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 24
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"General Kelly and his adjutant were secured some time before Crook was brought out and mounted, but when this was finally done, and the headquarters and other flags were secured, in a quiet and orderly manner the entire party moved back down Baltimore Street to. the Chain Bridge. A large stable was located here, and under the leadership of Dave Barnum this was entered, and a number of fine horses taken, among them 'Philippi,' General Kelly's charger. The taking of these horses occasioned some delay, and Lieutenant McNeil, becom- ing impatient, directed me to lead them out of the city at once. Turning the column to the left down Canal Street I led it on
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to the bank which separates the creek and river from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which has here its western terminus. At the locks, a few hundred yards below, we came unexpectedly upon a dozen or more guards, whom we sur- rounded and captured. We destroyed their guns and equip- ments, but did not encumber ourselves with their persons.
"From this point the column went at a gallop down the tow- path, and as its front neared the Canal bridge on the road to Wiley's Ford, a mile below town, the men were halted by the picket posted there. The column not halting as ordered, one of the pickets was heard to say, 'Sergeant, shall I fire?' when Vandiver shouted, 'If you do I will place you under arrest. This is General Crook's bodyguard, and we have no time to wait. The Rebels are coming and we are going out to meet them.' This explanation seemed satisfactory, for not another word was said. We passed under the bridge beyond the picketpost, the enemy's outpost guard, and across the Potomac once more.
'McGregor was on his native heath, with McGregor's Clan around him.'
"We were four or five miles away before we heard the boom of a cannon giving the alarm. But what cared we? Although sixty miles from base and not yet out of danger, not a man among us but felt at his ease. No wonder we felt proud and happy as we rode back that cold winter morning over the snow- clad Virginia hills. Our expedition was a grand success, our every wish was realized.
"A mounted force from Cumberland in pursuit of us came within view on Patterson's Creek, but kept at a respectful dis- tance in the rear. After passing Romney a few cavalry pressed our rear guard, but after the exchange of a few shots retired.
"On reaching the Moorefield Valley we came in sight of a battalion of the Ringgold Cavalry, then a part of the Twenty- second Pennsylvania Cavalry, sent from New Creek to inter- cept us. We were on opposite sides of the river in full view
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of each other, and soon our tired horses were being urged to their utmost speed. The Federals were endeavoring to reach Moorefield ahead and cut off our retreat ; while on our side the great desire was to pass through the town with our prisoners and captured flags, and exhibit to our friends and sweethearts there the fruits of our excursion. It soon became evident, however, that the fresher horses of our competitors would win the race. Then at the very moment when prospects of success seemed brightest to our pursuers, to their infinite chagrin, like the clansmen of Roderick on the Highland pass-
'Down sunk the disappearing band, Each warrior vanished where he stood, In broom or bracken, heath or wood.'
"Convinced that the town could not be reached and safely passed, McNeil had suddenly ordered his men to enter the woods skirting the road, where, taking a trail well known to us, we passed through the ridge to a point seven miles east of Moorefield, on the South Fork, where we encamped for the night.
"In the previous twenty-four hours we had ridden ninety miles over mountains and streams, with little rest or food for men or horses, and, as may be imagined, heartily enjoyed the night's repose.
"Our prisoners received the best possible care, and next day were started for Staunton. The headquarters of General Early was there, to whom they were delivered, and who sent them from thence to Richmond under charge of a squad of their captors. They were fortunate enough to secure an early exchange, and were returned safely back into their own lines.
"The following are verbatim copies of the only official reports of the affair on record in the War Department at Washington, and have probably never before been published :
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'HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, February 24th, 1865.
HON. JNO. C. BRECKINRIDGE,
Secretary of War :
General Early reports that Lieutenant McNeil with thirty men, on the evening of the 21st, entered Cumberland, captured and brought out Generals Crook and Kelly, the adjutant-gen- eral of the department, two privates, and the headquarters' flag, without firing a gun, though a considerable force is sta- tioned in the vicinity. Lieutenant McNeil and party deserve much credit for this bold exploit. Their prisoners will reach Staunton today.
R. E. LEE.'
'CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND, February 21st, 1865.
MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN,
Winchester, Virginia :
This morning about three o'clock a party of Confederate horsemen came upon the New Creek Road, about sixty in num- ber. They captured the picket and quietly rode into the town, went directly to the headquarters of Generals Crook and Kelly, sending a couple of men to each place to overpower the head- quarters guard, when they went directly to the room of General Crook and, without disturbing anybody else in the house, ordered him to dress and took him downstairs and placed him upon a horse already saddled and waiting. The same was done to General Kelly. Captain Melvin, A. A. G. to General Kelly, was also taken. While this was being done a few of them without creating any disturbance, opened one or two stores, but they left without taking anything. It was done so quietly that others of us who were sleeping in adjoining rooms to General Crook were not disturbed. The alarm was given within ten minutes by a darkey watchman at the hotel, who escaped from them, and within an hour we had a party of fifty cavalry after them.
They tore up the telegraph lines, and it required almost an hour to get them in working order. As soon as New Creek
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could be called, I ordered a force to be sent to Romney, and it started without any unnecessary delay. A second force has gone from New Creek to Moorefield, and a regiment of infantry has gone to New Creek to supply the place of the cavalry. They rode good horses and left at a very rapid rate, evidently fearful of being overtaken. I am inclined to believe that instead of Rosser it is McNeil's company. Most of the men of that company are from this place. I will telegraph you fully any further information.
ROBT. P. KENNEDY, Major and A. A. G.'
"But little remains to be told. Lieutenant McNeil secured at last his long deferred captain's commission, but the war closing soon after, he did not long enjoy his promotion, and some time in May, 1865, in accordance with the stipulations at Appomattox, he surrendered his command for parole. He then returned to the West, where for many years he has been a citizen of Illinois, whilst many of the captors have since passed from time into Eternity, and the survivors are scattered.
"Though a major-general of volunteers, General Crook's lineal rank in the regular army at the end of the war was captain in the Fourth Infantry. Since then he has risen to the grade of major-general, and is but three removes from full command of the Army of the United States. He is at present in control of the Military Department of the Missouri, and has his headquarters at Chicago. General Kelly, enjoying a sine- cure post in the Civil Service and a modest pension, oscillates between Washington City and the mountains of Maryland, spending part of the year at the Capital and his summers on his farm in the Alleghanies; and Major Melvin is a distin- guished member of the bar of West Virginia, who, since his creditable career in the army closed, has had the honor of presiding on the bench of the most important circuit court in that young and prosperous State. It was subsequently ascer- tained that there were in the hotel, in rooms not far from that of General Crook, two future presidents of the United States --
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Brig .- Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley, the latter a major on the staff of General Crook. Had they, or either of them, been captured, it might seriously have affected the political history of our country.
"July 11th, 1893."
J. B. FAY.
The following members of the Laurel Brigade partici- pated in the raid into Cumberland, several of them enacting the most prominent parts in the capture of the Federal Generals :
Joseph W. Kuykendall, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cav- alry.
Jacob Gassman, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry.
John S. Arnold, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry.
George Everitt, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry.
Leslie Davis, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry.
George F. Cunningham, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cav- alry.
George Harness Johnson, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry.
Hiram R. Allen, Company F, Seventh Virginia Cavalry.
John Dailey, Company D, Eleventh Virginia Cavalry.
Joseph L. Sherrard, Company D, Eleventh Virginia Cav- alry.
John W. Poling, Company D, Eleventh Virginia Cavalry.
John David Parsons, Company D, Eleventh Virginia Cav- alry.
Joseph A. Pancake, Company D, Eleventh Virginia Cavalry.
Richard T. Merryman, Company G, Seventh Virginia Cav- alry.
Jacob Gassman of Company F, Seventh Virginia Cav- alry, was one of the party who went to the room of General Crook in the Revere House, being the first to enter.
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The number of men in McNeil's party was sixty-five, and was erroneously reported as thirty in the report transmitted to General Lee, and so reported by him to the Secretary of War at Richmond.
The success of McNeil, in reaching Staunton with his prisoners, is almost as remarkable as the capture, when it is remembered that Sheridan occupied Winchester and vicinity with a large cavalry force, and was much nearer Moorefield than Cumberland; and that New Creek, also eighteen miles nearer Moorefield than Cumberland, was occupied by a considerable Federal force, including cavalry.
CHAPTER XIV
March, 1865
After the return from Beverly, Munford's and Payne's brigades ordered east of the Blue Ridge-Wharton's division of infantry and Ros- ser's brigade of cavalry only force left under Early in the Valley to face Sheridan-Government supplies almost fail, and home sup- plies no longer chieer the soldiers-Sheridan lays waste the Valley, and with 10,oco sabres advances-Rosser meets him with 300 men and, aided by high water, retards him at North River-Early with- draws towards Charlottesville, is overtaken, defeated, and his army captured or dispersed near Waynesboro-Rosser attempts to re- capture the prisoners, but fails-Rosser made major-general and Dearing takes command of the Laurel Brigade-The trail of Sheridan-Division under Rosser, not over 1,200 men, moves below Petersburg-Federals capture Five Forks-Rosser's division forms rear guard of Fitz Lee's column-Advancing Federals punished in their onsets-Deep Creek-Brigade, April 5th, with rest of division moves towards Amelia Court House-Soldiers depressed but reso- lute-Desperate charge of Dearing near Amelia Springs-Desperate fighting by great fighters-Federals driven back into Jetersville- Death of Captains Rutherford and Hugh McGuire-High Bridge- Death of Dearing, Knott, Thompson and others and the wounding of many-White takes command of brigade-Appomattox-The last charge-Brigade disbanded near Lynchburg by Colonel "Lige" White-Remnant of the Twelfth Regiment under command of Lieutenant Wm. F. Anderson surrenders at Appomattox.
Not long after the return of the raiding column from Beverly, the cavalry in the Valley was diminished by the removal of Munford's and Payne's brigades to quarters east of the Blue Ridge. To face Sheridan's army there remained only Wharton's division of infantry and Rosser's brigade of cavalry.
Want of every description, sharpened by the severities of winter, proved a more deadly foe than the armed Federals.
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The Government supplies almost failed, and what was almost equally as bad, the customary packages of clothing from the soldiers' homes no longer came to warm the bodies and cheer the hearts of the suffering Confederates.
Sheridan's policy of destruction had deprived the families of the soldiers, not only of the means of helping their sons and husbands in the field, but of the bare necessities of life. Their cows, fowls, hogs, and sheep, not to speak of horses and cattle, had been killed or driven off; their barns and outbuildings burned, their crops consumed or destroyed, and their winter supplies of food and clothing ruthlessly seized. In many instances their houses had been burned, and within the bare walls of these left standing, were not a few helpless families of old men, women, and children.
Most of the suffering wives and mothers in their letters suppressed the truth, or at least tried to conceal their des- titution from the absent soldiers, by not writing at all, or by sending as cheerful reports as possible of their condi- tion ; but "camp rumors," and the failure of the home sup- plies, enabled the soldiers to read the truth between the lines.
In a few instances, the absent breadwinners were earn- estly besought, by oral or written messages, to return home and save their families from destruction.
To remain idle in winter quarters, while wives and little ones were freezing and starving at home, or perhaps sick and dying from neglect, proved in many cases more than husbands and fathers could bear. Hence it was but natural that, as the grim winter progressed with unabated fierce- ness, Rosser's force continued to diminish in numbers. Amid so many difficulties Rosser kept his men together as
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best he could, deriving some comfort from the noticeable fact, that the desperateness of the situation had rendered the majority of those who remained with him the more eager for battle, and more determined to do bloody execu- tion when the time for action arrived. He felt confident, too, that upon the first clash of arms most of the absent men would return to their commands.
When, therefore, about the Ist of March word was brought that Sheridan was again moving up the Valley, the report was welcomed as the harbinger of an agreeable change of scene and an opportunity for action.
Grant had been urging Sheridan for some time to renew his attempts upon Gordonsville and the Virginia Central Railroad. The last effort in that quarter had met with ignominious failure. Sheridan's grand column had been frightened away from Charlottesville by a handful of infantry and militia, while Custer's march upon Staunton with 3,000 sabres had been stopped by a small force under Rosser. But Grant was not satisfied, and with character- istic pertinacity continued to urge Sheridan to move for- ward. Sheridan, who never brought on a battle except where odds were more than two to one in his favor, seemed to have been made timid by his so-called brilliant victories. He appeared now to be waiting until there was no force left in the Valley to oppose him. At last, pushed on by Grant, Sheridan on the 27th of February, 1865, moved up the Valley from Winchester with a superb column of 10,000 sabres.1
Rosser with about 300 men met him at North River for the purpose of delaying his march until Early's small force
1 Pond's "Shenandoah Valley," page 252.
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of Wharton's brigades of infantry could reach a defensible . position. Hastily constructing some breastworks near the bridge, he held Sheridan at bay for twenty-four hours, the river being swollen and past fording. Next day, the river had run down, or at any rate, a body of Federal cavalry crossed the river above the bridge and attacked the Con- federates in flank. Sheridan now pushing across the bridge, a sharp fight ensued, that resulted in Rosser's being driven off with a loss of a part of his dismounted men, who were in the temporary breastworks near the bridge. Rosser now fell back towards Staunton, and was ordered by Early to hang on the flanks of the enemy.
In the meantime Early had withdrawn towards Char- lottesville, and upon hearing of the near approach of Sheri- dan, he halted his command at Waynesboro, and drew them up in battle array on the west side of the river, having the stream in his rear. Here with characteristic serenity he awaited the foe.
General Custer, who led the Federal advance, did not hes- itate to attack, adopting the plan that at Winchester, Fish- er's Hill, Toms Brook, and Cedar Creek had uniformly brought victory to the Federal standard. Sending three regiments around to assail Early's left flank, with a strong force he attacked in front. Early's men, having little hope of success at the outset against Sheridan's superior num- bers, when they saw the same old movement against their flank, that had so often before proved disastrous, at once despaired of making a successful resistance and threw down their arms. General Early escaped through the bushes, but nearly the whole of his command was made prisoners.
COL. M. D. BALL
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This was the last of that gallant army that had followed Early so long, contending nearly always against more than double its numbers, and though often beaten, yet had again and again rallied and met the foe with intrepid front. Under Early's leadership it had invaded Pennsylvania, and had marched with victorious banner to the environ- ments of Washington, creating consternation in the Federal Capital, and alarm for its safety throughout the North. Upon its withdrawal to the Valley, it had been almost con- stantly battling against the army of Sheridan, which was always superior in numbers and equipment. If the per- sistent audacity of Early had served to make fame for Sheridan, among those ignorant of the true conditions, it had revealed to the historian a command composed of heroic Southerners, unconquered by defeat, and unappalled by disaster.
The common mind measures the merit of a general by the splendor of his victories. To appreciate the conduct of Early and his men, a different and higher standard must be adopted. The leader who fights for glory only, and will- not hazard a battle without a double assurance of success, is hardly to be compared to one who, for duty's sake, engages in an unequal combat with hardly a chance for victory. The prime object of Early and his command, was not so much to beat Sheridan, as it was to hold him at bay, and by threat- ening Washington, compel a force greatly superior to his own, to remain detached from Grant's army. This was successfully accomplished. The wonder is not that Sher- idan beat Early so often, as that he took so long to drive him out of the Shenandoah Valley. And if Early often fought with his adversary from a sense of duty and loyalty
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to the Confederate cause, as he appears to have done, his very defeats are more glorious than Sheridan's boasted victories.
The capture of Wharton's two brigades at Waynesboro virtually closed the campaign in the Valley. Sheridan from Waynesboro moved towards Charlottesville, after sending his 1, 100 prisoners back towards Winchester under a guard of about 1,200 cavalry.
When Rosser saw the long train of prisoners going down the Valley, he determined to try and rescue them. Follow- ing the column with about 300 men, he seized every oppor- tunity to harass the guard. The enemy was on the alert, knowing his intentions. On the night of the 4th of March, near Harrisonburg, Rosser attacked the Federal camp. The attack was repulsed, but in the confusion a few of the pris- oners escaped. Knowing that the Shenandoah was high, Rosser sent detachments ahead to hold the fords as long as they could. For two days the Federals were detained at Meem's Bottom.
During the evening of March 5th, in order to magnify his force in the estimation of the enemy, and create appre- hension among the guard, as well as to excite the hope of the prisoners, Rosser sent detachments on the flanks, with orders to move continuously over the hill in full view of the enemy. Spies were also despatched to mingle among the captives and persuade them to revolt and co-operate with Rosser when he should make his attempt at rescue.
In the morning of the 6th, when the Federal column was in the act of crossing the river, Rosser charged the guard. The prisoners, either from indifference or despair, failed to co-operate, and though Rosser again and again attacked,
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all his efforts proved futile. For a short time there was great confusion, but the Federals succeeded in getting across the river without serious loss. Rosser giving up the hope of rescuing the prisoners, returned to the upper Valley.
Sheridan was over the ridge on his mission of destruc- tion. There was nothing to do but to follow on his trail. After reaching Charlottesville the Federals had turned towards Lynchburg; one-half of the raiding column of 10,- 000 sabres were engaged in tearing up the railroad track, the other in destroying the locks and culverts of the James River Canal. The business was one congenial to Sheridan. Ile had learned from Grant that the most effectual way of injuring Lee was to devastate Virginia, and he was doing it thoroughly, making his swath of destruction widespread and leaving utter desolation behind him.
Says Grant in his memoirs: "All mills and factories along the line of his march were destroyed. Negroes had joined his column to the number of 2,000, and they assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads and the canal."
To follow on the trail of Sheridan was difficult. The roads were rendered almost impassable, so badly were they cut up by Sheridan's column owing to the frequent rains. The country was stripped bare, and so far as food and forage were concerned it was like traveling through a desert. The havoc and ruin that met the eye at every step, suggested the end of all things, and often the scenes of wan- ton desolation, and the stories of brutal treatment, excited in the Confederate soldiers longing for revenge.
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In the latter part of March, 1865, Brig .- Genl. Thomas I .. Rosser was promoted to the rank of major-general, and placed in command of a division composed of his own bri- gade, consisting still of what was left of the Seventh, Eleventh, and Twelfth Virginia regiments and the Thirty- fifth Virginia Battalion, now put under command of Col. James Dearing, who was then made a brigadier-general ; and a brigade consisting of the remnants of the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-second regiments of Virginia Cavalry, under Brig .- Genl. John McCausland.
The new commander of the Laurel Brigade was a young Virginian not only descended from distinguished Revolu- tionary ancestry, but with a reputation of his own for valor and skill, well earned, through almost four years of con- tinuous service in the Confederate Army.
Having been appointed to West Point in 1858, he with Rosser and other Southern cadets resigned and tendered their services to Virginia and the Southern Confederacy. He was at first assigned to duty with the Washington Artillery, served a short time on the staff of General Beau- reguard; and was later made colonel of cavalry. He was a man of soldierly appearance, and being a courageous and dashing soldier, and withal a man of winning disposition, during his short but eventful career as commander of the brigade, he became greatly endeared to the officers and men.
On the 16th of March Rosser's division reached Hanover Court House, and found there a part of Longstreet's corps on the lookout for Sheridan, who was then near Mangohick Church, on the north side of the Pamunkey. Effort was made to get the Confederate force across the river and put it in Sheridan's front, but the pontoon train failed to arrive
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BRIG .- GENL. JAMES DEARING
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and the bridge of boats and rafts was not complete until the morning of the 17th. A part of Longstreet's corps had already crossed, but the movement was put an end to by an order from Genl. R. E. Lee recalling the whole force to Richmond.
The division was now ordered to Petersburg, and the bri- gade once more went into camp near the sluggish Notta- way ; the division taking position on Lee's extreme right.
In a few days there was fighting near Dinwiddie Court House between Fitz Lee and Sheridan, and Rosser's divi- sion was ordered to that point. A few days before White's Battalion had rejoined the brigade, but like most of the other commands, it was greatly diminished in numbers. Rosser's division of two brigades hardly numbered 1,200 men.
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