USA > West Virginia > History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
ROBERT H. MILROY, Major General.
We lay in camp in this place for six long months, but found it no easy duty. Nearly the whole of the time not over six hundred men formed our command, Capt. Ewing's battery being with us most of the time. We fixed up our tents into winter quarters with the help of some boards,
19I
RETURN TO WESTERN VIRGINIA.
as best we could, and had as comfortable homes as could be expected under the circumstances. While the weather remained pleasant, the drilling was almost continuous, but it was child's play to the severe scouting in which we were almost constantly engaged, during the whole of the winter. In January, 1863, Brig. Gen. Moor was placed in com- mand of our brigade, which was known as the "Northern Brigade."
Surgeon Hazlett relates the following incident: "On a crisp morning in November, the colonel, myself and an orderly, mounted, and armed with Spencer rifles, went to Shaffer mountain to hunt deer. Near the base of the mountain we were joined by W, an old hunter, a typical Virginia mountaineer, thoroughly familiar with the habits of the game we were after, a quiet, unobtrusive man. The colonel and orderly went along the base of the mountain, and W and I followed a bridle path to the crest of the mountain. While walking along I questioned my com- panion on the subject of buck-ague. Yes, he had heard of it, he missed
his first deer in that way. I desired W to give me the first shot, and I would disprove the existence of buck-ague, to which he agreed. We soon reached the top, where we secreted ourselves to wait until the re- port of the colonel's gun should startle the herd. Soon the reports of two gun shots notified us that the colonel had found game. With eager expectation I braced myself in the stirrups, raised the lock hammer of my carbine, which was charged with an ounce ball and cartridge, and awaited the comer. "There he comes,' said W, and looking up the
crest there came a fine buck. 'Don't fire until I give the bleat,' said W, who stood almost behind me. This cry, very similar to the bleat of a sheep, W. uttered, when the deer was about fifty yards from us. 'Shoot,' cried W, which I did, and down dropped the buck. Elated with my success, I proudly announced that I had aimed for the left fore- shoulder. On reaching the deer, W cut its throat, and pointing to the left fore-shoulder, said there was where the bullet struck. I was in an ecstacy of delight, and I remarked that he would find that my ball had passed entirely through the deer. I rubbed my hands and declared I had 'busted' the buck-ague theory. The animal was examined but no trace of my bullet could be found, but a small bullet, not much larger than a buck shot was taken out. W was silent, gazing steadfastly at the bullet. He then remarked: · Mighty curious thing this buck-ague. I never knew it to fail, every fellow misses his first deer sure, and if you think you hadn't the buck-ague, just look at your gun.' I did so, and found the hammer of the lock raised and the charge not exploded. W had shot the deer and the report of his gun I mistook for my own. I besought and implored W not to expose me, humbly ackowledging that I had it bad, and he kept my secret."
November 4, 1862, Col. Latham issued orders to Capt. Ewing, as follows : "You will have as many of your men as arms can be obtained for ready to march at a moment's notice, without tents or camp equip-
192
RETURN TO WESTERN VIRGINIA.
age, but all mounted, as they will be used for cavalry." The next day Gen Milroy issued the following orders to the captain : You will imme- diately send out eighteen men, in different directions, for the purpose of hiring transportation, etc." Ten days later, the general ordered: "Capt. Ewing's Company G, Second Regiment Virginia Infantry, will re- port to the regiment for duty, and are hereby detailed to act as artiller- ists until further orders." The captain remarks drily that there were very few companies in the army that were required to be infantry, cav- alry and artillery all at the same time.
On February roth, an expedition consisting of sixty cavalry and sev- enty-five infantry, commanded by Capt. C. T. Ewing, was sent to Poco- hontas county to capture confederate recruiting parties and stores. They secured 13 prisoners, 152 head of cattle, 15 horses and mules, and a large number of arms without any loss or accident on our side. April 18th, an expedition was sent to Franklin, taking it by surprise, capturing a few prisoners. Our loss was two men wounded, but not of our regi- ment. These are but a few of the many scouting parties sent out, the work being almost incessant and of the most exhausting character. The picket duty was also heavy, and the service throughout was very severe.
On March 12th an election was held in the regiment for the erection of Western Virginia into a separate State, and all the qualified voters performed their duty, giving an overwhelming majority in favor of the new State. About the Ist of April, Brig. Gen. Benj. S. Roberts was placed in command of our brigade, to try his fortune in the peculiar warfare of the mountain region.
On the 24th of April, our little command, consisting of less than 900 men, was attacked by a large force of confederates, consisting of infan- try, cavalry and artillery. In the morning Frank Ferris, sheriff of Ran- dolph county, was out on some business, and was shot through the breast by the advance of the confederates. He rode to our pickets, in charge of Sergeant Wm. F. Graebe, Company C, and gave the alarm, the first intimation we had of the approach of an enemy, and they were then but eighteen miles distant. The last, heroic act, of the sheriff, was to apprise the small garrison of its danger, and then yield his life. We hastily prepared for defense, but before we were ready to make the best of our circumstances, the confederates came down the valley in force, on both sides of the river, evidently intending to cut off our retreat and capture us. As soon as they came within range, our artillery opened on them, and soon skirmishing was begun on our left, which was kept up briskly for some time. The force of the enemy on the right stopped behind some timber, and Company F was sent to engage them. But our men were unable to stem the strong force they met, and it being ascertained that the enemy were endeavoring to surround us, our colonel deemed it wise to withdraw, which was done in good order, the enemy being baffled at all. points in their efforts to cut us off. We left the town
FRANK FERRIS-Reported dead, lines 33 and 34, page 192, incor- rect. He recovered from his severe wounds, and is yet living near Beverly, W. Va.
193
RETURN TO WESTERN VIRGINIA.
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, after firing the commissary stores, which were burned by order of General Roberts, to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. While making our way to Lead- ing Creek, just as we were crossing a little stream that crossed the road, the confederate cavalry charged us, and several shots were fired, result- ing in the wounding of Henry Barnhart, Co. I, who was shot through the body and mortally wounded, dying on the 28th. Some of our men were captured in the charge. About four miles further we were again charged upon, the enemy being repulsed with such vigor and dash, that they then let us alone, not deeming it prudent to follow us so closely. We marched to Leading Creek that night, where we remained until morn- ing. Two more of the regiment were captured here while out on a foraging expedition. We continued our march to Bealington, where it was our intention to make a stand, and endeavor to force the enemy to battle, but we received orders from General Roberts to join him at once at Buckhannon. That night we camped at Phillippi, and the next even- ing, the 26th, we arrived at brigade headquarters, and were at once ordered into line of battle, but no enemy appearing, we went into camp. On the 27th we ambushed for a force of rebel cavalry, but they kept at a respectful distance, and we resumed our march, arriving at Weston in the evening, where we camped for the night. Before leaving this place we destroyed all the commissary stores, consisting of a large quantity of flour, beans, rice, sugar, etc. The next morning we continued our march, reaching Clarksburg about 10 o'clock at night, almost worn out. During the 29th and 30th we were constantly on the alert for some forces of the enemy that kept annoying us, but we could not get near enough to them to measure strength. Their policy was to worry us by persis- tent and unexpected assaults, and not to come to battle. The following is the official report of the fight made by Col. Geo. R. Latham, who was in command of the forces at Beverly, to General Roberts:
On April 24th, about 9 A. M., I received notice that the enemy was in force at Huttonville, eleven miles distant, and advancing. I immediately proceeded to the front with two companies of cavalry, advancing on both roads leading up the valley toward Huttonville. Having proceeded about five miles, we met their ad- vance guard on both roads. ** We fell back slowly, worrying and impeding the progress of the enemy wherever an advantage could be gained. At 12 M., the enemy being within two and a-half miles of Beverly, I repaired to the town to see that the troops were properly disposed the most successfully to meet the attack, as I was satisfied, from their steady and determined advance, and the rumbling of artillery in the rear, that they were in very considerable force, though from the thick fog, an es- timate was yet impossible. * My force consisted of seven companies of the Second Virginia Infantry, numbering for duty 400 men ; five companies of the Eighth Virginia Infantry, 289 men ; Capt. Frank Smith's Independent Company of Ohio Cavalry, 98 men ; Capt. Hagan's Company A, First West Virginia Cavalry, 59 men ; one section, consisting of one 10-pounder Parrott gun and a 6-pounder brass smooth bore, of Ewing's battery, 32 men, a total of 878 men, rank and file. I took a strong position on the south side of the town, commanding the entire valley and the turnpike above, but flanked by back roads on each side. In this position I placed
194
RETURN TO WVESTERN VIRGINIA.
the Parrott gun and the Second Virginia, holding the detachment of the Eighth Virginia and the brass gun in reserve to watch the flanks. About 2 P. M. the action was opened with artillery and infantry, skirmishing at long range. A large force of the enemy's cavalry and part of his artillery was now seen advancing on the back road west of the valley toward the road leading from Beverly to Buckhannon and effectually turning our right. This movement it was impossible for us to counteract, though with the river intervening we were not in much danger of an actual attack from this force. The object of this movement was to prevent our retreat toward Buckhannon. Three regiments of his infantry were at the same time advancing cautiously through the woods, pressing back our skirmishers toward our front and left, his artillery playing directly in front, with two regiments of infantry in reserve. At 3 P. M. the action had become quite brisk along our whole line; our skirmishers were driven in on our front and the enemy had advanced to within canister range. The commands of his officers could be distinctly heard, and he was pressing well beyond our left. Shortly after this I received your order to fall back. I immediately set my train in motion, destroyed the public stores of all kinds, and about 5 P. M. drew off my forces. The movement was executed in perfect order, and though the enemy pressed our rear for six miles, and twice charged us with his cavalry, there was no confusion, no hurry, no indecent haste. His cavalry charges were handsomely repulsed, and he learned to follow at a respectful distance. We marched this evening nine miles, and having gained a safe position, rested for the night, our pickets and those of the enemy being about one mile apart. In this affair we lost I man, believed to be killed, 2 wounded (I of Second Virginia), and 14 prisoners-10 from the Second Vir- ginia, 2 from the Eighth Virginia and 2 from Capt. Smith's company.
Brig. Gen. J. D. Imboden, in command of the confederate forces, in his official report, gives the number in his own immediate command about 1, 825 men, and the number from Gen. Saml. Jones's command about 1,540, giving him an entire force of about 3,365 men, of which about 700 were mounted. He lost two men killed, three wounded and II prisoners, in all 16, at Beverly.
· When our forces were attacked, and it was seen that we were over- powered, Sergt. Geo. Jones and privates Martin Walters, Hugh Smith, William Weible and Thomas B. Richardson, of Company F, were de- tailed to guard the ford over the river. They held their position until the regiment was driven from the town, when they found that they were surrounded by the enemy, and that it was out of the question to rejoin their company. Surrender seemed to be the only way out of the diffi- culty, but a consultation was held, and the boys determined that they would not surrender, but keep in hiding until an opportunity presented itself for escape. They lay in the bushes for two days and one night, and when the second night came, they were so hungry that another council of war was held, when it was decided to make a break for liberty; that they would proceed separately, to meet again at a place designated. They were successful in their efforts, and met as agreed upon. They then traveled together for about 15 miles, keeping in the woods, to make a distance of six miles; and then after all their care and maneuver- ing, they ran into the confederate pickets, who fired upon them, but fortunately hurt no one. They made good their escape from this danger, and after about two weeks more of rough traveling, and hiding
195
RETURN TO WESTERN VIRGINIA.
in caves and in the woods, they reached the regiment at West Union, but little the worse for their rough experience. Evening of the 4th we boarded a train of cars, and were run to West Union, where we arrived about 2 o'clock in the night. The rebels had already burned several bridges, and we were sent to this place to protect the railroad and bridges. On the 6th a force of 1, 400 cavalry charged our pickets, cap- turing 16 of them, and charged down the valley, but halted before they came within range of our regiment, which was drawn up in line of battle, and they retreated as hastily and as quickly as they came. We pursued them at once, but no trace of them could be found. It was a brilliant dash, and as we had no cavalry we could not successfully follow the bold rangers that attacked us. On the 11th we left West Union, and arrived at Weston May 13th, where we remained in camp a few days, and where all our force was concentrated, ready for any emergencies that might arise. We left here on the 19th of May, marching through Buckhannon, reaching Beverly at noon on the 21st. The men captured at West Union returned to us on the 22d, and re- ported to their companies.
A telegram was sent to the commanding officer in the valley, after our return, by Col. Harris, of the Tenth Virginia, that a force supposed to be a detachment from the confederate army, had visited Upshur county, had succeeded in capturing a number of fine horses and made their escape into the mountains. There was no cavalry in this section at the time, and it was at once decided to make the attempt to intercept the raiders in the Elk river district, with infantry, an undertaking that did not promise great success, but all were anxious to try it. Fifty men were at once detailed, under command of Capt. Hall, of the Third Vir- ginia, with Lieut. French, of the Second, as second in command. The detail left Beverly in the evening, aud went fifteen miles before camp- ing, starting again at early morn, and by rapid marching most of the way over exceedingly rough country, they succeeded in reaching Elk river a little after nightfall, camping in and about the cabin of a back- woodsman, who scarcely knew that there was a war on hands. He was the possessor of but little besides a wife and three stands of bees. In the morning he was the possessor of a wife only, for at the first peep of day the boys carried the hives to the river bank and shook the bees into the stream, securing to themselves a delightful breakfast, which they took care to flavor with wild onions, which had grown up in abundance. Following the tortuous stream they came to the county seat of Webster county ; thence they advanced to reach the junction of the two branches of the Elk river. When within two miles of this place a moccasin track was noticed in the wet sand, and the inference was that the presence of the union troops was being heralded by some mountaineers to the marauders who were being followed. Here the roads forked, one branch leading over a rugged spur of the mountain while the other followed the
196
RETURN TO WESTERN VIRGINIA.
stream, coming together at the junction of the branches of the river. The command was divided into two equal parts, Capt. Hall crossing the spur while Lieut. French followed the stream. Though the latter went on the double quick, he failed to overtake the owner of the mocca- sins, and when he reached the hamlet at the junction of the branches, not a living soul was to be seen. But a few minutes later they saw the captain and his men emerging from the thick undergrowth on the moun- , tain point, and with them a squad of prisoners and a number of fine horses. The owners of the moccasins had accomplished their purpose, had apprised the marauders of the approach of the union boys, and they had stealthily secreted themselves in the timber until they found the river route was being followed, and, as they supposed, by the entire force. They then took the mountain road, intending to leave the blue coats in the rear, but as they began to descend the hill the captain halted them so suddenly and unexpectedly that resistance was useless. Ser- geant Wigner, of Company E, Second Virginia, was the first to discover the legs of the horses under the drooping branches, before the body of the leader was visible, and with his gun leveled on him called a halt and demanded a surrender. The whole party was captured, and it was dis- covered that the leader was a famous "partisan ranger," as they styled themselves, by the name of Watt Cool. The captain talked strongly of inflicting summary punishment upon him, but at the suggestion of the lieutenant a better use was made of him. The command had successfully accomplished their object without the shedding of a drop of blood, but they were about sixty miles from any union force and without any proper knowledge of the country. The captain proposed to the old guerilla that if he would faithfully act as guide for us to Buckhannon his life would be spared, and he promised, and kept his word, all arriving at Buckhannon tired, footsore and hungry. The stolen horses were re- stored, and Cool and his party were sent to Camp Chase, where he died.
We remained at Beverly until ordered to Grafton to be mounted. In this time we were kept busy drilling, except when out on scouting parties, which were so frequent that it was difficult to keep run of them.
198
GENERAL AVERELL.
summer. In 1851, at the age of 18, he entered West Point, and was graduated in 1855. While he maintained a fair standing in his class, he devoted all his spare time to a comprehensive course of reading, which the great library at West Point permitted him to enjoy. Fond of ath- letic sports, he excelled in horsemanship, and stood at the head of a class of five riders. On graduation he was assigned to the regiment of mounted riflemen, now the Third United States Cavalry, whose colonel was then W. W. Loring. He was ordered to the cavalry school
at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., whose superintendent was Col.
Charles A. May, of the Second Dragoons. The school was removed to Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in December, 1855, and Lieut. Averell remained with it as adjutant until August, 1857. Fitzhugh Lee, W. H. Jackson, D. H. Maury, C. H. Tyler and many other dashing cavalry officers, served at the school while Averell was adjutant. In the autumn of 1857, he joined his regiment in New Mexico, and assumed command of a company, of which both his senior officers were absent; the captain, Andrew Porter, on leave in Europe, and the first lieutenant, Gordon Granger, on recruiting service. An in- cursion of Kiowa Indians into the valley of the Rio Grande in Decem- ber, 1857, gave Averell his first chance in an Indian fight, which he em- braced by destroying the band and capturing the chief in a hand to hand encounter. For this exploit he was honorably mentioned in gen- cral orders from General Scott, commander-in-chief of the army. The outbreak of the Navajo tribe in 1858, opened an active field for "The Rifles," as his regiment was familiarly called, and Averell was engaged in about twenty-five combats with that powerful tribe, and was mentioned in general orders several times for his gallant conduct. His frontier experience was terminated by a wound received in a night attack of Navajoes on his camp, October 8, 1858, which resulted in the fracture of his left thigh, and put him upon crutches for nearly two years. In 1861, Lieutenant Averell went to Washington to see Mr. Lincoln inaug- urated, and witnessed the struggles of many of his old southern com- rades and friends, to escape the social and political toils which drew them into secession and rebellion. Although still on sick leave, and an invalid and lame, when Fort Sumter was fired upon, he at once reported for duty, and was selected by General Scott as bearer of dispatches to Col. W. H. Emory then in Northern Texas and the Indian nation, commanding the first regiment of cavalry and the first regiment of infantry, the only portions of our little army in that region which had escaped the disgraceful surrender of Twiggs. Emory's command was isolated by the intervening turbulence of seces- sion in Southern Missouri and Arkansas, and a special messenger was decided upon as the only means of communication. Making his way through these states with a variety of adventures, young Averell reached Fort Smith to find it in the hands of a rebel force under Col. Boreland
199
GENERAL AVERELL.
from Little Rock, and our troops some hundreds of miles out on the wild and perilous frontier. Purchasing a horse, he escaped from the town, swam the Poteaux river, which was booming, and the bridge burned. He was pursued and captured fifty miles out on the Wachita trail, escaped to the San Bois Mountains which he crossed to the north, was again pursued on the Arbuckle trail, but escaped at the expense of becoming lost for forty-eight hours, but constantly making his way west- ward. In a blind ride through a savage country, infested with wild beasts and murderous men, for over 260 miles, he found the command he was seeking to the southeast of Fort Arbuckle, surrounded by Texans and frontier secessionists. The anxieties of the command were dis- pelled and its march taken up to the northward. Averell parted with the command on reaching Kansas and hastened to Washington. Hc was employed in mustering in volunteer regiments until recalled to be- come adjutant general of the regular brigade at the first battle of Bull Run, and after that adjutant general to the governor of Washington, and provost marshal of the Army of the Potomac. In August, 1861, he was appointed colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, and shortly after had the Eighth Cavalry added to his command, forming the first brigade of cavalry organized in the war. He led the advance into Manassas, March, 1862, and served with the cavalry during the Peninsula cam- paign. He was promoted to brigadier general United States volunteers, September 26, 1862, and served in the Army of the Potomac until he was appointed to the command of the Fourth separate brigade in West Virginia, May 16, 1863. Our command served under his leadership until our regiment was mustered out, in which time his history is that of the gallant brigade which he commanded. He served after that time in the severe battles of the Shenandoah Valley. He was breveted briga- dier general United States army, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meri- torious services in the field during the rebellion, and breveted major general United States army, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Moorfield, Va., and resigned May 18, 1865, and since has resided at Bath, Steuben county, N. Y.
On May 25th, Gen. Averell sent official notice to Company G of the permanent transfer of the company to the First Regiment of West Vir- ginia Light Artillery, in accordance with the following order :
WAR DEP'T ADIT. GENERALS OFFICE, Washington, May 18, 1863 Special Order No. 221. [Extract.]
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.