USA > West Virginia > History of the Second regiment West Virginia cavalry volunteers > Part 14
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or flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound and four ounces of meal; and to every one hundred rations, fifteen pounds of beans or peas, and ten pounds of rice or hominy ; ten pounds of green coffee, or eight pounds of roasted or roasted and ground coffee, or one pound and eight ounces of tea ; fifteen pounds of sugar ; four quarts of vinegar ; one pound and four ounces of adamantine, or star candles; four pounds of soap; three pounds and twelve ounces of salt ; four ounces of pepper ; thirty pounds of potatoes when practicable, and one quart of molasses. Dessicated compressed potatoes, or dessicated compressed mixed vegetables, at the rate of one ounce and a half of the former and one ounce of the latter to the ration, may be substituted for beans, peas, rice, hominy or fresh potatoes. The forage ration was fourteen pounds of hay and twelve pounds of corn, oats or barley. A full ration was more than an ordinary man could cat. There was but one known exception to this rule in the regiment, and that person is still living. If he should read this sentence it is hoped he will recognize himself. While in camp here the good peo- ple of New York City sent a large consignment of turkeys and chickens to General Sheridan's army, as a gift for a thanksgiving dinner. Although our style of cooking these delicacies was not such as might have been done at our homes, yet the camp kettles and mess pans enabled us to cook the fowls in such a manner as to afford an enjoya- ble meal, and I am sure it tasted better and sweeter because they were the gifts of our loving friends of the north. It is hardly proper to call the above article delicacy, for the taste of the delicate flesh of the barnyard fowls were not entirely unknown to the average cavalryman, for on many of the little scouts of the horsemen, while in the valley, the shrill notes of the chantieleer or the warning voice of the mother hen have been suddenly hushed, and on return- ing to camp the mess-pans and camp-kettles were again , called into special service. During the month of Decem- ber, while in Camp Averell, the troopers did not remain idle, but were constantly on the move, picketing and scout-
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ing. Much of the latter was performed during the night time. Some of these little forays often bordered on the romantic and the tragic. The surroundings and conditions of these night marches will never fade from the memory of the living participants. The pale moon, cast- ing its bright silvery rays over the surrounding mountains and valleys, sparkling and shimmering on the snow cov- ered earth; the crisp, frost-laden air; the silent troopers with poised carbines or pistols; the steady jingle of the srbres; the grinding sound of the horses feet in the frozen snow; the farm houses, standing like sentinels, dark and silent, all combined to impress upon us a feeling of awe.
These surroundings would hardly indicate that the little band pursuing these lonely marches was on other missions than those of love and mercy. And yet, while these thoughts are in the troopers minds, the snow, now so white and beautiful, may soon be crimsoned with the life- blood of some boy in blue. In that country, every tree might conceal an enemy, and even the innocent children were taught to hate us. This winter in the Shenandoah Valley was a delightful one to us, and all enjoyed the best of health and spirits. The entire command was placed in the best possible condition, the horses were improving so that they would be able to endure the hardships of a severe campaign.
About the 18th of December General Torbert with 5,000 cavalry, including our own brigade, started on an expedition through Upshur, Culpepper and Madison coun- ties to the Rapidan river. The object of the expedition was never quite clear to us. On this march the regiment experienced some thrilling times, but no engagement of consequence took place. Major Farribee, of the First Virginia, with a portion of the brigade, destroyed a bridge over the Rapidan river. The country through Culpepper and Madison counties consists of high table-lands, The turnpike, which at the time was covered with a deep snow; under the tramp of the union horsemen, soon became a sheet of ice, and fortunate indeed were those who
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were riding sharp shod horses, for they had no difficulty in keeping in the smooth roadway. The others had to seek the fields and woods where they were not in danger of life and limb, from their horses shipping and falling on them. A portion of the regiment had captured quite a number of beef cattle, and these were being driven along. One night they seemingly became tired of standing in the cold and snow without anything to eat; near midnight while the tired troopers were sleeping on the bare ground and without tents, the entire drove of cattle stampeded through the camp. The guards commenced yelling, whoa! whoa! This warning and significant sound speedily aroused the sleeping soldiers, who, instinctively sought refuge from the panic-stricken cattle by getting behind trees, wagons, or anything that afforded protection. A snow had fallen during the night, covering the sleeping men, and when they were so rudely awakened, the cover- ing of snow was shaken into their beds. After the cattle had tramped over some of them, they were in a sorry plight. But there was Indicrous incidents enough con- nected with the scare, to keep all in a good humor. Dur- ing the rest of the night some one was continually shout- ing, Whoa! Whoa! The return march was made by way of Warrenton; and about December 26th all were again in winter quarters. Picketing had become quite hazard- ous in the vicinity of Camp Averell. Mosby's command was well acquainted in the neighborhood and thoroughly understood the topography of the country. They would . dress in the uniform of the Union soldier, and often, under the pretence of giving the countersign, murder the senti- nel. Such precautions were soon adopted as to put a stop to this dishonorable warfare.
Some time in January, 1865, the brigade officers gave what was called the "officers ball." To obtain the ladies necessary for the occasion, invitations were sent to all the ladies living within a radius of three miles of Camp Av- erell, to attend the party. A cavalry guard and ambu- lances were to be sent around in the evening to bring in
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all who would attend. The invitations were accompanied with the assurance of protection, and a safe return under escort after the close of the festivities. This was all car- ried out, and on the evening of the party, a picket of the regiment northeast of Winchester admitted a small de- tachment of cavalry, having in charge an ambulance load of young ladies, enroute to the ball. The outer picket above mentioned consisted of two men, or rather boys. During the night these boys talked of the ball and thought what fun it would be if the ambulance was to return by that road, and the escort would not have the countersign. Each gave the other a significant look, but no more was said on the subject at the time. One of the sentinels was so amused at something that was running through his mind that he dismounted and ran around through the snow. The other picket seemed to divine his friend's thoughts, and he became suffused with laughter.
About three o'clock in the morning the sentinels heard wheels grinding in the frozen snow, and soon the ambulance came in sight, under escort of four men of the First Virginia Cavalry. At the proper distance the party was halted. In answer to the challenge of "Who comes there?" they gave the proper answer: "Friends." "Advance one with the countersign !" Said the spokesman; "We neglected to get the countersign, but are only taking these ladies home from the party, and you know we are all right." The pickets again exchanged glances, when one nodded an assent to the other. Said he, "You can not pass this post without giving the countersign, and you will save time by sending back to camp and getting it." With that two of the escort returned to Winchester. The ladies accepted the situation very gracefully, one of them remarking "that the Yankees had captured them." During the hour and a quarter they remained there, they talked and laughed about the ball, and seemed to enjoy the novelty of this last episode, as much as any of the events of the gay night they had spent within our lines. The balance of the win- ter spent in Camp Averell was uneventful.
CHAPTER XVII.
PREPARING FOR THE FINAL STROKE.
In volume two of Grant's Memoirs he says: "On the 8th of February I ordered Sheridan, who was in the valley of Virginia, to push forward as soon as the weather would permit and strike the canal west of Richmond at or about Lynchburg ; and on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as soon as the roads would permit, saying: As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be of no further use to the rebellion. * I would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this." Sheridan's historian says : "Winter quarters in the valley had been, on the whole, of an attractive character for our cav- alry. The six weeks of needed rest preceding this, the last of Sheridan's extended raids, had been spent in the crisp, cold winter days of that delight- ful region. Veteran troopers still speak of their last winter in that field with pleasurable associations. Men and horses were alike in good condition, both well fed, and the men well clothed, and prepared for a severe cam- paign. The fine clear cold of a Virginia mid-winter van- ished before the bugler's "boots and saddles," and it was a cheerless and chilly morning, with a cold and mizzling rain, that greeted the column when Sheridan moved out of Winchester on the 27th of February, 1865."
From memoranda kept at the time, and for this pur-
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pose, I submit this account of the final struggle, to the "round up" at Appomattox, and thence to the muster out. About this time the brigade, consisting of the First, Second, and Third West Virginia Cavalry, under command of Col- onel Henry Capehart, was attached to the division of Gen- eral Custer. We were ever after known as the Third Brig- ade Third Division Cavalry Corps. Sheridan's marching force consisted of the First Division under command of 'Tommy" Deven, the Third Division under General, Custer. General Wesley Merritt accompanied the expedi- tion as chief of staff. The force consisted of about 8,000 men, and, taking this mounted command in all its appoint- ments, it was probably the finest and most efficient cavalry force the world had ever seen. All were in excellent spirits and eager to be led against the enemy, and, with the con- fidence and enthusiasm inspired by our commanders, felt that we could whip or ride through any force that would dare oppose our progress. The troops had been expecting marching orders for several days, and when, on the evening of the 26th, orders were issued to be ready to break camp on the morrow, all became bustle and hurry. Letters were written to home and to friends, arms and am- munition looked after, and long before bed-time all were ready. Reveille sounded at four o'clock on the 27th and by daylight the column was in motion, passing through Winchester and up the valley pike. After many unavoid- able delays, usual in getting so large a column in motion on one road, it was ten o'clock when camp was pitched two miles north of Woodstock, and as it had rained most of the day, considerable difficulty was experienced in get- ting fires to burn. The mode of going into camp on a march was abont as follows: After a brigade had been as- signed to its place, the regiments were given their places, then if the nature of the ground would permit, they were thrown into columns of squadrons open order. The latter would then prepare to camp by numbers one and three ad- vancing a few paces. This would give plenty of room for the horses, and in this manner stakes were driven in the
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ground, and the animals tied to them. Usually the men formed themselves into messes of two. Each man carried a "dog tent," a poncho or gum blanket, and an army blanket. In addition to this, the two between them, carried a smell ax with short handle, a sheet iron frying- pan, and a quart coffee-pot. Each man carried his own rations, and the prudent ones always carried a bunch of matches, carefully tied up in a piece of gum material, and secured about the body where they would be safe from damp. As soon as the order to dismount was given by the company commanders, the men were virtually free. As soon as dismounted one of the two men who were mes ;- mates would take the two horses in charge, and as soon as possible secure them to stakes. The other would divest himself of carbine and sabre, and start on the run for a load of the dryest rails that might be near. If it was pos- sible to secure hay or straw, this was attended to first. However, the load of fuel was thrown down in front of the horses, and while the first one builds the fire, the other, with canteens and coffee-pot, would go in search of water. Whilst one was getting sup- per, number two put np the "dog-tent" and fed the horses. There are many things that could be thrown into the little tent for a bed. Hay, straw, leaves, weeds, cedar-brush, the soft side of a board pulled from a fence or some build- ing, or even rails, have been used in preference to the wet ground. The troopers adapt themselves to circumstances, and are content with the best that can be obtained. The grumblers are only laughed at. If the cavalry do not get enough sleep in camp on these marches, they can enjoy some of that luxury, at least, while riding.
At four o'clock, on the morning of the 28th, the bugles aroused the drowsy soldiers from their short night's rest, and soon after the last notes of the reveille had sounded, hundreds of camp-fires were burning, casting a flickering light through the damp, misty morning air. Be- fore day had fairly broken, the column was again in mo- tion, passing through Woodstock, Edinburg and Moun
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Jackson. Near the latter place the Shenandoah river was found to be so swollen with the recent rains, that fording it proved quite dangerous. The pontoon train came for- ward and soon one of those "war bridges" was being used by the troopers. The command marched very fast all day, and at 7 o'clock went into camp nine miles north of Har- risonburg. Before nine o'clock all were in bed enjoying needed rest, save the tired sentinels whose duty it was to keep watch over the slumbering eamp. At two o'clock a. m., March 1st, the third brigade was aroused by the bugle sounding reveille. The orders were to "prepare to march immediately without getting breakfast, or feeding the horses. All were soon in ranks and moving for the pike, passing through the camp of the first division. We almost envied those sleeping sol- diers, yet we felt quite "important" when the clanking of our sabres and the rattle of the camp accessories cansed some of them to look out from their beds and ask "What brigade was that ?" We were much amused at the actions of a darkey who stood near the column, and as we were passing cried out: "Look out dar, don't ride ober de colonel." The fact soon becomes known to the men that Capehart's brigade was to push forward and drive Rosser, who was reported to be between Harrisonburg and Staun- ton, out of the way. On the middle fork of the Shenan- doah river Rosser was encountered prepared to resist the Union troopers crossing that stream. The covered bridge had been filled with rails for the purpose of being burned. A portion of the brigade was dismounted, and engaged the Confederates at the bridge. Colonel Capehart then sent the First Virginia above to an apology for a ford. yet they succeeded in crossing, and dashing down on the "savior of the valley" (Rosser), putting him and his force to flight, capturing fifty prisoners. The bridge was soon made pas- sable, when a wild and exciting chase ensued between Capehart's brigade and Rosser, the enemy not being per- mitted to burn a bridge between them and Staunton, nor to annoy the advaneing column to any extent. The brigade
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went into camp four miles north of Staunton, and soon were partaking of breakfast, dinner and supper, all in one. The excitement of the day somewhat relieved the monot- ony of the march. At sunrise on the second of March, General Custer, with the remainder of the division, passed the camp, when the brigade took its place in the column. Early in the morning it commenced raining, and at the same time the weather turned cold. Soon the trees, fences, and even the pouches of the troopers were cov- ered with a coating of ice. The roads were in a miserable condition, and when we quietly entered the pretty little city of Staunton the people saw a mud-bespattered and sorry looking lot of riders. At this place it was learned that General Early had left there the day before with 2,500 men for Waynesboro, and that at the latter place he would fight. It was only eight miles to Early's position. He had boasted that Sheridan would not get through Rock- fish Gap.
Custer was given the task of disposing of Early, and in the afternoon the advance drove in the Confederate pickets. As the third brigade formed into line on the left of the road, the Confederate artillery, which was posted on a rising piece of ground near the railroad, greeted us with shot and shell. The rebel works extended some distance to our right. The first brigade of Michiganders dis- mounted and formed as infantry.
They at once charged the rebel right, gaining the works in fine style. The dismounted men swept on, doub- ling up the enemy's line in Fisher's Hill style. At this juncture our own brigade charged mounted and cut off over half of Early's force, which was forced to surrender. Many of the enemy took refuge in houses and other build- ings, as it was still raining very hard. They averred that they could not fight in the rain. General Early escaped on a train of cars that was conveniently near. All his headquarter equipments fell into our hands. The captures consisted of 1700 pris- oners and cleven pieces of artillery. It was here thecan-
GENERAL GEO. A. CUSTER.
From a war sketch.
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non was captured that bore the inscription, "to General Phillip H. Sheridan, in care of General Early." Seven- teen battle flags also fell into our hands. The Second Vir- ginia now took the advance of the brigade, and crossed the mountain, capturing a train of two hundred loaded wagons. Early was engaged in gathering supplies for Lee's army. The region east of this place had been free from our raiding parties, and, being rich in produce, the army of northern Virginia had been getting their main supplies from this section. It was estimated that there was nearly a million dollars worth ot stores at and near this place destroyed by our forces. This defeat finished Gen- eral Early as a military commander, and we heard of him no more during the war. This was also the last seen of Rosser and his cavalry, "the savior of the valley." A few years after the war General Early was in Charleston, West Virginia. In the evening he was the central figure in a group of ex-confederate officers and citizens who had ealled to meet their old soldier friend. (We must admit that the military carcer of General Early had been a creditable one.) The conversation as was natural turned to the war. General Early gave his experiences in the valley, and among other things said: "The Richmond authorities wanted to know if I could not do something with Sheridan's cavalry. I told them that I did not have enough mounted men to attack the Yankee cavalry, and if they could spare any horsemen to send them along. Soon after this I re- ceived a dispatch from Richmond that the celebrated "Laurel Brigade" had been sent me. This was General Rosser and his command. In due time they arrived and reported to me. My men were down-spirited and dis- heartened with their reverses, and they turned out to view this new comenand. It was a fine body of cavalry, well equipped, well mounted and well dressed. Each man car- ried a sprig of laurel on the lapel of his coat. My boys would purposely ask 'What cavalry is that?' The reply would be: "This is the Laurel Brigade.' 'Can you whip the Yankee cavalry?' 'We always have
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done so, and can do it again.' I then gave General Rosser all my available cavalry, and ordered him to go on down the road, and he no doubt would find Custer, his old classmate at West Point. The result of that fight is well known. Rosser was the most used up man I ever saw, and when the famous 'Lanrel Brigade' came back all torn to fragments, their artillery gone, and all badly de- moralized, my boys fairly went wild, at their appearance." And the old general laughed heartily. Just then a gen- tleman who had not heard all the account said, "why Gen- eral, did Rosser get whipped?" The general excitedly replied, "whipped, yes, he got h-Il whipped out of him."
The Second Va. continue don to Greenwood station nine miles from Waynesboro. The station house filled with rebel bacon and flour was burned, after which the regi- ment returned four miles to the brigade camp.
Quite an amusing incident occurred before Green- wood station was reached. A small force of the regiment which was in the advance, came to where the road forked, and at this point a fine brick house occupied a site to the left of the Charlottesville road. A wagon loaded with sacks of wheat was standing by the road, near which a citizen on horseback had been captured. He was at once plied with questions as to where the roads led and which one led to Charlottesville, and so on. Several of the men had jumped from their horses and commenced emptying the wheat, so as to secure the nice, clean sacks. Unnoticed the citizen rode off down the road and had gone quite a little distance before some one called upon him to halt. He then put spurs to his horse, when two or three shots were fired over his head. When the crack of the first carbine sounded, four or five ladies at the house rushed out on the veranda, and wringing their hands, cried, "They will kill Mr. Johnson." One of the troopers rode up to the mansion and assured the sereaming beauties that Mr. Johnson was safe.
On the morning ofthe 3rd the march was resumed on the Charlottesville road, the mnd impeding the march so
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that our progress was slow. The command marehed in columns of fours, the horses making great ridges of mud between the files, and number one and four forming a ridge on each side of the road. At three o'clock p. m. we entered the pretty little city of Charlottesville. A deputa- tion of citizens meeting us in advance of our entrance and surrendering the place. Monticello, the old home of Thomas Jefferson, and the University of Virginia, founded by Mr. Jefferson, are at this place. These places were visited by hundreds of the command during our stay. General Sheridan in his memoirs says that it took two days to get his trains from Staunton to this place owing to the mud, and then the animals were so jaded they had to be rested. During the fourth of March the brigade went out a few miles and again destroyed the railroad. Some of the men gathered together a number of negroes and put them to work. When there was a straight piece of track, enough men would arrange themselves on one side and turn over a half mile at a time. Cross ties and fence rails were then placed on the iron, fire applied, which soon ren- dered the rails worthless. Again on the fifth ten miles of road in the direction of Gordonsville was effectually de- stroyed. The command was now subsisting off the coun- try, carrying only rations of coffee. An abundance of flour and bacon was found, more than enough to subsist a large army for some time. This raid did certainly cut off a large supply of food that had been going to Richmond. About this time the prices of provisions in Richmond was: flour, fifteen hundred dollars per barrel; tea, one hundred dollars per pound; coffee, fifty dollars; Lacon, eighteen dollars, and beef, fifteen dollars per pound. Living there at that time was not only expensive, but very uncertain.
The same day prices in New York City, for the same and other commodities, were: Flour, eight dollars and twenty-five cents per barrel; coffee, thirty-one cents; sugar thirteen cents, and eggs eighteen cents.
The morning of March 6th was clear and warm, and once more the column was in motion, filing down through
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