For some time prior to the 21st of April extensive preparations had been going on in the command of General Jones for a move in some direction. These preparations were anxiously watched by the officers and men, for all were heartily sick of the camp, and were ready for any undertaking. Orders were at length given to cook two days’ rations, which made it evident that the long anticipated movement was at hand. On that day the forces of Jones (numbering three thousand five hundred men) were marshaled, and soon on the road to Moorefield. The roads were in a shocking condition, and the troops moved slowly, and after marching fifteen miles the command went into camp.
Next day the object of the expedition was made known. As had been surmised, it was intended to operate upon the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and to secure supplies from the rich and fertile valleys of West Virginia.
The Maryland Line accompanied the expedition—the infantry and artillery as far as Moorefield, and the cavalry the whole way.
On the third day, the command reached the vicinity of Moorefield, in the midst of a drenching rain, which continued throughout the night and the next day. In the morning, the several mountain streams in the vicinity of that place were found so swollen as to be almost impassable. By running great risk, however, the command reached the banks of the Potomac, which they found impossible to cross at that point. There was, therefore, no alternative but to move down to Petersburg, thirteen miles distant, and try another ford. The point was reached on the afternoon of the 24th, but even here it was found the attempt would be extremely hazardous. But General Jones was determined to proceed at every risk, and the men were ordered to plunge into the rapid stream.
A fearful scene then presented itself, and for some time baffled description. Hundreds of frightened steeds, and their no less frightened riders, were struggling in the dark, rapid waters; and, alas! more than one poor soldier and his gallant horse, that had borne him so faithfully, were swept away, and no more to be seen until the turbulent waters should have subsided and surrendered up their lifeless bodies.
The crossing was at length effected, and the command moved up the stream and went into campwithin three miles of where it had started that morning, after having traveled a distance of twenty-six miles. The start was a bad one, but all hoped the end would prove more propitious.
Unincumbered with artillery, wagons, and infantry, the command started off at a rapid gait, but after marching a few miles, the 7th Virginia, which was in advance, suddenly came upon the enemy’s pickets. It was soon ascertained that the main body (numbering about one hundred and fifty men) was posted in a log school house, which completely commanded the road through Greenland Gap, over which Jones must necessarily pass. A flag of truce was sent forward, and a demand made for the surrender of the place, which was refused. An assault was then ordered, but as the troops could only move over the narrow road two abreast, it was repulsed with loss, Colonel Richard Dulaney, of the 7th Virginia, being among the wounded.
In a second assault, on foot, about nightfall, the men succeeded in reaching the school house, though not without severe loss, and demanded its surrender. The reply was a volley of musketry, through the loopholes, and not until the place was fired did the miserable creatures surrender, and beg piteously for the worthless lives they had forfeited by all the rules of war; and they were spared.
The Confederate loss was heavy, and the First Maryland suffered severely in officers and men. Among the wounded of the former were MajorBrown, Captain R. C. Smith, Adjutant Booth, and Lieutenants Pue and Beatty.
This obstacle overcome, and the prisoners sent to the rear, the column pushed rapidly forward, and, after proceeding some ten miles, the First Maryland was ordered to move towards Oakland, whilst the main body took another direction.
Riding all day and night, at one o’clock on the 26th the First Maryland charged into Oakland, Md., capturing fifty prisoners.
Leaving that place, the column moved upon Kingwood. Arriving within a short distance of the town, a halt was ordered, and Captain Bond’s company directed to charge the place. By fours the company moved forward at the trot, and as they approached, were surprised that they were not fired upon. “Gallop-march, charge!” shouted the gallant Bond; and, yelling like furies, Company A dashed through the village, slashing right and left with their sabres at the imaginary foe. But, alas, they had left two weeks before, and nobody was hurt. A disappointment, Captain; but perhaps you will be better rewarded next time.
There was but an hour’s halt here, when the column moved in the direction of Morgantown, which place was reached at 1 P. M. The citizens had assembled in considerable force, prepared to dispute Brown’s advance, but upon a demand being made for the surrender of the place, they quietly submitted, no doubt thinking discretion the better partof valor. That night the battalion went into camp at Independence, and next morning made connection with the main body.
Returning to Morgantown, the command crossed the river, and, after a short halt, commenced a night march in the direction of Fairmont, at which place they arrived about 8 o’clock next morning. A body of four hundred infantry was posted here to dispute their passage. They were drawn up in an open field, surrounded by high fences. The First Maryland was ordered to charge. It was a most desperate undertaking, but at the command of the gallant Brown they dashed forward. Upon reaching the fence, and within fifty yards of the enemy, they were received with a terrific fire, which, strange to say, killed sixty horses and but one man—young Myers, of Frederick. In an instant the fence was thrown down, and Brown was upon them, when they called for quarter.
Thence Jones moved upon Clarksburg, but finding the enemy in strong force, the place was flanked by way of Bridgeport. This town was also charged by the First Maryland, resulting in the capture of sixty men. In this affair Robert Whitely, of Baltimore, was killed.
On the 2d of May, the column reached a place called Buchanan, after many days of rapid riding, which was only performed by continually changing the broken-down horses for fresh ones found in the country. At Buchanan Major Brown’s wound becameso painful as to necessitate his going to the rear; and, although not the senior officer, owing to his experience and acknowledged judgment and discretion, Captain Frank Bond was called upon to command the little battalion.
An early start was made on the morning of the 6th, in the direction of Parkersburg, and marching all night, at daylight on the 7th the column struck the railroad at Cairo, where, at the summons of Captain Bond, a body of fifty Federal infantry surrendered. After destroying the bridge at this point, the command moved on several miles farther, where it encamped for the night, having made a march of eighty miles without removing saddles.
On the 8th, but twenty miles were made, and the troops went into camp at Webb’s Mills, tired and hungry. Provisions for men and forage for horses must be had, but there seemed a scarcity of both. The farmer upon whose place the First Maryland encamped declared he had neither. The smokehouse was searched, and nothing but two or three pieces of bacon was revealed, which the man insisted was all he had in the world. Poor fellow! he had the sympathies of the whole command. But he was a Union Yankee, and what Yankee won’t lie, even for a piece of bacon? for while all hands were sympathizing with him in his extreme destitution, some of the men inadvertently kicked over a few armsfull of rotten hay where had been an old haystack, when, behold! before their astonished vision lay animmense pile of bacon buried in the ground, and thus covered. The poor old wretch was wild with fright, but when assured only enough would be taken to feed the few men of the command, he could scarcely credit his senses. We wonder whether had it been a Yankee command in a Rebel country the owner would have escaped with his bacon? No; had he saved the house over his head he would have been fortunate.
Bright and early, on the morning of the 8th of May, the troopers were called from their sound slumbers by the loud blasts of the bugle, and after a scanty feed given to their horses, and a slice of the old man’s bacon partaken of by themselves, the “mount” was sounded and the march resumed. They were that day to witness an unusual sight, as all were aware, should nothing interfere, for the command was on its way to Oil City, to destroy the immense quantity of oil known to be there. The roads were in a most wretched condition, but the twenty miles that separated them from their prey was soon traversed.
As expected, a large amount of oil was on hand, calculated at 300,000 barrels, which was principally in large boats, into which it had been pumped, to be conveyed off and barreled. The coming of the audacious Rebels was altogether unexpected, or much of it could have been removed to a place of safety. But this time the fates decreed against the Yankees, and many thousands of dollarsworth of Northern capital was to fall a prey to an outraged people’s avenging torch.
Preparations were immediately made for a grand illumination. The works were first touched off, and next the barges, and perhaps such a sight as followed it had never before been the province of man to witness. Immense volumes of dense black smoke arose, and with the lurid flame mounted high in the air. The burning boats were cast off from their moorings, and floated down with the current, enveloped in smoke and flame, and as the oil ran out and covered the surface of the water, it appeared as though before them lay a sea of liquid fire. For hours the raiders watched the vast conflagration, which seemed a lamp of magnificent proportions, lighted to illuminate the whole world.
It served as a beacon to the enemy, though, and the troopers were admonished to be up and away.
On the 10th, the march was resumed, and by the next day the column passed through De Kalb and Glenville, and encamped within six miles of Duttonville.
For several days the march was continued at a rapid gait, without an incident worth mentioning. Horses, beeves and sheep were gathered in great numbers, and started for the Valley, to mount and feed the troops of the Confederate army. Save these, all other property was respected.
Through Dutton, across Elk river, on they went, passing “Imboden’s Life Insurance Command” atSomerville; thence across the almost perpendicular Flat Top mountains; and on the 16th encamped within four miles of Lewisburg—men and horses completely broken down.
A rest was here absolutely necessary to refresh man and beast. But a day was allowed, however, and on the 18th they were once more on the wing, and from day to day the march continued homeward, until the battalion reached its old camp, near New Market, on the 30th of May, after an absence of thirty-nine days, on one of the most remarkable raids of the war.
But the expedition was by no means a success. General Jones’ original purpose was to destroy the Baltimore and Ohio railroad at various important points, but, as he might have expected, these points were guarded by large bodies of troops, which compelled him to forego that intention. He started without accurate information, and only learned it when in the enemy’s country. He then turned his attention to gathering the stock along his route, much of which, however, never reached the Valley. It is true he did destroy an immense amount of property and a few unimportant bridges, but it had no practical results. One of the valuable lives lost, then, was worth more than all the good accomplished. And, moreover, his command returned to the Valley in a completely broken down and unserviceable condition.
CHAPTER III.
In a day or two after the return of the First Maryland to the Valley, it was ordered to join the remainder of the “Line,” then encamped at Fisher’s Hill. A short time after, this force was augmented by the arrival of General Albert G. Jenkins, with a fine brigade of Virginia cavalry, and he assumed command of the whole.
Here, for several days, the battalion was quietly employed in doing picket duty, and recruiting man and horse for the campaign that seemed about to be inaugurated. Not an incident of moment occurred, and in a week’s time the command was again ready for the field.
On the 12th of June information was received that the enemy were advancing towards our camp, which had been moved up to Cedar Creek. The infantry and artillery were marched to the vicinity of Middletown, and placed in position, whilst General Jenkins held his cavalry in readiness. After waiting some time, and there being no signs of our pickets (which had just been relieved, and those relieved not yet returned,) falling back, it was naturally concluded the force of the enemy had been greatly exaggerated. Having arrived at this conclusion, General Jenkins was about to order his troops back to camp, when he was startled by the rattle of small arms and the discharge of artillery,some four miles up the road. It was not long before we were made aware of the cause, which I will give the reader as told me by several of the officers and men engaged.
The company from the First Maryland relieved was that of Captain Wm. I. Raisin, which, along with a company from Jenkins’ cavalry, that had also just been relieved, was about to return to camp, when a body of the enemy’s cavalry were observed coming down the turnpike towards them. Information of the fact was immediately sent by Captain Raisin to General Jenkins, who disposed of his troops as before stated. In the meantime, Colonel Harry Gilmor, (who had been sick in bed for several days at Middletown,) hearing of their approach, got up and joined Raisin. For some time that officer manœuvered with the enemy, who fell back as he slowly advanced. Finally, the men, who had become impatient, commenced to move forward at a rapid trot, which the next instant became a gallop, and then a headlong charge, which Raisin’s utmost efforts failed to arrest before the whole command was in the midst of a large body of infantry, in ambuscade, which opened upon them with deadly effect, as did two pieces of artillery. In the greatest confusion the survivors wheeled about, leaving four of their comrades killed and about thirty wounded and prisoners in the hands of the enemy. Among the latter was Captain Raisin, who, whilst bleeding and senseless under his dying horse, was most inhumanlybeaten by the wretches into whose hands he had fallen.
I have thus gone into the particulars of this affair for the reason that Colonel Gilmor, in his “Four Years in the Saddle,” asserts that Captain Raisin gave the command to charge, contrary to his (Gilmor’s) judgment, which I believe is doing him injustice, and reflects upon his reputation as an officer. More than one who was close by assure me that he did not, and that it occurred as above stated.
A reason I have for thinking Colonel Gilmor is mistaken in this matter, is the fact that not one week before, whilst in command at Fisher’s Hill, during the absence of Colonel Herbert, and before the arrival of General Jenkins, I had taken Captain Raisin, with his company, and two companies of infantry to lay in ambush, on precisely such an expedition, though unsuccessful, by reason of the enemy not making their appearance, and upon which occasion I cautioned him not to allow them to catch him in a similar trap. Now, it is not likely that an intelligent man like Captain Raisin would so soon have forgotten the expedition and caution of but a week before.
An incident that I am reminded of would lead me to believe that if an order to charge was given, it was given by Harry himself. A few minutes after the affair, I met one of Jenkins’ men by the roadside, lamenting the wounding of a valuable horse, which he was leading. “This is a pretty bad piece of business,” I remarked.
“Y-a-s,” he drawled out, “and may I be darned ef I’m goin’ to foller that thar feller with the spang new yaller clothes any more.”
Harry had just donned a new uniform, mounted with a superabundance of yellow lace.
On the evening of the 12th, the battalion (with the exception of Bond’s company, which was detailed to remain with Colonel Herbert,) was ordered to join General Ewell, who, much to their surprise, was at Front Royal, moving on Winchester. In the skirmishing which ensued around that place, they took an active part.
After the capture of Milroy’s forces, at Winchester, General Jenkins with his command was ordered to precede the army of General Lee into Pennsylvania, and to his command the First Maryland was temporarily assigned. With him the battalion operated for some time, skirmishing with the enemy at various points, and participating in the battle of Gettysburg.
On the retreat from Gettysburg the little battalion was called upon to show of what metal it was composed.
Here, along with other cavalry, in covering the retreat and protecting the immense wagon trains, they were continually engaged with the overwhelming forces of the enemy. Many and terrific were the encounters; but, hand to hand and sabre to sabre, they contested every foot of ground, losing many men in killed, wounded and prisoners. Uponthis memorable retreat every officer and every man proved himself a hero. It seems invidious to particularize where so many were truly brave; but still, I will say, that among that heroic band, none shone more conspicuously than Captains George W. Emack and Warner E. Welsh. Fighting desperately, their deeds of daring at times amounted almost to madness.
At length Hagerstown was reached. Upon the very heels of the First Maryland, and Tenth Virginia commanded by Colonel Lucius Davis, pressed the would-be incendiary and assassin, Ulric Dahlgren. Furiously he charged the Confederate column in the very streets of the town. The Tenth Virginia, in the rear, was thrown into confusion, and fell back and passed the command of Captain Bond. But that little band of heroes were not to be affected by the unmanly panic, but moved at the same dogged, determined pace. Bond was but waiting for the Virginians to get by. The enemy were within a hundred yards of him, and an unguarded Confederate wagon train was at their mercy. That wagon train must be saved, for it contained much of General Ewell’s supply of ammunition. “Fours, right-about wheel, march! Charge!” rung out the command; and in an instant the gallant fellows had obeyed the order. Bond, mounted upon his fiery mare, Bertha Rives, was too quick for his followers, and darting like lightning, amid a shower of bullets, he foundhimself within twenty yards of the astonished enemy before he was able to check her. Here, for an instant, that brave man confronted almost certain death, as the muzzle of his pistol swept from right to left, in search of a victim. He was found, a quick, ringing report is heard, a spasmodic motion of the leg, and Ulric Dahlgren was a cripple for the brief remainder of his wicked life.
All this, reader, did not occupy half the time I have taken to relate it, for in an instant Captain Bond’s men were at his side, and closed with the enemy. A desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued, but they were driven back in confusion, pursued by the relentless Marylanders, who cut them down at every step. The wagon train was saved, and the command received the congratulations of General Ewell.
Alas! it was but a little while after that the chivalrous Bond was himself wounded and a prisoner. Having passed Hagerstown, whilst riding too far back to the rear, he was struck in the leg by a piece of shell from a Confederate battery which was firing over him, and terribly injured. He was taken back to Hagerstown, where everything was done by the noble women of the place to relieve his sufferings. He eventually recovered, and is now a thriving farmer at his home in Anne Arundel county.
CHAPTER IV.
But little of moment occurred after the engagement at Hagerstown; and crossing the Potomac with the army, the First Maryland repaired to Winchester to recruit. It was here that the company under the command of the noble Schwartz joined it.
After a stay of ten days at Winchester, the battalion was ordered to join the brigade of General Fitzhugh Lee, then encamped near Leetown. Soon after, on the promotion of that General to the command of a division, it was assigned to the brigade of General Lomax.
From this time to the 11th of October the battalion was occupied with picket duty, enlivened by an occasional skirmish with the enemy.
A few days prior to this date, General Lee’s movement to gain the rear of Meade’s army, then confronting along the line of the Rappahannock, had commenced.
On the 9th the cavalry division of Fitzhugh Lee broke camp, and sent the baggage to the rear, but bivouacked on the same ground until three o’clock on the morning of the 11th, at which time they moved out towards the Rappahannock, Lomax’s brigade marching upon Morton’s Ford, while Wickham’s brigade marched to Raccoon Ford.
General J. E. B. Stuart personally superintendedthe movement of the whole cavalry column higher up the river, advancing by way of Culpepper Court House. These dispositions were designed to cover General Lee’s movements, by interposing the cavalry between his line of march and the enemy.
Before Lomax’s brigade reached Morton’s Ford, reports from pickets represented the enemy as advancing in force, and upon reaching the river a heavy column was found occupying both sides. The collision between the hostile forces was abrupt and sudden, for to both it was unexpected. In a very few minutes the First Maryland was formed, and engaged heavily. The fight soon became general, and continued for more than three hours, the enemy using artillery freely, whilst Lomax was without a single piece. At length, by a sweeping charge of the whole line over the plain lying between the contending forces, the struggle was ended at that point, the enemy retiring slowly towards the river, followed by the victorious Confederates. About half way down to the river’s side the rear of their cavalry turned and covered the retreat of the main body by making a gallant charge, that struck the Maryland Battalion, which held the extreme left of the line, but it was handsomely repulsed, the brave officer who led it falling mortally wounded in their midst.
The main body retreated across the river, rapidly pursued by Lomax, who came up with them within a few miles, when a running fight ensued toBrandy Station, often before the scene of heavy cavalry fighting. Before reaching Brandy Station, the brigades of Lomax and Wickham united, as had also the two columns of the enemy, for Wickham had been heavily engaged at Raccoon Ford. Here the enemy’s cavalry met the infantry sent to support them, when they turned upon their pursuers, and the fight was renewed with redoubled fury, and charges and counter charges were made, until both sides paused from sheer exhaustion.
The left of the Confederate line then crossed the road leading from Culpepper C. H. to Brandy Station, and the battle was resumed. Whilst it was raging fiercely, a short time before dark, a heavy dust arose in the direction of Culpepper. This was soon ascertained to be the enemy’s cavalry, rapidly advancing from that town. Fearing an attack in the rear from this new enemy, General Fitz Lee immediately drew back his left, which was then in danger, and reformed parallel to the road by which they approached. Down he came in splendid style, his sabres drawn and flashing in the rays of the declining sun, and to an inexperienced observer it would have seemed as though everything would have been swept from before it. Not so the gallant men who stood in his way awaiting the attack. But the enemy was evidently not seeking a fight, for suddenly he moved to the left, upon discovering the Confederates in his path, and sought to pass without a collision. But this did not suit GeneralLee, who immediately ordered a charge, and Yankee and Confederate were soon dashing along in most admirable confusion, until the infantry was reached, when General Lee was compelled to retire out of range.
A short time after, General J. E. B. Stuart, with Hampton’s division, came down the Culpepper road, and then was ascertained the reason why the Yankees had wished to pass so rapidly. That General had defeated them at Culpepper, and was then in hot pursuit.
This was the first cavalry fight in which the Spencer repeating carbine was used by the enemy, but notwithstanding this advantage over the old muzzle loading gun, they were badly beaten, having been driven upon their infantry, and engaged from early dawn until night put an end to the conflict.
The loss of the First Maryland was severe, as they were engaged almost continually during the fight, both mounted and on foot.
The enemy acknowledged a loss of one thousand men in killed and wounded.
On the day after the fight at Morton’s Ford, the cavalry corps crossed the Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs, and moved down the Warrenton and Alexandria pike, and breaking into several columns, marched by different but nearly parallel roads in the direction of Centreville. Fitz Lee’s division moved towards Catlett’s Station, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad. At a small placeon Cedar creek, called Aubren, Lomax’s brigade (the reader will bear in mind that the First Maryland was attached to this brigade) made a dash at the enemy’s wagon train then passing, but finding it protected by a corps of his infantry, Lomax withdrew. This affair, though brief and unsatisfactory, gave occasion for a complimentary order from General Lomax to the First Maryland, which was well deserved, for by their gallant bearing, they materially assisted in extricating that General from a most perilous position.
By this time Meade had divined the object of General Lee’s movement, and his whole army was in retreat towards Washington, in order to prevent that General from gaining his rear. During this retreat, the cavalry made several attacks upon his flank, in all of which the Maryland cavalry were actively engaged. But little was effected, however, owing to the careful and compact order in which the enemy retired.
Finding his prey had escaped him, General Lee fell back to the line of the Rapidan, leaving the cavalry to guard his rear, which also fell back slowly—Hampton by the Warrenton pike, and Fitz Lee by the Orange and Alexandria railroad, the two running parallel.
The enemy’s cavalry, under Kilpatrick, thinking retreat meant defeat, pressed after Hampton, and his advance and Hampton’s rear soon became engaged. Hampton continued his retreat until hereached within two miles of Warrenton, when the trap he had prepared for Kilpatrick was sprung. So eager was that officer to immortalize himself, and so confident was he of success, that he never stopped to think of the danger that might be lurking behind the range of hills on his left. Fitz Lee was there, and when he thought to crush Hampton at a blow, and drive him into the Rappahannock, the sound of a few cannon shots on his rear and left suddenly put a new phase on affairs. With the sound of these guns, Hampton ceased his retreat, and turned and charged, while at the same moment Fitz Lee struck him in flank at Buckland. The fight which ensued was short, bloody, and decisive, and Kilpatrick’s exultant pursuit was converted into a precipitate rout, and his troopers scattered over the country in all directions.
During this fight, the First Maryland fought on foot, but when the rout commenced, they mounted and pursued to near Gainsville, where the enemy met his infantry. It was now dark, and Colonel Brown could not see what was in his front; but halting a moment to rectify his line, he gave the command to charge, when both cavalry and infantry broke and fled in the utmost confusion. Many were killed, wounded, and captured; and Brown, now aware that he was in the presence of Meade’s army, withdrew to Buckland, where was assembled the commands of Hampton and Lee, and where they congratulated each other on the signal victory theyhad achieved over the bully and blackguard leader of the “Buckland racers.”
After this affair, Mr. Kilpatrick’s thirst for glory perceptibly subsided, and the Confederate army marched peacefully and uninterruptedly to the vicinity of its old line on the Rappahannock.
Nothing of moment occurred here beyond the usual picket duty, until the First Maryland was ordered to join Colonel Bradley T. Johnson at Hanover Junction, where that officer had been ordered to assemble the Maryland Line, and picket along Lee’s line of communication with Richmond.
Before the separation, division and brigade orders were issued and read at the head of the regiment, highly complimentary to the gallant little command; and I will here state, that it was the fate of the First Maryland to serve, at different times during the war, with many of the divisions and brigades of the cavalry corps, and the fact can be referred to with pride, that no General with whom it served suffered it to pass to another command without publicly complimenting them in general orders.
CHAPTER V.
The battalion reached Hanover Junction the last of November, when Colonel Johnson established his picket lines, and prepared to go into winter quarters.
The winter was spent most delightfully, and nothing occurred to disturb its pleasures save an attempted raid made by Butler to Bottom’s bridge, whereupon the cavalry and artillery were promptly moved upon his flank to Tunstall’s station, when he retired.
About the first of March, 1864, Colonel Johnson received a telegram from General Lee, saying that a large body of cavalry had passed his flank, and was moving in the direction of the Junction. That officer immediately sent out his scouts to the north and west, and soon discovered that it was a heavy column, indeed, and moving southwest. It crossed the Virginia Central railroad at Frederick’s Hall, on Johnson’s left, and took the road which led direct to Richmond.
Of course he at once saw that the object of the enemy was an attack upon that city, believing that there were but few troops to oppose him. Colonel Johnson immediately ordered his pickets to destroy the boats on the Pamunky, to cut off his retreat in that direction, and with sixty men of the First Maryland cavalry, and two guns from the BaltimoreLight Artillery—the only disposable force he had left after sending out his scouts to watch the enemy’s movements—he followed in pursuit. Just outside of Taylorsville, the enemy’s pickets were encountered and driven in, and pursued to Ashland. Here a large force was met on its way to destroy the railroad and buildings there, and, after a sharp encounter, the enemy retired.
Moving as rapidly as possible along the Telegraph road, Colonel Johnson threw himself upon the enemy’s flank at Yellow Tavern, and posting his men, commenced to capture small parties that came along. Among his captures was a sergeant, with five men, who proved to be a bearer of dispatches from Colonel Dahlgren to General Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick’s guns were then thundering away at the outer defences of Richmond, and Dahlgren’s dispatch informed him that he would attack at dusk that evening on his road, and he looked for Kilpatrick to attack with vigor on his (Kilpatrick’s) side of the city.
Seeing at once that he had destroyed the communication between the co-operating forces, Colonel Johnson prepared to attack and harrass Kilpatrick’s rear. Taking care not to expose the number of his force, he attacked a picket in the rear of the centre of the line of battle drawn up in front of Richmond, and drove it in. This bold act conveyed the impression to Kilpatrick that he was cut off, and seriously in danger in his rear. Hastily mounting his troops,he moved at the trot down the Peninsula towards the Pamunky, and crossing the Chickahominy, before dark, at Meadow bridge, he went into camp. Colonel Johnson encamped on the opposite side. During the night, Hampton came upon the enemy, with the First and Second North Carolina, and broke up his camp, capturing several hundred prisoners and horses.
At daylight in the morning, Colonel Johnson crossed his small force over the river, and came up with Kilpatrick’s rear guard, near Old Church, which was immediately attacked, and several prisoners captured. Still taking every precaution not to expose to the enemy the smallness of his force, he continued to harrass him, and drove his rear guard through Old Church in confusion. Here, thinking himself seriously menaced, Kilpatrick formed line of battle. It seemed really ridiculous—three thousand men and four pieces of artillery in battle array to fight sixty men. Moving a regiment to the rear, he compelled Colonel Johnson to fall back half a mile, but as soon as this returned to the main body, he again renewed his attacks upon the unhappy rear guard.
In this way they moved down the Peninsula some distance, when a scout informed Colonel Johnson that a column of the enemy was moving down the road, immediately in his rear. He was thus between two forces. Dismounting his men as rapidly as possible, and deploying them in the woods, oneach side of the road, he awaited their approach. Upon perceiving him, they made a charge, and went through his line, not, however, without losing forty-five men and horses.
This proved to be a remnant of Dahlgren’s marauders, four hundred strong, ladened with plunder. Among the many articles of value recaptured from them was a silver dish cover, belonging to Mrs. Morson, of Goochland.
From their statement, it appeared that Dahlgren, not receiving an answer to the dispatch sent to Kilpatrick, and which was fortunately intercepted by Colonel Johnson, as already seen, started with a hundred men to find him, but failed to get across the Pamunky at Dabney’s ferry, owing to the destruction of the boats, as has been stated, and in his endeavors to escape through King and Queen county, was ambuscaded in the night, and he himself killed by a mere boy, and his whole command captured by the home guard.
Kilpatrick finding the expedition a failure, and believing himself pressed by a superior force, although but sixty sabres were at his heels, made for the lower ferries of the Pamunky, but failed to cross, for the same reason Dahlgren had, and finally reached Tunstall’s Station, and joined the forces under Butler, having been followed the whole way by the Maryland Battalion.
For this gallant exploit, General Elzey, in command of the defences of Richmond, issued a generalorder complimenting the command, and General Wade Hampton, in his report to General Lee, distinctly gave the credit of saving Richmond to the little battalion; for, by destroying the combination between Dahlgren and Kilpatrick, they prevented the joint attack on the city, and by the vigorous and incessant harrassing of the latter’s rear, conveyed the impression that he was attacked in force, at once changing his movements into a retreat, (deserting his subordinate Dahlgren,) and converting the attacks of Johnson into a pursuit.
Thus the devilish scheme originated by the wretched Dahlgren to get possession of the Confederate Capital, was frustrated. I say devilish, for upon his inanimate body was found papers that will cover his name forever with infamy. Although not the senior officer, he had command of the expedition, and these papers prove that it was his purpose to murder President Davis and the members of his cabinet, destroy the city, and give its women up to the lusts of his brutal soldiers. But, to thwart his hellish designs, God interposed a little band of brave men, and the city was not only saved, but the hirelings of Yankeedom scattered to the four winds, and its leader’s career brought to an ignominious end, by a bullet from the gun of a mere boy. It is indeed hard to conceive how a heart so young should have been so steeped in wickedness; but his own history, written by his own hand just before the wrath of an offended God overtook him, cannot be denied.
It is a little singular that this man should have lost his leg, in the streets of Hagerstown, at the hands of one of the officers of the very command that baulked him in his wholesale attempt at murder, arson and outrage.
For the services rendered upon this occasion Colonel Johnson won his rank as Brigadier General, which had been so long denied him by the Confederate Congress, although urged upon them months before by General Jackson, who had kept a vacancy in the Third Brigade open for him, and had refused to assign the command to any one else. This body of wise men contended that Maryland had its share of general officers, and could have no more, no matter how great the merit or ability the applicant might present for their august consideration. No, these important positions must be parcelled out as a fisherwoman does her stock in trade, and old and superannuated political hulks who aspired to a command were to be served first. So it was with the gallant Colonel Edwin Willis, of Georgia, who was killed at Cold Harbor. This young man, with a thorough military education, and one of the most brilliant and comprehensive minds in the South, and whose promotion had been more than once urged, was compelled to act in a subordinate capacity because Toombs and Cobb and other useless political generals stood in his way.
CHAPTER VI.
On the 9th of May, 1864, Sheridan began his raid around Richmond. Colonel Johnson, had gone on a scout towards Yorktown, and left Colonel Brown in camp in command of parts of four companies. On the afternoon of that day Colonel Brown received information that a portion of the enemy’s cavalry were raiding in the rear of Lee’s army, and had cut the railroad and destroyed the cars and provisions accumulated at some point above Hanover Court House. He immediately assembled his little command of one hundred and fifty sabres, and set out to ascertain the truth of the report. Shortly after passing Hanover Junction the gleam of camp fires in the distance, (it was just after dark,) along the line of railway in his front, seemed to confirm the rumor. The battalion pushed on at a trot, taking the usual precaution to throw out an advance guard and flankers, and about 11 o’clock, P. M., arrived at a point about a mile from Beaver Dam, when it became evident that they were in close proximity to a large force that was taking no pains to conceal their presence. The battalion was halted, and Colonel Brown himself dismounted and went ahead on foot to reconnoitre. He found the enemy in great glee, laughing and shouting at the top of their voices, whilst at the same time they were busily engaged in burningrailroad ties, and generally seemed to feel the existence of an enemy to be an absurdity. So close did Colonel Brown get to them, that he came near surprising a party in a cut, and from where he could see, by the light of the burning cross-ties, for a mile or two along the road, whilst he was invisible to the enemy. After having taken a good view, he quietly returned to his command, which had been silently awaiting him, and dismounting all the men that could be spared, amounting to some eighty or ninety, he advanced on the railroad. Silently the little band crept on, carbine advanced, and ready to begin the work of death at an instant’s warning. Not a word was spoken; and the men held their breaths in anxious expectation, until right upon the bank of the railroad, when a whispered exclamation announced that the enemy had gone. Not far, though; for they could be plainly heard a short distance up the road. The skirmish party was then formed in column, and moved by the left towards the county road, not a hundred yards distant, with the intention to again deploy and advance until the enemy was found. Not half the column had crossed the fence which bounded the road, when there was a challenge and shot, almost simultaneous, followed by a volley from both sides. In the darkness, blinded by the fires the enemy had lighted, the head of the column had come suddenly upon a Yankee picket, at a point which Colonel Brown, not an half hour before, had found entirelyunguarded; but during his absence they had finished their work and gone to bed, posting pickets, in the meantime, from habit more than anything else, as the picket was only a few yards from the main body, which appeared to be resting in a continuous line along and on both sides of the road.
Colonel Brown deployed at once, and advanced rapidly, the whole line keeping up a vigorous fire, which was made more effectual, because, while being in the shadow themselves, the confused enemy was distinctly visible by the light of the fires they had built. This could be plainly seen, as in driving the Yankees back they passed over the ground which had been held by them, and found many dead and wounded men and horses. Still pressing the enemy back, Brown came to a skirt of woods, about half a mile from the point where he first met them, when a cavalry charge was made upon his thin line, which, however, was handsomely repulsed, and the enemy driven back in confusion. Passing through this woods, he found them posted in great strength on both sides of the road, in open fields, awaiting his attack. Upon observing this, Colonel Brown slowly withdrew his command unmolested.
He now ascertained, from evidence before him, and from prisoners taken, that instead of fighting, as he supposed, a small raiding party, he had engaged the advance of Sheridan’s army of thirteen thousand men. Mounting his men, he held his ground until daylight, when a dispatch wasreceived from General J. E. B. Stuart, directing Colonel Brown to harrass and delay the enemy as long as possible, as he was in pursuit. Accordingly, he at once advanced upon the enemy’s pickets and drove them back, when they were reinforced, but again driven back several times in succession, until Sheridan pushed forward heavy reinforcements, when Colonel Brown deemed it advisable to retire a short distance, the enemy manifesting no disposition to pursue. Thus for some time the opposing forces watched each other in silence, when Brown moved his men some distance to the rear to feed the horses, but leaving a force of twenty men, under command of Lieutenant C. Irving Ditty, to observe their movements.
But a few moments elapsed before the enemy became restive, and could be seen forming a strong column in the road, with heavy masses on each side of it, and clouds of mounted and dismounted skirmishers taking position in front. The fact was at once communicated to Colonel Brown. A bugle sound now announced the enemy’s approach, and the heavy columns moved forward in imposing array upon Ditty’s little force of twenty men. At this instant Brown came up at a gallop, and a spirited fight ensued. A dozen times did the column of mounted men attack, but a dozen times they were foiled and driven back in confusion, until the dismounted men moved through the woods on Brown’s flank, and compelled him to retire; and atlast, about midday, they forced him back beyond the woods into the clear country, where Sheridan could see the insignificant force that had for so many precious hours kept his army in check. Then, and not until then, could his cavalry be brought to a charge, which the First Maryland, from its better knowledge of the country, easily avoided, not, however, without a parting volley, which emptied several saddles, two riderless horses running into their ranks.
The battalion then hurried on rapidly to Hanover Junction, whither it was supposed Sheridan was moving, where they united with the Second Maryland Infantry and Baltimore Light Artillery, when all prepared to give a good account of themselves should the enemy make his appearance.
It was but a little band of brave men opposing an immense army, and their destruction seemed inevitable, for General Lee had dispatched them to hold the point to the last, and that he had no reinforcements to give them. Quietly, as they stood in line of battle, they discussed the matter, and determined that the Maryland Line of ’64 should reflect no disgrace upon their hereditary name. But they were saved the sacrifice, for Sheridan, passing six or eight miles in their rear, marched directly upon Richmond.
In this affair at Beaver Dam, Captain A. H. Schwartz, of Company F, and Lieutenant J. A. V. Pue, of Company A, were painfully but not dangerouslywounded, almost by the first fire. During the lull of hostilities, and before daylight, they were removed to the house of Mr. Redd, a kind Virginia gentleman, living about five miles from the scene of conflict. Here they were kindly cared for and rapidly improved, when General Lee fell back in the direction of Richmond, and they were left in the enemy’s lines, who immediately sent a force of two hundred cavalry to capture them. Upon an examination of their condition by the surgeon with the party, he declared it his belief that they would die if removed; but the officer in command, who seemed really ashamed of his brutal mission, said those were his orders, and he must obey them. However, he at last yielded to the entreaties of the ladies of the family, and reported the facts to General Gibbons, who, like the brute he is, gaveimperativeorders for their removal. This was done, and the two poor, suffering men were placed in an ambulance and started off, the guard stealing the covering thrown over them by the ladies of Mr. Redd’s family, before they had gone five miles. Being taken across the country to Fredericksburg, they were there placed on board a transport and conveyed to a Washington hospital, where, soon after their arrival, the gallant, whole-souled Captain Schwartz died, in great agony, and Lieutenant Pue suffered months of excruciating pain.
This is but another instance of the many thousands of Yankee brutality to Confederate prisoners, andyet these people prate continually about Confederate cruelty to prisoners of war.
On the day after the fight at Beaver Dam, General J. E. B. Stuart came up, and ordered Colonel Johnson to watch General Lee’s flank with the First Maryland cavalry, whilst he with twenty-five hundred horse threw himself between Sheridan and Richmond.
Stuart met the enemy at Yellow Tavern, and after one of the most dreadful cavalry combats of the war, he saved the capital, but lost his life.
In the latter part of May, Lee’s army fell back before Grant, and made Hanover Junction a point of defence. Sending for Colonel Johnson, he directed him to take Brown’s battalion and pass around Grant and see what he was doing, and especially his base of supplies. The little Command crossed the North Anna, below Lee’s right, and pursued its way around to Penola Station, on the Fredericksburg railroad, where Johnson discovered a heavy column moving down from Bowling Green, and at the same time ascertained that the enemy drew his supplies from Tappahannock. Turning to retrace his steps, he found the whole of Sheridan’s cavalry moving up through King William, in his rear, and all the fords on the lower Anna in his possession. This compelled him to cross higher up, which was effected by throwing the horses into the stream from a high bank, whilst the men crossed on a raft hastily constructed. He finally reached themain body in safety, having captured several couriers, from whom it was ascertained that Sheridan was coming up and Burnside moving down from Bowling Green.
On the 27th of May, Colonel Johnson was ordered to report with his cavalry to General Fitzhugh Lee, who was then at Hanover Court House. A short time after his arrival, the enemy crossed at Dabney’s Ferry, when by order of General Lomax he was directed to go down and drive them back. Upon his arrival, he found Colonel Baker, of the Fifth North Carolina, in command of Gordon’s old brigade, skirmishing with a force not far from the Ferry. Believing it to be a small body, it was arranged that Baker should hold them where they were, whilst Johnson passed around to their flank, by which movement it was hoped they would capture the whole of them. Taking a side road, he had not gone more than a mile before he encountered Baker’s pickets retiring in good order, followed by the enemy. Before he could deploy his men on some open ground on the side of the road, they were upon him in overwhelming force. The greater part of the battalion had unfortunately just passed through a gate into a field when the enemy attacked. A dreadful hand to hand fight ensued, and before the gate could be reopened for them to retreat, many were killed and wounded, among the latter the brave Brown, by several sabre cuts over the head. Being at length extricated from this dilemma, thecommand was drawn up on more favorable ground, and a determined stand made for thirty minutes. But it was soon perceived that the enemy were wrapping around the little battalion and threatening it with destruction, and the order was given to retreat. This was conducted for a time in an orderly manner, but the enemy pressing them hard, a rout ensued, in which every man was expected to look out for himself.
The battalion lost in this unfortunate affair between fifty and sixty men in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Colonel Johnson and Lieutenant Colonel Brown made narrow escapes, the former having his horse killed and his sabre shot away, whilst the latter received several severe cuts over the head. If unfortunate for the Maryland battalion, however, it was fortunate for Baker, whose brigade of North Carolinians would most assuredly have been cut to pieces had the enemy not been held in check for a full half hour, thereby enabling them to escape. The force encountered turned out to be Custer’s brigade of four thousand men, supported by the rest of Merritt’s division of cavalry.
Among the officers captured at the fight at Pollard’s Farm, as it is called, was First Lieutenant George Howard, of company C, the particulars of which are too good to be lost, although it does seem near akin to profanity to laugh when so many were made to weep.
It appears that the Lieutenant, who could neverbe induced to don a uniform or ride a fast horse, finding himself hard pressed in the general rout, quietly dropped off unperceived, and concealed himself in a strip of woods that skirted the roadside. The pursuers passed by without observing him, and he began to congratulate himself upon his narrow escape, when unfortunately two or three straggling troopers stumbled upon his place of concealment. It was instantly suggested to him to pass himself off as a farmer of the neighborhood, and his appearance and dress indicated as much. To an inquiry of one of the Yankee soldiers as to “what he was doing there?” he replied that “a fight had taken place on his farm between their fellows and some Rebs, and he had sought the woods for safety.”
The party believed it, and in company they rode down to the scene of conflict, when the first object that met his gaze was one of his own men sitting in a fence corner, severely wounded. Forgetting himself, and the enemy with him, and yielding to the impulses of his generous nature, he threw himself from his horse, and advancing to the side of the suffering man called him by name, and inquired if he was much hurt.
“Pretty badly,Lieutenant,” was the reply, and the next minute he found himself seized, and a prisoner in the hands of his late companions.
“Lieutenant, ah!” exclaimed one of them, in utter amazement, and glancing first at rider and then at horse, “well, I must say that some of you Reb officers do beat the devil on a make-up!”