History of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, in the War Between the States

Front matter

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HISTORY

Chapter 1

CHAPTER I.

Enlistment of a Company in 1861—Their un-Military Appearance—Capturing a Merchantman—Under the Fire of Gunboats—Marching to Manassas—Picketing the Potomac—Formation of a Regiment—Evacuation of Fredericksburg.

In the month of May, 1861, by an order obtained through a special application made in person by the author of the following narrative to General R. E. Lee, commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, Major Carr, at Fredericksburg, was directed to muster into service a cavalry company from the county of Westmoreland, to which the officers had given the name of Lee's Light Horse, in memory of "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, of the Revolution. This order was executed by Major R. M. Mayo, at Montross, on the 23d of May, 1861. The company numbered on that day sixty-one, and whilst composed chiefly of young men, contained several who were forty-five years of age. Thomas S. Garnett was captain; R. L. T. Beale, first lieutenant; B. Walker, second lieutenant; and A. G. Dade, third lieutenant.

There was nothing very martial in the appearance of the company. The officers and men were clad in their citizens' dress, and their horses caparisoned with saddles and bridles of every description used in the country. Their only arms were sabres and double-barrelled shotguns collected from the homes of the people. The company thus equipped, after two brief encampments at Nomini Ferry and Oak Grove, marched early in June under Lieutenant Beale to Mathias Point, in King George county, where it was quartered in Hooe's Chapel, and was employed in picket duty on the Potomac.

Its first military essay was an attack upon the "Christiana Keen," a four-hundred-ton merchantman grounded on the bar off Upper Mochodoc Creek, made in two flat-boats by a detachment under Lieutenant Beale, and which resulted in the destruction of the vessel and the capture of its sails, ropes, and sundry valuable nautical instruments. This was followed by some skirmishes with marines from the steamer "Freeborn," in which the enemy used his artillery very freely.

On the 6th day of July, dismounted and in line with an infantry company from Caroline county, armed with rifles and called "The Sparta Grays," and led by Major R. M. Mayo, they attacked a body of marines which had been landed, and were throwing up breastworks on the shore, and drove them, with considerable loss, back to the steamer, which was forced to slip her cables and retire with the loss of Captain Ward, United States navy, her commander. Though daily exposed to the fire of cannon from gunboats in the river, and often to that of the rifles of the marines, the company escaped without the loss of a man.

About the middle of July we were ordered to Brooke's Station, in Stafford county, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, and on the morning of the 20th of that month assigned to duty with the Thirtieth Virginia Infantry, commanded by Colonel R. Milton Cary, of Richmond city. As the advance guard of this regiment, we moved in the evening to the old village of Acquia, and bivouacked for the night.

The march was resumed early on the morning of the 21st. The roar of artillery in the direction of Manassas told of a great battle, and our patience was sorely tried by the tedium of an infantry march. The enthusiasm of Virginia was at this time intense. Relying upon our perfect familiarity with firearms from boyhood and our horsemanship, we feared not the disparity of numbers, and though without an officer who had ever seen service, or studied tactics, we felt confident of our ability to cope successfully with thrice our numbers. To many it seemed apparent that this was to be the only big fight, and, missing this, no other chance of flashing a maiden sabre would ever occur.

The infantry marched rapidly, making thirty-one miles by nine o'clock that night, and reaching Manassas Junction.

The battle was won! We remained under arms on the 22d, and on the 23d moved near the headquarters of Brigadier-General T. H. Holmes, en route for Brooke's Station.

We remained at the latter point drilling and marching in detachments to various places until the latter part of November; then moved to Shaw's Mount, in Westmoreland, and near the close of the year went into winter quarters near the Hague.

Various changes had occurred among the officers of the company. Our captain, Thomas S. Garnett, had been made lieutenant-colonel in July, and assigned to the Forty-eighth Virginia Infantry. Captain Beale, who succeeded him, had been made major by Governor John Letcher in October. Lieutenant Walker had resigned in May, and the company in January, 1862, was commanded by Captain John Murphy and Lieutenants John W. Hungerford, A. G. Dade, and William Murphy.

During the winter we were employed in picketing the lower Potomac under orders of Major Beale, provost-marshal, and thus far had acted as an independent company.

Breaking our camp in March we moved to St. Paul's church, in King George; then to Office Hall; then to King George Courthouse, at which point, about the 1st of April, we joined Colonel Johnson, assigned to the command of the Ninth Regiment of Virginia Cavalry, with W. H. F. Lee as lieutenant-colonel, and R. L. T. Beale as major.

The regiment was composed of ten companies, viz: Company "A," of Stafford, E. M. Henry, captain; Company "B," of Caroline, Samuel A. Swann, captain; Company "C," of Westmoreland, John N. Murphy, captain; Company "D," of Lancaster, Meriwether Lewis, captain; Company "E," of Spottsylvania, Corbin Crutchfield, captain; Company "F," of Essex, R. S. Cauthorn, captain; Company "G," of Lunenburg, William H. Hatchett, captain; Company "H," of King William, Beverly B. Douglas, captain; Company "I," of King George, John Tayloe, captain; and Company "K," of Richmond county, Joseph R. Jeffries, captain. The letters designating the several companies above continued to distinguish them until the close of the war.

A part of the regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lee was stationed near Berea Meeting-House, above Falmouth, and the companies under Johnson, after a few days' stay, marched from the Courthouse to a place called Boscobel, near the old stage-road connecting Fredericksburg and Potomac creek. The weather was very inclement, rain and snow falling freely. For several days we remained without tent or shelter of any kind. This exposure told upon our ranks, and the hospitals in Fredericksburg were crowded. Company C contributed its share, and Privates Robert L. Tallent and Richard Beale, both good soldiers, returned to us no more.

On the evening of the 16th of April, hastily striking our tents, we moved towards Fredericksburg. The baggage-wagons crossed Coalter's bridge, and the troops having prepared for action, moved up the river to Falmouth, and, descending the hill to the right, took position near the road leading to Potomac creek. Here, dismounting and sleeping upon the ground with our bridles held under our arms, we waited until roused to wakeful attention by a volley of musketry, followed by loud cheers. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee, driven out of his camp near nightfall at Berea, had fallen back to the heights above Falmouth, and had been reinforced by a portion of the Fortieth Virginia Infantry under Major Taliaferro. In that position they were charged by the enemy's cavalry. The infantry allowed them to come close up, then pouring upon them a deadly fire, repulsed them with considerable loss. A second charge brought the enemy a no more favorable result.

We remained in suspense until after daybreak, when, reversing our march, we moved through Falmouth, and, with heavy hearts evacuated the Northern Neck. The bridges were fired after we passed, and soon the invading army under General Archer descended from the heights and came pressing down upon the burning bridge. We were ordered to remain and check any attempt of the enemy to extinguish the fire. Whilst engaged in this service, and drawn up in line on the road leading down the river, the enemy opened upon us with artillery posted on the crest of the hill just above Falmouth. The first shell came crashing into our ranks, wounding several, and among them Private R. S. Lawrence. One or two horses were also killed. We stood without flinching, eliciting some praise from our officers, and escaped further injury, though the fire was continued as long as we remained. One man of Company E lost his life, unfortunately, by the accidental discharge of his gun, the ball having entered the lower part of his head and, passing out at the top, carried his hat many feet into the air. Our route was through Fredericksburg, and here all was hurry and confusion, army-wagons rattling away, steam engines hissing, women lamenting, and bodies of troops moving towards the old Telegraph road leading to Richmond.

At nightfall the rain fell in copious showers, yet hungry and without shelter, all save those detailed for picket service, gladly stretched themselves upon the earth and slept soundly after the fatigues of the preceding twenty-four hours.

Massaponax church, on the following day, became our regimental headquarters, and we picketed down to the hills overlooking Fredericksburg. There was a considerable force of infantry in the immediate neighborhood, commanded by General Joseph R. Anderson, and for some days we expected to fight the enemy along the line of the Massaponax. Whilst camping at this point Companies A and C were marched under command of Major Beale to Culpeper Courthouse, making minute examination of several fords across the Rapidan. We returned to Massaponax without encountering the enemy at any point.

Chapter 2

CHAPTER II.

The Regiment Reorganized—Badly Uniformed and Poorly Equipped—On the Massaponax—Falling Back to Richmond—The Raid Around McClellan—Death of Latanè—Complimentary Orders—J. E. B. Stuart—Anticipating a Great Battle.

Near the close of April the regiment reorganized, the privates electing the company officers, and these electing the field officers. These elections were general throughout the army, and were regarded as a great political blunder, amounting almost to a crime, in the legislative department of the Confederate Government. The consequences, doubtless, would have been disastrous in the extreme but for the firmness, energy, and good sense of the military commanders.

In our regiment, Colonel Johnson was displaced, William H. F. Lee becoming colonel, R. L. T. Beale lieutenant-colonel, and Meriwether Lewis major. It was not until after this reorganization that all the companies composing the regiment were brought together. Owing to some coolness between Johnson and Lee, or for some other cause, they had been separated, and whilst some of us under Johnson camped at Massaponax Church, four or five companies under Lee occupied Hick's Hill, near the river road from Port Royal.

The appearance of the regiment at this time was but a slight improvement upon that ascribed to one of the companies the year previous. Three of the companies had been partly armed with inferior carbines and pistols by the counties in which they were raised; most of them were supplied with such sporting guns as could be collected by the officers from the people of the country. The equipment of the horses was of the most inferior kind, and varied with the means of the individual troopers. No regular squad, company, or regimental drill had been generally adopted and the supply of books of tactics was wholly inadequate to the wants of the officers.

Captain John F. Hughlett had succeeded Lewis in Company D; O. M. Knight, Hatchett in Company G; and William Latanè, Cauthorn in Company F. The officers of the previous year commanded the other companies.

We continued guarding the outlets of Fredericksburg and learning something of the trooper's duties in occasional attacks upon picket-posts and night alarms until about the 1st of May. Whilst picketing around Fredericksburg we had seen for many days long trains of forage-wagons escorted by detachments of the enemy moving down the north bank of the Rappahannock, their cavalry horses quietly grazing upon the grass-covered fields of Stafford, and the bitter thought of defenceless homes and helpless families brought more of sorrow than all the hardships of camp life and dangers of the field of battle.

After a short encampment at Hick's Hill, where much sickness prevailed among the men, the regiment marched towards the close of May, in the direction of Richmond, following the infantry, and taking the Telegraph road. On the third day of our march we reached Yellow Tavern, five miles from Richmond, and a day or two afterwards went into camp on Mrs. Mordecai's farm on Brooke turnpike. Our duties here consisting simply in picketing a few points about Ashland and Hugh's Cross-Roads, some attention was paid to drills; guard mountings and dress-parades were held daily, and the horses being well fed, recovered from the effects of the recent hard usage since breaking camp in March. Some few desertions of privates and many elopements of negro servants occurred while we occupied this camp.

On the 12th day of June it was whispered through camp that we would that night march in company with other regiments upon some daring mission. All were enthusiastic for action. The order to prepare rations was received with joy, and executed promptly. In the evening we moved to the junction of the Telegraph road with the Central railroad, and slept on the ground. The next morning seven companies of the Ninth (Companies A, H, and I being on detached service) were formed into three squadrons, the supernumeraries being assigned to an officer commanding a provost-guard, and, with two squadrons from the Fourth Virginia Cavalry to complete a full regiment, placed under command of Colonel W. H. F. Lee. To this force were added detachments under Colonel Fitz. Lee and the Jeff. Davis Legion under Colonel Martin, forming the largest body of cavalry we had seen, and consisting of about twelve hundred troopers, and a section of light artillery. It was quite imposing in appearance, and conmmanded by Brigadier-General J. E. B. Stuart.

About light on the morning of the 13th a rocket ascended high in the air, and the order to march was immediately given. We moved rapidly along a road leading to Hanover Courthouse. Before reaching that point we were halted, and troops from the column in rear of us made a detour to the right in pursuit of a small party of the enemy. They accomplished nothing. Passing the Courthouse and nearing Hawe's Shop, the advance guard under Lieutenant W. T. Robins, our adjutant, encountered a picket and captured a private. Companies B and C, under Captain Swann charged. The enemy fell back to the Totopotomoi river, and formed in line of battle on the left of the road, with a marshy strip of land in their rear. Our squadron had been moving at full speed for several miles, and as soon as seen, after a momentary halt to pull down the fence, the enemy was charged. In vain the officers tried to lead the enemy out to meet our charge. They broke and retreated at full speed across the bridge, a few hundred yards in their rear. Upon reaching the marshy land some of our horses mired, a number of the troopers were dismounted, and several of the horses without riders followed the flying steeds of the Federals. Companies B and C were now dismounted, and ordered to cross the bridge and advance in skirmish line on both sides of the road. The squadron next in front, composed of Companies E and F, under Captain William Latanè, then crossed the bridge and charged up the road in column of fours. Moving rapidly, Latanè reached the level land beyond the bridge in advance of the dismounted men, and, riding some paces in front of his men, was shot and killed instantly by a party of the enemy in the woods on the right of the road. Nothing daunted by this heavy blow, the squadron moved onward, and, nearing the crest of the hill, found Companies D and E, Fifth Regiment, United States Dragoons, in line of battle a little to the left of the road. Wheeling by fours into line, they charged with the sabre. The charge was soon ended, and the dragoons were routed. Two or three were killed, and a lieutenant and ten privates captured. The casualties with us were Latanè killed and two privates of Company E wounded very slightly with sabre-cuts.

Our whole command then moved rapidly on the road to Old Church, rifling the camp of the picket force of some carbines, pistols, horses, a litle wine, and a few prisoners. Confounded by the suddenness of the blow and panic-stricken, the enemy fled in detached parties along every road leading to their rear. The citizens, assured of the presence of the infant flag, hurried to the road-side; many ladies ran out, and, with waving handkerchiefs and eyes filled with tears, breathed their blessings on us. The excitement became intense; cheer after cheer rent the air as Stuart, at the head of the column, bade all hope of support from our army good-bye, and daringly pursued the road to the White House, on the banks of the Pamunkey, immediately in rear of the Federal army under McClellan.

At Old Church, a guidon, the first trophy of the kind that had fallen into our hands, was captured by one of Company C, and afterwards sent to Governor Letcher. Prisoners were taken at various points; ambulances moving quietly, and as their drivers supposed, securely, were overhauled and sacked, and, with the horses detached, were left standing in or near the road.

On, on, we marched, and reached Tunstall's Station on the York-River railroad before sunset. From column of fours we were now formed into column of platoons, and in this order approached the station, ready to make, or repel, an attack. The country, denuded of fences, offered no obstacle, and our line of march was through the fields bordering the road. Sutlers' wagons loaded with varieties of fruits and confectioneries, and heavier wagons filled with quartermaster and commissary supplies in quantities and variety such as we had not seen before, were standing in the road, deserted by their drivers, and in some cases without the teams. This temptation proved too strong for resistance, and many troopers broke from the ranks to seize and appropriate the rich spoil. In some instances these became laden with more than could be carried.

We reached the station and found our advance guard in quiet possession. The telegraph wires were cut, and orders given for the destruction of the muskets with which the depot was well filled. Quickly the announcement was made of a train of cars coming from the direction of the Federal army. Dismounted men were placed in ambush, and others set to work to put obstructions on the track. Our regiment was concealed from view in a valley. A train of cars soon came down the road, and a hundred yards or so above our ambush began to slow down, and was leisurely approaching the station, when a volley was fired by our men. Like a bird startled by the ineffectual fire of the fowler, the engineer instantly let on full steam. The regiment dashed up the hill, and as the train passed at a fearful rate of speed they sent a shower of buckshot and ball in pursuit with what effect we never learned. The train had escaped.

A number of the enemy who had leaped from the train when it was moving slowly, were pursued. Most of them surrendered; one or two refused to do so, and in endeavoring to escape were shot.

We halted here for over an hour, awaiting the return of two squadrons sent under command of Captains Knight and Hammond to Putney's Ferry, on the Pamunkey, where some vessels were landing military supplies. This party, after meeting a slight show of resistance, captured the place, and, having destroyed such things as they could not remove, including two vessels loaded with stores, brought off some prisoners and many mules and wagons. The wagons found near Tunstall's Station generally were without teams, these having been captured by our men in advance of us, or else ridden off by the teamsters upon our approach. These wagons we burned.

After darkness set in our march was resumed in the direction of Forge Bridge on the Chickahominy. Encumbered with our captives, which increased continuously, we moved slowly. About midnight a sutler's storehouse was reached, at Talleysville, and the command halting for some time to close up the column, many troopers helped themselves to such refreshments as the sutler had provided for his customers, without the usual ceremony of giving something in exchange. Continuing our march from this point, by dawn we reached the Chickahominy, and attempted its passage at a blind ford two miles above Forge Bridge. The river, swollen by recent rains, was too full to be forded. Tall trees were felled in the vain hope of their reaching from shore to shore, and a line formed of many halter-reins tied together, was stretched across the stream, and several rafts made of fence-rails lashed together, were put afloat in the many efforts to effect a crossing here. A few men, led in person by Colonel W. H. F. Lee, swam over, and a few succeeded in crossing on the rafts. General Stuart, finding it impossible to cross the command at this point, withdrew, leaving about thirty-five officers and men of our regiment who had crossed to the opposite bank with Lieu Beale. The command now moved down to Forge Bridge, which they found had been burned. With the timbers of an old barn a bridge was built across the north channel of the river to an island, and men were sent over to collect materials and construct a bridge across the south and main channel, dividing the island and mainland in Charles City county. Lieutenant-Colonel Beale, hearing of this order, moved at once down the south bank to the point indicated, and, finding ample materials, detailed a party under orders of Robinson Taylor who soon built a substantial bridge upon the partly-destroyed foundations of the old one. However, before the intelligence of its completion reached the General, he had, after swimming the horses of his command over the northern stream, commenced to ford the southern one from the upper end of the island. This was successfully accomplished long before sunset, and with the loss only of a caisson and some of the captured mules. To prevent pursuit by the enemy, the bridge was ordered to be burned. We halted for some hours near Charles City Courthouse, and, resuming the march about midnight, took the road leading up the north bank of the James to Richmond, and reached our camp next day.

This bold march entirely around the Federal army elicited warmest praise from the whole country. A complimentary order from General J. E. B. Stuart was read to the troops, and a printed copy given to each officer and man engaged in the expedition. In this order special mention was made of our Colonel and Adjutant, and of one or two privates. A handsome tribute was paid in orders to our gallant Latanè. John R. Thompson, the editor of The Southern Literary Messenger, in a few verses of touching beauty, and the brush of a Richmond artist, canonized his memory, and preserved for after times in lines of life-like truthfulness the scene of his burial.

Lieutenant William Oliver succeeded to the command of Company F, and the youthful brother of Latanè was made third lieutenant.

The captured horses and mules were distributed ratably to the quartermasters of the several regiments of Stuart's command. Some arms, which had been captured, were also distributed. The fact that we would fight was now fixed upon the minds of our commanding officers, and never afterwards doubted. The pride of officers and men was excited, confidence in the leadership of Stuart established, and, though this delicate plant matured so suddenly, in all the after trials of the war, it showed no signs of decay.

A proposal to form a company selected from the best men of the regiment, to be placed under command of our adjutant as captain, met such determined opposition from the officers, that it was abandoned.

The quiet of camp life was unbroken until the close of June, then rumors of a great movement among our troops became rife. The near approach of the enemy's lines to Richmond, and the reported strength of the opposing armies produced a seriousness amongst officers and men that had not been seen before: It indicated no feeling of fear but revealed clearly that the impression was general that we were on the threshold of great dangers.

Chapter 3

CHAPTER III.

In the Van of Stonewall Jackson's Troops—The Battle of Cold Harbor—Bringing in Prisoners—Capture of the White House—Expedition to New Kent Courthouse—Marching Under a Mistake—Malvern Hill—Picketing on the James—Resting in Hanover.

On Wednesday, the 25th of June, rations were cooked, and that night the regiment marched, taking the road leading to Ashland. We had, along with other regiments, a few days previously received the Confederate battle-flag. At a late hour of the night, after breaking our camp, we came in sight of the camp-fires of Major-General T. J. Jackson's command. They were surrounded by men busily engaged in cooking rations.

At early dawn next morning we advanced upon the road running towards Mechanicsville, and as we progressed the line of march deflected to the left. In the afternoon the sound of heavy volleys of small arms, accompanied by the roar of artillery on our right-front, told of the general advance of our lines, and the terrible conflict at hand. Later in the afternoon our movement was very much impeded by broken bridges and trees felled across the road, which told us the enemy was retreating. A few sutler's carts were the only captures we saw. It was soon understood that General "Stonewall" Jackson commanded in person the force of which our cavalry was the van.

We lay at night upon the road, bridles in hand, near Pole Green meeting-house, a few miles east of Mechanicsville. The firing upon our right-front was resumed in the morning, and, from the sound, seemed to be crossing our front to the left. We moved forward at an early hour. Upon reaching the stage-road east of Mechanicsville our march was down that road in the direction of Old Church to a mill, where we halted, fed our horses, and ate our dinner. On leaving the mill our line of march diverged from the main road along by-roads to the south. We halted about three o'clock P. M. in the immediate vicinity of Cold Harbor. We had encountered no enemy, and, after leaving the stage-road, had not seen our infantry.

At thirty minutes past three o'clock the fight commenced with deafening volleys of musketry, so continuous that the intervals were scarcely perceptible. The artillery fire was heavy, but seemed light compared with the sound of the small arms. We could see only the clouds of smoke, though shells continually shrieked and exploded over our heads. We were ordered by General Jackson late in the evening to move to a position less exposed. A squadron under Captain Thomas Waller was placed in position to charge a battery, but, for some cause, was ordered back. The battle lasted without the slightest abatement in the fire of small arms for four hours. When it ceased we marched rapidly on the road leading to the White House, but, finding the enemy was not retreating in that direction, returned and bivouacked on the edge of the field of battle.

This fight was among the hardest of the war, and upon no other field in Virginia, perhaps, was the continuous fire of musketry so long sustained. The enemy was routed at all points, and, driven from his entrenchments, retired during the night across the Chickahominy, leaving the air in places sickening with the smell of blood and large numbers of his dead upon the field.

We were in the saddle by light next morning. Captain Waller was detached, with orders to report with his squadron to General Ewell. Before we left Cold Harbor Waller sent in over one hundred prisoners.

Our march led us to Dispatch Station, on the York-River railroad, very near the bridge over the Chickahominy. We passed near a large hospital filled with sick and wounded men. On approaching the station we saw a squad of the enemy's cavalry. They fled as soon as we were seen. After a long halt we followed the line of the railroad in the direction of the Pamunkey. Beyond Tunstall's Station the enemy seemed prepared to dispute our passage across a run on the road leading to the White House. We were ordered, in company with the command of Colonel T. R. R. Cobb, to support a North Carolina regiment in its charge. In order to get the proper interval it was necessary to move the regiment back, and the order was given to wheel about. Just at that moment the rear squadron, which was on the crest of the hill, saw the Carolina regiment and, supposing them to be the enemy, wheeled and retreated in double-quick time. They were soon halted and good order restored. No charge was made; whether because of this sudden panic or not, we never knew. The men were dismounted and lay in the road while a section of artillery under Captain John Pelham, from an elevated point on our left, cannonaded the enemy until night. In moving off to bivouac the accidental discharge of a comrade's gun inflicted a serious flesh-wound upon young Robert J. Washington, of Company C.

At early morn the march was resumed to the White House, the private property and home of our Colonel. On reaching the run behind which the enemy was posted on the previous evening, we discovered the sills of the bridge had been so weakened that any charging party must have broken them in attempting to cross. The night's delay seemed to have lost us the opportunity to capture a very large quantity of commissary supplies and sutlers' stores. The great mass of them had been set on fire the night before, and the place hastily evacuated. Gunboats lying in the river fired a few shots, and the enemy's cavalry retreated on the road to New Kent Courthouse. To the latter place our regiment was sent in pursuit, and, returning in the evening, we joined the command at the White House.