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 18
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Passing by Frazier's Farm and Malvern Hill the weary soldiers halted and encamped within five miles of Rich- mond. Next day they crossed the James near Drury's Bluff.
On the 27th the brigade moved towards Petersburg. That city was now invested by Grant and was being vigor- ously shelled. The brigade did not pass through the town, but around it, on account of the bombardment. Some of the soldiers ventured to pass through and were astonished to find people going about on the streets as if nothing was
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going on. Such incessant warfare, bringing grief into almost every home, had inured even the women and chil- dren to its dangers and hardships.
The trains running out from Petersburg were regularly shelled, but they moved along on schedule time, apparently indifferent to the shots of the Federal artillery.
After dark the brigade went into camp near Reams Station, on the Weldon Railroad. The horses had nothing but one sheaf of green oats apiece during the day, and were also much jaded with the long and dusty march.
Early next morning the command moved out and halted in an oat field to feed. It was now known to the soldiers that Hampton was making an effort to intercept a raiding column of two brigades under Wilson which had been destroying a part of the Weldon Railroad and devastating the surrounding country. Wilson was known to be on his return and endeavoring to rejoin the army of Grant. The difficulty was to ascertain by which route he was coming.
Hampton, however, had his plans well laid, and with pickets on all the roads and scouts scouring the country around, the men were ordered to sleep on their arms. There was not much sleep for some of them. The brigade had halted near Sapony Church, and soon after dark picket firing was heard, and every one knew that Wilson was try- ing to break by.
His first assault, which was on a part of the line held by Chambliss' brigade, after some stubborn fighting was repulsed. The Seventh seems to have been the only regi- ment of the Laurel Brigade that participated in the repulse.
Says Lieutenant Vandiver of Company F, Seventh Reg- iment, who lost an arm in this fight: "Mounting hurriedly
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and forming in line the Seventh went forward at a trot, while the distant picket firing on the road south of Sapony Church told what was going on. The Federals had forced the pickets in at a gallop, and the Seventh was ordered to dismount and fight on foot. The regiment had barely time to get in position on the left of the road and church, in fact it formed under fire. It was then dark, and the bullets and shells went over the heads of the men. The men carried rails and everything movable in reach to make breastworks, and in less than thirty minutes after the dismounted men were in the midst of one of the hottest battles of the cam- paign."
Lieutenant Vandiver was at that time commanding Com- pany F of the Seventh, being the only officer with the company, Captain Kuykendall and Lieutenant Parker then being prisoners. On account of the absence of the regular commander Lieutenant Vandiver was assigned the com- mand of the second Squadron dismounted.
The battle raged furiously, and the Federals were so near the Confederate lines that their forms could be seen by the flash of the discharges, and the commands "Forward !" "Close up!"' etc., given by their officers were distinctly heard. But they would not advance to closer quarters, although outnumbering the Confederates three to one. The continual discharge of small arms was interspersed with artillery firing, and the shells exploding over the heads of the men caused great confusion among the led horses and mounted men in the rear of our line of battle.
The attack on Chambliss continued until nearly daylight. At one o'clock, and again at three, the brigade was aroused by the noise of the combat.
MAJ. F. M. MYERS
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About daylight all was astir and the men formed in line dismounted. Colonel Dulany swung his command around and participated in a vigorous assault on the Federal left flank. They were driven in disorder, many falling into the hands of the Confederates.
In the meantime White's Battalion went with General Butler to fall upon the enemy's rear; and simultaneously with Chambliss' attack in front and that of Dulany and others on the left flank White's mounted men charged. Pressed in front and flank, the Federals scattered through the pines, and broke away to the right, leaving 800 prison- ers in the hands of the victors.
The plunder thrown away by the fugitives was of many kinds, and is worthy of notice as indicating, not only that these raiding columns had all the license of pirates, but that plunder was one of the chief objects of their raids. The license to plunder served to swell the ranks of the raiding regiments for the time being with professional marauders and cutthroats. Over the field of flight were found shawls, silk dresses, mantles of velvet, jewelry, and every kind of light valuables to be found in the houses of well-to-do people.
The war, now that the Confederacy was declining, had become popular with the ruffian classes of the North, and many entered the army for no other purpose than to steal and plunder.
After pursuing Wilson's column for some eight or ten miles the command returned to Stony Creek.
On the morning of the 30th the pursuit was again taken up, but Wilson, after running against infantry and cavalry
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in turn, and retreating by way of obscure country roads, at last got by with a remnant of his division and rejoined Grant's army.
From the 4th of July until the 30th there was little more than picketing. Quiet reigned along the lines and the caval- rymen had time to rest and recruit. The fishing in the streams was fine and the country abounded in melons and luscious fruit. The land of that section appeared sterile to the eye, but nevertheless it furnished bountiful supplies for the table, and in the plain but spacious homes of the land- holding people there was dispensed a generous hospitality. Three weeks of comparative rest did wonders for the men and horses. Many of the sick and wounded had returned. Many of the dismounted had returned from "horse fur- lough" with fresh horses. The improved appearance of the command was noticeable, and once more the men were in good spirits. What if Grant was besieging Richmond, was not Early at the gates of Washington? The vandal Hunter had done his worst in the Valley, and was now with his stolen goods flying through the hills of West Virginia. The dark cloud in Georgia was then no bigger than a man's hand, and few dreamed to what dimensions it would grow before another winter set in.
The 30th of July was the day selected by Grant for blow- ing up a part of the Confederate works and the capture of Petersburg.
In order to divert a considerable part of Lee's army away from the south side of the James River, Grant now
Maj. F. M. Myers, of the Thirty-fifth Battalion, was formerly captain of Company A, Thirty-fifth Battalion, and afterwards pro- moted to major of the battalion, succeeding Maj. Geo. N. Ferneyhough. He was a courageous and efficient officer.
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began a demonstration on the north side with Hancock's corps and Sheridan's cavalry. The news of this called most of Lee's cavalry into the saddle, but the collapse of the scheme in a few days restored the soldiers to their camps. Every attempt of Grant to assault Lee's lines ended in com- plete discomfiture.
In the early part of August Fitz Lee was sent with his division to the Shenandoah Valley, and Hampton with his own division and that of W. F. Lee was left to hold the lines to the right of Lee's infantry.
On the IIth of August Hampton was ordered by Lee to proceed with his division to Culpeper and report to Genl. R. H. Anderson, commanding in that quarter. Lee's object was to threaten the enemy's flank and rear should he move across the Blue Ridge.
In obedience to command Hampton marched his division northward, passing through Richmond August 13th. At Beaver Dam he received a telegraphic despatch from Lee recalling him. Before daylight on the 14th he began to retrace his steps, and at ten o'clock the next day brought his command to the support of Genl. W. F. Lee, who was then being heavily attacked at White's Tavern, eight miles below Richmond.
Grant, in order to prevent Lee from sending reinforce- ments to Early, had made another demonstration north of the James.
W. F. Lee's right was being forced back when Hampton arrived and took a small part in the repulse of the enemy by W. F. Lee's division. It was here that General Cham- bliss was killed while gallantly rallying his men.
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On the morning of the 18th it looked as though serious work was at hand. The bugle called to horse at two o'clock A. M. At seven the brigade moved out, the Eleventh Reg- iment in front.
Lee had ordered Hampton to attack the enemy in his front. General Fields, commanding the left of the infantry, was directed to co-operate in the movement.
W. F. Lee's division attacked on the Charles City Road. Butler with his own and Rosser's brigade, under Col. R. H. Dulany, on the left, while Fields with his infantry pressed the enemy in front. Delay occurring in getting the forces in position, the attack was not begun until evening.
W. F. Lee drove the enemy some distance in his front, and Butler made a most successful attack on his right, when with the assistance of Rosser's brigade, under the command of Col. R. H. Dulany, he drove the Federals from their breastworks and pursued them two miles. There were cap- tured in this affair 167 prisoners. The Federals during the night withdrew and recrossed the James, and Hampton was accordingly ordered by Lee to return to the south side and re-establish his picket line in front of Reams Station.
Grant having extended his left flank far enough to get possession of a part of the Weldon Railroad, was now attempting to destroy the part south of him. For this pur- pose Hancock's corps and Gregg's division of cavalry, on the 21st of August, were sent to the neighborhood of Reams Station.
Hampton's division was moving towards the same point when on the 23rd of August the enemy was encountered at Monk Neck's Bridge, two miles west of the station, on the Rowanty Creek. Butler here attacked them in position and
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had a severe engagement. He succeeded, however, in driv- ing back the enemy, a division of infantry, and in establish- ing the picket-line.
As this was a pitched encounter between Confederate cavalry and Federal infantry aided by cavalry, in which the latter after a stubborn contest were badly worsted, it deserves full space. But the story can only be told from the standpoint of the Laurels, some of whom speak of the contest with great and commendable pride.
In this action the brigade was still commanded by Col. R. H. Dulany, General Rosser not having sufficiently recovered from the wound received at Trevilians to resume command.
On the 23rd the command moved down the Stage Road to meet the enemy. Upon reaching Hatcher's Run there were the usual signs of a recent fight. Broken ambulances and dead horses lined the road.
Very soon the enemy was found, and the Seventh Regi- ment, which was in front, was forced back. The bulk of the Seventh and Eleventh regiments and a part of the Twelfth, under Lieut. George Baylor, were now dismounted and deployed on each side of the road, White's Battalion and the Twelfth remaining mounted.
White's First Squadron joined General Butler on his right. The dismounted men of the Eleventh, under Maj. E. H. McDonald, advanced on the left side of the road, while the Seventh, under Col. Thomas Marshall, advanced on the right.
The movement at first was through a woodland, and the Federals being mounted, retired before the Confederate advance. After following them for half a mile the latter
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reached the end of the woods, and before them lay an open field across which at a distance of 500 yards, was distinctly seen a line of breastworks occupied by infantry. Halting at the edge of the woods behind a dilapidated rail fence, the Seventh and Eleventh lay down.
For half an hour the Federals waited for an attack. Then a considerable force, apparently a brigade, moved out and took position on the left of the line occupied by the Elev- enth. The design of the enemy was plainly to execute a flank movement and take the Eleventh in reverse; but there were no orders to fall back and the Confederates grimly awaited the issue.
Presently the enemy advanced in heavy force beyond their breastworks to within a short distance of the fence behind which lay the Confederates. A withering fire met them, but they fell flat on the ground and, partly concealed by the grass, poured volley after volley into the thin lines of the dismounted men. Attacked by greatly superior num- bers, and threatened by the brigade of infantry on their left, the Confederates fell back through the woods. Soon they met General Butler bringing up a South Carolina bri- gade. Hastily reforming they resumed their old position under a heavy fire, and the battle raged furiously.
The flanking brigade of Federals swung around on But- ler's left, and the South Carolinians, pressed in front and flank, after heroic efforts were forced to retire. This neces- sitated the falling back of the Confederate line of dis- mounted men which was under command of Maj. E. H. McDonald.
The Federal commander, seizing his opportunity, ordered forward a squadron of horse that now rode among
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the disordered Confederates, and pressed on, endeav- oring to stampede Dulany's reserves. But this proved not so easy a task. Their charge was met with a countercharge, and the beaten Federals in a few moments were seen by the dismounted men returning hotly pursued by the grey troopers.
Butler, now readjusting his lines, forced the Federals behind their breastworks, where they remained. He was tin- able to dislodge them without the aid of infantry, although the fighting continued until after dark, heavy volleys of musketry at intervals breaking the stillness of the night.
The next day was one of comparative quiet.
The success of Butler at Monk Neck's Bridge suggested to Hampton the feasibility of driving the Federals from their works at Reams Station. His plan of attack was com- municated to General Lee and concurred in.
General Heth's division of infantry was ordered to co-op- erate with Hampton, and Genl. A. P. Hill was sent to take command of the expedition.
On the morning of the 25th, Hampton moved out with his two divisions of cavalry under Generals Butler and Bar- ringer. After disposing part of his command so as to cover Hill's advance, with the remainder, including the Eleventh and Twelfth regiments, and White's Battalion, he crossed Malone's Bridge at nine A. M. and drove in the enemy's pickets. Following up these he encountered a heavy force of Federals strongly posted. After a sharp fight the enemy fell back rapidly towards Malone's Crossing, hotly pursued by the Confederates.
Near Reams Station Federal infantry came up and took the place of their cavalry, while the latter attempted to turn
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Hampton's flanks. "In this," says Hampton, "they were foiled and I held my ground steadily."
Hill, whose advance was masked by some of the cavalry, was not yet ready for the assault. He requested Hampton to retire slowly and draw the enemy after him, so that he with his infantry might take them in rear. This Hampton proceeded to do, but the Federals followed with great cau- tion.
At five P. M. the boom of Hill's artillery indicated that all was ready, and Hampton at once ordered forward his battle line of dismounted men. Before them were the ser- ried ranks of veteran infantry, with strong works to retire behind; while the enemy's cavalry was threatening their right. Unskilled in the maneuvers of infantry, and know- ing little beyond keeping an even front, the dismounted men moved steadily forward. The sharp volleys of Federal musketry were only answered by the rattle of Confederate carbines, but the grey line kept steadily advancing while de- livering its fire, and soon the bluecoats fell back in con- fusion, seeking safety behind their works at Reams Station.
Up to this point of the engagement, Hampton's line had been extended across the railroad, occupying both sides. Discovering now that Hill, approaching from the west side, was driving the enemy, he moved his force to the right and east side of the railroad. Pivoting his left on this, and with his right far extended, he ordered the line to advance and swing around so as to envelop the enemy's rear.
Rosser, who had returned to the field the day before, though still suffering from the wound received at Trevil- ians, was in command of his brigade.
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The Eleventh, under Colonel Funsten, and a portion of White's Battalion formed part of a second line supporting Young on Hampton's right, while the extreme right of the assaulting column was occupied by the Twelfth under Col- onel Massie, the two right companies, B and I, being armed only with pistol and sabre.
As the advancing line moved on, it was obliged to pass over ground naturally rough and broken, and now made still more difficult of passage by felled trees that had been cut down for purposes of defense. The right was obliged to go forward more rapidly than the center and left, and besides, it encountered a body of the enemy until then unas- sailed, and in position outside of the entrenchments.
It was now nearly sundown, when amid the roar of can- non, bursting of bombs, and the pattering of the deadly bullets through the foliage, Hampton's line, clambering through the branches and over the trunks of the fallen timber, drove the last line of the enemy behind his fortifica- tions.
The circle around the enemy was now complete. The Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, on Hampton's extreme right, as it formed anew for the final rush, found itself alongside of the Twelfth Virginia Infantry, that, on Hill's extreme left, had swung around from the opposite side of the works. When it was discovered that there were two Twelfth Vir- ginias side by side salutations were interchanged, and there was not a little bantering and boasting as to which of the two, the Twelfth Infantry or the Twelfth Cavalry, would be the first to reach and scale the ramparts in front of them. It was quite understood that there was to be a contest of valor, and bracing for the struggle, each regiment waited
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anxiously for the command to go forward. The envelop- ing lines were dressed and presented a steady front. The Federal gunners were at their posts, and the last beams of the setting sun glanced along the musket barrels of the awaiting enemy. It was only the stillness that usually heralds the storm-burst.
Hill opened with deafening roar, and above the din were heard the shouts of his gallant soldiers, and the whole line now moved forward.
The two Twelfth regiments at the word "Charge!" went forward with noble rivalry, facing undaunted a heavy fire from the Federal artillery. For a brief space the race for glory was an even one; but, when near the works, the Twelfth Infantry halted to deliver its fire before rushing on. The Twelfth Cavalry never stopped, but with cocked pistols in hand, made straight for the breastworks, and leaping over them fairly won the race. The Federals fired one volley and, then throwing down their arms, fled pre- cipitately.
In the meantime the Seventh Regiment, under Col. R. H. Dulany, had been engaged in masking the advance of Hill's column of infantry. The following is Colonel Dulany's account of the same :
"I was ordered by General Rosser to report with my regi- ment, Seventh Virginia, to Gen. A. P. Hill near Reams Station August 24th, 1864. When I found General Hill, he told me that he was very anxious that the Federal forces who were entrenched at Reams Station should not know of his presence until he attacked their earthworks, and to that end he wished me to drive in all the cavalry in his front. Not knowing what was before me, I ordered Colonel Marshall to advance with a
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squadron and attack any forces he came up with. I followed with the rest of the regiment. We had not advanced more than a mile when I heard firing, and Colonel Marshall was brought back badly wounded. I immediately rode to the front, and taking command of the advanced squadrons, charged the enemy and drove them behind their earthworks. We were so close on their heels that two of my men, unable to control their horses, followed the Federal cavalry into their fortifica- tions. One of the men was Pendleton of Baltimore, the other I do not remember-fell dead in the trenches. I do not recol- lect what other loss was suffered. General Hill was repulsed in his first attack with a heavy loss.
"On the morning of the 25th Hill ordered me to protect his flanks with the assistance of a portion of Wright's command, while he made his second attack when he carried the earth- works, capturing twenty-six or eight hundred men and six or cight new three-inch rifle-guns. During the fight the Federal cavalry made three efforts to get at his flanks, but we drove them back every time. As Hill sent his prisoners to the rear, the Federal cavalry again attempted a flank movement, and with more stubbornness than at their first attempt. We had a number of the Henry sixteen-shooters recently captured from Wilson's cavalry, and our fire was so rapid that Hill became uneasy, supposing we had run up against infantry, and sent to me an aid to see if we needed any assistance. I asked for two howitzers, which he sent me, and immediately after a portion of General McCowan's command. They came at a double-quick and the General, being a large man, was pretty well blown. He asked me to put his men in position, as he did not know the ground. As. the howitzers were all the help I wanted, and I desired my own men to have all the credit of the frequent repulses of the enemy, I told General McCowan, that there was a stream in the woods in our rear, where, if he would take his command, he would be near enough if we required his assistance. After this General Hill ordered me to move for- ward and take possession of the battlefield, to secure the guns
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and ammunition left by the enemy, and bury the dead. While -
carrying out these orders, a squad of Federal cavalry under a flag of truce came, asking permission to bury their dead. I had orders to refuse such applications and they retired."
General Hill wished to get back to the army before the enemy should know that he had left Reams Station.
After dark Hampton with seven regiments of his com- mand, including the Twelfth Virginia and White's Battal- ion, remained in the trenches to cover the withdrawal of the infantry. For there was still a force of the enemy out- side of the works in the direction of Grant's army, and there was some apprehension of its attempting to recover the station.
After a twelve hours' battle an almost sleepless night fol- lowed. The ground in front of the trenches was strewn with dead and dying Federals, and the shrieks of the wounded banished slumber. At midnight a terrific storm burst forth, deluging all with a downpour of rain, and bringing much relief to the wounded. The dreadful patter of the elements with the sharp rattle and deafening roar of the thunder was appalling, and the bright flashes of light- ning, that revealed the ghastly features of the dead and of others in the agonies of death, added to the horrors of the scene.
During the night the Federals withdrew from the vicin- ity, and next day were followed and harassed by Hampton's cavalry, with which was the Twelfth Virginia.
While the battle around the station was going on the Seventh, as we have seen from Colonel Dulany's report. had been doing some good work. It had been ordered to report to Gen. A. P. Hill to mask the movement of his in-
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fantry, which it did by driving in all the Federal cavalry in his front. Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall, leading in this attack, was badly wounded, and so vigorous was the charge which was pressed by Colonel Dulany that two of his men rode over the enemy's entrenchments, one of them being killed inside of them.
On the 24th the Seventh repulsed several bold attempts of the Federals to turn the flanks of Hill, blocking their way at every attack until, foiled and disheartened, they finally withdrew.
The engagements before Reams Station on the 25th, in which the cavalry did most of its fighting on foot, co-oper- ating and forming parts of the fighting line with the infan- try, a large part of them armed only with pistols and sabres, tended greatly to inspire the infantry with admiration for the dash, and confidence in the staying qualities of the cav- alry, which arm of the service they had heretofore affected to belittle. It was shown that they were capable of attack- ing infantry in entrenched positions with such inferior weapons as carbines and pistols and this, not only on foot, but in some instances mounted.
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