USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > A history of the Laurel brigade, originally the Ashby cavalry of the Army of northern Virginia and Chew's battery > Part 10
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So far McClellan.
It was Company B of the Twelfth, Lieut. Milton Rouss in command, and only fifteen to twenty men, who first reached the crest of the hill and charged and received the counter- charge of Wyndham and the First New Jersey. .
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Sergt. George Lewis and Privates Upshur Manning and Warner Mckown of Company B were killed and four others of the company wounded in this encounter.
In referring to this charge, McClellan in a footnote, page 272, says :
"The result of this charge was always a matter of mortifica- tion to this gallant regiment and its leader. It is but just that I should say even at this day, that the whole responsibility rested with me and not with Colonel Harman. The Colonel was not aware of the extreme urgency of the case, and his regi- ment was only advancing at a trot. Seeing this I rode down the hill to meet him and ordered the gallop, and put him into the fight in the disorderly manner narrated. I have, however, always believed that the circumstances justified the sacrifice of this regiment; for had Colonel Wyndham obtained undisputed possession of the summit, with time to make arrangements for holding it, the subsequent fighting would probably have had a different result."
For a moment only the enemy was checked, though por- tions of the Twelfth came gallantly to the aid of their leader. Forced back by the onward sweep of Wyndham's squadrons, the head of the Twelfth was shattered, but fought in the general mêlée with the supports that came up.
It was now White's turn. The long gallop had dis- arranged his column, but he paused for a moment to make a hasty formation before assailing the foe. While Harman's assault had failed, it had not been fruitless, for it broke the solidity of the Federal front. Wyndham having his regi- ment in squadron formation, charged en masse to meet the assault of Harman's unorganized handful. The enemy's array was no longer compact. His squadrons in the tumult of battle were separated.
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White, seizing his opportunity, hurled three of his com- panies under Major Ferneyhough against the foe on his right, and the other two companies he led against a body of troops on his left.
A part of Hampton's brigade now participated in the con- test for the possession of the hill, and there was charging and countercharging, squadrons broken and again reformed, the gallant spirits on both sides refusing to yield.
White, having driven off the troops on his left, returned to find the hill again in possession of the Federals.
Meantime Harman, who had not been idle a moment, having reformed his regiment, united with White in another desperate effort to take the hill. The bluecoats were hard to move, but their steady valor yielded to the impetuous rush of the Confederates.
Harman, chafing under his recent repulse, raged like a lion in the combat that ensued. Dashing at the leader of the Federal horse, he engaged him in a personal encounter and was severely wounded.
The brave hearts of the Twelfth and White's Battalion . pressed forward, dealing vigorous blows, and the enemy, yielding to the fierce assault, finally gave way and abandoned the hill.
During the contest for the position the Federals had been greatly aided by a battery posted at the foot of the hill lying eastward. It became necessary now to drive away or cap- ture this battery. White was ordered to charge it. Hastily reforming his men, and reinforced by a company of the Sixth Virginia, he rode at the guns.
Across an open plain for 300 yards, exposed to a murder- ous fire, the bold horsemen galloped. The cavalry supports
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of the battery delivered steady volleys, while the brave can- noneers poured grape and canister into the ranks of their assailants. As nearer they came the more rapid and deadly were the discharges.
Could they live under such a fire? The smoke partly obscured the issue, but through the rifts were seen the charg- ing horsemen bearing down upon the foe. Once more the cannons blazed forth, and now, mid flame and smoke, White and his men were seen among the guns. Some fought hand to hand with the brave artillerists, while others dashed at the cavalry supports. These soon gave way and broke in full retreat. But the gunners were unconquered and refused to yield, using their small arms against the cavalrymen.
White, sending a portion of his men after the broken cavalry supports, with about twenty troopers turned back and galloped to the guns, around which was raging a hand- to-hand conflict.
"There was no demand for a surrender or offer to do so until nearly all the men, with many of their horses, were either killed or wounded."8
The capture of the guns was not yet accomplished, for help for the gallant artillerists was near at hand. Bodies of Federal horse bore down upon White and almost surrounded him. The dearly won prize was wrenched from his grasp, and he was forced to cut his way out through the ranks of the bluecoats to avoid losing heavily.
Once more the guns were in the hands of the Federals, but most of those who had manned them lay dead or dying near by. Around the now silent guns stood a body of Fed- eral horse. To the right and left the battle was still raging.
8White's Report.
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A HISTORY OF THE LAUREL BRIGADE 143
General Jones, who, as we have seen, remained near St. James' Church with only the Eleventh and his artillery, had been ordered to take part with his troops in the fight at Fleetwood Hill. He reached the field just as White had been driven away from the guns of Captain Martin's battery.
The Eleventh, under Col. L. Lomax,9 was now ordered to charge. As with well-closed columns it swept across the ridge, a galling fire of small arms greeted it, for the other section of Captain Martin's battery near the Miller house was still intact.
The fighting of Hampton's regiment had almost by this time cleared the hill east of Stuart's headquarters, and they were still engaged when the Eleventh reached the scene of strife.
With steady gallop the Eleventh went forward, passing through the guns that White had been compelled to sur- render, taking them and many of the cavalry prisoners.10
Now dividing his force, Lomax sent "Capt. E. H. McDonald with a squadron after the fugitives east of the railroad, while with the remainder of his regiment he assailed three regiments of cavalry awaiting him near the depot, which force he completely routed."11
The fighting around the station and along the railroad east of it was stubborn, and it was not until after repeated charges of the men of the Eleventh that the Federals gave way.
:
9Genl. L. L. Lomax, colonel of the Eleventh Virginia Cavalry, Laurel Brigade; frequently by seniority in command of the brigade. A dashing and successful officer, promoted to brigadier-general, and later to major-general, commanding a division of Cavalry Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
1º Lomax's Report.
11 Jones' Report.
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Gregg was now totally discomfited and withdrew his troops, going off, however, at "his own gait" to make con- nection with Buford at Beverly Ford.
Mention here should be made of a charge of the Sixth that occurred about the same time White was charging the right section of Captain Martin's battery. The Sixth, under Major Flournoy, joined Hampton in his attack upon Gregg's right. Being ordered by Hampton to move quickly in the direction of Brandy Station, while on his way he received orders from General Stuart to cut off 300 Federals who were near the Miller house.12
These he soon routed, but was suddenly attacked in the flank and forced to retire towards the Miller house. Here a Federal battery was discovered, which opened furiously upon the retreating Confederates.
The gallant Sixth, now almost surrounded, charged the battery, rode up to the muzzles of the guns and captured them.
Here also the artillerists bravely defended the pieces with their revolvers, and speedily aided by a heavy force of . Federal cavalry, drove off the men of the Sixth.13
The Eleventh now went towards Stevensburg to guard against another attack from that direction, while the Twelfth, Sixth, and Seventh regiments were from this time on held in reserve, alternately supporting the artillery at Miller's house and reinforcing Genl. W. F. Lee on our extreme left.14 :
When Jones and Hampton withdrew their brigades to meet Gregg's attack at the Fleetwood house Buford, who
12Flournoy's Report.
13Flournoy's Report.
14Jones' Report.
الحمـ
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GENL. L. L. LOMAX
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had marched from Beverly Ford, had apparently nothing in his front to prevent his advancing and attacking Jones and Hampton in their rear.
Just at that time, fortunately for Stuart, Genl. W. F. Lee was threatening Buford's right flank, and thus prevented a movement which might have proved disastrous to the Con- federate arms. Indeed from the time that Gregg made his appearance beyond Fleetwood Hill and fired his first cannon shots at what he supposed was a Confederate force near Stuart's headquarters, to the time when he was driven from Fleetwood Hill, not much over thirty minutes had elapsed, although Jones and Hampton were more than a mile away when the ominous roar of Gregg's guns first attracted their attention.
Buford, therefore, had not much time in which to make his arrangements for an advance, menaced as he was by Genl. W. F. Lee, and before anything could be done Gregg was beaten and retiring towards the Rappahannock.
Stuart now formed a new line, and in the evening there was heavy fighting between Buford's and W. F. Lee's troops, Jones' brigade, except a part of the Seventh, being held in reserve.
In this battle the Confederates lost 523 officers and enlisted men, while the loss of the Federals was 936. The Confederates captured 486 prisoners, three pieces of artil- lery, and six regimental and company flags. There were on the field or near it, twenty-one Confederate regiments opposed to thirty-four Federal regiments.
The fighting was mainly done by fifteen regiments, five of which belonged to Jones' brigade.
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Of the total Confederate loss in killed, wounded, and missing-523, the loss in Jones' brigade was 130 killed and wounded, the number missing not known.
Says General Jones in his report : "My brigade bore the brunt of the action. We ended the fight with more horses and more and better small arms than we had in the begin- ning. We took two regimental colors, many guidons, and a battery of three pieces. We took many prisoners, prob- ably 250, as one regiment, the Eleventh, reports 122."15
15 For the splendid fighting done by the commands of Hampton, W. F. Lee, Fitz Lee, and the horse artillery only incidentally mentioned in this narrative, the reader is refered to "The Campaigns of Stuart's Cavalry," by Maj. H. B. McClellan. While credit is also given to the Federals for the gallant charges of their cavalry and the stubborn bravery of their artillerists.
CHAPTER V
June, 1863
A short rest-The Army of Northern Virginia moves northward- Jones' brigade guards the line of the Rappahannock-Federal cav- alry in search of Lee make for the passes of the Blue Ridge-Aldie and Middleburg-Fight at Upperville-Stuart makes famous raid in rear of Federal Army-Jones' and Robertson's brigades left to defend passes of the Blue Ridge-Operations of White's Battalion -In Maryland-Sixth Virginia meets Sixth United States Regu- lars near Fairfield and defeats the latter-Joy of victory turned to sadness by news of Lee's failure at Cemetery Ridge-Jones and Robertson hold the passes of Jack Mountain-Jones saves Ewell's wagon train-Buford and Kilpatrick thwarted-Fighting between Hagerstown and Williamsport-Gallant charge of the Eleventh
Virginia Cavalry - Funkstown
and Boonesboro - Willamsport
relieved and Lee's wagon train saved-The Seventh Virginia retali- ates upon Sixth Regulars-Artillery practice upon a flying target -Lee recrosses the Potomac-The brigade ordered south of the Potomac to cover Lee's communications with Winchester-The Twelfth, under Colonel Harman, on detached service near Har- per's Ferry-Capture of Federal picket reserves-Colonel Harman falls into the hands of the enemy-Brigade encamps near Charles Town and engages in reconnoitering and skirmishes-Lee retires up the Valley and crossing the mountains resumes the line of the Rappahannock.
A short but well-earned rest was enjoyed by Jones' men after the battle of Brandy Station.
The movement of Lee's infantry northward soon necessi- tated great activity on the part of the cavalry.
Ewell was already engaged in the successful movement that ended in the capture of Milroy at Winchester. Long- street followed, crossing the Blue Ridge through Ashby's and Snickers Gaps.
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A. P. Hill's corps brought up the rear, and while it was passing northward, Hampton's and Jones' brigades guarded the line of the Rappahannock.
On the 17th of June Fitz Lee's brigade, under Col. T. T. Munford, was attacked near Aldie by General Gregg's division of cavalry.
After a most gallant resistance Munford, in obedience to orders from Stuart, retired towards Middleburg. The enemy had been so severely punished that he did not follow.1
Aldie is in a gap in the Bull Run Mountains, and is directly east of Ashby's Gap in the Blue Ridge. A turnpike connects the two points, passing through Upperville and Middleburg. The next mountain pass in the Blue Ridge north of Ashby's is Snickers Gap, from which also a road runs to Aldie, making with the turnpike from Ashby's nearly an isosceles triangle, having the twelve miles of the Blue Ridge between the gaps mentioned for its base. The space between is a rich and well-cultivated section of the beautiful Piedmont country of Virginia, with county roads intersecting it. It is well watered by the mountain streams - which, with the rolling and sometimes broken plains and numerous stone fences, render it ill adapted for cavalry movements.
After the retirement of Col. T. T. Munford from Aldie Stuart, with his headquarters on the road from Middleburg to Aldie, stationed his cavalry at different points to com- mand the passes of the Blue Ridge.
He was threatened by a large cavalry force under General Pleasonton, supported by General Barnes' division of infantry of three brigades.
1Munford's Report.
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On the 19th of June General Gregg moved out from Aldie and attacked Stuart, strongly posted a few miles west of Middleburg on the Upperville turnpike. After a stubborn fight Stuart fell back about half a mile and took a new posi- tion, from which the Federals did not attempt to drive him that day. ' In the evening Jones' brigade arrived and was posted on the road to Union, covering that place, which is north of the turnpike and about five miles from Upperville.
The next day Jones was reinforced by General Chambliss' brigade. On the morning of the 21st Gregg, now reinforced by Buford's division of cavalry and one brigade of infantry, 1,500 strong, advanced on the Union and Middleburg roads, Buford attacking Jones and Chambliss
Gregg's movement, it seems, was a mere feint to divert Stuart until Buford could brush away Jones and Chambliss and assail the Confederate left flank.
Jones and Chambliss, however, proved no small obstacle, and Buford, despite his superior numbers, made slow progress. There was sharp fighting along the whole cavalry front, Gregg no longer making a feint, but pushing forward . and dealing vigorous blows.
Stuart, feeling unable to cope with a foe so greatly superior in numbers, fell back slowly before Gregg, and ordered Jones and Chambliss to abandon the Union Road and retire gradually towards Upperville.
Their contemplated line of retreat was seriously inter- fered with by Buford, who, pressing forward and inclining towards Stuart's left flank, forced Jones and Chambliss to deviate towards the mountain.
The artillery of both brigades was put in the road and the cavalry on the flanks, Chambliss to the left and Jones to
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the right. In front bearing towards Upperville was a hill which they aimed to reach and thence give battle to the enemy. In this they were anticipated by Buford, who, being on the inside of the circle around the circumference of which the Confederates were marching, reached the hill first and blocked their way. Although the enemy was strongly posted with a stone fence in front, the Confederates immedi- ately assaulted the position.
From behind a stone fence the Federal dismounted squadrons with their carbines delivered successive volleys, to which the Confederates with their pistols made but an ineffective response.
Another stone fence along the road prevented Jones' artillery from getting immediately into position. However, a part of this fence was soon pulled down and Captain Chew, quickly placing his guns into position, opened a gal- ling fire on the foe at close range. His well-aimed shots, crashing into the heads of the Federal regiments, provoked a charge upon his battery. On came the bluecoats in fine style, massed in column and flanked with battle lines of carbineers, who showered bullets among the gunners and into the ranks of their supporting squadrons. The leaden hail fell thick and fast, rattling on the smoking pieces and wounding some of the artillerists.
Says Colonel Chew, referring to the part performed by his battery in this engagement: "When we reached the hill opposite the position of the enemy a squadron of our cavalry, I think under Captain Hatcher, had let down the fence and charged in the direction of Upperville. Our cavalry was forming on the west side of the road in considerable con- fusion. We put the guns on the east side of the road, but
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A HISTORY OF THE LAUREL BRIGADE
finding this position would not be supported, I had a gap let down in the fence on the west side of the road, and put my guns into position so as to command the gap and the fields in front.
"The enemy frequently charged up to the stone fence, but it was easy to make the gap so hot with canister that they would not venture across. Our cavalry had formed in the field behind us, and after remaining there for some time commenced to move off towards the Upperville turnpike. The guns were served with deadly effect, and kept the enemy completely in check until we had an opportunity to retire."
The effect of Chew's guns was apparent. Not less than forty-five horses by actual count had been shot down in one place, at the opening in the fence referred to. The number of killed and wounded Federals is not known, but if in pro- portion to the number of horses the loss must have been heavy. The cavalry made several ineffectual attempts to protect the battery, which all the time seemed in imminent peril, and which retired from the field under the protection of its own discharges.
Never was the brigade taken at greater disadvantage than in this engagement. Buford had arrived first at a point intersecting Jones' line of march, and assailed him on the left of his marching column in a road parallel with the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge. The road, as already stated, was between stone fences, which made it impossible for Jones to get his regiments into any sort of formation, and the stone fences beyond in the fields occupied by the enemy furnished protection for his sharpshooters, who fired with deadly effect into the almost helpless Confederate masses.
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The Twelfth, under Colonel Massie, was ordered to pass through a gap in the fence and check the advance of the enemy, but such a heavy fire was concentrated upon the opening that the head of the regiment was shattered and thrown into confusion. Captain O'Ferrall, commanding Company I of the Twelfth, was here desperately wounded.2 Several were killed here and quite a number wounded.
At this juncture the Eleventh, under Colonel Funsten, was ordered to charge, and a portion of the Seventh, led by Colonel Marshall, charged up to the stone fence to the left of Chew's Battery. This combined attack in a measure retarded the Federal advance, but it was the well-served artillery that repulsed the enemy.
Chambliss and Jones now together advanced upon the retiring foe and made connection with Stuart's forces, then falling back towards Ashby's Gap.
In reference to this engagement General Buford says in his report : "The enemy brought four twelve-pounder guns into position, and made some excellent practice on the head of my regiments as they came up. The gunners were driven- from their guns, which would have fallen into our hands but for two impassable stone fences. The enemy then came up in magnificent style from the direction of Snickersville, and for a time threatened me with overwhelming numbers."
In this fight Jones, who had three regiments on the field, White's being on detached service, lost in the Seventh, five killed and sixteen wounded; in the Twelfth, two killed and eleven wounded; in the Eleventh, seven killed and twenty- four wounded.
2Capt. O'Ferrall survived the war, was elected to Congress and later became Governor of Virginia.
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The next day the Federals withdrew from Upperville, and Stuart's headquarters were re-established at Rectortown.
On the 24th Stuart, taking with him all of his cavalry except Robertson's and Jones' brigades, started on his raid in the rear of the Federal Army. Jones and Robertson "were left in observation of the enemy on the usual front, with full instructions as to the following up the enemy in case of withdrawal, and joining our main army."3
The reason assigned by Major McClellan in his "Cam- paigns of Stuart's Cavalry" for Stuart's leaving Jones' brigade behind, is that it was the largest in the division, and because Stuart regarded Jones as "the best outpost officer" in his command.
On the 29th of June Jones' brigade left Snickersville and united with that of General Robertson at Berryville. The Twelfth Virginia Cavalry had already been sent on picket duty near Harper's Ferry.
June the 30th a part of this regiment, under Lieutenants Lewis Harman and George Baylor, surprised and captured a Federal cavalry picket reserve in Bolivar, killing one and - capturing twenty-one prisoners, among whom were two officers.
White's Battalion, which had been detached a few days after the fight at Brandy Station, accompanied Ewell's column against Winchester. When about to cross the Blue Ridge, Ewell permitted White to make a raid on Point of Rocks. When near the place White sent Company B, under Lieutenant Crown, to the north side of the town to cut off the retreat of the Federals. Here Lieutenant Crown came
3Stuart's Report.
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A HISTORY OF THE LAUREL BRIGADE
up with Cole's Battalion and routed it, capturing thirty- seven prisoners.
In the meantime White had routed Means' command in the town and captured about twenty prisoners, and when Crown returned was engaged in setting fire to two railroad trains that had just arrived.
After gathering up the spoils of war, White with his bat- talion returned to Loudon and there remained until ordered to join Ewell in Maryland.
About the 30th of July Jones' brigade, in company with Robertson's, set out for Maryland. The Twelfth Regiment was left near Charles Town to picket towards Harper's Ferry.
The Sixth, Seventh and Eleventh regiments crossed the Potomac at Williamsport and, going by way of Chambers- burg, reached Cashtown July 3rd.
Towards evening General Jones, by order of General Lee, moved his command towards Fairfield to take position in the rear of Lee's line of battle. About two miles from Fairfield the Sixth United States Cavalry was met enroute to capture the cavalry division wagon train which, but for the timely arrival of Jones, would have fallen into their hands.
The two columns met face to face in a lane having on both sides a stout post and rail fence. The country was open but cut up into small fields fenced in a similar manner. Neither party could form any estimate of the force opposed to it, and circumstances forced immediate action. Major Stair, in command of the Federals, upon discovering the Confed- erates, deployed mounted men on his flank, who with their carbines could pour a destructive fire into a column advanc- ing down the lane.
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A HISTORY OF THE LAUREL BRIGADE I55
The Seventh Regiment being in front, General Jones at once ordered Lieut .- Col. Thomas Marshall to charge the enemy. The command was quickly obeyed, and with its usual dash the Seventh moved towards the foe. But the head of the column soon encountered a terrible fire from the flanking squadrons, those on the right partly concealed and covered by an orchard.
Shattered and broken the head of the charging column faltered, the men behind it halted, and soon the whole regi- ment returned in spite of the strenuous efforts of some of the officers to force it forward.
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