Gc M. L. 973.74 i P38k I 265627 reynolds historical ©BnTalooy collection I 'UNTV PUBUC UBRABY ililii!! GENEALOGY 973.74 P38K HISTORY OF THE Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry WHICH WAS RECRUITED AND KNOWN AS THE ANDERSON CAVALRY in the Rebellion of 1861-1865 EDITED AND COMPILED BY CHARLES H. KIRK First Lieutenant Company E ASSISTED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE OF THK Society of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry PHILADELPHIA 1906 365C27 CONTENTS. PAGE. Preface 7 Introduction 9 The Inception and Organization of the Regiment. ... 13 Reminiscences of the Early Days of the Anderson Cavalry 17 Antietam 30 A Scout to Hagerstovvn 41 Extract from Col. A. K. McClure's Book. "Lincoln and Men of War Times" 43 After Information with Colonel Palmer 47 Reminiscences of Antietam 49 On Picket at Antietam 56 Colonel Palmer and the Patriotic Parson 59 Our First Campaign 62 Sergeant Betts and Old Company E 71 A Private Foraging Party at Bowling Green which Failed 73 The Christmas Foraging Expedition in 1862 75 Death of Martin L. Hill 'j'j Fifteenth Pennsylvania (Anderson) Cavalry at Stone River 80 The Halt at Overall^s Creek loi Major Rosengarten's Last Order to Major Ward 103 Incident of Stone River Battle 104 What I Saw at Stone River 108 The Charge on Infantry at Stone River 1 1 1 Capture of Our Wagon Train by Wheeler's Cavalry. . . 116 With Rosengarten's Battalion at Stone River 118 Story of a Typical Capture, Imprisonment and Ex- change 121 Among the Killed and Wounded at Stone River : 129 My Charge at Stone River 137 3 4 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. PAGE. With Our Captured Wagon Train 140 Bringing Our Dead Back to Nashville 142 The Chase Brothers 145 From Stone River to Libby 147 Will Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major 154 At Nashville 178 A Close Call 182 Reorganization and Middle Tennessee Campaign 187 The Christian Spirit of the Regiment 195 "L" and "E" Carrying a Dispatch to General Mitchell, AT Rover 202 Courier Duty 204 Memories Musical of Camp Fires 206 The Escort Companies at Army Headoltarters 211 How I Became Acquainted with Gen. P. H. Sheridan. . . 217 On the Courier Line 220 Carrying Dispatches from General Rosecrans to Gen- eral Stanley 222 The Chickamauga Campaign 225 Incidents During the Battle of Chickamauga 240 At Headquarters During the Battle of Chickamauga . . 244 Experience of a Courier at Chickamauga 249 With General Garfield at Chickamauga 2,^4 The Break at Chickamauga and the Ride it Cost Me. . 259 Orderly Duty at Headquarters During Battle 262 A Wild Ride by a Courier at Chickamauga 268 Chickamauga's Stricken Field 271 How Two of Us Got Lost After Chickamauga 276 Bringing in the Chickamauga Wounded 278 Our Teamsters 280 Company L on Lookout Mountain 286 First Step Toward Opening the Cracker Line 297 Opening the Cracker Line 299 Capture of Our Wagon Train in Seoltatchie VxVlley, Tennessee 303 Sequatchie 307 Major Ward's Charlie 312 War's Varied Duties 314 Contents. 5 PAGE. Company I at Missionary Ridge 324 Patriotic Utterances of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas 327 Henri Le Caron — One of Our Characters 328 First East Tennessee Campaign — December 3, 1863. to February it, 1864 331 Scouting in East Tennessee 340 The Cherokee Indian Raid 345 Fighting Cherokee Indians 348 The Pursuit and Capture of General A\\nce 351 Dandridge 24TH OF December, 1863 354 Wounded and Left to Die in Rebel Hands 357 A Peculiar Situation 363 ]\Iy Escape from Andersonville 365 Prison Life at Belle Island and Andersonville 377 Continuation of Andersonville Narrative 388 The Midnight Crossing of the French Broad 391 The Wrong Men Shot ; . . -. 394 "Hold the Fort"' 397 Hood's Attack on Resaca, Ga 404 Foraging When Hood Cut Our Cracker Line 407 Second East Tennessee Campaign 409 Scout to Find General Burbridge 415 Recollections of the Burbridge Trip 421 The Rear Gltard at McKinney's Ford 425 A Trip to Sand Mountain, Ga 430 The Vote of the Regiment in the Presidential Election 432 Sojourn in Dixie 434 The Last Blow at Hood's Army 440 Capture of Colonel Warren and Incidents of the Pon- toon Raid 457 An Incident of the Raid 460 The Lyon Scout 463 Sergeant Lyon's Last Ride 469 On the Lyon Scout 474 Arthur Peace Lyon 475 "Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead'' 481 Our Campaign Against Colonel Mead's Guerrillas 486 Our Last Campaign and Pursuit of Jeff Davis 492 6 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. PAGE. With Gillem's Tennesseans on the Yadkin 520 With the First Battauon to Lynchburg 529 The Regiment at Hillsyille, Va., in April, 1865 533 A High-Priced Meal 536 "An Orderly Entrance Into Town'' 538 Capture of Third South Carolina Cavalry 541 Burning Bridge Over South Buffalo Creek 545 My Part in the Capture of the Third South Carolina Cavalry 550 A Recruit Who Had Great Nerve 553 Company A at Sherrill's Ford, 1865 556 Carrying Dispatches on Our Last Raid 560 Carrying News of the Armistice Between Sherman AND Johnston 564 The Capture of General Braxton Bragg 566 An Attempt to Capture Jeff Davis 569 Capture and Release of Major Garner at Jacksonville, Ala 572 One of the Final Incidents of the War 574 A Scrap of Paper 575 A Race for Life 582 Getting Home from Athens, Ga 586 The "Fifteenth" at General Joe Johnston's Surrender 589 Our Regiment — in War and Peace 596 Plan of the Formation of the Anderson Troop 601 The Anderson Troop 605 Correspondence Relating to the Formation of the An- derson Cavalry 622 Muster Roll of the "Anderson Troop" 624 Addenda 627 Chronological History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry 629 Telegrams from the Front 640 Official Reports 647 Letters of General Palmer 716 Muster Roll of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, y^)? Taps 785 PREFACE IT is possible that this book should have been prepared and published long ago, when the incidents described were fresh in the memories of all ; but we were too busy then, and the recollections of our war experiences were so vivid that it did not seem they could ever fade. Even now, with forty years intervening, to many the events are as clear and fresh as if it were only yesterday the facts narrated in the following pages took place. In the compilation of this work, the committee who had it in charge have received active help from so many of the Regiment tliat it is hardly proper to name any — the list would be too long. In like manner those who have contributed the various articles ^v•hich tell the history from enlistment to muster out have been assisted by those who took part in the events described. It is, therefore, a regimental work. All of the most prominent articles are verified by official documents, while old diaries and letters have been ransacked to tell again the story they told long ago. But, in a large sense, this book is not for those who made these annals, but rather as an inheritance we leave our children, that they may know, for all time, what Regiment their fathers served in and the part they took in the greatest war of modern history. Should this object be accomplished, the work done will be a suc- cess. Charles H. Kirk, ist Lieut. Company E, i^th Penna. Cavalry, Chairman of Historical Committee. INTRODUCTION Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs, June i, 1905. THESE annals of a Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, which served for the last three years of the Civil War, are written by some of its surviving members, and edited by one of its line officers, Lieutenant Kirk, to whose selection of the contributors and subjects and weaving together of the "thread of the narrative" the chief credit for this modest history is due. There is included a brief account of the Anderson Troop of Pennsylvania, which served under General Buell during the first year of the war, and was the pioneer body whose success led to the organization of the Regiment. Having had the honor to raise and command both Troop and Regiment, I have been asked to contribute some introductory words. It should be stated that in the last year of the war, when its activity was perhaps the greatest, the command of the Regi- ment— then embraced in my brigade and division — devolved upon a very able and successful officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles M. Betts. For the whole three years, with a few temporary exceptions, the Regiment served as an independent command, under the direct orders either of the Department Commander or of the General commanding the cavalry of the army with which it was serving. This naturally gave its officers and men an unusual opportunity of knowing what was going on ; and, owing to their intelligence, discipline and spirit, they were often entrusted with special and delicate missions requiring tact, dash and courage. As the Regiment campaigned actively in every Southern State east of the Mississippi River (except Florida and Louisiana) and also in Pennsylvania and Maryland, it may be supposed that, first and last, it enjoyed rather an adventurous career. Beginning with the Pennsylvania border, to which it was rushed, while being organized, from Carlisle Barracks to harass and delay the rebel invasion of 1862. and with the battle of Antietam which 9 lo History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. shortly followed, the Regiment was soon after sent to Kentucky to join the army of the Cumberland, in all of whose subsequent cam- paigns, first under Rosecrans and later under Geo. H. Thomas, it participated to the close of the war. It has been observed how completely the coils were drawn around the fated Southern army, when at the time of the closing battle Sherman was in North Caro- lina and forces from the Army of the Cumberland of Thomas high up in Virginia. The latter, under General Stoneman, were repre- sented in part by this Regiment, which had borne the most promi- nent part in disabling the railroad connecting East Tennessee with Richmond, and whose advanced battalion (under Major Wagner) had, on April 8th, driven in the enemy's pickets at Lynchburg, within about twenty miles of Lee's rear at Appomattox, when on April 9, 1865, the final surrender of his army and of the Southern Cause took place. The Regiment then followed south- ward through the Carolinas, destroying the railroads and cutting off the retreat of the scattered forces with the Cabinet and Gen- erals from Richmond, many of whom it captured and paroled. Having destroyed the railroad bridge ahead of it, and but barely failing to intercept the train on which Jefferson Davis was retreat- ing, the Regiment then followed in the pursuit of Davis and his large cavalry escort supposed to be seeking union with the Confed- erate forces of the trans-Mississippi for a prolongation of the struggle. Following closely on their.heels, well down into Georgia, it drove Davis and his escort into the successful cordon which General Wilson had drawn across that State to intercept him. These chronicles, written by men without pretence to any liter- ary training, have the interest of coming from soldiers who were part of what they describe. Forty years after the close of the war, when from sixty to seventy years of age, these veterans have turned aside for a moment from the current of their present civil life to recall and, aided by reference to their war-time letters and diaries, to set down, that it may be preserved for the edification of their children and grandchildren and successors and for the en- tertainment of their surviving comrades, this unambitious record of their regimental experience. Written especially for the "inner cir- cle" of family, friends and comrades, these familiar recollections of camp, march and engagement make no appeal for recognition by the general reader. Nevertheless they may contribute some mate- Introduction. ii rial of interest to the historian who hereafter seeks to recreate with truth and vividness the hfe of these memorable years in one of the decisive epochs of the world's history. This Regiment, raised in the dark days of the war following the defeat of Pope in Virginia, was composed of young men of good character and physique, intelligence and spirit, carefully selected from nearly every county in Pennsylvania, from several- fold as many applicants. They were chiefly very young men — boys in fact — of good breeding and education, usefully occupied on railroads, farms, in law offices, stores and counting houses, machine shops, etc., or but just out of school or college. They had not felt strongly called upon to take the field as private sol- diers during the first year of the war, when volunteers were in excess of the demand and "acceptance" was a favor. Enthusiasm was then unbounded and an early victory was the general expectation. But now one disaster after another had made it plain as noonday that the "putting down of the Rebellion" was no holiday affair and that the nation's throat was in the grip of a mortal enemy, with the issue in the gravest doubt. It was at this time, and not long after the fruitless Corinth campaign, that I was detached by General Buell and sent to Penn- sylvania from Huntsville, Ala., where I was serving as Captain with my troop, to raise, by consent of the Secretary of War, a bat- talion of cavalry, which very soon, by reason of the unexpected number of young men of the desired sort offering, developed into a regiment of 1200 men. They were among those who came forward in response to President Lincoln's call for "300,000 more." The life of the nation was at stake and they felt that their own lives would cease to have interest or justification should their country be rent asunder. The recruits for this Regiment came almost without solicitation, and without a single promise of office, commissioned or non-commissioned, directly or indirectly. Every man enlisted, as the men of "the Troop" had done before them, as a private soldier, either heedless of office or trusting to future demonstra- tion of fitness for command. It can, I think, be truthfully said that before the war closed but few of them were not competent to be officers, and many served as such with this and other regi- ments. Of the three years' experience which followed their enlist- 12 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. ment and drilling at Carlisle Barracks, or at least of the salient features of that experience, the story is told by themselves in the pages which follow. That they served with usefulness and dis- tinction is borne independent testimony to by their common repute in the Army of the Cumberland and by the reports of Gen. Geo. H. Thomas and other Commanders. Since the close of the war, with few exceptions, they or their survivors have borne an honorable record in civil life. Among them are now found, or have been, judges, merchants, engineers, bankers, presidents and treasurers, lawyers, railroad officers, minis- ters, locomotive builders and citizens well known in many other useful and honorable pursuits. One of our First Sergeants, Wil- mon W. Blackmar, of Company K, was elected Commander-in- Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic at the National Encamp- ment held in 1904. Although most of the survivors continue to live in Pennsylvania, there are many scattered throughout the Union from the Atlantic shore to the Pacific. Sixteen were at one time assisting me in railway building in Colorado. Perhaps to an exceptional degree the officers and men have kept up since the war their regimental associations — the surviving "comrades" meeting at a yearly banquet to exchange greetings, renew old memories and "fight their battles o'er again." I feel sure that no war of aggression or for the spread of empire would have drawn these young men from their homes. It was a great and pure cause for which they fought, and if war is ever justifiable, their consciences are clear that this one was so. That I am proud to have commanded and to have since retained the respect and confidence of such a body of men goes without saying. Wm. J. Palmer. HISTORY Fifteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry THE INCEPTION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. FIRST LIEUT. JOHN F, CONAWAY^ CO. B^ PHILADELPHIA. THE Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry was conceived shortly after the Battle of Shiloh (April, 1862) where General Buell, after the hardest fighting that had perhaps so far oc- curred in the War of the Rebellion, drove the enemy from the field and converted the crushing defeat of the previous day into a victory. Some two months later,, at Huntsville, Alabama, realizing what even a comparatively small body of properly trained and led young cavalrymen of spirit and intelligence could do in serving as ears and eyes for the commanding General, as well as in deinoralizing a retreating enemy by a bold charge at the right moment. General Buell sent for Capt. Wm. J. Palmer, then commanding his es- cort, the Anderson Troop, and asked if he could raise in Pennsvl- vania enough more of the same class of young men to increase his company to a battalion. Captain Palmer at once responded that he could, and urged to be allowed the opportunity. General Buell, accordingly, in July, 1862, obtained permission from the War Department for Captain Palmer to enlist a battalion of 400 men for special service, and a detail was at once sent to Pennsylvania from the "Troop" for that purpose. Recruiting 13 14 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. offices were opened in Philadelphia, Pittsburg and other parts of the State early in August, 1862, and in a few days the 400 men, allowed by the War Department, were enlisted. Captain Palmer saw at once that a full regiment of ten or twelve companies could easily be enrolled, and asked permission to increase the enlistment, which the War Department, at the re- quest of General Buell, granted. The result was that a regiment of 1200 men was very quickly secured. A large majority joined within ten days after August 10, 1862. They represented over thirty counties in the State, the larger numbers coming from Philadelphia and Allegheny, and a splendid body of young men they were. The quickness in securing the required number of this quality of men was phenomenal. There were more than forty regiments of Pennsylvania infantry and cavalry mustered into service in August, 1862. Most of these regiments had been recruiting and in process of formation for a long time ; the Fifteenth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, however, was recruited and assembled at Car- lisle, Pa., for organization and muster, in less than two weeks from the time the recruiting stations were opened. These young men were actuated chiefly by sincere patriotic motives — they wanted to do something to suppress the rebellion and to preserve the life of the nation. That they were attracted by the promise of special service there can be no question although they m.ay not have stopped to consider that special ser- vice meant specially arduous and dangerous service. Probably one reason why the Regiment was formed so quickly was because it was not so easy a matter to join the Ander- son Cavalry. Special care was taken to obtain a select body of young men. Applicants were required to have a good moral character and to furnish letters of recommendation from men of standing in the respective counties, and to pass a severe physical examination. In addition, the recruiting officers from the Ander- son Troop were stationed throughout the State at their home towns, and naturally drew recruits from the circles in which they moved themselves. The result was the formation of a regiment of as intelligent, active and high-spirited young men as could be found anywhere in the country. Every man was enlisted as a pri- vate and without promise of office of any kind. Clothed in a neat- The Inception and Organization of the Regiment. 15 fitting and handsome uniform, the members of the Regiment pre- sented an attractive appearance and, excepting training and ex- perience, possessed all the requisites of the ideal cavalry soldier. As the men were enlisted they were sent off to Carlisle in small and larger bodies and went into camp on ground adjacent to the U. S. Cavalry barracks near that town. The camp was named "Camp Alabama," and to most of us there was something very significant in that name. Alabama at that time was to our youthful minds far doivn South, and little did we then think that nearly three years of great hardship and danger were before us and that many skirmishes and battles would have to be fought ere we could make our final halt at Huntsville preparatory to our happy march to Nashville to be mustered out of the service — the war being over. On August 22, 1862, the regiment was paraded and mustered into the U. S. Service by Capt. D. H. Hastings for three years or during the war. The drill was started at once, the old regular sergeants of the barracks being the chief drill-masters and some progress was made in perfecting the details of the organization, when an interruption occurred. Lee had invaded Maryland and was threatening Pennsylvania and on September 9th and nth two large detachments were hastily sent to the border and "Antietam" to do what they could to repel him. They performed the duty as- signed to them better than, at the time, they thought they did — ^the great misfortune being that they were compelled, after the battle of Antietam, to return to their camp at Carlisle without their com- mander, and thus, unfortunately, before he had selected any offi- cers for the Regiment, which then left for the Arm.y of the Cum- berland, comparatively unofficered. After these many years it must be a source of much gratifica- tion to every survivor to look back to those early davs and recall that, with all the disappointments and troubles of the time, the boys of the Regiment (the average age was probably not over twenty years) remained faithful and anxious for duty, and although some of them, when the real test came at Nashville, at first refused to move, bringing some confusion to our ranks, it was not disloy- alty or cowardice — they wanted a leader, such as he who, having escaped from captivity, stood before us early in February, 1863, at our rude camp on the outskirts of Nashville, and said to those i6 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. drawn up in line there: "I was determined I would not appear before you until I could look every man of you in the face and say to you — 'this Regiment will be re-organized." And so we were or- ganized at Carlisle and re-organized at Murfreesboro, and after nearly three-}-ears' service, we returned to our homes and took up the cares and duties of civil life, and forty years after, those of us v/ho survive, are meeting year after year to "fight our battles o'er again" and still keep up our organization. REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE ANDERSON CAVALRY. NEWTON, COMPANY F, JULLUNDUR CITY, NORTH INDIA. IN August, 1862, a group of students, including myself, in Washington College, Pa., were discussing the war and Presi- dent Lincoln's recent call for 300,000 more volunteers, when one of the number, Sam. McFarren, mentioned that a crack Regiment was being raised to be General Buell's bodyguard, and proposed that we go into it. Our patriotism was already at a white heat and the suggestion was adopted with enthusiasm. As soon as arrangements could be made, we secured a spring wagon and drove over to Pittsburg, twenty-eight miles distant, where we enlisted in Company F. There were eight of us, namely: Robert Brownlee, David Clark, Edward Cornes, M. L. Hill, A. P. Howard, S. J. McFarren, J. H. Sharpe and myself. We were soon after sent to Carlisle, where we joined the Regi- ment, and spent some weeks in being drilled by the Sergeants of the regular army stationed there. At the time of Lee's invasion of Maryland, in September, the Regiment was hurried down to the front, gathering up our equip- ment of horses on the way. At Chambersburg I was detailed on orderly duty at headquar- ters, and served in this capacity for three days, which proved advantageous to me in two ways. First, I had my pick out of some hundreds of horses and secured a fine animal, which did me a good turn when we had our baptism of fire at Antietam. The second advantage was the opportunity afforded me of seeing a fine sight, namely, the gathering of the Pennsylvania clans at the special call of Governor Curtin. Besides the many stalwart regi- ments furnished by the State for the regular volunteer army, the attempted invasion of the North by the rebel army stimulated the 1 8 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Governor to an extra effort, and 50,000 emergency men responded to his call. Camps were established for the enrollment and organi- zation of these men, and one of these, Camp McClure, was situated near Chambersburg. While I was acting as orderly, it became my duty to carry dispatches to Camp McClure several times, and there I saw what thrilled me with patriotic fervor. The town of Wash- ington, Pa., where I had been attending college, had sent its best citizens, and here I saw many whom I had known personally — lawyers, doctors and ministers, as well as business men. There was Dr. Scott, the President of Washington College, a man of magnificent proportions — six feet six, I should judge. He was a Corporal, and for uniform wore a stout leather belt over his black clerical coat. I must confess there was enough human nature in me to give me an exalted sense of military distinction when I rode into the midst of these men on my fine war horse, with jingling saber and the handsome navy blue and orange braid special uniform of the Anderson Cavalry. One of my stirring memories of that journey down the Cum- berland Valley is of a scene worth remembering. When General Miles surrendered to the rebels at Harper's Ferry, a gallant band of Union cavalry refused to yield, and cut their way out. Journey- ing northward, they came across a long wagon train loaded with supplies for Longstreet's corps of Lee's army. The train — con- sisting, so far as I recollect, of some seventy wagons — they captured together with its escort, and brought them along. I saw the dusty procession marching into Greencastle, and had the honor of being placed, loaded revolver in hand, on the hind step of an omnibus, to stand guard over the rebel prisoners of that escort, whom I conducted to the town jail. I felt almost as proud as if I had captured that wagon train myself. Our Regiment was forwarded to the front, in a number of separate detachments, and there engaged in different duties, sucli as scouting, guarding batteries and the like. It was seen in so many parts of the field, and so ubiquitous were its operations that the impression was created that the Anderson Cavalry was a body 10,000 strong, as I heard it stated by some of the country people at that time. On Friday, which must have been the 17th or i8th of September, it fell to my lot to go on a scouting expedition in a Early Days of the Anderson Cavalry. 19 squad of twenty, under a Lieutenant, who, I think, belonged to a Philadelphia company. We left Hagerstown early in the morn- ing, and, after pursuing many devious paths, without adventure (although we heard the booming of heavy guns and met long trains of ambulances bringing in the wounded), we struck the Hagerstown-Willamsport turnpike, about midway between the two towns, somewhat late in the afternoon. Proceeding toward Williamsport, we encountered a small force of Confederate cavalry, and exchanged shots with them until they retired. Five of us were then placed in a field to watch some woods for the enemy, while the remaining sixteen advanced fur- ther down the road. In half an hour or so we heard firing and the clatter of hoofs down the road, and the sixteen came back at full gallop, with no less than 200 or 250 rebel cavalry in hot pur- suit. They called on us to "fall in," and we promptly acted on the suggestion. Here my swift horse did me a good turn and fairly flew up a long, gentle slope to a tollgate, where we found one of our infantry picket posts. Here we halted and faced about in ranks across the road, while the infantry, a company of the Gray Reserves of Philadelphia, lying in the field behind the fence, opened fire on the rebel cavalry. On this they also halted and ex- changed volleys with us until it became quite dark. After some time the Captain of the infantry company ordered our Lieutenant to send a couple of his men down the road in order to ascertain what had become of the enemy. The Lieutenant de- murred, saying the infantry could better perform this service, as they could quietly creep along the side of the road unobserved and that it was the place of infantrymen to do advanced vidette duty. To this the Captain replied that it was .safer for cavalry, as they were "high up out of range." He further insisted that he, being a Captain, and therefore outranking our Lieutenant, had a right to command. I listened with much interest to the discussion of this important question, and although inclined to think our champion had the best of the argument, nevertheless, when either from con- viction or necessity he yielded the point, and ordered two of us to advance and investigate, I felt flattered at his selecting me as one of the two. We rode down a considerable distance in the thick darkness and were able to return and report that the enemy had withdrawn. 20 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. About midnight the Captain withdrew the whole picket from the tollgate and took up a position at a crossroads a quarter of a mile to the rear. There was no reason for this that I know of, except that we had heard two or three shots fired far away on our left flank. But the retirement was hasty and partook somewhat of the nature of a panic, as will appear further on. Shortly after I was sent back toward Hagerstown with a mes- sage from the Captain to the Colonel of his regiment, requesting him to send another company to relieve the one on duty there. I was surprised on going back on this errand to find an army of 15,000 men drawn up in three lines of battle at right angles to the road, under the command of General Reynolds. As our scouting party had come by roundabout country roads, we had no knowl- edge of this large force on the turnpike. It was a grand and inspiring sight, as the men sat or reclined around their bivouac fires in these three great lines. It was reported that Lee was expected to make an attack on Hagerstown and this force was drawn up to repel the attack. Having searched in vain for my Captain's Colonel, I returned to the picket post and reported accordingly; then lying down at the side of the road with my horse, we both succeeded in getting a little rest. At daybreak a quiet-looking gentleman in black came riding out, and stopping, asked "Who is the Commander of this post?" The Captain replied somewhat pompously that he was the Commander of the post. The stranger, in language very emphatic but not altogether polite, asked him why the he had fallen back from the tollgate. The Captain did not seem to like the stranger's manner of speaking, and asked him who he was. "I am General Reynolds," said the gentleman in black; and being thus enlight- ened, the Captain stammered out an apology and explained that we were in danger of being outflanked by the enemy and had retired as a precautionary measure. General Reynolds thereupon peremptorily ordered him to go back to the tollgate, and back we went, the cavalry, as a further precautionary measure, in advance. Arriving at the tollgate, we found the field strewn with haver- sacks, canteens and overcoats, showing the hasty nature of the retreat ; thereupon we looked into some of the haversacks and found them well stocked with bologna sausages and other good Early Days of the Anderson Cavalry. 21 things fresh from home. We were glad the enemy had not out- flanked the sausages, and annexed them ourselves, being almost starved, with hard work and no food for twenty-four hours past. Our little force of twenty-one was soon after allowed to retire to Hagerstown, but as we marched toward the town I was much excited by meeting General Reynolds' little army advancing with their artillery, in the direction of Williamsport. They planted a battery at our tollgate on high ground, commanding a view almost to Williamsport, where Lee's whole army was then concentrating in its retreat by the ford at that point across the Potomac. The fact that the enemy was in full retreat was not known to us at the time, and we supposed the expected attack on Hagerstown was about to begin. Soon we met a large column of our own Anderson Cavalry, probably several hundred in number, though I never knew how many there were, and my enthusiasm knew no bounds. The Regiment was all broken up into fragments during the whole of that Antietam campaign, and I had no idea where my own Com- pany was, so I broke abruptly from the little squad of twenty-one, and, wheeling around, fell in with the column mentioned. Pro- ceeding to the tollgate once more, we were drawn up in double rank on the slope below and in front of our battery, which fired over our heads at the enemy now visible in the distance, and shelled a piece of woods somewhat to the left of the front, the same we had been exploring the day before. The first fire of our battery seemed to go wild, and endangered some of our own men who had taken a position in advance of our post. I heard that some rebel sympathizers at Hagerstown had tampered with our guns, but, however this may have been, the error was soon rectified, and we could hear our shells crashing through the treetops and bursting all right. Meanwhile the rebels had brought up a battery and their shells were soon hurtling past and over us, together with their humming minie balls. Our infantry lines were extended far to the right and left, firing from behind the stone walls, which were the usual fences of the farms in that region. There were also some post- and-rail fences along the road in our immediate front, and some of our Regiment were detailed to knock them down in order to give the cavalry free play. 22 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. All this was very impressive to a new hand, like myself, but it came to a climax when we were ordered to advance down the turnpike and charge the Confederate battery. My position was in the front rank, on the right, and when we wheeled by fours to the right to form into a marching column I was, of course, at the head of the column. Well do I remember, as if it had been but yesterday instead of forty-two years ago, the crowding emotions which tingled within me as we marched down the road on that dangerous duty. It was a strange, complex feeling, compounded of physical fear plus men- tal and moral exaltation. General Lee did not make his attack after all; it was only a feint to cover the retreat of his shattered army into Virginia. The firing gradually died away, and this was about the last of the great battle of Antietam. We all soon returned to Carlisle, and were subsequently sent by rail, via Pittsburg and Indianapolis, to Louisville, Ky., and were there again supplied with horses and thence marched to Nash- ville, Tenn., to join the Army of the Cumberland, under General Rosecrans. I do not know what had become of the idea of our being made General Buell's bodyguard. It seems to have evapo- rated by this time. I felt, after reaching Nashville, that we were a rather forlorn set of orphans, for our gallant Colonel had mysteriously disap- peared at Antietam, having been taken prisoner. Nevertheless, our spirits up to this time at least were irrepressible. I remember that some of our boys made a part of the railroad journey seated on the cowcatcher of the locomotive, and seemed to enjoy it. I was not myself in this party of cow (catcher) boys, but still feel rather proud of having, with my messmate, John Henry Sharpe, made myself a kind of informal member of the Legislature of Indiana and having even occupied the Speaker's chair in the Senate Chamber. The incident may be worth relating as a further illustration of the superabundant energy and spirits of the Fif- teenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. At Indianapolis, having learned that the Regiment was to. stay at the Soldier's Home till morning and perhaps all the next day, too. I was determined to embrace the oppor- tunity of calling on a gentleman whose sister, Mrs. Porter, I had Early Days of the Aiiderson Cavalry. 23 known when a boy in India. This gentleman was Dr. Theophilus Parvin, then a practicing physician in Indianapolis and afterward a protessor in the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. I did not know him personally, and probably he had never heard of me. But such considerations were nothing, and I proposed to my old chum, Sharpe, that he should go with me. He was too ready for anything in the shape of an adventure, and the moment our train stopped we two skipped out before the usual guards could be stationed around to prevent straggling. Going to a hotel nearby we looked into a directory to find the doctor's address, and then begged a candle-end from some of the darkey servants, who also pointed out the street we wished to reach. Arriving there, we lit our candle and followed the numbers on the doors until we struck Dr. Parvin's house. Ringing the bell we were admitted by the doctor himself, and, after explaining the circumstances, he con- ducted us, with amazing good nature, seeing it was i o'clock a.m., into his parlor. We had a pleasant visit and received a cordial invitation to take dinner with the doctor the next day, when he said he would be pleased to introduce us to his wife. This we promised to do in case the Regiment remained in town throughout the day. Proceeding then through the best streets, we viewed the city and its architecture, and somewhere near 3 a.m. came across the State House. A watchman was pacing up and down in front of the building, which stood back a little distance from the street, with an iron railing in front and a gate standing open. Waiting in a shadow until the watchman had passed the entrance and had his back to us, we quietly slipped in unobserved. A long corridor led us to the center of the building, and there, in a hall running crosswise, we discovered a stairway, which we ascended. Upstairs we found a door which was not locked, and this admitted us to the Senate Chamber. We lit the gas and then proceeded to hold a session of the Legislature. I took the Speaker's chair, while Sharpe made a speech on the conduct of the war. After this he took the chair and I made a speech. We passed a unanimous resolution to stand by the Government in prosecuting the war vigorously, and we decided also "to hang Jeff Davis on a sour apple tree." After sufficiently enjoying ourselves in our new role as Senators, we adjourned sine die and slipped out to the street, behind the watchman, as we had entered. 24 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Daylight soon appeared and we inquired our way to the Sol- diers' Home, where we arrived in time to partake of the break- fast furnished by that institution. The Regiment remained in Indianapolis that day and we got our dinner at the good doctor's, although we had to do some first- class running to get away from the officious sentinels at the Home. After a royal repast and most cordial entertainment by Dr. and Mrs. Parvin, we again inspected the town and visited a large asylum for the blind, in the outskirts. Here the superintendent received us courteously, and until he could dispose of some urgent business and find time to show us around, left us for an hour to the kindly care of his daughter, a young lady who gracefully ful- filled her trust by playing for us on the piano and singing like a seraph. The doctor, her father, then came and showed us every- thing of interest in the asylum, and, from a lofty tower sur- mounting the building, gave us a splendid panoramic view of the city. Three times during that day we were pursued by squads of twenty to thirty men from our Regiment, patrolling the streets to arrest stragglers, but we escaped their malice each time, for our motto was "no surrender." On the march from Louisville to Nashville, in December, it was reported that the notorious guerrilla chief, John Morgan, with his band of marauders, was encamped at a town thirty miles distant from us, and several companies, including my own, made a night march, in freezing weather, to surprise him. We reached our destination at 6 a.m. and dashed into the town at a gallop, but only to learn that Morgan had left for parts unknown the evening before. Returning by another route, we marched all day, were over- taken by darkness and lost ourselves in the woods. However, we straggled back to cam.p about midnight, after fording a river, having ridden some sixty miles. I have a distinct recollection of many other incidents of the journey to Nashville — such as camping at the Lost River cave, and at another place being compelled to strike our tents just after they had been pitched in a clean, grassy orchard and march a couple of miles further through a furious rain storm and pitch again in a field of deep mud, where it was necessary to cut brush from a neighboring wood and pile it three Early Days of the Anderson Cavalry. 25 feet high in our tents to sleep on. No sooner had we arranged ourselves for the night than an order came for Companies E and F to saddle up and go out into the inky night and pouring rain on a scouting expedition. But even misery was pleasure in those ardent days, and I positively enjoyed lying on the roadside and sleeping all night in a driving rain, while at Nashville, on one occasion, vvhen the pickets refused to let me pass out through the lines to our camp. Such instances of privation made me feel that I was a soldier, and it was ample satisfaction for everything that I be- longed to the Anderson Cavalry. Ah ! that esprit du corps was a powerful thing and a grand thing, too. Another incident very clearly stamped on my memory was an at- tempt made by a few hundred of us, under the leadership of an officer (who I think was an infantry Captain), to go out from our old camp at Nashville to Murfreesboro. We got almost as far as Lavergne, eighteen miles out, when we ran against a rather memorable circumstance, which put a stop to our progress. There were probably 300 or 400 of us (although I speak somewhat at random when it comes to numbers). Lavergne is a straggling village running along the turnpike and situated in a broad, level valley. Our approach to it lay over a low ridge, so it was not visible until we reached the top of the ridge, when the whole valley and the village opened up before us like a panorama. Near the summit, on the Nashville side, there was a house, and as our column was passing this house, an old gray-headed negro, with snowy wool flying about his ears, came running out and urged us, with frantic gesticulation, to stop. "Stop, gentlemen, stop ! for God's sake go back !" he cried. "Why, what is the matter?" some- one asked. "General Wheeler is just ahead, with 2500 cavalry and a battery of guns," he replied, and he again begged us to go back. However, we proceeded a little further and came upon a couple of Confederate officers sitting at the roadside eating their lunch, with their horses tied to the fence. This apparition became a dissolving view as they jumped over the fence and disappeared in the woods, leaving their horses and their lunch for us to take as the spoils of war. A few steps more brought us to the crest of the ridge, and then we saw at a glance that the old negro had told the truth. Lavergne lay in full view, perhaps half a mile distant. Wheeler's brigade was there, burning up a long line of wagons. 26 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. which we learned belonged to Davis' division of Rosecrans" army, and the Union troops that had formed its escort had been cap- tured, disarmed and paroled, and at the moment of our arrival came running past our column, in the direction of Nashville. We asked them why they were in such a hurry, and they replied that General Wheeler had a battery which was about to open on us, and they wanted to get out of the way. The scene was an im- pressive one, and most picturesque, with its blazing wagon train ; but when our commanding officer (the only officer we had) ordered a retreat, without our firing a shot, it awakened bitter feelings. What had become of the esprit du corps and the irrepressible spirit of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ? We were no longer a regiment, but a disorganized mob, and the only man who could have made us once more a credit to ourselves and to our country was chafing like a caged lion in a Richmond prison. I haven't the slightest doubt that, under the circumstances, the best thing — in fact, the only thing — we could do was to retreat. It would have been madness to attack such a force as Wheeler's brigade with our inferior numbers and in our disorganized con- dition. Shortly after our return to Nashville we heard rumors of a great battle, the battle of Stone River. There were twenty of us who were already sick enough of our inglorious life in camp — or I should say, rather, of our state of suspended animation — when reports of the battle being waged at that very moment moved us to action. We saddled our horses and marched into the city to the headquarters of the Commandant, and asked that we might be sent at once to rejoin those of our Comrades who had gone to the front at an earlier date. Our request was taken into consideration, and it was decided that being so few in number it was not worth while to send us to Murfrees- boro at present, and we were attached to headquarters for orderly and military police duty. Quarters were assigned us in a gym- nasium, and we were present on duty, off and on, at the office for some weeks following. When off duty I used to go about Nashville to see the place, and once or twice visited our boys in a building or shed which they called the Smoke House. Again I found a firm of wholesale merchants of the name of Early Days of the Anderson Cavalry. 27 McClung, who were related to a former very good friend and classmate of mine at Lawrenceville, N. J., before the war. Hugh L. McClung was his name, and his home was in Knoxville, Tenn. The Nashville merchants told me, in reply to my inquiries, that Hugh had become a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Confederate army, and had been killed while fighting under Zollicofifer in the battle of Mill Springs. They upbraided me bitterly for joining the horde of ruthless invaders of their country and did not invite me to call again or dine with them. Still again I attended church one Sunday and there, before the service began, met a very handsome young lady from Paducah, Ky., with whom I had become acquainted in Steubenville, Ohio. She did not recognize me, however, and gave me — or perhaps it was my uniform — such a withering glance of scorn that I treated her as I had Wheeler and his brigade — turned my back on her and retreated. I noticed in those days (and subsequent observation has con- firmed the opinion) that the people of the North and the people of the South looked upon each other in totally different ways. Taking my own feelings as a fair criterion, I never felt the per- sonal rancor or hostility they seemed to entertain for us. My leading thought, when I entered the army, was that our country fimst be saved from disruption, with destruction as its logical con- sequence; and I think this was the predominant feeling in the North. It rather puzzled and somewhat amused me to hear our Southern friends speak of our invading their country, for 1 thought it was our country as much as theirs. Before closing this narrative, I must relate one or two experi- ences when on duty. I was ordered one night to accompany the officer of the day, a Major in an Illinois regiment, on his round of inspecting the pickets outside of Nashville. We went clear around in a semicircle from the river above the city to the river below the city, and it was quite an arduous journey in the dark night. I started out gaily enough, riding alongside of my Major, until he informed me that an orderly ought to follow his superior officer. I promptly fell back and brought up the rear of the procession. Before we had got through the night's work, however, the Major got to feeling lonely, and gradually edging back alongside, he ended by forgetting I was his orderly and he my officer. That 28 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. night I learned something about mihtary discipline as observed in our arm}' which astonished me. It is impossible to recall all our experiences, but at one of the picket posts we found all our men comfortably squatting around a big fire, the weather being very cold, while their arms were stacked some way off on one side. The Major scolded them in a mild way and told them to keep a sharp lookout, as we were expecting an attack from the enemy. In a number of instances there was the same carelessness, while in one the whole post was sound asleep around their fire. Here the officer, after waking them up, asked a number of questions. "Who is the Post Commander in Nashville? How many men in the garrison? How many guns in position?" etc. They answered his questions to the best of their ability, without a particle of hesitation, and when he proceeded to upbraid them for too reck- lessly giving away information which might be of use to the enemy, they smiled complacently and said they knew he was all right, he was the officer of the day, etc. The following will serve as an illustration of our duty as mili- tary police : A gentleman living some six or eight miles out of Nashville became an object of suspicion to the authorities. It was suspected that he was in the habit of taking over the arms and accouterments of Union soldiers who wished to desert, or at least shirk their duties, and giving them paroles which they brought in and presented at headquarters, pretending that they had been captured by some wandering force of the enemy. This gave them a vacation from active service and kept them in idleness until they could be regularly exchanged. In order to test the matter, the Commandant, who, I think, was General Mitchell, sent a spy to this gentleman's house to deliver himself up as a prisoner and get his parole. He went and surrendered himself with his arms and horse, got his parole and then came back and reported. He had also learned that a couple of Confederate officers were expected at this house on a certain night. A squad of eight of us were sent on the night named to capture the rebel officers in case they turned up, and also to arrest the proprietor of the mansion and to search the premises for arms and other United States property. We took a covered wagon along for the prisoners and the property. It was a dark night and raining steadily. On arrival we sur- rounded the house, while the leader with the spy and one or two Early Days of the Anderson Caz'olry. 29 others went in. The man of the house was found, but the rebel ofificers had not come, and so they missed the party. The rest of us, who had been stationed at the various doors and windows, were now called into the house to aid in the search operations. The lady of the house was very indignant at our intrusion and called us many bad names, such as Yankee thieves and robbers. When candles were lighted to search the house from cellar to garret, she said she would go with us, as she could not trust us out of her sight— we would be sure to steal something. We found in the house and barn a number of McClellan saddles and bridles, as well as United States horses and army tents and arms of all sorts. We loaded up our wagon with such of these articles as we could get into it and seated our host inside, with a couple of men to take care of him, and then took our places around and in the rear. The prisoner's wife had never for a moment ceased scolding, although her husband every now and then told her to be quiet, and as the wagon began to move she exclaimed, "I wish all the Yankees had one neck and I could see it cut off before my eyes." I sat on my horse not far from her, and moving nearer said, in a low voice, "My dear madam, you surely do not mean what you say. Now, honestly, would you really like to see my throat cut right before your eyes ?'' 'T don't know that I would," she replied ; "you may be a gentleman, but I'm sure the Yankees, as a rule, are not." "Thank you very much for being so considerate," I said. "Good- night, madam." We proceeded to Nashville, where our friend was placed in secure lodgings. I never heard of him again, but pre- sume he was not allowed to carry on his old tactics any longer. Soon after this incident I was struck down with typhoid fever, placed in a hospital and eventually rescued from almost certain death by Rev. Messrs. McCauley and Scott, of Philadelphia, agents of the Christian Commission, who procured my discharge on a medical certificate. Mr. Scott conveyed me to my friends in the North. I recovered after a severe illness of two months' dura- tion, and feel thankful that I am to-day alive to tell the tale. But it has always been a matter of regret to me that I missed the glorious active da^'S of the Anderson Cavalry after Colonel Palmer rejoined and reorganized the Regiment. ANTIETAM. FRED. J. ANSPACH, COMPANY D, PHILADELPHIA. TO a military critic the Anderson Cavalry, Fifteenth Penn- sylvania, at Carlisle, Pa., was in no condition to enter on an active campaign when on September 9, 1862, orders were received for the Regiment to move south and do what they could to oppose the invasion of their State by Lee's army. We had not been three weeks in the United States volunteer service, and the major- ity of the 900 men in camp had not yet received uniforms. We had no commissioned officers ; Captain Palmer, who commanded the Anderson Troop, then serving with the Army of the Cumber- land, was the only man who held a commission, and even his was not in our Regiment, although he had raised it and was addressed as Colonel Palmer. It was a period of temporary arrangements. The non-com.missioned officers and privates of the old Troop who visited us were temporarily assigned to the different companies as temporary officers. Even the non-commissioned officers in the companies were temporary, and were what is described in army parlance as "lance" officers. The selection of permanent officers and non-commissioned officers was to be made by Colonel Palmer after becoming better acquainted with the men — ^before leaving for the western theater of war. No man had been promised any office. In the matter of arms we had already received our sabers, and the drill Sergeants from the regulars at the barracks had initiated us into the mysteries of cut and parry. The marching drill came naturally to us, as it does to all youngsters in war times, and the non-commissioned officers had been put through a special course of study in learning how to saddle and bridle a horse properly and then ride him with crossed stirrups. But our lack of efficiency in military trappings was more than made up by the earnestness and zeal with which each one carried on the campaign and his anxiety to do something worthy of a soldier. The first call was 30 Antietam. 31 for a detail of about 200 men who "knew how to ride a horse," and a busy afternoon was spent in providing uniforms and boots for those who had not yet received them. It was late at night, and when drawn up in front of the officers' quarters, that revolvers and ammunition were issued, with the orders to load them. About midnight we took the cars in the town, and three hours after rolled into Greencastle, and, after getting a little sleep in the warehouse alongside of the railway track, were most bountifully fed by the citizens when, at daylight, our presence became known to them. Orders were issued to go out into the country and im- press horses, saddles and bridles from the farmers and give re- ceipts for them. By early afternoon the majority of the Green- castle detachment was mounted, and at once began a tour of duty in the field. About dark Colonel Palmer took the mounted men and started for Hagerstown. He placed them on picket on all the roads leading into that town, and with two others, John W. Jackson and David Barnhart, went ahead scouting to find the whereabouts of the rebels. They passed through Hagerstown and about two miles beyond, where they entered the farmhouse of Wm. T. Beeler, Barnhart was then sent back alone, carrying the uniforms of Colonel Palmer and Jackson, and soon after the latter started for Hagerstown, leaving the Colonel alone. Before morning the rebel force arrived, and their cavalry encamped on the farm where Palmer was stop- ping. Later in the day two regiments of their infantry, and a sec- tion of artillery with twenty-five wagons, passed the farm on their way to Hagerstown. Colonel Palmer mingled freely with the rebel soldiers, and took supper with their officers at Beekr's table and obtained much information. Along in the afternoon both Palmer and Beeler got the information from different sources that this force had received orders to move into Pennsylvania, the march to commence between midnight and 2 a.m. This information was of such importance that the Colonel realized the necessity of at once starting for our lines, but the guards around the place hin- dered his starting until darkness had set in and eliminated some of the dangers of the trip. To the kindness and loyalty of Mr. Beeler, his son and the rest, of the family Colonel Palmer owes his escape, for in the night Mr. Beeler guided him through his corn field to the highway, and then gave him careful directions for the 32 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. following ten miles — how to avoid the rebel pickets and to reach the Pennsylvania State line. He also directed him to another Union man, about ten miles north of his farm, which place he reached after midnight, and this man hitched up at once and drove him to our lines, so that at 4 o'clock, on the morning of the 12th, Palmer was telegraphing to Colonel McClure, at Chambersburg, the situation in and around Hagerstown. It is hard to give in detail what these 200 men did in the next four days. They were continually on duty, either picketing or scouting, and by the activity of their movements covered such a large territory as to give the rebels in Hagerstown the impres- sion that the force in front of them amounted to thousands. The enemy's scouts sent out returned with the message that the "Yan- kees were as thick as grasshoppers on the State line," and threats were made that "they would hang any of the Anderson guerrillas they caught." It seems incredible what a small force, ignorant of the methods of war, accomplished; and later, when we had learned the full duties of a soldier, it would hardly have been possible to have carried on such a' campaign. The approach of two hostile forces toward each other is governed by well-known rules of warfare, and the Commander of each can fairly judge of the intentions of the other by the character of the approach. First comes the advance or a skirmish line, followed at regulation dis- tance by the reserve, and this by the line of battle. We did nothing of the kind. Very frequently all we had were our advanced pickets, and no reserve nearer than Chambersburg — twenty miles away. What added to the confusion in the rebels' minds as to our num- bers was the curiosity of our boys to see what the rebels looked like and to have their advance pickets fire a long but not dangerous shot at us. During the day some of these small scouting parties were sure to be approaching the rebel lines, not from any orders received to do so, but led by curiosity and the absence of orders. As viewed from the rebel position in Hagerstown, each one of these parties was only the advance of a much greater force behind, and the estimate they made of "ten thousand Andersons" did not seem to them to be amiss. A bold advance on their part would have dispelled this illusion, and they did make a few dashes at our pickets and nearly captured one of our posts. With only sabers and revolvers, and mounted on such farmers' horses as could BVT. BRIG. GENL. WM. J. PALMER Antietam. 33 be pressed into service, with civilian saddles and bridles and no spurs we were in no condition for a serious fight ; but carbines were issued to us in a few days, and inspired the desire to put them to use against the enemy should the Army of Virginia cross the border. Anxious hearts were beating back of us in Pennsylvania. When the Confederate army entered Maryland, it being a semi-rebel State, its people were treated with the utmost consideration. No foraging was permitted and all supplies for the army were duly paid for, and on one or two occasions their horses went hungry rather than take by force any of the corn which was on all sides of them. "Wait till we get into Pennsylvania — we'll show the Dutchmen what an invasion is like," was the word that came from their lines, and our farmers were in hourly dread of the fate the rebels had threatened them with. Our noble War Governor, Andrew G. Curtin, was making strenuous exertions to get together a body of citizen soldiers, and Col. Alexander K. McClure, his Assistant Adjutant General, was doing the work of a dozen men to keep the rebel horde below the line of his native State, and most of the time it looked as though the chances were against him. For several days all the information which the Army of the Potomac got of its enemy was furnished by us to Colonel McClure, and he must have used that great ability of his to its utmost in hurrying on its tardy footsteps; but he won, and Lee's army, threatened in its rear, recalled Longstreet from his advanced post ac Hagerstown, and the proposed invasion of Pennsylvania was postponed for a year. Colonel AlcClure had furnished us a very able assistant, in the person of Wm. B. Wilson, as expert telegrapher, who took the information we secured and sent it ofif to Harrisburg. There was no delay in this, as Wilson was generally found up near our ad- vance pickets with his instrument connected with the wire to Harrisburg. On the night of September nth Wilson, with J. N. Lewis and Peter Wallace, of our Regiment, took a hand car at Greencastle and started toward Hagerstown and got near the State line. Here the wire was connected, and soon the instrument was ticking away, via Greencastle to Harrisburg, what the picket posts had learned. About daybreak Lewis went off to a farmhouse and engaged a toothsome breakfast for the party, but before they could 34 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. put it where it would do them the most good, a large party of Colonel Brinn's Confederate cavalry appeared, driving them oft" and eating the breakfast. Back in our camp at Carlisle strenuous exertions were made to hasten the 700 men there to the front, but such was the lack of material with which to fit them out, that the majority was armed with muskets that had originally been old flintlocks, and quite a sprinkling of the men did duty at the front in citizen's dress. About 9 p.M.^ on the night of September 13th, a large propor- tion of those in camp were marched into Carlisle to take the train for Chambersburg ; but there was some hitch in the arrangements, for w'hile the cars were there the locomotive was not, and it v/as not till 7 o'clock the next morning that they got off, and arrived in due time at Chambersburg. Another detachment was sent off about this time and came through to Greencastle. The State authorities were assembling at the former place all the militia and those who had volunteered for the emergency, and several thousand had assembled under the command of Gen. Jno. F. Reynolds, who, vv^ithin a year, gave up his life at Gettysburg. Horses were ob- tained for our men by impressment and some by voluntary offer- ing, and the start for the front was immediately made. On the night of the 15th they reached Greencastle, and the next day pushed, on to Hagerstown and charged through that town and w ent on to Lappins' or Jones' crossroads. It was a feather in our cap to be able to boast that we had "charged through Hagerstown." That place had typified to our minds the rebel army, and a charge was the heroic feature of a cavalryman's life, and it appears that each detachment, as it drew near to it, charged. About 3 p.m. of the 15th, Serg. R. W. Hammel, with a detachment, raced through the town and met some of our men coming from the opposite direction. They had picked up about twenty-five prisoners, among them being a First Lieutenant of a Maryland regiment and some privates from a Louisiana regiment. Colonel Palmer came through the town with about 150 men from some long march, and the dust covered them so that they were scarcely recognized by their intimate friends. That same night Colonel Palmer scouted the country toward the enemy's left, and cautiously reached a farmhouse just outside of the rebel line of battle. The farmer had been inside their lines A„iic,a,„. 265627 '' during the day, as it was on his own farm, and gave the Colonel information of the positions of the enemy's troops and batteries so far as he had seen them. All this time our men sat quietly on their horses, holding their sabers to prevent any noise, and watch- ing the picket fires of the Confederates, not far off. Colonel Palmer made a map of the positions occupied by the rebel force, and at 4 a.m. in the morning delivered it at General McClellan's headquarters, together with the information that "Stonewall" Jackson and his corps had gone to Harper's Ferry and were then at or near that place. The receipt of this news was a relief to General McClellan. He had already heard of it, but the way in which it had come to him was so peculiarly direct that he was fearful that it was a ruse of the enemy to lead hint into a move- ment which would have been disastrous to his army. It often happens that great events hinge on comparatively small incidents. If General Lee had intrusted his special order, No. 191, to a careful officer, the battles of South Mountain and Antietam would not have been fought; but the careless officer dropped it at Frederick, Md., and a member of the Twenty-seventh Indiana found it on September 13th, and its importance being seen at once, it was hurried to General McClellan, who found he was in pos- session of Lee's order giving the present position of all his troops and the movements they were to make for the next live or six days. His army was widely scattered; "Stonewall" Jackson was to capture Harper's Ferry, the principal object of the invasion, while Longstreet was at Hagerstown, Md. General Lee calcu- lated on the caution and slow'ness of General McClellan, whose marches were usually about six miles a day ; but with this informa- tion in hand General McClellan got up to South Mountain and fought on September 14th and won. He ought to have fought Lee on the Antietam the next day, or by the latest on September 1 6th, while "Stonewall" Jackson was still behind at Harper's Ferry; but his caution made him suspicious that the information had been put in his way purposely by the enemy, and he felt his ground so carefully and slowly that Jackson was enabled to finish his work at Harper's Ferry and get back in time to take part in the battle, which took place on the 17th. Early in the morning of the i6th a small scouting party, under Major Ward, met a woman on the road, who gave the information 36 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvaiiia Cavalry. that a party of rebels was at her sister's house getting breakfast. The house was close at hand, and the Major, turning to Serg. Harry C. Butcher, told him to take two men and capture them. Butcher, taking David How and one other man, started on the gallop, rode up to the door of the room in which they were ; and the Sergeant jumped off his horse and into the room, surprising the party, who, under the influence of a Colt's navy, surrendered at once, and soon after expressed the supremest chagrin that five men should surrender to three boys. Lieut. Wm. Spencer, of the old Troop, commanded a squad of from twenty-five to fifty men, with Serg. A. H. Mershon as orderly; but the very hard duty in which we were engaged used up Spencer, who, while he had plenty of grit, had not the physical strength to keep it up, so had to retire and leave Sergeant Mershon in command. Just below Hagerstown this command with some others surprised and captured a considerable force of the enemy under a Captain Griffin, of a Georgia regiment, and Lieutenant Bilbro, of Alabama. These officers were very courteous and friendly, and had none of the characteristics of the fire-eating Southerner, and our men must have impressed them the same way, for when they bid each other good-bye. Griffin took off his spurs and Bilbro his belt and presented them to Mershon, with the wish that they would meet again under happier auspices. A scouting party below Hagerstown, under Serg. Chas. M. Betts, who later in the war commanded the Regiment, riding over a hill, discovered a camp of the enemy. Two of their officers rode out to reconnoiter us, and Betts took off his cap and with it mo- tioned to them to come on, which they did until satisfied that we were not friendly, when shots were exchanged, which aroused their camp, and, their numbers proving too large, Betts fell back. Early in the morning of September 17th, the day of the great battle of Antietam, Colonel Palmer gathered up all the Regiment he could find at Jones' crossroads and in Hagerstown and marched toward the battlefield to report to the Commanding General for duty. Before we had gone a great distance the sound of heavy firing was heard, which became clearer, sharper and more inces- sant as we neared the field, and at last we could plainly hear the rattle of musketry and the shriek of shells. At a point not far from the east woods the column left the pike and moved over to the Antietain. 37 woods, taking down the fence to enable us to cross the field to it. On the pike our march was in column of fours, but broke into twos on entering the field, and we continued our march toward the firing line, and the order had just been given to "file right," when the shot came which took Thomas Stockton through the heart, killing him instantly. Without stopping, our march we continued on a line parallel with the line of battle, and little details were made for men to be stationed along the firing line to prevent stragglers from passing to the rear. No one was allowed to go in that direc- tion unless incapacitated from wounds. Others of our men were as- sisting in taking care of the wounded in the various barns and im- provised hospitals. At this time the firing became quick, and seem- ingly close by us came' a most deafening roll of musketry. The deep-breasted cheer of the Northern men given in unison told of a point gained after a hard struggle, while the "rebel yell" was a high, shrill yelp, given without concert and kept up continually, as if it were an incentive to further action. Cheers and yells were about equally mixed. Clouds of smoke prevented us seeing what took place in front, but the stream of wounded passing to the rear told of the fearful work going on. Fresh troops were continually coming up to take the place of those retiring to secure a new supply of ammunition. We were in close proximity to the famous Dunkard Church, around which was the most terrible fighting of the day. Sergeant Mershon and his squad were sent in with Brown's New York Battery, and remained with it until a heavy artillery fire was poured into it from a couple of batteries in front, and then the Sergeant moved his men to a depression on the left where several of our officers were, including Major Ward and Captain Vezin. The fire on Brown's Battery was so heavy and destructive that the guns were all dismounted and Captain Brown and a number of his men killed. By someone's order I dismounted and laid on the ground, holding my horse. Then a battery of artillery came rushing up and took a position directly to my right, between the east woods and the Hagerstown pike, and the Captain commanding it told me to retire. General Meade was near me, dismounted, but was giving orders and receiving reports. Near him was General Duryea, of the New York Brigade. His horse had been shot, and he. too, was on foot. At this time, in the absence of orders, I did not know what to do: and to General ^8 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Duryea's inquiry as to where my command was, I could only tell him I didn't know, when he said, "Remain with me — I may have use for you," but when his aids came up he told me to retire to the rear and try to find my command. While in this position I had a splendid view of this part of the battlefield — saw the charges of the infantry and the batteries in action giving and receiving a hot fire. This w^is all in the direc- tion of the Dunkard Church, behind which the rebels had a strong position and were apparently in large force. On the pike strag- glers and wounded men were passing in large numbers, and all the confusion of a battlefield was in sight. In the rear and close to a barn was a field hospital filled with wounded. The surgeons were at work, with coats off and sleeves rolled up, and the barn doors were used as tables on which were placed those receiving attention. The sight to me was a sickening one, and I turned away from it with horror. At about this time I met my old schoolmate, Wm. ]\I. ^laurice, and I don't know why we did it, but on each of our faces was a kind of sickening grin, and instead of talking war and its glories we talked of the playmates we left at Broad and Poplar Streets, in Philadelphia. We did say a little about the chances of the day, but in all the self-examination I ever made afterward I could not determine why, in the midst of that most fearful battle, we talked about something of which, just then, neither of us cared a rap. But we soon parted, and after replenishing my two canteens, both of which I had emptied in relieving the wounded, I continued along the Hagerstown pike and soon met a detachment of our men and was ordered to '"'fall in." This was some tim.e in the afternoon, and the great battle of Antietam was about over, only occasional shots being fired by the combatants in the neighborhood of the Dunkard Church and away over to our left where General Burn- side was engaged. General AlcClellan had directed Colonel Palmer to make a scout up the Potomac River and destroy the pontoon there, which Lee's army might othenvise use to recross into Virginia. It was a long, hard ride, most of it over the towpath between the canal and river, and at one place it was necessary to go under the canal through a tunnel and in single file. About the only orders received after we started were to "close up." and these were given Aiitictani. 39 in low tones, which, to vis, indicated danger ; but before dark the work was accomphshed, and we marched back and closed in on the right of our army and bivouacked around a farmhouse, making a liberal use of the farmer's hay for our beds. The morning after the battle some citizens were at our camp anxiously inquiring for relatives who were serving with the Penn- sylvania Reserves, and Major Ward detailed Wm. E. Reppert to take them to the position the Reserves had fought over the day before, as he had been with them a part of the time. They were furnished horses and started. After crossing the Antietam, they took up a smart gallop and soon were on that portion of the field between two woods, where the dead of both armies lay thick ; but in their eagerness to get there had passed beyond our skirmish line, and nearing that of the enemy were fired on by the skir- mishers and made to seek safety in the cover of the woods, where our men were in line of battle. Just then a staff officer approached, who ordered them off, as acting as they were "it would bring on an engagement," which General McClellan did not want, and had stationed officers on the field to stop all hostile demonstrations ; but the orders raised the ire of a Captain commanding a battery nearby, who made things warm with his profanity and was en- couraged by those near him. He said: "That was just what they wanted to do, and he had a notion to open the engagement him- self. Lee's army was licked, and now was the time to capture most of them." But it was not to be, although subsequent events have proved that if the spirit animating the Captain of that battery had prevailed at headquarters the war might have been over sooner. It was in the afternoon of September 19th that Colonel Palmer concluded to cross the Potomac to find out what General Lee's plans were from personal observation in his rear. He had been ordered by General McClellan to scout to the right of our line and strike the Potomac River at Dam No. 4, and to endeavor to ascer- tain what the next move of the enemy would be. Colonel Palmer was not ordered to cross the Potomac to the Virginia side, nor was it at first his intention to do so ; neither did he volunteer to cross. His expedition was without the previous knowledge of head- quarters, although he sent them w^ord when he crossed. He had with him two civilians : one a cool, courageous blacksmith, and the other a patriotic parson. These he had intended to send across 40 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. the ford and within the enemy's Hnes, but at the last moment he decided to ride across with them, see and question for himself on the Virginia side and return. It seemed to the young Colonel that, with such a wide river as the Potomac at the back of the enemy, his retreat might become a fatal rout if the right moment could be known and promptly availed of for a vigorous attack; and although the hazardous nature of the undertaking appealed strongly to him, he would not have taken such an extra-military step had it not been for his belief that the situation for Lee's army was so critical that "perhaps," to use the Colonel's words, "the war might be ended then and there." The Colonel crossed the river toward evening, spent the night within the rebel Hnes and after midnight got the information he sought, to wit, that Lee's retreat was about to begin across the Potomac, when Stuart's entire cavalry force, preparing for a raid into Pennsylvania around Mc- Clellan's rear, came up and guarded the bank forward and back, preventing the Colonel's return. He, with the blacksmith, was taken prisoner by a battery. The parson brought the information back to General McClellan, but too late. On September 19th Maj. Frank Ward, commanding the Regi- ment, was ordered by Gen. Jno. F. Reynolds, to make a demon- stration on the rebel force at Williamsport. His force was about 300 men^ and the advance was in command of Captains Hurst and Norman M. Smith, who attacked the rebel cavalry and soon drove it to shelter behind one of their batteries, which opened furiously and made a great deal of noise, but hurt no one. Major Ward asked General Reynolds to support him with infantry, but the General, having no troops but the militia which the State of Penn- sylvania had called into service, concluded not to do so, as the object of the demonstration had been attained. Our work in this field was now done. The rebel army had suc- cessfully retreated across the Potomac. Our Colonel was a pris- oner in the hands of General Pendleton (Lee's Chief of Artillery), whose men had captured him in citizen's clothes while obtaining information, which meant death as a spy ; but he escaped later, and joined us at a time when he was badly needed. At Greencastle we returned the horses and accouterments we had impressed from the citizens, were then loaded on a train and in a few hours landed at our old camp at Carlisle. A SCOUT TO HAGERSTOWN. CORP. JAMES \V. OVER, COMPANY G, PITTSBURG, PA. IN September, 1862, when Lee invaded Maryland, we pro- ceeded by rail from Carlisle to Chambersburg and Green- castle, where horses, saddles and bridles belonging to the thrifty farmers of the Cumberland Valley were pressed into ser- vice and part of the Regiment mounted. Longstreet was then in Hagerstown, about ten miles distant, and our whole force was placed on picket along the State line. By keeping up a bold front, though inwardly quaking, we did what we could to prevent the Confederate cavalry from making incursions into our State. Another Comrade whose name I have forgotten, and myself, one morning at Greencastle were ordered to report to Colonel McClure's telegraph operator, Mr. Wilson, for scouting duty. We found him with his telegraphic apparatus on a hand car on the railroad at the State line sending dispatches to Harrisburg, and were ordered by him to take a road leading to Hagerstown paralleling the main road or pike, and to get as near that place as we could safely and procure information for him. We passed our pickets, rode up a hill by a large plantation house on our right, and a short distance beyond it passed a crossroad leading from ours to the Hagers- town pike. We thought at the time that the enemy might come over from the Hagerstown pike by this road and prevent our return by the road we were on. Our orders left everything to our discretion, and, believing "discretion to be the better part of valor," after riding some distance without seeing the enemy or getting any information, and influenced also by the fact that we had a premonition that sooner or later a Confederate cavalry force would cross over from the Hagerstown pike to our road, we started back for our lines, keeping a sharp lookout for the ex- pected enemy, and soon discovered a squad of cavalry on a hill between us and our picket line and a horseman galloping rapidly toward us. We concealed ourselves in the woods by the side of 41 42 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. the road, and, as he passed, seeing that he was a citizen, we joined him in his ride, and discovered that the house we had passed was the home of a Confederate Colonel, named Brinn; that he was there, and that the cavalry in sight belonged to his command. The citizen was an ardent rebel, carrying a message to the Colonel's relatives, and was so much excited that he mistook us for Con- federates, talked very freely to us and seemed to enjoy our com- pany. This enjoyment terminated suddenly when we halted him, and after some talk, punctuated by the muzzles of our revolvers close to his face, we succeeded in making him understand we were Yankees, that he was our prisoner and that he would have to guide us across the country to our pickets, which he did very un- willingly. On the trip through the woods and fields a number of refugees from Hagerstown were discovered in hiding. We thought our safety depended on making them prisoners, and we arrived safely inside of our lines with the rebel citizen riding between us and about fifty refugees, white and black — men, women and chil- dren— driven in front like a flock of sheep. The Confederate Colonel and his escort arrived at his house, which was in sight of our pickets, soon after we had passed it; they supposed we were captured, and so informed the telegraph operator, who was much relieved when we reported to him. EXTRACT FROM COL. A. K. McCLURE'S BOOK. "LINCOLN AND MEN OF WAR TIMES." ii /\N interesting story may be here told of the methods by /A which information was obtained to guide the actions of great armies. I was then Assistant Adjutant General of the United States, assigned to duty at Harrisburg to make a draft under the State laws of Pennsylvania. There was no mili- tary force on the border and not even an officer of the army who had exercised any command of troops. I was compelled, there- fore, to exercise what little military authority could be enforced under the circumstances, and Governor Curtin ordered a half- organized Regiment of cavalry, that Capt. W. J. Palmer was recruiting at Carlisle, to report to me at Chambersburg for duty as scouts. I thus became Commander of an army of nearly loo men, or about one man to each mile of border I had to guard ; but Captain Palmer proved to be a host within himself, as he entered the Confederate lines every night for nearly a week under various disguises, obtained all information possible as to the movements of Lee's command, and with the aid of William B. Wilson, an expert telegrapher, who was co-operating with him, attached his instru- ment to the first telegraph wire he struck -and communicated to me all movements of the enemy, present and prospective, as far as he had been able to ascertain them. As rapidly as these tele- grams reached me they were sent to Governor Curtin, who promptly forwarded them to the War Department, whence they were hastened to General McClellan's headquarters, who was then moving through Maryland against Lee; and all the important information that McClellan received from the front of Lee's army until their lines faced each other at Antietam came from Captain Palmer's nightly visits within the "enemy's lines and his prompt reports to me in the morning. Howell Cobb's division finally reached as far north as Hagerstown. and Captain Palmer spent most of the night within Cobb's camp, and learned from leading 43 44 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. subordinate officers that the destination of Lee"s army was Penn- sylvania, and that Cobb's command would lead the movement probably the next day. "I need hardly say that I hastened the information to Curtin, who hurried it through to Washington, whence McClellan received it within a few hours. McClellan was then ignorant of the exact movements of General Reynolds, whom he had sent to Pennsyl- vania to organize a force of 'emergency men' and bring them to the aid of McClellan in western Maryland. He did not know, therefore, who was in command at Chambersburg or what force was there, but doubtless supposed that either Reynolds or some part of his command was already there on its way to join him. General AlcClellan, on receipt of the news that Lee was likely to advance into Pennsylvania, sent substantially this telegram to the Commander at Chambersburg, without naming him: 'I am ad- vised that Lee's probable destination is Pennsylvania, and if he shall advance in that direction, concentrate all your forces and obstruct his march until I can overtake him and give battle. The occasion calls for prompt action.' As I was the Commander and had less than lOO men, all told, and not twenty of them within fif- teen miles of me, the prospect of concentrating my forces and marching out to meet one of Lee's army corps was not specially enticing. I promptly advised Curtin of the situation and of the orders I had received from McClellan. Thaddeus Stevens hap- pened to be in the Executive Chamber when the message was received, and ]\IcClellan's order to me to confront one of Lee's army corps with my force, which did not amount to a Corporal's guard within reach, caused considerable merriment. Stevens, who at that time never lost an opportunity to slur McClellan, said: 'Well, McClure will do something. If he can't do better, he'll instruct the tollgate keeper not to permit Lee's army to pass through ; but as to McClellan, God only knows what he'll do.' "Thus one bold, heroic and adventurous young Captain, aided by an equally heroic young telegrapher, furnished McClellan all the reliable information he received about Lee's movements from the time McClellan left Rockville in the Antietam campaign until the shock of battle came, ten days later. I met Captain Palmer at Antietam when the battle was in progress, and after compli- menting him. as he so well deserved, for the great work he had "Lincoln and Men of War Times." 45 done, I earnestly cautioned him against attempting to repeat his experiments if Lee should be driven into Virginia. He was a young man of very few words, and made no response to any ad- monition beyond thanking me for my kind expressions of confi- dence. When Lee retreated across the Potomac, Captain Palmer preceded him the same night, entered his lines again and brought important reports which, as I believe, led to the battle of Shep- herdstown that was successfully fought by General Fitz John Porter.- He then passed beyond my jurisdiction, and became known to some of the leading officers of McClellan's army as the scout or spy who had given McClellan most reliable and important information. For several nights he entered Lee's lines and re- ported in the morning. Finally, he was missed at the usual time his report was expected. When the second day passed without any word from him, great anxiety was felt for his safety, and every effort was made that could be made, without exposing him to the discovery of his identity, to learn of his whereabouts, but without success. When he had been missing a week it was evident that he had been captured, and, upon being advised of it from the headquarters of McClellan's army, I hastened to Philadelphia to confer with President J. Edgar Thompson, of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, whose secretary Captain Palmer had been until he entered the service, and who was greatly interested in him personally. "A conference with President Thompson and Vice-President Scott resulted in the purpose to endeavor to save Palmer from being identified by his captors, and it was finally decided that I should go to the offices of the North American, the Press and the Inquirer, the leading morning journals of the city, and write up for publication the next morning displayed dispatches announcing the arrival in Washington of Capt. W. J. Palmer, who had been scouting in Virginia for some days and who had brought most important information of the movements and purposes of the enemy. Some details of his reported facts were given to make the story plausible, to which was added the statement that he had brought momentous information that could not be given to the public, but that would doubtless lead to early military movements against the enemy. The dispatches were all accepted by the pub- lishers, as all felt a special interest in Captain Palmer's fate, and 46 History of tJic FiftccntJi Pcniisylzviiia Cavalry. that publication doubtless saved him from being gibbeted as a spy. He had been arrested by the enemy, tried and convicted as a spy, but he had managed to maintain doubt as to his identity. His execution was delayed from time to time to ascertain who he was. "Thedispatchespublished in the Philadelphia papers, all of which reached the enemy's lines within forty-eight hours, if not sooner, entirely misled the Confederates as to Captain Palmer, and the failure to identify him saved him, until he finally effected his own exchange by quietly taking the place of a dead prisoner in the ranks and responding to his name when the roll was called for the men who were to be sent to the North. He is better known to the world of to-day as President Palmer, of Colorado Springs, lately of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, and one of the for- tunate and potential railroad magnates of the land." AFTER IXFOR^IATIOX WITH COLOXEL PALMER. SERG. DAVID BARNHART, COMPANY B, PLEASANT UNITY, PA. OXE of the first trips we made after reaching Greencastle, on September loth, I took with Colonel Palmer. We went down the road toward Hagerstown, and about a mile from that place put our pickets on each side of the road until all were posted, except John W. Jackson, a first cousin of Colonel Palmer and a member of the old Troop and afterward an officer in the Regiment, and myself. We three started toward Hagers- town in silence, and on this night we could have called him "Wil- liam, the silent,'' from the fact that he spoke no word, nor gave a command, from the time we left Greencastle till we reached Hagerstown, which was after dark, and then said : "Keep quiet ; make no noise." When we were about half way down the street, suddenly, from a point in the front and left of the street, came out of the darkness that order that few cared to disobey — "Halt !'' I made ready lor business, when there was a laugh from the same quarter, which gcive the assurance that it was all right and for us to advance, which we did, and found one man standing on the sidewalk. Colonel Palmer dismounted and went into the house with him for a short time. When he came out we continued on through Hagerstown, on the road toward Williamsport, a short distance, then turned to the right through a gate into a field about 200 yards to a large house, where we found a man standing as if he was waiting for someone. Colonel Palmer dismounted and shook hands with him, and without a word they went into the house. In a short time Lieutenant Jackson was called in, and after that I was called, and when I went upstairs I found Palmer and Jack- son disrobed and their uniforms put in two bundles. Colonel Palmer told me to take the bundles back to Mutton town, where T would find a man at a certain place, and to give them to him. 48 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. but if asked to tell where he (Palmer) was to deny knowing any- thing about him. I arrived at Muttontown about daybreak and, finding my man, delivered the bundles Avith the instructions to hold them until called for. He excitedly wanted to know where Colonel Palmer was and I replied that I had no knowledge of him. After getting my breakfast at the hotel, I was standing in front of it, looking up the road toward Hagerstown, and saw a man dressed in a butter- nut colored suit come riding toward me. When he got near I saw it was Jackson, who said to me : "I see you got through all right, and you must have had a narrow escape, as the 'rebs' must have entered the town just as you were leaving it." He told me that on his way back from where I had left them he got into Hagerstown and found it full of "rebs," and that he had a fine time making his way through them by playing citizen, and didn't waste much time, either. Colonel Palmer remained, but joined us again in a day or two. REMINISCENCES OF ANTIETAM. CORP. DARWIN E. PHELPS, COMPANY G, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. ABOUT the loth of September, 1862, while our Regiment was at Carlisle, Pa., being drilled by the regular army drill Sergeants, a dispatch came ordering us to help in the defence of the State from the threatened invasion of General Lee. We could not be considered a well-organized body of sol- diers, for we had not been a month in the service and many of the men had not even received their uniforms, and sabers were the only weapons we possessed up to this time, but we went. A small detachment started at once to Greencastle, with Colonel Palmer, and were very active in gathering in horses and scouting in front of the rebels, who had advanced as far as Hagerstown, Md. The bulk of the Regiment followed in a few days and were quickly mounted. The people of Pennsylvania were greatly alarmed, as well as the authorities at Washington, as it was not clear what Lee's inten- tions were. After everything was in readiness. Colonel Palmer took command and we started for Hagerstown, Md., it being re- ported that the rebels were in that place. The day was warm and the roads dusty. As we approached the outskirts of the town our pace was quickened, and soon we were on a full charge in column of fours. The first intimation the citizens had of our approach was the sounds of our horses' hoofs, and many of the women were terribly frightened. The banging of doors and rattle of sash re- sounded all along the street. This and the screams of women and children made quite a din. The dust was so thick we could scarcely see. A pile of bricks had been dumped in front of a house being built, and the rider's horse in front of me stumbled and fell. My mare made a flying leap, clearing everything. I never heard whether the man was badly hurt or not. On we went, clear through, without halting. We found no rebels in the town, so con- tinued our wild dash for about a mile further, then halted, to give 4 49 50 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. our horses time to breathe a httle. We were a dusty-looking set. It was getting on toward night, and, after going a few miles further, we turned into a clover field by the side of the road, where we dismounted and were ordered to stay by our horses, ready to mount at any moment. Our horses enjoyed the clover and soon filled themselves, but their riders went hungry. We had to stay awake all night and watch the horses. At daylight we continued our march until we came to Jones' crossroads. There we were divided up into squads and placed on picket, while others were kept scouting around all through the day and night, watching the different roads. Comrade J. H. Crum and I were together, and our appetites had become so sharpened by our recent experiences that we thought a good meal at the hotel would go better than hard-tack. There was a good country hotel at the crossroads, so, after we had awakened and brushed up, we went to it and ordered breakfast. When we were ushered into the dining-room we were most agreeably sur- prised, everything was so neat and clean ; the table looked inviting and everything on it was of the best. We had warm biscuit, excellent bread, honey, good butter, ham and hot coffee. To a couple of hungry, half-starved fellows like us, everything was good and we did not fail to do it justice. After we had eaten to our satisfaction we went out, got our horses and joined the pickets. We had the four roads to guard. Throughout the day and night scouting parties were sent out to reconnoiter. We kept our horses in a field alongside the road, tied to the fences, and each man was expected to sleep in the rear of his horse. The night before the battle there was a fine, sifting shower of rain. Crum and I concluded we didn't want to go scouting that night, feeling tired and sleepy ; so, in order not to be disturbed, we crawled over the fence and made our bed in the other field at our horses' heads in place of their, heels. Each of us had a good gum poncho. We spread one on the ground and the other over us. This, with our saddles for pillows, comprised our bed. Our car- bines were placed under our heads, so as to keep them dry. We were soon fast asleep, in defiance of rain, rebels and everything else. Somewhere along about the middle of the night I was awak- ened from my sweet dream.s by the manly voice of an officer call- ing to know if we boys didn't want to go out with I.ieutenant Reminiscences of Antietani. '51 Tintsman on a reconnoitering expedition. No answer. F"inally, after calling and calling in vain, I felt a firm hand grasp me by my boot, and after giving me a good shake said, "Wake up here !"' I couldn't play off any longer, so I said "Hugh?" "Wake up, you fellows ! Don't you want to go out with Lieutenant Tintsman on a scout?" I said, "No." "Well, then, you will have to go." "Oh, all right ; of course, then we will go ;" so we got up and found the night clear and beautiful, the stars shining in all their brilliancy. We soon saddled and bridled our horses and took our places in line, then away we went down the road, looking sharp for the enemy. We had gone perhaps four or five miles when, in an instant, the quiet of the night was broken by the roar of at least half a dozen guns. All we could see was the flash. The column was thrown into some slight confusion at first, but quickly got straightened up. It was found that the Lieutenant's horse had been instantly killed. The Lieutenant mounted behind one of the men and we started on our return. I soon found that Crum was not in the crowd. Someone said he was coming back there. I rode back a short distance, and could hear him cursing his luck for being obliged to ride such "a contemptible little pot-bellied lazy beast." The idea of giving him such a thing as this for a cavalry horse, etc. I called, "John, is that you?" "Yes, that's me." "Well, hurry up." "I have all the steam on now I can raise with this thing," said he. Well, we soon caught up with the column and marched back to camp, where we got a pretty good sleep before daylight, after all the fuss. The next day we found that Crum had had a pretty close call, a bullet having chipped a patch out of the right shoulder of his jacket. I was riding right behind him, and being so much taller than he I can't see how it missed me. The pickets that fired on us belonged to a Wisconsin regiment; their orders were to fire without halting. We found this out afterward. We were awakened in the morning by the booming of cannon. It was the ushering in of one of the bloodiest days America ever saw. All now was excitement. The sound of the cannonading in the distance was grand. Everybody was busy getting ready to move, horses had to be fed, Avatered, cleaned, saddled and bridled ; besides we had our own grub to look after — hard-tack and coffee — but soon all were readv, and, at the command, the column was 52 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. formed and we took up our line of march to the battlefield. The road was almost hidden by the heavy mist that had settled down during the night, but the rays of the rising sun were fast dispelling it, and every indication pointed to a hot day. On our way we passed the Lieutenant's horse, lying by the roadside, where it had fallen after being shot, and although the time that had elapsed was so short, yet the carcass was all puffed up. We hadn't trav- eled many miles until we arrived at the place where the battle was raging. We were halted, right on the road at the edge of a dense woods, and it seemed but a short distance through the woods to where the fighting was going on. Presently two or three country wagons emerged from the woods. They were covered with sheets, bloody in places. This struck me as strange. I couldn't imagine what they were hauling dead bodies off the field for. The wagons were driven by country people — farmers. They said nothing to any of us and nothing was said to them. After a while a young fellow came out holding the index finger of his right hand. The first joint was shot away and he was trymg to keep it from bleeding. The perspiration was pouring off his face. I asked him how it was going. He said : "1 think we have got them this time." Shortly after this I was ordered to carry a dispatch to an officer in charge of a bridge across the Baltimore and Ohio Canal. The orders were to burn the bridge at once, and I was told to look sharp and be lively as I might meet the whole rebel army. I had to go to Williamsport and from there up along the canal to the bridge. After leaving Williamsport it was not long until I found there was another fellow ahead of me, who seemed to be in as big a hurry as I was, but my mare was gaining on him, and we were not very far apart when we arrived at the bridge. He hadn't more than delivered his message until I was there with mine. I found the men were all of our Regiment. The Lieutenant in charge belonged to our Regiment, but I was not acquainted with him. They had the bridge piled full of hay and fence rails — everything in readiness to set the match. There were a lot of old farmers there, pleading for us not to burn the bridge, as they didn't see how they could get along without it. Before our arrival there had been quite a lively skirmish with a lot of rebs posted behind a frame house on the other side of the Potomac. The enemy commenced firing on our men, thinking to drive them Reminiscences of Antietam. 53 away and save the bridge, but when our fellows turned loose on them it was too hot and they left. Not knowing how soon Lee might be along, our Lieutenant ordered the match applied, and, after waiting to see that the bridge was certain to burn, we took up our march back to the battle. I found our fellows on the road where I had left them. Shortly after I had got my place in column, Comrade N. G. Pinney joined me. He told me he had just had the most thrilling experience of his life. After I had gone the Colonel took what men he gathered up towards our line of battle. Pinney said he felt like seeing it and so joined the squad. Away they went, until they came to where they could see the lines of the contending forces charging back and forth. They hadn't been there long, the Colonel look- ing for some general officer to report to, until his attention was attracted by the sound of a dull, heavy thud. He looked, and the man on his left, young Stockton, nephew of Commodore Stockton, was just falling from his horse, shot through the breast. He was dead before he reached the ground. The Colonel ordered a couple to dismount and get the man off the field. They had a hard time of it, as they had to hold their horses and drag Stockton along at the same time. The firing was becoming pretty hot by this time, and the horses were restless. After some difficulty they succeeded in getting him to an old stone barn that was being used by the surgeons as a temporary hospital. There they left him, and mounting their horses resumed their places in the col- umn. The next move the Colonel made was to post the men as pickets, to prevent straggling. Pinney said he hadn't been long in his position until a young fellow came hurrying up, completely loaded down with canteens strung alternately across his shoulders. Pinney halted him and asked him where he was going. The fellow said he was after water and was going to have it, too ; so he was told to go ahead. Next came another man on the same errand and he was passed ; then came a fellow with a section of artillery, on a full run. He halted, whirled around and proceeded to get into position. He asked Pinney what he was doing there. He informed him he had been posted there to stop stragglers. "Well," said he, "this is no place for you, young man." By this time the fire was getting hot; the limbs and branches of the trees were falling, torn by shot and shell. He looked to the right and left 54 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. and not one of our men could be seen. Then he started to get out. His horse was wild with fright; it was all he could do to retain control of her. He started down through a corn field, which was literally plowed by shot and shell and saturated with blood. His mare in her wild, frantic struggles finally threw him clear over her head, but he managed to hold to the bridle and at last succeeded in regaining his seat; then he let her go just as fast as she wished, '■for, said he, I was in as big a hurry as she." It wasn't a great while until she landed in the road, and as soon as she saw the other horses she calmed down, perfectly satisfied. At the time he was thrown a piece of shell struck the seat of his saddle, a sort cf side swipe, ripping the rawhide off the tree ; so it was a good thing for him that he was thrown. We were right on the edge of the battle, but could see nothing on account of the dense foliage. The battle sounded like the hum of an angry swarm of bees. We sat there and listened. Some- times it was like innumerable voices of men angry at something that was being done that they didn't like. The leaves of the trees were all vibrating as though stirred by a gentle breeze, although there wasn't a breath of air in motion. It was as calm and beau- tiful a day as I ever saw, but, oh, how laden with sorrow ! Many were the brave lads who woke that morning only to close their eyes, before night, on this world forever. How time does fly in a battle ! It was but a short time, seemingly, since morning, and now it was almost night. At last we were ordered to get ready to move. We were going, it was said, to make a circuit of the battle- field by way of observation, but we saw no more of the actual fighting. I think this was done for the purpose of finding out if there were any movements on the part of the rebels looking toward retreat. We were finally drawn up in a lane and there remained until long after midnight. Some of the men sat on the fence, while others stood by their horses' heads, so as to give the poor animals as much rest as possible. Everything was perfectly quiet. The fighting seemed to be all over, when all at once an immense shell was fired in the direction of Scottsville. It was beyond all doubt the most startling old screamer I had yet heard. It was as though a couple of fiends had caught the corners of the heavens and were ripping them right down through the center. It was a fitting close to the day. Reminiscences of Antietam. , 55 After remaining there about an hour longer, someone took charge of the Regiment and we were marched back to the cross- roads. The great battle was over, neither one of the armies having much the advantage. Lee was glad to get back over the Potomac once more. The next day, I think, we broke camp and proceeded on our way to Greencastle, where we were to turn our horses over to their owners. When we arrived there we turned into a vacant field, tied our horses to the fence and everything was ready for the farmers to reclaim their stock. They were there, ready and anxious to begin. It was pathetic to hear the remarks of some of ■those old fellows when they saw those horses. "Well," said one gentleman, when he saw his favorite riding mare, "I wouldn't have believed that boss could have been used up that way in such a short time." Our next move was back to Carlisle, where we resumed our drill, preparatory to joining the Grand Army of the Cumberland in the west. ON PICKET AT ANTIETAM. SERG. \VM. MCGEE, REGIMENTAL SADDLER, TOLLGATE, W, VA. IN September, 1862, our Regiment, after being recruited in different parts of the State, had assembled at Carhsle for organization. We had not been a month in the service when General Lee invaded Maryland, and a detail was made from the Regiment to meet him. At that time the men were not fully uni- formed and all the arms we had were sabers, but revolvers were issued to the first detachment that was sent down ; and while drawn up in line, in front of the Colonel's tent, we had orders to load them, which we did in a bungling fashion, without any accident happening, which was fortunate, as most of those in line had never loaded a revolver before and broke all the rules ever made for doing it safely. We were just as badly off for officers. Quite a number of the old Troop were with us, but their positions were only temporary ones, and I think the only commissioned officer of the Regiment was Captain Wm. J. Palmer. We rode all night on the cars and arrived at Greencastle the next morning, and at once were sent out in the country to press horses from the farmers. Some sort of an organization was made, and Braden J. Hurst, of the old Troop, was appointed Captain of the Company to which I was assigned, and he appointed me tem- porary First Sergeant. Our Company reached the battlefield of Antietam on the after- noon of the battle, September 17th, and on the same evening Major Ward sent for me and told me to take six men down on the bank of the Potomac and picket where the right wing of our army rested on the river. The Major gave me very particular instructions as to my duty. He told me that it was understood that General Lee's army was penned up in the bend of the river and had control of no ford to cross over into Virginia, and that it was probable he would try to break through our right wing, just where we were posted, to get out and up the river, and that I must be very vigi- lant and report at once any movement in my front. I took my men 56 Oil Picket at Antictain. 57 down and made my reserve post on the road, about 200 yards back from the canal, and placed the videttes down on the north bank of the canal, below a large grain elevator and a group of houses. McClellan's infantry was on the river blufif above us. I did not sleep a wink that night, but went back and forth between the reliefs and at daylight was with the videttes, where I got a boat and crossed the canal to the towpath on the other side, and on looking over the river I saw two Confederates coming across on a fish dam. Calling over to my boys what I had discovered, I slipped down to the willows and concealed myself in a position to head them off, and as soon as they landed I stepped out on the sandy beach and called to them to surrender, and when they saw my revolver presented, up went their hands, in token that they gave up. They had no arms, but had gone over the river to forage for something to eat, and coming back got on the wrong dam, the right one for them being a half mile below. I marched them up the bank and followed, revolver in hand, up to the towpath and across the canal. A company of infantry had come up and were drawn in line. They saluted us with cheers and "Bully for you. Sergeant !" My prisoners said General Lee had three fords he could use to cross over into Virginia, so I at once sent them to Major Ward and he sent them to General McClellan's headquar- ters, to let him know of the fords, but I think now that he knew it before he got the information from us. On the second night after the battle of Antietam, the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry camped in the streets of Hagerstown, Md. As for myself, I made my bed on the sidewalk, on a very hard, flat rock. The next morning Major Ward led us out the pike toward Williamsport. When we had got out about two miles it was discovered that the enemy had a piece of artillery planted on the pike, about a half mile in front of us. We hiked out of the road in a hurry and drew up in line in a meadow facing south. We had hardly gotten out of the way when a round shot came skipping by. If it had come five minutes sooner it would have raked us from front to rear. Our line was to the left of the pike. In our front and to the left was a strip of woods, I guess a quarter of a mile long by 200 yards wide. I was ordered to take eight men and go through the woods and feel the enemy, and to dismount at the edge of the woods and go through on foot. Not knovv^ing better, I dismounted 58 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. all the men, and we tied our horses to saplings. I then ordered the men to scatter. Our line stretched from one edge of the woods to the other. It made a very thin skirmish line. When we were about half through the timber an orderly overtook us, and said we were to come back and mount and report to the Major. Before getting there another orderly came with orders for me to take my men and picket a road that led out through the farms to the left of our line. After being in this position for an hour I received orders to go out still farther to the left of the timber, and go on until I found the enemy, and see how many there were and what they were doing. We mounted and went some distance out the road and through a gate into a field. On the far side of this field was a post-and-rail fence. Finding it impossible to get through with horses, I told the men to remain there and I would go alone on foot and make observations myself. I went forward, along an old- fashioned worm fence, until I was even with the south end of the woods. Some 300 or 400 yards away, with a small valley between, looking south, I could see the dust rising over the roads and could hear the rumble of artillery wagons. At first I could see no one, but presently heard voices, and looking down in the valley I saw and counted thirty rebel soldiers; some were lying down, others were washing their faces in a small stream. Taking them all together they were a shabbly lot. Not being familiar with the long range of guns I felt perfectly safe, but when I turned to go back, and had taken about two steps, a bullet passed my nose so close that I put my hand to my face to see if I had a nose left. I then started on a trot, when another shot was fired, but fell short, striking on the other side of the fence. I got back and reported to Major Ward and then resumed my picket post. When night came our whole force — cavalry and infantry — fell back to Hagers- town very quietly, so quietly that I knew nothing about it. About 10 o'clock that night I heard someone calling softly, "Hello, Ser- geant !" "Hello, yourself ! Who are you and what do you want?" "I am a messenger from Major Ward. The command left here at dark and you were forgotten. Get your men mounted and get back to Hagerstown as quick as possible," was his reply. When it is known that it was less than a month since I had left my home in a quiet little town in western Pennsylvania, the reader will no doubt think I was being initiated in the art of war by a suspension of the rules. COLONEL PALMER AND THE PATRIOTIC PARSON. First-Lieut. Chas. H. Kirk, Philadelphia. IT adds greatly to the efficiency of any army to campaign in a country where its inhabitants are friendly to their cause, as then all the movements of the enemy are at once forwarded to the headqtiarters of the friendly command. When in the South, all movements of the Union Army were noted by rebel sympa- thizers, even to the number of troops, and then sent where the information would do us the most harm. But the colored people did not act thus. They were our friends and so far as was in their power, would bring or forward to us all they considered would be to our advantage. The great drawback to the informa- tion they gave was their ignorance of numbers. They had no language to indicate, with any idea of exactness, how many of our enemy were at the places they named and their report of "a right smart lot" might mean ten or a thousand. In our Maryland campaign Union loving people were found who kept us, to a certain extent, posted on the movements of the rebels, and other ways were at times resorted to when important information was desired. One of the most dramatic incidents in the early history of our Regiment — one most unfortunate in its efiPects for some time, the capture of Colonel Palmer (then a Cap- tain) as a spy on the south side of the Potomac River after the battle of Antietam — is perhaps best told in the words of Colonel Palmer himself in the annexed certificate. This was written in aid of a patriotic parson who accompanied him on that expedition. The parson had escaped and brought back most important information, but as he was unknown, it could not be acted upon at Headquarters, and the reverend gen- tleman was even charged with betraying Colonel Palmer into rebel captivity, and sent to prison at Fort Delaware. The application of Mr. Stine to the authorities at Washington, for compensation for the scout duty he performed and the indig- 59 6o History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. nities he suffered, resulted in his receiving from the Government five hundred dollars. Headquarters isth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Huntsville, Alabama. February 12, 1865. I certify on honor, first, that on the day before the battle of South Mountain the Rev. J. J. Stine, of Cumberland County, Pa., came into the lines of my regiment, five miles south of Greencastle, Pa., on the Williamsport Road, and communicated the information that in crossing the Potomac River at Williamsport, Md., he had met the rear guard of Stonewall Jackson's rebel corps crossing to the south side of that river; that this information (which was evidently of great importance as showing that Lee's Army then on or near the South Mountain had been weakened by the detaching of one-third of its- force sent to attack Harper's Ferry on the south side of the Potomac; also as showing the danger to the garrison at Harper's Ferry) I immediately forwarded by telegraph to Col. Alex. McClure at Headquarters, Chambersburg, who was in telegraph communication with the headquarters of the army at Washington. Second. That the next morning, on hearing cannonading in the direction of South Mountain, and also of Harper's Ferry, I was desirous of ascertaining what effect this would have upon the movements of the enemy's force in my front, consisting of Longstreet's Corps, then camped at or near Hagerstown or Funkstown, Md. ; that the Rev. J. J. Stine, aforesaid, volunteered to go into the enemy's lines at Hagerstown, and obtain the desired information; that I consented and he started ofif in that direction, and returned to my headquarters a little after dark the same day, and reported as follows : That he had reached Hagerstown about noon, and found that most of Longstreet's Corps had already marched that morning towards South Mountain on the Boonsboro Road; that on a hill about two miles from town he could see the rear guard of the marching column moving eastward at i p. m. ; that he could see the wagon trains turn off the Boonsboro Road, east of Hagerstown, at a point where a road turned off to Williamsport, and go into camp, and that one brigade of Longstreet's Corps, under Toombs, was still camped near Hagerstown, and would, in his opinion, remain there till morning. That this important information I also telegraphed immediately to headquarters at Chambersburg, and the next morning verified its correct- ness by pushing into Hagerstown with my command of 200 cavalry, where I captured a considerable number of stragglers, and ascertained that Toombs' brigade had been left at Hagerstown until about i a. m., when it had commenced retreating towards the Potomac River. That the truth of Mr. Stine's report in regard to Longstreet's wagon trains was proven the same day by the arrival at Greencastle of all our cavalry from Harper's Ferry under Colonel Davies, who had captured on the road one of these trains (loaded with ordnance) within three miles of Williamsport on the road from Funkstown. Colonel Palmer and the Patriotic Parson. 6i Third. I further certify that the day succeeding the battle of Antie- tam, my command being then on the extreme right of our armj^ and General McClellan having expressed to me his wish that a spy should be sent across the Potomac River to Shepherdstown to ascertain whether General Lee was making any preparations to retreat to the south side of the river and General McClellan having stated how extremely important this information would be to him, I decided in a fit of injudicious patriot- ism to cross the Potomac myself in company with the Rev. J. J. Stine, and endeavor to procure this important information, on the possession of which I thought the fate of the rebel army of Virginia and its possible complete destruction might hinge. That I accordingly crossed the river at Dam No. 4, taking Mr. Stine with me, and during the night obtained the information from a loyal physician of Shepherdstown, Va., that at midnight no crossing had actually taken place, but that the rebels were evidently just begin- ning to cross. While near Dam 4 during the night we were passed by the whole of Stewart's cavalry, then moving from Shepherds- town towards Williamsport to cross to the north side of the Potomac. With these two items of information we were about starting back when we were captured by a battery of rebel artillery, which had been sent up to guard the ford at Dam No. 4 during the retreat of Lee's Army across the river; that I was sent on to Richmond, but Mr. Stine effected his escape at Dam No. 4 before suspicion was strongly fastened upon him. Fourth. I further certify that when I returned from Richmond the following January, I found to my astonishment, that the Rev. J. J. Stine had been arrested and confined for several months in Fort Dela- ware on the charge of having betrayed me into rebel captivity, and that he was still under parole, from which my application to the Secretary of War procured an immediate release. That in my opinion the imprisonment of Mr. Stine at Fort Delaware was longer and more severe than it otherwise would have been, from the fact that he generously appreciated the danger in which I might be placed at Richmond by the publication of any of the circumstances attending my capture and his escape at Dam No. 4. That in addition to my feelings of personal gratitude to him; for this self-denial, I wish to state that I regard him as a disinterested and earnestly patriotic citizen, who was willing to risk his life at repeated times for the sake of the national cause; that he has had considerable odium attached to his name by the general community in consequence of his imprisonment in Fort Delaware, and is now quite poor. His services were of great value to the army and to the country, and I hope they will be rewarded in the most liberal manner. I am, with great respect, Wm. J. Palmer, Colonel commanding 15th Penna. (Anderson) Cavalry. OUR FIRST CAMPAIGN, GEO. NEIL^ COMPANY D, MARSHALLTOWN^ IOWA. HAVING heard much of the Anderson Cavalry, a battahon of 400 men for special service in the Army of the Cumber- land and to act as General Buell's bodyguard, I determined to enlist in it if they would take me. I had at that time just passed my sixteenth birthday, but was large and strong for my age, and, as eighteen was the minimum age for accepting recruits, I decided to tell them I was nearly nineteen in order to have them take me. After making some inquiries in regard to the Troop, I found it was necessary to have a recommendation from some prominent citizen or well-known firm. This I knew I could get, so on August 18, 1862, I went- to the recruiting station, on the southwest corner of Third Street and Willing's Alley, and found a place crowded with men waiting to enlist in the command. I saw a carbine, saber, belt and pistol standing in the corner of the room, a pair of cavalry boots in the window and a cavalry cap hanging on the wall. After waiting for a short time I went to the desk of the recruit- ing Sergeant, whom I found to be an old acquaintance, Roland Seeger, and told him I wanted to enlist in the Troop. He asked me my name, which I gave him. He said they were not accepting any more men then, but that he would take me, handing me the en- listment papers to fill out and sign, which I did. By the way, I still have in my possession those enlistment papers, made out and signed by myself, and the parent's consent, in case of a minor, signed by my mother. Sergeant Seeger then told me to go to the examining surgeon. Dr. Jas. Patterson, at Broad and Pine Streets, for examination. I found the doctor there, and how fearful I was that he would not pass me, but he did, and pronounced me fit for service. I then went tc my mother to get her consent to my enlistment, and how I had to coax her to sign the paper ! She said : "No, you are too young ; you are only sixteen, and you say here you are nineteen. I will not 62 Oiir First Caml^aign. 63 sign it." But after a couple of hours" persuasion she relented and signed the papers. I then hastened to Alderman Dougherty and was sworn in. From there I went to Rockhill & Wilson's and was measured for my uniform; from there to Sullender & Pas- chal's and got a cavalry cap ; from there to Dickerman and was measured for long boots. The next day I was busy buying such indispensable articles for a soldier as camp knife, dirk knife, rubber blanket and talma, and getting myself ready to leave my home. I had everything I wanted for a life I knew nothing of except that it would be full of hardships, danger and perhaps death. I thought that I ought to go and do all that I could to help my country in her hour of need and help sustain the glory of our old flag. On the 2.1st of August I left Philadelphia for the camp at Car- lisle, Pa. I arrived there about 3 o'clock that afternoon, and found the camp was situated on the grounds of the United States Cavalry Barracks. There were probably 200 men of the Troop there. There were no officers present, no tents, no rations, no one in charge who seemed to know anything about us or care for us. As there was a prospect of rain during the night, about forty of us got some large packing boxes that were on the ground, placed them in two long rows, about eight feet apart, covering them with a long canvas we got from somewhere. We named it "Poverty Pow,"' and in this place we lived until tents were issued to us. On August 22d we were mustered into the service of the United States for three years or during the war. Poles and flies of wall tents were issued to us, which, after a gi-eat deal of trouble and hard work, we managed to get up in pretty good shape. We then bought boards and made floors for our tents, and oh, Lord ! how hard those boards Avere to sleep on ! During the balance of the month we were kept busy learning the life of a soldier and being drilled twice a day by the regulars. Will any of us ever forget that Irish Sergeant who originated, *'Hep, hep ! now you've got it ! Damn you ! keep it ! Hep, hep?'' Those who could not stand camp life went to the hotels at Carlilse for their meals or else patronized the hucksters, who were ever present with their pies and things ; and those were the days, if a soldier wanted to go to town or to Philadelphia for a few days, he wrote his own oass, which was usuallv honored bv the o-tiards. 64 History of the Fifteenth Peniisylz'ania Cavalry. Every evening we would have dress parade, when the citizens of Carlisle came out in crowds to see the Andersons. General Lee about this time began his invasion of the North, which resulted in the battle of Antietam. We were in no condition to fight an enemy, unless that enemy was willing to fight on equal terms with sabers, as that weapon was all we had; but on September 9th a detail of about 200 men — those who knew how to ride a horse — were selected and sent off to GreencastlCj first having revolvers issued to them. But a day or two later we received orders to get ready to march immediately, and about 11 p.m. we were formed in line and marched to town. We were halted by the side of a trains of cars and waited the rest of the night for an engine to come and haul us away. During the night we had quite a hard shower. Shortly after daylight the men scattered to the dilterent houses, where we got a good breakfast. It was 7 o'clock when an engine came up and hooked on our train. We got on board, and amid cheers and the waiving of handkerchiefs we pulled out. We were taken to Chambersburg, where we disembarked, and were quar- tered in and around the courthouse, but the majority of the men soon found better quarters at the hotel and private houses. The following day several of the men were sent into the country to press horses and bring them in, so that we could be mounted. Toward evening a report came to camp that there were some rebels at a small town not far away, so a party was detailed to go after them. They were ordered to take muskets. This a number objected to, said they had enlisted as cavalry and not to carry muskets, and especially such arms as they were. Some of the boys claimed their guns were flintlocks. After considerable argument and coaxing the officer in command finally got about one-half of the men to take the muskets. We then boarded the train and rode about fifteen miles. Every mile or two some man would get'" dis- gusted with his musket and throw it ofif the train. About 12 o'clock the train stopped, and we got off and were marched three or four miles into the country, expecting every minute to be fired into from both sides of the road. At last we marched into the woods on the side of the road, were told to lie down and sleep, but to be ready for an attack at anv minute. The next morning a portion of the command was ordered to Our First Campaign. .65 march back to Chambersburg and get horses. We left our blankets and bundles behind us, and were told we would get them again at Greencastle. We marched all day, reaching Chambers- burg in the evening, found the horses saddled and waiting for us. We dropped our muskets without a single regret and mounted our steeds. I was fortunate enough to draw a fine young horse that had never been ridden, and the horse drew a rider who had never ridden a horse. That horse and I had some great times together. Part of the time he went where I wanted him to go, and the bal- ance of the time I went where he wanted to go. We left Chambersburg at 9 p.m., marched to Greencastle, reach- ing there at midnight. We put our horses in a field and tied them to a fence. Some of the men were tired and they laid down in the field and went to sleep, but four or five others and myself thought we would go to the depot and sleep there. Just as we got there we met the Sergeant, who told us as we were the only ones he could find we would have to go on picket. Jacoby and myself were put on one post, about a mile from town, and sat there on our horses for the remainder of the night. Shortly after daylight we were relieved, and went to a tavern on the road, where we found some of our boys, so we stopped and got breakfast. We then marched down the road until we came to another picket post. We stayed with them until afternoon, when we rejoined the balance of the command, which was on the march for Hagerstown, Md. It was reported there were some rebels there. When we got within a mile of the town we started on a gallop and charged through the streets. The rebels had been there, but had left a short time before we arrived. We went some distance past the town and captured some straggling rebels, whom we brought back and locked up in the jail. We also found some sick and wounded rebels in a hospital. We were, indeed, a dirty-looking set when we got through with that, our first charge. The roads were very dusty, and we were completely covered. The dust was on so thick that one Comrade could not tell v/ho the other was. We halted in Hagerstown long enough to wash and get some of the dust ofif our clothes. Then the citizens came out with eatables, to which we did full justice. The girls came around and pinned a bouquet on each blue jacket. There were lots of pretty girls there, and they were not shy either. 5 66 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. From Hagerstown we went scouting through the country, find- ing out what the rebels were doing and where they were trying to get to. We kept this up for a couple of days, and then joined the army assembled at Antietam. The battle was then on. We were stationed on the field, in the rear of the line of battle, and close enough to have bullets sing over our heads and shells to burst in front an*d rear and over us. Our chief duty seemed to be to pre- vent straggling from the front. It was here that I saw for the first time a man dead on the field of battle. He belonged to one of the New York Fire Zouave regi- ments. He had crawled to a puddle of water, by the side of the road, and died there. Then came the first wounded man, who belonged to the same regiment. He was walking back to the rear. He had been shot through both cheeks, and the front of his uniform was covered with blood. It soon got to be so frequent a sight that it hardly attracted my attention. Toward evening our column was formed, and we marched to Dam No. 4 on the Potomac, where we crossed the canal and marched down between the canal and the river. About midnight we crossed, under the canal, through an archway, and continued the march until near morning, when we halted at a farmhouse, and camped in the barnyard and field. The next day we marched to Jones' crossroads, and laid there all day. That night a party was sent out scouting toward the battlefield. About midnight, as we were riding along the road, we were suddenly fired into by a company of infantry. We wheeled about and got out of there as fast as we could. Captain Tintsman's horse was killed, which, fortunately, was the only casualty. We found out the next day that it was a company of our men, on picket, that fired into us. They did not look for any- thing but rebels from the direction we were coming, and had orders to fire without challenging. At the National Encampment at Minneapolis, in 1884, I met one of the men who was on picket with that company, and he gave me a full account of it. He said they challenged us twice, but we did not halt, so they fired on us. As we were in our own country, our reception by the citizens was all that we could ask. We were fed abundantly, and Govern- ment rations were at a discount. The battle of Antietam being over, we were ordered back to Our First Campaign. 67 our camp at Carlisle. We marched through Hagerstown and Greencastle. At the latter town we met the Gray Reserves of Philadelphia, and found many acquaintances in the regiment. At Chambersburg we turned in our horses and took the cars for Carlisle, where we resumed our drills. We had been in camp but a few days when it was reported that the rebels were again near Chambersburg. Two companies were ordered to get ready to march. Rations and ammunition were issued. We marched to the depot and took the cars for Newville, where we found we were to be stationed. A strong picket post was placed about half a mile from town, at a bridge on the railroad, with a wagon road passing underneath. We blockaded the track with ties, rails and logs, so that if a train did come down it would be thrown off the bridge. We then built a large fire, lining the fence behind the fire with cornstalks, to keep off the wind, and were fixed for the night. Quite a number of citizens were driving along the wagon road, and we asked each one as they passed to bring us something to eat, and by night we had more eatables than we could dispose of in a week. Shortly after dark a relief was sent out to us, but we declined to be relieved, and sent them back. The next morning the relief came out again, and this time we had to accept them and go back to town, where we found the two companies quartered in the depot, with more eatables than they could take care of. After cleaning ourselves up, blacking our boots and putting on clean collars, a squad of us started out to see the town. We found everybody very friendly and anxious to do all they could for our comfort. We received many invitations to dinner, and finally accepting one, went to the house of our host, where we found dinner all ready for us. Just as we had taken our seats at the table the bugle sounded the assembly, so we had to leave that good dinner, much to the disappointment of the family and ourselves. We returned to the depot, and, after waiting about an hour, a train came and took us back to Carlisle. During the latter part of October we were busy preparing a new camp on the opposite side of the town from the barracks. We finally got the ground cleared and the wall tents up in good shape. Most of the tents had board floors, bunks and stoves. We expected to stay there all winter and were fixed for comfort. This camp was named "Camp Buell." 68 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. November 7, 1862. We received orders to-day to get ready to break up our camp. After a great deal of trouble we got every- thing packed and were ready. The band from the barracks came over and we marched to town in a heavy snowstorm, got to the depot and found the train was late. We waited there six hours before it was ready. Then came many affectionate partings, as nearly every man had formed some close friendships among the citizens, more espe- cially the young ladies. At last we pulled out from Carlisle, and for many of us it was forever. At Pittsburg we changed cars, first marching to the Soldiers' Refreshment Saloon, where we got a fine supper. Our train was in three sections. The boys would crowd into the first section, ride to the next town, get off and wait there for the last section. We arrived at Louisville, Ky., on the loth, and found our camp was a mile from town, on the L. & N. R. R. We got there at last and busied ourselves in putting up tents and getting the camp in shape. We had a fine time here; were permitted to go into town frequently, so we did not abuse the privilege. There was a large Government mule corral near our camp, and the songs these birds sang every night will never be forgotten. We finally drew our horses and full equipment. Then came the drills. Morning and afternoon it was pounded into us, until we began to be cavalrymen. Then came the dress parade, in town, on Broad Street — the most fashionable residence street. The citi- zens came in crowds to see the Anderson Cavalry. We were in camp in Louisville nearly a month, when one day orders were received to march to Nashville, Tenn. Tents were struck, the wagons loaded, and on December 8th we bade good-bye to Louisville, and started on our first trip into the Confederacy. It was reported that the rebel General Morgan and his command were somewhere between Louisville and Nashville. We marched to Bowling Green and went into camp, expecting to stay there some time. Our first night in Bowling Green was spent on the grounds of some prominent citizen, who did not want any Yankees on his plantation, so he went to headquarters and entered com- plaint, and orders were issued for us to move our camp to the other side of town. This was done in one of the hardest rains we Our First Campaign. 69 were ever caught in. When we arrived at the new camp we found it in a ploughed field. The mud was awful. It was simply im- possible to put up tents. We tied our horses to trees or anything we could find to tie to. The men could not lie on the ground, so the most of them went into a large cave and put in the night there. I was fortunate in getting into an old barn with a lot of the men. They built a fire on the floor and sat up to watch it, so it would not burn the building. I found a wheat trough full of wheat, spread my bed on that and turned in. Just before I got to sleep Sergeant Pattison came to the door and called my name. I did not want to go out that night, so kept quiet. He did not find me. The next morning I found him. He asked me where I was last night; I told him I slept in the old barn. He said, "I called you there, but you did not answer ; I wanted you to go on picket." I told him I was probably asleep. The rebel General Morgan and his command were reported at Glascow, and a portion of the Regiment was ordered to scout there for information. We started about sundown and marched all night. It was very cold, and we had to halt every three or four miles and build fires and thaw out. About daylight we charged into Glascow, and found that Morgan and sixty men had been there, but had left suddenly about an hour before we arrived. After feeding and resting our horses, we marched back to Bowling Green. It was at this place I received the only promotion I received dur- ing my service. I was detailed as Lance Corporal, in charge of orderHes, to Brigadier-General Smith, in command at Bowling Green, and continued in that position until we arrived at Nash- ville, when I resumed my rank of high private. Our march to Nashville was resumed, and at 2 p.m.^ December 24, 1862, we reached the Cumberland River, opposite the city, and crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, the other bridges having been burned by the rebels. We paraded through the streets and then marched to our camp, about two miles south of the city. We found the grounds well adapted for camping, with the exception of fences for fuel, but our wagons coming up, we soon had the camp in shape. December 25th, Christmas — the first one I ever passed away from home. My Christmas dinner was served in four courses : 70 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. 1st. Beans, boiled. 2d. Salt pork, boiled. 3d. Hard-tack. 4th. Coffee ; no cream. In the morning a foraging party was sent out for corn for the horses. They went about ten miles from town, when they were attacked by rebel cavalry. They had a brisk little fight ; one man of Company F was killed. The party returned to camp, bringing all the wagons and the forage. As this brings us to the Stone River campaign, I will leave that for some other Comrade. SERGEANT BETTS AND OLD COMPANY E. SERG. SIMEON LORD, COMPANY E, PHILADELPHIA. SOME personalities lastingly impress others. I do not think that Sergeant Betts could have been more than twenty-four years old when he took charge of us, and, by the usual rule, he should have had a hard time governing a hundred boys, whose ages did not average over twenty years, but he did not. There was something about him which drew the respect and obedience of his Company, and his orders were carried out not so much because they were orders, but because Sergeant Betts had told us. He was not a martinet or a blusterer. He never lost his temper, and I do not recall an instance of his punishing a man. Somehow we got along without it, and a feeling grew among the men that it was not so much that we belonged to Company E as that Com- pany E belonged to us, and we tried to make it the best of the lot. Sergeant Betts was earnest and thorough in all that he did, and had the faculty of inspiring us with that feeling. He had been an officer in the Blue Reserve at home, and for a time was in the Quartermaster's Department of the Army of the Potomac, under Colonel Tolles, who was afterward killed by Mosby's men; therefore the drill was not altogether new to him. Those old regulars who instructed us at Carlisle were past masters in the art, and made us one of the best drilled regiments in the service. Company E was the first to dispense with their services, and Sergeant Betts most ably filled the position, and the Company was never better drilled or drilled better than when he gave the orders. It was after we got to Louisville that Lieutenant John W. Jack- son came to us as our permanent Commander. We had several temporary Commanders before, but the real Commander of our Company was Sergeant Betts. The temporary officers usually took us out on dress parade. One of them, who must have been unduly impressed, issued his first command on taking charge : "Gentlemen, carry arms, please." 71 72 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. We had some trouble at Nashville. The officers we had were not of that positive character who carry out orders under all circumstances, and when the command came to get ready to march many of the boys refused to go, and the commissioned officers failed in their duty. I shall always remember Sergeant Betts, then in the full flush of his tall, slender young manhood, as he stood in front of his Company announcing to us that "General Rosecrans wants the Anderson Cavalry at the front, and I am going." With his eyes appealing to us and face wreathed with that ever- pleasant magnetic smile, now set with a fixed determination, it gave us the first true index of the soldier in him, and old Company E at once remembered its duty and followed its Sergeant. Our Sergeant was too good a man for such a subordinate posi- tion, and at the reorganization of the Regiment, three months later, he was made a Captain. At the "retreat" call of March 3, 1863, he called the roll of the Company for the last time, and then told us the changes. He said many pleasant things, which I cannot now recall, but we forgot to wait for the order to "break ranks," and when he finished three hearty cheers were given for our friend, Capt. Chas. M. Betts. A PRIVATE FORAGING PARTY AT BOWLING GREEN WHICH FAILED. CHAS. M. BROUGH, COMPANY A, OGDEN, UTAH. THE overland march of the Anderson Cavalry from Louis- ville to Nashville, in the late fall of 1862, will be remem- bered by most of the Troopers, certainly by all the original members of the ten companies of our Regiment. Outside of the daily routine of guard mount, picket duty and such other duties, nothing occurred to upset the even tenor of our march until our approach to Bowling Green, Ky., when a terrific rain storm set in, continuing for several days. We got in camp about dark, and made such preparations as would insure as good a night's sleep as possible, and then began a "gum-boot" search for stray chickens roosting low, or belated pigs that hadn't found home when the curfew rang. The commanding officer had issued stringent orders forbidding all foraging, and enforced them, too, as you will see from what follows. I was then a member of old Company E, and, as quite a number of the boys in that Company were from the country, they were not afraid of a goose or a chicken biting them, so four of us set out on a night prowl to find something to take the place of hard-tack and bacon. In the darkness we caught a glimpse of the outlines of a big house and a bigger barn ahead of us, and in a little while we stumbled on a nest of "porkers," all huddled up, snoozing. As each one of us had a dirk or hunting knife hung on our belts, we soon had one of the "grunters" by the heels. One of the boys held his snout, another held him down, and another sent the dirk home until the last squeak had been uttered and died away. We thought he was a legitimate spoil of war, and pro- ceeded to "tote" him to camp, where we arrived safely with our plunder. Just how to manage so as not to be caught was the question, and we decided to put him in one of the wagons until morning, 73 74 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. and then skin him and divide him up for the next day's breakfast and supper. Shortly after reveille had sounded, the farmer was on hand with his tale of woe to the commanding officer, and soon an inquiry was begun by every Company Commander to find out who the "boodlers" were. We were in a tight place, and, as a cover, put the hog in a big washboiler that our Company cook used to make coffee in, and there he rested all day until the camp was made for the night. The detail was made as usual to carry the w^ater to make coffee, and as all the officers were on the watch for fresh pork smell, the water was poured in on the hog, the coffee put in also and all cooked together. Of course, not one of our Company took coffee that evening, but when the officer of the night came along and with his tincup dipped in our washboiler for a cup of cofTee, he got it with whiskers and bristles and at the same time struck something tan- gible. On investigation he found the hog, and we were compelled to pay in the neighborhood of twenty dollars for the grunter, and then didn't get any of the meat. Later on, however, these strict orders (while always in existence) were winked at and never literally enforced, for, after a few years of service, everybody realized that "war was hell," as General Sherman expressed it, and foraging, when necessity required, was more or less legiti- mate. But, be it said to the credit of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, they never wantonly destroyed property or took anything not absolutely needed, and in the line of something to eat. THE CHRISTMAS FORAGING EXPEDITION IN 1862. ARTHUR O. GRANGER^ CO. C, CARTERSVILLE, GA. ON December 25, 1862, the day after the Regiment arrived at Nashville, twenty men were called for from our Com- pany E to go on a foraging expedition, and I was one of the number who volunteered. There were also squads from the other companies, the whole under the command of Captain Vezin. We took all of the wagons belonging to our Regiment and joined a large train of about 100 wagons, with an escort from a Tennessee regiment. About nine miles out we halted, near a large corn field, and the mounted men were put on picket duty in differ- ent directions, while the infantry loaded the fodder into the wagons. I was in Corp. Chas. H. Kirk's squad, along a narrow road to the left of the pike. I had been on picket an hour or so, when I was relieved and rode back to the farmhouse, where I found a late Christmas dinner going on the table. I told the lady of the house that I would dine with them, and went out on the back porch to wash up and get ready for a square meal. Just then I heard a volley of rifle shots, and, regretting to miss the feast, I ran through the kitchen and seized a long-handled skillet at the back of the stove, and, holding up the tail of my overcoat, flopped the big, hot "johnnycake" into it, and that was all of the Christmas dinner I got. I jumped on my horse and soon joined our men on the pike. The rebels were coming over a low hill and down toward the corn field and seemed to outnumber us. We retired along the pike a short distance, when, under the inspiration of Albert Coleman, of Company E, we were drawn up in line near a blacksmith shop and held the enemy in check; there was very sharp firing for a while. The w^agons were getting out of the field and started down the pike on a full run. One of our men was mortally wounded, Martin L. Hill, of Company F, being shot through the temples. He was a bright, 75 76 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. talented young man, and was a student at Washington and Jeffer- son College, leaving there to join our Regiment. He was the first of our boys killed after we went West. H. C. Fry, of Company B, and some others moved him into the blacksmith shop and placed him on a quilt borrowed from a colored family near by. The wagons having gone on toward Nashville, he was left there in the shop. Later, I think a detail, under Lieutenant Musselman, went out and buried the brave soldier boy beside the road. The command lost two wagons, but brought off all the rest, loaded with corn, fodder, etc. Shortly after noon a man in citizen's clothes had been to Cor- poral Kirk's post and asked to pass through the lines to see a sick daughter. He was refused and wandered off, getting out to one of the videttes and telling him he had the Corporal's permission. The green cavalryman passed him, although against orders. In less than an hour the attack came, and no doubt that man carried the information to the enemy. DEATH OF MARTIN L HILL. CORPORAL H. C. FRY, COMPANY B, ROCHESTER, PA. I WAS one of the train guards on Christmas afternoon of 1862, and was posted at a point near the woods (with Comrades John M. Davis and Wm. Wassell, of Company F), about a thou- sand yards beyond the blacksmith shop on the pike. M. Hill and two other Comrades, also of Company F, were at a point farther south, I think near a turnip patch. Just as the larger number of loaded wagons had pulled out into the road from a corn field nearly opposite to where I was posted, the alarm was given that rebel cavalry was approaching and the wagons were hurried off with all possible speed, and all succeeded in getting out. The infantry guard took refuge on the wagons. Our pickets remained with carbines ready. In an incredibly short time after the last wagon had entered the road, rebel cavalry ap- peared on a run, coming through the woods directly toward us, not five hundred feet distant. We emptied our carbines as fast as we could fire and reload ; two or three others of our Regiment com- ing up at the same time began firing. One rebel was unhorsed, coming to the ground less than one hundred feet in our front. I think his horse was wounded or killed. John M. Davis was on my left and urged bis horse forward to the rebel, yelling, "Surrender !" He held up his hands at once. Davis started with his prisoner down the pike after the wagons, which were by this time several hundred yards away, going at a gallop. The rebels had suddenly pulled up and turned, and we imagined for a moment they were scared away. Just at this in- stant one of our men came galloping back, shouting, "Hurry ! you are being surrounded." Then we also started on a gallop down the pike in the direction the wagons had taken. I happened to be the last of our picket, and when down the hill nearing the blacksmith shop I noticed the rebels half way through a narrow corn field on my right nearly opposite the blacksmith shop, 300 or 400 feet /S History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. away, rushing for the road. I was loading and firing at them beyond a narrow strip of woods which appeared to be full of them ; the rebels in sight firing at every horseman as he passed the open. Just before reaching the blacksmith shop m.y horse reared and fell to his knees, shot in the neck, I think. I went off head foremost, falling on the side of the road at least five or six feet below the pike level, but was unhurt. I held on to all my arms, but expected in a minute to be in the hands of the rebels, who were galloping, shooting at us, through the low corn. Springing to my feet I went as fast as possible to the shop. I stepped behind the large door, on the timber sill, where I could see the road. My horse had regained his feet and followed up the road before I was on my feet. Just as I looked out from my perch I saw M. L. Hill coming down the road on a run, his carbine held up in his right hand. I also noticed at this moment that several rebel horsemen had reached the fence at the road and were deliberately aiming at him. A rebel riding a white horse fired after a deliberate aim, hitting Hill in the right temple, the bullet passing through his head. He raised both arms and fell from his horse. He was quickly surrounded by the rebels, who dismounted, and cutting his belt took all his arms and joined perhaps thirty or forty others who had come into the road. The majority remained in the field, going in the direction of the wagons. Two rode into the blacksmith shop, one saying, "Where is the 'feller' we knocked off the other horse?" The other said, "Not here ; hurry !" They were gone in a moment, and in less than half a minute came on a fast gallop past the shop again, and with them I recognized the prisoner John M. Davis had taken, but who it appears had been rescued by his comrades in the confusion. One or two stopped and caught Hill's horse, which the escaped prisoner mounted. In probably less than five minutes from the time Hill fell they had disappeared. I ran out to where he lay, and found a death wound. I tried to get him to drink from my canteen, but his jaws were firmly set and he seemed unconscious, but struggled and moaned. From the little cottage nearby, inhabited by negroes, who were standing in the door like a lot of frightened sheep, I ordered some hot water. I thought that I could perhaps get his jaws relaxed so that he could open his mouth and speak. At first the negroes refused, saying the Confederates would shortly return Death of Martin L. Hill. 7,9 and kill them if they helped. Taking my revolver, I said: ''Very well ; you either help me with this man or you will die before they return." This had the desired effect, and both men and women came quickly, bringing- water, a quilt, and offering anything they possessed. I moved him into the blacksmith shop and laid him comfortably on a quilt and again tried to revive him. Finding it useless I gave instructions to the negroes to remain on pain of death and not leave him a moment, and started on foot with all my arms toward Nashville, a distance of ten miles, if I rightly remember. After going less than half a mile, however, it being nearly dark, I was halted by a returning squad of our Regiment, who I think were acting as rear guard to the teams, returning to find us. One of my comrades very kindly insisted upon my mount- ing his horse, relieving me every few minutes, until our camp at Nashville was reached. Martin L.Hill died a few hours later with- out regaining consciousness, and was buried near there. His body was afterward removed to his home at Miamisburg,Ohio. He had been a student at Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., when he enlisted. The few little trinkets in his pockets I re- moved and sent to his home with the sad news as to how he died. I received a letter of thanks from his sister, who stated that an- other brother had been killed on a gunboat on one of the lower rivers, and the sad news of both deaths was received on the same day. Comrade Hill was the first man killed in the Regiment after reaching the Army of the Cumberland. There were close calls for a number of our men that afternoon. Comrade H. W. Esbenshade, who was Sergeant of Company C, was on one of the outposts, and after all but four wagons were loaded with corn saw the rebels come pouring down ; the wagons got out and he put spurs to his horse. One rebel on a white horse pursued him so closely that the nose of the pursuer's horse was almost touching his horse's tail. Notwithstanding the closeness of pursuer and pursued, none of the shots which the rebel fired took effect. Comrade Esbenshade's horse on reaching the reserve began to bleed at the nose as a result of the fierce ride and died a few davs after. FIFTEENTH PENNSYLVANIA (ANDERSON) CA\^\LRY AT STONE RIVER. ADJUTANT J. C. REIFF, NEW YORK. WE received our first mount at Louisville, Ky., and marched thence to Nashville, Tenn., reaching there on the even- ing of Wednesday, December 24, 1862. Thursday, De- cember 25th (Christmas) the Regiment remained in camp about one and a half miles from the city, but details were sent out as escort to a forage train and had a fight with the rebels. Friday, the 26th, was cold and dreary with a drizzling rain. The whole army was in motion for the Stone River campaign. About ii A.M. a detachment of the Regiment started, in all about 300 men. A portion was detailed to escort a wagon train. The balance, some 200 men, reached General Rosecrans' headquarters at night on the Nolansville pike, but without the wagons. The detach- ment was in command of Major Adolph Rosengarten, the Senior Major, with Junior Major Frank B. Ward second in command. Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer was too ill to take the saddle, but occupied an ambulance, while Colonel Palmer was still a prisoner of war, having been captured in the Antietam campaign in Sep- tember, 1862, while on a special mission, seekmg to get information for General McClellan. The detachment reported directly to General D. S. Stanley, Chief of Cavalry, on the staff of General Rosecrans. We were ordered to be ready to move at daylight. There was active skirmishing all day Friday, the cavalry being well in ad- •vance, with some artillery. The enemy gradually fell back and we bivouacked at night near the pike beyond. The detachment was highly complimented for its conduct during the day, fighting both mounted and on foot. The special incident of the day was an extremely exciting and well-nigh mortal combat engaged in by a six-foot rebel and Major Rosengarten. I had been riding with the Major, but had 80 >rA.I()R ADOLPH «;. ROSEX(iARTEN Kiiled at Stone River, December 29. 1862 Fifteenth Pennsylvania CazKilry at Stone River. 8i become separated from him. When I found him I was astonished to see him pale, exhausted and bleeding. After leaving me he had hurried into the woods to reconnoiter, meeting a single rebel, who fired at him but missed at twenty yards, to which fire the Major replied with his pistol, and ordered him to surrender. This the rebel, who was dismounted, promised to do, and the Major rode up to receive his arms. When in the act of sur- rendering the rebel suddenly struck the Major a tremendous blow over the left shoulder with his gun. The man was six feet high and strongly built. The Major was also a very muscular man and a scientific boxer. • He sprang from his horse, at the same time aiming another shot at the fellow, but the pistol snapped. He then clutched and struck out with his fist. They grappled, and in the tussle the rebel, being the heavier, got on top, the Major, however, still retaining a good grip on the fellow's throat. Both were becoming somewhat weakened, when the rebel put his knee on the Major's breast, and seizing his saber aimed for his throat. The blow was turned aside by the Major, who at the same time dealt the rebel a couple of good blows on the temple with the butt of his pistol, crying out as lustily as possible for "Anderson ! Anderson ! Help ! help !" Washington Airey, our Sergeant-Major, hearing the cry thought Lieutenant Anderson was being called, therefore, he paid no attention to the noise. Airey had been on the hill and was going toward the left near the turnpike, when looking through the woods, he saw a man on the ground and another apparently helping him. Thinking that a rebel had been wounded and another was getting him off the field, he hurried forward to capture both, when to his surprise he recognized the Major on the ground. He seized the fellow, who was not inclined to loose his hold, by the back of the neck and pulled him off. He was then about to fight both, but on Airey's threatening to shoot, he surrendered. The rebel said : "I have had hold of some good men, but that one (the Major) is a Httle bit the best man I have ever had hold of." I neglected to say what caused the flow of blood. When this chap found things were growing tight, he undertook to bite the Major's finger off, and he well-nigh accomplished it; so the Major turned to help himself to a steak from the enemy's cheek, consequently it was a "stand-off." 6 82 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Owing to the excitement and exertion following the hand-to- hand conflict the Major was compelled to go to the rear for a rest, and we did not see him until the next morning. Notwithstanding the fact that our chief officer did go to the rear, we skirmishers were for some time still ordered to advance. The artillery now felt their way by shelling the front of the enemy at each good position. The Regiment pushed forward, but we saw nothing of the enemy until we arrived in sight of Triune. We were here ordered to halt, and, after some reconnoitering, found the enemy — infantry, artillery and cavalry — posted at right angles to the turnpike on the right of the town, and fully three-quarters of a mile distant. The enemy noticing our halt, took courage and threw a few shells at us, all of which fell short. When Major Rosengarten went to the rear we had seen noth- ing of our flanking parties either on the right or left, and being so near the enemy, who appeared in force, we naturally felt anx- ious for them. Seeing some cavalry posted on our immediate right and apparently resting, I was sent toward them to find out who they were, and discovered that fortunately our right flanking party was among the number. Looking to the front from that position we saw a large force in line behind a stone fence, which could be commanded by artillery from the woods. I was sent to the pike to communicate with the Lieutenant commanding the battery there, who asked for any information I might have. I acquainted him as near as possible with the enemy's position, and others coming up corroborated my statement. A section of artillery thereupon was sent to the right to await orders. Meanwhile, the General had reached an eminence on the left to reconnoiter. Some eight pieces of artillery were on the ascent, commencing at the pike to the left. Shortly afterward all our guns opened fire and the range was splendid, forcing the enemy's infantry back. Under the artillery fire our infantry advanced, and suddenly out of ambush sprang the Third Ohio Infantry and charged the rebel battery. There being no cavalry near enough to aid them, however, the rebels succeeded in limbering up and getting away. We now moved forward, and passing through the town, which was situated on a hill, found it completely deserted. At the bottom of the hill ran a stream, crossed by a bridge which the enemy had destroyed but an hour before. It was now raining Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 83 very heavily. We had not gone more than a mile, with General Johnson in front of us, when the enemy suddenly turned their battery upon us at about 600 or 700 yards. This, however, did not accomplish anything, as they quickly limbered up again and continued their retreat. We moved forward about three-quarters of a mile and took up a position in face of another hill. Scouting parties were sent down the road, but could see nothing of the enemy, although they had crossed the hill not more than twenty minutes before we ar- rived. There was a heavy wood covering the road on the right, on which side the hill was the most rugged, and in which it was thought the enemy had concealed themselves. We now learned that it was not intended on our part to institute any big or thorough search for them further that day. It was now about half-past three or four o'clock, dull and rainy, and considering everything we had covered a good deal of ground since morning, and men and horses were both tired and hungry. We reported to General Stanley, Commander-in-Chief of Rose- crans' Cavalry, who ordered us to feed our horses as near as pos- sible to where we then were, and to be on the alert for an immedi- ate move. He said : "Tell the officers and men of the Anderson Cavalry that I am more than pleased with them; that they have been during the entire day and are now just where I wanted and want them." He repeated : "Tell the Anderson Cavalry I am extremely pleased with their behavior to-day." It is needless to say that we felt proud that we had been enabled to so demean ourselves in the face of the enemy as to merit from such high authority repeated compliments. We bivouacked that night in a field nearby, where we found plenty of excellent forage for our horses, but nothing for ourselves. The only thing we could do was to capture a few pigs and some stray sheep, that would not keep out of our way. . So we had a little toast pork and mutton for supper. Sunday morning found us still resting there, having been un- disturbed, but enveloped in a dense fog through which we could not see more than fifteen or twenty yards. About half-past 8 A.M., we received orders to move on, and in less than half an hour the mist suddenly disappeared, driven away by a pleasant breeze, leaving us in a spring-like atmosphere. After proceeding 84 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. about three miles we came up to the force in our advance, which was turning to the left toward Murfreesboro. Here we met Major Rosengarten, who had sufficiently recovered to accom- pany us, and not knowing where we had encamped, had pushed on down the road with these troops, expecting to meet us. We were glad to see him so much improved. We were ordered to keep to the pike, and a few miles further found us on the ground where Hardee's entire corps (the rebel left wing) had encamped the day before. This was at a place called College Grove, and they had told the people they intended making a stand, but Hardee and his men had gone toward Murfreesboro. After scouting the country for six to nine miles our force was collected where we had first halted. Our own men were alone ; no other Union troops were in sight. We halted until about 3 p.M.^ when we were to meet our wagon train and the guard that had come up from Nolansville. Pushing back we found our encampment already selected and some tents up in the woods on the right of the pike near Harpeth Creek, and here we spent the most happy evening of the campaign. During the evening the woods resounded with sweet sounds from glad voices. The principal party was one which had furnished us frequently with splendid selections. It was a quartette made up of Major F. B. Ward, who sang his last song; Captain A. Vezin, Sergeant Oscar Vezin and H. P. Riehle. Everyone looked forward with bright anticipations to the future of our little band, prompted somewhat by the success of the day previous. We turned in before 9 p.m., as we had already received orders to march at earliest dawn on the following morning. Monday, December 29, found our line formed and the wagons loaded. After proceeding a short distance, General Stanley ordered us to send our entire train, excepting the ammunition wagon and one ambulance, back to Nolansville, to be parked with other extra wagons that were not allowed to follow us at present lest they should interfere with the rapid movements of the army. Turning to the right, this side of Triune, out of which we had driven the enemy two days before, we found ourselves in company with the division and train of General Jeff. C. Davis, the whole of which we passed by about 10 or 11 o'clock a.m. The road exceeded anything I have ever seen for roughness. It was a per- Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 85 feet stone fence — on an enlarged scale, of course — with rocks piled in huge masses, winding first through a deep ravine, then through dense cedar woods, and ever and anon we were climbing steep hills, over which it seemed artillery could not be hauled. Notwithstanding every difficulty, the rumbling of those heavy guns was heard at the front at dusk that evening as we were fall- ing back. Leaving the infantry and artillery in the morning we joined the cavalry force, consisting of sorne 3000 or 4000 Ohio, In- diana and Michigan men. On arriving near where the enemy was known to be posted, the force was assigned to different positions from right to left, stretching over about a mile of ground. We were to take the center, supported by Colonel Stokes, of the First Middle Tennessee Regiment. We were ordered to advance, throwing out skirmishers to carefully feel our way. Major Ward commanded the skirmishers and Major Rosengarten the reserve of our little band of 300. After about an hour's movement, on foot and mounted, without finding the enemy, the brigade on our right commenced firing, which told us they had at last met those whom we were seeking. In the center we could see nothing as yet. Shortly, however, an orderly arrived from the right, telling us to halt and when we again moved to incline to the right, as two regiments of the enemy were said to be waiting in our front to take us in ambuscade. Consequently our skirmishers were called in, we remounted, and after a time moved on. Soon we saw, at about 800 yards distance, the rebel cavalry drawn up in line of battle. Our line moved forward and the enemy retired. We hurried on, although they halted in a wood some distance off. Our left coming up with a little boldness, they again retreated ; but as it afterward proved, it was only to draw us on. We were soon on their pickets and captured some prison- ers, including a Brigade Surgeon and a Major, who was Assist- ant-Adjutant General on General Cheatham's staff. The name of the Surgeon was Lackey and he gave his home as Memphis, Tenn., so he told his captor, John F. Conaway, who took him to the rear. One of his first questions was what Regiment had cap- tured him, and when told and also that his guard was a Phila- delphian, he seemed delighted; told of his having gone to the 86 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. University here and named a whole lot of citizens he knew, and asked : "Is that big yellow house still standing at Broad and Walnut? and added, "I've had many a good time in it." Meanwhile the detachment, under Major Ward, pushed rapidly forward, and soon engaged with the enemy. They advanced about 600 yards — to where the pike passes through the woods — and halted. Some of our flanking parties, following up the retreating cavalry through the woods, came to the fence, and Samuel Jamison, Warren Caldwell and John K. Marshall jumped their horses through a gap, and immediately were in the midst of Company A, Tenth South Carolina Infantry, who had been advanced from their division, but whose attention had been directed toward their right, where the movements of Ward's detachment could be heard but not seen. It was a surprise, but from which the rebels soon recovered, fired on Caldwell and Marshall, who escaped through the gap in the fence. Jamison was knocked off his horse by the butt of a musket and taken prisoner, but five minutes later, in the confu- sion of the rebel infantry coming up, he escaped. Marshall had picked up a prisoner soon after his escape, and with him hurried over to where Ward and his detachment were halting on the pike. The first ofiticer he saw was Lieut. John W. Jackson, and to him he yelled : "Come on, Lieutenant ! there's plenty more in there," and then the whole detachment, at a gallop, went quickly up to the fence, behind which the rebels were. The first shots that had been fired had alarmed the rebel in- fantry in the rear, who reinforced their advance; so that by the time Major Ward and his men reached the point it was to meet a long line of infantry securely posted, with a high stake-and- rider fence protecting them from being run over by our men. So sudden had been our appearance that it confused them, and although their musketry fire was heavy, it was not destructive, even when our men were up to the fence, firing carbines and re- volvers at the enemy not over ten feet away. Major Ward was the first man hit on our side. He wore that day the ordinary blouse of a private soldier, and carried a car- bine. The fatal ball pierced his left breast near the heart, coming out below his shoulder blade. His horse was shot at the same time, and, supported by two of the men, he walked to the rear. Fifteenth Peivisylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 87 out of the line of fire, and then sank to the ground. Our As- sistant Surgeon, Dr. Mish, bathed his wound and tried to lessen the excruciating pain he suffered. Even the pain could not quench his martial spirit, for he still cheered on the men in a weak and feeble voice, which a few moments before had been so strong and lusty. Back at the fence the battle still continued. From the close range it is a wonder that so few were hit, but the rebels had not yet recovered and most of their shooting was too high ; so grad- ually we concluded that it was not possible to drive our foe, sit- uated as they were, and our line fell back further in the woods, but still kept up the firing. It was then that Major Rosengarten's battalion appeared. They had been following up Ward's party, but had gone farther down the pike toward Murfreesboro, and when the musketry got heavy, indicating a severe engagement, they were faced to the right, details threw down the fence and the battalion went forward on the charge with "advanced carbine." This was done in plain sight of the enemy, who, in addition to being prepared to receive them, was continually reinforced from the rebel line of battle, which was just in the rear. Resting their guns on the third and fourth rail of the fence, their aim was more destructive than it had been, and the losses among Rosengarten's men ex- ceeded that in Ward's. The fact that a large part of the former's line of battle was in the open field, in plain sight, and the rebels being no longer so confused, as they had been at Major Ward's sudden attack, accounts for the greater loss. The first volley killed Major Rosengarten and also Colonel Palmer's horse, "Zolli- coffer," a blooded black, known to all the men, which the Major was riding. Seven balls pierced the Major. The horse was riddled with bullets. His fall did not dampen the ardor of his men, who kept up the fight, supported by those of Major Ward's party who were about retiring but advanced again when Rosengarten came on the field. But the odds were too unequal, and gradually all fell back out of range. The loss of both Majors was a severe blow to the Regiment and a personal loss to me. Since leaving Louisville we had been thrown closely together, and it was not possible to know either of them intimately without learning to love them. When Major 88 History of the Fifteenth Pcniisyhania' Cavalry. Rosengarten rejoined us the previous day, as we rode together that beautiful Sunday morning, I recall the fact that he was very much depressed. He told me that he could not shake off the feeling that he would not survive the coming battle, and the next night he lay a sacrifice to his country, called for in the suppression of the most unjustifiable rebellion ever incited by wicked men. By order of General Stanley the Regiment had gone to the rear a short distance. Just as we were being properly re-formed, with Captain Norman M. Smith in command, an orderly arrived say- ing Major Ward wished me to come to him. I hurried back and found him, as he himself thought, in a dying condition. He was conscious of his condition and expressed himself satisfied with having done his duty, and said he was willing to die. Just before this the Surgeon had gone, with two other men, under a flag of truce, to attend the wounded, some of whom were raising the most piteous cries I ever heard. I remained under flag of truce, as we were in sight of the enemy. Shortly the Gen- eral sent word ordering all to the rear except myself. I was to remain with the Major until an ambulance could be procured. As we were in danger of being captured, I sent my saber and pistol back, so that they should not get into the hands of the enemy, even if I did. It was the wish of the Major that I remain with him, he asking for me whenever he woke up from his semi- conscious state. About half-past 4 an ambulance arrived, and we succeeded in getting the Major away and sent him to General McCook's headquarters, some three miles in the rear. I had become entirely separated from the Regiment, but soon found my old Company B, which had lately arrived, having been left behind on duty. The Regiment, under the command of Captain Smith, had previous to this, in compliance with orders, fallen back, and it then being dark, and we being unable to find them, our Company bivouacked alone that night. The next morning, Tuesday, we found our boys not more than 800 or 900 yards from us. I found my saber and pistol, and inquiring the way to the hospital, found Major Ward still liv- ing, but very low. After he had spoken a few words, express- ing his willingness to die and his firm opinion that he could not last more than a day, he requested me to leave him and not to allow anyone else in the room, as the trial of seeing his friends Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 89 under the circumstances was too great. All he could say was : "Tell the boys not to be discouraged on account of our mis- fortunes." On our way to the rear, the evening previous, the news of our loss having reached the ears of those composing the long columns of infantry and artillery that were pushing forward, we were everywhere met with expressions of sympathy. When a few of us reached the hospital, General McCook had already gone forward, and General Johnson's division, which was to act as reserve, was just coming up. We were ordered to have our command brought to the Crossroads, as the place was called, supplied with fresh ammunition, and take the rear of Gen- eral Johnson's division, as General Stanley said enough damage had been done for one day. We moved about one and a half miles and rested for a time on the road. Skirmishing had already commenced where we had fought the day before. It was determined to send forward a wagon and detachment of six men to secure the bodies of those killed and find the whereabouts of the wounded. The artillery on our right wing was posted where we had been and where our dead lay in the woods. At a distance of about 600 yards in the woods beyond the skirmishing with infantry was very heavy, mingled with artillery fire. It was quite difficult, but McCook finally drove the enemy from their position and advanced about three-quarters of a mile. We were ordered to fall back to a creek, about one mile from where we started in the morning. Our party succeeded in getting the bodies of the killed, including that of Major Rosengarten, who lay with his head between the hind feet of his black horse, "Zollicoffer." The wounded were supposed to be in a bottom which was in range of our batteries, and consequently we could not get them. We were not able to find out anything regarding them, as the As- sistant Surgeon and those who went with him under flag of truce had all been captured and carried off. The bodies secured were sent to Nashville, where some were buried. The bodies of Major Rosengarten and Sergeant S. F. Herring, however, were placed in metallic cofifins, to await transportation home. We lay where we had been ordered until dark, and were prepar- ing for a sleep, and had just laid down at half-past 10 o'clock, 90 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. when "to horse !" sounded, and we were off again. We had been in the saddle for two days and two nights and did not unsaddle ior two days longer. On our arrival at the Crossroads' Hos- pital we found that we were to escort some wagons to General Rosecrans' headquarters on the Murfreesboro turnpike. The night was very cold and dark, with the road very muddy and crooked. With the wagons our progress was very slow. We built small fires and warmed up, but soon an order came down the line to make no more fires. We had then to battle against two difficulties, cold and sleep. We had had no rest for two nights and not much to eat. After a pretty rough, and what was a very tedious journey, we arrived at the pike about 4 a.m., Wed- nesday, December 31, and soon had good fires kindled and snatched a short nap. Meanwhile rumors came that the enemy's cavalry were in the rear of the army and captured and burned our regimental train, as well as a portion of the trains belonging to General McCook's and General Davis' headquarters. Daylight brought some of the men who had escaped when the train was attacked near Nolansville and several who had been paroled. These men accompanied the train as guard. The destruction had been com- plete; tents, baggage, provisions, regimental books, papers, etc., had been entirely destroyed. The officers all happened to be wearing their fatigue uniforms, and lost all their dress suits and everything except what they had on. The plunder was not burned, for the rebels put the uniforms on and came out as gay as peacocks. One put on a dress hat, another a pair of trousers, another a dress coat with a major's or captain's shoulder straps, with sashes included. As the commissions belonging to some of the officers were among the private papers in the baggage, they were handed up and taken possession of by different officers. Major Prentice, rebel, son of George D. Prentice, of the Louis- ville Journal, got a commission belonging to Lieutenant James B. Curtin, and also put on a dress hat, and last but not least, he put on a pair of very handsome boots which I had had made in Louisville. I lost everything except what was on my body, even my dress jacket, which was in the Adjutant's box when taken. At daylight the Regiment was ordered to escort a train to the rear and also to look after the guerillas who had burned the trains Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 91 mentioned above. Being without rations we obtained three days' supply, and were about to start when, a new excitement sprang up. Just beyond General Rosecrans' headquarters, about 800 or 900 yards' distance, men were hurriedly forming in line of battle. Reinforcements of artillery and infantry that were just arriving from the vicinity of Nashville were sent forward on the double quick, and we were ordered to the right about. We then heard the rebels had surprised our extreme right wing and thrown it into confusion and captured twelve pieces of artillery, which increased the demoralization. Our cavalry in the vicinity were very soon concentrated and formed in line of battle. We followed General Stanley down the pike a short distance, when we were ordered to fall back on a line with the road over which we had come the previous night. We had not rested long when one of our ambulances and some stragglers, sick and slightly wounded, arrived from the Cross- roads Hospital, where the rebels had appeared in force about 7 or 8 o'clock. The enemy surprised General Johnson's division, which in turn demorahzed McCook's corps, so that it was almost wholly useless that entire day. It was from the hospital mentioned that my messmate, John C. Fleming, was taken with some twelve or fifteen others, and carried to Vicksburg. The enemy threatened to take our Sur- geon, but he claimed the immunities of his position, according to the cartel agreed upon by our Government and Jefiferson Davis, and although they did take and hold him prisoner for four days, he was subsequently released. Major Ward and some other wounded were not disturbed. The Major lay until Sunday, January 11, when he died, a patriot and a soldier, consoled with the hope that his sins were forgiven and that in the hour of battle he had performed his duty to himself and his country. Even at his early age, just twenty years, he had exhibited traits of military character extremely rare even in professionals much his senior. His body was taken to Pittsburg by his brother, who arrived only a few hours before his death. After the cavalry had remained in line some time where they were formed along the road previously mentioned, the entire force was ordered forward toward our position of the day before. The cavalry numbered, all told, about 1200 to 1500, under 92 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. General Stanley. We were scouting as we advanced. On crossing a fence to approach a stream we found ourselves in a small enclosure and all the fences perfect, leaving no opening. Already some 200 of our boys had collected in this place, while others were taking down the fences, when bang! bang! bang! bang! came from the artillery just on our left. Looking around we found that it came from the woods, and they continued to fire right into our ranks, shattering one man's arm, a fatal wound. Temporary confusion, of course, ensued, as everyone thought we were surrounded and without much hope of escape if the artillery firing upon us was supported, it being so close. In ten or fifteen minutes we had re-formed, in an open field. In the meantime it was suggested that it might be one of our own batteries. The General sent an orderly over to find out. He dis- covered it to be, I believe, an Illinois or Ohio battery, whose officers had taken us for rebels. We were separated some dis- tance from the regiment in front of us in order to allow our men to close up, as they became scattered in crossing the fences. The regiment ahead had its colors flying, while our Company guidons were all covered, and as the distance separating us was noticed, they took us for rebels with colors covered to deceive following those . who had already passed. Things were soon adjusted and we went forward. When we left our camp at Harpeth Creek, Captain Vezin was necessarily detained until after the squad- ron had moved, and being misinformed as to the direction we had taken did not find us until Tuesday morning, when Captain Smith turned over the command to him, he being the senior. We finally halted in a corn field about three-quarters of a mile from the big wood we left in the morning, having formed in our march a com- plete semicircle. It was now about i o'clock p.m., and the artillery fire on our left wing was very heavy. Having marched directly across coun- try, keeping the road as little as possible, we had, of course, but little idea of the real direction of our line, and thought the firing came from our right, instead of which, as we found later, the entire corps of General McCook was resting in our rear, we being again in the advance with the cavalry force which had started from the pike with us. As usual in corn fields through this region we found plenty of corn still on the stalk to feed our horses. We Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 93 remained here for some two and a half hours, when we were ordered to fall in line. An hour and a half previous to this the regiment in front of us had been throwing out skirmishers, mounted and on foot, endeavoring to find out what was in the woods in front and on the right of us. The whole movement was a perfect enigma to us, who had no idea of the close proximity of the enemy. A force was ordered into the woods on our right, and we were first sent to the left and then countermarched to the rear of the center, where we were in position to act independently or aid either flank. General Stan- ley now dismounted a portion of the force in the woods and they advanced rapidly for a few hundred yards, covered by the trees, when they suddenly became engaged with the skirmishers of the enemy. Reinforcements were sent by both parties and the action became very lively. Soon the enemy appeared in strong force and poured perfect volleys into the men on foot. Thinking we were confronted by a heavy infantry force, and having no infantry or artillery in our rear that we knew of, all our line fell back, as the enemy outnumbered us greatly. We were, however, soon in fighting trim. General Stanley cheering and begging the men not to falter. Our boys were now placed on the right, when the right and center of our little line were ordered forward. We soon became engaged, when the enemy opened with grape and canister, but fired too high, cutting the heads from the trees instead of the men. This excited the horses. We advanced to the edge of the woods, and by hard work dislodged the enemy and charged some distance after them. Their firing being very severe, however, our men fell back a little hastily and soon re-formed, and although the rebels came to the edge of the woods, they soon retired. Instead of being infantry, we found that they were dismounted cavalry, some 3000 strong, with artillery. We were now moving slightly to the left, when the rebels came out of the woods and formed in line of battle in our front, shpw- ing a force of nearly 2000, with their left in the woods. They looked extremely bold, and the red flag was waved in bitter defiance, inviting us to the attack. Our lines extended for some 800 yards in nearly a semicircle, comprising from 1200 to 1400 ■ effective men. General Stanley was everywhere, and in a moment he saw the best that could be done was to order a charge. 94 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The enemy had already brought two pieces of artillery into posi- tion and were firing shell, though without much precision. "Let's charge them boys ! let's charge them !" cried the General. The Third Ohio was just to our left and rear, and to its Colonel General Stanley said : "Colonel, give your men the order to charge." All was excitement. The enemy appearing so bold there was a little diffidence on our part. "Where is my Seventh Pennsylvania?" asked the General. The Seventh Pennsylvania by their bravery and splendid conduct had won the affec- tion of the Generals in this department, and especially of General Stanley. They were soon found ready. "Now where is the Anderson Cavalry?" asked General Stanley. He found us ex- changing shots with the enemy, as some skirmishing was going on along the whole line. The charge had not yet been made, and we having, by our behavior on the Saturday and Monday pre- vious, gained the confidence and sympathy of the General, he said he would lead our little squadron in person, which excited the pride of our boys. With his sword waving he ordered : "For- ward ! charge ! Use your pistols and sabers, boys !" Then our boys charged at a gallop to within short pistol range and fired volley after volley with carbines and pistols, emptying some sad- dles. . The cavalry on our left charged at the same time. The rebels retreated some distance. During this time an act of daring was performed by two of our boys which will be remembered for a long time to come. The name of one was Sergeant Henry C. Butcher, of Company B ; the other Private L. B. Holt, of Company L. They saw the enemy's flag and coveted it as a prize, but to attempt its capture was to expose themselves to our own as well as the enemy's fire. After deliberating a moment, the prize was too tempting and they rode up, shot the standard bearer, who had advanced some dis- tance in front of his command, and brought the flag into our lines — the two men riding one wounded horse, the other being killed. It was an heroic and audacious act. It was a beautiful silk flag, belonging to the Third Alabania Battalion, and presented by the ladies of Selma, Ala. — the only flag the force carried. It was subsequently exhibited in the windows of Cornelius & Baker, on Chestnut Street, previous to its being presented to Governor Curtin, at Harrisburg. Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry at Stone River. 95 Finding the enemy re-forming and knowing their superior force, we fell back a short distance and re-formed, the enemy using artillery. The order to charge was given and the whole line ad- vanced at a gallop, when the enemy broke and took to the woods. It was now sundown, and had we pursued, no doubt we would have been caught in an ambuscade. It soon grew dark and we could do nothing more than hold our position and guard against any further movement. We found afterward that they had seven pieces of artillery, and were just bringing them into posi- tion when we made the second charge and frustrated their plan. The movements of General Stanley previous to the first charge mentioned did not take up as much time as it does to write the account of it. We were again complimented by him for our con- duct that day. We had only one Captain (Hewitt) and two privates wounded, and they but slightly. The Captain was shot through the wrist with a buckshot. William P. Ellis, in my mess, received a shot through the shoulder of his overcoat. Sergeant Charles Betts got a bullet through his hat and Charley Stew- art one through the front part of his boot. One man had his saber bent, another his carbine stock shot to pieces, another the end of his carbine barrel blown off, and another his stirrup shot off. Several horses were also lost. We therefore escaped very well; some of the other cavalry lost heavily. We found that on the pike, in our rear, McCook had his artil- lery and infantry covered by bushes, hoping that we might be able to draw the enemy entirely out of their cover, but the thing did not work. We were ordered to take the center of the extreme front for a picket in force, at the same time throwing forward a few skirmishers in advance. It was moonlight, and a heavy frost falling made it very cold. No fires were allowed, and our condi- tion was anything but agreeable. It was not possible to stir around sufficiently to keep warm, lest the enemy should hear us, for they remained within gunshot all night. Next morning we heard them sounding the advance with the bugle, but it was to the rear. The army in that vicinity did not sleep much that night, their minds being too intent on the antici- pations for the morrow, for the report had already been circulated among the men that Thursday, January i. 1863, was to be cele- brated by a terrible battle. 96 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Sergeant-Major, who was very unwell, went to the rear a short distance between lo and ii o'clock at night, and as I had been relieved I went with him. Arriving at the pike we took pos- session of a fire where only one man lay, and adding a number of rails, lay down on a bed of four rails and slept as best we could until morning ; but even then it was mighty cold. The continual passage of ammunition and baggage wagons and ambulances to- gether with the steady tread of cavalry and infantry, with ever and anon a battery of artillery, was clear evidence that the guiding mind of this department was not idle. I was awake at early dawn, and soon saw General McCook, who had suffered so severely the day before, passing with his staff to commence, though with a heavy heart, another day's labor, and at least hoping for better success. At daylight Airey and I sought our command, which was already in motion near where we left them. I soon found they were going toward the pike, but not even the Captain com- manding knew our destination. The officers did not wish to be placed in danger again that day, as our ammunition was all gone ; besides our horses had not had their saddles off for five days and the men were overworked. The latter, however, even if offered, would not have been taken as an excuse, as many others were in the same position. Want of ammunition and condition of horses were made known to the Colonel to whom we were that day to report, who immediately had us supplied with fifteen rounds each of carbine cartridges. General Stanley was nearby, having every- thing attended to. We were then started up the pike, toward Nashville, and had gone perhaps three or four miles ere we found that we were to accompany the Third Ohio in guarding an im- mense wagon train, some nine or ten miles in length, to Nash- ville. It soon became known that an attack was expected to be made on this train by the cavalry under Wheeler, which did not at all increase the agreeableness of our position. Our boys, though green at the business, manifested a preference for fair, open-field fighting over bushwhacking. Flankers were thrown out along the train while our boys brought up the rear, which was an important position. We were then about fifteen miles from Nashville, and the flankers were crossing a meadow, beyond which was a strip of Fifteenth PeniisylzxDiia Cavalry at Stone River. 97 woods (in fact, the entire road is almost bordered with woods or hills, which makes it most desirable for these attacking parties), when they suddenly halted. Soon one fired into the woods, then another and another, and then they put spurs to their horses and retreated toward the pike. It was Wheeler's Cavalry, but they would not show themselves, although we immediately halted and sent out skirmishers, being at that time certainly not more than half their number. Luckily we had, among several unserviceable pieces of artillery we were taking to Nashville, two pieces that could be worked, and a shell from one of them caused the rebels to come out of the woods. It was only then that our responsibility became apparent. To preserve our train was our first duty, and for us to attempt to leave it in order to attack the enemy was to allow them the opportunity of hurrying forward a detachment to cut the train in the center or some slightly protected portion. After leaving the woods they quickly formed in line, and indeed looked formidable. The great question was to know, whether they had" any artillery. I suppose they had some with them, but they did not use it on us. Orders had already gone forward to hurry up the wagons, which is almost equivalent to telling the drivers to run their teams into the ditch, cut the traces, mount a horse or a mule and get away. We wished to keep their attention on us, and not the train, as long as possible, for we knew that when the head of the line was within, say four miles of the city it was perfectly safe, and considering its length, we concluded that it had already nearly, if not quite, reached there ; so every moment we could hold them in check here was of immense importance. The enemy soon made a left turn and moved forward at a rapid gait. Meanwhile large numbers were continuing to emerge from the woods. They gal- loped forward, keeping to the right of us. The train had already gotten from one and a half to two miles from us. Here com- menced the destruction of property. With the least mishap — a trace becoming unfastened, a line breaking — or even if a team could not keep up, it w^as abandoned by the driver, who ran for his life. Of course, in attacking a train, it is immaterial to the enemy whether they kill any men or even horses. Their first idea is to present a show of force, excite your fears and the fears of the 98 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.- teamsters, who are almost uncontrollable, and thereby produce a panic, when the wagons become blocked up two or three abreast across the road, each driver endeavoring to get ahead of his pre- ceding friend. If they do not immediately become disentangled they abandon their charge. The main train being of the first importance, the guard pushes on regardless of wagons, ambu- lances, caissons, ammunition wagons, etc., which are left almost without cause on the road. Therefore, unless a train expecting to be attacked, or which is attacked, is in charge of a cool and judicious man, the loss of property is generally enormous. Our train on this occasion was well managed, so that not more than six or eight wagons were lost, while at one time it appeared that a large portion of it must be destroyed by the enemy. We hurried forward for perhaps two miles, not knowing ex- actly where the enemy would next appear as they were all along the road covered with woods, until we approached a descent where the road lies right through a wood of cedar and other small trees. Here they came upon our rear guard of two Companies, who held them in check a short time until word could be sent forward. The train was going along at a trot and making pretty good time, when the yell of the stragglers and negroes — "the rebels are coming!" — startled the teamsters again, and it was here that two small guns and caissons and a wagonload of Sharp's carbines came near being lost. Our force was imme- diately halted and also a portion of the Third Ohio, the balance hurrying forward with the wagons, while we should check the enemy and then retreat. The enemy came out on the road and charged on our rear, but a line of battle had already been formed, and we advanced and drove them. They rallied and came again. Our advance fell back a little, while a portion of the force forward formed their lines on either side of the road covered by low cedars, and when the rebels were within thirty or forty yards poured into them a galling cross fire, which again halted them. A column now went forward as reserve to a detachment which had charged down the road. They came up in the hollow, when finally the rebels went back to the top of the hill, where they remained, not without some loss, however. We also lost two of our men killed and the Third Ohio lost slightly. Geo. J. French, of my mess, was ordered to surrender by a Fifteenth Peniisylz'cnia Cavalry at Stone River. 99 rebel, he having been cut off from us, but as he was not able to see it in that light and knowing there was only one thing to do, he shot the rebel and retired. By hard work while the rebels were being held in check here, some of the men succeeded in fixing harness that had been cut, getting horses that had been turned loose and rigging up broken gun carriages sufficiently well to secure all of value that was threatened with abandonment. Although in continual fear of being again attacked, we finally reached Nashville just after dark on New Year's night, 1863, a beautiful, clear and moonlight night, hungry and tired and with horses ready to drop. We had been absent from Nashville just one week, but our little party had suffered its full share. Our losses in the battle were as follows : Killed and died of zvounds. — Maj. A. G. Rosengarten, Maj. Frank B. Ward. Company B : Private Robert Edge ; Company C : First Serg. W. A. Kimber, Private Orlando Weikel ; Com- pany E : Private Rich. W. Chase ; Company H : Private Anthony R. Kintigh; Company K: Serg. A. S. Drake, Private Wm. Brooks; Company L: Private W. Harry Powell, Private Frank Eaton, Private J. \\'eiler, Serg. S. Fred. Herring; Company F: Private M. L. Hill. Wounded. — Company C : Saml. Jamison, Edw. C. Smith, Serg. Wm. P. Rockhill, Jr., J. R. Steinmetz ; Company H: Jos. Hilty, Serg. J. B. Garber, Jr. ; Company I : Capt. J. R. Hewitt, Serg. Jno. Richards ; Company L : C. Lewis Diehl, W. T. Nieman. Captured. — Asst. Surg. Geo. F. Mish, Hospital Steward Chas. P. Sellers. Company B : A. H. Craig, Jno. C. Fleming, Jos. D. Little, Chas. L. Hayden, Wm. K. Rile, Jno. C. Sullivan, Wm. Wagner, Geo. P. Yocum ; Company C: Geo. Fisher, H. W. Arnold, M. Baldwin Colton, Fred. Spang; Company D: Frank T. Adams, Horatio G. Snyder ; Company E : Jas. H. Cornwell, Harry Paschall, A. J. Buchanan, W. Beverly Chase, Wm. Conard, Rich. Pancoast, Wm. Tarr, M. A. Williamson ; Company F : Robt. W. Brownlee, Robt. R. Taylor; Company G: D. Spencer Bates, A, T. Clark, Ed. Pattison, Jr., Alex. Ramsey, D. E. Bigler; Company H : Saml. Trimbel, Josiah Warg, Geo. Fisher, W. S. Moore, Jno. Pinkerton ; Company I : W. H. Baldwin, G. P. Dennis, Francis P. Drinker, J. W. Hall, E. E. Lynch, Abraham Horn; Company K : W. F. Jamison ; Company L : Byron O. Camp, Johnson lOO History of tlic Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Hubbell, Samuel G. Curtis, Benjamin Bartram, W. B, Ecky, Henry H. Jacobs, Jno. G. Marshall, M. Olister, Alex. Robinson, Wilbur Watts, M. L. Jones, Chas. E. Scheide, C. M. Wilson, E. L. Mills. THE HALT AT OVERALLS CREEK. A. D. FRANKENBERRY, CO. K, POINT MARION, PA. SUNDAY evening, December 28, 1862, about 300 of the Anderson Cavalry were in camp near Triune, Tenn. Major Rosengarten was in command of the Regiment. On this Sunday evening I was detailed as orderly to Major Rosen- garten, and on reporting to him was sent to the headquarters of Major-General Stanley, then in command of all the cavalry of the Army of the Cumberland, for orders for the movement next day. General Stanley directed the Major to move with his command in advance of the infantry toward Murfreesboro, on the road via Wilkinson's crossroads. I was sent during the night to each of the company commanders, directing them to be ready to move at daylight. Monday, December 29th, all the Regiment there was in the saddle at an early hour and moved forward. I went with the Major to General McCook and to Gen. Jeff C. Davis; the latter commanded the advance of the infantry. The orders given to the Major were to strike the rebels, push them to the bridge across Overalls Creek, hold the bridge, but not to cross over. Company K had the advance, and the column moved at a rapid rate, and about 2 p.m. we struck the rebel pickets and drove them toward Murfreesboro. The column soon reached the bridge and halted. Up to this moment I rode constantly by the side of the Major. I had on my cavalry jacket; the Major told me to take it off and put on my blouse. I did so while in the saddle. When we halted the column was not closed up, and the Major directed me to inform each company commander to close up in columns of four. I rode back and so informed each company commander and then reported to the Major that the column was closed up. What orders, if any, were given to the Major while I was absent I do not know ; but in a very short time the command was given by the Major, and we crossed over the bridge and moved 101 102 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. about three-fourths of mile down the pike toward Murfreesboro, when the command halted. Major Rosengarten rode back to Major Ward, and had a few words with him. Major Ward's battalion turned into a field on the right, formed a line at right angle with the pike, advanced and soon opened fire on the enemy. Major Rosengarten moved to the head of the column in the pike and ordered it to advance. We soon saw the rebels in force, with barricades across the pike. They were also to the left of us, and we again halted opposite a heavy woods, on the right of the pike. The Major gave the com- mand "fours right !" which brought us in line facing the woods. Numbers one and three were then ordered to dismount and open the rail fence. This done, the men remounted and the Major gave the command "forward, gallop, march !" and when partly through the woods the command "charge !" and in a moment afterward we received a volley of musketry from the rebels, who were behind a fence which ran parallel with the pike. This volley killed Major Rosengarten and many others. I was within five or ten feet of the Major when he was struck, and saw him throw up his arms and fall backward from his horse. He was on the extreme right of the line, next to the enemy. My duty placed me close to his right. Sergeant Drake was close to me on my right and was killed by same volley. Seeing the hopelessness of doing anything, and also seeing a rebel force moving to cut us off, someone gave the order tc fall back to the bridge at the creek. Major Ward had led his part of the command through a field and into the woods in which Rosengarten fell, his line being at right angles to ours, when he. Ward, was mortally wounded and died a few days days after. These were the last acts and words of Major Rosengarten as they were impressed on my memory that afternoon, and I can never forget the day and events. That night we encamped and all our hearts were full of sadness, because so many of our comrades were not with us. They, with thousands of others, had rendered up their lives in defense of Liberty and Union, Right and Truth, and that our country should have but one flag and be but one nation. MAJOR ROSEXGARTEX'S LAST ORDER TO MAJOR WARD. SERG. SIMEON' LORD, COMTANY E, PHILADELPHIA. DL RIXG our march, in the formation of two squadrons, to the battlefield of Stone River, Major Rosengarten halted the one under his immediate command at Overalls Creek, resting there to hear from Major Ward's squadron that had charged over the creek ford to develop the enemy. We had not long to wait before we heard heavy firing that indicated that the Confederates were hotly contesting Major Ward's advance. A comrade and I had been riding on the left of our squadron as flankers. On our rejoining it the command halted. Major Rosengarten gave me a verbal order to Major W^ard to "fall back this side of Overalls Creek." Hastily crossing the creek bridge, thence into the timber on the right, I met our men falling back. I inquired for Major Ward, and the reply was, "He is killed." I hurriedly returned to Major Rosengarten and so reported. After recalling Major Ward, it comes within our privilege to ask if Major Rosengarten had known the rebel infantry were in position behind the highest kind of a worm fence waiting to repel cavalry, should he have led in a second charge over the same ground, there to lose his own life, so soon after the mortal wounding of Major Ward in the first forlorn assault? The fence itself was an obstacle that would halt any cavalry charge, enemy or no enemy behind it. In the last charge a trooper, pistol in hand, dashed up to the fence, riding abreast of it, firing into the very faces of the enemy. If he lived to return to his command it was luck and a marvelous escape. 103 INCIDENT OF STONE RIVER BATTLE. WM. L. BRAXTON, COMPANY A, NEW YORK. THE Sergeant of old Company H had reported at roll call "all accounted for but two" on the morning that we left Nashville to join the forces that were now moving, with General Rosecrans as their Commander, toward Murfreesboro. The air was chilly, and after marching "by fours" a short distance we swung into a dirt road, and a few of the boys, including Billy Brown, Billy Moore and the writer, getting in a lively mood that was symbolical of our youth, struck up the song, at that time so dear to a Philadelphia boy, "We're All Bound for New York." As we had come from the same school and had practiced it to- gether many times it sounded quite well. The "dough boys" that we passed on the road cheered us. At the same time Major Ward rode down toward us from the head of the column, looking like a youthful General, sitting his horse so proudly. He being a singer himself, joined in the choruses for at least an hour, singing with us various songs that we used to sing round camp fires. The next day we had another tale to tell, and Company H did its full share. An incident happened which serves to show the spirit of one of our boys. We had skirmished with some cavalry- men who carried the Lone Star flag. We raced them up and down the different hills. Major Ward stayed at the head of the column of Company H. In charging around the top of one of the hills a ball struck the carbine which "Billy" Brown carried. It twirled over out of Brown's hands and struck the Major's horse. When we formed the line on the top of the hill, the Major said: "Brown, you lost your carbine, didn't you?" Brown said: "Yes, I couldn't help it." The Major replied: "I saw you couldn't; but it's all right; come and be my orderly." Brown replied: "Never mind. Major, we will soon be within pistol shot." Brown died shortly after in the field hospital at Murfreesboro, having con- tracted a bad fever. 104 Incident of Stone River Battle. 105 I at that time had a very large, awkward horse, which while strong was hard to manage, and while taking a dispatch from Major Ward to the Captain of Company L, the horse was hurt in such a way in one of the charges that it lamed him very badly. I was ordered to go with the wagon train as one of the guards. When Wheeler captured the wagon train I was one of the fortunate ones who got away, but not on that animal. In the confusion and excitement on the little dirt road where our wagons were attacked I secured a very handsome gray horse, upon which was only a citizen's saddle. On this horse and leading my own I kept up with the few who did escape. ■Several of the leading pursuers annoyed us considerably, but we returned shot for shot without any damage being done to us. I think we hit several horses, as the rebels came within a hundred yards of us, but would come no nearer. I rode with several strangers belonging to different regiments into Nashville, and went out to our first camp in that city, where we met and talked with several of the boys who had been left in camp. Among them v/as Bob Geddes. Bob got excited at the story of our adventures, " and we agreed to go out and hunt up the rest of the Regiment. We started out and rode a long distance, when we found we were lost. Traveling on until about 8 o'clock at night we came across a large cottage. We knocked at the door and asked who lived there, and w'ere surprised to find a gentleman by the name of Ben Johnson. He told us that he was a British subject, and a British flag was flying over his house, but if we were lost he would take care of us until morning. He advised us to hide our saddles and accouterments and put our horses in the barn. We were given something to eat and a very comfortable bed to sleep in. Not knowing what was going to happen, we put our revolvers and carbines where we could easily get hold of them. We slept very soundly until morning and we breakfasted there. Imagine our surprise when our host told us that in the night a body of Confederate cavalry was there, but knowing that he was protected by the British flag they did nothing but inquire, asking him if he had seen any Yankees. Of course, he was guarded in his answers. We found that we had been inside the enemy's lines without knowing it. We started out. after getting directions as to where we would probably meet our forces. [Making quite a wide io5 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylz-ania Cavalry. detour toward Nashville, bearing toward the left, we soon found ourselves among Union forces again, but were not challenged by any picket. We gained a road, and to our surprise met some of our boys, with a wagonload of our dead, going toward Nashville. As my Company was supposed to be in the cavalry division, I decided to try and find it. Geddes thought it best, as some of his Company was in the escort, to go back to Nashville. Every place that I inquired I was told to hunt up General Stanley, but as his operations were in different parts of the field and the line of battle was very wide, and as I did not know the country, 1 stayed all that day with various bodies of troops, making very diligent inquiry for my Regiment. At last I found that it had been so reduced in numbers, the head officers being killed, that it had been ordered from the field, no one could say where, except "prob- ably" Nashville. I started for Nashville, and when I reached there our camp had been deserted, and I did not know what to do. The horse that I had, had to be taken care of, so, having some money, I left him in a livery stable and stayed at a hotel. The next day I started out to where the camp was and made some inquiries, but did not suc- ceed in finding out anything that was of advantage. As I passed through one of the streets I saw a large cottage-built house, on the wall of which was a painted sign, with "Major Thurston, Surgeon General," marked on it. I thought there was an opportunity for me to get something to do, and walking into his office told who I was and the circum- stances in which I was placed, and asked if he "needed anyone to be of any service to him." He looked me all over and said : "Yes, I do. I haven't a single orderly or courier here. You take this telegram immediately to the office." I think it was at the Com- mercial Hotel, or near there. I took the message, and in return- ing passed through the Market Square, and there I saw some 2000 rebel prisoners marching under guard. They seemed very much elated over the prospect that they would soon be free, for they shouted at everybody that "Bragg would take his New Year's dinner in Nashville." My horse was on a nice gallop, and a double-team ambulance was driving in the same direction. I was looking to the left, and Incident of Stone River Battle. 107 for some reason or other the driver of the ambulance, who was driving at a rapid rate, turned his team so that the tongue of the wagon was pushed under my horse, and I was thrown with the horse very heavily, the horse's shoulder striking me with force, crushing my left arm, disjointing it and also hurting my hand so that blood was running from every finger nail. As there was mud in the street I looked considerably demoralized, and as I gained my feet the rebel prisoners, who saw the incident, jeered, hooted and made many nasty remarks. My horse got up and was apparently unhurt, and mounting again I galloped ofif, returning, to Major Thurston. I told him what had occurred, and he examined my arms and made me take ofif my boots, then my stockings. He made a ball of the stockings and put it under my armpit, and jerked the arm in place. I felt very much relieved at that, but he told me I "was a fit candidate for a hospital," and it "would come in very opportunely," as he wanted someone to "go to the Methodist Church and make a hospital there." He gave me a requisition for everything that would go to fix up a hospital, and I had my arm put in a sling. I went out to the Methodist Church and commenced operations. Of course, I was the first patient on the hospital list, and the same time I was appointed Hospital Commissary Steward. We had a Surgeon named Sennett, of some Ohio regiment, as Chief Surgeon. I stayed there some two months, when I received a letter from "Billy" Brown, of our Regiment, who had been transferred to Company L in the reorganization. He told me that out "of the boys that constituted our first mess he was the only one that was left." Stockton, Burr, Henderson and Chadwick had been killed, wounded or taken prisoners, and he asked me when I thought I would be able to get back. I made application to be returned to my Regiment, and the request being granted, I re- joined it at Murfreesboro WHAT I SAW OF STONE RIVER. JOHN G. MARSHALL, COMPANY A, PHILADELPHIA, PA. IN narrating what I saw on our Stone River campaign, I am reminded of the fact that no two soldiers will see the same incidents exactly alike, owing to the excitement of a fight. He only sees that which transpires in his immediate vicinity, but he sees that in a way he cannot forget. The first battle of any magnitude in which I was engaged was Stone River, on December 29, 1862, while a member of Company L. The scenes I witnessed on that memorable day are as plain to me now as they were then, and I can recall the faces and posi- tions as distinctly as though they happened yesterday. The first day's march, from Nashville on the Nolansville pike, was in company with the trains of the army, and it was not until night that we reached the advance. But the next day early we met the enemy's cavalry, and it was a day of enjoyment. While we were under fire, no one w^as hurt. The bullets came thick and fast and there were some close shaves ; but there is not much danger from a mounted man. It is the infantryman, who has the chance to rest his gun and take good aim, who does the mis- chief. Our enemy would make a stand at every good position, fire one or two volleys and then retreat. Our boys enjoyed the run- ning fight, comparing it to a fox hunt when at home ; but this experience of being shot at so much without getting hit gave us the presumption to feel that a special Providence guarded us and that we could not be hit, which led to disaster to us a few days after. We were nearing the Confederate army, which was at Murf rees- boro, and the enemy was showing in larger numbers. A force of their cavalry appeared in our front, and without waiting for orders we charged. Down the road we raced, yelling in the highest glee ; we went through a wood and up to a fence, behind which was their infantry, and then came disaster. In a few minutes 108 What I Sazi' of Stone River. 109 there was distress in a score of Northern homes, owing to our impetuosity. I saw their rifles belch forth, and our leader. Major Rosengarten, and his horse, "Zollicoft'er." both fall, pierced by fourteen bullets. Then came a volley right into the faces of our boys, as only the fence separated us from the enemy. It was then I witnessed a sight that can never be effaced from my memory. Men seemed to fade away like frost before the morning sun, and many empty saddles was the sad result. Here I lost one of my dearest friends, a boy without a fault, kind and generous and a friend to every man in the Regiment. I speak of our Sergeant, Frederick Herring. I was next to him when he received a bullet through his head. He lingered in the saddle a moment, then fell with a thud to the ground, and his blood saturated my shoulder. At that instant my gray horse was shot and fell on my leg, and while trying to extricate it I saw J. Weiler, of our Company, dis- mounted and bareheaded, acting like a raving maniac. He must have been hit on the head, so that his reason was dethroned. Poor fellow ! the rebels were around him thick, and I never heard what became of him. I noticed a brave deed done by Al. Coleman right in the midst of the slaughter. He deliberately reached through a gap in the fence and brought out an officer, who proved to be the Adjutant General of the Confederate General Cheatham. We came off the field together, and a more surly man than he was I have never seen. We went back that night and slept in the woods near Wilkin- son's crossroads. Our Lieutenant-Colonel, Wm. Spencer, was there in an ambulance, sick almost unto death. He was worried because of not being able to be in the fight. I tried to console him by telling him that it was lucky that he was not there, as in all probability we would have had one more soldier to bury, and that we did not have enough men in the Regiment to whip Bragg's whole army. On December 30th General Wheeler got in the rear of our army, among the trains, and burnt up several hundred wagons, near Lavergne. Our Regiment, with the Fourth Regulars, Seventh Pennsylvania and Fourth Ohio, all under Gen. David S. Stanley, were sent to find Wheeler and drive him off, and the next day, while our army at the front was in the fiercest kind of a battle, we were scouting the rear. We had just passed through a cedar no History of the Fifteenth Penhsyh'ania Cavalry. forest, with dense undergrowth, when one of our batteries, posted on a hill over to our left, opened on us by mistake. The error was soon corrected, but one of their shots struck Robt. Edge, of Company B, and took off his arm. Serg. Wm. Wagner, afterward Major, ordered four of us to carry Edge to a hut some hundred yards away, surrounded by a high fence. We carried him there and laid him down and left him. The Regiment by this time had passed on over the hill, where we heard heavy firing, and as we came out of the hut Wagner asked, "What is all that hallooing?" and just then it appeared to me that all of Wheeler's cavalry was on us. We started to run to the woods, but they sent a volley after us and soon had us cap- tured, but having plenty of uncaptured Yankees to look after, they paroled us on the field, the parole being written on paper from a diary which one of the boys had. All we had to do now was to enjoy what was going on, but there was so much of it that one man could not see it all. Our battery quickly got their range and began to knock them off their horses like apples from a tree. Wheeler got his artillery in position, but for some reason did not fire. Then he got his men in line for a charge, but before they got started our line charged and Wheeler was driven from the field badly. whipped. I don't think this took twenty minutes. It was in this charge we captured the flag of the Third Alabama Cavalry. Edge did not die for several days, but lay all alone and un- attended. Sergeant Anderson made a visit to the battlefield a few years after the war, and got from Dr. Manson, at whose house our wounded Major Ward died, information of him. Our Surgeon, Dr. Alexander, had been attending Major Ward, and after the fighting was over Manson told him that one of our boys was badly wounded in a house not far off, and suggested they go and see if he had received any attention. When they got there Edge said to Dr. Alexander, whom he recognized, "Oh, doctor, I'm much better. I don't feel any pain at all." Alexander examined his arm and found it all mortified and the stamp of death already on him, and then told him that he had only a short time to live, and that if he had any messages to send home he would see them at- tended to. The poor fellow broke down at this, but quickly re- gained his composure, spoke of all those he was leaving, and sent them loving messages. THE CHARGE OX IXFAXTRY AT STOXE RIVER. GENERAL \\ILMOX W. LLACKMAR, FIRST SERGEANT COMPANY K, BOSTON, MASS. 1"^ HE Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry arrived in Xashville,- Tenn., on Christmas eve, 1862, having marched from Louis- ville, Ky. We had a dreary Christmas, and the next morning, Friday, December 26, 1862, about 300 of us, under command of Majors Adolph G. Rosengarten and Frank B. Ward, started for the front. A cold rain was falling, and we were soon wet, chilled and quite miserable. We marched all day through the mud, the rain falling steadily, and long after dark reached a small village, which proved to be Nolansville, where General Johnson, with a division of our infantry, was in camp. We here turned into a field and went into camp. We were so utterly exhausted that we slept, notwithstand- ing we were so wet, hungry and cold. Long before daylight on the morning of Saturday, the 27th, we were roused by whispered words of command, as we were too near the enemy to allow of a bugle call. The rain had ceased, but a dense fog hung over everything. As soon as it was light enough to see a little way ahead we rode out through the town, and were soon beyond our infantry pickets and before long were in contact with the enemy. We had a sharp fight with whom we were told were some Texan Rangers, but as someone else may have been assigned a description of this fight I will pass it by without com- ment. After another uncomfortable night, for the cold rain had been falling again during a part of the day and we were still wet and unhappy, the morning, Sunday, December 28th, dawned bright and clear, a lovely Sabbath morning. The sun began to dr\' and thaw us out, and we made coffee and enjoyed a breakfast of pork and hard-tack, after which we marched several miles toward the front and halted on the grounds of a Mr. Rett. I think I could tell 111 112 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. a good story of our experiences here, but fear again that I may be trespassing upon some comrade's assignment. Suffice it to say that two very pert and impudent rebel girls, one of them flourish- ing a pistol, stood on the porch of the mansion and called us names and wished us all sorts of misfortune, including our death at the hands of their friends, the Confederates in our front. Here we found several freshly slaughtered hogs hanging in an outbuilding, and the negro servants were soon frying for us choice bits of very fresh pork under our orders and persuasion. In another small building, covering a pit filled with light earth, we found buried many bushels of delicious sweet potatoes. We all had our appe- tites with us and enjoyed a feast. Monday, December 29th. — Started out early with orders to re- connoiter as far as a certain bridge over a little stream. Our Majors, Rosengarten and Ward, were ambitious, and did not con- tent thefnselves with going only as far as ordered, but pushed on and the result was that we followed a small body of the enemy too far and ran into a large force. We charged into a piece of woods, on two sides of which lay concealed, in a corn field, a brigade of Confederate infantry. We were at once exposed to a deadly cross fire, both our Majors were killed — Rosengarten instantly and Ward mortally wounded, dying in a day or two. Eleven were killed, twenty-five wounded and nine missing out of about 250 of us who charged the enemy. My personal experience in this charge was peculiar. When right upon the enemy and after men had fallen all around me, from the terrible cross fire at short range, my horse, charging on the dead run, got his front feet in a hole and turned a somersault. I was under him, freed from my saddle and lying on my back, protected from his full weight by an arch formed by my saddle with my blanket strapped on the cantle and my overcoat on the pomm.el. I was partially stunned, but remem- ber perfectly looking up and seeing my horse's feet in the air and Jack Horn's horse making a flying leap right over me. Horn was riding right behind me in the charge, and was wounded in the foot while jumping over me. Horn and the other boys behind me sup- posed that both my horse and myself were killed, but when my horse rolled over, jumped to his feet and started toward the enemy, O. T. McConnell lay down on his horse's neck, rode between the enemy and my horse, grabbed his bridle and brought him to me, The Charge of Infantry at Stone River. 113 for I had regained my feet and was looking around in a dazed manner upon the dead and wounded men and horses lying in all directions. McConnell is now living in Fullerton, Neb. Seeing my name as Commander-in-Chief, G. A. R., he wrote to me in December, 1904, renewing our old friendship. Major Ward was still standing with his back against a tree, his clothing torn open, revealing a spot on his breast where a bullet had given him his mortal wound. Why I was not shot or captured I never could tell, for I could have tossed a biscuit into the enemy's ranks. I sup- pose they looked upon me as a sure prisoner or thought our fool- hardy charge must be merely a dash to be immediately followed by a charge of a more formidable force of cavalry or infantry. As my devoted Comrade, McConnell, threw me my horse's bridle, he said, "Get on, quick !" but seeing I did not heed him, he cried, "Well, I can't stay here," and putting spurs to his horse rode out of the woods in the direction the rest of our boys, who were able, had retreated. I deliberately picked up a canteen, seeing mine was gone, and tied it to my saddle, tested my straps, looked around and mounted, just as some of my Regiment came charg- ing back into the grove again with the purpose of getting our dead and wounded, as they declared. Just at this moment a staff officer of Gen. D. S. Stanley dashed in among us and ordered us, in no gentle terms, to retreat, and I quietly rode out with my comrades. In the excitement I did not realize that I was hurt. and if I could have had rest and some care might have escaped serious consequences, but that night I was on picket, got no rest and was chilled through. The remnant left of our Regiment was pretty well used up, tired, cold, hungry and orphaned; our Colonel, Wm. J. Palmer, a pris- oner, captured at Antietam ; our Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer was sick in an ambulance; our two Majors just killed in action and Capt. Alfred Vezin in command. On December 31st, together with the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and portions of the Third Tennessee Cavalry and Second Kentucky Cavalry, making a small brigade, we started out under command of General Stanley, commanding the Cavalry of the Army. A battery soon opened on us, and one shot took ofif the arm of a soldier not far from me. It was then discovered that it was one of our own batteries, which made it all S 114 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. the worse. Pushing on through woods and over byroads we struck a dirt road about 4 p.m. We left this road, throwing down a rail fence near the house of a Mrs. Barrows, and formed in line of battle in a beautiful field. Before long a few horsemen rode out of the woods, our skirmishers fell back, and then appeared a column of rebel cavalry and then another. They formed in line of battle in our front, with some artillery on their left. General Stanley rode along in front of our line, and said to the officer commanding the Seventh, "Major, we'll charge them now." He dashed past us, who were the center of the line, to the Tennessee boys on our right, and said a few words to them, then rode back to the center and called out in a loud, clear voice^ "I will take command of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania. Follow me, boys ! charge !" and in we went with a cheer. The enemy opened on us with artillery, but on we rode and fired no shot, depending on our sabers. We rode over their skirmish line, but before we reached their line of battle they broke and ran, and we had a horse race. A few were killed, and we captured a stand of colors and over 100 prisoners. Darkness put an end to this fight, but not to our trials, for we had to stand all night as mounted pickets. We were so cold, sleepy and hungry, having had nothing to eat since early morning, and little then, that we did not know which sensation was the worst. I remember that I dismounted and led my horse around, trying to get warm by exercise and to keep awake. Three different times I got to sleep and was aroused by falling on the frozen ground. Just before daylight we were relieved by infantry and led our horses back a few rods, and dropped down with the bridles over our arms to get a little sleep. When I awoke it was broad daylight and I was cuddling up to one of my comrades. On attempting to arouse him I found he was not a comrade but a dead rebel. The dead lay all around us, covered with frost. This was January ist. We were about used up. We were ordered back to Nashville in charge of an empty ammunition train. On our way we were attacked by Wheeler's cavalry, and some of our wagons were taken and burned, but we got most of them back to Nashville. The drivers on a piece of our artillery, in attempting to cross a field, got their gun carriage stuck in an old stone wall, cut their horses loose and abandoned it. Mv chum, E. E. Griffith, The Charge of Infantry at Stone River. 115 and myself tried to dislodge the piece and take it into Nashville with us, after Wheeler had been driven off, but it was too much for us, and finally we had to abandon it, much to our regret. We reached Nashville the afternoon of January i, 1863. Griffith and I, dead beat out, lay down on the porch of a little house in the outskirts, which sheltered us somewhat from the cold rain which was falling, and thankful for the dry boards and partial shelter, slept like logs, well into the next day. I began to feel the effects of my injury received in the charge of the 29th ult., and was compelled to give up and go into a church, which was being used as a hospital, and there lay for several days in a pew, getting some sleep, but little else. As soon as I. could get strength enough I joined my Regiment, but was taken down with fever, and lay for several weeks in a deserted house in Murfrees- boro, in charge of a good-natured, shiftless negro man. Again, I joined my Regiment before I was strong, and had a serious re- lapse, from which I never should have recovered but for the devotion of my comrade and friend, Harry Ai. Francis, of the Anderson Troop, who secured permission to take me, in an ambu- lance, back to the railroad and thence, via Nashville, to Louisville, Ky., whiere I was taken into the home of Mrs. James Thompson, and tenderly nursed back to life and health. A homeopathic physician, an Italian patriot (possessed of great skill and a loyal Union man). Dr. Caspari, by name, took an especial interest in my case and tended me faithfully. I was sick and a stranger, but Mrs. Thompson and her family took me in, and from that day to this our friendship has been close and inti- mate. As soon as the doctor consented I rejoined my Regiment, then at Winchester, Tenn., and went with it through the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and remained with the Regiment until I was commissioned and transferred to the First West Vir- ginia Cavalry, in the command of Sheridan and Custer. CAPTURE OF OUR WAGON TRAIN BY WHEELER'S CAVALRY. ARTHUR O. GRANGER^ COMPANY C^ CARTERSVILLE, GA. I WAS detailed with a party of forty-two to guard our wagon train on December 29, 1862. We marched along all that day, without any particularly exciting incident, crossing over from the Nolansville pike to the Murfreesboro pike, on a rather narrow dirt road. We were well in the rear of the main army and could hear the cannonading and musketry at the front, and thought we were per- fectly safe. To relieve us of the weight, we put our carbines and sabers in the wagons, and were thus in light marching order. On the 30th we were going along a hollow in the road at a point about four miles from the village of Lavergne, and saw, just ahead on the left, a rather large farmhouse, with pigs and chickens straggling around over the place, and the boys at once made a break for them. I was near the rear end of the wagon train. I threw my bridle over a fence rail sticking up from an old-fashioned snake fence, and was chasing a pig, and had driven him. into one of the corners of the fence and had my knife drawn, expecting to have some good fresh pork for the next meal, when suddenly there was a rifle volley from the top of the hill and rebel bullets were flying around thick. I looked up and saw a large body of cavalry that far outnumbered us and that we afterward learned was Wheeler's entire brigade. Fortunately I was right where my horse was, and, again fortunately, he was not tied, so I quickly mounted and galloped back down the road, firing ofif all the loads in my pistol at the rebels, who were getting very close. I had a good horse, and escaped with a few others. One or two of our men were killed and the rest captured and afterward paroled. We made our way back to Nashville, where the Regiment ar- rived the day after we did, and we learned that it had also been 116 Capture of our Wagon Train by Wheeler's Cavalry, iiy detailed to guard a wagon train, which was similarly attacked and burned. I especially regretted losing my saber, as it was a particularly small one that had been secured for me because I was the young- est man in the Regiment. If either we or our officers had been more experienced, we would have retained personal possession of our carbines and sabers. WITH ROSENGARTEN'S BATTALION AT STONE- RIVER. SERG. WM. MCGEE, REGIMENTAL SADDLER^ TOLLGATE^ W. VA. I AM writing this on the forty-second anniversary of that des- perate charge we made, under the command of Major Rosengarten, at the battle of Stone River. The other bat- talion, under Major Ward, was acting independently of us, but both met disaster at the same fence, behind which stood a line of rebel infantry. It was the bloodiest situation I was ever in, but my head was clear through it all, and my recollection of it is as vivid now as it was the next day after it was all over. Our advance halted for a few moments at the bridge over Overalls Creek, probably because that was as far as we were ordered to go ; but over to our left Major Ward's battalion started after some of the enemy's cavalry, and then we were ordered forward "by fours" down the pike toward Murfreesboro. Soon the order came to trot, and when heavy firing took place from Ward's party it became a very fast trot. Then Sergeant-Major Washington Airey came running through the woods from our right and hailed Major Rosengarten, when the command came to a halt. Airey told the Major that Ward was badly wounded and liable to fall into the hands of the enemy, and "would he charge up and get him away." The next command was "fours, right wheel !" and the next "charge !" and away we went at "advance carbine, "yelling like madmen, and thus we went until we reached a high stake-and-rider fence, on the other side of which were swarms of rebel infantry. I halted about thirty steps from the fence, and luckily my horse was standing in a depression, and so the bullets all went over my head. Sergeant Alexander Drake, who had ridden beside me all day, then a few feet from me on higher ground, was shot and fell from his horse dead. I fired two shots at the men behind the fence, but all the time looking to the left and right to see what was to be 118 With Roscngarten's Battalion at Stone River. 119 done next. Over to the left I saw Major Rosengarten going at full speed a few feet from the fence, and my thought was that he was hunting a gap through it, so as to lead us into the field. I saw him fire one shot down a ravine that ran across his path and turn his horse to the left, when a volley was fired from the ravine. The horse turned a half somersault and fell on his back, with the Major underneath. We all then turned, without orders, and got out as fast as we could. On going back we came to where Sergeant Rockhill was lying on the ground, shot in the thigh. There was one comrade with him, who begged for help to carry him out of danger, as we were still under fire. I dismounted and turned my horse over to some- one to lead out, and soon got two others, and the four of us car- ried him in a blanket, each man holding a corner, back to within a short distance of the bridge, and then laid him down beside the road where the ambulance could come and get him. I did not get my horse till noon of the next day, although I started on the hunt for him at once. If a Frenchman had been there he would doubtless have said : "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre" (the charge was magnificent, but it was not war). The mistakes we made were, first, in attempting to charge at "advance carbine." To do it a soldier should have three hands, one to manage his horse and the other two to fire and load his carbine. The other was in making the charge. If we had followed Sergeant Airey to the right oblique, instead of going straight up through the woods, we would have come to where Major Ward was lying, com- paratively out of danger, and the only excuse I heard of for making our charge was to save him. But it is easy after the thing is over to discover reasons why we should not have done what we did. We had had such an easy time with the enemy, up to this time, that our heads were swelled with the idea that we could do anything we wanted to, and the result was a lot of dead and mangled comrades. During the afternoon of the following day our command, which was only a small part of the Regiment, was posted in a field to the left of the above-mentioned bridge, facing the enemy. I had a strong desire to get back to the woods where we had charged, it being only half a mile away. I explained to my company com- I20 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry mander, Captain Hewitt, that I had not been able to water my horse, as I had just found him, and asked permission to take him to the creek and do so, which he granted. I went across the field and down the steep bank into the water, and, after my horse had all of it he wanted, I continued to ride down the bed of the creek and under the high bank till I was out of sight of Captain Hewitt, and then crossed the pike and up to our fighting ground. Several regiments of infantry occupied the ground, and some artillery was in the open ground, throwing shells into a woods about half a mile further on. Our boys lay where they fell, but the rebels had stripped them of part of their clothing, and I don't think any of them had boots on. Some of our boys, under Lieu- tenant DeCoursey, with whom was Corporal Kirk, Al. Coleman, and John Gulden, were there to take charge of the bodies, and before I left the wagon they had waited for arrived, and they started for Nashville and I to join my Company. STORY OF A TYPICAL CAPTURE. IMPRISONMENT AND EXCHANGE. M. B. COLTON, COMPANY H, PASSAIC, N. J. IT was New Year's day, Thursday, January i, 1863. The battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River was raging, and our Regi- ment had taken part in the battle for several days, losing Majors Ward and Rosengarten and a number of men. On that morning part of our Regiment was detailed to escort a wagon train to Nashville. Thirteen rounds of ammunition were issued, and with a part of the Third Ohio Cavalry we set out. It was the expectation that we would be attacked by the rebel cav- alry, as they were known to be operating in the rear of our army, and we were not disappointed. One company was scattered along among the wagons, with orders, if attacked, to prevent a panic among the teamsters and mules. About noon the rebel cavalry, Wharton's brigade, made their appearance from the west side of the pike. They had been in hiding in the woods, and had allowed the head of the column to pass and get some distance ahead, when they charged on the train. As they came down we commenced firing, but did not check them in the least, as they were twenty to one. We were placed in squads of four or five among the wagons. Only those who have been in dangerous positions at such a time can realize the difficulties in which we were placed, hemmed in by ditches and fences on each side of the road, mules and wagons inextricably mixed up, and the enemy firing into us, a hundred against a squad. Many of the teamsters, seized with panic, abandoned their wagons, and the mules, left to themselves, turned off and some were soon in the ditch. All was in confusion, and nothing could be done to prevent it. The road being blocked up, there was no chance to join the main column ahead. The enemy were among us in a moment, and as we were doing 121 122 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. what we could to prevent a general stampede of the train, several of us were captured, and as our men at the head of the column were giving the rebels volleys ; the latter retreated, carrying with them a few wagons and some of us who were prisoners. We were hurried away, and our men opened with a gun on the retreating column and shelled us as we disappeared in the woods. As we left the road I saw Weikel, of our Company, old Com- pany C, lying with his head hanging over a small bridge, and just gasping, evidently shot through the heart. We were rushed up rapidly through the woods and were soon out of gunshot. We found they had with them 150 prisoners whom they had picked up in other places, most of them infantry. We were well treated during the night march of some sixteen miles. Some of the rebels during the night gave us their horses to ride while they rested themselves walking. We halted about i a.m., pretty well exhausted, and lay on the ground until near daylight, when we footed it into Murfreesboro. The enemy were burying their dead in trenches, and we passed General Cheatham's brigade marching through the woods to com- mence the day's battle; the men cheering as they caught sight of us. We soon arrived at Murfreesboro and were placed in the town jail, where we could distinctly hear the volleys of musketry. From the windows we could see the body of our General Sill, lying on a piazza of a house opposite the prison, stripped of trousers, coat and boots. We had flour and sugar issued, and we cooked the mess the best we could. More prisoners were brought in during the morning, their faces covered with powder from biting cartridges. They were jubilant, and reported that our army were driving the rebels in great shape, and we were in strong hopes of being recaptured before night, as the sound of the musketry became more distinct ; but such was not to be our luck. On Saturday, January 3d, we were loaded on open flat cars and started for Chattanooga. It rained hard all day and night, and was miserably cold. We had no cover, and travehng very slowly, we were all well soaked and nearly frozen. How we stood it I do not know, but we were young then. A Typical Capture, Imprisonment and Exchange. 123 The locomotive was evidently in need of repairs. Frequently the train would stop for an hour, and shivering all over and soaked to the skin, we would try to make a fire out of the wet wood, picked up by the side of the road. We were a miserable lot and longed for daylight, which came at last, and with it the blessed sun, distributing its warmth where it was greatly needed. There was probably more real suffering that night than we ex- perienced during the whole war. We arrived at Chattanooga at midnight and were marched through the town to the prisoners' camp, where we dried our clothing and slept soundly until morning. Sunday, the following day, was a beautiful one, a great con- trast to the preceding day and night. Rations were issued of meal and sugar. It was a regular grab game. I secured two cups of meal, but no sugar. Flour here was $50 per barrel, sugar $1 per pound, corn meal $4 per bushel, and coffee $4 per pound. On January 6th we left Chattanooga and arrived at Atlanta early in the morning, and marched out to camp in a heavy rain. Here rations were issued ; a loaf of good bread and pork. The cars we occupied from Chattanooga were filthy hog cars. Upon arrival we found all of the stores in town closed and busi- ness suspended. We left Atlanta and arrived at Montgomery, Ala., at i A.M., January 8th. The nights were cold and frosty. By the light of the camp fires we found a few more of our Regiment : William T. Niemann, wounded, shot through the shoulder — a bad wound ; Jeff. Denis and Sam Jamison, the latter wounded in the head ; Garber, shot in the neck ; Alex. Ramsey and Ned Patteson. The wounded suffered much from exposure, being constantly on the move, but they received good attention from Dr. Mish, who was a prisoner and was with us all through. We left Montgomery at 9 a.m., going north, and bound for Richmond. At dark we arrived at West Point and changed cars for Atlanta, where we arrived at i a.m., Friday, January 9th. The guards at this time were quite lax, and we were allowed to wander about town in search of bread, and were brought up at last at the camping place of the prisoners, where were issued corn and beef. 124 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. We left Atlanta at 8 p.m., passing over the ground which was soon to be made historic by the series of battles between Sherman and Joe Johnston for the possession of Atlanta. Every foot of the way from Chattanooga to Atlanta was fought over. We arrived at Dalton early in the morning of January loth, and left at lo a.m. for Knovxille, traveling very slowly. There was some recompense for our hardships in the magnifi- cent scenery through which we passed, along beautiful rivers like the French Broad and the Watauga, and the majestic Smoky Mountains — the range dividing East Tennessee from North Car- olina. We little thought, then, that in two years' time we would be climbing those same mountains with Stoneman's Cavalry into North Carolina, to form a junction with Sherman's army to operate in the rear of Lee's army. On January nth we arrived at Knoxville. Often the men would climb to the top of the cars to get some fresh air, and ride that way in the biting wind. Of course we had very little to eat. Those of us who had a little money could occasionally buy some corn pone or tough pies from some friendly darkies or poor white trash. At one point, while passing through Alabama, a couple of girls sold some pies, and every man who had eaten was taken deathly sick. The pies were no doubt poisoned. Evidently too much poison had been administered, and that saved them. • We were held up at Knoxville all day and drew rations — bread, crackers and pork. All along the road through East Tennessee the people turned out to see the "Yanks" and gazed on us as if we were part of a circus menagerie. We bandied words with them, and really had a pleasant time chaffing them. Many of them were Union men and women, and when the train stopped, which was quite often, we had some quiet talks with them. A common question with them was : "What did you'uns come down here to fight we'uns for ?" We left Knoxville January 12th, at 4 a.m., traveling slowly all day, and arriving at Owensville at dark. We found the bridge burned, and had to lay over there until morning. At Henry Bashor's some of us had a good breakfast. The majority crossed the Watauga in a flatboat, and some A Typical Capture, Iiiiprisonuicnf and Exchange. 125 waded the stream. We then marched ten miles to the Goshey River, where we found another bridge had been burned. We took the cars again and rode ten miles to Bristol, on the Virginia line. Here we built fires, and rations were issued — flour and pork. We passed some fine scenery, and the Paint Mountains with their tops covered with snow. We arrived at Lynchburg at 7 a.m., Thursday, January 15th, drew rations and started for Richmond at noon with two engines, as there were some heavy grades. We arrived at the junction and changed from freight to passenger cars for the rest of the journey. During the night the writer wandered about the car to find a soft place to sleep, and laid down on the floor, with his head pillowed on one of the men, who was sound asleep. It being dark, he was unable to distinguish who it was, and on awaking at day- light found he was using one of the rebel guards for a pillow. Awaking first he avoided any unpleasant consequences. On Friday, January i6th, we arrived at Richmond at 7 a.m., crossed the James River by bridge, entered Richmond, and marched through the rain to the quarters assigned to us, a large tobacco factory. Quite a crowd assembled to inspect the Yankees. One man informed us that the place had been used as a smallpox hospital, and he hoped that we would never come out of the building alive. This was encouraging. The building, however, had been thor- oughly cleaned and whitewashed. It was very tedious and tiresome to be held there a prisoner. We had rations issued twice a day — half a loaf of fresh bread, very good, mule meat or soup, which was sometimes wormy. To the south close by ran the James River, and on the opposite side is the town of Manchester. We fell in to be counted every morning, the roll being called by a little fellow by the name of Ross, and he would yell : "Fall in, Yanks !" Some of the prisoners would mock him and he would get into a terrible rage. On the morning of January 17th Dr. Mish left us for the flag- of-truce boat, with the understanding that if it appeared at City Point he was to proceed to Fortress Monroe. Many forwarded letters by him, which had to be inspected before they were allowed to go through the lines. 126 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. About looo men were quartered in this building. On our floor were 238 men, who at night slept in rows. Much of the time of the men was spent in looking over their underclothing. Stripped to the waist they were a ludicrous sight, turning their shirts inside out, and ever and anon, especially ever, picking out some small things, looking like seeds, which were designated graybacks. Should you put your head out of the window to get a breath of fresh air, the guard below in the street would bring his gun to his shoulder and threaten to shoot. If any man incurred the displeasure of the officer of the day, he was placed on one of the stair landings and compelled to mark time for an hour or two as a punishment. The guards were gener- ally good-natured, and our men would only mark time when an officer was approaching. And so time passed, the same thing every day. The principal topic of conversation was : "When should we get out of this and be off to God's country." Rumors flew thick and fast, and the wish was often expressed that this would be only a "temporary arrangement." On January 19th Dr. Mish returned, the flag-of-truce boat not having put in an appearance at City Point. Seven hundred prisoners from Libby Prison we learned had left, and it seemed pretty certain that we would all go soon. We heard that the flag-of-truce boat was to take iioo prisoners at once. This news was considered reliable. The men on the upper floor of the western wing of the building were paroled on this date. This was encouraging. On January 26th, 800 men from Libby Prison having left to be put through the lines we were transferred to that prison. We then all left the quarters we had been occupying for the past ten days, blankets and tins being taken from us. We marched through the muddy streets carrying our rations in blankets furnished us for that purpose, one man at each end of the four corners of the blanket — a singular sight, and it attracted a great deal of attention from the citizens. We arrived at Libby Prison and were soon installed in that filthy building. The walls were smeared with filth that had run down from the upper floors. No attention of any kind evidently had been paid to cleanliness, and our hearts sank within us at the thought that A Typical Capture, Imprisonment and Exchange. 12"/ Ave might remain here for months, or perhaps until the war was ended. Some of the men were already ill. But we were agree- ably disappointed, as we remained there only one day. We were all paroled in the afternoon, and from what we could learn from the guards, were to leave at once and be put through the lines at City Point. On Tuesday, the 27th, we left Libby at 3 a.m., and walking through the thick mud, took the cars for Petersburg, where we arrived at 8 a.m. Here we waited for the balance to come. We learned that a sad accident had occurred. The footbridge over the canal, over which we had just passed, had fallen in, and sev- eral were drowned and wounded. We arrived at City Point at 11 a.m., and were overjoyed at sight of the old flag flying from the flag-of-truce boat "New York." We knew that we would soon be in God's country again. As soon as we went aboard rations were issued, and we filled up for the first time in many days. We moved down the James River. In the afternoon we passed the blockading fleet, consisting of several large steamers and two of the new monitors. Arriving at Fortress Monroe before dark, we anchored, a tug coming alongside for the report. On January 28th we weighed anchor at 3 a.m., and after a cold and stormy passage, arrived at Annapolis, remaining on board all night. Two men died on the boat as we came up the Chesapeake, and their bodies were allowed to remain on their cots among the sick all night. We landed and marched through the town to the parole camp, two miles out. Our party was assigned to a Sibley tent, floored, and with a stove. We had nothing to do here but cook, eat and keep the fire going. We drew full new uniforms, and it was amusing to see the men burning their old clothing, cremating all the life there was in them. Here we remained for some time, leading an idle life, wander- ing about aimlessly and hoping against hope that we would be soon regularly exchanged and rejoin our Regiment at the front, in Tennessee. There was a company of cavalry patroling the country out- 128 History of the Fifteenth Peiuisylvania Cavalry. side, picking up men who were wandering away from camp, and every day men were captured and brought before the Command- ant and required to give an account of themselves. The excuse generally was that they were out fishing. For the next four months our experiences were varied. The usual lot of soldiers whose parole prevented their customary duties until exchanged. About the ist of June that formality had been gone through with and we rejoined our Regiment again. Since our capture we had traveled 1376 miles, principally on freight and fiat cars. AMONG THE KILLED AND WOUNDED AT STONE RIVER. C. LEWIS DIEHL, COMPANY L, LOUISVILLE, KY. FROM September 12, 1862, the day of my enlistment, to January 26, 1863, the day on which my discharge was handed to me and I departed from our regimental hospital at Nashville, is but a short span of time. Yet it was to me the most momentous and the richest in the experience of my life — so rich and varied that even at this time, after more than forty years, I cannot realize that the few short months passed as a member of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry were not in reality years ; for had I not in that brief time practically experienced all that makes up the sum of a soldier's experience ? — the drill under most favorable conditions and by expert drill masters ; the discipline of the camp, with its attendant duties of guard mount and policing; the breaking up of camp and the re-establishment of the same, even to the extent of preparing for winter quarters; the march to the front on horseback through Kentucky and Tennessee, with attendant guard and picket duty and reconnoissance in force ; then, at last, joining the army, foraging, advance toward the enemy's lines of defense, skirmishing and battle ; wounded, prisoner, parole, convalescence and discharge. So it is that all subsequent experi- ence would probably only have been a repetition of what had gone before. It will be remembered that when the Regiment departed from Bowling Green (December 21, 1862), on the march to Nashville, Company L was detailed as escort for General Smith, and there- fore did not leave before noon of the day following the departure of the main body. I have always associated this with the begin- ning of our active service, notwithstanding that I had a foretaste of what cavalry service meant on the occasion of the night recon- noissance to Glascow, in search of Morgan. Rumors of the close 9 129 130 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. proximity of Morgan and of the crossing of the Cumberland by the enemy in force to cut us off were so persistent that we felt sure to be attacked before we could safely join the main army at Nashville; and when, on the early morning of the 24th, before daylight, our bivouac was invaded by a party of troopers unchal- lenged, we thought surely our time had come. They turned out to be some members of our advance who had been sent back to find out the cause of the conflagration — it was the night of the burning of Tyre Springs — and to assure themselves of our safety, and here we were, like the babes in the woods, sound asleep and innocent of all danger, without so much as a sentinel to keep out intruders. Little wonder that, as we continued our march that day, we felt we were looked upon with derision by the veterans who began to be in evidence all along the pike — now a battery of artillery, then a regiment of infantry, a train of army wagons or a jumble of all sorts, all bound for the one objective point — for in their eyes we had an appearance of newness which they, as veterans, very naturally associated with inexperience, not to say verdancy. As we neared Edgefield the road was so congested that considerable delay was occasioned, and our contingent frequently came to a dead halt in the midst of troopers, teamsters and infan- try, who soon singled us out as proper objects of sympathy, which I need scarcely say was abundantly and gratuitously distributed. "Sorry for that fine uniform you are wearing; it won't stay that way down here." "Sonny, think of me to-morrow, when you are out cornshucking." "Say, Jim, I believe they are all officers. I wonder who is to command them !" and much more to the same effect and not much to our comfort. But by 3 o'clock we reached the pontoon bridge and soon crossed the Cumberland River, marched -through the rocky streets of Nashville, and about two miles beyond reached our camp on the side of one of the beautiful hills that surround the capital city of Tennessee. Here, thanks to an advance contingent of our Company, we found the tents up and ready for our reception. The weather was beautifully clear, mild and pleasant. With the approach of night the lights of the camp fires of the army camps began to appear, and, after darkness had set in, the surrounding hills appeared as though illuminated for some celebration, an effect Among the Killed and IVoitnded at Stone River. 131 which was the more reahstic because of the frequency of signal rockets ascending in various directions. It was the eve of the natal day of the Redeemer, and it required no great stretch of the imagination to conceive that all this was in celebration of the announcement of "Peace and good will among men" rather than an incident of a cruel, fratricidal war. After more than forty years since the events described and about to be described, it may be interesting to give at this point the ver- batim account of the happenings during the next few days leading up to within an hour or less of the memorable charge into the woods in which Major Ward received his death wound and Major Rosengarten and others were killed outright. I kept a care- ful diary of daily events from November 28, 1862, to the day of my return to Louisville, January 28, 1863, with a few days' interval after I was wounded. This abstract is the more interesting because it gives an absolutely truthful account of the happenings and im- pressions experienced by me. That the trooper who requested us "to think of him when shucking corn on the morrow" had a true insight into what was likely to happen will appear from the fol- lowing : December 2jth, Christmas. — Was detailed with twenty-four others of my Company to forage for corn. Went out on the Hills- boro pike about eight miles, then turned into a side road to the left for a short distance and found plenty of corn in the fields. While the wagons were being loaded, I, with others of the escort, passed the time eating some hackberries, small fruits that at this season were shriveled and tasted like dried cherries. The trees also resembled cherry trees. About 3.30 p.m. the wagons and escort were called in. We had hardly gotten to the pike when we heard sharp firing and shouting, and shortly a party of our men came running in along the pike, followed helter-skelter by the loaded wagons, scattering corn in all directions in their hurry to reach shelter. They reported an attack by about 500 rebel cavalry. Confusion reigned supreme. Our squad of twenty-five remained and formed in line of battle. When the last wagon had passed we were ordered to cover the retreat slowly, but were soon thrown into confusion by those retreating from behind us. Soon the rebels were visible on the brow of the hill and fired volley after volley at us. We rapidly formed in line of battle in a field facing the hill, 132 History of the Fifteenth Pennsyh'ania Cavalry. when the enemy retreated. One man was killed on our side. Arrived in camp by dark. December 26th. — This morning the Regiment was ordered off without baggage on a three days' march. Companies L and I started off, followed afterward by the other companies, on the Nolansville pike, bivouacking near Nolansville over night. Dur- ing the day heard firing along the road; there had been slight skirmishing ahead. December 2/th. — Started about 7 o'clock. Shortly thereafter we deployed as skirmishers to attack a party of rebel skirmishers. The rebels came on tolerably heavy, but were driven back by our superior number. Saw one man (rebel) fall. Advanced into a hollow, where we were exposed to a cross fire of cannon and shell. Had to retreat a short distance. When we advanced again, after a half hour's fighting, we drove the enemy from his position. Went about a mile to our left to outflank the enemy. Olin, Curtin, Burchinel and I were ordered on a knob in our front to scout, and on our return, about half way down, we were invited by a sesesh, whose property we had protected from the vandalism of some army bummers, to dinner. We did not dismount, but had hoe- cake, sparerib and buttermilk while on horseback. On our return it began to rain hard, but we again started and scoured the coun- try until nightfall. Captured two rebel stragglers on the way. Major Rosengarten was attacked by a rebel, and would have been killed but for the timely assistance of Serg.-Maj. Wash. Airey. Cannonading was kept up the entire day, with intermissions. En- camped in a field. Night clear. December 28th, Sunday. — Advanced again about 8 a.m. After marching several miles came to a small stream, which we forded, the bridge having been destroyed by the enemy. After passing some Federal soldiers drawn up in line of battle, we halted at a plantation about a mile from the bridge. A handsome mansion stood on a slight ascent, and seemed to be occupied exclusively by ladies, who amused us, and possibly themselves, with sesesh talk and rebel songs to the music of a piano. They seemed to be particularly excited because one of our men had captured a horse belonging to one of the ladies, but upon her earnest entreaties it was returned to her. One of the ladies went so far as to flourish a pistol (a very small one) in the face of some of the men sur- Among the Killed and Wonnded at Stone River. 133 rounding the porch, but she was given to understand that her play was dangerous to herself only. After staying here about half an hour we resumed our march, returning whence we came, but leav- ing a picket near the plantation (Dr. Webb's). Soon some of the pickets came along with the report that some rebels had shown themselves at the house we had just left. Major Ward returned with a portion of the men, but failed to find the rebels. We came to our bivouac for the night, about three miles along the road (the Huntsville pike), early in the afternoon, and rested for the balance of the day and night in a fine grove of trees. December 2pth. — Resumed our march back on the Huntsville pike ; turned off into the same road where we had our skirmishes. On the way we passed through the bivouacs of numerous infantry regiments and the headquarters of several general officers. After marching several hours, much of the time through cedar scrub, we came to an open plain, where we saw our cavalry drawn up. We can now hear the report of rifles of our's and the enemy's skir- mishers. Directly ahead we can see the smoke of some building or bridge which has just been fired. Infantry appear to be ahead. Within a short hour after the last word of the above was written I was wounded and a prisoner, a number of my comrades, including Major Rosengarten, were dead, Major Ward was mor- tally wounded and others of our Regiment were severely wounded or prisoners. I cannot do better than to let my diary speak again : January 2, 186^.- — I am now wounded and a prisoner of war. On the 29th of December, shortly after making my last entry in this diary, we moved on until we reached the pike, after having forded a small stream. Going along the pike we met some of our men in charge of some prisoners — among them several officers — and finally came to a patch of woods on our right, into which we charged after our advance had signaled us to "come on." We dashed into these woods until we came to a rail fence separating the woods from a corn field. Here we were received with a sharp volley, though we could see nothing of the enemy. The horse of- one of our men — not of my Company — was shot before me, and in falling the man was caught under the horse. I dismounted to help him, and when I remounted I found the fence lined with rebels, while most of our men had retreated. I had hardly mounted when I was struck bv a ball in the face, the ball entering 134 History of the Fiftccntli Pennsylvania Cavalry. my left cheek and passed through the nose. I allowed myself to drop from the horse and lay still until the firing ceased, when one of the enemy came up to take my arms. As he came up to me I thought it about time to give signs of life, which I had care- fully avoided up to this time, because I had been shot at when making a movement shortly after I received my wound. On turn- ing around he motioned to shoot me, holding the muzzle of his rifle to my face, but was prevented by the remonstrance of his comrades. Pretty soon one of our regimental surgeons came up under a flag of truce, and I was ordered to go to a neighboring farmhouse. On my way saw poor Fred Herring laid out (among others). There were about nine men killed and probably as many wounded — a great many for one company. Weiler and Eaton, both of my Company, were at the farmhouse when I came there ; both were wounded in the hip ;• Eaton mortally. He died at 5 o'clock A.M., January i, 1863. Weiler is doing well. My wound is painful, but not dangerous, I trust. One of my eyes is closed, and I may lose it ; the other is weakened considerably. There has been a battle going on for three days. Our men have been thor- oughly repulsed. The wounded have been coming in numbers into this church (at Murfreesboro) in which I was the first occu- pant. It is a terrible sight. January 4th, Sunday. — We were visited to-day and yesterday by a lady from Allentown, Mrs. Chandler, which was a great com- fort to us. There was a report that the Union forces would occupy the town to-day, as the rebels have evacuated this place. I hear our forces retreated at the same time. My wound is much more comfortable to-day. We were paroled this morning, but did not get our parol passports. I suppose they wanted to have us ex- changed even if they could not hold us. This evening we received our parol passports. Our men have not yet come, although they are still expected. January 5th. — Our men took possession of the town to-day. Several have been here to see us. They are passing through in large numbers in pursuit of the enemy. Mrs. Chandler was here again to-day. I gave her a letter for father and'one for Lew, which she promised to mail. Suffered severely from colic during the night. January 6th. — Colonel Tanner, of the Twentv-second Indiana, Ajiioiig tlic Killed and IVoinidcd at Stone River. 135 who was wounded on Wednesday and brought to our hospital, called to-day. He manages to get along tolerably well with a cane. Nothing of importance has taken place. The nurses and attend- ants had to go to the courthouse to-day to be paroled. Wound felt tolerably comfortable and the doctor says it is getting along finely. January ytJi. — Had my wound dressed to-day. Spoke with a Federal surgeon, who told me we would probably be sent to Nashville to-morrow. The wounded at this hospital were paroled to-day. Affairs as usual. The United States Commissariat sup- plied this hospital with stores to-day. The weather has been cool, but not nearly as cool as we have it in the North about this time. The railroad to Nashville will be finished probably to-morrow or the day after, when, it is said, the Union soldiers will be sent to Nashville. Have not heard anything from our Regiment. Ihe hospital in which we are is an old Presbyterian Church and might be made very comfortable, but as it is we have nothing except straw ticks to lay on and a thin blanket for cover, with corn fodder for a pillow. The surgeons (rebel) treat us very kindly and are doing as much for us as they do for their own men. The ladies (rebel) who visit this hospital generally slight us. Some few will attend to our wants. There was a general apprehension by the rebels that our men would not treat them kindly ; but since they have received our stores, with permission to help themselves to whatever they need, they think differently. Jannary 12th. — Dr. Alexander called in the afternoon with an ambulance to have us taken to Nashville. Weiler was too sick to be moved, so I was taken alone as far as the crossroads, where, at the house of Dr. Manson, Dr. Alexander had some of our wounded men. Here I found Powell, shot through the knee. Had supper with Dr. Manson, a very cordial sesesh. I remained in the regimental hospital — a small church edifice situated on one of the side streets near the capitol — just thirteen days, when (on January 26th) I received my discharge, having been pronounced bv Dr. Alexander unfit for further service in the field. My recollection of events at this hospital is not very clear. ]\Iost of the time I was ill, having contracted camp diarrhea, from which I was not entirely well until months after I returned North and 136 History of the Fifteenth Peiiiisyhania Cavalry. was again engaged in business. The hospital was well filled, mostly with members of the Regiment from the camp, where re- organization was in progress. I was made as comfortable as pos- sible under the circumstances and jollied by visiting comrades from the camp, who wished me, if possible, to remain in service, the more particularly since my name had been mentioned for promotion. Little luxuries in the way of food were also pro- vided, through the exertion of my comrades, from kind house- keepers in the neighborhood, who, for a consideration, prepared nourishing soups, pancakes and the like, which under the condi- tions of my wound, involving the mouth and jaw, were very ac- ceptable. Providentially, I was able to pay for these luxuries with money realized during my imprisonment in the hospital at Mur- freesboro. One of the young surgeons took a fancy to my spurs, which I sold to him for $25, and a wounded Confederate relieved me of an old silver watch, paying me $65^all this, of course. Con- federate currency. It is almost incredible at this period to believe that at that time there were speculators who had sufficient confi- dence in the future of the Confederacy to oflr'er 75 per cent, in greenbacks for this Confederate script; but that is what one of my comrades, who had negotiated the transaction, brought me. In consequence, I was well equipped financially to leave the hospi- tal, which was the more desirable since the sanitary condition of the hospital was in a deplorable state — gangrene, typhoid and chronic diarrhea prevailing. So, having by the kindness of a member of the Regiment — mentioned in my diary as Mr. Stein — secured shelter for the night at a neighboring house, I started at 8 o'clock A.M.^ on January 27th, with a transport of wounded and convalescents for the North, and after a very rough and painful trip in box cars, which were not heated, though the weather w^as intensely cold, I reached Louisville on the afternoon of the 28th of January, 1863, and thence, after a few days to recuperate, com- fortably continued my journey home. MY CHARGE AT STONE RR^ER. FIRST LIEUT. CHAS. H. KIRK, COMPANY E, PHILADELPHIA. I WAS a Corporal in Company E at that time, and had been selected to carry the Company guidon. For doing this I was not required to carry a carbine. We had forded Overalls Creek and were grouped around a large house. IMajor Ward was with us. There was a level stretch of country for a half mile to the front and then woods. Animated by a boyish spirit I waived my guidon, and immediately saw a puff of smoke from the woods, then the sound, and lastly, with a vicious thug, a bullet went into a tree at my back. "Take care, Corporal!" said the Major. "That was a close shot." At this time a party of Confederate cavalry was seen in our front, making good time for Murfreesboro, and instantly the boys took up the cry, "There they go! Charge them! Go for them!" Major Ward, who was close to me, yelled, "No, don't go ! My orders are to go only this far." Still the yells continued. Some of the men advancing, the Major said, "D n you! if you will go, I'll go too — charge!" and then all started, without semblance of formation, most of them down the road and others through a gate across a corn field, where the stalks had been cut and put in shocks. I was yelling as loud as anyone and waiving my guidon like I had seen in pictures, but had never done the like of it before or since, when, somehow, I don't exactly know how, the stick of the guidon got caught in a corn shock, and my next recollection was lying on the ground trying to remember what had happened. My horse stood by me, and I soon concluded to get on him and continue the charge. I got in the road, but the detachment had passed in the woods, out of sight. I saw a few men, down a lane to my right, on which was a frame house, and I went down it to join what I supposed to be some of our own party. As miy horse still kept up 137 138 Historx of tlic Fifteenth Pciuisylzania Caz'alry. his run. it did not take long to cover the ground between us ; but what anxious moments they were, for the four men in the road carried muskets, while all of ours carried short carbines. Then, as I got nearer, I saw they had a butternut-colored uniform, in- stead of the blue we wore. I was too close to them to stop my horse, and doubt if I could have done so anyhow, but in a flash came to me the drill with lances I had seen when I visited my brother Will in his regiment, Rush's Lancers. Down came my guidon to a "charge lance." ]\Iy first adversary sat stolidly on his horse, fingering the trigger of his musket ; his comrades were in the rear of him, but all ni}- thoughts were on him and I think his were on the peculiar weapon I carried, and his ignorance of its effectiveness magnified its power, for Avhen I got within a dozen paces of him he dropped his musket to the ground and raised his right hand in token of surrender. The others followed his example at once, and for a few moments I had four prisoners on my hands. Soon some of our men came up, only one of whom I now recall, Joe Rue. Captain Norman Smith now appeared with his Company, com- ing in from the right, and some firing took place in front. The Captain ordered us to advance as skirmishers, across a cotton field, and in the forward movement I divided my attention between the enemy we expected in front and a new Confederate uniform, which a colored man told me had been dropped off the saddle by the rebel officer who had just gone on ahead. I did not find the uniform, but found the enemy behind the fence just in front of us. They reached it first; two of them occupied the panel just in front of me, w^hile in the next panel I saw a bareheaded man crawl through, who .came running to us. He had no hat or accouter- ments, and his head was smeared with blood from a wound, and as he came nearer I saw it was Sam Jamison, of Company L, w^ho, in the mix up over to the left, had been batted over the head by a rebel, was captured and escaped, all wdthin a few minutes. The skirmishers in front w^ere making it hot for us now, and all on our end of the line moved for the Avoods, from which came yells and heavy firing. I passed Major Ward coming back, sup- ported by a man on each side, a deathly pallor on his face, but telling us in feeble tones to "go on." I went to within twenty-five yards of the fence, from behind which came shots at irregular intervals. I saw mv friend ^^'ash. Airev. dismounted and with My Charge at Stone Rkrr. 139 saber drawn, calling to the boys to "come on !" and I remember thinking what a dangerous position that was, for he was not over ten yards from the rebel line of battle and looked every inch the gallant officer he was. I saw several of our men lying on the ground and horses rearing; one seemed to me to spin around on his hind feet. Just near me were Lieutenant De Coursey and Serg. Vv'ill Kimber. "This is pretty hot here ; let's get out," said De Coursey. "Just one shot more," returned Kimber, and gave it, but got one in return square in the forehead. We were all getting out now, and a little depression in the ground gave us cover and the chance to retreat in good order, and all firing from the front ceased, and was succeeded by some horrible, agonizing cries from some of our wounded back on the field. We fell back to near Wilkinson's crossroads and slept in the woods all night. It was a quiet bivouac, and many silent thoughts went out to those of our comrades who lay stifif and stark on the field of action, toward Murfreesboro. WITH OUR CAPTURED WAGON TRAIN. WM. AXDERSOX, COMPAXY F, WILKIXSBURG, PA. WHEN our Regiment was ordered on the march which ended, a few days later, in the battle of Stone River, I reported for duty with my -Company, but because our teamster was sick I was detailed to drive our Company wagon in his stead. As this part of army life was new to me I was given the privilege of selecting two others to help me, and I chose John McFarland and J. F. Turner, of my Company. We fell into line with the other wagons, got on to the N-olans- ville pike and got as far as that town when w^e stopped for the night. Up to this time I had been driving six mules and had my horse tied to the foot of the wagon, but during the night some- one stole one of my mules, and the next day I had to get along with five, and did it very well as long as I had anything to do with them. Sometime during the day we reached a ravine, and were resting at the time General Wheeler's men captured most everything in the shape of wagons. I was sitting in the front of mine, and very pleasantly occupied just then eating hard-tack, with plenty of sugar on it, and John McFarland was on his horse up on the bank above me, when I heard a yelling which somehow reminded me of old times in Pennsylvania, and I said to John, "There's a school just out. Don't you hear the children?" Just then John yelled to me, "Cut a mule loose, Andy, for the whole rebellion is com- ing!" My belt and side arms were in the front end of the wagon and I tried to get them, but they had got fastened in some of the boxes on the wagon, and just then I had no time to stop for them. I ran to the hind end of the wagon where I kept my horse, but our Company cook was ahead of me, and going off like a streak, and the horse he rode had been mine. There was terrible confusion now. The rebels were yelling and the rifle balls were thick, but I ran along the line of wagons till I 140 JVith Our Captured Wagon Train. 141 came to the end of them, and then on up a Httle hill. Turner, who was behind, yelled to me to keep on running over the hill and he would take me on his horse. Where we were was too dangerous a place to stop, but as soon as sheltered from the fire of the enemy I got on Turner's horse, behind him, and we joined in the running race to Nashville, where we arrived in safety. BRIXGING OUR DEAD BACK TO NASHVILLE. LIEUT. A. B. COLEMAN, COMPANY L, PHILADELPHL\. IT was the clav after our fight at the battle of Stone River, where we had dashed headlong against the Tenth South Carolina Infantry, posted behind a fence, and been driven back, with a score of our small force killed and wounded. Our Company Commander, Lieut. John W. Jackson, detailed Corp. Chas. H. Kirk and four men, of whom I was one, to go up lo where we had our fight the afternoon before, impress a wagon from some farmer in the neighborhood, and load up our dead on it and take them back to Nashville. We started and soon reached our field. The infantry had already arrived, and their skirmishers were busy popping away at the enemy just ofif to the left and in a different direction from which the heavy attack came early the next morning. Farmers and country wagons were scarce, and while we waited for our wagon to come we could watch the movements of our infantry, which was all new and interesting to us. The rattle of the skir- mishers never stopped, and to add to the entertainment we were treated to the sight of an artillery duel between two of our guns and two of the enemy's, posted off to our left and front. They fired round shot at us, which ricochetted across the fields but hurt no one. This kept up for quite a while, till one of our Generals came up and said to the batteryman, "Why don't you stop those fellows ? Where's Ed ?" Then a young fellow of about twenty stepped up smiling, and saluting said, "Here I am. General." "Ed, put a shot into that battery and stop them." Ed carefully sighted one of the guns — a Parrott — and pulled the lanyard. There was an explosion over in the rebel battery, then a cheer from our lines, and the last seen of the enemv thev were going like wild for shelter. Our wagon came at last, late in the afternoon. Our dead were 142 Bringing Our Dead Back to Xashvillc- 143 piled in it, and we pulled out as far as Wilkinson's crossroads, where the night was spent. A little after daylight the next morn- ing a terrible infantry firing took place quite near to us in front, accompanied by some cheers and a larger volume of rebel yells. Some artillerymen with led horses stopped long enough to tell us that their battery had just been overrun by the rebels, and then some officers ordered us to "light out" as fast as we could, as the rebels were coming. Our team had been hitched up at the first noise of battle, and pulled out at once down a road for 100 yards, and then took one to the left. Just at the turn we met Alex. Ramsey and Ed Patti- son, on guard over a lot of ammunition, and told them to come along, but they declined, and in about three minutes the rebels had them. Our wagon kept jogging along, the mules at a sharp trot. We joined the wagons, all anxious to get away, and the yells and firing of rifles and artillery seemed greater than ever, while the peculiar whiz of the rifle ball was ever in the air. We had left the road by this time, cutting across fields, and all the time at a jog trot. The tailboard of our wagon got loose and the body of Major Rosengarten commenced sliding down from the pile of bodies. There was nothing to do but stop our wagon, crawl in over the bodies and lift the Major's body back to its "place, then start off again. This happened so often that the other wagons all passed and we were left to follow alone. A line of the enemy's cavalry came up in our rear, about half a mile away, and occasionally sent a shot after us, and the only reason I could think of why they did not send a few men and capture us, was that they thought our wagon, ofif by itself, was only a decoy to draw them on. Even the stragglers from the broken infantry, who had been keeping us company, had passed on. This kept on for an hour, when we reached Lavergne, where some of our troops were and where the other wagons had assembled. The Michigan Engineers had had a sharp fight here only a couple of hours before, defeating Wheeler's cavalry. All about the place was an air of subdued excitement, for while they had won the first round in the battle, it was not yet determined who would be the victor in others that might come. After a short halt here our wagon started oft* alone to Nashville, fifteen miles distant. It was an anxious trip for us, as the enemy's 144 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. cavalry had all been thrown to the rear of our army and we were continually hearing of them all around us. Besides this, the strag- glers from the field of battle were almost as bad, as they told such terrific tales of what they had done and how much more terrible the rebels were; of "how their regiment was all cut to pieces — not twenty-five men of it left alive" — until one felt almost as craven and disheartened as the cowards who had run away from their command. The rear of an army is the worst place to judge how the battle is going in front. At one point in the road an infan- tryman, mounted on a mule, galloped by us. He had all his ac- couterments with him, and as he passed he yelled to us, "Look out, boys ! the rebels are just behind !" Five minutes later he came back, without mule, hat, gun, haversack, and told us that the rebels were on that little knoll just in front, in plain sight; that they had cap- tured him there and were waiting for us. But we passed in safety and saw no sign of an enemy. It was a weary, hard, anxious day, and there was no let-up to it until near dusk, when we passed within the line of our pickets and soon after reached our old camp. THE CHASE BROTHERS. SERG. SIMEON LORD, COMPANY E, PHILADELPHIA. THE Chase brothers I sliall never forget. I can see them now, arm in arm, sauntering around camp, just as affec- tionate as two sisters — indehbly marked with gentleness and refinement, giving an insight of the cultured home and gentle- folk they parted from when they pledged their services to their country. I would look at them and contrast their past with their present life and doings, and thought — how will they meet it and what will be the end ? It came quickly, sad and pathetic. Richard, the younger brother, in the charge at Stone River went gaily into the fight and met his death. But an hour before he had been reading from Homer's "Iliad" and giving its translation to those around him as they rode forward, and the first knowledge that many had of his death was seeing his riderless horse, to whose saddle was strapped the book from which he had so lately been reading. In the charge he had ridden right up to the fence, behind which the rebels lay, and when driven back was one of the last to leave, going at a slow trot, with body bent and face to the foe. The ball that killed him entered his right cheek and passed up into his brain. His friend John K. Marshall, going by a moment later, seeing him lying on the ground, dismounted and tried to raise him up, but his Lieutenant, John W. Jackson, called to him to "fall back," as all were retreat- ing. This occurred within fifty yards and in ftill sight of the rebel line of battle, but not a shot did they fire. Such a record of death tells of his courage and culture. Beverly, after the death of his comrade and brother, gave evi- dence that his heart was bleeding, lonesome and ever flooding with grief over his great loss. After the battle of Stone River I was stationed at department headquarters as Courier Sergeant, and for a time lost sight of 10 145 146 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Beverly. Often I would think of him. Later on I was told he was taken prisoner. After the capture of Atlanta, and while stationed there, Com- rade Balmar reported to me to be cared for. He had just gotten to Atlanta after his escape and perilous, winning flight from Andersonville prison. I instantly thought he might know some- thing about the captured Chase brother. From him I got the story. In the charge at Dandridge, Beverly's horse was shot, and he with thirteen others was taken prisoner, and went through with them to Andersonville. He was one of the most cheerful among them and did much to keep up the courage of some who were downhearted. Although not yet of age, he had taken one voyage at sea and been shipwrecked, and gleefully told the others that the hardships in front of them were not equal to those he had passed through. His was a lovable disposition, and all his Comrades were drawn to him, but his stay was short. He entered Andersonville on the loth of March, 1864, and eleven days after he died of rapid consumption. The Chase brothers gave to their country "the full measure." FROM STOXE RIVER TO LIBBY. ASSIST. SURGEON GEO. F. MISH, MIDDLETOWN, PA. THE Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry broke camp at Nash- ville, Tenn., on the afternoon of December 26, 1862, and started for the front. This was a novelty to inexperienced men who had only backed their horses at Louisville, Ky., three weeks before, and ridden across the State of Kentucky to Nash- ville, Tenn., being between two and three weeks on the way. It was a gloomy outset, in mist and rain. However, the Regiment, anx- ious to be engaged, displayed fine spirit, and cheerfully and boldly moved on in the darkness. After a march of seven or eight miles they encamped near a small village and halted for the remainder of the night. After a few hours rest the march was resumed. This continued until we approached Stone River, when we w^ere apprised by the distant roaring of artillery that a battle was immi- nent. The set and determined faces of the men indicated that they were alive to the impending struggle, and that they were resolved to do or die. I myself was deeply impressed — perhaps battle- fright or something akin to awe and dread of conflict between the tv/o vast armies clashing in fire and thunder of cannon. My own war experience was nil, and being at a loss to know how to proceed, I inquired of Major Rosengarten, in command. He replied, "Keep to the rear and follow us." After a short rest and inspection and instruction to the men, we moved on toward the front. Soon our march became a run and charge into the thick of the fray. At this stage it was difficult to keep up with the body of wild and excited warriors, and I lost some ground, but followed as fast as I was able. Not having the same incentive to distinguish myself as a combatant, with no arms either to attack or defend, I was only useful when it was the misfortune of another to suffer. My turn, however, soon came. The road lay between woods, and I observed a group of our men on the right of the road in the forest, and riding up found the 147 148 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. situation I dreaded. Here, in the midst of the squad, was Major Ward, and I saw by his features that he was mortally wounded. I told the men to lay him upon a blanket which I had unrolled from my saddle, which being done, I carefully examified his wounds. They consisted of a ragged, gaping laceration of his right breast, several ribs shattered and the lung mangled, attended with copious hemorrhage at every breath. Whatever was possible under the circumstances I did to relieve him, but it was a useless service. I was called off to attend others in the neighborhood who were suffering, and while engaged in this 'duty, accompanied by three or four of the boys whose names I cannot recall — I think JeflF Dennis was one of them — I was interrupted by several coming up and telling me that I was wanted by an officer. I inquired, "Who ? What does he want? Tell him I am engaged." "Come on ! it is a rebel officer." In a moment or two I met the officer. (It is necessary here to make some explanation. While treating Major Ward I had a number of wide, white bandages, which were un- rolled, and for convenience had wrapped them on my arm and car- ried others in my hands, which unrolling and fluttering in the breeze might have been mistaken for a white flag ; at all events giving me a marked appearance.) The officer introduced himself as Colonel , of a South Carolina Confederate regiment, and demanded an explanation of my white display, which he said "he supposed was for a truce, and whether it was so?" Replying, I stated that I was a U. S. Surgeon attending to my duties, and what he judged was a flag of truce were bandages and dressings for the injured. He instantly recognized my green sash, a Surgeon's insignia, and my regulation U. S. medical cap, and said, "Well, doctor, I mistook you for a bearer of a flag of truce. Proceed with your work — recognize your dead ;" grimly remarking, "There they lie ; secure their valuables — be active!" This was in the face of a thousand rifles leveled toward us, over and between fence rails, their muz- zles gaping at us, and the men behind the guns ready to fire at the least provocation or by accident. It was anything but a pleasant situation. I hastened, under the circumstances, to perform my gruesome duty ; my sensations were overwhelming. In a few short moments — 'Major Ward, dying; here, lying stark dead, Major Rosengarten, Sergeant Herring and a number of others — I sup- From Stone River to Libby. 149 pose ten or fifteen; their names I cannot remember, but they are all known and their memories honored for their gallant charges, exhibiting wonderful bravery. After hurried, speedy work, we were called off and ordered to the rear. I told the Colonel that I wanted to return to my men. He quickly replied, "That cannot be ; you are within our lines and must remain with us." I saw that it was useless to protest, and with a heavy heart joined my comrades ; then I realized I was a prisoner of war. We fell back, under guard, through the Confederate hues that had slaughtered the brave boys lying where we saw them. I wondered then how any of them escaped, for as far as I could see in either direction the fence, which served them as a barricade, was lined with troops. After being pressed by our guards for about an eighth of a mile, we reached a planter's house. Here was shown an instance of how our boys exhibited their ability to take care of themselves. The guards took us into the kitchen, where a number of men — 'Confederates — were taking their supper. I don't know whether we were asked to take part or not, but we all took seats, and at that board we partook of a hearty meal of hog, and corn pone and rye coffee, the last square meal we had for many days after that. After leaving the table the planter took us into his parlor and made a request that astonished me. He said : "Doctor, my family must leave this place or they will all be killed. Will you give me a pass through your forces ?" This was piling on the agony. How could I give a pass that would be recognized by anyone? I told him so, but still he persisted : "Give me one, and I will risk the chance." At length, to satisfy him, I wrote him one, thus : "Guards and pickets of the U. S. forces : Pass Mr. Hasten, planter, and family through your line to a place of safety." Strange to say, the following summer, while at Camp Garesche, I vis- ited the plantation, and met Mr. M. and family. I inquired how the pass I gave him answered. He replied that it took him through to Nashville. He was most grateful for the service. I suppose he was harmless, and both sides were relieved by his removal. In a short time after this my Comrades were taken away, it was said to Murfreesboro, and I was ordered to get into an army wagon and take the same course. On arriving at Murfreesboro 150 History of the Fifteenth Pemisylvania Cavalry. I was taken to a room in the courthouse. Here, after protesting strongly that I was not a prisoner, an orderly was sent with me to General Bragg's headquarters in the town, to inquire what dis- position should be made of my case. It was too late to see the General conveniently, I suppose — and what difference, anyhow? one poor Yankee doctor didn't count — and we returned. On the way back to the courthouse the orderly quizzed me about my home. When I mentioned it was in Pennsylvania, near Harris- burg, he was quite struck, and said: "Why, I am from Pennsyl- vania, too. I lived at Cornwall, Lebanon County." He said he was anxious to get out of the Confederacy, but they had too tight a hold on him, then, but that he would get away yet. He seemed to be much dissatisfied with the situation. Feeling too uncom- fortable myself at my own unfortunate situation, I did not press my confidence; and indeed the South was full of such characters as I met later on my travels — stranded, poor and yearning for "God's country." Their existence in Dixie was intolerable, for they were not fully trusted. Next morning I was ordered up by a guard to accompany him to the Chattanooga Railroad. Here I found a long train of cars, cattle and freight, loaded with prisoners. I was placed in a car, something like a baggage car, among officers and guards— no ac- commodations whatever for seating; just standing room. Their eyes were all turned upon me, and I felt I was an intruder and out of place. They subjected me to many remarks and queries. About this time my sword and belt were noticed. They went for me — "Give up that sword; you have no right to wear it," and ap- proached me to seize it. I told them I was a Surgeon, and that I wore the regulation staff sword not as a weapon, but as a cus- tomary adjunct to my position. This availed nothing. They were determined to have it. I said: "Gentlemen, I will not give it to you ; I am not a prisoner. If I part with it you must take it your- selves." I was crowded upon and they unbuckled the belt and took it. I threatened to expose them to the Provost Marshal at Chattanooga when we arrived there. They were cross and ugly. I got in a corner of the car, and sat down on the floor. I followed my property to the Provost Marshal's office in Chattanooga, and gave a statement of the affair. He pointed to a shelf in his office, and said : "There is vour sword, but I will take care of it and re- 1 From Stone River to Libby. 151 turn it to you another time." That's the end of the sword incident. I never saw it again. I was told to quarter at the hotel and stay there, which I did. All this sounds well, but the reality was different. So many inci- dents were crowded in my experience during the four or five days of our detention there that I am unable to recount them in limited time and space. After my hotel experience I was sent to the hospital to mess with the Surgeons. This was a very pleasant period of my captivity, and continued for several days. Most of them had been students in Philadelphia at the University of Penn- sylvania and at Jefferson, and we were soon on congenial profes- sional ground. We harmonized on medicine, but sometimes vio- lently differed on politics. The Anderson boys were in camp beyond the town and I visited them often. Hearing that all of the prisoners were to be transported to Vicksburg, for exchange, I called on the Surgeon-in-Chief of the district. Dr. Stout, explained to him that among the prisoners — over 1200 or 1500 — were many wounded and sick, that they required a Surgeon, and that if he would give me an order to accompany them it would save the supplying of one of their own. He at once appreciated the situation, and gave me an order to that effect and also to draw supplies from the medical posts at the various points we stopped at — Atlanta, ^Montgomery and Knox- ville. I received on the strength of this order many articles needed for the sick and wounded during our trip. When we reached a small village, south of the Florida and Alabama line, orders were received to return, and doubling on our tracks we headed north, our destination being Richmond. This whole journey was severe, but useful and instructive. We passed through the heart of the Southern Confederacy, and discovered its hollowness and weak- ness. There were few able-bodied men in sight, they being in the front about Richmond and Vicksburg and other threatened points. Women, old men, worn-out men, crippled negroes and children constituted the population. Wherever the train stopped we were welcomed by choice uncomplimentary epithets and bold-faced chaffing. The boys were ready in answering, and returned with interest these denunciations. . I was fearful lest they would go too far and some violence be offered, but beyond cuss words they escaped. 152 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Our trip occupied about three weeks before we reached Rich- mond. The train stopped opposite the city and the prisoners marched over the long bridge and up to Libby Prison front, where they were counted, checked off and assigned to different points. All of my Comrades were taken to Mayo Prison. I was assigned to the Libby Prison Hospital, and found myself among Confeder- ate Surgeons, who treated me very well. My detention in Libby was of short duration — five or six days only — when, with released soldiers, several U. S. Surgeons and some citizens who had been detained for various causes, princi- pally their loyalty to the Government, we were forwarded to City Point, near Petersburg, to take the U. S. flag-of -truce boat to return to our country, via Annapolis and Washington. While promenading on the deck of the flag-of-truce boat, after it had got well under way, I was approached by a citizen stranger, who inquired if I had been a prisoner, and when and where captured. I answered at Stone River battle, near Murfreesboro. He asked me to walk to the bow of the boat, that there was a gentleman there who wished to see me — surprising me very much. I went with him, when he introduced me to two others — one calling himself Jackson, a tall, slim man — of about thirty-five or thirty-six years of age, as near as I could judge. He seemed very much interested in the news of the engagement, and at once asked if the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry were engaged and as to the casualties. I gave my version of it, and how I got into trouble. I was asked if Colonel Palmer was in command, and if not, whether I knew anything about him. "I did not. I had never met the Colonel; that since I joined the Regiment at Carlisle he was a mystery, and all my inquiries concerning him elicited the only reply, 'We don't know.' " "Well," I was answered, "you may possibly meet him in Washington." Then we separated. In due time the boat reached Fortress Monroe and Annapolis, and we disembarked and took the train to Washington. On the first day after our arrival there I was strolling down Pennsylvania Avenue with a friend, and passing Willard's Hotel, then a great military officers' exchange, we went in, hoping to meet some acquaintances or friends. As we entered the saloon we came face to face with my flag-of-truce acquaintances. The recognition was mutual, and we pledged our meeting in some From Stone River to Lihby. 153 champagne. Mr. Jackson asked if I had met Colonel Palmer yet. I answered I had not, but I would like very much to do so. He then told me that if I would be in the telegraph office at 12 p.]m. I would see him. That evening I waited around the office until after 10 o'clock, and being very much fatigued, sat down on a chair near the operator's window, determined to perform my part of the appointment. But sleep overcame me, and I did not awake until I A.M., too late for my engagement. I felt very much dis- appointed, but dismissed the matter from my mind. After securing a leave of absence I returned to my home in Middletown. Many of my friends and acquaintances were aston- ished to see me, believing I had been lost and would never return. When my leave had expired I left home to rejoin my Regiment, then encamped at Murfreesboro. On arriving there I met some of the members of the Regiment quartered near the town, who invited me to stay with them until morning. While there, on the following morning, one of the company shouted, "There comes Colonel Palmer!" The Colonel and staff rode up, saluted, and seeing me he at once cordially greeted me. It was instant, mutual recognition — "Mr. Jackson," of the flag-of-truce boat. No allu- sion or explanation of the past was made. We knew each other. WILL WARD'S HUNT FOR HIS BROTHER, THE MAJOR. W. W. WARD (deceased). [The following was written by Major Ward's brother Will, a short time after he returned from Murfreesboro with the body of his brother, and has never been previously published. Will Ward died in 1870. Major Ward's brother, Charles, was in the Confederate Cavalry service, and while his brother lay wounded to death in Dr. Manson's house, Charles' regiment was only a short distance away ; but they never got to see each other, al- though the Confederate officers made the efifort to bring it about. The con- stant shifting of commands prevented their finding Charles until their forces were driven back. Will's experience in hunting his wounded brother had its counterpart in many families, both North and South, and is a sad history of the trials which many households passed through.] — Editor. ON Friday, January 2, 1863, on my way to dinner, I met a friend, who, with a serious face, said : "Do you know that your brother, Major Ward, was killed?" "No," I quickly answered. "How do you know it?" "A big fight is going on at Alurfreesboro,- and Frank was one of the first killed. You will hear soon enough," was his reply. I turned back and was soon in the telegraph office. The face of my friend, M. C, the super- intendent, was anything but encouraging. In reply to my inquiry he said: "Your brother is no doubt killed; read this," and handing me a copy of a telegram East, the following passage left me no hope: "Majors Rosengarten and Frank B. Ward, of the Anderson Cavalry, killed." There was something positive about the message, and with heavy heart I wended my way home to break the sad news to my parents. A bitter task it was — to tell them that their youngest son, the pride of their hearts, the hope of their declining years ; the boy who had enlisted to fight the battles of his country for the preservation of the Union — and that, too, with an elder brother in the rebel ranks — to tell them that he was no more. I will not dwell on the sad scene which followed. Its counterpart has been witnessed in thousands of 154 MAJOR FRANK B. WARD -Mortally wounded at Stone River. Died January 11. 1863 Will Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 155 family circles in the past two years. That night I watched the telegrams closely, but found not a ray of hope. On the 3d I got my friend Mr. Bradley, of the Fort Wayne Railroad Company, to telegraph to Louisville in regard to send- ing for the body. The answer came from Col. J. B. Anderson : "Major B. is intrusted with sending for the body of Major Rosen- garten. Shall I send metalHc coffei for body of Major Ward?" I answered, "Yes." On Sunday, the 4th, I searched every paper I could get, but without any encouragement. At the tele- graph office I was told that there was no doubt of Frank's being killed, as a number of messages had gone over the line in which it was repeated, but just as I started to leave the office the opera- tor called me and read the following : Nashville, January 4th. W. \N. Ward : Your brother, Major F. B. Ward, was seriously wounded on December 29th. You had better come on. De Coursey. Knowing the author, I did not hesitate a minute. It was well on to II P.M.^ but I found my partner, arranged business and, without luggage, started to the depot. I left Pittsburg at 1.40 a.m., on the Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad. Throu'gh the kind- ness of Mr. Augustus Bradley, the superintendent, I had a state- room, and one just as comfortable as on a steamboat. These sleeping cars are very heavy and consequently run much smoother than an ordinary passenger car. Putting my boots outside to secure a dime's worth of blacking, I pulled the door to and retired, but not to sleep, for the excitement I had been under and was still under prevented my enjoying that luxury. About 6 a.m. we were called for breakfast, and after a hasty wash we entered the breakfast room at Alliance, where in the short space of twenty minutes an amount of food was disposed of that would have scared a Southern landlord. The cry, "all aboard !" soon cleared the room, and we were soon under way again. At Crestline I parted with my kind friend Mr. Bradley, and took the train for Indianapolis and Louisville, where I arrived on the 6th instant, at 5 a.m., and proceeded to the National Hotel. Refreshed by a bath, I got the morning papers, but found in them 156 History of the FiftcciitJi Pennsylvania Cavalry. no comfort for my particular case. Shortly after breakfast an incident occurred which cheered me a little. A reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer went up to an officer and shook him heartily by the hand, saying: "Why, Adjutant! We have had you killed a month ago. I wrote a sketch of your life and particulars of your death, as given me by the best authority." The officer said he had heard himself that he was among the dead, but to the best of his belief and feelings he was a mighty live man yet. Surely, thought I, there is hope for me yet. Finding that I could not leave Louisville without a pass from General Boyle, whose office was not open until 11, I sauntered up to the depot and called on Colonel Anderson, the Military Superintendent of the L. & N. R. R., who told me he had sent a colored man on with coffins for Majors Rosengarten and Ward. When I told him that my brother was alive at last accounts, he seemed much pleased, and said he hoped he might not need the coffin for many years. Leaving the depot I wended my way to General Boyle's headquarters, and was soon in possession of that important slip of paper styl'ed a "pass." How little we in the North know of the inconveniences the people in the border States have to suffer under military law ! In the North the only thing we see that resembles a pass is some- body's check filled up for so many dollars, and, like the pass, the value is in the signature. As there was no train until the next day, I walked around, saw many friends, and bought a leather haversack and some medicines for gunshot wounds, for, having been shot once myself, I knew from experience what to take in case hospital stores were scarce. . Before going to bed I got a servant to fill my haversack with eatables to be ready for my journey. The next morning, January 7th, I found crowds at the depot waiting to pass the guards at the doors of the cars. Only those showing the military pass could enter the cars. Having no one to care for but myself, I was soon seated and could observe the many trying scenes. I noticed a lady crying bitterly, and on inquiry found that her husband was among the wounded. He was Colonel of an Ohio regiment. She had arrived in Louisville at daybreak, breakfasted and hurried to the depot and bought her ticket, but was dismayed, on trying to enter the car, to find that a Will Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 157 pass was necessary. A gentleman who appeared to know her hus- band took the matter in hand, and by his exertions she was pro- vided for, as I afterward noticed her among the passengers. The efforts made by some parties not having passes to get aboard were novel and somewhat amusing. A Hebrew came to my win- dow, which I had hoisted, and said in a very bland tone : "Mister, will you be so kind as to go to the other side of the car and raise a window, that I may crawl in ?" Knowing the severity of mili- tary law I respectfully declined. Another party with a clerical look approached, and with a bow said: "Sir, I wish to ask a favor of you." "Go ahead," I said. "Will you let me look at your pass ?" "Why?" said I. "I would like you to loan it to me, so I may pass the guard at the door. and will return it to you as soon as I get in." Now, while I felt a heartfelt sympathy for all who wanted to go, I could scarcely suppress the contempt I felt for this individual, but I declined to trust my pass to him. The cry, "all aboard !" followed by a puff from the engine, put a stop to the rush, and we were soon leaving Louisville — a mixed crowd. There was a delegation from Philadelphia, one from Illinois, and one from Indiana, besides many from the Western States in parties of from three to five, and some, like myself, going alone, but all on anxious errands. There were four ladies in the party — Mrs. General Stanley, Mrs. Major Slemmer, Mrs. Colonel Moody and the lady before mentioned. All were quiet for a while, communing with their own thoughts. Gradually conver- sation sprang up on various topics. Behind me sat some farmers from Indiana, who were looking at the land we were traveling over, making remarks not at all complimentary to Kentucky farming. At one place, where it was somewhat swampy, covered with low bush, one sang out : "Look there, Aleck ! what would you be doing with that land in Indiana? Let it lie idle, eh?" "Why, I would clear, drain and ditch it and raise a crop of corn." "Raise ! you couldn't raise a crop of frogs," was the remark made by a rough fellow standing close by. Politics, war, religion — all were being discussed. Quite an exciting discussion was going on in the center of our car between a Kentucky officer and a big, rough Hoosier, on the everlasting "nigger," in which the officer got much the worst of it, in the opinion of the crowd. 158 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. We soon arrived at Colesburg, the terminus of our steam con veyance, and here we got the first sight of the bandit Morgan's work. The depot had been burned, and from that point for thirty miles below he had destroyed everything that would burn. We rode two miles farther on a construction trestle which is about 400 feet long and 120 feet high. Here we got ofif to foot it, and having no baggage to encumber me, I started down the hill on a run, determined to keep the advance. I soon overtook a young man who was alone and asked him where he was bound. He re- plied : "Nashville." On my inquiring if he knew the country, he said he had run as conductor on this road for eleven months and knew it well. I told him I was alone, and if my company suited him we would foot it together and leave the crowd. He cheer- fully assented, and we struck ofif at a gait which was difficult for the balance to follow. Crossing the valley we had a fine view of the gap made in the road by Morgan, and, ascending the opposite hill, we took the railroad track and, turning round, our eyes fell upon a beautiful but strange scene. In the valley through which we had just passed were stationed a large number of soldiers, many of them on picket duty, while the smoke curling from their tents and huts told of life within. Hurrying along through the troops was a mixed throng which with the soldiers produced a combination of colors, suggestive of Joseph's coat. It was our company of fellow-passengers who were not so fast in starting off as we. We followed the track for about a mile and came to the tunnel. Now, it may seem a very simple thing to walk through a tunnel without a lantern, but just try it once, before you make up your mind. This tunnel is three-quarters of a mile in length and perfectly straight and level. As we entered the one end, the other end appeared but a short distance off, and the glare of light served only to blind us. There are three shafts for air- holes. We could not distinguish the ties, but by keeping our eyes fastened downward we could distinguish the rails, our only guide. On gaining the outlet we found we had left the rest of the passengers far behind, excepting an old fellow from Indiana, of at least fifty years, who, with a carpetsack weighing. not less than forty pounds, was hard after us. After him was a stoutly built young Ohio chap, and a Major of the Eleventh Ohio, who seemed determined to be as fast as we were. A party of five, we hurried I'Vill Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 159 on to Elizabethtown together. While footing it we had ample evidence of how thoroughly that outlaw, John Morgan, had done his work. Every culvert that had a beam to it was burnt, and here again we made time, for we walked across the rails, while many of the party, as we afterward learned, crossed the ditches. About a mile this side of Elizabethtown my young friend pro- posed that we should take a clay road that crossed the track. Old Indiana and young Ohio objected, and said, "The track is a sure thing;" but the Major and I stuck to our guide, got into Elizabethtown, had dinner and were ready to start on to Nolin Station before the wagons with the other passengers arrived. Having ample time to look around we here saw the damage done by Morgan to the town. A number of houses showed marks of his cannon by extra ventilators, put in on short notice. At the John Hill House, where we dined, Morgan forgot to pay his bill, when he made it his headquarters. On looking round for a conveyance for the ten miles we had yet to go, we asked one man what he would charge a passenger. "Only five dollars," was the answer. Now had we been staunch rebels we might have gone for less, I thought. After looking farther we found a farmer who was going to Nolin Station. The Major, our young guide and I chartered the wagon for five dollars, and we were on our way before our party had got to town. On the way we over- took some tired soldiers, who asked to ride. "Have you any money," asked the farmer. "Oh, yes.", "All right, then," was the answer. About two miles this side of Nolin Station all of our soldiers but one got out to join the wagon train from which they had straggled, and on the farmer asking for his pay he was told to charge it to Uncle Sam. He laughed in spite of himself. Having a creek to cross this side of Nolin Station we left the wagon, and the soldier who was still with us, paid his fare. He had about seventy pounds of baggage, as he was carrying that of a comrade along with his own ; so, volunteering to help him, I took his carpetsack,andwe all started across the foot log or rather tree that was felled for the purpose. It was a ticklish job for a man unencumbered, let alone with baggage. My comrades got over all right — so did the soldier ; and, soldierlike, they all kept advising me to keep away from the water. Now, in all probabil- ity if they had let me alone I should have got over dry, but, just i6o History of the Fifteenth Pcwisylvania Cavalry. as I thought I was safe, in I went "ker-souse," over boot top, and then, didn't they laugh at me ? Once again on terra firma I struck out in the lead, and we were soon at one of the few (not more than six) small houses in Nolin Station, As there were about 200 people to be accommodated, after engaging supper, bed and breakfast, we congratulated ourselves on being in the advance. As the passengers continued to arrive until midnight, they slept in the car or wherever they could. On the 8th we were all at the cars long before they were ready to move, and crowding in got started at 10 a.m. At the next sta- tion we took on a colored man who had two coffins in charge, one marked "Major Rosengarten" and the other "Major Ward." This certainly looked like death, but, knowing the circumstances, I tried to keep up a good heart. I saw the colored man at once. His name was Andrew Trabur, and when I told him I had strong hopes of finding Major Ward living, he wished me success. I arranged to meet him in Nashville. At Bowling Green two officers got aboard who had left Nashville that morning. On inquiring of one of them, Captain R., he told me that Major Ward was undoubtedly dead. He had heard so officially the day before. With a sad heart I took my seat, and the silence of my companions told me, stronger than words could express, that they shared my sorrow. We arrived at Nashville at 7 p.m., and hurry- ing to the Commercial Hotel I soon had a room engaged — the last one to be had in the house. We were told that we would have to go to a restaurant for supper, which I did. Eating a very frugal meal at a very luxurious price, I was soon out to hunt the Major. I first started to the St. Cloud Hotel, thinking that some of the officers there could tell me something about him. I met with no success, and was crossing the street to go to the Medical Direc- tory, when I heard a familiar voice call my name. I had not heard that voice for more than a year, and although it was dark and 600 miles from where I last heard it, I at once recognized it as the voice of my old chum Will, now Lieutenant McClure. From him I learned that my brother was alive, and from all ac- counts had a chance of recovery, but, strange to say, he could not be found. "Come along with me and see Airs. B. ; she is a great friend of Frank's, and knows more about it than anyone Will JVard's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. i6i else." In a few minutes I was in Mrs, B.'s parlor, listening to her story, which ran thus : Dr. Kelly, one of our army Surgeons with whom she was well acquainted, had dressed Frank's wounds on the second day after he was shot. He was then at a house near Murfreesboro. Al- though so badly wounded as to be thought mortally so by some. Dr. Kelly thought with his youth and powerful constitution he might get through. Only two days ago a Surgeon, who was out in front and had brought a lot of wounded into Nashville, told Dr. Kelly that he had dressed the wounds of a Major out in the front, who was shot through the left breast ; that the young man had given him directions where to send word to his friends, in case he died, and in corroboration handed Dr. Kelly a slip of paper with the following directions : "Dr. W. A. Ward, Pitts- burg." He further said that the Major had been brought into Nashville with other wounded, and that he was put in a private house where he would receive all attention, but he could not give Dr. Kelly the location of the house. Dr. Kelly had searched for him at the request of Mrs. B., but had not found him. I was satisfied that Frank was now in Nashville, and started off on the hunt. Before I started Mrs. B. told me to let her know as soon as I found him, and she would fix a place for him and see him properly attended to. I said to myself as I left her door : "God bless you for a true-hearted woman." In the street in a large city, my brother lying seriously wounded in a private house. Where? Echo answered "where?" With Lieutenant McClure I commenced my search — first to the Medical Directory ofitice, then to the hospitals where officers were, and every place I could think of where I might get a clue. Every now and again I would pass up the street where the principal undertaker had his store, and there on the pavement two rough coffins, each containing a metallic case, would stare me in the face — one marked "Major Rosengarten," the other "Major Ward." Oh, how those grue- some boxes worried me ! I cannot describe my feelings every time I looked at them. There was my brother's coffin, and, beyond a reasonable doubt, he was alive and in the city, but where? At midnight I had to give it up for lack of chances for information. It looked as if all the principal buildings were illuminated, all in use as hospitals, and every time I would pass 11 i62 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. one of them I would naturally inquire of myself : "Can he be there?" and then reply: "No, at a private house." About I o'clock I retired in a room where were two wounded men, but long before daylight I was out again on my search. I will not attempt to describe my hunt on the 9th instant, nor how many and various were the rumors in regard to my brother. One man said he had seen a man who told him he saw my brother's coffin marked and shipped in the express office. Straight to that ofifice I went and found that they had shipped no bodies yet, and on tracing the story up, I found that it originated from that box in the street that fairly haunted me — a coffin marked "Major F. B. Ward," but so far empty. In fact so strong was the evidence that my brother was in the city (circumstantial evidence strong enough to convict a man for murder) that we traced him to Cherry Street and, finding no other course, we commenced knocking at the doors of private houses and asking: "Are there any wounded here?" "Yes." "Who are they and where are they wounded?" The answer in all cases was against my hopes. There were Lieutenant McClure and four others be- sides myself hunting the Major, but darkness came on and still no success ; but the evidence was so positive that he was alive and recovering that I sought the colored man who had the coffins in charge and told him I would not detain him longer — that he might go right East with Major Rosengarten's body, which was already in another coffin. So, giving him a draft for the two coffins and expenses, I let him go. I could have sold the coffins at a handsome advance, but I felt it would be invoking a judg- ment on me, in my trouble, to try to profit on the misery around me. At the request of Lieutenant McClure and the others, I walked out to the camp of the Anderson Cavalry, to stay all night with my brother's companions in arms. After arriving at camp, and while passing up one of the streets of the tents, we heard some one say: "Well, I saw our Major to-day, and he is doing first rate." I was in that tent in less time than it takes to tell it and soon learned all. Captain Smith, of the Anderson Cavalry, had the day before gone out to Murfreesboro to look after the wounded, and had just returned. He found my brother at the house of Dr. Manson, near where he first fell, where he was first carried and whence he had never been removed. Dr. IVill IVard's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 163 Kelly had dressed his wounds there, as also the other Surgeon must have done, but how he came by the slip of paper I have never learned. The Captain told me that the Surgeons said my brother would recover. He had now lived eleven days. His voice was firm and he had sent in for some delicacies. He had asked if I was coming, and his Comrades had told him I was, although they had not heard so. Just as the mercury in a ther- mometer, taken from the outside of a house on a winter day and hung above the kitchen fireplace, rises, so did my spirits rise. I rode back to town and turned the coffins over to the undertaker. I was glad to get rid of the sight of them, and hurried back to camp again to make an early start for the front in the morning. That night was one of the most pleasant I ever spent in or out of camp. There were about ten soldiers in the party, all warm friends of my brother, who had served with him both as private and officer. Lighting our pipes, all the anecdotes of the fight and how nobly their two Majors had acted were discussed, and joke after joke was told. One I well remember. Lieutenant Sproul asked the party if they knew that I had gone into business in Nashville. In answer to the question, "how?" he said I had gone into the coffin business, as he had seen me buy and sell two coffins that evening. Such is human nature ! While on the hunt for twenty-four hours for the Major, every man seemed as anxious as myself, but now that he was found living and likely to recover, no joke was spared that would keep alive the spirits of the party. About II o'clock I "turned in" with one of the party, with gum blanket on the ground and a good warm one to cover us. The last time I had slept in that way was with Frank at Camp Car- lisle. It had been raining all evening and was now coming down in torrents, and every now and then the wind would rise and break with such force against our tent as to give cause to fear we might be unroofed. After breakfast we started into town in an ambulance. We spent some time in search of delicacies, and then could not get what we most wanted — lemons. W^e met with so many delays that it was 12 o'clock ere we were fairly started out of the city. There was not much of interest until we were five miles out, and then a dead horse here and there, with occa- sionally a grave or two on either side of the road, told of the commencement of the skirmishing. Not a fence was left to show 164 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. that the residences along this pike were once well improved. Those that were not removed for cavalry fighting had been used as fuel for the soldiers. The same scenes were apparent all the way to Murfreesboro, only increasing in magnitude with every mile of approach. We caught up to a wagon train about seven miles out from Nashville, and it seemed impossible to pass it, as the other side of the road was taken up by empty wagons return- ing and ambulances filled with wounded. We had twenty miles farther to go, and our time must be made on the pike, for the last seven miles was a wretched mud road. Captain Smith told me not to be uneasy, for the soldier who was driving was as anxious to get to the Major as I was. Also that he was a capital driver, and if the team would stand it we would pass everything on the road. The driver was a man who, when at home, filled a position in society equal to any. That's the kind of men we have fighting for our country. I was soon satisfied of the truth of the Captain's remark, for we did pass everything. Now and then some of the soldiers, escorting the train of 400 wagons, would swear and look defiantly, but our driver proved an excellent judge of human nature, for sometimes he would sing out: "Give away there!" "Stir yourself !" "Do you want to be run over?" "Clear the track, will you.?'' Then noticing the stubborn, determined look of some of the party not to be moved in that way, he would, in the bland- est tones, say: "Will you obHge me by making room to pass? Am in a great hurry to get a wounded officer out front." With- out a word the escort would move, bending to his request like an easy, good-natured judge to an oily-tongued lawyer. And thus, driving and pushing through intricacies that might have balked a regular jockey, he worked on, and we did pass everything on the road. At Lavergne we stopped at the little creek and watered our team. Here they showed me where some of their comrades fell when the enemy attacked the wagon train in the rear, and right at the bridge one of their number, Mr. Weikel. is buried. When started again I opened a box of sardines, and with some hard bread we made a good luncheon. All this time Lieutenant McClure was accompanying us on horseback. Pass- ing out the sardines to him, he took his dinner at a full gallop as comfortably as we did inside, and riding up to the ambulance we handed him the flask, which he attended to just as easily, if not Jl'"ill Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 165 more so, than the eating part. I wanted no better evidence of how men learn to live on horseback than the ease with which my friend stowed away his dinner while on full gallop. Here at Lavergne was a true picture of war — houses burned, dead horses in scores, and graves in abundance of both Union and rebel soldiers ; while the tires and ironwork of sixty of our wagons, burnt by the rebels, completed a picture which has to be seen to be conceived. So many accounts of the fight have been written that I will not attempt to go over it again, but from here on to Murfreesboro was one continual battlefield — every foot of it fought for and won by the most stubborn fighting. None of the accounts that I have since read relates half the victory that here showed itself. Three miles farther out we overtook the conveyance that had started two hours in advance of us. We had now passed everything, and at the twenty-mile post from Nashville we turned to the right into a corn field. We all got out but our good driver, as our team was pretty nearly played out, and, to make matters worse, our best horse began to balk; but, by dint of a good whip and language more emphatic than classical, we would get him started again, until he would take an- other notion to play the stubborn mule. We made the next seven miles by dark, through miserable roads, and when only half a mile from the house where my brother was, we came to a large mud puddle. Our driver held his team at rest for a few moments and then started at full gallop to go through, for, as he said, "if I cannot get them through that way we shall have trouble ; the bay will balk and the gray mare is played out." When about half way through they stuck, the hind wheels in water above the hub. As nearly everyone has seen such situations, I will not go into details of the strong language used, the sticks broken in trying to beat the poor brutes out of it, and the many efforts with rails, etc. ; but after spending half an hour uselessly, we all, ex- cepting our driver, got into the water and took hold of the wheels. I happened to be at the right hind wheel, and although the water was over the hub, where I stood it was not over boot top. It never occurred to me that if the team did start out I might go in the hole. It did start and I went in up to my knees, but what did I care? I would soon be with my brother, and I would have laid down in it rather than lose an hour. We were soon at the front i66 History of the Fifteenth Pcnnsyk'aiiia Cavalry. of the house, where a big negro, a slave, was waiting. He had heard of me from one of the men who arrived before I did, and he it was who was nursing the Major. He was all anxiety. "Has the Major's brudder come? Is he coming? I wants to see him." Telling him who I was, he shook my hand and was out of sight in an instant. One of the men who was in the room with Frank when old Martin, the slave, came up said he did not think Martin took more than two steps up the whole flight of stairs to tell the good news. He stepped up to the bed and said: "Major, your brudder's comin'. He'll soon be here. Ise so glad." The host, Dr. Manson, met me at the gate, and to my inquiry, "How is my brother?" said: "Very feeble just now. I have just dress.ed his wounds and he has had a sinking spell, but is now recovering, and I am glad you are here." He further said that he still had a chance of recovery, but that he must not be allowed to talk. I might talk to him and tell him all about home, but he must be kept quiet. He said he was shot through the left lung, the ball passing through the pericar- dium (the sac that holds the heart), and the water from about the heart had run out through the wound. The ball made its exit under his left shoulder blade, making a ghastly wound there. When they brought him to the doctor's house it was thought he could not survive the night, but he rallied toward morning, and now, having lived twelve days, we had good grounds for hope. The doctor told me to go up and see him, and I was soon beside his bed. He stretched out his hand, and, with a good voice, said : "How are you, Will? I'm glad to see you. How are they at home ?" I told him not to talk and I would tell him all about home, which I did, giving him an account of my trip, etc. Poor fellow ! When I last saw him, not two months before, he weighed 175 pounds, and being six feet two inches in his socks, was as fine a specimen of the physical man as could be found anywhere ; but twelve days of bleeding and suffering of the worst kind had altered him until he looked twice his age. I told him I had come to stay with him, and when he was able we would talk over old times and home ; so, hanging my coat on the bedpost and drawing ofif my wet boots, I sat down before the fire. For the first time since I left home I had time to meditate. I had found the boy alive, but that was all. JJ^ill Jfard's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 167 My other erring brother was not many miles off, for shortly after the Major was brought to this very house I was now in some rebel troops came up and took prisoners all that were in it, excepting my brother Frank and a comrade who escaped by a little strategy. Among the rebels was a Captain of the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, the same regiment to which my brother Charlie belonged. ?xlrs. Manson, the lady of the house, sent word by this Captain to Charlie that his brother was in a dying condition in her house, but before he had time to respond to the call, our troops w-ere in possession again of the house, and this prevented a meeting of the brothers who were fighting against each other — the one for the cause of liberty and the preservation of the Union, the other for a cursed aristocracy. Poor, blind, misguided man ! May he soon leave a hopeless and wicked cause, and by some means retrieve his acts ! I sent the nurse to bed, after getting directions what to do. Frank wanted to talk, but I would stop him, and every now and then he would ask for water. Two full canteens were kept hang- ing at the head of the bed, and inserting a rubber tube in the can- teen he would take the other end in his mouth and drink, although every swallow was a painful one. He now commenced to doze, and when half asleep would dream and be delirious. Sometimes he would imagine himself in camp with his old comrades down in Huntsville, Ala., and then he seemed happy. To stop his talking, which was injurious, I would have to speak to him, and, knowing my voice, he would be quiet for a while. Sometimes he would imagine himself on the field where he fell, and would give orders again. He was talking to his brave cavalry leader, General Stanley, whom it was plain to see he had learned to love ; and thus, until 3 o'clock Sunday morning, he kept on, when, thinking he was worse, I awoke his comrade, John Skillen, who was his nurse at present, and told him I thought he was more delirious than when I came in, and that he, knowing his case, had better take charge, which he did. Through the night I had written a long letter home, encouraging them there, for now that my hopes were raised, I thought he would get well. Folding the letter up I put it in my pocket to send the next day, and lay down beside the sick soldier, who occupied the other bed. About 6 o'clock I got up, and Mr. Skillen told me that he had i68 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. not been so well for the past three hours, but that he would no doubt soon rally. I did not fear anything immediately, as I knew from experience that the hours from 2 a.m. until daylight are the hardest on sick persons. So, after speaking to him occa- sionally, I went downstairs to breakfast. We were seated but a few moments, and I was just putting my cup of coffee to my lips, when a hand was laid on my shoulder. I turned round and met the gaze of Dr. Manson, who said : "You had better come up- stairs, your brother is dying." For the first time I felt crushed. Just after I had left his bedside he turned to his faithful comrade, Skillen, and said: "John, I am going now." Mr. Skillen called the doctor, who found it too true, and came at once for me. I was soon at his side, and reaching out his hand to me he grasped mine and said in a calm, clear voice: "Will, I am dying. Say good-bye for me to all at home." Completely unmanned, I was like a little child. He threw his arms around my neck, and kiss- ing me, said : "Cheer up. Will ! Don't cry ! Cheer up ! Tell Charlie I died like a man." I said : "Frank, are you afraid to die?" A sweet smile spread over his face, and with a firm voice he said, "No, sir," in a tone that made all feel it deeply. The same self-possession that was his in private life, that at- tended him on the battlefield when he felt he was mortally wounded, attended him now in his dying hour. Every other person in that room was overcome. He bade each of his com- rades good-bye, as though he were going away on a visit, and seeing old Martin, the faithful slave who had nursed him, he held out his hand and, taking Martin's, said : "Good-bye, Martin ;" then bade the doctor and his family farewell. In a few moments he rallied a little and, folding his hands on his breast, he said : "Our Father, who are in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen." While everyone in that room joined in that beautiful prayer, his voice alone could be heard, and this too while suffer- ing intensely. Internal hemorrhage had set in. He asked me to sing, but I was so powerless I could not, and he began to the tune of "Old Hundred," and sang: "Be Thou, O God, exalted high ! And as Thy glory fills the sky. So let it be on earth displayed, Till Thou art here as there obeyed." Will Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 169 His calmness and resignation overcame everyone in the room. His song seemed like the song of the dying swan, strong in death. Shortly afterward he released his arms from about my neck, and his lower limbs were then icy cold. Beckoning to Lieutenant McClure, who was on the other side of him, he said : "Straighten my legs." His knees had been drawn up in bed and he had not power to straighten them out. He made a motion for us to get away from before him ; he wanted air and light. So drawing the curtains and hoisting the window, a stream of strong sunlight beamed in on his suffering form, and lingering thus for nearly half an hour, between life and death, we hardly knew when he ceased to breathe, until Captain Smith took down a little round shaving glass, and holding it to his lips it showed no moist- ure. Thus he died — another victim to the plots of the disunion- ists. We were far away from home, in the enemy's country and in the house of a secessionist, but how beautifully was Christ's com- mand, "love your enemy," here obeyed; for if Frank had been their own son the doctor and his wife could not have used him more kindly. I asked Lieutenant McClure to ride to Nashville and, if possible, to procure one of the coffins I had sold two days before, and also to telegraph his death hom.e. The doctor and the soldiers who were present told me to go down to rest and they would do all that was necessary for the body. I went out in front of the house and found a man putting the horses in the am- bulance and preparing it for the body. Looking out on the road I saw four men approaching at full gallop. In a few minutes they were at the gate, and I recognized Lieutenant Maple, of General Rosecrans' bodyguard, and three of his men — all old comrades of the Major. When I told them that he had died only twenty minutes previously, the eyes of every man of them filled with tears. Dismounting, they entered the house to take a fare- well look at their old comrade. While they were upstairs I called the doctor aside. As he attended Frank as physician, I fully expected a bill for professional services as well as for the bed, which was ruined. I asked him what I owed him. "Noth- ing," was the reply. I could hardly believe it, but he would accept no compensation. Hunting up old Martin, the kind, faithful nurse, I made him a present, and then was ready to leave. 170 History of the Fifteenth Peiuisylvania Cavalry. In a short time they brought the body down, dressed only in drawers and shirt; everything else was gone. I would not wait to- make a box, so, wrapping a blanket around him, after binding the jaw and limbs, they put him in the ambulance. I felt a repugnance to riding in the ambulance, so John Skillen told me to take his horse and he would ride in my place. When mounted Lieutenant Maple proposed that I should ride over the ground where he fell, and then go to Rosecrans' headquarters, to which I gladly assented, and we started off at full gallop. In a short time we were on ground that told of severe fighting, and after wandering over field after field, and seeing corpses that had lain unburied for ten days, we came to the spot where the brave Andersons made their fearful charge. The men first recognized the spot by the black horse Major Rosengarten rode. This horse had been in service since General Buell first took command in 1861. He belonged to Captain Palmer, the founder of the original Anderson Troop, and the present Anderson Cavalry. Major Rosengarten rode him in the fight, and the horse was killed first, he afterward. "Here's the spot! Here's old ZollicofTer" (the horse). Sure enough, every man knew him. Just beside was a tree that a shell had pierced, and someone, cutting a smooth surface, had put Rosengarten's name there, with the date of his death. The ground seemed to be sacred. Here my two brothers had met, not to know each other, for the last time on earth. After picking up some relics we rode over some more of the field and proceeded on to Murfreesboro. While fording Stone River I noticed hundreds of brick chim- neys standing, and asked Lieutenant Maple if that was the ruins of Murfreesboro. He laughed and said : "No ; they are the chimneys the rebels had in their tents. They did not intend leaving here, and consequently made themselves comfortable." Murfreesboro was soon in sight. We were soon at Rosecrans' headquarters, a nice-looking, well-furnished, two-story house. John Morgan, the bandit, had taken to himself a wife two weeks before the fight, and this was the house, fitted up for the bride and groom. Sending in my card, I was soon in the room with General Rose- crans and staff. He shook me cordially by the hand and ex- pressed such deep sympathy for the loss of my brother, and spoke so highlv of his heroic conduct, that I felt that mv sorrow had JVill Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 171 something to lighten it. Sitting down by my side, he conversed with me on the affairs of my brother's Regiment, frequently alluding to "the gallant conduct of the two Majors — the noble Rosengarten and Ward," as he styled them, "whose heroic con- duct would long be cherished by their companions in arms." He several times referred to the noble example they set by leading their comrades as they had done — an example which was not lost, for after they fell, their comrades fought equally well. Every man of those 300 fought as though all depended on him. Their commanding officer, Colonel Palmer, was a prisoner in Castle Thunder. Their Lieutenant-Colonel was low on a sick bed. Their Majors, who led them, both shot, and still they fought like heroes. General Rosecrans sent messages to Frank's parents, and after bidding him good-bye, I rode with Lieutenant Maple to the headquarters of the General's bodyguard. After supper, finding it would not be safe to ride to Nashville that night, I turned into a comfortable bed, which the boys made for me on the floor. About 10 o'clock I heard quite a stir, and rising I found that an orderly from General Rosecrans had come for a detail of his bodyguard, for the purpose of sending a new countersign to the whole army. As near as I could learn, the countersign in use had got into possession of someone in whom the General had not the utmost confidence ; and now, in the dark- ness of night, these men started to headquarters, from there to proceed to the different divisions as directed. The detail had left but a short time when a bright light shone through the window, and on going to the door we found that the next house to us, about forty yards off, was on fire. It was set on fire and was the eighth house burnt in Murfreesboro that night. Many were the speculations as to who did it. Some said it was the East Ten- nessee boys, as they swore revenge; others thought it was some scoundrels doing it for pure devilment ; while others thought it was done by secessionists as signals to their friends. As some spies had been arrested and brought in that day, it did not seem unlikely. Some of our men got on the roof to keep the sparks off, and after the house had fallen in, we all turned into our blankets and were soon asleep again. How comfortably one can lie down to sleep when a strong military guard is posted around the house ! 172 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Feeling very sore and not able to ride horseback to Nashville, I had made arrangements to ride in the military mail, and left in- structions to call me early ; so about 5 o'clock I was awakened, and found Lieutenant Maple had made me a cup of cofifee and fried some bacon, determined that I should not go away empty. After breakfast I started off with one of his men who was to accom- pany me up to the post. The moon was shining brightly, and riding out of the gate we struck through a patch of woods for a short cut, when, after going a short distance, we were stopped by a clear voice singing out: "Halt! who goes there?" "A friend." "Advance and give the countersign !" "I don't need a countersign," said my companion, who appeared used to such things. "I am one of General Rosecrans' bodyguard, and go where I please." "Not at present, I guess. If you can't give the countersign, you can go to headquarters of the guard." My guide tried to bluff him off, but it would not do. The guard called some of his men and sent us under a file of loaded rifles to the headquarters of the Captain of the pickets. He was a Pennsylva- nian, of the Seventy-eighth. I produced my pass and papers showing my errand — the taking home of my brother's body. My papers were fortunately of a very high order, and after a closer examination than I had hitherto undergone I was allowed to proceed. We soon arrived at the post office, and after waiting about an hour, the mail wagons — two army wagons without springs, and drawn by four horses each — made their appearance. Bidding my guide good-bye and delivering the horse to him, I got into the first wagon. There were the mail agent, the driver, myself and something that looked like a woman, for she was dressed in a wrapper. Her hair was cut short like a man's, and her features were very coarse. She was a spy — a woman who had been captured in men's clothes and was being sent to Nashville. Fixing her a comfortable seat on the mail bags, I made myself snug, and we soon started. After fording Stone River we took the pike, which, fortunately, was pretty clear of wagon trains. Shortly after we passed Lavergne some rebel cavalry appeared in the road, but we were not aware of it until we were safe in Nashville. There were only about twenty-five of them, and they did not succeed in doing any damage. We had a pleasant ride. IVill Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 173 except the losing of a linchpin and the wheel coming off, which detained us for a short time. Arriving at Nashville, at noon, I went at once to the under- taker's and found my brother's body in the coffin I had at first sent for him. Lieutenant McClure had ridden back, after Frank's death, in less than four hours and secured the same coffin that I had sold when I heard that he was recovering. His comrades had shaven him and put on a clean linen shirt and collar, so that he looked much more like himself than when he died. After giving orders for the shipment of the coffin, I went, in company with some friends, to the levee, to see about going to Louisville by boat. We found the "Parthenia" advertised to leave positively the next morning at 7. I asked the Captain how long he would be in going around to Louisville. "Five days," was the answer. Having had some experience in that line myself I knew that five days meant at least seven, and although I needed rest, I deter- mined to take the railroad, and wagon where that was gone. That boat never reached Louisville. She was attacked and burned by the rebels on the same day she left. We went from the levee to camp, where I again stayed all night. How different was this evening from that of the 9th, when we were all in high spirits at the prospects of the Major's recovery! I saw all of my friends, and after bidding them good-bye, retired. I was awakened early and had a cup of coffee. Although I was not a novice in camp life, yet I had never made coffee without a mill to first grind it in, but I learned that morn- ing how it was done. One of the men took a clean, coarse towel, and putting the coffee into it, drew it through his hand until the coffee in the towel was in a little bag, quite tight. Laying this down on a piece of cord wood, he proceeded to beat it with a stick, until it was ground quite fine, and better coffee I never drank. We walked into town to the depot, where I found my brother's body as well as that of Colonel Housen. of the Seventy- seventh Pennsylvania, which I had agreed to take home to his friends. The cars were so crowded that they put on a cattle car without cleaning it, for the accommodation of passengers. See- ing the coffins put on safely, I took my seat in this car, and was soon leaving Nashville at the rate of twenty miles an hour. We arrived at Elizabethtown at 4 p.m. The depot and bridge having 174 History of the Fiftcciit/i Pcnnsylvmiia Cavalry. been burned, we stopped about a mile out of town, where a num- ber of wagons were waiting to take passengers to different houses to stop over night. I soon made a bargain for myself and charge, but it was dark before we got them out of the cars and into the wagons. It was raining and we had to get them up a steep bank. It was a rough, ugly job — the coffins were metallic — but willing hearts and hands accomplished it. While we were looking after the dead, the other passengers had been making arrangements for the night, and in the confu- sion a fight had occurred between two men who lived in the neighborhood. They were allowed to fight it out until one cried "enough !" Judging from his appearance, I should certainly say he had had enough. His eyes were closed and his face covered with blood. We rode about a mile and pulled up before quite a substantial-looking farmhouse. We laid boards over the coffins to protect them as much as possible from the rain, and hurrying into the house were soon before a comfortable fire. The host was a well-to-do farmer named Kurtz. Part of the house was one of the first forts built in Kentucky when Daniel Boone and other early settlers had to protect themselves from Indians. On the same ground that Boone and these brave pioneers had to defend themselves, stockades are now built to keep off a foe almost as destructive as the Indians. There were seventeen of us who stopped at this house. We could not all be accom- modated with supper at once, and while those at the first table were putting themselves outside of corn bread, etc., the rest of us were entertained before a good fire by our host, who gave us a history of their present troubles. It seemed as if those at the table were a long time getting enough to eat, but when our turn came I ceased to wonder. I took my seat next to the hostess, who poured the coffee and sent it around by the little darkies in white bibs. We had roast turkey, stewed chicken, and a dish of stufiing, which was served up like mashed potatoes. The cooking was excellent. The conversation turned on Morgan, and as this was one of the points on the railroad where he had done the most damage, there were many anecdotes of interest. Our hostess told, with a good deal of animation, her experience with one of Mor- gan's gang. Said she : "We had a horse that looked first-rate, but wasn't Will Ward's Hunt for His Brother, the Major. 175 good for anything much, for after going a few hundred yards he would fall down on his knees. Well, he was standing hitched up right in front of the door, when one of Morgan's fellers rode up on a first-rate bay horse, but he was played out. You see when they get near a settlement Morgan gets some of his fellers that's smartish about horses, and takes all the horses in the command that are used up, and puts these fellers on 'em, and they ride to wherever there is any good stock, get the best, and then leave the used-up stock in place. That's how he rides, so he's always got good stock. Well, you see when we heard that Morgan was going to take the town we sent all the stock but this poor horse down to my son's, who lives kinder out of the way. Well, this feller of Morgan's rode up and very politely asked me to exchange horses. I refused and made a great deal of fuss about it, but all the time I was wanting him to take the old horse away, for I liked his one. Well, he stripped the riggin' off his animal and soon had it all on mine, and he might have got into town without finding out he was fooled if it had not a' been for one of them little niggers, who began grinning and hollered : T say, Mister, you'll get your head broke, you will ; he falls on his knees,' and he had a prac- tical illustration of it, for, putting spurs to him, he started off at a trot, but did not go far till he came down on his knees. He turned round, and coming back to the house, put the lixin's on his own horse and left." I was among those who were fortunate enough to have ar- ranged for a bed. About half of the party slept on the floor, but all slept soundly. We were called before daylight for breakfast, which was as good as the supper. It still rained hard with no prospect of stopping very soon. The old farmer and his darkies were hitching up. The first wagon had four horses and was full of seats, and carried fourteen persons. The next one had three horses. There were two coffins in it — one of a young soldier named Piper, and the other of Colonel Housen. The last wagon had my brother's coffin in it, and was drawn by two poor-looking horses, but much better than they looked. After we got through EHzabethtown we met a great many teams of all descriptions, hurrying along to Colesburg. The road was an awful one. About four miles of it lay in a ravine, and the rains had raised what was only a little run to quite a respectable creek. It was rough, rock 176 History of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. bottom, and I feared a breakdown. The darkies who drove the wagons with the coffins were very carefiil, and drove slowly but surely. We came upon a large spring Wagon that was hauling passengers. The rough road had been too much for it, and