Cole's
Cavalry; or Three Years in the Saddle
In the Shenandoah Valley
By C. Armour Newcomer
Read Chapters: Twenty-one - Twenty-four
Chapter 25: Monocacy Bridge &
Scouting in Frederick City
On July the 9th, 1864, General Early was confronted
at Monocacy, Maryland, by Lew Wallace and General E. B.
Tyler, who had in their commands a number of new
regiments who were under fire for the first time, some
of these regiments had only been in the service but a
few days and were unfamiliar with the tactics.
Alexander's Maryland Battery and the 1st Regiment
Potomac Home Brigade of Maryland Infantry, Colonel
Maulsby, did good service. After fighting for one-half
day against the flower of the Southern Army, (Early's
Corps,) Wallace and Tyler were defeated with a loss of
nearly two thousand men.
The Sixth Army Corps had arrived and Washington was
saved.
During Early's invasion of Maryland, Cole's Cavalry
was not idle; a number of the men of the new Battalions
had secured horses and had been in several minor
skirmishes. Lieutenant Colonel Vernon, with a detachment
of the old Battalion, were for a time separated from the
Regiment, who were at Maryland Heights and Pleasant
Valley, Maryland. The Colonel's instructions from the
General in command, were to harass the enemy, capture
their pickets, and do all the damage he could
accomplish. We were for the most part of the time inside
the enemy's lines, and performed a great deal of hard
and dangerous service, capturing a large number of
prisoners, among which was a Confederate Major with the
mail for Bradley T. Johnson's Brigade.
The battle of Monocacy had been fought. Lieutenant
Colonel Vernon and his small force of sixty-five men
were familiar with the country. The enemy's Cavalry were
overrunning Frederick County in small detachments,
gathering up horses- from the farmers. Our detachment
had come upon several small squads of Rebel Cavalrymen
and either captured or dispersed them. On our arrival in
the neighborhood of Middletown we were informed by the
citizens that an old gentleman, a farmer by the name of
George Blessing, living several miles distant, had shot
one or more Rebels, and Colonel Vernon started at once
with his men for Blessing's farm. As our advance was
proceeding up the lane leading to the farmer's house
they were halted by an old gray-haired man, fully
sixty-five years of age, who demanded that they should
go back, or he would shoot. The old gentleman was
partially concealed behind a large tree, with a rifle in
his hand. Colonel Vernon called him by name and informed
him we were Cole's men and had come to protect him. Mr.
Blessing gave us a hearty welcome and said he had
mistaken us for the Confederates whom he had exchanged
shots with a number of times during the day, and had
driven off the enemy not an hour before, who threatened
to return and hang him and burn his property. To prove
his assertion, he led the way up to his barn yard, where
lay a dead Rebel and one in the barn, wounded. The old
farmer had some half dozen guns of different patterns;
when the roving bands of Confederates approached his
house he would warn them off, they would fire upon him,
and this old patriot stood his ground. He would do the
shooting whilst his small grandson would load the
pieces. Our command remained at the farm house over
night and the "Johnnies" failed to put in an appearance;
they would have received a warm reception if they had
returned. Our men buried the dead soldier and left the
wounded prisoner in the hands of his captor, who
promised to have him properly taken care of. On the
following morning we made an early start in the
direction of Frederick, picking up an occasional
straggler.
Our advance came near running into a large body of
the enemy's Cavalry. They turned off the main road
however, and we permitted them to go by without
following them up, as we had received information that
several Confederate officers had stopped over night with
a Mr. Preston, who lived but a short distance from the
road. Colonel Vernon was very anxious that these
officers should be taken, and instructed me to ride on
ahead with two men, and capture them, which I did. When
I got to Mr. Preston's house we captured four officers,
who were enjoying themselves under the shade of the
trees in the yard. We pounced upon them so suddenly,
they did not have an opportunity to make their escape.
One of the officers, a Major, handed me hid revolver,
which I carried during the remainder of the war. My two
comrades each captured a man; we were about to return to
the command which I knew would be awaiting us out on the
road, when I was told by a colored servant, that one of
the officers had ran into the house. On investigating, I
discovered him under the bed in Miss Preston's
bed-chamber. He quietly crawled out, at the same time
requesting me not to shoot. After turning our prisoners
over to the guard Colonel Vernon and myself again went
back to the house. The Colonel was personally acquainted
with the Prestons, and wished if possible to get some
information from them. On arriving at the house we were
invited to dismount and come in, which invitation
Colonel Vernon very politely declined, but sat upon his
horse talking to Mr. and Miss Preston, when two
Confederates came riding down the lane. I was concealed
behind an outhouse, Colonel Vernon was in plain view,
they evidently imagined he did not see them, and no
doubt it was their intention to capture him. Miss
Preston in the meantime trying to warn the Rebels to go
back. The Colonel reminded her of her intention, and
just as the two Confederates were in the act of opening
a gate to let themselves through I moved from behind the
outhouse and told them to throw up their hands. Before
they recovered from their astonishment, I had their arms
in my possession. We bade Mr. and Miss Preston good day
and joined our command on the main road, continuing on
our way.
We had now reached a point three miles West of
Frederick, on the main road, advancing cautiously,
having been told by the citizens that the enemy's picket
post was not far off. John Fraley, one of Company A's
first and bravest men, who was riding by my side,
proposed we should ride on ahead of the advance and stop
at a public house, kept by a Mr. John Hagins, who was a
personal friend of Fraley's although a strong Southern
sympathizer, having a son in the Confederate Army. Hagin
advised us to turn back, as there was a Rebel picket
post at the toll-gate, one quarter of a mile down the
Frederick turnpike, and but a short time before a small
squad of Confederate Cavalry had passed in that
direction.
Fraley insisted that we should try and capture the
picket post before Colonel Vernon came up, and if I
refused to accompany him he would go alone, which I of
course would not permit. From Hagin's house to the
toll-gate there was almost a continuous line of trees
growing by the side of the road. Fraley and myself
approached the pickets, keeping well under cover of the
trees, until we had gotten up to within one hundred
yards of them, when we dashed out with a loud yell, at
the same time discharging our revolvers.
The Confederates went pell-mell into a small one room
house, used by the toll-gate keeper as an office, and
closed the door after them. Fraley was unable to hold
his horse, and he continued at break neck speed in the
direction of Frederick. I became alarmed fearing the
Confederates would discover that I alone was on the
outside, and perhaps turn the tables and capture me
instead of surrendering to one man. Fraley had gotten
completely out of sight.
The frame building the Confederates were in had a
small window at the side, the door was closed. Thrusting
my revolver in at the window, I enquired who was in
command; the Sergeant who had charge of the post was
much excited, and I demanded he should open the door and
come out backward bringing his gun, and the remainder to
follow in rotation. The small room was so completely
packed they could scarcely move on the inside, and had
great difficulty in opening the door. The Sergeant was
the first to come out, as I directed, closing the door
with his back to me, and I ordered the Sergeant to place
his gun against the side of the building, after which
lie returned to the inside, sending another one of his
men out. There were but four soldiers in all, and some
six or eight citizens who had been visiting the picket
post, when Fraley and myself charged down upon them. One
old gentleman assured me he was a Union man, and had
advised the Rebels to surrender. Colonel Vernon had
heard our shots and came galloping to the front and was
greatly surprised to find me guarding the building, with
the prisoners on the inside. Fraley had succeeded in
checking his horse and was now returning up the road and
was much chagrined at not being present at the surrender
of the pickets. It is useless to state that Colonel
Vernon was much pleased with the capture. We stationed
our pickets at this point, and the command removed a
short distance, fed our horses and remained over night.
In the morning the command cautiously advanced upon
Frederick. The rear guard of Early's Army had gone out
the night before in the direction of Washington. The
command returned to Harper's Ferry. Early returned to
Virginia pursued by Emory and Crook.
Chapter 26: Return to Virginia
When Early's command crossed the Potomac into
Maryland, before Colonel Vernon had been sent with his
detachment to harass the enemy, Cole's Cavalry fought a
force of Confederates at Brownsville, Maryland, driving
them out of Pleasant Valley, through Crampton's Gap. The
new Battalions lost a number of men in killed and
wounded in the two days skirmishing ; the officers and
men behaving and fighting in the most soldierly manner.
There is an incident connected with the battle of
Monocacy that perhaps should be mentioned. After the
Union forces were compelled to fall back before Early, a
number of raw recruits became panic-stricken; the
officers failed to control their men. General E. B.
Tyler, who had achieved distinction on more than one
occasion upon the battlefield, was powerless to check
the rout, and was one of the last to leave the field. In
his anxiety for the safety of his men he failed to
notice that his own retreat was cut off. Lieutenant E.
Y. Goldsborough, a brave and gallant Marylander, a
resident of Frederick City, was a special. Aide upon
General Tyler's staff and could have made his escape,
but he refused to leave his chief as other members of
the staff had done. The General and this faithful
officer were now entirely surrounded by the enemy's
cavalry and were compelled to seek safety in a dense
thicket of underbrush, near Mount Pleasant, five miles
east of Frederick. These two officers remained concealed
for over two days, when myself, with twenty men who had
been sent on a reconnaissance, got information from a
loyal citizen that a Union officer of high rank had been
cut off and could be found at the point designated.
I took the liberty of pressing into service a
carriage, the driver said he was then on the way to
attend a funeral; his story may have been correct, but
at that time it mattered little to us. General Tyler and
Lieutenant Goldsborough both expressed their thanks at
being relieved from their perilous position; they
occupied the carriage and I had them conveyed to
Frederick City, where our forces were again in
possession. After the war I became intimately acquainted
with both of these officers. The carriage was not
returned to the owner, a Mr. Ulrich, who kept a livery
stable in Frederick for several months after this
occurrence, it having been sent to Washington. Mr.
Ulrich no doubt realized a handsome sum from the
Government for its use.
Early had now returned to Virginia, pursued by Emory
and Crook. Colonel Cole, with the entire mounted portion
of the command, were attached to General Crook's
division, and those of the new Battalions who had not
been mounted, were sent to Hagerstown arid given
condemned horses from the corral; they later joined the
Regiment, and saw much hard service. Early was
retreating in the direction of Winchester, through
Snicker's Gap, and across the Shenandoah River at
Snicker's Ferry. Cole's Cavalry assisted in capturing a
portion of Early's wagon train near Snickersville. Many
of the wagons captured contained merchandise that had
been stolen from storekeepers during Early's raid in
Maryland. One wagon captured had been used by the
Paymaster of the Rebel Army, and contained thousands of
dollars in Confederate money, and several thousand
dollars in United States greenbacks, which were secured
by two members of Company B, of Cole's command. On July
24th, Crook attacked Early at Kernstown, and was
defeated. The mounted portion of Cole's new Battalions
suffered severely. Colonel Mulligan who had
distinguished himself upon more than one occasion, was
killed in this fight. His death was a great loss to the
Federal Army in the Shenandoah Valley. General Crook
fell back to Harper's Ferry; his loss at Kernstown being
over twelve hundred men.
Private Franklin Dickson, of Company A, was severely
wounded in this engagement, and was sent to the hospital
at Winchester. The doctor in charge, after an
examination, decided his arm should be amputated.
Dickson refused to have his limb taken off, and
overheard the surgeon tell one of his attendants that
the enemy would be in town in a short time and those in
the hospitals would be prisoners. Dickson, although
suffering with his shattered arm, got out of the window
and took possession of an ambulance that was standing at
the door, with several wounded men, and placing the
reins in his one hand, drove out of Winchester in the
direction of Martinsburg, as the Confederates came in at
the other end of the town. On arriving at Martinsburg
lie reported to the surgeon in charge of the hospital at
that place. The comrades he had brought with him were
taken in charge and the surgeon stated Dickson should
remain. After examining the arm, which had become
greatly inflamed, he said that his life depended upon
the amputation of it. Dickson again refused to have his
arm amputated, and walked from Martinsburg to
Williamsport, Maryland, a distance of twelve miles,
taking a stage coach at that place to Hagerstown and
from thence to Frederick City, in an army wagon. At the
hospital in Frederick, the surgeon operated upon the
arm; an old Army surgeon stating his arm might be saved.
Dickson suffered for more than ten years after the war,
when Dr. Stone, of Mount Pleasant, Frederick County,
performed an operation, taking a large amount of decayed
bone from the arm, after which the wound healed up.
Private Dickson had been wounded on two former
occasions; once receiving a severe saber cut over the
head. He was one of Cole's most daring men; he was born
in Frederick County, Maryland,
Chapter 27: Return to Maryland, a fight at Hagerstown
& Sharpsburg
A portion of the old Battalion was sent to Hagerstown
and joined with the new Companies, who had secured
horses from the corrals at that point. Lieutenant
Colonel Vernon was in command and Captain Louis M.
Ziminerman was acting as Provost Marshal. Colonel Cole,
with the remainder of the Regiment, was stationed at
Sharpsburg, and two companies at Williamsport, under
command of Captain William Bragg, and Company I, under
command of Captain Atkinson, near Dam No. 4.
On the morning of July 29th, 1864, having been at
Hagerstown but a few days, one of our scouts reported
the enemy crossing the Potomac River at Williamsport and
going north. Colonel Vernon at once sent me to
Williamsport, with a dispatch to Captain Bragg, who was
then the senior officer in command at that post. The
Rebels had not yet made their appearance at
Williamsport.
Captain William Atkinson, of Company I, sent a
detail, under command of Lieutenant Alexander M.
Briscoe, to the fording, at Dam No. 4; during the
afternoon two Companies of the 10th West Virginia
Cavalry and one Company of the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry
were driven back upon Captain Atkinson's position.
Captain Atkinson being the senior officer, commanded the
four Companies and retreated in the direction of
Pennsylvania, pursued by the enemy's Cavalry, not
however before sending a courier down to the fording,
with instructions for Lieutenant Briscoe, to fall back.
The enemy had attempted to cross the river at Dam No. 4
and were repulsed by the small force at that post.
Lieutenant Briscoe seeing he had a full Company to
contend against, had given the order for the men to fall
back, but before he mounted his horse he fired his
carbine at the Rebel Captain, killing him, and the body
floated down the river. The Confederates seeing their
Captain was killed, became confused. Briscoe ordered his
men to again open fire, the enemy retreating on the
south bank of the river. Lieutenant Briscoe fell back to
Hagerstown going with Major Mooney.
I returned to Hagerstown, and had scarcely time to
report to Captain Zimmerman, the Provost Marshal, when
firing was heard on the southern outskirts of the town;
the pickets had been attacked and were falling back.
"Boots and Saddles" were being sounded by the buglers,
and Major Robert Mooney was in command of our four
Companies. Lieutenant Colonel Vernon had taken a small
portion of the command down to the river, and joined
with Bragg, who had been attacked by a superior force
and fell back on Sharpsburg, joining with Colonel Cole.
Major Mooney deployed the men and fought through the
streets of Hagerstown. We were forced back by the
Confederates, after fighting three hours, falling back
on the road leading to Greencastle, Pennsylvania. After
being driven out of Hagerstown a short distance, what
was our astonishment to find General Averill's Brigade
drawn up in line; they did not engage the enemy as the
Rebels halted on the northern edge of the town. General
Averill fell back to Greencastle and encamped for the
night.
In the fight at Hagerstown the command lost a number
in killed and wounded, and a few taken prisoners,
including Lieutenant Briscoe, who behaved so gallantly
in the early part of the day, at Dam No. 4. The
Lieutenant's horse was shot from under him and in
falling Briscoe's hip was dislocated; he was sent to
Columbia, S. C. Major Mooney distinguished himself for
bravery, and was the last of our men to leave the town.
Adjutant O. A. Horner’s had his horse shot from under
him and deserves special mention for his bravery.
Captain Zimmerman had a number of men in his Company who
had not yet received bridles or saddles, but the men
insisted upon taking a part in the fight, and mounted
their horses bare-back, with nothing on the horse's head
except a halter. I regret that I have not the names of
these comrades as they should be mentioned individually.
Colonel Cole, after being joined by Lieutenant
Colonel Vernon, near Sharpsburg, where they engaged the
enemy, had been more successful, having routed the
Confederates and captured some prisoners, after which
Vernon proceeded to the Gaps in the South Mountain,
leading to Frederick.
On arriving at Greencastle, I remained over night at
the house of a relative, and on the following morning
joined my command with Averill, who had fallen back to a
small town, six or seven miles east of Chambersburg.
Before overtaking Averill I was joined on the road by
one of our scouts, who stated the Rebels were making for
Chambersburg, and if Averill wished to prevent them from
entering the town he had better be up and moving. We
remained at the little village, within one hour's ride
of Chambersburg, for one half day, the rank and file
could not understand the delay. We were evidently giving
the Confederates, under General McCausland, an
opportunity to enter Chambersburg, as there was but a
small force of State troops with one Company of the
Maryland Patapsco Guards, Captain Thomas McGowan, and
one gun, from a New York battery, at this point.
Chapter 28: The Burning of Chambersburg
About the middle of the day, on July 30th, J864, a
dense volume of smoke was observed ascending to the
heavens; every man in the command knew the town was on
fire, and wondered why our forces were lying idle.
Chambersburg could have been saved; some one had
blundered. When orders came to mount, every man in
Averill's command, including those of Cole's Cavalry,
who were with him, were eager and anxious to avenge this
act of incendiarism, but on our arrival at Chambersburg
the enemy had gone; they had accomplished their hellish
work and were retreating in the direction of the
Potomac. Those of us, who were in the advance, went
through the burning town, bending forward upon our
horses' necks, as fast as our faithful steeds would
carry us. We had no knowledge of the great destruction
and devastation that we should witness, arid when we had
once started it was necessary to continue through the
burning streets. Houses on fire on both sides, it was no
time to turn back, and to stop was to be burned up; our
poor horses were mad with fright. Each and every one of
us felt relieved when we got to the outer edge of the
town. The atmosphere was stifling, with the smoke that
settled over the earth like a pall. The citizens were
gathered in groups; strong men with bowed heads, women
wringing their hands and the little children clinging to
their mother's dresses and crying. Desolation on all
sides. It was a sad picture, long to be
remembered.
Myself, with two members of Company A, Charley Fosler,
known as the "Flying Dutchman" and John Kelly, a
splendid soldier, were sent by General Averill on the
extreme advance. The Confederates had fallen back on the
Pittsburg road. Averill was now pressing McCausland,
exchanging shots with his rear guard. In going through
the country my two comrades and myself came upon a
number of farmers who had their horses concealed in a
dense thicket of underbrush; we came upon them without
being observed, and they mistook us for Rebel
Cavalrymen, and pleaded to spare them, and not run off
their stock. We assured them that there was no danger,
as we were members of Cole's Maryland Cavalry. We
advised them to remain in the woods over night, and
return to their homes in the morning, as the Rebels by
that time would be far away.
Merchandise of every description was strewn along the
road, boots, clothing, window curtains and even infants'
shoes and little slips, and women's dresses, that had
been stolen from the houses in Chambersburg and along
the route, were now thrown away by the raiders, 110
doubt not wishing to be captured with stolen plunder in
their possession.
McCausland and Johnson tried to cross the Potomac
River at Hancock, but were prevented by Federal troops,
who had erected a battery on gondola cars, on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, on the Virginia side of the
river; the battery on the cars was designated as
"ironclads." Averill forced the Confederates through
Hancock and they retreated in the direction of
Cumberland, crossing the river the day following;
General Averill following into West Virginia, coming
upon them at Moorefleld, where he captured four pieces
of artillery and a large portion of Bradley T. Johnson's
brigade, including a number of officers.
On arriving at Hancock, Maryland, and after the
skirmish we had with the "Johnnies," General Averill
informed me that Cole's men had been sent back to
Hagerstown from Chambersburg, and myself with Fosler
and Kelly should return and report to our commanding
officer. We rejoined Major Mooney at Hagerstown, and
went to Frederick, where Colonel Cole, with the
remainder of the Regiment had gone.
Read Chapters Twenty-nine - Thirty-two
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The
Solders of Company C, Cole’s Cavalry 1861-1865
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