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 25
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From Dinwiddie Court House Sheridan was attempting to reach Five Forks, by a road leading northwest, for the purpose of menacing Lee's line.
"My hope," says General Grant in his memoirs, "was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get on the. enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken their center to protect their right, so that an assault in the center might be successfully made."
General Lee, knowing the strategic value of this point, was obliged to make a great effort to hold it; and accord- ingly, on the 30th of March, Pickett with five small bri- gades of infantry was sent thither.
In the meantime General Fitz Lee, now commanding the cavalry corps, with a greatly inferior force was disputing every inch of ground with Sheridan.
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After an all-night march Rosser's division, on March 30th, reached the vicinity of Five Forks, where the main body of the cavalry had gone into camp. The resting spell was short, for about noon on the 3Ist Fitz Lee moved out to give battle to Sheridan.
Rosser's and W. H. F. Lee's divisions, followed by Pickett's infantry, moved by a concealed wooded road, to turn and attack the Federal flank, while Munford with Fitz Lee's old division held the lines in front of the enemy. The well-laid plan for surprising and assailing the enemy's flank seems to have been somewhat anticipated by Sheridan. Upon reaching Chamberlin's Creek, it was found that the Federals were on the opposite side strongly entrenched. Nevertheless the Confederates pushed forward, driving the enemy back some distance. The cavalry, dismounted, fought on the right and left of the infantry.
In the battle Rosser was wounded in the arm, but refus- ing to leave the field, and with his wounded arm in a sling, still continued at the post of duty.
"In this engagement," says Fitz Lee in his report, "the loss in Rosser's division was serious, but the details are unknown."
Darkness closed the contest, and Fitz Lee went into camp holding the ground he had won. During the night, hav- ing received the information that his left flank was menaced by a Federal corps of infantry that had come to Sheridan's assistance, Fitz Lee early on the morning of April the Ist began to withdraw and again returned to Five Forks.
Here Pickett drew up his men in line of battle with W. H. F. Lee's and Munford's divisions of cavalry on his right, and one regiment of Munford's division on his left.
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Rosser was placed just in the rear of the center as a re- serve, Hatcher's Run intervening between him and our line.2
About three o'clock P. M. a Federal corps of infantry, Warren's, marched up and menaced the Confederate left, and Munford was sent with two small brigades to meet it. Warren's forest of bayonets stretched far beyond the right and left of Munford, enveloping the Confederate position, and with overflowing numbers swept onward.
Munford after a brave but vain resistance withdrew, and Pickett, now assailed by Sheridan in front and Warren's multitudes on his left flank, was driven rapidly towards the right of his line. "Before Rosser could cross Hatcher's Run, the position at the Forks was seized and held by the Federals, and an advance towards the railroad made. It was repulsed by Rosser.""
So sudden and overwhelming was the Federal assault, that masses of infantry poured in between Rosser's division and the main body, and cut off Genl. W. H. F. Lee and Pickett, who were in Rosser's camp at the time, from their commands. Sheridan pressed his advantage, and crowding the Confederates drove them back some miles, the retreat degenerating into a rout.
Pickett, with only 7,000 of all arms, could hardly hope to successfully resist an army of 26,000 men.
That night Rosser's division still remained in the rear of Hatcher's Run, and on the following morning, April 2nd, with difficulty withdrew towards Amelia Court House.
Anderson's division had been sent to aid in holding Five Forks, but taking a circuitous route it did not arrive in time.
"Fitz Lee's Report.
3Fitz Lee's Report.
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Grant, profiting by the weakening of Lee's center, assaulted his works and carried the outer line. The roar of the cannon at Petersburg was heard beyond Hatcher's Run, and the news of Lee's disaster soon spread through the army.
The night of the 2nd Dearing's brigade had encamped near Namozine Church. During the day the Federal pur- suit had not been vigorous, for Sheridan with most of his cavalry had turned towards Petersburg.
By daylight on the morning of the 3rd Petersburg was given up, and the whole army of Lee began to fall back. The Federals pressed his rear guard closely, and sent out their numerous squadrons to harass the flanks of the retir- ing Confederates.
At dawn on the 3rd of April, Dearing's brigade with the rest of the Confederates resumed the retreat.
The news of the disaster at Petersburg had spread through the army and deepened their sorrow for the loss of Five Forks. Now, for the first time, some began to lose confidence in the star of Lee. Though they still deemed him invincible in battle, they could not repress the appre- hension, that even his genius might prove powerless against those grim allies of Grant, famine and general want.
On the march, at first, Rosser's division constituted the rear guard of the column under Fitz Lee. A continuous skirmish with the enemy was kept up. The road was muddy and the wagons dragged heavily. At points of advantage a stand was made. Sometimes the men dis- mounted and fired from under cover, at others a dashing charge was made, and the confident foe was taught, by the
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fierceness of the onset, to beware of valor inspired by despair.
The Federals, however, pressed on with numerous squadrons.
A regiment of infantry, Colonel Tabb's of Wise's brigade, now aided the rear guard, and the column fell back slowly in the direction of Tabernacle Church, the enemy keeping at a respectful distance.
Upon nearing Deep Creek a regiment of Rosser's divi- sion was sent out to occupy and hold the bridge. But a Federal force had already been despatched on the same errand. Within a mile of the bridge it was encountered and a sharp fight ensued, in which the Confederates were worsted.
The whole of Rosser's division and Wise's brigade of infantry now came to the rescue. The Federals stubbornly resisted for a while, but were forced to retire after suffering serious loss.
After crossing Deep Creek the cavalry went into camp near Tabernacle Church.
"To give a check to the enemy's rapid advance, at Deep Creek the command was placed in line of battle to take advantage of the defensive position there offered."+
In the battle that ensued the Eleventh Regiment, under Col. M. D. Ball, and the Twelfth, under Major Knott, par- ticipated gallantly, repulsing the advance along their front.
From Deep Creek Rosser's division moved back to the Devil's Bridge Road, with orders to cover the rear of the wagon trains belonging to the main army of Genl. Robert E. Lee.
+Lee's Report.
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Over Devil's Bridge the bulk of Lee's army had crossed the Appomattox River to the right bank, and from this point on the line of retreat, the Federal pursuit grew daily more vigorous. The wagon trains were a favorite object of Sheridan's cavalry, as being next in importance to barns, stack-yards, and mills, which had suffered so much at Sheridan's hands. The same old policy of destroying Lee's means of subsistence was kept up to the end.
Not a few of Lee's wagons, however, were burned by his own orders, the knowledge of which had quite a discourag- ing effect on his soldiers.
To aid in protecting the trains, Rosser's division was ordered to take position near Pleasant Oaks, on the left of a heavy infantry force under General Anderson.
All night long the Federals threatened an advance, but the most serious result of their menace, was the loss of sleep it entailed on the part of the Confederates.
On the morning of the 5th Dearing's brigade, the old Lau- rel, with the rest of the division moved towards Amelia Court House. The suffering of the men for the want of food and rest were now almost unbearable, and their spirits were depressed by the exaggerated rumors of disaster to the in- fantry columns, which spread quickly through the ranks.
Intense bodily distress, and a prospect of impending dis- aster, filled the minds of many with gloomy forebodings, and over the hearts of even the bravest there flitted the shadows of despair. Yet no outward sign of discourage- ment was given, only the weary troopers marched on, with an intensified desire for the relief of battle depicted in their grim and care-worn countenances.
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The hopeful ones, however, were easily encouraged, and the promise of better cheer at the next halting place, in a measure sustained their spirits, though like the phantom waters of the desert, the good cheer failed to be overtaken. It was now said that there was an abundance of food and forage at Amelia Court House, and with gladdened hearts the starving Confederates moved on. Upon arriving there some corn-meal was gotten for the men, but there was noth- ing whatever for the horses.
After a short halt the march was resumed. An order had come for the division to move at once towards Amelia Springs, near which place the Federals were engaged in burning Lee's trains. Moving at a trot the command soon reached Shank's Farm. There were the blackened ruins of the wagons, but the Federals were gone. Fitz Lee, with a cavalry force, had gotten there ahead of Rosser, but too late to prevent the burning of some of the wagons. He had ridden on in hot pursuit, leaving orders for Rosser to join him, following on the road to Amelia Springs. The jaded horses were spurred into a gallop and Fitz Lee was soon overtaken.
Upon nearing the Springs the enemy was discovered drawn up on a high ridge. "Ride over them!" was Ros- ser's order to General Dearing after a momentary inspec- tion of the hostile force. Dearing did not wait for a second command, though the enemy greatly outnumbered hin. "Forward! Gallop. March !" he cried, and waving his hat he led the way, the gallant spirits of the foremost squad- ron eagerly contending with him for the post of honor.
The Federals were strongly posted, splendidly armed and mounted, and flushed with victory. Against them came a
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greatly inferior force, both horses and men weak from want of food and sleep. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, but their trusty sabres were sharp and gave a steady gleam as the charging column approached the summit of the ridge.
The Federals with solid front and stubborn courage received the assault. The Confederates did not pause, but with fiery eagerness dashed onward, piercing the hostile line and using their sabres with great effect; and the nearest foe- men, appalled at the fury of the onset, began to give way and turn their backs. The disorder spread and soon the whole Federal force broke and fled. Like an avenging nemesis the grey troopers rode among them, doing bloody execution. With great spirit the Federal officers attempted to stem the tide, but the onward rush of the victors seemed resistless.
Along with Dearing rode many of the choice spirits, offi- cers, and men of the brigade, for as in the charge so in the pursuit, there was a noble emulation of valor. Among the foremost were Captains James Rutherford, Hugh McGuire, and Fox Dangerfield. There, too, with many others were the lions of the horse artillery, Majors James Thompson, James Breathed, and Col. R. P. Chew.
In the charge the leading regiment was the Eleventh, under Colonel Ball, the foremost company that of Capt. Hugh McGuire.
The Federals in their retreat, when climbing the hill near Jeters house, were so closely pursued that they left the road and turned into the pines and escaped.
The Confederates now halted and began to form, in anti- cipation of a hostile movement from Jetersville, for a large
CAPT. HUGH H. McGUIRE
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body of Federal cavalry was posted there. Soon from this direction a heavy column approached. The odds were great, but once more the grey troopers, McGuire's company in front, dashed forward and turned back the Federal col- umn, driving it pell-mell.
The violence of the assault gave no opportunity to re- form, and the superior numbers of the enemy only made the unwieldy mass an easier prey for slaughter. The Confed- crates rode among them sabring at will and chased the fugitives back into Jetersville.
In this action the Federals lost heavily. The loss to the Confederates was small in numbers, but two of their best officers were mortally wounded, Capt. Hugh McGuire of Company E, Eleventh Virginia, and Capt. James Ruth- erford of General Dearing's staff. "Two of my best and bravest officers," wrote Genl. Fitz Lee. "Two unusually promising men and most superb soldiers." wrote General Rosser.
By the men of the brigade the loss of Capt. Hugh Holmes McGuire was especially lamented. Being in the early . flower of manhood, only twenty-three years of age, of splendid form, of genial and winning disposition, and rashly brave in battle, there were united in him the qualities that never fail to win the admiration and affection of men.5
The fight was over for that day at least; the trains were rescued and the Federals heavily punished, though the cravings of hunger were still unappeased. Perhaps the pain
'Among the wounded were General Dearing, and Maj. James W. Thompson of the horse artillery, each in the arm, and Capt. Foxhall Dangerfield of the Seventh Virginia Cavalry, through the thigh. All of whom, with their wounds bandaged, participated in the next day's fighting, in which the two former met death.
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of long abstinence had much to do with the fierceness of the Confederate charge at Jetersville.
Says Fitz Lee in his report, "In this encounter thirty of the enemy were killed, principally with sabres, and 150 wounded or captured. The gallantry of General Dearing in leading the charge of his command was conspicuous."
This bloody little victory greatly encouraged the men of the brigade, and though they passed a restless night, spend- ing much of it in search of food and forage, and in caring for their wounded, they arose at dawn stirred with new hope. Little did they think that to many of their bravest that day would be the last.
During the night of the 5th Grant's army had been marching in all directions in the endeavor to encompass Lee, who had his main body in and around Amelia Court House. It was Grant's plan, first, to prevent Lee from moving southward and uniting with the army of Johnston, and next, if possible, to end the matter before Lee could move further west.
The Federals were full of enthusiasm, each man wishing to participate in the overthrow of an army that for four long years had been crowned with victory.
A part of the plan to head off Lee was to destroy High Bridge over the Appomattox River. For this purpose a considerable body of infantry under General Reid, and i
Maj. John Locher Knott, of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, was captain of Company D of the Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, and was promoted to the rank of major. He was killed at the desperate fight at High Bridge. He was greatly admired and beloved by the men of the regiment. No truer patriot nor braver soldier served in the Con- federate cause.
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1
MAJ. JOHN LOCHER KNOTT
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squadron of cavalry under Colonel Washburn, had been de- spatched on the morning of the 6th.
Rosser with his own division and parts of W. H. F. Lee's and Munford's divisions had been ordered by Genl. Fitz Lee to move to Rice's Station, on the Southside Railroad. and report to General Longstreet. As nearly all the roads were occupied by trains and artillery moving in the same direction, the march thither had to be mainly through fields and woods. By means of efficient guides the march was accomplished, and in good time, too, for there was memora- ble service to be rendered there that day by the cavalry.
On the part of the Federals General Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads southward between Burkeville and High Bridge.
"On the morning of the 6th Ord sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry regiments, with instructions to destroy High Bridge and return rapidly to Burkeville station.""
Intelligence of the movement reached Longstreet's head- quarters shortly after the arrival of Rosser with the cavalry, and with Longstreet's consent Rosser, after having estab- lished his pickets, and leaving a regiment to support them, marched with the rest of his command to overtake and cap- ture this audacious body of Federals.
About one o'clock P. M. they were discovered near Wat- son's Farm before they had reached High Bridge. Notified of Rosser's approach, General Reid posted his men in a strong position along the edge of a forest behind a high fence.
It was of supreme importance that Rosser should attack at once, and the Confederates advanced to the assault.
Grant's Memoirs.
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Munford's division as well as Rosser's had been greatly reduced by the constant fighting and marching, and Ros- ser's whole force hardly numbered more than 1,200 men. The strength of the enemy is unknown, but was less numer- ically than the Confederate; but their infantry made it stronger in point of fact.
Munford's division, dismounted, advanced through a body of pines to the edge of a field, on the opposite side of which slightly to the right of Munford's front was General Reid's command, behind a high fence in the edge of the woods.
Across this field the dismounted men charged under a heavy fire of the enemy's infantry. At the same time the mounted brigades of McCausland and Dearing assaulted the Federal right flank. Against them boldly advanced a body of infantry and cavalry under Colonel Washburn. The approaching columns as they drew near each other did not slacken speed, but rushed on with reckless daring, eager for the trial of strength.
Washburn, gallantly leading his command, was met with equal gallantry by General Dearing, and now all along the battle front, there was the clash of steel, and the cries of furious combatants mingled with the sound of small arms. The two foremost leaders of either side, Dearing and Wash- burn, closed in a hand-to-hand encounter, supported each by brave followers, who rushed to the rescue of their chiefs, and fought around them with determined valor. Dearing and Washburn had been old schoolmates at West Point, but did not recognize each other. In the general mix-up they were separated before either had hurt the other, but a moment afterwards Washburn fell pierced by a bullet.
MAJ. JAMES THOMPSON
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Dearing, too, fell near by, mortally wounded by a bullet supposed by him to have come from his own men, but more generally believed to have come from the enemy. Such was the confusion and fury of the conflict the truth cannot be established.
Dearing fell while in the act of discharging his pistol at General Reid, another schoolmate, who was killed by the shot, neither having recognized the other, and around the e fallen officers the waves of battle surged to and fro, until the Federals of the charging column were all either killed, wounded or captured.
The number of prisoners taken, according to the report of Genl. Fitzhugh Lee, amounted to 780. These were taken over by the proper officers, and the brigade, now under the command of Col. E. V. White, better known as "Lige," of the Thirty-fifth Battalion, went with Rosser back to Rice's Station.
Among those who fell in this fight, in the early part of it, was the gallant Major Knott of the Twelfth Virginia, a modest, brave and efficient officer, exceedingly popular among the officers and men, and whose loss was a sad blow to the cause.
There also fell the gallant Maj. James W. Thompson of the horse artillery, whose guns being retarded by the impas- sability of the roads, had for two days been fighting with the cavalry and participated in this desperate engagement ; the day before, near Amelia Springs he was wounded in the arm. He fell while pursuing fugitives after the onset at High Bridge, wounded in several places, his death wound being through the vertebra of the neck.
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The hand-to-hand conflicts, in this fierce encounter, engaged in by many brave privates as well as officers, are worthy of special mention, which space here forbids.
From High Bridge Rosser returned to Rice's Station and took position on the right of Longstreet's line, which was in position to resist a threatened advance of the Fed- erals. The night passed without a battle, though through- out its weary hours it was constantly expected.
The tired soldiers, many of whom were suffering from wounds, slept on their arms. Indeed, during those seven days of retreat sleep was snatched, at odd times, whenever the column halted, and often the exhausted riders yielded to the demands of nature astride their horses in the march- ing column.
On the night of the 6th the position at Rice's Station was abandoned, and the cavalry under Genl. Fitz Lee moved in the rear of Longstreet towards Farmville, having a rear guard fight with the enemy's advance in the streets of that town; the effort of the enemy having been to pre- vent Fitz Lee from crossing the Appomattox. Their efforts were so far successful, that Rosser was forced to move up the river about two miles before he could cross, while Fitz Lee with the remainder of his force crossed the bridge of the Cumberland Court House Road.
Having gotten successfully over, Rosser moved down the river to effect a junction with Fitz Lee. Near the Cum- berland Plank Road he found the enemy about to assail the division under General Munford, and took part in the suc- cessful defense made by Munford. As the Federals pressed on the Laurels, now under White, dashed forward and struck the enemy in flank.
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MAJ. FOXHALL A. DANGERFIELD
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The other brigade of Rosser's division, McCausland's. came gallantly on and joined in the fight. The wooded and broken country soon made the engagement a desultory one, in which detached parties and squadrons charged and fought with mutual loss. The Federals, in the confident expectation of a general victory near at hand, exhibited unusual spirit, charging boldly. But the Confederates. though depleted in numbers, fought with the energy of despair.
In one of the Federal charges Genl. J. Irvin Gregg, their gallant leader, was unhorsed and captured by one of the Seventh Virginia Regiment.
"The march of the cavalry," says Genl. Fitzhugh Lee in his report, "was resumed towards Appomattox Court House in rear of Longstreet's corps, and continued that
Foxhall A. Dangerfield was born in Rockingham county, Virginia. at "Westwood," February 8th, 1839. He was descended from dis- tinguished colonial ancestors, his father and mother being cousins, were both grandchildren of Richard Parker, Judge of the General Court of the Colony of Virginia, and later of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.
He was the youngest son of cleven children. and removed with his parents to Bath county at an early age; was educated in most part at the semi-military school of George P. Terrill and at Lewisburg Acad- emy, studied law in the office of his brother-in-law in California. from which State he returned home to defend his native State in the John Brown raid. Later he studied at the law school-now Washing- ton and Lee University.
In 1861 the law class disbanded, and after taking his legal examina. tion at Staunton, he joined the cavalry company commanded by Capt. A. T. Richards of Bath county, and in 1862, at the reorganization. was elected captain of that company, which was soon after transferred to Ashby's command, as a company of the Seventeenth Battalion, which afterwards was merged into the Eleventh Virginia Cavalry.
Captain Dangerfield participated in all the engagements of his regi ment except when absent from wounds or imprisonments. He was wounded at Orange Court House Angust end. 1862, receiving a severe
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order of march throughout the 8th, followed by a portion of the Federal infantry. Their cavalry, and the remainder of their infantry, pursued the line of railroad from Farmville to Appomattox station.
"During the evening of April the 8th I received orders to move the cavalry corps to the front, and to report in per- son to the commanding general.
"Upon arriving at his headquarters I found General Long- street there, and we were soon joined by General Gordon. The condition of our situation was explained by the com- manding general to us, as the commanders of his three corps, and the correspondence between General Grant and himself, as far as it had then progressed, was laid before us. It was decided that I should attack the enemy's cavalry at daylight."7
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