USA > West Virginia > History of the Second regiment West Virginia cavalry volunteers > Part 5
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piekets were discovered; they were fired upon and one man wounded, another being captured by the advance guard. From this prisoner much valuable information was obtained as to the strength, location and condition of the rebel camp. The piekets and scouts who had escaped had seen but a few of our advance guard, and they con- cluded, as we afterwards learned, that as we did not press them closely we were only a squad of Union home guards located somewhere near Summerville. Soon after, the ad- vance discovered the scouts in the distance moving leisure- ly along toward their camp, with its smoke now plainly visible. The advance halted until the seouts passed out of view around a point, and then pushed rapidly forward to where they had disappeared. Here the last halt was made to further and more closely examine the situation; for from this position a fair view of the rebel camp was obtained.
The advance was ordered to charge through the eamp, as it was now evident that they were unprepared to re- ceive us, and that there would be no engagement. Promptly the advance charged as directed, the main col- umn coming in on the run. The enemy scattered in all directions, but owing to the nature of the country pursuit was difficult.
They were taken completely by surprise, as nearly all the guns captured were not loaded. Prisoners were picked up in all directions, some as far as two miles from the camp.
Owing to the severity of the weather and the scarcity of rations in their camp, nearly all the officers and quite a number of men were absent, intending to spend the night at the houses through the country.
The captures were 1 captain, 1 licutenant, 112 enlisted men, 90 horses, 3 (rebel ?) mules, about 200 stands of arms a few wagons, and various camp equipage. The arms, wagons, ete. were burned and the camp destroyed. Some of the prisoners were mounted on the captured horses, the others being compelled to walk.
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The return march commenced at 4 o'clock p. m. As the infantry had returned, and owing to the severity of the weather and the fact that we were so heavily encumbered with prisoners, it was impossible to continue the expedi- dition further as originally contemplated by General Crook. Had the surroundings been favorable and the infantry able to co-operate, the cavalry was to push on to Covington and release Dr. Rueker, a union citizen prisoner who was on trial for his life at that place.
Among the articles captured was a fine silk Confeder- ate flag, made for the command and but recently presented to it by their lady friends in Staunton, Virginia. At the earnest solicitation of the rebel officers the flag was subse- quently returned to the donors.
From the nearly continuous march of seventy hours, the deep snow, insufficient rest and food and loss of sleep, officers, troops and horses were nearly exhausted. They fell asleep along the roul, causing frequent gaps in the column, and necessitating the greatest vigilance on the part of the officers to keep it close up in the rear of the pris- oners guard.
At daybreak on the 27th the bugle sounded a halt, in response to which men cheered and horses neighed. Roll call showed all the prisoners present.
While horses are being fed, and breakfast ma le ready, let us attempt to draw a pen picture of our surroundings. Imagine a wild and sparsely settled region, where it was more than five miles between houses, and snow over a foot deep everywhere. All along the road the bushes added to our discomfort, by depositing great piles of snow in our faces, in our laps, and sometimes down our backs. At breakfast time with nearly frozen feet and limbs, we dis- mount in the suow to cook our humble meal. Are the men disheartened in the midst of all these gloomy sur- roundings? Not at all, but with cheerful hearts all hands join in, and soon hundreds of fires are burning; and with - in a few minutes the fragrant odor of coffee and bacon is borne upon the frosty air. Even the prisoners joined in to
.
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make the best of it, and were as cheerful as any.
The horses were fed by cleaning away the snow and placing the grain on the ground; or it was put in canvass bags, these strapped to the animal's head, the bag coming up just below the eyes. It was very amusing to watch the horses use this contrivance when it was first put on them, but they would soon grow accustomed to it and manage it very well.
About eight o'clock the column was again in motion, and reached Summerville shortly after noon. Quite a number of the men had their feet frozen badly, and were left at this point until they should be sufficiently recovered to resume the march to Camp Piatt.
On the 28th we marched to Gauley Bridge, where the prisoners, captured horses, etc. were turned over to Gener- al E. P. Scammon's Provost Marshall. The regiment then proceeded to the Huddleson farm, a few miles below Kanawha Falls, and camped for the night.
During the night of the 25th while the command was camped at the Hinkle farm, the men had prepared the best places they could to sleep on the bare ground, the officers faring as badly. Colonel Paxton would not go into a house to sleep while his boys were thus exposed to the weather, but shared the exposure with them. For this sacrifice the colonel was held in the highest esteem by the men; and as an evidence that this devotion was not unappreciated, some one stole the blanket off the colonel while he slept, and he woke up nearly frozen. The language used by him on this occasion was such as might have emanated from the hum- blest private in the ranks. But the colonel did not get his blanket.
Report of Colonel John C. Paxton, headquarters Sec- ond West Virginia Cavalry:
Camp Piatt, Dee. 2, 1862.
SIR :- In obedience to your order, I marched my com- mand, consisting of companies G, I, F, A, K, D, E and HI, Second West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry, in all 475 men, rank and file, in good order, on the morning of No-
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vember 24th for Summerville, arriving there at 10 p. m. the same day, a distance of fifty-three miles. Left Sun- merville next morning at seven o'clock and arrived at the Hinkle farm at 4 p. m .- thirty-five miles-and, being able to obtain some hay there, remained until 4 a. m. of the 26th, when we took up the line of march, in a blind- ing snow-storm, for Greenbrier, via Cold Knob Mountain, where we arrived at 10 a. m. the same day; distance, twenty miles. Met Colonel Lane, Eleventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, who was to assist me in breaking up a rebel camp at the foot of the mountain, but, on account of the severity of the weather and hard marching, he wished to return to his eamp at Summerville. I asked him to take the ad- vance until we met the enemy's pickets, which he did, and, in about one mile exchanged shots with six of the enemy, wounding one. Colonel Lane at once opened his ranks and gave us the road. We pushed rapidly into the ene- my's camp, a distance of five miles, effecting a complete surprise at 12 m., the enemy scattering in all directions. We killed two, wounded two, paroled one and captured two commissioned officers (one captain and one second lieutenant) one hundred and eleven non-commissioned officers and privates, one hundred and six horses and five mules; burned and destroyed about two hundred Enfield and Mississippi rifles and fifty sabres, with other ac- coutrements, stores and supplies, and their camp tents, etc. I had two horses killed in the enemy's camp, and lost ten on the march from fatigue and exhaustion. The ene- my was found three miles from the foot of Cold Knob Mountain, on Sinking Creek, Greenbrier county, West Virginia, at Lewis' Mill, and consisted of a part of five companies of cavalry, viz: Rockbridge Cavalry, Braxton Dragoons, Churchville Cavalry, Valley Cavalry, and Nighthawk Rangers. They were men who had been in the service fifteen months and were located at this point to guard the mountain pass, and to organize a part of A. G. Jenkin's brigade. Our success was complete. We never lost a drop of blood. After seeuring the prisoners and horses, and destroying the camp, etc., we marched at 4 p. m. (on the 26th) for Summerville, where we arrived on the 27th at noon, making one hundred and twenty miles for men and horses, without food or rest, except one feed of hay for horses, over the most rugged and mountainous part of West Virginia. Remained in Summerville until the 29th. Left for Camp Piatt, and arrived in camp on
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the 30th at noon. My men suffered severely from frost. I left two men in the hospital at Summerville, whose boots we cut from their feet. Others were more or less frozen. My horses were very much eut down. I cannot close this report without deservedly complimenting the officers and men, but, where all behaved so gallantly, it is impossible to particularize. But all honor is due Major Powell, who led the charge, and Company G, Captain McMahon who led the column. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, J. C. PAXTON,
Col. Commanding Second West Virginia Cavalry. CAPT. R. P. KENNEDY, A. A. G.
CHAPTER V.
PETERS' MOUNTAIN RAID.
Following the Sinking Creek raid the regiment re- mained in winter quarters until January 15th, 1863, when it was ordered on an expedition commonly known among the men as the Peters' Mountain raid. The objeet to be obtained was supposed to be the destruction of the New River bridge. I have been at considerable trouble to dis- cover some official report of this expedition, but have failed to do so.
The destruction of this bridge seemed to be a hobby with General Scammon, and several attempts to destroy it with a small force ended disastrously to the raiders, owing mainly to the distance to be traveled and the nature of the country to be traversed.
The command marched via Gauley Bridge, Big Sewell mountain, Meadow Bluff, Alderson's Ferry, Wolf Creek and Centerville. At the southern base of Sewell mountain the command haulted for the purpose of feeding and rest- ing. Here a division of the force was arranged for, Col- onel Paxton with one hundred picked men and horses to command the expedition in person. The regiment then moved forward to Meadow Bluff, where the command was to separate, Colonel Paxton to take his one hundred men and march in the direction of Blue Sulphur Springs, thened via Centerville. A force of rebel cavalry and infantry was known to be stationed at that point; and as Colonel Pax- ton had no idea of attempting to whip that body, it was necessary that strategy be employed.
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Lieutenant Colonel Powell, with the remainder of the regiment, marched in the direction of Lewisburg (at a certain time, as prearranged.) He went as far as the Handley and Feamster farms, making a feint on Lewis- burg. The lieutenant colonel had positive orders to burn the Handley house and the Feamster barn, and if possible induce some of the rebel commands that were in Colonel Paxton's way to march to the protection of Lewisburg.
The buildings referred to were on high ground, and when burning at night could be seen for a long distanec. This aet of vandalism was regarded as a necessity of war, and was carried into effeet by Lieutenant Colonel Powell and his command, who then in due course of time returned safely to Camp Piatt.
Before starting from Meadow Bluff, Colonel Paxton informed his intrepid band that they were to impersonate the rebel command of Colonel Clarkson, he himself posing as the confederate colonel. Overcoats were strapped on the saddles, the men wearing blankets instead. The little column encountered the rebel pickets near Centerville, and were allowed to pass without question. The piekets in- formed our men that there was a force of infantry in the town, but nothing daunted, they marched boldly into Cen- terville, and halted. To throw the enemy entirely off their guard, the colonel ordered the men to remain in column in the street and feed their horses; this was done, the men bearing themselves in an easy, careless manner, but re- maining near the horses ready to mount.
The colonel informed a rebel officer, who seemed to have some authority, that he was Colonel Clarkson, and that he had been doing duty on the Big Sandy river, and had been ordered to report in Richmond with one hundred cavalry. Soon the command was beyond Centerville, en route for Peters' mountain.
The column reached Peters' Mountain in safety, but a violent and blinding storm then raging so confused the guide that he became bewildered and lost his way, leading the detachment many miles in the wrong direction. This
PETERS' MOUNTAIN RAID.
pleased the little band in the neighborhood of John Me- Causeland's rebel cavalry regiment, and in view of all the circumstances Col. Paxton wisely concluded to return. This he did, via Flat Top Mountain and Raleigh, C. H., thus eluding all the confederate commands that were now endeavoring to capture this pretended Colonel Clarkson.
This expedition commanded by Colonel Paxton was not only extremely hazardous, but one of great exposure and intence suffering from deep snows and cold weather. These incursions (and I state it emphatically) so far into the enemy's country with a small force, were very danger- ous, aud usually resulted in little loss or damage to the foe, while imposing upon the men who made them the greatest hardship.
This expedition closed the operations of the regi- ment for the winter, except the seout of Major McMahon, with seventy men, February 5th to 8th, in Wyoming county. The Major found nothing but snow and mouu- tains and frozen streams.
In the latter part of February, 1863, General Crook ordered Lieutenant Colonel Powell to proceed to Wheel- ing on official business, pertaining to a more efficient arm- ing of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. Only a small portion of the regiment was armed with carbines, the others still retaining the ancient horse pistols, which, as remarked be- fore, were more dangerous to ourselves and our horses than to the enemy.
The Cavalry had been shamefully neglected in this mat- ter of arming; and, in view of more active service, it was being looked into.
On the return of Lieutenant Colonel Powell to Camp Piatt, he was taken ill with a severe attack of bilious fever, but in six weeks so far recovered as to be able to be taken to his home in Ironton, Ohio. His restoration to health was so slow that he finally decided to quit the service, and tendered his resignation as Lieutenant Colonel. Before it was accepted or acted upon, Brigadier General E. P. Scammon succeeded to the command of the Kanawha Di-
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vision, thus relieving General Crook, who was transferred to the army of the Cumberland.
During this time the regiment was actively engaged in scouting over the country surrounding Camp Piatt. The official report, as follows, of one of these scouts will suffice for all :
Report of Captain David Dove, 2nd West Virginia Cavalry.
CAMP PIATT, W. VA., April 7, 1863.
SIR :- I have the honor to make the following report of the result of my late expedition through the counties of Logan and Cabell. In obedience to your orders I marched on the 3rd inst, with detachments of companies A, D, E, F, G, H, I and K, in all six commissioned officers and 135 enlisted men. Marched from Camp Piatt to Red House on Coal River, where I arrived at 12 o'clock and encamped for the remainder of the night, resuming the march at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 4th, and arrived at Chap- mansville, on Guyandotte river, at 11 o'clock a. m. Here we captured one captain and two privates, stragglers from Jenkin's command. After resting for two hours I started down the river with the expectation of meeting Jenkins, learning that he had not passed up, picking up one or two men every few miles, but could ascertain nothing definite as to his whereabouts until arriving at the mouth of Hart Creek, 12 miles below Chapmansville. I learned that Jenkins had left the river at this point, and marched toward Big Sandy river, and, as he had some fifteen hours the start of me, and the river was not fordable at any point near, I thought it unadvisable to pursue him, but contin- ned down the river until 6 o'clock, when I halted at the mouth of Ugly creek, remaining there until 2 o'clock on the morning of the 5th, and again started down the river. On arriving at the falls I learned that a part of Sweeney's . Battalion, commanded by Captain Carpenter, had en- camped the night before four miles below. I imme- diately started in pursuit of him, and upon arriving where he had encamped I learned that he had marched in the direction of Mud river, leaving the Guyandotte road. Not having a guide, I had to follow his trail through one of the wildest sections of country in western Virginia. About two o'clock I struck the Mud river and traveled up it one mile, to where the trail again left the
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road, crossed the river and ascended a very steep and rough hill, covered by a thick wood. When the advance was about half way down the hill on the opposite side, it came upon the enemy in a very deep ravine, into which it was almost impossible to force the horses. After a sharp skirmish we drove them from their position; when a very hazardous and exeiting chase ensued, the enemy scat- tering in every direction. During the skirmish the enemy had one man killed and we captured fifteen prisoners, fifteen horses and fifty stands of arms, which latter were destroyed. After resting an hour I started for Hurricane Bridge, arriving there at 8 o'clock, and camped there that night. From thence, marched on the 6th to Camp Piatt, leaving the prisoners at Charleston, for whom you will herein find a receipt. The result of the expedition was, killed 1, captured 34 men and 30 horses, and destroyed between 75 and 100 stands of arms. No one was hurt on our side. Very respectfully your obedient servant,
D. DOVE.
Capt. 2nd. W. Va. Cav. com'g exp. J. C. Paxton, Comd'g Reg't.
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CHAPTER VI.
EXPEDITION TO LEWISBURG.
On or about the first day of May, 1863, General Seam- mon ordered Colonel Paxton, with the regiment, on a re- connaisance to Lewisburg. As this expedition proved so disastrous in its results, and the acts of the commander have been so severely criticised, he suffering the loss of his official position in consequence, I will endeavor to give a detailed account of it, as well as the official Confederate account.
From Camp Piatt to Lewisburg the distance is about one hundred miles. The road leads up the Kanawha river to the month of Gauley and New Rivers, the junctions of these two rivers forming the Kanawha. Crossing Ganley, the road leads up the east side of New river via the Tom - kins farm and Hawk's Nest, over Little and Big Sewell Mountains to Meadow Bluff, thence to Lewisburg. Some lively little bouts were had with bushwhackers on the way, bat no one on our side was killed.
Colonel Paxton was apprised on the road that Edgar's battalion (rebel) was in the vicinity of Lewisburg. The colonel hoped to surprise this body of the enemy and rout them, as had been done on a former occasion ; hence he so arranged his march that dark found him about twenty-five miles from Lewisburg. Captain David Dove, with a detail from Company H, was placed in the advance. In going down Brushy Mountain, the advance ran into a scouting party of about thirty rebels, who succeeded in making their escape in the darkness. Captain Dove now very naturally
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abandoned the idea of a surprise, and informed the Col- onel of his encounter with the scouts, and the fallacy of hoping for a surprise. The Colonel ordered him to push on. This intrepid and daring officer sent his orderly ser- geant to the officer in command of the column, advising him to hold the column back, adding, "We are going to get into trouble, and it will be better for the advance guard to suffer alone, than for the regiment to be drawn into a trap."
At 1 o'clock a. m. on the morning of May 2, 1863, while the advance was ascending a winding road dug through a wood on the Tuekwiller farm, they were surprised by an ambuscade of the enemy, whose guns flashed right in their faces. The regiment came rapidly up to the advance, which had encountered a blockade in the road. James Smith, of the advance, was killed near the blockade, and Lieutenant George Shoemaker mortally wounded.
The regiment endcavored to fight the best it could in the darkness, and did succeed in foreing back the rebel right. Captain Dove received a wound in the foot which eventually caused his death. Geo. W. Hale was killed when the enemy's right was being turned. Alberto Har- vey, of Co. G, was also killed.
After the rebel right had been turned, Colonel Paxton had the recall sounded, and in obedience to this order the regiment fell back a short distance, and remained there · until 11 o'clock a. m.
The following is the report of the Confederate Lien- tenant Colonel, George M. Edgar, of this affair :
CAPTAIN :- It becomes my duty to summit through you a report of the engagement which took place west of Lewis- burg on the morning of the 2nd instant, between the 26th Virginia Battalion and a regiment of U. S. Cavalry com- manded by Colonel J. C. Paxton. A report reached me about 2 p. m. the 1st inst. that U. S. Cavalry had been on Big Sewell Mountain the night before, and had avowed their intention of capturing Lewisburg. I immediately sent out a strong cavalry seont to ascertain the truth of the rumor, and watch the enemy, if any could be seen, and
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report as to his probable strength and intentions. Abont 11 p. m. one of the scouting party returned and reported that a large cavalry force of the enemy was advancing upon the town, and was already within nine miles of it. After ordering stores, prisoners and sick to the rear, I formed the battalion and marched it to Handley's Mills, two miles west of Lewisburg. the position selected for de- fense. The dispositions for battle were as follows: Com- pany A, Captain Swann, in a skirt of woods on the Blue Sulphur turnpike, to prevent the enemy from turning our right flank; Company B, Lieutenant Hines, and Company F, Lieutenant Dunlap, along an important bend in the road on the west side of the hill with instructions to refrain from firing until the head of the enemy's column had passed the left com- pany; Company E, Capt. Scott, and Company G, Capt. Morris, behind the barricades across the road, and the fence to the right and left of it; Company C, Lieut. Peck, and Company D, Capt. Burdett, about one hundred yards on the right of the reserve, with instructions to that officer to watch the enemy and report if he should attempt to turn our right flank. With these dispositions we awaited the approach of the enemy. We had scarcely finished our preparations when the head of the enemy's column ap- peared (about one a. m.) and began to file up the hill by fours, the men talking and laughing, apparently uncon- scious of our close proximity. Unfortunately, before the head of the column had reached the center of the line of riflemen, one of the men fired his gun. This of course obliged the whole advance to fire, the enemy re- tiring behind the bend in the road in great confusion. The firing then became general between the enemy's ad- vanee and ours, and lasted several minutes. In less than a minute after the firing ceased in front, I was warned by a quick volley on the right that the enemy was endeavor- ing to turn our position. I immediately ordered the two reserve companies to Lieut. Folk's support, and hastened in the direction of the firing. I had scarcely gone 150 vards when I met the enemy charging in line through the woods. I immediately caused Company D to file into the woods and commence firing, and afterwards hurried forward Company C (the other reserve company) to its support. The firing between these two companies and the enemy was heavy, and, realizing that our safety depended upon the enemy at this point, I ordered the two
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rifle companies from the front, and formed them in sup- porting distance of the two companies engaged. Just as this took place, the enemy's right charged up the road in front of the barricade, but was handsomely repulsed by a volley from companies E and G. This was the last volley fired, the enemy withdrawing from both our front and right. As he withdrew I sent out squads of both cavalry and infantry to watch his movements, and very soon re- ceived information that he had formed in line in the open field in rear of our right, apparently for the purpose of charging our line from that direction. At the same time, from the noise I heard in the front of the left of our posi- tion, I conceived the idea that a portion of the enemy's force had been dismounted and would probably attack us from that direction also. I immediately withdrew my whole force within the inclosure on the left hand side of the road, and disposed it to meet the enemy in both directions, placing the rifle companies along the fences to the front, and the remaining force along the fences in the direction of which I supposed the charge would be made. With the force disposed as I have indicated, we awaited the approach of the enemy, feeling assured the attack would be renewed at daylight, if not before. At carly dawn it could be plainly seen that the enemy's force, with the exception of a pieket, had been withdrawn beyond the hill in our front, and about 6 o'clock a correspondence between Colonel Paxton and myself, which resulted in a truce until 11 a. m .; the enemy asking the privilege of burying his dead and taking care of his wounded. He left a surgeon and a ser- geant to take care of his four wounded men, one of whom was a lieutenant. I have every reason to believe, however, that his loss was much heavier, for his ambulances were running busily for three hours, and citizens assured me that they were filled with dead when he retreated, and from the number of carriages and buggies he seized on his retreat, for the accommodation of his wounded, it is rea- sonable to suppose that the number was larger than ae- knowledged. It is gratifying to be able to report that there were no casualities on our side. The enemy re- turned our fire with spirit, but with no effect. They took, however. four prisoners-three infantrymen and one cay- alryman. I am, Captain, ete, GEO. M. EDGAR,
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