USA > Pennsylvania > The Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry and the Ringgold battalion, 1861-1865; > Part 34
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Accordingly, on the morning of the 10th of August, the Army of the Shenandoah moved out southward, through Charlestown, the 6th Corps marching on and taking position at Clifton, with Lowell's cavalry on its right at Summit Point. The division of the 19th Corps moved farther along the Berryville Road and took posi- tion north of Berryville, while the 8th Corps (Crook) marched through Berryville and took position beyond, and Torbert, with Mer- ritt's division of cavalry, went on and took position near to White Post. Next morning, the 11th, all these forces were faced to the west and at proper deploying distances from each other, moved directly to Opequan Creek and took possession of the fords or crossings of that stream.
Early bivouacked in front (east) of Winchester, on the night of the 10th. He knew that Sheridan had been reinforced by Tor- bert's division of cavalry. He knew that large reinforcements from Lee's Army were on the way to join him. He therefore declined battle and on this morning of the 11th, pushed on south towards Fisher's Hill. Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's division up the Millwood Pike towards Winchester, attack any force he might run against and ascertain the movements of the enemy. We quote Sheridan: " My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester from the southeast, since, from all the in- formation gathered during the 10th, I still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that point ; but in this I was mistaken, as Tor- bert's reconnaissance proved. for on the morning of the 11th, when Merritt had driven the Confederate cavalry, then covering the Mill- wood Pike west of the Opequan off toward Kernstown, he found that their infantry and artillery were retreating south, up the Valley Pike."
Sheridan immediately faced his army to the south and moved toward Cedar Creek and ordered the cavalry to harass the enemy on his retreat. Lowell came directly through Winchester and fell on his rear while Merritt attacked his flank, driving off Imboden and Vaughn's cavalry, and attacking and driving in Gordon's skirmish lines, holding his ground until nightfall, when the enemy fell back
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SHERIDAN ADVANCES.
to the south of Cedar Creek. Sheridan's losses on this day were about 125.
" Colonel Edward's Brigade of the 6th Corps, sent back to Winchester the next morning to escort a wagon-train, found about sixty Confederates and seventy Union wounded in the hospitals there, and others of both sides were reported to be in the care of private families. While Winchester was a secession town, there were a number of loyal families, whose kindness to our soldiers will never be forgotten while mind and memory lasts. Colonel Edwards, in his report, says: 'Too much praise can not be given to the loyal families of Winchester; they attended our wounded night and day, and have used all their tea, coffee and sugar, etc., for sick and pris- oners, so much so that they are in actual want themselves.'
" Next morning, our army marched on and took position on the north side of Cedar Creek, Crook on the left of the pike, Emory on the right side of the pike and Wright on the right of Emory, with cavalry on either flank. In the afternoon that day, a heavy skir- mish line was thrown forward to the heights on the south side of Cedar Creek and a brisk affair with the enemy's pickets took place, the Confederates occupying with their main force the heights north of Strasburg."
A reconnaissance of our cavalry next day, 13th, discovered that Early's infantry was strongly posted at Fisher's Hill, where he had thrown up behind Tumbling Run, earthworks extending clear across the narrow valley.
On August 13, the 2nd Brigade of Duffee's Division of Cavalry in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Greenfield, moved to the front and encamped at Newtown, Va. Next day, 14th, moved up to Mid- dletown. On the day following, Colonel Greenfield received the fol- lowing orders :
On the morning of the 12th, we proceeded to Newtown, thence to Middletown and beyond within one mile of Cedar Creek. From here, our regiment was sent out on a reconnaissance, which took us over on the road running near the foot of and parallel with North Mountain where we halted for awhile, roasted corn and ate it with a relish, and finally moved back to the brigade, having marched twenty-seven miles.
-1 "Next day, 13th. our brigade marched out within a short distance of Strasburg, and then came back and encamped in a field to the right of the Pike, where we found a flock of sheep which in some mysterious manner had escaped both armies, and not much wonder, for the place was very secluded; in a few minutes, the men were pur- Lg those sheep and the rapid firing of carbines and bleating of sheep made the chave exciting. Sergeant Daughenbaugh and I secured one; in soldier parlance, "it ran right into our arms."-Sergeant Gehrett.
334 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
HEADQUARTERS 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION, Department of West Virginia. In the Field near Middltown, Va.,
August 15, 1864.
Lieutenant-Colonel Greenfield,
. Commanding Second Brigade. Sir :
You will please proceed with the portion of the 22nd Pennsyl- vania Cavalry now present with the division, to the headquarters of Brigadier-General Torbert, chief of cavalry of Middle Military Divi- sion, reporting in person to General Torbert. You will report imme- diately. By command of,
BRIGADIER-GENERAL DUFFEE.
E. W. CLARK, JR., Capt. & A. A. G.
When ready to move, report in person at these headquarters. By command of, BRIGADIER-GENERAL DUFFEE.
HEADQUARTERS 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION, Army of Shenandoah Valley. In the Field near Middletown, Va.,
August 15, 1864.
General Orders, No. 11.
Colonel R. F. Taylor, 1st New York Veteran Cavalry, having reported to these headquarters, is hereby assigned to the command of the 2nd Brigade, relieving Lieutenant-Colonel Greenfield, 22nd Pennsylvania Cavalry now in command of the brigade.
1
By command of,
BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. N. DUFFEE. E. W. CLARK, JR., A. A. G.
At this time, General Duffee's Division was much reduced in men and horses owing to their severe marches and hardships of the Hunter raid. Hence by a special order, No. 154, from General Crook, issued August 25, he was directed to take his command to Cumber- land, Md., establish a camp of instruction and remount his division by regiments as rapidly as possible.
Colonel Greenfield reported in person to Major-General Torbert and received instruction to join and take command of the regiment. which comprised the five new companies mounted and equipped and
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335
MANEUVERING FOR ADVANTAGE.
a detachment of the old command under Major E. S. Troxell and Major Henry A. Myers. He found the regiment on the extreme front, Major Myers on picket with a squadron, beyond Strasburg, near Fisher's Hill.
SHERIDAN FALLS BACK TO BASE ABOUT HALLTOWN.
Sheridan says: "Within the past day or two I had received information that a column of the enemy was moving up from Cul- pepper and approaching Front Royal through Chester Gap, and although the information was unconfirmed it caused me much solici- tude, for there was a strong probability that such a movement would be made, and any considerable force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon my rear and de- stroy my communication with Harper's Ferry, or, moving along the base of Massanutten Mountain could attack my flank in conjunction with the force at Fisher's Hill, without a possibility of my pre- venting it.
" Neither Wilson's Cavalry nor Grover's Infantry had yet joined me, and the necessities already explained, which obliged me to hold with strong garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew that the enemy would outnumber me when Anderson's Corps should arrive in the Valley. I deemed it advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution and so remained on the defensive, quietly awaiting developments. Rumors of the force advancing from Culpepper kept increasing every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I con- cluded to send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what was up. At the same time, I crossed the 6th Corps to the south side of Cedar Creek and occupied the Heights near Strasburg.
" That day, I received from the hands of Colonel Chipman of the Adjutant-General's Department the following dispatch, to deliver which he had ridden in great haste from Washington through Snicker's Gap, escorted by a regiment of cavalry :
"' City Point, August 12, 1864, 9 A. M.
"' Major-General Halleck :
"' Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain that two divi- sions of infantry have gone to Early, and some cavalry and twenty pieces of artillery. This movement commenced last Saturday night. He must be cautious and act on the defensive until movements here
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
force them to detach to send this way. Early's force, with this increase, can not exceed 40,000 men, but this is too much for Gen- eral Sheridan to attack. Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of the 19th Corps.
"' U. S. GRANT, "' Lieutenant-General.' "
Sheridan now saw that he would be outnumbered and must look for a position where a smaller number of troops could maintain a defense against a larger number. He says: "I could see but one such position and that was at Halltown in front of Harper's Ferry. Subsequent experience convinced me that there was no other really defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley, for at almost any other point the open country and its peculiar topography invites rather than forbids flanking operations."
Sheridan had sent one of Merritt's cavalry brigades to Front . Royal on the 14th, and on the morning of the 15th, he sent the two remaining brigades, Custer's and Gibb's, out the Front Royal Pike to watch for Anderson's arrival. The skirmishers of the 6th and 8th Corps, which had been advanced to the south side of Cedar Creek had a sharp fight with the enemy's pickets on the afternoon of the 15th. That night they were withdrawn to the north side of Cedar Creek and the 19th Corps fell back to Winchester, the latter movement undiscovered by the enemy. The 6th and Sth Corps re- mained until after dark the next evening, when they, too, under cover of the darkness, retreated, marching all night and arriving at Win- chester shortly after daylight in the morning. Early did not discover Sheridan's withdrawal until after daylight the next morning, 1th. Merritt's Cavalry brigades, Devin and Custer, struck a part of Anderson's column at the ford of the Shenandoah the previous day. 16th, and drove them across the river with heavy loss, capturing 300 prisoners and two battle-flags. Merritt's loss was about sixty men. He then fell back to White Post.
Colonel Greenfield says: "On the 16th, I received orders from Colonel Charles R. Lowell, Jr., 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, com- manding 3rd Brigade,* who with his regiment was located at the front on our extreme right at the Back Road,-to move with my regiment at midnight and bring up the rear of the infantry on the
* This brigade was organized by Major-General Alfred T. A. Torbert. Aug. 9. 1v. and consisted of the 2nd Mass., 22nd Pennsylvania. Cole's Maryland Cavalry and a or ; detachment of the 14th Pennsylvania. This last detachment had returned to their ow: regiment (now with Averill), only a few days previous to this time.
337
MANEUVERING FOR ADVANTAGE.
Winchester and Strasburg Pike, destroying all forage, hay, wheat, oats and drive off all live stock, horses, cattle, etc., that might be of any value to the enemy. Major Myers was in front picketing the main road near Fisher's Hill with a squadron of the regiment. I sent an officer at 10 P. M., with instructions to the major to with- draw his pickets at 12 o'clock; the officer returned and reported that he could not find Major Myers and he had not found any pickets at the front; I then sent another officer that had been on the picket, who succeeded in finding the Major, but he did not re- port until near 2 o'clock A. M. By this time Colonel Lowell was marching to Winchester on the Back Road and the flames from the wheat and hay stacks were illuminating the sky. I had already made details of the regiment under command of commissioned officers to carry out the orders to burn grain and forage and drive off stock, giving instructions to exercise great care in not endan- gering dwelling houses, as there were a number of fine homes be- tween Strasburg and Winchester. We had not proceeded far when I saw a large barn burning near the road, that I thought endangered a fine brick dwelling. While the order to burn included barns well filled with grain, etc., we were instructed not to burn them if it would likely destroy the dwelling.
"I immediately rode forward, dismounted a number of men, formed a bucket brigade and saved the house, for which the occu- pants were very grateful. This was the only barn we burned, as destroying private property was not a pleasant duty to perform.
"I then moved on with the regiment through Newtown to Kernstown, arriving there about noon, when we halted and cooked dinner. Very soon the enemy's cavalry appeared and attacked our pickets savagely, no doubt greatly enraged at our burning. * I at once moved out and deployed the regiment as skirmishers and drove them back some distance, when I received orders from Colonel Lowell to fall back and join the brigade at Winchester."
At daylight on the morning of the 17th, Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, and later in the day, Wright and Crook, who had halted at Winchester for breakfast and rest, resumed their march toward Clifton. In the afternoon, Lowell with his two regiments of troopers came into Winchester, where he was
* The skirmish changed into a severe engagement. While formed in line of battle, a ball from the enemy passed between two men in the front rank and struck A. R. McCarthy's horse fairly in the forehead, killing him instantly. When our brigade with- drew in the dusk of the evening. we saw large bodies of Confederate infantry crossing the Pike beyond Kernstown and marching in the direction of Opequan Creek. We moved on to Berryville where we halted for the night .- Sergeant Gehrett, Company K.
338 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
joined by Wilson's mounted division, which had come by rapid march from Snicker's Ferry. During all these operations, the enemy had a signal station on Three Top Mountain, almost over- hanging Strasburg, from which every movement made by our troops could be plainly seen ; therefore, early on the morning of the 17th he became aware that we were retiring down the valley and at once made after us, and about sundown drove Torbert out of Winchester, he having been left there with Wilson and Lowell and the Jersey Brigade of the 6th Corps to develop the character of the enemy's pursuit.
* "The Jersey brigade, numbering but 850 muskets, was de- ployed by Torbert along a small affluent of the Opequan, winding south of Winchester near the town, with McIntosh's brigade of Wilson, dismounted, piecing out the line, and the remainder of the cavalry massed near the town, a cavalry battery aiding with its canister from the heights in the rear. The Jerseymen held Early's horsemen in check all afternoon, and only when Wharton's Division of Infantry attacked their right and Ramseur's division their front while Gordon advanced against the cavalry, was the line broken.
" The Union casualties in this engagement were more than three hundred and fifty, for Penrose (Jersey brigade) had ninety-seven killed and wounded and lost two hundred prisoners and the cavalry about fifty prisoners. The captures were chiefly due to the per- tinacity with which the line had been held until late at night."
This affair demonstrated that Early's whole army was in pursuit. Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee had also followed from Front Royal and joined Early near Winchester. Wilson and Lowell fell back to Summit Point that night and the Jersey brigade joined its corps at the Berryville crossing of the Opequan.
Next day, the 1Sth, Sheridan fell back and formed a line in front of Charlestown with the 6th Corps north of the Pike. Emory's two divisions (Dwight's and Grover's, the latter having arrived from Washington that morning) south of the Pike, with Crook on his left. Merritt had been drawn back to Berryville, with pickets to Snicker's Ferry, while Wilson and Lowell remained at Summit Point. with pickets as far as Smithfield bridge. Averill having re- turned from the pursuit of McCausland, was now at Martinsburg and Duffee was at Charlestown. This position was maintained until the 21st. Sheridan's falling back at this time, created great alarm
* Pond.
339
SHERIDAN FALLING BACK TO HIS BASE.
in the North, especially in those counties of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania that had been the victims of previous raids. Sheridan reported to Grant, explaining his movements and plans, and added, “I de- stroyed all the wheat, hay and provisions south of Winchester and drove off all the cattle. The enemy is very much chagrined at it. If the enemy should go North of the Potomac, I will follow him. There is no occasion for alarm."
.
*" On the morning of Thursday, August 18th, before daybreak, the 22nd moved out the Pike toward Winchester, proceeding as far as the crossing of the Opequan Creek. On the right of the Pike on a high bluff overlooking the stream, Penrose's Jersey brigade of the 6th Corps, was encamped. The long roll sounded while the men were eating their breakfast in the midst of a heavy rainstorm. As they fell into line, they were compelled to leave a portion of their bill of fare untouched; and as we had started without our breakfast, the ride in the early morning had whetted our appetites, and without any gilt-edged invitation or urging, we at once proceeded to breakfast on the food prepared by the Jersey boys. I have a distinct recollec- tion of securing a bucket containing at least a gallon of good old United States coffee, of the genuine rich flavor and also properly creamed, some Confederate cows having supplied the lacteal fluid for the benefit of the Yanks. After we had finished breakfast, we were deployed as skirmishers, and all was comparatively quiet until three o'clock in the afternoon ; while engaged in eating dinner, a solid shot came whistling over our heads, which was the first sign of the approach of the enemy. Leaving our dessert untasted, we sprang into line, and very soon saw the enemy swarming down the bluff on the opposite side of the Opequan, through the creek and up the hill where we gave them a warm reception; but on they came, clad in blue, gray, butternut and every other color, dodging behind trees, getting under cover of rocks, fences, and running to an old barn for refuge, in the meantime firing rapidly and giving the usual rebel yell. An amusing feature of the fight was brought about by some of the members of Company K, who secured the hind carriage of a wagon on which they placed a good sized log that had become blackened by fire. When the Confederates were fording the Opequan and hasten- ing up the hill, there were loud cries of "Bring up the artillery," " Artillery to the front;" and when this new piece was run to the top of the hill, the enemy, supposing it a portion of a battery, sought
· Gebrett.
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
shelter in every direction, amid the laughter and cheers of our boys. The dodge did not last long, for the enemy soon discovered the ruse and came at us again, charging by the slope and were twice repulsed, and only by their superior numbers were they able to carry the crest the. third time. We retired slowly and in good order, the Johnnies for some reason not following our command, which formed part of the rear-guard of Sheridan's Army on this retreat.
" August 19th was wet and rainy, and the order for the 22nd was to go out on the skirmish line; with the exception of sharp firing on the right, the day passed rather quietly.
BATTLE OF BERRYVILLE.
" Sunday morning, August 21st, the Confederates opened upon us at an early hour, and with their artillery did considerable dam- age. A request was made for volunteers to go out on the skirmish line, and no sooner was the request made than Sergeant James Van- zant, Corporal William Gable, and Private James Logan, of Com- pany K, with men from other companies, promptly stepped forward. During the engagement, the Sergeant was severely wounded, the Corporal fatally wounded and Logan taken prisoner. Corporal Gable was brought off the line and laid on the porch of a farm- house in the rear of our line of battle. He was the only support of his mother and sisters and spoke very touchingly of them, and his fear for their support in the event of his death. He died during the night, and was buried near Charlestown, Va. They were three gallant soldiers and the sad event cast a gloom over Company K. Sergeant Vanzant recovered, but was unfit for further service. Sergeant Lewis McDaniel, of Company H, a brave and much esteemed soldier, was killed in this engagement. While drawn up in line of battle, the enemy trained a battery on Companies I and K, and during the shelling, a member of Company I was struck by a piece of shell, tearing off a portion of his foot, scattering his blood and small pieces of his flesh over myself and several others. The poor fellow died during the night from loss of blood. After this engagement, which took place in the forenoon, we fell back a short distance to Berryville, where we had a severe cavalry engagement
341
BATTLE OF BERRYVILLE.
in the woods on the pike leading to Winchester. * The enemy opened on us with artillery ; the solid shot and shell came crashing through the timber, making a fearful racket, they following it up with a bold charge of their cavalry. We hastily dismounted under cover of a small hill, and, leaving every fourth man to hold the horses, we at once moved forward, received them in good style and succeeded in checking them; and then we made an advance, cheering to the best of our ability. They made a number of charges, led by an of- ficer on a gray horse. He urged his men forward repeatedly, riding at the head of the column himself, but each time was com- pelled to fall back, until at last the attempt to break our line was abandoned. The fight at this point was very severe, much of it at unpleasantly close quarters.
" After the fight at Berryville, August 21st, we retired slowly through town. The enemy followed closely, and when we halted near Charlestown, they were only a short distance away. I was detailed to take charge of the men who went on picket duty from the 22nd, and, while posting them along a small stream of water, we distinctly heard the Confederate cavalry posting their guard and driving stakes in the ground to fasten their horses. The first detail being too small, a detachment from Company H was sent out and with these we managed to get through the night. This addition to our number enabled me to relieve two of Company K, and I there- fore brought to the reserve post Joseph Mckinney and George W. Wogan, who rolled themselves up in their blankets and were soon sleeping the sleep of the just as soundly as if the " Johnnies " were a hundred miles away. The nearness of the enemy and the possi- bility that they might make an attack at any time, made it necessary for me to visit the pickets frequently during the night, and once, while doing so, I found one of the men fast asleep. This was a serious matter, of course, and especially as the Confederates were so near; but as the men had been marching and fighting day and
*. Aug. 21. Rebs charged us and we charged back and took our lines again. They shelled us considerably and then we fell back close to Berryville. Charged into woods ; met First Maryland Cavalry being driven back by rebs; we let the 1st Maryland go through us and then went up on a gallop with raised sabers; when we came within thirty yards of the enemy, every man stopped and opened fire with carbine and revolver. Very hot for a few minutes: a good many horses fell; rebs had to fall back. They tren shelled us from guns we could not see; shells cut the limbs off over our heads. We lismounted, went out on foot. got behind trees and made them git. On the left of the pike, was an open field with an old earthwork. Second Massachusetts Cavairy 'Lowell), charged along with us on the left of the pike, we on the right. The Second Massachusetts had Spencer repeating carbines. They dismounted and got behind the breastworks and the rebs had to get away from their front pretty quick. That evening, we stayed at Rippon .- A. R. McCarthy's diary.
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342 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
night for a week, the wonder was that any one could keep awake. It is hardly necessary to add that I did not report the matter."
Early left Anderson's Corps to guard Winchester and, with the main body of his army, moved down to Bunker Hill on the 19th, where he could more readily forage for supplies and at the same time continue to keep the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad broken.
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