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 20
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The situation was a dangerous one for cavalry without encumbrance, but to escape successfully with an additional column composed of the cattle, wagons, and prisoners made it more than doubly difficult, and taxed to the fullest both the genius of Hampton and the steadiness and courage of his command. Hampton, however, was equal to the occa-
3Taken from the Southern Bivouac, page 417.
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sion, and before making the attack had made his arrange- ments and prepared for almost any contingency.
W. H. F. Lee and Dearing had attacked the enemy at the opportune time, with success, and had established themselves at the points they were ordered to secure on the roads leading to Grant's army.
By eight o'clock A. M. Hampton had secured everything, destroyed the enemy's camps and immovables, withdrawn his forces and started upon the return.
It is not to be supposed that all the hubbub created so near the main body of the Federal army, in its very rear, only five miles from its base of supply at City Point, and in sight of the gunboats at Cabin Point, and the capture of so much valuable property, had not caused a stir at Grant's headquarters, and that vigorous efforts were not instantly put forth to make a recapture, and punish the Confederate raiders for their insolence and audacity. In this connec- tion, some of the Federal reports and despatches are of interest.
On the 16th General Kautz reports to General Grant: '
"General Hampton has captured all the cattle and taken them away on the road leading south from this point. I shall pursue and endeavor to annoy them as much as possible. About 150 of the First District of Columbia Cavalry have been captured."
General B. F. Butler to General Grant, September 17th :
"Yesterday three brigades of Hampton's cavalry turned our left and struck the cattle corral about seven miles below City Point, and captured about 2,000 cattle and our telegraph con- struction party."
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Grant despatches to General Davies, commanding cav- alry near Williams' house :
"September 16th. I send you despatch just received from City Point. The Commanding General wishes you to strike the enemy on their return, if they are now in return.
(Signed)
A. A. HUMPHRIES, Chief of Staff."
General Davies the same day replies :
"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHRIES,
Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac.
GENERAL: Upon the information in your last communica- tion I will move all the available force of this division down the Jerusalem Plank Road, instructing General Kautz to move out in pursuit with a view of cutting them off between here and the river."
September 17th General Kautz despatches to General Grant from Baxter's Mills :
"I have returned thus far from the pursuit of Hampton's forces. I followed him to the Jerusalem Plank Road, and my advance skirmished last night with what I presumed to be his rear guard. I thought it possible it might be Gregg's forces and fell back about two miles. This morning I sent a scout to the Plank Road and found no enemy. * He * drove the cattle more than thirty miles, and very few were left in the road. I was disappointed not to effect a junction with General Gregg's forces."
It will be seen from the following from Grant to Kautz of the 16th that Kautz, besides his division of cavalry, had been reinforced by a brigade or more of infantry.
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"HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Sept. 16th, 1864. 8.40 A. M.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL KAUTZ,
Commanding Cavalry Division :
Colonel Smyth, commanding Second Division, Second Corps, is ordered to send you a brigade of infantry immedi- ately, and to hold the remainder of the division ready to fol- low. General Hunt will send you a battery of artillery.
A. A. HUMPHRIES, Major-General and Chief of Staff."
The success of Hampton in securing the cattle and defeating the forces sent to intercept him, had to be accounted for by the Federal subalterns to their superiors, especially to the commander-in-chief. , Hence Meade attributes it to Hampton's superior numbers, which he estimated to be 6,000. Kautz had it from a reliable citizen that the Confederates numbered 14,000, of whom a large part was infantry.
From the various reports and despatches relating to the Cattle raid, which fill not less than fifteen pages of Volume XLII. Series I, of the United States War Records, from which. the foregoing reports and despatches have been taken, it can be shown that, while the Confederate raiding column largely outnumbered the force protecting the cattle, the forces of Gregg and Kautz sent out to intercept Hamp- ton outnumbered his available forces two to one. Besides Hampton's losses in killed and wounded in the attack near Sycamore Church, a considerable number of his troopers were sent with the captured prisoners and cattle, greatly reducing his force opposing Kautz and Gregg.
While the divisions of Gregg and Kautz had been quickly despatched to intercept Hampton on the Jerusalem Plank
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Road, this had been expected and prepared for by Hamp- ton, who had ordered Rosser, with the artillery under Chew, to hold that road at a point east of the Weldon Railroad some distance below Petersburg. W. H. F. Lee's division was assigned to protect his rear, Dearing's bri- gade and Miller being ordered to support Rosser.
Rosser sent White ahead with his battalion to look out for the enemy on the Plank Road. White had hardly got- ten into position before the Federals appeared in heavy force-a whole division.
White with characteristic audacity blocked the way with an attitude of defiance that suggested that he had strong backing. It was a fine play of bluff. The Federals moved slowly and cautiously forward. White now fighting and falling back, but moving his men from point to point, deceived the enemy as to his numbers. Soon Rosser came up with the rest of the brigade, and the Federals were attacked and driven back. Ordered by Hampton to make a firm stand at Ebenezer Church, Rosser promptly took position there. Behind him about three miles the captured herd was crossing the Plank Road. Everything now depended on his keeping the enemy back. On pressed the Federals in a heavy column with flanking parties. It was Kautz reinforced by the division of Gregg. Their artil- lery, numerous and well handled, swept the road and the adjacent fields with shot and shell, and under cover of this fire their whole line advanced. Rosser with dismounted men on his flanks and mounted squadrons in the road never yielded an inch, but hurled his regiments against them shat- tering the head of the blue column and driving it back some distance.
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The Federals, realizing that this was the only opportu- nity to recapture the valuable prize in Hampton's posses- sion, made an effort to break through his line at this point. But Rosser held his ground steadily until reinforced by Dearing and Miller, Lee also having been ordered to form on the right. Colonel Chew had already taken position with his guns, and the Federal artillerists were soon forced to give him their attention. "After a heavy cannonade of an hour he completely silenced the guns of the enemy." Being repulsed repeatedly the Federals withdrew after dark. Hampton, fearing a movement towards his left, also retired, and the whole command bivouacked for the night near Wilkinson's Bridge.
Next day the subdivisions of the raiding column returned to their respective camps, the mighty, bellowing drove of fat beeves that preceded them having already conveyed to the army the news of their brilliant success.
The expedition had been absent three days, during which time it had marched upwards of 100 miles, defeating the enemy in two fights, and bringing from behind his lines in safety 2,486 cattle, a large amount of captured property, together with 304 prisoners. The Confederate loss was ten killed, forty-seven wounded, and four missing.
Genl. Benjamin F. Butler, on the 17th, sent a despatch to General Meade saying :
"The cavalry sent in pursuit of the captured cattle have returned, having found all avenues of approach so strongly held by the enemy as to prevent any attempt on their part to recapture the cattle."
4 Hampton's Report.
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September the 20th General Grant, in a communication to General Meade, says :
"General Lee claims in an official despatch that in driving back our pickets they captured ninety men from us. In the cavalry fight he claims to have captured 300 prisoners, a large amount of horses and some arms, besides 2,500 cattle. The case with which our men of late fall into the hands of the enemy would indicate that they are rather willing prisoners."
The caution with which Hampton conducted this expedi- tion, his frequent halting of the column waiting informa- tion from his scouts as to the latest situation within the camp of the enemy, the silence enjoined upon the men, and the stealthines, generally that marked his approach, together with the careful a signment of each subdivision of his com- nad, providing as well for his return as for the attack, marked him a, a cavalry leader of the most commanding genius. While great praise is due to Generals Lee and Dearing, and to Colonel Miller, for their hard fighting in keeping the way open and protected against the vastly superior forces of Kautz and Gregg, yet the most conspic- uous service, the central attack and capture of the cattle, devolved upon the Laurel Brigade, and was duly acknowl- edged by Hampton in the following report :
"The enemy had a strong position, and the approaches to it being barricaded, he had time to rally in the woods around his camp, where for some time he fought as stubbornly as I have ever seen him do. But the determination and gallantry of Rosser's men proved too much for him, and he was com- pletely routed, leaving his dead and wounded on the field."
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The success of the expedition was highly gratifying to Genl. Robert E. Lee, and expressed by him to General Hampton, who in just pride promulgated the following order :
"General Order No. 2. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
The Major-General commanding takes pride in communi- cating to his command the praise which their recent achieve- ment has won from the Commanding General, who, in acknowledging his report of the successful return of his com- mand from the rear of the enemy's army, says: 'You will please convey to the officers and men of your command my thanks for the courage and energy with which they executed your orders, by which they have added another to the list of important services rendered by the cavalry during the present campaign.'
To such praise the Major-General Commanding would only add the expression of his own appreciation of the gallantry of his officers and men, whose conduct in battle is all he could desire, and inspires him with pride and perfect confidence in such a command.
By command of MAJ .- GEN. WADE HAMPTON. H. B. MCCLELLAN, Assistant Adjutant-General."
CHAPTER XI
September, 1864
The return to the Valley-Tedious march and wornout horses-Eager to avenge the outrages of Sheridan-Federals devastate the Shenandoah Valley-Fitz Lee having been wounded, Rosser com- mands the Cavalry Division-Fight at Mill Creek-Toms Brook -- A much-mooted night attempt to surprise and bag Custer-Cedar Creek-Brent's Farm-Fighting on the Back Road-Death of Lieut .- Col. Thomas Marshall-Brigade camps and rests at Fisher's Hill and Timberville-Kershaw's division and Crosby's brigade of cavalry withdrawn from Early's army-Sheridan with superior numbers hesitates to attack Early.
After the Cattle raid the Laurels had a week of rest, dur- ing which time came the pleasant rumor that the brigade would soon be ordered to the Valley. News that reached camp from that section was depressing. Sheridan was reported as marching through the Valley counties with fire and sword; and the letters from home telling of the desola- tion made by his soldiers kindled a strong desire among the men to go and defend their firesides and punish Sheridan.
On the 26th of September orders were issued to prepare to move to the Shenandoah Valley. The preparations were made with much rejoicing. Little attention was given to the details of packing, all being absorbed with the single thought of getting off as soon as possible.
On the 27th the brigade moved under the command of Col. R. H. Dulany; Rosser and his staff going in advance by rail, via Lynchburg to Staunton.
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By the 30th the column had reached Lynchburg, and thence continuing through Lexington arrived late in the evening of October 5th in front of the enemy at Bridge- water. The march had been a long and hard one. When the brigade went into camp at Bridgewater the ranks had been thinned by the length and fatigue of the journey.
On the morning of the 6th the troopers awoke somewhat refreshed by deep slumbers, and though needing more rest, the sight of the burning barns and stack-yards banished everything from their minds but thoughts of vengeance. The fires of destruction were partly visible. Clouds of smoke hung across the Valley, extending from the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, hiding the movements of the incendiaries, but clearly showing the fiendish character of their work.
Fitz Lee had been badly wounded at Winchester, and was still absent from the field. To his division, consisting of Wickham's and Payne's brigades, the Laurels were tem- porarily assigned, and the whole put under the command of General Rosser, Col. R. H. Dulany taking command of the brigade.
Rosser found Fitz Lee's division thinned and exhausted by a long and unequal contest with Sheridan's greatly superior force of Federal cavalry. His own brigade was much reduced in numbers by the toilsome forced march from beyond Petersburg, but the men, many of whom lived in the Valley and were now on their native heath, were eager to engage the enemy.
It was soon discovered that Sheridan was retreating, and the Confederates moved rapidly in pursuit. As they advanced the sight of the burnt barns and stack-yards, and
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occasionally of dwelling-houses, inflamed them with rage. Groups of houseless women and children, who had been robbed of every means of sustenance, stood near the way- side bemoaning their fate.
With zeal quickened by such new scenes of desolation, the Laurels galloped forward and late in the evening over- took the rear guard of Custer's cavalry near Brock's Gap. Here a spirited skirmish ensued, and the Federals being worsted withdrew across Dry River. Custer posting his artillery on the high ground on the other side, kept Rosser at bay until night, and then under cover of darkness con- tinued his retreat in company with Sheridan's whole army.
During the whole night the work of destruction went on. Every kind of provender for cattle and food for men was burnt, while the live stock of every kind was driven off. The burning parties distributed across the Valley swept it with the fire of desolation. Every home was visited, the proud mansion and the humble cottage feeling alike the blasting and savage hand of war.
At dawn the next morning Rosser's whole force was in . the saddle, and straightway began a vigorous pursuit of the enemy.
To understand the several cavalry actions in which the Laurels participated in the weeks following, some knowl- edge is necessary of the relative positions of the main roads that traverse the Valley between Harrisonburg and Win- chester. Three roads run nearly parallel the whole length of this tract, the Valley turnpike along the eastern border, the Back Road skirting the foothills of the North Moun- tain, and the Middle Road between the two. The last two are hilly and rough, but the Back Road, which occasionally
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hugs the jutting spurs of the North Mountain, is especially so. It was along the latter that Custer retired with the flocks and herds and other movables he had taken from the doomed inhabitants of the burnt district. The broken and steep approaches to the crossings of the mountain streams afforded admirable positions of advantage for defense.
About three o'clock in the evening Rosser's pursuing column overtook the enemy at Mill Creek, the Laurels under Colonel Dulany in the lead. On the opposite bank of this stream the Federals were discovered in force and strongly posted. Colonel Dulany was ordered to take a part of the Seventh and White's Battalion and cross at a lower ford. This he accomplished without molestation, but it quickly appeared that the flanking column was not unobserved. No sooner had it crossed than it was con- fronted by a body of Federal horse which, though it had come too late to hold the ford, stood ready to block the way of the Confederates.
Dulany at once ordered a charge. Capt. Dan Hatcher, commanding the First Squadron of the Seventh, led with his customary dash, and executed a movement that quite disconcerted the enemy. While advancing he adroitly turned to the left, then quickly wheeling to the right, struck the Federals on the half flank just as Dulany with the rest of his force charged full in front. The Federals taken by surprise, after a feeble resistance turned and fled up the creek, halting on a hill near their main body. Beyond them could be seen their wagon train and droves of sheep and cattle, a prize worth fighting for.
White's Battalion, under Captain Myers, now charged the force on the hill, while Rosser, pressing forward his
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column, with the Eleventh and Twelfth regiments in front, burst across the ford and assaulted the main body.
The Confederates, eager to get within sword range of the detested barn-burners, rode at them furiously. The Fed- erals fought bravely, but could not withstand men who were seeking vengeance rather than victory.
The fight that began at Mill Creek lasted until night, being renewed whenever the Federals attempted a rally, and the loss of the enemy was considerable. Darkness coming on, Rosser ceased to pursue, while Custer moved on.
It was not until noon the next day that the Confederates again overtook the Federals, who, as before, fell back down the Back Road all the way to Toms Brook and across it. Rosser followed Custer more than twenty-five miles beyond New Market, where Early had halted his infantry.
Beyond Toms Brook Custer doubled and attempted to get in Rosser's rear, having first moved off towards the turnpike. Rosser, already perilously far in Sheridan's rear, divined Custer's purpose, and turned back in time to pre- - vent its accomplishment. With a dashing sabre charge Custer's column was again driven off the Back Road, and the Confederates recrossed Toms Brook and went into camp.
For two days the Confederates had been driving and chasing Custer's detested barn-burners. The Laurels, blinded with rage at the sight of their ruined homes, had struck with savage fury. Impelled by a sense of personal injury, they had dashed on counting no odds and taking all risks. Custer's men had repeatedly quailed before their onset, and seemed to severely avoid an encounter with the men whose families had suffered so much at their hands.
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But now that bloody punishment had been inflicted upon the enemy, though a sense of superiority remained, the pas- sion for revenge, somewhat satiated, began to cool; and when the Laurels first began to retrace their steps, they found occasion for sober thought. That night, when gathered around their camp-fires on the high ground south of Toms Brook, they could not avoid thinking of their situ- ation. All knew the country well, and were not ignorant of the fact that Early with his infantry was twenty-five miles away to the rear, while Sheridan's whole army was camped near by.
The numerous camp-fires of the Federal cavalry indi- cated, without much if any exaggeration, the greatly superior strength of Sheridan's mounted force.
Says Pond in his "Shenandoah Valley in 1864":
"The assurance with which Rosser challenged Custer all the way down from Harrisonburg, showed that he had no concep- tion of Sheridan's mounted strength, though his fatal zeal was probably due in part to the excitement of his men at seeing their barns and houses in flames ; for many of Early's cavalry- men were from this region. Their eagerness to exact retribu- tion brought upon them double mortification and suffering."
Perhaps the Laurels did feel some pangs of remorse for the bloody retribution they had exacted. At all events they lay down that night with a sense of insecurity, which only yielded to a strong faith in the genius of their fearless commander. Rosser himself was not without misgivings. At one time he thought seriously of withdrawing during the night. Some of his officers tried to pursuade him to do
1
CAPT. J. W. CARTER
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so; but regarding Early's orders as imperative, he deter- mined to stay where he was, thinking that if pressed by an overwhelming force on the morrow, it would be quite easy to retire in good order before an enemy whom he had driven pell-mell for two days.
At dawn on the morning of the 9th, the Federals were in the saddle and were observed to be moving into position along Toms Brook.
In the fights of the two preceding days the greatly superior numbers of the enemy had either not been noticed or were disregarded. Now, as squadron after squadron de- ployed in full view, the inequality of the contest was mani- fest. Rosser had all told less than 2,000 men, probably not more than 1,500, while opposed to him were at least 4,000 Federals, freshly mounted and armed with the Spencer seven-shooter carbines, which were effective at over 1,000 yards.
Wickham's brigade, under Colonel Munford, held Ros- ser's left, resting its right on the Back Road. Near by on the right of this road were posted two pieces of Thomp- son's Battery under Carter, supported by William Payne's small brigade of about 300 men. The right of Rosser's line was held by the Laurel Brigade under Col. R. H. Dulany. The Seventh occupied the center of the brigade line, supporting the dismounted sharpshooters of the Eleventh. On its right was the Twelfth mounted in single battle line, with White's Battalion mounted on its left.
The fighting began all along the front with little prelim- inary demonstration. Sheridan had ordered General Tor- bert commanding Merrit's and Custer's divisions of cavalry, "to start out at daylight and whip the Rebel cavalry or get
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whipped himself." The command was imperative for the the Federal horse to assume the offensive, and it went to the work with promptness and activity. A heavy line of sharpshooters advanced, supported by numerous bodies of mounted men. Every opening disclosed moving masses of bluecoats, and soon they advanced, covering the hill slopes and blocking the roads with apparently countless squadrons.
It needed but a glance at the oncoming foe to start Car- ter's guns to action. The intervening woods at first partly obscured them from view, but at every flash of blue through . the trees, Carter sent a shot of defiance. The enemy's guns, greatly superior in number and admirably posted, now challenged his attention, and the Federal horse, taking advantage of this diversion, in dense swarms moved steadily forward. The sharpshooters on both sides were busy, those of the enemy pressing on with confidence.
On Dulany's front their audacity was severely punished by charges from the Twelfth and White's Battalion, which drove them back in confusion. Confident in numbers and heavily supported, they reformed and again advanced. Meantime they were getting near Carter's guns on Dulany's left.
While their long and heavy battle line began to envelop Rosser's left flank, held by Wickham's brigade, Carter saw his danger and worked his guns with redoubled energy.
From several directions mounted and dismounted bodies of the enemy were coming eager to seize the prize, while a superior number of Federal pieces, from positions of secur- ity, sent bomb after bomb at the doomed battery. But Carter never flinched for a moment. Often before his won- derful pluck, and the gallantry of his men, had saved the
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guns. Perhaps it could be done again, at least they thought it worth the effort, and their well-directed shots made the enemy waver. But Custer had gotten around Rosser's left flank, Wickham's brigade had withdrawn, and the Back Road near by, and to the left of Carter's position, was swarming with bluecoats.
With a shout the Federal squadrons that had recoiled before Carter's fire renewed their efforts to take his guns, which continued to send grape and shrapnel into their ranks. It was a desperate chance, but the gallant Payne made a heroic effort to save the guns. Straight across the slope, with banner flying and sabres flashing, rode his men right at the crowding Federals, Payne and Rosser in the forefront. It was too late; the enemy was among the guns, and Payne, almost surrounded, fell back.
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