in line across the road, our artillery being on our left and on much higher ground, so high that the enemy could not elevate their guns to reach our guns, so they directed their fire at us. Their first two shells passed over our heads, one of them bursting in the rear, a piece of which struck John Iams, passing up under his shoulder blade and through his jaw, knocking out a lot of teeth. The other shell did not burst, and Captain Hart picked it up and stuck it into the forks of an apple tree ; a third shell lit right in front of us, but did not burst, and two more went close over our heads. We were then moved to a safer position, much to our satisfaction.
286
TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
Our gunners seemed to get the better aim, and soon drove the en- emy's guns from their position.
General Duffee was anxious for some force to cross the river and asked the question, "Where is the 22nd Ringgold?" as he usually called our regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Adams, of the 1st New York Cavalry, heard the remark and asked permission to go, taking his own company and a detachment of the 21st New York, under Lieutenant-Colonel Zimmerman, in all about 150 men. They moved down the river about a mile under cover of the bank, where they found a ford, crossed and charged the enemy. They were forced to recross, pursued by the Johnnies to the river bank. They were gone one and a half hours and returned 100 strong, hav- ing marched several miles, crossed the river twice, fought the enemy for some time and lost fifty men, killed, wounded and missing. Dur- ing the artillery firing this afternoon, Moseby attacked our rear- guard and captured some of them, but our boys rallied, routed the enemy and recaptured the prisoners. That night, we lay at the little village of Paris, just east of the ( Ashby's) Gap. The next morning, a number of us took breakfast at the principal house in the village, and a good breakfast we had. While eating we noticed a number of colored servants seated about the large dining room, apparently not able to move around. On inquiry we found that they were just re-
Snicker's Gap, July 20, 1864.
Brigadier-General Duffee, Commanding Cavalry.
The general commanding directs that you fall back to this Gap, cross the river and follow up after the enemy. We will camp near Berryville to-night. I send you to-day ten wagons and five ambulances to bring off your wounded which you will send by the river road to Harper's Ferry after crossing here.
R. H. MOORE, Aide-de-Camp and A. A. A. G.
I was one of twelve on picket at a post out front that night. As the enemy was so close, we all kept awake. We had no train with us and were obliged to live off the country. We found a coop of chickens and spent part of the night cleaning and cooking them in a tin bucket. We wanted milk to make gravy, but the cow was locked in the stable at the neighboring farm-house, so we were obliged to procure a ladder and enter the stable by the hayloft. descending from thence to the apartments of the cow. We needed some flour to thicken the gravy, and were obliged to further draw upon the hospitality of our hosts by calling at the house for some flour. We had a royal feast that night. S. G. ROGERS, Co. B.
While our artillery was engaged with the enemy, quite a squad of Moseby's men congregated on a high knob about a half-mile to our rear, no doubt to watch the fight and ready at a favorable moment to pounce upon us were we forced to retreat. Our general, seeing this, ordered one of the gunners to reverse his gun and fire at tliem. He did so without attracting their attention and dropped a shell into their very midst ; such skedaddling as was seen caused a shout to go up from our whole force, and another shell followed so quickly as to burst among the retreating spectators, hastening their departure.
\t Ashby's Gap and Ferry, our losses were, in the two brigades: Killed, 12: wounded, 44; missing. 74. Total. 130. On the 20th, we skirmished with the enemy most of the day, they keeping up an almost continuous fire from the opposite side of the river. Our command was without forage or rations, and being obliged to subsist on the country, our foraging parties were greatly annoyed by Moseby's guerillas, a few of whom we killed, and captured about fifty horses.
287
ASHBY'S GAP, JULY, 1864.
covering from the smallpox. Was their presence in the dining room at this particular time the merest chance? Some of our men left the table, hungry as they were, before they had eaten a full meal, whilst others, Colonel Greenfield and Lieutenant Crago among the number, ate a full and hearty meal in spite of the threatened danger. A guard was then placed around the house and none of our men were permitted to enter again while we remained in camp.
We lay in camp here all day and night of the 20th. Our pro- visions were running low, and our boys, knowing that they were truly in the enemy's country, came to the conclusion that. they might confiscate everything eatable that came within their reach. Not long after breakfast, two or three of them came into camp, lugging a large beehive full of honey, being so bold as to come into the pres- ence of Colonel Greenfield, who sent them back under guard, with orders to place the hive just where they got it-remarking to himself as they got beyond hearing, "Can't the boys have more sense than to do such things in my presence?" The same beehive found its way back to camp after dark, and also some excellent country-cured hams. The boys, however, bought and paid for quantities of bread, eggs, chickens, etc., and we did not suffer for food.
Early the next morning (21st) we started on our return to Snicker's Gap and had proceeded but a short distance when we came upon straggling parties of the enemy. We captured several of them and sent them to the rear. Our regiment, being in the advance, had all the fun to ourselves. We came upon one party that were just about to seat themselves to a good breakfast, which had been furnished them from a neighboring house. We chased the party into the mountain near by, failing to capture any of them ; but a shot fired by Lieutenant Isaac M. Regester brought one of them from his horse. We captured quite a number of good horses that morning ; it seems we had run upon a corral of good horses that were being pastured for service in the Confederate Army. We soon exchanged our broken-down animals for these and moved on. A large crib of corn was quickly transferred to our sacks, as our horses had been without food for that day. Arrived at Snicker's Ford and crossed the river that evening.
' BACK AGAIN WITH THE ARMY.
During our absence on this three-day fruitless expedition much had been transpiring about Snicker's .Ferry. General Thoburn had fought a gallant but unsuccessful battle with his division against
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288
TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
great odds on the afternoon of the 18th. The 6th and part of the 19th Corps had come up to the river. In the meantime, quite a force of General Crook's belated troops from Parkersburg had arrived at Martinsburg, including Averill's Cavalry, Duvall's and Hayes's brigades of infantry and some artillery. When General Hunter learned of Wright's intention to attack Early, he ordered Colonel R. B. Hayes with his brigade (July 18th) to push up the west side of the Shenandoah River and strike Early's flank when Crook made his attack; Hayes failed to get through that day and Hunter again on the 19th, urged him on with some severity: "I am sorry that you did not move forward and assist in the attack . . . as you would have taken the enemy in flank and probably ended the fight in our favor. Try immediately and open communications with Crook."
The same day, July 19th, Hunter dispatched Averill as follows: " Crook no doubt attacked the enemy, as he expected, at Snicker's Ferry yesterday afternoon. Colonel Hayes, with a battery, is now moving up the Shenandoah and camped last night within four or five miles of Snicker's Ferry. Perhaps, by a prompt movement in that direction you can render General Crook great assistance and cap- ture a number of wagons."
Averill moved promptly with 1,000 cavalry, two batteries and 1,350 infantry. From Bunker Hill at 3 P. M., that same afternoon, Averill sent this dispatch: "Drove the enemy to-day from Darkes- ville to Bunker Hill and beat him at the latter place, where he made a strong stand. All silent on my left. Can hear nothing from Crook or Hayes. . From the enemy's resistance here it is indicated that he feels safe on his right flank or eastward."
Later in the afternoon, Averill sent this: "Jackson has at- tempted two stands, but broken in both. My advance is within five miles of Winchester. Jackson has used some artillery. My casualities are not over a dozen killed and wounded. Can't hear anything of Crook."
At 8 p. M., he reported again: "My advance is within four miles of Winchester. Enemy has been moving from Berryville to Winchester to-day with 5,000 or 6,000 men. His infantry occupy field works at Winchester. Indications are that the enemy must attack me in the morning; probabilities are that I shall attack him. The casualities on both sides are few as Jackson did not wait to be hurt."
At Snicker's Ferry our forces under Wright and Crook were practically inactive all day of the 19th. Wright's intention of mov-
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289
THE 6TH AND 19TH CORPS DEPART.
ing down the river and turning Early's left was changed, owing, no doubt, to the movements of Averill and Hayes, which accomplished the same purpose. Sergeant Donaldson's Journal reads: "July 19th. We lay here (at Snicker's Ferry) to-day. All is quiet, ex- cept sharpshooting from each side of the river and some shells thrown by our batteries at midnight when the Rebs were leaving. Cannonading is heard in the direction of Ashby's Gap, where Duffee's Division went, and cannonading is heard north toward Har- per's Ferry. The Rebs are strong and determined to fight. No feed for our horses and but little grass."
Averill's presence in the enemy's rear fully accounts for Early's sudden retreat. His cavalry brigades under Jackson and Vaughn, had failed to check Averill's advance, so he rushed Ramseur with some 6,000 infantry and two batteries to Winchester to prevent Averill's farther advance, while he, with the main force, retreated to Newtown and Middletown.
On the morning of the 20th, Wright's forces crossed the river, the 19th Corps moving in advance, followed by the 6th Corps, which in turn was followed by ours (the 8th). On this morning, General Wright ordered rations and ammunition to be forwarded to him at Berryville, which indicated that he at that time, contemplated fol- lowing the pursuit of Early farther. Later the same day, he seems to have changed his mind and started back with the 6th and 19th Corps to Washington on the way to return to General Grant. Gen- eral Grant's instructions to Wright had been general and left much to his (Wright's) own judgment. Grant had again and again said that if Early should get away and start for Richmond, he (Grant) wanted the 6th and 19th Corps to return to him immediately, so that he could strike Lee's army again before Early could get back to join him. On the 20th, when Wright found Early in full retreat toward Strasburg, with his trains on ahead moving south, he concluded that further pursuit was useless and drawing him farther away from Washington, where he would be expected to embark from City Point, so he suddenly determined to face about and return to Grant.
*" On this same day, the 20th, Averill, who had been rein- . forced by 300 of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry, making him about 2,700 strong, yet still numerically inferior to the enemy, moved up the pike toward Winchester in line of battle, a regiment of infantry
* Pond.
290 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
on each side of the pike, with skirmishers out, another regiment on each side in column, in rear of the right and left flanks, artillery in the center and a regiment of cavalry on each flank. Three miles north of Winchester on Carter's Farm, Ramseur was encountered, " moving by flank," according to Early's account with intent to cap- ture Averill. At all events, he rapidly formed with Johnson's Brig- ade on his right, Hoke's on his left and Pegram's in reserve. Averill deployed the two infantry regiments which were in column drew aside his cavalry skirmishers from the front to the flanks, and opened a hot fire from his twelve guns. Without pausing he sent in all his cavalry and infantry. Duval's charge was across an open field, the two Ohio regiments east of the pike and the two Virginia regiments west. The vigorous assault broke Ramseur's left, which, followed by the remainder of the force, fled in confusion to Winchester, leav- ing in the Union general's hands four pieces of artillery, with 203 killed and wounded on the field, while the unwounded brought the list of captured tip to seventeen officers and 250 men. The total Con- federate loss was probably more than 400, including Generals Lewis and Lilly, among the captured wounded, and Colonel Board, 58th Virgina, among the killed. Averill's loss was 208 killed and wounded and six missing, and his action of Carter's Farm was unusually creditable to the Union arms, while seldom has a Confederate de- feat been so squarely acknowledged."
When Early heard of the defeat of Ramseur, he sent Rodes to reinforce him and their combined force, " made some demonstrations about sundown on the same evening," reported Averill, " but was easily checked. During the night of the 20th, he fled from my front. My cavalry pursued to Middletown, skirmishing with his rear."
Early retreated to Strasburg, where he halted. Averill moved . his whole force to Kernstown, where he was joined by Crook on the 22nd. Our regiment (?2nd) with Duffee's Division, moved for- ward to Winchester on the 22nd, arriving there at four o'clock in the afternoon. We moved on up and went into camp two miles above town at or near Milltown. After dark, our division was sent to Kernstown and placed on picket, where we stood mounted all night with the enemy's pickets but a half a mile off.
On this evening ( ?? nd) Colonel Powell's Brigade of Averill's Division engaged the enemy at Newtown, seven miles south of Win- chester, on the Strasburg Road, but after a stubborn fight was com-
291
KERNSTOWN, JULY 22-23, 1864.
pelled to return to Winchester, his ammunition having been ex- hausted.
General Early with the main part of his force had stopped at Strasburg after his retreat from Snicker's Ferry on the 20th. Here he lay, watching his antagonist, quietly waiting to see what would happen and also to prevent, if possible, the advance of the Union troops on up through the great wheat country of the upper Valley until the crops were threshed out and hauled off to Richmond for Lee's Army, the food supply for which having become a matter of grave concern to the Confederacy.
Wright had hardly got under way on his withdrawal from the Valley with the 6th and 19 Corps until Moseby's scouts informed Early. The latter now determined to attack Crook, but waited to allow Wright's forces to get beyond recall, and then on the morning of the 23rd, started down the Valley. He knew that the entire effective force under Crook about Winchester did not exceed 10,000 men of all arms, less than half his own army. In his report he says that he made a reconnaissance against the enemy on the 23rd that resulted in deploying the whole Union force to resist it, the cavalry and artillery being sharply engaged.
THE FIGHTING AT KERNSTOWN, JULY 23, 1864.
.
The Confederates attacked our pickets early that morning, and our regiment was hurried out on the skirmish line; skirmishing was kept up all forenoon, the enemy bringing a battery into action and shelling our cavalry. Our artillery took position on the hill behind us and shelled the enemy's battery of two guns.
One brigade of my division (Powell's) was picketing the roads leading south from Winchester as far as Middletown and Millwood. The other was picketing the roads east and west of town. On the evening of the 22nd, the enemy with one division of cavalry and one of infantry, pressed back Powell's brigade to Kernstown, the cavalry division of Brigadier General Duffee relieving Powell's brigade that night .- (General Averill's Report.)
Near Winchester, Va., July 22d, 1864.
Special Orders, No. 17.
Colonel Jacob Higgins, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, having reported at these headquarters for duty, is hereby assigned to the command of the Second Brigade of this division. He will relieve Lieut .- Col. George Middleton, etc.
By command of BRIG.GEN. DUFFEE.
Grant dispatched Halleck, July 23d, from City Point : " If Wright has returned to Washington, send him immediately back here, retaining. however, the portion of the 19th Corps now in Washington, for further orders. Early is undoubtedly returning here to enable the enemy to detach troops to go to Georgia."
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