Cole's
Cavalry; or Three Years in the Saddle
In the Shenandoah Valley
By C. Armour Newcomer
Read Chapters Thirteen-Sixteen
Chapter 17: In Camp at Harper’s
Ferry; Scouting Leesburg
After the fifteen days raid up the Valley the men and
horses required a much needed rest, the horses were
re-shoed and the command left Charlestown and went into
camp at Harper's Ferry. Their stay however was of short
duration; the weather had become extremely cold, and the
men had not had time to prepare winter quarters before
they were ordered to move their camp across the
Shenandoah River into Loudoun County, two miles from
Harper's Ferry, on the east face of the Blue Ridge
Mountain, known as "Loudoun Heights." Tents were pitched
and after several days a portion of the command went on
a scout through Leesburg, to Upperville, under command
of Captain Hunter of Company C.
It was New Year's day, 1864; the thermometer in this
mountain country was below zero. The command ran across
a large number of Mosby's Cavalry ; our scouting party
being greatly outnumbered were compelled to fall back,
and in crossing Goose Creek, at Leesburg, the men were
compelled to swim their horses across the stream, and
when they arrived at camp many of the boys were nearly
frozen to death. Their heavy boots had gotten full of
water which had frozen, and their boots were cut from
their feet; A number of the men were compelled to go to
the hospital, where it was found necessary to amputate
their toes, and in several instances their feet; which
had become terribly frostbitten. The command had lost a
number of their best men in killed and wounded, and five
or six taken prisoners in this raid.
William Millholland was among the number who was
severely wounded near Rector's Cross Roads. After being
shot and falling from his horse a cowardly Rebel dashed
up and emptied his revolver into Millholland's prostrate
body, then riding off supposing him to be dead; some
time after the engagement Millholland came to, and was
unable to move; the thermometer was down to zero. He had
despaired of ever seeing any one again, when a citizen
came through the woods and Millholland attracted his
attention. The man succeeded in getting him upon his
back, and carried him several hundred yards to his
humble home, where he remained for four days. A scouting
party passing by, the lady of the house reported that a
Union soldier was wounded at her house; the officer in
charge of the company had Millholland placed in the
ambulance and on the following day they arrived at
Warrentori, where the soldier had his wounds dressed six
days after being wounded. He was never able to perform
any more service, and was mustered out of the army at
the expiration of his three years. Millholland was a
brave soldier and had been in many an engagement.
The Battalion had been for some time very fortunate
and had been coming out with flying colors, but this
last reverse had somewhat put a damper upon the spirits
of the men for a few days; it was not long however
before the boys regained their accustomed self-assurance
and were willing and anxious to meet their late
antagonists.
Snow had fallen to a considerable depth; everything
about the camp on the mountain side looked dreary in the
extreme. With the large number of our comrades who were
under treatment in the hospital, and those who had been
lost in our disastrous fight on New Year's Day, left the
Battalion with less than two hundred men for active
duty. Those who were not on detail kept to their tents,
as the weather was very cold.
Chapter 18: Mobley, the Outlaw & Surprised by
Mosby
An occasional scouting party from one or more of the
companies would frequently leave camp and go as far as
Hillsboro', nine miles distant, and after dark would
visit farm houses a few miles from camp. An outlaw, by
the name of Mobley, with less than one dozen men with
him, had been reported as being in the neighborhood, and
it was for the purpose of capturing him that our men
were making their nightly raids in the surrounding
country. Mobley, with his few men, were never known to
take a prisoner; anyone falling into their hands would
be instantly shot, as they wanted nothing but the
soldier's horse and arms. A large reward had been
offered by the Government for Mobley, dead or alive, and
our men were anxious to get this reward; this is why the
scouting parties were hunting for him and his followers
among the farmers in the vicinity, whom he was known to
be visiting at intervals. He was afterwards killed by a
member of Major Means' Loyal Virginia Cavalry, who
claimed the $1,000 for his dead body. After the death of
Mobley, his few followers disappeared from the
neighborhood of Loudoun County.
We had now been occupying our new camp for two weeks.
It was two o'clock, Sunday morning, January 10th, 1864;
the stable guard had just been relieved, when the tramp
of horses' feet was heard on the icy road, but a few
hundred yards distant. The night was dark and bitter
cold; our guard on the edge of the camp halted a column
of horsemen he saw advancing upon him. The Rebels, for
such it proved to be, refused to obey the command of the
guard, who then fired off his carbine. The Rebel yell
resounded through the mountain fastness; Cole's camp was
surprised.
Colonel Mosby, their old antagonist, had captured the
pickets; he and his followers, many of whom were natives
of Loudoun County, had crossed the mountain and fell
upon the camp, and then fired a volley into the tents
where Cole's men lay sleeping, many of them no doubt
dreaming of their sweethearts and loved ones at home. No
one who has not experienced a night attack from an enemy
can form the slighest conception of the feelings of one
awakened in the dead of night with the din of shots and
yells coining from those thirsting for your blood. Each
and every man in that attack, for the time, was an
assassin. But we should remember that war means to kill;
the soldier in the excitement of battle forgets what
pity is, and nothing will satisfy his craving but blood.
The rude awakening brought Cole's hardy veterans out
into the deep snow covering the mountain, and they
promptly picked up the gauge of battle. Long experience
in border warfare had taught these gallant Marylanders
to shoot at the horsemen, and not attempt to mount their
own faithful chargers.
For several nights Cole's men had slept on their
arms, as they had been accustomed to do, whilst on their
many raids in the enemy's country, but a fancied
security led them on that fateful night to remove their
heavy boots and coats, and in some instances, all their
outer garments; they rushed to repel the attack, without
waiting to dress, and for some minutes the fighting was
fierce. Lieutenant Colston, of the Confederate Army,
with Mosby's command, fell immediately in front of my
tent, at the head of a Rebel company.
During the fight every man was for himself. There was
no time to wait for orders, the cry rang out on the cold
frosty air " shoot every soldier on horseback." Many of
the Confederates who were killed or wounded were burned
with powder, as Cole's men used their carbines. It was
hand to hand, and so dark, you could not see the face of
the enemy you were shooting. It was a perfect hell!
Every man cursing and yelling, and the horses were
plunging and kicking in their mad efforts to get away.
When one of the poor beasts would get wounded he would
utter a piercing shriek that would echo throughout the
mountain. Mosby's men had emptied their revolvers. The
night was too dark for them to see to reload their
pieces. They were now completely at the mercy of Cole's
Rangers, who were using their carbines with good effect.
Captain Smith, one of Mosby's most gallant leaders, had
shouted, " fire the tents, shoot by the light," but his
order was never executed. A. well-aimed bullet sped
through his brain and he fell dead from his horse. The
Confederates, who had expected that Cole's men would
make but a feeble resistance, having been taken so
completely by surprise, now found themselves in. a trap
in our camp. They were dumbfounded. Captain Vernon, of
Company A, had discharged the last load from his second
revolver when he fell with a ghastly wound in the head;
as soon as his brave followers discovered that this
gallant officer was shot the vengeful bullets of the
hardy veterans flew the faster. The Rebels seeing that
the bloody struggle was fruitless, the Confederate chief
reluctantly gave the order to retire.
Mosby had been badly used up; our comrades who had
lost their lives on the last New Year's day, and in
other engagements, where he had been defeated, were now
avenged. It was difficult to tell how many had been lost
until after daylight.
The boys who had been fighting so gallantly in the
snow, many of them with nothing on except their
underclothing, were now too glad to have an opportunity
to dress, and as many of them jokingly remarked, they
did not mind the fighting so much but the next time that
Mosby came, they would thank him to send word so they
would have an opportunity to dress and be in proper
condition to receive company.
Loudoun Heights, Va., January 10th,
1864.
By comrade James. A. Scott, of
Company C, Washington, D. C.
Upon the wintry mountain side, From succor far
away, With hearts in peril often tried, Cole's hardy
veterans lay.
The winds swept cuttingly and fleet Across the
frozen snow, The shivering sentry on his beat Walked
briskly to and fro.
Their white tents rising from the ground The
wind, with curious art, Had so embanked with snow
around, They seemed of earth, a part.
The night closed down in bitter cold, And as its
gloom grew deep, The soldier, in his blanket rolled,
Sought rest and peace in sleep.
From war and elemental strife, Perchance his
thoughts did roam Afar to sweetheart, child or wife,
'Mid quiet scenes of home.
Perhaps he dreamed his toils were o'er, His armor
laid from sight, The sun of peace ablaze once more,
Had closed war's dreadful night.
But hark! what din is in the air? What rush the
ear alarms, And here and now with fitful glare, What
crash and roar of arms!
Alas! alas! that man should be A more relentless
foe Than tempest on the land or sea, Than winter's
frost and snow.
Rise, soldier, rise! thy sleep forego; Death
rides upon the wind In other shapes than frost and
snow; On, on, thine armor bind.
Rise, soldier, rise! Thy soul in arms, Strike,
for thy Country's weal; For her, in dangers and
alarms, Thy heart and limbs be steel.
And up they rose, those soldiers proud, Grasped
arms with eager haste, And dashed into the
battle-cloud, Upon the wintry waste.
And now, both to and from the foe, Death-shots
like fire-flies flew, And here and there the
trampled snow Soon bore a crimson hue.
Some sank upon the icy ground Whom naught but
death could quell, And, fore-front, struck with
ghastly wound, Brave Vernon fighting fell.
Fierce shout and oath and yell and shot Were
mixed in horrid mirth, Night's deepest gloom upon
the spot No light from heaven or earth.
One thought possessed the breast of each To yield
they did not know A lesson of respect to teach The
daring Rebel foe.
Amid the horrors of the night, With frozen hands
and feet, They stood and fought, nor ceased to fight
Till victory was complete.
The rolling years may come and go, Survivors may
grow old, But not till death shall lay them low And
turns life's current cold,
Can they forbear to speak with pride That makes
the dim eye glow, About the lonely mountain side And
battle in the snow?
While Loudoun rears her height sublime, Her
stream runs to the sea, Her airs shall in all coming
time Breathe of Cole's Cavalry.
Chapter 19: Pursuit of Mosby & Attempt to Capture
Major Cole
Down at the Ferry, General Sullivan, the District
Commander lay. The ringing rifle volleys and echoing
pistol shots awoke his forces and the 34th Massachusetts
Infantry, Cole's comrades in many a bloody fray, sprang
at a double quick for the camp on the mountain side, two
miles distant. They arrived too late to be of service to
the Cavalry, which had won the fight and was already in
the saddle in pursuit of their ancient enemy. Sullivan
rode over at daylight, with words of soldierly praise
for the brave fellows who had so gallantly defeated the
wily partisan in his desperate attempt to "gobble them
up" an expression frequently made use of in military
parlance, nor were Sullivan's congratulations the only
ones; a unique bit of war time history is the fact that
the General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States
sent a congratulatory telegram to a mere Battalion, the
only instance of this kind during the entire war.
The detachment who had followed Mosby returned to
camp; blood stains on the snow marked the enemy's
retreat, and it was evident that a number had been
wounded. During the day, a citizen living four miles
from camp reported to Major Cole that an officer had
been left at his house severely wounded; the writer was
ordered to take a squad of men and go to the farmer's
house, after dark, and bring the wounded man to camp. On
arriving at my destination, I found everything as
the citizen had represented. The officer was a
Lieutenant, a man much larger than the average size, a
fine specimen of manhood, and perhaps twenty-five years
of age. The Lieutenant had been shot in the breast, the
ball going clear through his body; it was evident he
could not live; I spoke to him kindly and told him my
orders were to bring him to camp, but if he would give
me his word of honor as a soldier and gentleman, not to
be removed from the farm house without first acquainting
Major Cole, I would assume the responsibility and permit
him to remain where he was. The soldier grasped my hand
and thanked me, and said he did not see how one of
Cole's men could be so kind to one of Mosby's command,
after trying to murder us in our beds. I told him to
think no more of worldly affairs, but turn his thoughts
to heaven and ask forgiveness from God, the Great Father
of us all. I returned to camp without my man, and on the
following day we received word that the Lieutenant was
dead.
When Mosby charged the camp, a special detail of
twenty men, under an officer, attempted to capture Major
Cole at his headquarters, which was in a two-story house
on the edge of the camp, and by the side of the
mountain. As the officer and a portion of his command
entered in at the front door of the house, the Major
made his escape from the rear of the building into the
mountain, and hastened to the camp, where his presence
greatly encouraged the men. Captain Gallagher, who was
still suffering with his broken leg in an adjoining room
to the Major's quarters, escaped unnoticed. The Captain
would not consent to be taken to the hospital,
and from the time his leg was broken, near Charlestown,
he was never able to perform any hard service up to the
time of his being mustered out of the army.
The 34th Massachusettes Infantry remained at our camp
during Sunday.
The officers and men of the Battalion were recounting
their individual encounters with the enemy, and some of
the yarns were extremely amusing. In justice to all,
every officer and man deserves the highest praise for
their action; they fought as soldiers never fought
before.
General Sullivan sent Major Cole twenty gallons of
whiskey to be distributed among the men. It is needless
to say they all pronounced the General a royal good
fellow, and drank his health. If a suitable medal had
been presented to the officers and men, it would have
been more appropriate, and even at this late day
Congress should recognize the survivors of this fight
for their gallantry, and place them upon the roll of
honor.
Casualties in Company A. Loudoun Heights, Va.,
January 10, 1864.
Samuel Stone, killed. Harvey A. Null, killed.
Edward Stone, killed. Captain Geo. W. F. Vernon,
wounded. First Sergeant Lewis M. Zimmerman, wounded.
John Killian, wounded. Edgar Badois, wounded. Wesley
Games, wounded. Martin L. Kaufman, wounded. Simon
Staley, wounded.
Casualties in Company B. Loudoun Heights, January
10, 1864.
Sergeant Carries, killed. Captain John Rivers,
wounded. Sergeant Wesley Mann, wounded. Samuel Rivers,
wounded. Gotleib Fuss, wounded.
Casualties in Company C. Loudoun Heights, Va.,
January 10, 1864.
Wm. H. Weaver, wounded. D.'W. Longwell, wounded
Casualties in Company D. Loudoun Heights, Va.,
January 10, 1864.
George Burford, killed. Reson Cross, killed. Henry
Howard, wounded.
Chapter 20: Report of Battle and Complimentary Letter
of General Halleck
On the following day, after the fight, Monday,
January 11th, Major Cole sent this report to
General Sullivan the Brigade Commander:
I have the honor to report that my camp was attacked,
between three and four o'clock this morning, by Major
Mosby's command of Rebel Guerillas, some four hundred
strong, augmented by volunteers from Lee's Army. They
cautiously avoided my pickets and made an impetuous
charge, with a loud yell, on the right of the camp. In
consequence of the charge, the right Company, B, offered
but a feeble resistance, but in the meantime, the second
Company in line, Company A, was speedily rallied by its
commanding officer, Captain Vernon, who contested their
further advance in such a sanguinary manner as to form a
rallying point; in the meantime, the enemy had charged
the left Company, C, and center Company, D. The command
was now thoroughly aroused to the danger that threatened
them, and one and all, from the officers to the
privates, entered into the contest with such a
determined zest as led to the utter rout and
discomfiture of the enemy, leaving three prisoners in
our hands and a loss in killed, (left on the field,) of
five, divided as follows: one Captain, two Lieutenants
and two privates. They removed a large portion of their
wounded, as my detachment in pursuit observed blood
stains for miles along their line of retreat. Our loss
was four enlisted men killed and sixteen men wounded,
among whom are Captain Vernon, Company A, seriously shot
through the head, left eye destroyed, and Lieutenant
John Rivers, slightly in the leg. I am happy to state
that there are hopes of Captain Vernon's recovery."
Brigadier General B. F. Kelly, the Department
Commander, upon receiving General Sullivan's account of
the fight forwarded it to Brigadier General Cullum,
Chief of Staff of the General-in-Chief, adding:
"I cheerfully comply with the request of General
Sullivan, in calling the attention of the
General-in-Chief to the gallant conduct of Major Cole
and his brave command; his repulse of a murderous
attack, made by an overwhelming force, at 4 o'clock, on
a dark, cold morning, evidences a discipline, a
watchfulness and bravery most commendable."
In due time, through the hands of Generals Kelly and
Sullivan, Major Cole received this dispatch:
"Headquarters of the Army, Washington, January 28th,
1864.
"Brigadier General B. F. Kelly, Cumberland, Md.,
"General: I have just received, through your
headquarters, Major Henry A. Cole's report of the
repulse of Mosby's attack upon his camp, on Loudoun
Heights on the 10th inst. Major Cole and his command,
the Battalion of Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers, deserve
high praise for their gallantry in repelling the Rebel
assault.
Your obedient servant,
H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief."
Lieutenant Colston, of Mosby's command, was killed
immediately in front of my tent; after the repulse of
the enemy there was taken from the Lieutenant's person
two passes, reading:
"Pass Lieutenant Colston in and out of lines at
pleasure. Robert E. Lee, General."
I was compelled to turn the passes into headquarters,
by order of General Sullivan. It is presumed the passes
were used by our scouts to great advantage. The
Lieutenant also had on his person the picture of a
beautiful young woman, and on the reverse side was
written "Your sister, Florence." The picture was sent by
myself to Baltimore, to be returned to the young lady. I
was never positive whether the lady received the picture
I had sent to my home until a few days since. A member
of my family had given it to a Mr. John Fowler, who was
personally acquainted with the Colstons, to be delivered
to them. A few days ago, over thirty years after this
occurrence, I was introduced by Captain Dudley P.
Barnett, formerly on the staff of General Rhodes, of the
Confederate Army, to Mr. Frederick M. Colston, of the
firm of Wilson, Colston & Co., bankers, in Baltimore,
who told me he was a brother of the Lieutenant killed in
Cole's camp on Loudoun Heights, January 10th, 1864, and
his mother had received the picture. Mr. Colston had
also served as Major in the Confederate Army, and is a
member of an old Maryland family, being a cousin of the
late Honorable John P. Kennedy, historian.
The Battalion remained in their camp on Loudoun
Heights until the middle of the month of January, after
which they moved to Harper's Ferry and encamped on
Bolivar Heights.
Read Chapters: Twenty-one - Twenty-four
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Solders of Company C, Cole’s Cavalry 1861-1865
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