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 11
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The failure of the Seventh, General Jones' old and favorite regiment, was clearly due to the fire from the mounted men on the flanks, who, being unmolested, shot with deadly effect into the charging column.
General Jones was greatly disappointed and mortified. Riding up to the Sixth Virginia, who were in the rear over a rising ground out of sight of the repulse of the Seventh, he said, "Shall one - regiment of Yankees whip my whole brigade?"
"Let us try them!" cried the men of the Sixth.
The order was at once given to charge. Forming rapidly and with eagerness to be in front, the Sixth moved off with a steady gallop, with the gallant Colonel Flournoy at the head of the column. Some of the Seventh moved abreast of the column in the field, and to some extent disturbed the mounted bluecoats on the flanks4
With drawn sabres the grey troopers bore down upon the foe, now flushed with victory and waiting with confidence the onset.
4Colonel Marshall's Report.
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The Clarke Cavalry, under Captain Richards, was in front, and many of the Seventh, smarting under their recent defeat, joined in the charge.
Again the fire from the mounted men on the flanks told with deadly effect upon the ranks of the assailants. Under it Adjutant Allen and others fell at the head of the charging force. But the Sixth never slackened pace, and its steady advance soon caused dismay among the Federals.
The leading files of blue began to hesitate and half turn. Officers were seen pressing through the column to the front, making efforts to keep the men steady.
Major Stair, commanding the Sixth United States Reg- ulars, bravely struggled to stem the tide, as his troops, shrinking from the rush of the Confederates, turned to flee. For a moment there was some resistance, as the head of the grey column plunged into that of the blue.
The gallant Major Stair fell desperately wounded, with his skull crushed by a sabre cut from Lieutenant Duncan. Capt. G. C. Gram, second in command, was also wounded and captured.
The Federals now broke into a wild rout, the men of the Sixth riding among them and slaying or capturing at will.
For a mile the pursuit was kept up, until the village of Fairfield was reached.
In this fight the Sixth United States Regulars seemed almost annihilated. Their total loss was 242; six men killed, five officers and twenty-three men wounded, and five officers and 203 men captured or missing.
The Seventh Virginia lost three killed and twenty-one wounded. The Sixth Virginia lost three killed and seven- teen wounded.
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During the fight at Fairfield Lee was engaged in an attempt to take Cemetery Hill. The roar of the artillery ·supporting Pickett in his desperate charge was still reverber- ating as the Confederates galloped down the lane towards Fairfield.
After the battle in the evening twilight, as the men talked over their success, the joy of victory was dashed with sad- ness, when it was learned that Lee had failed to take Cem- etery Hill. There were whisperings of retreat during the night. Next day, the 4th of July, Lee's whole army began its march back to the Potomac. Jones' brigade and Robert- son's were ordered to hold the passes of Jack Mountain and keep back Federal raiders from the wagon train.
In the evening it was reported that the enemy was advancing in force on the Emmitsburg and Waynesboro roads.
General Jones, fearing that Ewell's train, then on its way to Williamsport, would be attacked, asked leave to go with his command to protect it. He was allowed the Sixth and Seventh regiments, and Chew's battery, but the Seventh was afterwards ordered back and the Fourth North Carolina, under Colonel Fernbee, took its place.
It rained incessantly all night; the road was soon badly cut up; the ruts got deeper and deeper. At many points where mountain streams crossed the road the weaker teams would stall and block the way .. Through the mud and darkness the artillery floundered along. Wagons with broken axles abandoned by their drivers had to be passed, and sometimes broken-down ambulances filled with wounded were encountered.
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It being wholly impracticable to push ahead the artillery, or even the cavalry, General Jones went forward with his staff.
Arriving at the junction of the Emmitsburg road with the one upon which the train was moving towards Williams- port, he found there Capt. G. M. Emack's Company of Maryland, with one gun, opposed to a whole division of Federal cavalry with a full battery.
"He had already been driven back within a few hundred yards of the junction of the roads. Not half of the long train had passed.
"This little band of heroes was encouraged with the hope of speedy reinforcements, reminded of the importance of their trust, and exhorted to fight to the bitter end rather than yield. All my couriers and all others with firearms were ordered to the front, directed to lie on the ground, and be sparing with ammunition. The last charge of grape was expended and the piece sent to the rear.
"For more than two hours less than fifty men kept many thousands in check, and the wagons continued to pass along while the balls were whistling in their midst."5
At last the Federals with a cavalry charge swept away resistance and got possession of the road.
General Jones in the darkness was separated from all his command and made his way through the woods to Williams- port. Here he found everything in confusion, and began to reorganize the stragglers for the defense of Lee's army train.
The enemy was momentarily expected. But soon a force of Confederate cavalry and infantry arrived and General Imboden took command.
"Jones' Report.
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General Jones now made his way back through the enemy's lines to his brigade on the night of the 5th. In the morning he rejoined his brigade at Leitersburg, and returned with it by way of Smithtown and Cavetown and the old Frederick Road, so as to participate in the attacks on General Kilpatrick at Hagerstown.
General Kilpatrick, who had pushed Jones and Emack aside at Monterey Gap, captured over 300 prisoners and forty wagons.
On the 6th he withdrew to Boonesboro. Here it was arranged between Kilpatrick and Buford that the latter should attack Lee's trains at Williamsport, while Kilpatrick kept Stuart back in the direction of Hagerstown.
Stuart, divining their intentions, attacked the Federals at Hagerstown, and after a stubborn resistance drove them before him.
But according to the plan prearranged, Kilpatrick retired towards Williamsport with his artillery, having a heavy line of skirmishers on both sides of the road. The fields adjoining were crossed frequently by post and rail fences and afforded shelter for the skirmishers.
Already the sound of cannon was heard in the direction of Williamsport, and it was evident that unless aid was furnished quickly the trains at Williamsport would fall into Federal hands.
Stuart at once determined to press the enemy. Cham- bliss' brigade of North Carolinians charged, "the Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia participating with marked gal- lantry. Robertson's two regiments and Jenkins' brigade kept to the left of the road, moving in a parallel direction with Chambliss.
1
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"The column on the flank was now hurried up to attack the enemy in the flank, but the obstacles, such as post and rail fences, delayed its progress so long that the enemy had time to rally along a crest of rocks and fences, from which he opened with artillery, raking the road."'
Jenkins' brigade was ordered to advance, dismounted, and dislodge the enemy. Over the broken and difficult ground Jenkins' men moved forward, driving the foe. Mounted cavalry pressed the retreating ranks of blue, but Kilpatrick brought up fresh squadrons and hurled them upon the lines of the Confederates. Their onset was met by a counter- charge conducted by Col. James B. Gordon, commanding a fragment of the Fifth North Carolina Cavalry. Before his impetuous rush the blue lines fell back in some disorder.
The Eleventh Virginia, under Colonel Lomax, was now ordered to charge, for a simple repulse was not sufficient.
The guns of Buford, assailing General Imboden, who was defending Lee's trains at Williamsport, admonished Stuart that partial success would mean defeat, and that nothing but a victory that swept Kilpatrick from his path would save the trains at Williamsport. Kilpatrick, knowing this, aimed above all to gain time and had cunningly placed his guns and squadrons so as to retard the advance of the Confederates.
When the Eleventh was ordered to charge, two regiments of Federals were drawn up in line across the turnpike and the field to the left, their artillery on the brow of the hill raking the turnpike; their right protected by a stone wall with only one gap in it by which to enter the field.
6Stuart's Report.
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The Eleventh was moved parallel with the turnpike until within about 500 yards of the enemy's position, when it turned into the turnpike under a heavy fire from the enemy's battery.
It then moved slowly until within 200 yards of the enemy, when the command to charge was given.7
Right down the straight turnpike, swept by the Federal guns, with drawn sabres rode the Eleventh under the gallant leadership of Colonel Lomax.
Bullets from the blue line in front; bombs, grape and canister from the Federal battery tore through their ranks. No line of sharpshooters, no supporting squadrons with their volleys disturbed the Federal gunners. They shot with deliberation and with telling effect.
Under the terrible fire men and horses fell headlong. Hands that grasped the flashing steel relaxed their hold; and brave hearts that erstwhile swelled with expectation of vic- tory, felt the bitterness of death. Each step forward multi- plied the danger, as with increased rapidity the flaming guns sent forth their missiles of destruction. But nothing could stop the impetuous rush of the grey troopers, as with lifted sabres and battle shouts they plunged through the smoke towards the foe.
The blue masses in the turnpike did not abide the onset, but turned and fled, leaving many prisoners in the hands of the Confederates.
Colonel Lomax, discovering two squadrons in the field still in line and moving towards the stone fence, which would afford them good protection from a charge and from the fire of his men, reformed his regiment and moved back
7Lomax's Report.
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on the turnpike to the gap. Here again, as at Upperville, the enemy concentrated his fire upon the gap, while many of the Federals, to save their artillery, bravely rushed to the breach as the Eleventh poured through. Near the opening the fight waxed hot and bloody, but once in the field the Confederates pressed forward, driving the enemy before them.
The Federals now hastily retreated, going by the Downs- ville Road. The siege of Williamsport was raised and Lee's trains were saved.
In this fight the Eleventh captured 100 prisoners and fifty horses, killing and wounding many of the enemy.
The next day the Seventh had an opportunity to repay the Sixth United States Regulars for what it had suffered at their hands at Fairfield, and the debt was paid with interest.
On the road leading to Funkstown the two regiments met, Lieutenant Marshall in command of the Seventh. As before, the Seventh was the first to make the attack, and this was done with so much energy that the regulars broke and fled, pursued for nearly five miles by the Seventh.
Says Colonel Marshall: "Our column pressed upon them with great rapidity, killing and wounding a number and taking some sixty prisoners."
The sweets of victory were not unalloyed. In the pursuit the thirst for vengeance carried the head of the column too far. The regiment was stretched for some distance along the road and in disorder.
The Federals at last rallied, and seeing the small num- bers of their pursuers, turned upon them; and now the Seventh, after repeated efforts to rally, retired hastily, losing nine prisoners and having two men wounded.
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Lieut. Nicholas Nolan, who commanded the regulars in this fight, admits a loss of fifty-nine killed, wounded and missing, of whom ten were killed.
Near Boonesboro Stuart made a bold demonstration of his cavalry, threatening an advance upon the enemy, in order to cover Lee's retrograde movement. Jones' brigade being in front, encountered the enemy on the Boonesboro Road at Beaver Creek bridge, and pressed them back to the verge of the village.8 In this contest, the fighting being mainly on foot, Fitz Lee's and Hampton's brigades partici- pated in a very handsome manner.
The Federals were forced back from the village to the mountain pass, from which point, with artillery posted on the heights, they prevented Stuart from entering the town.
There was now a spirited and deafening combat between the artillery of the opposing commands, on ridges facing one another, while in the valley between skirmish lines of dismounted men fought with their long-range guns.
Having accomplished his object of putting the enemy upon the defensive, towards evening Stuart withdrew. "The enemy observing this from his mountain perch, tried to profit by it with a vigorous movement on our heels, but was foiled. As the last regiment was passing the bridge over Beaver Creek, a squadron of the enemy more bold than the others galloped forward as if to charge. Steadily a portion of the First North Carolina Cavalry awaited their arrival within striking distance, but before reaching their vicinity the enemy veered off across the fields.
"Here a Blakely gun of Chew's Battery advantageously posted marked their movement, and although the squadron
8Stuart's Report.
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moved at a gallop, never did sportsman bring down flying birds with more unerring aim than the aim of the Blakely firing upon that moving squadron. In vain did it turn to the right and to the left. Each shot seemed drawn to the flying target with fatal accuracy until the enemy, driven by the shots of the Blakely and followed by the derisive shouts of our cavalry, escaped at full speed over the plain.""
Stuart new fell back slowly, his men encamping the night of the 8th near Funkstown. On the Ioth and IIth Jones retired by the Cavetown Road. On the 13th Stuart with- drew all his cavalry from Lee's front and massed it on the left of the main body of the army, in expectation of a gen- eral advance of the Federal force. During this movement the Eleventh Virginia, under Colonel Lomax, while retiring through Hagerstown was charged by the enemy's cavalry from two streets. These assaults were quickly repulsed by the sharpshooters of the regiment, having suffered a loss of three wounded in the skirmish.
On the 13th of July Jones' brigade was sent across the Potomac to cover Lee's communications with Winchester. .
It now appearing that the enemy, instead of attacking, was entrenching himself in our front, General Lee deter- mined to cross the Potomac.
Accordingly, during the night of the 13th the Army of Northern Virginia returned to the south side of the river. Stuart's cavalry, with the exception of Jones' brigade, stayed in the infantry trenches during the night, and crossed the next morning.
When General Jones with the rest of the brigade was in Pennsylvania, the Twelfth Regiment, under Col. A. W.
9 Stuart's Report.
COL. ASHER W. HARMAN
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- Harman, remained in the neighborhood of Harper's Ferry, operating against the enemy as occasion offered.
During the night of the 30th Lieutenants Lewis Harman and George Baylor with forty men attacked the enemy's picket-post near Harper's Ferry and captured one lieutenant and nineteen men.
By July the 2nd the Federals had abandoned Harper's Ferry and the Maryland Heights, but after the battle of Gettysburg, on the 7th, they returned to the Maryland Heights, and on the 14th reoccupied Harper's Ferry.
Col. A. W. Harman, who had just returned from home, having recovered from the wound received at Fleetwood, went with a squadron on a reconnoissance to Bolivar Heights.
Taking a squad of six men he went somewhat in advance and to the left of the road. Suddenly the enemy appeared in force and charged.
Colonel Harman's horse fell, stunning him. He and Lieutenant Eastham and two men from Company B who were with him were captured. The rest of the squadron, under Capt. George J. Grandstaff and Lieut. George Bay- lor, who were in the road, bravely met the charge of the enemy and drove him back in confusion, taking twenty-five prisoners.10
On the left of the line, guarded by the Twelfth, Maj. J. L. Knott was as usual very active. When the enemy advanced towards Shepherdstown he attacked them and cap- tured thirty-three prisoners.
On the 16th Jones' brigade went into camp near Charles Town. Within the next week there were a few small skirmishes, but nothing worthy of note occurred.
10Col. T. B. Massie's Report.
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At this time the Shenandoah from recent rains was much swollen, and the Federals took advantage of it to cross the Potomac and march along the east side of the Blue Ridge, taking possession of the gaps in the mountain as if to get between Lee and Richmond.
Jones' brigade was ordered to picket the lower Shenan- doah as long as necessary for the safety of Lee's right flank, and then to follow the army.
Lee now moved up the Valley, and crossing the Blue Ridge, by the Ist of September had resumed the line of the Rappahannock.
By the middle of September the main army had with- drawn behind the Rapidan.
CHAPTER VI
September, 1863
Brigade returns to watch the fords of the Rappahannock-Differences between General Stuart and General Jones-The latter court- martialed and removed to another field of operations-Personality of Jones and attachment of his troopers-Admiration and loyalty of the men soon won by "Jeb" Stuart-Federals under Meade advance towards Culpeper Court House-Hard and continuous cavalry fighting against Buford and Kilpatrick, in which the bri- gade now under command of General Lomax takes prominent part -- Capt. Samuel B. Coyner of the Seventh Virginia Cavalry killed - Enemy surround and capture one of Thompson's guns of Chew's Battery-A front and rear fight at Jack's Shop-Successful charge against infantry by Company B of the Twelfth Virginia- Second battle at Brandy Station-Fight at Fauquier Sulphur Springs-Notable exploit at the Rappahannock bridge-Stuart in a tight place at Auburn-Bold dash and escape of his command.
The Gettysburg campaign was over, and the army, after an active service of three months, was back once more in the section of country from which it had started northward. There was time now for retrospect. The campaign was reviewed by the troops with various conclusions.
The failure of Lee's magnificent army to take the heights of Cemetery Ridge and win a decisive victory north of the Potomac disheartened some.
"Never again," they said, "would Lee invade the North. Henceforth the battles must be fought on Confederate soil, and the Southland alone be ravaged by the hand of war."
If such gloomy forecast appeared to many well founded, they were on this account more resolved to fight harder for success. With them the most distressing feature of the repulse at Gettysburg was the disappointment of Lee. That
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his army was not regarded as a beaten one was shown by the refusal of the enemy to attack it at Hagerstown.
It might be that experience had taught the wisdom of a defensive policy, whatever might happen, they were as ready as ever to follow Lee as far north as he might wish to lead them, even to the banks of the Hudson.
During this short period of rest the time was occupied in recruiting the strength and numbers of the cavalry, and in reorganizing it into brigades and divisions. The whole force was now divided into two divisions, commanded respectively by Generals Wade Hampton and Fitz I.ce; Jones' brigade becoming a part of Hampton's division.
It was during this period, too, that the brigade was deprived of its much loved commander, Genl. William E. Jones. His removal was due to an unfortunate personal difference between himself and his superior officer, Genl. J. E. B. Stuart. About the Ist of September General Stuart ordered him under arrest and preferred charges against him for using disrespectful language to his superior officer.
The result of the court-martial was that General Jones was removed from the command of his brigade and assigned to duty in southwestern Virginia. It was generally under- stood that the court based its action upon a recognition of the fact that the good of the service necessitated the removal of Jones from under the authority of General Stuart, the incompatibility of their dispositions being apparent. Though the action of the court was unquestionably dictated by a proper regard for the public good and the maintenance of superior authority, yet from force of circumstances it was liable to misconstruction. For some time after, the impres- sion prevailed among the rank and file of the brigade, that
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their commander had been sacrificed to the animosity of General Stuart.
A succession of stirring events, however, with the sense of comrade-ship in danger, Stuart's uniform kindness to Jones' old troopers, his quick personal recognition of the men, even the humblest private, coupled with his personal bravery and dashing leadership, soon won for him the admiration and affection of the men. Loyalty to the Southern cause, however, would have attracted them to any commander who would lead them to victory.
General Jones' connection with the brigade had much to do with the compactness of its organization. His great talent in this respect had been wisely exercised in increasing its efficiency. He looked after everything, and his close attention to details had effected many needed reforms. At first he was regarded as a martinet, but afterwards, when better understood, he was greatly respected and loved by rank and file.
Totally unlike Ashby, except in his modesty, which almost amounted to bashfulness, with neither superb horsemanship nor martial presence to impress the imagination of his soldiers, yet when the hour for action came the brigade felt itself always strong and ready to do its full part, and con- fident in the courage and ability of its leader. His personal appearance was not suggestive of the dashing brigadier, much less did it aspire to the pomp and circumstance of office. The faded slouch hat was decorated with no nod- ding plume, but while it served to conceal the baldness of his head it partly shaded a strong and noble brow. His features were plain and the expression determined yet kindly. His eyes of steady blue glistened with intelligence, and at times his countenance glowed with a rather cynical
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humor. He was entirely self-adjusted in all his notions and opinions, and his remarks were almost always original and striking.
In the confusion of ideas brought about by the war, he was not tempted to forget the standard of truth and honesty he had set up for his own guidance. And never was needle truer to the pole, than he, to what he conceived to be his duty. His affection for his troops was deep and strong He refused to fare better than they, and on the march, when necessary to bivouac in the rain he would not sleep himself under shelter, though a house might be within a few steps of him, but with his oilcloth around him would lie down in the rain or snow among his troopers. Flis contempt for all kinds of display perhaps made him go too far in the other extreme, especially in the matter of dress. The insignia of his rank, if worn at all, was usually concealed by his coat collar, and he was frequently taken by his own men for a private in the ranks.
Once, on his West Virginia raid, when the troops were crossing the Gauley River, a soldier who was afoot was . anxious to find some way to get over dry-shod. He asked another soldier to assist. him. The latter, pointing to General Jones, who was sitting in a skiff near the shore. said, "Maybe that old fellow there will row you across."
Going up to General Jones he said, "Old man, I will give you a dollar to take me over the river."
"All right," said the General, "jump in." And he rowed him over, greatly enjoying the joke.
It was during the session of the court-martial before which General Jones was arraigned, that the Confederates were forced to abandon Culpeper Court House, by a general advance of the Federal Army across the Rappahannock.
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About midnight September 12th, 1863, Stuart received information that General Meade would on the following day make a forward movement.
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