Summary:
Army of the Potomac cavalry commander Alfred Pleasonton reports to Chief of Staff
Randolph Marcy on October and November, 1862, actions of the cavalry division.
He mentions that on November 17, a contraband saw D. H. Hill's Confederate corps
tearing up railroad tracks and burning bridges on the way to Staunton, VA.
Brig. Gen. R. B. MARCY,
Chief of Staff, Army of the
Potomac.
Camp near Warrenton, Va.,
November 17, 1862.
GEN.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this command from the crossing of the Potomac in the vicinity of Warrenton, Va., and the relinquishment of the command of he army by Maj.-Gen. McClellan:
On the morning of October 26, I crossed the Potomac at Berlin, with the Second Cavalry Brigade and Pennington's horse battery, and took up a position in front of Purcellville, on the 27th, having occupied Hillsborough with two squadrons of the Sixth Cavalry. After some skirmishing with the rebels, and having driven them out of Purcellville, they were followed up by Col. Davis, with the Eighth New York Cavalry, as far as Snicker's Gap, at which point they opened with shell and showed themselves in strong force.
From this time until November 1 the brigade was occupied in scouting the country to Leesburg, Aldie, Middleburg, Philomont, and in gaining information of the enemy's movements.
On November 1, the command moved forward and occupied Philomont, several hundred of Stuart's cavalry leaving about the time we entered. Colonel Gregg, with the eighth Pennsylvania and Third Indiana Cavalry, pursued this cavalry and drove it very handsomely from some woods it attempted to hold, but, the enemy bringing up his artillery, no farther advance was made, except to silence the rebel guns by the fire of Pennington's battery.
The rebels left 5 dead on the field. Our loss was 1 killed and 1 officer and 13 men wounded.
On November 2, my advance came up with the enemy at Union, they had some infantry supporting their guns, and very soon some sharp fighting began, which resulted in the blowing up of one of their caissons, by which a number of their men were killed, and their retreat for several miles on the road to Upperville.
Lieut.-Col. Hofman, with a small brigade of infantry and a battery, reported to me for duty this morning from Doubleday's division.
The fighting did not cease until after dark, the rebels giving way at every point. Their loss must have been considerable. One of their officers was left dead on the field, and 10 wounded fell into our hands, besides a number of prisoners. My loss in my own brigade was 1 man killed and 26 wounded. The infantry brigade lost 5 men killed and 30 wounded.
Several companies of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry proceeded to Bloomfield to-day and captured a number of rebel horses, arms, equipments, &c., and released Maj. O'Neill, of Gen. Meagher's staff, before the rebels had paroled him; in fact, they ran away so quickly as to leave several hundred dollars of their paper money behind.
On November 3, Brig.-Gen. Averell, having reported for duty with the First Cavalry Brigade and Tidball's battery, was given the advance, and the infantry brigade and Second Cavalry brigade moved to the left. The infantry brigade and Second Cavalry Brigade soon came up with the enemy, and drove them on the road to Upperville. Averell soon joined, and the whole command moved forward and took possession of Upperville, driving the enemy through the town toward Ashby's Gap, as well as toward Piedmont. Gen. Averell, with his brigade, moved after the column toward Piedmont, and the Second Brigade followed to Ashby's Gap. The infantry brigade was recalled to its proper division this evening. On reaching Ashby's Gap the enemy opened a 10-pounder Parrott from the mountain side, and showed some force, which afterward retreated through the gap. Averell occupied Piedmont and took some prisoners.
On the 4th, Averell moved toward Markham, and soon engaged a force there. The skirmishing was kept up during the day, and in the afternoon, at his request, he was re-enforced by the Eighth Pennsylvania and Sixth Cavalry, under Col. Gregg. The enemy fell back from Markham through Manassas Gap, and also toward Barbee's Cross-Roads. As no detailed report has been received from Gen. Averell, I cannot state his losses during the time his brigade was with me.
On November 5, I moved, with the Second Brigade and Pennington's battery, through Markham, toward Barbee' Cross-Roads, Averell's brigade remaining at Markham, to cover Manassas Gap, by the orders of the major-general commanding. On approaching Barbee's Cross-Roads, the enemy opened with a couple of guns from an eminence commanding the road, and displayed a large force of cavalry on the left of the road, toward Chester Gap. I replied with a section of Pennington's battery, and immediately sent the Eighth Pennsylvania and Sixth Cavalry, under Col. Gragg, to our left, to occupy some woods to the front and turn their flank, a section, under Pennington, taking a position to the front and right of the road, supported by the Eighth New York Cavalry, under Col. Davis, while the Eighth Illinois and Third Indiana Cavalry, under Col. Farnsworth, moved up the road to the front. Gregg, with great skill and activity, soon outflanked the rebel lines and caused them to withdraw their guns. They attempted to charge him, but did not succeed. Farnsworth moved rapidly up the road, receiving several rounds of canister, but driving the enemy before him, until he came to a barricade, beyond which the enemy covered their retreat. By this time I had advanced two sections of artillery to the position held by the rebels, where they first opened, and I soon discovered that Col. Davis, of the Eighth New York Cavalry, had a much superior force to his own to contend with, and that they were about to charge him, in a column of squadrons. I ordered the Third Indiana to re-enforce Davis, and opened a fire on the enemy's squadrons. Before, however, much was effected, Davis saw his situation and dismounted one of his squadrons behind a stone wall, while he gallantly led the remainder of his regiment against the enemy, to meet their charge. The result was very successful. The carbines of the dismounted squadron gave a galling flank and front fire, while the attack of the Eighth New York routed the enemy and sent them flying in all directions. Thirty-seven of the rebel dead were left on this field, and more than that number of arms, horses, and prisoners were captured. This part of their command retreated toward Chester Gap, and that from Barbee's Cross-Roads took the Warrenton road.
On this occasion the Second Brigade had contended with two rebel brigades (Hampton's and Lee's), the whole commanded by Stuart, and had driven them in confusion from all their positions with a severe loss. My own loss was 5 killed and 8 wounded.
On November 6, finding that the enemy was in force in Chester Gap and beyond (Jackson's corps holding that position), and Averell having joined me, I moved in the direction of Orleans, intending to proceed to Springville and Little Washington by that route. I halted for the night near Waterloo, where my advance was fired upon by the enemy.
On November 7, moved, with the First and Second Brigades, to Amissville, and was opened on by the rebels with artillery, on the Little Washington road, and also on the Jefferson road. Drove the rebels out of Jefferson, and captured two guns; also 3 officers and 10 men.
On November 8, moved to Newby's Cross-Roads. A squadron of the Fifth Cavalry had a skirmish on the Little Washington road, and Lieut. Ash, of that regiment, was badly wounded. Col. Farnsworth then drove the rebels beyond Little Washington with the Eighth Illinois and Third Indiana Cavalry. The Fifth Cavalry, besides Lieut. Ash, had 6 men wounded and took 6 rebel prisoners. The Sixth Cavalry captured a rebel wagon and 12 horses from the rebel cavalry, besides taking 1 officer and 1 man prisoner.
On November 9, the division occupied a position at Corbin's Cross-Roads, 1 mile from Amissville, covering all the approaches from Culpeper, and also those from Chester Gap and Luray. A squadron of the Eighth New York Cavalry last night pushed as far as Flint Hill, paroled a number of wounded rebels, and retook 2 of my men captured, wounded, at Barbee's. A squadron of the Sixth Cavalry went inside of the enemy's lines last night, toward Culpeper, and captured a captain of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry and 5 men on picket; also a four-horse wagon, out for forage.
On November 10, the enemy from Culpeper attacked me in force with a brigade of infantry, one of cavalry and artillery, and at Corbin's Cross-Roads drove in my pickets, and compelled me to concentrate my whole force to resist him. Several prisoners taken say it was Longstreet, making a reconnaissance to find out where our army lay. He did not succeed, as he was repulsed late in the afternoon with severe loss. Our loss was 2 men mortally and 2 severely wounded. Gen. Sturgis, who was stationed at amissville, quickly sent several of the regiments of his division to the right of the enemy to outflank them. This movement, doubtless, had great effect in inducing the enemy to withdraw. This action closed the campaign of the cavalry in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties, as orders were then received directing no farther advance toward Culpeper, and informing the army that Maj.-Gen. Burnside had relieved Maj.-Gen. McClellan from the command of it.
At this time, and from the 7th instant, my advance pickets were on Hazel River, within 6 miles of Culpeper, besides having my flank pickets toward Chester and Thornton's Gaps extended to Gaines' Cross-Roads and Newby's Cross-Roads, with numerous patrols in the direction of Woodville, Little Washington, and Springville. The information gained by these parties, and also from deserters, prisoners, contrabands, as well as citizens, established the fact of Longstreet, with his command being at Culpeper, while Jackson and D. H. Hill, with their respective commands, were in the Shenandoah Valley, on the western side of the Blue Ridge, covering Chester and Thornton's Gaps, and expecting us to attempt to pass through and attack them.
As late as November 17, a contraband, just from Strasburg, came into my camp and reported that D. H. Hill's corps was 2 miles beyond that place, on the railroad to Mount Jackson. Hill was tearing up the road and destroying the bridges, under the impression that we intended to follow into that valley, and was en route for Staunton. Jackson's corps was between Strasburg and Winchester. Ewell and A. P. Hill were with Jackson. Provisions were scarce, and the rebels were obliged to keep moving to obtain them.
In closing this report, it is but justice to the troops I have had the honor to command that I should mention the results of their laborious exertions and chivalrous gallantry, constantly exhibited under many adverse circumstances. From the time the army left Washington to the end of the campaign at Warrenton, the cavalry of my command had taken from the enemy 6 pieces of artillery, 4 stand of colors, and 1,000 prisoners of war, without losing a single gun or color. These facts show that the officers and men of our cavalry have the energy, the intelligence, the courage, and enterprise to make them superior to any cavalry they have to contend with, and yet no one is more painfully conscious than myself that the opinion is entertained that our cavalry has been deficient in its duty in the present rebellion. I will, therefore, mention a few facts to show that, wherever there exists a foundation for such an opinion, the fault does not rest with the cavalry. The rebels have always had more cavalry in the field than we, and whenever we have fought them their numbers were two to three to one of ours. Such a difference is always an encouragement to brave soldiers, for they never stop to inquire their number; but such a difference tells fearfully upon the hard service the horses have to perform. Good horses are broken down by it; inferior ones are literally thrown away in such service. The rebel cavalry are mounted on the best horses in the South, while our cavalry are furnished a very inferior animal, bought by contract, and which is totally unfit for efficient service. The best horses in my command are the horses my men have captured from the rebel cavalry, in their different engagements with them. As instance, one of my companies has 22 rebel horses out of 53, and these horses are the best in the company. Out of 18 horses furnished this same company by the quartermaster's department at Knoxville, only 2 are left in the company, and these are very inferior. Does not this show that the officers and men who thus wrest the elements of success from the hands of the enemy are superior to the circumstances surrounding them, and are not responsible for those failures which are used as illustrations against them?
I respectfully submit to the favorable consideration of the major-general commanding and the Government the following-named officers for distinguished gallantry and good conduct throughout the campaign: Col. J. F. Farnsworth, Eighth Illinois Cavalry; Col. D. McM. Gregg, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry; Col. B. F. Davis, Eighth New York Cavalry; Maj. Chapman, Third Indiana Cavalry, and Capt. W. P. Sanders, Sixth U. S. Cavalry. These officers each commanded regiments. Of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Maj.'s Beveridge and Medill, and Capt.'s Hynes and Forsyth; of the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Maj. Peter Keenan; of the Eighth New York Cavalry, Maj. Markell, Capt.'s Pope, Barry, and Moore; of the Third Indiana Cavalry, Capt. Lemmon; of the Sixth U. S. Cavalry, First Lieut. James F. Wade and First Lieut. Spangler, Second Lieuts. Albert Coats and Joseph Kerin; of Pennington's battery, First Lieuts. A. C. M. Pennington, jr., Robert H. Chapin, and Frank B. Hamilton.
Of Brig.-Gen. Averell's brigade, no reports have been received, as it was soon after detached on other service. As a brigade, its services were always efficient and well rendered. One exception came under my notice at Amissville, viz, the gallantry and efficiency of Capt. Harrison, commanding Fifth Cavalry, against a superior force of the enemy.
Of Tidball's battery, Capt. Tidball, Second Artillery; Lieuts. William N. Dennison and Robert Clarke.
My staff officers throughout the campaign served with zeal, energy, and fidelity, viz, Capt. A. J. Cohen, assistant adjutant-general; First Lieut. Isaac W. Ward, Sixth Cavalry; First Lieut. C. Thompson, First New York Cavalry, aide-de-camp, and First Lieut. Van Patten, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, division commissary of subsistence.
I am, general, very res`ectfully, your obedient servant,
A. PLEASONTON,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg. Division.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 19, Serial No. 28, Pages 125-129, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
