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 19
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There were engaged in this fight on the part of the Con- federates about 8,000 men under command of Genl. A. P. Hill, consisting of McRae's, Cook's, and Lane's brigades, with Pegram's Artillery, and the cavalry division of Hamp- ton and Barringer; while the Federal force under General Hancock was composed of the Second Army Corps, Mills' and Gibb's divisions, fifty regiments, the two cavalry divi- sions of Gregg and Kautz, and the whole supported by Wilcox's division in reserve, numbering from 16,000 to
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20,000 men, the Federals having advantage of fortified positions.
The victory of the Confederates was decisive, nine guns being captured and some of them turned upon the enemy. According to the official report of General Hill the captures were, "Twelve stands of colors, nine pieces of artillery, ten caissons, 2,150 prisoners, 3,100 small arms, thirty-two horses. My own loss, cavalry, artillery and infantry, being 720."
The Federal official reports on the 26th, of the engage- ments near Reams Station on the 25th, are interesting reading mainly for their inconsistencies, contradictions, and general inaccuracy, though some are wonderfully candid; Grant being misinformed by his subordinates.
General Grant reports :
"CITY POINT, VA., August 26th, 1864, 10 A. M.
MAJOR H. W. HALLECK,
Washington, D. C.
I have no report of the casualties yet from operations yes- terday near Reams Station. Orders were given during the day for General Hancock to return, but being pressed by the enemy he could not do so until night. Frequent assaults were repulsed, but just before night the enemy carried one point of the line and captured eight pieces of artillery.
The staff officer, who gives the only report I have, thinks the enemy were very severely punished, and that our loss in prisoners will be small.
During the night General Hancock returned to his place in line without opposition.
U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General."
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August 26th, 1864, ten A. M., Genl. George D. Meade reports to General Grant :
"Hancock's troops were withdrawn without molestation or being followed. He is now near the Williams house. He reports his command at present unserviceable. A report from General Gregg, commanding cavalry on Warren's left and Hancock's rear, reports the enemy pressing his pickets a little this morning with a view, he thinks, of picking up stragglers."
At half past twelve P. M. Meade reported to General Grant: "A safeguard that was left on the battlefield remained there until after daylight this morning. At that time the enemy had all disappeared, leaving their dead on the field unburied. This shows how severely they were punished, and doubtless hearing of the arrival of reinforce- ments, they feared the result if they remained."
Again at one o'clock P. M. Meade despatched to Grant as follows :
"Since sending my last despatch, I have conversed with the safeguard referred to. He did not leave the field until after sunrise. At that time nearly all the enemy had left, moving towards Petersburg. He says that they abandoned not only their dead but their wounded also. He conversed with an officer, who said that their losses were greater than ever before during the war.
"The safeguard says he was over a part of the field, and it was covered with the enemy's dead and wounded. He has seen a great many battlefields, but never saw such a sight. Very few of our dead, nearly all of the enemy.
"All of our wounded are brought off, but our dead unburied. I have instructed Gregg to make an effort to send a party to the field and bury our dead.
---
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"I should judge from all accounts the enemy will most likely be quiet for some time."
The absurdity and absolute falsity of the statement of this "safeguard" is so apparent that it is a wonder that Meade should have forwarded it to General Grant and with remarks indicative of his having given credence to it. We have seen from Meade's report to Grant of ten A. M. of the same day, two hours before he forwarded this statement of the "safeguard," that Hancock had fallen back in such con- dition that he reported his command as "unserviceable." We have seen also that after the discomfiture of Hancock, in which he lost 2,724 men, of whom 2,150 were prisoners, nine guns, ten caissons, 3,100 small arms and twelve stands of colors, A. P. Hill, wishing to return unobserved by the enemy to the army near Petersburg, left Col. Richard Dulany with the Seventh Regiment, Laurel Brigade, of Cavalry, to screen his movement, to occupy the field, secure the captures, and bury the dead.
Colonel Dulany, in his modest report, has said: "While carrying out the order a squad of cavalry under flag of truce came asking permission to bury their dead. I had orders to refuse any such applications, and they retired."
The people of the North, as well as the Northern Gov- ernment, having raised magnificent armies, supplied with the most modern and approved equipments of war, de- manded, with good reason, that their generals should win victories. In order to satisfy this demand, victories won only by peculiar processes on paper, were very often sub- stituted in the place of real ones in the field. So a first-class official report could easily convert a serious defeat into a
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victory of very respectable proportions. It was a victory of this kind that General Meade, upon the statement of the "safeguard," reported to General Grant. It is not likely, however, that Grant was enthused with the report of the victory in which he knew that Hancock had fallen back hors de combat, leaving guns, colors, prisoners, etc., in the hands of the Confederates.
General Miles, commanding the First Division of the Federal Second Army Corps, says in his report :
"At five P. M. the enemy drove in the skirmishers of the consolidated brigade, who made feeble resistance, debouched from the woods in front of that and the Fourth Brigade, advancing through the slashing, which was thirty yards wide. At first he was met by a sharp fire from these brigades, part of the First Brigade which fired to the left oblique, and the Fourth New York Artillery to the right oblique. Although he pushed forward with determination he was repulsed at several points, and his organization greatly broken up by the severity of the fire, and the obstacles in his front; but unfortunately, just as his entire repulse seemed certain, a portion of the con- solidated brigade, consisting of the Seventh, Fifty-second and Thirty-ninth New York regiments, broke and fell in confusion. At the same time a break occurred in the same brigade-the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth and One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York regiments. I stood at the time on the banks of the railroad cut, and saw a Rebel color-bearer spring over our works and down into the cut almost at my feet. But few of the enemy had reached the works, and a determined resistance of five minutes would have given us the victory.
"I looked for Lieutenant-Colonel Rugg, but not at the moment seeing him, I directed his regiment to rush into the gap and commence firing. Not a minute's time was lost before giving this order, but instead of executing it, they either lay on
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their faces or got up and ran to the rear. I then rode down the line of the Fourth Brigade, ordering them to move toward the right and hold the rifle-pits. These troops were then fighting gallantly, their brigade commander, Lieutenant-Col- onel Broady, being conspicuous, encouraging and directing the men. Finding the enemy had gained the angle and flanked my line, I rode to the Twelfth New York Battery and directed Lieutenant Dandy to fire canister at that point, which he did with great effect, working his guns gallantly until the enemy was upon him. His horses were killed, and it was impossible to limber up and draw off his guns in the breaking of the line. The enemy pushed forward, and taking possession of them, turned one of them and opened fire with it upon our troops.
"The One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Captain Brent commanding, when the assault was made, was directed to attack the enemy in flank and rear. The regiment had changed front and was moved up to within 200 yards and directed to open fire. Captain Martin, division inspector, a very cool and reliable officer, reports that not a shot was fired at it, but the men broke from the ranks and fled in the most disgraceful manner, only two men in the regiment discharging their pieces. The panic had become somewhat general, and it was with the greatest difficulty that my line could be formed:"
General Gibbon, commanding the Second Division of Hancock's corps, in his official report, states the following :
"About five P. M., the enemy having placed his batteries, opened a heavy fire, most of which took my part of the line in reverse. Soon afterwards he made his assault on General Miles' line, from which a portion of the First Brigade had been withdrawn to strengthen mine, under the impression that an attack was to be made there. The enemy broke through General Miles' line and, pushing forward his troops, appeared to be for a time carrying everything before him. His fire taking my line in reverse, I shifted my men to the opposite
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side of the parapets to resist his further advance, but there was checked by the steadiness of a portion of Miles' division, and my division was then ordered forward by General Hancock to attack the enemy and re-take the breastworks. In attempting to obey this order, that portion of the division with me did not sustain its previous reputation, and demoralized, partly by the shelling and musketry firing in its rear, and partly by refugees from other parts of the line, retired after a very feeble effort and very slight fire, in great confusion, every effort of myself and staff failing to arrest the rout until the breast- works were reached. Soon after this the enemy attacked my line, the men shifted to the inside of the parapet. Besides the fire from the front which, however, was very feeble, they were subjected to a musketry and artillery fire from the right flank, when the enemy turned our guns upon us. The men soon gave way in great confusion, and gave up the breast- works almost without resistance, and were partially rallied in the woods behind the right wing. The result of this action was a source of great mortification to me, as I am confident but for the bad conduct of my division, the battle would have terminated in my favor, even after the enemy had broken through General Miles' line."
The minuteness and candor of the two foregoing reports indicate their truthfulness, and corroborate the accounts of the engagement made from the Confederate standpoint.
Genl. Robert E. Lee, in his report to the Secretary of War, says :
"Gen. A. P. Hill attacked the enemy in his entrenchments at Reams Station, and at the second assault carried the entire line. Cook's and McRae's North Carolina brigades, under General Heth, and Lane's North Carolina brigade of Wilcox's division, under General Conner, with Pegram's Artillery, com- posed the assaulting column. One line of breastworks was
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carried by the cavalry under General Hampton with great gal- lantry, who contributed largely to the success of the day. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is reported to be heavy, ours relatively small. Our profound gratitude is due to the Giver of all Victory, and our thanks to the brave officers and men engaged."
General Lee, in his letter replying to a communication to General Hampton of date August 26th, 1864, says :
"I am very much gratified with the success of yesterday's operations. The conduct of the cavalry is worthy of all praise. I wished you to be near them because I feared that as Gregg was so much in the background in yesterday's operations, he might be preparing for a raid on the Danville and Southside Railroad."1
There was now a few days of rest, but on the Ist of Sep- tember Rosser had the men again in the saddle for the pur- pose of making a reconnoissance. This expedition was called by the troopers the Newspaper raid, because it was believed by them that it was made for the purpose of get- ting the latest Northern papers.
About four miles beyond Reams Station Rosser drove in the enemy's pickets, and the whole brigade galloping in pursuit ran the fugitives into their camp close by the infan- try fortifications. The surprised Federals stoutly defended their camp, and for a brief space there was hot work with pistol and sabre. After securing some prisoners and a good deal of plunder Rosser withdrew. In this charge the Elev- enth was in front and lost two killed and several wounded. It does not appear that a newspaper was secured, nor is
1 United States War Records, Series I, Vol. XLII.
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there any intimation of the nature of the information expected to be obtained.
The brigade had continued in camp resting and recuper- ating after the fight at Reams Station until the 14th of September. That morning, with five days' rations in hav- ersacks, the brigade under Rosser started with Hampton on his celebrated Cattle raid. The rest of the column consisted of Maj .- Genl. W. H. F. Lee's division, Dearing's brigade, and 100 men from Young's and Dunnavant's brigades under Colonel Miller of the Sixth South Carolina Regi- ment, and the horse artillery under Col. R. P. Chew.
The object of the expedition was to capture and secure for the use of Lee's army, a large herd of cattle belonging to the Federals, grazing in security on the James River near Coggin's Point, in the rear of Grant's army. The location of the cattle being well within the enemy's lines, it became necessary to force the lines at the most practicable point.
Hampton had been well informed as to the exact location of the cattle, and the position and approximate number of. the force guarding them, by intelligent scouts under Shad- burn of the Jeff Davis Legion; John G. McCleur of Com- pany B, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, being one of them. Upon their information, Hampton selected Sycamore Church, in Prince George's county, as the point at which to make the attack.
The first night the whole force bivouacked near Wilkin- son's Bridge, over the Rowanty Creek. Early next morn- ing the march was continued. The region through which the expedition passed was flat and marshy. The road wound along through occasional pine forests that helped to
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conceal the strength and design of Hampton's force. Few houses were seen, and almost unperceived they stole along towards Grant's rear. Early in the evening the Black- water was reached at a point where Cook's Bridge, recently destroyed, had stood.
Hampton purposely took this route because the absence of a bridge averted suspicion of any approach that way. Here he halted and fed, while the engineer corps built a new bridge, finishing it before nightfall.
At midnight the column crossed over, and each subordi- nate command proceeded to perform the part that had been assigned to it.
Lee was ordered to move up the Stage Road, drive in the pickets, force back the Federals, and occupy the roads lead- ing from the direction of Grant's army to Sycamore Church. Dearing was to proceed to Cox's Mill and remain there until the attack had been made at Sycamore Church, when he was to charge across and attack the picket on the Min- ger's Ferry Road.
To Rosser was assigned the duty of carrying the outpost position of the enemy at Sycamore Church, and then to push on and capture the cattle which were corralled about two miles from the church and guarded by another consid- erable force of cavalry.
When within a mile and a half of the church, Rosser halted and waited until morning. At the first streak of dawn, while darkness yet lingered, the column moved for- ward and the enemy was soon discovered in a strong posi- tion. This was the outpost of the force protecting the cattle, the approaches to it being protected by felled trees and abattis. This position was occupied by about 400 men of
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the District of Columbia Cavalry, armed with sixteen- shooter Henry rifles. The narrow roadway leading through the abattis into the camp, which the scouts had reported to be open was now found to be well barricaded, which fact indicated that the Federals had become suspicious of Hampton's approach, and had prepared in a measure to receive him, but were, perhaps, somewhat deceived as to his numbers.
A squadron of the Eleventh Regiment was ordered to charge, which it did promptly, the men riding up against the barricade, where heavy volleys were poured into them, it being too dark to see the enemy except by the flash of the discharges. A number of casualties occurred as the result of this gallant charge. The horse of Adjutant Funsten was killed, falling across the narrow roadway. A portion of the Seventh Regiment was dismounted and attacked and removed a portion of the barricade in the roadway.
The Twelfth Regiment was now ordered to charge mounted, the First Squadron, Companies B and I, in front. The opening in the barricade was carried, a number of men and horses being killed there.
The enemy, covered by darkness and from behind trees, kept up a rapid fusillade with repeating rifles upon the front and flanks of the charging column, the streaks of flame from their guns now and then revealing their forms to the aim of the assailants. Quite a number of them were killed and wounded and about 300 captured, besides a number of horses and ten wagons. They had, however, inflicted a heavy loss upon the brigade. The Seventh, under Colonel Dulany, had three men killed and fifteen wounded; among
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them Lieut. G. P. Smith of Company A, who fell leading a charge.
Among the killed and wounded of the Twelfth, were Lieutenant Lucas of Company D and Private Richard Tim- berlake, a gallant soldier of Company B.
The horse of Orderly-Sergt. Seth Timberlake, known as the "Fighting Sergeant" of Company B, was shot dead, and falling upon him, it required several comrades to remove the animal and extricate the rider.
The Eleventh also had some losses, as well as White's Battalion, which, however, was mostly in reserve and not engaged until later.
Daylight had now appeared, and the brigade pushing on without much organization for a mile further, came sud- denly upon a line of cavalry composed of a few squadrons mounted, and in the rear of them the coveted prize-the cattle-in close corral.
General Rosser, riding at the head of the brigade, directed a soldier to ride in advance and demand the sur- render of the opposing force.
Private Cary Seldon of Company B, Twelfth Regiment, with a white handkerchief hanging upon the point of his sabre, riding a little in advance, called to the Federals, "General Rosser demands your surrender." The officer in command replied, "Go to h-1!" Which defiance was instantly followed by a volley from his men. With a yell the brigade fell upon them, White's Battalion taking the front. The Federals fled in disorder through their encamp- ment, firing into the cattle as they passed and yelling in order to stampede them. A few of the beeves at the farther end of the corral stampeded, but were overtaken and
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1
rounded up, not one escaping. The net result of the cap- ture was 2,486 large, fat young steers, 304 prisoners, a considerable number of horses, arms and equipments. including several hundred of the Henry sixteen-shooter rifles. The camps of the enemy were burned, the stores being first secured and brought off in several captured wagons.
The following is an account of the capture of the cattle. written by General Rosser, which appeared in the Philadel- phia Times some time after the war. It was written from memory without consulting any official reports or other data.
"Our army had been for some time on short rations, and as our cavalry was stronger than that of the enemy, we determined to forage in the rear of the enemy's position. Scouts reported a large herd of beef cattle near Coggin's Point, and on the morning of the 14th of September, General Hamp- ton took Dearing's brigade and mine, and W. H. F. Lee's division, and by making a long detour, crossing the Jerusalem Plank Road at Belcher's Mill, and marching the 14th and 15th and night of the 15th, we halted near daylight on the morning of the 16th, as we were nearing the enemy's line, to dispose of our troops for the attack upon the enemy and the capture of the becves. W. H. F. Lee was sent off to the left towards Prince George Court House to amuse Gregg and keep him off. Dearing was sent to threaten Cabin Point, and I was ordered to break through the line at Sycamore Church and secure the cattle.
"These preliminaries all arranged I resumed the march. The moon had set, and although the sky was cloudless, the night in the woods was very dark. My men were ordered to march in silence, but the road was hard, and in the profound stillness of the night the tramp of the horses could be heard a
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long distance, and I knew it would be impossible to surprise the enemy, and therefore made my arrangements to fight. I knew that I would find a regiment of cavalry at Sycamore Church, and I knew that every man of them would be in posi- tion and ready for me on my arrival there, and I brought up the Twelfth Virginia Regiment and gave orders to the com- mander, Major Knott, a very gallant officer, to charge just as soon as he was challenged by the enemy.2
"My guide reported that we were near the church, and I was riding by the side of Knott, telling him how to proceed in the event of his being able to dislodge the enemy, when, as if by the flash of lightning, the front was all ablaze by the flash of musketry, but the gallant Twelfth was not the least staggered by the sudden discharge in its face, but as quick as thought the charge was sounded, and the noble old regiment went thun- dering upon the enemy. But a strong abattis had been thrown across the road, over which cavalry could not pass, and when it was reached the men were dismounted and put to work clearing it away; and, seeing this, I dismounted the next regi- ment, the Seventh, and ran it up in line as skirmishers, and soon cleared the way for the mounted men of the Twelfth, who were followed by the Eleventh and Twenty-fifth battalions, and before the enemy could mount and escape, or communicate with the guard over the cattle, they were our prisoners.
"When we captured the regiment at Sycamore Church it was barely light enough to see the road, and leaving a strong guard with the prisoners, I pressed on in search of the cattle.
"I had proceeded about a mile, when in the dim light of the early morning, I saw a line of cavalry-about two squadrons- drawn up on a hill in front of me. My command was not closed up, and I had to halt for a few minutes, but a portion of White's Battalion coming up, we made a dash at this little
2Col. Thomas E. Massie, and not Major Knott, was in command of the Twelfth on this occasion, and received the order referred to by Gen- eral Rosser, and executed it with great gallantry, which the heroic Knott would have done had he been in command. The mistake is an inadvertence of General Rosser.
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squad, which broke on our approach, and pursuing we soon came upon the beeves.
"When I came in sight of the beeves they were running rapidly in the direction of the James River. The herders had thrown down the fence of the corral, and by firing pistols and yelling Indian fashion, had stampeded the cattle, and they were running like mad. I ordered the Seventh Virginia, which had just overtaken me, to run their horses until they got in front of the herd, then to turn upon it and stop it. This order was not easily obeyed, for the young steers ran like buffalo, and it was requiring too much of jaded cavalry to force it into a race like this. But after running a mile or so the steers slackened their pace, and the cavalry was thus able to get in front of them, and then to round them up, and quiet them, then turn them about and start them to the pens of their new masters on the Dixie side of the line. When the excitement was all over and the herd was obediently following 'the leader,' I had them counted and found that our haul amounted to 2,486 head, and all fat young steers."3
The cattle having been captured had to be taken care of, and moments now were precious, for the overwhelming cavalry force of Grant's army was in striking distance and could intercept Hampton by several roads unless the cap- tures and escort could be hurried past the roads intersecting the line of retreat, and these approaches successfully defended.
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