USA > West Virginia > History of the Second regiment West Virginia cavalry volunteers > Part 16
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It was after five o'clock in the evening when our horses were brought to us, and mounting, we prepared to charge the enemy's left and rear. Away off to our right the battle raged fiercely. With the gallant Custer in the lead we started on a wild ride for the enemy. It was get- ting late and, though there was no road, only timber, brush and logs, we kept up a trot until considerable cleared land was reached. On an elevation near a house a rebel
CAPT. WILL. S. MERRELL. One of Gen'l Custer's Staff Officers.
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battery was located, and being unable to depress their guns, their shot passed over our heads cansing a good many of the boys to unconsciously "duck" their heads. Captain Ankrom with a squadron captured the battery, or rather took the gunners prisoners. Just beyond the battery, a drove of beef cattle being hurriedly driven to the rear by a squad of soldiers, all fell into our hands.
The rebel cavalry skirmishers were met by our brig- ade and soon put to flight. About this time we gained the top of a low ridge, a stubble field in front. Across this field, stretched away to the right and left, was the nicest line of rebel cavalry we ever beheld. Our cheers were answered by the famous "rebel yell." Our earbines were brought into play as we steadily advanced, but the enemy did the same. The bugles were sounding "trot," the band playing "Hail Columbia," the roar of battle ou the right almost drowning the sound of our carbines. The sun was sinking behind the western hills as the two lines of opposing horsemen approached each other. The order to cease firing was passed along the line, when, instinc- tively it seemed, a thousand sabres were flashing in the air, recalling the words of Tennyson who says :
"Flashed all their sabres bare, Flashed as they turned in air, Sab'ring the gunners there."
The opposing lines met near the center of the field, where a ditch or drain ran parallel with the line of battle. The Confederates halted about ten paces from the edge of the ditch, our line going to the drain and also halting. Dur- ing the brief time this halt was made, the opposing forces eyed each other as if preparing for the deadly hand to hand encounter. Lieutenant Emerson MeMillin said : "Boys, this won't do, let's go over." when, putting spurs to his horse, the ditch was cleared, and at the same time the rest of the regiment boldly went over and fell onto the rebel horsemen with sabre. Owing to the position of the lines, nearly all the casualties fell on the Second Vir- ginia, most of the loss being in wouidel. In this
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hand to hand fighting, many of the enemy were killed be- fore they retreated. The regiment followed the enemy un- til the edge of the field was reached, when we were met by a large force of rebel cavalry, which so overlapped our left that we in turn were forced back a short distance, when the left of our line was re-enforeed by the rest of the brig- ade; then our boys turned, and in a spirited charge drove the enemy from the field, capturing a number of prisoners and twelve Confederate flags. The regiment followed the enemy on the jump for three miles, then returned to near where the main fight had been.
To sum up the important battle of Five Forks, Gen- eral Sheridan's historian says: "It was seven o'clock before the Confederates came to the conclusion that they were outflanked and whipped. They had been so busily en- gaged that they were a long time in finding out how des- perate were their circumstances; but now, wearied with persistent assaults in front, they fell back to the left, only to see four lines of battle waiting to drive them across the field, decimated. At the right the horsemen charged them in their vain attempt to fight "out," and in the rear, strag- gling foot and cavalry began also to assemble; slant fire, cross fire, and direct fire, by file and volley, rolled in per- petually, cutting down their bravest officers, and strewing the fields with bleeding men; groans resounded in the in- tervals of exploding powder, and to add to their terror and despair, their own artillery captured from them, threw into their own ranks from its old position, ungrateful grape and canister, enfilading their breastworks, whizzing and phuinging by air line and richoehet; and at last bodies of cavalry fairly mounted their entrenchments and charged down the parapet, slashing and tramp- Ing them, and producing inexplicable confusion. They had no commanders-at least no orders-and looked in vain for some guiding hand to lead them out of a toil, into which they had fallen so bravely and so blindly. A few more volleys-a new and irresistible charge,- a shrill and warning command to die or surrender, and with a sul-
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len and tearful impulse, five thousand muskets were flung upon the ground, and five thousand exhausted and impo- tent men were Sheridan's prisoners of war. Those who escaped he ordered the fiery Custer to pursue with brand and vengeance, and they were pursued far into the deso- late forest, spent and hungry, many falling by the way of wounds or exhaustion, many pressed down by hoof or sabre-stroke, and many picked up in merey and sent back to rejoin their brethren in bonds. Thus ended the splen- did victory of Five Forks, the least bloody to the union troops, but the most successful, proportionate to numbers engaged, that was fought during the war. One man out of every three took a prisoner. Sheridan captured four cannon, an ambulance train and baggage teams, eight thousand muskets, and twenty-eight battle flags. Sheri- dan's loss only reached eight hundred. The enemy lost three thousand in killed and wounded. The scene at Gravelly Run meeting house at ten o'clock on Saturday night was one of the most solemn contrasts of the war. A little frame church planted among the pines, and painted white, with cool green window-shutters, held at its foot a gallery for the negroes, and at its head a varnished pulpit. Blood ran in little rills across the floor, and human feet treading in them, made indelible prints in every direction. The pulpit lamps were doing duty, not to shed holy light upon holy pages,
but to show the pale and dusty faces of the beseeching; and as they moved in and out, the groans and cursing of the suffering replaced the gush of the peaceful hymns and the deep responses to the preacher's prayers. Federal and Confederate lay together, the bitter- ness of noon assuaged by the common tribulation of the night, and all the while came in the dripping stretchers, to place in this Golgotha new recruits for death and sor- row outside the portals. The scenes within were reiterated, except that the greatness of a starry night replaced the close and terrible arena of the church. Beneath the trees where the Methodist circuit-rider had tied his horse, and
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the urchins, during class meeting, had wandered away to cast stones at the squirrels, and measure strength at vault- ing and running, the gashed and fevered lay irregularly, some soul going out at each whiff of the breeze in the tree tops; and the teams and surgeons, and straggling sol- diers, and galloping orderlies, passed all night beneath the old and gibbeous moon and hushed stars, and by trickle of Gravelly Run, stealing off, afraid. But the wounded had no thought that night, the victory obsorbed all hearts."
While the men were asleep the night of the 1st, Cap- tain Wilson awoke three men of his company and asked them to get up, take some pine torches and go back over the field where the sabre fight occurred and see if they could find any of the wounded of his company. After the torches had been secured and directions had been given, the little band started forth on their mission of love and mercy. The light from the torches looked weird and spectral in the darkness. Arriving at the stubble field the torchmen took distance of about twenty paces so as to cover as much ground as possible. Dead and wounded horses were seen by the score, and if there is anything that appeals strongly to human sympathy, it is the dumb, pleading look of a wounded horse.
Looking for the dead and wounded by torchlight is a sad and sepulchral calling. The pale stars glint and glimmer in the awful distance. The hour is pregnant with silence, save when it is broken by the wail or sigh of the dying. When the loved and lost lie at home on beds made soft by loving hands, with heads reposing on pillows moist with the tears of affection, it is sad enough ; but, when far from home, with no canopy but the heavens, one searches in the long grass and unyielding stubble for the dead and the dying. it chills the blood and makes the bravest sick at heart. Welcome the sabre charge, the musketry and the Pannon. Men look to that, knowing there is a certain chivalry in death, when sought in the smoke and confliet of battle, where brave men meet to submit their differ- enees or the differences of their leaders to the stern arbi-
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trament of deadly strife; but after the battle, when the sun has gone down upon the battlefield, when the only sound to break the solemn stillness is the moan of the wounded and dying, it appeals to the higher and holier impulses of manhood ; and, as the flickering torch flashes on the face of the dead, if it be an enemy, there is a silent monitor in the heart that is quick to stifle resentment ; if it be a friend, an impulse to mourn the departed, and, remem- bering the comrade of the tent and field, to turn away with a heart too full for utterance.
Whether friend or enemy, the causes that led to their death were. not unlike. Each believed himself right. Men do not throw away their lives in such gallant action unless they believe they are in the right. Mothers kissed the sons who wore the gray with as deep affection as the matrons whose sons put on the blue in their country's de- fense ; and as they passed over the stubbornly contested ground, with no eye but the All-seeing-eye and the stars, and looked upon the blue and the gray lying rigid in death, side by side, they felt that desolate homes in the north will be no more desolate than the strieken homes in the south. Men from the north have met foemen worthy of their steel from the south, and the deadly carbine and the terrible sabre have caused us to grope by the fitful light of the torch to find the upturned faces of the northern and southern dead, ghastly and frightful in the gloom of night , and the startled ery of the night bird or the hoot of the owl is their only requiem as they are hurried into the trenches. The searching party returned without having found those sought for, but they learned that the hospital corps had cared for all the wounded. General Porter says : "Five Forks was one of the most interesting techinal bat- tles of the war; almost perfect in conception, brilliant in execution, strikingly dramatie in its incidents, and pro- duetive of immensely important results. General Grant's headquarters had been moved out to Dabney's mills, where the news of the victory reached him at nine o'clock p. m. The General listened to the account of Sheridan's days
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work, and, notwithstanding all his staff and escort were indulging in wild demonstrations of joy, the great com- mander quietly walked into his tent, wrote a dispatch, sent it to the wires, and cooly remarked : "I have ordered an assault all along the lines." It is a well known fact that the battle of Five Forks caused the evacuation of Rich- mond and Petersburg, and the surrender of Lee. On the morning of the 2nd the Cavalry swung to the left, toward Jetersville, General Sheridan anticipating that General Lee would evacnate Petersburg and Richmond. The enemy was not overtaken until near dark, when they were found strongly intrenched. We went into camp directly in front of the Confederate works. While going into camp the enemy threw a few shells among the troopers, killing one man and two horses. Just as the men were unsaddling the horses, the brigade mail was brought into camp and soon distributed. The numerous letters received by nearly every one caused no little excitement, and soon the grim veterans were sitting on the ground-tailor fashion- drinking in the delicious news from home and friends. While engaged in this pleasant occupation, and almost ob- livious to all surroundings, a heavy volley from the Con- federate works made the old pine woods ring. Before the first echoe had died away, saddles were on the horses, and when the shrill notes of the bugler "to horse" had sounded, every one was in ranks ready for the foe. However, it was a false alarm, as the volley was caused by the posting of our vidette line. Soon all was quiet again. The artil- lery of the brigade kept up a continuous firing the entire night. Although the battery was near the regiment, yet I would be safe in asserting that our boys slept more soundly than the "Johnnies." Early on the morning of the 3d, a flanking party was put in motion, but it was soon learned that the enemy had left. Skirmishing was kept np quite briskly until Finlicomack Creek was reached, where the enemy was found posted on the opposite side, and as the stream was quite deep, two pieces of artillery were brought forward, and while this was going on, a portion of the sec-
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ond brigade secured a crossing above, and in a spirited charge, routed the enemy, capturing many prisoners. Our own brigade now took the advance and engaged in a wild and exciting race until Deep Creek was reached, where the advance ran into an ambuscade, in which Co. B lost one man killed, several wounded, and twelve horses killed. The ford had been blocked with felled trees, while on a low ridge, temporary works had been has- tily thrown up. The troopers commenced a rapid fire on the works which prevented the enemy from doing any further damage. By this time the 1st New York-which had been attached to our brigade-succeeded in crossing above the ford, when they charged down on the enemy, capturing sixty prisoners. The New Yorkers did not keep the front long, but gave the road. The second Virginia were exceedingly gratified to once more be permitted to take the front, and enjoy some of the fun the others seemed to be having. Shortly after taking the front they en- countered a body of rebel cavalry drawn up in line in a wheat-field, and such a race as the regiment took to get there at that line. They (the enemy) had no time to break into fours, and leave the field with some semblance of order, nor did they ever again forma line, and attempt to stop the union horsemen. Turning the prisoners over to a gnard, the regiment kept the front, and at nightfall the en- tire brigade encountered a considerable body of infantry, posted in a wood and along fences. A portion of the brig- ade dismounted, and fought as infantry. The regiment advanced mounted, and as usual, the band playing "Hail Columbia." Under the severe fire of the long range guns of the enemy, it was hard to tell what they were playing. The enemy evacuated their position during the night, the brigade camping near where the bands so distin- guished themselves by drawing most of the rebel fire. Marched all day of the 4th and went into camp in the evening. After all had retired to rest, orders came from General Sheridan to march with all possible dispatch back to Jetersville, as he had intercepted Lee. Marched all night,
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reaching Jetersville early on the morning of the 5th. Went into position on the left of the 5th corps. The Army of the Potomac was concentrating here, and as fast as they arrived, were placed in position by Gen. Sheridan, Gen. Meade being quite siek. Gen. Crook who was on the left with his cavalry was quite heavily engaged. This led Sheridan to believe that Lee was endeavoring to escape by his left flank. He therefore was anxious to attack with what force he had, the second and fifth corps and the cavalry. Just then Meade came out and assumed command, and, much to Sheridan's mortification, decided not to attack until the sixth corps arrived. A captured rebel letter was now brought to Sheridan, describing the condition of the Con- federate forces. Sheridan sent it to Grant, with the follow- ing dispatch :
Jetersville, April 5, 3 p. m.
I send you the enclosed letter, which will give you an idea of the condition of the enemy and their whereabouts. I sent General Davies' brigade this morning around ou my left flank. He captured at Paines Cross Roads five pieces of artillery, about 200 wagons, eight or nine batfle flags, and a number of prisoners. The Second Army Corps is now coming up. I wish you were here yourself. I feel confident of capturing the army of Northern Vir- ginia if we exert ourselves. I see no escape for Lec. I will put all my cavalry out on my left flank, except Mc- Kensie, who is on the right."
After receiving this message General Grant started for Sheridan's headquarters arriving there at midnight. He immediately reversed Meade's plans and ordered an advance at daylight of the 6th. Sheridan with the cavalry was sent west towards Deatonsville. About ten o'clock of the 6th, the first division struck the confederate column at Sailor's Creek, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery, four hundred wagons, and many prisoners. This rebel force proved to be Ewell's corps, and the cavalry at once threw themselves square across the roads, thus foreing them to entrench.
Custer's division went into position across Sailor's
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Creek, executing the movement of, "on right into line," then moved forward until within a short distance of the confederate line. After other forces of the sixth corps had been placed in position, and of which we were ignorant at the time, the fiery Custer charged the confederate works. The Second Virginia occupied a position in a field, the rebel works being on the opposite side in the edge of a wood. He was somewhat protected from the direct fire of the enemy, by rising ground in front, although we were within easy carbine range. Our batteries were planted on a ridge across the creek to our rear, and they kept up a heavy fire over our heads, while we were sitting there on our horses, waiting for something, we knew not what. While going into position considerable cheering had been done, which was always answered by the peculiar "rebel yell." The brigade band was doing good duty now, playing all the national airs. About noon Lieutenant George Freeman caught a rebel ball in his mouth, which knocked out six of that officer's teeth. He secured the ball and ivory, then sought the hospital. Two or three charges were made on the enemy's works on our left by two hundred mounted men, for no other purpose I suppose than to hold them in their works. About three o'clock in the afternoon the enemy had nearly ceased firing. At this juncture General Custer and staff rode through our lines, seemingly for the purpose of viewing the rebel works. As everything was then so silent, such expressions, as "they have evacuated," "skecdaddled," and soon, was heard. Just then a volley from the rebels caused Custer's staff to hastily seek the rear, but not so with the golden-haired trooper ; waving his sword, he shouted so all could hear, "the whole line charge, FORWARD, TROT, MARCH !" One of the artillerymen afterwards said, "that the grandest sight he ever witnessed was when that long line of cavalry moved forward. The carbines were all loaded with seven shots and when these had been exhansted, half the dis- tance to the works had been covered. Every bugle was sounding forward, officers were shouting, the
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men cheering, and all were now eager to go on. When the order to cease firing and draw saber, had been given and obeyed, the line was close to the works. In front of the Second Virginia, the works were carried directly in front, the horses leaping over them, thus placing themselves and riders in the rear of the enemy, who were already surrendering. Where the works were too high, the troopers broke through the low places and swept down the rear, capturing-so General Sheridan says-between nine and ten thousand prisoners, including General Ewell and staff, and five other general officers. The prisoners were parked on the ground over which the charge had been made. The sixth corps assisted in hemming in the con- federates, but they were off to our right, and at the time we did not know they were there. All camped at Sailor's Creek, and early the next morning a division of infantry took charge of the prisoners, and Sheridan was once more off with the cavalry after Lee. The prisoners were very short of rations, and many of them were supplied from our haversacks. Indeed, this was done to such an extent, as to cause ourselves to be on short rations for several days. On the morning of the 7th while the cavalry was filing out of camp, the route lay near the prisoners. As cach band passed they were playing the national airs. The Confederates looked on and most of them seemed to enjoy the sight. Near the line of march a long, lank, mountain Confederate was standing looking on with a sullen appear- ance. Our brigade band, about this time, struck up the inspiriting air of "Dixie." Instantly the mountaineer gave the "rebel yell" and commenced dancing with all his might. His actions were so ludicrous that all who saw it, both Union and Confederate, enjoyed a hearty laugh, both sides cheering him.
A southern writer says : "And so the retreat rolls on. We are passing abandoned cannon, overturned and wrecked wagons, and their now useless contents belonging to the quartermasters; horses and mules dead or dying in the road. At night our march is lighted by the fires of
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burning wagons, and the hoarse roar of cannon and the rattle of small arms, before, behind and on our flanks are ever in our cars. The constant marching and fighting, without food or sleep, is rapidly thinning the ranks of this grand old army. Men who have stood by their flag since the beginning af the war now fall out of the ranks and are captured, simply because it is beyond their power of physi- cal endurance to go any further."
General Sheridan, in his memoirs, says, that on the 7th he determined to block Lee's path with the cavalry and also endeavor to capture the rebel supply trains that he (Sheridan) had dispatched for by two of his scouts. The cavalry had swung to the left, leaving the rebel col- umn to pursue their way. It was near midnight when the troopers went into camp. Early on the morning of the 8th Custer's division took the advance, with orders to capture the rebel supply trains before mentioned. It was well un- derstood that the command was now in Lee's front, and in consequence, the men were in fine spirits. General Sheri- dan rode along the column toward the front, offering words of encouragement, and as stray shots were heard, and the gait increased to a trot, every man was in a high state of expectancy. It was near fiveo'clock in the even- ing when one of Sheridan's scouts was seen, waving his hat and shouting: "If there is an engineer in the ranks, come to the front." Two men of the First Virginia re- spond, and soon the shrill locomotive whistles were heard, which created the wildest enthusiasm in the ranks. It was nearly dark when our brigade crossed the rail- road near Appomattox Station. In this dash over the railroad the division captured 500 wagons, forty pieces of artillery and 1000 prisoners.
A battery of confederate artillery hurled grape and canister down the road in such a manner that a little col- umn of the regiment, who, under the direction of General Custer, started in a charge, was nearly half unhorsed.
The flashes of the enemy's guns, as reflected against the sky, resembled a furious storm of lightning. But the
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battery was captured by the brigade, after which camp was established between Lee's army and the captured property. This occurred at Appomattox Station, about fonr miles south of Appomattox village, where the army of General Lee had gone into camp. During the fore part of the night we were somewhat annoyed by a piece of confederate artillery, that kept throwing shells into camp. At cach discharge of the piece the old familiar cry of "grab a root" could be heard all over camp.
APRIL 9TH, 1865.
About sunrise this morning the enemy attacked our skirmishers. The first division went to the front, while Custer's division fell back a short distance, and cooked and ate the last breakfast, that was ever eaten within hearing of rebel guns. The sharp and rapid firing of the union car- boniers, caused the humble meal to be hurriedly caten, and amid much excitement.
But what long blue column was that seen approach- ing in the gray of that beautiful Sabbath morning. It was General Ord's 24th corps of infantry, and they were rapidly placed in line behind the cavalry screen. Our bugles sound "to horse," and as the division mount and fall into line, the wildest enthusiasm prevails. As they attempt to cross the road the way was blocked by the marching column of infantry, but soon there was a gap sufficient to let all the troopers through, by keeping well closed up, although some of the foot officers tried to stop the cavalry. Every one seemed to feel that the end was near, and we were in high spirts at the prospect of being in at the death of the rebellion. Our direction was toward the left flank of all that remained of the army of northern Virginia.
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