USA > Pennsylvania > The Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry and the Ringgold battalion, 1861-1865; > Part 8
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August 21. 1862. Clear and very warm. I arose very early, bade a sad farewell to my sisters and came with my father in the buggy to West Middletown to leave for the war. We got to town at six o'clock. A large crowd gathered to see us off. Captain Work had gone to see Captain John Keys and did not return until
* Sergeant Samuel Donaldson kept a very full diary which has been of great value in furnishing details, fixing dates, giving the itinerary of the com-
Sergeant Samuel Donaldson.
mand, etc. We have used many of the daily records from this diary, which the reader will appreciate more by knowing something of the man. He enlisted in August, 1862, when he was about 2S years of age. He was tall. fair, with blue eyes and dark brown hair, with a highly nervous temperament and splendid physical courage. He was almost always assigned to the most dangerous and responsible positions : on the scout, he was with the advance guard, or if the com- mand was hard pressed on the retreat, he was with the rear-guard. He was ever foraging, but always managed to have money and paid for what he got. His mess never suffered for food if there was anything to eat in the neighborhood. He seldom had any difficulty in getting a pass to the country, for the officers knew him to be honest and upright and amply able to take care of himself. He made a great many acquaintances among the citizens both within and out- side the lines, and whenever the command would be in the neighborhood of families with whom he had formerly become acquainted, he would be sure to call. He was very fond of respectable ladies and was so frank and chivalrous toward them that he was gener- ally a welcome visitor. He had great reverence for the Sabbath, and in his diary seldom failed to dis- tinguish that day as " Holy Sabbath," and when he attended preaching service. he invariably gave the chanter and verse of the minister's text. He died in 1508.
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THE BOYS OF '62.
nine o'clock. In the meantime, the assembly was addressed from Odenbaugh's porch, by Rev. T. N. Boyle, who made a telling speech. Captain Work then arrived, took the stand and announced that owing to the fact that Pittsburgh and Harrisburg were just now overcrowded with soldiers, we would not leave until the 26th. He urged every volunteer to go out and recruit, as we were to raise another company of cavalry and a company of artillery for our regiment.
August 26. Walked to West Middletown. By six o'clock a large crowd had gathered again, to see the boys off. Rev. Camp- bell Mckeever delivered a farewell address and Rev. J. T. Brown- lee pronounced the benediction. At nine o'clock, after taking leave of our friends, we left for Washington in ten wagons. The part- ing was affecting, indeed; tears rolled down the furrowed cheek of the old man as he grasped the hand of his boy, perhaps for the last time, with a "God bless you!" The lovely girls looked more lovely as the tears trickled down their rosy cheeks. Our procession of wagons arrived in Washington at noon, led by the Middletown Band. which cheered us with spirited music. A free dinner was given us by John Hall, proprietor of the Fulton House.
I got twenty photographs taken at Youngs; they are good. I gave away thirteen of them in a few minutes and ordered ten more. At three o'clock, we, together with a company from Prosperity, left in seventeen wagons for Beallsville, reaching that place at dark. We cheered all the ladies along the road until our throats were sore. At eight o'clock, we marched into the back yard of the Guttery House, where we ate our supper standing around board tables and drinking coffee from tin cups. Our company was lodged in the schoolhouse, sleeping on benches and on the floor.
August 28. Our company and several other companies drilled to-day and marched through the town several times to the music of six fifes, ten kettle-drums and five bass drums. A large number of people have come in from the surrounding country. We were marched to a grove on top of a hill, where a speakers' stand had been erected. Patriotic speeches were delivered by Reverends Miller and Wilson and by Messrs. Hopkins, Glenn. Day and Robert Welch. A large number of people were assembled here, and among them many pretty ladies. Robert Welch, a member of our company, is a graduate of Jefferson College, and has attended theological semi- nary one year ; he is undoubtedly a man of superior talent ; his speech to-day, purely extemporaneous, thrilled the audience.
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
August 29. We had another impromptu meeting this evening in front of the hotel, when Webster French and Joseph Hunter of our company made splendid speeches from the porch, and we sang war songs.
August 30. The company elected officers to-day. George T. Work was unanimously elected Captain and Caleb J. McNulty unanimously elected First Lieutenant. There were three candidates for Second Lieutenant, S. C. Work, Win. Rose and Robert Welch. The vote was so divided up, that a second ballot was necessary, when Rose was elected.
On the same afternoon, the company marched to Washington and went into camp in the old Fair Grounds, now (1910) the W. & J. College Athletic Grounds. Captain Young's Beallsville Cavalry also joined this camp. Camping here at the same time were Cap- tain David Acheson's Company and Captain Wm. A. F. Stockton's Company, later known as Companies C and K, of the 140th. Penn- sylvania Infantry. The Keystone Company was mustered into the United States service on September 6th, by Captain Ludington, of the Regular Army ; Wm. Rose did not report for muster, and Rob- ert Welch was elected Second Lieutenant and mustered in at this time.
Two days later, September 8th, the command moved by railroad to rendezvous and equipment camp on Wheeling Island, where the men were armed, equipped, mounted and subjected to rigorous drill- ing during their stay. On October 13th, the company, men and horses, shipped by railroad to Clarksburg, Va., where they remained a week, when, with Keys's Company and Young's Company, they marched to New Creek, and became a part of the Ringgold Battalion.
THE BEALLSVILLE CAVALRY. COMPANY D, 22ND P. V. C.
This company was recruited with headquarters at Beallsville, Washington County, Pa. Two cavalry companies had already been recruited from this vicinity in the summer of 1861, but the com- munity was intensely loyal and when a call came for more volun- teers and recruiting was going on briskly in other sections of the county during August, 1862, there were enough patriots still in the Beallsville community to form a strong nucleus of another cavalry company. All that was needed was a leader.
Harvey H. Young. of Beallsville, had enlisted in the Ringgold Cavalry Company as a private, and gone out to war in 1861. He was a good soldier and had been promoted to Corporal. In August,
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THE BOYS OF '62.
1862, he was sent to Wheeling in charge of some prisoners and given a furlough to come home. He arrived at Beallsville when recruiting for cavalry was at high tide. A number of small squads had been assembled in that region with the intention of joining some company that was being recruited. The other companies filled up rapidly and offered but little inducement in the way of promotion to the leaders of these squads. While they were looking about for a com- mand in which to enlist, Corporal Young, right from the front with more than a year's active service to his credit, dropped into the village. He was immediately called upon and requested to head a movement for the formation of another cavalry company, to which he consented.
The first enlistments in this new company were at Beallsville on August 16th. F. H. Crago and David M. Snyder went up to the neighborhood of Carmichaels in Greene County and enlisted up- wards of twenty men for the company; some ten or twelve men from Fayette County came over and joined. Within two weeks, the company was filled to the maximum and organized by electing Harvey H. Young, Captain ; Hugh Keys, First Lieutenant, and F. H. Crago Second Lieutenant.
On the 2nd day of September, 1862, the company left Bealls- ville with 101 men and three officers.
This company, known as the Beallsville Cavalry, camped in the old Fair Grounds at Washington with the Keystone Cavalry, and the men and officers were mustered into the United States service on the 6th of September, by Captain Ludington, of the Regular Army. They shipped to Wheeling on the 8th, and went into camp on the Island, where they remained one month, during which they were armed, equipped, mounted and drilled. On the 10th of October, the company moved by railroad to Clarksburg, West Va., where they camped with the Ringgold Cavalry. On the 19th of October, the three companies, Ringgold, Beallsville and Keystone, broke camp at Clarksburg and marched overland for New Creek.
MITCHNER'S INDEPENDENT CAVALRY. COMPANY E, 22ND P. V. C.
Company E was raised at Monongahela, Pa., during Septem- ber, 1862, and was recruited and marched for rendezvous camp at Wheeling Island within ten days of its inception. the interesting story of which is as follows :
On Thursday evening, September 11, 1862, Dr. W. M. Mitch- ner, of Monongahela, proposed to James Y. Chessrown, a merchant
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
of that place, that they raise a company of cavalry and join the army. The matter was favorably considered by Mr. Chessrown, and it was arranged that they go to Washington, Pa., that night to see Captain John Keys, who had authority from the Governor to recruit several companies of cavalry. Closing his store at the usual hour, Chessrown, with Mitchner, in the latter's buggy behind a spirited team, drove to Washington, twenty miles; arriving there late in the night, they aroused Captain Keys from his sleep and obtained the desired authority, whereupon, they returned imme- diately to Monongahela, opened a recruiting office next morning, September 12th, and ten days later, September 22nd, with a full company, marched for Wheeling, where they arrived next day and went into camp. In the meantime, an election for officers was held, resulting as follows: Dr. W. M. Mitchner, Captain ; James Y. Chessrown, First Lieutenant ; Robert S. H. Keys, Second Lieutenant.
Here, the energy that had characterized their movements up to this time, met with a decided check when they came in contact with the machinery of the Government, for they had to wait twenty days before being mustered into the service. On the 25th of October, mounted and equipped, the command left Wheeling and marched for New Creek, Va., following the National Road most of the way. Ar- rived at their destination on the evening of October 30th, where they found the Ringgold, Keystone and Beallsville cavalry companies and went into camp with them.
Dr. Mitchner resigned April 1, 1863, when Lieutenant Chess- rown was promoted to Captain and commanded the company for the next two years and his name became so identified with this troop that throughout the regiment it was generally called "Chessrown's Company."
THE PATTON CAVALRY. COMPANY F, 22ND P. V. C.
The Patton Independent Cavalry was recruited in Washing- ton and Greene counties during August and September, 1862. The leading spirits in raising this company were Andrew J. Barr. of Zollarsville, in the southeastern corner of Washington County, and Benjamin W. Denny, of Waynesburg, Greene County. Barr had been a student at Washington College and afterward taught school ; Denny was a practising physician in Waynesburg, having received his education at the college in that town.
The President's call for " three-hundred thousand more " volun- teers appealed to these patriotic young men, and each proceeded to
---
Lieut. Robert C. Welch.
Lieut. F. H. Crago.
Lieut. James B. Gibson.
Lieut. B. F. Hassan.
Lieut. R. S. H. Keys.
Lieut. Joseph J. Lane.
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THE BOYS OF '62.
recruit for a cavalry company in his own locality. In a short time they joined forces, forming the Patton Cavalry. The first rendez- vous was made at Washington, where headquarters were established at the Valentine Hotel, September 5th, the proprietor of the hotel, George T. Hammond, later becoming a lieutenant in the company. Here recruiting was actively continued and an organization effected by the election of Andrew J. Barr, captain; Benjamin W. Denny, First Lieutenant, and George T. Hammond, Second Lieutenant. On the 22nd of September, the company removed to the large ren- dezvous camp at Wheeling Island, to be mounted, equipped and drilled. They were mustered into the United States service for three years on the 14th of October, and on the second week of November, were ordered to New Creek, Va., where they joined. the other com- panies of the Ringgold Battalion on the 13th. Their history thence- forth is found with the history of the Battalion and of the Regiment.
The name " Patton Cavalry " was soon forgotten and during their service with the Ringgold Battalion, they were called "Barr's Company," and later, when the regiment was organized, were desig- nated Company F.
THE LAFAYETTE CAVALRY. COMPANY G, 22ND P. V. C.
This company was recruited largely in the vicinity of Browns- ville, by Alexander V. Smith, late in the summer of 1862. He maintained headquarters in the old Town Hall at Brownsville until the number of enlistments warranted a company organization, when with his men, he proceeded to Washington, about October 1st, and went into camp in the old Fair Grounds. Here he was joined by William F. Speer, of Bellevernon, with some sixteen recruits from that locality. This addition filled the company to near the required quota and they were mustered into the United States service for three years or during the war. The company now proceeded to the large rendezvous camp at Wheeling Island for drill and equipment. Here they were joined by Frank B. Smith, of the Ringgold Cavalry Company, who had secured a transfer to this new company. An election of officers resulted in the choice of Alexander V. Smith as Captain ; his younger brother, Frank B. Smith, First Lieutenant, and William F. Speer. Second Lieutenant. The command remained here until about the last of November, when they were sent for- ward to New Creek, and on December 21st, joined the other com- panies at Romney.
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
Georg
MARYLAN
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NORTH
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, POTOMAC
QUEEN'S
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Hammack's Gap
O
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Pattersons
Ridgeville
NORTH WESTERN
Burlington
PIKE
NEW CREEK .- THE FIRST CAMP OF THE BATTALION.
On the 19th of October, 1862, the three cavalry companies- Keys', Work's and Young's-which had been camping together at Clarksburg, Va., received orders to proceed to New Creek, Va. They marched together in one body and arrived at New Creek on the 22nd, where they encamped together about a mile above the sta- tion. Mitchener's Company arrived a few days afterward. Barr's Company came on November 10th. All these joined the camp al- ready established. and operated together as one organization or command.
The organization of the Ringgold Battalion was a tentative affair, simply an agreement among the officers of the different com- panies to operate together as one body. The War Department did not authorize the organization. Efforts were made at different times to have this done, so that an officer of higher rank might be
·
THUNDER
73
THE RINGGOLD BATTALION.
appointed to command the body, but the efforts resulted in failure. The War Department, however, in a way did recognize the Ringgold Battalion ; in official mention, in orders assigning to duty, in mus- tering for pay, and in other ways, the organization was recognized as a unit.
For convenience, the several companies forming the Battalion were given letter names: the Ringgold Company was known as Company A; Captain Greenfield's Company, then stationed at an- other outpost, did not join the battalion, so that Captain Work's Company, the next in seniority, became Company B; Captain Young's Company, C: Captain Chessrown's Company, D, etc., etc. When the regiment was formed in March, 1864, the Old Ringgold Company still retained its letter name (A), by virtue of its seniority ; Greenfield's Company, next in rank, then became Company B; each of the other companies was moved back a letter, Work's Company now becoming C; Young's Company, D; Chessrown's Company, E, etc., etc. To avoid the confusion that this change of name causes, we have throughout this book, designated each company by its regi- mental-letter name; Company "C" always means Work's troop; " E," Chessrown's troop, etc., both in the Battalion and Regimental chapters.
Here at the beginning of our experience as soldiers, a wise sys- tem of making details was adopted, which operated very much to the advantage of the new men. When a force less than the whole battalion was called out for scout, picket or other duty. a detail was made from each company for its proportionate part ; in this way, the new troops were seldom sent out by themselves, but generally with men and officers who had " seen service," an advantage possible at this stage of the war, that was not possible at the beginning. In each expedition sent out, there was a sprinkling of officers and men who had been under fire many times. These scattered through the command were a great source of strength and confidence to the new men. But to the Old Ringgold Company (later known as Company A) we were more largely indebted than to any other cause, for the rapidity with which we learned to discharge the duties of a soldier. They were well acquainted with the surrounding country-its roads, mountain paths, short cuts. streams, fords, lookouts, etc., etc., a knowledge of which was all-important in opposing the native Con- federate Rangers, with whom we were in constant warfare.
At New Creek, the river ( North branch of the Potomac) makes a sharp bend to the south, reaching well out toward the "enemy's
...
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
country." Unprotected, it was the most assailable point on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Properly garrisoned with a small force of infantry and a battery of artillery and made a base for an efficient force of cavalry well acquainted with the surrounding country, it was the most strategic point on the railroad west of Martinsburg. The military post here was maintained for the double purpose of protecting this exposed point of the railroad, and as an important frontier outpost from which to watch the movements of the enemy within a radius of sixty miles to the south and east. The region about Moorfield was a favorite rendezvous for the enemy when contemplating raids upon the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
THE NEW MEN MEET THE ENEMY.
The new companies were now in the enemy's country, and their active duties as soldiers began at once.
After the defeat of Pope's army at Manassas on August 30th, the enemy had undisputed possession of the Shenandoah Valley as far north as the Potomac River, until November.
The great Confederate Army had been camping about Winches- ter and Martinsburg, subsisting largely upon the Valley. As a result, that region became pretty bare of animals and grain, and the quar- termaster's department found it necessary to push their foraging expeditions farther over into Hardy and Hampshire counties, to gather up herds of cattle and droves of hogs for the army.
On October 27, 1862, after dark, Lieutenant James P. Hart, with a detachment of thirty cavalry, started out and marched all night, returning next day (28th) at noon, giving out the report that they had accomplished nothing. But it is significant to note that the following day, a scout consisting of Keys', Work's and Young's companies of cavalry, and a section of Rourke's Battery, marched out in the direction of Greenland Gap. Next day (30th) this force struck a body of the enemy at Lunice Creek, routing them and capturing sixteen prisoners, and also capturing 170 head of cattle and ten horses, which were being driven off to supply the Confederate Army. This was the first trip for Work's and Young's companies, who returned with the prisoners and the .spoils, and were much elated at having met and helped to rout the enemy and capture his herd.
75
THE RINGGOLD BATTALION.
ROUT IMBODEN'S CAMP AND CAPTURE HIS DROVE.
General Kelley, with headquarters at Cumberland, kept a vig- ilant watch over the large mountainous counties of Hardy and Hampshire. Cavalry scouts were almost continually scouring the country in search of the enemy, and of information as to his whereabouts and intentions. Some of these scouts covered long distances and were gone for a number of days at a time. Early in November, it was learned that a considerable force of the enemy under command of General Imboden, was encamped in the moun- tains south of Moorfield. General Kelley proceeded to organize a . force to go out and rout him. He sent Captain Greenfield, with his company, directly from Cumberland, while he went to New Creek, and with Captain Keys and the Ringgold Battalion, Rourke's Bat- tery and some infantry, set out on the Sth of November for Im- boden's camp. On this march, they were joined by a battalion of the 1st New York Cavalry. They marched all day and all night, pelted by an early snow storm. Sergeant S. G. Rogers of Green- field's Company, tells the story as follows :
" We went to Frankfort the first day, and from there to Bur- lington, and thence to Moorfield Junction on the second day, where we fell in with General Kelley and his force.
" We fed our horses and got supper at the Junction, and then the whole force moved on, we taking the advance. We arrived near Moorfield about one o'clock in the morning. A detachment of cavalry was ordered to dismount and make a detour around the town and close in on the different roads, the main body halting to allow us time to get around. This was to trap any Rebels that might be in the town, but, as we afterward learned, they knew we were coming, and-we did not bag any game.
" Our halt there was very short, and by two o'clock, we were moving on up the South Fork into a very wild and mountainous country. Just at daylight, we struck Imboden's camp, and had quite a skirmish. The rebels soon retreated, leaving their quar- ters on fire. The road led along a narrow valley with mountains on both sides, a mountain stream winding along among large syca- mores and underbrush. We followed them for a mile or so when we came to a place where the road crossed the creek and went around a spur of the mountain ; Captain Greenfield was in command of the advance guard. It was evident to him that if the enemy intended to make a stand, here was the strong position they were
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TWENTY-SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY.
falling back to, and they were probably behind the hill waiting for us; he, therefore, halted the advance, until the other troops came up nearer. We then started on single file, crossed the creek and advanced around the point of the mountain, when the rebels opened fire on us from a concealed position. Captain Greenfield was in front, Joseph Hill next, and I followed. The Captain's horse took fright at the firing, became unmanageable and dashed off through the brush toward the rebels; he made a circle around and got back by clearing a fence. The advance guard fell back out of range, then with others, formed a line across the creek in the open space and moved up, firing. The enemy were concealed, and soon their fire began to take effect, wounding several of our men .* We then fell back under shelter of the hill until Rourke's Battery came and began to drop twelve-pound shells among the enemy who took up the side of the mountain, in great haste, followed by our shells as long as they could be seen."
General Kelley briefly reported the expedition as follows:
" MOORFIELD, HARDY CO.,. VA., Nov. 11, 1862.
"I left New Creek on Saturday morning, the Sth instant, and after a continuous march of 24 hours, a distance of about 60 miles, reached Imboden's camp on the South Fork, 18 miles south of this place, at 6:30 o'clock yesterday morning. We attacked him at once and routed him completely, killing and wounding many of the enemy, capturing his camp, 50 prisoners, a quantity of arms, 350 fat hogs, a large number of horses, cattle, wagons, etc. Their infantry were routed and entirely dispersed, fleeing to the mountains. Their cavalry were unfortunately far away on an expedition, or our suc- cess would have been complete. We burned their camp and re- turned to this place this evening.
" I have with me a detachment of the First New York Cavalry, the Ringgold Battalion under command of Captain Keys, the Wash- ington Cavalry commanded by Captain Greenfield, Rourke's Battery and three companies of the 23rd Illinois Infantry under command of Major Moore. The infantry companies are carried in wagons. My troops cannot be surpassed for patient endurance on the march, or for gallant bearing when in action. Our attack was so unex-
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