1 SHARPSHOOTERS-PETERSBURG. 419 hominy at Long Bridge, early in the morning. Marching by way of Charles City Court House, they crossed the James River at Wilcox's Landing, and took position with our forces before Petersburg, late in the evening of the 15th. During the week following, the sharpshooters were almost constantly engaged in the front, as our troops fought to advance the line and establish themselves in position before the place. On the 18th, they took 585] part in the action at Hare's farm, and on the 22d participated in the battle of the Jerusalem plank road, in which the enemy's efforts to check the advance of the Second corps on the left of our line, were gallantly repulsed. Our line being now established, company G was assigned to position near the Chimneys, where they remained, as a part of the reserve, furnishing details for fatigue duty, until the 26th of July. Participating in the movement of the Second corps, they broke camp in the evening, and marching rapidly and silently by the City Point road, they crossed the Appomattox, and pressing steadily forward, crossed the James River at Jones' Neck, at three in the morning. After a short rest at Curl's Neck, they were ordered forward and took part in the battle of Deep Bottom, which resulted in the capture of an important rebel work with guns and prisoners, and the advance · of our line on the right front. Company G was employed as sharpshooters and skirmishers, and was withdrawn late in the evening. They returned by forced march to their old position near the Chimneys, and participated in the action on General Burnside's front on the 30th, during which our company lost one killed and one wounded. After this action, they were again placed in the reserve. On the 12th of August, they again broke camp and marched to City Point, seven miles distant, where they embarked on the following day, and steamed down the river. Returning in the night, they landed at daybreak on the 14th above Bermuda Hundred, and marching over Strawberry Plains, took part next day in the battle of Deep Run. During the early part of the action, the sharpshooters advanced on the right of our line, driving the enemy's pickets and gradually advancing our line, until they reached the Charles City road, where they remained in position until evening. The contest was resumed on the 16th, and our company was again engaged. After performing good service as 'flankers,' they were ordered to report to General Birney, under whose orders they were posted on a wooded hill, where they were on duty until dark. Company G lost one man killed. During the night of the 18th, they marched to near their former position before Petersburg, and in the morning were posted on the picket line, in some places within sixty yards of the enemy. They were withdrawn from the picket line on the 24th of August, and encamped in pine woods on the left of the corps. They were shortly afterwards posted behind breastworks on the front line before Petersburg, employed in daily picket duty, and were at times under very severe fire, the picket lines of the opposing forces being posted within a distance of from sixty to one hundred and fifty yards of each other. Their term of service having expired, company G was finally mustered out of service and disbanded in the field, on the 22d of September, 1864, the re-enlisted veterans, and recruits who had joined since organization, having been transferred to other companies in the regiment. The list of dead, pp. 586–587, is omitted and is published in full in volume 3. Early in the summer of 1861, Colonel Edward Daniels was authorized by the General Government to recruit a regiment of cavalry in this state. Rendezvous was established at Camp Fremont, Ripon, where, in the beginning of October, about six hundred men were encamped. It was subsequently found necessary to change the location of the rendezvous, and on the 23d of November, the regiment, yet incomplete, arrived at Kenosha, where Camp Harvey was established. At this place, the organization of the regiment was perfected, the last company being mustered into United States service on the 8th of March, 1862. They left the state on the 17th of March, for St. Louis, Mo., where they arrived on the 19th, and were quartered in Benton Barracks until the 28th of April, when five companies embarked at Cape Girardeau, Mo.,1 followed the next day by the remainder of the regiment. From Cape Girardeau, companies of the regiment were detached at various points in the interior of Missouri and Arkansas, where they passed the summer, the regiment being finally reunited on the 1st of October, at Cape Girardeau. Shortly afterwards they moved to Greenville, and subsequently to Patterson, Mo., where they remained during November and December. In the beginning of 1863, they were stationed successively at West Plains, Pilot Knob, St. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau.2 Leaving the latter place on the 31st of May, they arrived at Nashville, Tenn., on the 14th of June, where they were assigned position in the cavalry corps of the army of the Cumberland, with which they were subsequently identified.3 Dur 119 Rebellion Records, 16, 23, 25, Bloomfield, Mo., Skirmish, May 10, 1862. Report of Col. Edward Daniels, 19 Ibid. 64, 67. Report of Maj. Henry S. Eggleston, 19 Ibid. 202-205, 250-251, 273, 552-553, 560, 694. Report of Maj. William H. Torrey, 32 Ibid. 245, 253, 257-260, 266–268, 890. * Organizations Mentioned, 33 Ibid. 128; 159, 164, 173, 176, 178, 273. * 34 Ibid. 418, 423, 543, 549; 35 Ibid. 580. 50 Ibid. 46. ing the summer, they were stationed at various places in Tennessee, and taking part in the general movement of the army upon Chattanooga, were engaged with the cavalry on our extreme right, during the battle of Chickamauga.1 They subsequently marched to Larkinsville, Ala., where they went into camp. While stationed in Missouri and Arkansas, detached bodies of the regiment performed much valuable service, and were frequently engaged with the enemy. Of these services during this period no detailed report has reached this office. On the 1st of October, 1863, the effective force of the First cavalry, leaving the sick and inefficient in camp at Bridgeport, Ala., marched with the brigade, [Second brigade, First Division of the cavalry corps], to Jasper, Tenn., a small town in the valley of the Sequatchie River. On the following day, while the regiment was moving in advance of the brigade, information was received that Wheeler's command, a few miles in advance, had burned a supply train near Anderson's Gap, 589] on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. The regiment was at once ordered forward to reconnoitre, and if prudent, to attack the enemy.2 The advance guard, under command of Captain Smith, moved rapidly forward, and encountered the rebel rear guard a short distance from the burning train. "The enemy retreated steadily, skirmishing constantly with our advance, which pressed him closely for about two miles, capturing a lieutenant and ten men, and liberating a Union surgeon and some others, whom the enemy had captured and was attempting to carry off in an ambulance. On passing the burning train, the explosion of ammunition was terrific, and farther on, sutler's stores were strewn about in tempting profusion, but the officers were strict in their orders and no straggling occurred. About a mile from the train, Martin's rebel brigade was encountered, and engaged by the advance until the main body of the regiment came up, when four companies were dismounted and thrown forward rapidly as skirmishers, a mounted company being sent to each 1 Report of Col. Edward McCook, 50 Rebellion Records 895-897. Col. Archibald P. Campbell, Oscar H. La Grange, 50 Ibid. 912, 50 Ibid. 898-901, 906–907, 908. 2 Report of Brig. Gen. Robert B. Mitchell, 51 Ibid. 669–673. Col. Edward M. McCook, 51 Ibid. 675-677; 52 Ibid. 106, 920; Col. Oscar H. La Grange, 51 Ibid. 682-684, 647. Reports of Col. Edward M. McCook, 53 Ibid. 69-70. FIRST CAVALRY-WHEELER-RODDY RAID. 423 flank, and the remainder of the regiment kept within supporting distance. Taking advantage of the nature of the ground, and moving rapidly from cover to cover, our skirmishers drove the enemy two miles, with a loss of twelve killed and a considerable number wounded. Four men of company D were ordered to charge a squad of five rebel sharpshooters, who had remained in the road behind the retreating column, and killed several horses at the head of our mounted column. Privates Troxell and Ritchter overtook them a few rods from the rebel line, killed two with their sabres, and wounded and captured two others, whom they brought back to our advance, escaping unharmed a heavy volley from the astonished rebels. Near this point, the enemy in attempting to form, was thrown into confusion by the fire of our skirmishers, and at the proper moment, our reserve charged and scattered his wavering ranks in the wildest rout. Thirty-seven of the enemy were killed and wounded, and forty-two made prisoners, among the latter of whom were two captains, a lieutenant, and two majors of Wheeler's staff. General Wheeler himself was closely pursued and narrowly escaped capture. Nearly all the wounds were inflicted with the sabre. Major Torrey, Captain Smith and Captain Howland, particularly distinguished themselves. Captain La Grange, alone, captured a squad of four rebels fully armed. Private Hewitt, of company A, pursued a captain and lieutenant half a mile, mortally wounding the lieutenant, and bringing both prisoners to camp. Sergeant-Major Cleveland, Sergeants Townsend and Dunham of company C, and Private Jones, of company A, deserve special mention."* In this gallant affair, the loss of the regiment was four wounded, one prisoner, and three missing. The pursuit was continued two miles farther, when darkness set in and the troops lay on their arms during the night. 590] They remained at this point until the morning of the 4th of October, when they accompanied the movement of the division in pursuit of the enemy, and marching by way of Dunlap, across the Cumberland Mountains, arrived on the 5th at McMinnville. Marching thence through Unionville, Lewisburg and Pulaski, they entered Rogersville on the 9th, and resuming the march next day, they proceeded, via Athens and Hunts *Official report. Wheeler and Roddey's Raid Sept. 30-Oct. 17, 1863, 51 Rebellion Records 663-730. |