Cole's
Cavalry; or Three Years in the Saddle
In the Shenandoah Valley
By C. Armour Newcomer
Read
Chapters One-Three
Chapter Four: Tobacco Warehouse and Belle Isle
We arrived at Staunton, and were placed on the cars
and started for Richmond. On arriving at the Confederate
Capital, we were escorted before the Provost Marshal,
who directed that we be searched and it is useless to
state everything of value was taken from us. Our names,
company and command were taken down by a young clerk,
but it proved afterwards were not entered on the ledger,
and caused us much inconvenience later on. We spent
several days in the Old Tobacco Warehouse, known as
Libby Prison, and with a number of others, sent to Belle
Isle. Our names were called and each man answered to his
name as it was mentioned. When the officer calling the
list had gotten to my name, he requested me to step to
the front, at the same time remarking he would like to
speak to me; at the conclusion of the roll call. He
turned to me and inquired where I was from and whether I
had any connections living in the south? I replied in
the affirmative, and mentioned a number who were then in
the Confederate service. In speaking of a relative, the
officer grasped my hand and mentioned the one referred
to as his own brother-in-law. The guard and prisoners
looking on could not understand why the Confederate
Officer was shaking my hand and speaking so kindly to
me, a Union soldier. I had found a friend and determined
to make the best of it. The officer stated he was in
charge of the guard on the Island, and I should not
hesitate to speak to him on the following day, as I
would recognize him, whilst he might not know me among
so many.
Several days passed and I saw nothing of my new
friend. After several weeks, I was informed by one of
the guards, that he was sick in the hospital, a month
rolled around, when one day I was gratified to see the
officer coining down the line and I did not hesitate to
attract his attention. He was much pleased to see me
again. After informing me of his attack of sickness, he
promised to interest himself in my behalf, a very
amusing incident occurred. It was positively forbidden
for any one to trade with the prisoners. The officer
noticed a man with a barrel of apples; he had been
selling them to the prisoners. The man was placed under
arrest for violating the rules and he called two of the
guards and dumped the apples from the barrel upon the
ground. The temptation was so great, and not having
tasted fruit for so long a time, I forgot for the moment
that I was speaking to my relative's brother-in-law, and
dropped on my knees, filling my hat with the pedler's
apples. I felt so mortified at behaving so rudely that I
failed to speak to the officer after this occurrence.
The lieutenant was from Jackson, Mississippi.
There was now over six thousand "Yankee" prisoners,
as we were called by the "Johnnies," on the Island. It
was rumored that our Cavalry were raiding in the rear of
General Lee's Army, and an effort would be made to
release us from captivity. The authorities at Richmond
became alarmed, and our captors commenced paroling us,
working day and night for several days. Three thousand
paroled men left us one Saturday morning and the
remainder were to follow on the following day. The names
of the thirteen members of Cole's Cavalry who had been
captured with myself, could not be found, as the slip of
paper the clerk had written our names upon, had been
mislaid and the names never entered on the register. We
were sent with the paroled prisoners over to Richmond,
and another examination of the rolls failed to find our
names.
We went to Aikin's Landing, on the James River, and
after a consultation the Confederate Paroling Officer
had a guard placed over us and we were ordered back to
Richmond, suspected of having broken our parole and of
giving fictitious names. In witnessing our former fellow
prisoners marching upon the United States transports and
we thirteen of Cole's men sent back again to prison, our
feelings can better be imagined than described. On the
following morning after being returned to Richmond, our
guards delighted in showing us the papers giving an
account of our return and commenting, stating we would
be court martialed and would likely be shot or hung.
This was not very encouraging for us. In prison I was
speaking about what our fate would be, when I remarked,
"I suppose our time has come," one of our number, Thos.
Eltonhead, a jovial fellow, jokingly remarked "he" would
wager an oyster supper, that we would neither be shot
nor hung."I replied that "I accept the bet; it was a
good one if I lost." In a short time the authorities
discovered their error and we were released. I had lost
my bet, and was happy for it.
Chapter Five: Home Again
On our trip from Richmond to Baltimore, I was taken
sick and we were sent to the parole camp at Alexandria,
Virginia, remaining there several weeks. In the meantime
I recovered my health. A number of our command, who had
been taken prisoners, and paroled at various times, had
been sent to parole camp at Annapolis. I could not get
away from Alexandria by pass, my friend Eltonhead and
myself fell in with a squad that had been exchanged and
we succeeded in getting on the north side of the Potomac
River, and in a short time reported at Annapolis. I had
no difficulty in getting permission to visit my home,
and remained there until I was properly exchanged, when
I again reported to my commanding officer at Harper's
Ferry; in my absence many changes had occurred and many
of my old comrades had been killed or wounded. Harper's
Ferry had surrendered; and the great battle of Antietam
had been fought and won by the Union Army.
Major Cole and his Battalion were constantly on the
move in the summer of 1862, averaging twenty-five days
of the month in the saddle, scouting through Loudoun and
adjoining counties, east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and
in the Valley and through West Virginia. The command on
the various raids, invariably subsisted upon the
country; never taking any supply wagons. And it is a
remarkable fact that one hundred miles were repeatedly
covered in twenty-four hours. It was rumored at Harper's
Ferry that General Pope had defeated General Lee at
Manassas, and Colonel Miles, commanding at the Ferry,
ordered Major Cole to go to Leesburg, the extreme right
of the Army of the Potomac, to capture stragglers of the
Confederate Army who were reported in that vicinity.
Companies A, C and D were ordered to move at once.
Company B had been for some time operating in the
mountains of West Virginia. The three Companies crossed
the Potomac River at the Point of Rocks, and arrived at
Leesburg, Virginia; the advance exchanging an occasional
shot with straggling bands of Mosby's and Major White's
Confederate Cavalry. When the command had gone several
miles south of the town, it was observed that the
Confederates were becoming more numerous, the rear guard
was kept busy repulsing numerous onslaughts, and upon
the hills on all sides were noticed increased numbers of
the enemy, Major Cole concluded to fall back to the
Potomac River.
Lieutenant Green of Company A, who had relieved
Company C in the advance, was confronted with a large
body of the enemy's cavalry. Lieutenant Green concluded
that the forces were other than Mosby's and White's, and
he immediately sent Sergeant Lewis M. Zimmerman to the
rear to notify Major Cole, he himself falling back with
his advance upon the main column, stubbornly contesting
the advance of the Confederates. When Lieutenant Green
reached Major Cole, the Major had formed the command in
a field surrounded by a stout post and rail fence, and
it was none too soon, for the Confederates charged over
the hill. It was now discovered that instead of being a
few Companies, it proved to be a brigade of General
Lee's Cavalry. The gallant Maryland Battalion fought
five to one; they discharged their pieces in the face of
the enemy, but it was useless to contend against such
overwhelming numbers. Major Cole gave the command to
draw sabers and charge; a number of the Battalion
succeeded in cutting their way through the enemy's
column, whilst a few of the men took to the mountains
and reported at Harper's Ferry on the following day. It
is not known how many of the Confederates were killed.
Cole's gallant command sustained a loss of over thirty
men, killed and wounded; many receiving Saber cuts.
In numerous instances the men refusing to surrender
were cut down by the enemy's sabers.
Casualties in Company A.
Leesburg, Va., September 2; 1862.
First Sergeant —— Hall, killed. Corporal Julius
Apple, killed. John Hall, wounded. Basil H. Albaugh,
wounded. Thos. M. Wachter, wounded. Jas. H. McDevitt,
wounded. Wm. Tinternian, wounded. J. H. Stottlemeyer,
wounded. Edward Stone, wounded. 0. A. Wheeler,
wounded.
Casualties in Company B.
Having waited for this list until the last moment,
we were compelled to go to press without it.
Casualties in Company C.
Leesburg, Va., September 2, 1862.
George Ceise, killed. Corporal Wills, wounded.
Samuel Bostick, wounded. Joseph E. Wible, wounded.
Jas. A. Scott and Saml. N. McNair were both severely
wounded, McNair receiving a musket ball clear through
the lungs.
The following were captured and paroled on the Field:
Captain A. M. Hunter, wounded. Sergeant 0. D.
McMillan, wounded.Sergeant S. J. Maxwell, wounded.
Sergeant Geo. Gwinn, wounded. Corporal Wills, wounded.
S. J. Wolf, wounded. E. O. Reck, wounded. W. H. Scott,
wounded. Geo. L. Gillelan, wounded. Jacob Hartzell,
wounded. D. Wright, wounded. Orderly Sergeant O. A.
Horner., Sergeant A. A. Annan, and Private W. A.
Mcllhenny deserve special mention for their bravery at
Leesburg.
After the command having cut their way out, Sergeants
Horner and Annan, and Private Mcllhenny were surrounded
by the enemy, and single-handed they forced their way
through the Rebel line, using their sabers to good
advantage; joining with a few comrades they brought up
the rear and reported at the camp at Harper's Ferry,
each comrade having slain one or more of the enemy.
Casualties in Company D.
Leesburg, Va., September 2, 1862.
Charles Davis, killed. —— McCann, killed. John W.
Sullivan, killed. John W. Williams, wounded. Chas.
Bennett, wounded. Esom Edmonds, wounded.
The following day most of the command had gotten
safely back to Harper's Ferry, being familiar with the
mountain roads; Colonel Miles in command at the Ferry,
congratulated Major Cole for his gallant fight against
superior numbers of the Confederates, and was surprised
that the entire command had not been captured.
It matters not how serious an affair may be, there is
always an amusing side to the same. There was a comical
fellow belonging to Company D, (George Cox,) better
known and called by every one the "Captain," born and
reared at Harper's Ferry; he was well acquainted in
Loudoun and adjoining counties.
Many the time was when apple jack was hard to get;
the Captain would swing several canteens across his
shoulder, visit some of his former friends and
neighbors, and invariably return to camp with canteens
full, and the Captain as full as the canteens. He would
be the life of the picket post and could tell more
amusing yarns than any man in the battalion, and
naturally became quite a favorite. There was one
peculiar thing that puzzled the boys, and that was after
the fight at Leesburg, the Captain seldom could be
prevailed upon to go on a scout, or could he be gotten
into a fight; it had gone on for some time and the
Captain was requested to explain his conduct, in his own
quaint way he would remark he had killed his man and lie
knew it to be a fact. He stated that when he enlisted he
had fully made up his mind to kill one of the enemy, and
if every Union soldier would do likewise, the
Confederate Army would be annihilated. Naturally the
boys were much interested to know how and when the
Captain had slain one of the enemy, and in his own way,
said, that when Major Cole gave the command to charge,
he was only provoked at the Major for not giving the
order sooner, he had managed to get out of the field and
had been cut off, but struck the pike, leading to the
Point of Rocks, and had commenced to congratulate
himself, he was all right, when he discovered three
horsemen in his rear galloping towards him and
commanding him to surrender. Visions of the horrors of
Libby Prison and Andersonville loomed up before him, and
he concluded he would give them a run for it. The loads
had been shot from his carbine and revolver, and knowing
he could not contend against the three "Johnnies" with
his saber, he kept repeating the little verse about the
man, "that fought and ran away, lived to fight another
day." He refused to halt; he counted each shot as the
enemy discharged their pieces and was gratified when the
firing ceased, and two of them drew rein and halted, but
one bloodthirsty Grayback kept thundering on behind
.him, and was in the act of drawing his saber with the
intention of cutting him down; (the Captain was
encouraging his horse and vowing if he succeeded in
making his escape he would never be caught in such a
scrape again,) he noticed a large rock in the center of
the road; his horse cleared the obstruction, but the
Confederate in trying to draw his saber pulled his horse
too close to the bank, and in jumping over the rock his
horse stumbled and fell upon its rider and broke his
neck. That is the way Captain Cox killed his man. He
contended that if the fellow had not been following him
his horse would not have fallen and the rider would not
have been killed.
Cole's Troopers
By Jas. A. Scott of Company C
How the memories flocking come, Of the trial-days
of war, Blast of bugle, roll of drum, Round the
Heights of Bolivar!
From the mists of vanished years Cole's brave
troopers come to view; And the past all reappears, And
is acted o'er anew.
We behold the column stand, In the serried ranks of
war, Heart to heart and hand to hand, On the Heights
of Bolivar.
Then we trace them from their camp, Oft through
battle fires and flames, While their horses thundering
tramp From Potomac to the James.
And from Loudoun's hills and plains, To and fro in
strength and pride, Marched they, oft with crimson
stains, To the fur Ohio's tide
On the march by day or night, Songs of love or war
they sang; How that one their chief delight "Glory,
Hallelujah!" rang!
'Neath the midnight's gloomy arch, 'Neath the sun's
meridian ray, When the summons came to march Swift
they mounted, and away!
O'er the river's rugged ford, Over hill and
mountain crag, Subject to their leader's word, Heart
and eye upon the flag!
Oft in hunger and distress, Scorching heat and
bitter cold Their endurance none the less Nor their
loyal hearts less bold.
Wheresoe'er the foe was found On they charged with
shot and steel, Or they nobly stood their ground 'Mid
the cannon's thunder-peal!
Hear them shout at Winchester As they dash into the
fray Where in battle thrice they were, Each a dark and
bloody day!
How to mem'ry rise again Charlestown, Smithfield,
Berryville, Woodstock, Romney, Moorefield's plain,
Leesburg, Aldie, Rectortown,
Waterford and Upperville, Gettysburg of world
renown Loudoun Heights, whose mem'ries thrill! Cedar
Creek, and Fisher's Hill!
Ashby's Gap, Monocacy, Sbarpsbnrg's day of loyal
might, Sad Newmarket's tragedy, Piedmont's
well-contested fight;
Fall of Staunton, Lexington, Lynchburg and its dire
retreat Empty haversack and gun In starvation, dust,
and heat!
Some went down to bloody graves, Struck with shot
or shell or blade, Others died in mud and caves In the
horrible stockade!
Others perished by degrees From the wounds received
in strife, Some a prey to fell disease, Slowly yielded
up their life.
Now the marches long and sore, Fights by day,
alarms by night, Now the shot and cannon's roar, Call
to mount and march and fight.
Are to them forgotten things; But in reminiscent
thought, Mem'ry oft the spirit wings To each well
remembered spot.
And the rustic there at eve, 'Neath a dim and dusky
sky, In his fancy may conceive He can hear them pass
him by.
Hear the clashing of their steel, Hear their song
now soft, now loud! See the column march and wheel, Men
and steeds of mist and cloud!
Chapter Six: Siege of Harper's Ferry.
The command, an arriving at Harper's Ferry after
their disastrous fight at Leesburg, counted up their
losses, and in a few days were again ready for active
service.
The Confederates were moving upon Harper's Ferry in
great numbers, General Dixon S. Miles, U. S. A., in
command, was being surrounded. The great guns on
Maryland Heights were booming day and night, the forces
at Bolivar Heights were contending with a force in their
front, and it was rumored the Confederates had crossed
the river farther west, and the enemy was gradually
working their way in the rear of the Union forces on
Maryland Heights. It was evident to all that Harper's
Ferry must fall; there was not space sufficient to
handle all the troops concentrated at Harper's Ferry;
they were in a trap; their opportunity for evacuating
the Post had been lost and there was nothing to be done
but surrender. The rank and file thought they had been
sold out and did not hesitate to give expression
thereto. After the capitulation, Colonel Miles was shot
and killed, and it was generally supposed by one of his
own men. If he was a traitor he received his just
deserts. A great injustice has been done Colonel Miles,
as he was a competent officer, and the stigma upon his
name should be removed. He was under orders from
Washington, and it was his duty to obey.
There was a large force of Cavalry at the Ferry.
General Jackson was expecting to get the horses that
Lee's Army so much needed. Major Cole had his little
band of Cavalry drawn up in line, and stated, that
without a doubt, they would all be prisoners on the
following day. If the men so willed it they should
endeavor to cut their way through the enemy's lines.
Every officer and man in the command that had a horse
fit for duty told the Major they would follow him, let
it be to victory or death. Lieutenant Green and
Lieutenant Samuel Mills, of A and D Companies, urged
their men to prepare themselves for the worst, and every
man was supplied with an extra amount of ammunition. The
officers of the various companies personally
superintended seeing that no man carried any extra
luggage.
Colonel Miles approved of the undertaking and issued
the following order:
Headquarters Harper's Ferry, Va., 14th Sept., 1862.
special order No. 120.
1st. The Cavalry force at this Post, except
detached orderlies, will make immediate preparation to
leave here at 8 o'clock tonight, without baggage,
wagons, ambulances or lead horses; crossing the
pontoon bridge and taking the Sharpsburg road.
2nd. The Senior Officer, Col. Voss, will assume
command of the whole; which will form in the following
order: the right at Quartermaster's Office; the left
up Shenandoah Street, without noise or loud command,
viz: Cole's Cavalry, 12th Illinois Cavalry, 8th New
York Cavalry, Rhode Island Cavalry, 1st Maryland
Cavalry. No other instructions can be given to the
Commander for his guidance than to force his way
through the enemy's lines to our army.
By order of Col. Miles, (Signed) H. C. REYNOLDS,
Lieut. and A. A. A. Genl.
It was soon known ,that Cole's Cavalry was going to
undertake a hazardous task as soon as night approached.
Officers and men of the different Cavalry commands
besieged Cole's camp and requested that they be
permitted to join with Major Cole, and go out with the
Maryland boys; the request of course was granted, and at
ten o'clock on the night of September the 14th, 1862,
Cole's Battalion took the advance over the pontoon
bridge across the Potomac River, with their brave Major
in the lead, arid the following regiments: 12th
Illinois, 8th New York, Battalion of the 1st Maryland,
and a Rhode Island Regiment, making in all twenty-one
hundred Cavalrymen. Lieutenant Hanson Green of Company
A, with three men, were detailed as an advance, and were
the first to cross the bridge. Lieutenant Green and his
companions were thoroughly familiar with the country,
and their courage had been tested in many an engagement.
It was deemed necessary to have one in whom Major Cole
had implicit confidence as advance guard. One mile above
Harper's Ferry the advance was halted by Confederate
pickets. The night was very dark. Major Cole coming to
the front with the command failed to halt, the Rebel
vedette discharged his piece and fell back. The Cavalry
continuing to advance until near Sharpsburg, Maryland,
where they came upon the enemy guarding a wagon train,
and the Rebels supposing the Federal Cavalry to be a
Brigade of their own command failed to fire upon them,
Major Cole captured the train without the loss of a man.
At daylight, when near Hagerstown, he discovered it was
General Longstreet's ammunition wagons, and the capture
of this train proved a great loss to the Confederates.
It has been said, that in a great measure the battle of
Antietam, which was fought a few days later, was won to
the Union side because General Longstreet's Corps of
General Lee's Army had run out of ammunition. But for
the loss of the train, captured by Major Cole, the
battle of Antietam might have gone against General
McClellan. The train was taken to Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania.
It is needless to state that General Stonewall
Jackson was surprised and disappointed the following
day, when he entered Harper's Ferry with his forces,
Miles having surrendered, to find that the large body of
Union Cavalry had cut their way out.
General McClellan was much gratified at having this
large body of Cavalry join his army, which did good
service.
It is just and proper that I should mention an
incident that occurred during the siege of Harper's
Ferry. Colonel Miles desired to communicate with General
McClellan, who was then at Middletown, Maryland; Colonel
Miles sent for Major Cole and communicated his wishes,
as it was necessary to have some one carry this
important message who possessed undoubted courage. The
message was of too great importance to entrust to one of
his men, and Colonel Miles stated he desired Major Cole
should deliver the dispatch to General McClellan in
person. Major Cole left headquarters at midnight, and
passed through the Rebel lines, and safely delivered the
message. General McClellan personally thanked Major Cole
and sent him back with a reply to Colonel Miles at
Harper's Ferry, where he arrived in due time to take his
command and other Cavalry out of the besieged garrison.
Major Cole and his command were ordered by General
McClellan to annoy the enemy on the flanks. The
membership of the Battalion, whilst constantly receiving
recruits, had now become greatly reduced, their-loss in
killed and wounded had been heavy. The command being a
perfectly Independent Battalion which had been raised by
a Special Act of Congress, was subject to the orders of
no one, except the General commanding the Department.
The Battalion could perform more valuable service than
if they had been brigaded. There was now not more than
one hundred and fifty men answering roll-call, but that
small body of troops, captured, killed and wounded more
Confederates in the summer and fall of 1862, than the
Battalion had in active service.
In October, 1862, General Stuart's Confederate
Cavalry made their famous raid around General
McClellan's Army, and the only prisoners taken from
Stuart was at Hyattstown, Maryland, where Cole's Cavalry
charged the rear guard and captured twenty-five of
Stuart's raiders.
Captain Firey's Company B had not been with the
Battalion for some months, they had been detached, and
operating in the mountains of West Virginia and Western
Maryland. Firey's Company as it was known in that
section, had met with severe losses during the year of
1862. They had performed much hard service, and many of
the original members had been killed off, and like the
other three Companies they were recruiting at all times.
In the winter of 1862, Company B again joined the
Battalion at Harper's Ferry.
Chapter 7: Harassing the Enemy
General Geary's Division started on a reconnaissance
to Winchester in the winter of 1862. Major Cole with the
command were again given the post of honor in the
advance. They captured a number of prisoners at the
various towns and villages passed through; on arriving
at Winchester the Battalion charged through the town,
driving out a small body of Confederates. General Geary
again returned to Harper's Ferry.
The command was kept constantly on the go. There was
scarcely a day that Cole's men were not on a scout
either in Loudoun or Jefferson Counties. Captain Baylor,
of the 12th Virginia Confederate Cavalry, had been
annoying our pickets stationed outside of Bolivar
Heights. Baylor's Company was raised in the neighborhood
of Charlestown, Smithfield and vicinity, and was the
same Company that had captured the thirteen members of
Company D at Smith-field during the summer. There was
more than the usual desire to meet this particular
Cavalry Command; the boys were anxious to repay them for
past reverses received at their hands. They had not long
to wait. Shots had been exchanged between the two
commands almost daily for some time. At Halltown, six
miles south from Harper's Ferry, there is a small stream
of water. Baylor's men were doing picket duty several
hundred yards south of the stream, and Cole's pickets a
short distance north «f the stream. The men on picket
duty arranged among themselves that hostilities should
cease at a certain hour of each day, and both commands
come to the stream and water their horses. It was no
unusual sight to see Confederate and Union Cavalrymen
watering their horses at the same time arid frequently
exchanging papers and trading coffee for tobacco.
A detachment of the Battalion, under command of
Captain Vernon, started on one of their daily raids, and
had gone through Halltown, driving the Rebel picket from
his post in the direction of Charlestown. A portion of
Baylor's Cavalry attempted to intercept them; shots were
exchanged, Baylor's men falling back, when Captain
Vernon's rear guard galloped up and reported the Rebels
were coming up the pike, in the rear. The 12th Virginia
had as they supposed the "Yanks" in a trap. Both front
and rear columns began to advance more rapidly upon
Captain Vernon, down the pike. Captain Vernon discovered
he was in a tight place, but surprised the enemy by
charging the column in his front, with drawn sabers.
Baylor was completely surprised at this move, and before
he could recover, Captain Vernon had him a prisoner,
with a large number of his men, including Lieutenant
Baylor, a son of the Captain. Captain. Vernon gave the
command to right about, and with the prisoners he had
taken, charged the squadron who had attacked him in the
rear, capturing more of their number, and the rest
scattering like sheep to the fields and making their
escape. The most of Baylor's Company, with himself and
his Lieutenant, were brought safely into the Union
lines. Captain Baylor's Company of the 12th Virginia was
heard of no more, at least not in the vicinity where
they were organized.
The command received a number of recruits after the
first of January, 1863, and a large number of our
members who had been captured and had survived the
tortures of Libby Prison, Belle Isle and Andersonville,
had now been exchanged and returned to the command for
duty.
The Battalion in the Spring of 1863, was again ready
for active work, and was ordered to Kearneysville, on
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, twelve miles west of
Harper's Ferry, from where detachments were raiding the
country and capturing Confederates who were visiting
their homes, for the purpose of placing crops in the
ground.
Captain Vernon was Provost Marshal at this point, and
his guards were patrolling the country. A number of
Government horses with the "U. S." stamp upon them had
been taken from the farmers, and all citizens desiring
to pass through the lines were compelled to get a pass
from the Provost Marshal. The Captain had his
headquarters in a small one-story log house, and all
contraband goods captured, were stored in this building
before being sent to Harper's Ferry. A citizen who had
been selling the soldiers liquor had been arrested, and
a barrel of whiskey found on his place confiscated. The
whiskey was brought to headquarters and placed in the
room used as the Provost Marshal's office; the driver
after unloading the liquor set the barrel on end instead
of simply rolling the same in, and it was not long
before every one in camp knew there was a barrel of
whiskey in the house, and some of the men were
determined to have it out. The guard was on duty day and
night at the front door, and it was no easy matter to
get the barrel out without being observed; at last, one
of the men secured a long auger and gained entrance to
the cellar, in the rear of the house. It was raining and
the guard had no thought of what was going on; a number
of camp kettles were brought from the camp and the
soldiers in the cellar bored a hole through the flooring
and through the bottom of the barrel. The liquor flowed
through and was caught in the kettles, passed out of the
window and hastily carried off. On the following
morning, when Captain Vernon discovered his loss he was
not in the best of humor and the guard received a severe
reprimand.
Chapter Eight: Engagement at Sharpsburg
When General Milroy advanced up the Shenandoah
Valley, Cole's Cavalry continued their headquarters at
Kearneysville, and later, when General Milroy met with
his disastrous defeat at Winchester, June 15th, 1863,
the Battalion with Major Cole in command, covered his
retreat and were the last Union soldiers to reach the
Potomac River.
After General Lee crossed into Maryland, the command
met a detachment of Confederate Cavalry at Sharpsburg,
and had quite a spirited fight; we were now acting as
partisans and constantly annoying the enemy, capturing
their pickets and picking up stragglers, and were on the
move day and night.
Major Harry Gilmor was in Frederick; and Captain
Vernon with a detachment of forty men, charged the town
and drove Gilmor and his command through the streets,
capturing several of his men. The citizens, seeing it
was Cole's men that had made the dash into the town,
raised their windows and cheered, and the ladies waved
their handkerchiefs as we went through.
Lieutenant Link of Company A, deserves special
mention for his bravery on this occasion. Gilmor lost
one man killed and one wounded, besides three men
captured.
It has been a disputed question when and where the
first gun was fired on Pennsylvania soil, and at what
place the first blood was spilled; let me state, without
fear of contradiction, that it was at a place called
Fountain Dale, Adams County, Pennsylvania, near Monterey
Springs, and by a portion of Cole's Maryland Cavalry,
under command of Lieutenant William A. Horner and
Sergeant O. A. Horner, of Company C. The Confederate
Cavalry were visiting the farms and pressing into the
Confederate service the farmers' horses; Lieutenant
Horner came upon a squad of the Rebel Cavalrymen, at
Fountain Dale,
with twenty stolen horses in their possession; the
Lieutenant and his men captured fifteen out of the
twenty-five Confederates, and recaptured the farmers'
horses; the enemy lost one man killed and one wounded.
Sergeant O. A. Horner deserves special mention, having
captured a Rebel officer, who was a bearer of dispatches
from General Lee to General Ewell. The dispatches were
turned over to General Meade, commanding the Federal
forces and were of great importance. Sergeant Horner was
later promoted to a Major's position.
Historical Society Note: Many hours of
investigation has uncovered that these dispatches were
not captured by Sergeant Horner. The dispatches
referred to were captured by Samuel McNair at
Gettysburg, Pa.
General Lee's Army had now passed through Maryland
into Pennsylvania and General Meade had superseded
General Hooker of the Army of the Potomac; Major Cole
was ordered to remain at Frederick with sixty men and
the remainder of his command were assigned to duty as
scouts, guides and couriers, owing to their fitness for
this dangerous work, and their familiarity with the
country; later following General Lee into the Shenandoah
Valley, where the command was again united.
The writer was one of the sixty men that remained at
Frederick with the Major; we were encamped on the
western outskirts of the town. The Maryland Brigade,
under command of General John R. Kenly, were encamped
several miles from Frederick, guarding the bridges over
the Monocacy and the fording at the Potomac River at the
mouth of the Monocacy; Major General French was in
command of all troops around Frederick, and a portion of
his men were guarding the gaps in the South Mountain.
Read Chapters Nine-Twelve
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The
Solders of Company C, Cole’s Cavalry 1861-1865
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