Source: William Penn Lloyd. History of the First Reg't Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, from its organization, August, 1861, to September 1864, with List of Names of All Officers and Enlisted Men who have ever belonged to the regiment, and remarks attached to each name, noting change, &c., Philadelphia: King & Baird, Printers, 1864.
Colonels:
General George D. Bayard,
from August, 1861 to May, 1862
Hon. Owen Jones,
From May, 1862 to January, 1863
Col. John P. Taylor,
Since January, 1863
Headquarters, Camp, First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, September 9th, 1864.
To the Officers and Enlisted Men of the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry.
Gentlemen: Knowing the deep interest felt in the history of the regiment, by every member who has shared its services, its dangers and hardships, and is thereby entitled to a portion of its well-earned merits, I have endeavored to collect the prominent incidents of its operations; and during the comparative leisure of the last month have arranged them in a condensed form for publication, that all who wish might be supplied with a copy.
You will find the following pages to contain a sketch of the organizing, arming and equipping of the regiment, a summary of its services from the time it entered the field to the present date, with brief descriptions of the part it took in the various actions in which it was engaged, a tabular statement of name and date of each battle and skirmish, date, route and distance of each march and scout, with general remarks, &c. Also, the name, rank and date of commission, of each officer, the name and rank of each enlisted man, (the latter arranged in companies, and each company prefaced by a short sketch of its organization,) with remarks also appended to the names of both officers and men, noting all changes that have taken place.
The object, however, in preparing this work, was not to write a history of the regiment, nor to enter into a minute or detailed account of its operations, but simply to furnish a brief summary of its services, with any other data that might be interesting to its members. Neither is it supposed that the hasty and condensed narrations, these pages contain, will elicit any interest from the public at large, as they are strictly local in their character; but, if they meet your approval, it will be answering my fullest expectations. You will, doubtlessly, discover in their perusal, numerous omissions and inaccuracies, as many of the incidents, especially of the first year, have been sketched from memory, and the numerous and constant changes incident to a regiment in the field, renders it very difficult to furnish correct data in every instance; but, conscious that you are aware of the disadvantages labored under in the preparation of a work of this kind, here in active service, where our respites from duty are so brief and irregular, I therefore respectfully submit it to your consideration, trusting that though it may not reach what you would desire it to be, its contents, may, at least, not be devoid of interest.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Wm. P. Lloyd, Adjutant First Penna. Reserve Cavalry.
Strangers to war, and especially to the blighting curse of intestinal and fratricidal strife, the year of 1861, as it opened upon our happy and prosperous nation, with events so new and startling and portentous of coining evil, found the public mind resting in the quiet calm of its accustomed security. True, for some months previous, the murmur of discord and dissatisfaction, with an occasional bold and daring threat or menacing overt act, from the southern half of the nation, betokened a determination of purpose, more serious and alarming than had, at any previous period of our history, marked the wrangling of parties and the clashing of sectional interests.
But, the storm season of a Presidential campaign had just passed, and the majority of the people, at least in the North, expected, as always has been the case heretofore, that after the conflicting elements had spent their fury, and the efforts of the partisan leaders, either crowned by victory or subdued by defeat, the public mind would subside into its usual quiet and decorum. Still, there were some, who, marking the course of events for years, saw, in the unusual signs of the times, foreshadowings of the storm that was soon to burst on our devoted land.
As day after day of the new year passed, events stranger and more startling were developed, and thus matters continued growing more desperate until the fourth of March, when a new Chief Executive was inaugurated and the reins of Government passed into the hands of another Administration; but, instead of these events having any effect in allaying the angry and discordant elements, the storm cloud of civil commotion grew rapidly darker and more threatening.
The warlike preparations of the South now too began to arouse the loyal people of the nation to the stern fact that treason, real earnest treason, was rapidly spreading its contaminating bane over large tracts of the nation's territory, rife for any deed, and ready in its daring audacity to attempt any crime, and that rebellion in gigantic proportion was upon them.
All who lived through those days of intense excitement, from March to the middle of April, when the traitor's cannon first defiled our nation's ensign as it floated over the wall of Sumter, remember, and will doubtlessly cherish, while memory retains vitality to perform her offices, the anxiety which wrapped every loyal heart in a murky pall, during those hours of painful suspense, when the nation hung vibrating between war, just and honorable, as we are now prosecuting it, and ignominious peace with anarchy, or at best traitor's rule. Long, too, will be remembered the days of almost frantic excitement that followed, the dishonoring of our flag at Charleston. How, as with one giant throb of the nation's great heart, her loyal sons arose, and from workshop, from store, from farm, from the nursery of learning, the lawyer's office and the minister's sacred desk, men of every avocation, circumstance and calling, rushed forward to vindicate its insulted dignity.
The first call for seventy-five thousand men, being immediately filled, thousands who applied were unable to get into the service. These, forming in companies throughout the country, remained to await subsequent events.
During this time the material of the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry was principally collected, as was also the balance of the Reserve Corps, most of which, however, had the advantage of some months drilling in camps of instruction in an organized condition, while this regiment remained scattered in parts of companies, over the State, few of them having an official existence.
The companies remained in this unorganized and scattered condition, until about the middle of July when a few of them assembled at Camp Curtin, and commenced the formation of a regiment.
(Notes of Organization furnished by Surgeon G.B. Hotchkin.)
"The First Cavalry regiment of Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps was organized at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, August, 1861, by His Excellency, Governor Andrew G. Curtin, under the provisions of a special law authorizing the Governor to raise, arm and equip a force consisting of twelve regiments of infantry, one rifle, one artillery and one cavalry regiment. This was to be a State force under the control of the Governor, to be held in readiness to meet any emergencies that might arise from the events of the war.
"The defeat of General McDowell, at Bull Run, July 21st, 1861, occasioned just such an emergency before the organization was complete. Five companies of cavalry, which were then in Camp Curtin, were immediately organized by the election of Captain Hastings, U.S.A., as Colonel, and Captain Owen Jones, as Major, and the battalion sent to Washington, with the rest of the Reserve Corps, where they were soon joined by two additional companies from Harrisburg.
"The removal of the regiment from the State before it was completely organized, equipped and trained for service, as contemplated by the law of its organization, caused much feeling of disappointment in the State, and the officer selected for the command of the regiment, declined to go with it in its unorganized condition.
"The seven companies remained in camp near Washington, about a month, with a deficiency of organization, which threatened total failure of the attempt to form a regiment.
"The field and company officers present, being little schooled in military tactics and discipline, though quite anxious to become soldiers and to make their men such, fully realized their deficiencies, and anxiously sought for assistance.
"Through the influence and advice of General Stoneman, then Chief of Cavalry, in conjunction with the Governor of Pennsylvania and his advisers, the service of Lieutenant George D. Bayard, was secured as Colonel, and he assumed command of the regiment about the first of September, 1861, and immediately commenced drilling, and fitting it for active service.
"About this time, also, three companies from a disbanded regiment were attached to this command, and its organization completed, by the election of Captain Jacob Higgins, to the post of Lieutenant-Colonel, and the appointment of S.D. Barrows as Adjutant, and Lieutenant R.R. Corson, Regimental Quartermaster.
"The regiment then consisted of Companies A, Captain Robison; B, Captain Stadelman; C, Captain Taylor; D, Captain Gile; E, Captain Wolf; F, Captain Harper; G, Captain Gardner; H, Captain J.B. Davidson; I, Captain McNulty, and K, Captain Boyce.
"The appointment of Surgeon David Stanton, Assistant Surgeon, Samuel Alexander and Chaplain J. Harvey Beale, shortly after, completed the regimental staff.
"January, the seventh, 1862, two independent companies, Company L, Captain Hoffeditz, and Company M, Captain Richards, were attached to the regiment, thus making it a complete regiment of twelve companies.
"The regiment was originally armed by the United States Government, with sabre and pistol to each man, and ten carbines to each company, the number of carbines having been increased at different times, until the whole regiment was ultimately supplied with them, in September, 1862.
"The greater part of the original horses of the regiment were selected with great care, and purchased by some of our own officers in the State of Pennsylvania; the remainder were selected by Colonel Bayard himself, from the Government horses at Washington. These horses, under good care and training during the succeeding winter became notably the best regiment of horses in the United States, and some of them remain still the best horses, after a half dozen new lots have been worn out in the service of the regiment.
"The material of this regiment was choice in its character, the Governor refusing all applications for the formation of companies for the regiment, from large towns and cities, it was gathered from various sections of a great State, at a time when infantry was the favorite arm of service. The men who joined this regiment, chose the service for the love of it, and because they were horsemen. They were mostly country laborers and farmers, accustomed to the use and care of horses, and at least good, if not properly trained riders. Very few of our men were dismounted by accident or awkwardness during their drilling, or since then, in the service they have performed. Most of them were accustomed to labor and fatigue, and well calculated to endure the hardships incident to a cavalryman in the field. A few old soldiers, among both officers and men, contributed much more than their personal labor toward the proper training of the regiment.
"The greatest defect in material seems to have arisen, either from want of proper examination of recruits, or want of knowledge of the requirements of cavalry service, on the part of examining surgeons. This has been a fruitful cause of discharges for disability in our regiment, but most of our deficient men would have been fully able to do infantry service, although from various causes unable to endure service in the saddle.
"After Colonel Bayard was established in his position, and his regiment armed, equipped and mounted, the work of drilling was immediately commenced, and prosecuted with all the energy for which that officer was so much noted. This was not done after the usual manner of drilling cavalry by a course of gradual training, but the attempt was made to bring the regiment to the most effective condition for actual contact with the enemy, in the shortest possible time, as the cavalry arm of the service must be made and not improved merely. To this end the officers were called to meet the Colonel, once or twice daily, to study tactics, and the fear of the Examining Board kept constantly before them to stimulate their energies to the utmost. Company, squadron and regimental drill and saber exercise, on foot or mounted, were pushed to the utmost, morning and afternoon of every day, under the personal direction of Colonel Bayard and his field officers, while various scouts and daily picket duty, by detail, served to impress their lessons by actual practice of duty near the enemy."
We crossed the Potomac river, as the advance of General McCall's command, on the 10th day of October, 1861, and were stationed at Camp Pierpont, at the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac. Here we picketed by details of one officer, and thirty men, daily, during the winter, also, making frequent expeditions to Drainesville and toward Leesburg.
The first skirmish of the regiment, occurred near Drainesville, on the 27th day of November, 1861. The regiment, had been ordered out on the previous evening, to scout the country beyond Difficult creek, a small stream crossing the pike, about six miles west of camp, and make a descent on Drainesville, a village some seven miles further on.
Marching all night and arriving at the village just before daylight, the houses were surrounded, and a search for guerrillas, reported to harbor there, commenced.
Half a dozen suspicious persons were arrested, and the regiment, after an hour's halt, took up its march for camp. When some two miles from the town, the head of the column was fired on by guerrillas concealed in the pine thickets, by the roadside. Detachments immediately dismounted and pushed into the woods, and in a few minutes had killed or captured the whole part of the enemy. We lost, Assistant Surgeon Samuel Alexander and private Jos. Hughling, Company D, killed, and two other men severely wounded. Colonel Bayard was slightly wounded and his horse killed under him.
Five companies, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob Higgins, participated actively in the battle of Drainesville, December 20th, 1861, and General Ord highly complimented Colonel Higgins for the valuable service the cavalry rendered during the action. At the opening of the engagement, the cavalry was ordered to push forward and compel the enemy to unmask his position. This was done in gallant style by Lieutenant-Colonel Jacob Higgins, with H and I companies, dashing forward on the road, south of the town, while C, D and E companies charged directly through the town, and pushed on, until the enemy, opening on their flank and rear, compelled them to withdraw to prevent being cut off. The infantry now becoming engaged, the cavalry was ordered to the support of Easton's battery, and remained drawn up in the rear of it, though subjected to a heavy artillery fire, until the close of the action, which lasted about one hour and twenty minutes, and ended in the total rout of the enemy.
Here was the first time that any part of the regiment had been called upon to face the enemy in battle array, and its action on this occasion very truly reflected, or rather foreshadowed, its subsequent history.
The winter of '61 and'62 was spent at Langley, or Camp Pierpont, some four miles west of Chain Bridge, the regiment being engaged in the services before mentioned, until the 10th of March, when winter quarters were broken up and campaigning commenced.
The regiment then marched with the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, in the grand advance toward Manassas, and after about ten days' most exhausting service, exposed to pelting rain, sleet and snow storms, returned to Falls Church, where we remained until General McDowell's advance toward the Rappahannock. Starting on the 9th of April, we marched via the Fairfax Court House and Manassas Junction to Catlett's Station, which we reached on the 11th, and there performed scouting and picket duty, till the middle of the month.
On the 13th we started on a reconnaissance toward Falmouth, and having driven in the enemy's outposts and ascertained his situation, returned to camp. On the 17th, two battalions of our regiment supported by a portion of the Second New York Cavalry, marched toward Falmouth, as the advance guard of General McDowell's army. That day we skirmished with the enemy's outpost, from Hartwood Church toward Falmouth and during the night were led into an ambuscade near the town, and after severe fighting were compelled to rest till daylight.
Having marched and skirmished all day and until a late hour of the night of the 17th, the men were permitted to take a few hours' sleep at the feet of their horses, and were again in the saddle, ready to move forward, at two o'clock, on the morning of the 18th.
Every precaution having been taken to prevent any noise in advancing that might warn the enemy of our approach, the column commenced its silent march toward the town, squadron L and A leading the advance.
The morning was cloudy, and so intensely dark, that the enemy's works, which consisted of a strong barricade, constructed of rails laid alternately lengthwise and crosswise, were not seen, until the advance guard was right on them. The column was thus brought to a halt, in a narrow road which it completely filled, and almost instantly a heavy fire of musketry was opened in the faces of the men.
The regiment recoiling before this fierce and unexpected attack, was immediately withdrawn from the road, and its operations directed against the flanks of the enemy's position, in a series of rapid and brilliant charges, which, however, were ineffectual in dislodging him, until daylight, when he fell back, and we occupied the town.
The history of this war will doubtlessly present, in all its records of daring, few parallels to this hazardous dash. A body of cavalry charging on a town, garrisoned by double its number of infantry, along an unknown road, and through the blinding darkness of a rayless night. We were not veterans then, neither were our generals.
In this action, Company E, commanded by Captain Marcus L. French; Company F, commanded by Captain Alexander Davidson; Company K, commanded by Captain J.H. Williams; Company L, commanded by Captain W.A. Sands, and Company M, commanded by Captain J.H. Richards, all under the charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Owen Jones were closely engaged. Companies G, H, and I, under Major R.J. Falls, acted as a reserve and were not engaged until the next morning.
Colonel Bayard, in an official report to the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, complimented the regiment in the highest terms, for its conduct on the occasion.
The first day after the action the regiment camped a short distance from Falmouth, and a few days afterward moved several miles down the neck, and commenced doing picket duty along the Rappahannock river, and scouting on the Peninsula below. While engaged in this we had frequent skirmishes with the enemy across the river, and on one occasion, when he attempted to recapture a schooner from the First New Jersey Cavalry, on the night of the 13th of May, Companies F, G, H, L, and M, turned out, and after a brief but sharp skirmish, drove him off, brought the schooner to our own shore of the river, and rescued the men on board, several of whom were wounded.
The following is a report of the affair, by Colonel Jones, Commanding Regiment.
Headquarters, First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, May 14th, 1863.
"General George D. Bayard
"General: I have the honor to report that on the evening of yesterday, May 13th, heavy firing was heard at my camp from the line of our pickets on the Rappahannock. I soon learned that it proceeded from a party of the enemy, and was directed at a vessel in charge of the First New Jersey Cavalry. I at once ordered the carbineers of my command to proceed to the river bank, and finding that the vessel was fastened to the north bank of river, and in charge of our pickets, I ordered my men to be placed in position to cover the removal of two men of the First New Jersey Cavalry, that were on board of her, and had been badly wounded by the fire of the enemy, giving orders not to fire, unless first fired upon. After the first, and just as the second man was being removed from the vessel, a heavy fire was opened upon her by the enemy, and was instantly replied to by a heavy and well sustained fire from my men, posted along the river bank. As soon as the enemy's fire ceased, the order to cease firing was given, and the remaining wounded men removed with safety.
"It gives me great pleasure to state that in the effort, none of my men were hurt, and that the officers and men displayed the utmost promptitude bravery and coolness."
Colonel Bayard having received appointment as Brigadier-General, Lieutenant-Colonel Owen Jones was chosen Colonel, and took command of the regiment May 5th, 1862.
On the afternoon of the 25th of May, when General McDowell commenced his advance to join forces with General McClellan, the regiment crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, and was sent forward to find the enemy. We advanced rapidly towards Richmond, and reached a point on the Pamunky river, within fifteen miles of General McClellan's right wing on the evening of the 27th. The enemy falling back before us, and the whole route showing evidence of his hasty retreat. At this juncture, when all were jubilant over the prospects of soon joining the grand army of the Peninsula, against the Rebel Capitol, we received orders to return immediately to Fredericksburg. Recrossed the Rappahannock at that place on the evening of the 28th, and marched at once, via of Catlett's Station and Thoroughfare Gap to Front Royal, which we reached on the 1st day of June.
With but an hour's rest, we proceeded at full gallop, nearly to Strasburg, a distance of about twelve miles, when crossing the Shenandoah river and coming up to Jackson's forces, we skirmished until dark, and then recrossed the river and bivouacked for the night to await assistance next morning. General McDowell not having come up with his army our brigade, consisting of one battalion of Bucktails, Hall's Second Maine Battery, of three guns, the First New Jersey Cavalry, and First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, proceeded alone, and driving Jackson's rear guard out of Strasburg, were almost immediately joined by the advance of General Fremont's army, entering from another direction.
A gallop of six miles, brought us upon the enemy's batteries at Woodstock, and after three repeated attacks, we drove them from their position, and his rear guard, consisting of infantry and cavalry, from the town.
In this manner, we proceeded for eight days under the guns of the enemy every day, and driving him as rapidly as General Fremont could follow with our main force.
At Mount Jackson, on the 4th, a running fight for the bridge across the Shenandoah, occurred, but the enemy reaching the river first, succeeded in crossing his forces, and destroying the bridge, thus delaying our column until the next day.
On the afternoon of the 6th, a sharp action occurred, just beyond Harrisonburg, in which the First New Jersey Cavalry, first, and later the Bucktail Battalion and our own regiment engaged a force of the enemy at least three times their number, and completely repulsed them.
On the 8th, we advanced and participated in the Battle of Cross Keys, but being the reserve, were but slightly engaged.
Next day we led the advance, of the centre column to Port Republic, where we arrived just in time to witness the bridge, across the Shenandoah in flames and the enemy all safely beyond our reach.
On the 10th, we commenced retracing our steps down the valley, and, after a halt of two days at Mount Jackson, returned via of Front Royal again to Manassas, which point we reached on the 23rd, making thirty days of incessant marching, skirmishing and fighting, having in that time, marched nearly four hundred miles, skirmishing the greater part of the way in the face of the enemy, and having been engaged in two battles, and ten or twelve considerable skirmishes.
Remaining at Manassas to refit, as the efficiency of the command was much reduced by its late severe service, the regiment was engaged for the next two weeks in picketing in the direction of the Rappahannock.
We next marched with the advance of Pope's army, first to Manassas Junction, on the 4th of July, and some two weeks afterward to Rappahannock river and Culpepper.
From this latter point, as a centre, we made various marches, during the remainder of the month to Madison Court House, towards Gordonsville, also doing heavy picket duty at the same time.
On the 1st of August, we advanced with the brigade to the Rapidann river, where picket and scout followed each other in regular reliefs, and our horses were seldom unsaddled day or night, from that time until, as rear guard, we came to Alexandria, closely followed by the enemy's advance, to within a few miles of that city; a period of about five weeks, day and night on duty.
"The duty on the Rapidann was very heavy. Our little party, about twelve miles from the advance of the army, for eight days guarding all the crossings of the river for several miles at a low stage of water, and at the same time watching at all points inland for the enemy's approach from above and below; making constant scouts to watch the country around us, was severely tried and all its endurance tested to the utmost."
When Jackson finally advanced in force, his first attempt on crossing the river, was to take our whole party before we could reach assistance, as he was fully aware of our location and force.
On the night of August 7th, 1862, the enemy crossed at several places and made attempts in the darkness, to surprise and capture our pickets, but was so skillfully baffled in his undertaking as to succeed in capturing but two men. The outpost rallying upon the reserve, held the enemy in check till morning, when the regiment withdrew some three miles and another stand was made to cover the crossing of the brigade over the Robinson river. Here the enemy were again delayed by a skillful management of our forces, until our camps were cleared, and our wagon train removed a safe distance to the rear, when we slowly retired, although subject to a brisk fire of artillery, and pursued by a strong force of infantry and cavalry, supported, as we afterward learned, by Jackson's whole force.
General Bayard, by his skillful maneuvering, and by the good conduct of our men, baffled the enemy's advance in force so completely, that nearly the whole day was occupied in returning to Cedar Mountain, a distance of but seven or eight miles from the point of attack on the previous evening.
Here, as a prelude to the bloody battle of the next day, we formed, and by holding the position until General Banks' force arrived, and deployed in battle order, traced the memorable lines, and measured off the ground, where before another day was half spent, more than twenty thousand men met face to face in mortal combat. A cool and determined front was kept continually toward the enemy, and as squadron after squadron filed off to the rear, the next in succession opened its front to the attack, until the preceding one had again taken up position, thus slowly and stubbornly giving ground, inch by inch, as the weight of the enemy's overwhelming force pushed us back.
"For this masterly retreat, General Bayard and his command received public compliment and thanks from the commanding General on the field next day."
The regiment was in front of the battle next day at Cedar Mountain as advance skirmishers, and the first battalion after skirmishing, was placed as support of Knapp's battery, which was making sad havoc with the enemy. A charge of a full division upon this battery placed it in imminent peril. A charge of cavalry was ordered. The first battalion dashed upon the enemy, broke three successive lines of infantry, turned and fought back; and of one hundred and sixteen men who started, about seventy-five formed their line again by the side of the battery. The advance of the enemy was completely checked by this daring charge, and the battery saved.
See subjoined extract of official report of Major R.J. Falls, First Penna. Res. Cavalry.
"In the field, August 13th, 1862
"Sir: According to your instructions, I beg leave to offer the following report of a charge, made by the first battalion of your regiment, under my immediate command, at the battle of Cedar Mountain, on the 9th instant, at about 5 o'clock P.M.
"I was directed by Brigadier-General Bayard to charge through the enemy's lines, at a point where they were supposed to be forming for a charge on our batteries.
"My command consisting of Companies A, B, C, and D, Companies A and B forming the first squadron, commanded by Captain Wm. Litzenberg of B company; and companies C and D, composing the second squadron, commanded by Captain J.P. Taylor of C company. Company A of the first squadron, being commanded for the time being by First Lieutenant Wm. T. McEwen of C company, and Lieutenant Kelly. Captain T.J. Frow being absent sick, and First Lieutenant Wm. H. Patterson having been detached as Aid to General Bayard, during the early part of the engagement. Company B was commanded by Second Lieutenant R.S. Lawsha, Captain Litzenberg being in command of the squadron, and First Lieutenant Wm. Buzby absent sick. Company C, of the second squadron, was commanded by Second Lieutenant R.J. McNitt, Captain Taylor being in command of a squadron, and Lieutenant Wm. McEwen detached in command of company A. Company D was commanded by Captain I.A. McDonald, First Lieutenant W.L. Holbrook and Second Lieutenant Wm. F. Butcher, until the former was severely wounded and the latter killed, when the command devolved entirely on Lieutenant Holbrook.
"After getting in front of the point designated, and being in column of fours, I immediately formed squadron, my command being already under fire.
"I moved forward at a rapid gait until within fifty yards of the enemy's lines, which I found in great force, and three in number, when I gave the command charge, when, with loud and terrific cheering, my command charged through their lines, cutting, running down and scattering them in every direction, causing sad havoc and discomfiture in their ranks, as prisoners taken testify.
"After charging back and reforming I found my command reduced from one hundred and sixty-four, rank and file, to that of seventy-one, the remainder having been killed, wounded, or otherwise placed hors du combat, by their horses falling over those killed and wounded.
"Our little band there proving themselves true sons of the old Keystone state."
The third battalion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel S.D. Barrows, after the battle had fairly opened, was withdrawn from the skirmish line, and stationed immediately in rear of the centre, where it remained until ordered to withdraw at dark.
The second battalion occupied a position on the extreme right of our line of battle, as flankers and at one stage of the action was entirely cut off by a force of the enemy, but succeeded in eluding the trap prepared for it by remaining in its position until dark, and then coming in, under cover of the night.
Additional Particulars.--The fatigue of the previous twenty-four hours' unremitting and exhausting service, with the heat of an August sun and the clouds of dust the arid winds stirred from the parched earth, had well nigh overcome the men, so that when, as the sun's last rays vanished from the west, the enemy withdrew his pressing columns, they sank down at their horses feet, rein in hand, and were soon lost to surrounding dangers and the demands of supperless stomachs, in the unconscious embrace of that sweet restorer exhausted nature so much needed.
But the fleet hours of the brief night passed before the tired soldier had half finished his grateful repose. Morning dawned calm and beautiful, and opening day, as its approach was heralded by the golden streams that flooded the eastern horizon, appeared, as though conscious of the awful scene about to be enacted, to draw the rising mists as a veil of sorrow around its opening splendors, and shed a sombre hue over the face of nature.
The first streaks of morning light was the signal for the soldier to shake off his slumbers, and prepare for the coming conflict. A cracker, with a cup of coffee hastily prepared from the muddy water of a brook hard by, made our breakfast, and we were ready. During the night the infantry and artillery had taken their respective positions, and the cavalry, stretching along from right to left, a few hundred yards to the front, forming the advance skirmish line.
And thus we stood firm early morning, hour after hour, in painful suspense, awaiting the opening gun. Eleven o'clock came, and still all was quiet, and the first keen anxiety having worn off, expressions of impatience could be heard passing along the ranks, as fretted by the wearying suspense, the feeling naturally arises in the human breast to dare the worst, rather than wear longer the galling chain.
But the scene was soon to be varied. A few moments after eleven, Generals Crawford, Banks and Bayard with their staffs, riding forward to reconnoitre, were opened upon by a battery, and our gunners immediately replied, and a sharp artillery duel ensued, which was continued with great vigor for nearly an hour, on both sides, but no infantry became engaged.
At 12 M., the firing had ceased and silence again reigned until half past three, when a lone gun from a battery of the enemy, on the point of Cedar Mountain again sounded forth the signal.
Another and another immediately answered it along the line, until, in a few minutes, the woods rang and the hills echoed with the storm of thunder that burst from a dozen batteries; soon the infantry, too, opened, and by four o'clock the battle raged with fury. A fiercer or more deadly contest, between the same number, is seldom directed by the god of war. A little more than seven thousand Union troops fought, and gallantly held in check, from three and a half P.M. until darkness ended the carnage, more than eight thousand rebels.
From four o'clock until seven, the battle raged with unabated fierceness, peal on peal rung out the cannon's thunder, growing louder and more intense every moment, while crash answered crash in the long unbroken roll of musketry, and never did her sons bear more nobly the starry emblem of our nation's glory, than during these wearisome and awful hours on the bloody plains around Cedar Mountain.
"After the battle of Cedar Mountain, our regiment was accorded the post of honor in the extreme advance, and remained there, when our men were actually shot in camp by the enemy's pickets, for about a week."
When Pope retired, on the 19th of August, General Bayard's command, increased to five regiments, formed the rear guard. Moving slowly back we passed through Culpepper at ten o'clock at night, and reaching Brandy station at midnight, rested until morning. At daylight our outposts were attacked by the enemy. Supporting them strongly and gradually falling back, we kept him at a respectful distance until we neared the Rappahannock, when gathering his forces for a final attack, with the view of turning our flank, and cutting us off from the river, he made a dashing charge, first on the second New York cavalry, which, struck while forming, was broken, and next on the first New Jersey cavalry which shared the same fate, by the second New York, which was in their immediate front, riding through and confusing its ranks.
This occurred in a strip of woods that skirted an open, cleared country, which extended in a semicircle of half a mile from the ford, and the First Pennsylvania Reserve Cavalry, which had passed on, and just emerged from the woods as the attack was made, drew up in line, one half in the open field, facing the woods and the other on one side, partially concealed by it.
On came the Johnnies after breaking the line in the woods, yelling and whooping, and doubtlessly supposing they would have it all their own way, but they were shortly led to think otherwise. As soon as they had emerged from the woods, the First Pennsylvania moved on them from the front and at the same time swept around an unlooked-for column on the flank. This brought them very quickly to a stand and about the time they were preparing to take the back track, the two regiments in the woods which had in the mean time rallied, came thundering down on their rear, completing their route, and scattering them in every direction. Remaining in battle line for some time and no enemy making his appearance, we crossed the river.
On the 21st, we again joined Generals McDowell and Siegel's forces, and did picket duty, and participated in the skirmishes along the Rappahannock, from Rappahannock Station to Sulphur Springs, until we retired with General Siegel to Gainesville on the evening of the 27th, having been on constant duty and under fire every day.
Immediately on crossing the river, Company E, Captain M.L. French; Company F, Captain A. Davidson; Company G, Captain D. Gardner, and Company H, Captain Theodore Streck, the whole under charge of Major J.H. Ray were detached from the regiment and sent to Beverly Ford, on picket.
The next day, the 22nd, having been relieved by a body of infantry and a battery of artillery, the battalion retired a short distance from the river to rest and graze their horses and just when some of the men had unsaddled and were grooming their horses, others absent hunting forage, and the detachment scattered generally, the enemy opened a battery of six guns on the point and at the same time charged across the river with a body of cavalry. But, although taken at this great disadvantage, those who were present immediately rallied, forming line and holding the enemy back, until the balance of the command had all got together, when it withdrew without the loss of a man or horse.
From this place the battalion was ordered on special duty at General Pope's headquarters and continued thus employed until after the battle of Bull Run, when it returned to the regiment.
On the 22nd day of August, also, a party of about a dozen men, in charge of Sergeant H.A. Wood, Regimental C.S. Sergeant, on their way from Catlett's Station to the regiment with rations, were waylaid and fired on by a squad of rebel infantry near Sulphur Springs, and at the same time closed in on from the rear by a squadron of cavalry and compelled to surrender. During the following night, however, Sergeant Wood succeeded in making his escape and joined the regiment next morning.
About the same time also, Jackson reached the rear of our army at Manassas Junction, cut off our supplies and the regiment was forced to subsist for the next ten days, on the scanty fare this desolate and wasted region afforded, which consisted principally of green corn, savored by an occasional emaciated sheep or pig. All who experienced the hardships of these, the most trying days the regiment had yet passed through, will remember the sleepless nights, after days of exhausting toil, and the commencement of another day's duty, without the preface of a breakfast or the prospect of a dinner, and as for our horses with their backs actually putrid from the constant pressure and wear of the saddles, which had not been permitted to be removed for weeks, fell down in the ranks from exhaustion and starvation, and were abandoned by the wayside. "This was headquarters in the saddle."
The night following the day that Jackson made his attack on Manasses, a portion of Stuart's cavalry, made a descent on Catlett's Station, where, with, others, our division and regimental trains were parked, but by the energy and gallantry of Captain R.R. Corson, Division Quartermaster and Lieutenant George H. Baker, Regimental Quartermaster, who had collected the dismounted men and teamsters and barricaded the camp and prepared to resist an attack, and with the aid of Colonel Kane and a small party of Bucktails, who were encamped close by, succeeded in driving the raiders off before they accomplished any damage further than the destruction of half dozen of General Pope's headquarter teams.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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