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 16
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General Davies of Gregg's division, in his report, says :
"On the morning of the 5th we marched to Todd's Tavern, and on arriving there relieved the Third Division. We fought until dark and succeeded in driving the enemy. Lost sixty-
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one men, mostly from the First New Jersey and First Massa- chusetts Cavalry."
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Col. John W. Kester, of First New Jersey Cavalry, reports :
"When we arrived at a village called Todd's Tavern, we met the Third Cavalry Division, commanded by General Wilson, rapidly retreating before the enemy's cavalry in a very dis- ordered state. General Davies' brigade was immediately thrown forward, and having repidly moved a half mile, we met the advance of the enemy's cavalry pressing forward on the rear of General Wilson. Captain Hart, with the First Squadron, was ordered to charge, which he did with such impetuosity that the enemy in turn was routed, and the gallant First Squadron pressed them back on their main body, until they in turn were met by the charge of a Rebel regiment, which again turned the tide of battle. At this critical juncture, I hastened to his support with three squadrons of my regiment, the remaining two being sent on the flanks. Hastily forming these squadrons in line of battle, the whole line moved forward and gave the enemy such a sharp volley, followed by a rapid fire at will, that they desisted from their charge and endeavored to keep back the advancing line of my regiment, but without success. Forward we moved as steadily as a parade, the Rebels endeavoring to check us with showers of canister, but with no avail; and they hastily limbered up their guns, and fell back just in time to prevent their capture."
Maj. John W. Emmett, assistant adjutant-general on staff of Genl. Thos. L. Rosser. This gallant gentleman and officer, so well and favorably known to the men and officers of the Laurel Brigade, was severely wounded in the body in the battle of the Wilderness, on the 5th of May, 1864, and again was wounded in the foot in one of the battles with Sheridan in the Valley of Virginia, by which he was disabled for the rest of the war.
MAJ. JOHN W. EMMETT
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From the foregoing official reports of the Federal offi- cers in command of the opposed forces, it will be seen that the Laurel Brigade, consisting of three regiments, one battalion, and Chew's Battery, had repulsed the whole of Wilson's division, and driven it beyond the Po River, com- pelling Wilson to seek shelter and reform his command in the rear of Gregg's division, which had been sent to his support. It was not until the Laurel Brigade was assailed by the combined forces of Wilson and Gregg, numbering seventeen regiments of cavalry and six batteries, that it was forced to fall back beyond the Po River.
General Lee, in his report to the Secretary of War, says : "A large force of cavalry and artillery on our right flank was driven back by Rosser's brigade."
The brigade, in this all-day conflict, had more than sus- tained its previous reputation, and earned the name of "Laurel," by which it was thereafter known. It had opened the ball of the Wilderness campaign, the most noted in the annals of modern warfare, the campaign in which, more than in any other, the marvelous generalship of Robert E. Lee was demonstrated, and had protected the right flank of his army against an overwhelming force of Federal cavalry.
Its loss in killed, wounded, and missing was 114, the larger part in killed and wounded. It had inflicted upon its antagonist, as admitted by Federal 'reports, three officers and ninety-four men killed, twenty-seven officers and 389 men wounded, and 187 men missing.
Weary with the hard day's work and the excitement of battle, the men slept an unbroken sleep, little dreaming that
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the morrow would prove for them the bloodiest day of the war.
At break of day on the 6th all was astir, and by sunrise the bugle called to horse. The sun was just glinting through the pine-tree tops as the column marched out to its place in the battle line.
Lee's infantry was already engaged, and on the right could be distinctly heard the ceaseless roll of musketry, which rose and fell like the distant roar of a mighty torrent.
White with his battalion led the advance, with Company A, commanded by Captain Myers, in front. After crossing the river Po, and passing the Chancellor plantation, the brigade entered the open pine country bordering the Wil- derness. Rosser sent orders to White to run over every- thing he came to. "How far must I go?" inquired White. To this the officer bearing the order could not well reply, and at White's suggestion went back for more explicit in- structions. "Tell him," said Rosser, "to drive them as far as he can." In obedience to which, White immediately closed up his ranks and moved briskly forward. Soon the enemy's pickets were encountered and driven rapidly back upon their reserve. White pushed them all before him, the whole brigade following at a gallop. Above the rush of the column could be heard the shouts of the "Comanches" as they dashed upon the flying Federals.
White, in the ardor of the pursuit, which carried his command some distance in advance of any support, came suddenly upon Federal infantry and dismounted cavalry in a pine forest, who promptly opened upon him with vol- leys of musketry and carbines, inflicting some loss among the "Comanches."
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He would probably have been pursued by the mounted cavalry, which had reformed, had not Rosser quickly put in the Eleventh to cover his retreat.
The Eleventh, under Major McDonald, now charged in fine style, and again the pines resounded with the "shout of the captains" and the roar of battle.
The Federals were now better prepared, and the rattle of the musketry grew louder. The Eleventh pressed on into the pines and turned back the advancing column of Fed- erals, driving them through the pines until it came sud- denly upon Grant's entrenched infantry. Though the Elev- enth had delivered a staggering blow, yet it quailed before the tremendous fire then poured into it, and began to retire.
Now the Twelfth, under Colonel Massie, tried it, closely followed by the Seventh under Colonel Dulany. Into the pines, murky with the smoke of battle, they charged. Every step forward revealed new bodies of the enemy. The timid recoiled, but a few of the bravest pushed on until forced to retire to avoid capture.
Rosser now ordered a piece of artillery, which was the first of Thompson's Battery to reach the field, and was com- manded by Lieutenant Carter, to open. Carter hastily pulling down a rail fence, brought his piece at a gallop into the field, and planted it on the rising ground before men- tioned. He delivered his fire into the pines over the heads of the few struggling Confederates who,-at the edge of the woods, still faced the foe. The enemy did not advance. Not a bluecoat rode out of the pines. For a brief space, the broken regiments attempted a stand on the hill upon which Carter's piece was planted. But the Federals had now quickly placed in position to the left of the pines, on a
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slight eminence opposite to Carter, five or six guns. These swept the hills with a terrible fire. Before it went down men and horses, and the ground was strewn with the dead and dying. The horsemen now fell back into a woods behind Carter's piece in much confusion. There they halted and began to reform. Rosser hastily strengthened his left with about 150 dismounted men under Maj. E. H. McDonald.
The enemy lined the ridge-like eminence opposite with infantry or dismounted men, whose continuous volleys, uniting with those of their well-served artillery, swept every part of the Confederate position. A little to the right and rear of Carter's piece, White had gathered about thirty of his men, and a little further to the right was a small por- tion of the Eleventh, probably a dozen men, under Lieut. Isaac Parsons, still facing the foe. Carter stood his ground, answering with great rapidity the Federal shots. Now and then the enemy concentrated his fire on Carter, raining bombs around him. But he and his men, like salamanders, seemed to revel amidst the fire. Enveloped in the smoke of bursting shells the brave gunners worked their pieces, Car- ter encouraging them with cheering words and with shouts of triumph as he saw his well-aimed shots take effect.
The truth is that the Federal artillery was making great havoc, though the foe could not see it. Most of the bombs aimed at Carter's gun passed over him, so close was he to the enemy, and burst in the woods where the Confederate cavalry regiments were attempting to reform, falling right among them, killing and wounding a great many.
The care of the dead and dying, and the plunging of the wounded and frightened horses, created unavoidable con-
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fusion. Under the circumstances, it seemed impossible to form column. Stuart was there, riding among the men and officers, and calling upon them to be steady. The ordeal was a terrible one for cavalry, and though apparently deaf to orders amidst the thunder of bursting shells, yet most of the men stood firm. The number of killed and wounded was considerable.
Meantime Rosser sat on his horse near Carter's gun, expecting every moment to see a regiment of Federal horse burst over the crest of the opposite hill. None came, how- ever, and it was evident that the splendid and well-main- tained charges of the Laurel Brigade, together with the incomparable service of the horse artillery, which had charged with the cavalry, and discharged canister into large bodies of the enemy at close range, had severely punished the Federal cavalry and dampened the ardor of Wilson.
On the 7th, there was little fighting along any part of Lee's line. White's Battalion had a light skirmish at the bridge over the river Po, in which it defeated an attempt of . the Federals to take and hold it.
Towards evening General Hampton met a reconnoiter- ing force of the enemy, and drove it back. In this engage- ment the brigade participated to some extent.
On the night of the 7th, Grant began his movement by the left flank towards Spottsylvania Court House, and on the 8th, Lee's infantry began a movement to the right.
On the morning of May the 8th, Rosser with the Lau- rel Brigade joined Genl. Wade Hampton at Shady Grove, and from that time to the ist of September, the brigade formed a part of Hampton's division.
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When Stuart fell and Hampton was put in command of the cavalry corps, his division was commanded by Gen- eral Butler of South Carolina.
The enemy now appeared, May 8th, in full force in front of Hampton's division, then consisting of Young's and Rosser's brigades. By means of the artillery's well-directed fire his advance was soon checked.
Receiving orders from Lee to attack the enemy vigor- ously, in order to co-operate with Early, who was about to attack their left at Todd's Tavern, Hampton sent Rosser to attack their right and rear, while he with Young's bri- gade pressed their front. Both movements were executed handsomely and vigorously, and the attack was a complete success. The enemy fell back rapidly, abandoning his camp and newly-issued rations.
The fighting had been mostly against the enemy's infan- try, little or no cavalry having been seen since the 6th.
This was the first engagement of the Laurel Brigade under Genl. Wade Hampton, and was fought mainly by dismounted men. It was Hampton's favorite method, to use cavalry as mounted infantry and carbineers, wherever the nature of the country, such as that of the Wilderness, made it practicable; the horses being of use primarily for quickness of movement from one point to another, the fighting being done on foot with carbines. By adopting this use of cavalry, Hampton had by several decades antici- pated the universal modern use of mounted soldiers. The introduction of the long-range repeating carbine having rendered the cavalry charge with sabre and pistol almost entirely impracticable and obsolete.
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The cavalrymen realizing the usual success of Hampton's method, especially where there was to be long-maintained opposition to the enemy's infantry, were willing to dis- mount and accepted the use of carbines, which many of them had heretofore despised, preferring to dash in upon the enemy with sabre and pistol.
The fighting on the 8th being mainly skirmishing with the infantry, most of whom were behind breastworks and abattis, the day was destitute of incidents worthy of men- tion.
Next day the enemy drove in Hampton's pickets and after a sharp fight obtained possession of the main road leading from Shady Grove to Spottsylvania Court House, and also held the bridge over the river Po.
On the 10th Early was sent to dislodge them. In this attack, which was successful, Hampton's division partici- pated.
On May the 12th, the great and bloody battle of Spott- sylvania Court House was fought. Hampton took posi- tion on Lee's left, with his sharpshooters in the trenches, and his artillery posted so as to seriously annoy the right flank of the Federals.
On the 15th, Rosser made a forced reconnoissance as far as the Poor House, in the direction of Fredericksburg, driving in all the cavalry he met, and developing the posi- tion of Grant's right flank. . In this movement the Eleventh was in front and suffered some losses. Among the wounded was Lieut. B. Funsten, adjutant of the regiment.
On the 16th, news came of the fight at Yellow Tavern and the fall of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. The effect of the news, at first, was greatly to depress the men of the Laurel Bri-
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gade, who had followed the plume of Stuart on many a hard-fought field, and had been extricated by his genius and daring, from frequent situations of imminent peril. But recognizing such fatalities as the inevitable and looked- for incidents of war, they steeled themselves to the per- formance of present duty for sake of the cause, which, with the noble example of Stuart, still remained.
Grant was now moving rapidly towards Spottsylvania Court House, and Lee's infantry, in order to confront him, moved speedily in the same direction, leaving the Laurel Brigade to protect the left wing of Lee's army.
Sheridan with his cavalry corps continued his march towards Richmond, and on the 9th had gone around Lee's right with a heavy force of cavalry, and on the 11th, was confronted at Yellow Tavern by Stuart with greatly inferior numbers. Sheridan pressed his whole front vigor- ously, while he sent one brigade to make a dash upon Stu- art's left. To this point, as the one of greatest danger, Stuart rode. Before he got there, nearly the whole left had given way, but he found a few men still holding the ground, and these he joined. With these men he fired into the enemy's flank and rear as they passed and repas ed him. for they were driven back by the First Virginia Cavalry. As the Federals retired "one man who had been dismounted in the charge, and was running out on foot, turned as he passed the General and discharging his pistol, inflicted the fatal wound."> While a few still held the enemy in check Stuart was borne from the field in an ambulance. When he noticed the disorganized ranks of his men he cried out : "Go back, go back and do your duty as I have done mine,
2 McClellan's "Stuart and His Campaigns."
GENL. J. E. B. STUART
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and our country will be safe. Go back! Go back! I had rather die than be whipped."3 These were his last words on the battlefield. On the evening of the following day he died.
Few, if any, of Lee's great captains had won more fame than Stuart, and none was more beloved by the cavalrymen. Perhaps, his most distinguishing character- istic, and the one which endeared him most to the rank and file, was his self-contained and buoyant manner in the presence of the greatest danger, and his personal courage and dash. The brilliant and successful charge, being in the nature of what he expected, often seemed unnoticed by him; but if there was a repulse or a threatening of disaster, right in the deadly breach was to be seen the waving plume of Stuart, where with burning words and flashing sword he strove to wrest victory from defeat.
In the bloom of manhood and the noontide of his fame, this brilliant soldier, superb cavalier, and Christian patriot gave to his State the libation of his blood, and his life a noble sacrifice on the altar of his country.
3McClellan.
CHAPTER IX
June, 1864
Hampton takes command of cavalry-Milford-Haw's Shop-Atlee's Station-Depleted condition of brigade-Scarcity of food and for- age -- Grant develops his wearing out policy-Assails Lee's lines of communication-Wilson attempts to cut the Virginia Central Railroad-Fight at Ashland-Heroic act of Maj. Holmes Conrad -Wilson defeated and pursued-Another affair at Haw's Shop- White's Comanches charge Federal breastworks-Hampton sent to meet Sheridan's raiders-Battle of Trevilians-Pursues Sheri- dan to the North Anna-Hard fare for men and horses-Some types of vandals-Skirmishing near White House-Cavalry against in- fantry and gunboats-Hanging on Sheridan's flank-White's Bat- talion detached-Sheridan entrenches at Samaria Church-Is driven out of entrenchments, leaving dead and wounded-Col. Thomas E. Massie of the Twelfth wounded-Pursuit of Sheridan to Charles City Court House.
On the 19th of June Hampton, taking with him Rosser's brigade, co-operated with Ewell in his attack on the enemy. Moving around Ewell's left, he drove in some Federal cavalry and succeeded in planting two guns in the rear of the enemy's right flank, which did good service. This good service was rendered by two guns of Thompson's Battery. Their well-aimed shots drew the attention of the enemy, who sent a force of infantry to capture them. At first Thompson checked them with grape and canister, but upon discovering the magnitude of the attacking force, he with- drew, having been ordered by Rosser to do so. Ever since the battle of May the 12th, when Grant suffered such heavy loss in his attempt to break through the Confederate lines,
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there had been a continuous movement of the Federal army towards Lee's right. This necessitated a corresponding movement of the Confederates.
On the 21st of May, Hampton proceeded towards Mil- ford, and encountered some cavalry at Wright's Tavern, within two miles of Milford. Rosser charged at once and drove them back on a strong force of infantry and artillery, thus developing Grant's movement to Hanover Junction. Placing his division in front of this column Hampton fell back slowly to the Junction, skirmishing with the enemy and checking him at the bridge near the Junction, until re- lieved by infantry. The division was then posted on Lee's left.
On the 25th and 26th there were heavy rains, which made the roads very muddy. On the 27th, at eleven o'clock in the night, the brigade mounted and marched towards An- derson's Ford, passing through Ashland and camping near Atlee's Station, with the whole division within six miles of Richmond.
At Atlee's Station Hampton, now commanding all the cavalry, was ordered to ascertain if all the infantry of the enemy had crossed the Pamunkey River. Accordingly, on the morning of the 28th, taking with him William H. F. Lee's division, Wickham's, Butler's, and Rosser's brigades, he moved towards the enemy and encountered his pickets within two miles of Haw's Shop. These were at once driven in on the main body.
Rosser's and Wickham's brigades led in the assault and a heavy engagement ensued. Only dismounted men and the artillery were engaged, and the ground was stubbornly contested by both sides, with mutual loss, for some hours.
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After much bloodshed the Federals gave way but, being heavily reinforced, they soon recovered their lost ground, and became the attacking party.
Hampton hearing from some of the prisoners that Sheri- dan's whole cavalry force, besides a large body of infantry, was opposed to him, determined to withdraw.
With an aggressive and superior force in his front this was no easy matter, and the difficulty was increased by the too sudden withdrawal of Wickham's brigade, which, being in the line between Rosser's and Butler's brigades, left a gap that exposed their flanks. The enemy was quick to take advantage of this. "Rosser's men being veterans," says Hampton, "withdrew without loss and in perfect order under their able commander," but Butler's troops, many of whom were raw recruits, were not so easily handled. Vig- orously attacked on the flank before they had begun to retire, though up to this time they had fought admirably, they now fell into disorder and suffered heavily. Being without any general officer in command, for Butler was absent from a previous wound, Hampton went in and brought them out.
The Confederate loss in this engagement was quite seri- ous, though that of the enemy was probably greater. Ros- ser's loss was eight killed and about twenty wounded.
By this time the number of men fit for duty in the bri- gade was much less than on the 5th of May, though not a few recruits had come to fill up the depleted ranks. More than 300 had been killed, wounded, or captured since the beginning of the campaign. A still greater number of horses had been killed or disabled, and the ranks of the dis- mounted men continued to swell. The scarcity of forage
O
MAJ. HOLMES CONRAD
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was severely felt. Little was furnished and the cavalrymen had to rely mainly upon the pastures they chanced to find at the places of temporary rest. Often, after a hard day's fight, they were occupied long after dark in hunting food and forage. The rations, too, were poor and supplied in scant quantity.
Grant had already discovered, that the only way to over- come Lee was to destroy his means of subsistence, and accordingly, by means of his numerous and well-appointed cavalry, he began to assail Lee's lines of communication.
On the 31st of May, Wilson with his division was sent to seize the Virginia Central Railroad and destroy it as far back as possible.
On the Ist of June this raiding column attacked William F. Lee's command near Hanover Court House, and forced it to fall back towards Ashland. Hampton at once went to his assistance with Rosser's brigade, and struck the rear of the Federals. Having notified W. F. Lee that Rosser would attack as soon as he came up with the enemy, this column was charged as soon as it was discovered and thrown into confusion. Following up his success, Rosser pressed the enemy vigorously, and in a series of brilliant charges, some of which were over dismounted men, he drove Wilson into Ashland, capturing prisoners from eight regiments, about 200 horses and many arms.
Wilson now made a stubborn stand, posting his artillery in the village of Ashland, and his men behind the houses and the railroad embankment.
"Meeting Lee on the Telegraph Road near Ashland, I directed him to attack at once. The North Carolina Bri-
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gade was dismounted for this purpose, and in the first vol- ley fired against them, Brig .- Genl. P. M. B. Young, who was temporarily in command of the brigade, received a severe wound. Deprived of the direction of this gallant officer, the brigade failed to dislodge Wilson in the first assault. Lee immediately formed his troops for another attack, whilst I took the Tenth Virginia and a squadron of the Third North Carolina of his division, together with a squadron of the Seventh Virginia, Rosser's brigade, to attack on the right flank."4
Simultaneously with these assaults Rosser pressed his front. The Federals, though now vigorously attacked, for some time stubbornly held their ground. Hampton's well- formed plan of attack, seconded by the persistent valor of the Confederates, finally forced the enemy to give way at all points, leaving his dead and wounded and many prison- ers in the hands of the victors.
In the beginning of this action, when Rosser first struck the enemy on his left and rear, the Twelfth was in front under Col. Thomas Massie, the leading squadron consisting of Companies B and I under Lieut. George Baylor. They first reached the led horses and pushed through them until they came up with the marching column. This they struck with so much vigor that the enemy, surprised and broken, fell back rapidly upon Ashland, where dismounted men, strongly posted in some houses of the village, received the Confederates with a galling fire. In the effort to dislodge these men some lives were lost, and there were many instan- ces of valor that we have no space to record.
+Hampton.
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