USA > Pennsylvania > The Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry and the Ringgold battalion, 1861-1865; > Part 36
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On this same day, 26th, General Crook, who had been in posi- tion on our left at Halltown, made a reconnaissance with Duvall's Division and part of Thoburn's and Lowell's Cavalry against the enemy in his front and drove two brigades from their intrenched po- sition, capturing nearly one hundred prisoners, including eight officers.
.Grant had been pressing Lee's army south of the James River and telegraphed Sheridan that the enemy's losses in that army dur- ing the past two weeks had been not less than 10,000 in killed and wounded, and that he had good reason for believing that Fitz Lee had been ordered back to the army in front of Richmond. " Watch closely," said Grant, " and if you find this theory correct, push with all vigor."
General Grant's surmises were correct ; Lee was already asking that the cavalry division of Fitzhugh, and also Anderson's Corps be returned to his army, just as soon as Early could spare them. Early's feints at another invasion had failed to draw Sheridan after
* Colonel Greenfield with the other part of our regiment, joined us this day at Hagerstown.
EARLY FALLS BACK. SHERIDAN ADVANCES. 353
him as he (Early) had hoped, only one cavalry division (Wilson's) having been sent into Maryland to reinforce Averill and Custer who were confronting the invaders.
On the 26th, Early fell back with his infantry, reaching Bunker Hill the next day. Fitz Lee, with his cavalry division, fell back to Martinsburg, and on the night of the 26th, Anderson quietly with- drew from Charlestown to Stephenson's Depot.
Next day, 27th, Sheridan's army at Halltown quietly waited and watched developments. Averill remained near Hagerstown all through the day and night of the 27th. Our regiment, 22nd Penn- sylvania Cavalry, was camping together as a full mounted regi- ment for the first time. During this day, they drilled on foot as a full three-battalion regiment, for more than an hour, under com- · mand of Lieutenant Colonel Greenfield.
"On the morning of the 28th, Sheridan's army moved for- . * ward to Charlestown. He had apparently fixed on the Clifton- Berryville line as the true counter position to occupy whenever Early established himself at Bunker Hill; for there he could strike the turnpike south of Winchester, should it become advisable to resume the offensive, or could retire to Halltown, should the enemy be found in too great strength. Toward this line he now moved, yet by grad- ual approaches, as the country was very open and the enemy's pur- poses not fully known. While the infantry advanced from Charles- town, Averill crossed from Hagerstown, through Williamsport to Martinsburg and Wilson also returned south of the Potomac at Shepherdstown, and Custer at Harper's Ferry. Merritt moved for- ward to Leetown, and there finding a cavalry force, handsomely defeated, driving it with the saber to Smithfield and across the Opequan. The next day, two of Early's divisions expelled Merritt from Smithfield and re-established the Confederate cavalry there ; but Rickett's Division of the 6th Corps, being hurried to Merritt's relief, drove out the enemy's troopers and definitely secured the posi- tion for Merritt."
Averill's forces moved forward to Martinsburg on the 29th and lay about there all day, sending out small scouting parties to
* Pond.
Aug. 28, Sabbath. We were brought out into line and orders read to us before breakfast. At eight o'clock, the command moved out, our brigade marching off to the music of the Eighth Ohio Band, and an excellent band it is. We crossed the Potomac Williamsport and marched on until within five miles of Martinsburg and camped. A detachment of forty men from Companies A and C. under command of Lieutenants Lane and Regester was sent to guard Myers Ford and another Ford on the creek, to prevent a flank movement by the enemy. Clint Squires and I were sergeants of the guard .- Sergeant Donaldson's Diary.
354 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
scour the country thereabouts. Our regiment lay close to this town. At midnight, 29th, Major Work, with a squadron of cavalry, made a dash on the rebel pickets, capturing a Major, a Captain and four privates; he would have captured the entire picket post but for the accidental discharge of a pistol by one of our men, who struck his horse over the head with his pistol because the horse stumbled; this happened while we were surrounding the picket post and alarmed the Rebs so that part of them got away.
Lieutenant Lane, with a detachment o1 twenty-five men, went out beyond Leetown and located the enemy's pickets there, returning at dark on the 30th. On this day, Sheridan moved Merritt's and Wilson's Cavalry to Berryville, while Lowell's Brigade took position at Smithfield, this being the beginning of his re-establishing his former Clifton-Berryville position east of the Opequan, to which he brought up his infantry and artillery during the next two or three days, posting his forces in the same relative position as on previous occupation of this line with the 6th Corps on the right, the 8th on his left and 19th in the center. During these days, the enemy did not impede these movements of Sheridan, but had his eye on Averill and Martinsburg.
Averill surmised that Early would again strike the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and kept a sharp watch on his movements. At four o'clock on the morning of the 31st, Averill sent out a scout, consisting of companies A and C of our regiment, in command of Lieutenant Gass, going by the Romney Pike to the Back Road and then up that road to near Darkesville, where the enemy's cavalry were encamped ; we drove in their pickets. Sergeants Kelley and Donaldson, of Company C, with four men, were left to picket the road, while the squadron went out another road and skirmished with some guerrillas. The enemy's camp had been alarmed and sent a force out to drive us off. * We, who were picketing the road, were notified of their coming by clouds of dust rising in the dis- tance; when they came within range we gave them a volley from our carbines, when they halted and fired; then raised a yell and charged on, but another volley from our Spencer repeaters caused another halt and stopped their yells, and while they faltered we kept up a vigorous firing. This attracted the attention of Lieu- tenant Gass and the squadron, who came galloping to us, when the command fell back, returning to camp, reaching there shortly be-
* Donaldson.
355
AVERILL'S DIVISION. DAILY CONFLICTS.
fore noon. Here we found the cavalry in line mustered for pay, but in less than half an hour, about noon, the enemy drove our pickets in double quick, and skirmishing began in earnest. We did not have time to get dinner, the Rebel shells bursting over us before we left camp. Our artillery took position and replied vigorously ; our cavalry formed quickly, the carbineers being put on the skirm- ish line. The enemy's skirmishers were infantry and in strong force. Our squadron was formed on the right of the Williamsport Pike. in the rear of our skirmishers. We were in range of their cannon, and one round shell, apparently as big as my head, lit in front and came bounding right for me. I wheeled my horse to one side and it passed by and would have played havoc with others back of me, but providentially, it struck a stump and bounded thirty feet in the air, over the heads of our men and went on bounding in the rear. The next shell went through under the horses, tearing the legs of Sergeant Nutt's horse. The next minute a piece of shell struck Sergeant D. H. Williams' horse in the mouth, tearing away a large piece of his lip and knocking out four teeth; the horse, though badly injured, carried his rider back to Falling Waters. We fell back slowly before their skirmishers, giving them plenty of balls all the while. The enemy had some guns of large caliber. One shell tore a horse to pieces, but only stripped the flesh from one leg of the rider. We fell back toward Falling Waters slowly, contesting the ground with the enemy, who followed us some distance, but with great caution. A number of our men were wounded, but I know of none being killed. After passing by Fall- ing Waters, we went into camp near Dam No. 5, keeping a skirmish line out all night."
Next morning we moved up to the fording, where we remained all day. Here, ten men of Company - and Company -, with a Sergeant of Company -, had to march about camp for hours, car- rying a rail, while a guard rode after them, being punishment for running from the skirmish line yesterday.
Captain McNulty with the 1st Squadron went five miles to- ward Hagerstown, where he posted and maintained pickets until next day; September 2nd, we were in the saddle again before day- light and marched toward Martinsburg. halting on the way for breakfast for man and horse. Passed through Martinsburg about noon. Two miles above Martinsburg we formed in line of bat- de and threw out skirmishers, our regiment forming on a road out to the right of the pike. Averill had discovered that Rodes' Di-
10
356 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
visions of the enemy that had driven us out of Martinsburg and back to Falling Waters, had rejoined Early, and had been sent with the Confederate wagon-train to Stephenson's Depot, while on this day, September 2nd. Early, somewhat alarmed at the advanced position of Torbert on his right, determined to make a counter movement, and with his infantry and McCasuland's Cavalry, was marching to Summit Point on a reconnaissance, leaving two bri- gades of cavalry about Bunker Hill. Averill was prompt to take advantage of this indiscretion of the enemy, and pushing forward, fell upon " Vaughn's and Johnson's Brigades, which he routed in succession, capturing fifty-five prisoners, two flags, a herd of cat- tle and some loaded wagons."
General Averill, in his report, says: " I crossed the river on the 28th, and advanced to Hainesville, and on the 29th to Martinsburg, driving the enemy's pickets four miles beyond that place, and estab- lishing a picket line across the Valley. This line, being too close to the enemy for his comfort, he advanced Rodes' Division with cavalry and artillery on the 31st, compelling me to retire to Falling Waters, with a loss of forty-eight men killed and wounded. I be- lieved this advance a screen to a retrograde movement, and moved forward on the 2nd of September, without meeting any serious op- position until near Bunker Hill, ten miles from Martinsburg, where I attacked three brigades of the enemy's cavalry under Lomax, routing them and capturing two battle flags, fifty-five prisoners, twenty wagons, one battery forge, a herd of cattle and a quantity of small arms. The enemy had no artillery.
" On the ensuing day, 3rd, the enemy's cavalry attacked me, but were completely beaten and were driven to within five miles of Winchester, where his infantry was encountered. The enemy was pressed again on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, until it was ascertained that he did not intend any further movement up the Valley."
On the 3rd, Early, with the bulk of his army, was reconnoi- tering on the east side of the Opequan down toward Summit Point, as a counter movement to Sheridan's last advance. "Here he learned of the havoc Averill was creating in his rear and this com- pelled him to recross to the west side of the Opequan and mass his troops in the vicinity of Stephenson's Depot, whence he could extend down to Bunker Hill, continue to threaten the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and at the same time cover Winchester." The same day, Sheridan was moving his infantry to take up the Clif- ton-Berryville line, and that afternoon, Wright went into position
a In
357
SEPTEMBER, 1864-EVENTFUL MONTH.
at Clifton, Crook occupied Berryville and Emory's Corps came in between them, forming almost a continuous line. Torbert had moved to White Post, meanwhile, with directions to reconnoiter as far south as the Front Royal Pike. Our infantry had just got fairly into this position about an hour before sunset, when along Crook's front a combat took place that caused Sheridan at the time to believe it was Early's purpose to throw a column between Crook and Torbert, but the fight really arose from the attempt of General Anderson to return to Petersburg with Kershaw's Di- vision, in response to loud calls from General Lee, who was then being sorely pushed by Grant. Anderson started south on the 3rd of September and marched toward Berryville, expecting to cross the Blue Ridge through Ashby's Gap. At Berryville, he blundered into Crook's lines, and a bitter fight ensued, in which the Confederates got much the worst of it and withdrew toward Winchester. Early hurried to Anderson's assistance with three divisions, but soon perceiving what was hitherto unknown to him, that our whole army was on a new line, he decided, after some slight skirmishing that Anderson must remain at Winchester until a favorable opportunity offered for him to rejoin Lee by another route." .
But let us return to the "Twenty-second Ringgold," as Gen- eral Duffee had named our regiment, which we find with the 1st Brigade of Averill's Division not far from Bunker Hill. We quote from Sergeant Donaldson's diary: "Sept. 3. We were in the saddle again before daylight and guarded a supply train of twenty- three wagons up to Averill at Darkesville. Our regiment then marched out to Garrettsville and up five miles on the right flank, where we encountered the Rebel pickets and drove them in. We found that we were cut off from the main command, so we fell back towards Darkesville. Averill had been fighting heavily and had fallen back to Darkesville, but when we got there he had driven the enemy again some four miles to Bunker Hill. Five Hundred Rebel cavalry were in our rear, but fled. At four o'clock, all the skirmish line fell back a mile, except our regiment. We had no time for breakfast or dinner, but made coffee for supper ; had hardly anything to eat, as rations were due us yesterday, but we had no time to draw them. From six o'clock until dark, there is heavy cannonading to the left of Winchester. Sept. 4. Sabbath. Rained heavily through the night. After dark last night, our regi- Hent moved up to Bunker Hill and went on picket. Drew rations this morning. Some canonading in the direction of Berryville this
358 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
morning. At 10 A. M., the whole command moved forward and skirmishing commenced a half mile beyond Bunker Hill, the 1st West Virginia being in the front. Three miles up, the enemy's cavalry made a stand, supported by infantry in strong force. Averill, learning that a heavy cavalry force was flanking him on the left, fell back to Bunker Hill, where we took supper and fed. At five o'clock we advanced again in columns of squadrons at proper distance apart, to form a continuous line when so ordered. The Rebs had fallen back several miles, but we found them after dark about four miles from Winchester. After putting the enemy in commotion, Averill again fell back four miles and camped for the night. The men lay on the ground with their horses tied to their legs or arms. Our Company C, was on picket during the night two miles to the right of the pike, on the middle Winchester Road. Next day, September 5th, skirmishing was kept up in front most of the day. At four o'clock, Averill moved forward again, our squadron, Companies C and D on the extreme right, moving up also. We met the Johnnies and fought their skirmishers a while. Averill, two miles east of us, was fighting fiercely, judging by the heavy artillery and musketry firing. We soon discovered by the report of the guns that Averill was falling back rapidly before the enemy's infantry. We then fell back several miles amidst a heavy shower of rain. Major Work, in command of the squadron, sta- tioned a picket of eight men to guard the road, while he went into camp with the squadron. Shortly he received a dispatch that he was being cut off by a stronger force of Rebel cavalry that had got in our rear and by a camp on the pike opposite us; we had mistaken this camp for Averill's.
" The night was terribly dark, the roads bad and a heavy rain drenching us, but we got through to a point opposite Averill at Bunker Hill, with the loss of two men captured, Barnett and an- other. Our escape was remarkable and due to the intense darkness, for when Major Work received the message that he was sur- .rounded. he expected to have to cut his way out or be captured. Sergeant W. R. Galbraith, of Company C, with ten men, was sent back to Whitehall with a dispatch to a Lieutenant left there. We built large fires to warm and dry us, as we were soaking wet and chilled."
Early was not aware of Sheridan's new position, reaching . from Berryville down to and below Clifton, until the 4th, when he found our force strongly posted and entrenching. He kept shifting
·
GAME OF WAR. MOVE AND COUNTERMOVE. 359
his forces from one flank to the other. He used Rodes' Division of infantry with his cavalry against Averill so frequently that we would naturally suppose that he was in our front all the time; it was Rodes that drove us back on the 3rd, yet we learn from the Confederate records that on the 4th, " Rodes, Gordon and Ramseur marched to Berryville to the support of Anderson, who had butted into Crook on the previous evening. Gordon remained to guard the approaches to Winchester, while Rodes, Wharton and Ramseur marched back to Stephenson's on the afternoon of the 5th by the same route they came-Rodes, who was in front, reaching there just in time to form on the right of their cavalry, which was falling back before Averill's forces, and aid in driving the latter back sev- eral miles through a drenching rain."
Next day, 6th, we find Averill's force still forming a line across the Valley at Bunker Hill, our second squadron of the 22nd Penn- sylvania, Companies C and D picketing on our extreme right, Com- pany C relieving a detachment of 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry. There were occasional skirmishes with parties of the enemy.
The next day, 7th, about noon, brisk skirmishing commenced in our front, becoming very sharp along the center. We (the 1st Squadron) were relieved by Major Troxell, with Captain Chess- rown's Squadron, after which we came back to camp, across the creek from Bunker Hill. Late in the day, we marched back and camped below Darkesville after dark.
Meanwhile Sheridan had rearranged his line somewhat, bring- ing Crook and also Merritt and Custer to his right, and on the Sth, moving Averill's whole force to Leetown, east of the Opequan, excepting one brigade of the latter, kept on picket across the Valley.
The position of the cavalry was now as follows: Wilson, cover- ing our left from Snicker's Gap to where the Berryville Pike crosses the Opequan. From the latter point to Smithfield, covered by Mer- ritt's Division. From Smithfield to Martinsburg, covered by Averill's Division. This disposition was made to more fully pro- tect Sheridan's lines of communication. On the afternoon of the 8th our regiment, except those on picket, moved across the Opequan to Smithfield. September 9th was rather quiet. Sheridan sent a force out toward Brucetown and burned some mills, when the enemy under Wharton went out to drive them back. A force of the enemy is at Bunker Hill. The first squadron of our regiment under Captain Hart is at Martinsburg. Our 1st Brigade, under Colonel Schoonmaker, moved across to the Martinsburg Pike at eight
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
o'clock. Our regiment camped this night three miles above Mar- tinsburg.
FIGHT AT DARKESVILLE.
On the 11th, a strong force of the enemy, with Rodes in front, advanced down the Valley, preceded by Lomax's Cavalry. Our brigade marched up to Darkesville, where we engaged them. Part . of the 8th Ohio Cavalry was deployed in front as skirmishers, and after a sharp fight these skirmishers were driven back. Our regi- ment then charged and drove the Rebs back; our second squadron followed too far and came near being cut off, but escaped by turn- ing toward Leetown. The enemy shelled us briskly, but did little damage. We had no artillery. Our brigade fell back. The enemy's cavalry came on down the Pike and two regiments en- tered Martinsburg. Our brigade took position on the hills by Mar- tinsburg. Our train came on by way of Leetown and joined us at night. The enemy had a strong force of infantry and eight pieces of artillery in addition to their cavalry. Several men of our regi- ment were wounded and Cephas Wiley, of Company D, was shot through the breast and killed. The Old Battalion of our regi- ment was highly complimented for the charge they made.
The Confederate infantry returned to Bunker Hill the same night (11th) and their cavalry to Darkesville. Our brigade re- mained at Martinsburg, doing heavy picket duty for many miles across the Valley until the 13th, when Averill was ordered to make a reconnaissance up the Valley, which he did with the main body of his division; he drove the enemy's cavalry through and beyond Bunker Hill, where he found their infantry in position. We lay at Darkesville that night, and the next day, 14th, at noon, the 1st Brigade returned to Martinsburg and the 2nd Brigade to Leetown. Our regiment camped again in our old place on the hill north of town; strong pickets are kept posted across the Valley, requiring heavy details from our regiment.
During these first two weeks of September, the opposing forces faced each other across the Opequan ; there was considerable maneu- vering and some minor engagements. Early was keeping up a show of aggressive movements to occupy the attention of our forces while he was endeavoring to stealthily send away Anderson's Corps of infantry and Cutshaw's artillery, to rejoin Lee's army before Richmond. without Sheridan discovering the same.
" The most brilliant of these minor operations was executed by General McIntosh on the 13th. who, taking his fine brigade,
361
DRAWING TO A CRISIS. SEPT., '64.
comprising the 2nd Ohio, 3rd New Jersey, 5th and 2nd New York, and 1st Connecticut regiments of cavalry and a section of M Battery, 2nd United States Artillery, proceeded on the 13th, by order of General Wilson, to reconnoiter the Berryville Pike. On his way he captured about thirty dismounted cavalry and then pressing on toward Winchester, caught sight of an infantry line in his front and charged it. The enemy broke and made for a piece of woods, which McIntosh surrounded, there capturing the 8th South Carolina Infantry, Colonel Hanagan, of Kershaw's command, with its battle- flag. The remainder of Kershaw's Division, which was not far away, hurried forward, but McIntosh sounded the recall and was off in season."
In the meantime, Grant had extended his lines in front of Lee's army, throwing his right north of the James River, thus menacing Richmond, and pushing his left on out to the Weldon Railroad, capturing that. Lee was thus obliged to extend his lines, which, with his army depleted by recent heavy losses as well as by the loss of the troops he had sent to reinforce Early, was a most difficult problem -- the only solution of which seemed to be the recall of Anderson's Corps with Cutshaw's Artillery, which had been attempted on the 3rd, as we have seen. Now, on the 14th, these troops are started south, departing in great secrecy and going by way of Chester Gap. These troops had reinforced Early on the 14th of August, when Sheridan had pushed him back to Fisher's Hill, and was about to engage him in a general battle, but on being notified of the strong reinforcements about to arrive, in obedience to Grant's advice, Sheridan assumed the defensive which he had maintained for one month, watching for the time when Early would be obliged to return troops to Lee at Richmond.
The people of Maryland and Pennsylvania had been in a constant state of fear from another possible invasion, owing to the continued occupation of the lower Valley by Early's army; the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, so much needed for the transporta- tion of supplies for the Army of the Potomac, as well as for the cities of Baltimore and Washington, had been broken up and lying idle for many weeks. These causes had excited considerable complaint in the localities affected and had brought much pressure to bear on the War Department and upon General Sheridan, him- +elf. to drive the Confederate army out of the Valley. Sheridan wanted to fight Early, but did not propose to be influenced to do so by public clamor, nor until a favorable opportunity offered. While
362 TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
he had been waiting these few weeks for Early to detach troops for Lee's army, he and Grant had been discussing the situation and seriously considering making an attack within a few days. Neither Sheridan nor Grant knew certainly of the departure of Anderson and Cutshaw at this time.
On the 15th, Sheridan wrote Grant as follows: "There is yet no indication of Early's detaching. It seems impossible to get at the enemy's cavalry. It is in poor condition and is kept in, close on their infantry."
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